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Umahi says N9.3bn wasn’t paid under him to MFB

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Works Minister David Umahi

Umahi says N9.3bn wasn’t paid under him to MFB

Minister of Works David Umahi has said the disbursement of N9.3 billion to a microfinance bank by the ministry was not awarded when he assumed office.

He was reacting to Tracka, BudgIT’s service delivery promotion platform, that exposed how the Federal Ministry of Works paid N9.3bn to FIMS Microfinance Bank Ltd in violation of the 2007 procurement law.

The release of the funds for 62 projects was made between June and December 2023.

Tracka stated that some of these projects include “the payment of N1.4bn in September 2023 for the construction of Yaba-Yangoje Road in the Federal Capital Territory; N1.2bn in October 2023 for the rehabilitation of a 2km road from Oriawo-boroboro-oke-medina School of Science Road in Atiba, Oyo state; N1.2bn in October 2023 for the rehabilitation of Kosobo-awe Junction Road in Oyo East LGA in Oyo state and N1.2bn between August and November 2023 for the rehabilitation of Ejule-otukpo road in Benue State to mention a few.”

Tracka added that according to its mission statement and the information on its website, FIMS Microfinance Bank Ltd. was incorporated on December 11, 2009, to conduct microfinance businesses/services with a certificate of incorporation number RC 858800.

“As a financial institution, the award of road construction contracts amongst others to this company is a violation of the Public Procurement Act 2007, ” BudgIT’s Country Director, Gabriel Okeowo, had said while calling on anti-graft agencies to question and probe the payments as well as prosecute the erring officers.

But while clarifying, the minister said he was in the senate when the first payment was made in June.

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He said the ministry acted in accordance with the law as the payment was made for service delivered by contractors and not for a contract awarded to the bank itself.

“There are issues with the report because up to the 20th of August, I was in the Senate. When a contractor has done his or her work, the money becomes his money, he can say, pay it to this bank or another. So, they are being mischievous.

“If they are asking whether the job has been done, that is reasonable and a right to provide an answer but they do not have the right to say where a contractor will say his money will be paid.

“Whether it is paid into a microfinance bank or not, without prejudice that I don’t have the facts about the jobs, they have no right to say it is paid into a microfinance bank.”

He added that the information was a distraction, alleging that it was the work of bad contractors to fight back.

“The jobs were never done by me, payments were not done by me and even if it was me, if the jobs were done and the certificate generated; deployed to the platform and it was appropriated and money was released against the project, then they have no right to question where it was paid.”

“In all the states. It is our policy that the state governors through their appointed officials must mark off any project, especially the emergency projects. When the contractor has completed a job, no matter how big it is.

My advice for the governor is to come to the site and look at it before it gets to our office for payment, where this procedure is not done, I will not sign any generated certificate. So, we have invited the public to also be a part of the monitoring,” he said.

Umahi breaks silence, says N9.3bn wasn’t paid under him

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Updated: Reps condemn assault on Nasarawa female doctor by patient family 

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Updated: Reps condemn assault on Nasarawa female doctor by patient family 

Chairman of the Committee, Amos Magaji, spoke on behalf of the committee shortly after members carried out an oversight visit at the FMC on Wednesday.

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Nigerians attack Reno Omokri for calling Fubara ‘bushman’

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Reno Omokri

Nigerians attack Reno Omokri for calling Fubara ‘bushman’

A former presidential aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has been described as a man who cannot “win a position in history  church prayer meeting group not to talk about a government position.”

These were the remarks of a cross-section of Nigerians who criticized Omokri for describing the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, as a “bushman.”

Omokro, in a statement on Wednesday, described Fubara as a classless politician who acts like a “militant in the creek.”

The social media influencer remarked while commenting on the ongoing feud between the Rivers state governor and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.

Omokri mentioned that the governor of Rivers State is a ‘tactless’ politician who is “not refined and does not project much intellectual prowess.”

The self-acclaimed table shaker raised concerns that the political tension in the state may spread across the country, having negative effects.

He therefore urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ameliorate the feud in the state.

“If their blustering will start and end in Rivers, okay. But it will not end there. The contagious effect may have seismic consequences for our country. Rivers needs an outside force to act as Big Brother. Rivers needs presidential intervention,” Omokri stated.

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Reacting to Omokri’s statement, Ovih Williams said, “It seems you know a lot about Nigerian politics, but what’s stopping you from getting a ticket and running for public office? Oh, let’s guess, you can’t even win a position in your church prayer meeting group not to talk about a government position.”

He adds, “No one can and will trust you with power; your forked tongue will not allow anyone to entrust you with a ticket or an appointment because you will surely betray them in the end, like you did Atiku Abubakar.

“What’s funny is you now doing everything humanly possible to wow the same @officialABAT you called “thief!, ole!!, drug dealer!!!, etc.” just months ago.”

Osadolo Osazeme, in his reaction, mentioned that “Reno is taking trash. If Reno were in Fubara’s shoes, I guess he would do worse to sustain his seat. Imagine Reno selling his soul for Tinubu after campaigning for Atiku in the 2023 presidential election.”

Abdulrahman Abdulrajid berated Omokri, saying, “You never stand for truth. You were defending the action of Ododo for interfering with the EFCC by arresting Yahaya Bello. Now You are taking sides against Fubara.”

He adds, “You talking rubbish! Are you encouraging God-fatherism or what? You didn’t see those videos of how the local government chairman insulted him! Did you know how many people’s properties were demolished in River State?”

“I disagree with you. Gov. Fubara is not a Bushman,” Agba Nwagbegbe noted.

“He represents the interests of the Rivers people. And he didn’t allow the bombing of the HOA. You don’t know what happened there. Rivers State will not be controlled by foreign players; the people of Rivers decide,” he adds.

Amb Mike Damisa, wrote, “I’m disappointed at Reno Omokri; I never saw your write-up condemning Wike’s boys trying to remove a sitting governor for no crime committed just 6 months after he assumed power as Governor of Rivers State, and you never make reference to the status of the defected assembly members, but the same you brag daily on how your father saved Peter Obi during his time as Governor of Anambra State.

“The same you that wants a better Nigeria! Wike shouldn’t be in existence politically if Nigeria needs a fresh air.”

Malam Lukman stated, “Sir, you are taking sides here. After calling Fubara all sorts of names, call Wike with the names he deserves too.

“Wike isn’t perfect, and in this matter, he’s at fault too. He initiated this in the first place. Why are you scapegoating Fubara all of a sudden? No, I don’t agree with you here.”

Tamuno Nengi also commented, “I’ve never expected anything reasonable from you, and you never even try to prove me wrong. You keep jumping from pillar to post. We are waiting for you to grow the naira with caps from Katangwa and walking sticks from Panya.”

Nigerians attack Reno Omokri for calling Fubara ‘bushman’

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Medical activities paralysed in A’Ibom as doctors begin strike over abducted colleague

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Medical activities paralysed in A’Ibom as doctors begin strike over abducted colleague

The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, in Akwa Ibom has embarked on an industrial action over the abduction of one of its members two weeks ago.

The association suspended medical services across all government and private hospitals in the State due to the continued incarceration of the kidnapped member.

Recall that gunmen had on April 30, 2024, abducted a senior member of the doctors’ association, Dr John Esu at Oron local government area.

Dr Esu’s prolonged captivity has compelled the furious medics to stop work, attributing the development to the insensitivity of government and security agencies towards the safety of lives and properties of the people, including medical workers.

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NMA State Chairman, Prof. Emem Abraham said the strike became imperative to draw the attention of the government and security agencies to the plights of medical workers.

Abraham ordered all members including consultants to the state government and privately owned hospitals to withdraw their services saying the action would be reviewed after 72 hours.

“The NMA, Akwa Ibom State has resolved to withdraw services from all government and private hospitals in sympathy with our member who had been in captivity for over 15 days. The withdrawal of services takes immediate effect and shall be reviewed after 72 hours.

“The entire members of our association have been psychologically traumatised by this unfortunate situation, and are not in any good frame of mind to continue serving the public, while Dr. John Esu remains in the kidnappers’ den.”

Medical activities paralysed in A’Ibom as doctors begin strike over abducted colleague

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