President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting with former President Goodluck Jonathan, at the State House in Abuja.
Arriving at the President’s office at about 11am, the former President went into a closed-door with Buhari as details of the meeting is still unknown.
About 12 officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials have been suspended indefinitely.
According to a report by The Nation Newspaper, all 12 officials received their letter of suspension on Monday.
The Nation Newspaper quoted a source to have said: “After being in limbo for one week, we got our suspension letters on Monday.
“We were informed that the suspension is indefinite. We have taken it in good faith. But most of us have not received queries in our career.
“We have not even appeared before any disciplinary committee. We appeal to President Mummadu Buhari to intervene by reversing the suspension”, the source said.
Meanwhile, the Justice Ayo Salami-led Presidential Investigation Committee (PIC) probing acts of corruption in an agency that In itself has the mandate to tackle corruption, has interrogated more officials of the EFCC.
Report has it that some officials handling sensitive investigations have been quizzed by the PIC.
Among officials said to have appeared before the PIC included crack investigators, zonal heads and those in the Legal Unit of the agency.
An official who was quizzed stated that the session with the PIC wasn’t a friendly session.
The official also revealed that a coordinator who was grilled said to the panel that: “service and loyalty to Nigeria guided their conduct in office rather than sentiments.”
The official noted however, that despite the uneasy atmosphere during the session with the PIC, “we were able to make some clarifications on our performance in office”.
The Ondo state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has emerged winner in the primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held on Monday in Akure, the state capital.
Akeredolu, who led other aspirants in all the 18 local government of the state with a wide margin, polled 2458 votes to defeat other nine aspirants in the election.
Earlier on Tuesday, two aspirants, Ifeoluwa Oyedele and Olusegun Abraham decided to step down for Akeredolu, who will for the second time represent the party in the October 10 governorship election in the state.
Shortly after he was announced winner, after counting and sorting of votes, by the chairman of the election, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state; Governor Akeredolu thanked the Chairman and committee members for conducting a free and fair election.
He also expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Leader of the party, Bola Tinubu and other leaders of the APC for their support.
Commending the state APC leadership as well as delegates who participated in the primary election, Akeredolu expressed assurance that the party will be victorious at the October, 10 2020, poll.
With the primary over in the Ondo APC, Akeredolu’s main challenger will be known on Wednesday after PDP has conducted its primary election.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta has sentenced one Festus Gbenga Ajayi to one year imprisonment for internet fraud.
The convict was prosecuted by the Ibadan Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on one-count charge of criminal impersonation, having been arrested on October, 2019 in a raid conducted in his hideout in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Investigations conducted by the Commission linked him to series of internet-related frauds which formed the ground for his initial arraignment on eight-count charges, bordering on criminal impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence before the charges were amended to lone-count, to which he pleaded guilty.
Apart from the jail term which takes effect from the day of conviction, the judge, Justice Ibrahim Watilat ordered that the convict to forfeits his uncompleted one-storey building, located in Ado-Ekiti, a Toyota Corolla car, one gold-colour iPhone, among other proceeds of and tools of crime to the Federal government.
He had earlier refunded N1,400,000 (One Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira) to the government, through the EFCC.
– Radio Nigeria
President Muhammadu Buhari’s close ally, Mallam Isa Funtua has died as a result of cardiac arrest Monday evening.
According to Daily Trust, a brother of the business mogul said: “Mallam told his family members that he wanted to see his doctor but decided to visit his barber first. He drove himself to the hospital,” the brother, who doesn’t want his name in print.
Report has it that the remains of Mallam Funtua is being prepared at Area 1 mosque before his funeral on Tuesday morning.
The late Funtua was a renowned business executive and public officer with over thirty years of management experience. He was Personnel Manager in United Textiles Limited (UNTL), responsible for over ten thousand staff and a one-time Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Funtua, touted to be a member of the ‘cabal’, a group of influential persons believed to be around Nigeria’s President and help him take key decisions, was the founder of Bulet International Nigeria Limited (the largest wholly owned indigenous construction company) which built most of the iconic public buildings in Abuja. He is the founding Managing Director of Democrat Newspaper and served as President of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) for 8 years.
In an official statement released by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu; President Buhari believes the demise of the publisher and businessman has created a huge gap as Malam Funtua consistently stood by him in his political journey.
“President Muhammadu Buhari received with deep sadness on Monday evening information on passing of his longtime friend and associate, Malam Isma’ila Isa Funtua, who was Life Patron of International Press Institute and Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN).
“The President condoles with family members, government and people of Katsina State, and all associates of the former President of NPAN, especially the media industry, on the loss, describing him as “greatly admired and respected’’.
A former Senator representing Bayelsa East constituency, in Bayelsa State, revealed that Mallam Funtua had promised to call just three hours before his death.
“I am saddened by the death of my brother and senior colleague, Mallam Isa Funtua. I spoke to him just three hours before his reported death, and he promised to further call me tomorrow. I pray that God comforts his family and loved ones, and may his soul rest in peace”, Bruce stated.
Similarly, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Honourable Yakubu Dogra, expressed his condolence to the Funtua family.
Extolling the late Funtua, the ex-Speaker stated that: “Malam Ismaila Isa Funtua was a distinguished elder statesman, media icon, construction magnate, industrialist & a patriot whose legacies are too numerous to list”.
The remains of the late business mogul, Mallam Isa Funtua, will be laid to rest on Tuesday morning according to Islamic dictate.
Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, Monday decorated ten newly promoted senior police officers at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The decoration ceremony was coming on the heels of the recent promotion of 6,601 personnel of the Nigeria Police Force including one Deputy Inspector General, for Assistant Inspector Generals, three Commissioners of Police, three Deputy Commissioners of Police, eight Chief Superintendents Police, 607 Superintendents of Police, 206 Deputy Superintendents of Police and 5,769 Assistant Superintendents of Police.
The ceremony was attended by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, who congratulated the newly promoted officers and charged them to see the promotion as a call for improved services to the nation.
He assured of the Federal Government’s commitment to the ongoing reforms of the Nigeria Police Force by the Inspector General of Police.
On his part, Adamu noted that since his assumption of office in January 2019, a total of 41,863 officers and men of the Force across different ranks have been promoted to their next ranks.
He added that the promotion exercises – a strategic management approach directed at motivating the workforce in addressing current and emerging internal security threats – have been guided by the principles of seniority and merit and reflective of records of discipline and invaluable experience.
Adamu, while congratulating the officers for their well-deserved elevation, charged them to deploy their intellect and demonstrate sound professional judgement in all their decisions at all times.
The officers decorated include: DIG Adeleye Olusola Oyebade, who until his promotion to the enviable rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police, was a directing staff at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS).
He has been deployed as the DIG in charge of the Department of Research and Planning. Also, in line with geo-political balancing considerations, he doubles as the DIG in-charge of the South-west geo-political zone of the country, a void created by the recent retirement of DIG Peter Babatunde Ogunyanwo.
Others decorated are: AIG Amba A.A Asuquo; AIG Nkereuwem A. Akpan; AIG Olafimihan Adeniran Adeoye; AIG Aishatu Abubakar, PhD; CP Jonathan Towuru; CP Sylverster A. Alabi; CP Sikiru Kayode Akande; DCP Johnson Oluwole Adenola; and DCP Grema Jibir Isa.
Idowu Sowunmi
Barely four days to the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge for rehabilitation, the Federal Government assures residents of Lagos that massive rehabilitation of alternative routes is progressing as scheduled.
This assurance was made by the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr. Olukayode Popoola, during an assessment tour of work progress on alternative routes on Monday.
Popoola noted that the Federal Ministry of Works and Lagos State Government embarked on the rehabilitation works together but on different access paths.
He said that the projects were embarked on after a stakeholders’ meeting, where the participants reached an agreement on the need for urgent interventions across major access roads that would serve as alternative routes for motorists during the Third Mainland Bridge closure.
The Honourable Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde explained that the Lagos State Government agreed to fix bad portions around the Iganmu Bridge and some other roads through its Public Works agency.
Oladeinde assured that adequate arrangement has been made for effective traffic control throughout the six months partial lockdown of the Third Mainland Bridge, stressing that about 600 LASTMA personnel would be deployed to direct traffic to ensure free vehicular movement.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye, expressed the importance of the State Government’s intervention on alternative routes so as to alleviate the inconvenience imposed by the partial closure.
While appealing to commuters to obey traffic rules during the period of the closure, she maintained that the State Government would ensure that all the alternative routes are in good condition before the commencement of repair works on the bridge.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government says the Oyingbo Bus Terminal will begin operations soon.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Lagos State, Gboyega Akosile, disclosed this in a statement posted on his Twitter page on Monday.
According to him, “some new 27-seater buses which fall under the Bus Reforms Initiative of the Lagos State Government, will make transportation across the State easier”.
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Most contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) are awarded to members of the National Assembly, says the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio.
The Minister made the revelation on Monday when he appeared before the House of Representatives committee on NDDC, who are probing trillions of Naira allocated to the commission for the development of the oil rich region over the years.
Akpabio’s comment, which apparently opened another cankerworm in the ongoing probe, erupted as he was being grilled about NDDC expenditure amid a forensic audit during the public hearing by members of the House of Representatives committee on NDDC.
The Minister had been invited by the lawmakers on Friday to defend his actions as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and shed more light on financial misappropriation within the NDDC.
“We cannot close down the Niger Delta Development Commission because of the fact that we are doing (a) forensic audit,” he said.
“The NDDC plays a vital role in ensuring the peace and security of the region and 90 percent or more of the resources of the country come from there.
“If you close it down in totality all you will have is chaos. You will have a lot of, not just militancy; you will have a lot of insurrection.
“So it is important that people who have gone to court, people who genuinely did jobs should be paid for their jobs. For me, I am not against it because, of course, who are even the greatest beneficiaries? It is you people.”
A member of the committee took him up on his “you people” allegation and asked him to clarify.
“I just told you that we have records to show that most of the contracts in the NDDC are given out to members of the National Assembly,” the ex-Senator said.
Meanwhile, the Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Daniel Pondei, who also appeared before the House of Representatives committee seems to faint during the grilling session on Monday.
The committee is in its fourth day of public hearing as it investigates alleged financial misappropriation at the agency.
The controversy had seen strong allegations of corruption traded between the Minister and the former MD of the NDDC, Joi Nunei, who appeared before the lawmakers via Zoom on Friday.
Pondei had been grilled for over an hour when he slowly slumped over his desk, appearing to faint.
Several people present at the hearing rushed to his aid, propping him up and attempting to stabilise him, with the proceedings halted.
He then appeared to be in a seizure with a man holding open his mouth as others held him upright.
After he appeared to regain and lose composure intermittently, he was moved out of the session.
The development led to a brief discussion about the next step to take. A move to have the session adjourned was shouted before the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Thomas Ereyi-Tobi, called for a 30-minute recess.
Lawmakers investigating corruption allegations in the NDDC had on Friday summoned Pondei and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to appear before them today (Monday) as the country sought to understand how budgetary allocations to the agency had been spent.
This is not the first time an appearance by the NDDC MD before the lawmakers will come to a halt under dramatic circumstances.
The NDDC boss had walked out on the lawmakers on Thursday, last week, after accusing the Chairman of the Committee, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, of being an interested party in the investigation.
He said as long as Tunji-Ojo presided over the investigation, the Commission would not get a fair hearing. He then refused to make presentations before the committee and walked out.
Angered by the move, the lawmakers resolved to issue a warrant of arrest compelling Professor Pondei to appear before the lawmakers and make a proper submission.
The lawmakers, however, decided to summon him again, and at the start of his appearance, he apologised for his action.
Although he said he “regretted” the incident which happened last week, before he was questioned by the lawmakers, the Chairman of the Committee recused himself from the session, leaving Hon. Thomas Ereyi-Tobi, the Deputy Chairman of the Committee to preside.
Ahead of partial closure of 3rd Mainland bridge on Friday, 24th July, 2020, a joint inspection of strategic jetties and terminal has been conducted Sunday, by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC) to monitor safety procedures.
The exercise, which is coming 5 days to the closure of the bridge was announced in a statement by the Head, Public Affairs, LASEMA, Nosa Okunbor.
Okunbor, stated that the inspection was a result of series of meetings between LASEMA and other safety agencies, where the DG/CEO LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, declared LASEMA’s state of readiness alongside its first responders who have all been placed on high alert with appropriate equipment, for the period of closure.
According to Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu, the collaboration between LASEMA and other Lagos State safety agencies involved in the Inspection of jetties was a necessary move to ensure implementation of safety protocols ahead of this week’s partial closure of the 3rd Mainland Bridge from Friday 24th July, 2020 to 24th January, 2021.
This action, he revealed was in line with other strategies mapped out by LASEMA for deployment of its highly trained and efficient staff which will be backed by the maximal application of its equipment and supported with appropriate technology to ensure all-round safety of Lagosians on land and water during the period of partial closure of the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge.
The joint inspection team visited the CMS terminal; Ebute-Ero Marina; both on Lagos Island and the Bariga Waterfront Jetty in Ilaje area of Bariga.
While speaking at the Bariga Waterfront Jetty in Ilaje-Bariga, the LASEMA Director-General said that the joint inspection was aimed at ensuring that all operators abide by the stipulated safety regulations for safety of all.
Dr Oke-Osanyintolu who said roads leading to the jetties have been repaired while reeling out government’s stringent measures, reiterated that night journeys would not be permitted, just as he advised residents to cooperate with government to ensure smooth operations and at the same time reduce the anticipated stress the partial closure of the 3rd Mainland Bridge would cause commuters.
“We are going to deploy Safety Marshals and Water Guards to ensure that operators keep to the rules and regulations and also enforce the use of Life Jackets and ensure that they do not use our waterways after 7pm”, Oke-Osanyintolu said.
The LASEMA DG, who stated that boat operators would maintain stipulated capacity and ensure they have the mandatory life buoys as part of necessary safety measures; revealed that the agency would position its ambulances and rescue boats at strategic locations in conjunction with the Lagos State Waterways Authority and maintain a 24-hour watch by its Marine Unit, especially between the peak periods of 6:30am and 7:00pm daily as a lot more passengers would travel the alternate routes and waterways, during the partial closure of Lagos Third Mainland Bridge.
In the course of the joint inspection, a boat carrying four passengers without life jackets was seized and sanctioned, while the passengers were educated on the need to use life jackets during every journey on the waterways, no matter how short.
The LASEMA DG, however reminded Lagosians to reach the agency in case of emergencies through the 767 or 112 toll free emergency numbers, or call 08060907333, his personal line.
By Tobiloba Kolawole
As political gladiators prepare ahead of primary election in Ondo state, there is heighened anxiety among the two major parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The APC, despite internal wranglings over the decision to adopt indirect primary will today, Monday elect it’s governorship candidate with 3,127 delegates, while PDP will on Wednesday elect its governorship flag bearer.
However, the media war between the Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his enstranged Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi intensified on Sunday.
The Deputy Governor, who defected to the opposition party PDP alleged that Akeredolu had run the state aground. In his reaction, the Governor vowed not to be distracted from clinching his party’s ticket to run for second term in office at the primary election today.
A major crisis, however, has erupted within the PDP after some youths alleged that one of the aspirants was wooing each delegate with $1,000, raising the alarm that the party’s primary election might not be free and fare but go to the highest bidder.
As tension rises in both camps, the Ondo State Police Command has cautioned against thuggery and violence, urging parents to warn their children and wards.
Similarly, the Chief Imam of Akure, Sheikh AbdulHakeem Yayi-Akorede, advised APC and PDP chieftains to embrace peace before, during and after the election.
In his response to a statement credited to Governor Akeredolu saying the selection of his Deputy Governor as running mate in 2016 was an error of judgement, Ajayi, said Akeredolu was only frustrated over his failure to employ the state House of Assembly to impeach him from office.
According to the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Babatope Okeowo, Ajayi understood the self-inflicted pain of running the state aground through inflated contracts, clannishness, nepotism and malfeasance.
“These and many injuries Governor Akeredolu caused himself and cannot be blamed on his deputy Agboola Ajayi, whom he sidelined, shortly after the administration was sworn in.
“It must be put on record that Akeredolu contested the 2012 governorship election and came a distant third in the election won by Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of Labour Party.
“It was the experience, weight and political capital, which Agboola Ajayi brought into the 2016 gubernatorial election that produced the current All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government in the state.
“If there was any wrong choice, it’s the choice of Arakunrin Akeredolu, who has refused to take all-wise counsel not only from his deputy but from other cabinet members.”
But the Ondo State Government said it would not take up issues with Ajayi, adding that its focus was on how Akeredolu would win today’s APC primary election.
Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Ojo Oyewamide, said: “We would rather concentrate on our primary election than decipate energy on a vicious distraction and one cancerous being. We wish him all the best.”
