![[Video] NDDC Drama: How Governor Wike rescued Joy Nunieh from arrest](https://echotitbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Screenshot_20200716-182030.png)
Nunieh was billed to testify before the House of Representatives committee on Niger Delta, who are probing public fund embezzlement in billions of Naira.
Video Credit: BBC Pidgin
Former president Goodluck Jonathan has arrived Bamako in Mali, expressing optimism that the current crisis in the West African country would be resolved in no time.
Jonathan was appointed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a Special Envoy to lead the sub-regional body’s mediation mission in Mali.
His appointment was communicated to him in a letter signed by the President of ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou.
“Given your position as the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the great role and contributions your tenure offered to the maintenance of peace, security and stability in our region, I have the honour, in consultation with the Chair of the Authority, H.E. Issoufou Mahamadou, President of the Republic of Niger, to communicate to you, the decision to appoint you as ECOWAS Special Envoy for the socio-political crisis in Mali,” the letter read.
The former president is to engage in consultations with all relevant stakeholders involved in the ongoing dispute in Mali to ensure that a common ground is found in the search for peace.
As a Special Envoy, Jonathan is expected to facilitate dialogue with all principal stakeholders in Mali, including President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, opposition leaders, civil society as well as religious leaders among others.
Speaking shortly his arrival in Bamako, Jonathan said: “I arrived Bamako Wednesday evening with my delegation to begin my assignment as leader of ECOWAS peace mission to Mali.
“I’m optimistic that our mission will yield positive results.
“Our message of peace and progress has so far been well received by stakeholders.”
Idowu Sowunmi
Acting Managing Director of Interim Management Committee (IMC) for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Kemebradikumo Pondei, and his team Thursday in Abuja walked out on the members of the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC.
This was coming as Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, allegedly rushed into the Port Harcourt residence of a former NDDC Managing Director, Joy Nunieh, to rescue her from a purported house arrest following alleged police invasion of the house.
Pondei and the team, while addressing the committee members, said they were not prepared to make any presentation before the lawmakers.
The Acting Managing Director raised objections that the Chairman of House Committee on NDDC, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, presiding over the investigative hearing, could not preside over a matter in which he’s an accused.
Members of the committee, including Benjamin Kali, Ben Ibakpa and Shehu Koko, told the Acting MD that since there was no document before them, he’s constitutionally bound to answer their queries.
While members were still making contribution on the issue, Pondei sought permission to leave and walked out before the committee could grant or reject his request.
Furious members of the Committee accused the Interim Management Committee of trying to frustrate legislative functions and ordered a warrant of arrest be issued against him.
The Committee also unanimously passed a vote of confidence on its Chairman.
Meanwhile, Wike was said to have arrived Nunieh’s house, which was surrounded by over 15 armed policemen in the early hours of Thursday.
The governor allegedly bulldozed his way into the building and took the embattled ex-NDDC managing director to the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Nunieh was supposed to be in Abuja on Thursday to testify before the ad-hoc committee of the House of Representatives investigating alleged corruption in NDDC.
Idowu Sowunmi
Former president Goodluck Jonathan has been appointed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a Special Envoy to lead the sub-regional body’s mediation mission in Mali.
Jonathan’s appointment was communicated to him in a letter signed by the President of ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou.
“Given your position as the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the great role and contributions your tenure offered to the maintenance of peace, security and stability in our region, I have the honour, in consultation with the Chair of the Authority, H.E. Issoufou Mahamadou, President of the Republic of Niger, to communicate to you, the decision to appoint you as ECOWAS Special Envoy for the socio-political crisis in Mali,” the letter read.
The former president is to engage in consultations with all relevant stakeholders involved in the ongoing dispute in Mali to ensure that a common ground is found in the search for peace.
As a Special Envoy, Jonathan is to facilitate dialogue with all principal stakeholders in Mali, including President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, opposition leaders, civil society as well as religious organisations, towards resolving the worsening socio-political situation in the West African country.
Speaking ahead of his scheduled departure for Bamako tomorrow, the former president promised to do his best to ensure that the mission achieves the desired result.
He also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the support of the Nigerian Government, including providing an aircraft and other logistics needed to make the assignment successful, said a statement by Jonathan’s Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze.
Jonathan had led peace missions to many crises-ridden nations in the past. He’s expected to deploy his enormous goodwill within the continent to facilitate the process of restoring peace in the troubled nation.
Mali has been hit by protests, sparked by the outcome of parliamentary elections in March and April, perceived discontent over the government’s handling of the country’s jihadist insurgency and worsening economic situation.
Idowu Sowunmi
Suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has been accused of re-looting funds recovered by the commission as well as bribery.
Magu, who is currently being interrogated by a Presidential Investigation Committee on the EFCC-Federal Government Recovered Assets and Finances from May 2015 to May 2020, headed by retired Justice Ayo Salami, has been accused of mismanagement and lack of transparency in managing recovered assets by EFCC.
A final report of the presidential probe panel obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had seriously indicted and implicated Magu on various allegations levelled against him.
The new facts have emerged on how interest rates accruing from N550 billion recovered by EFCC in the period under review were allegedly re-looted.
Read Aldo… You’re unfit to lead an agency like EFCC, PDP condemns Magu
Magu is now expected to disclose the whereabouts of the missing interest funds running into millions of naira.
NAN also observed that the Final Report of Presidential Committee on Audit of Recovered Assets (PCARA) that covered the period of May 29, 2015, to November 22, 2018, had also confirmed the concerns of the public about contradictory recovery figures emanating from Magu.
“It is quite disturbing that conflicting figures are being circulated in the public space by EFCC as the amount of recovered funds.
“For foreign currency recoveries, EFCC reported a total naira equivalent of N46,038,882,509.87, while the Naira equivalent of the foreign currency lodgments was N37,533,764,195.66, representing a shortfall of N8,505,118,314.21.
“These inconsistencies cast serious doubt on the accuracy of figures submitted by EFCC. It is the committee’s view that EFCC cannot be said to have fully accounted for cash recoveries made by it.
“While EFCC reported total Naira recoveries of N504,154,184,744.04, the actual bank lodgements were N543,511,792,863.47. These discrepancies mean that EFCC’s actual lodgment exceeded its reported recoveries by N39,357,608,119.43.
“It must be pointed out that the discrepancy of more than thirty-nine billion naira does not include interest accrued in this account since it was opened.
“It, therefore, casts serious doubt on the credibility of the figures and means that a substantial amount of money has not been accurately accounted for.
“Failure to report on the interest on actual lodgements clearly establishes that the interest element of over N550 billion has been re-looted relating to the period under review.
“This is an apparent case of manipulation of data in a very brazen and unprofessional manner and this has greatly eroded the public confidence in the anti-corruption efforts,’’ the report stated in part.
Read Also…. Buhari Breaks Silence on Magu, Says Suspended EFCC Acting Chairman Not Above the Law
NAN also reports that PCARA revealed how the investigative reports on EFCC’s activities by the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) exposed acts of corruption and money laundering against some EFCC officials, including Magu.
“The NFIU reports established that the Acting Chairman has been using different sources to siphon money from EFCC, and in some cases collecting bribes from suspects.
“The report has shown that a particular Bureau de Change, owned by Ahmed Ibrahim Shanono linked to the Acting Chairman based in Kaduna has more than 158 accounts and has been receiving huge sums of funds.
“The link to Magu was also established by the payment of N28 million to Falana who is a close associate and ally of the Acting Chairman,’’ PCARA report further revealed.
NAN reports that the Salami probe panel is expected to continue sitting on Monday, while Magu’s lawyer, Oluwatosin Ojaomo, had on Friday applied for an administrative bail for his client, who is facing corruption and other charges before the panel.
African Development Bank Group has announced the appointment of Wambui Gichuri as Acting Vice President (Agriculture, Human and Social Development) effective July 5.
Wambui joined the African Development Bank Group in 2018 as Director, Water Development and Sanitation. She currently oversees the bank’s water sector programme of over $ 4.5 billion covering 44 countries and multinational projects.
Commenting on her appointment, the President of the African Development Bank Group, Akinwumi Adesina, said: “I am very pleased that Wambui agreed to step into this role as Acting Vice President.
“The Vice Presidency Complex on Agriculture, Human and Social Development has some of our largest programmes and flagship initiatives.
“With her extensive experience, leadership, people management skills, and strong execution capacity, I am confident that she will help strengthen the team and accelerate execution on critical programmes and initiatives.”
Wambui supervises two divisions: the Water Development, Coordination and Partnerships, and Water Security and Sanitation divisions, as well as the African Water Facility divisions, a project preparation facility.
She also leads the development and coordination of the technical programme, manages the department’s human resources and budget and the development of extensive partnership activities.
Her leadership role includes water sector policy dialogue, strategy and business development, and spearheading innovations.
Before joining the African Development Bank, she worked for the World Bank where she served in various capacities for 20 years, including 17 years in water resources management, supply, sanitation, irrigation and drainage, with vast experience in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Wambui holds a Master’s Degree in Economics from University of Nairobi, Kenya (1988); a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in Economics (1986) and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Sociology (1983) from the same university.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Thursday night declared that there were no differences to be sorted out in the party.
This declaration was made shortly after a closed door meeting with Gov. Mai Mala Buni, Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee, who led other committee members to Tinubu’s Bourdillon Residence in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The former Governor of Lagos State, who recently reacted to the decisions of President Buhari-led meeting of the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC) by affirming his relationship with the President said: ”We have no differences to be sorted out in the APC, we just had consultation and it is how our party, the APC, would continue to be a progressive party,” he said.
According to him, the committee is a consultation and not reconciliation committee since nobody is fighting anybody.
“There is no crisis in the party, hence, no fight to reconcile.
”There are instances when you disagree, but it doesn’t mean that you cannot discuss it over and be a good example in leadership and politics,” Tinubu said.
The former Lagos State governor also said that politics without seeming media crisis would be less interesting.
”But the question is, are we committed to building this party and Nigeria? That is what we are all about.
”We are steering the ship of our nation and our party in the right direction,” Tinubu said.
He said that the party leadership had trust and respect for the chairman of the caretaker committee and would support him to succeed for the party to continue in its progressive governance of the country.
The committee chairman, who led other members to the meeting, said that the meeting was part of ongoing consultations.
”You know the task before us is daunting, and we need guidance, experience and prayers from our leaders,” Buni said.
The host Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, expressed his pleasure to have his colleagues in the state.
”It’s been a very fruitful discussion we have had here this evening,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Other members of the committee in attendance included the Chairman of Progressive Governor’s Forum, Gov. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Secretary of Caretaker Committee, APC, Sen. James Akpan Udo-Edehe and Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Bello.
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The All Progressives Congress (APC) under the National Chairman of the party’s Caretaker Committee, Mai Mala Buni is gearing up for the Edo 2020 Governorship election showdown in September 19.
The party’s readiness is exhibited in the 49-man National Campaign Council that was announced earlier today, Thursday, by the party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yekini Nabena in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.
The membership of the campaign council, which comprises of five governors, the Deputy Senate President, past National chairmen of the party and members of the National Assembly is expected to lead the APC into the Edo Governorship election seeking nothing but victory against the incumbent, Governor Godwin Obaseki, who recently resigned to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)..
List of Members below
6.H.E. Babajide Sanwo-Olu – Member
7.H.E. (Chief) John Odigie-Oyegun – Member
Ahead of the September 19 Governorship election in Edo state, the Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has been appointed head of a newly created 49-member APC National Campaign Council that is expected to lead the party to victory at the polls.
The campaign council, which will be inaugurated on Monday, 6th July 2020 by the Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee of the APC, has four state governors, the Deputy Senate President and two former National Chairmen of the party among others as members and Hon. Abbas Braimoh to serve as Secretary.
APC’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena in a statement in Abuja on Thursday said the appointment of the council followed the approval of the National Chairman of the party’s Caretaker Committee, Mai Mala Buni.
President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday nominated 41 non-career ambassadors-designate.
Buhari, in a letter addressed to Senate President Ahmad Lawan, requested the lawmakers to confirm the nominees.
The President also nominated one career ambassador-designate, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The nominees are: Engr. Umar Suleiman (Adamawa); L.S. Mandama (Adamawa); Oboro Effiong Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Chief Elejah Onyeagba (Anambra); Abubakar D. Ibrahim Siyi (Bauchi); Philip K. Ikurusi (Bayelsa); Hon. Tarzcor Terhemen (Benue); Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue); Al-Bishir Ibrahim Al-Hussain (Borno); Brig Gen. Bwala Yusuf Bukar (Borno); Prof. Monique Ekpong (Cross River); Oma Djebah (Delta); Ominyi N. Eze (Ebonyi); Yamah Mohammed Musa (Edo); Maj. Gen. C. O. Ugwu (Enugu); and Dr. Hajara I. Salim (Gombe).
Others are: Obiezu Ijeoma Chinyerem (Imo); Ali M. Magashi (Jigawa); Prof. M. A. Makarfi (Kaduna); Hamisu Umar Takalmawa (Kano); Imam Galandanci (Kano); Amina Ado Kurawa (Kano); Amb. Yahaya Lawal (Katsina); Dare Sunday Awoniyi (Kogi); Ibrahim Kayode Laaro (Kwara), Abioye Bello (Kwara); Zara Maazu Umar (Kwara); Ademola Seriki (Lagos); Henry John Omaku (Nasarawa); Chief Sarafa Tunji Ishola (Ogun); Mrs. Nimi Akinkube (Ondo); Adejaba Bello (Osun); Adeshina Alege (Oyo); Debo Adesina (Oyo); Ms. Folakemi Akinyele (Oyo); Shehu Abdullahi Yibaikwai (Plateau); Hon. Maureen Tamuno (Rivers); Faruk Yabo (Sokoto); Adamu M. Hassan (Taraba); Alhaji Yusuf Mohammed (Yobe); and Abubakar Moriki (Zamfara).
Idowu Sowunmi