19082019 - Nigeria to spend N2.53bn on 43 ministers

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10 — Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2019 $16BN POWER PROJECT: SERAP backs EFCC’s probe of Obasanjo’s govt, others By Olasunkanmi Akoni LAGOS—THE Socio- Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, yesterday, backed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, <strong>to</strong> probe the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s $16 billion power project and administrations of past heads of state as well as other high-ranking public officials. The group said it was an opportunity for the EFCC, <strong>to</strong> show that former Heads of State and other highranking public officials are not immune from investigation and prosecution for allegations of grand corruption in <strong>Nigeria</strong>. A statement by SERAP’s Deputy Direc<strong>to</strong>r, Mr. Kolawole Oluwadare, who described the move as timely, said: “This probe is something, which SERAP has consistently called for. <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns have for far <strong>to</strong>o long been denied justice and the opportunity <strong>to</strong> get <strong>to</strong> the bot<strong>to</strong>m of why they continue <strong>to</strong> pay the price for corruption in the electricity sec<strong>to</strong>r—staying in darkness, but still made <strong>to</strong> pay crazy electricity bills.” According <strong>to</strong> reports, the EFCC had begun the probe of the $16 billion power project of the administration of former President Obasanjo. While Direct police, navy <strong>to</strong> publish names of all detainees, Falana tells FG Lrights AGOS—HUMAN lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, yesterday, asked the Federal Government <strong>to</strong> direct all security agencies in <strong>Nigeria</strong> <strong>to</strong> publish the names of all detainees and their places of detention. He also asked that the police and other security forces be prohibited from subjecting <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns <strong>to</strong> any form of incommunicado detention. Falana had threatened <strong>to</strong> sue the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, for failing <strong>to</strong> sanction the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n navy for the “illegal detention of 67 persons.” In a statement, he said family members of most of the detainees feel they had been abducted and killed by hardened kidnappers since they were arrested by armed and masked naval officials. He cited the case of one Miss Grace Inyang as a “pathetic” one whom he alleged has been in detention for about 295 days without being <strong>to</strong>ld some put the exact cost of the project at $16 billion others say it is $13.8 billion. Key contrac<strong>to</strong>rs and about 18 <strong>to</strong>p public officers allegedly involved in the power project scam during the Obasanjo administration, and those of former Presidents Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan may also be arrested. SERAP said: “The probe is timely, especially coming at a time of citizens’ frustrations at persistent allegations of corruption and the impacts on their human rights. Investigating allegations of grand corruption and prosecuting former heads of state and other highranking officials where such allegations show relevant and sufficient admissible evidence would address the grave travesty that has for many years occurred in the power sec<strong>to</strong>r. “The EFCC should urgently invite anyone suspected <strong>to</strong> be involved for questioning. The agency should also expand the probe <strong>to</strong> cover the alleged squandering of a <strong>to</strong>tal of N11 trillion in the power sec<strong>to</strong>r between 1999 and 2015, and the unresolved case of the reported missing $12.4 billion oil windfall, allegedly spent between 1988 and 1993 by the government of former Military President, Gen. Babangida.” Ibrahim the criminal offence she committed or allowed <strong>to</strong> contact her relatives. Falana said: “Last week, we submitted a petition <strong>to</strong> the National Human Rights Commission wherein we complained about the illegal and prolonged detention of 67 <strong>Nigeria</strong>ns by the authorities of the <strong>Nigeria</strong>n Navy. “Following the publication of the contents of the said petition by the media, a number of the family members and friends of the majority of the detainees have reached out <strong>to</strong> us. “Since the detainees were arrested by armed and masked naval personnel in mufti without any warrant of arrest and incarcerated incommunicado it was thought by many family members that the detainees had been abducted and killed by hardened kidnappers. “The most pathetic case is that of Ms. Grace Inyang who was arrested in Port Harcourt, Rivers State by masked naval personnel on Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 27, 2018." BIRTHDAY: From left; Wife of Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; celebrant, Sena<strong>to</strong>r Anthony Adefuye; Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and officiating Ministers during the 75th birthday thanksgiving service of Sena<strong>to</strong>r Adefuye at the St. Denis Catholic Church, Akoka, Lagos, yesterday.. 2019 PRESIDENTIAL POLL: Why Atiku was not declared winner, INEC tells tribunal By Ikechukwu Nnochiri A Independent BUJA—THE National Elec<strong>to</strong>ral Commission, INEC, has revealed before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, why candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, was not declared the winner of the last presidential election. The elec<strong>to</strong>ral body said it was satisfied that Atiku did not secure a majority of lawful votes during the election, even as it denied the allegation that votes were illegally awarded <strong>to</strong> All Progressives Congress, APC, <strong>to</strong> ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari was re-elected for a second term. In a final written address it filed before the Justice Mohammed Garba-led five-member panel tribunal, INEC, through its team of lawyers led by Mr. Yunus Usman, SAN, sought the dismissal of the petition Atiku and PDP lodged <strong>to</strong> query the outcome of the February 23 Presidential election, insisting that the petitioners failed <strong>to</strong> justify why a fresh election should be conducted. It <strong>to</strong>ld the tribunal that from collated results of the presidential election that was announced on February 27, President Buhari, scored the majority of lawful votes cast and got not less than one quarter in each of at least two-thirds in the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Terri<strong>to</strong>ry, FCT. INEC maintained that Atiku’s claim that it unlawfully awarded votes <strong>to</strong> Buhari in some states, is a criminal allegation, ought <strong>to</strong> be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. It said: “We refer <strong>to</strong> the •Says PDP failed <strong>to</strong> challenge Buhari's eligibility in court relevant paragraphs of the petition where the petitioners made the sundry allegations of deliberate wrong entry/ falsification of election results by the 1st Respondent. “It can be gleaned that nothing concrete or specific has been offered by the Petitioners in this regard. “For example, the petitioners pleaded wrong and deliberate entry of wrong results by the 1st Respondent in 11 states of the country, namely: Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger and the Zamfara States. “Thereafter, the petitioners proceeded <strong>to</strong> break down the allegation State by State. “However, a cursory appraisal of paragraph 155(4) of the petition dealing with this allegation of ‘posting wrong results’ <strong>to</strong> the non-existent 1st Respondent’s server and not the wrongful entry of the results in the physical/ manual Form EC8 series. PDP's failure <strong>to</strong> call witnesses “The most as<strong>to</strong>nishing part is that the petitioners failed <strong>to</strong> call witnesses who were at the various Units <strong>to</strong> observe these various alleged anomalies. “We submit that allegations bordering on alleged wrong entry/ falsification of election result are criminal and must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. “Furthermore, under section 150(1) of the Evidence Act, the results declared by the 1st Respondent enjoy a presumption of regularity. Accordingly, the petitioners herein are duty-bound <strong>to</strong> rebut this presumption with credible evidence.” On Atiku’s allegation that cancellation of election <strong>to</strong>ok place in 4,171 polling units across the country with a <strong>to</strong>tal of 2, 906,384 registered voters affected, INEC, argued that he failed <strong>to</strong> by way of credible evidence, show how the number of votes canceled affected the election. Proving every allegation It said: “We submit that it is trite law that not only is the petitioner duty-bound <strong>to</strong> prove every allegation on non-compliance; he is also expected <strong>to</strong> prove that such non-compliance substantially affected the result of the election. See BUHARI V OBASANJO (supra), NYESOM WIKE V DAKUKU &ORS (supra). “We humbly submit from the foregoing that the petitioners have failed <strong>to</strong> prove the allegation of noncompliance with the Elec<strong>to</strong>ral Act, and indeed every other allegation contained in the petition. The petition, therefore, lacks merit and should be thrown out on this point and this honourable court is urged so <strong>to</strong> do. “In the instant petition, the petitioners called 62 witnesses in proof of their petition. Only 5 were polling agents, while 5 were Assistant Presiding Officers, who incidentally had no problem with the conduct of the election but only came <strong>to</strong> assert that they transmitted the election result <strong>to</strong> a fictitious and nonexistent server. “The rest of the witnesses called are Ward, Local Government, State or National Collation Agents. And the petitioner aims <strong>to</strong> use them <strong>to</strong> prove allegations of noncompliance with the Elec<strong>to</strong>ral Act during the Presidential Elections in 36 States of the Federation and the FCT Abuja. What a mission impossible.” It faulted the petitioners for failing <strong>to</strong> call Polling Agents <strong>to</strong> testify before the tribunal, noting that alleged improper accreditation, nonauthentication of results, over-voting, inflation and deflating of votes and wrong entries in Form EC8A, non-counting of ballot papers, nonannouncement of scores of candidates and alteration of results, “undoubtedly occurred at the Polling Units or voting points and may only be observed at the respecting Polling Units where the infractions supposedly <strong>to</strong>ok place. “The eyes of the parties and candidates in an election at the Polling Unit are their respective agents and voters who were present <strong>to</strong> cast their votes. Consequently, in calling witnesses in proof of these allegations, these classes of individuals are indispensable. “Taking a rational, reasonable and critical examination and assessment of the evidence placed before this honorable court, one cannot but submit most humbly that the elements of the allegations of corrupt practices against the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Respondents have not been proved at all talk less of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.” INEC argued that the petitioners, by claiming that they defeated President Buhari with over 1.6m votes based on data they obtained “from a strange w e b s i t e called www.factsdontlieng.com”, merely attempted <strong>to</strong> send the tribunal on “a voyage of speculation and discovery without supporting their case with relevant evidence.”
Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2019 — 11 :Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 COMMISSIONING: From right — Managing Direc<strong>to</strong>r Fatgbems Group, Alhaji Hassan Gbemisola, Immediate past Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Prince Suraj Adekunbi, Chief of Staff <strong>to</strong> Ogun State Governor, Alhaji Shuaib Salis, Alake of Egba Land, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, Mother of the Day, Alhaja Ramota Gbemisola, Chairman Fatgbems Group, Alhaji Kabir Gbemisola and the Aare Baroyin of Egba Land, High Chief Lai Labode at the official commissioning of Fatgbems Petroleum New Mega Retail Station in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Violence erupts in Ondo community over upgrade of monarch •Approval was done 12 years ago — Govt By Dayo Johnson A K U R E — VIOLENCE broke out at the weekend in Abo<strong>to</strong> community in Ilaje council area of Ondo State over the upgrading of a monarch, the Alaboyo of Aboti, Oba Behiah Idiogbe by the Ondo state government. Vanguard gathered that residents of the community have fled the area as youths went on rampage <strong>to</strong> protest the upgrade. It was also gathered that the upgrading led <strong>to</strong> burning of houses and government projects. The rampaging youths in the community have been protesting the monarch’s upgrade, who they alleged, is not an indigene of the community. They threatened <strong>to</strong> blow up the bridge linking the community <strong>to</strong> other parts of the state if the decision is not reversed by the state government. The State Executive Council had announced the upgrade of Chief Beniah Adeola Idiogbe from Oloja of Abo<strong>to</strong> <strong>to</strong> Alabo<strong>to</strong> of Abo<strong>to</strong>. Confirming the violence, the lawyer <strong>to</strong> Abo<strong>to</strong> community, Mr. Idowu Mafimisebi, said the administration of late Olusegun Agagu in 2007 erroneously announced the approval of Idiogbe as the Alabo<strong>to</strong> which led <strong>to</strong> a bloody crisis and the death of some persons, while houses were razed in the community. In a statement on behalf of the community, Mafimisebi alleged that many indigenes of the <strong>to</strong>wn have fled when the announcement was made. The statement reads: “It is an anathema that a government led by a Senior Advocate of <strong>Nigeria</strong>, SAN, had <strong>to</strong> <strong>to</strong>w the line of wrongful decision of a previous government made 12 years ago which was reversed consequently after loss of lives and properties. “ A l t h o u g h correspondences have been sent <strong>to</strong> the present government through a letter dated July 8 and another one on August 14 <strong>to</strong> the effect that selection have been done for our client, while the commissioner for local government and Chieftaincy affairs, At<strong>to</strong>rney-General and Ilaje local government chairman affirmed that the selection of Prince Oyetayo Ofoaye was done in accordance with the Chieftaincy law of Ondo State. “The Amapetu of Mahin who has been restrained by Ilaje District Council and a court of competent jurisdiction since 1957 from meddling with Abo<strong>to</strong> land not being a community under him cannot make a person an Oloja over such a community, and it is therefore impossible <strong>to</strong> upgrade a person made an Oloja through an incompetent authority.” Approval was done 12 years ago — Govt But in his reaction, the Commissioner for Information, Donald Ojogo said the request for the upgrade had been approved by the State Executive Council 12 years ago, adding that the present government came in and decided <strong>to</strong> effect the upgrade. Ojogo said: “The process is what we met on ground and government felt justice must be served. It is not a fresh process; the State Executive Council gave approval for Alabo<strong>to</strong>’s elevation since 2007 but was not effected by previous administration.” Bill <strong>to</strong> empower AIB investigate road, rail, marine accidents before Senate — COMMISSIONER L AGOS—THE A c c i d e n t Investigation Bureau, AIB, yesterday, disclosed that a bill <strong>to</strong> empower the bureau <strong>to</strong> investigate rail, road and marine accidents and serious incidents is currently before the Senate. AIB’s Commissioner, Mr. Akin Olateru, confirmed the development <strong>to</strong> newsmen in Lagos. Olateru noted that the Federal Executive Council had approved its proposal for the new draft bill of AIB, adding that the bill was on the table at the upper chamber before the Senate went on recess. He said: “We are currently working on the possibility and the approval by the National Assembly of AIB going multimodal in our operations. “Going multimodal means we are not just going <strong>to</strong> be investigating air accidents alone but we will Obasanjo warns Ogun monarchs against bickering, rivalry By Daud Olatunji A F BEOKUTA— O R M E R President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, warned traditional rulers in Ogun State <strong>to</strong> steer clear of age-long bickering and rivalry among themselves for the sake of peace and development in the state. The former president stated this at the coronation ceremony of Agura of Gbaguraland, Oba Saburee Bakre in Abeokuta. He admonished the new monarch not join old issues with Alake and other Obas in that land. He asked Agura deploy his wealth of experience <strong>to</strong> further unite Obas in the land as peace and unity are mostly needed in the country at this trying period. He said: “Don’t listen <strong>to</strong> bad advisers on Agura, ensure that everyone comes <strong>to</strong>gether so that they can be development in Egbaland. All of you should work <strong>to</strong>gether <strong>to</strong> achieve development. You all need <strong>to</strong> support government for socio-economic 2020: Ondo Deputy gov denies plan <strong>to</strong> join PDP By Dayo Johnson A Deputy KURE—THE Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, weekend, denied plans <strong>to</strong> dump the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, <strong>to</strong> contest the 2020 governorship election against Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. Ajayi, in a statement in be investigating rail, marine and road accidents. “We will be joining other nations around the world who operate the multimodal system. “Hopefully, before the end of this year, this bill will be passed and that will make AIB <strong>Nigeria</strong> one of the <strong>to</strong>p nations that operate multimodal system.” Akure, said he remained “as the Deputy Governor and loyal <strong>to</strong> his boss, Akeredolu. This is <strong>to</strong> say emphatically that Hon Agboola Ajayi has no intention <strong>to</strong> contest against his boss.” The statement by his Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Baba<strong>to</strong>pe Okeowo said: “He was chosen as the Deputy Governor at the benevolent of Governor Akeredolu. “The Deputy Governor is By Adeola Badru I B A D A N — CHAIRMAN of the Association of Local Governments of <strong>Nigeria</strong>, ALGON, in Oyo State, Mr. Ayodeji Abass-Aleshiloye has accused Governor Seyi Makinde of borrowing over N1 billion monthly <strong>to</strong> pay council workers since June. Responding <strong>to</strong> the June 1 deadline for governors by the <strong>Nigeria</strong> Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, <strong>to</strong> allow councils access funds from the federation account without interference, Abass-Aleshinloye said: “I don’t think they have been following it. In the State/ Councils Joint Account, no transaction should occur without the primary owner which is the democratically elected officials.” He said: “I believe no transaction has occurred in the State Joint Allocation unperturbed by this sponsored s<strong>to</strong>ry and the ones before it as these are the handiwork of attention and job seekers. These funny characters are well known within the political circle in the Ondo State. “This is <strong>to</strong> say that this is a blatant falsehood as Hon Agboola Ajayi remains a bonafide member of the APC and has no plan <strong>to</strong> dump the party for any rival political party.'' development. You must all join hands <strong>to</strong>gether <strong>to</strong> ensure community development because your support will help government <strong>to</strong> develop the state.” He also urged the new monarch <strong>to</strong> work tirelessly and assiduously <strong>to</strong> move Gbagura and Egbaland forward in the comity of <strong>to</strong>wns and cities in the state. He said: “I congratulate you for the success of <strong>to</strong>day, you will be long on the throne and your reign will be the beginning of new things in Gbaguraland. “Kabiyesi, you have a lot of work <strong>to</strong> do in Gbaguraland and Abeokuta as a whole. Our traditional rulers are not united and you do not have bad baggage because as you are coming, your hands are pure, you must ensure that everything about you is pure. “Kabiyesi, don’t let anybody tell you that they don’t do it this way, if you want <strong>to</strong> ensure that your reign brings peace and development <strong>to</strong> Gbagura, you may have <strong>to</strong> act out of the box.'' Makinde borrows over N1bn monthly <strong>to</strong> pay LG salaries, Oyo ALGON boss alleges •There’s no iota of truth — Govt Committee otherwise called JAC since we left office because they refused <strong>to</strong> recognise chairmen <strong>to</strong> work with; there is no way even if that money goes <strong>to</strong> councils, they can’t have access <strong>to</strong> it.” On how salaries have been paid till date, Alesinloye said: “I learned they have been borrowing money <strong>to</strong> pay because they don’t want anything negative <strong>to</strong> happen <strong>to</strong> their government.” “So, they have been rallying round <strong>to</strong> source for money <strong>to</strong> pay local government workers. “There is no way they can access the money coming from Abuja <strong>to</strong> local governments for now. We have written letters <strong>to</strong> the banks and I am sure the banks have not been honouring their cheques. They (Oyo government) don’t have access <strong>to</strong> the money.” It’s not true — Oyo govt Responding <strong>to</strong> the allegations, the Chief Press Secretary <strong>to</strong> Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa said there was no iota of truth in the claim by Alesinloye, adding that the NFIU had been dragged <strong>to</strong> court. Adisa said: “The <strong>Nigeria</strong>n Governors Forum <strong>to</strong>ok that matter <strong>to</strong> court. As far as the matter is in court, the status quo remains. Each state can now design how it manages its local governments.”
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19082019 - Nigeria to spend N2.53bn on 43 ministers

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