Why we made emergency landing at Lagos airport – Air Peace
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Southern govs insist on region producing next president
…reject PIB’s 3% oil profit share for host communities
The Southern Governors’ Forum rose from a meeting in Lagos on Monday with a resolution that no going back on rotational presidency and insisted that Nigeria’s president in 2023 must come from the South.
They also said security operatives should always inform the governor of a state before they carry out any operation, apparently referring to a recent raid on the Ibadan home of a Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo better known as Igboho, leading to the killing of at least two people.
These decisions among others were contained in a communique issued after the Monday meeting held at the Lagos State House in Alausa, Ikeja. The meeting lasted about six hours.
Top on the agenda of discourse was the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), constitutional review and security challenges.
Chairman of the forum and Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who read the communique, said the forum gave a September 1 ultimatum for the anti-open grazing law to be promulgated in all member-states.
The forum, he said, also rejected the proposed three per cent share of oil revenue for host communities and supported the five per cent share as proposed by the House of Representatives.
The communique read, “The Southern Governors’ Forum at the end of the meeting held on Monday, July 5, 2021, reviewed the situation in the country and focused on the current security situation, constitutional amendment and Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
“We re-affirm our commitment to the unity of Nigeria on the pillars of equity, fairness, justice, progress and peaceful co-existence between and among its people. The Forum reiterates its commitment to the politics of equity, fairness, and unanimously agrees that the presidency of Nigeria be rotated between the Southern and Northern Nigeria. We also resolved that the next president of Nigeria should come from the south.
“The Forum also reviewed the security situation in the country, and hails security operatives for their efforts in restoring security and safety in the country. We also commiserate with families and loved ones of those who have fallen in the line of duty.
“We also re-emphasise the need for state police, and resolve that if, for any reason, security institutions need to undertake an operation in any state, the Chief Security Officer of the state must be duly informed.
“The forum frowns at selective criminal administration of justice and resolved that arrests should be made within the ambit of the law and fundamental human rights.
“We have set a timeline of September 1 for the promulgation of the anti-open grazing law in all member-states, and resolve that funds deducted from the Federation Account for the Nigeria Police Security Trust Fund be distributed among states and the Federal Government to combat security challenges.
“The Forum hails the National Assembly for the progress made in the passage of the PIB and rejects the proposed 3 per cent share of the oil revenue accruable to host communities. We instead support the 5 per cent share to the host community as recommended by the House of Representatives. We also reject the proposed 30 per cent share of profit for the exploration of oil and gas in the basins.
“We also reject the ownership structure of the proposed Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The Forum disagrees that the company be vested in the Federal Ministry of Finance, but be held in trust by Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) since all tiers of government have stakes in that vehicle.
“In order to consolidate our democracy and strengthen the electoral process, the Southern Governors’ Forum rejects the removal of electronic transmission of election result from the Electoral Act, and also rejects the confirmation of exclusive jurisdiction in pre-election matters on the Federal High Court.
“The Forum unanimously chose Lagos State as its permanent secretariat and appreciates Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the wonderful hosting of this meeting, and for his good work in the state.”
The meeting hosted by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was attended by Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), and Nyesom Wike (Rivers).
Others are Duoye Diri (Bayelsa), Emeka Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom).
Deputy Governors Philip Shaibu (Edo), Ude Chukwu (Abia), Placid Njoku (Imo) and Kelechi Igwe (Ebonyi) represented their governors. Governors Willie Obiano (Anambra) and Ben Ayade (Cross River) were absent.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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PDP, LP kick as US report says 2023 polls reflect people’s will despite irregularities
PDP, LP kick as US report says 2023 polls reflect people’s will despite irregularities
The US Department of State in a report has affirmed that Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, despite irregularities, reflected the will of its people.
Published in the 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, the document scrutinizes human rights practices and violations worldwide, including in Nigeria.
“National elections, though plagued by technical and logistical challenges alongside irregularities, were broadly deemed to represent voters’ intentions,” the report asserts.
Even as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) hailed the report, the two major opposition parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) criticised it.
Independent observers concluded that outcomes of presidential, legislative, and state-level elections mirrored voter sentiments, notwithstanding instances of voter suppression, vote buying, campaign activities at polling stations, compromised ballot secrecy, violence, and intimidation.
In the March 18 state election in Lagos, supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) allegedly intimidated and suppressed voters in Igbo-dominated regions, won by Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi in the national election on February 25.
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Social media footage depicted APC supporters in Ojo menacing ethnic Igbo voters perceived to favour Obi. In Eti-Osa, APC supporters assaulted journalists and impeded non-Yoruba voters’ access to polls, with reported property damage and physical obstruction of voters in Amuwo-Odofin. Despite police presence, no intervention occurred, and no arrests or prosecutions of alleged perpetrators were documented.
The report highlights the low participation of women and marginalized groups in the electoral process. Women’s political engagement averages 6.7 percent in elected and appointed roles nationwide. Civil society organizations have noted that religious, cultural, and economic hurdles hinder women’s leadership prospects within major parties and government.
A gender-based violence survey by ElectHER NGO underscored the use of religious and cultural barriers, including double standards, blackmail, and media defamation, against female politicians.
Media outlets perpetuated stereotypes, labeling women politicians as “promiscuous” or “cunning” and, in some instances, refrained from covering their campaigns purportedly under directives from opposition figures.
Moreover, the report criticized Nigeria’s inconsistent implementation of anti-corruption laws, citing pervasive corruption across the country, including within the judiciary.
Reacting the PDP, through its national spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, said despite the outcome of the elections, the party remained committed to ensuring that Nigeria would not become a one-party state or slide into dictatorship.
The Labour Party, through Obiora Ifoh, said, “To say the outcome of such an election reflects the majority view of Nigerians is left for the people to judge. Our commitment to the development of democracy in Nigeria remains unshakable.”
PDP, LP kick as US report says 2023 polls reflect people’s will despite irregularities
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