How Ex-President Jonathan Used N74billion Recovered By Maina To Finance 2012 Budget —Witness

Ngozika Ihuoma, the first defence witness in the ongoing trial of Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), told a Federal High Court on Tuesday that N74 billion recovered by the PRTT was used by the Nigerian government to finance the 2012 Budget.

Ihuoma, a management consultant, whose firm, Crincad & Cari Nigeria Ltd was contracted by the PRTT for consultancy service, told Justice Okon Abang when he was being led by Maina’s lawyer, Adeola Olawale.

He said Maina recovered N282 billion.

Justice Abang had, on February 25, ordered the former PRTT chairman to open his defence in the charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after the prosecution closed its case.

The witness, while testifying, said the task team recovered N282 billion cash and 222 choice property as proceeds of fraud valued at N1.6 trillion.

He explained that the said money was warehoused at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by the EFCC and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

According to the witness, out of the money, N74 billion was used to finance the 2012 national budget as passed by the National Assembly.

Ihuoma noted that a presidential directive was issued by the then president, Goodluck Johnathan, that 2.5 per cent which amounted to N7.05 billion of the recovered money be used to run the PRTT’s official duties but was never released despite several requests and a reminder to the Ministry of Finance and the National Assembly.

READ ALSO: Prophecies That Missed The Mark In 2020

“Former President Jonathan ordered N7.05 billion to be released to the task team to offset the fees of their consultants, ICT experts, etc.

“That has not been honoured till today, instead, the EFCC was mobilised against Maina,” he said.

Justice Abang adjourned until March 4 for trial continuation.

Maina was arraigned before the judge on October 25, 2019, by the EFCC alongside his firm, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd.

Although he is facing 12 counts bordering on money laundering to the tune of N2 billion, he had pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Maina was extradited to Nigeria after his arrest in Niger Republic last Monday. He had jumped bail, leading to the arrest of Ali Ndume, a serving senator, who stood as his surety.

Politics News AddThis : Original Author : NaijaGistReporters, 

Posted by Admin March 03, 2021

Six Killed, One Injured As Bandits Storm Communities In Kaduna

Six persons have been reportedly killed by armed bandits in Igabi and Kauru local government areas of Kaduna State.

In a statement on Tuesday, the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Homes Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the armed bandits barricaded the Birnin Yero-Tami Road, Igabi and killed one Hussaini Suleiman Dari.

He said another victim, Dahiru Saidu, was left injured and currently receiving treatment in the hospital.

READ ALSO: How Ex-President Jonathan Used N74billion Recovered By Maina To Finance 2012 Budget —Witness

 

At Gwada village, Igabi Local Government Area, an attack by gunmen left two persons identified as Yahuza Sale and Garba Sule, dead.

Armed bandits also invaded Ungwan Kure, and killed two residents, Mohammed Sani Suleiman and Yahuza Sale.

 

In another incident, armed bandits attacked Amawan Dadi Rugan Jauru settlements in the Kauru Local Government Area. One resident, Likita, was shot dead.

Aruwan said Governor Nasir El-Rufai noted the reports with sadness, and sent his condolences to the families of those killed, while praying for the repose of their souls.

He also wished those injured during the attacks quick recovery.

Insecurity News AddThis : Original Author : NaijaGistReporters, 

Posted by Admin March 03, 2021

Imo Traditional Rulers Endorse Move To Recall Of Ex-governor, Okorocha From Senate

The traditional ruler of Amaifeke in the Orlu Local Government Area of Imo state, Eze Emmanuel Okeke, alongside other traditional rulers in the zone and Orlu Zone Political Consultative Assembly, OPOCA, have agreed to activate the recall process of Senator Rochas Okorocha, who represents Imo West Senatorial District.

The decision was taken on Monday after the 48-hour ultimatum given to Okorocha to apologise to Imo people, expired. Okorocha had been asked to apologise for unsealing the Royal Palm Spring Hotel and Apartment linked to his wife, which the government had already sealed. 

In a communique issued after taking the decision, the group called for the recall of Okorocha from the Senate. They pledged their support for the state governor, Hope Uzodinma, in his quest to recover all property and funds allegedly looted and diverted by Okorocha, his family members, and cronies.

It read: “The leadership of Orlu Political Consultative Assembly (OPOCA) ably led by its National President, Chief Barr. Rex Anunobi, after briefing the leadership of Orlu Zone Traditional Rulers, Chairmen of Local Government Councils in Imo West Senatorial Zone (Orlu Zone) and Orlu Zone Council of Elders on recent political developments vis-a-vis the recent invasion of property, Royal Spring Palm Estate & Hotel, located along Akachi Road, Owerri, sealed by the State Government following a gazetted White Paper, by a former governor and senator representing Orlu Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Rochas Okorocha, and after much deliberations unanimously resolved and adopted the following:

“That we have monitored and reviewed series of unprovoked utterances and activities of Senator Rochas Okorocha which no doubt are meant to distract our dear governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma from cleaning up Imo from the mess his administration plunged the state. 

“That the ultimatum issued to Rochas Okorocha by OPOCA which is the apex political body in Orlu Zone, demanding that the former governor tender an unreserved apology to Governor Hope Uzodinma and Ndi Imo over his recent embarrassing and lawless invasion of a properly sealed by the State Government purportedly owned by his wife, is a right step in the right direction. The Orlu Zone Council of Traditional Rulers, Chairmen of the 12 local government council areas in Orlu Zone and Orlu Zone Elders Council hereby adopt the position of OPOCA to commence without delay the recall of Senator Rochas Ethelbert Anayo Okorocha from the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

“That we commend and endorse every action taken by our dear governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, to recover for Ndi Imo all property and funds that were looted and diverted by Okorocha, his family members, and cronies. And that we shall at no time condone or tolerate any ploy aimed at frustrating the 'recovery' drive of the Shared Prosperity Government of Senator Hope Uzodinma. 

READ ALSO: What Joe Biden Has Said About a $2,000 Stimulus Check for Americans

“That we decry the failure of Senator Rochas Okorocha to effectively represent the people of Orlu Senatorial District. It is shameful and regrettable that Okorocha who is yet to brief his constituents, including traditional rulers for over 19 months he has been in the Senate, is rather busy fighting.

“This unfortunate situation is a departure from the quality representation we witnessed during the 8 years (2011-2019) our present Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, represented Orlu Senatorial District before his election as Governor of Imo State. 

“That we hereby renew our earlier call to all sons and daughters of Orlu Zone both at home and in the diaspora to support the Shared Prosperity Government of Senator Hope Uzodimma anchored on Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery (3-R) which has within a short period returned Imo State to the glorious path of development and good governance. 

“That we unequivocally pass an implicit Vote of Confidence on our dear Governor, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma and his team for visionarily displaying competence in governance and selflessly embarking on people-oriented projects and programmes such as massive construction of quality roads across the three (3) Senatorial Zones, skill acquisition and empowerment for the youths and women, health care delivery services, repositioning the civil and public service sectors of the state for improved productivity, among others."

Politics News AddThis : Original Author : NaijaGistReporters, 

Posted by Admin March 03, 2021

Herdsmen: Governors Ortom, Mohammed Reconcile, Blame Nigerian Government

The acrimonious relationship between the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, has been amicably resolved.

The conflict was resolved in Port Harcourt on Tuesday following the intervention of the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and his Adamawa State counterpart, Governor Ahmed Fintiri.

Briefing journalists at the meeting which held at Governor Wike's private residence at Rumuepirikom, Governor Mohammed described the outburst between him and Governor Ortom over Fulani herders' profiling as highly regrettable.

"We don't mean to divide the country, to divide our people. We are still friends and brothers and that we will move forward because most of those issues are fully resolved.

READ ALSO: https://www.naijagistreporters.com/2021/03/efcc-deepens-tinubu-probe-demands-asset.html

"I want to use this opportunity to tell Nigerians that whatever misconception that is there, that me and my brother Ortom are having problem or anybody in Nigeria is not true. What happened was just an explanation that emanated from a larger Governors' Forum that we spoke on the security of the nation and we talked of the failure of security infrastructure which everybody knows is under the purview of the federal government."

Similarly, Governor Ortom appreciated Governor Wike and Governor Fintiri for arranging the meeting where it was agreed that the outburst between him and his Bauchi State counterpart was not needed.  

"We have accepted that it was wrong for us to have that kind of outburst that went out, but as from today we have learnt. We are all fallible human beings and we are subject to mistakes and so when we make mistakes, it is a plus for us if we correct them. And I think moving forward, we shall live together. The Fulani and Tiv people have cohabitated for a long time and there is no issue whatsoever."

Ortom blamed the failure of the security architecture of the country, which is anchored by the federal government, for the recent outburst between him and Mohammed.

"We look forward that the federal government should stoop down to conquer by accepting that, yes, they have failed, so that together the state and the local government can come together to find a way of finding a lasting solution to this problem.

"As at today, there is no equity, there is no fairness , there is no justice in our country and that is why everywhere in Nigeria, there are issues. So we look forward that the federal government will partner with us. This time, we need not to talk about partisan politics. We must come together. We need not to talk about ethnicity or religion. We must come together as brothers and sisters who have no other country other than Nigeria, to work together towards a common cause that will solve the problem that we have."

Politics News AddThis : Original Author : NaijaGistReporters, 

Posted by Admin March 03, 2021

Blockade: DAWN Commission Meets South-West Agric Commissioners Over Food Crisis

The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission has met with the Commissioners of Agriculture in the South-West states over the looming food crisis in the region as a result of the blockade of food supplies coming from the North.

The DAWN Commission Director-General, Mr Seye Oyeleye, held the emergency meeting on Tuesday, which was aimed at providing solutions to the food crisis – particularly products coming from northern Nigeria which had stopped due to the lingering herders-farmers’ violence in the region.

Foods'N'Stuff...

“The Director General of DAWN Commission, Mr. Seye Oyeleye, attended an emergency virtual meeting of Southwest Agric Commissioners and Southwest Agricultural Company (SWAGCO) convened by the Commission to address food security for Southwest Nigeria,” the commission tweeted on Tuesday.

DAWN was set up by the governments of the South-West states as the institutional and programme management body to midwife their regional integration agenda.

NaijaGistReporters had on Monday reported that business operators in Kwara and neighbouring states heaved a sigh of relief as free movement of foodstuffs resumed after some hoodlums reportedly blocked the Ilorin-Jebba Expressway over the weekend.

It had been reported that truckloads of food items from the northern parts of the country were denied entry into Kwara State and other states of the South-West zone.

Investigation had revealed that some Hausa youths stationed on the outskirts of Niger State, popularly called Kara-Jebba, near Jebba in Kwara State, last week stopped many truck drivers carrying food items such as tomatoes, beans, yams, cattle, pepper, among others, from going further from Kara into Kwara and other states in the South-West.

The situation, it was gathered, saw the trucks parked along the road, creating gridlock, while it was reported that some of the food items got spoilt.

READ ALSO:

https://www.naijagistreporters.com/2021/03/petroleum-industry-bill-bayelsa.html

However, it was gathered that free movement of goods and vehicles resumed on Ilorin-Jebba Expressway early Monday morning to the joy of residents and business people on the axis.

Confirming the reopening of the road in Ilorin on Monday, Prince Ibrahim Adebara, son of the traditional ruler of Jebba, said that a troop of military operatives drafted by the Federal Government effected the free movement.

Adebara, who said that the military personnel had stationed along the road to maintain law and order, added that they threatened to treat anyone that blocks the road as a terrorist.

One of the affected traders, Madam Balogun, said she was happy with the normalcy that had returned. She, however, lamented the loss caused by some perishable items that got bad while the situation lasted.

The Defence Headquarters, in a statement over the weekend by its Acting Director Defence Information, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, said it had cleared the Jebba-Kaduna Road of those preventing trucks from going to the South and restore normalcy in the area.

“This is also to give a stern warning to any unscrupulous group or persons who are aiming at disrupting legitimate economic and commercial activities by preventing the free flow of traffic and movement of goods in a bid to generate clashes along ethnic divides to desist from such unpatriotic acts or face the wrath of the law.

“Members of the public are also urged to promptly report anyone found engaged in such atrocious activities to security operatives,” the statement had said.

Food News AddThis : Original Author : NaijaGistReporters, 

Posted by Admin March 03, 2021

EFCC Deepens Tinubu Probe, Demands Asset Declaration Form From CCB

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has deepened its probe into All Progressives Congress stalwart Bola Tinubu.

To this end, the EFCC has written a letter to the Code of Conduct Bureau requesting copies of Tinubu's asset declaration form.

A copy of the letter, which was published by an online news medium, The Peoples Gazette, revealed that the investigation into Tinubu began last year after the removal of erstwhile Chairman Ibrahim Magu.

The letter marked CR/3000/EFCC/LS/Vol4/322, dated November 6, 2020, was signed by the then Lagos zonal head, Abdulrasheed Bawa, who is now the Chairman of the EFCC.

The letter read in part, "In view of the above, you are kindly requested to furnish the commission with the outstanding requested information of Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu.

"This request is made pursuant to Section 38(1) and (2) of the EFCC Act 2004."

Attempts to speak with the EFCC Spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, proved abortive as he did not respond to calls.

However, a senior EFCC official confirmed the letter's authenticity, adding that it was part of a broader probe, Punch reports.

The official, who wished to remain anonymous, said the probe was a sequel to some petitions written against Tinubu since 2018, which Magu had failed to act on.

READ ALSO:

The source said, "The letter is authentic. The EFCC receives several petitions against Tinubu, including one involving alleged fraud in Alpha Beta Consulting."

Apara had also instituted a lawsuit against Tinubu.

In his statement of claim, he stated that Tinubu controlled the company, receiving 10 per cent of the taxes collected on behalf of the state.

As the head of the company, the former MD began looking into its finances and made many startling discoveries, such as mysterious transfers of over N20bn to various companies.

He stated, "N550m payment to Ocean Trust Ltd vide payment instruction dated the 15/5/18, N850m payment to Ocean Trust Ltd vide payment instruction dated the 14/3/15."

The claimant said N960m was spent on purchasing HITV's 300,000,000 shares.

However, Alpha Beta Tax consultancy firm, Alpha Beta LLP, denied allegations levelled against it by Apara, adding that he had diverted about $5m during his time as managing director by inflating a contract which was worth about $300,000 and then diverted a separate N6bn to personal use.

Corruption Politics News AddThis : Original Author : NaijaGistReporters, 

Posted by Admin March 03, 2021

Farm Produce Now Sold At Ridiculous Prices In North, Traders Count Losses

Farmers and traders in Kano are lamenting as farm produce, which can't be sent to the South due to the ongoing strike by sellers of cows and foodstuff, are now being sold at the North at ridiculously low prices.

In a video shared by Daily Trust, the farmers and marketers at the Gun-Dutse onion market, Dawakin Kudu Local government Area of Kano State, are seen lamenting the effect of the ongoing strike by the sellers of cows and foodstuff.

NaijaGistReporters had reported that trucks bringing foodstuff to the Southern part of Nigeria were turned back at Kara Jebba, the last village between Niger state and Kwara state, to prevent them from bringing food to the South.

READ ALSO: https://www.naijagistreporters.com/2021/03/nigerian-soldier-commits-suicide-in.html

This strike is connected to an ultimatum given by the national leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to the Federal Government, which demanded compensation for the losses suffered by Northern traders in the recent mayhem at Shasha market in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The strike led to an increase in the price of food commodities in the South, but the prices are plummeting in the north.

According to Daily Trust, farmers said before the protest, they usually transport a minimum of 20 trucks to the southern part of the country daily, but the strike has affected them badly.

The largest bag of onion, sold at N35,000 few weeks ago and as high as N70,000 during the onion scarcity last year, is now being sold for N7,000.

 

Agriculture Food News AddThis : Original Author : NaijaGistReporters, 

Posted by Admin March 03, 2021