It Took Us 11 Years, Committed Millions Of Naira To Prosecute Pardoned Dariye, Nyame – EFCC

April 17, 2022

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has complained about how it spent hundreds of millions of naira to prosecute the former governors of Plateau State, Senator Joshua Dariye and Taraba State, Rev. Jolly Nyame, who were recently pardoned by the Federal Government.

It said that several of its operatives, some of whom were involved in the handling of the two cases, said that huge sums of money were spent on investigation and prosecution between 2007 and 2018.

Dariye’s case in particular, was said to have cost a lot more as it emanated from London and the star witness, Peter Clark, who was a policeman, had to be flown from the United Kingdom on several occasions and lodged in hotels while the case dragged on.

The National Council of State had on Thursday, endorsed the pardon of Dariye, Nyame and 157 other convicts following the recommendation of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy. The 12-member committee, inaugurated by the President, Muhammadu Buhari, in 2018 is headed by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

Dariye and Nyame were jailed for stealing N1.16 bn and N1.6 bn, respectively.

An EFCC operative, who wished to remain anonymous because he was not authorised to speak to the press, said that the detective who handled Dariye’s case, Ilyasu Kwarbai, was hit in the head with the butt of the gun by overzealous supporters of the ex-governor when the case was being handled in Jos.

The operative said: “The pardon for Dariye is demoralising. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) was the one who handled the case. He has an internal arrangement with the EFCC so his fee is not that much. However, the bulk of the money was spent on investigation. “The case started from London. We had to fly there and lodge in hotels.

“Also, Peter Clark, a UK officer, was the star witness. He was the one who first arrested Dariye in 2004. We had to fly him here on several occasions to testify in Nigeria. Sometimes, when he arrived in Nigeria, the case would be adjourned for one flimsy reason or the other and he would have to travel back and then return to Nigeria.

“Clark was the one who revealed how Dariye bought a pen for £7,000 and was found with over £40,000, while his aide had about £50,000 on her.

“We spent hundreds of millions on this case. Kwarbai was attacked. The scar is still on his head. How will the UK take us seriously?”

Jacobs, who prosecuted both cases on behalf of the EFCC, said he was disappointed in the decision of the Buhari regime.

Jacobs said the message being conveyed was that prison is only for the poor, and that this would embolden the younger generation to embrace fraud.

He added that the pardon meant that both Dariye and Nyame could later run for elective offices.

“This pardon means that they can hold offices and run for elections. It has turned the anti-corruption war into a joke. It is a setback on the fight against corruption.”

Russia Complains Of Britain’s Isolation Stance,” Declares PM Persona Non Grata

Editorial staff

April 16, 2022

Russia has complained about London’s unbridled information and political campaign aimed at isolating it internationally, even as it slammed the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson with persona non grata, meaning that he is not welcomed on Russia’s soil.

In a statement today, April 16, Russia’s foreign ministry said: “London’s unbridled information and political campaign aimed at isolating Russia internationally, creating conditions for containing our country and strangling the domestic economy” are responsible for its decision.

The ban also affects British Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace and 10 other senior politicians, who are mostly members of the Cabinet.

Moscow said the decision had been made in retaliation to the UK’s sanctions against it since it invaded Ukraine.

The ministry added: “in essence, the British leadership is deliberately aggravating the situation around Ukraine, pumping the Kyiv regime with lethal weapons and coordinating similar efforts on the part of NATO.”

Earlier this week, the UK and US governments announced further sanctions on Russia.

The sanctions included financial measures designed to damage Russia’s economy and penalise President Putin, high-ranking officials, and people who have benefited from his regime.

NATO countries (including the UK and US) are also supplying weapons, ammunition and other military equipment to Ukraine, although they have ruled out sending in NATO troops or implementing a no-fly zone.

On Wednesday, the US said that more sophisticated offensive weaponry would be sent to Ukraine as part of a $800m (£612m) package.

In response, Moscow on Friday warned the US that there would be “unpredictable consequences” if it refused to stop sending weapons to Ukraine.

COVID-19 Not Over Yet, Minister Reminds Abuja Residents

Greenbarge Reporters

April 16, 2022

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has reminded the residents in the capital city that the much-feared COVID-19 is not over yet.
He said: “it is important to also remind residents COVID -19 has not been eradicated and I hereby call on you to celebrate Easter in conformity with all extant guidelines.”
In his Easter message, Muhammad Musa Bello assured the residents that security agencies have put measures in place to ensure the peaceful celebration of Easter even as he called on them to be security conscious and follow all guidelines issued by the relevant security authorities regarding the Easter celebrations.
He appealed also to always cooperate with the security agencies for the protection of lives and properties in your communities. Any suspicious behavior or individuals should immediately be brought to the attention of law enforcement agencies.
The minister advised the residents to use this joyous occasion not only to reflect on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ as a pathway to peaceful co-existence of all but also use the opportunity it presents to re-dedicate ourselves to the love and service of our dear country, Nigeria.
He thanked residents for their cooperation and support for the FCT Administration in its efforts at building a befitting capital territory worthy of our great country.
“I ask you to continue to imbibe the spirit of peaceful co-existence, unity and love for one another which are the ideals and principles on which the FCT is founded.
“The commendable acts of residents in often rallying round each other in challenging moments, irrespective of religious or ethnic differences is an indication that the dreams of our founding fathers in creating the FCT as center of unity has taken deep roots and is flourishing.
“I call on you therefore, to continue to believe in and actively promote this culture of peace and unity and equally impart the same to the young generation of residents, many of whom really know no home other than the FCT.
“We should resist all attempts by those who do not share these noble ideals to cause disharmony in our ranks especially as political activities take center stage across the country.”

Osinbajo Insists On Nigerians Coming Together To Discuss Things That Divide Them

Greenbarge Reporters

April 15, 2022

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has stressed the need for Nigerians to engage in what he called “frank discussions and transparency” to address issues that cause division and strife in the country.
According to Professor Osinbajo, this is the way to find lasting solutions and also chart the way forward towards building a better and more united nation.

The Vice President, who spoke at the public presentation of the Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi’s memoir titled: “The Road Never Forgets” in Lagos, aimed also at celebrating the author’s 75th birthday, said: “we need to talk more to ourselves not at ourselves.

“We need frank discussions on the issues that divide us; we need openness about our fears and prejudices. Perhaps, that way we may gain each other’s confidence.”
On the book itself, the Vice President said: “anyone who has had a chance like me to read this book will agree that not only does the road never forget, but the elephant that walked the road has a phenomenal memory. The elephant as you know forgets nothing, its brain is 5kg in weight. So, The Elephant in this room – if you will pardon the pun – Dr. Ogunbiyi, surely forgets little.
“He speaks of a broad spectrum of issues from his childhood and youth through to events that happened just last year with the same mind-boggling freshness of memory. Yemi Ogunbiyi’s story is at once the life story of a truly remarkable individual and at the same time, the story of a country. And who better to tell the story of Nigeria, the magical possibilities of our ethnic blending, than one born in Kano of a Yoruba father and an Igbo mother and whose first language was Hausa.
“In this contemporary history of Nigeria, it turns out by some quirk of circumstance, that the author is present in critical events that occurred in Nigeria. He had a ringside seat during the ‘wetie period’ in the old Western Region by virtue of the fact that Ibadan Boys High School was located behind the Awolowo home in Ibadan. His first open day at Kings College was the day of the first coup in Nigeria and he was right there when Adekunle Adepeju was fatally shot at UI.
“So, in telling his own compelling story, we are led through the nationalistic idealism of the pre-colonial days, the excitement of civil rule and its tragic denouement, then Military rule, a curious diarchy, other iterations of civil rule, and all manner of contemporary events. He engages every subject honestly, openly and frankly, somehow it almost seems that by his open vulnerable style he disarms and commands empathy and admiration.”
He said that the book is a powerful memoir of a life shaped by history as much as great successes and redemption, as the VP noted that Ogunbiyi would go on to “become the brilliant university teacher, newspaper executive, debonair, connoisseur of wine and collector of fine art, equally at home in modern and traditional settings.”
The Vice President restated the importance of one’s contribution to society, saying: “the best amongst us owe us three taxes.”
According to him, one of them is the “Income Tax” which he opined Ogunbiyi has delivered on, adding that “many may not know that he is a rather wealthy man in his own right.
“The second is a Social Tax, philanthropy and in this respect Dr. Ogunbiyi also has a good track record, his many charitable contributions. And the third is a Civic Tax. The obligation to share their stories with the world. The obligation to tell it like it is to enable us all reflect and learn.”

Prof. Osinbajo observed, adding that the author “in this ultimate Magnus opus “The Road Never Forgets,” fully discharged this obligation.”
Observing the author’s consistency through the years, the Vice President stated that Ogunbiyi’s has “been consistent in your kindness, generosity and commitment to seeing a better nation.”

IPOB Accuses “Enemies Of Biafra” For The Murder Of INEC Staff In Imo

Greenbarge Reporters

April 15, 2022

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused enemies of Biafra for the murder of an ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in Imo State.
A statement today, April 15, by the group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, stressed that IPOB members are not the gunmen who killed the INEC staff, even as he warned that those responsible for such attacks would be dealt with.
“We the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the command and leadership of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU, strongly condemn the attack on INEC staff at Ihitte Uboma LGA of Imo State. We are also warning these traitors and enemies of Biafra behind these barbaric attacks to stop or be ready to reap the reward of their atrocities. IPOB cannot afford to allow them to continue to terrorise our people or demonise our peaceful organisation as some uninformed people appoint accusing fingers at us.
“IPOB is not happy with these criminal activities going on in our region because we don’t want this to continue and we are going to expose those behind this evil in the region.
“Anybody involved in this act will regret it. We totally disassociate from this act of criminality. IPOB volunteers and ESN have no hand in this criminal act that criminals randomly carry out against our people.
“We have made it clear to the public severally that IPOB members are not unknown gunmen and we cannot be because we have an objective which is to restore Biafra as a free, Independent and Sovereign Nation.
“Anybody who is involved in this evil act on INEC officers at Ihitte Uboma LGA will pay dearly. The masterminds are being sponsored by unfortunate politicians thinking they can jeopardise our decision to make Biafra freedom a reality.
“We want to make it publicly known that IPOB and its security units did not attack INEC officers in Imo State. We are aware that Nigeria Government and their collaborators are sponsoring these criminal groups to attack our people in the name of IPOB to instigate a crisis so people can disassociate themselves from IPOB activities and the entire world will see IPOB as a terror group but they will fail and will not raise their ugly heads again. We promise them so.
“IPOB will not relent in discovering those behind these devilish activities and expose them.”
It was reported that gunmen numbering 12, disrupted a voter registration exercise yesterday in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State.

Atiku Support Group Dumps Him

Greenbarge Reporters

April 15, 2022

One of the support group for the Presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, known as Atiku State of Mind Support Group, has pulled out.

The group who was part of the support groups for Atiku’s presidential bid in 2019, through their president, Pharm Hassan Ankunma, in a statement today, April 15 said that the decision to dump the former president came from the place of new information and realizations as they made a mistake in the past looking to support candidates from the two major parties as though they alone exist in a vacuum.

In a statement by the national coordinator, Hassan, said that the reason the group is transitioning from Atiku state of Mind to Moghalu state of mind is because they want a state of mind that is healthy for Nigerians, one that can guarantee the electoral promises that will be made.

The statement reads in part, “We don’t want a leader who ceded his authority to ruthless CABALS and family members who have absolute disregard for the rights of citizens. We will not accept a leader who treats women like commodities, marrying from different regions, not because of love but for political mileage. Prof Kingsley Moghalu is a sincere man and we trust him.”

Nigeria Not In Good Shape To Hold Census Next Year, Dangiwa Umar Cautions

Editorial staff

April 15, 2022

Former military administrator of Kaduna State, retired Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar has cautioned the government of President Muhammadu Buhari against holding a national census in 2023.

In a statement today, April 14, Dangiwa said: “a country that is facing existential challenges, such as unprecedented level of insecurity, collapsing economy cannot have as one of its priorities, the conduct of a National census.”

The former Administrator, who is now the

Chairman of the Movement for Unity and Progress, said that the announcement that National Council of State had approved the conduct of National census in April 2023, came as a great shock to most well meaning Nigerians.

Dangiwa called on the Buhari administration to suspend what will amount to misadventure and waste of scarce national resources.

He asked the Administration to rather focus all its attention on securing the nation and conducting the 2023elections.

“A National census at this point is certainly not a priority, assuming that its conduct is possible.

Promotion Galore In Police; Over 20,000 Smile Home

Editorial staff

April 15, 2022

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba has approved the promotion of 21,039 junior police officers who were last promoted on or before 2017.

The spokesman of the Force Headquarters, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said today, April 14 in a statement, that those promoted are made up of 20,572 Sergeants to the next rank of Inspector, 324 Corporals to Sergeants, and 143 Constables to the rank of Corporal.

According to the statement, the promotion is part of the ongoing efforts aimed at improving welfare, conditions of service, boosting the morale of personnel, with a view to repositioning the Force for greater efficiency.

It stressed that it is also part of the manpower development drive to ensure that deserving personnel are promoted accordingly, to encourage hard work and further embed the culture of merit, excellence, and dedication to duties.

The police boss was quoted as assuring senior police officers that the Force high command is liaising with the Police Service Commission on the release of their promotion, which is expected to be approved and released as soon as possible.

The IGP commended the newly promoted officers for their resilience and invaluable commitment to duties and charged them to see their promotion as a call for renewed zeal, vigour, patriotism to duty, and further re-dedication to professional policing standards.

The IGP restated the commitment of his administration to entrenching longstanding reforms in the Nigeria Police Force.

Cholera Outbreak In Adamawa Claims 55 Out Of 1,959 Cases Recorded – Commissioner

Editorial staff

April 14, 2022

Cholera outbreak has claimed the lives of 55 out of 1,959 reported cases in Adamawa State.
The State Commissioner of Health, Isa Abdullahi, who addressed journalists in Yola, the state capital today, April 14, said that since the beginning of the Cholera outbreak in the state, a total of 1,959 suspected cases with 55 deaths were recorded.
“Since the beginning of the outbreak, a total of 1,959 suspected cases with 55 deaths translating to case fatality ratio 2.8% were recorded.”
However, some stakeholders have raised questions over the haste in making claims of declaring the state as cholera free, arguing that the commencement of rainy seasons had always been characterised with cholera outbreaks.
“Cholera outbreak usually occurs at the end of the rainy season, because of water scarcity. However it is also common to experience cholera outbreaks at the beginning of rainy season, just like now,” said Dr. Amos Ujulu of the Adamawa State Health Insurance Scheme.

National Census Holds In April 2023, Population Commission Boss Announces

Editorial staff

April 14, 2022

The Director General of National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Isa-Kwarra has said that the Commission plans to hold national census in April 2023.

Speaking to newsmen at the Presidential Villa, Abuja today, April 14, Isa-Kwarra said that the national census would be conducted after the general elections, adding that the commission would also conduct a pilot census in June this year after political parties have finished primary elections.

He said that the commission would deploy high technology in the conduct of the 2023 national census.

“It is very crucial because I have highlighted that the Census is a very important exercise for the nation. Because through census we generate the data that we use for policy making, for planning, for development, by the three tiers of government, and the private sector, they all need this.

“If you are a private sector, you’re producing something, certainly, you need to know the population of an area if you want to create a market there.

“So, census data is very crucial, very important. Because, the data we’ve been using are just projections, estimation and are sort of obsolete, we need the actual census data to use for our planning.”

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