Folarin Kehinde

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted a former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman bail, to the tune of 10billion Naira and two sureties in like sum.

Justice James Omotosho while ruling on a bail application by the defendant and noting that the offence is one that is bailable, held that the sureties must own properties in Abuja with minimum value rate of 750 million Naira.

The court held that sureties must submit certified land documents to the court with a three year tax levy.

The trial judge however held that in the alternative the defendant can produce bank guarantee of the said amount.

The court held that sureties must submit certified land documents to the court with a three year tax levy.

The trial judge however held that in the alternative the defendant can produce bank guarantee of the said amount.

The court held that sureties must submit certified land documents to the court with a three year tax levy.

The trial judge however held that in the alternative the defendant can produce bank guarantee of the said amount.

During proceedings on Friday, the EFCC lawyer did not oppose the bail application earlier made by the defendant.

While ruling on the bail application, the court also held that the defendants shall submit his bank statements and International passport to the court registrar.

Justice Omotosho therefore adjourned arraignment to September 25, 2024 for trial to commence.

The EFCC had filed a 12-count money laundering charge against Mamman. He was alleged to have committed the money laundering offences to the tune of N33 billion.

On May 10, 2021, he was arrested and detained at the headquarters of the anti-graft agency in Abuja, and have since been on administrative bail till his arraignment.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on September 1, 2021, sacked Mamman and the then Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, in what was called a cabinet restructuring.

The Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi has stated that the federal government can no longer fund all on going projects in the country at the same time.

Speaking during a press conference on Friday, Umahi said he had been directed by President Bola Ahmed to review all projects in the country to decide those that would be given priority.

The minister, while stating the government was not considering dumping projects it inherited, clarified that projects that will be considered for funding would have reached 80 per cent completion.

“The Federal Executive Council has directed we should review the projects to availability of funds and make proposals to FEC. If such a project has attained about 80 per cent of completion, then we will make proposal to it for subsequent appropriation. When this money is made available, such project will be made a priority so that it will be completed. That is what we are going to do. The president has not stepped down any project.

“On the issue of new projects, if we have appropriation that has not completed, at least, one kilometer, we are not going to carry out such appropriation. That is what FEC is concerned about. We can’t have N500m on budget but procurement is supposed to be N50bn or N100bn and you go ahead to award such a project. We have been directed not to do so.”

He added that contractors that are not ready to accept the new terms should terminate the contract.

He also decried the politicisation of road projects where lawmakers were only concerned with citing projects in their communities even when the government did not have the funds to construct them.

“There is a political angle award of contract where we have politicians putting the ministry under pressure just to tell their constituency or community that project has been awarded.

“If we continue like this, we are just helping the contractor as the money we have is not enough and when you give it to them, they will pocket it and do nothing.”

As part of measures aimed at curbing the reoccurring cases of building collapses in Lagos, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has given a 3-month window assessment in the early part of the 1st Quarter of his Administration to the public in order to ensure integrity test for building as well as for approval in the state.

Senior Special Assistant to Lagos State Governor on Housing, Hon. Abdul-Akeem Ayodeji Amodu, while speaking on the sideline of the inaugural lecture ceremony of the 26th President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) held at the State House in Abuja stated that the 3-month window seek to find out whether the Properties already built are under pipeline, Sewage tanks and Tracks, or on the drainage area, or make the building are not even aligning with the building codes, or not aligning with the master plan of the state.

Amodu explained that Governor Sanwo-Olu has however given the opportunity to the public to apply for their building plans approval and documentation, to make sure that their properties are duly titled adding that many estates in Lagos have no building Plan approval.

“So what Mr. Governor has done, in essence, is for individual and property owners or Groups should come up with their documents, come up with your As-Built Plan.

“The Commissioner of Physical Planning in Lagos State in the recent past has come up with this idea through the policies of advice to the government . The Government & Ministries were shocked to discover that there are so many estates, so many homes in Lagos that don’t have
building Plan approval.

” Some don’t even have Architectural building plans, they don’t follow the building code, So what we’ve done as Government is to allow people to engage Professionals like Architects, Town Planners, Estate Surveyors & Valuers, Engineers to assist them to come up with a document, even if you have built your House, get an architect, let them design for you a proper as built building plan. Then you come up to the state to present it, because the truth is that Governor Sanwo-Olu’s government is a people’s government. We don’t want to come and start breaking homes or bringing buildings down without advocacy. The Government does not want to start making people homeless, because we need these
people.

“They’ll do the normal integrity
test on your building to ensure that the property is actually standing well on a solid
structure, so that you don’t, jave a defective building in future, after getting that approval, the building collapses”

Meanwhile, Amodu noted that in a bid to curb housing deficit in Nigeria, Lagos State has begun the development of housing projects in all the 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the state both on Public-Private partnerships (PPP) Joint Venture (JV) and Government Allocated resources Model.

He explained that the governor recently commissioned about 360 housing units of one, two bedrooms, and three bedrooms in different clusters which was hitherto abandoned in the state adding that the governor also commissioned 144 units of one, two and three bedrooms as well as another 60 units of three-bedroom blocks of apartments in Amuwo Odofin local government area 3 weeks ago.

We also still have on-going Project embarked upon by the Ministry of Housing, LSDPC, LBIC and a host of other Government Real Estate Partnerships with the Government to be Commissioned soon by Mr Sellable. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s to realise his Administration’s theme Agenda for the State.

Amodu further assured that development will be even in the state as affordable housing scheme has also been made available for the masses to meet the demand of housing deficit in the state.

“We are still making sure that we develop homes for the masses, we have a scheme
called the LAGSHOMS SCHEME which is A Rent- To – Own which is like pay-as-you-earn scheme, which is been Supported through the Lagos Mortgage Board for the
Lagoshoms where you pay 5% of the total cost and value of that property.

“And every other amount of that property will be spread around for you to lpay within the space of about 10 years. So it’s a way of bringing development to the people and residents of Lagos, by giving comfort to the less privileged, to the working class, and to the Non-Structured Sector of the state.” He added.

Speaking on the inaugural lecture and Investiture Ceremony of the 26th President of The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers which was well attended by major stakeholders in Government, Legislature, and Captain of Industry in the built Sector and Environment, Amodu emphasized the symbiotic relationship between NIESV and Lagos State Government as cordial adding that governor Sanwo-olu is poised at ensuring professionals must take charge and full responsibility in a Professional manner of real estate activities & events in the built industry as well.

He also encourage and admonished other Professionals by saying it is a clarion call to all other professional Bodies to embrace Professionalism so as to deliver the good for the benefit of Lagos amd Nigeria’s development as whole.

There was apprehension at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Ise-Emure, Ekiti State, following the collapse of a hostel wall.

Leading reporters cannot independently confirm if any death was recorded however, sources say many corps members were injured.

An eyewitness in the camp said the female section of the hostel collapsed on Friday morning.

“The wall of one of the female hostels collapsed this morning (Friday). It was the bathroom wall which caved in when they were planning to take their bath,” the source said on the condition of anonymity.

“But thank God, people rushed down there to retrieve them from the rubble. They have been stabilized at the clinic and they will get further medical treatments.”

The corps members are currently in the camp for the three weeks compulsory orientation camp.

An official of the NYSC who confirmed the incident said only two corps members were affected and had been stabilized at the camp’s clinic.

He called on parents, guardians and stakeholders not to panic over the incident, adding that it had no serious negative impact on the corps members.

President Bola Tinubu has named the National Arts Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, after Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, in celebration of his 90th birthday.

This announcement was made in a letter to the literary icon, acknowledging his immense contributions to literature, human rights, and justice.

Tinubu praised Soyinka’s remarkable achievements, including his Nobel Literature Prize in 1986, and his unwavering dedication to human dignity and justice.

He said, “I am pleased to join admirers around the world in celebrating the 90th birthday of Nigeria’s iconic son and the world-renowned Professor Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde, famously known as Wole Soyinka.

“Tomorrow the 13th July will be the climax of the series of local and international activities held in his honour. To underscore the global relevance of the literary giant, a symposium, along with poetry reading was held in Rabat Morocco on 9 July. The event was organized by the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA).

“Professor Soyinka, the first African to win the Nobel Literature Prize in 1986, deserves all the accolades as he marks the milestone of 90 years on earth. Having beaten prostate cancer, this milestone is a fitting testament to his ruggedness as a person and the significance of his work.