The Nation Newspaper

Tag: allegation

  • Ex-lawmaker blasts Fayose’s aide over ‘wild allegation’

    Former member of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Sunday Adunmo, has slammed the Special Assistant to Ekiti State Governor on Public Communication, Lere Olayinka, for allegedly using his position to carry out hatchet job and making “wild allegations” against perceived opponents.

    Addressing a briefing to defend his integrity against Olayinka’s allegation that he (Adunmo) used government funds to build a hotel in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, the former legislator said he had been in business for over 20 years before joining politics and never diverted public funds to his private business.

    Adunmo was in the House of Assembly between 2007 and 2011 on the platform of the defunct Action Congress (AC) where he represented Oye Constituency 2 and was later appointed as Senior Special Assistant on Roads to former Governor Kayode Fayemi between 2011 and 2014.

    Olayinka had alleged during an interview programme on the radio channel of Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES) that Adunmo built his hotel with government money and should be questioned on the source of funds for the project.

    But Adunmo said he started business in Ibadan over 20 years before coming home to invest to contribute his quota to the development of his home state and was never found guilty of embezzlement, misappropriation and diversion of public funds.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain explained that his business interests spanned real estate, construction and hospitality with business contacts within and outside the country adding that he only heeded the call of the people to come back home and participate in politics.

    The politician explained that he bought the building in question in 2009 before Fayemi assumed power which he converted into a hotel business.

    Adunmo added that the building he converted to the hotel had been under renovation before he was appointed to serve under the Fayemi’s administration, adding that in as much as he would not join issues with Olayinka over the matter, he need to clear the air  so that the “falsehood would not become truth”

    He explained that his quest to invest in hotel business was to contribute to the state economy and provide jobs the teeming unemployed youths and to further improve hotel businesses in the state.

    Adunmo warned Olayinka to desist from playing politics of bitterness adding that such is capable of setting political leaders against one another.

  • Weighty allegation

    Naval boss’ accusation that the police free suspects arrested by the navy calls for probe

    The report emanating from the visit by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, last week, threw up some important security questions. While the naval chief blamed the police for bungling the prosecution of notorious criminals arrested by the navy and handed over to the police, the IGP absolved the police and said the blame should rather go to the judiciary, which he said was in charge of the prosecution.

    According to the report, the CNS said: “The navy has handed over to the police arrested persons who are involved in maritime crimes. We are hoping that most of the suspects that were handed over to police… would be prosecuted so as to serve as deterrent to would-be offenders”. He further noted: “I want to observe areas where we have concerns. At some levels, we have had some instances where criminal cases which were handed over to the police have been muddled up… and at the end of the day, such criminals find their way back to the same operational areas where they were arrested”.

    This allegation is weighty and require thorough investigation, and not just to push the blame to the judiciary as the IGP reportedly did. So, we urge the IGP to constitute a discrete investigation in the volatile spots like Arepo, Ogun State, to find out if his officers were condoning the criminalities, as the CNS implied. It is bad enough that our coastal areas have become very dangerous, with kidnapping and other serious maritime crimes now common.

    The naval chief also said that there was no Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) between the military and other security stakeholders. He promised that the Navy was working on one that would be put to use shortly. While we praise the navy for the initiative, we urge for collaboration with other stakeholders, so that such new manual would be acceptable across board. Perhaps the SOP will help to determine the responsibilities of the arresting officials and those that the criminals are handed over to.

    We also share in the optimism of the CNS of the capability of our security agencies to nip in the bud the prevailing insecurity along our waterways. What the security agencies lacked in the past was commitment and capacity. So, the present government should encourage the retraining and reequipping of the maritime police; collaboration with the navy and whatever is necessary to fill the gap in the security of our coastal areas. We agree with the CNS when he told the IGP: “We want the suspects to be diligently prosecuted for a safer environment …, so we need to work together and collaborate in that area. If we are able to work closely, we can nip crime in the bud.”

    The collaboration in training between the navy and the police should be streamlined, like that between the army and the civil defence. Such inter-agency collaboration is for our common good, and would save our country scarce resources. Inter-security agencies’ collaboration would also enhance trust and the sharing of intelligence to our common benefit. As the IGP rightly noted, the police and the navy should work together to rein in kidnapping and dangerous crimes, now prevalent in Lagos and Niger Delta.

    The Federal Government should also be ready to support this initiative. Nigeria should never go back to the era of handing over the security of our critical infrastructure to private hands. For us, all our security agencies should work together to solve the prevailing security challenges.

  • Michael Okpara varsity VC denies gagging allegation over Abia North rerun election

    Michael Okpara varsity VC denies gagging allegation over Abia North rerun election

    The Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Prof. Francis Ogbonnaya Otunta, has described as a  malicious falsehood, a newspaper report alleging that he gagged the Returning Officer of the Abia North senatorial rerun election, Engr. Dr. Nwankwoejike Betrand Nduka, by banning him from speaking on the election.

    The report, published by a national newspaper, alleged that Prof Otunta said that comments by Nwankwoejike, the Returning Officer, who is also the Head of Department of Engineering of MOUAU, was causing the institution serious embarrassment.

    The VC, according the report, dragged Nwankwoejike before the university management and ordered him to offer explanations on the election.

    After his presentation, the report went on, the Vice Chancellor warned the Returning Officer against making any further comments on the Abia North rerun poll unless he got clearance from the university’s lawyer.

  • Jigawa denies PDP’s N400m allegation

    The Jigawa State government has denied the allegation of the embezzlement of N400 million to celebrate Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) members, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last month.

    Commissioner for Information Alhaji Bala Ibrahim, in a text message, described the allegation as mischievous.

    He said: “It is the ranting of a frustrated PDP leadership. It is frustrated because we received defectors from its fold.”

    The Jigawa State branch of the PDP at a news conference at the weekend alleged that Governor Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar took N400 million from the government’s coffers to receive  defectors to the APC.

    The Chairman, Alhaji Salisu Mamuda, in Dutse alleged: “Governor Abubakar invited eight APC governors, House of Representatives’ Speaker, ministers, senators and the national chairman to celebrate the defection of 350,000 PDP members to the APC.”

  • Gafar denies Osimhen’s economic right allegation

    Gafar denies Osimhen’s economic right allegation

    36 Lions FC boss, Liameed Olawale Gafar  has denied the report claiming he owns part of Victor Osimhen’s economic right as the player plans to sign for clubs in Europe.

    Speaking live on Channels Sports on Sunday, Gafar shed more light on the growing controversy surrounding the transfer saga of the FIFA U-17 goal record holder, and the role he played in the  transfer process. “Economic rights these days is no longer in existence and this is because FIFA has banned it, and I’m aware of this. So I don’t have any economic right since I know what the rules say”, Gafar told Channels Sports.

    “My role with Osimhen is a fatherly role, I don’t have direct contact with Victor, but I have contact with Victor’s club, Synergy Ultimate Strikers; I have contact with thousands of youth players out there. I have contact with the club as an adviser, co-sponsor and a father, that is it.

    ‘’I didn’t send thugs to beat up Victor’s father, Patrick Osimhen. As far as I am concerned, that is the joke of the year, the man is 72-years-old, the person I really know is Coach Chinedu, who happens to be the owner of the club. He has been grooming the boy (Victor) for how long God knows. I met the father when the issue of Victor’s transfer controversy started. Coach Chinedu requested I should talk to the father so that he won’t allow people  mislead them. On a particular day, I met Andrew, the elder brother Blessing, Gloria and all other family members on the same issue. When the allegation came up I was in Germany with  the elder brother and others, so I don’t know where they got the story from”, Gafar said.

    On the power of attorney handed over to Victor’s principal agent, Shira Yussuf (elder brother of Ayila Yussuf), Gafar said: The father is always busy, he is 72, the brother Andrew has his own job too; but there is a guy called Shira, who is Ayila’s elder brother. He knows much of football than the father, Andrew and coach Chinedu, so as a result he was handed the legal guardian so that the boy can be guided properly; and I came in as an adviser to them all.

    “We had a successful discussion at Wolfsburg, and the offer was good; but because we are not only concerned about the money; I told them as their adviser, let’s go back home and consult people who know more than us. Signing for Wolfsburg without weighing other options is like putting ourselves in a tight corner without knowing what others are bringing on board. Victor will be 17 years in two days time so he should be able to differentiate between Arsenal, Manchester United and AS Roma”, he concluded.

    However, both coach Chinedu Ogenna, and Shira Yussuf also gave versions of their role in the controversial transfer saga. Both of them stated Gafar’s position in Victor Osimhen’s purported transfer issue.

  • Corruption allegation: Health workers fault committee report on medical director

    Corruption allegation: Health workers fault committee report on medical director

    Health workers under the auspices of Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) have faulted the committee report that exonerated the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri, Angela Uwakwem, from all the corrupt allegations that were raised against her.

    The National President of Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, Comrade Biobelemoye Joy Josaiah, at a media briefing in Abuja, yesterday, described as fraud the manner and way the committee submitted the report.

    In the past few months, health workers at the FMC Owerri have been at daggers drawn with the CMD over alleged corruption issues, which necessitated the Federal Ministry of Health setting up a committee to examine the issues.

    The committee last week presented its report, exonerating her of all allegations.

    Some of the allegations earlier raised against her include denial of the 2013 and 2014 promotion arrears that runs into several millions of naira, and that she paid herself for spending extra hour at work against the civil service rule, among others.

    However, Josaiah at the media briefing said: “In a report hurriedly written without our input and in desperation to ensure that the matter is swept under the carpet before the resumption of the minister of health who would be coming with the change mantra of Mr President, Dr. Uwakwem was exonerated from any financial misappropriation and corruption. Nothing can be further from the truth.

    “Facts available have it that the medical director is in breach of public service rule 030301, 030402, 100230. 030404 which borders on misconduct and serious misconduct and financial regulation S.316 (ii) which deals with virement from one head in the recurrent expenditure to another head of account in the capital expenditure being prohibited amongst other infractions, details of which are contained in our minority report and our previous correspondences to the head of the civil service of the federation.

    “You recall that a fact finding committee was set up to look into the matters in Owerri and a presentation was made. Just after then, a matter we thought would be for internal implementation and discussion was leaked to the media and there was a lot of misinformation.”

    He also insisted that the union member who had been part of the committee was sidelined and the report was submitted without the view of its members.

    “The union was part of the committee. Along the line, there were divergent views and we wrote our minority report.

    “Prior to the meeting where the report was presented, we have agreed that we should have one full house meeting so that we can agree whether we can harmonise positions before we move on.

    “But to our surprise, besides the fact that we were not given the opportunity to go for the last discussion which was converted for presentation, again, the booklet that was presented, we did not have the privilege to even see what was presented, as our committee report and our own minority report was not included in the official report.”

  • Governor not guilty of allegation, says aide

    Governor not guilty of allegation, says aide

    Nothing can be further from the truth than the position of the respected Uwvie Chief Newton Agbofodoh. In the first place everybody in Delta is a supporter of the governor even those who contested election against him, because they are Deltans and we believe that they mean well even the particular chief, just as much as the Governor does, to that extent, we are saying that they are all supporters of the government and Gov. Okowa. So anybody does anything we can say he is not a Deltan because he has committed something wrong .If take it from that perspective the man is right that anybody who is doing good or doing bad is the supporter of the Gov Okowa because they voted for Okowa and his mandate is total.He is Governor for everybody. Gov. Okowa being the chief security officer feels the headache when there is trouble in any part of the State and to that extent he cannot support anyone to cause trouble because the trouble bounces back to him. Maybe Chief Agbofodoh needs further briefing perhaps he did not get his facts right. I must tell you that the Gov Okowa is very disturbed by the situation in Uwvie particularly with respect with the development at the motor park and to that extent he did not hesitate in directing the security agencies in the State to put everything within the bounds of the law to arrest the situation in Uwvie. If you look back the situation is not as bad as it was two weeks ago. It was not by magic and it was not because those troublemakers were tired of trouble. It was because Gov.Okowa took steps and Gov Okowa will not rest on his oars until Uwvie becomes peaceful.

    CLO-Chief Agbofodoh seems very economical with the truth.Gov Okowa cannot just start removing people from positions without being properly briefed about all developments in all the communities in the State .If anybody’s tenure is exhausted either Gov Okowa will make move for the revalidation of the tenure or another person will be appointed .Okowa will not do anything illegal. Do not forget Senator Okowa just left the senate, the highest law making body in the land to that extent he knows what the law says and so he will not travel the path of injustice or condone illegality. Everything is being done to bring about a harmonious working relationship between the oil companies, the communities and leaders of the different communities.

     

  • Ex-education commissioner denies N4.5m fraud allegation

    Immediate past Commissioner for Basic Education in Edo State, Patrick Aguinede, has denied media reports that he was sacked because of an alleged N4.5m fraud.

    The report published in a national daily claimed that the former commissioner was fingered in the fraud which was the registration fee for the Junior Secondary School certificate examination.
    Speaking to reporters in his office, Aguinede explained that the state government was yet to release fund for the conduct of the examination.

    Aguinede who was sacked alongside three other commissioners stated that the registration money was paid into government coffers.

    According to him; “That report is misleading and damaging. Such persons should have cleared from me first. Money for the examination was not paid to me. It was paid to government.”

    “Government is yet to release money for the conduct of the examination. The file was handed to the SSG for scrutiny and cost implications. Money has not been released.”

    “Contractors did the job on goodwill and the examination was conducted. I don’t. Have any grudge against the governor reliving me of my appointments. He has the right to remove anybody. Nothing strange has happened. I never desired to be a commissioner. “

  • Stallion Group denies duty evasion allegation

    Stallion Group, a multi national company, has denied allegations of duty evasion on rice imports leveled against it.

    In a statement, the group said it has not committed any fraud or evaded any due obligations of import duties in 2014 as alleged.

    The statement reads: “Popular Farms and Mills Limited and Masco Agro Allied Industries Limited being subsidiaries of Stallion Group importedXYZ matric tonnes of rice, and fully paid a total duty and levies of N17 billion at the prevailing duty and levy rates as approved by Mr. President for millers under the new National Rice Policy contained in circular no. BD/FP/TT/50/1/99 of 8th July,2014.

    “Our rice production companies are contending that, legally, the retrospective duties being demanded by the Nigeria Customs Service are not payable and will adhere to any final judgment made by the country’s rule of law and due process.The rice companies have also issued a bond to secure Nigeria Customs from any potential proven obligation; therefore there is no question of any fraud or evasion. Our companies have not sought or received any “waivers” as misunderstood by some.

    “We are a law-abiding group with international operations in several countries that strictly comply with all applicable law, rules and regulations. Stallion will never evade or avoid any lawfully due obligations in any of its business transactions in any country.”

  • Allegation against ex-Oyo council boss false

    A group, Ile Titun/Oke-Odo Progressive Forum in Ibadan Southeast Local Government Area has debunked a rumour being peddled around by a dissident group with the All Progressives Congress (APC), against the immediate past chairman of Ibadan Southeast Local Government Area, Mr Abass Najeemdeen.

    In a statement issued by the chairman of the group, Comrade Wasiu Adeyemo and its Secretary, Comrade Isiaka Salaudeen, the group said the allegation levelled against the former council chief aimed at discrediting his personality and intergrity in the eyes of the people and the Governor Abiola Ajimobi-led government.

    The group, which described Mr Najeemdeen as a grassroots mobiliser, crusader, and human rights activist whose contributions to the socio-political development of his local government and the state cannot be written off.

    The group stressed that the group consists mainly of dissident members in the area who worked for the opposition in order to cause the downfall of Governor Ajimobi during the last election.

    “This dissident members needed to be reminded that since assumption of office on August 8, 2011, Alhaji Najeemdeen has been applying his intellect, experience and expertise to the reformation, repositioning and restructuring agenda of Governor Ajimobi-led administration and through his effort, he has revived and redeemed the lost glory of the council,” they said.

    They group warned them to desist from all attempts capable of causing disaffection and disunity in the council area and from distracting Governor Ajimobi from delivering on his electioneering promises to the people.