Category: 📃Supers News

The Joint Committee of the House of Representatives, on Wednesday, summoned 35 oil companies, as well as the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, for questioning over environmental degradation caused by the activities of oil companies across oil-producing communities in Nigeria.

The oil firms and the NNPCL boss are to appear before the committee on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.

The summons was handed down by the Chairman of the House Committee on Environment,  Pondi Gbabojor, at an investigative hearing in Abuja on the activities of oil companies.

The committee also summoned relevant government agencies and heads of oil companies.

The Committees on Environment, Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and Climate Change make up the joint committee.

The committee chairman threatened sanctions should invited persons fail to appear before the committee.

Gbabojor said, “We will write another letter to everybody. They should turn up to answer questions on issues pertaining to the degradation of the environment due to the activities of oil companies.

“They have to be here on May 8. If anybody fails to show up, then, we would decide as a committee on what to do. I want to believe that there was enough time – two letters were sent. There was ample time for them to see the letters and duly honour them. But to put on a human face, we would still give another time to do so.”

The invited oil companies include Chevron Nigeria Limited, Total Energies, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Seplat Energy, Oando Oil Limited and Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited.

The Federal Government agencies invited for questioning are the Nigeria Midstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, National Oil Spill Detection Response Agency and the National Environmental Standards Regulations and Enforcement Agency.

At the commencement of the investigation on Wednesday, only four out of the 35 oil companies and agencies invited for the probe attended.

The Committee members however noted that the four companies that turned up for the investigation were without the relevant documents required to carry out their assignment.

Earlier, the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, in his opening address, said it was important to protect the environment from harm.

Represented by the Deputy Minority Whip, George Ozodinobi, the Speaker said, “I fully recognise the immense responsibility which befalls us as public servants to protect and safeguard our environment and meet the challenges posed by the ravages of environmental damages, and the need to balance economic prosperity and social responsibility to ultimately achieve equitable development.

“As representatives of the people, we must ensure that the voices of those most affected by environmental damage are heard and respected. We have to listen to the fears that are faced by frontline communities, indigenous people, and marginalised groups who usually bear the brunt of environmental injustice.

“It is therefore, for this reason, that the House mandated the Committees on Environment, Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Petroleum Resources (Downstream), and Climate Change, to investigate the environmental damage in oil-producing communities caused by non-compliance to extant laws by oil producing companies.”

 

 

Prices of essential food items have gone up by at least 30 per cent between December and April in at least eight states, according to surveys by our correspondents.

The development has made consumers groan, saying the hikes in the prices of goods have affected their budgets.

Prices of food items have continued to soar across the country despite the recent rebound of the naira.

This came as President Bola Tinubu recently vowed to ensure a rebound of the local currency reflected in the prices of commodities.

As a follow-up to the President’s decision, operatives of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission last week raided some Abuja supermarkets over unfair pricing, vowing to extend the clampdown to other states.

However, the latest findings by our correspondents showed that the prices of basic food items like beans, and garri had risen by at least 30 per cent.

The surveys were conducted in Lagos, Ogun, Gombe, Kwara, Sokoto, Ekiti, Osun and Niger states.

In the past few months, the prices of major food items have continued to rise, especially after Tinubu removed the petrol subsidy and devalued the naira. As the country’s inflationary pressure deepens, Nigerians have been finding it difficult to put food on their tables. This became aggravated when the naira fell sharply against the dollar and other foreign currencies like the CFA between February and March.

As the naira appreciated in the foreign exchange market lately, there were high expectations that the prices of food items, which went up alongside the dollar, would also follow a downward trend in the market. However, findings by our correspondents confirmed that only the prices of rice had so far reduced.

As of Wednesday, findings showed that the prices of beans, garri and other food items remained high despite the naira appreciation.

Our correspondents who visited various markets in some states gathered that traders and sellers were lamenting over the high cost of food items; though the prices differ depending on the location.

According to the surveys, a bag of garri now sells at N41,000, up from N37,000 in less than two weeks ago. In January, it was around N31,000. This indicates a 31 per cent increase.

Similarly, a bag of one kilogramme of Semovota which went for N700 in December now goes for N1,400. This represents a 100 per cent increase in the price.  Also, one kilogramme of wheat which went for N500 in December is now being sold for N1,200.  This indicates a 140 per cent hike.

Also, findings showed that in January, a bag of beans went for between N65,000 and N70,000.  However, as of Wednesday, a bag of beans went for N185,000. This indicates a 164 per cent increase.

The development means that the least increase recorded in the category of basic and essential food items is 31 per cent; this was seen in the price of garri.

Consumers groan

The situation has made consumers in various parts of the country lament the hardships caused by the price hikes.

Speaking to The PUNCH, a resident of Isolo, Mr Rafiu Adedoja, complained that the price of a wrap of his favourite meal, amala, had increased.

According to him, due to the nature of his work as a bricklayer, he eats daily at a popular canteen. He lamented that he used to buy a wrap of amala for N100 but now he buys at N200, noting that the portion has become smaller.

He noted that he now buys at least five wraps which is N1,000, excluding the meat which brings the cost of his meal to between N1,600 and N2,000 which is not economical for him given the present state of the economy where jobs come in trickles.

Also speaking to our correspondent, a mother of four, who is a hairdresser in the Okota area of Lagos, Mrs Bola Adekunle, decried that the majority of the food items in the market especially garri, beans, groundnut oil, and even yam had increased which was affecting so many people especially low-income earners like her with children to feed.

She told our correspondent that food prices were becoming unbearable and getting worse daily.

“We eat once a day now, but if I record higher sales, we can eat twice. In the last two months, I can’t remember the last time that my family ate three square meals,” Adekunle moaned.

An industrial chemist, Mr. Harrison Chinaka, said, “It is very obvious that there has been a continuous and rapid hike in the prices of goods in the market. I mean every foodstuff in the market; the prices are increasing almost every hour

“You find out that what you bought in the morning by the time you get there in the afternoon or evening, they will tell you that the price has changed. I bought a paint of garri not up to two weeks ago for about N2, 900 and three days after I went to buy the same quantity of garri and I was told it now goes for N3,500

“The same thing applies to bread and provisions, the prices of everything are increasing and it is not as if salaries are being increased and it is becoming difficult for an average Nigerian to cope especially someone with a family. The person has to pay school fees, house rent and continuously pay bills, it is becoming difficult to survive here in Nigeria,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr. Prosper Dike, said, “As for me what I will say is that the prices of commodities now are no longer the same as it is used to be before. For instance, a bag of rice has gone higher than what it used to be. How do you expect us with our source of income that has not increased, how do we meet up considering the way things are going?”

Pointing out that the price of the dollar had depreciated to the naira in recent times, a factor that lots of traders blame for the hike in food prices, Dike wondered why prices of food are yet to reduce.

“If there is anything the government can do to help because the situation is choking, the cost of living now is not easy. People can’t afford three square meals a day again because things have gone up. Even though the dollar has come down things are yet to come down,” he lamented.

A businesswoman, Tomisin Sunday, lamented that the hikes in the prices of foodstuffs had remained leading her to reduce the quantity of food she buys during her weekly grocery shopping.

Sunday, who shops at the popular Iyana-Iba market along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway said that as of Wednesday, the prices of tomatoes had come down to N2,400 for a custard bucket but that pepper was still so expensive.

“The price of ginger has refused to come down though. It was N11,000 today. Last week, it was N13,000. I use it for my Zobo drink, which I sell. At this rate, I may be unable to keep selling at the current price that my customers are used to.

“As for foodstuffs, I come to the market fairly regularly because things are too expensive and my money is not usually enough. At this point, I’m doing business just to be able to feed my family.

A tailor, Udeme Nicholas, was so frustrated by the situation that he lamented, “It feels almost as if my village people are following me. I get plenty of jobs and my rates are not cheap, so I get well paid for my services but when I calculate how much I spend on food alone every week for my three children, wife and myself, it gets me depressed.

“If my wife had been the one going to the market, maybe, I would have suspected she was cheating me but you see, I go to the market and it is not funny. I have got kids under five years of age, I can’t be denying them basic nutrition but the situation is getting worse.”

Contacted, the South-West spokesperson for the National Association of Pensioners, Olusegun Abatan, decried the upward movement of food prices, saying that no serious government would watch its senior citizens suffer.

While expressing disappointment, Abatan recalled Tinubu’s promise to give pensioners a N25,000 palliative to cushion the effect of the current economic crisis, he claimed that no pensioner had received the promised funds.

He further blamed the current economic crisis on the President’s announcement of the removal of the fuel subsidy at his inauguration.

He said, “The root cause of this hardship can be traced to the statement of President Bola Tinubu, on his inauguration day. A more careful statement should have been uttered rather than that ‘Subsidy is now gone’.

“It is not only food that is on the high side, even drugs cannot be got easily by pensioners and even by those who are sick since the price is skyrocketing and this was because of that president’s singular statement. That statement is not well thought out.”

Abatan added, “The President declared that he was going to give N25,000 to pensioners as palliatives but till now we have not yet got any kobo. This has led to disappointment on the part of our members.

“This is the rainy season, what efforts are they putting in place to ensure that farmers can do their jobs without fear of being killed or kidnapped? We can only appeal to the government to wade in and be more serious in their actions towards ensuring that food prices crash.”

Prices rise

In Ogun State, the price of one bag of beans has continued to soar alongside that of garri, according to traders. A foodstuffs vendor in Ikenne, Ogun State, Friday Kingsley, told our correspondent that one bag of beans which used to be around N70,000 in January, had since risen to N185,000. This indicates a 164 per cent hike.

Kingsley added that a bag of garri now sells at N41,000, up from N37,000 in less than two weeks ago.. In January, he said it was around 31,000 in January.

“The price garri is going higher by the day. I bought one bag of garri at the rate of N37,000 in Siun Market 10 days ago, but the same bag sold for N45,000 yesterday. We don’t know why garri is not coming down.

“In January, I used to buy a bag of beans around N65,000, N70,000; but today, I bought the same bag at N185,000. I couldn’t even pay in full. I’m afraid it may get to N200,000. The rise in the prices of beans and garri is very disturbing,” Kingsley said.

Also, a trader in Sagamu, who identified herself as Ashake disclosed to our correspondent that 1kg of Semo rose from N700 in December to N1,400 as of Wednesday. According to her, the price of 1kg of wheat used to be N500 in December, but it now sells for N1,200. In Abeokuta, bread sellers complained of price hikes, as the smallest loaf of bread rose from N150 in October 2023 to N300 or N400.

In the same vein, traders told our correspondent in Ibafo that a bag of sachet water now sells at the rate of N400, while retailers sell one or two sachets for N50, depending on the location and the seller. But there seems to be a glimmer of hope as Mr Success, who sells food items in Iperu, disclosed that a carton of Indomitable noodles has dropped from N12,000 in February to around N7,000 as of Wednesday. Findings at Oba Lipede market in Kuto, Abeokuta revealed that a yam tuber goes for between N2,800 and N3,000.

A retired civil servant, Mrs Titi Alabi, said that it was tough feeding the family with the way the prices of foodstuffs have continued to skyrocket.

Alabi said that the palliatives from the government were a far cry from the challenges Nigerians currently grapple with, particularly with the escalating prices of food.

“We just have to go back to farming. Government at all levels must increase its investment in agriculture, we must look for how to boost food production,” she stated.

Similarly in Lagos, food items like pepper, spaghetti, onions and oil maintained high prices amid naira rebound. Traders in Oshodi and Agege markets in Lagos State said the food prices went up between January and April and have refused to backtrack.

Speaking with our correspondent, a pepper seller in Agege, who was identified simply as Mrs Kareem, noted that in October, a big basket of pepper was sold between N60,000 to N74,000, expressing worries that the same size is now sold for N103,000. She added that a basket of tomatoes was sold for N35,000 mid-last year, but it is now sold for N65,000. Kareem further stated that a bag of onions rose from N30,000 to N60,000 in January, saying it has reduced to N47,000 as of Monday.

At the Ikotun Market in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, The PUNCH observed that a derica of beans which was sold earlier in the year at N750, now sells for N1,200. Giving details of the prices, a trader, Chidera Madu, said, “Half Derica of beans was sold for N600 before, but now it is N1,200; a small portion of pepper was N100, but it is now N200 upwards. Five litres of palm oil used to be N5,000, but now it is N8,000. One medium loaf of bread was sold for N850 in December, but it is now N1,300”. She lamented that despite the drop in the value of the naira against the naira, the prices of daily consumables remained high.

A foodstuffs vendor around Idimu, Lagos, Christian Igwe, admitted there was a drop in the prices of noodles, saying the cartoon of a brand of noodles, which sold for N9,000 some weeks ago now sells for N6,000. Igwe argued that one should not expect traders who bought goods when they were highly expensive to sell them at a loss; saying they would have to exhaust the old stock.

Expressing concern over the cost of food in Lagos, wholesale food seller in Isolo Market, Mr Idris Adebowale, explained that tubers of yam are still expensive because this is the off-season for planting. According to him, a tuber of yam, depending on its size, now sells between N2,500 and N3,000, up from N1500 some weeks ago.

Across major markets in Gombe metropolis, prices of food items are on a steady rise. The markets include Baban Kasuwa, Kasuwa Tumfure, Kasuwa Cross. Unlike most cities where grains are sold in derica, food items are sold in modules in these northern markets. Garri sells for N950, a container of beans sells for N1,400, an average-size tuber of yam costs N1,500, while millet is N1,200. Traders said all these prices were far above what they used to be.

In Osun State, checks in some markets within Osogbo metropolis revealed  prices of many locally produced food items remained high.

At Oluode, one of the major neighborhood markets in Osogbo, a module of garri goes for N1, 200, while a bag of local rice that was sold for N50, 000 last week, currently sells for between N55,000 and N57,000.

Cost of pepper has also remained high, the situation blamed on high cost of transportation from the North where buik of the item was being brought to the state.

Sokoto markets

In Sokoto State, residents lamented the rising cost of foodstuffs continue to rise in the market. According to them, a plate of white beans now sells at the rate of N3,000 while a plate of garri which was sold for N2,200 a few weeks ago now goes for between N2,500. Millet, which is the most commonly consumed food in the state has also moved above N2,000.

It was a similar scenario in Ilorin, Kwara State, where the prices of foodstuffs continue to soar. In Baboko and Mandate markets W showed that a bag of beans was sold at N135,000 instead of N129,000 two weeks ago. A bag of guinea corn which previously sold for N52,000 was sold at N57,000, while a plastic of garri has increased from N15,000 to N17,000.

It was observed that a small bag of yam flour now costs N160,000 while a big bag sells at N280,000, indicating a sharp increase from what it was a few months ago.

The price of six average-size tubers of yam was between N8,000 while the big tubers of yam were sold at between N13,000 and N15,000. A foodstuffs dealer at Baboko market, Mrs Rodiat Mustapha said the cost of transportation is one of the factors responsible for the high cost of food.

In Niger, traders still blame the dollar for the hike in food prices. For instance, at the Thursday Market and the Kure Market, customers were seen complaining about the cost of food, but the traders said they were not to blame.

“It is not our fault. We also want the items to come down in their prices because there is low patronage. But we buy at very expensive rates too,” Hauwa said.

The PUNCH investigation revealed that a kilogramme of cow meat sells for N5,000 while chicken sells for between N6,500 and N8,000, depending on the location. It was also observed that fish has gone above the purchasing powers of the common man as one medium-sized sardine now goes for about N3,000.

At the markets in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, the prices of food items also remain high. A measure of garri which was sold for N500 or N600 in December is now N1,200.

A trader at Oja Oba, who identified herself as Dupe, said, “A measure of beans is now N2,000. It was like N700 before the subsidy removal. We sell as we buy, we are not the problem”.

Also, a yam seller at the Okesha Market, Bimbo, explained that the prices of five tubers of yam rose from N2,500 last year to N6,000. She said the price hike applied to all commodities because of the high transport cost.

“We now sell five litres of palm oil at the rate of N6,000. It used to be N2,500 before subsidy removal. May God come to our aid,” the trader prayed.

Meanwhile, the government at the three tiers have been advised to support farmers with accountable and transparent incentives while encouraging farming by enabling farmers to secure mechanised farming tools in farm clusters.

•Additional reports: Henry Falaiye, Chima Azubuike, Animasahun Salman, Bankole Taiwo, Tunde Oyekola, Bola Bamigbola, Chika Otuchikere and Abiodun Nejo

 

Broadcasting company Multichoice has jacked up the prices of its offerings in Nigeria four months after its last increment.

The company reviewed prices in its packages across the board. The new prices will take effect from May 1, 2024.

With the latest price hike, the DStv Premium package increased from N29,500 to N37,000. Similarly, the DStv Compact+ gone up N19,800 to N25,000 while the Compact package increased from N12,500 to N15,700.

The Comfam package moved from N7,400 to N9,300. Yanga package moved up from 4,200 to N5,100 while Padi package increased from N2,950 to N3,600. HDPVR was increased from N4,000 to N5,000, the Access Fees package from N4,000 to N5,000, and XtraView moved from N4,000 to N5,000.

Meanwhile, the Gotv Supa+ package moved from N12,500 to N15,700, Supa package from N7,600 to N9,600, and Max package from N5,700 to N7,200.

While the Jolli package was jacked up from N3,950 to N4,850, the Jinja package moved from N2,700 to N3,300, and Smallie package from N1,300 to N1,575.

The PUNCH reports that the company implemented an upward review of prices in December 2023, days after announcing a $72m loss in its financial statement for the third quarter of the year.

Checks on the company’s reviewed price list then showed a 20 per cent per cent hike in the company’s packages across the board.

 

 

Another student (victim) of the Lead British International School has reported an incident of bullying.

Although the identity of the student is yet to be made public, it was learnt that the student has engaged the services of a lawyer as regards the matter.

The media space on Tuesday was thrown into a frenzy when a video of a female student who was being bullied by her co-students surfaced.

An X user, @moooyeeeee, had on Monday night posted two videos of a female student of the school being repeatedly slapped by another female student.

The user called for justice for the victim.

The videos angered internet users on X who condemned the incident and called for the school authorities to investigate and punish the culprits.

Meanwhile, the bullied student and one of her bullies in the viral video have been identified.

The school has been temporarily closed for three days and the school’s management vowed to investigate the matter.

Though one of the identified bullies apologised for her misconduct, the bullied, through her lawyers, Deji Adeyanju and Partners, has demanded heavy sanctions on her bullies.

Speaking with Adeyanju on the progress made so far, PUNCH Online learnt that the parents of another student of the school had also reached out for legal services.

“We have also been briefed by another parent that their son was bullied and we are to deliver the second letter to them today. We will send you a copy as soon as that is delivered to the school.”

The bullied, in her letter on Tuesday, had threatened to take legal action against the school should the management not take drastic steps against the 11 bullies she identified.

PUNCH

 

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Wednesday said several terrorists were killed during a joint operation by the air component of Operation Hadin Kai and troops of the Nigerian Army.

The service also said their hideouts in Damasak and Mobbar local government areas of Borno State were equally destroyed.

A statement by its Director, Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, noted that the terrorists had attempted to attack troops of Sector 4 of the MNJTF at Lada, a border town between the Niger Republic and Nigeria, and subsequently fled across the border into Nigeria.

He added that the fleeing terrorists who were on eight motorcycles were later tracked to two locations in Zarri village, about 28 kilometres east of Damasak and Mala Alide in the Mobbar areas of Borno.

It read, “In line with its collaborative efforts with the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) and the Nigerien Air Force, on 23 April 2024, carried out air interdiction strikes on terrorists’ hideouts in Damasak and Mobbar Local Government Areas (LGA) of Borno State.

“The terrorists had attempted to attack troops of Sector 4 of the MNJTF at Lada, a border town between the Niger Republic and Nigeria, and subsequently fled across the border into Nigeria.

“The fleeing terrorists who were on 8 motorcycles were later tracked to 2 locations situated at Zarri village, located about 28 km east of Damasak and Mala Alide in Mobbar LGA of Borno State.

“They were observed hibernating in the Village with their motorcycles hidden under trees.

“Subsequently, airstrikes from the Air Component of OPHK and Nigerien Air Force, under the watchful eye of Niger’s Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, struck the terrorists’ locations.

“Real-time ISR footage later confirmed numerous terrorists were eliminated and several structures within the targeted areas destroyed.

“Collaborative efforts of this nature have continued to yield positive outcomes on both sides of the border

“It has also led to the reduction in terrorism and other forms of cross-border crimes perpetrated by criminals criss-crossing the borders to evade justice”

 

 

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday approved the takeoff of the first phase of the Consumer Credit Scheme.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

“The President believes every hardworking Nigerian should have access to social mobility, with consumer credit playing a pivotal role in achieving this vision,” the statement said.

Ngalele explained that Consumer credit serves as the lifeblood of modern economies, enabling citizens to enhance their quality of life by accessing goods and services upfront, paying responsibly over time.

He added that it facilitates crucial purchases, such as homes, vehicles, education, and healthcare, essential for ongoing stability to pursue their aspirations.

“Through responsible repayment, individuals build credit histories, unlocking more opportunities for a better life. Additionally, the increased demand for goods and services stimulates local industry and job creation,” the presidential spokesperson said.

“The Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation achieves its mandate through the following:

(1) Strengthening Nigeria’s credit reporting systems, ensuring every economically active citizen has a dependable credit score. This score becomes personal equity they build, facilitating access to consumer credit.

(2) Offering credit guarantees and wholesale lending to financial institutions dedicated to broadening consumer credit access today.

(3) Promoting responsible consumer credit as a pathway to an improved quality of life, fostering a cultural shift towards growth and financial responsibility,” the statement added.

In line with the President’s directive to expand consumer credit access to Nigerians, the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation has launched a portal for Nigerians to express interest in receiving consumer credit.

This initiative, in collaboration with financial institutions and cooperatives nationwide, aims to broaden consumer credit availability.

Working Nigerians interested in receiving consumer credit can visit www.credicorp.ng to express interest. The deadline is May 15, 2024.

The scheme will be rolled out in phases, starting with members of the civil service and cascading to members of the public.

 

 

The Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, on Wednesday denied being obsessed about replacing President Bola Tinubu as the next president.

Obi came under fire a few days ago after he faulted the Federal Government’s timing and prioritisation of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project.

The LP presidential candidate advised the government to concentrate on fixing bad roads across Nigeria instead of striving to construct a white elephant project like the major coastal road.

But some critics trolled him on social media, saying he does not see anything good in what the current administration does because of his desperation to become the president in 2027

Few also questioned whether the former Anambra governor has the vision and capacity to change things if he eventually becomes president.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, Obi expressed his disappointment, stressing that some people often shy away from discussing pressing issues plaguing the country.

He said, “We live in a system where public officeholders and politicians are only seen during elections. I can tell you that it is an everyday job. I have said it several times that I am not desperate to become the president of Nigeria. But I am desperate to see the poor and less privileged Nigerians being pulled out of their difficult situation daily.

“That is what I am desperate to see. And all of us can do it as well. You can’t even be happy or fulfilled when several million (Nigerians) don’t know where the next meal will come from. When I see children suffering, it increases my pain. This is not about campaign.”

Obi also disclosed that if he were to become president, he would do things differently by focusing on repairing existing roads as opposed to approving contracts for new ones.

While analyzing how deplorable some major highways, such as Lagos-Badagry and Kano-Kaduna, have become, the politician insisted that those projects should be the priority of any serious government.

“If I were to be the president of Nigeria today, nobody would think of any new road until we finish the existing ones. In this country, we are always trying to do things anyhow. Today, you can’t move from Lagos to Badagry, a short period of fewer than 100 kilometres. It has been under construction for several years. Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has also not been completed for several years.

“The same thing applies to the Kano-Kaduna, Kano-Maiduguri and Sokoto-Funtua. I can even show you the state of all the roads from Kaduna to Abuja. In Kaduna bypass alone, you can queue for hours. You can’t even drive comfortably from Abuja to Okene to Auchi and Benin. It is almost impossible.

“These are roads that already exist and have been in dire need of repairs for years. That is where we need to put our resources and deal with it. We already have a network of roads that need fixing. Why are people introducing things when the existing ones are in bad shape?

“When I was governor of Anambra State, I started by completing the roads started by my predecessor before thinking of doing new ones. For me, this is the critical area that needs attention and that is where I will concentrate,” he stated.

[PUNCH]

 

In the past few days, the nation has been riveted by the altercation between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and ex-Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello. The incident, which occurred at his residence on Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, was like a Nollywood thriller with the security operatives and Bello making strategic moves to outwit each other.

Bello, who handed over power to his successor a few months ago, has been going from Lokoja to Abuja and from one court to another in a bid to evade arrest and prosecution for allegedly laundering N80bn.

In a 19-count charge filed before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, the EFCC accused Bello of conspiring with Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdusalam Hudu to convert over N80b belonging to Kogi State to their personal use.

Bello’s refusal to honour the EFCC’s summons has called to question his perceived political bravery which earned him the sobriquet ‘white lion.’ This has also made him the butt of jokes on social media with many Nigerians puzzled by his actions.

Long before he concluded his eight-year tenure in office, his critics had predicted that the 48-year-old might be arrested by the EFCC  and also face trial, citing the ongoing prosecution of his wife, Rashidat and her nephew, Ali Bello, before the Federal High Court, Abuja, for misappropriation and money laundering to the tune of N3,081,804,654.

The accused persons were charged to court on February 8, 2023, but Rashidat has reportedly not appeared in court to date.

Following his alleged refusal to honour the commission’s summons and having reportedly tracked him to his Abuja residence, hordes of EFCC operatives on April 18 besieged Benghazi Street, Wuse, to apprehend Bello, sealing up the area like a Nazi concentration camp.

However, their efforts failed as the former governor refused to give himself up. His successor, Governor Usman Ododo, who visited his residence was believed to have smuggled him out of his residence in his tinted car and took him to the Government House in Lokoja.

Miffed by the development, the EFCC declared its quarry wanted, opening up a flurry of angry responses from his lawyer and some civil society groups who decried the anti-graft agency’s mode of operation.

In a public notice posted on its official Facebook page last Thursday, the EFFC stated, “The public is hereby notified that Yahaya Adoza Bello (former Governor of Kogi State), whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in connection with an alleged case of Money Laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,089.88

“Bello, a 48-year-old Ebira man, is a native of the Okenne Local Government of Kogi State. His last known address is: 9, Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.”

The notice asked anybody with useful information about the former governor’s whereabouts to contact any of the commission’s offices across the country.

To prevent the fugitive from leaving the country, the Nigeria Immigration Service has ordered that his passport be put on the watchlist at all the nation’s airports.

In a statement by its spokesman, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC frowned on the obstruction of its operatives while carrying out their lawful duties.

Oyewale noted that culprits were liable to a jail term of not less than five years.

But Bello through his media office called on the EFCC to obey a subsisting court order and desist from hounding the former governor.

The media office in a statement disclosed that the EFCC had been served with the court order dated February 9, 2024, restraining it from arresting Bello pending the hearing and determination of the substantive fundamental rights enforcement action.

The injunction, it said, was granted by the High Court of Justice, Lokoja Division in suit no. HCL/68M/2024 between Alhaji Yahaya Bello vs EFCC.

The statement read, “The EFCC was duly served with that order on February 12, 2024 and on February 26, 2024, the EFCC filed an appeal (Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/175/2024: EFCC vs Yahaya Bello) against the said order to the Court of Appeal, Abuja division.

“The appeal was accompanied by a Motion for Stay of Execution of the order of the High Court which the Court of Appeal adjourned for hearing till April 22, 2024.

“Furthermore, judgment in the substantive case between Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the EFCC is to be delivered at noon today in Lokoja. Contrary to all of the above, the EFCC has now laid siege to the home of H.E Yahaya Bello seeking to arrest him in contravention of the extant orders.”

But the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, in a statement released shortly after the EFCC besieged Bello’s house, advised individuals invited by the EFCC to toe the path of decency by honouring the invitation of the commission.

He condemned in strong terms the trend where citizens ganged up to obstruct officials of the EFCC while on lawful duty.

Fagbemi said, “The bizarre drama confronting the EFCC in the course of its efforts to perform its statutory duty has come to my notice as a matter of very grave concern.

“It is now beyond doubt that the EFCC is given power by the law to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the course of their investigation into any matter regardless of status.’’

But defending his client’s action, Mohammed explained that the ex-governor had on February 9 secured an order from a Kogi State High Court, restraining the EFCC from inviting, arresting or prosecuting him over the subject matter of the instant charge against him.

He added that the EFCC had appealed against the order which was still pending.

Addressing Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who was meant to preside over the money laundering charge slammed against the ex-governor during the proceeding last Thursday, Mohammed said his client had already filed a preliminary objection to challenge the legal propriety of his planned arraignment and trial.

The arraignment of the ex-governor could not go on as he did not show up in court.

Mohammed noted, “What they are trying to do is to bring this court in collision with the Court of Appeal by rushing to this court to obtain an ex parte warrant of arrest for someone that is already a defendant.

“Our position is that this court has no jurisdiction to do any other thing than to take our motion challenging its jurisdiction to entertain this charge.’’

Bello’s lawyer urged Nwite to vacate the arrest warrant issued against his client, insisting that the court was misled.

Speaking earlier, the prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), threatened that the anti-graft agency might enlist the help of the military to arrest and bring Bello before the court for his arraignment.

He said, “My Lord, what happened yesterday (Wednesday) was that a person with immunity came to whisk the defendant away. But what they forgot was that immunity does not attach to a building, but to an individual.

“However, we know what to do. If it will take inviting the military to bring him (Bello) here, we will do that because section 287 of the Constitution cannot be ridiculed.

“If he wants to play games, we will show him that the constitution is above every individual and you cannot fight the constitution.

“A former president of the United States was charged to court and he has been appearing for his trial. He did not file all sorts of things to frustrate the case.’’

However, some civil society organisations believed the EFCC went overboard and cautioned it to obey the rule of law.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos, the CSOs and human rights crusaders cautioned the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies against trampling on the rights of supposed suspects of corruption to avoid breaking a law to enforce another law.

The Executive Chairman of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, noted that the public face-off between the EFCC and the ex-Kogi state governor was “both unnecessary and unfortunate.”

Adeniran argued that the rush by the EFCC to make an arrest when the Court of Appeal hearing on its application to vacate the restraining order was just in a few days might lend credence to the allegations of political persecution.’’

Also in Abuja, a coalition of CSOs led by the Anti-Corruption and Research-based Data Initiative, accused the EFCC of ‘’not presenting its case against Bello properly.’’

Speaking at a media briefing, the ARDI publicity director, Nwabueze Anyanwu, cautioned the commission not to heat the polity ‘’in its desperation to apprehend former Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello, over an allegation of money laundering.’’

He said, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has not extended to Mr Bello the customary investigation to visit her offices to assist her in their investigations.  We could also not find evidence anywhere, no matter how remote, where the Commission has asserted that she did extend such an invitation to him.

But unruffled by the support for Bello, Olukoyede has vowed to prosecute the ex-governor, noting that a global arrest warrant had been placed on him.

Speaking with editors and bureau chiefs in Abuja, the EFCC boss narrated how Bello spurned his invitation, adding that he could have been arrested since January.

Olukoyede said, “I called Yahaya Bello, as a serving governor, to come to my office to clear himself. I shouldn’t have done that. But he said because a certain senator had planted over 100 journalists in my office, he would not come.

“I told him that he would be allowed to use my private gate to give him a cover, but he said my men should come to his village to interrogate him.”

Olukoyede noted that the EFCC did not violate any law while trying to arrest the former governor from his residence.

“Rather, we have obeyed the law. I inherited the case and I didn’t create it. Why has he not submitted himself to the law?” he asked.

It remains to be seen if Bello would take up Olukoyede’s challenge and submit himself to the courts where he has the opportunity to clear himself of the charges against him.

Olukoyede noted that the EFCC did not violate any law while trying to arrest the former governor from his residence.

“Rather, we have obeyed the law. I inherited the case and I didn’t create it. Why has he not submitted himself to the law?” he asked.

It remains to be seen if Bello would take up Olukoyede’s challenge and submit himself to the courts where he has the opportunity to clear himself of the charges against him.

 

 

Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division has sentenced six men to a total of 140 years for conspiracy, robbery and receiving stolen properties.

While four of the convicts were sentenced to 21 years each for robbery and seven years each for conspiracy, the remaining two were jailed for 14 years each for receiving stolen properties.

The defendants, Lateef Bamisile (31), Omodara Sanya (32), Lasisi Talabi (27), Omojola Damilare (30), Adamu Mohammed (39) and Abubakar Garuba (52) were arraigned on August  31, 2022 on five counts bordering on conspiracy, attempt to murder, robbery and receiving stolen property, contrary to Sections 421, 241, 312(2)(b) and 343 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

According to the charge, “The defendants on February 13, April 11, May  4, May 10 and May 17 in 2022, did conspire to rob Iji Taiwo, Akinyemi Sunday and Ajayi Sunday of their Bajaj motorcycles and attempted to murder the victims.

“Also, on May 17, 2022, Adamu Mohammed and Abubakar Garba received two stolen Bajaj motorcycles each from Lateef Bamisile, all in Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this honourable court. As of the time of the incidents, they were armed with sticks, cutlasses and axes.”

In his statement to the police, one of the victims said he conveyed one of the defendants from Oke-Ila area to a place near the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti.

He said, “When we got there, he asked me to wait for him, he pretended to be knocking at the gate. Suddenly, a man appeared from behind with a cutlass, he ordered me to come down. When I refused, he gave me a machete cut on my neck, head, hand and back. When I fell, the passenger joined him and they escaped with my motorcycle.”

The prosecutor, Oluwaseun Olasanmi, called nine witnesses and tendered defendants’ statements, motorcycles particulars and bond to produce, as exhibits.

The defendants, who spoke through their respective lawyers, called no witness.

In his judgment on Tuesday, Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi said, “Going through the confessional statement of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, we could see a trend of a series of robberies committed by them on motorcycles by applying pepper on their eyes and sometime threatening with a cutlass.”

“It is trite that the court can convict on the confessional statement of an accused. Subsequently, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants are guilty of conspiracy and they are hereby sentenced to seven years imprisonment each and 21 years imprisonment each for robbery. The 5th and 6th defendants, Adamu Mohammed and Abubakar Garba, are found guilty of receiving stolen motorcycles. They are accordingly sentenced to 14 years imprisonment each,” the judge pronounced.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a fresh charge at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory against the embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

EFCC in the charge accused Emefiele of approving the printing of N684,590,000 at the rate of N18.96 billion.

In the charge sheets sighted by PUNCH Online on Tuesday, EFCC alleged that Emefiele broke the law with intent to harm the public during his implementation of the naira swap policy of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The anti-graft agency also accused Emefiele of unlawfully approving the withdrawal of N124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.

The document dated April 2, 2024, and marked Suit No: CR/264/2024, was filed by EFCC’s top prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN revealed that Emefiele will be arraigned on a new four-count charge before Justice Hamza Muazu bordering on disobeying the law to punish Nigerians, iilegal printing of money, abuse of office, among others.

Counts one to four of the charge, read, “STATEMENT OF OFFENCE: Public Servant disobeying direction of law with intent to cause injury to the public contrary to and punishable under Section 123 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89 Laws of the Federation, 1990.

“PARTICULARS OF THE OFFENCE: That you GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE between the 19th day of October 2022 and 5th March 2023 in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the CBN Act, 2007, by approving the printing of N375,520,000.00 pieces of colour swapped N1, 000, at the total cost of N11,052, 068,062 without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.”

“COUNT 2: “That you, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE, between the 19th of October 2022 and 5th March 2023 in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, by approving the printing of 172,000,000 pieces of colour swapped N500 (Five Hundred Naira) Notes, at the total cost of N4, 471,066,040 without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.

“COUNT 3: “That you GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE between the 19th day of October 2022 and 5th March 2023 in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the CBN Act, 2007, by approving the printing of 137,070,000 pieces of colour swapped N200 (Two Hundred Naira) Note, at the total cost of N3, 441, 005, 280 without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.”

“COUNT 4: “That you, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE, on or about the 7th day of October 2020, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 80 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), by approving the withdrawal of the total sum of N124, 860, 227, 865.16 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation in a manner not prescribed by the National Assembly, which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.”

Recall that Emefiele was on November 18, 2023, arraigned before the court on six counts of procurement fraud, in what is the most high-profile corruption case under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He was also accused of abusing his office by approving a contract for the acquisition of 43 vehicles totalling N1.2 billion from 2018 to 2020.

On Monday, April 8, 2024, the EFCC arraigned the former banker alongside one Henry Omoile before Justice R.A. Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos for an alleged $4.5bn and N2.8bn fraud.