The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello is obviously angry with a contractor handling construction works on the Karshi/Ara/Apo roads, threatening to revoke the contract and re-award it to another contractor.

The Minister who received in audience, the Managing Director/CEO of Army Post-Service Housing Development Limited, Brigadier General Mahe Bashir, expressed sadness that work on that road has remained uncompleted against all expectations.

He said that his Administration is trying to see how it could salvage the challenges being faced by the current contractor even as he warned warned that if such challenges are not resolved quickly, he would be forced to look for alternative.

Muhammad Bello said: “with respect to Karshi/Ara/Apo road, quite frankly, I had thought that by now, we would have completed that road. But unfortunately, the contractor handling the project has been faced with a number of challenges, which we are trying to overcome to salvage that project. Ultimately, what will happen is that if we are not able to sort out the issues of the contractor, we may have to look at some other alternatives of making sure the road is completed.

“But you can be rest assured that that road is a priority for this Administration. We will try as much as possible to see that it is really completed as quickly as possible.”

 The minister commended the intervention being made by the Army in area of providing housing facilities for its officers and men, saying that such interventions have brought a lot of benefits to both retired and serving members of the Army.

The Minister called on the Army Post-Service Housing Development Limited and other mass housing developers to ensure that all the housing schemes they are embarking upon adhere strictly to all the housing regulations in the FCT to make the process of individual title documentation and certification easier.

 “It is very important also to ensure that all the estates are built based on approved plans from the relevant authorities and departments of the FCTA. We have had instances of organizations that go into projects without seeking the necessary approvals. Invariably, that tends to distort planning in the city and development control generally.”

Earlier, Brigadier General Bashir said that the organization is a commercial entity registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and is doing business of housing development for its officers and men as well as the general public. He said so far, 26 estates have been developed across the country.

 He solicited for plots of land in the Federal Capital Territory to provide affordable houses, particularly for its officers and men presently fighting Bako Haram in the North East of the country. [myad]

Former Nigeria’s information minister, Chief John Nnia Nwodo has emerged the President General of Apex Igbo social cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo after hours of horse-trading to get other contestants step down for him.

Chief Nwodo, who was the candidate of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state, won the election with 242 votes.

A list of candidates for the Ohanaeze National election, signed with Ohanaeze official letterhead paper and circulated among delegates, saw only candidates approved by their host governors as to be voted for. One of the contestants, Professor Chiweyite Ejike, who refused to step down got 13 votes.

The five Governors of South East  States and that  of Delta and Rivers respectively, got interested in the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo following the prevailing circumstances in the political equation in the country, especially the increasing wave of pro-Biafra agitation.

The position of Deputy President General went to, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Hilary Opara while the position of Secretary General went to Barrister Uche Okwukwu.

Other positions includes: Deputy Secretary General, Solomon Ogunji, PhD; Vice President Abia, Elder Barr. Onuoha Udeka; VP Anambra, Mr. Charles Odunukwe; VP Delta, Dr. Ebigwei Sylvester; VP Ebonyi, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu; VP Rivers, Prince Igo Okpalanma; National Treasurer, Emeka Ogwu and Emma Okocha; Asst. National Treasurer, Chief Hon. Eric Ebeh.

The position of National Financial Secretary went to Alphonsus Duru while National Asst. Financial Secretary, Elder Chris Eluomunoh; National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Uche Achi; Asst. Publicity Secretary, Charles Ibegbu; National Legal Adviser, Chief Chuks Momah (SAN); Asst. Legal Adviser, Okeagu Ogada.

Earlier in a valedictory speech by the out gone President General, Chief Gary Nnachi Enwo-Igariwey said he happy to hand over a rejuvenated Ohanaeze Ndigbo to all Igbo speaking peoples of Nigeria.

“Four years ago, my executive prayed that as today comes we shall be able to say that we have transformed our headquarters and today the edifice under construction speaks for itself and is through the intervention of Imo state  Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.”

He rolled out the achievement of the outgoing National executive, saying that unlike years before, it is evident from this National General Assembly that the five governors of the southeast and the governors of Delta and Rivers States have shown healthy interest in Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

He expressed optimism that the Ohanaeze and the governors in the interest of all Igbo speaking peoples of Nigeria shall build a mutually beneficial and symbiotic relationship. [myad]

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has expressed regrets that despite the fight against corruption in Nigeria, some public officers are still stealing public funds and are being hailed by the people close to them.

“Some people believe that if ‘my kinsman’ steals it is ok,” the Vice President said, adding that there are still those who think that when a politician who is their kinfolk steals, it is permissible.

Osinbajo, who spoke today, Tuesday at a meeting with a delegation of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), led by its Chairman, Professor Itse Sagay at the Presidential Villa,  insisted that the government should completely de-legitimize corruption, especially through the way it is communicated.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo advised the anti-Corruption agencies to step up their engagement with the Nigerian public.

He said that the way Nigerians communicate what is going on regarding corruption is important, noting that there are still those who think that a politician who steals is some kind of Robin Hood, instead of being vilified.

He commended the work of PACAC for the excellent work the body had done so far from the beginning, adding that the Committee had been able to remove skepticism as to whether an anti-corruption initiative can work well in the country.

“This has been very good,” the Vice President declared, explaining that the Committee has given credibility to the anti-corruption war.

Professor Osinbajo expressed satisfaction that the anti-corruption war has been going on very well, especially with the role of PACAC, even as he stressed the need for corruption trials to be concluded promptly.

Professor Sagay told Osinbajo that PACAC has engaged with all anti-corruption agencies in the country, including the police and the judiciary.

“We are cooperating effectively well with them.”

Sagay who was accompanied by the Executive Secretary of the Committee, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye and members, including Hadiza Bala-Usman, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and others, called for a harmonized National Anti-Corruption Strategy for the Federal Government. [myad]

The immediate past President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed as false, allegation that he was involved in receiving ‘kickbacks’amountting to $1.3 Billion in the controversial OPL 245 Malabu oil block deal for which giants: ENI and Royal Dutch Shell are being investigated.

Reacting to reports in the media earlier today that Italian prosecutors have linked him to receiving kickbacks as part of a $1.3 billion deal, Jonathan said that all the allegations were more of what he called ‘innuendo, rather than factual evidence.’

Former President Jonathan made it clear that he was not accused, indicted or charged for corruptly collecting any monies as kickbacks or bribes from ENI by the Italian authorities or any other law enforcement body the world over.

In a statement today, Tuesday, by his media adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, Dr. Jonathan said that the the negotiations and transactions for the oil block deal predate his presidency, adding that the whole thing started on 6th May 2010 and ended on 29th May 2015.

“It may interest those promoting this false narrative to know that all the documents relating to the transactions, issues and decisions of the Federal Government on the Malabo issue, during the Jonathan administration, are in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation/Minister of Justice.

“As President of Nigeria, there is no doubt that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan met with executives of all the oil majors operating in Nigeria and urged them to, amongst other things, support the growth of the Nigerian oil industry by ramping up their investments and comply with the Local Content Act that he promoted and signed into law.

“We however wish to state, for emphasis, that at no time did the former President hold private meetings with representatives of ENI to discuss pecuniary issues. All the meetings and discussions former President Jonathan had with ENI, other IOCs and some indigenous operators were conducted officially, and in the presence of relevant Nigerian Government officials and were done in the best interest of the country.

“We make bold to point out that the former President never sent any Abubakar Aliyu, as the innuendoes in the false report suggest, to ENI, the IOCs or any indigenous operator to seek favour or collect any gratification on his behalf.

“We will like to point out for the umpteenth time that whether in office or out of office, former President Jonathan does not own any bank account, aircraft or real estate outside Nigeria. Anyone with contrary information is challenged to publicly publish same.

“As the President who signed the Freedom of Information Act into law, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan lifted the veil on governance and encouraged transparency knowing that evil breeds in secrecy. It is the opinion of the former President that journalists and media houses should take advantage of this law in their investigative journalism, rather than rely on hearsay.

“We hope that these clarifications will help guide future reports which should be factual.

Earlier in the day, media reports had admitted that court documents filed late last month in the city of Milan did not feature Jonathan, who left office in May 2015, and Diezani Alison-Madueke, his Petroleum Minister who was also the first woman president of OPEC, on the list.

The reports said that however, that Jonathan and Diezani are alleged to have played a central role in the deal, which saw ENI and Shell make a $1.3 billion payment in 2011 for an offshore oil block in Nigeria.

Prosecutors, who filed a case against 11 people, including senior executives from the two oil majors and the companies themselves, allege that ENI Chief Executive, Claudio Descalzi, and his predecessor, Paolo Scaroni, met Jonathan in person to thrash out the deal, which also involved former British intelligence agents working as advisors for Shell.

Prosecutors allege that ENI and Shell executives worked with Nigerian businessman Dan Etete, who was oil Minister under the military ruler Sani Abacha from 1995 to 1998.

Etete’s company, Malabu was the fraudulent holder of the OPL 245 block, according to the court documents.

Prosecutors further allege that after talks in Milan and Abuja, the block was bought illegally by the oil majors in contravention of domestic laws, without competitive tendering and with full, unconditional exemption from all national taxes.

A total of $801.5 million was allegedly transferred to Etete’s Malabu accounts, of which $466 million was converted into cash in Nigeria and used for remunerating government officials, including Jonathan and Alison-Madueke.

A further $54 million was withdrawn by Abubakar Aliyu, whom prosecutors describe as an agent of Jonathan while the beneficiaries of the money went on a shopping spree buying property, aeroplanes and armoured cars.

Earlier, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had recently pressed charges in connection with the same Malabu oil block deal.

That was even as ENI and Royal Dutch Shell denied wrongdoing as Alison-Madueke who is facing a flurry of graft allegations on suspicion of bribery and money laundering also denied the allegations. [myad]