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  • ICPC docks Education Ministry’s director over N162m fraud

    A Director in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Victor Igboanugo, has been arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged contract scandals worth about N162m.

    He was also put on trial over ownership of property valued way above his legitimate income.

    But Justice V, B. Ashi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has ordered the seizure of the accused person’s international passport in order to restrict his movement.

    A statement by the Spokesperson of ICPC, Mrs. Rasheedat A. Okoduwa (mni) said the accused person was ordered to deposit his passport with the court registrar

    According to ICPC, Igboanugo, who had worked at various times in the Ministries of Environment and Niger Delta Affairs, is facing a 17-count charge before Justice V.B. Ashi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court 23, Apo, Abuja.

    The statement said: “The charge, which borders on abuse of office and conferring undue advantage upon himself, amongst others, contravenes sections 10, 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same sections.

    “ICPC counsel, Henry Emore, told the court that Mr. Igboanugo, while being the Secretary of the Ministerial Tenders’ Board at the Ministry of Environment, facilitated the award of multiple contracts to “private companies where he held personal interests.

    Read Also: ICPC recovers N594b from civil servants

    The court also heard that the accused, while acting as a Deputy Director of Procurement at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, bought a property in the United States of America for $140, 000, a sum way above his legitimate income.

    “He was further accused of receiving N20 million kickbacks through one of his companies, Phinavic Ventures Ltd, from the Chief Executive Officer of Lufem Engineering Ltd, Mr. Asiwaju Adekanbi Femi, after the award of contract for the construction of a skill acquisition centre.

    Part of the charges reads; “That you Engr. Victor Igboanugo (M) sometime in October, 2008 or thereabout at Abuja, Federal Capital Territory while being a public officer used your position as Deputy Director and Secretary of the Ministerial Tenders’ Board of the Federal Ministry of Environment to confer corrupt advantage upon yourself by awarding a contract for the construction of  three bedroom semi-detached bungalow at Prototype Housing Scheme, Asaba, Delta State to your company, Echedom Technical & Trading Co. Ltd for a contract sum of Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand naira only (N10,500,000:00) and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

    The defendant pleaded not guilty to the 17-count charge leveled against him and the defence counsel put in their application for bail which was not opposed by the prosecution.

    Justice Ashi granted the accused bail in the sum of N2 million with one surety in like sum who must be an officer not below Grade Level 14 in the Federal Civil Service.

    He also ordered the accused to submit his international passport to the court registrar.

    The case was adjourned to 19th June, 2019 for trial.

  • Korea partners Nigeria in poetry feast to mark its 100 years anniversary

    It was an evening of photo exhibition and poetry feast for the mixed audiences of Koreans and Nigerians, as the Republic of Korea today marked its 100 years anniversary of its March 1st Independence Movement in grand style.

    The event which is in commemoration of the transitional strides that the Republic of Korea has made since its independence from the Japanese Colonial rule from 1910 – 1945, held on Thursday in Abuja.

    The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Lee In-Tae, explained that the movement provided crucial momentum for Korea’s independence to be later achieved in 1945, including the establishment of the Provisional Government of Korea (PGK) in Shanghai, China in April 11, 1919.

    Represented by the Deputy Head of Mission of Korea, Kim Do Hwan, Lee In-Tae said, “This year marks 100 years since the March 1st Independence Movement of 1919, when Korean people rose up in unity against the colonist Japanese government’s oppression.

    “Despite the deep rage against Japanese cruelty, Korean people staged rallies in orderly and peaceful manners to effectively demonstrate Korean People’s noble will for independence.

    “However, the protests were violently suppressed by the Japanese colonist forces. Numerous Korean people were arrested, detained, injured or ruthlessly killed, the sum of which adding up to some tens of thousands.

    Read Also: Korean President congratulates Buhari on re-election

    “But the Korean peeple’s wlll towards an Independent nation was expressed powerfully enough to spread to China, lndla, Russia, Europe. America and all over the world. The movement provided crucial momentum for Korea’s independence to be later achieved in 1945, including the establishment of the Provisional Government of Korea (PGK) in Shanghai, China in April 11, 1919.

    “The spirit of the March 1st Movement and establishment of the Provisional government is also engraved in the first sentence of the Republic of Korea’s constitution, which served as a foundation for Korea to overcome further difficulties in its modern history: the ashes of the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 and from the gloomy military autocracy from 1970 to 1990 to become a country of vibrant democracy and economy that we witness today.”

    The Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Chief Olusegun Runsewe, in his congratulatory remark, explained that the celebration of the 100 years anniversary of the March 1st Independence Movement of the Korea people is a timely one as the history of any people forms their culture and identity; without which we cannot claim to have an identity.

    Represented by the Deputy Director of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Mrs. Adlin, Olusegun said: “I believe that wherever you go, it is your culture that determines how people will treat you; if you don’t know your culture, people will believe you are an unserious person.

    “We are happy to associate with the Korean people in areas that will improve our relationships and create opportunities for our people.”

    Talented individuals in poetry from adult and the school categories were treated to wonderful cash gifts and other consolation prizes. For the Adult category: 3 winners emerged ( 1st prize Nl00,000, 2nd prize N75,000, 3rd prize N50,000) and 7 consolation prizes (N25, 000 each).

    For the School category: 3 winners also emerged (1st prize N50,000, 2nd prize N30,000, 3rd prize N20,000) and 7 consolation prizes of Korean gift items, Ambassador’s prize: 1 winner (Korean gift items).

  • Scarcity of passport booklets hits immigration headquarters

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is experiencing shortage of passport booklets, it was learnt on Thursday.

    A woman, who spoke to The Nation under anonymity, complained she was at the NIS headquarters in Abuja but told at the passport operating unit only limited passports were available.

    She was also told that the limited ones are meant for the Very Important Personalities (VIP).

    She said: “It was surprising that I got to the NIS headquarters in Abuja and I was referred to Gwagwalada passport office or Kaduna State to purchase a passport booklet.

    READ ALSO: ‘Big men’ must go through security checks at airports, Immigration boss declares

    “One of the officers told me that the passport booklet is limited and the one available are for the VIPs.

    “I was disturbed because I needed it to travel urgently. I do not know that the passport booklets are scarce. I am disturbed.”

    It would be recalled that scarcity of passport booklets was experienced early last year due to production problem.

    All efforts to speak with the NIS spokesman, Sunday James were futile.

    He neither picked his calls nor replied to text message sent to him.

  • Mechanical Engineering wins CU Chancellor’s cup

    After a keenly -contested match on Sunday evening, the mechanical engineering department emerged winners of the 2019 Covenant Chancellor’s cup.

    The team defeated Building Technology department 4: 2 on penalties.

    Both teams had their chances in the fierce battle for one champion, which was the theme of the competition.

    But the water-logged pitch impacted heavily on the match’s outcome, which was eventually settled in a thrilling penalty shootout.

    Read Also: BIU gets new Vice Chancellor

    Alkamah, the Mech engineering goal keeper, lived up to his heroic status, saving two penalties taken by the Building Tech skipper Gyuse and Joshua.

    Then Layomi tucked in the winning penalty to hand Mechanical Engineering their first Chancellor’s cup.

    The winning team’s players were later hosted to a dinner by the maverick talent management and sport marketing firm, Bspot.

  • PDP accuses APC, presidency of plots against Atiku

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency of plots to frame up its presidential candidate in the February 23 presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    The opposition party however said no amount of fabrications, attempt at set-up as well as veiled and open threats by the (APC)-led Federal Government can stop Atiku from reclaiming his mandate at the tribunal.

    Atiku, who lost the election to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, has gone to court to challenge the President’s re-election.

    In a statement Thursday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party rejected a declaration by the  Presidency that Atiku Abubakar is “lucky to be walking free”,.

    It described the statement as inciting, adding that it has brought to the fore the unwholesome intention of the APC-led administration against Atiku Abubakar for seeking to retrieve his “stolen mandate” at the court.

    The PDP further noted what it termed series of orchestrated calumny against Atiku Abubakar and the PDP by agents of the Federal Government, officials of the Presidency and the Buhari Media Organization (BMO).

    Read Also: PDP tasks Buhari on rising insecurity

    The main opposition party alleged well-coordinated plots against Atiku, including a resort to unfounded claims of links with a foreign lobby group.

    This, the PDP said, was part of attempts to frame Atiku up, cause tension and ultimately derail the recovery of the “stolen mandate” at the presidential election tribunal.

    “Such orchestration are also targeted at instilling fear, cause apprehension in the citizenry and create opening to further suppress genuine public opinion and the course of justice in the quest by Atiku Abubakar and the PDP to restore the will of the people.

    “Part of the motive is to use lies, fabrications, threats and sponsoring of Atiku campaign posters to portray Atiku Abubakar and the PDP as being desperate and ready to subvert the rules in the pursuit of our mandate; and by so doing discredit our candidate in the eyes of the judiciary and the public in general.

    “This explains why agents of the APC-led government fabricated and pushed into the public space, bogus and laughable claims that Atiku Abubakar paid $30,000 to a US lobby group to assist in the quest to reclaim our mandate only for the Federal Government and the Presidency to turn around to feast on the fabrications with threats against Atiku Abubakar.

    “The PDP calls on Nigerians to take copious note of threats by the Presidency through the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, to jail Atiku Abubakar based on trumped up allegations, while describing him as “one who is lucky to be walking free”.

    “Nigerians now know who to hold responsible should any harm come to Atiku Abubakar, his family or any member of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) in the course of the pursuit of the mandate at the tribunal.

    “Moreover, it is instructive to state that the PDP and Atiku Abubakar do not need any foreign lobby group to prove our case before the tribunal as Nigerians themselves have been at the forefront of this pursuit, especially with our overwhelming evidence before the court.

    “The PDP therefore cautions the APC-led Federal Government to allow the tribunal to judiciously carry out its responsibilities without let or hindrance as well as stop their unrelenting plots to overheat the system and derail the course of justice as such will all come to naught,” the statement added.

  • Court withholds judgment in suit against defection of Saraki, Dogara, 52 others

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has withheld its judgment earlier scheduled to be delivered on Thursday in a suit challenging the propriety of the defection of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives’ Speaker, Yakubu Dogara and 52 other members of the National Assembly from their former political parties.

    Justice Okon Abang’s decision not to deliver the judgment on Thursday, in the suit filed by a group, the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) was informed by request from lawyer to the lawmakers, who pleaded for opportunity for their clients to be heard in the case in spirit of fair hearing.

    For about five hours, plaintiff’s lawyer, Ede Uko and lawyer to the defendants (lawmakers), Mahmud Magaji (SAN) were locked in hot argument on whether or not the court should proceed to deliver its scheduled judgment or afford the defendant the opportunity of being heard.

    In a ruling, Justice Abang expressed displeasure at the legislators’ conduct in refusing to participate in the proceedings from inception, and failing to file their defence in the suit despite being served with the plaintiff’s originating processes and the court’s hearing notices.

    Justice Abang, who commended Uko for effectively countered the legislators’ efforts to frustrate the proceedings, however, noted that the court could not close its eyes to the processes filed by the defendants.

    She added that: “The right to be heard is a fundamental right.”

    He adjourned to Friday for the hearing of the defendants’ motion for extension of time within which to file their defence and any other processes filed.

    In the substantive suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/996/2018 and filed on September 14, 2018, the plaintiff prayed the court to compel the affected legislators to, not only vacate their seats in the National Assembly, but also refund all allowances and remuneration they received since their defection.

    LEDAP equally prayed for an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct by-elections in the constituencies of the defecting lawmakers.

    It is LEDAP’s contention that by Section 68 (1) (g) of the Constitution “any member of the National Assembly, who resigns from the political party that sponsored his election into the National Assembly, before the expiration of the term for which he was elected, automatically loses his seat in the Assembly, unless saved by the exception under that section.”

    LEDAP cited a Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde v. The Ondo State House of Assembly and argued that the only justification for members of the National Assembly to lawfully defect from their parties lies in the existence of a division in their parties or a merger between their parties and others.

    The affected lawmakers listed in the suit were 17 senators and 37 members of the House of Representatives, who defected from the parties, on which platforms they rode to the Legislature.

    They include Saraki, and Dogara, who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Godswill Akpabio, who left the PDP for the APC. Others also left either APC and PDP for other parties.

    Other than Saraki and Dogara, some Senators also affected by the suit include Senators Godswill Akpabio, Dino Melaye, Shehu Sani, Rabiu Kwawanso, Barnabas Gemade and Lanre Tejuosho.

    Beside the 54 lawmakers, the plaintiff also listed the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), INEC, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives as defendants.

  • Air strikes kill innocent locals, not bandits – Zamfara traditional rulers

    Military air strikes kill only innocent civilians in affected local government areas and five communities and not bandits, Zamfara state council of traditional rulers has alleged.

    The traditional rulers, who spoke through Emir of Bungudu, Alhaji Hassan Attahiru, told reporters that the air strikes have not been effective in uprooting bandits.

    Reports from the four local governments of Zurmi, Tsafe, Gusau and Anka indicate about five communities where the air strikes were carried out did not hit hideouts of bandits, according to the traditional rulers.

    Rather, they said innocent civilians were victims of the strikes.

    The council of chiefs also faulted Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Mansur Dan Ali who alleged some traditional rulers were supporting banditry.

    Read Also: NAF strikes bandits in Zamfara, destroys 8 camps, kills scores

    The Emir expressed dismay over the allegation and called on the minister to “as a matter of responsibility and urgency name those traditional rulers involve in such reprehensive activities for government to take appropriate measures against them.”

    Failure to disclose the traditional rulers involved, according to Attahiru, will render the minister’s statement false as just an attempt to tarnish the image of the traditional institution.

    The traditional rulers further noted with grave concerns the deteriorating security problems in Zamfara state, commending efforts of the stare and the federal governments in addressing the challenge.

    Declaring support for the efforts, the ruler said: “Over the past years, traditional rulers have cooperated with government and security agencies by providing information about locations, routes and names of persons engage in such criminal activities, unfortunately the military and other security agencies have failed to be on top of situation.”

    The council of traditional rulers called on the federal government to assist the state, especially rural dweller, which it said are badly affected by the insecurity challenge.

  • NDIC has carved a niche for itself, says House Committee Chairman

    The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has carved a niche for itself as the leading Deposit Insurer in Africa according to the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Insurance and Actuarial Matters, Hon. Olufemi Fakeye.

    The Chairman made the comment during the appearance of the NDIC Management led by the Corporation’s MD/CE Umaru Ibrahim, before the House Committee to defend the Corporation’s 2019 budget estimates.

    According to a statement by the Head of Communication & Public Affairs, Mohammed Kudu Ibrahim, “Hon. Fakeye recalled the role played by the NDIC in the resolution of the defunct Skye Bank and the establishment of Polaris Bank Ltd as a bridge bank and charged NDIC to be more pro-active in detecting and addressing distress in banks as a way of sustaining public confidence in the system.

    “Earlier, while presenting details of the budget before the House Committee, the NDIC Boss disclosed that the Corporation has set aside the sum of N258.767 billion in the 2019 fiscal year for the reimbursement of depositors in the unlikely event of closure of licensed banks.

    “Giving a breakdown of the funds, the NDIC CEO said N109.686 billion was provided for depositors of Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), while N149.081 billion has been set aside for depositors of Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) and Micro Finance Banks (MFBs).

    “He explained that the estimates were consistent with the Corporation’s mandate of providing financial guarantee to depositors of failed banks towards promoting public confidence in the banking sector. This, he added, is critical to the sustenance of the stability of the entire financial system.”

    Read Also: NDIC proposes N98b budget for 2019

    The statement added: “In fulfilment of the Corporation’s mandate to provide Technical assistance to licensed banks, the NDIC Boss, disclosed that the Corporation, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has invested in the acquisition of a new software called the Integrated Regulatory Solution (IRS) for a more robust surveillance and supervision of insured financial institutions in the country.

    “According to Ibrahim, the software would enable DMBs generate real time online data among themselves, help regulators to access data online from the DMBs.

    “Ibrahim also disclosed that the National Association of Microfinance Banks Unified Information Technology Platform (NAMBUIT) was introduced by CBN/NDIC and Association of MFBs to enhance the operational capacity of the MFBs. The CBN/NDIC are financing the project in the ratio of 60/40 per cent respectively in view of the importance of the project to the growth of the MFB sub-sector.”

    “On the issue of NDIC’s mandate of providing financial assistance to eligible licensed and insured banks, Ibrahim disclosed that a total of N140 billion was provided for Deposit Money Banks while the sum of N300 million is provided for Microfinance and Primary Mortgage Banks.

    “He urged the banks to take the opportunity to access the funds offered by the Corporation whenever they are required.

    “Responding, the Chairman commended the Corporation for its pro-activeness in the prevention systemic crisis in the nation’s banking system.

    “He added that the various mechanisms adopted by the Corporation since inception to resolve distress in banks had not only prevented the manifestation of crisis in the system, they also contributed immensely to the high level of public confidence experienced in the financial sector,” the statement said.

  • Abba files petition against Ganduje’s victory

    Twenty days after the declaration of Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje as winner of the March 23 governorship election in Kano State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP in Kano on Thursday finally filed petition against the victory.

    The petition filed by the party before the governorship election tribunal is contending its governorship candidate Abba Yusuf, won the March 9 election, as such any result other than that was a nullity.

    The party is also contending that the supplementary election conducted by INEC was unconstitutional and unlawful.

    Read Also: I’m ready to face PDP in court, says Ganduje

    Speaking to journalists shortly after filing the petition, Yusuf said during the March 9 governorship election the PDP got the highest votes across the 44 local governments in the state.

    “The prayer we are asking is for the tribunal to determine the actual winner in the election that took place on March 9.

    ” To me as the PDP candidate the only election that took place was on March 9.”

    He noted the issue of supplementary election as far as PDP is concerned was an illegality ‘which we reject and have nothing to do with that is the content of the petition.”

    The petitioners Counsel, Maliki Kuliya-Umar, said the declaration of the March 9 election as inconclusive was an opportunity given to APC to rig its candidate back to power.

    “We trust the tribunal to do what is right by confirming the election of March 9, as it was the only election recognized by law,” he said.

    Umar argued that whatever reason INEC had to declare the March 9 election inconclusive was unconstitutional and not in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

    NAN

     

  • Edo farmers get N5bn investment

    The Edo State Government has said it is investing N5 billion drawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Anchor Borrowers programme on development of over 10,600 hectares of land, which will guarantee farmers in the state access to funding to boost productivity.

    Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Prince Joe Okojie, disclosed this after sensitisation workshops for farmers who are to benefit from the programme in Ekpoma, Usogbenu and Illushi, during the Edo Central Senatorial district leg of engagement with the farmers. The farmers to benefit from the programme are drawn from all senatorial districts in the state.

    Okojie said N1.2 billion would be expended on rice farming in Iguariaki, Iguomon, Illushi, Agenebode and Warake and on maize cultivation in Ekpoma, Usugbenu and Sobe.

    “We have set a target to harvest 17,000 metric tons of rice by cultivating 4,000 hectares of land and 11,000 tons of maize by cultivating 6,600 hectares of land at the end of the planting season in 2019. We took about N5bn under the Commercial Agric Credit Scheme, about N2.2bn is for crop production, N2.3bn for land development and about N100m for irrigation,” he explained.

    Read Also: Edo debunks fake recruitment exercise

    He said the investment is aimed at producing millionaire agriprenuers by helping them scale up their production through mechanisation, noting, “We have employed the services of Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) as our technical partner. NIRSAL is going to bring on board a lot of agronomists who will help our farmers.

    “We want to deploy best practices for the cultivation of the crops this season and hope that we get better yield than the one that we got two years ago.”

    Field Officer, NIRSAL, Mr. Paul Jatau, said NIRSAL is partnering with Edo State government to provide technical support and inputs to the farmers, urging farmers to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the programme to scale their operations into commercial enterprises.