The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

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  • Maj. Gen. Lagbaja Assumes Office As COAS

    Maj. Gen. Lagbaja Assumes Office As COAS

    The newly appointed Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, has assumed office as the 23rd Army Chief with a pledge to discharge his responsibilities with fairness to all.

    He received the baton from the 22nd Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya (rtd), during a ceremony at the Army Headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

    Lagbaja was appointed Chief of Army Staff by President Bola Tinubu on Monday evening following sweeping change of the nation’s heads of security Services, which affected the erstwhile Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police.

    Lagbaja, who promised to improve on the legacies of his predecessors of a proficient and professional Nigeria Army, said hardwork will be rewarded under his watch.

    Earlier, the immediate-past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Yahaya said he was leaving the Nigeria Army better than he met it.

    Gen. Yahaya added that the Nigeria Army made remarkable successes in the fight against insecurity under his command.

    He added, “our adversaries are in disarray across all theatres of operations.”

    While charging officers and men of the Nigeria Army to remain resolute, apolitical and professional in the discharge of their duties, he urged them to support the new COAS to achieve a nation free of internal threats.

    Leadership

  • At Presidential Tribunal, PDP, Atiku’s witness says INEC deleted results on BVAS machines

    At Presidential Tribunal, PDP, Atiku’s witness says INEC deleted results on BVAS machines

    A witness for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has told the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja that results on all 110 BVAS machines he inspected were deleted.

    The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine is an electronic device distributed across the over 176,000 polling units in the country by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the accreditation of voters during the 2023 general elections.

    The device was also designed to promptly upload photographic copies of result sheets to the INEC Results View (IReV) portal after result documentation at the polling units.

    Atiku disputed the results of the presidential election declared by INEC. He also rejected the results because of INEC’s failure to promptly upload the polling unit results of the election to IReV.

    In his petition that he filed at the Presidential Election Petition Court to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s victory, Atiku prayed that he be declared the winner instead. But he alternatively asked for an outright cancellation of the poll for a fresh one to be conducted.

    Hitler Nwala, who was subpoenaed to testify as an expert witness for the petitioners, said he inspected and analysed 110 BVAS machines used for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) election.

    The witness, led in evidence by the petitioner’s lead counsel, Chris Uche, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), described himself as a Digital Forensic Analyst.

    He said his analysis of the BVAS showed that their results were deleted but that he didn’t know when the deletion was done.

    Under cross-examination by INEC’s lawyer, Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, the witness said that he attached a standard exercise device to the machine to arrive at his conclusion.

    When asked if he had the authority of the commission to attach an external device to the BVAS machines, the witness answered in the affirmative.

    Mr Mahmoud further asked the witness if he was aware that inspecting only 110 machines out of 3,163 that were deployed in the FCT amounted to only 3.4 per cent of the total number of BVAS deployed in the FCT and 0.06 per cent of BVAS deployed nationwide.

    The witness told the court that he only compiled the report and didn’t take time to calculate the percentages.

    The INEC counsel attempted to give a BVAS machine to the witness to check if the results on them were deleted, as he had said in his report.

    The witness, however, said that it would be against the ethics of his profession to collect the BVAS machine in open court to check it.

    “It is professionally wrong to access a device that will be used as evidence in a court of competent jurisdiction because it will tamper with the evidence.

    “We cannot access the device directly; what we do is extract the evidence and take it for analysis,” he said.

    Moreover, the witness told the court that since all the devices had the same model and looked the same on the outside, he couldn’t tell by merely looking at it if it was one of those he inspected.

    On his part, counsel for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lateef Fagbemi, also a SAN, told the witness that neither he nor his team members signed the six-volume forensic report.

    The witness, however, insisted that he signed the report and the certificate of compliance.

    On his part, counsel for President Tinubu, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, confronted the witness with a portion of his report where he said that from his inspection of the machines, “nothing was intrinsically wrong with them”.

    “Were you in Abuja on the day of the presidential election? If you were not in Abuja, how can you know that there was nothing intrinsically wrong with the machines on the day of the election?” the senior lawyer asked.

    The witness said he was not in Abuja, so he couldn’t have known if something went wrong with the machines on election day.

    After the witness was discharged, the petitioners went further to tender Forms EC8A series from 20 local government areas of Ogun State, 17 local government areas of Ondo State, 27 local government areas of Jigawa State, and 20 local government areas of Rivers State.

    The five-member panel of the court led by Haruna Tsammani adjourned the hearing of the petition until Friday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that after the pre-hearing report, Atiku and the PDP are expected to close their case on Friday.

    NAN reports that they had asked for three weeks to present their case, which elapsed on Tuesday, but because they had lost three days, one being the June 12 Democracy Day public holiday, the court extended their time by three days.

    NAN

  • Subsidy Removal: TUC President calls on Nigerian politicians to make more sacrifices for masses

    Subsidy Removal: TUC President calls on Nigerian politicians to make more sacrifices for masses

    The President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo says government officials have not demonstrated cost reduction as they still go about with “endless convoys” despite the effects of fuel subsidy removal on the masses.

    Comrade Osifo says it is time for politicians and the elite to make more sacrifices that will benefit the masses of the country.

    “For example, the convoys. You see governors, they are still going about, business as usual. You see the new legislatures, you see their convoys, it’s endless,” Osifo said on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday.

    Osifo also decried the cost of governance while drawing attention to the dwindling capital expenditure

    “Today, we still import all manner of cars from different parts of the world but you have some cars that are being manufactured in Nigeria. Why can’t you create policies that would encourage the manufacturing sector and also reduce the cost of governance?” he queried.

    Osifo said Labour proposed N200,000 as the new minimum wage from N30,000 because it anticipated that the government would float the naira and allow market forces to determine the exchange rate of the national currency.

    He argued that the value of N30,000 five years ago when the minimum wage was last reviewed has so far reduced with mounting inflation rates, soaring food prices and transport fares, amongst others.

    According to him, the only commodity that was subsidised for the people was taken away. describing the people as the easiest target.

    “Nigerians are facing a lot of hardship all across, it is really hard and it is really terrible. You are asking the people to tighten their belts but at the end of the day, what have you brought to the table? What is the contribution of the political class to this economic logjam that we are today as a country?

    “What we are saying is that if the Federal Government was not able to fund subsidy, at whose expense? What were the things they were doing with our funds? All the money that they have borrowed, the ways and means that went over 23 trillion naira – what did they do with it?” he asked.

    The Labour leader stated that the Federal Government must offer explanations to Nigerians on what the monies borrowed have been used for as well as why the country has a huge debt profile

    “They need to also offer explanations to Nigerians, not that at the slightest provocation, they push Nigerians to the streets and they tell them that we must tighten our belt meanwhile they are loosening theirs,” he said.

    The TUC boss noted that these issues are the basis of conversations the union is having in the sub-committees to come up with a position that will ameliorate the pains of Nigerians.

    The Federal Government had on Monday resumed negotiations with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the TUC on measures to alleviate the impacts of the removal of the petrol subsidy on Nigerians.

    On June 5, the labour unions suspended their planned strike to protest the removal of petrol subsidy after a meeting with representatives of the Federal Government.

    Channels TV

  • Obi knocks RMAFC over proposed 114% salary increment for president, govs

    Obi knocks RMAFC over proposed 114% salary increment for president, govs

    The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has knocked the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission over its proposed 114 per cent increase in the salaries of elected politicians, including the President, vice president, governors, and lawmakers.

    RMAFC has come under heavy criticism over its recommendation for an increase in the basic salaries of public office holders in the country.

    Chairman of the commission, Muhammadu Shehu, who was represented by RMAFC commissioner from Kebbi State, Mrs Rakiya Tanko-Ayuba, dropped the bombshell on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, while presenting the reviewed remuneration package of political and judicial office holders to the State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris.

    But Obi described the recommendation as “insensitive,” warning that it should not be the priority of a nation still struggling with minimum wage with over 133 million Nigerians currently living in abject poverty.

    The former Anambra governor faulted the move via his verified Twitter handle on Thursday.

    He tweeted, “I learnt with great reservation, the approval of a 114% increase in the salaries of elected politicians, including the President, vice president, governors, lawmakers as well as judicial and public office holders by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

    “This is not the appropriate time for such a salary increment if it is at all necessary. We are living in a time when an average Nigerian is struggling with many harsh economic realities, and with over 130 million Nigerians now living in poverty. This is a moment when recent reform measures by the government have increased living costs astronomically.

    “One would expect the leaders and public officeholders to focus on cutting the cost of governance, alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians. This moment calls for creative ways of pulling the majority out of poverty. In the immortal words of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, ‘What touches us ourself shall be last served.’

    “The leaders, therefore, should prioritise what affects the masses and those on the lower strata of society over themselves. The sacrifice, at this time in our nation, should be borne by the leaders. The increment should be reversed immediately, and the savings should be devoted to fixing education, healthcare and poverty alleviation especially in the remote rural areas.”

    Punch

  • RMAFC: Proposed 114% pay rise for public officers distorts minimum wage negotiation [ANALYSIS]

    Amid rising burden of removing subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on civil servants, self-employed, private sector workers and the unemployed, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has proposed to raise the salaries of public office holders by 114 per cent, setting the stage for a more complex minimum wage negotiation process.

    The review would increase President Bola Tinubu’s monthly emolument from N3.515 million to N8.013 million. Those of the Vice President, governors and lawmakers would increase accordingly.

    Already, economists are recommending N60,000 minimum wage to reduce the disparity in the take-home between public and civil servants, whose incomes have been wiped out by fast-rising inflation.

    From 2009 when the current consumer price index (CPI) was set, the general monthly price index has increased by 510 per cent, from 90.2 points to 547.5 points.

    Sadly, the national minimum wage has only increased by 300 per cent in the same period, moving from N7,500 to N30,000. In dollar terms alone, Nigerian workers earned more back then than now, with high inflation also doing significant damage to household income.

    There is an ongoing negotiation for minimum wage review with organised labour demanding N200,000. The government has not made an offer but advanced what it called cost of living allowance to cushion the effect of subsidy removal on income with the total estimated spending pegged at N702 billion.

    While there has been no reasonable progress on the discussion, RMAFC disclosed the review of public officials’ already bloated salaries by 114 per cent yesterday, an announcement that has triggered outrage from civil society and labour.

    RMAFC explained that elected public officers have not had a raise in their emoluments since 2007.

    In a calm yet angry tone, the immediate past General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, dismissed the argument of 17 years of non-revision of elected public officers’ pay.

    He argued that in 2007, the wages of the elected public were already among the highest in the world, which distorted the Nigerian wage structure.

    He explained that RMAFC, National Income Wages and Salaries Commission (NIWSC) and Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) have been made non-effective by the distortions, saying: “There is complete dissociation between what the RMAFC does for the so-called public officers and what the other income determination mechanisms do either through the national salaries and income wage commission or what the collective bargaining does for the rest of the public sector and the private sector.”

    He held that the widening gap between what is paid to elected public servants and what is paid to civil servants has been responsible for the clamour for wage increases in the country.

    While lampooning the kleptocratic nature of some Nigerian elected public officers, Ozo-Eson submitted that studies have shown that at the level of international comparison what is being paid to the Nigerian public officers outstrips what is paid to many other countries’ officials.

    Given the harsh economic policies this government has introduced that have eroded the pay of workers significantly, raising workers’ pay was a chance to bridge the gap between elected officers and other workers in the country.

    Ozo-Eson said: “The situation we had was that the remunerations of elected officers were set higher than the prevailing wage structure relative to the rest of the economy. Even if we had had reviews of the minimum wage twice or more within the period, it is still far short of what those levels are and that is what has been responsible for the continued clamour that we need to bring the salary structure to be in line with what is realistic.”

    Proffering solutions to the intractable wage structure question, he urged that government, at all levels, labour unions and employer bodies to develop a just and sustainable system.

    His words: “I think what needs to be done is to sit down and do a proper alignment of what the compensation for the whole economy should look like. Doing a percentage review when there is a completely misaligned structure will not address the problem. We will continue to have a situation in which elected public officers’ pay will continue to be out of alignment with the rest of the economy and that will continue to act as a catalyst for unstable remuneration demands in the rest of the economy.”

    Also, Assistant General Secretary of the NLC, Chris Onyeka, said the move was a gang-up and a height of deceit by the government against Nigerian workers.

    Pay Rise

    Analysing the figures, he said: “Looking at the base that they are increasing by 114 per cent against their humongous salaries and 30,000 for civil servants. 114 per cent of their base will run into millions and if you increase N30,000 minimum wage by 114 per cent, it will increase to N65,000. That is why we are asking for an increment in quadruples. If we want to make something tangible for us, the minimum wage should be around N250,000, which is about $300 monthly.

    “What is $300 compared to the cost of living comparatively? We are talking about what will take Nigerian workers home. We must reduce the cost of governance to free resources.

    “Governors do not need their salaries to be increased for now because they do not touch their salaries.”

    First Deputy President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Dr. Tommy Okon, said the government has set a template for their negotiation and discussions for increased allowances. He said the government has set a standard and they would follow suit.

    He said by Monday when the Presidential Proposal Steering Committee would meet, labour would also review their demands and table them according to what has been submitted.

    Okon, who is also the National President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), said there should be no cause for alarm or outrage but for them to follow accordingly.

    He said when the time comes for negotiations for the review of the national minimum wage, they’ll also follow suit as the government has set the template.

    An economist and Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf, said the government needed to look at the mood of the nation, especially what the citizens are currently going through, before making such an announcement.

    He said the message Nigerians needed now was that of sacrifice.

    According to him, the need to accelerate efforts on palliatives was paramount, not just for salary earners only but all Nigerians: “Something that will affect everyone, which by now the government should be announcing. Even if it has not crystallised at least people know that something specific is on the way.”

    On his part, Chief Executive Officer of Dairy Hills Limited, Kelvin Emmanuel, urged the government to raise the minimum wage to N60,000 per month and review the revenue-sharing formula in favour of states to enable them to foot their monthly wage obligations, considering their weak fiscal positions.

    He lamented the drop in household consumption expenditure by 12.47 per cent, which is a reflection of the difficulty millions of Nigerians went through during the Naira redesign project.

    He added that the data on Nigeria’s GDP that shows a drop from 3.54 per cent to 2.25 per cent is a consequence of the impact of the failed demonetisation policy.

    He stated that it is important the Federal Government adopts a statewide model for the National Minimum Wage Act amendment of 2023 in response to the agitations of labour as a means to benchmark wage increment to reflect the fiscal realities of different states and regions.

    Emmanuel argued that the conversations of wage increment are not usually focused on the millions of unorganised labour because states lack the framework for setting, adopting and enforcing a minimum wage floor for the mass of people in companies who are not protected by labour unions.

    A public affairs analyst, Jide Ojo, who said the timing for the release was insensitive, said Nigerians needed to be dispassionate about it, as the move for increment was earlier announced two years ago.

    He, however, said that the action would evoke emotion from labour to protest and could make labour unions dig deep for increased allowances.

    “Backdating it to January 1, 2023, is insensitive. Given the very harsh economic realities, particularly for presidents, VP and governors. Theirs should have been suspended while that of the judicial officials should be implemented. It is a very dicey one because of political appointees’ aides, who are also positively affected by it.

    “A 114 per cent increment seems huge, but given the devaluation of the naira, it tends to be insignificant. What the nation needs now is affordable consumable products, affordable transportation, housing and medicare and education.

    “With the high inflation, purchasing power has been eroded. If taken to January 2024, by then the issue of subsidy would have been resolved and workers palliative would have also been resolved, then there can be justification to earn a bit more,” he said.

    Guardian

  • Enugu gov’t to migrate civil service to E-Governance 

    Enugu gov’t to migrate civil service to E-Governance 

    … as Mbah swears in Head of Service, Principal Secretary

    Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has reiterated the determination of the administration to migrate the state’s civil service from manual means of operations to e-governance.

    Governor Mbah said this would be made possible through training of the workforce on digital transformation and other innovative technologies.

    The governor disclosed this on Wednesday when the duo of the newly appointed Head of Service, Mr. Kenneth Ugwu, and the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ken Chukwuegbo, took their oaths of office at the Lion Building, Government House, Enugu.

    While felicitating them on their appointments, Governor Mbah said they were considered for the offices based on their track records and wealth of experience in the civil service, even as he expressed confidence that they would help to drive the digitalisation policy of his administration.

    “Your track records in the civil service precede you. We have no doubt that your profile and experience in the civil service will benefit the government and people of Enugu State,” the governor stated.

    He also charged them to assist the state in charting the pathway for a new civil service that would be driven by technology, automation and render the best service to the people of the state.

    Speaking immediately after the swearing-in ceremony, Mr. Chukwuegbo appreciated the governor for finding them worthy to serve the state in their new offices, assuring that they would not disappoint the people.

     

    Mr. Chukwuegbo promised that they would deploy their experiences in driving the lofty ideas and policies the Mbah’s administration has espoused.

    “We are indeed humbled and honoured by these appointments. We want to assure you that we’ll work with all seriousness required of us. We’ll show commitment and work conscientiously to ensure that all the lofty ideas and beautiful promises that you have made to the people of Enugu state are achieved within the time frame.”

    The Principal Secretary added that they would ensure that civil servants in the state keyed into the mission and vision of the government and ensure speedy development of the state.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Navy debunks alleged handover stalemate, fixes Friday for handover

    Navy debunks alleged handover stalemate, fixes Friday for handover

    The Nigerian Navy on Wednesday debunked reports that the former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, has refused to hand over to his successor, Rear Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla.

    A statement signed by the Spokesman of the Nigerian Navy, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, said the alleged development was untrue.

    According to him, the Navy, like other military arms, was following the traditional procedure for handover of the mantle of leadership.

    It said contrary to reports on the matter, the handover ceremony is scheduled for Friday.

    “The attention of the Naval Headquarters has been drawn to a malicious publication by some online media and others alleging the refusal of the outgoing Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral AZ Gambo to hand over to the incoming Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral EI Ogalla.

    “The media reports are totally lies, misleading and capable of spreading falsehood to unsuspecting members of the public. It is therefore necessary to put the record straight.

    “Suffice to state that handing and taking over ceremony in the Nigerian Navy from inception is procedural. Upon the announcement of the change of the ‘Watch on deck’, the outgoing CNS is expected to give detailed brief to the incoming CNS, tour key naval facilities and perform the ceremonial lowering of ensign,” it said.

    It said the programme of events leading to the formal handing and taking over ceremony has kicked off to culminate at a public ceremony on Friday,’June 23, 2023 in line with age-long Naval tradition.

    “Instructively, it is pertinent to mention that sister services are also due to hand over as they have set aside specific dates for their handing and taking over ceremonies.

    “Members of the public are therefore advised to discountenance the malicious publication and erroneous information as a figment of the reporter’s imagination”, he said.

    Arise News

  • UK expresses satisfaction with Tinubu’s ongoing economic reforms

    UK expresses satisfaction with Tinubu’s ongoing economic reforms

    Britain has applauded the ongoing economic reforms being carried out by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

    British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery who stated his home government’s position on Wednesday while on a courtesy visit to Vice President Kashim Shettima at the State House, Abuja, commended Nigeria for its economic decisions, including subsidy removal and exchange rate reform.

    While highlighting the positive impact these reforms have had on the investment climate and their global recognition, Montgomery canvassed for actions to mitigate the impact of challenges like inflation and unemployment in the country.

    He said: ” I think we already have a good economic dialogue, but I think there is a great potential to do more. As I discussed with His Excellency, the big economic decisions being taken by this government are really important and are being noticed around the world: the removal of subsidy; the exchange rate reform, all of that create a much better investment environment. I was in London last week; I was briefing my ministers, but I was also talking to British business in finance, banking and investment sectors. They are all responding very positively to these first decisions.

    “We know that there are tough times that are going on at the moment, inflation and unemployment. The Vice President and I also touched on some of the measures that might be possible to cushion the blow of some of these economic pressures.

    But I think the big issue is that these reforms help put Nigeria on a higher growth path; they will attract more investments and the United Kingdom and the city of London see Nigeria as a big opportunity going forward. I will be doing my part to try to boost those, enhance trade and investment”.

    The High Commissioner also said issues of common interest between Nigeria an the United Kigdom were discussed at the meeting.

    According to him: “We discussed our long standing partnership between the UK and Nigeria. We have many areas of shared interest, including a good history of development cooperation; some excellent trade and investment arrangements and we have also have some good cooperation on security and defence.

    “As many of you were seeing from recent talks, we also had good talks on home affairs and justice and we have great people-to-people links that means education, health, and we also discussed a number of issues to do with on how we can improve our relationships in the future”.

    Asked about UK’s recent student visas and restrictions on dependants, Montgomery explained that though the issue was not discussed at the meeting however stressed that such restrictions are not exclusive to Nigeria which constitutes over 10% of the visitors coming to the country.

    His words: “Nigerian visitors constitute over 10 per cent of the people coming to London and the UK. On the issue of students’ visas, I will also like to provide the contest; that the number of Nigerian students coming to the UK has increased fivefold in the last three years; it is a fantastic success story for our universities and we are really delighted that so many Nigerians are coming to the UK.

    “The issue about restrictions of people bringing dependants; that is not just for Nigeria but many parts of the world; many more students are trying to bring their dependants with them; and I think there are two issues here; the first is –it is not always possible to find housing services to meet all the needs of all our existing students population.

    “Secondly, I think reasonable people will accept that we have to manage our visitor numbers and that we have to manage migration in and out of the UK; just as the Nigerian government does for your own borders”.

    Arise News

  • Court to hear Diezani’s suit against EFCC challenging final forfeiture order of seized assets

    Court to hear Diezani’s suit against EFCC challenging final forfeiture order of seized assets

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed 23 October for hearing a suit filed by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, challenging the order obtained by the EFCC for final forfeiture of her seized assets.

    The judge, Inyang Ekwo, fixed the date on Wednesday after Mrs Alison-Madueke’s lawyer, Benson Igbanoi, and EFCC’s counsel, M.D. Baraya, regularised their processes in the suit.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the anti-corruption agency had planned to conduct a public sale of all the assets seized for being proceeds of crime as ordered by courts to be permanently forfeited to the federal government.

    The auctioning exercise, conducted on the seized assets believed to include Diezani’s property, started on 9 January.

    The suspended chairman of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, recently revealed that $153 million and over 80 properties had been recovered from Mrs Alison-Madueke.

    She was alleged to have escaped to the United Kingdom and remained there after her exit from public office as the petroleum minister, an office she held between 2010 and 2015 under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The suit is different from the one she also filed to seek N100 billion as compensation for a series of EFCC’s alleged libellous publications against her.

    The former minister, who has corruption charges pending against her in a Nigerian court, said in her libel suit that she had been living in the United Kingdom after she was rushed there for medical treatment days to completing her term in office as minister in May 2015.

     

    Suit

    But the ex-minister, in her assets-related suit, sought an order extending the time to seek leave to apply to the court for an order to set aside the EFCC’s public notice issued to conduct a public sale on her property.

    In the motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, dated and filed on 6 January by her lawyer, Mr Ozekhome, the former minister sought five orders from the court.

    Mrs Alison-Madueke sued the EFCC as the sole respondent in the suit.

    The former minister, who argued that the various orders were made without jurisdiction, said these “ought to be set aside ex debito justitiae.”

    She said she was not given a fair hearing in all the proceedings leading to the orders.

    “The various court orders issued in favour of the respondent and upon which the respondent issued the public notice were issued in breach of the applicant’s right to fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as altered, and other similar constitutional provisions,” she said.

    She argued that she was neither served with the charge sheet and proof of evidence in any of the charges nor any other summons regarding the criminal charges pending against her before the court.

    She further argued that the courts were misled into making several final forfeiture orders against her assets through suppression or non-disclosure of material facts.

    “The several applications upon which the courts made the final order of forfeiture against the applicant were obtained upon gross misstatements, misrepresentations, non-disclosure, concealment and suppression of material facts, and this honourable court has the power to set aside same ex debito justitiae, as a void order is as good as if it was never made at all.

    “The orders were made without recourse to the constitutional right to fair hearing and right to property accorded the applicant by the constitution.

    “The applicant was never served with the processes of court in all the proceedings that led to the order of final forfeiture,” she said, among other grounds given.

    EFCC counters

    But the EFCC, in a counter-affidavit deposed to by Rufai Zaki, a detective with the commission, urged the court to dismiss her application.

    Mr Zaki, a member of the team that investigated a case of criminal conspiracy, official corruption and money laundering against the ex-minister and some other persons involved in the case, said the investigation had clearly shown that she was involved in some acts of criminality.

    He said Mrs Alison-Madueke was therefore charged before the court in charge no: FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018.

    “We hereby rely on the charge FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018 dated 14 November 2018 filed before this honourable court and also attached as Exhibit C in the applicant’s affidavit,” he said.

    The EFCC operative said most of the depositions in Mrs Alison-Madueke’s suit were untrue.

    He said contrary to her deposition in the affidavit filed in support of the suit, most of the cases which led to the final forfeiture of the contested property “were action in rem, same was heard at various times and determined by this honourable court.”

    He said the courts ordered the commission to do a newspaper publication inviting parties to show cause why the said property should not be forfeited to the federal government before final orders were made.

    Mr Zaki argued that one Nnamdi Awa Kalu represented the ex-minister in reaction to one of the forfeiture applications.

    “We humbly rely on the judgment of Hon. Justice I.LN. Oweibo dated 10th September, 2019 shown in Exhibit C of the applicant’s affidavit,” he said.

    The officer said contrary to her, the final forfeiture of the assets, which were subject to the present application, was ordered by the court in 2017 and that this was not set aside or upturned on appeal.

    According to him, the properties have been disposed of through due process of law.

    Premiun Times

  • 23 days in office: ICIR takes a look at some key decisions by new governors

    FOLLOWING the conclusion of the 2023 general elections, new governors were sworn in in eighteen states across the country.

    Saturday, June 17, makes it 20 days since the inauguration. Here is a look at their activities.

    Benue, Plateau, Sokoto governors revoke appointments

    Upon assumption of office, Benue state governor Hyacinth Alia and his counterpart in Plateau Caleb Mutfwang revoked last-minute appointments by their predecessors.

    A few weeks to the end of his tenure, former Benue governor Samuel Ortom appointed five new Permanent Secretaries in addition to previous appointments he made recently, which Alia revoked on Wednesday, June 7.

    Former governor of Plateau state, Simon Lalong, also made some last-minute appointments of permanent secretaries and employment of civil servants.

    Barely 48 hours before the end of his tenure, he appointed Rauta Dakok as the new Head of Service of the state.

    However, Mutfwang reversed all appointments made into the state civil service from October 1, 2022.

    Alia and Mutfwang also ordered retired civil servants who are yet to vacate office to exit their duty posts, while those due for retirement to proceed on retirement immediately.

    Similarly, the first directive from Sokoto governor Ahmed Aliyu after his inauguration was to nullify last-minute appointments made by the last administration of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal after March 19, 2023.

    Aliyu issued the directive on May 31, hours after his inauguration.

    He nullified the appointments of 23 permanent secretaries and 15 directors general and suspended 14 traditional rulers, 13 district heads and the Magajin Garin Sokoto, Sama’ila Abdulkadir Mujeli, who was recently appointed.

    Although the new administration did not state the reason for this directive, the spokesperson to the governor, Abubakar Bawa, assured that the appointments would be reviewed to fit public interest.

    The governor has also ordered the review of auctions by the last administration.

    To this effect, Aliyu set up a committee to probe all auctions and sales of Government assets by the former governor.

    Cross River directs verification of civil servants

    Cross River governor Bassey Otu directed that a re-verification exercise of civil servants in the state be carried out, and workers were ordered to present themselves for screening and documentation at the office of the Secretary to the State Government.

    He also ordered the immediate suspension of ongoing recruitment of workers into the civil service till further notice.

    No more sit-at-home –Enugu governor

    Enugu state governor Peter Mbah banned sit-at-home in the state on June 1, saying it was restricting entrepreneurship and productivity in the state.

    Mbah, however, said his administration was ready “to engage in dialogue with people, who have genuine grievances towards bringing lasting peace and security to Enugu State.”

    He also called on Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, to release the leader of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to quicken the healing process in the region.

    Mbah has also named his Chief of Staff, some Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants among others.

    Demolitions in Kano, Niger

    The first 20 days in office of the new Governor of Kano state, Abba Yusuf, have been marked by various activities ranging from demolishing several buildings, revoking sales of Government properties and sacking all government officials appointed by his predecessor, Abdullahi Ganduje.

    The Governor gave an executive order sacking all political appointees heading government MDAs and companies while also dissolving all boards of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), companies and institutions of higher learning with immediate effect.

    Yusuf also vowed to ensure that all perpetrators and those that aided them are brought to justice through the institution of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

    On Wednesday, June 14, Yusuf ordered the demolition of the popular Tumbin Giwa roundabout constructed by the previous administration.

    Secretary to the State Government of the State (SSG), Baffa Bichi, said the demolition was a result of the presence of a cross sign on the roundabout which he described as anti-Islamic.

    In Niger state, Governor Umar Bago, aside from appointing key officers, ordered the demolition of the Chanchaga Police Station in Minna, the state capital. Bago stressed that the police station was illegally constructed on a major water pipeline.

    Under Bago’s administration, the state government has also warned that organisations, institutions and individuals must obtain approval from constituted relevant authorities in the state before erecting any building.

    Rivers revokes road construction award

    On Saturday, June 10, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara said his government would revoke the contract for the Andoni section of the Ogoni/Opobo/Nkoro/Andoni Unity Road construction project.

    He said the contract would be re-awarded, as the contractor in charge of the project has failed to deliver after several years.

    Ebonyi appoints first female SSG, swears in other government officials

    Ebonyi Governor Francis Nwifuru appointed the first female SSG in the history of the state.

    Nwifuru appointed Grace Umezurike, Umezuruike, a professor of Philosophy and Religion at Ebonyi State University, Abakiliki, as the SSG on Friday, June 9.

    A day after he was sworn in, Nwifuru ordered the freezing of all bank accounts operated by the state government.

    He made certain other appointments since he assumed office, including 21 special assistants on internal security, new media and other focused areas of his administration.

    Yesterday, June 21, 2023, the Governor swore in his Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief Of Staff, 35 commissioners, among  other government officials, warning them that they risked loosing their appointments if they failed to leave up to expectations.

    State of emergency on refuse declared in Abia

    Abia State Governor Alex Otti, in his inaugural speech on May 29, declared a state of emergency on refuse disposal in Umuhaia, the state capital and Aba, the commercial nerve of the state.

    On June 1, he appointed one Ogbonnia Okereke as the head of the task force to implement the refuse disposal emergency. The governor participated and supervised in the flag-off of the exercise in both Aba and Umuahia.

    “I wish to thank all those working pro-bono to ensure that our towns are clean and all who braved the rain to give effect to the directive we gave two days ago, declaring an emergency on the cleanup of Aba and Umuahia.

    “I wish to thank all those working pro-bono to ensure that our towns are clean and all who braved the rain to give effect to the directive we gave two days ago,” Otti said during the occasion.

    In his first 20 days in office, the governor had met with the permanent secretaries of different ministries and agencies in the state.

    Otti, in a statement by his spokesperson, Kazie Uko, directed them to take charge of the various ministries until a new set of commissioners are appointed by the new government but warned them against undermining the new government.

    Otti also froze all bank accounts belonging to the government and its agencies and directed that banks desist from honouring cheques, documents, or other instruments expressly approved by or emanating from him.

    He also dissolved all boards of agencies and parastatals of the state government.

    Kebbi inaugurates 10th Assembly, clears outstanding allowances for security personnel

    In Kebbi, State Governor Nasir Idris dissolved the 9th assembly and inaugurated the 10th assembly within his first 20 days.

    He ordered heads of security agencies to clear all outstanding allowances to security personnel in the state.

    The governor also appointed 30 special advisers.

    Zamfara probes ex-Governor

    Under the administration of Dauda Lawal, the former governor, Bello Matawalle, is being probed.

    Lawal accused his predecessor Bello Matrawalle of stealing official vehicles from the Government house before handing over the state’s leadership.

    Under his administration, the state police raided Matawalle’s residence and recovered 40 government-owned vehicles.

    EFCC has, however, refuted reports in a section of the media that it is probing Matawalle.

    He also ordered the state water board to commence water pumping to residents of Gusau, the capital. He issued this directive one week after his inauguration.

    The governor has also prohibited the re-emergence and unlawful display of billboards bearing his pictures in the state capital and local government headquarters.

    Katsina revokes land allocations

    Since the inauguration of the new administration under Zamfara Governor Dikko Radda, the state has revoked all lands illegally allocated to individuals by government officials in MDAs within the state.

    The government also approved N80 million to compensate musicians whose homes were attacked and destroyed by political thugs during the electioneering period.

    Kastina is set to partner with United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to end hunger across the 34 LGAs.

    Taraba declares state of emergency on education

    Taraba Governor Kefas Agbu declared a state of emergency on primary and secondary education and said his administration would turn the sector around within 100 days.

    He described the conditions of basic schools in the state as pathetic and promised to focus on infrastructural development and welfare of teachers.

    He also ordered the immediate closure of the Government Science Secondary School, Jalingo, over the dilapidated condition of the building.

    Minimal activities in Kaduna, Jigawa, Akwa-Ibom, Delta

    Meanwhile, Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, has not made any major decisions since he took over the affairs of the state two weeks ago. However, days after taking his oath of office, the governor chaired ministerial briefings to receive reports from various ministries and agencies in the state.

    Uba Sani was the candidate anointed by the immediate former governor, Nasir El Rufai.

    Beyond that, Governor Sani promised to work with other governors in Nigeria to make state police a reality and also restated his administration’s commitment to ensuring the spread of development projects to rural areas of the State.

    Akwa-Ibom state governor, Umo Eno, said his administration will focus on economic development, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and good governance through accountability and transparent leadership.

    Apart from a few appointments, the governor has not achieved any policy milestones since he assumed office.

    The new Jigawa state Governor Umar Namadi, in the same vein, has not yet publicly taken any significant decision apart from appointing top government officials.

    Similarly, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has also not undertaken any policy milestone apart from appointing the Secretary to the State Government and his Chief of Staff.

    Oborevwori, however, pledged to continue the economic development of Delta State. He also promised to focus on education, healthcare and good governance.

    Full Credit: ICIR

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  • DSS, OAGF ask court to reject Emefiele’s bail request

    DSS, OAGF ask court to reject Emefiele’s bail request

    The Department of State Services (DSS) and the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF) have defended the detention of the suspended CBN governor Godwin Emefiele.

    Both parties warned against his release in separate counter-affidavits.

    The DSS told the court on Tuesday, June 20, that Emefiele would flee if the court granted him bail.

    Emefiele had approached the High Court, Abuja, challenging his detention by the DSS.

    In his motion, he asked the court to enforce his right to liberty and freedom of movement, saying there was no basis for his continuous detention.

    However, the DSS and OAGF insisted that the governor’s detention was lawful.

    According to the DSS, Emefiele was being held pursuant to an order of a competent court.

    It said the arrest was “upon reasonable suspicion of committing acts which constitute a criminal breach of trust, incitement to violence, criminal misappropriation of public funds, economic sabotage, economic crimes of national security dimension and undermining the security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    The OAGF, supporting the DSS, described Emefiele as a flight risk.

    The attorney-general also debunked the speculation that Emefiele was detained for terrorist-related crimes.

    The OAGF maintained that Emefiele was not being victimised for his political involvement and the botched naira redesign policy.

    “Issues of terrorism financing and fraudulent activities are not part of the grounds for the arrest and detention of the applicant.

    “The respondents have not violated the applicant’s right to live in any way; his life is not in danger. The respondents did not subject the applicant to any judicial adjudication to warrant the allegation of denial of a fair hearing.

    “With the remand order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, the said violation of the applicant’s right to freedom of movement does not arise,” the OGAF said.

    Justice Hamza Muazu has adjourned the case till July 13 for a ruling.

    The ICIR had reported how the President, Bola Tinubu, had ordered the suspension of Emefiele from the office of the CBN governor. The Federal government said the suspension was due to an ongoing investigation into the bank and the planned reforms in the economy’s financial sector.

    Shortly after the suspension, the DSS confirmed the arrest of the suspended apex bank governor.

    ICIR

  • Enugu gov’t plans 100,000 hectares of cassava plantations for export, as FG calls for collaboration on agriculture

    Enugu gov’t plans 100,000 hectares of cassava plantations for export, as FG calls for collaboration on agriculture

    The Enugu State Government says it plans to earmark over 100,000 hectares of land to boost cassava production for export, even as the Federal Government has expressed its desire to collaborate with the state government on agriculture.

    This was disclosed by the state governor, Dr. Peter Mbah during a courtesy visit to his office by a delegation of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning led by the Permanent Secretary, Nebeolisa Anako, Tuesday.

    While noting that his administration had already identified agriculture as one of the productivity sectors that would drive development and growth in the state, the governor said cassava production would go beyond consumption to export.

    He said that the value chain that would generate revenue for the people such as cassava flour, cassava cake, cassava chips, among others, would be created from cassava production.

    “This project is in sync with our developmental plan. We’ve identified agriculture as one of the productivity sectors.

    “Enugu has arable land that yields five times more than other states. We will be working with you closely in this regard and we’re ready to provide you all the things you need to start the pilot project in our state,” the governor added.

    Speaking earlier on, the Permanent Secretary expressed delight at the warmth reception by the state, saying the high delegation from the ministry comprised a multi-sectorial team members eager to chart the way forward for the development of the country’s economy.

    He recalled that the Federal Executive Council had earlier given approval for a pilot project on cassava production to commence in the South East zone, adding that they were ready to collaborate with the state government, including their universities, to grow the economy.

    According to him, the project would be starting with sensitisation programme on biosphere, cassava, and palm production.

    Mr. Nebeolisa also disclosed that the project would grow the economy, attract massive employments, and engage the youth.

    He added that the federal government would be making grants available to Enugu farmers in respect of the project.