Why we made emergency landing at Lagos airport – Air Peace
News
Security agencies need superior weapons, not prayers – El-Rufai
Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, says Nigeria’s security agencies need superior weapons to fight insecurity and not prayers.
El-Rufai spoke on Monday during the town hall organised by the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, which was attended by governors from the North-West region and traditional rulers.
While announcing the rescheduling of the meeting, el-Rufai appreciated the service chiefs for their commitment to ending insecurity, and expressed the hope that the meeting would come up with a road map to end the security challenges in the country.
He noted that security should be the number one priority of the government and collective responsibility of all citizens.
“This town hall meeting is not complete without other stakeholders because of the short notice. So, we agreed that this North-West (meeting) be reconvened in the next two weeks. The date will be announced by the NSA and COAS,” he said.
“Bandits now have the audacity to attack the military men. Bandits have become vulgar. Those who are not informed believe nothing is being done to deal with them.
“We need to support our security agencies not with prayers, but with superior weapons. Security is a collective responsibility.
“All of us, the governors, are going round, talking with stakeholders to calm people down.”
Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum (NGF), Simon Lalong, urged Nigerians to learn to live in peace, irrespective of religious and ethnic differences.
“I came to add my voice on behalf of the entire northern governors. When looking for peace, we have no religion other than peace. We are determined to work for peace in the north and the entire country,” Lalong said.
Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari, said government would keep working until everyone is secured.
He said, “Security is community-based. All of us must go back to our community to ensure the security of the areas.
“It is our responsibility to provide security. We take responsibility to protect the people, irrespective of tribe, religion and where they come from.”
In his remarks, national security adviser said some Nigerians believe that the country has come to a dead end, owing to the rising insecurity in the nation.
Monguno noted that though security is the responsibility of the government, adding that tackling insecurity required a multifaceted approach.
He added that President Muhammadu Buhari was deeply worried about the issue and determined to end the menace.
Monguno said, “Buhari is worried and deeply concerned over wanton killings, not only in the north-west but in the whole country.
“We have a lot of suspicious people undermining government efforts. Some of us are spiritual in our thinking. Some believe that we have come to a dead end.
“This is not the end of time as predicted in the Bible. It is in the book of Matthew that when you see brothers killing brothers, son killing father, nations fighting nations, the end of time has come. But this is not the issue with our country.”
He also said, “It is true that security is the fundamental responsibility of government. Insecurity requires a multifaceted approach to overcome it.
“With the new service chiefs, there is a new dimension to ending insecurity. President Buhari is determined to end insecurity in the country. All the tiers of government must cooperate on security.
“It is possible that other people outside the government are sabotaging government’s efforts, but the government will not give up.”
News
Labour shuts NSITF head office over staff salary cut
Labour shuts NSITF head office over staff salary cut
Members of the organised labour, on Friday, protested and shut down the headquarters of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) over alleged cut of workers’ salaries in the agency by the management of the fund.
The aggrieved protesters, led by the President of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo and executive members of the Association of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFE), started their demonstrations at about 11:00am.
READ ALSO:
- Bandits attack Matawalle’s hometown in Zamfara kill one, kidnap many
- Eight illegal security guards arrested in Anambra
- Weeks after Iran’s attack, Israel discovers another massive surface-to-surface missile
Armed with placards with various inscriptions, the protesters alleged that the management led by Mrs Maureen Allagoa, the Managing Director of the Fund, had made deductions of consequential taxes from their salaries to the tune of N2.1bn which were not remitted.
Addressing the protesters, Osifo said the protest and subsequent shutdown of the Fund became imperative after efforts made by the leadership of ASSBIFE to resolve the issue amicably with the management failed.
The protesters urged President Bola Tinubu to sack the MD of the agency with immediate effect to avert “looming crises” in the Fund and called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe their claims.
Both the MD of the Fund, Mrs Allagoa and spokesman of the Fund, Mr Godson Nwachukwu could not be reached for comments at the time of filing this report.
Labour shuts NSITF head office over staff salary cut
News
How ex-Head of Service Oyo-Ita diverted N3bn public funds to private firms
How ex-Head of Service Oyo-Ita diverted N3bn public funds to private firms
Hamma Bello, the eighth prosecution witness in the trial of Winifred Oyo-Ita, a former Head of Service of the Federation, has narrated how N3 billion was diverted to private companies.
The witness stated this while testifying before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday about how the defendant and her subordinates diverted public funds into their private companies.
Oyo-Ita, the first defendant, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, along with her special assistants; Ugbong Effiok (seventh defendant) and Garba Umar (fourth defendant).
Others are six companies: Frontline Ace Global Services Limited, Asanaya Projects Limited, Slopes International Limited, U and U Global Services Ltd, Prince Mega Logistics Ltd, and Good Deal Investments, on 18 counts bordering on misappropriation, official corruption, money laundering, and criminal diversion of funds to the tune of over N3 billion.
READ ALSO:
- Third Mainland Bridge: Contractors set to return for resurfacing, solar power installation
- Police nab brothers over gang rape
- Why we made emergency landing at Lagos airport – Air Peace
The witness, while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Faruk Abdullahi, and H.M. Mohammed, told the court that Oyo-Ita used Slopes International Limited and Good Deal Investments Limited – fifth and sixth defendants respectively, to fraudulently award government contracts to herself through the fourth defendant, Umar.
The first entry transaction of Good Deal Investment Limited. in February 2019 showed that N42,748,201.47 was paid into its Zenith Bank account.
Umar, the witness said, incorporated the company with Oyo-Ita’s full knowledge.
“We called for the account statements of these two companies, and upon analysing them, we realised he (Umar) was paid several sums of money from the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, where he is an employee.
“And upon interviewing the fourth defendant, he admitted that he was also a contractor. He also admitted to have paid the first defendant on several occasions from the proceeds of the transaction,” the witness said.
On April 27, 2019, the witness disclosed that a transfer of N20, 2027, 142 was made in the name of Ibrahim Madu to the Zenith Bank account of Asanaya Projects Limited.
The mandate card of the account bears the signature and photo of the seventh defendant, Effiok.
Investigation, according to the witness, also revealed that the seventh defendant incorporated Asanaya Projects Limited in his name with the knowledge of the first defendant and that approvals were granted and payments made to the seventh defendant either through his personal account or to the account of the company.
READ ALSO:
- Why we made emergency landing at Lagos airport – Air Peace
- Police intervene as mob attempts burning two one-chance robbers alive
- PDP, LP kick as US report says 2023 polls reflect people’s will despite irregularities
The witness said, “The seventh defendant, upon interview, confirmed he had never travelled for most of the funds he received and that the first defendant was aware of and benefitted on several occasions from the funds. The account of U and U Global Services Limited was also opened by the seventh defendant.
“In summary, from 2015 to 2018, U and U Global Limited received several payments in the form of Duty Tour Allowances and estacodes. Sometimes, payments from the federal government were made directly to the account, for instance, on March 24, 2016, he received N40, 313, 453. 58. This particular payment was from the federal government.”
Further in his testimony, the witness stated that, “Exhibit O is the Fidelity Bank account of Prince Mega Logistics Ltd. On March 27, 2018, and April 6, 2018, there were four entries, N4, 950 000; N3,946,000, N4,676,000 and N1,478,000, from Thomson Titus Okure, who used to be a colleague of the seventh defendant in the Account Department.
“There were also outward payments to Ignom, Minaro Blessing, Winifred Oyo-Ita, Olarenwaju Godman Olushola and the seventh defendant is the sole signatory of this account.”
Speaking further, he said, “I also want to add that we invited the first, second and seventh defendant at different times to our office and interviewed them. In the case of the first defendant, we printed chats from her phone and saw conversations she had with contractors, subordinates, and permanent secretaries. She also voluntarily made a statement to the EFCC.”
The matter was adjourned till April 30, 2024.
(SAHARAREPORTERS)
How ex-Head of Service Oyo-Ita diverted N3bn public funds to private firms
News
Why we made emergency landing at Lagos airport – Air Peace
A statement by Stanley Olisa, the airline’s Corporate Communications Lead, explained that some minutes before landing, the Captain noticed a fire warning indicator in the cockpit.
-
Education6 days ago
Why we charge N42m fees for primary school pupils — Charterhouse Lagos
-
Auto6 days ago
We expect massive roll-outs of Nigeria-made cars by December 2024 – Minister
-
metro6 days ago
JUST IN : Borrow pit collapses, kills seven Qur’anic school pupils
-
metro4 days ago
How gunmen killed Babcock university lecturer, abducted two – Police
-
News5 days ago
We’re not part of Yoruba Nation agitation, says MKO Abiola family
-
Politics6 days ago
Ondo APC primary: Ododo, gov aspirant in open confrontation
-
Sports6 days ago
Arsenal beat Wolves to return to top spot
-
Politics5 days ago
Aregbesola, Oyetola’s camps disagree over Osun shares
You must be logged in to post a comment Login