Fayemi Heading For Easy Victory In Ekiti Governorship Election, Gov Al-Makura Predicts

May 16, 2018

Governor Almakura of Nassarawa Presents Kayode Fayemi, APC Governorship candidate Ekiti Gubernatorial election | Photo credit: Channelstv

Governor Tanko Umar Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has predicted that Dr. Kayode John Fayemi, who had just won the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket as candidate for the forthcoming election in Ekiti State will find it easy to clinch the final victory.

Al-Makura, who headed the APC election committee at the recent party primary in the State said: “I think we can consider this election as a foregone conclusion, given the support and the solidarity shown by other aspirants after the declaration.

The Nasarawa governor, who spoke to news men shortly after he formally presented Dr. Fayemi to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, today,Wednesday, said that he had an inkling that Fayemi is going to enjoy the support of all the aspirants who contested with him for te party’s ticket.

“If you look at the quality, the competence, the maturity of the delegates who have unanimously voted Fayemi, you will know that out there, the caliber of people they control are also people that represent the interest of Ekiti State.

“Should the election hold today, I can assure you that with what we have seen, we are comfortable that Fayemi will emerge the governor of Ekiti State.”

Also speaking, Dr. Fayemi, who is currently the minister of Mines and Solid Minerals, said tat with the party election concluded: “we can say that we are ready to go forward and campaign for the election in line with INEC conditions.”

The APC governorship flag bearer said that a critical hurdle has been crossed but that he had a major work to do.

“The important thing is to see this as a collective rescue mission and I am glad that my co-contestants have seen it in that light. I have met with all the co-contestants, I have broken fast with them, I have shared ideas with them, I have also extended an olive branch to them to be part of the candidate advisory council for this election, and they have all graciously agreed to do that. “We are confident that the APC will carry the day but there is still a lot of work to do.”

On the issue of the current governor, Ayodele Fayose calling him a walk in the park and that PDP candidate defeat him woefully, Dr. Fayemi said: “Well, as far as I am aware, Fayose is not on this ballot. We will deal with the candidate on this ballot and the track record that we have in Ekiti is what will sell us.”

Responding to a question on the probe panel that brought out the report and his recent public apology, he said he did not just apologize on its own, adding that what he said was that there were people in Ekiti even though they were minority, who were not happy with some of the policies and programmes of his government whilst he was in office “and to such people, I tender an apology.

“But, for me the rescue mission in Ekiti is a job that has to be done. What do you want? You want continuity or lack of salary, continuity of poverty, continuity of want, continuity of directionlessness or so you want to return to a past of buoyancy, human development, accountability and transparency in government. That is the clear dividing line and people can see that.

“As to the probe panel that you mentioned, well, I don’t want to dwell on the probe panel. But, the law the land of the land is clear, it is only a court of competent jurisdiction that can convict anyone, any Nigerian for any malfeasance. You cannot seat in your house, cook up a probe panel, a kangaroo tribunal and you say you have indicated someone and that person is guilty and should be ban from public office. That is just a joke but then the man we are taking about is an Alawada like we say in Yorubaland, so that is not surprising.”

President Buhari Greets Muslims As Ramadan Fasting Begins

Greenbarge Reporters

May 16, 2018

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent his greetings and best wishes to Muslims in Nigeria and across the world as they commence the 30-day Ramadan fast tomorrow, Thursday, May 17.

In the message, the President reminded Muslims that fasting is not meant merely to stay hungry or thirsty, but an opportunity to strive for inner purification and self-accountability.

He explained that it is meant to inculcate righteousness and discipline, even as he advised Muslims to increase their love for humanity, acts of charity, kindness, generosity and gratitude. He reminded them of the Holy Prophet Muhammad used to spend very generously on the poor and the needy during this period, advising them to copy such good example.

He called on Muslims and all Nigerians to always remember men and women who are less fortunate than themselves and to help the government in confronting the challenges facing the nation.

Court Sends Senator David Jang To Prison, Over Alleged N6.3 Billion Fraud

Greenbarge Reporters

May 16, 2018

The Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos has ordered that Senator David Jonah Jang, who had once served as governor of Plateau State, be remanded in prison on a 12-count charge bordering on misappropriation of funds to the tune of N6.3billion.

Jang was charged before Justice Daniel Longji by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly embezzling special funds released to the state by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), two months to the end of his tenure as governor of the state in 2015.
He was Jang alleged to have pocketed N2 billion released by the CBN for disbursement to small and medium enterprises in the State under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Funds (MSMEDF), a month before the expiration of his tenure in April 2015.
He was also said to have abused his office as the governor by collecting money to the tune of N4.3billion from the state coffers through the cashier of the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Yusuf Gyang Pam.
Jang was docked alongside Pam, who was also accused of using his office for personal enrichment to the tune of N11.5million.
Count eight of the charge reads:
“That you, Senator Jonah David Jang, whilst being the Governor of Plateau State between January and May, 2015 in Jos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, used your office as Executive Governor of Plateau State to confer unfair advantage upon yourself by collecting the sum of N4,357,195,000 (Four billion, Three Hundred and Fifty-Seven Million, One Hundred and Ninety-Five Thousand Naira) from the cashier of the Office of the Secretary to the Plateau State Government, and which sum was derived from the account of Plateau State Government, and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000”.
Particulars of count nine read:
“That you, Yusuf Gyang Pam, whilst being a cashier at the Office of the Secretary to the Plateau State Government on 11th July, 2014 in Jos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, used your office as cashier at the Office of Secretary to the Plateau State Government to confer corrupt advantage upon yourself by making a cash lodgment of the sum of N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) into your personal account with Zenith Bank and which sum was derived from the account of Plateau State Government , and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000”.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Upon their plea, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, asked the court to fix a date for hearing and to remand the suspects in prison custody pending trial.
However, Robert Clarke, representing the defendants informed the court that, he had a pending “bail application for the 1st and 2nd defendants”.
He urged the court to admit the defendants to bail on self recognition saying, “the first defendant was a former military governor, two time civilian governor and currently a serving senator”.
In his ruling, Justice Longji ordered the remand of the defendants in prison custody and adjourned the case to May 24, 2018 for hearing of the bail application.

Jacobs, in response, opposed the application and urged the court not to grant it considering the weight of the offence adding that, “the defence counsel’s submission was not based on law”.

Lagos Police Threaten To Arrest, Prosecute Medical Doctors Who Reject Gunshot Victims

Greenbarge Reporters

May 16, 2018

The Lagos State Police Command has warned hospitals and doctors to henceforth desist from rejecting gunshot victims, saying such act constitutes a flagrant violation of an existing law.
Reacting to a media report on the refusal of an hospital to treat a victim who was shot and wounded by armed robbers, the police warned that doctors who do so are criminally liable on account of the provision of the Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims Of Gunshot Act, 2017.
In a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti, the police said it would henceforth arrest and prosecute any medical practitioner who rejects gunshot victims on the ground of police report.
“The attention of the Nigeria Police, Lagos State Command, has been drawn to the Punch Newspapers publication of Monday, May 14, 2018, captioned ” Hospital rejects victim over bullet injuries.”
“The story goes that one Engr. Adebayo Akinwunmi, a senior engineer with an Information and Communications Technology company, was shot and wounded by armed robbers in his house at Ofada-Mokoloki, Ogun state and was brought to Reddington hospital, Ikeja for treatment only to be refused admission on the unlawful and inexcusable grounds that there was no police report.
“The Command considers the action of the hospital as cruel; perhaps, an indication that the hospital management may be ignorant of the “Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims Of Gunshot Act, 2017.”
The statement said the Act demands that every hospital in Nigeria whether public or private ‘shall accept or receive for immediate and adequate treatment with or without police clearance any person with a gunshot wounds.’
“The Act, however requires the hospital treating such a patient to report the fact to the nearest police station within two (2) hours of commencement of treatment.”
It said that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal was saddened by the allegation against the said hospital, and had henceforth directed the arrest and prosecution of any medical practitioner who violates the law.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Imohimi Edgal, saddened by the allegation against the Reddington Hospital, has directed all Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers in Lagos State to henceforth arrest and diligently prosecute any medical practitioner who rejects a gunshot victim on the ground of no police report.
“The CP wants doctors to note that the Act recommends a 5-year-jail term for any person, hospital or authority who stands by or omits to do his bit which results in the unnecessary death of any person with bullet wounds.”

SP Chike Oti
Police Public Relations Officer
Lagos State
May 16, 2018

Facebook Deletes 583 Million Data Over Terrorist Propaganda, Hate Speech

Greenbarge Reporters

May 16, 2018

Facebook has announced the removal of 583 million fake accounts in the first three months of 2018 as part of enforcing what it called “community standards” against sexual or violent images, terrorist propaganda or hate speech.

Responding to calls for transparency after the Cambridge Analytica data privacy scandal, Facebook said that the removal of the data came on top of blocking millions of attempts to create fake accounts every day.

Despite this, the group said that fake profiles still make up 3-4 percent of all active accounts, claiming to have detected almost 100 percent of spam and to have removed 837 million posts assimilated to spam over the same period.

Facebook pulled or slapped warnings on nearly 30 million posts containing sexual or violent images, terrorist propaganda or hate speech during the first quarter.

Improved technology using artificial intelligence had helped it act on 3.4 million posts containing graphic violence, nearly three times more than it had in the last quarter of 2017.

In 85.6 percent of the cases, Facebook detected the images before being alerted to them by users, said the report, issued the day after the company said about 200 apps had been suspended on its platform as part of an investigation into misuse of private user data.

The figure represents between 0.22 and 0.27 percent of the total content viewed by Facebook’s more than two billion users from January through March.

“In other words, of every 10,000 content views, an estimate of 22 to 27 contained graphic violence,” the report said.

Responses to rule violations include removing content, adding warnings to content that may be disturbing to some users while not violating Facebook standards; and notifying law enforcement in case of a “specific, imminent and credible threat to human life”.

Improved IT also helped Facebook take action against 1.9 million posts containing terrorist propaganda, a 73 percent increase. Nearly all were dealt with before any alert was raised, the company said.

It attributed the increase to the enhanced use of photo detection technology.

Hate speech is harder to police using automated methods, however, as racist or homophobic hate speech is often quoted on posts by their targets or activists.

“It may take a human to understand and accurately interpret nuances like… self-referential comments or sarcasm,” the report said, noting that Facebook aims to “protect and respect both expression and personal safety”.

Facebook took action against 2.5 million pieces of hate speech content during the period, a 56 increase over October-December. But only 38 percent had been detected through Facebook’s efforts, the rest flagged up by users.

The posts that keep the Facebook reviewers the busiest are those showing adult nudity or sexual activity, quite apart from child pornography, which is not covered by the report.

Some 21 million such posts were handled in the period, a similar number to October-December 2017.

That was less than 0.1 percent of viewed content, which includes text, images, videos, links, live videos or comments on posts, Facebook said, adding it had dealt with nearly 96 percent of the cases before being alerted to them.

Facebook has come under fire for showing too much zeal on this front, such as removing images of artwork tolerated under its own rules.

In March, Facebook apologised for temporarily removing an advert featuring French artist Eugene Delacroix’s famous work “Liberty Leading the People” because it depicts a bare-breasted woman.

Facebook’s head of global policy management Monika Bicket said the group had kept a commitment to recruit 3,000 more staff to lift the numbers dedicated to enforcing standards to 7,500 at the start of this year.

Source: AFP

Saraki Mobilizes Senators Over Police Boss’s Alleged Plot To Implicate Him In Criminal Case

Greenbarge Reporters

May 16, 2018

The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki is presently mobilizing his fellow senators to counter what he called ‘plot by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Idris Ibrahim to implicate him (Saraki) in a criminal matter. The Senate President is believed to have concluded arrangement to lead a 10-man delegation to President Muhammadu Buhari to protest against the alleged plan of the police boss.

Saraki, who addressed his colleagues, today, Wednesday, said that the Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatai Ahmed brought his attention to an alleged plan by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to force some suspects to implicate him in a criminal matter.

He said the Governor informed him that the suspects who were arrested in Kwara for cultism were allegedly ordered by Idris to Abuja to force them into altering their statements.

“According to information available to the Governor, the Inspector General of Police directed the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State to immediately transfer the men to the Force Headquarters

”The plan, as the Governor was made to understand, is that under duress, the suspects would be made to alter the statements already made in Ilorin.

“They will be made to implicate the Kwara State Government and myself in particular in their new statement.

”This plot is part of the strategy by the IGP to settle scores over the declaration by this honourable Chamber that he is not qualified and competent to hold any public office.

“In my view, this plot is an act of desperation, blackmail, intimidation, abuse of office and crude tactics aimed at turning our country into a Police State.

“The tactics is aimed at turning the country into a state where top officials cannot be made to obey the law, follow due process and subject themselves to constituted authorities.

“I want to bring this dangerous development to the attention of all of you, the entire country and the international community so that you can be aware of the level of impunity in our country and the danger it constitutes to our democracy.”

Contributing, the Deputy Leader of the Senate, Bala Na’ Allah said the matter should be treated with the seriousness it deserved, adding that for the matter to come from the Chief Security Officer of Kwara State, it should be taken seriously.

He called for the setting up of a committee to investigate the matter, saying: “in view of the fact that Saraki is involved he should step down for Ekweremadu to preside on setting up of the committee.”

Senator Gbenga Ashafa-(APC-Lagos) said the committee should comprise of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives in view of the fact that Saraki is the Chairman of the National Assembly.

The Chief Whip, Olusola Adeyeye, said the committee should comprise of seven lawmakers from each of the six geopolitical zones and added that the House of Representatives should be intimated on the development and advised to do same if they so wished.

Senator Sam Anyanwu(PDP-Imo) lamented the fact that lawmakers were being intimidated from carrying out their responsibilities, adding: “we should not trivialise this matter. If it is happening to Saraki then we are all in trouble.

”Many of us have been earmarked. It is a calculated attempt to ridicule the person and integrity of the Senate President and the national Assembly as an institution.”

Sen. Kabiru Marafa(APC-Zamfara) suggested that rather than setting up a committee to investigate the matter, the committee should visit President Buhari to inform him of the development.

“There is already a problem between us and the IGP, so I suggest that we raise a committee as suggested by others but instead of investigating they should sit down with President Buhari to discuss the matter.

“This is not a joke as it can turn democracy upsidedown.

“If we investigate, where are we to take our resolutions to. They might end up inviting the IG and what if he still doesn’t appear again,” he said.

Marafa said visiting the President on the matter and other related matters had become necessary as it was obvious that he was not in the picture of some of the problems lawmakers were facing.

Sen.Emmanuel Bwacha(PDP-Taraba) decried increased spate of intimidation of lawmakers.

He also suggested that the matter should be taken to the president, stressing that,” he ought to know that our democracy is collapsing. “

He further narrated his ordeal when he applied for security backup on his way to a volatile part of his state. Each and everyone of us stand the danger of this development.

” I applied for security backup to an area that is known for kidnapping.

“As we were proceeding on our way, there was an instruction for the police officers to withdraw to a nearby police station.

“My security detail was withdrawn in an area that is notorious for kidnapping and I was left alone. I had to drive alone in fear. We are no longer safe,” he said.

Senator Isah Misau(APC-Bauchi) said he brought the recent hounding of lawmakers to their attention when he noticed the turn of events but was not taken seriously.

“When I was making observation in this chamber that a lot of people will fall victim of persecution people thought I was saying this because of politics.

” It is not up to a year and everything is coming to light.

“We know that under any government no minister is arrested without the knowledge of the president.

” Today lawmakers are arrested and detained without the knowledge of Senate President and everyone kept quiet. Why appointees of the government should be doing this.

“For me we are not running a democracy. Let us know what we are operating in Nigeria because we cannot continue to operate under intimidation. Let us see President Buhari so that it can be on record,” he said.

In his remark, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu said: “we all know that the Parliament is the temple of democracy. We have the responsibility to our people not only to preserve our democracy but to also ensure that it is purified.

”What the Senate President has raised today is an exposure of some of the things that are wrong with our democracy which we need to halt.

“So we need to ensure there is rule of laws and we need to ensure that we respect our various rights. We are a country that is bound by conventions, laws, culture and tradition.

“So it is our responsibility as a Parliament to ensure that we protect the rights of our citizens, to ensure that we make progress as a nation especially on the issues of human rights and democracy.”

Those who were picked to accompany the Senate President to see President Muhammadu Buhari include the leader of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, the Chief ,Whip Olusola Adeyeye, Minority Whip, Godswill Akpabio, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (APC-Lagos) and Senator Raji Rasaki (APC-Ekiti).

Others are Senators Aliyu Wammakko (APC-Sokoto), Sam Egwu (PDP-Ebonyi), Danjuma Goje (APC-Gombe) and Abdullahi Adamu (APC-Nasarawa).

Petroleum Industry Governance Bill Is Yet To Be Brought For Buhari’s Assent – Presidency

Greenbarge Reporters

May 16, 2018

The Presidency has said that the harmonized Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) is yet to be brought to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent.

In a terse statement, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, said his findings show that the bill is still undergoing standard operating legislative processes of the National Assembly.

“Further to several enquiries by the media, interest groups and the public in respect of the within named Bill, May I please state that the said Bill has not yet been transmitted by the National Assembly to the President.

“From my enquiries, the Bill is still undergoing standard operating legislative processes of the National Assembly preparatory to transmission, please.”

It would be recalled that Chairman of the Senate committee on petroleum resources (upstream), Omotayo Alasoadura, had promised that the harmonized bill would be presented to the President for his assent on March 30.

The bill is aimed at instilling the best global practice in the oil industry.

FCT Court Grants Sambo Dasuki Fresh Bail

Greenbarge Reporters

May 16, 2018

Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has granted fresh bail to former National Security Adviser (NSA) retired Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki. He was re-arraigned before the court on the alleged arms fund diversion.
Dasuki was docked on 32 counts amended charges along with Aminu Baba Kusa, Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital.
The four defendants however pleaded not guilty to all the 32 count charges.
Apart from the dropping of former Director of Finance and Supply in the Office of the NSA, Salisu Shuaib from the amended charge list, the charges were almost the same as the old 18 count charges brought against the defendants by the Federal Government in 2015.
Shortly after taking the plea of the defendants, the issue of bail was raised and Counsel to Dasuki Adeola Adedekpe pleaded with the court to grant the defendants bail in liberal terms in view of the fact that the defendants have been attending their trial since 2015.
Counsel to the Federal Government Oluwaleke Atolagbe did not oppose the bail application.
The trial Judge, Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf however ordered that Dasuki and other defendants be allowed to continue to enjoy the bail he granted them in 2015 when they were first arraigned before his court.
Meanwhile, Justice Baba Yusuf has fixed July 3 and 5 for the trial of the defendants in the new charges.
The Federal Government had on April 30 filled the new 32 amended count charges to replace the initial 18 count charges brought against 5 defendants in 2015 before the same court.
In the amended charges coming barely one year to the general elections, names of prominent politicians from the opposition party were listed as beneficiaries of the alleged diversions
Apart from filing new charges with fresh names, a new twist was also introduced into the trial by government as a key defendant in the matter Salisu Shuaib who was a former Director of Finance and Supply in the ONSA under Colonel Dasuki was dropped from the new charge.
The amended charge was signed by Mr. Chile Okoroma, Director of Legal Services with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
At yesterday’s re-arraignment, no reason was adduced on why the former Director of Finance in ONSA who served along with Colonel Dasuki was dropped from the trial having being arraigned together since 2015.
Among top Nigerians alleged by the Federal Government to have collected money from the former NSA are the current National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, former Chairman Board of Trustee PDP, Chief Tony Anenih; former PDP Spokesperson, Chief Olisa Metuh; Publisher of Thisday, Nduka Obaigbena, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, Chairman AIT Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, Mouftah Baba-Ahmed, Bello Abba Mohammed, Dr. Bello Mohammed, AVM M. N Umar, Otunba Jonah Ogunniyi among others.
Apart from individuals, corporate organizations were also named as beneficiaries in the new charges and they include AMP Solar Service, Afro-Arab Investment, Bam Project and Projecties Limited, Bob Oshodin Organization Limited, WEHSAC Farms Limited, Wehsac Limited, Dimaris Mode Coolture Limited, First ARALAC Global Limited, Stellavera Development Limited, Jawaz Multi-purpose Venture Limited, Little Italy Global Services Limited, Belsha Nigeria Ltd and Syvan McNamara Limited among others.
It would be recalled that Dasuki, Salisu Shuaibu and three others were arraigned in 2015 on the same charge and pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

Aisha Buhari Laments Rampant Drug Abuse Among Women, Youths, Tasks Pharmacists

Greenbarge Reporters

May 16, 2018

Wife of the Nigeria’s President Mrs Aisha Buhari

Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has lamented the rampant drug abuse among women and youths in Nigeria, imploring Pharmacists to rise up to the challenge of finding solution to the scourge.

Aisha Buhari, who received members of the Association of Lady Pharmacists (ALP) in her office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, expressed worry that drug abuse had led to the destruction of the lives of millions of victims.

According to her, the federal government has done well by banning importation of codeine for the preparation of cough syrups as well as retailing of codeine containing cough syrups without prescription, saying that there is the need for pharmacists to comply with the enforcement directive.

“Lady Pharmacists as mothers, have a special role in protecting women and youths against drug abuse.”

Aisha Buhari expressed satisfaction with members of the pharmaceutical profession for their role in research, production and dispensing of medicines that cure diseases and save lives.

This was even as the National Chairman of the Association, Pharmacist Zainab Ujudud Shariff commended the efforts of Mrs. Aisha Buhari through Future Assured, especially in the area of IDPs, women and youth empowerment. She stated the commitment of the ALP to similar ideals, promising to support Future Assured in any way possible.

Zainab Shariff said that drug abuse is indeed a huge challenge that requires input from all stakeholders, and that as lady Pharmacists, they have a special reason to lead the war at homes, markets, schools and elsewhere.

“Presently, we carry our campaigns, advocacy and school debates on drug abuse; we have also championed calls for the establishment of rehabilitation centres across the country to cater for the victims of drug abuse.”

The Association donated drugs for de-worming, anti-malarial and folic acid for use by Future Assured in its medical outreaches.

Speaker Dogara Wants EFCC Operatives To Be Angels

Greenbarge Reporters

May 15, 2018

Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara has suggested that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) should live as angels.

“We expect that the officers of the EFCC should be angels. That is not a misplaced expectation, except for the reminder that angels live in heaven; they don’t live in hell.

“When you have an angel banished to hell, he’s now a demon, and demons cannot lead this fight. We have the active responsibility, and should take measures to insulate men and staff of this agency from temptations, that is by ensuring a practical means of engagement and service for them.”

Dogara, who spoke at the official commissioning of the Headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja today, Tuesday, said that the new headquarters is really befitting the renewed war against corruption, but said that emphasis should now be moved “to those wonderful men and women who are sacrificing so much in order to ensure the war is sustained and won.

“When I first came here, this building was a mere skeleton, I had said with the commitment of the President to fight corruption, anyone who had gone to the former Head Office of the EFCC as if you’re a foreigner visiting Nigeria for the very first time, the impression you’d leave with is that the fight is a joke, sort of. Because we didn’t have a building that represented the seriousness with which the fight against corruption was attached.

“I am happy to say to Mr. President that by this singular effort, he has demonstrated that he has put his money where his mouth is. I am happy to say that it’s through the support of the National Assembly that funds were put together to complete this institution and I can assure you of our continued commitment to supporting the fight against corruption.

“Now, first of all I came here just last week when I made a statement to the effect that if structures, world-class facilities such as this can fight corruption, then we can go home and be assured of winning the war against corruption. As important as this Head Office is however, it’s just like a computer, you can have a first-class hardware, but if the software is not good, you don’t have a computer.

“The last thing I will say is that this is perhaps the most important venue from which we must begin to change the narrative about corruption in Nigeria. The Chairman made a statement about a reference that was made of Nigeria as a fantastically corrupt country. Incidentally that statement was made in a city that is the home of the inflow of a lot of illicit funds.

“The person also stated that Nigeria leads the world in criminal enterprise. In fact that in the University of Lagos you can study and major in credit card fraud. That’s the narrative out there, but that must change due to the fact that we have sitting before us here a President who has won global acclaim as being corrupt-free.

“I can tell you that he is not alone in Nigeria, there are millions of Nigerians that we come across day by day who are corrupt free. As a representative of history, a prophet cried to God that there was no pure Prophet any more, that they had all bent their knees to baal. God replied this Prophet that He had reserved in that city thousands who had not bent their knees to baal.

“There are millions of Nigerians who have not bent their knees to the god of corruption, that fact I must emphasize. I want to thank all of you for coming, and I pray that God bless the President, bless you all and bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

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