Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Monday 11th October 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 11/10/21
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E2%80%99s-minister-malami-over-non-compliance-supreme-court-judgement Group Writes Buhari’s Minister Malami Over Non-compliance With Supreme Court Judgement On $62Billion Owed By 6 Oil Companies
Abubakar Malami
The People’s Alternative Political Movement (PAPM) has asked the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to enforce the Supreme Court judgement directing the Nigerian government to recover all revenues lost to oil-exploring and exploiting companies due to wrong profit-sharing formula since August 2003.
Professor Omotoye Olorode and Jaye Gaskia on behalf of the group knocked the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Silva, for asking the oil companies not to pay.
Abubakar Malami
In a letter signed by their counsel, Femi Falana (SAN), the group asked Malami to use his office to ensure that the said sum of $62 billion is recovered from the companies and paid into the Federation Account without any further delay.
The letter read, “We are Solicitors to Professor Omotoye Olorode and Jaye Gaskia of the People’s Alternative Political Movement (PAPM) on whose behalf we write this letter.
“Our clients have instructed us to remind you that the Federal Government has not enforced the above-mentioned Judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria delivered on October 20, 2018. In the said Judgment the apex court had directed the Federal Government to immediately take steps to recover all revenues lost to oil-exploring and exploiting companies due to the wrong profit-sharing formula since August 2003.
“Based on the aforesaid Judgment, you did request for the immediate payment of the sum of $62 billion owed by the six international oil companies with joint operating agreements with the NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) namely Shell Petroleum Development Company, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited and Chevron Nigeria Limited, Nigeria Agip Oil Company, TotalElf Nigeria and Pan Ocean Oil Company.
“But to the utter dismay of our clients, Mr. Timipre Silva, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources publicly stated that ‘Well, we have started discussions. Let us consider that as a lost opportunity, the money was not in a cupboard, they have taken it. Nobody can bring out that kind of money, I mean we can’t get $62 billion. We can maybe get something from them but not $62 billion. It’s an opportunity we have lost. We have already started discussions with them but what is clear is that it is a lost opportunity really.’
“In view of the foregoing, we have the instructions of our client to request you to use your good offices to ensure that the said sum of $62 billion is recovered from the International Oil Companies and paid into the Federation Account without any further delay.
“However, if you fail or refuse to accede to the request of our client we shall not hesitate to approach the Federal High Court to seek an order to compel you to comply with the judgment of the Supreme Court in accordance with section 287(1) of the Constitution which provides that ‘The decisions of the Supreme court shall be enforced in any part of the Federation by all authorities and persons, and by courts with subordinate jurisdiction to that of the supreme Court.’
“As we await your reply to this letter please accept the assurances of our highest esteem and professional regards.”
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E2%80%98im-little-emotional-i-returned-hale-hearty-and-well%E2%80%99%E2%80%94ex-lagos-governor-tinubu-tells ‘I’m A Little Emotional, I Returned Hale, Hearty And Well’—Ex-Lagos Governor, Tinubu Tells Gathering At Welcome-back Event
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu has gone on his first outing since his return from the United Kingdom (UK) last Friday night.
The former Lagos State governor, on Sunday, reunited with his political associates and protégés at a welcome-back event and prayer hosted by the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the State House in Marina.
Tinubu was received at 2:45 pm by Sanwo-Olu in company with his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and Chief of Staff, Mr. Tayo Ayinde.
A statement from the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Gboyega Akosile, said the event was attended by all elected office holders and political appointees in Lagos.
The attendees included the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa.
Members of the State Executive Council, Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) and council chairmen were also in attendance.
SaharaReporters had exclusively reported Tinubu’s quiet return to Nigeria on Friday after spending months overseas for medical care.
This medium had earlier reported his planned return to a “grand welcome” organised by his political associates on Sunday.
However, due to his inability to stand the rigours of a physical rally, the ex-Lagos governor quietly entered into the country on Friday instead of Sunday (today), shunning any pre-arranged fanfare.
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BREAKING: Ailing Ex-Lagos Governor, Tinubu Quietly Returns To Nigeria From UK, Shuns Earlier Planned Fanfare
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SaharaReporters had reported that a grand welcome was being arranged at the Nigeria Police College in Ikeja, Lagos for the politician.
However, top sources confirmed his ‘early’ return to SaharaReporters on Friday.
“Tinubu has quietly returned tonight. He returned quietly but can’t stand the rigours of a physical rally.
“He arrived on a Falcon jet with registration number VP-CBT. The tracking for the jet is blocked on aviation tracking platforms,” a source had disclosed.
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EXCLUSIVE: Lagos All Progressives Congress Cancels Sunday’s Grand Welcome For Ailing Ex-Governor, Tinubu After SaharaReporters’ Story
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Tinubu, clad in a dark grey kaftan and a blue cap on Sunday, said he was highly elated to return to the country after his three-month medical tourism.
He said the prayer event was an emotional one for him, adding that he was overwhelmed by good wishes from Nigerians while he was away.
Tinubu said: “I’m a little emotional now but I’m happy. God is the giver of life and the only one who can take life. And he (God) says if I grant you power and the privilege in this life; I am the only one who can take it from you if you don’t use it in the way and manner that promotes humanity. God can give power to anyone he wills.
“It is the same God that has spared us till today and has given us the privilege. I give glory to God, because I’m standing before you hale, hearty and well. Today is a day of joy for me, having fixed today for this great event. We are here giving praises to God. May God bless all of you in attendance. I am grateful. I cannot say more than that today. Thank you all.”
Sanwo-Olu described Tinubu’s return as good news for his supporters across the country, noting that the APC leader had been rejuvenated with renewed vigour for his next political move.
He said: “We have countless reasons to be grateful to God for bringing Asiwaju back home, fully rejuvenated. Since Friday when our leader and father came back, it has been a joyful moment for the teeming residents of Lagos, his supporters and Nigerians across the country. We give glory to God who brought you (Tinubu) back with sound health and stronger vigour.
“On behalf of all political office holders, party leaders and faithful, we welcome our leader back and we give praises to God on his behalf that the intention of evil-minded people who spread malicious rumour against our leader did not materialise. This event shows Asiwaju is healthy and possesses more energy to embark on his next move in politics.”
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Pandora Papers: Investigation Reveals How Bishop Oyedepo Set Up Company For Wife, Children In Tax Haven
Founder and General Overseer of Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners’ Chapel International, Bishop David Oyedepo, has been identified in the list of Nigerians that set up offshore companies in the British Virgin Islands.
The investigation is part of the global International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ)-led Pandora Papers project and which Nigeria’s PREMIUM TIMES is a part of.
The project involved 600 journalists from 150 news organisations around the world sorting and analysing a trove of almost 12 million confidential files, tracking down and interviewing sources, and adding context using public records and documents.
The leaked files were retrieved from some offshore services firms around the world that set up shell companies and other offshore entities for clients, many of them influential politicians, businesspersons, and criminals seeking to conceal their financial dealings.
Former Governor of Anambra State and Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Peter Obi, Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu and that of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola were the other prominent Nigerians that have been exposed in the tax haven scandal.
According to the report, Oyedepo in August 2007 contracted the services of Business Centrum Limited, a London-based agent, to help him set up a company in the infamous tax haven for him and his immediate family members.
“Business Centrum subsequently subcontracted Trident Trust Group, one of the world’s leading secrecy enablers and one of the most notorious providers of offshore corporate and financial services.
“The company, Zadok Investments Limited, was set up on August 20, 2007 with 50,000 ordinary shares with a value of $1.00 each.
“Although the directors of the company are Mr Oyedepo and his two sons – David (Junior) and Isaac, every member of Mr Oyedepo’s family are listed as shareholders.
“Mr Oyedepo and his wife, Faith, are the largest shareholders with 30 per cent of shares each.
“His children – David (junior), who in 2016 was appointed resident pastor of the headquarters of the church, known as Faith Tabernacle, has 10 per cent while Isaac, who is the resident pastor of the church’s branch in Maryland, the United States of America, also has 10 per cent of the shares.
“Love and Joy – the two daughters of the cleric – were similarly given 10 per cent shares each.
“The documents did not reveal the exact businesses and transactions the offshore company was set up to conduct. The entity however appears to be the family’s investment vehicle under which the family’s wealth is warehoused for offshore management,” the report read in part.
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Alleged N1.5billion Debt: Court Sets Date To Decide If To Unfreeze 20 Bank Accounts Of Bauchi Government
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, in Lagos, will on November 3, 2021, decide whether or not to vacate a freezing order placed on about 20 bank accounts belonging to the Bauchi State government.
This is related to a suit filed by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) over alleged N1.5 billion debt.
Justice Aneke fixed the matter for ruling after listening to submissions of counsel for AMCON, Mr. Olugbuyiro Akinola, and that of Bauchi State, Mr. Sylvester Elema SAN.
AMCON had in suits numbers, FHC/L/AMC/64/2021, FHC/CS/AMC/66/2021, and FHC/L/AMC/67/2021 alleged that the Bauchi State government borrowed the money from Equatorial Trust Bank (now Sterling Bank Plc).
Defendants in the suits are the Attorney-General of Bauchi State, Bauchi State government, Accountant-General, Bauchi State, Chief Administrative Officer of Hospital Management Board, Bauchi State, Chief Accountant Hospital Management Board Branch, Bauchi State, and the Amalgamated Union of Pubic Corporation, Civil Service, Technical & Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE).
AMCON had prayed the court to freeze the state’s bank accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria and 20 other banks. Some of the banks affected are Access Bank Plc, Citi Bank Nigeria Limited, ECOBANK Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, First City Monument Bank, Heritage Bank Plc, Polaris Bank Plc and Keystone Bank Plc.
Other banks are Providus Bank, Standard IBTC Bank, Standard Chartered Bank Limited, Sterling Bank Plc, Suntrust Bank, Union Bank of Nigeria, United Bank for Africa, Unity Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc, and Zenith Bank Plc.
A vacation judge, Justice Tijjani Ringim had on August 30, 2021, granted a motion ex parte dated July 19, 2021, filed by AMCON, praying the court to restrict the respondents either directly or indirectly from transferring, withdrawing, or dealing with or disposing of any of the monies standing to the credit of the respondents in the Central Bank of Nigeria to the total outstanding debt of N271,489, 820.75.
Justice Ringim also directed the Central Securities Clearing Systems Plc to provide information and details of the respondents’ companies and interests, including stocks, shares, securities, and dividends to AMCON or its counsel.
The court further made an order compelling all the banks to disclose and produce bank details, statements of accounts, bank balances, and monies standing to the credit of the respondents.
AMCON had through his lawyer, Olugbuyiro Akinola stated that the Amalgamated Union of Public Technical & Recreational Services Employees, Hospital Management Board, Bauchi State obtained loan facilities in eight batches from Equatorial Trust Bank Limited (now Sterling Bank Plc).
He averred that eight loan facilities were offered to the defendants on February 3, 2009, in the sum of N15,000,000.00 each making a total of a N120,000,000.00 at the contractual rate of 22 per cent each per annum for 16 months, to acquire assets in favour of the members of the 6 defendants in Bauchi State.
He argued that in accordance with the conditions precedent for drawdown as contained in the Offer letters the 4th and 5th defendants executed a corporate guarantee in favour of Equatorial Trust Bank Limited (now Sterling Bank Plc.) stating that the total loan sum, as well as the accrued interest, would be repaid as and when due. He added that the defendants ‘are indebted to the AMCON in the sum of N293,997,934.16 million as of 30th of June 2021, plus accrued interest at 17 percent being the principal sum and accrued interests.
In one of the suits, AMCON is also claiming N346, 611,547.34 million being the sum owed by the state government, which arose from the credit facility extended to Bauchi state by Equatorial Trust Bank (now Sterling Bank Plc) which the State government allegedly failed or refused to liquidate.
AMCON is also demanding the sum of N100 million in general damages for breach of contract and for the cost of filing the suit. But, the Bauchi State government in an application to vacate the freezing order challenged the jurisdiction of the court arguing, that the amount of money stated in the said order as the outstanding debt was false and manifestly inflated.
The state through its lawyer, Sylvester Elema (SAN) stated that both parties in the suit met on August 24, 2021, and resolved the subject matter of the suit, a fact that was allegedly hidden from the court as at the date the orders were made.
“It, therefore, follows that the said orders made by this court on August 30, 2021 are not valid in law since the said orders are not supported by the provisions of Section 49, 50 and 50A of the AMCON Act 2010,” he said.
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E2%80%99s-attorney-general-malami-over-its-chairman-suraju%E2%80%99s Malabu Oil: Group Writes Buhari’’s Attorney-General Malami Over Its Chairman, Suraju’s Alleged Cyberstalking Case
Suraju Olanrewaju
Nigeria’s anti-corruption group, Human and Environmental Development Agenda, (HEDA Resource Centre), has written to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, over the case file of its chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, for alleged cyberstalking.
HEDA, in the letter to Mr Malami, which was also copied for the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said any approval by the minister to prosecute Suraju on the grounds that his alleged statements were untrue would therefore contradict evidence submitted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) in London and Milan.
Suraju Olanrewaju
The Malabu scandal involved the transfer of over $1 billion by Shell and ENI through the Nigerian government to accounts controlled by a former Nigerian Petroleum Minister, Dan Etete.
From accounts controlled by Etete, about half the money ($520 million) went to accounts of companies controlled by Aliyu Abubakar, popularly known in Nigeria as the owner of AA oil.
Anti-corruption investigators and activists suspect he fronted for top officials of the Goodluck Jonathan administration as well of officials of Shell and ENI.
The transaction was authorised in 2011 by ex-president Jonathan through some of his cabinet ministers and the money was payment for OPL 245, one of Nigeria’s richest oil blocks.
The oil resources of the OPL 245 license have remained undeveloped since the controversies began.
One of those being prosecuted by the Nigerian government is Mohammed Adoke, a former Attorney-General of the Federation.
He is facing trial over the alleged role he played in the “fraudulent” transfer of ownership of an oil block, OPL 245, regarded as one of the biggest in Africa.
Other defendants include Aliyu Abubakar, Rasky Gbinigie and four companies- Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited, Shell Nigeria Ultra Deep Limited and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited.
The letter from HEDA signed by its Executive Secretary, Sulaimon Arigbabu, added that this would have considerable implications on both the JPMC case and the current appeal by the FRN in Milan against the judgment to acquit the defendants in the OPL 245 case.
Adoke, one of those accused of fraud in the OPL 245 scam, also referred to as the Malabu scandal, had petitioned the police, accusing Mr Suraju and HEDA of circulating fabricated evidence against him to unduly incriminate him in the multi-million dollar scandal.
The subject of Adoke’s petition was the forgery of an email in which Nigeria, as a sovereign State was short-changed to the tune of $1.1 billion (one hundred and one billion US dollars) and HEDA and its international partners, have been involved in the advocacy for recovery of this money and prosecution of principal actors behind the heist.
However, HEDA and Suraju have denied any wrongdoing in a series of statements issued on the matter, stating that the items he was accused of fabricating featured as exhibits in the Malabu oil scam trials in Milan, Italy.
HEDA’s open letter sent to the minister read, “We understand from press reports that the Inspector General of Police has submitted a case file to you for review and possible recommendation for the prosecution of Olanrewaju Suraju for cyberstalking. According to the Premium Times, the file was forwarded to your office on 20 September 2021 by ACP Ibrahim Musa, Head of the IGP Monitoring Unit, on behalf of the IGP.
“A copy of a report on the case, apparently written by Mr Musa at the request of Mohamed Bello Adoke SAN, has been published in the press. We assume that this was the same report that was forwarded to you.
“Mr Musa’s letter of 20 September 2021 “the Musa letter”, as reported in the Premium Times, accuses Mr Suraju of making criminally defamatory statements regarding an email said to have been sent by Mr Mohamed Adoke to JP Morgan Chase to facilitate the transfer of funds arising from the OPL 245 deal to Malabu Oil and Gas. Mr Adoke denies sending the email and has claimed it is a forgery. The Musa letter also alleges that Mr Suraju’s reporting of the email was a ‘calculated attempt’ to ‘falsify relationship between Mr Adoke and Aliyu Abubakar while their cases are still ongoing in court, thereby misleading the public.’”
The anti-graft organisation said the decision as to whether or not to prosecute Mr Suraju is for the minister, as Nigeria’s chief law officer to decide, taking account of the facts of the case; whether there is an arguable case to answer; the public interest in prosecuting; and the prospect of a successful prosecution.
However, it noted that “Any prosecution for criminal defamation would however necessarily rest on the basis that the statements made by Mr Suraju were untrue. The purpose of this letter is, therefore, to call your attention to the fact that the statements allegedly made by Mr Suraju are identical to those that have been made by the Federal Republic of Nigeria in its civil cases against JP Morgan Chase in London and its case against Shell, Eni and other defendants in Milan.
“In its Re-Re-Amended Particulars of Claim to the High Court in London in the JPMC case, the FRN described the OPL 245 transaction as ‘corrupt’ and ‘a conspiracy to injure Nigeria by unlawful means by depriving the FRN of monies for the grant of OPL245 to which it was lawfully and exclusively entitled.’ This is no different in substance or wording from statements that have been made by Mr Suraju.
“The FRN also stated that on 21st June 2011 ‘Bayo Osolake (as a representative of the Defendant JPMC) received an email sent by Attorney General Adoke from the email address ‘agroupproperties@yahoo.com’, attaching copies of each of the Resolution Agreements”. Again, this is precisely the same language and content used by Mr Suraju to report on the 21 June 2011 email.
“In the Milan case, where the FRN submitted the email in question as evidence in its final summing up arguments to the Court on 10 February 2021, the FRN stated: “The closeness of Abubakar and Adoke at the time of the OPL 245 affair has, lastly, been definitively confirmed by the email acquired during the hearing of 3.2.2021, with which copies of the three RA signed – by Adoke Bello – were sent from an email address of A Group Properties to JP Morgan.” Mr Suraju has simply reported this statement of fact by the FRN.
“The FRN further stated to the Milan Court: “Basically, the behaviour of the AG during the negotiations, at the meeting of 15.11.2010 during which the price and corrupt agreement are defined, the indifference regarding the contractual clauses and his sole interest in the price that was due Malabu, his intervention with the President to silence the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) objections (which are silenced), the closeness to Etete and Abubakar during the period in question, the relationship of ‘closeness’ with the oil companies, can only and solely be read together with the abnormal property operation with Abubakar and the abnormal perception of cash.”
HEDA continued, “Yet again, the statements allegedly made by Mr Suraju regarding the relationship between Adoke and Abubakar were merely reporting the facts as stated by the FRN in open court.
“We would also note that Adoke himself has acknowledged his relationship with Abubakar in his book Burden of Service (relevant pages attached) and that, in its judgment, the Milan court described the ‘agroupproperties@yahoo.com’ email as confirmation of ‘the relationship between Minister Adoke and the companies of Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu’ – a relationship which is described by the judges as proof of a mixture of economic interests that is serious circumstantial evidence of receipt of benefits from Malabu’s payment.
“Although Adoke has vigorously denied receiving any payments from the OPL 245 deal, we note that the Milan court ruled as a fact that he is the only one of the three public officials indicated in the indictment as necessary parties to the corrupt agreement to have received a benefit directly deriving from funds from the OPL 245 operation.
“The Milan judges state that Adoke received some $2 million from the deal. The money originated from Aliyu Abubakar and was paid into Adoke’s account through numerous cash payments from Bureaux de Change.
“We assume that you are in possession or have seen the FRN’s Re-Re-Ammended Statement of Claim to the High Court in London and the final pleadings of the FRN in the Milan case. Since the lawyers were acting on your fiat, we also assume that the statements in both documents reflect the FRN’s position.
“For Suraju to be prosecuted for reporting statements made in open court by the Federal Republic of Nigeria is an assault on the fundamental principle of open justice.”
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Oyo Governor, Makinde Threatens N3billion Suit Against Chieftain In His Party, PDP Over Facebook Post
Seyi Makinde
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has threatened to sue a leader in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Ismaila Ashipa over a Facebook post titled ‘Vindictive GSM’.
GSM is an acronym for Governor Seyi Makinde.
Seyi Makinde
The governor, who is also a member of the PDP, gave Ashipa seven days to publicly apologise over the “libellous” post, adding that failure to do will attract N3 billion suit.
Some PDP members in the state, including Ashipa, had accused Makinde of being behind the sacking of Abubakre Adeyemi, a footballer with state-owned club, Shooting Stars, also known as 3SC.
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Oyo Governor, Makinde Sacks State’s Football Club Player Over Political Disagreement With Footballer’s Father
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Adeyemi is the son of a PDP chieftain in Oyo State, Alhaji Adebisi Abdulrasheed Adeyemi, aka Olopoeniyan, who is at loggerheads with Makinde.
A letter sent to Ashipa by Makinde’s counsel, Kunle Kalejaye, dated October 6, 2021, and titled, “Defamatory Public Facebook Post About Engr. Seyi Makinde: Re: Facebook Post, Vindictive GSM, dated 5/10/2021,’ said Ashipa posted libellous information on his Facebook page.
The letter, obtained by our correspondent reads in part, “We are solicitors to Engr. Seyi Makinde (herein referred to as our client) on whose instruction we write and our professional service retained by him. Sequel to the foregoing, we have been briefed with unequivocal instructions to enter into this correspondence.
“Our client is the current executive governor of Oyo State and the Crux of the Notice will be centred on a Facebook post published under your name by the public Facebook profile named ‘Ismaila Ashipa’ at the linked Facebook website online address https//:facebbook.com.asipa in line with the above set out agendum.
“Premised to established facts, we have been informed by our clients to express his shock and consternation with the fact that on 6th 2021, you published a libellous post on the well known social media website ‘Facebook’ under your profile name ‘Ashipa Ismaila’ with heading, ‘Vindictive GSM’.
“In the post, you falsely and with malicious intent wrote of and concerning our client inter alia as follows, “One of the skilful footballers who got 3SC promoted to the Premier Division recently, Mr. Abubakre Adeyemi defensive midfielder with jersey no 4 has been sacked by the order of his Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State.”
The governor, therefore, demanded a public apology from Ashipa, and threatened to sue for N3 billion in damages if the apology is not tendered within seven days.
“We demand with an utmost insistence that these apologies, promises and retractions must be addressed directly (with prominence to our client and published in an at least three national newspapers.
“A draft in the sum of Three Billion Naira representing a modest compensation for the damages suffered by our client on the account of worldwide defamatory content of your captioned Facebook post. This draft mentioned will be addressed and disbursed to orphanages of our client’s chosen all over Oyo State,” the letter further read.
The letter gave the PDP leader seven days to react, else he will be sued.
The footballer’s father, Adebisi Abdulrasheed Adeyemi, aka Olopoeniyan had also alleged that the governor had a hand in the sacking of his son from the state-owned football club, 3SC.
Olopoeniyan last week told SaharaReporters, “I know it is not unconnected with the recent crisis in our party, but it is not time for me to talk. Let Makinde continue victimising our members because of the crisis he mistakingly started. As far as I am concerned, Adeyemi (my son) is innocent in our party crisis and he shouldn’t be a victim.”
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2022 Budget: Loan-Borrowing Buhari Presidency To Spend N13billion On Presidential Jets, N2.3billion On Foreign, Local Trips
President Muhammadu Buhari will spend a total of N2,309,066,788 on foreign and local trips in 2022.
The figure is contained in the details of the 2022 Appropriation Bill that Buhari presented to a joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday.
The N16.39 trillion budget has a deficit of N6.26 trillion.
The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, had said the government would source more loans to fund the deficit.
The item was tagged Travel and Transport (General) under State House (President).
The President is also expected to spend a total of N12.5 billion on the Presidential Air Fleet in 2022.
About N1.6 billion is provided for the purchase of vehicles and spares.
According to the estimate, the ongoing phased replacement of vehicles and spares will cost N1.6 billion compared to the N436 million set aside for a similar purpose in the 2021 proposal.
About N180,089,000 is provided for purchase of tyres for bulletproof vehicles, plain cars, CCU vehicles, platform trucks, jeeps, ambulances and other utility and operational vehicles.
Last year, N116,194,297 was set aside for a similar purpose.
The government also budgeted N210 million for what it described as the “purchase of Phase 7 Avionics for AW 139 helicopters.”
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TRENDING VIDEOS: Cleric Asks Islamic Students To Brutally Flog Colleagues For Attending Birthday Party In Kwara
Some videos are currently trending on social media which show some madrasa (a college of Islamic instruction) students in Kwara State being brutally flogged as a form of punishment by some senior students of the school on the order of their cleric.
According to a Twitter user, @EkunStoner, the students were severely beaten because they went to a friend’s birthday party.
He said pictures of the birthday celebration were posted online. However, their teacher saw the post and thought they drank alcohol.
“These Muslim brothers and sister went to celebrate one of their friend on his birthday, so they posted this picture and their Alfa saw it. He thought they drank alcohol, but they only had Yoghurt.”
Meanwhile, some Nigerians on Twitter have condemned the incident, asking the government to punish the perpetrators.
Below are some reactions;
I remember when I Dey go modrasa in Alfa yayah in ilorin that time.. I came late ,the next is to be beat me 20 stroke cuz I came late , I received 5 and the 6 one meet in me aweâ? aswear Iâ??stand up and tell the Alfa if dem born you well beat me again,— BRYAN (@mayorcash26) October 9, 2021
This incident happened In Ilorin Kwara state If Religion no kill na small go remain pic.twitter.com/hiGnRpGdSN— Son of God (@EkunStoner) October 9, 2021
one time a self acclaimed alfa was flogging a boy so mercilessly, I intervened then he called for backup and the locals ran me out of the mosque, including the child’s mother. twas one of those locations I can’t pronounce in Ilorin, dumb barbaric folks— عÙ?ر ÙارÙ?Ù?ð??¸ð??¦ (@faruqfromdeep) October 9, 2021
If they can justifying beating a lady like this without mercy or empathyâ?¦. Now imagine how this animal will treat their wife at home. This are the same Alfa wey we see finish for ilorin then. Animals. ISHIKAWA®ï¸ð??³ð??¬ (@SegunOjo3) October 10, 2021
They were accused of taking alcohol, if you wanna know the secret of these hypocrites go to Ilorin, this so called Alfaâ??s have first degree in promiscuity, dem be numba 1 for adultery, you can count on ur fingers d number if beer palors in ilorin, bt hotel dey almost every street— Okikiola_paulð??¡ (@Okikiolapaul1) October 10, 2021
That video of a girl being flogged in a mosque is screaming Ilorin. Those people in that state are educated but they are extremists.— Tobi (@oluwat0bi) October 10, 2021
Also taking to his verified Instagram page with video snippets of the incident, popular Nigerian actor, Charles Inojie, urged the state government to investigate the incident.
He wrote, “How could any school authority find justification for this? Which parent would see slide four and be able to sleep well at night, and to think that their teachers are there watching with glee and urging the assailants on is all the more heartbreaking?
“Whatever offence they might have committed, the school should have other means of administering discipline than this brazen display of barbarism. I hear this happened in Ilorin. Oya, Kwara State government over to you. You have a duty to redeem yourself before the whole world otherwise you would only have succeeded in raising hardened criminals that would turn around to terrorise society tomorrow. SAY NO TO BRUTALITY. SAY NO TO MAN’S INHUMANITY TO MAN. SAY NO TO VIOLENCE. SAY NO TO TORTURE.”
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BREAKING: Buhari’s Aide, Sarki Abba Loses Mother
Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari’s Personal Assistant on Domestic Affairs, Sarki Abba has lost his mother, Hajiya Aisha.
Aisha died at the age of 96 in Yola, the capital of Adamawa state, Sunday afternoon.
Jana’za (burial rites) according to Islamic injunction was about to commence at the time of filing this report.
A family member, Sani Garba confirmed the death to SaharaReporters, saying, “Prayers will start shortly at the Jimeta Central Mosque, in the state capital, after which jana’za (burial) would take place at the Jimeta cemetery.”
Meanwhile, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has commiserated with the family of the presidential aide.
The Director-General, Media and Communications to the governor, Solomon Kumangar said, “The demise of Mama Aisha, mother of the president’s chief aide, Sarki Abba, has come to the governor as a rude shock.
“Though she died at the ripe age of 96, we in Adamawa are in pain because of her departure. We, therefore, sympathise with our own Sarki Abba, President Muhammadu Buhari and the entire family at this time.”
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CHIWETALU AGU: An Open Letter To Emeka Rollas And Why He Must Resign As President Of Actors Guild Of Nigeria, By Elias Ozikpu
Dear Mr Emeka Rollas,
You may wish to recall that on Thursday, October 7, one of your distinguished colleagues, Mr Chiwetalu Agu was violently arrested, assaulted, thoroughly humiliated and detained by some lawless soldiers for wearing an attire they believed dictator Buhari wouldn’t like, and which they claimed represented Biafra. To start with, is Biafra a criminal offence in Nigeria? But that is not my point at this juncture, we will get to that shortly.
My gripe is that you addressed a press conference in the wake of the illegal arrest of Mr Agu, but curiously, rather than calling out the tyrannical regime for his arbitrary arrest and public humiliation, you excoriated the actor instead for wearing an attire that projected no sign of violence in whatever sense. You aligned with a tyrant who is bound and determined to shrink the civic space and who in no time may consider the imposition of uniforms on Nigerians if he continues to enjoy the support of people like you.
That you refrained from defending the fundamental human rights of your colleague who was humiliated before the whole world without the slightest respect, remains incomprehensible to me.
The truth is that what happened to Mr Chiwetalu Agu could have happened to anybody, including you, Emeka Rollas. How, you may ask. You do not have to wear a Biafran regalia to be arrested or harassed by this dictator. When tyranny is sufficiently empowered and defended the way you did at your ill-conceived press conference, the tyrant becomes emboldened and picks up people for “offences” like defecating inside their own toilets. You remember DSS’s criminal invasion of Sunday Igboho’s residence and the extrajudicial execution of two innocent people that night of July 1, 2021? As you may recall, that incident didn’t occur on the street.
But here lies the fundamental problem of electing reactionary leaders like you to head an orgnisation as huge as the Actors Guild of Nigeria AGN. People who cannot say it the way it is because they fear a dictator who behaves as though he owns Nigeria but whose time in office is very much predictable, whether or not he likes it.
If you were not an unrepentant reactionary, you would have mobilised your colleagues at Actors Guild of Nigeria by now to storm the streets wearing Biafran colours in a gesture of solidarity with Mr Chiwetalu Agu whose fundamental rights have been raped by the Buhari dictatorship. You would have also been in court by now to file for the enforcement of his rights which are being recklessly abused by dictator Buhari.
Whilst reacting to Mr Chiwetalu Agu’s illegal arrest, you even said that you were making efforts to ensure his release. How exactly? By mortgaging his fundamental rights to freedom of expression in exchange for his release?
In part, you were quoted as saying:
“I don’t know why he put on Biafra regalia. The State is hot and he knows this. We are in talk with the military officials to ensure he is released. We will do our best.”
Apparently the veteran actor and not the lawless soldiers was to blame? What is the name of the Law that criminalises the combination of the following colours anywhere in Nigeria: black, green, red and yellow? Assuming without conceding that the actor had indeed committed an offence, is the military empowered by any Nigerian Law to arrest a civilian in the manner in which Mr Agu was arrested? That you saw nothing wrong with the militarisation of the civic space by soldiers who have failed to conquer Boko Haram terrorists after more than ten years, is disturbing.
Consequently, your comments to newsmen only succeeded in empowering and emboldening the draconian regime led by dictator Buhari – because you expressly said that the oppressor should be exonerated and his victim chided for exercising his own rights.
Your blunt refusal to chastise the Buhari dictatorship in what has been a cruel violation of Mr Chiwetalu Agu’s rights continues to invoke in my head Bishop Desmond Tutu’s immortal lines:
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.”
Dear Mr Emeka, at your press conference, you exonerated the elephant and nailed the mouse. It’s a tragedy.
You should not be “negotiating” for the release of a man who should never have been arrested in the first place. In such circumstances, you DEMAND for their release, you do not negotiate for it, especially when it involves a dictator.
Now he has been kidnapped by the Department of State Services DSS. Are you also going to “negotiate” with Nigeria’s most lawless security agency? Are you going to “negotiate” with a security outfit notorious for violating, crushing and defecating on the judiciary? Are you going to “negotiate” with a lawless organisation that has notoriously violated every piece of extant legislation in Nigeria and has no modicum of respect for our judges?
Your position as President of Actors Guild of Nigeria is beyond enjoying the title and the numerous benefits that come with it. It also involves you defending the fundamental human rights of your members, especially in the face of tyranny – like dictator Buhari’s fascist regime.
As I round off, I am constrained to ask this crucial question: you remember the young protesters who were massacred by Nigerian soldiers at the Lekki Tollgate on the evening of Tuesday, October 20, 2020? They were shot and killed in a peaceful protest despite singing the national anthem and waving the national flag as a symbol of patriotism. You may have seen an image of a viral bloodstained Nigerian flag on social media and elsewhere. Did you see a single Biafran flag at that protest? Why were the peaceful protesters shot and killed despite waving Nigeria’s national flag? These are the things that happen when a country is under the jackboot of an unrepentant dictator. Defence or neutrality in favour of the draconian regime is not a cure for tyranny.
Your decision to tacitly exonerate Mr Chiwetalu Agu’s brutal captors who assaulted, humiliated and had him arbitrarily detained for committing no offence, amounts to betrayal. If you cannot put the wheels of legitimate resistance in motion to protect Mr Chiwetalu Agu’s fundamental rights, then you have to resign, now, and pave way for another who considers the fundamental rights of members of that organisation a serious affair.
Best regards,
Elias Ozikpu
Author, essayist, citizen journalist, permanent enemy of oppressors
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