Nelson Ugwuagbo

The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned the Chairman, Onitsha/Odekpe Plastic Market Association, Obinna Calistus Okoli, before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, sitting in Awka, Anambra State, for obtaining under false pretence to the tune of N6.7 million.

Okoli was arraigned on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 alongside Onitsha/Odekpe Plastic Market Association on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining under false pretence.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Obinna Calistus Okoli (while being Chairman of Onitsha/Odekpe Plastic Market Association) and Onitsha/Odekpe Plastic Market Association between May 2018 and July 2020 in Onitsha, Anambra State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud induced one Mr. Joseph Okechukwu Enyiuche to deliver to you the sum of (N6,700,000.00) Six Million, Seven Hundred Thousand Naira under the pretence that you would allocate to him four shops in the proposed lock-up stalls/shops to be built at water melon land which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”

They pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

In view of their pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Nuradeen Shehu Ingawa, prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at the Correctional Centre.

Defence counsel E. O. Igowe made an oral application for bail but was vehemently opposed by Ingawa who reminded the defence counsel that it was a court of records.

Justice Dimgba thereafter adjourned the matter till Friday, February 16, 2024 for hearing of bail application. The defendants were remanded at the EFCC custody.

The defendant was arrested by operatives of the Enugu Zonal Command of the EFCC when a petitioner alleged that Okoli fraudulently obtained N6.7 million from him in order to help him secure four lock-up shops at a proposed mall to be built at water melon land in Anambra State.

The petitioner says that after making payment for the shops, he discovered that the defendant had no shops left to be allocated to him and all efforts made to get his money back proved abortive.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has arraigned a former President of the Senior Civil Servants Association of Nigeria, ASCSN, Bola Audu, over alleged N72 million fraud.

Audu was arraigned on Thursday before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, on a five-count charge.

He has been expelled as a member and President of ASCSN over anti-union activities.

In the five-count charge, the government accused Audu of alleged embezzlement of N69 million that was meant for the purchase of a sport utility vehicle for the office of the President of ASCSN.

In another charge, the prosecution told the court that Audu allegedly diverted N3 million into the union’s election.

He pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him. His counsel, Babatunde Adewusi, applied that the defendant be granted bail.

Following his not guilty plea, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, an Assistant Chief Legal Officer at the ICPC, opposed the bail application and requested a date for commencement of trial.

“My Lord, we are interested in the defendant attending trial,” Akponimisingha said.

In his reaction, the defendant’s lawyer commended Akponimisingha “for his professional conduct in the handling of the case.”

The judge, Halilu, said bail is a constitutional right of an accused person depending on the nature of the alleged offense.

Halilu noted that a defendant was presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

“The prosecution must lead credible evidence to establish the guilt of a defendant,” the judge said.

In considering Audu’s bail request, the judge said the alleged offenses were bailable.

Subsequently, the judge allowed Audu to bail on the grounds that he produces two sureties who must be directors in the federal civil service.

The judge added that the directors must produce their letters of employment and promotion to the directorship rank in the civil service.

Halilu said the defendant would be remanded at Kuje Prison in Abuja if he fails to meet the bail condition.

The suit was adjourned until 6 May for commencement of trial.

The House of Representatives has taken a major step to scrap the current presidential system of government being run in Nigeria and replace it with the parliamentary mode of government.

This is as the House introduced three Bills, seeking to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to allow transition from the current presidential system to a parliamentary system at all levels of government – federal, state, and local government.

The Bills, namely ‘Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2024’, HB.1115, HB.1116 and HB.1117 sponsored by Hon. Kingsley Chinda, the Minority Leader and 59 others, passed through the First Reading statpge at plenary on Wednesday.

The proposed legislations sought to
replace the President with a Prime Minister to serve as the Head of Government and establishing the office of the President as a ceremonial leader with the elective offices chosen from the elected members of the legislature.

It also intends to shift the process of electing Governors and Chairmen of Local Governments from general election to voting within their respective legislative bodies, and reduce bureaucratic hurdles and fostering closer collaboration between the executive and legislative branches of government.

Addressing journalists on the general principles of the Bills, Spokesperson for sponsors, Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto), said the proposed alterations, when passed, would significantly impact the national political landscape.

Dasuki said when the parliamentary system of government was practised in the First Republic, it worked for the country as by its nature the elected representatives that were both in the legislative and executive arms of government were accountable to the people.

He argued the collapse of the First Republic and the long stretch of military rule culminated in the adoption of a new system of government, theoretically fashioned after the Presidential System of the United States but in practice imbibed the uttermost attributes of military rule.

The lawmaker said the high cost of governance, leaving fewer resources for crucial areas like infrastructure, education, and healthcare, and consequently hindering the nation’s development progress, and the excessive powers vested in the members of executive were the imperfections of the presidential system of government.

“The Bills presented today seek a return to the system of government adopted by our founders, which made governance accountable, responsible and responsive, and ultimately less expensive.

“With the presentation of these Bills today, we hope to achieve the following: Ignite, provoke a national conversation about the future of Nigerian governance system.

“To ensure robust public debates, stakeholder consultations, expert analyses, and a thorough and informed decision-making process.

“To raise awareness about this significant development and encourage constructive dialogue on the potential implications of these proposed constitutional alterations. The future of Nigerian governance rests on informed public engagement, and responsive and responsible leadership.

“Our conviction is that a streamlined Executive Branch, which replaces the President and Vice President with a Prime Minister and Cabinet chosen from the legislature could lead to a smaller central government, reducing salaries and administrative expenses.

“We also hold strongly that shifting the election of Governors and Local Government Chairmen from general election to votes within their respective legislative bodies could save billions spent on state and nationwide campaigns,” Dasuki stated.

The sponsors of the Bills, however, said the take-off time for the new law if eventually passed will be from 2033, apparently when President Bola Tinubu and others elected into offices for the first term might have completed their second tenures.

President Bola Tinubu has named Dr. Mansur Kabir as the new Chairman of the board of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control and reappointed its Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Moji Adeyeye.

He also appointed a new Director-General for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Olajide Idris, who replaces Prof. Ifedayo Adetifa.

Idris assumes office on February 19, 2024.

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, announced the appointments in a statement on Thursday titled ‘President Tinubu approves leadership changes in health and social welfare sector.’

The President approved the appointment and reappointment of board chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers for eight agencies under the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

They include Prof. Abba Zubairu and Dr. Saleh Yuguda as board chairperson and CEO, respectively for the National Blood Service Commission; Prof. Afolabi Lesi and Dr. Fatima Kyari as board chairperson and CEO, respectively for the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria; Wasilat Giwa and Ibrahim Ahmed as board chairperson and CEO, respectively for the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and Dr. Babajide Salako and Dr. Tosan Erhabor as Board Chairperson and CEO, respectively, of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria.

He also appointed Prof. Adamu Bakari as Chief Medical Director of Moddibo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Yola, Adamawa State, and Prof. Reuben Eifediyi as CMD of the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State.

The appointments are “in furtherance of his determination to bring world-class standards to Nigerian public health administration and to manifest his commitment to deliver affordable and quality care to all Nigerians under governance and regulatory frameworks commensurate with international best practice,” said Ngelale.

New NCDC Chief, Idris, received his MBBS degree from the University of Lagos’ College of Medicine, after which he obtained a Master’s degree in Public Health from the Ivy League’s Yale University in Connecticut, United States of America.

He served as the Commissioner for Health in Lagos State from 2007 to 2019, after serving as the Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Ministry of Health from 1999 to 2007.

The New NBSC Chairperson, Prof. Abba Zubairu, has served as the Medical Director of the Mayo Clinic in the United States of America, following a long career in which he served as a Resident Doctor at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital as a Post-Doctoral Fellow.

He undertook a Clinical Fellowship at the Harvard Medical School’s Transfusion Medicine Programme during which he obtained a Master’s degree in Clinical Science at the same institution.

The New MDCN CEO, Kyari, is an ophthalmologist and Fellow of the Nigeria Academy of Medicine who obtained an MBBS degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, after which she obtained a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of London’s School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She also obtained a Doctorate in Public Health from the same institution.

Ngelale noted that the President expects the new leadership to “substantially raise the standards of healthcare service delivery for the exclusive benefit of all strata of the Nigerian population.”

Owing to the high cost of historical underperformance in the health sector, the President anticipates “the immediate and effective implementation of new policy frameworks to reposition the sector under the able leadership of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Pate,” the statement read.

The Police Command in Gombe State says the mobile Police Barracks located at 34 PMF Squadron along Kwami town, has been razed by fire.

The Commanding Officer, Federal Fire Service, Gombe State and Deputy Controller of Fire, Ayuba Jonah-Sule, said the incident occurred on Thursday.

Jonah-Sule, said the whole buildings which include armoury and others were affected, estimating an N100,000,000 loss.

“It is a fire involving a 25-bedroom compound, covering an area of about 200 by 100 metres.

The whole building including the armoury and others. The fire was extinguished by the use of one medium Jet of water working from FFS 193 and state fire service in attendance and the Nigeria Police Force.

The situation is under control”, he said.

This fire incident is coming barely a week after the state Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, approved the release of N5m to support victims of a fire incident at Blacksmith (Makera) shops in Gombe Main Market.

Shops were on December 25, 2023, razed by ire leading to the destruction of equipment and goods worth millions of naira.

The House of Representatives has resolved to stop sports betting in the country, and urged the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) to comply with the Lottery Regulatory Commission Act, 2005.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Kelechi Nwogu (PDP-Rivers) at plenary in Abuja on Thursday

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had earlier reported that approximately 60 million Nigerians aged between 18 and 40 engage in sports betting.

According to him, weak or neglected regulations of sports betting have given rise to mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety and addiction.

Nwogu added that it had also led to strain or broken relationships due to lying or stealing from friends and family, financial problems, legal issues, and job loss due to excessive loss or debt.

“Betting has given rise to increased crime rate and eventual suicide,” he said.

He harped on the need for campaigns to prevent the negative social impact of lottery and underage participation.

Adopting the motion, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation to conduct comprehensive nationwide campaign to raise public awareness about the negative impact of youth participation in sports betting.

The House also mandated the Committee on Inter–Governmental Affairs to conduct a Public Hearing on the dangerous effects of sports betting in Nigeria.

It urged the committee to report back to it within four weeks for further legislative action.

NAN reports that data from the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) has revealed that over 65 million Nigerians actively engage in betting, spending an average of 15 dollars daily.

NAN reports that NLTF), Nigerians spend an estimated 975 million dollars daily on online sports betting, which amounts to about 356 billion dollars annually.

In a widely circulated video on Thursday, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State was seen refusing to shake hands with his deputy, Philip Shaibu, during Governor Duoye Diri’s inauguration for second term in Bayelsa State on Wednesday.

Obaseki and Shaibu have been on loggerheads allegedly over the deputy governor’s decision to contest the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

In the video which was shared by Symfoni, Shaibu was seen shaking hands with dignatries who start with Obaseki at the venue of the inauguration.

When it got to Obaseki’s turn, the governor chose to wave despite that his deputy stretched his hand for handshake.

Shaibu is vying for the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship ticket while Obaseki is believed to be backing  Asue Ighodalo.

The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, on Thursday defended himself against a series of allegations of misappropriation of party funds raised by the embattled National Treasurer of the party.

Abure said it’s not true that the party has collected over N3.5 billion as revenue into its account.

The Chairman spoke on Thursday while fielding questions on Arise Television’s Morning Show concerning the ongoing crisis in the party.

LeadingReporters gathered that the suspended party Treasurer, Mrs Oluchi Oparah, had accused Abure of denying her access to the party’s financial records and bank accounts.

Oparah equally demanded that Abure should render account of party funds in excess of N3.5 billion, being proceeds of sale of forms and sundry fund raisers for the 2023 general election.

According to her, the chairman had so far rejected all entreaties to open LP’s books for scrutiny since the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms closed.

As a response to the allegations, the National Working Committee, NWC, of the Labour Party slammed a six-month suspension on Oparah.

The National Publicity Secretary of LP, Mr Obiora Ifoh, made this known in a media briefing, saying that the suspended Treasurer is a mole who was being used by dissidents to cause disaffection in the party.

However, Abure has now challenged Oparah to make available the record on how she arrived at the sum of N3.5 billion as money generated during the election.

He said, “It’s not true that she said that the party has collected over N3 billion. I want to make it abundantly clear, we already have an audited report, made by a certified auditor of the party. The party has an external auditor who has reviewed all the records. And we have all the audited statements of accounts of the party from 2022 to 2023.

“All these records are available; the audited statement of account, I have it here.

“The total money, in summary, that entered the party account between 2022 and now is N1.3 billion; nothing more, nothing less.

“We also got N700 million, which were the campaign funds that went straight to the campaign organization for the campaigns. I didn’t know and I cannot reconcile where she got the N3.5 billion that she talked.

“I want to challenge her that she should make the record available where she arrived at the sum of N3.5bn as money generated during the election.”

Nigeria President Bola Tinubu is set to hold a crucial meeting with governors from all 36 states of country at the Aso Rock Villa Thursday morning before departing for the African Union meeting in Ethiopia. 

This gathering, only the second since his inauguration on May 29, takes place against the backdrop of escalating economic and security challenges in the nation.

Opposition governors, from the Peoples Democratic Party, recently drew parallels between Nigeria’s economic state and that of Venezuela, citing hyperinflation, increased starvation, crime, and elevated mortality rates. 

The Presidency responded by critiquing the governors’ performance, emphasizing their failure to meet salary obligations in their respective states.

Protests have erupted in some states due to the surging cost of living, with citizens demanding solutions to the economic crisis. 

In response, President Tinubu has directed the immediate release of over 100,000 metric tons of assorted food items from both the strategic reserve and the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria.

Details later…

Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) demolished illegal buildings and shanties in Gwarimpa, Abuja,

The Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, who led the operation in Gwarinpa, told newsmen that no fewer than 15,000 occupants were affected during the operation.

According to Galadima, the illegal buildings obstructed the construction of Arterial Road N16.

He explained that the road ran from the Federal Secretariat, through Maitama, Katampe, Jahi to Gwarinpa.

He added that the engineering department of the FCTA was ready to begin construction on the road as soon as the demolition exercise was completed.

“These are structures that were illegally built on the road corridor and that is why we are removing them for the Engineering Department to begin the construction of the road.

“We have between 10,000 to 15,000 people who are staying here illegally.

“As we are clearing now, engineers are already on standby,” he said.

Dr Peter Olumuji, Secretary, Command and Control Center, Department of Security Service, FCTA, said that the affected areas also harbour criminals.

Olumuji added that demolishing the illegal settlements would improve security in Gwarinpa and its environment.

“The shanties we have here harbour a lot of criminal elements that have been terrorising Gwarinpa and its environments.

“We have reported cases of illicit drug, rape and suspected armed robbers that were arrested in this area.

“There is a place even called the Abacha Estate, where the Police have recovered arms and ammunition in times past,” he said.