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Alleged N225M Fraud: SERAP, Budgit call on IGP as Senator Aduda’s loyalist threatens activist

By Tobiloba Kolawole

The threat to the life of anti-corruption activist Garba Abdullahi over his role in exposing alleged misappropriation of N225 million constituency projects involving Senator Philip Aduda, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources has been condemned by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

The civil rights organization in a statement Tuesday urged Nigerian authorities including the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR) to ensure the safety and security of Abdullahi.

“We also urge authorities to promptly, thoroughly and transparently probe the alleged threats and bring to justice anyone suspected to be responsible”, SERAP demanded.

The group reiterated the important role of activism IN checking corruption and executive recklessness in public office, which is backed by a United Nations (UN) Convention.

“UN Convention against Corruption which Nigeria has ratified, recognises [in arts 5, 13 and 63] the important role activists play in the fight against corruption, impunity, and promotion of access to public services. They should never have to face threats to their safety or lives.”

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Not loosing track of the uncovered corruption as alleged by Abdullahi, SERAP did not only challenged the relevant agency to investigate corruption allegations leveled against the Federal Ministry of Water Resources but to ensure that the suspects, including an undisclosed Senator are prosecuted.

“We urge ICPC to promptly, thoroughly and transparently probe the alleged misappropriation involving @FMWRNigeria (Federal Ministry of Water Resources) and a Senator, find out where the public funds ultimately ended.

“The ICPC should prosecute suspected perpetrators if there is relevant admissible evidence”, the group added.

Trouble started for Garba Abdullahi, a community champion for Budgit, an independent civic organization when he shared a “Fraud Alert” article that implicated Senator Aduda and some officials of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, which was initially posted on the organization’s Facebook page.

READ ALSO: Buhari lifts lockdown on worship centres

In a statement by the spokesperson for Budgit Tuesday, Iyanu Fatoba affirmed that Abdullahi has been reviewing threats since he shared the organization’s “Fraud Alert” article.

While calling on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for his intervention, Fatoba confirmed that the involvement of of Senator Aduda is true as her organization will not put out any unverified information.

“We also maintain that we will not share false information with members of the public to incite misunderstanding between them and their representatives at any point. By issuing this press release, we are calling on The Inspector General of Police to investigate this issue and prevent any mishap from happening to any of our staff, community champions – Garba Abdullahi or affiliated persons” she stated.

READ ALSO: Nigerian reggae legend, Majek Fashek is dead

Read Full Text by Budgit Below:

Our attention has been drawn to a threat received by our community champion in Abuja as a result of a fraud alert post shared from our Tracka page to his Facebook page, sometime last week.

The post, which was initially published on our Tracka page on the 30th of May, called out Senator Aduda and The Ministry of Water Resources for allegedly mismanaging financial resources to the tune of N225m and converting a public project into a personal project, by naming the constituency project after Jummai Aduda, Senator Aduda’s mother. The post which reads “Fraud Alert, Sen. Aduda aided by Min of Water Resources has converted a public project of N225M “mine.” The Constituency Project – gulped N100m (2016) N75m (2017) & N50m (2019) – is now JUMMAI ADUDA YOUTH CENTRE with engraved mother’s picture.” garnered several reactions from active citizens who joined BudgIT and Tracka in condemning the unacceptable and unconstitutional act.

Following this post, Sunday Dogo Zaka – a loyalist to Senator Phillip Aduda issued a threat through his Facebook page that the Abuja South PDP youth forum would “take care” of him, after which we received a distress call from our Community champion, Garba Abdullahi. He claimed that he has been receiving calls from strange and unfamiliar people who also threatened his life. Another anonymous caller advised him to visit the Senator’s former aide because they plan to “do him something bad”. As we speak, our community champion, Garba Abdullahi, has gone into hiding as a result of these threats.

As an organization, BudgIT, together with Tracka reaffirms our position that the naming of constituency projects is not left to the prerogative of the parties involved as there are laid down procedures to be followed when re-naming a project. This might have community inputs but the Honourable Senator is aware that there are laid down principles in re-naming a public project, as against what was stated in the Appropriation Act.

We also maintain that we will not share false information with members of the public to incite misunderstanding between them and their representatives at any point. By issuing this press release, we are calling on The Inspector General of Police to investigate this issue and prevent any mishap from happening to any of our staff, community champions – Garba Abdullahi or affiliated persons.

June 2, 2020
Nigerian Reggae legend Majek Fashek is dead

Nigerian reggae music star known for his 1988 all time hit song “Send Down the Rain”, Majekodunmi Fasheke, widely known by his stage name Majek Fashek, is dead.

Late Nigerian Reggae Music Icon, Majek Fashek

The death of the reggae icon was announced early Tuesday, June 2, by his manager Umenka Uzoma who wrote on his instagram page:

“Today been having pressure calls, well it is true that the African No 1 Legendary ICON has gone to be with the LORD his Maker, Day said.

“Let’s celebrate him, his achievements, and his family, whatever decisions made by his immediate family will be notified”, Uzoma stated.

Fashek, 57, who until his death battled mysterious illness in recent years, started his music career in the early 80s with a group called Jastix.

In 1988, he broke out of the group to further his career as a solo artiste and recorded his popular debut single Prisoner of Conscience.

His album, which had the widely accepted hit track Send Down the Rain was a huge success that only lasted until heavy use of drugs largely truncated the euphoria thus leading Majek to years of bankruptcy and frustration.

Over the last decade, Majek had made efforts at comebacks to performing again but failed, he was never what he used to be.

June 2, 2020
Akinwummi Adesina: Sierra Leone President, ex-US AfDB representative strengthens support base

The support base of embattled President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), DR. Akinwunmi Adesina has been strengthened by two top level individuals, Sierra Leone President, Julius Maada Bio and Harold Doley, the first United States representative to the AfDB. They are the latest joining in with their voice.

In a message posted on twitter last Sunday, President Bio expressed solidarity to the man that is widely referred to, across the continent as Africa’s Chief Developer.

Adesina, the 2013 Forbes Africa Person of the Year awardee did not only appreciate President Bio throwing his weight behind him, he also expressed gratitude to other African leaders who had spoken in his favour over controversies generated by some whistleblowers and fanned by the United States, a non-regional member of Africa’s multi billion dollar development bank.

“Thank you very much Your Excellency President Bio of Sierra Leone for your heartwarming confidence and support and that of the good people of Sierra Leone. I am humbled and grateful. @CyrilRamaphosa (President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa), @MBuhari (President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria) @AUC_MoussaFaki (Chairperson, African Union Commission)”, Adesina wrote.

On his part, Doley did not fail to emphasise Dr. Adesina’s impressive feat as head of the AfDB in an open letter to US President Donald Trump.

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Doley stressed that Adesina, since he assumed office in 2015, has rapidly restructured the bank refining its focus through a High-5 strategy, driven by strategic investment in energy, and electricity, agriculture, technology that significantly improved food security, access to private sector finance, improved transport infrastructure, water and sanitation, which has directly impacted the lives of many Africans.

While he noted that it is profitable for America to support the AfDB, Doley said: “In 2019, with US support, the AfDB stakeholders approved a general capital increase of 115 billion dollars, the largest in the bank’s 56 years history. The increase more than doubled capital from 93 billion dollars to 208 billion dollars.

“Also in 2019, the bank’s concessional window, the African Development Fund, received a 35 percent replenishment with donor contributions.

“US shares of $499,695,200 represents 7.81 percent of total subscriptions are a critically needed resource for low-income countries and transition states.

READ ALSO: AfDB: Obasanjo knocks US over flagrant ridicule, rallies support for Adesina

“Ultimately, supporting Africa’s private sector is critical for social and economic development. In 2018, Adesina led an unprecedented effort to attract global investment into Africa through the inaugural Africa Investment Forum”, Doley’s letter read in part.

In separate statements written to the Ethics Committee and Board of Governors of the AfDB to register their support for Dr. Adesina, the Nigerian Government through the office of the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, and 14 former African presidents and prime ministers led by Nigeria’s ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo including ex-President Goodluck Jonathan affirmed that an independent probe is stretching the matter too far since the Ethics Committee had cleared the Bank’s president of wrongdoing according to the governing procedures, to which an external independent probe is alien.

June 1, 2020
IGR: We earned over N81.4 billion in 2019 – says Ogun Government

The Ogun State government has reacted to some media reports that erroneously claimed the state generated merely Seventy billion, nine hundred and twenty two million, five hundred and ninety thousand, four hundred and ninety five naira, eighty nine kobo (N70,922,590,495.89) as internally generated revenue for year 2019 In their review of Internally Generated Revenues record of the 36 States of the Federation.

A statement by the Information Officer, Ministry of Finance, Segun Craig, Friday said “from the audited account of the state for 2019, which was published in some national newspapers, the actual figure of Ogun State Internally Generated Revenue stands at N81,420,131,107.30 (Eighty one Billion, four hundred and twenty million, one hundred and thirty one thousand, one hundred and seven naira, thirty kobo only)”.

Craig noted that whatever figure that is being quoted differently from the official number by the State Ministry of Finance should be disregarded.

READ ALSO: President Buhari requests house approval for fresh N5.513 billion

In his words of caution, Craig advised all stakeholders, including the general public to stay guided by on information pertaining to he state so as not to be misled.

“The State Government, through the office of the Hon. Commissioner of Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor hereby deems it highly expedient to advise all relevant stakeholders in the financial sector and beyond, and to also call on the reading public to be properly guided” he added.

May 30, 2020
Breaking: Buhari appoints Dongban-Mensem Acting President, Court of Appeal again

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Hon. Justice M.B. Dongban-Mensem as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal (PCA) with effect from June 3, 2020, for a further period of three (3) months.

May 29, 2020
Exam Malpractice: Court strikes out charges against Senator Adeleke

A case of alleged exam malpractice instituted by the Federal Government against Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been struck out by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Friday.

The decision of the court was based on an application for the withdrawal of charges against Senator Adeleke by the Prosecution Counsel, Simon Lough.

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While delivering his ruling, the trial Judge, Justice Inyang Eekwo noted that Senator Adeleke was discharged in view of the prosecutor’s decision to withdraw charges leveled against the former PDP Governorship Aspirant who contested against the present Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola in September 22, 2018.

He was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja in October 2018 alongside Sikiru Adeleke (who is said to be the Senator’s relative), Aregbesola Mufutau (the school principal), Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (Registrar) and Dare Samuel Olutope (a teacher).

Senator Adeleke and Mr Sikiru were accused of impersonation, both registering as students of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar school, Ojo-Aro, Osun state to enable them to sit for the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination of June/July 2017 while the other defendants were accused of aiding the commission in the alleged offence.

READ ALSO: AfDB: Obasanjo knocks US over flagrant ridicule, rallies support for Adesina

Although the prosecutor declined to speak on camera, the representative of Senator Adeleke, Dr. Alex Izinyon, however, applauded the ruling of the court.

Following the development, Justice Ekwo has fixed June 25 and 26 for the trial of other defendants

May 29, 2020
Breaking: President Buhari requests House approval for fresh $5.513 billion

The Presidency says it will require additional fresh external loan of $5.513 billion to finance 2020 budget deficit.

In a letter addressed to the House of Representatives to seek approval and read during Thursday’s plenary by the Speaker, Rt. Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, President Muhammadu Buhari appealed that the fresh funds will be used to fund the 2020 budget deficit, finance critical projects and some States needing financial assistance.

READ ALSO: NDDC Crisis: Acting Finance Director is dead, sources suspect poisoning

As part of his correspondence to the House, President Buhari presented a reviewed 2020 Appropriation Bill and 2020-20222 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper.

While another $22.79 billion request is still pending before the House, recall that the National Assembly had recently approved a loan of N850 billion for the use of the Federal Government.

May 28, 2020
Dangote, GTBank emerge most admired African brands

Idowu Sowunmi

For the third time in a row, Dangote Group has emerged as the most admired brand of African origin by consumers.

Also, GTBank has emerged as the most admired financial brand in Africa and the United Kingdom’s BBC retained its media category ranking as the most admired media brand in separate category sub-surveys.

This was disclosed in a survey of 100 Africa best brands announced in a novel global virtual event that incorporated the market openings of Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria.

African brands only occupy 13 of the 100 entries, seven less from last year.

The consumer-led survey sought to establish brand preferences across Africa. The survey was conducted among a representative sample of respondents 18 years and older, in 27 countries which collectively represent 50 per cent of the continent, covering all economic regions and accounting for an estimated 80 per cent of the population and the GDP of Africa.

The 2020 survey was conducted between February and April 2020 and yielded over 15,000 brand mentions and over 2,000 unique brands.

Established 10 years ago, the Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands survey and rankings have become the most authoritative survey, analysis, and metric of brands in Africa.

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Founder and Chairman of Brand Africa and Brand Leadership, Thebe Ikalafeng, during an online interactive session via Zoom, said: “African brands have an important role in helping to build the image, competitiveness and transforming the continent’s promise into a real change.”

He expressed concerns that 10 years after “the triumphant FIFA World Cup in South Africa which globally highlighted the promise and capability of Africa, and despite the vibrant entrepreneurial environment, Africa is not creating more competitive brands to meet the needs of its growing consumer market”.

Global Client Development Manager, GeoPoll, Caitlin van Niekerk, in his remarks, said: “The reach and accessibility of mobile across the continent enabled us to survey respondents across a representative sample of countries quickly and effectively, giving us vital and timely results at a critical time. Kantar has been the insight lead for Brand Africa since inception in 2010.”

In his reaction, Group Chief Corporate Communication Officer of Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, said the management was not unexpected of the ranking because the company has a long standing reputation for quality, relevance compliance and social stewardship.

According to him, “Our mission and vision engage and inspire us to by extension connects us with both our internal and external stakeholders.

“We fervently believe that only Africans can develop Africa, and this gives us stronger sense of relevance in all the countries where we have our operations.

“We are touching lives by providing their basic needs and empowering Africans more than ever before; creating jobs reducing capital flight, helping government conserve foreign exchange drain by supporting different industrial infrastructural projects of African government.”

Chiejina noted that Dangote Cement has been producing high quality and affordable cement, reducing poverty, engaging in unprecedented philanthropy and above all respecting the laws of the land where we operate.

He said: “All these are our credo and we do not compromise it, it is our way. And the ranking is just an acknowledgement of all these by our stakeholders, We keep our brand promise and stay authentic.”

Out of the top 100 brands in 2010/11, only half still appear in this year’s list due to mergers, acquisitions and the obsolescence of many brands.

READ ALSO: Lagos to evacuate drainage silts as early morning rainfall causes building collapse in Yaba

The most prominent changes are in the technology category with the demise Blackberry (#32 in 2010/11), the consolidation of Vodafone (#54 in 2010/11 and now #13 in 2020) which acquired Vodacom in 2008 and re-branded in 2011, Etisalat (#40 in 2010/11) re-branding to 9 Mobile in 2017 and Motorola (#39) being acquired by Lenovo in 2014.

A Chinese brand, Tecno, has raced up the ranking from #33 to #5 in the rankings – a dominant performance for one of China’s premier global brands that are not even sold in China.

May 27, 2020
No probe of Abba Kyari’s memos, Buhari is in charge – Presidency says

By Tobiloba Kolawole

The Presidency has refuted media reports alleging that President Muhammadu Buhari reversed 150 memos signed off by the former Chief of Staff to the President, Late Abba Kyari.

According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Tuesday, the reports on “presidential directive on 150 memos is fake news”.

Shehu said: “The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to media reports alleging that President Muhammadu Buhari has cancelled a number of memos and appointments signed off by his former Chief of Staff. Not surprisingly, these reports have quoted unnamed sources.

READ ALSO: INEC debunks reports stating electronic voting starts from 2021

“There is not a grain of truth in these reports and Nigerians should please ignore the insinuations behind them”, Shehu noted.

The presidential spokesman however reassured Nigerians that President Buhari is in charge and has not at anytime shared presidential power with any of his aides.

“President Buhari was duly re-elected by Nigerians in February 2019. He has not and will never cede to anyone else, that power and trust given to him by the Nigerian people”, he added.

On Monday, media reports alleged that President Buhari had initiated a probe of all activities including appointments, memos and approvals signed off by late Kyari.

READ ALSO: Lagos to evacuate drainage silts as early morning rainfall causes building collapse in Yaba

Before the death of the former Chief of Staff, many Nigerians assumed that late Abba Kyari wielded too much power within and outside the presidency. In fact, he was touted as the arrow head of an alleged cabal that controls the wheel of governance rather than President Buhari.

May 27, 2020
Amosun mourns the passing of Chief Imam, Egbaland at 98

The immediate past Governor of Ogun State, who now represents Ogun Central Senatorial District at the red chamber, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has commiserated with the family of late Alhaji Liadi Orunsolu who was until his death in the early hours of Tuesday, the President-General, League of Imams and Alfas in Ogun State.

Senator Amosun in company of a former Minister for Mines and Steel Development, Sarafa Tunji Ishola and a former member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Idowu Olowofuja visited the Orunsolu’s compound around 8:30am.

The former Governor who described the death of Alhaji Orunsolu as painful noted that: “Egbaland, in particular, and Ogun State in general, have lost a respected religious leader and a renowned Islamic scholar.“The Chief Imam was an erudite Islamic scholar who was well versed in Islamic Religious Knowledge. He was a symbol of unity who rallied the Ummah in Egbaland as one indivisible entity during his lifetime.

“Alhaji Orunsolu maintained effective leadership as the Chief Imam of Egbaland and President of League of Imams and Alfas in Ogun State, whilst also provided wise counsel to the entire Rabittah in the entire Yoruba land, Edo and Delta States” Senator Amosun stated.

In his words of consolation and wish for the family and the entire Muslim Ummah, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, Senator Amosun prayed that “the Almighty Allah (SWT) will grant Imam Liadi Orunsolu Aljannah Firdaus”.

May 26, 2020