The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian news

  • Funding gaps working against road constructions – Fashola

    The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola on Wednesday declared that budget funding gaps had worked against completion of roads projects in the country in the last four years.

    He was answering question on the poor state of roads in the country against the series of approvals given by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) during the first tenure.

    At the post FEC briefing on Wednesday, Fashola also disclosed that not all the over N300 billion budgeted was released.

    According to him, his office is yet to get any money since he got reappointed as minister as there are still paper work processes going on.

    He explained that some of the road works going on are based on goodwill.

    Stressing that there have been criticism against borrowing during the first tenure, he said that community support is also needed to facilitate construction of roads projects in the country.

    He gave an instance of over N10 billion already accruing as compensation on the 2nd Niger Bridge.

    The Minister also disclosed that the FEC approved a total of N8.2 billion for roads projects on Wednesday.

  • Malabu Oil Block: Magu releases probe details, says Adoke is liable

    The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Magu has said a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke(SAN) has a case to answer over the Settlement Agreement on Malabu Oil Block (OPL 25).

    He said Adoke has been offering the reading public in the account of his sojourn in governance a bouquet of half-truths and plain lies.

    He said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo did not discuss, counsel, or direct him in any way on any issue concerning Adoke.

    He said the EFCC is not the battle axe of political figures and could not have been called out to deal with anyone as being insinuated by Adoke.

    He said after satisfying his long desire to titillate the public with some tales by moonlight Adoke should make himself available for trial.

    Magu, who made his position known in a statement through the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the commission’s investigation has implicated Adoke in the matter of the implementation of the settlement and resolution of agreements on Oil Prospecting License OPL 245 and OPL214.

    Read Also: EFCC arrests Prison’s staff, five others for ATM fraud

    He said the probe of OPL 245 was not a witch-hunt in any form.

    He said: “It is important for the public to know that the investigation of the lucrative Oil Prospecting License 245 Settlement deal, otherwise known as the Malabu Scandal, by EFCC was not an enterprise in witch-hunt or malice.

    “The Magu-led leadership of the commission, in consideration of persistent public demand for closer scrutiny of the transaction, coupled with emerging information suggestive of opacity in the consummation of the deal, acted in national interest to determine that overall public good was not sacrificed on the altar of personal interest of those who perfected the deal.

    “The investigation had been discreet, with no threat of direct physical harm to Adoke or any other person implicated in the deal.

    “The commission’s investigation holds Adoke liable in the matter of the implementation of the settlement and resolution of agreements on Oil Prospecting License OPL 245 and OPL214 between Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd, belonging to former Petroleum Minister, Dan Etete and the federal government of Nigeria in 2010.”

    The EFCC chairman released the details of the investigations into Malabu Oil Block scandal.

    He added: “It could be recalled that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had revoked the OPL 245, which the late General Sani Abacha granted to Etete, who was his Petroleum Minister and reassigned it Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company. Etete’s Malabu Oil and Gas, however, reclaimed the oil block in 2006 through the court. While Shell challenged the decision, a fraudulent settlement and resolution was perfected under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government with Shell and Eni buying the oil block from Malabu in the sum of $1.1billion.

    “EFCC’s investigations however revealed crimes, that border on conspiracy, forgery of bank documents, bribery, corruption and money laundering to the tune of over $1.2 billon against Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd, Shell Nigeria Ultra deep (SNUD) Nigeria Agip Exploration (NAE) and their officials. Some of those officials are already facing criminal trials in Switzerland and Italy.

    “The investigations further revealed that Etete and others fraudulently received an aggregate sum of US$ 801,540,000 (Eight Hundred Million, Five Hundred and Forty Thousand United States Dollars) from Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company, Nigeria Agip Exploration Ltd and ENI SPA in relation to the oil prospecting license.

    “Adoke as the then Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice allegedly abused his office in respect of the granting of the oil prospecting license OPL 245 to Shell and ENI.

    “A prima facie case, bordering on official corruption was established by the Commission following the investigations, culminating in court charges against Adoke, Etete and others, which is still pending before the FCT High Court and the Federal High Court.”

    He advised Adoke to return home for trial.

    “The arraignment of Adoke SAN, Etete and others could not take place because they along with other defendants have remained at large, refusing to make themselves available for trial.

    “The former chief law officer of the federation prefers to remain in self-exile, and engage the Commission in needless media war.

    “Having now satisfied his long desire to titillate the public with some tales by moonlight in the mould of a semi author-biography, Adoke should now make himself available for trial,” he said.

    Magu however faulted alleged attempts by Adoke to rewrite history.

    He said: “The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Ibrahim Magu is alarmed by the brazen attempt by former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), to rewrite history and portray himself as victim of persecution regarding the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC’s) investigation of the OPL 245 Settlement Agreement (Malabu).

    “In the last few days the Nigerian media has been awash with previews of Adoke’s book, titled: “Burden of Service: Reminiscences of Nigeria’s former Attorney General,” in which he took aim at the EFCC boss as being part of a deadly triumvirate that had been hounding and persecuting him since he left office in 2015. The other two alleged traducers, mentioned by Adoke are the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and former senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume. Adoke claims that he had been viciously maligned by this threesome to the extent that he contemplated suicide.

    “Specifically, he claimed in Chapter 8 of the book, that Magu was recruited by Prof. Osinbajo to hound and persecute him despite, as he claimed, his role in reinstating Magu to the EFCC from the police “where he had been vegetating.”

    “Adoke attributes his source of information on the alleged Osinbajo instruction to Magu against him to an unnamed governor from the North West, who according to him, claimed Magu told him that he had the instruction of Osinbajo to “deal with Adoke.”

    “Adoke also claims that an unnamed senator also confided in him that Magu nursed a personal grudge against him because he believed that he (Adoke) owned half of the Centenary City in Abuja.

    “That Adoke neither named the North-West governor nor the Senator that provided the weighty intelligence on which he took Magu to the guillotine in his book, could only mean one thing: the claims are tissues of lies, contrived to entertain and attract underserved attention to himself.

    “The acting Chairman of EFCC Ibrahim Magu categorically states that at no time did the Vice President discuss, counsel, or direct him in any way on any issue concerning Mr. Adoke. It is wicked and evil to make such a false allegation against anybody especially where it is based on hearsay.”

    Magu accused Adoke of employing marketing gimmick to wet public appetite for his book.

    He added: “These yarns, being spewed by hirelings of the former AGF are nothing but a marketing gimmick, dubiously orchestrated to wet public appetite and sufficiently stir curiosity ahead of the official release of the book on Monday, September 16, 2019.

    “But it is obvious that what Adoke is offering the reading public in the account of his sojourn in governance is nothing but a bouquet of half-truths and plain lies.

    “The accounts in Chapters 8 and 9 as it relates to the EFCC and its Chairman, Ibrahim Magu are not only inaccurate but self-serving.

    “For the records and emphasis, Magu never received any instructions from the Vice President, neither had he communicated verbally or in writing to any governor from the North-West or senator about such a patently false purported instruction from Osinbajo to “deal with Adoke.”

    “The EFCC is not the battle axe of political figures and could not have been called out to deal with anyone. Adoke’s ploy is simple. He wants to create a false narrative that the offenses for which he has been charged are not genuine but are the product of some high level conspiracy against him. But, first of all, there is no discernible reason for such a conspiracy. Secondly, it is an entirely false premise. It is clear that this is symptomatic of a drowning man clutching at straws.

    “Adoke ran well outside the track when he said he was instrumental to reinstating Magu, to the EFCC from the police “where he had been vegetating.”

    “ The Commission is unaware of Adoke’s role in Magu’s return to the Commission in 2012 after being away for a few years. It is well known that the EFCC Acting Chairman is a pioneer staff of the Commission, with many stripes to his sleeves by way of accomplishments that have no link to Adoke.

    “Magu and the EFCC have no interest in any public spat with Adoke who remains a suspect under investigation for criminal offences and against whom a competent court had issued a subsisting warrant for his arrest.

    “ The said warrant has already been executed by the International Police Organization (INTERPOL) which placed him on its wanted list. The option before Adoke is to return home and answer to his charges.

    “It is however gratifying that the former AGF abandoned the idea of committing suicide as taking that route would have amounted to a monumental waste of resources on the part of the EFCC. So much has been spent in diligently investigating the OPL 245 scandal that the Commission needs Adoke to be alive to answer to his charges, and clear his name before the court.

    “It makes no sense to deceive the people with claims that he had been exonerated of any wrong doing by the court. As a senior advocate, he should know that a civil suit cannot exonerate one from criminal liability.”

  • BREAKING: $9.6bn judgement: Reps summon Malami, Sylva, others

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday set up a 17-man ad hoc committee to as a matter of urgency, invite the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the federation, Abubakar Malami and his counterpart in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Timpriye Sylva.

    They are to give situational report on the matter and explain the lapse in judgement of time and due diligence in the (miss)handling of the case with a view to finding lasting solutions to the avalanche of extant and future cases.

    The ad hoc committee is headed by Hon. Sada Soli (APC Katsina).

    The lawmakers are also to invite other officials of the ministries, saddled with the responsibility to negotiate the agreement with P&ID and the prosecution of the matter before the tribunal.

    This was sequel to the passage of motion of urgent national importance sponsored by a member, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere.

    Ihonvbere, while moving the motion noted that the recent judgement debt of $9.6 billion (with daily interest accruing) by a commercial court in the United Kingdom against Nigeria, in a matter between Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) Limited “leaves a very sour taste in the mouth.”

    He said for a country with a foreign reserve of only $45 billion and a sovereign debt profile of over $80 billion, the judgment debt is not only punitive but would devastatingly affect the Nigerian economy.

    Details shortly…

  • BREAKING: Running mate crisis: Dickson sacks special adviser

    The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson has dismissed Mrs. Helen Bob, as a Special Adviser in his administration.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, said that Bob was dismissed for repeated acts of gross misconduct, indiscipline, irresponsibility and acts unbecoming of a person occupying the high position of Special Adviser in any government whatsoever.

    Soriwei said that Bob, who was a governor’s aide for almost eight years, was among 130 special advisers out of over 2000 appointees engaged by the governor.

    It was gathered that the development was in connection with Bob’s recent public outburst over Dickson’s choice of candidate and running mate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the November 16 governorship election.

    Bob had condemned some decisions taken by the governor describing them as recipes for failures in the election and saying she was ready to be relieved of her post in the government.

    Bob, who was former Chairperson of Brass Local Government Area, particularly expresses her angst over governor’s choice of Senator Lawrence Ewrujakpor as the party’s running mate.

    She also described a stakeholders’ meeting proposed by the governor to seek possible substitution of Erwujakpor as unnecessary since according to her the governor had the knife and the yam.

    She said: “For me, there is no need calling stakeholders to hear governor’s briefing as usual because they may not be given opportunity to speak out their minds. Even if they do, their opinions will never count because of our past experiences.

    “We all recalled how three aspirants emerged from him to speak for a Restoration political family and the entire PDP. Not even the party leadership could call a meeting to discuss the way forward but strongly supported the governor to ensure one of them won the PDP ticket while others were disgraced.

    “He may be the last PDP governor if he doesn’t fix all these disheartening issues that have clouded our dear PDP. The governor is a very intelligent and experienced personality that knows what best to do at the right time.

    Read Also: Dickson to PDP leaders: stop issuing unauthorized statements

    “He need not any stakeholders meeting to fix the party back to the way it used to win general elections. Since 2015 that the model of choosing who bears the PDP flags in state House of Assembly, House of Reps and Senate seats changed to imposition of candidates due to favouritism, family and friends, we have lost more seats than ever.

    “With all due respect my boss, the truth is bitter but I have to state it here clearly that this imposition of candidates is an unpopular and old school kind of party primary model that is why we lost those seats to the APC.

    “Frankly speaking, even those who are close with you are only there to ensure there salaries read hence will never tell you the truth. Please take a good decision yourself as you have always done to fix all the collapsing walls of the party as no stakeholders have any role to play at this point”.

  • WAEC Registrar bows out month end

    Registrar, West African Examinations Council (WAEC) International office, Dr Iyi Uwadiae, will complete his tenure month-end.

    During a teleconference from Ghana headquarters of the examining body on Wednesday, Uwadiae told journalists gathered at the WAEC International office in Agidingbi, Lagos that his seven-year tenure (consisting of a five-year official tenure and two year extension) as the 12th registrar of the Council, had been successful.

    Uwadiae, who took over from another Nigerian, Alhaja Mulikat Bello on October 1, 2012, however, refused to name his successor. He said the successor, who has already been appointed would be named when he assumes office on October 1, 2019.

    “I anticipate that you will be anxious to know who is going to succeed me. I am glad to inform you that my successor has been appointed. I will, however, want to appeal to you to grant me the indulgence of not unveiling the personality at this forum, as you are quite aware that the Council has an official process of doing so soon after assumption of office. There will be a press release or conference to that effect,” he said.

    During his tenure, Uwadiae said the council was able to complete its headquarters which took 15 years to build in 2016. He added that Liberia fully adopted the WASSCE from 2018, while the Council increased additional diets of the WASSCE and Basic Education Certificate Examination for private candidates in member countries.

    To prevent examination malpractice and leakages, the Registrar said the Council decided to acquire facilities to print in-house.

    Read Also; WAEC opens five-day African assessment bodies’ conference today

    “The Secretariat paid the deserved attention to the issue of examination leakage and resolved to settle for nothing short of total eradication of the nuisance. We pursued a status of self-reliance in printing services which could guarantee our set target of 100% in-house printing of question papers. As at now, each national office has reached a certain stage in the establishment of an in-house printing press. Other types of malpractice also received our deepest reflection, as the Council constructed or furnished for use its own standard/model examination halls in places like Lagos and Benin City in Nigeria, Accra, Cape Coast, Wa and Koforidua in Ghana and Tubmanburg in Liberia,” he said.

    Regarding the use of technology, Uwadiae said the Council under him had used software and various gadgets to prevent and check examination malpractices.

    “We built tighter security around our examination materials and conduct as various gadgets and software were deployed for identification of candidates, capturing of data and detection of irregularities at examination centres,” he said.

    Uwadiae also said the teleconference facility used for the press conference was being used for the first time. He said the facility was in place in three of the five member countries, namely Ghana, Nigeria and Gambia.

  • Trump names Robert O’Brien as new national security adviser

    U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday named Robert O’Brien, the current envoy for hostage affairs, as national security adviser following the ouster of John Bolton last week.

    “I have worked long & hard with Robert. He will do a great job!” Trump wrote on Twitter.

    In his current role, O’Brien “leads the U.S. government’s diplomatic efforts on overseas hostage-related matters,” according to his biography on the State Department’s website.

    O’Brien was involved in the release of US.. rapper ASAP Rocky by Swedish authorities in August, after the musician had been detained in connection with a street brawl in Stockholm.

    The special envoy was in the courtroom during the trial, which stirred diplomatic tensions as Trump demanded the rapper’s release.

    O’Brien previously co-chaired the State Department’s justice reform initiative in Afghanistan, as well as advised the government on the trafficking of antiquities, according to his biography.

    He worked with Bolton at the United Nations under President George W. Bush, who appointed him in 2005.

    O’Brien takes over as Trump’s fourth national security adviser, following the departures of Bolton, Michael Flynn and HR McMaster.

    Trump said last week that he had asked Bolton to resign, citing strong differences of opinion with his hawkish assistant in the latest shake-up of an already turbulent White House.

    Bolton’s ouster came as a surprise, with the White House putting out an advisory just an hour before Trump’s announcement, saying that Bolton would be taking part in a media briefing with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

    Bolton also continued to post administration policy on social media right up until Trump’s announcement.

    However, Trump had previously hinted at his disagreements with Bolton on foreign policy, and observers had regularly noted that the two made an odd couple, with the president more isolationist and the national security adviser an interventionist.

    Bolton appeared to be waging numerous battles within the White House, most recently over Afghanistan and North Korea, that seemed at odds with the president’s wishes.

    He was also behind the hard-line approach to countries such as Iran and Venezuela.

    Bolton’s deputy, Charlie Kupperman, stepped into the role until the appointment of a new security adviser.

  • Buhari condoles with Olukoyede family

    President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with family of Secretary to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) Ola Olukoyede, over the passing of his mother and the family matriarch, Mrs Moroluke Marian Fakoyede.

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, condoled with family members, friends and Mrs Fakoyede’s close associates over the sad loss.

    He urged them to take solace in the good works of the God-fearing woman, who treasured love for family and neighbours.

    Read Also; Buhari presides over FEC as NEMA, EFCC, others make presentations

    As the family prepares for her final journey home on Friday, President Buhari prayed that the Almighty God will grant Mrs Fakoyede eternal rest, and comfort all members of the family.

  • Panic as suspected cultists raid shops in Uyo

    There is panic among residents of Udoette street and other nearby areas close to the University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom state following an attack on shop owners by suspected cultists on Monday night.

    The Nation exclusively reported last week that some streets close to the University of Uyo and the Uyo City Polytechnic were under siege by hoodlums suspected to be cultists.

    Our correspondent who carried out a thorough investigation into the situation mentioned Udoette, Ikot Ekang, streets and Itu road among dark spots with the UNIUYO and Uyo City Polytechnic axis.

    The report further stated that some residents of the affected areas in Uyo had vacated their rented apartments while landlords were selling their houses for fear of being killed.

    In a fresh attack which occurred Monday night between 8 and 9pm, our correspondent gathered that shop owners and passers-by were attacked and robbed by some suspected cultists.

    The Nation learnt that the gangsters started their operations from Udoette and proceeded to Itu road collecting money, GSM phones, drinks and other valuable items from their victims.

    Read Also: Gunmen raid UniUyo female hostel

    A source who pleaded anonymity disclosed that Udoette is a secret cults and armed robbers zone, adding that, the hoodlums normally trooped out from Udoette Lane with dangerous weapons such as axes, guns and knives etc.

    He stated further that from 6pm the areas are very dangerous for the residents, passes by and shop operators.

    According to him”Udoette is a very dangerous area because of these cultists who are bent on robbing, raping and making life unbearable for us.

    “Government should send in security men to these areas and especially Ebong Essien street.”

    Also speaking,a businessman disclosed that the perpetrators usually hide at Essien inyang street after they are done with their operations.

    He expressed dismay that businesses have been adversely affected due to the high cases of insecurity.

    “We are now leaving here in morbid fear and discomfort whereas it is not supposed to be so. As I speak we don’t have peace and we can’t move freely at night.

    “We want the government to come to our aid by sending security men to this area to protect us.

    ”Cultists are not stronger than the government, so they should take immediate action concerning the menace because nothing have been done positively to curb the situation”, he said.

    Efforts to reach the state police public relations officer, Odiko MacDon proved abortive as he did not respond to phone calls and text message sent to him.

  • Two brothers docked for duping PFN President

    Two brothers, Avan Smart aged 61 and Avan Jerry aged 29, have been arraigned before an Oredo Magistrate Court for allegedly duping President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Rev. Felix Omobude, the sum of N3m.

    The two brothers were arraigned on seven-count charges bothering on forgery, stealing and obtaining under false pretence.

    They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Police Prosecutor, ASP Patrick Agbonifo, informed the court that the suspects committed the offence on May 31st and June 24, 2019 at the headquarters of the New Covenant Church, Benin City.

    ASP Agbonifo said the suspects presented themselves as contractors to the Edo State Government and bidded to construct road within the Light House Polytechnic, owned by Rev. Omobude.

    Agonifo said the suspects presented forge documents of an unregistered company to Rev Omobude.

    He said they collected the sum of N3m under false pretences.

    The offences, according to Agbonifo, were punishable under sections 516, 390, 467 and 419 of the Criminal Code vol II laws of the defunct Bendel State now applicable to Edo State.

    It was gathered that the brothers were arrested following a petition to the State Commissioner of Police, Danmallam Abubakar.

    Presiding Magistrate, I A Osayande granted the accused bail to the sum of N200,000 each and a surety in like sum.

    Osayande adjourned the case to September 26, 2019.

  • Ondo 2020: NULGE cautions Politicians on retrench rumours

    The Nigeria Union local government Employees (NULGE) on Wednesday admonished politicians and aspirants for 2020 Ondo state governorship election to desist from playing politics with the recent screening of the local government workers, pensioners and primary school teachers in the state.

    The Union said the screening exercise was in the best interest of the workers and pensioners, assuring that governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led administration would not use the exercise to retrench any worker.

    Its President, Bola Taiwo gave the warning in Akure, the state capital while speaking with reporters on the recent outburst by some governorship aspirants who criticised the screening exercise.

    Taiwo who will be sworn-in for another term next week Thursday noted that the screening was organised to know when the workers joined service and when they would retire so that government would plan for them.

    On the logjam over the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage, the NULGE President expressed reservation over the failure of both government and the organised labour to agree on a new salary table before signing into law of the new wage.

    The NULGE President said, “politicians should not use workers’ welfare to play politics against Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu; the screening for primary school teachers, local government workers and their pensioners is not to witch hunt anybody. The screening exercise was organised to know the numerical strength of local government workers and primary school teachers to enable government plans for the workers.”

    Read Also: Five die in Ondo auto-crash

    “There is no indication that government wants to use the screening exercise to downside or retrench workers, there is nothing like that and if you monitored the screening (two weeks ago), it has a human face.”

    “The government never asked for certificate or primary six certificate, it is just your physical appearance and your letters of appointment and letter of last promotion, just to know when you joined service and when you will retire, and how to plan for them, nothing like retrenchment plan.”

    “Unlike previous or past screenings under the last administration in the state when a lot of people lost their lives, travelling around to get primary six certificate, this current screening under this administration is not like that.”

    He said, “during the screening, we have discovered a lot of revelations, where workers travelled out of the country (without official approval) and still collecting salaries, by the time the screening report is out, we will see the revelations.”

    “We have had reactions from politicians about the screening, we want to advise politicians in the state that if they want to fight for positions in the state, they should not use workers’ welfare to settle scores.

    Taiwo said “either primary school teachers or local government workers or even pensioners should not be used to play politics. We don’t want workers to be used to negotiate for appointment.”

    “At the initial stage, there is a mistake, I don’t expect our labour leaders to agree on a new minimum wage without a table, in the past years, there will be a (salary) table before going on negotiations, it is the table that should be used to reach figure, that is why we find ourselves at this stage.”

    He advised that the allocation formulae of sharing money from the federation account should be reviewed to enable state governments and local governments get more allocations to implement the new minimum wage.