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Corruption: Katsina governor compels accounting officers to swear secrecy oath
In order to block the leakage of files on corruption and fraudulent acts in his administration, the governor of Katsina, Aminu Masari has ordered civil servants in the state to swear to an oath of secrecy.
According to Sahara reporters, a resident of the state, Muhammad Mahdi Shehu, had in July asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate the Masari-led government for alleged misappropriation and misapplication of over N52bn spent as security vote in the state from June 2015 to April 29, 2020.
Shehu stated that while Katsina was battling with insecurity, the governor spent hundreds of millions of naira on frivolities.
Reacting, Gov Masari in an internal memo by the state’s Head of Service, Idris Usman Tune, asked all accounting officers on Grade Level 08 and above to swear to an oath of secrecy.
“In an effort to ensure conformity with relevant rules and regulations governing the conduct of civil aervants in the state, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Katsina State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masuri, has granted approval for the revival and adherence to sigining of oath of secrecy as per the provision of public service rules No. 020209 by all officers on G.L 08 and above which is consistent with CAP-91 part lll (official oaths) of law of Katsina State.
“Consequent to the above, all Accounting Officers of MDA’s are directed to enforce the signing of oath of secrecy to all officers serving under them in stages as listed below: (i) permanent secretaries and chief executive officers of parastatals to administer and supervise signing of oath of secrecy by all directors, confidential secretaries (personal assistant) and staff of secret registries.
(ii) All directors to administer and supervise signing of oath of secrecy of all staff under their departments.
(iii) Accounting officers to ensure careful preservation of oath of secrecy forms signed.
(iv) Security department of governor’s office (SGS) to produce copies of security forms I for purpose stated;
“Copy of signed forms of oath of secrecy to be maintained in confidential files of individuals officers and copy be sent to security department of office of the Secretary to the State Government for custody. Bring the content of this circular to the attention of all concerned for strict compliance, please,” the memo signed by Abdulaziz Imam Suleiman, Director of Admin and Supplies, HOS office, reads.
October 27, 2020
”COVID-19 was nothing but a glorified malaria disease” — Yahaya Bello responds to palliatives looting
Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, who has always doubted the existence of COVID-19 in Nigeria, has stated that coronavirus ” was nothing but a glorified malaria disease.”
Bello who said this on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Tuesday, October 27, also added that looting of warehouses storing COVID-19 palliatives and #EndSARS protest are about the 2023 general elections.
He said, “I did say when COVID-19 came into this country that a few people are going to profiteer and that is what has happened. And I am saying it again that a few individuals are setting certain agenda for 2023.
”Now, from #EndSARS to hoodlums stealing CACOVID to various youths or people saying IPOB and statements. Various groups are making statements,” he said.
“Whether we like it or not, this is 2023 playing out by a few individuals who feel they can continue to use us in this country and I am urging all youths across the country to return home,” the governor said.
“Which struggle, which agitation, which uprising across the world has ever succeeded without leadership? I agree 100 per cent (with the agitation) but if you look at what is happening, then you will have no option but to qualify it as politically motivated,” Bello said.
Daily Times reports that the governor didn’t respond on who was order the shooting at Lekki.
Bello said not everyone believes in the #EndSARS protest, adding that the scrapping of SARS had dampened police morale and caused them to leave the streets which had in turn given hoodlums the opportunity to have a field day.
“Now SARS has ended, police morale has been dampened, they have gone off the streets, and the hoodlums have taken to the streets. Who do we report to?” he asked.
The governor maintained that COVID-19 was nothing but a “glorified” malaria disease which had been used to siphon billions of naira.
He said, “I did say that COVID-19 is political; I did say that COVID-19 has an economic undertone.”
Bello stated that he didn’t know of the existence of a COVID-19 warehouse in Lokoja, which had been looted by thugs.
October 27, 2020
Return vaccines from isolation centres — FG tells looters
The federal government has urged those who looted medical storage facilities and isolation centres across the country to return all the vaccines and consumables they had carted away.
The Chairman of Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, made this appeal during a media briefing on Monday, October 27 in Abuja.
Mustapha expressed shock at the magnitude of the looting of some warehouses across the country by miscreants.
He gave reasons for the inability of some states to complete the distribution of palliatives from CA-COVID, a private-sector coalition supporting the national response against COVID-19.
“Of particular concern to the PTF is the issue of palliatives found and looted from various warehouses around the country. It is important to make the following clarifications,” he said.
“The Federal Government Palliatives consisted mainly of the 70MT of grains released from the Strategic Grain Reserves as well as rice secured from the Nigerian Customs Service. The shares for each state were handed over to the state governments for onward distribution to the citizens.
“The private sector coalition (CACOVID) that has been quite supportive of the Federal Government worked with the states through the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to determine the quantum of their intervention, which was intended to be effective and equitable.
“Many indices were worked out for this purpose. The National Coordinator shall also provide further distinction and the modus operandi for the distribution of the palliatives donated to the states by the coalition,” he added.
The state governments were urged not to shut down their isolation centres, pointing out the need to be at alert in case of a resurgence of the pandemic.
October 27, 2020
ACCE slams NBC for sanctions on media houses, wants them withdrawn
By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
The African Council for Communication Education (ACCE) has condemned the sanctions meted out to some media houses in Nigeria by the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, for their coverage of the EndSARS protests, calling for the withdrawal of the sanctions.
In a statement in Uyo endorsed by its president Prof Nnamdi Ekeanyanwu on Tuesday, ACCE, a forum for media professionals, educators in journalism and cultural studies and associated disciplines in Africa and for Africans in the Diaspora expressed regret that the NBC did not follow due process on the matter.
It however condemned media houses that may have used unverified video footages of the protests in their coverage but called for the withdrawal of the sanctions and the setting up of a body to investigate the coverage of the protests by the mainstream media.
“On the media coverage of the ENDSARS protests and the violence that followed, ACCE congratulates the mainstream media for professionalism in the midst of danger. The Association also condemns in totality any media establishment that must have used unverified video footage in its coverage of the conflict. The media must always act as the last bulwark of the society even in times of crisis.
“However, the Association views with displeasure the swift response by the NBC to punish three media firms on the basis of their coverage of the crisis. Our expectation is that NBC should use fines and other punitive measures as last resort. A proper investigation should precede any such punitive measures.
“There should be room for warning letters and cautions before such heavy sanctions that could be misconstrued as an attempt to muzzle the hard-earned freedom of the media.
“ACCE therefore calls on the NBC to immediately withdraw the sanctions already imposed on the three media firms and set up an appropriate body to investigate the mainstream media coverage of the ENDSARS protests and ensuing violence. The outcome of the investigative panel would definitely form part of future guidelines for most mainstream media in future handling of related conflicts.” It said.
The Council maintained that NBC as a government regulatory body “should not be both the accuser and the judge at the same time on the same matter” saying it would resist acts that would smack of attempt to muzzle the media.
It expressed support for the right of the people to peaceful protest and legitimate agitation adding that recent happenings in Nigeria have shown that the media, not the judiciary, should be regarded as the last hope of the people.
“Therefore, ACCE will remain at the forefront to protect media freedom as well as continues in her noble role in the training and retraining of media professionals to remain responsible, responsive, and professional in the discharge of their duties.” It concluded.
October 27, 2020
RCCG declares 30-day fasting, prayer for Nigeria
Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has directed all members of the church to commence a 30-day fast and prayer for Nigeria.
The RCCG Assistant General Overseer, Admin, and Personnel, Pastor Johnson Odesola, announced this in a statement on Tuesday in Ibadan.
According to Adeboye, the programme tagged, “Fasting and Prayer for Nigeria’’ would start from Nov. 1.
“Marathon fasting will hold between Nov. 1 and Nov. 14 for those who prefer that and prayer guide shall be forwarded soon.
“Where possible, brethren should be encouraged to come together for prayers while ensuring that all COVID-19 government regulations and safety precautions are put in place,’’ he said.
Adeboye urged the faithful to inform and encourage other members to participate in this exercise.
October 27, 2020
#EndSARS: Outrage as Lagos Judicial panel issues oath of secrecy to youth reps
Nigerian youths have opposed the oath of secrecy issued to their representatives on the Lagos panel probing the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The judicial body was constituted by the state government on October 15.
Rinu Oduala and Temitope Majekodunmi joined Lagos Panel of Enquiry and Restitution for Victims on Tuesday.
The oath given to them to sign leaked to social media and respondents are upset.
Many have insisted that details of hearings must be made public.
Meanwhile, the panel reportedly withdrew the oath before swearing in the youth reps.
Moe Odele, an End SARS advocate and co-founder of the Feminist Coalition, gave the update.
“This has been rejected after concerns were raised and a dialogue was held this morning. The panelists will not be signing this document,” the lawyer tweeted.
Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) President, Olumide Apata, journalists, observers, among others are at the venue of the sitting.
Oduala, Majekodunmi and other panel members are tasked with listening to the submissions of SARS survivors, interrogating the accused personnel, and determining the veracity of all claims.
They will also recommend punishments for the guilty and appropriate compensation for the victims.
The panel will sit on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm at the Lagos Court of Arbitration at Remi Olowude Street, in Lekki.
October 27, 2020
Looting: NYSC deploys Army, Police, others at orientation camps nationwide
The National Youths Service Scheme, (NYSC) has directed its State Coordinators to liaise with security agencies in their respective states to beef up security presence to ward off potential attacks on the camps by hoodlums who might be invading them in search of hidden COVID-19 palliatives.
The Katsina state coordinator of NYSC, Alhaji Yahaya Ahidjo said that the measure has become necessary in view of the growing attacks on NYSC orientation camps already recorded in FCT, Cross River, and Adamawa states.
He said ’’yes it’s a directive from our headquarters, asking state coordinators to liaise with security agencies in the state in order to beef up security in their orientation camps.
“As you can see we have already deployed the Police, Army, and other security agencies to our orientation camps in case of any eventuality or attack on us.
“The hoodlums appear to be targeting COVID-19 isolation centers and possibly warehouse locations for palliatives.”
When the Nation visited the NYSC orientation camp located at Mani road, Katsina, contingents of Soldiers and Police force were been deployed to guard the main entrance and the premise of the orientation camp.
Meanwhile, the camp has stepped up preparations for its reopening for orientation activities by November 10, with a visit by NCDC officials to certify its level of compliance with COVID-19 protocols.
October 27, 2020
Buratai directs army personnel to comply with CCB on assets declaration
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, has directed senior military personnel to declare their assets in compliance with the code of conduct for public officers.
He stated that personnel entrusted with leadership responsibility must understand the importance of assets declaration and code of conduct.
Declaring open, a two-day workshop on ‘Compliance with Assets Declaration and Code of Conduct for Officers and Soldiers,’ facilitated by Go-Getters Consulting Ltd., in Abuja on Tuesday, the COAS said the Nigerian Army would partner with the Code of Conduct Bureau to ensure public morality and accountability in the conduct of its activities.
Buratai noted that the workshop was important to the Army as it afforded the servicemen the opportunity to fulfil their obligations as public officers in line with the provision of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
He said, “The Nigerian Army under my leadership is desirous of maintaining the highest standard of accountability in the conduct of our activities, consistent with the requirements and behaviours of public officers which conform to the highest standard of probity, public morality, transparency and accountability.
“Accordingly, I have directed that the workshop be conducted in the six Army Divisions nationwide. My directive is premised on the belief that every Army personnel entrusted with leadership responsibility must understand the importance of Assets Declaration and Code of Conduct for public officers and comply with all the provisions and requirements.”
The Chairman, CCB, Isa Mohammed, noted that the challenges confronting the nation were the result of indiscipline in public life.
Mohammed, who was represented by Prof Samuel Ogundare, commended the Nigerian Army for organizing the workshop, which he said would afford the participants the opportunity to fully understand the workings of the Code of Conduct Bureau and the need for assets declaration.
In his welcome address, the Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation, Maj. Gen. H. Vintenaba, emphasised that the workshop would help military officers to understand the consequences of non-compliance with the provisions of the CCB on assets declaration.
He said, “This workshop is timely as it would offer officers and soldiers the opportunity to understand fully the requirements for code of conduct and assets declaration as well as consequences for non-compliance.
October 27, 2020
Stakeholders, Right Groups slam PHEDC over dubious business practices in A’Ibom
By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
Customers, stakeholders and Rights groups in Akwa Ibom have expressed disenchant and furry over the exploitative business practices of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHEDC.
From issues of non investment in power infrastructures, over billing, exploitation, maltreatment to customers amongst others, the PHEDC has obviously set the faces of power stakeholders against the company in the state.
The company came under heavy criticism last week when it’s Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr John Onyi ssued a release, reacting to complaints by the Managing Director, Ibom Power, Engr. Meyen Etukudoh, alleging that PHEDC is riddled with corruption and offer poor services.
According to the statement, “without ambiguity, PHED is a responsible organization that has zero tolerance for corruption. The Management of PHED under the leadership of Dr. Henry Ajagbawa has reinvigorated the fight against corruption in different dimensions from sanctioning to naming and shaming of offenders arising from energy theft, meter bypass, unauthorized access to the network, among many others.
“Also, as a means of improving the performance of its workforce to ensure that all customer clusters are served satisfactorily, over 355 graduates from different fields of human endeavor were recently employed to meet service demand of which Uyo Zone has over 22 percent of the entire workforce.
“To encourage and motivate staff members for efficiency and productivity, the new management under Dr. Henry Ajagbawa gave permanent appointment to hitherto outsourced DSOs-Distribution System Operators and went ahead to increase the salaries of lines-workers who have remained stagnant since their employment over six years ago. “
Though the MD of Ibom Power, Engr Meyen Etukudoh said he was quoted out of context as he did not use the word “corruption”, he however maintained his earlier position that the PHEDC has failed to provide necessary infrastructure needed to straighten their business in the state .
“It was in PHEDC business plan to provide Transformers to her numerous customers but they left it for Akwa Ibom State government .
” Since 2014 , PHEDC has not put any Transformer in any community in Akwa Ibom, except one in Eket where the consumer threatened a court action.But this was supposed to be the responsibility of the Distribution Company . Recently , Akwa Ibom State Government provided 452 Transformers to communities in the state.” He said
Etukudoh frowned at situation where transformer areas are overgrown with weeds but ignored by the Company with reptiles making the transformer base their habitat and in the process destroying some components in the system while the power company look the other way.
He said that the state government has consistently providing power infrastructures including substations, a responsibility legally that of the company but regretted that PHEDC had never sent a single letter of appreciation to the state government..
Reacting to Onyi’s claims of zero corruption in PHEDC, a power consumer, Mrs Arit Inyang queried “what do you call a situation where light is only given whenever you are about to circulate bills?
“They also came up with the meter, a N5000 unit could not take us a week in a small one bedroom flat with just lighting points and television.
“What do you also call a situation where a transformer is down for a whole year, and the moment the community rally round to fix the transformer by themselves, you resurface with a bill of N104,000 or more.
“PHEDC is extremely corrupt! they force us to pay for darkness because we want to protect our wires”. She lamented.
Another consumer, Ekpenyong Udeme accused PHCN of being dubious in its nature of exploiting consumers.
Udeme alleged that the company had gone ahead to implement increment in tariff, against the presidential directive of reduction of electricity tariffs to ameliorate the suffering of Nigerians
He said having expended over N15,000 on recharging his prepaid meter, he has opted for the use of his generators.
Also, a Legal practitioner and Chairman of Human Right Communities in Akwa Ibom , Barr. Clifford Thomas listed the legal mandate of PHEDC to include provision of power infrastructure such as cables , Transformers , other accessories, maintenance of power lines as well as collection of tariffs for power distributed.
Thomas warned that Nigerians could descend on them soon if the company continued to concentrate on collecting money without concerns for power distribution, investment and maintenance of power infrastructures.
” What they do is they procure CivllDefence Corps or the police and go about harassing people stealing cables on the pretext of rolling cables away”
” The criminal code says when you take somebody’s property with an intention of not returning same , permanently depriving the owner of the ownership of same , such is stealing.” Thomas stated.
He accused PHEDC of stealing cables without providing any power infrastructure for customers.
” Now how many substations has PHEDC rebuilt in Akwa Ibom State? None ! How many Transformers has PHEDC bought and distributed in Akwa Ibom State ? None!” He said.
A community member In Ifa Ikot Okpon, Etoi, Mr Pius Etim who also lamented his community’s ordeal n the hands of PHEDC, alleged that they were heavily exploited by PHEDC officials for the installation of a transformer donated by NDDC to the community to service their new power line.
“Despite the fact that the transformer was given to us by NDDC, we still spent over N5m to install the new transformer through PHEDC certified contractors.
“Out of the said amount, over N800,000 was paid to PHEDC to secure approval to link the light to the grid. Not even a kobo from the amount was receipted for. As soon as we were linked, they started threatening us to get prepaid meter or be ready to pick an estimated bill of not less than N15,000 per compound, every month.” Etim said.
It would be recalled that Governor Udom Emmanuel, last year, had expressed his frustrations in a petition to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for the refusal of PHEDC to distribute electricity produced by Ibom Power Plant to customers in the state.
Emmanuel’s petition followed increasing complaints by electricity consumers in the state against PHEDC over alleged perennial power outage and exorbitant monthly electricity bills arising from an estimated billing system, even without a comminserate consumption.
The Governor alleged that despite sufficient power generation from the power plant to provide steady and quality electricity to the entire state, PHEDC refused to pick the load.
Not satisfied with the petition, the governor took further steps to construct 132/33kva substations in Uyo and at Ekim in Mkpat Enin LGA and distributed 452 transformers to communities in the state.
Not still satisfied with performance of the distribution company, despite the intervention, the Governor threatened to explore the possibility of a state-owned power distribution company, a threat many thought would make the PHEDC to sit-up.
Almost a year after the last threat, power consumers are of the opinion that the PHEDC has rather grown from bad, to worse as they have, instead of seeking ways to replace worn-out transformers and broken polls, continued to pile up bills for consumers.
October 27, 2020
Soku oilfield: Supreme Court strikes out Bayelsa suit against Rivers on
The Supreme Court has struck out a suit against Rivers filed by the Bayelsa Government over the disputed Soku oilfield.
The court said Bayelsa was liable to abuse of court processes by asking it to make judicial pronouncements on a matter that the Court of Appeal had yet to adjudicate on.
Bayelsa approached the Supreme Court after a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered it to refund the 13 percent derivation it had received over the years from the disputed Soku oilfield to Rivers.
The Special Assistant, Media to Rivers Governor, Kelvin Ebiri, in a statement, said at the resumed hearing of the matter on Tuesday, Justice Ngwuta, who led a panel of seven justices, wondered why Bayelsa decided to file a suit at the apex court bypassing the Court of Appeal.
Ngwuta observed that Bayelsa jumped the gun insisting that the apex court could not make pronouncement on a judgment that was given by a Federal High Court when the appellate court had not entertained the matter.
He explained the Supreme Court lacks the jurisdiction to make orders on on a matter directly coming from the High Court and asked to take its grievances to the Court of Appeal.
The Bayelsa State government through its Lawyer, Kemsauode Wodu, applied for a formal withdrawal of the suit and it was struck out by the Supreme Court.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had while delivering judgement in a suit filed by the Attorney-General of Rivers State against the National Boundary Commission, had declared that the Soku oilfields belonged to Rivers.
kwo noted the failure and refusal of the National Boundary Commission to rectify the admitted mistake in the 11th edition of the administrative map of Nigeria since 2002, which erroneously showed St Batholomew River instead of River Santa Barbara as the interstate Boundary between Rivers and Bayelsa States ,was a breach of commission’s statutory duty and a flagrant disobedience of the order of the Supreme Court contained in its judgment delivered on October 10, 2012.
The judge explained the continued reliance on the said defective 11th edition of the administrative map of Nigeria by the other government agencies/statutory bodies, particularly, the Revenue Mobilisation , Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the Accountant General of the Federation in the computation of revenue accruable to Rivers from the Federation Account resulted in the continued unjust denial of derivation funds accruing from the Soku oil wells situate within Rivers State to the detriment of the state government.
Ekwo directed that notice be served of the decision of the Court on the RMAFC and the Accountant General of the Federation.
The judge said the National Boundary Commission (NBC) could not unilaterally delineate boundaries between Rivers and Bayelsa after the Supreme Court judgment on the matter and also dismissed an objection to the suit raised by the NBC.
October 27, 2020