Concerned employees of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) have alerted authorities to allegations of fraud and corruption within the organization where hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds are allegedly being siphoned off into private accounts.
It was learned that the concerned employees have requested assistance from the anti-corruption organizations Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) to shine a spotlight on the organization and put an end to brigandage.
Recall that the agency was recently in the news for all the wrong reasons, with some reports alleging that top management had to go.
The staff, who spoke to newsmen on the condition of anonymity also decried the absence of a properly constituted board of the agency, after the expiration of the last one some few years.
In one disturbing case, it was learnt that correspondences meant for the Managing Director of the Agency, Dr Michael Akabuogu were allegedly intercepted by some management staff of NSITF and executed for payment to be made to contractors.
Allegations of high level of impunity in the agencies surfaced as further findings by confirm that the queries issued to the eering management staff by constituted authorities over the issues were rebuffed by the individuals.
While reacting to the reported resignation of the NSITF Managing Director, the concerned staff claimed that was false, and dismissed it as a case of corruption fighting back.
“What is happening today is that these looters who present themselves as contractors and their collaborators inside the NSITF are bitter that Akabogu stood in their way , so they are desperate to ease him out by all means including the publication of falsehood.”
“We can authoritatively tell you that the MD is a meticulous person, who is detail on his job, the concerned NSITF said.
It would also be recalled that the report from the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) had listed the NSITF as one of the corrupt MDAs. The report was recently released.
However, when contacted, the General Manager/Head Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Ijeoma Oji-Okoronkwo said she cannot comment on the issue of corruption in the agency.
She said she was on leave and not in any picture of corruption issue at the agency.
Her words: “I am not aware of any corruption, l am on leave and l can only comment on what l know. I don’t know anything about corruption and ICPC report.”
Abubakar Malami SAN, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, listed his department’s accomplishments over the previous seven and a half years on Thursday.
In a briefing to journalists titled President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration scorecard from 2015–2023, Malami noted the Federal Ministry of Justice had made outstanding progress while he was in charge.
According to him, the focus of the briefing was mostly on the Federal Ministry of Justice’s vision and goal, its policy framework, and how it fulfills its crucial tasks in advancing the government’s agenda for law and justice while cooperating with all arms and tiers of government.
Speaking on revenue generation, sale of forfeited assets, the AGF disclosed that a total sum of N1,823,788,146.86 (One Billion, Eight Hundred and Twenty Three Million, Seven Hundred & Eighty-Eight Thousand, One Hundred and Forty-Six Thousand naira, Eighty-Six kobo) has been generated so far by the Ministry, from the forfeited properties.
Similarly, on international asset recoveries, Malami said, “In compliance with Presidential mandates and foreign judicial processes, the Ministry has recovered total sums of £6,324,627.66 (Six Million, Three Hundred & Twenty-Four Thousand, Six Hundred & Twenty Seven Pounds, Sixty-Six Pence); €5,494,743.71 (Five Million, Four Hundred and Ninety-Four thousand, Seven Hundred and Forty-Three Euro, Seventy-One Cents); and $390,000,000 (Three Hundred and Ninety Million dollars) from various jurisdictions”. Some of the recovered funds, he said, are being utilized in the financing of critical infrastructures including Abuja – Kano Expressway, Second Niger Bridge, and Lagos – Ibadan Expressway.
“Due to the concerted effort by my office in conjunction with relevant stakeholders, including the legislature, the President recently assented to Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act 2022 (POCA) on 12th May 2022, the AGF said. He stated that POCA is the first legislation in Nigeria that comprehensively provides for mechanisms, processes and procedures for the tracing, restraint, seizure, confiscation, forfeiture and management of properties derived from unlawful activities.
“Its main objective is to take out the profits that incentivize and fund crime, with the ultimate aim of disrupting the cycle of crime and preventing future offences and corrupt practices” Malami said.
In addition, the Justice Minister said that a total of 648 (Six Hundred and Forty-Eight) cases instituted against the President, Federal Government and its agencies, before States, Federal and ECOWAS Courts were served by the Ministry.
“The cases are at different stages of trial. Diligent defences of these cases in the year 2022 alone saved the government from huge judgment debt liabilities to the tune of N142,458,343,888.52 (One Hundred and Forty-Two Billion, Four Hundred and Fifty-Eight Million, Three Hundred & Forty-Three Thousand, Eight Hundred & Eighty-Eight Naira, Fifty-Two Kobo) and US$507,415,901.19 (Five Hundred & Seven Million, Four Hundred & Fifteen Thousand, Nine Hundred & One Dollars, Nineteen Cents)”.
These cases, Malami said, were handled by in-house State Counsel in the Ministry; and thus saved the Country from further liabilities that would have accrued from payment of external solicitors’ fees.
More so, Malami disclosed that his Ministry is also coordinating the defense of a number of international arbitration proceedings commenced against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other FGN Agencies.
“These include arbitration initiated by Sunrise Power over the Mambilla Power Project, Eni and Shell over operational rights. “We have also made appreciable progress in the actions being taken to challenge the arbitral award in the case of Process & Industrial Development.
“The hearing of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s application to set aside the arbitral award will commence before the English Court shortly.
“It is important to stress that the efforts by the Ministry in defending these international cases has so far enabled Nigeria to avoid liabilities running into Billions of US Dollars” the Minister stated.
He added that a total of 3,000 Terrorism cases have been profiled to date out of which over 1500 cases were prosecuted, with 397 convictions realized.
“A total of 7000 cases involving various offences including Maritime, Armed Robbery, Vandalization of Electrical Equipment and Pipelines, Financial matters, Cyber Crime, Kidnapping and Anti-corruption have been successfully prosecuted.
“The Ministry is coordinating the next phase of terrorism related trials in collaboration with the Federal High Court, the Legal Aid Council, and the Defence Headquarters. In this regard, the Ministry is currently remodeling structures at the Wawa Cantonment, Kainji to accommodate eight (8) courtrooms, Judges’ Chambers, living accommodation, Lawyers’ dressing room and conveniences to make them conducive for Judges, Witnesses as well as Defendants, Malami said.
Speaking on promotion of human rights, the Justice Minister said the FG paI’d compensation for the Apo Six Killings by Security Agents. “In April 2018, my office secured presidential approval which directed the DSS to pay the sum of One Hundred and Thirty-Five Million Naira (N135,000,000.00) as compensation to the families of victims of the Apo Six killing by security agents which occurred on 20 September 2013.
“The payment was in compliance with award/order made by the National Human Rights Commission on 7th April 2014 upon conclusion of investigation and public hearing in the case” he said.
On Wednesday, the third day of the ongoing sale of forfeited real estate, including apartments and plots of land by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Abuja, saw 26 bidders emerge as winners of various properties.
A total of 39 properties in Lot 5, spread throughout various areas of the Federal Capital Territory, were put up for sale during the session through a competitive bidding process, according to a statement from the Commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren. Starting at 10 am and lasting until 8:30 pm, the exercise.
“At the end of the exercise, a total of 26 bids were successful, while 13 properties not taken either for non-compliance with the guidelines or the highest bid falling short of the reserve price, or due to a tie as was the case in respect of the property listed as number 33 in the Lot, were re-opened to fresh bids until Monday, 16th January 2023 when the bids will be opened.
“Other properties affected by this fresh bid offer are listed as numbers: 1, 3, 4,5,6,10,15, 18,29,30,31 and 34 in Lot 5.”
The Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa who witnessed the exercise expressed excitement at the well organized and coordinated event, thanking the bidders for their cooperation.
“The process we are adopting is what is practiced across the world. We had Valuers who valued the properties and we already know the worth of each property and we expect to sell to the highest bidder who exceeds our reserve price because we need to raise money for the Federal Government to execute and complete some of the major infrastructure projects across the country.
“We got feedback from people who are asking why we are not doing it online so that more people can participate. We have tried all of that and it is now left for us to use discretion to work with methods that will help the process to be more transparent for every Nigerian to see,” he said.
One of the bid winners, Chetanna Chukwudo commended the Commission for a job well done and urged it to keep up with the good work as Nigerians expect a lot from her.
“I am happy today because it feels good to be a winner, nobody wants to lose. The process was thorough and transparent but in the end we won. I want to say well done to the organizers,“ he said.
***As Gas Development , Pipeline Security Take Center Stage
To showcase investment opportunities in the Nigerian petroleum industry, the Federal Government on Thursday welcomed a team of Spanish investors led by Jose Manuel Albares, the visiting minister of Spanish foreign affairs.
This follows the federal government’s recent announcement of a mini-bid round for seven oil blocks.
The host of the visiting investors, Chief Timipriye Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, said that Nigeria needs all the necessary investments because the oil and gas industry is the backbone of the country’s economy.
According to him: “The Minister described Spain as a strategic partner with Nigeria in the area of oil and gas trade, stressed that their discussion centered around development of gas, security in the petroleum industry and technology among other issues.
“A partner and customer of NLNG from inception. So you can see that this meeting is actually a meeting between partners. And of course, as you see, the minister came into Nigeria so early in the year, I’m very certain that it’s the first foreign minister that is visiting Nigeria this year.
“We need all the investments when we require as the oil and gas sector is at the core of our economy. And if he comes in with all these array of investors. These are major companies, major investment opportunities for this country, and if the minister comes with all these array of potential investors, then I’m sure that we have the potential of having a lot of investments coming into Nigeria.
“We are focused on the development of gas. We have a lot of gas resources and we need the this this resources to be developed. I told the minister that we have today proven gas reserves up to over 200 trillion cubic feet of gas. We also believe that with focused exploration for gas, we can increase these reserves to up to 600 TCF, that’s a lot and of course, how do we focus on the exploration for additional gas reserves? We need investors and how do we develop this gas also we need investors and Spain is one country that we are looking towards to bring the investments into this sector.
“So it will be a win win for both countries because Europe also requires the gas today we’ve always been shouting that energy transition program should be more mindful of the development of gas as well, because there was the clamor from some sources to move so quickly to renewables and we thought as a country we felt that we were going to move on the transition train through the instrumentality of gas.
“The rest of the world has also come to see that there is a need for us to tarry a while with gas. So it’s a mutual on the part of both countries for us to develop the gas resources that were that we have, we have called for investments from Spain for the investment in the gas sector here. Well, I’ve also spoken to myself and the minister had some discussions on some support that we will require from them in the area of security as well because we have a big problem in the oil and gas sector today. The biggest problem today that we have is security. And of course spain is in position to also support us in this area of security. So of course the area of investment and in the area of technology. We are going to be looking up to Spain. And then of course, also spain looks up to us for further supply of gas to spain. So we’re looking at they also asked questions about the pipeline that we are developing to Morocco” he said.
In his remarks, Spainish Investors led by the visiting minister of Spanish foreign affairs Jose Manuel Albares, expressed hope that the meeting will cristallise towards development for energy for both countries.
“I want to thank the Minister for telling me about evolution and the opportunities in the Nigerian Petroleum industry. And I hope that the meetings that both sides of the private sector ‘both Spainish and Nigeria’ had would be able to deploy its full potential. Nigeria is a strategic partner with Spain, it has been all these years and it has proven that it is our friend and a trustworthy partner in the very complex setting in the energy market around the world. And we have to work to the concrete aspect to develop this bilateral relationship on energy” he said.
calls on voters to turn out to welcome Atiku on Saturday in Kogi
Kola Ologbondiyan, a former national publicity secretary for the Peoples Democratic Party and a spokesperson for the Atiku/Okowa campaign, has reassured the populace that PDP has the resources necessary to prevail in the upcoming general elections.
In order to welcome PDP candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate Gov. Okowa to the state on Saturday, he urged the people of Kogi State to turn out in their millions.
In response to question from reporters on Thursday in Lokoja, Ologbondiyan stated that the party’s major event, which will be held at the Confluence Stadium, is intended to highlight the presidential flag bearer.
He said that the mission of the PDP is to rescue the country from the misrule of the ruling party.
According to him, ‘with the antecedents and pedigrees of the presidential candidate and his running mate, there is hope for the reformation and resetting of the country that has been battered by the ruling APC.
” Kogi state has been a PDP state and would remain so. There is a great difference between now and when PDP was in power as the people are now wallowing in excruciating poverty despite huge allocations accruing to the state
” Of all the candidates jostling for the presidency, Atiku is the most prepared as he has a comprehensive blueprint in which to tackle the problems of the country and make it a pride to all Nigerians.
” I therefore call on all the electorate in the state to ensure they vote for Atiku Abubakar and all the PDP candidates in the February polls , and i urged the party supporters to stay firm and refuse to be intimidated by anybody” He stated.
He, however called on the party and supporters to undertake aggressive mobilisation of the electorate to welcome the party Flag-bearers to the state urged them to remain resolute in the face of threats and intimidation, saying as dying party they may try to bark but would not be able to bite.
The re-election of Babajide Sanwo-Olu as governor of Lagos State for another four-year term has the support of the organized labor in the state.
Speaking at the ‘Labour4Sanwo-Olu’ protest held by labour unions on Thursday at the Police College Parade Ground in Ikeja, Sanwo-Olu thanked the unions for their support of his administration.
He pledged that his administration would keep improving and livable conditions for state employees.
Sanwo-Olu asserts that his administration “is coming back bigger, stronger, and better and would support and do things far more than have been done for the people of Lagos State.
”You are the reasons why we are in government. You are the reasons why we wake up everyday to go to work and we will not disappoint you. We will not embarrass you, we take it very very, very seriously.
”I want to thank you very much. My party wants to thank you because this cuts across party line, it cuts across ethnic line, it cuts across religious line. This is for performance, it is for delivery, it is for ensuring that we can provide sustenance and sustainability of life for each and everyone.
”So go out, tell your church members, tell your Muslim members, tell your community leaders, tell everybody under you that you have made a choice, your association has made a choice,” he said.
Also at the event, Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour Matters, Babatunde Williams, noted that the Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration had been proactive in putting the welfare of workers at the front burner in the area of salary review, trainings, among other interventions.
He noted that the administration’s impact had been felt in various sectors in the state, in its feats to ensure the state remains economically stable.
Chairman, Joint Negotiating Council, Segun Balogun, in his goodwill message, said the endorsement for the re-election of the administration was in the right direction because of the laudable initiatives and achievements, especially when it has to do with workers welfare. He commended the governor for taking his place in history.
The Chairman, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Lagos State, Agnes Funmilayo Sessi, said this is the first time that labour in the state would come out to endorse the candidates of any party in the state. Sesi noted that “Labour Unions had been sitting on the fence but now, wants to take its faith in it hands by supporting Governor Sanwo-Olu’s reelection bid.”
She said the Labour movement would engage in politics this time around to vote for the Governor and his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, adding that 60 percent of the people of the state are workers and that they have endorsed them to return for another four years in office.
Also speaking at the event where the hands of Governor Sanwo-Olu was raised up for endorsement, Chairman, Trade Union Congress, Gbenga Ekundayo, said democracy is about inclusion, adding that the governor has a listening ears and accommodating as Labour Unions have endorsed the administration for another four year term in office.
Air Marshal Sadiq Baba Abubakar, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for governor of Bauchi state in the general elections of 2023, was introduced to the president Muhamadu Buhari on Thursday.
Abubakar was accompanied by Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the APC National Chairman, who has received enormous support and endorsements from numerous groups in the state since his emergence as the governorship candidate.
During the visit, President Buhari raised his hands in approval of Abubakar’s bid for the governorship. Additionally, they talked in private on party developments.
Following reports of Doyin Okupe, a former presidential adviser, being detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) at Terminal 1 of Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos on Thursday morning, more information has continued to come to light.
The Service allegedly took action in response to a “watch-list request issued on July 18th, 2016, nearly six years earlier,” according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Dr. Peter Afunanya, the DSS’s spokesperson, had earlier intimated in a statement that its agents had detained Okupe “at the request of the EFCC.”
He says that Doyin Okupe has been turned over to the Commission that made the request for the action for quite some time. London was to be Okupe’s destination.
Meanwhile, the EFCC Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren in a statement to Daily Independent said, “The DSS, today, January 12th, informed the Commission of the interception of Dr. Doyin Okupe, former presidential adviser, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
“The Service acted on a Watch-list request issued on July 18th, 2016, over six years before his recent conviction on money laundering charges by the Federal High Court, Abuja.
“The Commission was in the process of formally lifting the watch-list before his interception and will expedite action in this regard.”
Okupe is the immediate past Director General of the leading opposition presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi.
He voluntarily resigned as Obi’s Campaign DG following his recent conviction by the Federal High Court, Abuja on money laundering charges.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has hinted that it would file a lawsuit against a cartel that is thought to have given Abuja’s streets illegitimate names.
Indicating that the legal dispute over the issue would be settled amicably, with the agreement of all parties, between FCTA and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
At a joint press conference on Thursday, Umar Shuaibu, the coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), made a statement to provide additional clarity on the pressing issue.
Despite the FCT High Court’s judgment about street naming being appealed, all parties, including the AMAC leadership, have agreed to establish an interagency committee to take all pertinent aspects into consideration.
Shuaibu made it clear that FCTA was following the law as a major provider of infrastructure in the Capital City rather than taking over AMAC’s duties.
He equally hinted that it’s intervention in the issue was to restore the integrity of the process, alleging that investigation has exposed unscrupulous individuals who were adultrating it for personal gains, using AMAC as a cover.
According to him: ” The existence of a cartel who are operating for their personal aggrandizement using the AMAC as a cover. Even the AMAC leadership is not aware of the extent of the damage and quantum of corruption perpetrated in the name of Street naming under it.
” As such the FCTA is going to engage the anti-corruption agencies to ensure that all those involved in the infamous activities are brought to books or face the wrath of the law”, he stressed.
Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of AMAC, Christopher Maikalangu stated that his council was interested in having a harmonised process for the purpose of achieving a desired result.
He, however, claimed ignorance of the rot in the street naming process, saying the committee in charge of it had been in place before he came into office.
He however, assured that the Council would co-operate with FCTA on the issue to find a lasting and mutual beneficial solution.
The FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) increased its efforts to contain the spread of fire in the markets, workplaces, homes, and other public areas of the nation’s capital.
In order to inform vendors and customers about how to minimize fire outbreaks, Mrs. Florence Wenegieme, Director of FEMA’s Forecasting Response Mitigation, led a team to Kubwa Village Market on Thursday.
She gave a stern warning against the selling of kerosene sealant and engine oil there.
Wenegieme sneered at the return of those who were selling petroleum products after the market explosion in 2022, which was caused by those selling kerosene.
According to her: ” Today, we are in Kubwa Market, you will recall that sometimes ago there was a kerosene explosion in this Kubwa village market and to be specific at this location.
” This is a location where a lady was selling kerosene and another woman was frying beans cake and there was explosion and we were involved in the rescue operation.
” Since, then we use to come here to carryout sensitisation to talk to them and advice them on the dos and don’t in terms of disasters of different kinds.”
She explained that during dry season, the agency discouraged traders from selling petroleum products in different locations because such products are supposed to be sold only at the filling station.
” But if you look around you will see people selling petroleum products like kerosene, dizseal, engine oil, under the high-tension wire.
” Looking in front of us we have a generator mechanic and somebody selling kerosene right beside a transformer and under the high-tension wire.
” That is why the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, the Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, the Permanent Secretary of FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola and the Director-General of FEMA, Abbas Idriss, directed us to come out immediately to advice the residents on how to mitigate the incidence of fire outbreak in the territory.”
Wenegieme, however, asssured that the agency would continue to intensify efforts to rid the territory of all kinds of disaster with a view to save lives and properties.
Her words: ” What we are doing here is a continuation of the Dry Season sensitisation which we started in November 2022.
” We have been moving from one market to another to enlighten traders on how they can prevent fire outbreak in the market.”
The director, however, commended the market management for the provision of fire extinguisher in various locations in the market and urged the FCT Fire Service to carryout comprehensive check on the market.
Meanwhile, the Divisional Fire Officer, Kubwa Division, Uwadoneh Idorenyi, emphasised the need for traders and the FCT residents to avoid all risk factors associated with fire outbreak.
She also advised residents to have Fire blanket in their kitchens, avoid storing petroleum products at homes and ensure to switch off all electrical appliances whenever they are going out.
