A Judge of the Federal High Court in Lagos, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to publish the interim order on the possible forfeiture of $5.7million belonging to the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience.
The Judge, today, Monday, ruled that the interim order should be published in a newspaper to enable any interested party to appear before the court within 14 days to “show cause” as to why a final order of forfeiture should not be made in favour of the federal government.
The EFCC had sought for the final forfeiture of what it called the remaining $5,731,173.55 after the wife of the former President had allegedly part of the $6,791,599.64 (about N2.1billion) which she paid into her account between February 8, 2013 and January 30, 2015.
The anti crime agent said the the money, which Dame Patience allegedly directed her aides to pay into her account while her husband was president, was suspected to be proceed of unlawful activities.
It said she later spent $949,282.98 (about N296,141,911) from the money apart from withdrawing another $100,000 from the account in April, leaving a balance of $5,731,173.55.
EFCC prayed the court to order the temporary forfeiture of the remaining sum to prevent her from further dissipating it.
This was even as Dame Patience’s lawyer, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), urged the court not to order a final forfeiture of the money, saying that his client was not given sufficient time to “show cause” why the money should not be forfeited to the federal government. [myad]
Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi ll has appealed to Hausa speaking people from the North to respect the culture of any community in the Southern parts of the country where they find themselves.
Sanusi, who received the newly installed Garkuwan Hausawa in Ogun, Otunba Rotimi Paseda, in his palace in Kano, emphasized the need for Hausa people to respect the culture, tradition and norms of their host communities for peaceful co-existence.
“You should be good ambassadors of the north and ensure that you leave in peace and harmony with your host communities. Nigeria will remain one and indivisible country and Nigerians will continue to be one family.
“I was delighted when I learnt of your goodwill to Hausa people in Ogun state. I am not surprised of the good testimonies I hear about you taking cognizance of the fact that you are from a ruling house.
“Oba Awujale of Ijebu Land is my personal friend. We have enjoyed a long-standing relationship; and I feel happy for the role you are playing as the Garkuwan Hausawa to ensure cordial relationship between my people and the Yorubas.”
The Emir appealed to those agitating for another country to be carved out of Nigeria to have a rethink, saying that if Nigerians respect each other, they would continue to remain as one entity irrespective of their tribes, religion and cultural differences.
“This is what we, the traditional rulers are promoting among our subjects. So, we should ignore our difference and help in building one country.”
The Garkuwan Hausawa, Otunba Rotimi Paseda, said he was at the palace to pay homage to Emir Sanusi and receive his blessings as the newly crowned Garkuwan Hausawa.
Paseda, also the national leader of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) said, he had enjoyed fruitful relationship with the Hausa people living in Ogun state.
“They are my brothers. I ensure that they are happy and I can testify to you that they have remained good ambassadors of the Hausa race in the state.
“They live in peace with us and I will ensure that the status quo is maintained,” he added. [myad]
The Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN) has announced that it will confer posthumous awards on the late former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and the former Managing Director of DTN, the late Alhaji Babatunde Jose tomorrow, Tuesday.
The management said that the conferment of the awards on the distinguished Nigerians will take place at the organization’s “Heroes Award’’ in Abuja as part of activities to mark its 91st anniversary.
In a statement today in Lagos, the DTN said that the recipients of the awards are being honoured for their individual contributions to the country’s development.
It said that late Yar’Adua, Nigeria’s President between May 29, 2007 and May 5, 2010, carved a niche for himself as a democrat and selfless leader who gave his all to re-building not only his home state, Katsina, but Nigeria as a whole.
“The late Yar’Adua, born in Katsina, North Central Nigeria on Aug. 11, 1951, died on May 5, 2010, was a one-time civilian governor of Katsina State between 1999 and 2007.
“During the period, he enunciated and executed several developmental projects, including roads, education, health, housing and agriculture in his desire to increase the living standards of his people.
“The late president, born into an aristocratic family in Katsina by the older Yar’Adua, a former Minister of Lagos during the First Republic (1960-1966), attended Ruffuka Primary School, in 1958.
“He also attended Katsina Boarding Primary School, Government College, Keffi, 1969; Barewa College (1971) and the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, 1972-1975, graduating with a Bsc. (Edu), Chemistry.
“The late Yar’Adua, was married to Turai, and they were blessed with seven children — five daughters and two sons.
“He held various managerial positions, including General Manager, Sambo Farms; and Chairman of several boards, including Katsina Investment Ltd and Madara Ltd, respectively,’’ the statement said.
“He was elected governor and president on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but was challenged by a protracted illness during which he died.”
The statement said that Alhaji Babatunde Jose, a doyen of journalism, was the first indigenous Managing Director of Daily Times Group in 1962.
“A foremost journalist and indeed, one of the respected Nigerian journalism rose through the ranks to become a colossus in the media industry.
“Jose, an astute manager of human and material resources, was born in Lagos on November 13, 1925 to Hamzat and Mrs Hajarat Jose, both of blessed memory.
“He was educated at the Lagos Government School, Yaba, Lagos Methodist School, and St. Saviours’ College, also in Lagos, before becoming a trainee at 16 years of age.
“At various times, in 1946, when he was transferred to the Editorial Department of The Daily Times, Jose later became a Correspondent in the then Eastern and Northern regions, when the Daily Mirror was created and bought a majority share holding in the Daily Times.’’
The statement said that Jose rose again, to become the News Editor of Times, Assistant Editor, and later Managing Director of The Daily Times. “He grew the paper as the best to beat, churning out over one million copies and making sales that ran into millions of Naira.
“He was later eased out, following the 1975 coup, and he went into some other endeavours, including training and manpower development of young journalists.
“One of his products is the distinguished chairman of the awards and former Times man, as well as, former civilian governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba.
“The history of the Nigerian journalism industry cannot be complete without mentioning the critical role of the late Jose,’’ it said, adding that he died on Aug. 2, 2008. [myad]
“What got me thinking was the chicken and egg puzzle which the statement immediately raises. Do countries become more corrupt because the people are poor or are the people poor because their country is corrupt? We may never be able to answer this question to everybody’s satisfaction.”
The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki posed this question today, Monday, at the launching of Senator Dino Melaye’s anti-corruption book titled: ‘Antidote of Corruption,” in Abuja.
Dr. Bukola Saraki, who spoke extensively about how to fight corruption in Nigeria said: “if the purpose of government is to improve the quality of lives of its people, then any conversation about corruption must focus primarily on how it affects human development, whether it is health, wealth or education.”
He identified one area where he believed the President Buhari-led administration had made remarkable progress in the past two years, saying that it is that corruption has been forced back to the top of the national political agenda.
“Every single day, you read the newspapers, you listen to the radio, you go on the internet, you watch the television, the people are talking about it. The people are demanding more openness, more accountability and more convictions. Those of us in government are also responding, joining the conversation and accepting that the basis of our legitimacy as government is our manifest accountability to the people.”
He stressed the need for governments across All Levels to join the fight against corruption, adding: “we acknowledge that if we want Nigerians to trust their government again, then government at all levels must demonstrate that we are not in office for the pursuit of private gains, but to make our people happier by helping them to meet their legitimate aspirations and achieve a higher quality of life…Nigeria and Nigerians have not accepted corruption as normal; we recognize it as a problem; that we are determined to make a break with our past and live by different rules.”
The Senate President insisted that deterrence is a better approach to fighting corruption and that he is convinced that we must return to that very basic medical axiom that prevention is better than cure.
According to him, the reason why the fight against corruption has met with rather limited success is that we appeared to have favoured punishment over deterrence.
“We must review our approaches in favour of building systems that make it a lot more difficult to carry out corrupt acts or to find a safe haven for corruption proceeds within our borders. In doing this, we must continue to strengthen accountability, significantly limit discretion in public spending, and promote greater openness.”
Dr. Saraki said that the National Assembly, last week, took the first major step in the fight against corruption with a direction towards greater openness.
He said that for the first time in our political history, the budget of the National Assembly changed from a one-line item to a 34-page document that shows details of how we plan to utilize the public funds that we appropriate to ourselves.
Speaking on the anti-corruption legislation being considered by the Senate, the Senate President said serious attention is now being paid to the passage into law the following bills:
“The Whistleblower Protection bill, which I am confident will be passed not later than July 2017.
“The Proceeds of Crime bill
“The Special Anti-Corruption Court, which would be done through constitutional amendment and;
“The Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill.”
He said that the National Assembly, driven by the saying that “whoever comes to equity must come with clean hands” had demonstrated itss commitment to transparency and a more open legislature, adding: “we will be operating on a higher moral ground in carrying out our oversight duties as prescribed by the constitution.
“We need to simplify our bureaucracy and administrative procedures. Because it is in the complexity and red-tapes that corrupt officials profit. However, I also strongly suspect, while not justifying anything, that majority of these low level corruption are largely powered more by need even more than greed.
“If we are able to build a quality public education system, especially at the basic and secondary level, which would not require parent to pay through their nose for their children’s education; if we are able to build an efficient public health system that provide insurance covers to ordinary citizens so that when they fall sick, they can access quality healthcare without running from pillar to post looking for money; if we are able to build a system that guarantees food and shelter to everyone; if we are able to do all these, we would have gone a long way in removing much of the driving force for corruption at this level.”
The Senate President berate Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index on Nigeria, saying that the year-on-year report does not fully reflect or account for the progress being made in the fight against corruption.
It was his belief that the key challenge is ‘perception’ which he said, is largely subjective, adding that it is important for the Transparency International and other such organizations to improve on their methodology by developing more robust parameters that reflect the progress that some countries are making in respect to corruption. [myad]
“They say I am a dog, but I have two legs not four. I don’t have a tail or a snout,” President Zuma told a gathering at People’s Park.
The President was attending a prayer gathering organized in his honour at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, in Durban.
Speaking in isiZulu, Zuma remarked that all the agitation about him being corrupt is the doing of third forces.
President Zuma asserted that it is more profitable for all the anti-Zuma campaigns to focus on the issues troubling workers and the poor instead of wasting time on abusing him and the ANC in the public.
“They say all sorts of accusations about this dog, saying I am corrupt, I steal, without a shred of evidence of this theft. There is a problem in this country of people who are saying we are in crisis…
“Those saying that the ANC is in crisis must come to Zuma and tell Zuma that he is no longer leading well,” he said.
To President Zuma, it’s surprising that members of ANC would join opposition parties and spend much time talking about the ANC.
“The funny thing” he said, “is that those who voted against the ANC have not changed; they continue being against us, they do not surprise us. The surprise comes from those who are part of the ANC who start talking things that are incomprehensible and they don’t say these things in the right places,” wailed Zuma.
The President futher lamented that ANC’s alliance partners aren’t treating the ANC the ideal way.
“Never has the ANC talked about discussing one of the alliance partners. We talk about matters of the ANC, by the ANC; we don’t utter the name of another organisation.
“These unusual actions indicate that there is a third force that these people report to…I’m not saying much but it is suspicious,” stated Zuma.
Having said that, President Zuma urged SA religious leaders to quit their harsh criticism of political leaders and pray for them.
He said: “At times you hear religious leaders say things that a priest should not say. Religious leaders must pray for us political leaders when we go astray and not criticize us like some are doing, calling us criminals or idiots or Satan.” [myad]
The House of Representatives has given the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, 24 hours to appear before its committee on Public Procurement over alleged abuse and breach of the Procurement Act, 2001.
The committee, today, Monday, walked out on officials of the Finance Ministry led by the Legal Director, Gabriel Christopher, who it said had no the competence to speak on the matter.
The committee is saddled with the responsibility to investigate ‘Allegations of Abuse, Breach, and Violations of Public Procurement Act 2001 in the Engagements of Contractors for Pre- shipment, Inspection, and Monitoring of Crude 0il and Gas Export from Nigeria.’ [myad]
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has re-arraigned former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode and former Finance minister, Nenadi Usman before a Federal High Court in Lagos. Also included are one Danjuma Yusuf and a company; Joint Trust Dimension Nig. Ltd.
They are being charged with money laundering and alleged diversion of N4.6 billion. They are facing 17-count charge.
The defendants pleaded not guilty before a new Judge handling the case, Justice Rilwan Aikawa. The Judge took over trial after Mr. Fani-Kayode applied that Muslim Hassan should excuse himself from the trial on the grounds that he was the EFCC officer who signed a criminal charge filed against him.
Fani-Kayode, was the spokesperson of former President, Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election campaign organisation. [myad]
Cleaners and porters, today, Monday, shut down Abuja Specialist Hospital in Gwagwalada, demanding the immediate payment of their five months accumulated salaries from their employers.
Eye witness accounts said today, Monday, that the angry workers, who arrived in the hospital as early as 6am, barricaded all entrances into the premises of the hospipital, including the main gate, making it impossible for medical and other essential personnel to gain entry into the premises.
It was learnt that the protesting workers stationed themselves in strategic places around the hospital to prevent essential staff from carrying out their duties, even as the services of the porters and the cleaners were completely grounded.
It was learnt that most of the outpatients were forced to either go to other nearby health facilities for medical attention or return to their houses. This was even as the patients on admission were left to their fate.
The protesting workers, who are said to be earning between N12, 000 and, N15,000 per month, are under direct employment of private companies to which the cleaning job and that of the porters are contracted.
It was not immediately known whether or not the Federal Ministry of health, under the which jurisdiction the Specialist Hospitals operate, had actually disbursed funds to the private company, from where they would pay their workers. [myad]
Doctors in Kogi State have suspended their 10-day old strike to give room for dialogue with the State Government.
In a statement issued after its ordinary General Meeting in Lokoja, the association said that the decision to suspend the strike was unanimously taken to honour the Kogi paramount ruler, Attah Igala, and other imminent stakeholders, for their intervention.
“NMA has agreed to suspend its strike for two weeks to enable prominent personalities and stakeholders, mediate.
“Since the Attah of Igala, NMA National President and our honourable members of the House of Assembly have requested the association to suspend the action and give them time to intervene, we have no choice than to honour them.
“We will reconvene in a forth night to decide on the way forward if no positive progress is made and our demands are not met.”
The statement was signed by the Chairman of NMA in the state, Dr. Godwin Tijani,
The doctors embarked on industrial action despite threat by Kogi Government to terminate the appointment of any of its staff, under its health sector, that participates.
Acting Head of Service, Kehinde Lawal, in a circular, warned that the state government will also adopt the policy of ‘no work no pay’ for any doctor on strike.
Kehinde had said that government was doing its best to make sure that all the salary arrears of cleared officers, by the screening committee, would be paid within the shortest time possible.
“It is equally noteworthy for every union to realise that the best way to resolve any issue is through peaceful dialogue and not strike action.
“In view of the foregoing, any staff of Kogi State Government that decides to go on strike is hereby notified that such person will have his/her job at stake.
“The policy of ‘No Work No Pay’ will be adopted for any worker that embarks on strike action,” she said. [myad]
Eugene Anenih, son of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) chieftain, Chief Tony Anenih, has reportedly slumped and died at a Lagos club on Saturday. Eugene was said to be playing table tennis when he suddenly collapsed and passed away.
Until his death, he was the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nova Finance & Securities Limited.
Eugene also used to be the Head of Corporate Finance and Treasury Operations at A and Hatman Ltd before moving on to Nova Finance & Securities Limited as Chief Executive Officer.
He was an authorized Dealing Clerk of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers. [myad]
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