The Nation Newspaper

Tag: investigate

  • Reps to investigate abandoned power project

    Reps to investigate abandoned power project

    The House of Representatives yesterday mandated its Committee on Power to investigate the abandoned Omotosho-Epe-Ajah 135 Km, 330 KV Double Circuit Transmission Line project in Epe, Lagos.

    The resolution followed the passage of a motion by a member, Wale Raji.

    According to  the lawmaker, the contract was reportedly awarded by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in December 2010, through its 10 GW grid expansion plan to KEC Construction Company Ltd for $24,650,255.24 and a naira component of N1, 627,303,799.79. It was abandoned at only 27 per cent completion.

    “The overloaded and overstretched 33KV line from Egbin Terminal substation is the only source of electricity supply to Epe and its environs.

    “The erratic power supply in Epe and its environs has negatively affected the socio-economic life of the people as local industries and businesses have shut down or resorted to generators,” he said.

    The House urged the Ikeja Distribution Company to restore electricity to Epe, pending the completion of the project.

  • Investigate customs officers in the Southeast, group urges Buhari

    The Campaign for Democracy (CD) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Hameed Ali, to investigate the alleged corrupt activities of his officers in the Southeast.

    The group urged Buhari to overhaul the leadership of the NCS for alleged impunity and abuse of office.

    A statement by its Chairman Dede Uzor. A. Uzor, said the current crop of officers have dented the image of the NCS, adding that urgent intervention by the Presidency was imperative to save the traders from further harassments and extortion.

    The organisation alleged that the activities of these officers was responsible for the continued rise in the prices of essential commodities as traders are compelled to inflate prices because of the bribe given to the officers at the road blocks.

    The statement reads: The traders have lost over two billion naira in the last four months to extortion and indiscriminate seizure by the officers who waylay them at every entry point.

    “The activities of these men have become worrisome to the CD, given its grave consequences. At every checkpoint, which is scattered all over the place, each lorry pays between N20,000 to N50,000, depending on the goods it was conveying, though they have all the requisite papers.

    “Most disturbing is the fact that the impounded goods still find their ways to the market because the wives and relatives of these officers own some of the biggest shops in the markets, which they stock with the seized products.

    “This is not a mere allegation, but a serious issue that should be investigated, and those indicted be punished accordingly. We are urging the President to extend his war against corruption to the customs officers serving in the Southeast. He should as matter urgency, set up a taskforce to monitor their activities.

    “The impunity of these officers cannot be compared to what is obtained in other zones and this explains the high rate of seizure of goods.”

    When contacted on the allegations, Controller of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C, David Dimka, responded thus: “since you are in Owerri, you can do your investigations and find out the truth”.

  • Reps investigate delay in N3.7tr refinery projects

    Reps investigate delay in N3.7tr refinery projects

    The House of Representatives yesterday  mandated its Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) to investigate  delay in the commencement of the N3.7 trillion Green Field Refinery projects.

    The project which was for the construction of refineries in Lagos, Bayelsa and Kogi states, with a completion date of this year, is yet to commence four years after the agreement was signed.

    The Committee headed by Dakuku Peterside is to report to the House within two weeks.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the adoption of the prayers of a motion brought by a member, Abbas Tajudeen.

    The lawmaker, while presenting his motion, noted that the Federal Government signed an agreement on May 13, 2010 with the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) for the construction of Greenfield Refineries project in Lagos, Bayelsa and Kogi states at the cost $23 billion ( N3.7 trillion) with a completion period of five years.

    “Based on the terms, 80 per cent of the cost is to be funded with a loan provided by China Export Credit Insurance Corporation and a consortium of Chinese banks led by the Industrial Commercial Bank of China, while the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), is to provide 20 per cent of the funding as equity contribution.”

    He lamented that no tangible work has been done in any of the three project sites, with just a year to the end of the period projected for the completion of the refineries “even though the Minister of Petroleum Resources had assured the public of the commitment of the NNPC to pursue the projects as soon as the White Paper on the report of the 22-member Task Force headed by former Minister of Finance, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu was released.”

    The lawmaker lamented  that in spite of the fact that a favourable recommendation by the Task Force for the Lagos refinery had been released out of the three, there is no evidence of the plan to construct a refinery at the Lekki site by next year.

    “The revelations by the Minister of Petroleum Resources raises issues that need clarification as to the reason for the delay in the commencement of the projects and subsequent reduction in their scope after the delay in releasing the report of the Task Force and the White Paper on it, “ he said.

    The motion sailed through  when the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, who presided called for a vote on it.

     

  • Police investigate NFF fire

    Police investigate NFF fire

    The Nigeria Police Force(NPF) have begun investigation into the fire which gutted the office of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday morning.

    Assistant Police Commissioner Abubakar Baba made this known at the scene of the fire incident: “We have begun investigations into the fire that gutted the office of the NFF in Abuja in the morning (Wednesday).

    “We have not made any arrests but we hope to ascertain what caused this fire among other things.”

    The offices of the NFF general secretary as well as that of the chief accountant were gutted by fire. It took more than an hour before fire fighters could put out the inferno.

    “The fire started from the chief accountant’s office as I was told,” said NFF general secretary Musa Amadu.

    “I just arrived the office and saw the smoke and was not allowed to go upstairs obviously for safety reasons. Members of staff  would have been able to reduce the impact of the damage, but could not gain access into my office and as such could not quench or trace where the smoke was coming from.

    “But we must not engage in blame games and thank God that no life was lost. But this is sad and unfortunate.”

    NFF president Aminu Maigari and some of his officials visited the scene of the incident.

  • Nasarawa Chief Judge inaugurates panel to investigate Gov. Al-Makura

    Nasarawa Chief Judge inaugurates panel to investigate Gov. Al-Makura

    Justice Suleiman Dikko, the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State on Friday inaugurated a seven-member panel to investigate the allegation of gross misconduct leveled against Governor Umaru Al-Makura by the state assembly.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state lawmakers had on July 23, passed a resolution directing the Chief Judge to set up the probe panel within seven days in line with the provisions of the constitution.

    Inaugurating the panel on Friday in Lafia, Dikko said that setting up of the committee was in line with the state assembly’s request to appoint a seven man panel to investigate the governor.

    Those in the panel are MalamYusuf Usman (Chairman); Malam Mohammed Sabo Keana; Rev. Joel Galadima;  Alhaji Abdul Usman; Mr Samuel Chaku; Malam Mohammed Sani Usman and Pastor Daniel Chaga as members.

    The chief judge urged the members to discharge their duties in line with Section 188, Sub-section 1-11 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    The section read:  ”A panel appointed under this section shall have powers and exercise its functions in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed by the house of assembly and within three months of its appointment report its findings to the house of assembly.”

    It will be recalled that the state assembly had on July 14, resolved to serve Al-Makura impeachment notice over alleged gross misconduct.

  • UEFA to investigate Efe Ambrose’s Celtic

    UEFA to investigate Efe Ambrose’s Celtic

    Efe Ambrose’s Scottish side Celtic FC risks incurring the wrath of UEFA as the European football governing body on Thursday stated that they will be investigating the SPL champions.

    The planned UEFA investigation is to get to the root of a scenario which saw Celtic supporters set off fireworks during Tuesday night’s Champions League tie with Cliftonville at Parkhead.

    The Scottish champions will now have to answer a charge which allegedly breaches articles 16.2 of UEFA’s disciplinary regulations.

    Ambrose was on target in the said match as Neil Lennon’s side won the match 2-0 to secure a 5-0 aggregate scoreline against their Irish opponents.

    Confirming the UEFA investigation being launched, a Celtic club statement read: -Three fireworks were exploded within Section 111, causing the Match Referee to require a stadium announcement to be made instructing such behaviour to stop.

    “As a result of this unprecedented step by a match official, Celtic FC will now be the subject of a disciplinary action for contravention of the UEFA Safety and Security Regulations.

    “Article 16.2 states that “all associations and clubs are liable for inappropriate behaviour on the part of their supporters and may be subject to disciplinary measures and directives even if they can prove the absence of any negligence in relation to the organisation of the match” relating to, among other things, the “lighting of fireworks or any other objects.”

    Celtic were fined £21,000 by UEFA following a Europa League game against Udinese in Italy in December 2011 as a result of fans’ misbehaviour and could as well been fined more if found guilty yet again.

  • Investigate botched Akwa, Wolves match

    As the botched Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match between Akwa United and Warri Wolves continues to generate varied reactions and comments, the technical adviser of Warri Wolves, Solomon Ogbeide, has called on the League Management Company (LMC) to discreetly investigate the cause of the ugly incident and mete out punishment to whoever is found guilty.

    Coach Ogbeide is apparently reacting to comments credited to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board member, Chief Effiong Johnson that Warri Wolves masterminded the ugly development. Ogbeide queried where he got his facts from, arguing that the same Johnson he pleaded with to help remedy the situation but refused on the excuse that Uyo people are known for their volatile behaviour, has suddenly turned around to heap blame on his team.

    “I will not like to join issues with anybody but I want the LMC to carry out their investigation and punish whoever is found guilty. But the questions remain; was it our fans that attacked the referees? How did they get access to the dressing room? And remember it was in this same Uyo that a live telecast match was aborted and Akwa United paid a fine of N15 million to the NPL in 2009. It was in this same Uyo that referee Felicia was almost lynched by the home fans,” Ogbeide, a former coach of Akwa United said.

  • ICPC to investigate asset declaration forms of public officers

    Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) chair Mr. Ekpo Nta yesterday said the commission will work with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to unmask public officials who gave false information on their assets on oathfor prosecution.

    The commission also said it is set to investigate those who mismanaged resources allocated to educational development and denied the institutions the required operational capacity to impact knowledge on the students.

    Head of Media, Mr. Folu Olamiti, the chairman made the disclosures in an interview on Africa Independent Television (AIT) in Abuja .

    Nta said the move was “one of the major fallouts of ongoing collaboration with CCB and other agencies at synergising their capacities in the anti-graft war through collective approach.”

    The statement added: “Nta, who described those providing false information about their property and others assets under oath as ignorant of the legal implications of such actions.

    “He said the Commission would work on information availed it by the Bureau to determine the veracity or otherwise of such claims and prosecute any officer found to have made false declarations.

    “The ICPC boss said the Commission is adopting a new approach in the fight against corruption by focusing on the root causes of anti-social behaviour among the people, using the education sector as the platform for driving the new initiatives highways.”

  • NBA to investigate Ezu River bodies

    The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) is to investigate the dumping of bodies in Ezu River, its President, Okey Wali, has said.

    Over 20 bodies were dumped in the river, which is the boundary between Anambra and Enugu states.

    Wali spoke at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NBA in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

    He said a committee headed by the association’s first vice- president has been set up to follow up investigation.

    “I have since received an interim report from the committee, which will be discussed during the NEC meeting to ensure that proper and detailed investigation is conducted and culprits prosecuted.”

    At the meeting, Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswan called for the review of the country’s revenue sharing formula.

    Suswam said most Federal Government institutions are being taken care of by the states where such institutions are located.

    He called on the NBA to back the call for a new revenue sharing formula to assist states and local governments meet the challenges of providing good governance to the people.

    Speaking on state police, the governor said Nigeria is not yet ripe for state police because “with the level of political maturity which we have exhibited so far, it is definitely going to be abused.”

    The governor said he has no problem with local government autonomy.

    “But with the way the states are constituted are they autonomous?

    “A situation where we run to Abuja every month for revenue allocation, is that autonomy?”

    He urged NBA-NEC to deliberate on contentious issues, such as local government autonomy ,judicial independence and creation of state police without sentiment as it will be the only way a permanent solution will be found.

    “In a state like Benue, where funds for the 23 local councils stand between N2.1 and N2.2 billion, teachers’ salaries take N1.7 billion and about N700 million goes to local staff and pension, it is fool hardy to accuse governors of embezzling local government funds because there is nothing to embezzle.

    He praised the NBA for standing firm on the rule of law and constitutionality.

  • Reps to investigate Capital Oil’s petition against Aig-Imoukhuede committee

    Reps to investigate Capital Oil’s petition against Aig-Imoukhuede committee

    The House of Representatives will wade into the dispute between Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited and the Presidential Committee on Fuel Subsidy.

    The House’s intervention is based on a petition by Capital Oil and Gas Limited.

    The lawmakers are expected to discuss the petition on Thursday.

    Explaining why Capital Oil and Gas decided to take the matter to the House, the company’s spokesman Nick Hayes, in a statement yesterday, said: “It is for the company and its CEO to show Nigerians that they have nothing to hide as well as to clear some representations in the media.”

    He said the petition would afford Nigerians the opportunity to see how some highly-placed people using fronts were determined to create artificial fuel scarcity in the country.

    Hayes said: “The company is confident that the House will, given its integrity and sense of purpose, handle the matter in a way that hidden truths would be revealed.”

    In the petition, which was sent to Speaker Aminu Tambuwal about two weeks ago, the company’s CEO, Chief Ifeanyi Uba, urged the House to “intervene, mediate and redress the various injustices being meted out to it. Some of these are serious breach of fundamental human rights, gross misrepresentation, suppression and concealment of material facts, threat to life of its CEO, Chief Ifeanyi Uba, as well as infringement and gross violations of banking rules and regulations by Access Bank”.

    Also, the petitioner wants the House to look at the report of the Presidential Committee on Fuel Subsidy, which allegedly recommended Capital Oil and Gas for further investigation without due process, the refusal of the Finance Ministry to remit its subsidy payment of over N20 billion and alleged breach of Section 18 and 20 (2) of Banking and Finance Industry Act (BOFIA) 2004 by Access Bank and Mr. Cosmas Maduka.