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NDIC Act has 35 doctored clauses, chairman claims

Published

3 years ago

June 13, 2023

Godwin Emefiele and AbdulHakeem Abdullateef

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) alleged yesterday that former President Muhammadu Buhari signed a doctored NDIC bill hours before leaving office.

It said the new law contains 35 sections that were hitherto not in the bill passed by the National Assembly.

The corporation fingered the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) Godwin Emefiele and his cohorts in the NDIC of tampering with the passed bill en route to Buhari for his assent.

NDIC Chairman AbdulHakeem Abdullateef made the allegations while being featured on a television programme.

Abdullateef stated that the corporation has, under the new law, been stripped of its independence as it now has to seek the approval of the CBN before discharging some of its duties.

“A crime has been committed. Only President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will tell us who is to be investigated,” he said.

Under the new Act, NDIC can no longer monitor and supervise banks. It is left with only the duty of checking the books of banks after getting the CBN’s nod.

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Besides, the Act removes the powers of the President to appoint the Managing Director or Executive Directors of the NDIC.

Also, officials of the corporation cannot aspire or rise to the height of being managing directors or executive directors of the corporation.

According to Abdulllateef, only the CBN, in accordance with the Act, can recommend professionals for the positions of managing director and executive directors of the NDIC.

He said:” Former President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Act without reading it. No reasonable person, who does not want fire to burn him inside the grave will sign this Act. They deliberately made it 48 hours before he left, because they knew that a President that is handing over has a lot to do. They knew that he had said that ‘I cannot wait to leave,’ so they took this bulky document to him to sign.

“The NDIC is meant to be an independent agency because the government wants to ensure that the deposits paid by Nigerians into banks are never endangered by the conspiracies of either the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) or the Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), to ensure that whatever misbehaviour is being displayed, won’t affect Nigerians. The NDIC Act of 2006 guarantees the independence of the NDIC.

“Also, NDIC should always visit the banks and look into their books, and ensure that the way they are operating these banks does not endanger depositors.

“The moment they knew we were appointed, they introduced a new bill to the National Assembly.

“The Federal Ministry of Finance, being one of the shareholders of the NDIC shall select one director to represent the Federal Government in the board.

“Emefiele and his cohort in the NDIC decided to remove the power of Mr President to appoint competent Nigerians. The new Act was not part of what was discussed at the National Assembly. The new Act is different from what the National Assembly passed, and what was taken to the President. It is illegal.”

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”The current President wants to fight corruption, and corruption will want to fight back. Therefore, every one of us in every agency must stand with the President.

“When they know that what they are doing is fraudulent, they will not present it before the National Assembly to look through. There are many men of integrity in the National Assembly who will not sell their conscience. No National Assembly member will watch you remove their power to appoint competent people in the six geopolitical zones and remove them.

“In the new Act, they fraudulently made the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Finance as the chairman. I have never heard it in my life. I went to the permanent secretary and asked if he knew about it, and he said ’I swear by my God, I know nothing about it.’

”The permanent secretary said, ‘When it was suggested to me, I told them that I am too busy as a permanent secretary to be superintending over NDIC. They know that I will not have time to superintend over the NDIC so that they can be doing what they want.’

“The new composition says Mr President cannot appoint a managing director or executive director, except the people recommended by the CBN governor. They put the CBN governor there because they thought they could be there forever. You cannot restrain Mr President; he must be free to appoint competent Economists and Accountants.

“They have also killed the career progression of the 1,600 staff members of the NDIC. They are now saying that any staff member can never become the executive director or managing director; that it is an agency outside the NDIC that can recommend, which is the CBN. And we say the NDIC is an independent agency?

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“There is a lot of protest now in the NDIC, among the staff members. They have been demoralised and demotivated because stylishly, the current executive directors have been ‘removed’ according to them because those ones were freely appointed by the President before, but now, it has to be under the recommendation of the CBN.

“They have also, in the new Act, removed the representative of the Ministry of Finance.

“The mandate of the NDIC is to protect depositors. With this new Act, NDIC will no longer be able to protect depositors. NDIC was established as independent so that it would not be disturbed by the CBN. But now, they have introduced 35 new sections under which the NDIC will need to seek the approval of the CBN before it can discharge its duties.

“Now, even to go to banks to check their books, they said the CBN must approve. So, you have taken away the independence of the NDIC. Even to pay depositors, the new Act says the NDIC must get the CBN’s approval.

“The National Assembly is the apex law-making institution in Nigeria. I monitored the process when it was passed by the Senate, it does not contain all these I have mentioned here. The House of Representatives also concurred with the Senate. But along the line, on the way to Aso Rock Villa, new sections were introduced by people who are not members of the National Assembly.

“In law, if the President signs an Act that is different from what was passed, that Act is inchoate, which means there is a material omission of what ought to have been done, and that Act is null and void.

“Mr. President alone cannot make an Act, it must be the concurrence of the two Houses.”

“They did not introduce those sections to the National Assembly because they know the Senators are reasonable people. Why will you remove the representatives of the six geopolitical zones from monitoring you?”

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Bandits Kill Three in Fresh Attack on Kebbi Community

Published

2 hours ago

October 8, 2026

Trends Admin

Kebbi State Commissioner of Police, Umar Mohammed‑Hadejia

Bandits Kill Three in Fresh Attack on Kebbi Community

Three people have been killed after bandits attacked Kasabo community in Saminaka, Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The attackers reportedly stormed the community in the early hours of Monday, sending residents fleeing into nearby bushes for safety.

A resident, Aminu Salisu, said the bandits arrived in large numbers, but many residents escaped before the attackers could reach them.

He said the assailants nevertheless succeeded in killing three people before withdrawing from the community.

The attack has renewed concerns over the security situation in parts of Kebbi State, particularly communities close to the Kebbi-Niger border that have faced attacks by armed groups.

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Governor Nasir Idris visited the affected community on Tuesday to sympathise with the families of the victims and other residents.

The governor described the killings as tragic and unacceptable, assuring residents that his administration would continue to strengthen collaboration with security agencies to protect lives and property.

He also provided financial assistance to the affected community and the families of those killed.

The Dan Masani of Saminaka, Alhaji Mohammed Bashir, described the deaths as a major loss to the community and expressed appreciation for the governor’s visit and support.

The latest attack comes amid intensified security efforts in Kebbi. The Nigerian Army recently operationalised three new formations in the state, including the 281 Tank Battalion in Yauri, as part of efforts to expand its presence and improve response to banditry and other security threats.

Security agencies are expected to intensify operations in the affected areas following the latest attack.

Bandits Kill Three in Fresh Attack on Kebbi Community

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Amnesty Demands Reinstatement of Plateau Defilement Case Involving Four-Year-Old

Published

3 hours ago

October 8, 2026

Trends Admin

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang

Amnesty Demands Reinstatement of Plateau Defilement Case Involving Four-Year-Old

Amnesty International Nigeria has demanded the immediate reinstatement of a defilement case involving a four-year-old child in Plateau State, after the state authorities discontinued the prosecution despite a subsisting bench warrant against the defendant.

The organisation made the demand in Jos on Wednesday, describing the withdrawal of the case as a serious concern for child protection and access to justice.

Amnesty International Nigeria’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, said the case was before the Plateau State High Court in Jos and involved a defendant who allegedly failed repeatedly to appear in court.

According to Sanusi, the court subsequently issued a bench warrant for the defendant’s arrest, but the warrant remained unexecuted.

He said prosecutors from the office of the Plateau State Attorney-General discontinued the criminal proceedings in May 2026 by invoking Section 211 of the 1999 Constitution, which gives an Attorney-General the power to discontinue criminal proceedings.

Sanusi argued that the constitutional power must be exercised in the public interest, in the interest of justice and to prevent abuse of legal process.

Amnesty is therefore asking the Plateau State Government to reverse the discontinuance and restore the case to the High Court.

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The organisation also called on the police to execute the outstanding bench warrant so that the defendant can be brought before the court.

Sanusi stressed that the organisation was not declaring the defendant guilty, but insisted that the allegations should be determined through due judicial process.

Amnesty also urged Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Philemon Daffi, SAN, to intervene and provide a transparent explanation for the decision to discontinue the case.

The prosecution counsel, Stella Samuel, said the legal team had been ready to proceed with the trial and had witnesses and evidence available before the case was withdrawn.

She said the defendant had failed to appear in court from the first hearing in February 2026 despite being served, leading to the issuance of the bench warrant.

Samuel urged the Attorney-General to reinstate the case, arguing that the matter remained capable of being prosecuted.

The development has also attracted concern from civil society organisations in Plateau State, which have called for the case to proceed.

The Let The Case Proceed Campaign said the withdrawal had raised questions about the effectiveness of the justice system in protecting children and ensuring accountability in cases involving alleged sexual violence.

Amnesty International said it had previously engaged the Attorney-General’s office over the matter and also petitioned the governor.

The organisation said it received a response referring to the Attorney-General’s constitutional powers but maintained that the explanation did not adequately address its concerns about the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal.

The case has renewed debate over the exercise of prosecutorial powers, particularly in cases involving alleged sexual violence against children.

While Section 211 provides constitutional authority for an Attorney-General to discontinue criminal proceedings, rights advocates insist that such powers must be exercised consistently with the requirements of public interest and justice.

The defendant remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court, and the demand by Amnesty and other groups is for the judicial process to be allowed to determine the allegations.

Amnesty Demands Reinstatement of Plateau Defilement Case Involving Four-Year-Old

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NAF Crash: NYSC-Bound Graduate, Only Son, Among 25 Victims

Published

3 hours ago

October 8, 2026

Trends Admin

NAF Crash: NYSC-Bound Graduate, Only Son, Among 25 Victims

A young graduate identified as Ukeme David, who had completed his clearance ahead of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, was among the 25 people killed in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State.

David was also the only son in his family, adding to the grief of relatives who had expected him to begin a new chapter of his life with the national service programme.

The aircraft, NAF 931, crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State, on Monday, October 5, while travelling from Benin to Lagos.

The Nigerian Air Force subsequently confirmed that 25 people were on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers. There were no survivors.

David had reportedly travelled to Benin to complete his NYSC clearance and was expected to return to Lagos later in the week.

A family member said David changed his travel plans and boarded the ill-fated aircraft on Monday after he was asked to return earlier to help care for his sister.

The family member described him as an intelligent young man who was looking forward to beginning his national service.

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His death has left relatives and friends mourning a young graduate whose career and national service journey had only just begun.

The five crew members who died in the crash included Squadron Leader MI Aburime, the flight captain; Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje and Flight Lieutenant IS Bako, the co-pilots; Warrant Officer Abubakar A, an aircraft technician; and Corporal Uguru HC, also an aircraft technician.

The remaining victims included serving military personnel and civilians who were travelling on the aircraft.

Following the crash, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Recovery efforts were also launched at the crash site as authorities worked to locate and recover the aircraft and remains of those killed.

The crash has triggered widespread grief among the families, colleagues and communities of the victims, while the investigation is expected to determine what caused the NAF aircraft crash.

Authorities have urged members of the public to rely on verified information concerning the incident and respect the privacy and dignity of the bereaved families as recovery and investigation efforts continue.