Rivers Assembly Begins Impeachment Process Against Gov Fubara

The Rivers State House of Assembly has voted to commence an investigation into allegations against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, activating the constitutional process for impeachment amid the state’s ongoing political crisis.

Reps probe missing crude, dirty fuel

The Joint Committee of the House of Representatives carrying out a forensic investigation into the challenges affecting the downstream and midstream petroleum sectors has commenced a probe into allegations of importation of contaminated Premium Motor Spirit, also known as fuel, into the country. The committee’s Chairman, Ikenga Ugochinyere disclosed this at the formal inauguration of the panel in Abuja on Monday. The investigative panel will also look into allegations of the non-availability of crude oil to domestic refineries, disruption in distribution and favouritism in the pro forma invoice regime, among others. Briefing newsmen at the event, Ugochinyere said, “The committee will conduct a legislative forensic investigation into the presence of middlemen in crude trading, indiscriminate issuance of licences and alleged unavailability of international standard laboratories to check adulterated products.” He noted that the panel would also probe the possible influx of contaminated products into the country and “the allegation of non-domestication of profits realised from crude marketing sales in local banks, abuse of the PFI regime and importation of products already being produced in Nigeria.” Meanwhile, the panel is set to visit petrol stations nationwide to take samples of their product for laboratory tests to ascertain their quality. The mandate of the joint committee is sequel to the adoption of a motion on July 9, 2024, on the “Urgent need to carry out a legislative forensic investigation into the challenges affecting the downstream and midstream petroleum sectors in Nigeria and other related matters to find out a lasting solution to all challenges,” affecting the petroleum industry. Details later…

Reps to investigate civil service promotion stagnation

Following a motion moved by Rep. Salman Idris, the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Agric Colleges and Institutions in Abuja, the House of Representatives has resolved to investigate promotion stagnation in the Federal Civil Service from 2013 to 2023. According to Idris, promotion remained the progression of civil servants, as well as a motivational incentive for productivity, decrying the incessant stagnation in promotions across Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government. He said this had resulted in loss of service delivery, decline in highly specialized skills, low levels of productivity and performance, employee unrest, corruption and dampened morale. “The menace of promotion stagnation in the civil service calls for urgent attention and intervention of this hallowed chamber if the policies and programmes of government must be achieved,” he said. He said that the civil service remained the engine room of government, adding that it required a holistic reform that could promote global best practices. He added that the issues of promotions and recommendations as and when due was imperative and should not be overlooked. Idis said some civil servants who eventually got promoted after mandatory examination as required by civil service rules were promoted notionally but not financially. He added that MDAs often made provision for such recurrent expenditure in the yearly appropriation. He said that every promotion stagnation would have an effect on the career of the officer. He added that every civil servant was expected to rise to the pinnacle of their career within 35 years in active service or by the retirement age of 60 year. The house ruled that the committee on public sector and institutional reforms should investigate promotion stagnation in the Federal Civil Service from 2013 –2023.

N5.6bn Scam: Former NIRSAL Boss, Abdulhameed Arrested After 5-Month Hunt

A former Managing Director of the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Aliyu Abdulhameed, has been arrested almost a year after he was sacked. NIGERIAN ANCHOR understands that NIRSAL is a $500m non-bank financial institution, which was created by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). It was created to manage agribusiness-related credit risks in Nigeria. Recall that Abdulhameed was relieved of his duties following allegations of corruption, including a 2018 N5.6 billion wheat project meant for farmers in Kano and Jigawa States. The Board of the CBN endorsed his sack, following approval from the Presidency in December last year. Daily Trust, in January last year, investigated how a multi-billion-naira loan guaranteed by NIRSAL for three investor companies for the cultivation of 20,000 hectares of dry season wheat in Kano and Jigawa States was allegedly diverted by the companies in connivance with NIRSAL officials. In the course of the investigation, the platform revealed that it visited the affected communities in the two states where farmers said they were deceived. Community leaders there said they were told the project was aimed at changing the lives of 20,000 smallholder farmers. They said after making farms available, affected farmers were promised fertiliser and other inputs for the wheat plantation, but never saw any of these thereafter. Both Abdulhameed and the three investor companies had denied wrongdoing. However, when the Special Investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu and his support team to probe the activities of the apex bank and related entities swung into action in September this year, there was panic and apprehension within the top hierarchy of the CBN and the NIRSAL. The Special Investigator, Jim Obazee and his team, led by DCP Eloho, were said to have beamed their searchlight on the NIRSAL and the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme which have, over the years, been at the centre of investigations. The ex-NIRSAL boss, who is said to be in the custody of the DSS, is being quizzed on multiple allegations of corruption during his tenure. A source at the NIRSAL revealed that the investigators put in place by President Bola Tinubu were also seeking answers based on findings contained in an investigation earlier conducted by a team from the CBN following a petition against the NIRSAL on alleged fraud, money laundering and criminal conspiracy. It was gathered that following the investigation, the Banking Supervision Department of the CBN wrote to the ex-NIRSAL boss seeking an explanation for “observed breaches of internal policies and procedures of the organisation, relevant regulations and laws, especially the Public Procurement Act 2007.” According to the platform, the query on the breaches was conveyed in a letter referenced: BSD/SPG/CON/NIR/13/083 titled: ‘On a spot check on the operation of NIRSAL conducted between August 27, 2020 and September 11, 2020.’

Missing N3bn: Reps Probe Industrial Training Fund

The House of Representatives has given the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) a 48-hour ultimatum to account for missing funds amounting to N3 billion. The directive was issued by the Chairman of the Committee on Finance, James Faleke, during the ongoing hearing on the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) after the agency failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the fund’s utilization. In a related development, the committee has instructed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to clarify within 72 hours why a licensed company, despite receiving N39 billion from the Ministry of Power, has not fulfilled its obligation to provide meters. The committee expressed concern about licensing a company that appears incapable of executing the project. Furthermore, the committee called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to account for the expenditure of N291 billion in 2022 on broadband services nationwide. The committee sought detailed information regarding the provision of broadband services, questioning the NCC’s claim that services were extended to airports and markets.

We’re Investigating Pre-Filled Result Sheets In Kogi Voting Centres -INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a response to the allegations of pre-filled result sheets in Kogi State during the ongoing governorship election.  Leading election observer group,  Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) had raised alarm over prefilled result sheets in some polling units. The forged sheets showed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) were winning the gubernatorial election. Reacting to the development, INEC vowed to review and investigate the incident. The statement reads,  “Our attention has been drawn to a report that filled result sheets were discovered in some polling units in Kogi State.  “The Commission views this situation seriously. Our senior officials deployed to the State are currently investigating the incident(s).  “The Commission will communicate its decision earnestly.” Meanwhile, Usman Ododo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Kogi governorship, has expressed satisfaction with the peaceful and orderly nature of the ongoing election in the state.  Ododo, after casting his ballot at his polling unit, lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for their management of the electoral process.  “I commend INEC management for how far it’s going, and as you can see, the election is peaceful and orderly,” he stated on Saturday.

Police Confirm Murder Of FUT Minna Lecturer

The Police command in Niger State has confirmed the killing of Dr Funmilola Adefolalu, a lecturer at the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna by suspected assailant. This is contained in a statement by the command`s spokesman, DSP Wasiu Abiodun on Monday in Minna. Abiodun said the victim was killed in her residence at Gbaiko area of Minna on Sunday. “On October 29, at about 1000hrs, some friends of Dr Funmilola Adefolalu, a lecturer at “FUT Minna visited her residence in Gbaiko Area of Minna due to their inability to get her on phone. “Unfortunately, on getting to the house, the visitors met her lying in a pool of her own blood with marks of injuries on her body,” he said. He said that two knives with blood stains suspected to have been used to stab her by unknown persons were recovered from the scene. The spokesman said that the body was taken to the Ibrahim Babangida Specialist Hospital, Minna where she was confirmed dead. He said that the police have commenced investigation into the incident. 

Kaduna Police Launch Manhunt For Killers Of NYSC Member

The Kaduna State Police Command is on a mission to apprehend the assailants responsible for the brutal killing of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Grace Chalya Silas.  Silas was tragically stabbed to death during her morning jog in Barnawa, Kaduna South Local Government Area. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, shocked the community. According to the spokesperson of the Kaduna Police Command, ASP Mansir Hassan, miscreants on motorcycles, identified as phone snatchers, are suspected to be the culprits behind this heinous act. After the matter was reported to the police, Silas was rushed to a clinic, but she was later confirmed dead.  The Kaduna Commissioner of Police, CP Musa Yusuf Garba, ordered an immediate manhunt for the killers, and an emergency meeting was held to address this tragic incident. CP Garba expressed his condolences and described the incident as “tragic.” He said the police are working closely with NYSC authorities in the state to ensure that justice is served for Grace Chalya Silas.

Federal Government Suspends N-Power Scheme, Initiates Probe

The Federal Government has temporarily suspended the N-Power Programme of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to give way for proper audit of the programme. The Federal Government kick-started the N-Power scheme on June 8, 2016 to address issues of youth unemployment and help to increase social development. The scheme was created as a component of government’s National Social Investment Programme. Dr Akindele Egbuwalo, National Programme Manager of N-Power announced its suspension in a statement he issued on Sunday in Abuja. Egbuwalo stated that the suspension and audit of the scheme became necessary to give room for a detailed investigation into N-Power’s operations in the last 12 months. He added that 960,000 Nigerians were enrolled in the scheme since its inception to date. “There is the need to audit the number of people still under the scheme because most of them have exited from N-POWER 1.0 and N-POWER 2.0 Batch A and Batch B. “The audit is also necessary to establish the number of people that have exited the programme; those who are being owed; and how funds have been utilised over the years,’’ he explained. Egbuwalo stated that some beneficiaries who concluded their programme since 2022 were still expecting payment from government. “Recently, we discovered instances of programme beneficiaries whose participation had lapsed since 2022 but have stayed on and continued to expect payment from government. “Some beneficiaries do not report to their places of primary assignments as required, but still receive monthly payments. “Some have other jobs and have left this bracket, but are still benefiting from payments, while those who truly worked are not paid. “These instances call for a thorough audit of the scheme,’’ he stated. Egbuwalo assured Nigerians that government would prioritise claims of those owed between eight months and nine months stipends after ascertaining the veracity of their claims. “Graduates and non-graduate volunteers Batch C1 & Batch C2 are in this category. We want to establish the exact number of people owed and the total cost implication to eliminate ghost beneficiaries. “Our preliminary findings show that some consultants are holding on to beneficiaries’ funds disbursed to them long ago, even when their contract ended in March 2023 without a renewal. “We condemn this practice and will not tolerate it going forward,’’ he stated. Egbuwalo added that work was on-going to identify culprit consultants to ascertain why the payments did not get to the beneficiaries. Such funds would be recalled and paid to affected beneficiaries, he assured. “We assure all beneficiaries with genuine claims that we will resolve their cases once we complete the verification and honour all valid outstanding obligations. “We appeal to Nigerians to understand the rationale behind the temporary suspension and investigation of the scheme as we work to restore the nation’s confidence in it,’’ he stated. Egbuwalo expressed government’s determination to restructure and expand the programme to accommodate persons within the ages of 18 years and 40 years as against the previous age limit of 35 years. “The restructuring will accommodate some new programmes in education, health, works, agriculture, technology, fashion, entertainment, and other relevant areas of skills acquisition and employability. “We are targeting five million beneficiaries in five years at a rate of one million beneficiaries per year under the graduate and non-graduate streams,’’ Egbuwalo also stated. 

Naira Marley Lands In Police Custody Over MohBad’s Death

The Lagos State Police Command has officially confirmed the arrest and detention of Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, the CEO of Marlian Records.  This arrest is in connection with the tragic demise of his former signee, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad. The Command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, took to Twitter late Tuesday night to announce Naira Marley’s detention, stating, “Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, has been taken into custody for interrogation and other investigation activities.” This news came shortly after Naira Marley himself tweeted that he had returned to Lagos, Nigeria, with the intention of assisting the police in their ongoing investigations into Mohbad’s untimely death.  He expressed his commitment to playing his part in seeking justice for Imole. In his tweet, Naira Marley said, “I’d like to share that I’ve just arrived back in Lagos, Nigeria to assist the authorities with the ongoing investigation. It’s important I do my part for Imole. I’ll be meeting with the police with hopes for the truth to be uncovered and for justice to prevail.” This move follows Naira Marley’s previous promise to return to the country to clear his name, as he had raised concerns about his safety and claimed that someone was attempting to falsely implicate him in Mohbad’s death. In related developments, the police had previously arrested Balogun Olamilekan Eletu, also known as Sam Larry, in connection with Mohbad’s tragic passing.