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Tag: Lagos State

  • Electoral materials in safe custody, INEC assures Lagosians

    Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Sam Olumekun has said materials for the governorship and State House of Assembly election are in safe custody.

    He urged eligible voters to vote on Saturday.

    In a statement, he added that the smart card readers are being reconfigured, noting that refresher training would hold tomorrow to prepare its ad hoc staff for the task.

    He said all staff who performed below expectations have been replaced, stressing that the commission had fulfilled its obligations to those who participated in the presidential election.

    He said discussion was ongoing with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) for the prompt delivery election materials.

    “Let all eligible voters come out enmass and exercise their franchise by voting for candidates of their choice. Let all conduct themselves in a peaceful manner throughout the period of the election.

    Read also: Former reps defects to PDP in A’Ibom

    ” The security agencies have assured us of maximum security before, during and after the elections.  Our sympathy goes to those persons who were victims of the violent in the last election.”

    Olumekun said the commission observed that six federal constituency elections were inconclusive as a result of political thuggery, violence, snatching and disruption of ballot papers and boxes.

    He said in conformity with subsisting law, the commission would address issues that came up during the presidential election, noting it would guide against repetition of the shortcomings.

    According to him, rerun election would hold in 76 registration areas in 148 polling units with a total of 43,660 registered voters.

  • Polls: Ambode assures of adequate security

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State Wednesday assured voters that security challenges experienced during Presidential and National Assembly elections will not repeat itself on Saturday during gubernatorial and House of Assembly polls,

    He said efforts have been intensified to ensure that everyone registered in the state by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC for the exercise participate without any security hindrances.

    The governor, who was accompanied by his deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule, and other cabinet members, gave the assurance yesterday after the weekly Executive meeting at the State House Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja.

    He stressed that the security challenges experienced after the just concluded election have been dealt with and efforts have been made to ensure such does not repeat itself.

    Read Also: Buhari’s victory well deserved, says Ambode

    “We were very much aware of the incidences that occurred after the Presidential and National assembly election in the state. We have taken proper care of that. We understand that everyone in Lagos are same.

    “The peace, harmonious relationship and security that had existed in the state are very paramount to this government. We will ensure that everyone that is eligible to vote perform his civic duties without intimidation,” Ambode added.

    The governor argued that the state government understand that the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos and efforts would be made often to ensure it sustain that status.

    “We will ensure that Saturday election is held without hitches. We want to assure all residents of the state of their safety. Lagos is a cosmopolitan state and it will remain like that even after the election.

    “We encourage every resident that had been registered by INEC to come out and perform their civic duties. The security agencies have assured us that there will be adequate security in the state during and after the poll.”

    The governor however, noted that giant strides recorded in Lagos could only be sustained when every electorate vote for the All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other candidates of the party.

    Adding that, “We believe in continuity in this government and that is why we have decided to back every candidate of the party. So, we urged everyone to support and vote every APC candidates in Lagos.”

  • Police, community leaders to check election violence

    The Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police coordinating the 2019 general elections in Lagos State, David Folarinwo, has said the force would strengthen its security plans to ensure a hitch-free election for the people living in the state. This is coming after the presidential and House of Representatives elections which was held on the 23 February.

    There were pockets of crisis in parts of the Lagos state during the last including snatching of ballot boxes. In the Okota area of the state hoodlums had attempted to snatch the ballot boxes resulting to disruption of the voting process.

    In a town hall meeting with the communities in the area including the Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo communities at the palace of Osolo of Isolo, His Royal Majesty (HRM), Kabiru Agbabiaka, while dismissing the rumour of death as false the AIG said the police would provide additional security to the state to ensure a peaceful outing in the governorship election scheduled to hold on the 9th of March.

    “We don’t have any problem with the community leaders but we need their assistance, we want them to assume leadership and let the people know that you are working for them, they should lower their gas, go and vote peacefully”, we are expecting very peaceful outing in the next election, he added.

    The Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Muazu Zubairo, said the town hall meeting strengthen the relationship the police and the communities. “It’s going to tell our followers that we are all one and all we need is peace, we are here for everybody, we assure you we are going to give the necessary security for safe and secure environment in the remaining election”, he stated.

    Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State and Chairman, Igbo Council of Ndieze, Lagos State, Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu, agreed the meeting was necessary to ensure peace was restored among the people of community and to forestall future electoral violence in the area

    According to him, the police stepping into the matter had reposed confidence in the people. We have a lot to gain from your coming and the advice you have given us we will take back home to the people so that peace could reign in our community.

    The community is peaceful, that’s why all of us live here together, we have our children here, and we have our businesses here why we should fight ourselves, he asked. “We didn’t come here to talk about who is right and who is wrong, election has come and gone, wherever the mistake comes from it’s we that will address the mistakes”, he stated.

    There was a disagreement, and there was a problem, we have come here to resolve it, and we have talked with one mind that everyone should go home and talk to his people, “so it’s about peace, peace for the Yorubas, the Igbo and the Hausas so that we can live together”, Nwachukwu expressed.

    He agreed there should be consultation before, during and after election among the people with the host community. We have agreed that from time to time we should be meeting to discuss our problems for the common good of everyone.

    According to the Isolo Local Government Chairman, Samsudeen Adeye, “The communities had lived together for a long time and whatever is being done whether as a group of people or as an individual that would endanger the peace of the people should be dropped”. Adding “Police will not enforce peace, but we have to work for it within ourselves”.

    His Royal Majesty, Kabiru Agbabiaka warned nobody should take laws into his hands. He told the representatives of the community present to always bring their complaints with anybody to the palace or go to police and make your report. You cannot take the laws into your hands, and you cannot give judgment by yourself, if somebody snatched ballot boxes live it to the police to intervene, he added.

    It’s true you have the right to vote any candidate of your choice but first of all let your people know that you don’t do things with force because we don’t want violence. I appeal to you to go back and tell your people that the love that had existed among us we should not lose it, the community is a peaceful one, he added.

    We need your support and you need our own support, do not lose with confidence the host community it’s not supposed to be, we are not ready to make trouble with anybody, you too should not make trouble with anybody, I want you to go back and tell your people that they should embrace peace and harmony, we want to see you together.

  • Lagos has implemented CPS, says Ambode

    Lagos State has demonstrated its commitment to retirees’ welfare and pension by fully implementing the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2004, as repealed by PRA 2014, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has said.

    He spoke during an opening session of the training titled: “Preparing for life after retirement: Understanding the Contributory Pension Scheme” in Lagos.

    Ambode, represented by the Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson, said the PRA 2014, which is domesticated in the Laws of Lagos State, were followed.

    He said prioritising pensioners’ welfare has both moral, economic, strategic, and social implications.

    ‘’On a moral pedestal, he said all persons of goodwill ought to pause and reiterate that it is morally reprehensible for any employer to neglect or refuse to plan and cater for the retirement benefits of its employees who gave the prime of their active years to the employing institution.

    ‘’Thankfully, this is an area where the Lagos State Government has continued to set an excellent example,’’ he added.

    He stressed that from a legal standpoint, the government, being the first state in the country to domesticate the Pension Reform Act, 2014, has also been the most notably compliant with its provisions.

    He said: “Additionally, and in the noted manner of this administration, the government has invested extensively in the education of the administrators of the pension regulations and in the sensitisation of the public officers, who stand to be most directly and immediately affected by the pension regulations embedded in the domesticated law.This is why this administration has been training and retraining all public servants and especially those who are nearing retirement on the implications of the laws and regulations relating to the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) to ensure that they adequately prepare for the future.

    The government, the governor said, against the background of challenges with the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), also adopted the new CPS, thereby becoming the first  in the country to kick off the new scheme, after signing the state Pension Reform Law 2007 and its eventual take off two year later.

    He said the objectives of the Pension Reform Law are aimed at assisting civil servants to save for their retirement, ensure that they get their terminal or retirement benefits promptly; and to establish rules for the administration and payment of retirement benefits in the public service of the state.

    Ambode said: “The law also established the group life policy for death benefits of employees, while in service, as well as the Retirement Bond for employees with past service benefits and the Redemption Fund from which the liability of the bond payment would be made. This administration is proud to state that its diligent pursuit of the above-outlined objectives has yielded fruits such that the pension obligations of the State are now managed to the satisfaction of the officers of the public service.

    “Furthermore, this administration has also ensured that the vision of LASPEC to provide first-class regulatory and supervisory services on pension matters to all stakeholders in the state public service is within reach while the mission to provide exceptional services on pension matters to employees in the state is faithfully fulfilled, year-on-year. It is, however, pertinent to note the practical implications of the CPS. First, it allows for the maintenance of a Retirement Savings Account (RSA) by each employee, which gives the workers’ responsibility over their retirement savings. Pensioners are no longer at the mercy of employers, and participants are assured of regular payment of retirement benefits.

    “Workers could choose how to allocate their retirement savings and diversify their investments over a range of investment instruments. It is also argued that personal accounts would provide workers a higher rate of return than can be paid under the Direct Benefit plan. This approach also affords participants an opportunity to pass wealth to survivors in the event of death. In addition, the RSA maintained by millions of workers tend to generate massive long-term funds, which are available for investment.  Owing to economies of scale, the cost of investing such funds tends to be relatively lower than if an individual worker were to undertake the investment on his or her own account.  Also, having a pension scheme that pays out benefits in the form of a life annuity affords workers with protection against longevity risk, by pooling mortality risk across others.

    “On a holistic note, the provisions of the law encourage labour market flexibility. The worker is free to move with his account as he or she moves to another place of employment and or residence.  In this way, it is an important tool for enabling workers and employers to adapt to changing circumstances especially in a global environment in which change is a constant aspect of social and economic life. The government stands to enjoy benefits under the law. The law will continue to stem further growth of pension obligations and provide a platform for addressing this liability. It will also impose fiscal discipline in the budgetary process because pension obligations would be accurately determined. Similarly, the health of the economy is always a major concern of the government.  Thus, aside from the law’s now-realised potential to promote national savings and by implication, economic growth, funded pension schemes have the capacity to promote capital market development.  Moreover, it is often argued that funded schemes have the capacity to promote economic reforms generally.

    He added: “Another area in which the economy stands to benefit from the law is through the scheme’s ability to support the overall macroeconomic policies of reform.  The last two decades have witnessed a growing support of the idea that enterprises are better run by private individuals and the role of government should be limited to providing a conducive regulatory and institutional framework that will enable the private sector to thrive. Many countries have adopted privatisation as an avenue for reform and have often employed similar laws to support the process. The CPS and its enabling legal regime will thus facilitate such reforms better than the prior arrangement.’’

  • 44 passengers unhurt as bus catches fire

    No fewer than 44 passengers escaped unhurt on Monday as a red high capacity bus marked GBE 257 XA caught fire on Otedola Bridge in Lagos.

    The cause of the fire that occurred around 11:22am, could not be ascertained.

    Though, some of the passengers said the fire started when the driver was joining wire to re-start the bus after stopping for some passengers to alight.

    Another passenger attributed the cause to over-heating.

    The bus, loaded with passengers, it was learnt, was heading to Ketu from Ibafo.

    Read also: APC will win Kwara gov with higher margin – Lai Mohammed

    The driver could not be reached for comment because he fled immediately the fire commenced.

    A passenger, Segun Ola said he managed to move the bus to the side of the road before he took off.

    “Immediately the fire started, the driver, having noticed the outbreak, cleared off the road while the passengers rushed out and ran for their lives,” Ola said.

    The Ilupeju fire station arrived at the Otedola Bridge and later joined by the Alausa fire station to avert casualties and prevent loss of lives in the raging inferno.

    The incident was put under control by the joint efforts of the two stations.

    Lagos State Fire Service Acting Director Rasaki Musibau said the absence of fire extinguishers made the bus burnt completely.

    He lamented that despite the sensitisation to motorists to always equip their vehicles with basic firefighting tools as first aid in time of fire outbreak, most motorists refused to comply.

    The presence of the firemen, he said, prevented the fire from spreading to other vehicles on the high way.

    He advised motorists to avoid joining wires to ignite their vehicles as this can cause fire outbreak and loss of valuable properties.

    He urged all motorists to equip their vehicles with basic firefighting equipment.

  • Lagos: Adebule urges residents to vote for APC

    The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, has urged electorate in the state to vote massively for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in March 9 Governorship and House of Assembly Election.

    Adebule said their votes would guarantee dividends of democracy and impactful governance in the state.

    She made the call at a stakeholders’ meeting in Ojo, Lagos on Sunday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was held to strategize on how to mobilise more people to vote during the elections.

    Adebule, who chaired the meeting, said that the APC led-administration had done a lot in the state to uplift the generality of the masses.

    She listed infrastructure development, education, health, water supply, agriculture and security as areas where APC had performed well in Lagos State.

    “This stakeholders’ meeting is an opportunity for us to review our outing during the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    “We have seen our mistakes and we have agreed on the need to go back to our various wards to mobilise more people and make them see reasons to vote for APC during Saturday’s election.

    “The next elections are very critical to us in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos, Ojo is known as a majority constituency and we are promising that come March 9, we will deliver more votes for APC, ” she said.

    Adebule urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to resolve some of the pending challenges experienced during the  February 23 elections.

    Read Also: Adebule delivers unit for Buhari, others

    Also speaking, Mr Cornelius Ojelabi, Chairman,  Campaign Committee, APC-Ojo,  said that they were determined to  ensure the party came out victorious in the elections.

    “We will be having serious engagement with all the people of Ojo by improving and intensifying our door-to-door campaign.

    “Many people did not come out to vote in the last elections, there was apathy and we do not want that to happen again.

    “So, in the next four days,  we want to take our sensitisation programme to more people telling them that voting is the only investment that will bring about infrastructural development in Ojo LGA,” he said.

    NAN

     

  • AD Chairman urges Lagosians vote for Salis, others

    The Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Lagos State has called on the electorate to come out en masse and vote for its governorship candidate, Owolabi Salis and all other candidates in the March 9 Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    The AD Chairman in Lagos, Mr Kolawole Ajayi told newsmen in Lagos during a road show organised by the party said it remains committed toward running a government that focuses on the welfare of the masses.

    According to him, the roadshow was to sensitise residents that the party would provide impactful governance that would uplift the generality of the masses.

    “the party especially with the calibre of its gubernatorial candidate, a knowledgeable and prominent attorney in the U.S. High Chief Owolabi Salis, had been re-positioned to take over governance of the state” he said.

    ” if Salis and other candidates churched out by the party for the various elective positions are voted into power, residents were assured of infrastructure development, progress, shelter, food security and a generally better standard of living”.

    “We are here to tell Lagosians that AD is still alive and kicking and that we are going into the next election to win and not to play.

    “So, this is the time for everyone to speak up by voting for AD, whose driving force is the welfare for all; no candidate is in the race to make wealth for himself, this is about taking the commonwealth to the people.

    “We expect to bring new development of dividends of democracy; as clearly stated in our party manifesto, we are purely a welfarist party. We encourage people to come out and vote massively for AD and stand to defend their vote,’’.

    Earlier in his words, the Ikeja chairman of the party, said that the party remains committed to the needs of the people.

    “we are going to concentrate on the needs of the people. Ikeja people’s needs are not met. Water supply is a serious challenge. People buy water in the state capital. Our schools are not too good. Parents need to be assisted with educational support materials”.

  • Qualitative education requires concerted efforts – Adebule

    The deputy governor of Lagos state, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, has enjoined all stakeholders in education sector to collaborate with government to take education to enviable height in the state.

    Adebule stated this through Director of Basic Education Services (BES), Lagos State Ministry of Education, Biodun Oni, at a one-day sensitization programme, organised by Human Development Initiatives (HDI) with support from TrustAfrica.

    Speaking on the theme, ‘Addressing Inappropriate Behaviour in Public Schools in Lagos State’, Adebule observed that school discipline is one of the things that enhance better and quality education delivery in the classroom and school environment.

    She believed that jointed efforts by stakeholders in education sector guaranteed improvement in pupils’ performance and qualitative education in schools.

    The deputy governor revealed that the current administration in Lagos state has introduced measures to checkmate and reduce the incident of indiscipline among students of public schools.

    Read Also: ‘Sanwo-Olu’s education manifesto will develop sector’

    The number two citizen stressed that Ambode administration has also re-introduced voluntary organizations such as Red Cross, boys scout, the boys brigade, amongst others, to explore the virtues of discipline, obedience, leadership traits and team spirit in public schools across the Centre of Excellence.

    “We have fenced and gated all public schools in Lagos state to ensure that our students remain in the school premises particularly during the school hours and to also prevent intruders and the spate of kidnapping.

    “More teachers are being recruited and teaching aids provided to enhance quality of learning and our desire is to rejig students-teachers ratio and reduce pupils over-crowding,” she explained.

    The Executive Director of HDI, Olufunsho Owasanoye, said it is important that all stakeholders in education sector work together to put an end to quiet corruption in public schools in the state because of its negative long-term impact on the society.

    She traced dropping out of students from schools as well as not having access to quality education to quiet corruption which has deeply rooted in many schools.

    Participants at the one-day sensitization programme themed, ‘Building Collective Effort to Address Quiet Corruption in Public Schools in Lagos State’, submitted that to curb quiet corruption in public schools in Lagos state requires the commitment of all stakeholders to live above board.

  • ‘No policeman killed bus driver in Lagos’

    The Lagos State Police Command on Saturday denied its operatives shot a commercial bus driver dead at Ayobo on Friday.

    It said the person reported dead in the video only pretended to be so, adding that policemen on anti-crime patrol were attacked by a gang of youth suspected to be members of an unlawful society led by one Lekan Isiaka.

    Reports surfaced on the internet with video evidence alleging that a patrol team had killed a driver Mosan Okunola Community in Ayobo, Ipaja, following the latter’s refusal to part with money they had demanded from him.

    According to the online report, the policemen also released sporadic gunshots to scare onlookers after alleging killing the driver so that they could run but two members of the team were chased and caught by passers by.

    It was gathered that the crowd and the bus conductor disarmed the two policemen they caught who were later taken alongside the body by a reinforced team comprising officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and policemen.

    Read Also: Atiku’s agents plan Lagos takeover

    The operatives, witnesses alleged, harassed those recording the incident, seized their phones, arrested the conductor and a few others whom they moved to Area P, Ayobo.

    But in a statement signed by police spokesman Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), the command said: “The incident took place at Mosan Okunola Community in Ayobo area of the state where a team of anti-crime policemen on routine patrol, led by Inspector Oloruntoba Gbenga, was attacked by a gang of youths suspected to be members of an unlawful society led by one Lekan Isiaka.

    “The said Lekan Isiaka while trying to snatch a rifle assigned to  Inspector Frank Ikpokpo,  stabbed him on the head.

    “The rest of the team resisted the criminal gang and made a distress call to their Area Command Headquarters  in Ayobo following which a team of policemen were dispatched to the scene on  rescue mission.

    “The rescue team succeeded in arresting the notorious Lekan Isiaka who pretended to be dead in the video being circulated alongside his partners in crime, namely: Precious Bassey, Anayo Ugwu, Adewale Fatai, Samuel Akande, Matthew Ogbede, Adewunmi Idowu, Chukwuka Oshele and Kunle Adeola.

    “The injured policemen have been treated and discharged while Inspector Frank Ikpokpo is in the Intensive Care Unit of a private hospital.

    “The Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, has directed that the suspects be charged to court on Monday March 4, for attempted murder.”

     

  • Lagos APC: Afikuyomi not our member

    The Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday disowned Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, saying that the former legislator is no more a member of the party.

    The party said Afikuyomi is now a member of the Accord Party, lamenting his past anti-party activities. APC chided the former legislator and commissioner for his clandestine activities calculated at undermining the ruling party, stressing that he has been promoting opposition politicians ahead of next week’s governorship election in Lagos State.

    Lagos State APC Publicity Secretary Comrade Joe Igbokwe said in a statement that the chapter was weary of Afikuyomi’s activities and his pretensions. He maintained that the former chieftain has been promoting the cause of the Accord Party, adding that the behaviour is inimical to APC’s interests.

    Afikuyomi has been at the centre of many controversies as a former commissioner and party chieftain charged with the responsibility of supervising local government chairmanship and councillorship primaries in Lagos State. His alleged mishandling of the selection process provoked an uproar, leading to his manhandling at the venue of the shadow poll by aggrieved aspirants. Party sources also said that Afikuyomi has also gravitated towards the opposition in its grand design to undermine APC’s effort during the governorship poll. Igbokwe said: “While we believe it is within the rights of Afikuyomi to work for any interests that suit his fancy, we feel obliged to warn faithful and loyal APC members that Afikuyomi is not one of us, contrary to the impression he gives to unsuspecting party members.

    “While we don’t grudge Afikuyomi his rights to choose and work for any platform or candidate of his choice, we warn him to desist from claiming to be a member of our great party and proudly own up to the interest of whomever he is working for. We know Afikuyomi as a member of Accord Party and the Lagos State EXCO of APC does not know him as one of us as we are aware he has left our party for Accord Party.” He added: “We, therefore, alert members of our party and anyone dealing with Afikuyomi to clearly know that he is not a member of APC. We want this notice to be spread among our members in every nook and cranny of Lagos so as to guard against being misled by Afikuyomi and those he is working for. “While Lagos APC salutes Lagosians for their impregnable fidelity to APC, we want them to look for impostors and fifth columnists who have promised their masters that they will assist their doomed campaigns and interests by sowing confusion in APC.

    “This disclaimer on Afikuyomi is an effort to dispel such damned efforts. We urge Lagosians to stick firmly with an APC that has served them so well in Lagos and which had gotten a pan-Nigerian renewal of mandate to give the country continued good, honest and fruitful governance for the next four years.” Shell faces prosecution in Holland over Nigeria’s OPL 245 deal Amsterdam- Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell seems to be in trouble with the law in Holland after Dutch prosecutors said they have uncovered ‘prosecutable offenses’ in their  investigation of the company’s  acquisition of Nigerian offshore oilfield OPL 245 in 2011.

    Italy’s Eni and Shell bought the OPL (Oil Prospecting License) 245 offshore field for about $1.3 billion from Malabu Oil and Gas Limited owned by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Dan Etete, in a deal that spawned one of the oil industry’s largest corruption scandals. Of that amount, almost $1.1 billion is believed to represent bribes paid to a London bank account that ended up going to various Nigerian politicians, including Etete.

    “Based on the investigations still underway, the prosecutor has determined that actions which can be prosecuted criminally took place,” said Valentine Hoen, a spokeswoman for the Dutch public prosecutor’s office. Shell itself confirmed that it had “been informed by the Dutch Public Prosecutor’s Office that they are nearing the conclusion of their investigation and are preparing to prosecute Royal Dutch Shell plc for criminal charges directly or indirectly related to the 2011 settlement of disputes over Oil Prospecting License 245 (OPL 245) in Nigeria.” Shell is already facing trial in Italy along with Eni over the matter. Italian magistrates suspect the two oil groups used bribes to obtain rights to OPL245, estimated to hold nine billion barrels of crude, for $1.3 billion. Last December,an Italian judge, Giusy Barbara, found that Eni and Royal Dutch Shell were fully aware that their  purchase of the OPL would result in corrupt payments to Nigerian politicians and officials.

    The Milan judge made the comment in her written reasons for the September conviction of a Nigerian, Emeka Obi and Italian  Gianluca Di Nardo, both middlemen in the OPL 245 deal, for corruption. They were jailed for four years. “The management of oil companies Eni and Shell … were fully aware of the fact that part of the $1.092 billion paid would have been used to compensate Nigerian public officials who had a role in this matter and who were circling their prey like hungry sharks,” Barbara said in her reasoning. “It was not mere connivance, but a conscious adhesion to a predatory project damaging the Nigerian state,” she added. She also said money was given to some Eni managers.