Headlines

A few hours after her suspension, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu.

She was still being detained as at press time last night.

Halima Shehu was picked up in connection with the movement of N17 billion from NSIPA account to some suspicious accounts within one week.

The interception and recovery of the cash followed some alleged payments of billions of naira by the agency without presidential approval.

It was learnt that the EFCC might have recommended Halima Shehu’s suspension to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Her suspension, based on preliminary investigation, was to pave the way for an unfettered probe of the infraction.

Operatives of the commission, who were drafted to the National Coordinator’s private office and home, arrested her at about 8pm yesterday.

After searching her home and office, she was taken into custody at about 9pm for interrogation.

It was also learnt that the EFCC was closing in on a director of the agency, who was allegedly complicit in the huge payments into the suspicious accounts.

But, some crack operatives of the EFCC will today interrogate a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, for allegedly laundering N37, 170,855,753.44 during her tenure through a contractor, James Okwete.

The ex-minister has disowned the implicated contractor.

She might be quizzed today by a team of interrogators.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that following intelligence, the EFCC uncovered “unusual movement of billions of naira” from NSIPA’s account.

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The EFCC raised a red flag on the suspicious payments of billions of Naira into some individual and corporate accounts. Preliminary investigation showed that there was no presidential approval for the payment of such humongous funds.

“Pre-emptive steps were immediately put in place to track the suspicious funds. So far, about N17 billion has been intercepted and recovered from some accounts by this commission.

“Our team is working round the clock to trace the remaining billions of Naira suspected to have been laundered from the Social Investment cash.”

An EFCC source told our correspondent how the NSIPA boss was arrested.

He said: “Shortly after her suspension, EFCC operatives laid siege to her office in Maitama District but it took almost two hours to arrest her. While the siege lasted, the EFCC chairman directed that the operatives should not break into her office or her residence.

“Eventually, she was arrested and detained by our team. Her grilling immediately started based on preliminary findings.”

As at press time, it was gathered that the EFCC might have recommended Halima Shehu’s suspension, pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.

Before Halima’s appointment, she worked as the National Coordinator of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme .

She also served with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development between 2017 and 2022.

Investigation confirmed that the President wielded the big stick yesterday because Halima Shehu had earlier defied a presidential directive to work with the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, to pay the outstanding and statutory stipends to beneficiaries of the N-Power programme before Christmas.

The N-Power programme was created by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari to address youth unemployment with the beneficiaries earning N30,000 monthly.

Safiyanu Isah Andaha, the Chairman of Akwanga Local Government Council in Nasarawa State who was abducted by gunmen, has been released from captivity.

The chairman, it was gathered, regained his freedom on Tuesday night after family members paid a ransom of N10 million to his abductors.

He was released alongside a renowned businessman and friend, Alhaji Adamu Tanko.

Leading Reporters had previously reported that the council chairman’s abductors initially demanded N50 million as ransom for his release. A family source had said that negotiations were ongoing with the kidnappers, aiming to review the ransom amount.

According to the source, after extensive negotiations through mobile phone channels, the kidnappers insisted on settling for no less than N10 million.

“They were dropped around 9 pm behind Maigwona filling station at Bayan Dutse road, on the outskirts of Andaha town, and the sum of N10 million l was paid as ransom,” another source revealed.

Upon regaining their freedom, the victims were taken to the Federal Medical Center in Keffi for medical examinations.

The chairman and his friend were abducted at gunpoint along the Andaha-Akwanga road on Monday evening.

A total of 30 people have so far died in a recurring cult war between Eiye and Black Axe confraternity groups in Edo state.

The latest violence has claimed the life of a vigilante commander simply known as Osagie in Ekosodin community in the state.

The incident occurred at a Keke Napep park along the Benin-Ore express road in Ovia Northeast local government area.

Osagie’s untimely death prompted a surge in anxiety within the community. Security networks and community elders responded by imposing a ban on the traditional December 31 crossover night service, signalling the gravity of the situation.

The distressing event unfolded just a week after a similar incident claimed the life of another vigilante commander in Ogiso community, Oredo local government area, on Christmas Eve.

The resurgence of violence stems from the ongoing clash between the confraternity groups.

Police reports indicate the retrieval of deceased bodies from several areas, including Okhoro, Medical Stores, Uwelu, Siloko, and Ebvaeke, marking the grim toll of the escalating cult war.

The origins of this recent violence trace back to December 16, sparked by an organized Internet scam’s financial proceeds, where a targeted individual had seized the illicit gains.

This action prompted retaliatory actions from hoodlums searching for their target, culminating in an attack where the target’s mother was reportedly shot.

The reprisal attacks on Christmas Eve saw the death toll rise, claiming four lives initially and subsequently escalating with additional casualties.

The State Police spokesperson, SP. Chidi Nwabuzor affirmed a considerable number of arrests made among the suspected cult members.

Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Dankwara, reiterated the commitment of law enforcement to staunchly combat this surge in crime, emphasizing the imperative of restoring peace and tranquillity in the state.

Akindele Egbuwalo, the National N-POWER Program Manager has been appointed as the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).

Leading reporters reports that President Tinubu suspended Halima Shehu as NSIPA national coordinator on Tuesday, January 2, over allegations of corruption and financial malfeasance during her tenure.

Shehu had assumed office in October 2023 following her confirmation by the Senate on October 18, 2023.

Egbuwalo steps into the role from his previous position as the National N-Power Programme manager. His appointment is seen as an interim measure, pending the outcome of the investigation into the allegations against Shehu.

The appointment of Egbuwalo, with his background in managing the N-Power Programme, is seen as a strategic move to ensure continuity and expertise in the crucial area of social investment.

The United Kingdom through its Home Office has announced the commencement of the implementation of its dependant visa ban which prohibits Nigerian students and other foreigners from bringing family members.

The announcement was made via X by the UK’s Home Office on Monday reiterating that only foreign students in postgraduate research or government-sponsored scholarship could bring their dependants through the study visas.

“We are fully committed to seeing a decisive cut in migration. From today, new overseas students will no longer be able to bring family members to the UK. Postgraduate research or government-funded scholarships students will be exempt,” the Home Office said.

Recall that the Home Office under Suella Braverman, in May 2023, instituted the policy to stop Nigerian students, and others studying in the UK from bringing family as dependents except under specific circumstances.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery speaking on the policy explained that it was formulated to check the influx of immigrants to address the housing problems.

With the new policy, the UK will remove the permission for foreign students to switch out of the student route and into work routes before their studies have been completed to prevent misuse of the visa system.

A report by Sky News said, “There will also be a review of the maintenance requirement for students and dependents and a crackdown on ‘unscrupulous’ education agents who make use of inappropriate applications to sell immigration, not education.”

The Home Office, in a statement on the official site, disclosed that the dependant visa ban policy was to reduce migration.

It read, “Restrictions to student visa routes came into effect yesterday, as the government continues to slash migration and curb abuse of the immigration system.

“International students starting courses this month will no longer be able to bring family members on all but postgraduate research courses and courses with government-funded scholarships. The changes, first announced last May, have also seen people banned from using the student visa as a backdoor route to work in the UK and will see an estimated 140,000 fewer people come to the UK.

“The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated that net migration was 672,000 from June 2022 to June 2023. In the year ending September 2023, 152,980 visas were issued to dependants of students, a more than 930% rise from the 14,839 in the year ending September 2019.

“The changes to student dependant rules are part of a wider package of measures to come into force that will drastically bring down the high numbers of migrants coming to the UK to sustainable levels, and crack down on those who take advantage of the flexibility of the UK’s immigration system.”

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has said that the appointments of new permanent secretaries in the state were done fairly and without any political undertone.

Speaking while swearing in 21 new permanent secretaries and 14 special advisers, Governor Yusuf said on Tuesday that the choice of the new appointees was done after careful consideration.

Addressing them, he said: “We selected the best in competence, experience, dedication to duty, and proven fear of God. That is why we are expecting you to perform to the optimal high point for a better Kano.

“You should consider your appointment a valued one that is desirable in the new dispensation of the NNPP, and as such, you should maintain decorum and professionalism in your duties.”

He assured that his government is ushering in a new era of renewed commitment to making Kano a state of hope and development, adding that the appointed permanent secretaries would help him in that direction.

He also reminded them that his government has zero tolerance for incompetence and abuse of office, and as such, they should dedicate themselves to the service of humanity and the state.

“Although I know that, as humans, you are bound to make mistakes, you have to be extra careful with the oath you have taken.

“Politics should not be a yardstick for carrying out your duties. You should be free and do away with hypocrisy and gossiping; if you accurately discharge your duties, the sky would be your limit in life,” Governor Yusuf advised the appointees.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has officially scheduled the bye-election for Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency in Taraba State on February 3, 2024.

The bye-election as noticed by Leading Reporters, is necessitated by the passing away of the elected member for the constituency shortly after the 2023 general election Isma’ila Yushau Maihanci.

At the time of filing this report, six, out of the eight aspirants jostling for the position from the various political parties are from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Although the leadership of INEC in the state were not available at the time of filing this report to speak on the level of preparation, some staff of the commission who confided in the reporter said preparation is on top gear.

The staff who said they are waiting for the parties to conduct their primaries said they would provide a level playground for the candidates that eventually emerge from the primaries.

Urging the parties to conduct free, fair and credible primaries, the commission, according to our sources from INEC, will not condone any political parties that violate the electoral law.

“As far as we are concerned, we are going to create a level playground for all the candidates and their political parties.

”It is our prayers and hopes that they will also reciprocate by following the rules of the game as laid down by the commission so that no candidate will be disqualified from participating in the forthcoming bye-election.” The commission’s staff stated.

Some of the aspirants, especially those from the PDP who bared their minds to our reporter, urged the state governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas and the party’s leadership to allow the people of the constituency to make their choice of candidacy.

He asked the leadership of the state not to interfere in the primary and that anointing a particular candidate would be inimical to the growth of the party.

The party, through its spokesperson, Andetarang Iramae assured the aspirants of the party’s readiness to conduct a free and transparent primary for all of them

A motor accident involving a truck and an 18-passenger bus along the Jebba-Ilorin Expressway in Kwara State on Tuesday resulted in the loss of 11 lives.

Leading Reporters gathered that seven other individuals sustained varying degrees of injuries from the accident, which occurred around 4:50 am.

The accident happened when the passenger bus, originating from Gombe, attempted to overtake another vehicle, resulting in a head-on collision with a truck travelling in the opposite direction on the road.

Sources confirmed to news correspondant that those injured in the crash have been taken to Ife Oluwa Hospital in Bode-Saadu, the headquarters of Moro local government area in the state, for medical treatment.

Basambo Busari, the Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Kwara State Command, confirmed the incident and the casualty figures in a statement on Tuesday.

He stated, “On Tuesday, January 2, 2024, a fatal road traffic crash involving two vehicles, a DAF Truck, and a Toyota Hiace Bus occurred at Aiyere along the Bode-Saadu-Ilorin route. The crash happened around 4:50 am due to wrongful overtaking and speed violation.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the Toyota Hiace bus, travelling from Gombe to Lagos, wrongfully overtake another vehicle, resulting in a head-on collision with an oncoming DAF Truck.

“A total of 18 people were involved, tragically resulting in 11 fatalities, while the remaining 7 individuals sustained varying degrees of injury. They have been rescued and taken to Ifeoluwa Hospital Bode-Saadu, where they are currently undergoing treatment.”

President Bola Tinubu on Monday disclosed that the 2024 budget includes N100 billion allocation for the school feeding programmes.

He made this statement during the signing of the 2024 appropriation bill into law in the State House in Abuja.

Tinubu stated that the provision will serve as a stimulant to encourage attendance in schools and reduce the problem of out-of-school children.

“One of the priority areas of the bill we just passed is the N100 billion provision for the feeding of school children. I believe that is a stimulant that will encourage school enrolment and also address malnutrition among school children.

“I will be meeting with local government at sub-national levels so that we can collaborate and jointly implement an all-inclusive programme,” the President said.

The President also confirmed that the budget, christened “Renewed Hope” is anchored on reducing the recurrent expenditure, but increasing capital expenditure.

Earlier in December, Tinubu ordered the reintroduction of the school feeding programme and mandated its transfer from the Humanitarian Ministry to the Education Ministry.

The programme, previously halted under former President Muhammadu Buhari, will now fall under the Education Ministry’s purview, aiming to not only provide nutritious meals to pupils but also encourage attendance and enhance learning.