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Tag: Nigeria News

  • Alleged N2b fraud: DSS hands over Maina to EFCC

    Barely three days after his arrest, the Department of State Security Services(DSS) has handed over a former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Mr. Abdul-Rasheed Maina to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).

    Maina, who was looking pensive, was brought to the anti-graft agency at about 5.30pm.

    As at press time, the suspect was being quizzed over alleged N2billion biometrics contract.

    It was also learnt that Maina was being interrogated over choice assets in Kado Estate in Abuja, some properties in Kaduna and a large farm in Keffi.

    A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Maina, who we had earlier declared wanted, was brought to EFCC by the DSS a few hours ago.

    “The security agency handed him over after the completion of its profiling on him.

    “You know Maina has been hiding in Dubai, UAE and some neighbouring countries and there is need to de-brief him on certain security challenges associated with him.

    “For instance, intelligence report indicated that Maina was asked how he has always succeeded in sneaking in and out of the country and his connection with a safe house in Abuja.

    “But as soon as he was handed over to EFCC, detectives isolated issues for him on the N2billion biometrics contact. He was also asked to make statement on the funding of the defunct the Pension Reform Task Team.

    “He has also been asked to explain how he came about choice assets in Abuja and Kaduna.

    “The investigation might also be extended to his activities as a former director in Customs, Immigration and Prisons Office (CIPPO) which he superintended with huge cash flow.”

    Read Also: Maina’s son pulled pistol on security agents, says DSS

    Responding to a question, the EFCC source said: “He will soon be arraigned in court because we have already preferred charges against him.

    “As far back as July 21, 2015, Maina was already arraigned before a Federal High Court on a 24-count charge with a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye, Osarenkhoe Afe and Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited.

    “He is expected to face trial for charges bordering on procurement fraud and obtaining by false pretence.

    “What detectives are doing now is to obtain a statement from him on some findings about him before the court proceedings.”

    Asked of his status, the source added: “Maina was in pensive mood, he never expected that the law will catch up with him.”

    Maina was picked up by DSS operatives at a hotel in Abuja.

    The EFCC had in 2017, declared Maina wanted, following his refusal to honour the commission’s invitations.

    But in his bid to evade the long arm of the law, Maina, on September 5, 2018, in a suit no: FHC/ABJ/CS/957/2918, asked the court to decide whether the Commission can lawfully exercise powers of declaring him wanted, either on its official website or any other media platform, or “harass him.”

    But Justice Folasade Giwa Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court restrained the anti- graft commission from declaring Maina wanted.

    She also gave an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the EFCC and its affiliates or related bodies from further declaring Maina wanted in relation to the issue of the pension scam.

    The EFCC however said the judgment must not be allowed to stand and filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal.

  • ‘Buhari moved SIPs to ministry to ensure sustainance’

    THE Presidency on Tuesday gave reasons why the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Social Investment Programmes (SIPs)  are getting full fledge ministry status.

    The SIPs have been under the office of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo since it started in 2016.

    President Buhari, in his October 1st, Independence Day speech, announced the programmes movement to the Ministry of Humanitarian

    According to a statement by Communications Manager of National Social Investment Office (NSIO), Justice Bibiye, the schemes were moved to the ministry for sustainability.

    He said: “In a strategy aimed at ensuring the continuity and sustainability of the Buhari administration’s Social Investment Programmes, the schemes are being upgraded to a full ministry status with the take-off of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.”

    He said that the Buhari’s SIPs are already gaining acclaims across the globe.

    He said: “Endorsed by the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), World Bank and the World Economic Forum, as testament of its national impact in Africa’s most populous country, the National Social Investment Programmes (N-SIP) truly embodies what it means to go global while making local impact.

    “Regarded as the largest social protection programme in Nigeria’s history, the Social Investment Programmes has four broad programmes, namely: N-Power, Conditional Cash Transfers, National Home-Grown School Feeding and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programmes, GEEP).

    “At inception, the Office of the Vice President was responsible for overseeing the N-SIP since  2016, while issues of funding, contract awards and procurement had always been undertaken by the Ministry of  Budget and National Planning.

    “An inter-ministerial Steering Committee, chaired by the Vice President and composed of several Ministers including from the ministries of Education, Health, Finance, Budget and Planning, Labour and Employment, Women Affairs and others, also had policy oversight on the programme implementation.

    “In his Independence speech earlier today (yesterday) President Muhammadu Buhari  stated in order to “institutionalise these impactful programmes, we created the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development which shall consolidate and build on our achievements to date.”

    “Indeed the Social Investment Programmes have also been recognized by several local and international organisations for empowering Nigerians and meeting the urgent needs of Nigerians in different areas including providing employment, supporting small businesses and poverty alleviation.

    “Organisations like Action Aid (Nigeria), of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) have all commended the NSIP for its nationwide social impact

    “The impact of the SIPs has duly attracted the attention of the rest of the world. Among the global recognition for the impact of its schemes are the Financial Inclusion Award, which was at the 2019 African Bankers’ Awards: where BOI won for the GEEP scheme; the Tutu Leadership Fellowship for 2019, where GEEP CEO, Uzoma Nwagba, named among recipients; the Public Social Entrepreneur award, given by Schwab Foundation, a sister organization of the World Economic Forum, WEF, to Mrs Maryam Uwais, the Special Adviser to the President on Social Investments; and recently.”

    Read Also: Buhari pledges more funding for judiciary

    He also said that one of the SIP components, GEEP, which is executed through the Bank of Industry (BOI) was recognized as the most impactful Financial Inclusion programme in Africa during the African Bankers’ Awards ceremony which held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on June 14th, 2019.

    “The award was for BOI’s role in implementing GEEP, which includes the popular TraderMoni scheme. The awards event featured financial institutions and projects from all 54 countries in Africa, as well as the international community;

    “TraderMoni is one of the microcredit schemes under GEEP, where millions of petty traders get N10,000 loans. Upon repayment within 6 months, the beneficiary becomes eligible for a larger amount of N15,000 and all the way to N100,000 if and when the collateral-free loans are repaid. The other microcredit schemes are MarketMoni and FarmerMoni.

    “Also, in April, the impact of the SIPs was recognised by the African Leadership Institute when the GEEP COO, Uzoma Nwagba was named among the recipients for the prestigious Tutu Leadership Fellowship for 2019.  According to the AFL, Nwagba’s role in GEEP, which it described as “the world’s largest micro-credit scheme” was critical.

    “GEEP to date has leveraged the power of a technology-driven operation to disburse and manage a portfolio of two million loans to underbanked Nigerians, demonstrating the biggest advancement of financial inclusion via credit in Africa,” the citation read.

    “Similarly, with the N-Power job scheme, which currently engages 500,000 young graduates and 200,000 non-graduates in different key sectors, and the School Feeding Programme, which currently feeds almost 10 million school children in 32 states, the SIPs’ impact is truly felt nationwide.

    “Indeed, millions of Nigerians can testify of the impact of the largest social welfare programme in sub-Saharan Africa. This is because since its implementation in 2016, the N-SIPs have impacted over 12 million direct beneficiaries and over 30 million indirect beneficiaries, comprising family members, employees of beneficiaries, cooks and farmers.” he said

  • Tinubu: Nigeria has better days ahead  

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday reflected on Nigeria’s journey as an independent nation and predicted a better future.

    The one-time Lagos governor said:  “What Nigeria overcame in the past has given us the confidence and courage to believe that we can achieve even more.”

    His reflections were contained in his goodwill message to the nation on its 59th Independence Anniversary.

    He said Nigeria has the wherewithal for its citizens to enjoy a democratic, prosperous and just existence.

    The message, titled: “Nigeria @ 59: What we’ve overcome gives us confidence in a better future”, was released yesterday by his Media Office.

    It reads: “Today we celebrate the 59th birthday of our beloved nation. We stand today with our feet planted firmly in the present but with our gaze both on the past and toward our future. Looking back at the last 59 years, we have faced steep challenges yet have marked great progress nonetheless.

    “What we have overcome in the past gives us the confidence and courage to believe that we can achieve even more as we cast our eyes to the future.

    Read Also: Tribunal victory: Tinubu congratulates Ogun governor

    “This day that we mark is truly a day to celebrate the independence of a nation of resilient, strong and industrious people who have decided to join together in common purpose that each of us may enjoy a democratic prosperous and just existence.

    “As Nigerians, let us recommit our energies to building a better Nigeria and rededicate ourselves to the vision of our nationalists who saw greatness in this country and worked assiduously to advance it.

    “The journey to our greater destiny has begun and I enjoin you all to support one another and President Buhari’s administration in this journey. I ask you all to remain committed to our highest national purpose so that we may continue to strengthen our national institutions and our very country.

    “I congratulate all Nigerians on this 59th Independence Anniversary and urge you all to come along in the march to the Next Level.”

  • Tribunal upholds Ganduje’s election

    The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kano on Wednesday upheld the victory of the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

    The tribunal declared that the petition of the main opposition, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Abba Yusuf, challenging the victory of All Progressives Congress(APC) lacked merit.

    The chairman of the three-member panel, justice Halima shamaki, in a judgement read for over 3 hours at High Court , in miller road, Kano, dismissed the PDP’s petition seeking the nullification of Ganduje’s victory in March 9 governorship election

    Details Shortly…

  • Lawan seeks arrest, prosecution of foreign illegal miners

    President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, has urged security agencies to arrest and prosecute foreigners and Nigerians illegally mining of the nation’s mineral resources.

    Lawan said this while contributing to a motion titled: “The need to check illegal mining activities in the country” sponsored by the Senator representing Zamfara North, Yau Sahabi and 32 others.

    He said: “This Senate will look into the solid minerals sector seriously, and we will charge our Committee on Solid Minerals, Steel Development and Metallurgy to call for a public hearing on what the sector should be in this country.

    “We know we have policies on solid minerals as well as legislation.

    “The Federal Government gave N30 billion to the ministry just to revamp the sector in the last four years but I think as a parliament, we should be able to contribute very meaningfully to ensuring that this sector, which is so important to us, is given attention, given the kind of situation the oil industry is going through.”

    Read Also: ‘Ahmed Lawan will harmonise ninth National Assembly’

    He described illegal mining as unacceptable while calling for revamp and protection of the sector.

    Lawan said: “We have to work to ensure that this particular sector is properly revamped and protected.

    “The situation of illegal mining is unacceptable. We can’t tolerate it and allow that to happen.

    “If there are any foreigners coming in their helicopters and on their feet to come and mine our resources without the necessary documentation, I think it is for us to ensure that our security agencies arrest them and prosecute them.

    “I believe that this Assembly, particularly this Senate, must be at the vanguard of reviewing the situation in the mining sector and what we need to do if there are gaps in terms of legislation,” Lawan said.

  • Ekiti most neglected in Nigeria- Afe Babalo

    The Founder, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Chief Afe Babalola has said Ekiti has been grossly neglected by the federal government in the area of infrastructure critical to socio-economic development.

    Babalola said the decrepit state of infrastructure has impacted negatively on the the socio-economic landscape of the state, saying the nagging problem have made the state to be allergic to investment.

    The legal icon said the event leading to the collapse of the bridge linking Ado Ekiti capital city with his university and Federal Polytechnic was a testimony that the state has been grossly overwhelmed with infrastructure deficits.

    Babalola, who described Ekiti as the most neglected state in the country, expressed serious concerns over the collapse of the bridge after a torrential downpour in which claimed one live.

    The bridge on Ureje bridge along Ado-ABUAD-Ikare road was on Monday flooded by water and collapsed.

    A man who wanted to navigate the water got drowned and died in the process.

    Several commuters coming in and out of Ado Ekiti capital city were stranded for several hours between 7pm on Monday till 12 noon on Tuesday after the bridge had collapsed.

    Speaking with journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, Babalola attributed the collapse to the negligence of the government, saying his several efforts to made the federal and state governments to rebuild the bridge on Ureje river were to no avail.

    He said: “for the past nine years, I have been maintaining that road but this year after series of letters , Federal Road Maintenance Agency(FERMA) wrote to me informing that they have awarded the road to a contractor and I have been following the contractor day and night.

    “What I know which is true is that the contractor had done more damage to the road than helping us.I wrote about the bridge to all those concerned ; federal ministry of works and copy the President. I also wrote letters to Governor Kayode Fayemi because I knew that road was neglected by the contractor and the federal government.

    ” Indeed, Ekiti state is the most neglected state in this country. Look at the road between Ilesha and Ado-Ekiti, it was made over 20 years ago. This road from Ado-Ekiti to Ijan to Ode to Ikare to Lokoja was build before i was born over 100 years ago.

    “That bridge which you saw was also build over 100 years ago , that narrow bridge. When I was in school, we used to trek from that place to Ogbese river in order to cut what we called prank cane to make chairs and wooden ceilings along that route.

    “Nothing has been done to improve the bridge. I have been writing , phoning , sending text messages about that bridge will collapse anytime. I warn all of them , including the governor that it will collapse that something should be done
    .
    “When it happened two days ago, I sent text messages to Fayemi that what I told you should not happen has happened. I also got in touch with Minister of Works, who eventually phoned me that they were going to do something about the bridge.

    ” I sent messages to monarchs and others. In the afternoon , I got a text from Fayemi that some people will come the following day to work on it. Fashola told me they are moving there immediately.I went to the bridge and i saw them working there.

    “My team of engineer has been there early in the morning. No heavy truck or vehicle should pass that place otherwise it will go down.

    Read Also: UN worried by Nigeria’s growing security, socio-economic challenges

    “What we need is a new bridge and a dual carriage road from Ado-Ekiti to the university , which is only 15km. I don’t know why the road has not been repaired.I hope now with what has happened, things will change. I went through Afao to Igbemo to Iluomoba to the university. It takes me about One and half hours to get to the university on Tuesday instead of 15 minutes.

    “Like I said, Ekiti is the most neglected state in this part of the world. Secondly , I protested in my usual way. Former President Obansanjo did little work on the road and you can see it has not been completed.

    “Again, I was lawyer to federal government , Obasanjo again work on it from Itawure to Ado-Ekiti, a dual carriage, since he left it is all forest”.

    Corroborating the level of neglected in Ekiti, Babalola said the road from Ado-Ekiti to Akure, Ondo State capital, is one of the worst roads in the country.

    “What I will continue to do now is to continue to pile pressure to those responsible and in authority for us to have good infrastructures, because without good infrastructures , nobody can come to the university. You know we are suffering here”.

    He, however, called on the Federal Government to expite action on the rehabilitation of the deplorable federal roads which will invariably improve the socio-economic fortune of the state.

  • APC Diaspora chairmen back State party leaders ultimatum to NWC

    The APC Committee of Diaspora chairmen have backed the ultimatum issued from the state chairmen of the party in Nigeria.

    It should be recalled that last week, the Forum of All Progressives Congress (APC) state chairmen gave a 10-day ultimatum to the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) to address their concerns.

    The Diaspora chairmen had in a communiqué made available to The Nation, issued and signed by Dr. Philip Idaewor, Chairman, APC UK & Chairman, APC Diaspora Chairmen Forum and the forum’s secretary, Hon. Ayoola Lawal on Wednesday, said; “After carefully reviewing the issues raised in the communique released by the state chairmen of our party days ago, we fully endorse their position and again reiterate our previously stated position in our call for a closer relationship between members of the party and government”

    The diaspora chairmen expressed displeasure and dissatisfaction with how the party leadership relates with its diaspora branches and members in the areas of lack of communication and respect for party leaders and members.

    Read Also: APC UK disclaims factional group

    “In some of our communications in the past, we have wondered how a political party will find it convenient to ignore her members or treat leaders of the party with so much disrespect and negligence.

    “We are pleased that the state chairmen of our party in Nigeria have now come to the same conclusion and spoken out on this matter. Our view is that a political party exists not only to win power but also as a socializing platform for community harmony, leadership talent identification, nurturing/mentoring for sustainable development”.

    It noted that the idea of the party shopping for candidates to serve in its government from the opposition is strange to multiparty democracy and it is an unhealthy concept to the growth, maturation and stability of the nation’s democracy.

    “When a party wins an election, she will actively ensure that political offices are filled by members/supporters of the party, not by people from the opposition”.

    The Diaspora chairmen called for the urgent constitution of the NIDCOM board and their wish to get party members in diaspora into the newly established Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).

    They further called on the party leadership to resolve the issues they have raised to ensure that APC recovers from the present self-inflicted wounds for the sustainable development of not just the party but of the nation.

  • NUT demands 65 year retirement age

    The Nigeria Union of Teachers(NUT) has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to sign into law the bill seeking to increase the retirement age of teachers/education officers from 60 to 65.
    NUT’s National President, Muhammed Idris, stated this during a briefing in Abuja to mark the International World Teachers Day.

    He said that the union would not rest on its demand to see that the bill is assented to by the president.

    According to him: “I wish to also acknowledge the collaborative efforts of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Nigeria Union of Teachers and other stakeholders to see that our age-long demand for review of the retirement age of teachers/education officers from 60 to 65 is addressed.
    “We urge all of us not to rest on our oars until the bill is signed into law.”

    He commended Buhari for sustaining the sponsorship of the President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Award to honour and reward outstanding teachers in the country.

    Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, said the ministry has put in place mechanisms to strengthen the implementation of teacher education in the country.

    The minister listed the mechanisms to include: reviewing the quality assurance/monitoring instruments in line with global best practice, engagement of independent quality assurance teams and stakeholders in monitoring of all academic activities.

    Others are: conducting nationwide capacity building workshops for 100, 000 teachers at basic and post basic levels through the support of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

    Read Also: Obaseki is NUT’s best governor

    Adamu, who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, added that teacher development and motivation were central to efforts the ministry is making to reposition the education sector to meet national aspirations.

    “The ministry is systematically and fully committed to constant upgrading of the teaching standards and contents to boost teacher quality in Nigeria.

    “We are leaving no stone unturned in our quest to ensure that teachers are professionally qualified, empowered and adequately remunerated, motivated and supported for efficiency and effectiveness,” the minister said.

  • Maina’s son pulled pistol on security agents, says DSS

    Faisal Abdulrasheed Maina, the 20-year old son, of former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, pulled a pistol on security agents when operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) arrested both of them Monday, September 30, 2019.

    The Public Relations Officer of the DSS National Headquarters, Abuja, Dr Peter Afunanya, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

    According to the statement titled DSS ARRESTS ABDULRASHEED MAINA, made available to reporters in Abuja, the DSS in a combined operation, on 30th September 2019, arrested Maina at the Pennsylvania Avenue Hotel in Abuja.

    He said the arrest followed a request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the Service to assist in the apprehension of the suspect.

    “Maina was arrested in company of his 20-year-old son, Faisal Abdulrasheed Maina, who unsuccessfully tried to resist the arrest.

    “The lad even pulled a pistol against the security agents involved in the operation. He was, however, disarmed and arrested. He is a final year student at the Canadian University of Dubai where he is studying Telecoms Engineering.

    “Items recovered from the suspects include a pistol with live ammunition, a bulletproof Range Rover SUV, a BMW Saloon car, foreign currencies, a phantom 7 drone and sensitive documents.

    “The suspects and the recovered items will be handed over to the EFCC for further investigations and appropriate necessary actions.

    Read Also; Arrested Maina likely for trial over N2b contract

    “It is instructive to note that the operation is as a result of a renewed interagency collaboration among security and law enforcement agencies.

    “The Service has always subscribed to such collaboration believed to be important in national security management and therefore, hopes to sustain the initiative in mitigating the current threats against public safety and national critical assets,” the statement read.

  • ‘Don’t just pray for Nigeria, do the right thing’

    The Chairman of All Progressives Congress in Scandinavia countries, Hon. Ayoola Lawal has urged Nigerians not to just pray for the country alone but to also do the right thing that would move the nation forward.

    Ayoola in his message to commemorate Nigeria’s 59th independence anniversary, said that Nigeria is heading again to greatness if Nigerians both home and in the Diaspora could return to thinking and acting Nigeria first.

    He said, “While we are celebrating and commending the struggle and efforts of our founding fathers, we should in retrospect, think of the missing pieces in our national unity and development.

    Read Also: APC Diaspora chairmen back State party leaders ultimatum to NWC

    “We should not just be praying for the country but be doing the right thing in moving the nation forward because the nation is going through her trying times due of our attitude and characters.”

    He further commended the present administration of President Muhammad Buhari that in spite of the challenges inherited, it has made significant progress in many fronts such as the international standing of Nigeria, fight against corruption, diversifying and revamping certain sectors of Nigeria’s economy, fight against insurgency and others but much more is needed to be done without any excuses.

    He implored Nigerians irrespective of political affiliations, ethnic, and religion to eschew divisive tendencies capable of dividing the nation into multiple entities.