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Tag: Nigerian news

  • N19.9b probe: Ex-Bauchi governor criticises commission

    Ex-Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar has accused his successor, Bala Mohammed, of instigating the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against him in a bid to discredit his administration.

    Abubakar, who faulted the probe of his disbursement of the state’s funds by the EFCC, in an alleged N19.9 billion money laundering case, claimed to have paid N8.5 billion to some contractors two days to the expiration of his tenure.

    His position is contained in an application he filed, seeking to be made a party in an asset forfeiture proceedings initiated before the Federal High Court, Abuja by the EFCC, with Bauchi State as respondent.

    The court had, on August 5, 2019, upon an ex parte application by the EFCC,  granted an order of interim freezing of an account held by the Bauchi State Government in First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo , who gave the order, also directed the EFCC to, within 21 days, to notify the respondents – the Bauchi State government and the FCMB – about the court’s decision and chose September 3, 2019 as the return date.

    Read Also: Clampdown on ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ politicians, Frank tells EFCC

    In his application, Abubakar said the N8.5 billion was paid to the contractors the same day the money was received from the Central Bank on the order of the Federal Government as refund for jobs done for the central government.

    He denied laundering N19.9 billion, as alleged by the anti-graft agency.

    Abubakar said the state government under his leadership had executed some infrastructural projects on behalf of the Federal Government to the tune of N14.6 billion and that the refund for the jobs by the government did not come until May 27, when he was about handing over to his successor.

    The ex-governor explained that immediately the N14.6 billion entered the state government’s operational account, number: 0998552074 domiciled at FCMB on May 27, a schedule of payment was prepared and executed to the tune of N8.9 billion as sundry payment and upon approval of the outgoing state executive council under his watch.

    Abubakar alleged that EFCC’s probe of the N8.5 billion disbursement and other transactions with the bank account by at the instance of the current Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) government in the state, under Alhaji Bala Mohammed, as part of efforts to rubbish and diminish the legacies of his government.

    He therefore urged the court to include him as a party in the suit to enable him defend himself.

    EFCC has objected to his request to be made a party in the case.

    In a counter-affidavit, the EFCC argued that Abubakar was not a necessary party in the case.

    It stated that the necessary parties to the suit are the Bauchi State Government and the FCMB. It added that there was no way Abubakar could be directly affected by the outcome of the case.

    In the counter affidavit deposed to by one of its staff, Mohammed Abdullahi, the EFCC faulted Abubakar’s claims that contractors were paid the N8.5b.

    EFCC stated that its investigation revealed that the 21 FCMB cheques used in paying out the money were issued in the name of the manager of the bank.

    It added that investigation also revealed that the contracts contained in the schedule of payment approved by the ex-governor were not executed.

  • Tiv/Jukun crisis: Slain Taraba priest buried

    The Catholic community in Taraba State on Tuesday laid to rest the body of Rev. Fr. David Tanko, a priest who was killed in Takum on Wednesday.

    Rev.Fr. Tanko was gruesomely gunned down and set ablaze with his white Toyota Corolla car. He was 42 years.

    He was reportedly in charge of St. Peter’s Catholic Parish in Amadu, a Tiv settlement in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State.

    He had gone to Takum to see his fellow clergymen and was killed on his way back to Amadu, between Kasuwan Haske and TorTser.

    His death came as a result of the raging crisis between Jukun and Tiv in southern Taraba.

    The crisis is an offshoot of a lingering feud based on a claim by the Jukun that the Tiv are “settlers,” in Taraba State, and, therefore, have no ownership right to the land they occupy and should leave.

    Tanko was on Tuesday buried at the Our Lady Queen of Peace Cathedral, Jalingo. His co-parishioners were all in tears.

    Read Also: Fish out killers of Catholic priest in Taraba, Ortom charges security agencies

    The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese, Jalingo, Most Rev. Charles Hammawa, who presided over the mass for Tanko’s interment, described the deceased as a lover of peace, who paid the supreme price with his life in the most inhuman way.

    Rev. Hammawa said: “We are only strengthened and comforted by our Christian faith of surrendering all things to God and faith in the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting.

    “Fr. Tanko was part of the peace efforts initiated by me to help in bringing an end to the crisis between the Tiv and Jukun.

    “He was a good man, a good priest, diligent, hard-working, amiable and peaceful. He had never set out to offend anyone. He was also a prayerful person.

    “He is the kind of person Nigeria needs to be able to come out of the quagmire and mess we are in today. A person, who will serve selflessly without bias; he was.

    “I am convinced that Tanko is with God in heaven and interceding for us and for the end of hostilities and unwanted killings in the country.

    “May his death end all the ugly and despicable human acts.”

    Hammawa urged government at all levels to protect lives and properties in the country.

    Taraba State Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria Isaiah Jirapye said the death of the young priest was a great loss to the church.

    It was gathered that Tanko’s death sparked a blame-game between Jukun and Tiv on who really killed the peace broker.

    His assassination also caused anxiety in the state and sapped hopes for reconciliation between Tiv and Jukun and raised more fears about the deteriorating security in Taraba state.

    His death was also a puzzle to the state’s Police Commissioner, Alkassam Sanusi, who has been given marching orders by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, to fish out his killers.

    President Muhammadu Buhari called on the government and people of Benue and Taraba States to “exercise restraint and stop escalation of the feud”.

    The President directed Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku and Benue Governor Samuel Ortom, the Tor Tiv and the Aku Uka, religious and community leaders in the two closely tied states and top security operatives to meet today, examine and bring to an end all issues underlying persistent violent clashes between Jukun and Tiv ethnic groups.”

    The meeting of the opinion stakeholders holds at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

    Governor Darius Ishaku, host of the meeting, said the meeting will find a lasting solution to the Tiv/Jukun crisis.

    Ortom is among the key stakeholders at the meeting, Ishaku said in a statement.

    “Federal and state legislators, speakers of the state houses of assembly (Benue and Taraba), security chiefs, other prominent sons and daughters and representatives of youth groups of Tiv and Jukun in Taraba State will be in attendant,” Ishaku said.

  • Kwara lawyer remains suspect in N20m property scam, says EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied issuing any apology to an Ilorin-based lawyer, Sulyman Abaya, who is being investigated for alleged N20 million property fraud.

    This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, in Ilorin.

    Uwajaren said Abaya remained a suspect in the commission’s watch list until proven otherwise by a court of competent jurisdiction.

    Abaya was arrested along with two other lawyers, Salman Rafiu and Saka Hammed, for alleged illegal acquisition and sale of a property belonging to Mr. Adetunji Adedoyin, valued at about N20 million.

    Read Also: EFCC arrests two suspects on U.S. FBI wanted list

    Adedoyin had petitioned the EFCC through his lawyer.

    In his petition, he alleged that the suspects fraudulently obtained a court judgment with which they claimed and sold his property without his knowledge and consent.

    “In getting the judgment, the suspects ensured that their victim, the petitioner, did not get summons.

    “Instead, they went ahead and provided defence lawyers for him, with whom he never had any discussion.”

    According to the petitioner, “I was informed that I was served summons all through the court proceedings, whereas it was R.A. Salman, who put up his colleagues: Abaya Sulyman and Saka Hammed to stand for me.

    “These lawyers forged my signature on some documents, purporting my consent in court to the sale of my hostel.”

    Adedoyin further stated:  “The truth of the matter is that I never set my eyes on these people (lawyers) prior to or during the court proceedings, neither did I participate directly or indirectly in the proceedings.

    “I also was not aware of the proceedings from the beginning to the end.”

    Abaya was arrested on Aug. 28, 2019 and released on bail after volunteering statement to the commission.

    In a twist, Abaya on September 2, addressed a news conference in Ilorin, claiming he was innocent of the allegations against him.

    He said operatives of the commission, having realised their mistakes, apologised to him.

    Abaya had said he was also profiled at gun-point by operatives of the commission.

    But Uwujaren said all actions purportedly taken by Abaya were packaged to elicit public sympathy and portray the commission as inefficient, reckless and draconian.

    He said there was no reason for anyone to apologise to Abaya, who remained a suspect under investigation.

  • Guard charged with stealing N12m

    A guard, Asimiyu Lawal, was on Tuesday arraigned at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing N12million from the safe of a hospital in Mushin, Lagos, property of his employer, Dr. Ayantola Oladipo.

    Lawal, of 6, Olawoye Street, off Kola bus stop, Alagbado, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of constructive damage and stealing preferred against him by the police before Magistrate Mrs. A. A. Runsewe.

    Prosecuting Inspector Jimoh Joseph alleged that the defendant committed the offence on the premises of the hospital on May 16, at about 12am, at 26, Fagbenro Street, Idi-Araba, Mushin.

    Read Also: Teenager jailed three months for stealing fowl

    He alleged that the defendant, with intent to steal, damaged one office safe valued at N300,000, property of  Dr. Oladipo.

    Joseph alleged that the defendant stole N12million from the safe of a specialist hospital.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Runsewe granted him N1million bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She said the sureties must be employed, show evidence of tax payment to Lagos State Government and have their addresses verified.

    The case continues on September 25.

  • Aboru residents hail govt for clearing drainage

    Residents of Aboru, Alabede and Ipaja areas of Lagos State have hailed the government for clearing drainage in the areas.

    They said the monthly cleaning would improve the people’s  living condition and prevent flood during the rainy season.

    Workers of the company handling the cleaning, Quality Sanctuary Ltd, were seen working on the project on Monday with enthusiasm.

    Mr. Ade Olojede, who lives at Aboru, said since Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu took over the mantle of leadership, he had resumed the regular cleaning of the drainage, which would make life more comfortable for the residents.

    Read Also: Nigeria far from SDGs target on water, sanitation, says WaterAid

    He said: “We must commend the government under the leadership of Governor Sanwo-Olu for approving the cleaning and maintenance of our primary channels. The cleaning is a welcome development at this critical period.”

    Another resident, Samson Okey, a trader, said: “The condition of the canal in the past was terrible. But with the coming of Governor Sanwo-Olu , things have improved, as the Ministry of the Environment has mobilised a contractor to the site and work is progressing. We praise the governor for his thoughtfulness and commitment to his campaign promises.”

    Mr. Okey hailed the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Lekan Shodehinde, an engineer, for a thorough job.

    He said: “We must single out for commendation the duo of the permanent secretary of the ministry and the Director, EFAD, Henri Johnson, an engineer, for the wonderful job being done. They have brought their years of experience to bear on the environment. They must be praised by us.”

    Mr. Femi Oguntade, a resident of Jakande Estate, was also full of praises for the government for clearing the drainage.

    A social media influencer and journalist, Comrade Edafe Oghenebrume, showered encomiums on the government for a job well done in the area.

  • Govt presents N10m cheque to dead LASTMA official’s family

    Lagos State Government on Tuesday presented a N10 million cheque to the relations of a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) official, Folashade Arogundade, killed by a truck on May 25.

    Presenting the cheque to the husband, Mr. Tunde Babajide and her younger brother, Mr. Adekunle Arogundade, Special Adviser (SA) to the Governor on Transportation Mr. Oluwatoyin Fayinka said the donation was in fulfilment of the promises of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu when he paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family.

    He said although the state and especially LASTMA missed the services of the late officer, who was respected by her colleagues, the gift was to show the governor’s commitment to the welfare of civil servants.

    Fayinka urged the beneficiaries to utilise the money.

    The SA said a cheque of N5million was written to cater for the education of the deceased’s 18-month-old baby.

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    He suggested that it should be deposited in an account to be jointly managed by the husband and a relation of the deceased.

    A cheque of N3million was handed over to the deceased’s relation, while N2million cheque was given to the husband.

    Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transportation Mr. Olawale Maroof Musa said the death of the LASTMA official was sad.

    He added that as part of his commitment to the welfare of civil servants, Governor Sanwo-Olu had led a high-powered delegation to the bereaved family to commiserate with them.

    Mr. Babajide thanked the governor for his magnanimity and LASTMA for the privilege his family has enjoyed.

    He prayed God to guide the governor aright in the task of building a safe and prosperous state.

    The deceased’s younger brother, Mr. Kunle Arogundade, who received a cheque of N3million on behalf of her family, thanked the governor for remembering the family in their period of grief. He prayed that such an unfortunate incident would not be recorded in the traffic agency again.

  • Tamed insecurity as Buhari’s 100-days statement

    One issue the opposition use to campaign against President Muhammadu Buhari in the election that held in March this year is the issue of security.

    They cited continued Boko Haram threats, commercial scale kidnap for ransoms, banditry, ritual related killings, ethno-sectarian strife, and other forms of criminality that undermine the safety of life and property in the country.

     

    It is a fact that President Buhari inherited some of these security breaches from the previous administration while others arose from situations that were created and nurtured by past administration. He however owed it to Nigerians to address the problem because tackling insecurity was a major plank of the manifesto that got him elected for his first term.

     

    While he did much to tame Boko Haram and other security threats in the first three year of his first term, the months leading to the election were harrowing for Nigerians because of noticeable degeneration in the security situation. This development was later discovered to have political undertones.

     

    The opposition was not successful in dissociating itself from sponsoring the security breaches in order to use them as campaign props against President Buhari. The Federal Government has, at the peak of electioneering, accused the opposition of contriving the security breaches.

     

    President Buhari’s victory in the election meant that the opposition, or those behind the security crisis, never bothered to deactivate or decommission the killer groups they unleashed on the country. Even if they had tried, like a golem, the killer groups had taken on lives of their own such that they would not heed the commands of their creators to demobilize.

     

    A new wave of security threats was this born, one that pro-opposition analysts had predicted would consume the Buhari presidency.

     

    But in 100 days, President Buhari has proven that he is the master of restoring security even in the most hopeless of situations. Between being sworn in and now, he has been able to reel in the bandits, Boko Haram, high way kidnappers and diverse characters who had participated in the electoral process clandestinely were on the verge of by metamorphosing into higher levels of threats.

     

    As it was in his first term, Mr President again relied on his trusted military chiefs to arrest the decline instigated by those that would rather see the country in tatters. But the military responded differently in proof that they have the capacity to respond to whatever mutations the sponsors of the security breaches decide to come up with.

    Read Also: Lagos to wage war against pipeline vandals

    The Nigerian Army, as usual, was able to promptly and effectively respond to the attempt to blanket the country in various forms of insecurity.

     

    As of the time of writing the bandits in the north-west of the country have been supressed below their pre-election activities, which was of course in conjunction with the governments of the affected states. Boko Haram had again been reduced to mostly operating from across international borders. Kidnappers have been arrested in high numbers while extremist elements have been kept off the streets.

    Other services of the military, the Nigeria Police Force and Department of State Services (DSS) have all been brought into a collaborative effort that have put criminals in their place.

     

    They could make attempts to appear relevant but all such actions are met with the deserving response from the state.  This has left little space for manipulated security breaches to grow in the country.

     

    These concerted efforts at taming the security situation were not without resistance  from those that created the crises in the first place.

     

    Each time the military makes progress against terrorists and bandits  there were attempts to paint the government as being in the wrong.  But President Buhari’s commitment to Nigerians and the security chiefs’ dedication to their duty has ensured that there was no laxity in addressing the problems being created by the enemies of the country.

     

    One must thus appeal to President Buhari with his security team not to slow down on the tempo that delivered this kind of improvement in a mere 100 days. If this much can be achieved in 100 days then one can imagine what would have been put in place in the next two years.

     

    In conclusion, Nigerians must recognize that they have roles to play in scaling up the impressive results that have been recorded in these 100 days.

     

    The elections are over and the next three years plus should see us all tackling security challenges and other national issues as “a people” instead of dwelling on differences that have not done much to uplift the country in the past. President Buhari has done his part in taming insecurity and Nigerians must now do their own part by standing against those things and people that aggravate security breaches.

     

     

    Ainoko wrote this piece from Kaduna.

     

  • Man charged with impersonating soldier

    A 25-year-old man, Ayobami Joseph, was on Tuesday arraigned at an Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court in Ekiti State for alleged impersonation.

    He was brought before Magistrate Kehinde Awosika by the police on a one-count charge of impersonation.

    Police prosecutor told the court that the accused unlawfully put on the Army uniform and paraded himself as a soldier.

    The court heard that the defendant committed the offence on August 24 at about 8:30pm in Ado-Ekiti.

    Read Also: Man stripped for impersonation at Oba’s palace

    According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened Section 109 of the Criminal Code, Cap C 16, Laws of Ekiti State 2012.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

    His counsel, Mr. Busuyi Ayorinde, prayed the court to grant his client bail in liberal terms, with a promise not to jump bail.

    Magistrate Awosika granted the accused N50, 000 bail and one surety in the like sum.

    He adjourned the case till September 23.

  • Lagos to prosecute developer

    The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) on Tuesday applied to take over from the police, the prosecution of a developer, Alabi Tesleem Idowu, who allegedly defrauded 297 accommodation seekers of N65 million.

    It told Justice Nicholas Oweibo of a Federal High Court in Lagos that it had obtained the Federal Government’s consent to take over the case.

    Justice Oweibo, on August 11, remanded Idowu in prison custody following an application by the Special Police Fraud Unit (SPFU), Yaba, Lagos.

    The application was backed by a 251-count charge of obtaining under false pretence.

    Idowu pleaded not guilty and the judge adjourned to hear his bail application.

    At the resumption of proceedings yesterday, two counsel – Police prosecutor Mr. Chukwu Agwu and a Deputy Director in the DPP’s office, Adetutu Oshinusi – announced appearance for the government.

    Read Also: Lagos to proffer solution to overpopulation

    Oshinusi told the judge that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) had issued a fiat to the Lagos State Attorney-General to take over the case file.

    She said the DPP is now empowered to prosecute the defendant at the Federal High Court and prayed the court to grant her application to take over the matter.

    She also prayed for a short date to enable her respond to the developer’s bail application.

    But Idris’ counsel, Mr. Jilji Jubrin, opposed her.

    “The business of the court today, is for the hearing of the defendant’s bail application,” Jubrin said.

    He said he had served SPFU the bail application and also received the prosecution’s counter application.

    Jubrin said the DPP could take over the case, but after the court had decided the defendant’s bail.

    Also responding, Agwu, who described the DPP’s involvement as “a good development,” said the power to prosecute criminal cases “rests in the bosom of the AGF.”

    In a bench ruling, Justice Nicholas granted the DPP’s prayer and adjourned till October 10, to hear and determine the developer’s bail application.

    According to the charge, the defendant allegedly perpetrated the fraud between January and June.

    Idowu allegedly obtained the money from 251 accommodation seekers for a room self-contained and a room and parlour self-contained apartments in a renovated building at Karimu Street, Alapere, Ketu, Lagos.

    Some of the victims and the sums received from them, include: Mohammed Akeem, N400,000; Philip Obinna, N320,000; Folorunsho Ridwan N835,000; Mrs. Owodunni Dorcas Adetutu, N240,000; Abdulraham Hamed, N170.000; Folakemi Amosun, N220,000; Theresa Amazi, N175, 000; Samson Emmanuel, N195, 000; Salau Wasiu, N180,000; Khadyat Sanusi, N140,000; Ishola Matthew,  N240,000.

    Others are: Michael Bashorun, N150,000; Akinshola Samuel, N100,000; Olaleye Bisola, N260,000; Emmanuel Agbakwuru, N270, 000; Ayedun Oluwatobi, N200,000 and several others.

    The offences were said to contravene sections 1(2) and 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

  • Nigeria’s expensive $9.6b P&ID mess

    Nigeria is in a bind. A court in the United Kingdom last week awarded a fine of $9.6 billion against her in a dispute brought by the Irish firm, Process and Industrial Developments Limited (P&ID), over the botched 2010 Gas Supply and Processing Agreement (GSPA).

    The decision empowers the aggrieved contractor to seize assets of the Federal Government of Nigeria to the tune of the amount awarded anywhere on the planet.

    By some estimates, that sum represents one-fifth of the country foreign reserves.

    Some lawyers have argued that the existence of the State Immunity Act 1978 (the Act) of the United Kingdom, makes the prospect of immediate enforcement of the judgment remote. This is an opinion which would be tested in the courts soon.

    For now, the brutal award hangs over this nation like a poorly-secured sword.

    It has generated the predictable cocktail of outrage, buck-passing and protests. Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, defending himself against allegations lack of diligence in prosecuting the matter, has been regaling us with tales of all he did to avert it. He has even gone a step further by absolving himself of all blame.

    Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, never slow to sniff out a conspiracy against the administration, emphasised that government’s concerns were primarily about “the underhanded manner in which the contract was negotiated and signed.”

    He said: “Indications are that the whole process was carried out by some vested interests in the past administration, which apparently colluded with their local and international conspirators to inflict grave economic injury on Nigeria and its people.”

    In a fit of righteous rage, some super patriots marched on the UK High Commission and Irish Embassy in Abuja, brandishing placards denouncing the hefty fine.

    Abuja’s famine of thought never fails to produce the ludicrous. How these sponsored demonstrations would make the $9.6b award go away, boggles the mind. This judgment wasn’t an act of the UK parliament, neither was it a decree by the British sovereign. It was a judgment of the court over which the government has no veto power.

    The protests were clearly acts of frustration that, in a way, underline our limited options.

    Thankfully, on the same day that the noisemakers were at the embassies, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was presiding over a conclave of lawyers to thrash out a way forward. The outcome appears to have been a decision to duke it out in the courts.

    That is as it should be, given the messy details about the contract that have since emerged. For instance, it has come to light that the deal was signed whilst then President Umaru Yar’Adua was in a coma.

    A lot of noise is made these days about cabals, but in the days when the late president was missing in action, a cabal truly ran the affairs of the country with the result being the sort of mess that has now been created.

    Michael Aondoakaa, who was Attorney-General and Minister of Justice when the contract was signed said he first heard of it when news of the award broke, and it was never approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). So on whose authority was the deal initialled, tying Nigeria to all sorts of legal obligations?

    Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has also said there was no evidence in the bank’s records showing that the contractor invested $40 million in the botched project.

    No doubt there would be more awkward revelations in the days and weeks ahead. For those who have brought us to this point, there has to be a judgment day too. That informs the evolving blame game.

    But no amount of buck-passing can remove the fact that every administration from Yar’Adua’s to Goodluck Jonathan’s and now Muhammadu Buhari’s regime, have by their acts of omission or commission contributed to the debacle.

    For example, court documents from this case claim that the delay in constituting Buhari’s first cabinet in 2015 negatively impacted the resolution process. Perhaps we forgot that the world doesn’t work by our African time and that some courts operate outside our jurisdiction.

    Government is a continuum. If your predecessor messed things up, it is your responsibility to set them right and carry on. At this point it is immaterial if the crooked deal was cooked up under Yar’Adua. He is long gone. Nigeria is the one left with a massive headache.

    I wouldn’t waste time arguing the merits of the case for either party. That’s a job for the lawyers. As a Nigerian I don’t want to see my country fritter away $9.6b knowing the likely consequences for our limping economy.

    I am more concerned with whether we can learn any lessons from this latest embarrassment. The P&ID case underlines the funny manner in which this country is governed. It is the latest one that highlights our culture of playing fast and loose with the rules – especially as they concern government contracts.

    A contract – especially international ones – is binding and should be respected. Fix your system so it doesn’t throw up dodgy contracts. When government officials, deceived by the sense of their own power, arbitrarily repudiate agreements that have been legally endorsed, there’s always a price to pay. Unfortunately, the price is usually paid from the public treasury and not the individual officer’s purse.

    In the 80s, then Lagos State Governor Lateef Jakande conceived of a metroline for the city. When the military junta headed by the then General Buhari seized power in 1983, it was cancelled at the resulting cost of $78 million to the taxpayer. Such horrendous waste!

    There are several other cases with similar background that are ongoing and may one day blow up in our collective faces. While the government carries out it probes to punish those responsible, it should urgently investigate these ticking time bombs and defuse them while there’s still time.

    The tired rituals of grand reaction after the disaster has occurred are no longer entertaining.