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  • ICPC arrests 4 ex-Kogi commissioners over alleged fraud

    ICPC arrests 4 ex-Kogi commissioners over alleged fraud

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has arrested and detained four Commissioners in the administration of former Governor of Kogi, Cpt. Idris Wada, over alleged fraud.

    Spokesman of the commission, Mrs Rasheedat Okoduwa, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

    Okoduwa identified the ex-commissioners as Kayode Olowomoran (Culture and Tourism), Abdulrahman Wuya (Transport); Godwin Onama (Works) and Ali Ajuh (Budget and Planning).

    She said the suspects’ arrest followed ICPC’s investigations into an alleged misapplication of a N2 billion SME loan they secured from the Central Bank of Nigeria on behalf of the state.

    According to her, they acted in connivance with the former governor, his Accountant-General, Ibrahim Idakwo, and a former Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Commerce, Frank Onoja.

    “Preliminary investigations by the Commission also revealed that the suspects allegedly partook in the mismanagement of another N8 billion bond that was raised to fund 57 projects across the state.

    “The large sums of monies released for the projects were allegedly far beyond the levels of work done.

    “Furthermore, the suspects are alleged to have benefited from illegal deductions to the tune of N1.3 billion made from the funds of 21 local government councils of the state by the same administration,” she said.

    The ICPC spokesperson said the suspects would remain in custody until they fulfilled the administrative bail conditions granted them by the commission, while investigations continue.

    NAN

  • I remain in APC- Sen. Boroffice

    I remain in APC- Sen. Boroffice

    Sen. Ajayi Boroffice, representing the Ondo North Senatorial District in the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday, said that he had not joined another political party as being speculated.

    Borffice made this clarification in a statement made available to newsmen in Akure by his media aide, Mr Kayode Fakuyi.

    “Few days ago after a successful APC stakeholders’ meeting in Akure, a plot to link Sen. Boroffice to another party in Ondo State was hatched; the plot is diversionary.

    “The senator remains a chieftain of the APC in Ondo State and has not at anytime resigned his membership of the party nor at any moment joined another party,’’ Fakuyi said.

    “As a grassroots politician and one of the founding fathers of APC in state, if he has any reason to join another party, it will attract statewide rallies and political carnivals.

    “The evolution of the APC did not start with the 2016 governorship primary election in the state.

    “It started in 2011 when Sen. Boroffice, as the only elected member of the Action Congress of Nigeria ( ACN ) in Ondo State, mobilised fellow progressives to build the progressive family in the state,’’ he said.

    Fakuyi advised the citizenry to disregard any false report that the senator had left the APC, saying it was untrue.

    “On the circulated letter, which purportedly appointed the deputy chairman of our party as the acting chairman, the letter is fake.

    “Mr Isaac Kekemeke remains the state chairman of the party,” he said.

    “If there is any allegation against the state chairman, the allegation should be investigated.

    “Only the National Executive Committee of the party has the power to sack the state party chairman and appoint an acting chairman.

    “It is on record that the NEC of our party has not considered the matter and has not taken any position on it. Any letter seeking his removal is fake in its entirety.

    According to Fakuyi, Boroffice reaffirms his confidence in the state chairman of APC in Ondo State.

    He said, “about 75 per cent of the party’s followers have declared support for the state chairman and no outsider can impose any pro-tempore chairman on our party.

    “The letter, which purportedly appointed the deputy chairman as the acting chairman is fake.

    “The well-attended meeting held on Nov. 27 deliberated on a number of issues and made far-reaching resolutions.

    “Stakeholders passed a vote of confidence on Mr Isaac Kekemeke-led State Executive Committee ( SEC ) of the party and reiterated support for the APC-led Federal and Ondo State Governments,” he said.

    However, Mr Abayomi Adesanya, the state party spokesman, told us that the investigative committee did its work thoroughly and invited the former chairman three times but he refused to turn up.

    Adesanya said the hearing was open and transparent, adding that the national leadership of the party wrote and approved the Acting Chairman of the party, Mr Ade Adetimehin, pending the final resolution of the issue.

    Kekemeke was suspended by the State Working Committee ( SWC ) of the party on June 1, 2017.

    The suspension arose from a division in the party, occasioned by the outcome of the last governorship primary election, which produced Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu as the party’s flag bearer in the last governorship election.

    NAN

  • Aisha Buhari provides free medical services for 3,000 patients in Zamfara

    Aisha Buhari provides free medical services for 3,000 patients in Zamfara

    The wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, through her NGO “Future Assured Initiative”, on Thursday flagged off her free medical services for 3,000 women, children and the aged in Zamfara.

    Aisha Buhari, who was represented by the Coordinator of the project, Mrs Zuwaira Gambo, said in Gusau that the project was aimed at providing free and improved health services for the vulnerable groups.

    She said that is was also aimed at assisting the Federal Government in addressing the health problems affecting women and children.

    The 3,000 beneficiaries of the prgramme were from the 14 local government areas of the state.

    She commended the efforts of the wife of the state Governor, Hajiya Asma’u Abdul’aziz-Yari and the state Ministry of Health for their support to the programme.

    She urged the beneficiaries to cooperate with health personnel in the state to ensure the success of the programme.

    The wife of the president said the NGO had launched similar programme in other states across the country.

    Hajiya Abdul’aziz-Yari thanked the wife of the president for initiating the project, saying that it would assist the people of the state.

    In his remarks, the state Commissioner of Health, Alhaji Sulaiman Gummi, also thanked Buhari for her intervention, describing it as timely and a welcome development.

    Gummi said the state government in collaboration with some development partners had been making efforts to improve health care delivery in the state.

    The free medical outreach would provide assistance to patients with high blood pressure, eye problems, diabetes and children in need of de-worming.

    NAN

  • Ondo Assembly approves repayment of N27bn bond by 3 years

    Ondo Assembly approves repayment of N27bn bond by 3 years

    Ondo State House of Assembly on Thursday approved three years extension for the repayment of the state government N27 billion bond inherited from the previous administration.

    The House’s resolution followed a letter by Gov. Olurotimi Akeredolu, seeking the lawmakers’ approval to restructure the payment period of the bond.

    Akeredolu said in the letter that restructuring of the payment period of the bond would enable the state government to attend to other financial expenses.

    The House, at the plenary presided over by its Speaker, Mr Bamidele Oleyelogun, unanimously approved additional tenure of three years for repayment of the bond.

    The House also agreed that restructuring of the bond would reduce the state monthly debt services and inject more funds to the recurrent expenditure.

    The House Majority Leader, Mr Olusegun Araoyinbo, while debating on the governor’s request, said that the letter should be given express approval.

    Araoyinbo said that this would enable the state government to make more fund available to cater for relevant items in the recurrent expenditure.

    He explained that about N775.88 million was scheduled to be deducted monthly from the allocation accruing to the state within the period of 2012 and 2019.

    According to him, this has actually reduced the financial strength of the state.

    The majority leader said that if the House could approve the bond restructuring, “the state will be saving about N400 million at the end of every month’’.

    According to him, if the loan repayment period is rescheduled to between 2019 and 2022, the monthly repayment will come down to N311.11 million.

    Also at the plenary, a bill for an amendment of the 2017 Appropriation Bill sent by the governor scaled through the second reading.

    The speaker, however, referred the bill to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for proper scrutiny.

    NAN

  • APC S/Africa lauds FG`s decision to return Nigerians from Libya

    APC S/Africa lauds FG`s decision to return Nigerians from Libya

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ), South Africa chapter has commended the Federal Government for its decision to evacuate hundreds of Nigerians migrants stranded in Libya.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, at the European Union-African Union summit in Ivory Coast, said that government would ensure that stranded Nigerians in Libya are brought home safely.

    The government said that 242 Nigerians had returned home on Tuesday while more than 4,000 others stranded in Libya have been safely brought back this year.

    Mr Abiodun Oguntuase, Coordinator of the APC in South Africa, spoke on the telephone from Johannesburg, on Thursday that government`s move was a step in the right direction.

    “The APC South Africa chapter commends President Buhari for the action he took in ensuring that stranded Nigerians in Libya are brought home safely.

    “ It is a welcome development aimed at saving the lives of our people who are unable to return home. It shows also that government is pro-active on the welfare of Nigerians at home and in the diaspora,” he said.

    Oguntuase said that the South Africa chapter of the party was in support of major decisions taken by the Federal government, especially, the fight against corruption.

    According to him, the government has shown the zeal and determination to fight corruption in the country.

    “We are happy that the international community has seen government`s desire to fight corruption.

    “For the first time in our country, a government is out to win the war against corruption.

    “We appeal to Nigerians to support the federal government achieve this great objective and our country will reap the benefits,” the coordinator said.

    NAN

  • Examination Malpractice: Committee lauds WAEC, ministries over sanctions

    Examination Malpractice: Committee lauds WAEC, ministries over sanctions

    The National Examination Committee ( NEC ) on Thursday in Lagos lauded West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for networking with state ministries of education nationwide in to stem examination malpractice.

    The committee after its 64th meeting, particularly commended the collaborative efforts to identify and carry out disciplinary actions against perpetrators of examination malpractice.

    NEC said such disciplinary actions were also carried out on supervisors and invigilators who aided and abetted examination malpractice during the 2017 West African Senior School Certificate Examination ( WASSCE ) for School Candidates.

    “The council noted the recurring cases of returned certificates, where candidates willingly made confessional statements to the effect that they were impersonated,’’ it said its communique made available to our souce.

    The communique by Mr Damianus Ojijeogu, Head of Public Affairs of WAEC, said the committee received a report on irregularity, special and clemency cases arising from the conduct of the 2016 WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2016.

    It that in the course of considering the various reported cases of malpractice, the committee, after diligent deliberations, approved appropriate sanctions in all established cases of malpractice.

    This, it said, will be carried out as prescribed by the rules and regulations governing the conduct of the council’s examinations.

    “ It approved that the entire results of candidates involved in proven cases, which attract Cancellation of Entire Results (CER) be cancelled, while subject results of those involved in proven cases, which attracts Cancellation of Subject Results (CSR) be similarly cancelled.

    “Some candidates will also suffer other sanctions such as barring them from sitting for the council’s examinations for a certain number of years, while some schools will have WAEC recognition withdrawn or de-recognised for a specified number of years.

    “The decisions of the committee will be implemented without delay and the affected candidates and schools duly informed by the council.

    “However, the results of candidates who were exonerated by the committee will be released,’’ the communique said.

    “Council agreed that apart from the National Universities Commission ( NUC ), details of such candidates such as examination numbers, certificate numbers and years of examination, should be made available to the National Board for Technical Education ( NBTE ).

    “It should also be made available to the National Commission for Colleges of Education ( NCCE ) and posted on the council’s corporate website as well as published in national dailies twice a year.

    “The committee, therefore, commended WAEC for liaising with the Ministries of Education in the states of the federation to identify and carry out disciplinary actions against such Supervisors and Invigilators for their roles in such shameful acts.’’

    On the issue of appointment and deployment of supervisors during the conduct of the WASSCE, the committee advised that WAEC should continue with the practice of swapping supervisors during its examinations.

    It added that such swapping should be monitored to ensure that supervisors do not connive with school authorities and staff of WAEC to compromise the process.

    The committee is the highest decision-making organ of WAEC on examination-related matters in Nigeria.

    It meets twice a year to consider matters relating to the conduct of the WASSCE for both the school and private candidates.

    NAN

  • Finance ministry denies paying Maina salary after disengagement

    Finance ministry denies paying Maina salary after disengagement

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, on Thursday said the former Chairman, Pension Reform Task Force, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina, did not receive salary from government after his disengagement.

    Adeosun said this in Abuja when she appeared before members of House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee investigating the disappearance, re-appearance, re-instatement and promotion of Maina.

    She said that from the records of the ministry, there was no trace of any payment of salary to Maina after he was disengaged from service in 2013.

    “We have looked very well and we have no biometrics of Maina, so there is no way he could have received salaries,” Adeosun said.

    In his submission, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr Ahmed Idris, said that Maina was last paid salary in February, 2013.

    According to Idris, from March, he was removed from the payroll so I don’t know where he was receiving the salary.

    “If there was any payment of salary to Maina, there should be payslips and an account the payments were made; so, let whoever made the claim tender them to support the claim,” Idris said.

    Counsel to Maina, Mr Muhammadu Kuta, had while before the committee on Nov. 23 claimed that his client received salary up to October, 2017.

    According to Kuta, assignments were still being given to him to execute for the Federal Government even as at last month and he was getting his salary.

    NAN

  • Yuletide: FRSC to deploy 485 personnel, 1,200 special marshals in Edo

    Yuletide: FRSC to deploy 485 personnel, 1,200 special marshals in Edo

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Thursday said it would deploy 485 personnel and 1,200 special marshals in various highways in Edo to ensure safety during the Yuletide.

    Mr Samuel Odukoya, the Edo Sector Commander, said this during the flag-off of the `Ember’ months campaign tagged “Right to Life on the Highway is Not Negotiable’’ held in Auchi, Etsako-West Local Government Area of Edo.

    “We have 485 officers and 1,200 special marshals that will be on patrol in strategic routes within the various commands and units of our zone in Edo.

    “The volume of vehicles that ply our roads are so enormous that we need to be proactive to ensure the roads are safer for the people during this festivity,” he said.

    Odukoya, who advised motorists to always plan their journey to reduce accidents, urged them to ensure that their vehicles were roadworthy before embarking on any trip.

    “We are here today to tell the people especially the drivers that this year, it is operation zero tolerance accident.

    “You have to be very careful on the highway, obey the traffic regulations, ensure that your vehicles are in good condition,” he said.

    Odukoya said that the command’s officers had embarked on a full-scale enforcement to curb dangerous driving, overtaking and use of phone while driving as well as speed limit violation and overloading.

    Earlier, Mr Moses Bature, the FRSC unit commander in Auchi, said the campaign was geared toward educating the public on safe driving during and after the `ember’ months.

    “Our gathering today is to see how we can obtain safer roads and fuller lives on our highway which is collective responsibility of FRSC and our relevant stakeholders with a view to restore sanity on our roads.

    “Right to life is not negotiable on the highway and can only be achieved when we collectively come together to fight the menace that bedevil our highway,’’ he said.

    Bature said that the unit had put measures in place for special intervention patrol as part of effort to drastically reduce spate of road crashes during the yuletide.

    “As the year comes to an end, we passionately appeal to all road users to ensure they comply with traffic laws and maintain their vehicle while plying the road,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • World Bank urges Niger to pay N80m counterpart fund

    World Bank urges Niger to pay N80m counterpart fund

    The World Bank has urged Niger Government to pay balance of N80 million being its counterpart funding for the implementation of  FADAMA III Additional Financing (AF) Project in the state.

    Dr Adetunji Oredipe, the World Bank Task Team Leader, gave the advice on Thursday at the Eight Joint World Bank/Federal Government FADAMA III AF implementation supervision mission to the state.

    Oredipe, represented by Dr Ahmed Ibrahim, a member of the team, said, “The mission has observed that Niger is lacking behind in terms of payment of its counterpart fund.’’

    The team leader said that prompt payment of the fund would guarantee successful implementation of the project.

    He said the team observed some challenges in the area of small scale infrastructural development such as roads in the benefiting communities in the state.

    “We have the fear that after handing over these facilities to the benefiting communities they will be abandoned.

    “We want to know if the state government has put measures in place to ensure sustainability of the facilities,’’ Oredipe said.

    He urged the state government to always hold meetings of the Project Implementation Committee with the stakeholders toward the success of the project.

    Oredipe said that the mission would follow up its findings of the mid-term review in the last six month and make recommendations.

    Responding, Alhaji Yusuf Kagara, the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, promised that the state government would pay the counterpart fund before the end of the week.

    “Gov. Abubakar Bello has directed his deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso, to go to the Ministry of Finance to ensure the payment of the counterpart fund.

    Kagara said that the state would do everything possible to pay the counterpart fund as the project had impacted positively on farmers in the state.

    He said that measures had been put in place to ensure sustainability of the project objectives in the state.

    “Niger Government is sensitising the benefiting communities to own and maintain the facilities,’’ Kagara said.

    Earlier, Alhaji Aliyu Kutigi, the State Programme Coordinator, said that N160 million out of the targeted N240 million had been paid.

    Kutigi said that the project which started in 2014 was scheduled to end in 2019.

    The programme coordinator said that during the period under review the state achieved 66.7 per cent in the programme implementation.

    NAN

  • Emir Sanusi attributes quest for illegal migration to poverty, unemployment

    Emir Sanusi attributes quest for illegal migration to poverty, unemployment

    The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has attributed the excessive quest by Nigerian youths to engage in illegal migration to poverty and unemployment.

    The Emir made the remark on Thursday in Kano when the President and members of Pan African Institute for Global Affairs and Strategy ( PAIGAS )paid him a courtesy visit.

    According to him, the hunger to move across the shores of this country in an elusive search for greener pasture abroad can be effectively tackled when viable alternatives are made available to engage youths.

    He called on the leadership of the country to rise up to the challenge by creating an enabling environment that would encourage wealth creation and empower the youth population in Nigeria.

    The monarch commended PAIGAS for the initiative to partner the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to sensitize corps members against illegal migration.

    According to him, as leaders, we must do everything possible to give the youth population in Nigeria a hope of a better future.

    Earlier, President of PAIGAS, Amb. Martins Uhomoibhi informed the emir that their visit to Kano was to sensitize corps members on the dangers associated with illegal migration.

    According to Uhomoibi, the sensitisation is part of the NGO’s contribution to the development of the society.

    “My youth service year experience in Koko; Kebbi, inspired me to rededicate my life to serve Nigeria throughout my life time on earth,” he said.

    Uhomoibi described the emir as a unique personality who combined the rare attributes of royalty, tradition and diplomatic experience.

    He expressed delight for the honour to visit the emir.

    NAN