Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Monday 13th September 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 13/09/21
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E2%80%93-group-tells-buhari Unveil Identities Of Boko Haram Sponsors, Prevent Another Civil War – Group Tells Buhari Government
President Buhari
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has cautioned the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government against taking actions that will plunge the country into another civil war.
The warning, according to the group, is coming against the backdrop of the killings and other criminal activities going on across the country.
President Buhari
The forum in a communique signed by its National President, Dr. Pogu Bitrus, at the weekend after it concluded a two-day meeting in Akwanga, Nasarawa state, said the incessant invasions of several communities in many parts of the country by Fulani militia have assumed genocidal and ethnic-cleansing scale.
The communique urged the Nigerian government to set up an agency to be called the Middle Belt Development Commission (MBDC), to serve as an intervention agency in addressing the challenges caused by the activities of terrorists.
The group urged the government to come clean and yield to the demand by the Nigerian public to unveil the identities of the sponsors of Boko Haram, especially the 400 Bureax de Change operators as identified by the UAE authorities.
The communique read in part, “Nigeria has been plunged into a critical situation of insecurity occasioned by the activities of Boko Haram terrorists, armed Fulani militia, kidnappers/bandits and other related criminal elements.
“This spate of insecurity has pushed the nation to the precipice. NEC calls on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to arrest the situation and save the nation from another civil war.
“The incessant invasions by Fulani militia on several communities across the Middle Belt Region in particular, and other parts of the country in general, have assumed genocidal/ethnic cleansing scale.
“These attacks have left in their wake mind-boggling massacres and devastations in our communities and displacement of indigenous peoples to various Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps. NEC calls on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to return displaced communities to their ancestral lands, given the fact that territory can no longer be acquired in the 21st century by the use of force. NEC also calls on the government to identify all IDPs in the Middle Belt Region and provide relief materials for them.
“NEC calls on the Federal Government to identify, apprehend and bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes against humanity to justice so as to serve as a deterrent to others. Consequently, NEC calls on the government to set up an agency to be called the Middle Belt Development Commission (MBDC) to serve as an intervention agency in addressing the challenges caused by the activities of these terrorists
“Many schools and places of worship in the Middle Belt Region have remained closed due to the criminal activities of these Fulani kidnappers and bandits. NEC regrets that many school children and other hapless citizens are still languishing in the dens of kidnappers. NEC further appeals to the government to take urgent steps to rescue those in captivity.
“The MBF insists that the Federal Government must come clean and yield to the demand by the Nigerian public to unveil the identities of the sponsors of Boko Haram, especially the 400 Bureax de change operators as identified by the UAE authorities.”
The MBF also said it finds worrisome, given the report by the United Nations (UN) that the Nigerian government is secretly engaged in negotiations tagged ‘Sulhu’ with Boko Haram terrorists through which it is allegedly offering monetary rewards to insurgents and other criminals.
“Consequently, NEC is totally opposed to this project and also opposed to any form of amnesty to insurgents and other terror groups who have their hands dripping with blood. NEC is also vehemently opposed to any planned recruitment of these so-called repentant terrorists into the national security architecture,” it said.
Calling on the people of the Middle Belt Region to rise up and defend themselves in the face of governments abandoning their constitutional responsibility of defending them, the MBF commended the Southern governors and governors in the Middle Belt and their state Assemblies for their courage in passing Anti-Open Grazing Laws in their states.
The forum, therefore, called on the National Assembly and the presidency to reconsider their position on electronic transmission of election results and yield to the wishes of the Nigerian people who are demanding 100 percent implementation of electronic transmission of electoral results in order to ensure credibility and transparency in the electoral process.
Urging Nigerians to recognise the Middle Belt geopolitical bloc in the rotation of presidency, the MBF commended Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state for his consistent struggle for the Rule of Law and federalism, particularly regarding the recent judgment of the Federal High Court on the Value Added Tax (VAT).
It also commended Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state for his resilient stance in the defence of the rights of the Benue people.
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Presidential Amnesty: Ijaw Youths Accuse Coordinator, Others Of Using Programme To Sponsor Foreign Education For Relations, Aides
File Photo: Ijaw Youths Council (IYC)
Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) officials have been accused of deploying about 40 non-beneficiaries of the programme to go for foreign postgraduate courses to be sponsored by the scheme.
Ijaw Youths Council raised the alarm on Sunday in a statement issued in Warri, Delta state and signed by Commander Joseph Oyinkuro.
File Photo: Ijaw Youths Council (IYC)
The beneficiaries, who are said to be close aides and relatives of top PAP officials, will go for postgraduate degree programmes for a year with their tuition fees and living expenses paid upfront under PAP’s education policy, they alleged.
According to the youths, the alleged plan is being backed with an appraisal report to defend the decision taken by the Interim Amnesty Coordinator, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd.).
The group claimed the plan will exclude the official beneficiaries of the programme.
The youths accused the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd.) of instructing Dikio and senior staff members at the Amnesty Office to ensure the foreign training for the 40 persons is slotted in the schedule of the Amnesty Programme before its expected termination in 2023.
However, Oyinkuro recalled that few weeks to the end of Dikio’s one-year tenure in office, which was lapsed on August 26, 2021, at least payments for 300 amnesty beneficiaries were suspended due to alleged fraud.
“These are beneficiaries that have been receiving monthly payments for over 10 years without any issues,” he said.
“We have now uncovered reports that Col. Dikio (rtd.) and his close aides, Mr. Alfred Kemepador, Head of Reintegration and Mr. Emmanuels Agiri, Head of Data Management allegedly conspired to use the suspended names to create new beneficiaries for themselves, to enable them receive the N65,000.00 monthly stipend per beneficiary after they leave office which will run into millions of naira on a monthly basis.
“We call for the immediate suspension of Mr. Alfred Kemepador – Head of Reintegration and Mr. Emmanuels Agiri – Head of Data Management, pending the outcome of a full investigation because these individuals must not be allowed to remain on their seats to cover up their tracks,” he added.
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E2%80%99s-anti-graft-commission-seeks-probe-sports Ex-Technical Director Petitions Nigeria’s Anti-graft Commission, Seeks Probe Of Sports Minister, Other Over Alleged Corruption, Shambolic Tokyo Olympics Outing
Sunday Dare
The crisis in the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has taken a new twist as a former Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Sunday Adeleye has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the minister, Sunday Dare, over alleged breach of the Public Procurement Act, among others.
Adeleye, in another petition to the ICPC, called for the investigation of the Secretary-General of the AFN for alleged misconduct and mismanagement of funds.
Sunday Dare
Two petitions, dated July 30, 2021 and addressed to the Chairman of ICPC, were written against Dare.
One of them is titled, ‘Petition Against The Hon Minister of Youth and Sports Development Over Gross Breach of The Public Procurement Act 2007 (PPA).’
It read, “We are constrained to bring to your attention the impunity with which the Public Procurement Act 2007 (PPA) was breached by Mr. Sunday Akin Dare, Hon. Minister of Youth & Sports Development in the award of a contract to AFA Sports.
“In the build-up to the departure of Team Nigeria to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, the Federal Ministry of Youth & Sports Development (FMYSD), under the directive of Mr. Sunday Dare, awarded a contract for the supply of Sports Kits to AFA Sports without due consideration of the Public Procurement Act.
“According to public procurement ACT, 2007 (PPA). Section 1 and 3. of the PPA established the National Council on Public Procurement (the Council) and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) respectively.”
Many Nigerians were angered by the organisation and management of athletes and others during the Tokyo Olympics held in Japan this year.
First, there was the embarrassment of seeing 10 of the country’s athletes disqualified over administrative incompetence by Nigerian officials.
Then one of Nigeria’s medal hopefuls, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, who made the Shot Put final, shared a video of himself washing his competition jersey for his next outing, writing, “When you made the Olympic Finals, but you only have one jersey.”
A faction of the AFN, led by Shehu Gusau, had secured a contract with Puma to provide kit for the Nigerian team going for the international event.
However, the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development refused to allow Team Nigeria to be kitted in the Puma wears, saying it was not privy to the agreement signed with the kit’s manufacturer.
The ministry alleged that Gusau, and a former technical director of AFN, Adeleye, refused to disclose the contractual agreement they allegedly signed on behalf of AFN for five years without recourse to the board.
Before Team Nigeria’s departure for Tokyo, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had unveiled Afa Sports as the official kits supplier for Team Nigeria.
But Adeleye insisted the federation had a subsisting contract with Puma.
The second petition against Dare is titled, ‘Petition Against The Hon Minister of Youth and Sports Development Involving Double Request, Approval and Release of Funds in Favour of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).’
It alleged that Dare duplicated a contract that had been awarded by a former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung.
It read, “In the cause of our activities, we came across documents relating to application, approval and release of funds amount to about N2 billion in favour of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).
“The background of the story is that Barr. Solomon Selcap Dalung, former Hon. Minister of Youth & Sports Development, had sometime in 2019 before the dissolution of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) where he served during the 1st tenure of Mr. President, made an application in respect of the NBBF.”
It alleged that there was an “application for the sum of N1.6 billion” to enable the ministry fund some activities.
On August 10, 2021, Adeleye also petitioned the ICPC in a letter titled, ‘Letter of Petition Against Adisa Adeniyi Beyioku for Gross Misconduct and Mismanagement of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Funds.’
The petition read, “We are constrained to bring to your attention the gross misconduct and mismanagement of public funds perpetrated by one Adisa Adeniyi Beyioku.
“The Ministry of Youth & Sports Development claimed he is the Secretary General of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) prior to preparations of Athletics Team to 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“Our attention was also drawn to a press release on the 6th August, 2021 titled: ‘THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT (FMYSD)’ and SIGNED BY DR. SIMON EBOHJAIYE AG DIRECTOR, FEAD where specific clarifications were made about the Kits for Team Nigeria to Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
“Paragraph 3 of the press release specifically stated that the Ministry provides financial support to each Sports Federation as required. It is therefore, the responsibility of each National Sports Federation to provide these Competition wears for their Team’s Athletes and officials.
“Mr Adisa Adeniyi Beyioku has been the custodian and accounting officer of all funds requested, using the name of AFN to apply through the Federal Ministry of Youth & Sports Development. We believe he was provided with funds too. The revelation of AG Director, FEAD stated categorically that financial support was provided to kit the Athletics Team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
“It was disheartening and a National embarrassment to see Nigerian Athletics Athletes being provided with only one pair of jersey at the Tokyo Olympics which forced them to wash the wears every day before the next competition. This is after the Ministry’s AG. Director claimed that all necessary funds to kit the athletes were provided to support Athletics athletes as requested by Adisa Adeniyi Beyioku.”
Adeleye was sacked by the sports minister, Dare in November 2019.
His removal was contained in a letter addressed to the President of the AFN, Shehu Gusau.
The letter from the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development said Adeleye’s sacking was ordered by Dare, claiming he was removed over alleged gross misconduct.
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Gumi: Patriot Or Villain? By David Abu
Sheikh Ahmad Gumi
For quite sometime now, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi bestrides our geographical space like a colossus, so much so, that some journalists who camp around his house hardly fall in the arms of Morpheus, the Greek god of sleep, in readiness for his emergence from his house to start dishing out his daily dose of security briefing. He is the self-appointed (Or, is there a synergy between him and Aso Rock?) spokesman of both the Fulani herdsmen and the bandits. And each time he opens his mouth, Nigerians and the international community are often stunned by the confidence with which he delivers his message—He is the National Security Adviser, the Director-General of DSS, and Presidential Spokesman, all rolled into one.
Granted, Gumi is not an unknown quantity in Nigeria, especially in the predominantly Muslim North. As Imam and Islamic scholar, with a fairly large following, he is indeed a prominent figure whose views are respected.
However, in recent months, he has assumed a new role, The Security Czar. Whenever kidnappers strike and retreat to their abode in the forest, he is always on hand to negotiate with them, often accompanied by our security forces. At first sight, he seems to be doing a yeoman’s job of saving lives. But, viewing it broadly, coupled with the frequency of abductions, one is bound to ask if a diabolical conspiracy is not at play here. According to my people, if there are too many stones in the soup, the blind will start seeing them.
Sheikh Ahmad Gumi
It is a well known fact that each time he negotiates with the terrorists over the release of abductees, millions of naira, and in some cases, millions of US dollars, are paid.
The ease with which the terrorists and their sponsors now smile to the bank is, to put it mildly, disturbing.
And when anyone dares question Gumi about his newfound passion in defending the interests of bandits (terrorists), he lashes out by calling that person “unpatriotic”. On the patriotic scale, Gumi sees himself as the yardstick of measurement.I have a sneaky suspicion that his self-confidence stems from ‘above’.That said, the enigmatic Gumi, not satisfied with his role as the Chief Negotiator between the government and the terrorists on abduction and amnesty matters, wants a ministry set up for them—Federal Ministry Of Fulani Herdsmen. According to him, the Fulani herdsmen would use the ministry to channel their grievances to the government. Oh dear!
He calls himself a patriot, but he refuses to see the open ethnocentrism in his demand. Is there any Federal Ministry that was created to cater for the needs of a particular ethnic group or tribe in Nigeria? Did it not occur to him that it is not the responsibility of the Federal Government to take care of private businesses?
The statement that the Federal Government has neglected the welfare of the Fulani herdsmen for so long, often repeated by some Northern elements, is borne out of sheer myopism. Cattle rearing is a private business venture. Those cows belong to individuals who should pull their resources together, buy land and set up ranches, period.Now, for the sake of argument, let’s say that Gumi gets his proposed ministry created. What would then happen if someone else goes on television in the near future and proposes the creation of the Federal Ministry Of Yam Producers? Will the Federal Government acquiesce to such a proposal?
I strongly suspect that our great Islamic scholar, Gumi, is suffering from intellectual obesity, which might have resulted in his clownish outbursts of late.
Well, barba non facit philosophum.Translation: having a beard does not make one a philosopher. Or, does it?David Abu writes from The Netherlands.
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BREAKING: Top Brazilian Business School, FDC Elects Nigeria’s Ex-Minister, Ezekwesili As Board Member
Oby Ezekwesili
Former Vice President, World Bank, Africa Region, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, has been elected as a member of Fundação Dom Cabral Board of Trustees, to help FDC consolidate its objectives.
Ezekwesili, an economics policy expert, joined the FDC board as its newest member.
Oby Ezekwesili
The founder and Global Chief Executive Officer of Stefanini, Marco Stefanini, as well as Founder/Board Chairman of MRV Engenharia, Rubens Menin, were also welcomed into the FDC board, according to a statement on Sunday by the top Brazilian school.
The three new councillors are expected to contribute to the fulfilment of the institution’s mission of developing society through education, the statement added.
“Fundação Dom Cabral is honoured to announce the election of Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili as a member of its BoT, its highest decision-making body.
“The FDC is a Brazilian business school, whose mission is to contribute to the development of society through the training and development of executives, entrepreneurs and public managers,” Ezekwesili’s spokesperson, Mr Ozioma Ubabukoh, stated.
According to the Financial Times’ ranking, FDC is the ninth best business school in the world, he noted.
In the social area, FDC offers training to low-income entrepreneurs, social organisations and their managers, young people in vulnerable situations, while granting scholarships to underprivileged university students, through the FDC – Centro Social Cardeal Dom Serafim, Ubabukoh added.
The co-founder and President of the FDC Board Committee, Prof Emerson de Almeida, said, “Dr Oby’s election to the BoT will offer her a distinguished international and humanistic vision.”
The Dean of FDC, Antonio Batista, added, “Ezekwesili will contribute with important viewpoints and help FDC consolidate its objectives.”
On the African continent and in addition to cooperating with the University of Cape Town in South Africa, FDC is developing PAEX in Mozambique
“PAEX is an educational solution that creates a network to support the professionalisation of companies, transferring knowledge and promoting greater competitiveness and sustainable growth,” Ubabukoh added.
Similarly in August, Ezekwesili and five other global figures joined the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs as senior fellows.Peter Salovey, president of Yale University, United States of America, said this in a statement after the appointment.
Mr Salovey also welcomed the institution’s 19 returning fellows.
He listed the school’s other 2021 senior fellows as Staffan de Mistura (Italy & Sweden), Jessica Faieta (Ecuador), Anne Patterson, David Brooks and Jessica Seddon (United States).
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All Progressives Congress In Enugu Expels Ex-Governor, 40 Others As Party’s Crisis Deepens
Forty-one members of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State have been expelled from the party for allegedly violating the party’s constitution.
The announcement was made on Sunday by the Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee in the state, Dr. Ben Nwoye, while addressing journalists.
According to Nwoye, the members expelled themselves from the party by filing a suit in court without first exhausting the internal mechanisms as provided in the APC Constitution.
The affected persons include a former Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Eugene Odo, a former military governor, Group Capt. Joe Orji, a former deputy governorship candidate of the party in the state, Prince Chikwado Chukwunta, Gen. J. O. J. Okoloagu, a former member of the House of Representatives, Chukwuemeka Ujam.
The party members had asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to remove Nwoye from office.
Meanwhile, Article 21 (D), Section V of the APC Constitution provides that, “Any member who files an action in court of law against the party or any of its officers on any matters relating to the discharge of the duties of the party without first exhausting the avenues for the redress provided for in this Constitution shall automatically stand expelled from the party on filing such action and no appeal against expulsion as stipulated in this clause shall be entertained until the withdrawal of the action from court by the member.”
In the suit No: FCT/HC/CV/2107/2021, they had sought an ex parte order to stop Nwoye from parading himself as the chairman of the party.
Justice Sylvanus Chinedu Oriji refused to grant the interlocutory injunction but instead ordered that the motion on notice and the entire case be assigned to a regular court at the end of vacation for full determination of the matter.
“The Defendants/Respondents shall be put on notice of the application for injunction. The orders sought in the ex parte application No. M/5317/2021 are refused,” the Judge held.
Nwoye, however noted that 41 members who filed the suit had automatically expelled themselves from the party.
“I arrived at my home and I found a copy of a lawsuit pasted on my door, within that lawsuit is an order sought by the applicants but was denied by the court.
“One Prince Gilbert Chikwado Chukwunta and 40 others filed a claim against me; they sought an ex parte order before an FCT High Court, seeking to remove me as the chairman of the party in Enugu State.
“They sued me and alleged among other things that I was suspended by certain persons, who they attached their signatures, but the learned jurist denied giving the order. He directed them to serve me, but instead of serving me as ordered by the court, they pasted it on my door.
“But what is important is that for those who said that Ben Nwoye has been removed, the removal of Ben Nwoye is now a subject of court, and the court has refused to remove me. I wasn’t there but the learned judge refused to remove me.
“The other point is that the petition which they signed, they forged numerous people’s signatures; one of the people they forged their signature is Mrs. Kate Offor, she never signed a petition seeking to remove me.
“We also had many other people claiming to be members of State exco, and one of such persons are Eugene Odo. Enugu State APC is no longer running on SEC; it is a caretaker committee, so being a former Speaker does not make Eugene Odo a member of APC caretaker committee. Gen. J.O.J. Okoloagu is also not a member of the caretaker committee, so also the former member of the House, Hon. Chukwuemeka Ujam, who they alleged signed, he has never been and is not a member of state exco (executive council), we also have one Anayo Ene, we also have Group Capt. Orji, Dr. Mrs. Chukwuani, Hyacinth Nsude, are not members of APC caretaker committee.
“If indeed these individuals did not sign it, those who filed this suit have committed forgery. But if those individuals say that they actually signed it, they have committed fraud because they are not members of APC caretaker committee and that includes Chikwado Chukwunta.
“Recall that Chikwado Chukwunta ran for Deputy Governor of Enugu State in 2019. After he lost, he went away, he never received a waiver before he ran, so, resigned his position. And when the exco was dissolved, Chikwado Chukwunta was never sworn-in as a member of APC caretaker committee.
“These are facts Senator Ken Nnamani and others are hiding to be deceiving the public. Having said that, the status of my chairmanship is now before the court, no one can interfere in my chairmanship, the court has already ruled by denying them the attempt to remove me.
“The next thing is that they have now all expelled themselves from the party; they were deceived into dragging an officer of the party to court.
“All these individuals by the operations of the constitution have expelled themselves from the party because they did not exhaust the internal alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
“They are 41 persons and Chikwado Chukwunta put up an affidavit that he has their consent to file the suit. All of them are now expelled from the party.”
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Indian Police Arrest Nigerian Female Gang Leader For Stealing N20million From ATMs
Indian Police
The cyber police in India have arrested a Nigerian woman, who is suspected of leading a gang that stole cash of varied amounts totalling Rs35 lakh (about N20 million) from various ATM kiosks of a nationalised bank in the city in March by using a device.
The police said they were searching for her accomplice, who had procured the external the external device used in the crime, Times of India reports.
Indian Police
“Beny Nantongo (26), who also uses several aliases, including Blessing, Sandra and Alexandra, among others, was arrested from a flat in Gurugram after her involvement came to the fore during the interrogation of two Nigerian nationals — David Charles Alies Ugochukwu Charles Nwachukwu (30) and Kahinde Sadiq Idris (29) — arrested earlier from Undri in connection with these thefts,” senior inspector D S Hake told TOI.
Inspector Minal Patil, who was part of the police team that arrested Nantongo from Gurugram, said, “We recovered CCTV footage from the ATMs targeted by the woman and her accomplices. Later, we arrested her accomplices. We established her identity after questioning the duo. However, she was constantly on the move. We received confirmed information and finally arrested her in Gurugram.”
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E2%80%99s-attorney-general-malami-ex-sokoto-governor-move-quash-probe-former EXCLUSIVE: Nigeria’s Attorney-General Malami, Ex-Sokoto Governor Move To Quash Probe Of Former Police Inspector-General, Others Involved In Police Equipment Fraud
Abubakar Malami
Senator Aliyu Wamakko; Former Police Inspector-General Suleiman Abba and; Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami.
Senator Aliyu Wamakko
The invitation for questioning of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF), Suleiman Abba and five others by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) may soon have a new twist as top government office holders are pushing to have the matter swept under the carpet.
SaharaReporters earlier published a report, along with documents showing the ICPC had invited the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the NPTF, Abba and five others over fraudulent activities, including alleged procurement of substandard equipment by the NPTF for the police.
Senator Aliyu Wamakko; Former Police Inspector-General Suleiman Abba and; Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami.
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Abba is also a former Inspector-General of Police.
The information is contained in a letter dated September 6, 2021, addressed to the Executive Secretary of the NPTF and signed by the Director of Operations of the ICPC, Akeem Lawal.
According to the letter titled, ‘Investigation Activities: Letter of Invitation Pursuant to Section 28(1(A-B) of ICPC Act 2000’, the anti-graft agency is asking the former IGP and others to appear before it between Monday, September 13 and Thursday, September 16, 2021.
A copy of the letter obtained by SaharaReporters on Saturday revealed that they will be investigated for alleged violation of the provisions of the ICPC Act No. 5 of 2020.
The ICPC has been investigating alleged procurement of substandard equipment by NPTF officials.
DOCUMENTS: Former @PoliceNG Inspector-General, Suleiman Abba, Others Invited By Anti-graft Commission For Grilling Over Fraud In Nigeria Police Trust Fund | Sahara Reporters pic.twitter.com/jvsGswUn2f— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) September 12, 2021
In the letter obtained by SaharaReporters, those invited for questioning are identified as: IGP Suleiman Abba (rtd), Board Chairman; Mrs Victoria Ojogbane, Director, Legal Services; Alhaji Yahaya Mohammed, Director, Planning, Research and Statistics; Mr. Lawal Gunjunju, Director, Finance and Account; Mr. Salihu Abubakar, Special Assistant, Technical; Dr. Fred Femi Akinfala, Director, Human Resources and General Services; Mr. Ben Akabueze, Board Member; and Engr. Mansur Hammed, Board Member.
Akabueze is the Director-General, Budget Office of the Government of Nigeria. He was before now the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning in Lagos State in the administration of Babatunde Fashola.
However, a top source on Sunday told SaharaReporters that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence and Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Aliyu Wamakko have been making moves to ensure the matter is swept under the carpet because of their relationship with some of the invited persons.
According to the source, as the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Wamakko, also a former Governor of Sokoto State, has forged a relationship with the heads of the country’s anti-graft agencies and knows how to lean on them for favours.
Senator Aliyu Wamakko
“I understand that Senator Wamakko, who was the governor of Sokoto State and the vice chairman of the committee on anti-corruption and financial crimes, which oversees the ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has promised to kill the matter.
“I also understand that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) has also spoken to the chairman of the ICPC (Prof Bolaji Owasanoye) to mellow the thing down (soften the commission’s stance on the alleged fraud),” the source said.
Abubakar Malami
It was discovered that some of the equipment the NPTF recently donated to the police was inferior.
The NPTF had recently donated operational vehicles and other equipment worth N11 billion to the police as the NPTF for the training and retraining of police personnel.
Some of the said equipment included 640 bullet proof vests, 120 buffalo vans, and 190 ballistic helmets but the equipment was said to be substandard.
For instance, it was learnt that the bullet proof vests are supposed to have resistant shields in the front and back but they only have protective shields in the front. Therefore, the bullet proofs will fail to effectively protect police personnel during shoot-outs with criminal elements like Boko Haram terrorists, bandits or robbers.
In the letter obtained by SaharaReporters, the ICPC specifies the different times each of the six invited persons is expected to come in for questioning.
The former IGP, Suleiman is expected to come in for questioning at exactly 1pm on Thursday, September 16, 2021; Ojogbane is expected in by 10am on Monday, September 13, 2021; Mohammed is expected in by 1pm on Monday, September 13, 2021, while Gunjunju is expected in the ICPC office for questioning by 10am on Tuesday, September 14, 2021.
Also, Abubakar is expected in for questioning by 1pm on Tuesday, September 14, 2021; Akinfala is expected in by 10am on Wednesday, September 15, 2021; Akabueze is expected in by 1pm on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 while Hammed is expected in by 10am on Thursday, September 16, 2021.
The letter read, “Similarly, the invited staff is to come with the following documents as applicable to their office and schedule as well as the original copies for sighting:
“Copies of all payment vouchers for overhead, recurrent and capital for year 2020 and 2021, copies of all contract agreement for contracts awarded from the takeoff grant and capital, copies of staff nominal roll, comprehensive list of staff on transfer, posting and secondment. Vote for take-off grant, breakdown of all spending and approvals, print out of ledger vote and spending, all no objection certificate from Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
“Evidence of BPP clarification on contract award, financial limit and thresholds, procurement methods and threshold of application and expenditure as related to NPTF.
“They are also expected to come with any of the following: a lawyer, Justice of Peace, Staff of the Legal Aid Council or any individual of their choice.
“Accept the assurances of the Commission’s highest regards, please.”
DOCUMENTS: Former Nigerian … by Sahara Reporters
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DOCUMENTS: Former Nigerian Police Inspector-General, Suleiman Abba, Others Invited By Anti-graft Commission For Grilling Over Fraud In Nigeria Police Trust Fund
Suleiman Abba
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has invited the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF), Suleiman Abba and five others over fraudulent activities including alleged procurement of substandard equipment by the NPTF for the police.
Abba is also a former Inspector-General of Police.
Suleiman Abba
The information is contained in a letter dated September 6, 2021, addressed to the Executive Secretary of the NPTF and signed by the Director of Operations of the ICPC, Akeem Lawal.
According to the letter titled, ‘Investigation Activities: Letter of Invitation Pursuant to Section 28(1(A-B) of ICPC Act 2000’, the anti-graft agency is asking the former IGP and others to appear before it between Monday, September 13 and Thursday, September 16, 2021.
A copy of the letter obtained by SaharaReporters on Saturday revealed that they will be investigated for alleged violation of the provisions of the ICPC Act No. 5 of 2020.
The ICPC had earlier commenced investigation into alleged procurement of substandard equipment by NPTF officials.
It was discovered that some of the equipment the NPTF recently donated to the police was inferior.
The NPTF had recently donated operational vehicles and other equipment worth N11 billion to the police as the NPTF for the training and retraining of police personnel.
Some of the said equipment included 640 bullet proof vests, 120 buffalo vans, and 190 ballistic helmets but the equipment was said to be substandard.
For instance, it was learnt that the bullet proof vests are supposed to have resistant shields in the front and back but they only had protective shields in the front. Therefore, the bullet proofs will fail to effectively protect police personnel during shoot-outs with criminal elements like Boko Haram terrorists, bandits or robbers.
In the letter obtained by SaharaReporters, those invited for questioning are identified as: IGP Suleiman Abba (rtd), Board Chairman; Mrs Victoria Ojogbane, Director, Legal Services; Alhaji Yahaya Mohammed, Director, Planning, Research and Statistics; Mr. Lawal Gunjunju, Director, Finance and Account; Mr. Salihu Abubakar, Special Assistant, Technical; Dr. Fred Femi Akinfala, Director, Human Resources and General Services; Mr. Ben Akabueze, Board Member; and Engr. Mansur Hammed, Board Member.
Akabueze is the Director-General, Budget Office of the Government of Nigeria. He was before now the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning in Lagos State in the administration of Babatunde Fashola.
Meanwhile, the invitation letter specifies the different times each of them is expected by the ICPC to come in for questioning.
The former IGP, Suleiman is expected to come in for questioning at exactly 1pm on Thursday, September 16, 2021; Ojogbane is expected in by 10am on Monday, September 13, 2021; Mohammed is expected in by 1pm on Monday, September 13, 2021, while Gunjunju is expected in the ICPC office for questioning by 10am on Tuesday, September 14, 2021.
Also, Abubakar is expected in for questioning by 1pm on Tuesday, September 14, 2021; Akinfala is expected in by 10am on Wednesday, September 15, 2021; Akabueze is expected in by 1pm on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 while Hammed is expected in by 10am on Thursday, September 16, 2021.
The letter partly read, “Similarly, the invited staff is to come with the following documents as applicable to their office and schedule as well as the original copies for sighting:
“Copies of all payment vouchers for overhead, recurrent and capital for year 2020 and 2021, copies of all contract agreement for contracts awarded from the takeoff grant and capital, copies of staff nominal roll, comprehensive list of staff on transfer, posting and secondment. Vote for take-off grant, breakdown of all spending and approvals, print out of ledger vote and spending, all no objection certificate from Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
“Evidence of BPP clarification on contract award, financial limit and thresholds, procurement methods and threshold of application and expenditure as related to NPTF.
“They are also expected to come with any of the following: a lawyer, Justice of Peace, Staff of the Legal Aid Council or any individual of their choice.
“Accept the assurances of the Commission’s highest regards, please.”
DOCUMENTS: Former Nigerian Police Inspector-General, Suleiman Abba, Others Invited by Anti-graft Commission… by Sahara Reporters on Scribd
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Illegal Immigrant Arrested For Fathering Three Children With His Biological Mother In Nigeria
One Adamu Sabi Sime has been arrested for allegedly having carnal knowledge of his biological mother.
It was learnt that Adamu’s brother also has an incestuous relation with their mother, Fati Sime, meaning both brothers sleep with their mother.
Daily Post
Adamu, who is an immigrant from the Republic of Benin, was arrested by the Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) but his brother is said to have fled.
The spokesperson for the command, Babawale Zaid Afolabi noted that Adamu’s mother, Fati Sime, already had three children with her son, Adamu.
A statement by Afolabi said, “On Thursday, September 09, 2021, one Malam Bandele, the district head of Moshe Community in the Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara state, reported the incestuous act committed by one Adamu Sabi Sime and his mother, Fati Sime of the same community.
“Men from the intelligence unit and NSCDC operatives in Kaiama swung into action and the outcome of investigations established the fact that the mother (Fati) has three children for her biological son.
“The younger brother of the suspect, who was also confirmed to be sleeping with the mother, is now at large.”
According to the NSCDC, the mother and her two sons are illegal immigrants as they don’t have the necessary papers to stay in Nigeria.
“They have been handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for background checks and further action,” he added.
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