Okafor said he remained resolute in defending his reputation and ensure justice.
News
Dangote group breaks silence on EFCC invasion, narrates company’s ordeal
Dangote group breaks silence on EFCC invasion, narrates company’s ordeal
The Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, on Saturday clarified the recent invasion of officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to its Head Office in Lagos State.
Recall that officials of the EFCC visited the Dangote Group headquarters in Lagos on Thursday, to investigate forex allocations to the company during the tenure of Godwin Emefiele as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
However, days after the EFCC visit, Dangote Management, in a statement at the weekend explained that “the company received a letter from the EFCC in the first week of December 2023, requesting details of all the foreign exchange allocated to the company by the CBN from 2014 to the present.
The statement said, “We understand similar letters were sent to 51 other Groups of companies requesting for the same information spanning the same period.”
According to the statement, the company responded to the EFCC to acknowledge receipt of the letter whilst seeking clarification on the subsidiaries or companies within the Group that they required information on.
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It said the company also requested additional time to compile and properly present the extensive documentation spanning ten years.
The statement partly read, “the EFCC did not provide the clarification sought and also did not honour our request for an extension and insisted on receiving the complete set of documents within the limited timeframe.”
“On 4 January 2024, our team delivered the first batch of documents to the EFCC. However, officers of the EFCC did not accept the documents, insisting on visiting our offices to collect the same set of documents directly.
“Whilst our representatives were still at the EFCC’s office to deliver the documents, a team of their officers proceeded to visit our offices to demand the same documents in a manner that appeared designed to cause us unwarranted embarrassment.”
It noted that no accusations of wrongdoing have been made against the company by the EFCC, adding that they are responding to a request for information to assist the anti-graft agency with their ongoing investigation.
Dangote group breaks silence on EFCC invasion, narrates company’s ordeal
News
Rivers crisis may truncate Nigeria’s democracy, remember ‘Operation Wetie’ – Bode George warns
Rivers crisis may truncate Nigeria’s democracy, remember ‘Operation Wetie’ – Bode George warns
A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, on Friday, has warned that the political crisis rocking Rivers State could consume the country.
He urged elders and stakeholders of the party to intervene in the crisis between members of the state House of Assembly loyal to the ex-governor Nyesome Wike and incumbent Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He also urged President Bola Tinubu not to treat with levity the threat by some lawmakers in the state to impeach Governor Fubara, insisting that the state belongs to the PDP.
He advised that nobody should sit on the fence and pretend that things were fine in the state.
He quoted Section 109 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution, stating that a member of a House of Assembly would vacate his seat in the House if he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which he was elected.
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George maintained that all the PDP lawmakers who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) had automatically lost their seats.
“They are in no position to threaten Governor Fubara. So, their plot to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor is already in vain,” he said.
He also said, “Rivers people belong to PDP. Those threatening to impeach the governor are being remote-controlled by some forces. This must stop because if Rivers is set on fire today, that may end this democracy.
“We should remember ‘Operation Wetie’ which started in the defunct Western Region and eventually consumed the nation and ended the First Republic in 1966.
“All the actors in this crisis in Rivers should avoid actions likely to cause breach of peace and breakdown of law and order in our country.
“Members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of our party should be the elders in the room, act swiftly and nip this crisis in the bud before it consumes everybody.
“All the gladiators should also think of the collective interests of Nigerians. Whether we are members of PDP, APC or other parties, we should stop issuing provocative statements to increase the tension in Rivers.
“Any move that can truncate this democracy must be stopped immediately. Enough is enough”.
Rivers crisis may truncate Nigeria’s democracy, remember ‘Operation Wetie’ – Bode George warns
News
NANS kicks against tuition fee introduction in federal varsities
NANS kicks against tuition fee introduction in federal varsities
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has strongly opposed the recent proposal by Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary of TETFUND, to introduce tuition fees in federal universities.
Echono’s suggestion, made during an education sector conference in Abuja themed “Funding for Tertiary Education in Nigeria,” sparked widespread concern among student communities.
Pedro Obi, the President of NANS, issued a statement on Friday, condemning the proposal as a direct assault on the fundamental principle of accessible education for all Nigerians.
Obi emphasized that federal universities have historically served as pillars of hope for underprivileged students, offering them the opportunity to pursue higher education without financial constraints. Introducing tuition fees, he argued, would undermine this noble principle and create barriers that could prevent countless deserving students from accessing tertiary education.
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While acknowledging the need for sustainable funding in educational institutions, Obi asserted that burdening students and their families with tuition fees is not a viable solution. He urged the government to explore alternative funding mechanisms that would not compromise the accessibility and affordability of education.
NANS called on the federal government to reject the proposal and uphold its commitment to providing free and accessible education for all Nigerians. Obi urged stakeholders in the education sector to prioritize the welfare and future of students above all other considerations.
The statement reiterated that education is a fundamental right, not a privilege reserved for the affluent. NANS affirmed its unwavering commitment to defending this principle and ensuring equal access to quality education for every Nigerian.
NANS kicks against tuition fee introduction in federal varsities
News
Binance: Rep threatens legal action over $140m bribe allegation
Binance: Rep threatens legal action over $140m bribe allegation
A House of Representatives member. Dominic Okafor, has denied allegations of accepting a $140 million bribe from Binance, an online cryptocurrency trading platform.
Okafor, representing Aguata Federal Constituency of Anambra State, has threatened to sue Premium Times that reported the allegations.
He told journalists in Abuja of his intention to pursue legal action against the media outlet responsible for the report tarnishing his reputation.
This came after Okafor’s motion to investigate the escape of Binance executive Nadeem Anjarwalla from Nigerian security custody.
He asserted that the timing of the bribery allegations, shortly after moving the motion, suggested a deliberate attempt to smear his name and integrity.
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In response to the report, Okafor wrote a letter to Premium Times demanding the retraction of the report within 24 hours.
He copied the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Clerk, Inspector General of Police, EFCC, and DSS.
A Binance executive had earlier accused members of a federal government committee of corruption.
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