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ICPC Uncovers N400bn Budget Padding, N50bn Ghost Workers’ Salaries
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on Thursday said the 2021 and 2022 budgets were padded with duplicated projects worth N400bn by ministries, departments and agencies.
It also said N49.9bn was earmarked as salaries for ghost workers in the first half of 2022.
ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, stated this during an interactive session with the Senate Committee on Finance in preparation for the 2023 budget at the National Assembly, Abuja.
Although he did not name the agencies involved, he said duplicated projects worth N300bn were inserted into the 2021 budget; and N100bn projects in the 2022 budget.
Owasanoye said ICPC’s thorough scrutiny of approved budgets for various MDAs saved the government from wasting billions of naira on fictitious projects.
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He said: “N300bn would have been wasted by the federal government on duplicated projects inserted into the 2021 budget and N100bn for same purpose in the current fiscal year if not tracked and intercepted by ICPC.
“The same pre-emptive move saved the country from spending N49.9bn for salaries of ghost workers put on fictitious pay roll by the fraudulent MDAs between January and June this year.
“Names of MDAs involved in project duplications running into intercepted billions of Naira and fictitious pay rolls are available and will be forwarded to the committee .
“The good thing about the pre-emptive moves made by us is that monies for the fraudulent acts were prevented from being released to the affected MDAs and it’s gratifying that the Finance Ministry and Accountant General Office cooperated with us,” he said.
He urged the relevant committees of the National Assembly to watch out for such projects duplication in the proposed N19.76trn 2023 budget.
“From our own end, detection of such projects is done by verifying their locations and names, upon which we tell the appropriate authorities not to release wrongly budgeted monies to them,” he added.
The chairman of the committee, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, said the operational cost of the ICPC would be increased from N1.8bn in the coming 2023 budget.
Daily Trust
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Sokoto governor axes 15 district heads over insecurity, others
Sokoto governor axes 15 district heads over insecurity, others
Sokoto State Government has sacked nine district heads for allegedly aiding insecurity and encouraging land racketeering.
The state government also sacked another six district heads said to have been irregularly appointed by the immediate past government of the state.
Abubakar Bawa, the Press Secretary to Governor Ahmed Aliyu, announced this while briefing newsmen on the development on Tuesday.
Those axed over alleged insecurity are the district heads of Unguwar Lalle, Yabo, Wamakko, Tulluwa, llela, Dogon Daji, Kebbe, Alkammu and Giyawa.
Bawa said the six district heads were dropped because of the way they were haphazardly appointed and their rejection by their people.
The affected six district heads are Marafan Tangaza, Sarkin Gabas Kalambaina, Bunun Gongono, Sarkin Kudun Yar Tsakkuwa, Sarkin Tambuwal and Sarkin Yamman Torankavwa.
“The cases involving District Heads of Isa, Kuchi, Kilgori and Gagi have been re commended for further investigations,” Bawa added.
However, Sarkin Yakin Binji, senior counselor in the Suktanate Council, was transferred to Nabunkari while the District Head of Sabon Birni was deployed to Gatawa.
Bawa said this followed the recommendations of the Committee on the Review of the appointments of Traditional rulers, Renaming of Tertiary Institutions and the Dissolution of Governing Boards of State Parastatals.
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Passengers overpower bandits in Zamfara
Passengers overpower bandits in Zamfara
In a courageous act, the family of a bride-to-be and a group of passengers thwarted a kidnapping attempt by killing a terrorist in Zamfara State.
PRNigeria reports that the incident unfolded when the family of the bride-to-be and other travellers were ambushed by bandits along the Talata Mafara-Gusau highway.
The bride’s family had embarked on a journey to purchase clothing and other wedding materials in Kano. However, their plans took a harrowing turn when armed bandits targeted them.
An eyewitness, who spoke to PRNigeria, revealed that the response was spontaneous once the bandits had selected their victims.
Despite one of the bandits managing to escape, the brave passengers captured two AK-47 rifles.
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Narrating how the events unfolded, the eyewitness said: “A few kilometres away from the Fangal Tama checkpoint, the travellers heard gunshots echoing all around.
‘’To their shock, they encountered two well-armed bandits on motorcycles, blocking the road and halting vehicles.
“The bandits immediately ordered the young woman (the bride-to-be), her father, mother, and two other relatives to exit their car.
‘’With guns pointed at them, the terrified family members were coerced to follow the bandits into the nearby forest.
“Realising the grave danger they faced in forced abduction, the passengers decided to act swiftly. They rallied together and launched an attack on one of the two bandits.
‘’In a fierce struggle, they managed to overpower him, resulting in his instant death. The other bandit, however, escaped, leaving behind his firearm.
“The courageous group retrieved the two guns and emerged from the forest. They promptly handed the weapons over to the military at a nearby checkpoint.’’
Passengers overpower bandits in Zamfara
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BREAKING: EFCC freezes 300 illegal forex accounts
BREAKING: EFCC freezes 300 illegal forex accounts
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has frozen 300 illegal forex accounts trading on a peer-to-peer platform.
The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, revealed that the accounts were suspended on Monday following a court order.
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Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, Olukoyede explained that over $15bn passed through one of the forex platforms in the last one year, outside the financial regulations.
He said the EFCC action was taken to ensure the safety of the foreign exchange market and protect the economy.
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