Between EFCC And ICPC In The Fight Against Corruption: Takeaways, By Yusuf Ozi Usman

January 27, 2022

Until January 25 and 26, 2022, when some journalists went through enlightening two-day training, put together by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), I, in particular, had never known much about its operational modalities other than that it’s just another agency doing what its counterparts are doing in terms of fighting against corruption.
On the other hand, I had, on the face of it, regarded the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as the one doing almost all or most of the cleaning up job because of what looked like its dynamic operational methodologies, with full media backups.
The two-day training, which was organized and conducted in Keffi, Nasarawa State, by the operatives of the ICPC, opened the eyes of the participants, including yours sincerely, not only to the dept, the diversity, the multiplicity, and complicated nature of corruption, but also to the equally dynamic way the agency has been handling corruption cases.

Of course, like a state governor once said, if you want to be popular, just keep on talking to the press even if there is no need for such talks, EFCC, in this regard, has continually applied this philosophy and, it has been paying the Commission handsomely.
And of course, between the ICPC and the EFCC for example, there are some points from where they practically differ, both in perception and operational methodologies.
There’s no doubt that the two have been steadfast in their roles according to the laws that set them up, but while the EFCC chose to be more opened and vocal, the ICPC has chosen to be more “secretive” and if you like, shy, especially from the point at which investigation on suspected corrupt personality begins.

It is an open secret that EFCC often informs Nigerians via the media, the arrest of suspected corrupt personality even before the investigation commences on the case, while the ICPC hardly publicises the mere arrest.
At the training, the ICPC explained why it does not fancy the idea of publicly announcing the arrest of high profile suspects. The Commission said that it respects individual person suspected to have committed corruption offence, and that such respect derives from the legal terminology that says everyone is innocent until proved guilty by the competent court.
The main philosophy of the ICPC, in summary goes thus: “when you arrest a suspect and go to the press to put it to the public, there’s 50-50 percent chance of such suspect eventually coming out innocent of what he’s charged for; how are you going to repair his image that’s damaged through the media exposure? In other words, ICPC tries to run away from what has become known recently as ” media trials.”
It is not as if ICPC does not know the importance of the media for promoting its activities and operations, but it considers the importance of the integrity of the suspect even if such suspect is eventually convicted for the offence.
The Commission’s leadership seems focus more on recovering stolen funds and properties from the culprits to the government than the person, as much as it can. And, the leadership prefers bringing in the media only after the suspect has been convicted by the court.
In most cases and because of the operational methods of these two anti corruption agencies, many suspected corrupt personalities prefer to be investigated by the ICPC. In deed, ICPC had been able to quietly recover funds, running into billions of naira and other hard currencies, properties in their thousands from individual, corporate, legislative and government entities for the government, more than Nigerians ever know.
Of course, most newsmen, like bees, prefer to attach themselves to where the news often emanate. And so, between the EFCC and the ICPC, many reporters would cling to the EFCC, but the irony is that the end often doesn’t justify the means (the rush to make the news).
It may look insignificant, but the leadership of the two Commissions might have been playing significant roles in the way the Commissions are being run, and how people perceive them. While the EFCC has largely being managed by top officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) with all the forces at their disposal within the confines of the Commission’s mandate, ICPC has mainly being managed by academia or deeply qualified law officers.
All said, the multiple, dynamic, deadly corruption that is permeating the country, from top to bottom, and at all strata of public and private places deserve both the ruthlessness of the EFCC in all forms, as well as the kid’s glove manner with which ICPC has been handling same, occasioned of course by the Act that set it up.

Part 2 of the takeaways from the training will come your way shortly.

2023: Saraki Joins Crowd Of Presidential Aspirants

Greenbarge Reporters

January 27, 2022

Former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has joined the emerging crowd of presidential aspirants for the 2023 election in Nigeria.
Saraki, who announced his intention on his official Facebook page, said that his intention to serve as Nigeria’s President is based on his strong record of delivering and experience in making tough decisions at the time he was governor of Kwara and ex-Nigerian Senate president.
He wrote: “Earlier, I replied to a follower of mine on Twitter who like thousands of you has been clamouring for a united front to #RescueNigeria.
“As we prepare for the journey ahead, I hope we can all join hands to get the ticket of our great party, PDP, and build a nation that works for all of us.
“Join me to make our communities safer and provide real opportunities for you and your families. I have a strong record of delivering and experience in making tough decisions.
“Let’s build a new Nigeria that works for EVERYONE!”
So far, a number of high-profiled Nigerians declaring their interest to run the race to occupy Aso Rock is gaining momentum.
Another former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, who was the secretary to the government of the federation in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s six-year administration; Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former National Leader of the All Progressives Congress; Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State; Senate Chip Whip Orji Kalu and the former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha have indicated similar interest.

Chief Of Staff To The President, Prof. Gambari Gives Marching Orders To Public Servants

Greenbarge Reporters

January 26, 2022

The Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari has charged Directorate cadre officers in public service to lead by example, conduct themselves well and discharge their duties.

Speaking today, January 25 at the opening of a two – day workshop with the theme: Code of Ethics and a Practical Guide on how to Complete an Asset Declaration Form, organised by the State House management in conjunction with the Code of Conduct Bureau at the State House Auditorium, Professor Gambari asked them to serve diligently in ways that would enhance the work of their superiors in the Public Service.

“I want to say a few words because of the importance of the subject matter of the workshop, the Code of Conduct in the Public Service and some elements of it especially, assets declaration.

“Mr President attaches great importance to probity in the Public Service. In the previous administration as Head of the Military Government between 1984 and 1985, of which I was privileged to be one of his ministers, the emphasis was on diagnosing some of the ills of Nigerian society and he identified indiscipline as one of those ills. And indiscipline in the Public Service is even more dangerous for the stability and development of any country.

“With that antecedent, he decided he would return to democratic rule and run for President of this country because of his passion to address some of the root causes of our problem as a nation.

“He contested four times, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 until he was elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019. Why I am using this emphasis is because of his consistency in the diagnosis of the biggest problems drawing us back as a nation and preventing us from realizing our true potentials as indiscipline and corruption. He therefore made anti-corruption one of the three major pillars of his message to Nigerians.

“Those challenges are; addressing the insecurity of our nation, growing the economy and the anti-corruption fight. Of all these three pillars, the root of success is really successfully addressing the issue of corruption in the private as well as the public sectors and reinstating commitments to transparency, and accountability in the public service.”

He explained that the President’s commitment earned him recognition by former President Barack Obama and the title of Anti-Corruption Champion in Africa by the African Union.

“The reason why I am going into these details is to show you leadership by example and now that you are directors, you will play a very pivotal role in the Public Service of this country.

“Your personal commitment to transparency, equity and integrity is very pivotal to the health of the public service.”

He urged them to use all they learn at the workshop to “help this administration, this President to really achieve one of the principal goals of his administration.”

The Permanent Secretary of the State House, Tijjani Umar, in his remarks said that as Public servants, “whatever it is that we do on a day to day basis, in our offices, on those small desks will all add up and contribute to either we are transparent and accountable or not.

“We have tried to establish an administration that has tried the very best to establish transparency and accountability in doing things here.”

He observed that the legacy of the nation’s founding fathers was being eroded by indiscipline.

“I think the very base of public service has been watered down now. Transparency and accountability is everything. Our forebears who established the tradition of the service have handed over to us service in the public interest and lead with personal examples of utmost openness and transparency and it was public knowledge that they left no assets amassed in the course of their public life.

“The only assets you will leave that is important is that of character, because character is everything. Therefore, we must imbibe honesty, transparency and serving the country in an altruistic manner for the sake of the public and for the sake of God,” he said.

The representative of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Mr Ibrahim Musa, reiterated the importance of completing the Assets Declaration Form for every public officer, saying that the organisation is a creation of the Nigerian constitution and the body would put the participants through its elements during the workshop in order not to run foul of the law.

Presidency Wonders Why Gov Ortom Still Owe Workers Salaries Despite Bailout Funds

Editorial staff

January 25, 2022

The Presidency has expressed surprise that the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has allowed workers’ salaries and pensioners’ pay to continue to accumulate despite that he benefited from the over one Trillion naira which the Federal Government advanced to States to clear arrears of salaries and pensions.

Senior Special Assistant to Present Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement today, January 25, said that at various times, the President had lent money to the states in excess of N1.682 trillion and that Governor Ortom’s state did not miss out on all occasions.

The bailout loans, according to Garba Shehu were the salary bailout, Excess Crude Loan and Budget Support loan, each repayable in 20 years.

“Lagos for instance didn’t collect any of the loans. A few other states declined to take one or two. Mr Ortom, an office holder who collected on all occasions, currently holds the country’s longest record of unpaid salaries and pensions and has no reason, absolutely no reason, to blame President Buhari for the mess in which he put his state and its workers.”

Garba Shehu, who reacted to Governor Ortom’s attack on President Buhari over none payment of workers and pensioners in his state, wondered why the President who inherited a lot of financial problems but still able to pay federal workers as and when due would be part of the fraud about none payment of Benue States workers.

According to Garba Shehu, President Buhari inherited unpaid salaries and pension arrears, adding: “this is a President who has not failed to pay the salary of those working for the federal government and declared the failure of states to do so “a national disaster.”

He said that instead of Governor Ortom to accept that he is “a national disaster” and find a way to raise the funds to pay the workers, he is blaming the President.

“Having first come claiming that his predecessors created the arrears, it was his business to prove that he was better by paying. Instead of doing that, he joined them!

“And while he runs up even further salary and pension debts on top of those he was bequeathed, instead of respecting the voters who elected him to office, he publicly attacks them in unprintable words and has raised his own thuggish militia to harass and violate them.

“The Governor now claims the voters wish to be “rescued by the PDP” and “regret voting for Buhari.

“The voters, of course, will not be asked to vote for the President again because – as a leader – President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, APC respect term limits and the constitution, and will stand down next year at the end of his second democratically elected mandate. “It seems unlikely, however, that any voter would seriously consider it possible to be “rescued” by a party that would today, allow a politician such as Governor Ortom in its ranks.

“What is certain, however, is that Nigeria has had enough of failed politicians who blame others as a diversion for their inability to improve citizens’ lives.”

Ex Reps Speaker, Dogara, Fingers Gov. Bala In His Suspension As Jakadan Bauchi

Editorial staff

January 25, 2022

Former Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has accused the Bauchi States Governor, Bala Mohammed over his suspension, by the Bauchi Emirate, as Jakadan Bauchi, a traditional title.

Reacting to the suspension, Dogara said that suspension of traditional titles of political opponents at the behest of the Governor has become routine now.

“Before mine came, our father, the Wazirin Bauchi, had been suspended. Likewise, my comrade in the APC, the Wakilin Birni, had also been suspended.

The Emir of Misau was also suspended by the Governor. The question is who is next?

“This has become the brand of infantile politics of the kleptocracy in Bauchi State. We are not only witnessing the brazen decimation of our State resources, of which hard evidence abounds, but our revered traditional Institutions and culture.”

Read the full text of Dogara’s statement, titled: “My Take On My Purported Suspension As Jakadan Bauchi.”

Yesterday, January 24, 2022, the Bauchi Emirate Council purportedly announced my suspension as Jakadan Bauchi. As of today, I am yet to be served with any letter of suspension and more tenuously, I was never informed that there was an allegation of wrong doing against me pending before the Emirate Council.

Ordinarily, I wouldn’t join issues with the Emirate Council because of the respect I have for both His Royal Highness and the Emirate Council. But because there is a ludicrous and legally inchoate criminal complaint filed against me and others by the Governor of Bauchi State and his money bag lackey who are at the centre of it all, I have decided to state my own side of the story as several well wishers and even the press have inundated me with request to respond to events of yesterday so that I am not convicted in the court of public opinion.

Firstly, on close examination, I noticed that the letter of suspension as seen on social media is not contained in the real letter head of Bauchi Emirate Council. That speaks volumes. More so, the reason for the suspension, if true, was that my “name was mentioned,” which clearly is hearsay. Bauchi Emirate is one of the oldest in the country and I doubt they would take a decision based on hearsay, especially when I am available and can be invited to appear before the Emirate council to face any allegations of wrongdoing against me. This, if true, is no doubt a violation of my constitutionally guaranteed right to fair hearing. It is additionally alleged in the letter under reference that I didn’t sympathise with the two Emirs over the unfortunate incident involving them, which is totally untrue. I therefore reproduce below the message I sent to the two Emirs in the aftermath of the incident for all to see:

“Allah ya taimaki mai Martaba.

I wish to write and extend my sympathies to you over the unfortunate incident involving your entourage while making your way from Bauchi to Bogoro earlier today. It is a huge embarrassment to all of us in my Constituency and the entire State which I totally condemn and disavow.

It is worth noting that I would have loved to personally visit to extend my apologies on behalf of my constituents but I know that such a visit would be misconstrued as was the case in the past when the gates of some palaces were shut anytime I visited as Speaker.

It is pointless to emphasise that the incident was totally avoidable as I had already requested the security agencies to obtain security guarantees from the organisers of the event failing which they should advise them to postpone the event in the interest of peace. It was therefore mindless in the first place, for anyone to have encouraged you to put yourself in harms way, especially when it was obvious that security breach was more probable than likely granted the tension generated by the recklessness of those who were supposed to show leadership.”

This message is sent through a proxy for obvious reasons.

“Allah ya ja zamanin Mai Martaba cikin koshin lafiya da arziki.”

Thankfully, I have witnesses that this message were delivered and acknowledged.

It was also said in the letter under reference that I did not show remorse over the incident. As we all know, remorse comes as a consequence of guilt. The Emirate council cannot convict me over hearsay, without investigation and without inviting me to face any allegations against me. I maintain a clear conscience before God that I have nothing to do with any mayhem in Zaar land, not least the incident involving the two Emirs as I had no inkling whatsoever that they would be attending an event that was already marred by crisis before it began.

I make bold to say, without any equivocation, that I did not know the Emirs have been invited to attend the event and even if invited, that they would indeed attend because none of the two Emirs is accustomed to attending any such event in Zaar land. Therefore, how could I have been responsible for any incident involving them? Those who should show remorse are those who insisted on going on with the event and unconstitutionally flooded the area with soldiers whose actions led to the breakdown of law and order in the area.

Even if it turns out to be true that the Emirate council did what they must do, it would be no surprise to keen watchers of events in Bauchi State. I am aware that both His Royal Highness and members of the Council have been under tremendous pressure from the Bauchi State Government to withdraw the traditional title conferred on me for quite some time now. It is all part of a smear campaign to portray me as insensitive and convict me in the court of public opinion for the political gains of some desperate characters.

The phrase; “Goje uban Kaura” torments the Governor and rents his sleep. Since I dropped like a bag of weed, in order to get at me, he procured the services of a money bag lackey in Zaar land who is also a victim of the same delusions of grandeur about destroying my political career as if they, not God, made me who I am. It’s a pity that they have failed to learn the hard lessons from others who have tried doing so before them. It is more tragic for them to imagine that they cannot see what others before them saw by doing what they did. Is there any wise person out there who believes that he can unmake what God has made?

For their sadistic entertainment, the Governor had before now illegally revoked two titles to my land just as he did to my colleague and namesake, Hon. Yakubu Shehu Abdullahi and a former Governor of the State who also doubles as his mentor and benefactor. Suspension of traditional titles of political opponents at the behest of the Governor has become routine now. Before mine came, our father, the Wazirin Bauchi, had been suspended. Likewise, my comrade in the APC, the Wakilin Birni, had been also been suspended. The Emir of Misau was also suspended by the Governor. The question is who is next?

This has become the brand of infantile politics of the kleptocracy in Bauchi State. We are not only witnessing the brazen decimation of our State resources, of which hard evidence abounds, but our revered traditional Institutions and culture.

Thankfully, for any Pharaoh there would be a Moses and I am happy to be one of the Moses in Bauchi who will content with this Pharaoh until the reproach that has become our lot is lifted. This mission cannot be deterred or delayed by all the shenanigans of this modern Pharaoh and all his puppets. Therefore, I rejoiceth as a strong man to run this race. We must not only take back our state from these maniacs but also our traditional institutions so that our people may run to them to obtain justice in times of need as was always the case.

In respect of the event in question, for two solid days leading to the event, there were demonstrations in Tafawa Balewa town. On the eve of the event, women came out in their numbers in exercise of their constitutional rights to peacefully protest against the hosting of the event but soldiers were unconstitutionally deployed to beat up and maim the women. I am sure the Commander- in -Chief who has the prerogatives under the Constitution did not order the deployment of soldiers into Tafawa Balewa.

The actions of the illegally and unconstitutionally deployed soldiers turned the peaceful protest violent on the eve of the event. The situation was not the same when soldiers had not been unconstitutionally deployed in the area as the protest then was very peaceful. Those soldiers were procured by the State Governor and his said money bag lackey who must bear the full responsibility for the break down of law and order in the area.

As a leader and elected member representing the area in the National Assembly, I had cleared my conscience by fulfilling my constitutional duty when I alerted security agencies of the undercurrents that may lead to breakdown of law and order if the event is allowed to go on without some guarantees from the organisers of the event that it would proceed peacefully. But since the State Governor and a money bag were the organisers, the spirit of mammon was let loosed, which blinded every operator.

Otherwise how could anyone have ignored the intelligence freely given by someone who has represented the area for about a decade and half? Not only that, they still ignored all the red flags of pre-event protests event after violence had ensued. How can any reasonable person turn around to put the blame of the direct consequences of the unconstitutional actions of the State Governor and a money bag who went to war with their own people in order to host an event; if not politics?

No leader anywhere could have done what they did, not least in a democracy whose culture is consensus and compromise which was what I called for but which regrettably, all of them crudely ignored. The million Naira question is between me who alerted the security agencies of the threats posed by the event and those who ignored all the red flags, who showed poor judgment and pathetic leadership?

I am happy to confront anyone in court over the rubbish filed against me and my brothers as criminal complaint. As a lawyer, I am yet to see a criminal complaint filed against anyone without the proof of evidence. No wonder they have been unable to serve the rubbish on anyone.

Why are they so inept in concocting even a proof of evidence but so alive when it comes to lying, stealing and deploying public funds?

I had always seen practice of dictators to charge political opponents with treason and unfortunately, the mini Pharaohs in Bauchi have fallen into that rap but thanks be to God, the Red Sea stands between us.

Very soon, the whole of Bauchi and indeed Zaar land shall sing; “the horse and its rider He hath thrown into the sea!”

Long live Zaar land

Long live Bauchi State

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Rt. Hon Yakubu Dogara

Speaker of the 8th Assembly.

January 25, 2022.

Buhari Asks Football Authorities To Assess Eagles’ Performance At AFCON, Against World Cup Qualification

Editorial staff

January 24, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed football authorities in the country to undertake a critical assessment on the Super Eagles’ performance at the Cup of Nations tournament for improvement in the world cup qualifying competition lying ahead.

Reacting to a 1-0 defeat the Eagles suffered in the hand of their Tunisian opponents in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations tournament, the President Buhari said that it is too early to begin to blame the players for the loss.

He said that although the team did not live up to the expectations of Nigerians in the AFCON tournament, but that officials and players deserve commendation for the tough fight they put up.

“They gave everyone the confidence that they were up to it, and I am sure it was something they could have achieved. Nonetheless, we should not write them off.”

President Buhari urged Nigerians to encourage the players to do better next time, especially in view of the World Cup qualification matches that have been lined up for them.

He particularly asked Nigerians to send their suggestions on how the team can improve, to the Nigeria Football Federation “so that it will reflect and plan well for a better outing in the forthcoming World Cup competition.”

ICPC Graduates 246 New Officers, Insists On Integrity, Honesty

Editorial staff

January 24, 2022

A total of 246 officers newly recruited by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have graduated from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense (NSCDC) training academy after a six-week course.

The Chairman of the Commission, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, who was the Reviewing Officer at the Passing Out Parade, which held at the NSCDC training academy, Sauka in Abuja, said that the new staff would bridge the human capacity gap being faced by the Commission.

Professor Owasanoye said that the recruitment of the 246 staff, comprising senior and junior cadres, out of over 400,000 applicants, would enable the Commission to tackle the problem of corruption that has been bedeviling Nigeria.

“Consider yourself lucky to have been selected by the Commission out of the over 400,000 that applied for the job.

“Your conduct must be above board because the ICPC mandate demands it. Integrity and discipline are essential character traits you must have to excel in your career.

“You must make integrity and honesty your watchword.”

The chairman said that as the country is battling with the menace of corruption posed by illicit financial flows, internet fraud among others, they should be seen to be above board, warning that defiant staff would be shown the way out of the Commission.

“You have the herculean task of ridding Nigeria of the menace of corruption. This board and management have zero tolerance for corruption, indiscipline, and other forms of official malfeasance. You must strive to always live above board. Any act of disloyalty to the Commission will not be tolerated and the person will be shown the way out.”

The Commandant-General of NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Audi, said that the new staff have been rigorously trained and equipped to function as anti-corruption officers.

Dr. Audi, who was represented by the Deputy Commandant, Nnamdi Nwenyi, said that the training has churned out well cultured, disciplined, and loyal staff for ICPC.

The camp commandant, Wellington Nkemadu, who spoke to newsmen on the side of the event, gave the assurance that the new staff would perform any task assigned to them having undergone six-week rigorous military and technical training.

He said that the senior cadre would be moved immediately to the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria, (ACAN), the training arm of ICPC for another six-week training, focusing on technical and core mandates of the Commission, while the junior cadre will remain in Sauka for another two weeks.

The event, which witnessed displays such as a parade by the graduating officers in slow and quick march, unarmed combat and other non-regular military drills also featured the presentation of awards to four outstanding officers.

Those awarded for outstanding performances and best behavior are the Course Senior, Akanmode Olayemi, Aisha Mohammed and the two parade adjutants; Ahmed Mohammed and Mariam Suleiman.

Akanmode Olayemi who spoke after the parade said that the training had toughened her to cope with the rigors of anti-corruption work, while also admitting that they had been adequately prepared as integrity officers who would not condone any act of corruption.

NCC, Its Boss, Prof. Danbatta Bag Another Award Of Excellence

Editorial staff

January 24, 2022

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and it’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Umar Danbatta have, again, bagged another award of excellence from a private media organization.

The Director, Public Affairs of the. Commission, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, in a statement today, January 24, said that while the NCC received the REGULATOR OF THE YEAR Award for 2021, Professor Danbatta, received the PUBLIC OFFICIAL OF THE DECADE Award.

According to Dr. Adinde, the combined awards, issued on the heels of a public lecture, titled, Public Sector Financing: The Oil Revenue, Challenges, Solutions and Prospects, would not be unconnected with the telecoms’ 12.45 per cent contribution to the nation’s GDP in 2020, which was central and pivotal in taking the nation out of recession.

Dr. Adinde said that the awards was issued by Nigerian NewsDirect, a multimedia firm, adding that they were presented two days ago at an impressive event at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, organised by the firm to commemorate its 11th Anniversary.

He said that the presentation of the awards was preceeded by the Nigerian NewsDirect anniversary public lecture, Delivered by Dapo Okubadejo, Ogun State Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor.

According to him, Okubadejo’s paper reflects on the increasing challenges of the nation’s dependence on oil revenues for public sector financing.

“The paper offers solutions to better public sector financing from the context refocusing on the opportunities and prospects inherent in the oil sector but particularly in other sectors.

“By sheer coincidence, or conscious contextual social intervention, the topic of the Lecture and its treatment were not just poignant reflections of the state of the economy, they were fluent and persuasive of the role of NCC in midwifing and enabling the utilisation of telecoms and ICTs applications for economic recovery and growth.

“A fact that gives concrete expression to the imperative of diversification of the nation’s economy from oil, which is being vigorously pursued by the Federal Government and which NCC is a key sectoral driver.

“Thankfully, the role NCC is mandated to play in enhancing Nigeria’s growth and development is not lost on its Management.

Dr. Adinde, who received the awards on behalf of the beneficiaries, emphasized this strategic role and commitment to it, adding that the Commission will not rest on its oars but rededicate itself towards demonstrating its worthiness of the public trust and confidence reposed in it as an agency central to diversification of the nation’s economy.

“These garlands, swelling the repository of awards to NCC would not surprise discerning watchers of national events. In November 2021, the Commission conducted a historic auction of the 3.5GHz spectrum, in preparation for the deployment of 5G services to be activated this year.

“It was not the first time NCC will conduct an auction but it was the first time it had completed an auction with the final bid ending at a price more than 30 percent higher than initial bid offer.

“The auction, which started with initial offer of $197.4 million, close after 11 rounds at $273.6 million. Two companies, Mafab Communications and MTN Nigeria Plc, won the bid.

“Besides it routine activities, just a forthnight ago, the EVC delivered the Convocation Lecture of the Fountain University, at Osogbo, where he emphasised the imperative of youth’s embrace and exploration of the opportunities the ICT revolution has offered them to contribute to the nations growth and development.

“Similarly, just a day after the Convocation Lecture, a digital training centre, facilitated by the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), an arm of NCC, was commissioned at Ijesa Muslim Grammar School, Ilesha, Osun State.

“The foregoing shows that the Commission is unwavering in its commitment to expanding the nation’s frontiers of growth and development within the context of its mandate.”

Angry Kano Govt Shuts Down All Private Schools Over Hanifa’s Murder

Editorial staff

January 24, 2022

Kano State Government, angered by the murder of five-year old Hanifa Abubakar in the hand of the proprietor of her school, Abdulkadir Tanko, has shut down all other private schools in the state, by revoking their operational licences for revalidation.

The Commissioner for Education, Muhammad Sanusi-Kiru, at a media briefing Kano today, January 24, confirmed that the decision was as a result of the murder of Hanifa Abubakar at Comprehensive College.

He said that the withdrawal of the certificates of operation of the private schools was to allow for revalidation and screening of the proprietors of those schools.

“All the certificates issued to private schools in the state are hereby revoked.

“The ministry has constituted a committee that will look into the registration of all private schools.

“The ministry will bring out criteria for the recertification of all private schools, which include Ministry of Justics and Department of State Services (DSS).”

The commissioner listed others as the police, Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kano State Road Traffic Agency and other government officials.

JAMB Fixes 2022 UTM Exam For April 20 Upton 30

Editorial staff

January 24, 2022

The Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB) has scheduled the 2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to hold from April 20 to 30th nationwide.

The Board also announced that the UTME mock examination would hold on April 2nd, while registration for the examination would commence from 12th February and end on 19th March 2022, respectively.

This was contained in a weekly bulletin of the Board released by JAMB’s Director of Media and Public Relations, Dr. Fabian Benjamin on Monday.

The Board has also resolved to refund N4,000 which many candidates paid but were unsuccessful in completing the registration process for the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination including the Direct Entry Examinations.

The information reads: “This is to notify all 2021 candidates who had deposited a draft of four thousand naira (N4,000) for late registration for the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Direct Entry but were unable to complete the registration process owing to no fault of the Board, even after the Board had extended the registration period twice, to visit the board’s Website https://www.jamb.gov.ng, and complete a form for the refund of the value of the draft they submitted to the Board.

“The above candidates are to click on the link 2021 UTME/DE Unregistered Candidates Bank Draft Recapture and fill the spaces after which they would key in the token sent to the phone numbers they had submitted during the submission of their drafts.

“It is this token that would be used to access a form on which they will fill in their account details for the refund of the value of the draft. Candidates are to provide these details within the next two weeks from the date of this publication.”

“A text message containing OTP has been sent to the affected candidates besides this notification,” the bulletin added.

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