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Tag: probe

  • Boroffice to IGP: probe assassination attempt on my life

    Last Saturday’s assassination attempt on the life of the senator representing Ondo North, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice, in Owo, has continued to generate ripples among the All Progressives Congress (APC) fold across the state.

    In a statement by its spokesman, the ruling party said Boroffice’s attackers were not APC members.

    Also, Segun Ajiboye, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, said Boroffice was repeating the alleged lies his team had been peddling for some time.

    In a statement, Ajiboye said: “It is surprising that the lawmaker has run to the press, even after he claimed that the police were investigating the matter.

    “At this stage, as law-abiding people, we would rather allow the police do their job.”

    But a statement by the senator’s media unit insisted that some aides of Governor Akeredolu have a case to answer with the Inspector General of Police (IGP’s) crack team over the assassination attempt.

    The statement reads: “Following the failed and foiled assassination attempt on the life of Senator Boroffice on Saturday in Owo, the media unit of the senator is concerned that while the Ade Adetimehin-led faction of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State has not deemed it right to condemn the attack, the faction has issued two contradictory statements on the incident within 24 hours.

    “In one breath, the faction, through its spokesman, Kalejaye, confirmed that some aggrieved members of the party in Owo invaded the venue of the campaign. In another statement, the faction, through same spokesman, said the assailants are not party members. The faction should stop undermining the image of APC with its seeming confusion.

    “Also, it is our considered view that the statements credited to the Commissioner for Information in Ondo State and the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor on the matter are watery innuendos. They neither cleared nor dissociated their boss.”

    Boroffice’s spokesman Kayode Fakuyi said the insinuation raised by Adetimehin-led faction that the attack on Senator Boroffice was stage-managed by the supporters of the senator was unfortunate.

    The spokesman said the senator’s supporters have never stage-managed such incident, adding that they have no tendency to do so.

    He said: “They have no reason whatsoever to stage-manage such incident. The supporters of the senator could not have stage-managed an attack that was coordinated by appointees of the governor.

  • Alleged N117bn debt: I’m not afraid of any probe, says Fayose

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has said he is not afraid of being probed by the incoming administration on the management of state treasury after his exit from power.
    Fayose disputed the claim of the Transition Committee set up by the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, that latest record from the Debt Management Office (DMO) shows that Ekiti debt under his watch has ballooned to N117 billion.
    The panel made the revelation on Friday while turning in its report to the governor-elect.
    Fayose contended that Fayemi is laying foundation for “an impending failure” with the excuses of the alleged N117 billion which he described as a ruse to hoodwink Ekiti people.
    In a statement on Sunday by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, Fayose wondered why Fayemi could not avail himself of the opportunity to clear himself of the way and manner he handled the state treasury before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry which probed his administration.
    The outgoing governor claimed that he did not commit the State to any financial institution  in form of bonds and commercial loans.
    According to him, “no loan can be granted without the approval of the DMO and the Federal Ministry of Finance throwing a challenge to the two institutions ti publish details of any loan taken by his administration, including the banks that granted such loans.”

    Fayose said: “Unlike him (Fayemi) who was not courageous enough to answer questions on his administration before a duly constituted probe panel, Governor Fayose is not afraid of being probed either by the State or Federal
    Government.”

    “Ekiti State indebtedness stands at N59.5 billion that was either directly inherited from the Fayemi’s administration or incurred as a result of the loans restructuring done at the instance of the federal government and the Federal Economic Council.”

    He gave the breakdown as follows; Commercial Bank Loan, N2,087,788,065.28; CBN Grant for Water Project, N163,450,000; Excess Crude Account Backed Loan, N9,545,173,472.78; Bailout, N9,083,761,215.40; FGN Bonds, N18,226,699,707.18; State Bonds, N3,484,469,345.51 and Budget Support, N16,869,000,000.

    He added: “Particularly, the N10 billion grant released from the Excess Crude Account for capital projects was fund that should normally accrue to all States.

    “Most importantly, we admit that the State workers are being owed four months’ salary and this was occasioned by the monthly deductions from the State allocation as a result of huge debt incurred by the Fayemi administration. Even the N9.5 billion bailout fund was for the payment of the arrears of salaries and deduction left unpaid by the Fayemi’s government.”

    Fayose accused the federal government of deliberately refusing to release legitimate funds belonging to Ekiti State to his government.

    He alleged that N22.6 billion refund on federal roads construction, N2.1 billion arrears of Budget Support and N14.1 billion Paris Club refund, making N38.8 billion, which should have been paid to the State since June is billed to be released in November to Fayemi’s government.

    He admonished Fayemi to use the N38.8 billion to clear the arrears of workers salary, which would have been paid by now if the federal government had released the fund, on the basis of which Governor Fayose promised to clear arrears of workers salary before leaving office.

  • Police probe illegal raid on Edwin Clark’s residence

    •IG orders detention of four policemen, informant

    The Police yesterday launched a probe into the unauthorised raid on the Abuja residence of elder statesman Edwin Clark

    Police Spokesman Jimoh Moshood denied that Inspector General Ibrahim Idris ordered the raid, saying in a statement that the IG had ordered the detention of the four policemen who carried out the raid.

    The police also said they were not aware of the action.

    Moshood said:  “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a report credited to one Henry Umoru claiming that the Police on Tuesday raided the Abuja residence of former Federal Commissioner for Information and South South Leader Chief Edwin Clark.

    “The Force wishes to categorically state that the Inspector General of Police is not aware and did not order the raid of the residence of Elder Statesman Chief Edwin Clark as claimed by the writer of the story. “Consequently, the Inspector General of Police has directed the detention and investigation of the four Police personnel and the informant involved.”

    The Force promised that the outcome of the investigation will be made public.

    The statement added: “Notwithstanding, the fact that on daily basis the Nigeria Police Force across the country receives information from members of the public which were promptly used to prevent and detect crimes and criminalities, the Force will not condone misconduct by any of its personnel that can run contrary to the rule of law.”

    It was learnt that the 91-year-old -old former federal commissioner (minister) was at home when the policemen came at about 12.30om in an 18- seater Hiace bus and a car marked EU 979 ABC.

    Clark’s 43, Haile Selassie Street, Asokoro residence was turned inside out for about two hours

    Speaking after the incident, Chief Clark said: “I was in the house, in my bedroom when my boys came to inform me that there were policemen downstairs and in the parlour, I said what do they want, they said they came from Inspector- General of Police(IGP) Tactical Squad  with a warrant and with their office in Guzape, So I said what do you want?

    “They said I was selling weapons in my house so that’s why they went to court to obtain a search warrant and they showed me the search warrant, I said, go ahead. So they went down,  searched everywhere, my most important part of it, my secretary, Miss Dorothy Koko,  was in the bank, they said they must see her bedroom and the office. So she had to come from the bank to open those rooms for them to search. They came up, searched my wife’s room, my children’s room, my other parlor upstairs and everywhere.

    “They didn’t find anything; they made a statement that theycame here with a warrant to search the house for ammunition, but they have searched the house, they found nothing and they themselves took away nothing. Three of my people signed it and three of them signed it.

    When asked if the search could be related to last week’s meeting of Elders and Leaders of various socio- cultural groups in the country, Chief Clark said, “I believe because of the various meetings we’ve been holding about the state of the nation. otherwise why would they expect me to keep ammunition in my house. No sensible man will think that a 92-year-old man in Abuja, will be keeping ammunition in his house to fight the government, overthrow the government, this is ridiculous, shameful.

    “I am not saying that people don’t keep arms, but I’m not that kind of person, I speak my mind on issues affecting this country, I believe in advocacy, I believe in peace. When our boys, calling themselves Avengers and so on, vandalised  pipelines, I formed an organization known as Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF to stop these boys and I led about 100 people including leaders, traditional rulers, everybody.

    “Since then, there have been peace in the Niger Delta, oil production has increased, is that why I should be treated like this, perhaps this is the time I should mention it that if has been the policy of  the Presidency to congratulate Nigerians who have attained certain age, I attained the age of 91 on the 25th of May this year.

    “What I said earlier on was that I’m a man of peace, I believe in peaceful coexistence in this country, I have been doing everything possible to see that Nigeria remains one that’s why we’ve been forming various organisations to keep Nigeria together. I started PANDEF on the 19th of August 2016 to advice the youths who were vandalising pipelines, to stop them from vandalising pipelines.

    “Oil production in Nigeria which had gone down low to about 900 barrels per day has increased to over 2 million, everybody knows that. I have led meetings with Mr. President, with our people, I led a 100 traditional rulers, politicians, past governors  to meet with the President on the 1st of November 2016, I was looking for peace, but nobody can stop me from speaking my mind or associating with people to see that there is good governance in this country.”

    “It is dangerous to say where we are going, we are moving into a police state.  What worries me is that those who are surrounding Mr. President,  I do not think they wish him well with the way they are going, President Buhari  is the President of the whole Nigeria, not one part of this country. I do not think with his greatest respect and having  honored my late friend, Alhaji Maitama Sule, I do not think one police man whether IG would have gone to Kano to search his house, Why this type of discrimination, it is very unfair.”

    “I will never, I said it is my top slogan that when you are 70 and above, you are at the Lounge, waiting for your boarding Pass,  I would say I have gotten my Boarding pass, but God has delayed it, nobody can do me anything, I will speak my mind on anything that is unjust in this country, against injustice, against oppression, discrimination, religious  bigotry, ethnicity anything that will affect the unity of this country, peace, peaceful existence of this country I will speak against it.

    The elderstatesman has not ruled out taking a legal action against the government and the police as he noted that, “My lawyers will look into that.”

    Groups criticized the raid in separate statenments yesterday.

    Condemning what it described as a humiliation and traumatization of the 91-year old former Federal Commissioner of Information, PANDEF, in a statement by its National Secretary, Dr Alfred Mulade, gave the federal government a 48-hour ultimatum to provide an explanation to the action of the police.

    The group added: “PANDEF condemns this very barbaric  act which is tantamount to state terrorism and total disregard  for his fundamental human rights and complete  disregard for established  traditional respect for age and national  service.”

    The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call the security agencies to order before they plunged the nation into an irreversible crisis, even as it called on all other relevant stakeholders in the Nigerian project to come to the aid of the country.

  • Probe: Court fixes Oct 8 for judgment in Benue’s suit against EFCC

    •Commission insists on power to investigate state, officials

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled judgment for October 8 this year in a suit by Benue State Government, seeking to stop the ongoing investigation of some of its key officials by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba chose the date on Wednesday after parties adopted their written briefs and made their final submissions.

    Plaintiff’s lawyer, Emeka Etiaba (SAN), in his final argument, urged the court to hold that the EFCC has no powers under any law to investigate the account of a state government.

    Etiaba was of the view that only the state’s House of Assembly and its Auditor- General (listed as 4th and 5th defendants), have the power to investigate or inquire into the accounts and /or appropriations, disbursements and administration of the funds of Benue State Government by virtue of the provisions of sections 1(1) and (3), 125(2), (4) and (6), 128 and 129 of the Constitution.

    ?He argued that the EFCC went beyond investigating top government functionaries of Benue State to probing sensitive financial documents of the state. Etiaba urged the court to uphold his client’s case and grant all the reliefs sought.

    Joe Abaagu, who represented the Benue State House of Assembly, the Speaker, the Clerk and the Auditor-General, Benue State (listed as 2nd to 5th defendants), argued in similar manner as Etiaba and prayed the court to grant the plaintiff’s reliefs.

    In a counter-argument, EFCC’s lawyer, Slyvanus Tahir urged the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that the reliefs contained in the plaintiff’s originating summons were misconceived.

    Tahir argued that by the provisions of sections virtue of sections 6, 7 and 38(1) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act 2004, the agency has the power to investigate the accounts of both a state and its officials.

    He informed the court that the EFCC acted based on petitions written against the state by some indigenes of the state including Abubakar Tsav, in which they accused some key officials of the state of engaging in massive corruption.

    Tahir contended that the powers donated to the state’s House of Assembly and the Auditor General under section 125, 128 and 129 of the Constitution were merely oversight functions, but not prosecutorial powers.

    He urged the court to hold that the EFCC solely possesses the statutory powers to investigate and prosecute financial crimes in the country.

  • I’ll probe Fayose’s administration, says Fayemi

    ekiti State governor-elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has said it will be irresponsible on his part not to probe the administration of the out-going Governor Ayo Fayose.

    Fayemi addressed State House correspondents yesterday in Abuja, the nation’s capital, after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa.

    According to him, his administration will examine what transpired in the last four years in Ekiti State, including the failure of the Fayose-led administration to pay workers’ salary.

    He said: “Well, I think we need to remove this election from personalities. This was an election that we fought on issues. And it will be irresponsible on my part to come here and say that we will not examine what transpired in the last four years in the manner of government.

    “What was received in Ekiti State and the expenditures in that period? Why were we not able to pay salary in the state?

    “These issues should be examined in the interest of good governance.

    “It is not about probing Fayose or probing Eleka or probing anybody. It is about not repeating the mistakes of the past and giving our people good governance. How to do so will also involve looking at what transpired in the last four years.”

    On the allegation of vote-buying during last Saturday’s governorship election, Fayemi said there was no evidence to justify such an allegation.

    He said: “I haven’t any substantive evidence of allegations of vote-buying and intimidation.

    “In the place where I voted, there was no vote-buying anywhere. As far as our party is concerned, we did not engage in that; it is not our style.

    “We won the election fair and square. It was an election that we fought on issues and not on the basis of any vote-buying. So, whoever has any evidence of that should present it to an independently verifiable audience.”

    Fayemi, a former Minister of Mines and Steel Development and former governor of the state, was on Sunday declared winner of the election by Prof. Idowu Olayinka, the Chief Returning Officer for the poll.

    Olayinka, who is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), announced that Fayemi polled 197,459 votes to win the election and thereby defeated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, who had 178,121 votes.

  • Buhari orders probe of death of NYSC member

    …Condoles families of dead NYSC members

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday ordered independent investigation of the death of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Miss Ifedolapo Oladepo in Kano State.

    According to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President’s fresh probe is to unravel the true circumstances surrounding her death.

    The President also commiserated with the families of three NYSC members who lost their lives recently during the 2016 Batch ‘B’ Orientation Programme in three States of the Federation, including Ifedolapo.

    He described the demise of the young Nigerians as “shocking, sad and unfortunate,” noting that they died in the course of answering the national call to serve.

    He urged the families, friends and associates of the deceased to be consoled by the knowledge that their loved ones paid the supreme price while on national service and not for ignoble reasons.

    President Buhari also extended condolences to the Director-General and Management of the NYSC over the transition of the youth corps members, Chinyerum Nwenenda Elechi, Ifedolapo Oladepo and Monday Asuquo Ukeme, in Bayelsa, Kano and Zamfara States respectively.

    While enjoining the Management to do all within its powers to protect the lives of those under its charge, the President called on parents and guardians of current and potential NYSC participants not to panic over the recent tragic deaths.

    He prayed that God will grant the souls of the depa

  • NEMA Probe: Group Accuses Rep Committee Of Partial Vendetta

    The Coalition for Good Governance’s (CGG) Executive Director, has accused the Hon. Isa led House of Representatives Committee investigating alleged corruption at the National Emergency Agency Management (NEMA) of engaging in

    “diversionary persecution” of the Director –General of the agency.

    Addressing journalists in Abuja, executive director of CGG, Mrs Jaiyeola Mohammed described the House members as “self-seeking and egocentric leaders”

    She wondered why the House Committee despite the overwhelming evidence provided the EFCC which indicted the former DG of the agency,  and the directors, has devoted all its energy and wisdom in probing the tenure of Engr. Maihaja, while the indicted, suspended, but reinstated directors by the order of the House of Reps are still in custody of files containing critical documents that would aid EFCC investigation into the fraud.

    She said, “The twist is why would the House of Representatives take over a case being handled by the EFCC, the agency lawfully vested with the powers to prosecute persons involved in financial crimes?  Equally disturbing is why the House committee has overlooked or abandoned a glaring case to concentrate its probe on the vague case against the NEMA boss? what is the motivation that has informed this suspect  decision?”

    “Therefore,  we feel it is nothing rather than to execute its vindictive mission against President Muhammedu Buhari, by nailing his appointees. So, in the pursuit of this agenda,  the House Committee has  cooked up frivolous allegations against the current NEMA boss, Engr. Maihaja,  claiming he  abused  due process in some contracts awarded by the agency,  running into billions of naira.”

    She said though the probe  by the House Committee on the NEMA boss has  continued, but unfortunately, it has found nothing concrete  or incriminating to nail the current NEMA boss.

    According to her, the Hon. Isa led House committee has also ignored  petitions by  Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) drawing its attention  to the pending alleged fraud case against the former NEMA DG and the directors.

    She said, “Unfortunately though, the House Committee has turned unbearable heat and pressure   on the current NEMA DG, Engr. Maihaja to the extent of threatening to arrest the DG, who on two occasions, could not honour the committee’s invitations, because of pressing official engagements, but deemed it necessary to send representatives while he was on official visit to Benue and other states.”

  • NLC, SERAP, Sagay, others call for probe

    Former President Olusegun Obasnjo came under fire yesterday following President Muhammadu Buhari’s remark that $16 billion was wasted on power projects, without result, during his administration.

    Although Obasanjo said the National Assembly had already cleared him of any wrong doing and thatb he was ready for probe on the spendings, a cross section of eminanet Nigerians who spoke to our correspondents said the issue should not be swept under the carpet.

    Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) Chairman Prof Itse Sagay (SAN) said former President Obasanjo ran one of the most corrupt administrations in Nigeria’s history.

    He said Obasanjo acts like a saint when he is the “most stained” person around.

    Asked if Obasanjo should be probed over the $16billion allegedly spent on power without result, Sagay said: “, I think he should be probed. You see, President Buhari has been very generous and mild towards his predecessors, not wanting to cause discomfort and embarrassment for them out of respect for the positions they held.

    “But, Obasanjo is a man who does not respect himself, who thinks he is the President-General of Nigeria for life and has a right at any time to wade in and be very caustic and publicly insulting to his successors, just because he’s envious of the same position he held. He cannot detach himself from the Presidency.

    “I think he needs to be brought to order. He has been tolerated enough in this country. The President’s remark was very appropriate and more and more should come because Obasanjo ran one of the most corrupt governments this country has ever seen.”

    Asked if the Federal Government can prosecute Obasanjo, Sagay said: “It is possible but not likely. It is possible in the sense that there are issues like Siemens, Halliburton, funding for his library, and not to talk of this electricity thing.

    “But, because people decide to be quiet and let bygones be bygones, he won’t allow peace to prevail; he must raise dust and behave like a saint when you’re the most stained person around. He may bring it on his own head if he is not careful.”

    Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Emeka Ngige, urged the anti-graft agencies to do their work- no matter who is involved.

    He said:”I believe there was a report of the House of Representatives Committee on Power that indicted President Obasanjo in 2008 for various infractions on power sector contracts during his regime . The committee recommended that EFCC or ICPC should do further investigation and possibly prosecute him, if found culpable. That report was kept in a deep freezer till date.”

    Obasanjo says the report and that of the EFCC exonerated him.

    “So, the remark by President Buhari is not new. I still believe that the EFCC or ICPC should do the job as recommended by the House. The earlier we started jailing our present and past leaders who made Nigeria a fantastically-corrupt nation the better for our democracy,” Ngige said.

    A former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President and leader of the National Intervention Movement (NIM), Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), called for strong measures against all those found culpable over the $16billon spending.

    He, however, said he does not see the present leadership as being capable of taking a tough action on the matter.

    “Unfortunately, our leaders always trade words and nothing gets done. A new government should get down to real business in 2019 and take a strong action against all who are culpable; enough of panels but very tough action. We in NIM will do it. Extremely strong measures,” he said.

    Malam Yusuf Ali (SAN) is doubtful if anything would come out of any probe.

    His words: “Given the history of probes in our country, it usually leads to nothing and the country ends up spending more good money to look for hay in the sack. If there are issues that are worthy of investigation on the matter, let us get world renowned auditors to do forensic audit since money was involved. The Elumelu House of Representatives probe on power – what came out of it?

    “Nigerians are tired of this blame game! People got elected to fix the country. Please let them fix Nigeria so that we stop the brain drain. We will have functional hospitals so that public officials stop wasting our money on external treatment of simple ailments. Name calling won’t change our situation.”

    Constitutional lawyer Ike Ofuokwu urged Buhari to face his job and stop playing politics, adding that he should be courageous enough to charge Obasanjo if there is evidence against him.

    He said: “The comment of President Buhari is simply a political statement geared towards 2019 election. This is a government that claims that it’s fighting corruption, so if it has thoroughly done its findings and is satisfied that former President Obasanjo has dipped his hands into the national treasury, the only reasonable thing expected of her is to be courageous enough to put the process of prosecution in place and arraign the former president in a court of competent jurisdiction.

    “Otherwise, Nigerians are simply tired of media trial and propaganda that brings no conviction. Sometimes, I begin to think that the Buhari government is barren of progressive ideas. Nigerians are aware of the many profligacies of the past, hence voted him to power. He’s almost run out of his four years mandate and instead of moving the nation forward, he continues to put the nation in reverse motion.”

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Ahmed Raji, urged Nigerians not to sensationalise the issue.

    “Both Baba Obasanjo and President Buhari have exclusive rare grace of presiding over the affairs of Nigeria in uniform and as civilians. And the history of Nigeria can never be complete without a substantial mention of their names, especially the great Ebora Owu.

    “When President Obasanjo wrote the recent open letter to President Buhari, it was reported that the President reluctantly allowed his Information minister to react by only listing their achievements.

    “President Buhari has tremendous respect for Baba Obasanjo on account of seniority in age and military service, hence he made it clear that his Information minister should not join words with President Obasanjo. I advise all to draw a lesson from that episode and not get involved,” Raji said.

    NLC calls for probe as SERAP asks Buhari to refer ex-presidents to EFCC, ICPC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said President Buhari’s comment on the “wasted” $16billion on power should be looked into.

    The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) said thePresident should refer two of his predecessors to the anti-graft agencies for their role in the waste of public fund.

    NLC Secretary General Peter Oso-Eson said if there is evidence on the allegation, nothing shuld stop its investigation.

    He said anybody that is found guilty should be prosecuted, adding that there is need for transparency in the anti-corruption drive of the Federal Government.

    “If there is any evidence on this allegation, then those found guilty should be prosecuted because there is nobody above the law

    “This should be a sign that the government is serious about its anti-corruption campaign,” Oso-Ezon said.

    General Secretary National Union of Textiles, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) Issa Aremu said the former President is expected to account for the seed money. He said it is very wrong for the former president to say we should go and read his book.

    He said if such money is spent on power as alleged by the President, then the question is, why are we still in darkness? Where is the power?

    “Obasanjo should not be saying they should go and read his book. It is wrong for a statesman to make such pronouncement.

    “The former President is expected not to make a self defence, but he should defend or tell us the reason why the country is still in darkness. As I said, Obasanjo should not be saying, they should go and read his book. It is unlike a statesman. Having spent such amount on power and nothing to show for it, I think the former President needs to tell Nigerians what happened,” Aremu said.

    SERAP called for further probe of the alleged mismanagement of 16 billion dollars power projects between 1999 and 2007.

    In a statement by its Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organisation urged President Buhari to urgently refer the case to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for further investigation.

    It said the alleged squandering of over N11 trillion meant to provide regular electricity supply covering the governments of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, should also be investigated.

    It called for the prosecution of anyone involved in the matter “if there is relevant and sufficient admissible evidence’’ at the end of the probe.

    SERAP said it welcomed Buhari’s focus on the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the power sector, and urged him to expand his searchlight beyond the Obasanjo government.

    “It is only by pursuing all the allegations and taking the evidence before the court that the truth will be revealed and justice best served.

    “This is the only way to conclusively address the systemic corruption in the power sector and an entrenched culture of impunity of perpetrators.

    “Addressing impunity in the power sector should be total. This would help improve the integrity of government and public confidence and trust in their government.

    “It would also serve as a vehicle to further the public’s perception of fairness and thoroughness, and to avert any appearance of political considerations in the whole exercise.’’

    The organisation noted that it would be in the public interest in line with constitutional provisions for the Buhari administration to immediately pursue justice and recovery of any stolen asset in the power sector.

  • Group to AU: probe schoolgirls’ abduction

    THE Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA) has asked the African Union (AU) to undertake a fact-finding mission to establish the circumstances surrounding the abduction of over 100 school girls from Dapchi in Yobe State.

    It  urged the commission to prevail on the authorities to end similar abductions.

    WELA’s  Executive Director,  Mrs Funmi Falana, wrote the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, chaired by Prof. Benyam Dawit Mezmur.

    Falana said the organisation was concerned that the abduction of the school girls “shows continuing failure of the authorities to take steps to protect our schools and children against violence by Boko Haram’’.

    “The abduction of school girls from Dapchi followed abduction by Boko Haram in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, including the April 2014 abduction of 276 girls from Chibok Secondary school.

    “We believe that attacks on schools place children at risk of injury or death and affect students’ ability to obtain education. Attacks on schools, teachers and students can cause children to drop out or attend school less often, force schools to limit their hours and destroy school buildings and materials.’’

    The group  said where there was violence and fear, children’s education would be affected.

    WELA asked the authorities to explain the  steps they were taking to implement the Safe School Declaration.

    WELA added: “Ask the authorities to publish the number of schools or education facilities that have been damaged or destroyed as a result of attacks by (a) state security forces (b) non-state armed groups since the start of the conflict in the Northeast;

    “Ask the authorities to publish the steps they are taking to ensure that attacks on schools in contravention of international human rights and humanitarian law, are investigated and those suspected to be responsible duly prosecuted and

    “Prevail on authorities to respond to attacks on schools by promptly repairing damage and ensuring that students can safely return to class.

    “Prevail on authorities to ensure the provision of education in crises and displacement, and adopt special measures to ensure children can continue education in highly insecure areas, including by reducing the distance to school, offering distance learning programmes and setting up protective learning spaces for girls and teachers, among others.’’

  • Senate to probe Bello’s ‘double registration’

    Senate to probe Bello’s ‘double registration’

    The Senate yesterday resolved to investigate allegations of double registration levelled against Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

    The resolution followed an observation by Senator Mohammed Hassan (Yobe South).

    Hassan said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed the allegation at a news conference. But it was reported that Bello could not be prosecuted because of his immunity, he added.

    He prayed the Senate to look into the matter.

    “There is this story going round regarding the governor of Kogi State. It was reported recently that he was involved in double registration.

    “Some days or weeks after, INEC addressed a news conference where it confirmed the allegation and sacked three of its workers.

    “Now, we are concerned again; it was reported that Bello had been issued another voters’ card from another ward. We are concerned about this, and I think it is very important that the Senate Committee on INEC investigates the matter.

    “It was reported that he cannot be prosecuted because he has immunity, but for the purpose of getting this picture right, I think the Senate Committee on INEC should investigate this and get this matter right.”

    Senate President Bukola Saraki described the allegation as important and directed the Committee on INEC to look into the matter.

    “The issue you’re talking about is important because the stability of our democracy depends on the credibility of our electoral processes.

    “And as such, we must ensure that the processes are always what we can be proud of, especially now that countries all over are looking up to us.

    “I am happy that the Chairman of INEC is here. It is something he could look into and come back to tell us where the issue is.”