The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PRESIDENCY

  • Wike crying wolves where there is none – Presidency

    The Presidency on Sunday declared that Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike was only crying wolves where there is none in his fresh allegation against the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
    Wike had raised the alarm that the Buhari’s government has marked 200 judges for intimidation and false allegations.
    Speaking with The Nation on telephone, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said that the allegation was false.

    He simply said “If it is coming from Wike, it is no surprise because he likes to cry wolves where there is none.”

  • CAN to Presidency: Tolerate criticisms

    The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on Saturday advised the presidency to always tolerate criticism from any quarter for the development of the country. CAN was reacting to a story attributed to the President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina where he was reported to have said that: “that Christians form the majority of those criticising the President.”

    It said: “This government should never claim perfection in all they do but be open to godly admonitions from the Church in Nigeria. Through these godly admonitions if positively received, the government will serve the people better. We are essential stakeholders as those in government in the building of a vibrant  Nigeria. Take criticisms with a huge sense of thanksgiving and appreciation instead of anger.”

    The statement issued in Abuja by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant (Media & Communications) to CAN President, added that: “Our attention has been drawn to a story attributed to a spokesman to President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina, where he was reported to have said that Christians form the majority of those criticising the President. Adesina made this known in Lagos recently at a meeting organised by the Christian Press Association of Nigeria (CPAN) where he called on Christians to pray for those in government instead of criticizing them.

    “We would have dismissed the story as one of those numerous attacks on the leadership of CAN for standing on the side of the truth but for posterity sake.”

     

     

  • Presidency: Time to change Nigeria is now, says Soyinka

    •Nobel laureate tells Nigerians start afresh

    LITERARY giant Prof Wole Soyinka yesterday described the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as same side of a coin.

    He said neither the APC presidential candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, nor his PDP challenger, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, enjoys his backing for the most exalted seat.

    Soyinka urged Nigerians never to lose hope in charting a new direction that will deliver the nation from the looming anarchy, adding that it is not too early to make a new beginning.

    Speaking at Citizen Forum 2019 interactive session tagged: “Civic choice in a time of judicial ‘penkelemes” in Lagos yesterday, cautioned Nigerians to be wary of past political leaders who are out to deceive the electorate.

    He said: “I, Wole Soyinka, will not support either of the two contesting parties and I vote them for absolute rejection. It is time for a total new direction.

    “But, things are going on in the background quietly to change the situation. I don’t believe in negative vote but in creative vote, which is a seed that will germinate. The pace of germination is beyond everyone.

    “You must never be intimidated by crowd or rally. If you don’t begin you will not arrive. We must plant a seed, send a notice and you never know the pace it will germinate. Don’t let those past leaders mislead you all over again. Examine their motives. You must listen to the message and you must always interrogate the messenger.”

    Soyinka said the forum was not in response to any claim that Nigeria is undergoing another late General Sani Abacha’s period; instead, the forum is for public enlightenment.

    He stressed that Nigerians must be prepared to defend their rights, adding that successive governments adopt various ways to muscle the civil society and the judiciary.

    Soyinka said: “Anarchy develops when you brush the constitution aside, when you trivialize and you degrade the laws…My respect for the law and the bench is ingrain in me.

    “But, when I see a minister of Justice being killed like a chicken and nothing comes out of it in a democracy, I  see the entire system upside down until the perpetrators are found and one regime comes in, announce it as one of the unsolved political murders.

    “And this is not political murder but corruption murder. And up till now, regime comes after regime and nothing comes out of it. I therefore say what is there left for me to respect?”

    Activist and Lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) said both the Federal Government and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) erred in the handling of the Chief Justice Onnoghen’s case.

    He said: “We must challenge the judicial performance of NJC/NBA for pretending there was no problem. He described it as a dangerous phenomenon because while the chief Justice is being charged with serious accusations, NBA is busy mobilising lawyers.

    Read also: Presidency: Time to change Nigeria is now, says Soyinka

    “This has to be stopped. Lawyers go around making mockery of the profession. It is a wrong message. We must also decry those that laid the foundation for dictatorial rule in Nigeria in a democracy. Let the defender of our rights not pull wool over our eyes.”

    Another activist, Mrs. Joe Okei-Odumakin, who spoke on the need to follow the rule of law, said if the National Judicial Council (NJC) meeting of January 15 was held, maybe “we would not have been in this mess”.

    She, however, described what the government did as a nullity and of no effect.

    Foremost activist Femi Aborisade said the “removal” of Justice Onnoghen was not a fight against corruption but an agenda to plant culture of fear to intimidate the judiciary.

    “Fight against corruption must be based on rule of law. For a regime to obtain a black market injunction is unacceptable. Obasanjo is only interested in change of power while President Buhari is fighting not to be displaced. They should not deceive us. We are interested in system change,” Aborisde said.

     

  • Presidency uncovers plans to scuttle elections, says NSA

    THE Presidency yesterday said it had, through intelligence reports, uncovered plot by some elements within the polity to cause widespread violence during and after the forthcoming general elections.

    National Security Adviser Maj.-Gen. Babagana Mongouno (retd) sounded the alert at an emergency meeting with the Nigerian Governors Forum in Abuja yesterday.

    The meeting, which had 21 state governors in attendance, was also attended by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu and the Director General of Department of State Services Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi.

    Monguno said government is concerned that some individuals, who were not sure of their fate in the coming elections, were plotting widespread crises aimed at scuttling the conduct of the polls.

    According to him, the present administration is taking proactive steps and measures to ensure a peaceful, free, fair and credible election, stressing that government has, therefore, banned the use of private security and vigilante groups across the country during the election.

    He expressed concerns that the strategy being employed by people, who did not mean well for the country is to instigate crises that could snowball  into endless crises for the present administration and the citizenry.

    The NSA urged the governors to partner with security agencies to ensure that the conduct of the elections is peaceful and credible all over the country.

    He assured that the security agencies would not only remain neutral, but maintain high level of professionalism and vigilance during elections.

    However,  Zamfara State governor and the NGF Chairman, Abdullaziz Yari said the Forum and President Buhari  are on the same page that the coming election is not a do or die affair, asserting the Forum would partner with security agencies across the country to deliver a credible election.

    “We are prepared to partner with security agencies to ensure that the process is credible and that the elections are acknowledge as free and fair by both local and international observers,” Yari said.

    Yari, who was flanked by his colleagues while presenting a two-page communique issued by the forum at the end of the meeting, said the governors hailed the NSA Office for organising the meeting.

    He, however, expressed concern over the spate of kidnapping and arms proliferation in the country.

    He said: “Members of the governors’ forum are committed to collaborate with security agencies to ensure that the forthcoming elections are free, fair and conducted in an environment conducive for peaceful elections.

    “Governors are, however, concern about the proliferation of arms and ammunition and the spate of kidnapping across the country.

    “The forum recommends stronger collaboration and intelligence sharing among security agencies in the country to ensure that all lives and property are protected, regardless of individual or group affiliations.

    “Lastly, we seek stronger synergy between governors as the chief security officers of their respective states and the heads of security agencies to strengthen preemptive measures of curbing election violence and other anti-social vices.”

  • Presidency lauds speedy consideration of bill

    The Executive yesterday lauded the House of Representatives for the speedy consideration of the New National Minimum Wage Bill transmitted to the National Assembly for consideration.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives) Umar Ibrahim el-Yakub said it “shows a sense of responsibility and commitment to the Nigerian people.”

    El-Yakub who was being introduced to the media by his Senate counterpart, Senator Ita Enang said: “I’m very happy to say that the relationship between the Executive and the Legislature has been very cordial.

    “I have started on a very good note, especially with the expeditious reading of a very important bill which was just transmitted yesterday by me to the Speaker, which is the minimum wage bill.

    “I am sure that those that have covered the sitting today, the Speaker and indeed the members of the House, have shown their sense of responsibility and commitment to the Nigerian people by partnering with Mr. President to expeditiously read that bill on the floor of the House.”

    He said the second reading had been done “shows that the leadership and members of the House have certainly extended, as they will continue to do, their hand of friendship and concern for the welfare and well-being of the workers and indeed for anything that would promote the interest of our people.

    “Let me use this opportunity to also assure you, I will work with the leadership and members of the House to make sure that we put Mr. President on a good standing with the legislature.

    “And of course, to ensure there’s effective and efficient communication between the legislature, in particular, the House of Representatives which I’m assigned to superintendent as a liason officer.”

    El-Yakub was accompanied to the briefing by the Minister of State for Aviation Hadi Sirika, representative Aliyu Farouk Senator Ita Enang.

    The bill, dated January January, read in part “The purpose of this letter is to forward to you for legislative action, a new Minimum Wage Bill, to further amend the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, 2011, in order to give a new National Minimum Wage of Twenty Seven Thousand Naira (27,000) per month to the lowest paid Nigerian worker from the current Eighteen Thousand Naira (N18,000) per month.

    “This new Bill and the amendments contained therein were arrived at after consultations by the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage which was constituted by me in November, 2017, to consider, make recommendations, and advise the Government on this.

    “The Tripartite Committee comprised representatives of the Federal Government, Governors’ Forum, Organised Private Sector, and the Organised Federations of Trade Unions in Nigeria.

    “The Federal Executive Council, National Economic Council, and the National Council of States have all noted and approved these recommended amendments. Other highlights of the amendments include:

    Exemptions for Establishments employing less than twenty five (25) persons;

    Five years review period of the Act in consonance with the Constitutional review period of Pensions;

    Alterations in the amount of fines payable by defaulters on prosecution.

    “Bearing in mind that the issue of prescribing a National Minimum Wage for the Federation or any part thereof is within the Executive Legislative List of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and listed as item No. 34 of Part I of the Second Schedule, it is my pleasure to forward this Bill for expeditious action.”

  • Ikedife to Igbo: you can’t get Presidency on platter of gold

    Anambra State deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2017 Mr. Dozie Ikedife has called on Igbo to support the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He urged them to be realistic by understanding the dynamics of Nigerian politics, saying the presidency would not come on a platter of gold.

    Ikedife, who addressed reporters yesterday ahead of the President’s visit tomorrow, said the visit was “to prove practically that he cares for the Igbo.”

    According to him, there were a lot to show for Igbo votes to support Buhari to complete his eight years, including reconstruction of major federal roads in Southeast, construction of the second Niger Bridge and the completed mausoluem of the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.

    He said: “It baffles me why some politicians from Southeast cannot understand the simple calculation that to negotiate for Igbo presidency under Buhari’s remaining four years is shorter than waiting for another eight years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which might not be realisable.”

    Ikedife reiterated that supporting Buhari’s  second tenure would make the Igbo stand a better chance to produce the President in 2023.

    He said: “We are all campaigning, and by the grace of God, we will return Buhari to Aso Rock to complete his eight-year tenure. He has been going round the country to tell Nigerians how he has done a lot of things in his first tenure.

    “He has revamped agriculture, the aviation industry with new airports in place, paid pension arrears, empowered youths, other categories of the population and even resolved that school children are fed. And that is a landmark achievement, these in addition to his fight against corruption.”

  • Attack on TraderMoni: Obasanjo ignorant or mischievous – Presidency

    The office of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday replied the former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s criticism of the TraderMoni scheme introduced by the current administration.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Laolu Akande, said that the former President was either ignorant or mischievous with his criticism of the scheme.

    He said “The statement purportedly attributed to former president Olusegun Obasanjo regarding Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, and the Federal Government’s TraderMoni microcredit scheme if, indeed true and accurate, is most unfortunate, according to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande.

    “It is either that the former leader is ignorant of the true workings of Trader Moni and the role of the Vice President in its implementation or perhaps he is on a mischievous mission.”

    He said that the former President has demonstrated “a surprising but complete misunderstanding of the workings of TraderMoni, that is if we assume there is no mischief intended. “

    “Firstly, the Vice President does not personally distribute money during his visits to the markets. He goes there to assess the progress of the implementation and to create awareness for a programme designed to meet the financing need of 2 million petty traders across the country in the first instance.

    “Secondly, while one will not bother to further address the issue of timing of the implementation since such issues are now known to be political posturing, it is important to note that TraderMoni is being actively implemented across all states of the federation and the FCT. It is not only Lagos and Abuja as was insinuated.

    “These petty traders at the bottom of the economic ladder, with an inventory often less than N5,000, are beneficiaries of the TraderMoni scheme which provides N10,000 collateral/interest-free loans to them, empowerment that improves their small businesses, their families, while also contributing significantly to the economy.

    Read also: Obasanjo, an expired politician – Tinubu

    “Thirdly, in what is certainly a curious comment, the former President has also been quoted as describing the TraderMoni scheme as idiotic. To label such people-friendly scheme as idiotic is not only an absurdity, it is also an affront to the sensibilities of these hard working Nigerians, the beneficiaries of the micro-credit scheme.

    “For emphasis, the Bank of Industry implements the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, GEEP, one part of our Social Investment Programme. Enumeration Agents have been engaged to visit the markets and other points where petty traders are found to confirm that they are traders and also take their biometric information for recording purposes. After the enumeration, the N10,000 collateral free loans are then disbursed electronically through the petty traders’ phones.”

    TraderMoni, he said, is designed to meet the needs of the larger population of petty traders at the bottom of the pyramid who do not meet the more stringent criteria of BVN, bank accounts, market associations, cooperatives, required for bigger Market Moni loans.

    He went on “Under GEEP – which has MarketMoni, FarmerMoni and TraderMoni, at least 1.5 million Nigerians are already beneficiaries of the three-pronged approach of GEEP, while N-Power has created jobs for 500,000 young Nigerians graduates, besides non-graduates. Also, almost 300,000 Nigerians have benefitted from the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), which is given to the poorest and most vulnerable among us, and over 9.2 million school pupils are being fed a free meal daily in 26 states under the Home Grown School Feeding Programme.

    “It bears repetition that higher economic growth potentials are associated with lower income inequality. This makes a most overwhelming case for welfare payments like the social investment schemes like the TraderMoni/MarketMoni schemes. Such a micro-credit scheme provides a higher rate of inclusion into the financial bracket and is crucial in lifting hardworking people out of poverty as has been the case in other countries like India and Brazil.

    “Fourthly, the former president also rehashed discredited claims suggesting that TraderMoni beneficiaries were required to tender their PVCs, and questioned the timing of the implementation.

    “Let me, therefore, state again that beneficiaries of TraderMoni are not required to show their Personal Voters Cards (PVCs) or any document indicating their political affiliations to qualify for the loans. This is why the enumeration is done in the open markets and wherever the traders ply their trade. This issue has been addressed several times by the Presidency in the public space. Therefore the former president’s alleged comments smirk of outright mischief as it regurgitates blatant falsehood.

    “Equally, if the former president had conducted a simple act of diligence, he would have found that the National Assembly had approved this programmes and budgeted for them duly.

    “When President Muhammadu Buhari came into office, one of the major hinges of this administration was to uplift the common man out of poverty and ensure the welfare of ordinary Nigerians. TraderMoni is one of such schemes conceived in 2016 under the Social Investment Programme of this administration.”

    Being a former president, he said that Chief Obasanjo ordinarily should appreciate the impact of such far-reaching social investment schemes, which has provided what is now the largest social safety net for millions of Nigerians and is unprecedented in the nation’s history.

    “Again, the former president’s attack on TraderMoni and the person of the Vice President is an indicator that he may be wittingly or unwittingly playing to the sinister script of the opposition party to spread falsehood and attack the social investment programmes of the Buhari administration, which champions such impactful schemes, and which is now attracting the praise and commendation of Nigerians everywhere.

    “It is pertinent to state that the false allegations against TraderMoni raised again by the former president is sadly a rehash of baseless claims previously made by leading chieftains of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, whose record of profligacy, corruption and mismanagement clearly show it has no agenda to uplift the common man or improve the lives of Nigerians.

    “Finally, attacks such as this on a scheme that benefits the masses of our people is a direct attack on the people and this kind of conduct does not reflect very well on a former president but is only self-denigrating and of no public value.

    “As is already now obvious, the generality of the Nigerian people will not only reject that attack but will also condemn its source. We, therefore, urge the former president to be far more circumspect and more public-spirited in his utterances going forward.” he stated

     

     

     

  • Why Nigerians cannot trust Atiku, by Presidency 

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council yesterday gave reasons why Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, cannot be trusted by Nigerians.

    APC Presidential Campaign Council spokesperson Festus Keyamo said Atiku is a questionable character who has continued to leave huge questions over his suitability for the highest office of the land.

    In his view, Atiku’s visit to the United States has destroyed his campaign and exposed him.

    The statement reads “In our press release issued on Sunday, December 30, 2018, titled “WHEN THE THIEF IS SHOUTING THIEF”: THE CASE OF ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR”, we correctly predicted as follows: “By running for President of Nigeria, Atiku intends to get some immunity from prosecution. Already, he is hoping to obtain a visa to visit the US, as a guest of the State Department, a concession that the US will grant to a presidential candidate of Africa’s biggest nation.”

    “Therefore, we were not surprised by his visit to the U.S. For us, this visit is really a non-event, considering the issues involved in the forthcoming election. However, we have bad news for those who think this is a momentous event for Atiku Abubakar: the visit was nothing but a downright catastrophe because rather than dispel the fact of indictments hanging over his head, it further confirms and reinforces those facts for the following reasons:

    “The visit had all the trappings of a fugitive sneaking into America under a ‘special diplomatic waiver’. For the candidate of the major opposition party in Nigeria, it is an absolute disaster that the visit was not announced ahead of time in Nigeria, with his programmes and itinerary clearly spelt out, the decent and customary minimum standard of such visits. This culminated in his close aides issuing conflicting statements about the visit when he was already on his way there. In fact, one of them called Paul Ibe actually spoke to the Press that his principal was nowhere near America! Such was the secrecy of the planning and execution of that visit.

    “It is shameful that a presidential candidate of a major opposition party in Africa’s most populous country would visit America, and the international press was kept in the dark: There was NO SINGLE press conference with the array of international media and correspondents required for such ‘high-profile’ visit. Atiku knows he has no moral stamina to withstand the avalanche of hard questions bordering on his sordid past in America. In fact, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar claims he visited the Voice of America (VOA) but only did two carefully-packaged interviews with the Hausa service and the English to Africa programme – platforms that have always been available to him back home.

    “How strange! In fact, both the Twitter handle (@VOANews) and official website of VOA did not mention any such visit of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to their station. For news hounds, you would agree with us that such an ‘important personality’ cannot walk into a news premises without reporters swooping on him. Whatever he went to do in the premises of the VOA must have been a carefully-arranged private visit for the photo-ops, which was intended to scam Nigerians. What more evidence do we need of a “sneak-in-sneak-out” arrangement than this?.

    “For a candidate who claims he wants to “get Nigeria working again” (a meaningless phrase) to sneak into America without meeting major players in private businesses is a curiosity and an indication that we are dealing with a candidate with a dodgy and questionable character. He claims he went to the U.S Chamber of Commerce, which is supposed to be a business federation.

    “Again, the Twitter handle (@USChamber) and the website of the organisation make no mention of the visit of such an ‘important personality’ to them. Maybe their famous American lobbyist on a salary of N9million per month can help them ‘do something’ about this after this press statement.

    “It is also an anomaly that the candidate of the major opposition party in Nigeria sneaked into America and did not meet large sections of political leaders of similar ideologies and persuasions towards which he claims to be inclined. For all his claim to be going to America to meet “U.S Government officials”, he only succeeded in meeting a certain “Congressman Smith”, who is the equivalent of a member of the House of Representatives in Nigeria.

    “You would agree with us that as dignified and respected as the office of a member of the House of Representatives is, an important personality cannot come to Nigeria on an official visit and claim he has met the ‘Nigerian government officials’ after he pays a private visit to that member. For all we know, the Congressman Smith may just be a private friend of Dr. Bukola Saraki or Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. That reminds us of Atiku’s famous legislator friend he threw under the bus, Williams Jefferson, who taught us how to hide laundered money ( which was meant for Atiku Abubakar) in the deep freezer when the cops came knocking on his door!” he said

    He said that it was very obvious now that the American trip was a desperate trip for photo-ops.

    He added: “Throughout the trip, Atiku Abubakar looked cagey, frightened and on edge. We note the close support always provided by Senate President Bukola Saraki like a comforting guardian angel.

    “The visit and arrangements smack of things local yahoo yahoo boys do to scam their victims. It is utterly disgusting and puerile that it has been brought into a serious political contest.

    “Rather than being the highpoint of his campaign, the American visit is indeed the lowest watermark of Atiku Abubakar’s campaign. It was a political and P.R disaster. The statements he released from there only to the Nigerian Press back home that he intends to alienate other countries and do business with the U.S is actually the antithesis to our policy of non-alignment.

    “For the information of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his handlers, Nigerians know that Nigeria is already working again for everyone and not for a few. As confirmed by him in a town-hall meeting a few days before his disastrous trip to the U.S, he said he wants to “get Nigeria working again” only for few of his friends who he claims he wants to make rich.

    “If he cannot get them rich now from his private businesses, it is obvious that he is referring to the use of public funds to make his friends rich. Nigerians should judge for themselves whether this is the type of President they want.

    “Finally, whoever advised Atiku Abubakar to undertake that trip to America just destroyed his entire campaign and exposed him for who he is – a questionable character who has continued to leave huge questions over his suitability for the highest office of the land and as such cannot be trusted by the Nigerian people.” he stated

  • No plan to order Onnoghen’s arrest, says Presidency

    • Dismisses alleged plot to frame Supreme Court justices

    The Presidency yesterday  denied an alleged plan by it to order the arrest of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    It also denied planning to frame three other Supreme Court justices.

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, described the allegations as fake news.

    He said the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), which sparked the reports, was apparently trying to “set the judiciary against the executive and cause major confusion ahead of the forthcoming general elections.”

    He added: “The story is absolutely false as the Presidency is not in any way involved in plotting against or framing anybody.”

    The Presidency, he also said, would not interfere in the court case against Onnoghen.

    He said: “We note that the findings of the Code of Conduct Bureau against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, and the allegations arising from them, are being handled by the courts in the normal way, as is expected in a democratic society like ours. The Presidency has not, and will certainly not, interfere in the process.

    “We, however, want to draw the attention of the general public to this or similar false stories, which are ill motivated to further the political interests of their sponsors.

    “While the Buhari administration is very firmly committed to the fight against corruption, we want to assure the general public that government will always pursue its mission with the highest standards of fairness, and in strict conformity with the relevant laws.”

  • Presidency and Obla’s panel

    When recently the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), headed by Okoi Obono-Obla said it had submitted some 39 names of alleged treasury looters to the Nigerian Immigration Service to prevent them from escaping investigation and prosecution for alleged criminal acts, not few Nigerians were taken aback.

    The reason is simple: those who were surprised by the submission of the list and perhaps the intention behind could not but wonder what power does the panel has to arrogate such huge task to itself.

    Discerning Nigerians have asked if this the panel has the powers to determine who is corrupt or not? What basis or criteria did it use to determine the corrupt persons it has so identified?

    The other point is, even if the panel was mandated to investigate certain persons, how does one situate its powers to forward such names, straight from its stable to the immigration? Just how possible is that?

    It is still not clear where Obono-Obla’ panel derives its strange powers to arrest, seize property and prosecute public office holders under investigation and even put them on travel ban.

    But such powers are certainly not derivatives of the Act that forms the basis of the panel.

    The panel was set up pursuant to the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions) Act of 1983.  In the Act, there is no line that empowers the panel to arrest any suspect. In fact, the word ‘arrest’ does not feature in the Act.

    But as it has been rightly observed by critical Nigerians, the chairman of the panel is not only turning the laws of the land on their heads, he is also through the panel, violating other Nigerians’ fundamental human rights.

    There have also been several allegations that the panel chairman uses the panel to settle scores and for personal vendetta. And truly, there are evidences to support this.

    The recent travel ban that he issued using the Nigerian Immigration Services is a near home example.

    Also, the travails of Tumsah brothers in the hands of Obla’s panel are crystal clear examples.

    Recently, his panel arrested Hope Uzodinma, the senator representing Orlu Senatorial District of Imo State, for alleged corruption.

    Uzodinma’s arrest was in spite of a court ruling stating that the panel can only investigate alleged corruption cases, but lacks the powers to prosecute suspects or confiscate assets.

    Obono-Obla had ‘boasted’ to newsmen after the arrest that his panel “arrested” Uzodinma at the Abuja Airport after the lawmaker had evaded them for a long time.

    Speaking on Uzodinma’s arrest, Obono-Obla said: “The man was arrested. He was arrested…at the airport about 8:30 pm by our operatives and he was kept there till about 12 midnight before he pleaded that he should be allowed to go and we conceded because we don’t have detention facility.”

    Obono-Obla said his committee allowed Uzodinma a one-day respite because he complained that his blood pressure was high, and “we don’t want him to die”.

    Does the panel has power to arrest and prosecute?

    The laws are clear about the government agencies that have powers to arrest and prosecute. In this case, the EFCC and ICPC readily comes to mind.

    For Obla’s panel the law is also not ambiguous about it’s duties and limits.

    The Recovery of Public Property Act confers three powers on the panel, namely: the power to issue search warrants, the power to search properties under investigations, and the power to avoid artificial and other transactions.

    The Act, however, made it clear that the panel can exercise its powers only when a court of competent jurisdiction gives it the go-ahead.

    This, the panel had done without recourse to the court in the first instance in the case of Tumsah brothers.

    The Act also empowers the panel to investigate someone who is not a public officer, but who is “related to, or otherwise connected with a public officer (and) appears to have acquired assets far in excess of any income from his known or ostensible means of livelihood”.

    In a recent judgment, a five-man panel of Appeal Court justices, led by Hussein Muhktar, ruled that the presidential panel on asset recovery “cannot clothe itself with the clothes not given to it by the Act that established it”.

    “The provision of the Act is unambiguous and not confusing. The powers of the panel are to conduct an investigation on any officer who has corruptly enriched himself of breached the code of conduct. No power or authority is conferred on the panel to prosecute offenders,” Justice Muhktar ruled.

    “It is not clear then, on which authorisation or legislation the Obono-Obla-led panel is relying on to arrest suspected corrupt public officials, or to detain them” writes Kingsley Obiejesi of ICIR in a recent article questioning the power of the panel.

    In the case of Garba versus University of Maiduguri (1986) 1NWLR (Pt 18) 550, the Supreme Court ruled that, “The offences for which the appellants were undoubtedly held liable by the board and panel include looting, arson, destruction of property and indecent assault. These are offences under the penal code or criminal code and therefore are triable only by regular courts of law.

    “Neither the investigation panel, which investigated these serious charges, nor the disciplinary board of the senate, which considers its findings, is a court of law. Neither was competent to adjudicate on matters connected with the rights of the appellants once the allegations include crime…”

    In essence, once a person is accused of criminal offence, the court affirmed that he must be tried in a court of law. No other tribunal, investigating panel, or committee is vested with such powers to make pronouncement on criminal matters regarding an individual except a court of competent jurisdiction.

    Thus, on this, it is clear that the Obono-Obla panel is usurping the powers of the court and arrogating to itself, the authority it does not have. Government appears to be taking its fight against corruption to a rather ridiculous level and needs to be told it is strangely stepping out of legal and constitutional lines. That panel cannot suffice for the court and it is a no-brainer.