Category: Featured

The row over the payment of $419 milion to Paris Club Loan Refund consultants is yet to abate, following the insistence of governors to resolve the crisis by litigation.

It was gathered that the governors have foreclosed political solution to the matter because the dispute was already at the Court of Appeal.

According to findings by our correspondent, the governors met Monday evening in Abuja and resolved to pursue the case for the sake of prosperity.

They also said the deduction of the $419m cash from the Federation Account monthly may put some states in distress.

The governors are said to be in possession of a report by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to strengthen their case in court.

A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said the governors felt the judgments relied upon by some consultants to demand the huge fee are not sustainable in the appellate court.

The source said: “There is nothing like political solution to the case on payment of $419million to some consultants on Paris Club debt refund. We are already in court, there is no basis for any political negotiation.

“ There is a subsisting court order that there should be no deduction from the allocations of states and local governments pending determination of the case. So, the threat of a garnishee order does not hold water. There are many gaps in this $419million case which will soon be exposed to Nigerians.

“ It is a straightforward case. It is about the overall interest of Nigeria and we must not allow our nation to be shortchanged. It is not a personal issue, it is about our future as a nation.

“At our meeting, we agreed that we should pursue the case to its logical conclusion. We don’t mind going to the Supreme Court on this matter.

The source added:”We have a report written by EFCC which faulted demand for payments by the consultants.”

Read Also: Paris Club refund dispute: Way out, by lawyers

Since April 19, 2021, there had been controversy over the payment of the $419million.

The amount involved had varied from $318million to $419million.

The Nigeria Governors Forum(NGF) and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) had protested to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, against  deductions from the states statutory allocations from the Federation Account.

The NGF’s counsel, Femi Falana (SAN), in the April 19, 2021 letter to the Minister, said: “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has engaged our services to challenge the decisions of the Court relating to or connected with payments of Legal and Consultancy fees arising from London Club Debt, Buy Back and London Club Debt Exit Payment, which is the fulcrum of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/130/13 — LINAS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED & ORS.V. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA & ORS.

“As you already know, the claim of Or. Ted Iseghoni Edwards arose from legal services he allegedly rendered to the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

“Consequently, we have prepared all the court processes challenging the judgments of courts and seeking for stay of execution and/or injunction pending appeal.

“We have been unable to file due to the ongoing strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), which has occasioned a complete shut-down of our Courts. Find attached herewith copies of the processes already prepared and awaiting the re-opening of the Courts for filing.

“Our attention has been drawn to a letter from the firm of Ikechukwu Ezechukwu, SAN & Co dated 8” April, 2021, urging you to issue promissory notes to Dr. Ted Iseghoni Edwards.

“We respectfully urge you not to accede to the request because these promissory notes are to be deducted from the accounts of the States for the next ten (10) years. It is therefore expedient to await the outcome of legal steps being taken by the states as represented by the NGF.

“Section 162(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) mandates any amount standing to the credit of local governments to be paid directly to the states for the benefit of their local government councils. The states therefore have a responsibility to ensure that funds standing to the credit of the local government councils are protected as custodians of such funds.

“We need to inform you of your sacred duty of staying action on this matter in view of the injunctive reliefs sought in the processes to be filed in Court on these matters.

“While extending the assurances of our highest regard, we hope that you will exercise restraint by resisting any urge to issue promissory notes to anyone (including Dr. Ted Iseghohi Edwards, Mr. Ned Munir Nwoko, Panic Alert Security Systems, Dr. George Uboh, Riok Nigeria Ltd, Prince Orji Nwafor-Orizu & Barrister Bello Olaitan Busayo) pending the determination of these actions by the Court.”

In an April 8th 2021 letter to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Ikechukwu Ezechukwu, (SAN), who is the counsel to Dr. Ted Iseghohi Edwards, demanded issuance of the promissory notes to his client.

The letter reads in part: “We are counsels to Dr. Ted Iseghohi Edwards (Judgment Creditor) herein referred to as our client.

Read Also: Governors can’t back out of Paris Club debt, says Malami

“Our client got a Garnishee Order absolute attaching the funds belonging to Local Governments in the custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria in satisfaction of a Judgment debt as per Judgments of both the FCT High Court and the Federal High Court of Nigeria which entered Judgment in favour of our client for the sum of $318,000,000.00.

“At the instance of the Federal Government, this Judgment was compromised to the effect that the Federal Government agree to pay less than the full Judgment debt. Mr. President has since December 2020 approved the payment of this sum through issuance to our client a Promissory Note because the Country is in financial straits.

“Since the approval of Mr. President, you, as the Minister responsible for carrying out the Presidential approval, have refused to carry out your official reasonability as a Public Officer hiding under the cloak of awaiting for consent and responses of the judgment debtors.

“We hereby demand on behalf of our client your immediate compliance with the Presidential approval and effect the satisfaction of our compromised Judgment debt by issuing our client with Promissory Notes as proved.

“Take notice that in the light of the Attorney-General’s press conference on Tuesday 6th day of April 2021 debunking all allegation in the social media concerning the judgment debt, we shall after seven (7) days of the date of the receipt of this letter by your ministry you failed, refuse or neglect to comply with the presidential directive, our client will have no choice than to seek remedy in the Court claiming his entire judgment debt and 10% interest per month until

the liquidation thereof. “

A copy of the letter to the minister was sent to the  Director-General, Debt Management Office(DMO) on April 8th, 2021.

The letter to the DMO reads “ We act for Dr. Ted Iseghohi Edwards. Find enclosed a letter we wrote on behalf of our client to the Hon. Minister  of Finance and copied to the Hon. Attorney General of Federation.”

In a March 29th letter to the President, ALGON said it was opposed to the payment of the N152.6billion to Ted Iseghohi Edwards.

It also said it did not enter into any consultancy or legal engagement with Dr. Ted Iseghohi Edwards.

It said: “There is no evidence anywhere the Local Governments engaged Ted Edwards to recover Paris Club Refunds on their behalf. No engagement or instruction letter, power of attorney or letter of authority was issued by a single local government to him.

”We must make it abundantly clear  that any payment to Dr. Ted Iseghohi Edwards by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning from the local  governments’ allocations without the consent or  authority of any  local government councils will be an illegality and a clear  violation of the principle of tier autonomy over government funds enshrined in the  constitution and recognised by the Supreme Court.

“It could also open  a floodgate  of claims by local governments across the country against the  Federal Ministry of Finance and any other Ministry or Agency that facilitates such illegal and fraudulent payment.

The United Nations (UN), the United States, lawyers and right activists yesterday called for full implementation of the report of the Lagos State Judicial Panel on Restitution for Victims of SARS-Related Abuses and Other Matters.

The panel submitted its report on Monday, following which Governor Babatunde Sanwo-Olu raised a four-member white paper committee.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, who faulted the leakage of the report, defended the Army, saying they will focus on their professional duties.

The US Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria, in a statement by the Public Affairs Section, said it was looking forward to the redress of the alleged abuses by security agencies and compensation for the victims.

It reads: “The United States welcomes the conclusion of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry with the transmission of its final report.

“We look forward to the Lagos State government’s response as part of a process that represents an important mechanism of accountability regarding the #EndSARS protests and the events that took place near the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020.

“Those events led to serious allegations against some members of the security forces, and we look forward to the Lagos State and Federal Governments taking suitable measures to address those alleged abuses as well as the grievances of the victims and their families.”

UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria Edward Kallon called for a commitment to implementing the panel’s recommendations.

“I welcome the submission to the Lagos State Governor, H. E. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the reports of the judicial panel on claims of brutality and shooting in the Lekki area of Lagos State, during the 2020 #EndSARS protests,” he said.

Kallon hopes the submission of the findings would accelerate the process of justice and accountability.

“I urge the government to implement the recommendations of the judicial panel of inquiry to rebuild trust and start the process of healing and reconciliation,” he added.

Lawyers, including a former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), activist-lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), and former Ekiti State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Mr Gboyega Oyewole (SAN) are also looking forward to the implementation of the report.

Agbakoba said: “The way forward is simply to fully implement the findings of the panel.”

Read Also: #EndSARS report confirms N410m award to 70 petitioners

Falana said the panel deserved commendation for the thorough investigation of police brutality in Lagos.

“In particular, the revelation that some of the 99 dead bodies dumped in the various mortuaries in Lagos by soldiers were traced to the Lekki Toll Gate has confirmed that the report of the brutal killing was not a figment of the imagination of the protesters.

“A certified copy of the Report of the Panel should be forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari, in view of the recommendation that the soldiers and police personnel who engaged in the torture and reckless murder of citizens be sanctioned,” he said.

Falana said policemen who were killed by criminal elements during the protests should be honoured, notwithstanding that their family members have been compensated.

“However, as police brutality has continued unabated, we call on the government to set up the Lagos State Human Rights Committee in line with the recommendation of the Panel.

“This was part of the unanimous resolutions of the members of the National Economic Council.

“While commending the witnesses and their lawyers for exposing the cover-up of the egregious human rights abuse perpetrated by the merchants of death, the Lagos State government should designate venues where aggrieved citizens can hold rallies in the exercise of their fundamental rights to freedom of assembly and expression.

“The violent attack of unarmed protesters during peaceful rallies by police and military personnel should be completely outlawed since Section 83 (4) of the Police Establishment Act, 2020 has imposed a duty on the police to provide adequate security for citizens who participate in peaceful meetings and rallies.”

Oyewole said Justice Okuwobi and members of the panel demonstrated integrity and did “an impressive job”.

He said while many of the recommendations may not be within the purview of the Lagos government for implementation, the state must carry out those within its purview.

Warning that there must be no cover-ups, Oyewole said: “I want to enjoin the Federal Government to emulate what the Lagos State government has done by being transparent.

“Other states should also follow suit such that the confidence in the government is restored, and the citizens will always trust whatever the government embarks upon in unravelling incidences of this nature.”

PDP, SERAP, others react

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called for the prosecution of persons indicted by the report.

The party, in a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, chided those who downplayed the attacks on the protesters and denied the killings.

“It is now clear that no matter how much the wicked strive in denial, the truth will always prevail.

“Therefore, the blood of our innocent youths must not be shed in vain. Those responsible for these callous acts must be made to face justice.

“The nation must ensure that such individuals are brought to book for their act of wickedness to humanity.

“Our party insists that all those indicted by the panel should be arrested, prosecuted and dealt with in accordance with our laws.

Read also: EndSARS: Burnt police stations in Lagos undergoing renovation – CP

“The PDP again commiserates with the families of the slain young Nigerians, who were cut in their prime for demanding for a just, equitable and secure nation governed by the rule of law”.

Senator Ben Murray-Bruce warned that any attempt to hide any of the findings will be futile.

He said in a post on his Facebook account: “The report of the #EndSARS panel doesn’t tell a new story; instead, it validates the already existing truth.

“What shouldn’t be done at this time is to deny the obvious, as doing this is counterproductive. Leadership is not about the past.

“Our leaders need to understand that we are in a jet-age generation where information moves at the speed of light. As such, hiding, or coating the truth is almost impossible. The time for reliable leadership is now.”

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) said it would institute legal action against the Federal Government today.

The group said it was suing to prevail on President Buhari to compel the arrest of soldiers and police officers involved in shooting protesters.

“We’re also following up with our petition dated 21 October 2020 to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court by forwarding today a copy of the report of Lagos #EndSARS Panel as additional information and evidence.”

The ‘recommendations’

The panel, among others, established in the leaked report that there were killings at the Lekki tollgate.

The panel reportedly made no fewer than 32 recommendations, including holistic police reforms covering welfare, training and proper equipping of policemen and their working environment.

It recommended sanctions for Army and Police officers who participated in the shooting, injuring and killing of unarmed protestors; development of more robust engagement between the youth and the government; and setting up of a standing committee/tribunal to deal with cases of violation of human rights by security agencies and a trust fund to settle compensation awarded by such committee/tribunal.

The panel was also said to have recommended a public apology to #EnDSARS protesters who were killed, injured and traumatised by the October 20 incident; the memorialisation of the Lekki Toll Gate and recognition of hospitals and medical doctors who played heroic roles following the incident, thereby saving lives and minimising the impact of the injuries suffered by the victims, most of which were on a pro-bono basis.

 

Will President Muhammadu Buhari sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill recently passed by the National Assembly to allow the use of direct primaries to select candidates for the 2023 general elections or will he succumb to pressure from governors? The issue has been generating tension the political circles. TONY AKOWE reports

When the House of Representatives considered the report of its Committee on Electoral Matters on the Electoral Act amendment on July 16, it was to give Nigerians a document that will transform the electoral process and make it better. The committee had recommended the use of either direct or indirect primary for the selection of candidates by political parties for elective offices. The document also spelt out guidelines for whatever mode of primary any party may choose to adopt. Exercising his constitutional right, Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila moved an amendment to the provisions of Section 87 to delete the indirect mode of primary, while leaving only the direct mode. His amendment was seconded and unanimously passed by the committee of the whole. According to the House standing rules, the deputy speaker presides over committees of the whole where bills and reports are considered.

The Speaker only presides over the plenary and committee of supply where money bills are considered. Even though he is the overall leader of the House, his motion must also pass through the normal legislative processes before they are adopted. Nigerians waited anxiously to see what the lawmakers will do with the document. Ironically, Nigerians paid little attention to that aspect of the law probably because the Senate adopted both direct and indirect primary. After that consideration, the lawmakers went on vacation, spending almost two months with their constituents, after which, the senators came back and changed their minds. They recommitted the clause as well as the controversial Clause 52 to the committee of the whole, joining the House in approving only direct primary for the selection of candidates by political parties. Gbajabiamila said he moved the amendment because of his belief that it would create a level-playing ground for Nigerians to fully participate in the leadership process.

He said: “If I know that my return will depend on a few men, I may not care about you. But if I know that my return will depend on my accountability and representation to the people, I will do the right thing. This generation needs to open the door of leadership to the next generation. We must allow every Nigerian to participate fully in the process of leadership. I, therefore, stand with a direct primary. That’s why I said at different fora that I’m for direct primary. We have to do this for the sake of the institution. When you gather yourselves (as youths), chances are that you’ll win. Democracy is a government of the people. Democracy is not just a general election; it starts from the primaries.”

Senator Kabiru Gaya, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), agrees. He said the direct primary option will eliminate godfatherism and allow the people to choose their leaders without any undue influence. While denying any running battle with the governors, he said direct mode of primary is the way to go, in the interest of Nigerians. He is optimistic that President Muhammadu Buhari who he said believes in giving the power to the people will sign the bill into law without any delay. In a televised interview, he said:  “The essence of amendment of any act is to improve the act. The amendment was made to address some of the challenges usually associated with our elections. The direct primary is essentially meant to give power to the grassroots, a thing the president prefers, being a democrat who believes that the power should be with the people.”

However, immediately after the Senate decided to reverse itself and accept the House of Representatives version of direct primary, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) rejected the position, accusing the APC of rolling back democracy in the country with the decision. Kola Ologbondiyan, its National Publicity Secretary said in a statement that adopting direct primary for election in all political parties is a retrogressive provision that seeks to wipe off all the gains achieved in the electoral system since 1999.

However, in his book, ‘Power of Possibility and Politics of Change in Nigeria’, the Director-General of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Salihu Mohammed Lukman gives kudos to the direct mode of primary. On pages 38 to 40 of the 196-page book published in 2019, Lukman said: “The announcement that the party (APC) would resort to direct primary in the selection of candidates elicited excitement among APC members. Perhaps because of its potential to trigger some fundamental changes in the political landscape, ostensibly towards shifting the locus of power from gatekeepers to party membership, the widespread interests the decision for direct primary generated both within the party and in the general public were as contentious as they were predictable.

In simple terms, there were expectations of possible changes in the dynamics of leaders-members relationships within the political party’s governance framework. It is a governance framework that encourages the monetisation of candidates’ selection across all parties, which is much despised by party members and the public, but also painfully costly to aspirants and candidates. The rationale for direct primary based on expanding the democratic space for membership participation is hardly contestable all things considered.”

Read Also: Who is afraid of direct primaries?

Curiously, Lukman appeared to have eaten his words after the National Assembly inserted into the electoral act a clause that will allow for direct primary, an exercise that has widely been applauded by Nigerians across the political divide. Unaware of the function of the lawmakers in amending existing laws and making a new one for the good governance of the country, the director-general accused the lawmakers of inserting what he described as a controversial clause in the electoral act on the ground that the original bill presented to them which was subjected to public debate did not contain some of the provisions that are currently contained in the bill as passed and awaiting presidential assent. He believes that the brains behind the inclusion of direct primary as the mode of determining party flag bearers were quiet on its inadequacies when it worked for them.

In his recent statement on the direct primary, Lukman said: “It is worrisome that the APC members in the National Assembly are the ones pushing for this amendment. Rather than leaders of the party negotiating among themselves on what needs to be done to produce internal agreement to resolve all challenges facing the party, increasingly, structures of the party are being abandoned and other structures outside the statutory organs of the party are being used to attempt to address perceived problems. The whole insertion of the provisions requiring political parties to adopt the direct method in the Electoral Act would appear to be an afterthought because the original bill that was subjected to the joint public hearing by both the Senate and House of Representatives did not contain it. It was during the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill after the public hearing in July 2021 that the Speaker of the House moved the motion for the amendment to allow direct primaries to be part of the amendment.”

Abdullahi, however, believes that the current law as passed is highly inadequate and leaves more room for manipulation. He said it may produce more disaster for the country beyond what the nation is going through under the indirect method. He said there is a need to rework the section by inviting Nigerians to another public hearing on whether the issue of the direct primary should be allowed in the law. He said being a sensitive issue, no Standing Order of the National Assembly should be used to block the democratic rights of Nigerians in contributing to the law.

He said: “Unless leaders of the National Assembly are interested in blocking the possibility of amending the Electoral Act and want to shift the blame on President Buhari, it would be very inappropriate politically to expect the president to assent to the Electoral Act amendment with the provisions in Section 87 and all its ambiguities. The leadership of the National Assembly should take responsibility and not pass the buck.”

Former Senior Special Assistant to former Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Umar Sani believes the direct primary option of selecting candidates for election will take the party back to the original owners and give them a sense of belonging in the decision-making process of their parties. He also believes that those opposed to the direct primary right now are those who believe that their candidates have already secured tickets for the next general elections. He said President Buhari must not allow the governors to decide who succeeds him. He said: “I like the direct primary because it will return the parties to the original owners which are the card-carrying party members who will now feel a sense of belonging.

Sani said: “If the president allows the thing to go down to the grassroots, it means that it is the people of Nigeria that will determine who succeeds him and not the governors because they can no longer be foisting people on us. If the system had been deregulated to allow for an independent candidate, which would have been different because Nigerians will have an alternative. But, now, you don’t have that privilege of voting for an independent candidate and so, you have to follow the two major parties. Just like the United States, the Nigerian political system has evolved and you now have majorly the APC and the PDP and so, there is a limitation of choice. If you have a limitation of choice and both candidates are imposed, you will be selecting from imposed candidates. So, we support the direct primary. Those people who thought that they have already gotten the ticket are now afraid because it is no longer the delegate system and, so, they cannot manipulate the delegates. I believe this will also stop crossing over from one party to the other. If you lose the ticket in one party, you will be sure that it is because the people don’t like you and not the governor not liking you.”

But, governors across party lines are not comfortable with the position of the National Assembly on the mode of primaries. Many of the governors who are second timers are believed to have the ambition of either heading to the Senate or contesting the presidency in 2023 and these governors, especially those with senatorial ambition are already at loggerheads with their senators. In the same vein, some of the governors are not ready to allow those not favoured by them to get an elective ticket for their parties. A planned meeting between the APC governors and the APC caucus in the National Assembly which was believed to have targeted getting them not to approve the direct mode of primaries ended before it even began as the lawmakers tactically passed the Electoral Act before the meeting.

Governors that have openly voiced their disagreement to the direct primary mode are Kebbi State governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Atiku Bagudu and his Kogi State counterpart, Yahaya Bello. Both governors have widely been rumoured to have presidential ambition. The Kogi governor said the governors are not afraid of the direct primary, but are opposed to it because it would not well. He warned that the decision would boomerang and hurt democracy in the long run.

The Kogi State governor said: “The argument of returning the party to the people does not arise, because who took the party away from the people in the first place? I think the party remains with the people. The first thing is that the National Assembly is expected to do its job and we, as governors, respect that a lot. But, I have to warn that the few senators, including Senator Adamu Aliero, who are having issues with their governors, will not be right to push down direct primary on Nigerians.”

He is of the view that the option being proposed is likely to pitch the people against their leaders. He said if it is allowed to happen, it will consume everyone in the end. He said the drafters of the constitution already considered the issue of option when drafting it. “So, it will be wrong for some people, based on their interests, to seek to change that now,” he added.

President Muhammadu Buhari, Tuesday evening, returned to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, after 16 days of official engagements in Europe and South Africa.

The President, who arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 4:45pm, departed from Durban in South Africa, where he had attended the 2nd Intra-African Trade Fair 2021.

It would be recalled that the President arrived in South Africa on Saturday, November 13.

Read Also: ‘Buhari has done more for Benue’

Before the South Africa visit, he had participated in the Paris Peace Forum (PPF) in France, where he arrived on Saturday, November 9, initially as a guest of the French President, Emmanuel Macron.

President Buhari had been in Glasgow, Scotland, before the outing in France, where he participated in the 26th edition of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).

He left Nigeria for Glasgow on Sunday, October 31, 2021. In all, the engagements kept the President out of the country for 16 days, having left on the last day of October.

.Report of Lekki incident investigation of 20th October, 2020 by the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and other Matters

The #EndSARS #ReformPoliceNG Advocacy upon which the protesters premised their #EndSARS demonstration of discontent/Protest on, has been the most prominent advocacy in Nigeria and a major rallying point, convergence and common ground for the national Police brutality imbroglio since 2016.

This is one of the reasons why the advocacy was surgically curated and the youth protest that followed built on that protocol in an orderly, organized and transparent fashion, reinforcing the specific objective of shutting down the culture of impunity (#EndSARS) —through the disbandment of the poster child of impunity within the police structure (i.e. SARS and all Tactical Squads of the Police formation) and the End Goal of the holistic reformation of the Nigeria Police Force–#ReformPoliceNG.

However, the dearth of proper public orientation and sensitization by the Federal Government about the progress made over the years on the trajectory of reformation of the Nigeria Police Force, given the years of advocacy and dialogues cum the persistence of outrageous and gross violation of human rights (torture, extra judicial killings, extortion, robbery, unlawful arrest and detention among others) with impunity, being perpetrated by the Nigeria Police, forced the youth to express their constitutionally protected Rights and Freedom of Expression and Assembly to demonstrate their discontent from the 8th – 20th October, 2020.

From the 8th of October 2020, the protest under hashtag #ENDSARS started in Lagos and grew into large movement at various locations in Lagos and across the country principally targeted towards drawing attention to the ubiquitous incidents of Police brutality (Culture of Impunity) and poor working conditions of Police officers.

One of the demands from the protesters was the setting up of Judicial Panels of Inquiry to investigate cases of Police brutality. Lagos State Government obliged this request on the 15th of October, 2020 and set up the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry Into Victims of Police Brutality and other Related Matters, which was inaugurated on the 19th of October 2020.

Its main Terms of Reference was to look into cases of Police brutality and other related matters and award compensation to successful petitions. The members were Honourable Justice Doris Okuwobi, Chairperson, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN, representing Civil Society, Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Frederick Taiwo Lakanu, Ms. Patience Patrick Udoh representing Civil Society, Mr. Segun Awosanya, Human Rights Activist, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Odusanya , Director of Citizens’ Rights, Ministry of Justice, Mr Lucas Koyejo Esq. representative of the National Human Rights Commission, and Mr. Majekodunmi Temitope Oluwaseun, Youth Representative.

The Panel shall ensure speedy inquiry/restitution on SARS activities and Extra-Judicial killings of innocent citizens by the dissolved SARS with a view to delivering justice for the Victims as well as compensate their families/dependents.

IN particular it shall –

1. Receive memoranda from concerned members of the public and inquire into cases of abuse, brutality, torture, extra – judicial killings by the disbanded SARS in Lagos State;

2. Identify the victims of brutality, torture and extra-judicial killings by the disbanded SARS;

3. Identify Officers of SARS involved in the abuse of rights of citizens and make appropriate recommendations for prosecution of such Officers;

4. Evaluate the cases of the victims; determine those deserving compensation as a result of such violations by Officers of the disbanded SARS and recommend compensations payable to them from the Victims Trust Fund established by the Governor;

5. To investigate the incident at the Lekki Toll- Gate on 20th October, 2020 and make necessary findings and recommendations.

6. Examine any other matters incidental to any of the terms of reference stated above; and

7. Make necessary recommendation(s) to guide against future abuse of human rights by the Nigeria Police in Lagos State.

AND the Governor further directed that the Chairman and members of the Panel constituted under this instrument shall remain in Office for a period of six (6) months commencing from the date of appointment and this period may be extended at the discretion of the Governor in writing.

Following the Panel’s inauguration, on the 20th of October 2020 there were allegations that the officers of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Police Force had gone to the Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos State, the epicenter of the #ENDSARS protests and shot at peaceful protesters.

Following this, the Lagos State Government expanded the Terms of Reference of the Panel to include an investigation into what became known as the Lekki Toll Gate ( LTG) Incident.

The composition of members facilitated a comprehensive and cohesive approach to the investigative work of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry.

The Panel began its investigation into the Lekki Toll Gate Incident of 20th October, 2020, by issuing Summons to parties it considered pertinent to its finding and investigations as follows: The Lekki Concession Company (LCC), operators of the Lekki Toll Gate, Nigerian Army (NA); The Hierarchy of Lagos State Police Command and later also to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Maroko Police Division, the Lagos State Government, various hospitals, who were said to have attended to victims of the Lekki Toll Gate Incident, Operators of Advertising Billboards at the Lekki Toll Gate, and News outlets who carried investigative journalism on the incident.

The response to the Summons was hugely positive, as over 80% of those summoned honored the invitations, and gave evidence before the Panel, which assisted it greatly in unraveling the events of the 20th October 2020. The protesters on their own attended the Panel’s proceedings and presented evidence of what happened at the Lekki Toll Gate on the 20th of October, 2020.

On the part of the ENDSARS Protesters the Panel specifically considered the evidence of persons, who alleged that they were victims with injuries or death of their loved ones, which occurred during the Lekki Toll Gate Incident and the testimonies of those who were present and traumatized. Some gave accounts of what happened even though they had no physical injuries.

The evidence considered in this regard usually represented similar versions of the Lekki Toll Gate Incident as corroborated by other protesters, who were treated as Petitioners with Petitions arising from the Toll Gate Incident. Virtually all witnesses were cross examined by counsel to parties with opposing versions of Lekki Toll Gate Incident. Sequel to the above the Panel reached its findings and prepared its reports despite the evidence of the Nigerian Army, that was limited, as most of the officers who were summoned and who filed affidavits never appeared before the Panel).

At the conclusion of evidence of all relevant parties, key issues which called for determination and upon which the findings of the Panel were based are summarised as follows:

• Whether the Nigerian Army used live bullets on unarmed and defenseless protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate on 20th October 2020?

• Whether the live bullets resulted in injuries or casualties on the part of the protesters?

• Whether the Police was at the Toll Gate on the night of the 20th of October 2020 and the morning of the 21st of October 2020 and whether they shot at unarmed and defenseless protesters?

• Whether the LCC played any role in the events of the night of the 20th of October 2020?

• Whether the Lagos State played any role in the Lekki Toll Gate Incident of the 20th of October 2020.

The Panel thus made the following key findings:

1. That the Nigerian Army was invited for intervention in the State and was deployed to Lekki Toll Gate on the 20th of October 2020. At the Lekki Toll Gate, officers of the Nigerian Army shot, injured and killed unarmed helpless and defenseless protesters, without provocation or justification, while they were waving the Nigerian Flag and singing the National Anthem and the manner of assault and killing could in context be described as a massacre. The Panel also found that the conduct of the Nigerian Army was exacerbated by its refusal to allow ambulances render medical assistance to victims who required such assistance. The Army was also found not to have adhered to its own Rules of Engagement.

2. The Panel found that the Nigerian Police Force deployed its officers to the Lekki Toll Gate on the night of the 20th October, 2020 and between that night and the morning of the 21st of October, 2020, its officer shot at, assaulted and battered unarmed protesters, which led to injuries and deaths. The police officers also tried to cover up their actions by picking up bullets.

3. The panel found that LCC hampered the panel’s investigation by refusing to turn over some useful and vital information/evidence as requested by the Panel and the Forensic Expert engaged by the panel, even where such information and evidence was by the company’s admission, available. It manipulated the incomplete CCTV Video footage of the Lekki Toll Gate on the night of the 20th of October 2020, which it tendered before the Panel.

4. The Panel found that there was an invitation of the Nigerian Army to Lagos State made by the Lagos State Government through the Governor before the hierarchy of the Nigerian Army deployed its soldiers to the Lekki Toll Gate on the night of the 20th of October.

5. The Panel found that there was an attempt to cover up the Incident of the 20th of October by the cleaning of the Lekki Toll Gate and the failure to preserve the scene ahead of potential investigations.

Upon the above key findings amongst others, the Panel made a total of 32 Recommendations, which included but not limited to:

• Holistic Police Reforms covering welfare, training and proper equipping of Policemen and their working environment;

• Sanctioning of the officers of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Police Force respectively who participated in shooting, injuring and killing of unarmed protestors at the Lekki Toll Gate on the 20 and 21st of October 2020;

• Development of more robust engagement between the Youth and the Government;

• Setting up of a Standing Committee/Tribunal to deal with cases of Violation of Human Rights by security agencies and a trust fund to settle compensation awarded by such committee/tribunal;

• A public apology to ENDSARS protesters who were killed, injured and traumatized by the Incident of the 20th of October 2020;

• The memorialization of the Lekki Toll Gate and the 20th of October going forward.

• The recognition of Hospitals and Medical Doctors who played heroic roles following the Incident of the Lekki Toll Gate on the 20th of October 2020 thereby saving lives and minimizing the impact of the injuries suffered by the victims, most of which were on a pro-bono basis;

• The Panel recommended various sums of compensation to victims of the Lekki Toll Gate Incident, which must be expeditious in order to accelerate the healing process.

• The Panel recommended that any data that may have been generated over the years on the impunity of the Police across Nigeria be studied and deployed as early warning signs (EWS) mechanism.

The Panel recognizes that it had the cooperation of most stakeholders save for the Nigerian Army and some others who ignored summons issued by the Panel. The Panel accordingly notes the cooperation of stakeholders through their respective Counsel, such Counsel included, members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Counsel to the various groups of ENDSARS Protesters, Counsel to Lagos State Government, and Counsel to the Nigeria Police Force.

The Panel is grateful to the experts, who honored its various summons to attend proceedings and provide the panel with vital information and evidence. The contributions of the aforementioned aided tremendously the investigative work of the Panel.

The greatest limitation of the Panel was time as the Panel had to undertake its investigation into the Lekki Toll Gate Incident alongside other petitions in respect of Police brutality related matters. Following this limitation the panel was unable to determine all Petitions arising from the Lekki Toll Gate Incident and accordingly urges that those petitions be heard and determined by the standing committee/tribunal on Human Rights recommended by it.

The Panel thanks the Lagos State Government for giving it the opportunity to serve, providing the resources and allowing it to conduct its investigations and arrive at its findings independently and with integrity.

The Panel believes that with the implementation of the recommendations, the LEKKI TOLL GATE INCIDENT OF 20TH OCTOBER 2020 will never happen again, lessons will be learnt on all sides and there will be healing in the great state of Lagos State.

Five persons have been confirmed dead from a gas explosion that occurred at the busy Ladipo area of Mushin, Lagos.

Emergency responders said the figure comprised three men, a woman and a child.

The incident occurred at about 08:42am at 21 Ojekunle Street, off Ladipo Road and fire service officials were said to have been contacted immediately.

The Nation, relying on government sources, had earlier reported that three persons were believed to have been killed.

But Southwest Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, who gave the update, said the number had increased to five.

Farinloye said the child, aged 10, was rescued alive but died before arriving at the hospital.

The woman who also died in the fire was identified as Mama Funmi.

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It was gathered that the explosion occurred at a property used for mixed business activities including a beer parlour, mechanic workshop, gas shop among others.

It was however not clear if there were more victims in the premises at the time of the fire but the Lagos State Fire Service said rescue and recovery operations were ongoing.

Earlier, a statement by the Lagos State Fire Service’s Director, Margaret Adeseye, confirmed the recovery of the three men but was silent on their condition.

It said: “The gas incident which was reported at 08:42 hours Tuesday morning via the state emergency reporting platform was swiftly responded to by a combination of first and secondary responders.

“On arrival at the scene, it was discovered that it is an open space used for several activities including a beer parlour, mechanic workshop, spare parts sale and gas shop amongst others while housing a makeshift structure.

“Three male adults had been recovered as rescue and recovery operations continue and the environment isolated from causing any further secondary incident.

“Preliminary investigations to establish the fact of the incident continue and further discovery will be made public.”

Many residents have been feared dead in a gas explosion that occurred at Ojekunle Street, Papa Ajao Lagos on Tuesday morning.

The Nation reports the explosion occurred around 8 am.

Read Also: PHOTOS: Many feared dead in Lagos gas explosion

Many bodies have been taken away from the scene with more feared trapped.

Rescue efforts by residents were ongoing at the time of this report.

Details shortly…

 

The poor reading culture among Nigerians, especially students, has become a subject of concern among critical stakeholders in the education sector. Certain factors are said to contribute to fueling the ugly state of affairs. EMMA ELEKWA examines the nauseating phenomenon.

Of late, concerns have heightened over poor reading culture among Nigerians. There have been blames and counter-blames with regard to whom, among the government, parents, teachers and the larger society, is not doing the best to inculcate the virtue in our young ones.

Several suggestions have been proffered as ways to revive the culture of reading.

However, experts have maintained that one of the ways through which the ugly trend could be salvaged is a genuine commitment, on the part of parents and teachers, to ensuring the revival of reading culture in our schools.

Authorities in the knowledge industry have described reading as the gateway to learning without which children cannot access a broad and balanced education. In today’s literate world, academic success, securing employment and personal autonomy depend on reading and writing proficiency.

Reading is a skill that begets many other skills because it constitutes a key part of our capacity to increase our capability in all we do.

Scientists now believe that 95 per cent of all children can be taught to read. Yet, in spite of this knowledge, there is an alarming prevalence of poor reading culture among all segments of the Nigerian society; especially among the basic education school segment.

With little or no direct instruction, almost all young children develop the ability to understand spoken language. The majority never learn to read unless they are taught to.

That Nigerians, especially school children, have poor reading culture, is an indication that the majority of Nigerians are poor readers.

Studies have shown that the best way to stop reading failure is to teach reading in an organised, systematic and efficient way by knowledgeable teachers in a well-designed instructional approach.

In the past, everyone who went to school learnt to read. But about 30 years ago, experts say, many teachers, professors of education and publishing companies adopted the look-and-say method of teaching reading now called whole word or whole language.

The result is the disaster we now call poor readers. The problem is that they have never been efficiently and effectively taught to read. Sadly, the whole word method of teaching reading which dominates this practice in Nigeria today places undue emphasis on vocabulary and encourages memorisation.

According to specialists in Linguistics, the English language has more than 1, 000, 000 words and no one is known to have memorised all the 1, 000, 000 words. What a reader needs most is how to decode and comprehend a word. Every primary school teacher in Nigeria knows that the greatest problem of children with reading disabilities is decoding.

However, a good instructional approach will not produce the desired result without a knowledgeable teacher. Teaching reading is a job for experts. Learning to read is a complex linguistic task that is, in itself taxing. For many children, it requires efforts and incremental skill development.

On the other hand, teaching reading requires thorough knowledge or skill acquired through focused study and supervised practice. It is indisputable that classroom instruction works more than any other factor towards ameliorating reading problems.

Again, some attribute the challenge to the defective education system and reading language problem, others link it to lack of well-equipped or functional libraries in schools, institutions and state as well as low patronage of school libraries, among others.

Research reveals that 40 per cent of Nigerian adults find it difficult to read a non-fiction book from cover to the last page after they finished their education careers. The average Nigerian, it is said, reads less than one book a year, and only one per cent of successful men and women in Nigeria read one non-fiction book per month.

The same study showed that 30 million Nigerians have graduated from high school with poor reading skills. If regular reading and studying is a required condition of one’s job or profession, this, in effect, means that one will be compelled to read, even if it is under duress. The magnitude of this problem jeopardises the future of our younger generation.

What is most frustrating is that many of these reading problems are caused by the inability of the government and teachers to apply what is known as reading instruction or techniques.

The vast majority of the world’s information currently is not digitised; it is in print form, mostly in books. Reading among young adults is not exactly on the wane, but the delivery mechanism has changed.

Poverty is also observed to be a contributing factor to poor reading habits, not just among Nigerians, but in sub-Saharan Africa. Only a few people live above the poverty line. About 80 per cent of Africans live under hazardous conditions. The per capita income of an average citizen in Nigeria with its abundant natural resources is two dollars.

This affects the reading habits of most Nigerians. Many are too poor to send their children to school. They lack money to buy books and pay school fees.

Another factor is the governments’ inability to establish libraries in schools or build public libraries where individuals could go and read or carry out researches.

In Anambra State, for instance, the conditions of most of the libraries in the state have elicited serious concerns.

Those who spoke to The Nation lamented the sorry state of libraries in schools. In the existing ones, the books and journals on their shelves are outdated.

According to them, most of the libraries, particularly the ones in the commercial city of Onitsha, which were established on November 26, 1966, needed a complete overhaul in terms of structure and content.

They also observed that the locations of some of the libraries could constitute discouragement to prospective users in view of the busy nature of the environment.

They argued that for the facilities to be up to standard and to function maximally in the 21st Century, the government and other relevant authorities must intensify efforts towards renovating and equipping them to meet international best practices.

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A student, Miss Precious Okoye, who was seen reading in a library in Onitsha, decried the poor state of the facility, noting that it lacks modern books for research.

“Many of us have resorted to online research to ensure we updated our knowledge because most of the books here are outdated,” she said.

A resident, who identified himself as Maxwell Udodiri, said the location of the library alone could pose a serious impediment to prospective users.

He said: “The location of the library alone is a major challenge. A library is expected to be in a serene and quiet environment to allow maximum concentration and assimilation.

“But the library is sited at one of the busiest roads in the commercial city where thousands of motorists ply daily, blasting their horns indiscriminately.”

An official of the library, who preferred not to be named, regretted the gradual decline in patronage to the library, attributing the situation to dilapidation as well as lack of modern books and journals.

She said: “The number of users has dropped drastically because the facility lacks modern books and journals and the structure is dilapidated. These are some of the major challenges we are facing here.”

One of the stakeholders and an educationist, Mrs Ego Mgbagwu said the idea of establishing libraries in various schools in the state was informed by the growing need to acquire knowledge, particularly among youths in the country.

Mgbagwu, Chief Executive Officer, Zaccheus Onumba Dibiaezue Memorial Libraries (ZODML), described education as the bedrock of development in any society, hence the important role of the library in students’ academic achievement and lifelong learning process and self-education.

She said: “The establishment and equipping of many libraries across primary and secondary schools in the state have helped to revive the dwindling reading culture, which, in turn, helps in eliminating illiteracy, keep history afresh and help our students to be abreast of developments around the globe.

“There is also the need to assist students in the public primary and secondary schools that might not be able to afford the relevant books due to financial constraints.”

On the state of libraries in the state, the Chief Librarian Mrs Nkechi Udeze said the state remained one of the states that had the best libraries in the country, a feat she attributed to the attention the government had given to upgrading the facilities.

She said of the 11 libraries located across the state, some undergo regular equipment with up-to-date books, while others, particularly those managed by the communities where they were located, were yet to receive the needed attention.

She said: “Anambra State ranks high in library management when compared with other states in the country. Some states at some point had to close down some of their libraries for lack of interest of the government and other stakeholders.”

Udeze, however, revealed that the renovation of the libraries was captured as capital projects in the annual budget after a memo was sent to the Ministry of Education to that effect, adding that the contractor had visited some of the sites.

“The library in Abagana has been re-roofed by the lawmaker representing the constituency while Atani library is currently undergoing routine maintenance. In fact, communities are expected to assist in maintaining libraries in their various localities,” she added.

She attributed the proliferation of special centres and mercenaries for examination malpractices to a lack of seriousness on the part of the government and the reading public attached to the library.

She said: “If up to 50 per cent of Nigerians appreciate the value of library and what they stand to benefit therefrom, most of our libraries won’t be in the dilapidated state they are currently.

“Parents too are not helping matters. How many parents encourage their children to study? You see most parents watching TV with their kids. Some children even threaten to kill their parents if they don’t pay for special centres for them.

“The situation is quite discouraging that if not for the passion some of us have for the job, maybe we would have left this job. Personally, I chose Library Science as a course because I wanted to work in a public library so as to serve the masses at the grassroots.”

On the location of the Onitsha library, the Chief Librarian said there was no need for that, disclosing that the building is sound-proof.

“There’s no problem with the location because if you enter the building, it’s so quiet that one won’t even hear any noise. Whoever complains about noise in the Onitsha library is not yet serious to read.

“It’s even Nnewi library that one can complain about the noisy environment. But talking about relocation is a huge challenge because it will involve land which nobody will be willing to donate,” she noted.

She listed other services being provided to the public by the library management to include health talks, skill acquisition across all the libraries in the state, among others.

To end reading failure and teach the children how to read, the government should show more commitment to drawing a rewarding reading programme for Nigeria.

The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Enquiry and Restitution for Victims of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS)-related abuses and the October 20 Lekki Tollgate shootings affirmed on Monday that it awarded N410 million to 70 victims of Police brutality.

The panel stated this in the report it submitted to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday.

The amount confirms The Nation’s story following the panel’s conclusion of its assignment on October 18, 2021.

The Nation had reported, among others, that 235 petitions were received with only 14 of them being on the alleged Lekki shooting incident.

Receiving the report on Monday, Governor Sanwo-Olu set up a four-member committee, led by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), to issue a white paper on the findings.

Other members of the committee are Commissioner for Youths and Social Development Segun Dawodu; Special Adviser, Works and Infrastructure Mrs Aramide Adeyoye and Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office, Mrs Tolani Oshodi.

The committee is to submit the white paper within two weeks for consideration by the Lagos State Executive Council.

The governor pledged that the reports and recommendations will be made public and submitted to the National Economic Council (NEC).

He constituted the committee after receiving the two reports presented to him at the Lagos House, Ikeja by the panel chairman, Justice Doris Okuwobi (retd).

The reports are on the investigation on petitions on several cases of abuse and killings by the Police, especially the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the October 20, 2020, Lekki Toll Gate shootings during the #EndSARS protests.

Sanwo-Olu promised that the government’s action would be guided by the law and in the public interest.

The governor expressed hope that the Lagos State government’s decision on the reports would bring complete healing, reconciliation and restitution.

“We will ensure that the recommendations that are coming out that will be turned into a white paper would be made available to the public.

“We will do it appropriately so that history will judge us well and we will have a document that will stand the test of time. That is what the tribunal law says so that it will be properly documented and gazetted in government’s records,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu, who pointed out that the panel had operated independently, commended members of the Justice Okuwobi-led panel for a job well done and also expressed appreciation to Lagosians for their cooperation during the exercise, which lasted for almost a year.

Read Also: EndSARS: Burnt police stations in Lagos undergoing renovation – CP

Justice Okuwobi said part of the recommendations of the panel is the establishment of a body to take over human rights abuses in Lagos.

“As much as the panel desired to have taken all petitions, the ones that were not taken by the panel were those that did not comply to our rules. So in this report, we made recommendations for a body to take over human rights abuse cases in Lagos State,” she said.

A member of the panel, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), in a statement, urged the governor to make the findings public.

He said: “True to his word, the governor granted total independence to the panel, as we worked according to our conscience and based upon our common convictions.

“Specifically for the Lekki Toll Gate Investigation, we set up certain crucial issues for determination, as to whether: there was any protest at the Lekki Toll Gate, the nature of the protest, the presence and mission of soldiers at the Lekki Toll Gate, whether blank or live bullets were shot by the soldiers, whether there was any death and if so, the numbers involved, whether there was any massacre at the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020, and if so, what evidence is available in proof thereof, whether the police were at the Lekki Toll Gate and if so, whether they shot and killed the protesters, etc.

“The panel answered these questions truthfully, frankly and courageously, based on the evidence led before it, believing that the crimes against humanity that took place at the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020, would never happen again in our nation…

“Although I have my copy of the report of the panel, I will trust His Excellency to fulfil his promise to Nigerians to make the findings and recommendations of the panel public.

“That is the only way to build a true nation and avoid a repeat of the atrocious acts of security agencies against our people, especially the youths, the vulnerable and the helpless.”

It will no longer be business as usual for Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) operating in the Northeast, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, said yesterday.

Bawa, who said the activities of some of the organisations have become worrisome, insisted that the anti-graft agency, henceforth, beam its searchlight on them.

He said regulating the NPOs, especially those operating in areas with Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) presence, became necessary to check terrorist financing.

The EFCC boss said the measure was in tune with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) regulations.

FATF standard requires countries to identify assets and understand the money laundering/terrorist financing risks.

Speaking in Abuja at the opening of the Technical Working Group of the National Risk assessment for the NPO Sector in Nigeria, Bawa said: “The Non-Profit sector is a unique sector that provides innumerable services to humanity across the world.

“They are globally recognised for their humanitarian services, support and hope to the weak and vulnerable in a variety of ways but most importantly, in complimenting government’s developmental efforts towards the provision of essential services to the vulnerable.

“In Nigeria, especially in the Northeast, NPOs have significantly complimented government’s effort in rebuilding, reconstruction and provision of humanitarian support to the internally displaced persons and other citizens even in the remote locations of the deep field.

“Unfortunately, the sector has been susceptible to the risk of terrorist financing. In particular, the vulnerability of the sector has been a global concern as it has been used to raise, move funds and provide logistical support to terrorist organisations.

“Thus, in Nigeria, government’s efforts in expanding the relatively free civic space have only resulted in the proliferation of NPOs especially in the Northeast where the country is most challenged with colossal humanitarian crisis created by the Boko Haram insurgency.

“The continued and increasing exposure of their activities therefore coupled with the absence of a unified comprehensive regulatory and supervisory framework for the sector in Nigeria remains a source of concern for the authorities.”

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On the FATF regulations, Bawa explained: “As you all know, the FATF standard requires countries to identify, assess and understand the Money Laundering/Terrorist Financing risks associated with “at risk NPOs” only for AML/CFT obligations and not the general community of NPOs. Nigeria was therefore rated non-compliant due to the absence of a comprehensive risk assessment report of the operators in the sector.

“As you are all aware, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) requires countries to identify, assess and understand the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risks, inherent in their systems for an efficient allocation of resources to address the identified threats and vulnerabilities.

“In response to this requirement and as the relevant supervisory authority of the Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs), we have accorded this exercise, the relevant importance it requires by extending invitation to all stakeholders in the industry to participate in the exercise that will lead to the identification of the “at risk NPOs” to terrorism financing.

“Even more recently was Nigeria’s performance in the second round of the mutual evaluation exercise where the country sustained a non-compliant rating in FATF’s Recommendation eight.

“The recommendation requires countries to review the adequacy of their laws and regulations that relate to NPO, which the country has identified as being vulnerable to terrorist financing abuse. Countries are also obliged to apply focused and proportionate measures, in line with the risk-based approach.

“It is in recognition of the foregoing that we have gathered here today to commence the process of identifying the NPOs with funds at risk of being appropriated for Terrorism Financing.”

Listed the advantages therein for Nigeria, Bawa said: “This is a unique and important event as it forms an essential component in the development and implementation of an effective national Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime of any country, which includes the review of laws, regulations, enforcement and other measures to mitigate ML/TF risks.

“The assessment will also enable Nigeria:

• Conduct proper classification of the NPOs in Nigeria and identify those at risk to money laundering threat/terrorist financing abuse.
• Ensure improved compliance with relevant international, regional and domestic laws/regulations (FATF/GIABA/MLPA/TPA/CAMA) by NPOs.
• Develop commensurate mitigation measures for the ‘at risk and vulnerable NPOs’ operating in Nigeria.
• Ensure enhanced coordination and collaboration between government regulatory/law agencies and the civic space.

“Accordingly, you all have been carefully selected by your organisations amongst many other colleagues to bring your industry to bear towards a successful conduct of the exercise.”