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SERAP Urges Lawan, Gbajabiamila To Probe Missing ₦4.4bn NASS Funds
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Senate President Dr Ahmad Lawan, and Speaker of House of Representatives Mr Femi Gbajabiamila to urgently probe allegations that N4.4 billion of public money budgeted for the National Assembly is missing, misappropriated, diverted or stolen, as documented in three audited reports by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.
In an open letter dated January 30 and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “By exercising strong and effective leadership in this matter, the National Assembly can show Nigerians that the legislative body is a proper and accountable watchdog that represents and protects the public interest, and is able to hold both itself and the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to account in the management of public resources.”
The agency believes that if the matter is not satisfactorily addressed, the allegations would undermine public confidence in the ability of the National Assembly to exercise its constitutional and oversight responsibilities to prevent and combat corruption, and to ensure the public interest, transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
SERAP also expressed concerns that the allegations of corruption, mismanagement and misappropriation of public funds amount to fundamental breaches of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international obligations, including under the UN Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption.
The letter, read in part: “Any failure to promptly, thoroughly and independently investigate these serious allegations, prosecute suspected perpetrators, and recover missing public funds and assets would undermine public trust in the ability of the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure probity, transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.”
“The Auditor-General noted in his 2015 report that the National Assembly account was spent N8,800,000.00 as unauthorised overdraft, contrary to Financial Regulations 710. The National Assembly also reportedly spent N115,947,016.00 without any documents. Another N158,193,066.00 spent as cash advances to 17 staff between January and June 2015 is yet to be retired.”
“The Senate reportedly spent N186,866,183.42 to organise Senate Retreat and Pre-Valedictory Session for the 7^th Senate, although the money was meant to pay vehicle loan. The Senate also reportedly spent N15,964,193.63 as bank charges between July and December, 2015, contrary to Financial Regulations 734.”
“The House of Representatives also reportedly spent N624,377,503.30 to buy 48 Utility Vehicles. However, 14 vehicles were not supplied. The House also failed to make the 34 vehicles supplied available for verification. Similarly, the House spent N499,666,666.00 as cash advances to staff to carry out various assignments but has failed to retire the money.”
“The House of Representatives also reportedly paid N70,560,000.00 as overtime and ‘special’ allowances to officials who are not legislative aides between November and December 2015 without any authority.”
“The National Assembly Service Commission reportedly failed to remit N30,130,794.10 deducted from the salaries of the Executive Chairman and the Commissioners as car loan.”
“The National Assembly Budget and Research Office reportedly spent N66,303,411.70 as out-of-pocket expenses without any documents. The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies paid N246,256,060.51 by cheques, despite the prohibition of payments by cheque by the Federal Government, except in extreme cases, and contrary to Financial Regulation 631.”
“According to the Auditor-General Report for 2017, the House of Representatives reportedly spent ₦95,212,250.00 without due process and without any documents. The National Assembly Management Account also reveals that N673,081,242.14 was spent between April and October 2017 without any documents. The Auditor-General reported that the funds may have been misappropriated.”
“The Senate Account also reportedly shows that ₦1,364,816,397.95 was spent on store items without any documents to show for the spending. The Auditor-General stated that his office was denied access to the store and to the Senate’s records.”
“The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies also reportedly failed to remit ₦2,181,696.50 from contract of goods and services. The Institute also paid ₦67,296,478.00 without any payment vouchers.”
“We would be grateful if you would indicate the measures being taken to address the allegations and to implement the proposed recommendations, within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel the leadership of the National Assembly to implement these recommendations in the public interest, and to promote transparency and accountability in the National Assembly.”
“The Auditor-General also noted in his 2018 report that the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies failed to remit N577,634,638,20 due from contracts and supplies, even though the deductions were made. However, the Institute claimed that it was the National Assembly that was required to remit the money, as it is the body that maintains the account on behalf of the Institute.”
“Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the country’s international obligations including under the UN Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption. Nigeria has ratified both treaties.”
The letter is copied to Mr Abubakar Malami SAN, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice; Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); and Mr Mohammed Abba, Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
January 31, 2021
Corruption, Inducement In Candidates’ Nomination Process Bane Of Primaries – INEC, PDP, Others Lament
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, political parties and stakeholders have unanimously bemoaned the overwhelming corruption in the nomination of candidates in political parties amongst other issues.
INEC’s Assistant Director Publicity, Chinwe Ogbuka led the lamentation on Thursday, during a special radio town hall meeting against corruption, organized by Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, with the support of MacArthur Foundation Thursday in Abuja.
Ogbuka who revealed that corruption has eaten deep into the fabrics of Nigeria’s politics, stressed that the current rot in the political system is robbing the nation of honest and good leaders. She, however, called on political parties to de-emphasize money politics which is shutting out several citizens from aspiring for political offices.
Asked if INEC was helpless in tackling money politics and godfatherism in Nigeria politics, She said, “this is a problem of the country and not really about INEC, people pay their way to get what they want, it is corruption of the system.”
Ogbuka called on political parties, Civil Society Organizations and security agencies to collaborate and work with the commission to drastically reduce corruption in Nigeria’s political process.
In his remark, National Publicity Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan made it clear that money plays a very important role in politics, and noted that citizens incessant demand for money from politicians and aspirants was encouraging money politics and have affected the political system in general.
According to Ologbondiyan, the best way to reduce corruption and monetary inducement in Nigeria politics was for Nigerians to go back to days where people come together and agree to vote for a candidate without asking for money.
He added that the current PDP National Working Committee has succeeded in reducing corruption in the nomination process to the barest minimum. “PDP has returned power to the delegates and the people,” Ologbondiyan stressed.
On his party, the National Chairman, National Conscience Party, NCP, Dr Tanko Yunusa noted that making party nomination form free for aspirants will encourage Nigerians with credibility to contest in future elections, adding that political parties should be owned and funded by members.
Yunusa, however, suggested that there should be a legal framework that will cut across all political parties to guide against bribery in candidate nomination.
The Director, Constitutional Watch (CONSWATCH), Barr. Aham Njoku, who is also a former House of Representatives Aspirant in Imo State in the 2019 election said that the cost of contesting elections in Nigeria has tripled making it difficult for people without deep pockets to participate.
Njoku averred that the consequence of corruption in candidate nomination is evident in the emergence of wrong candidates and mediocre performance seen in political offices today. “Most of these candidates when elected in the general elections are more interested in recouping the money they spent with profit than rendering service,” Njoku stressed.
Towing the same line, the Executive Director, KIMPACT Development Initiative, Biodun Idowu, revealed that the astronomical fees for nomination of candidate and expression of interest form was shrinking the political space and limiting citizen’s choices.
Idowu restated calls for party ownership and financing to rest on the citizens, while maintaining that corruption in the political process will continue as long as politicians remain financiers of political parties.
The PRIMORG’s Town Hall Meeting Against Corruption series is aimed at calling the public and government attention to specific issues of corruption in Nigeria.
January 31, 2021
Seven to eight kidnappers out of ten arrested are Fulanis, but not every Fulani is a criminal – Sultan of Sokoto
Sultan of Sokoto, HRH Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has said seven to eight out of every ten kidnappers arrested in Nigeria are Fulani.
However, the monarch said that it was wrong to label all Fulani criminals or use ‘Fulanis herdsmen criminal’ to explain developments because of the misdeeds of some of them.
He said, “I am a Fulani, and I am not a bad man. I am also not a criminal. Those engaged in one forms of crimes or another are across the country. It is not proper to refer to any tribe to describe individuals’ crime.
“For example, when they collected N10m, where and how do you spend this amount in the bush? The money is back in the city. I have told the Inspector General of police to check this; we are not saying Fulanis are not part of the kidnappings as mentioned by the Secretary of Miyetti Allah, seven to eight kidnappers arrested are Fulanis, but that doesn’t mean ever Fulani is a criminal, no they are not.
“We must put hands together to bring an end to this problem. We are going to approach the President to talk to our West African neighbours where we have Fulanis like Senegal, Niger Republic Guinea and Mali, to help us because most of these bandit cross from neighbouring countries conducted their criminal act and run back.”
The meeting comes in the wake of tensions, especially across the South-West states which many have attributed to criminal Fulani herdsmen.
A Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho, had given Fulanis in the Ibarapa axis of Oyo State an ultimatum to leave following allegations of criminality.
Videos shared on social media showed Igboho holding a well-attended rally where he swore to drive out Fulani herdsmen from the entire Yorubaland for causing insecurity and banditry.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State also issued a quit notice to all herdsmen to vacate government reserve forests in the state.
January 30, 2021
Presidency Alleges Smear Campaign Against Buhari, Urges Nigerians To Be Wary
The Presidency on Friday said a smear campaign intended to paint President Muhammadu Buhari as an ethnic bigot is set to be launched.
In a statement titled ‘Unrelenting Plot to Wage Smear Campaign Against President Buhari’, spokesman Femi Adesina said the allegations being readied against the President are “by no means supported with reasonable facts and figures.”
According to Adesina, the President “has continued to place members of his ethnic nationality in sensitive positions, so as to confer undue advantage on them.”
He warned Nigerians to be wary of persons behind such a campaign as it “is all about quest for power, and filthy lucre” and not for the nation’s good.
January 30, 2021
TAMBUWAL: Presidential Bid Or Not
By Muhammad Goronyo, Sokoto
Ask any coach in the English Premier League, early season, if his team has an eye on the European Champions League. He will say his focus is on the local trophy first. One critical step at a time is the norm. After all, no club goes to Europe without acquitting itself at home to end in top four.
It is the same in politics, especially for current office holders, who are favored to seek higher portfolios in upcoming polls, more often, state governors in their second terms. For most of them, the expected next step is the Senate, for a very few, the presidency.
Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the current Governor of Sokoto State is used to being the subject of this trend. As Number Four Citizen in 2015, he played a pivotal role in the electoral victory of the opposition APC. In 2019, as first term Governor of his state, Tambuwal was slated for and had a very good shot at the nation’s number one job.
With the next presidential election a good three years to come, the prospecting has already begun. And Aminu Waziri, now in his second governorship term, is again in the thick of affairs. It is not therefore surprising that the first salvo was let go by an online report that he has declared to run for the top job.
Why, his political party, the PDP, is giving the ruling but self destroying party, the APC more than a run for their money and Tambuwal is on center stage of it all. As Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, he has been integral to the party’s successes, including its triumph in the recent Edo State governorship poll.
The online report on Tambuwal’s presidential bid declaration is speculative and untrue but it obviously relied on ongoing trends in an attempt to acquire credibility; pigments of imagination, seeking reality by aligning with a widely held belief.
Like an EPL coach however, Tambuwal would not look away from the local scene. For all his national profile, his focus and priority is the local scene, which is his state.
Such rumours are a distraction from his main focus, which is “delivering good governance and the dividends of democracy to the people of Sokoto Stat.”, the Governor said.
Presidential ambition or not, Tambuwal has in the last five years, have had remarkable strides in improving the situation of Sokoto State in the four major sectors of development.
In the Economic Sector, his embrace of the Private Sector as an active partner in the execution of initiatives, has led to the ongoing establishment of private and public – private industries in Agriculture and Solid Minerals, being symbolized by the ongoing construction of the Dangote Rice Mill in Kware and the Phosphate Plant in Kalambaina by OCP Morroco.
Investment in farming is witnessing an increase over the years, through sustained support for farmers, as enshrined in a home grown blueprint from experts and stakeholders. A similar transformation applies to the livestock Sub-Sector, with the ongoing Indonesia model Dairy Project.
The Massive construction of urban and rural roads ensures the facilitation of economic activities to complement these achievements.
Currently work has begun on the construction of dual carriage ways and two flyovers in Sokoto, a number of rural roads are earmarked for this year.
The establishment of the State Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency (SOSSMEDA) is one bold step to bolster economic productivity and employment for the people. So is the provision of financial support for small trades and vocations in all Local Governments of the State. Recently, Tambuwal distributed financial support and loans to women entreprenuers in the state.
There is appreciable progress in Education and Health, the main drivers of the Social Sector. The State of Emergency on Education declared at the inception of Tambuwal’s Administration, guided by a blueprint, entails the massive construction, renovation and equipping of schools at all levels, improvement in school system supervision and substantial increase in enrolment at basic level, especially of the girl-child.
Work has earnestly begun on the new Girls Science Secondary School at Kasarawa, while developments like the ongoing construction of the State University Teaching Hospital and the new College of Nursing Sciences, Tambuwal facilitate the connection between education and health.
The Healthcare Sub – Sector is going through a leap, through the building and equipping of premier and basic health facilities across the State and the introduction of initiatives like the Healthcare Under One Roof and Contributory Health Scheme, aimed at improving efficiency, particularly in maternal health and ensuring public ownership of the healthcare system.
A Premier Hospital, one each in the state’s Senatorial Zones, the building of which has begun, will transform the healthcare system, just as the nearly completed modern diagnostic center in Sokoto, the best of its kind in the Northwest.
Sokoto State’s response to the Covid 19 Pandemic has been efficient. With the prompt provision of equipment and facilities, coupled with effective strategy and technical intervention from the Federal Government, our State records one of the fewest incidences of the pandemic in Nigeria.
Sokoto State is witnessing a transformation in the advancement of Youths and Sports, which is illustrated by the inception of the construction of sports facilities in Sokoto, the soon to be built modern indoor sports hall and a sports stadium. This is matched by the moral and material support for sports men and women, who show promise of excelling within and beyond the state.
Great strides are being made in addressing poverty in Sokoto State. The State Zakat and Endowment Commission (SOZECOM) is making appreciable progress in empowering millions of underprivileged indigenes, while leading the State Government’s partnership with foreign interests, particularly Indonesia and finance institutions like IDB, in initiatives towards poverty alliviation and uplifting the economic status of the indigent.
Tambuwal’s policy moves also prioritize a healthy environment as a prerequisite for development in all sectors. The Ministry for Environment is well equipped and is working hard to ensure adequate sanitation in Urban Sokoto, as well as carry out its mandate of protecting the environment from the hazards of global warming and climate change. Tree planting and tending are routine, while subscription to alternative fuels to firewood is being actively pursued and encouraged.
There is, since the inception of Tambuwal’s administration, a marked openness in Governance in Sokoto State. This is due partly, to the harmony between the Executive and Legislature and a free and strengthened Judiciary. The elections of 2019 have produced a partisan balance, with the opposition in the majority in the Legislature. That, has not however, posed challenges to governance, as the two arms close ranks to ensure service delivery to the electorate, in the most inclusive environment in the history of Sokoto State.
In the 2020 Budget, Sokoto State joined the league of few States in Nigeria to migrate to the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). This milestone in transition to fiscal transparency guarantees accountability and participation and makes the state a reliable development partner.
The subscription to IPSAS and passing of the Sokoto State Tax Law and Fiscal Responsibility Law substantially satisfy the requirement for genuine development in an atmosphere of openness, transparency and accountability to the people, which is the principle of Tambuwal’s Administration.
For the time being, these all-sector developments are on the drawing table of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. Engagements at national level are of course taken in stride but they do not, in any way distract from the priorities back at home. For, whatever a leader becomes in future, at whatever level he attains the height, it all begins at the base. And as Tambuwal believes, “all politics is local”.
January 29, 2021
Court annuls APC lawmaker’s election in Kogi
A Federal High Court in Abuja has voided the election of the member of Kogi Assembly, Atule Egbunu, representing Ibaji constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In his place, Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered that the candidate of the party that came second in the December 5, 2020 by-election, which produced Egbunu, should be inaugurated in placed of the sacked APC candidate.
Justice Ekwo gave the order in a judgement on Friday in the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/173/2020 filed by Joseph Enemona, in which he challenged the propriety of the primary election conducted by his party, the APC, to chose a candidate for the by-election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared APC’s Egbunu winner with 8,515 votes, while PDP’s candidate for the election, Daniel Enefola came second with 4, 564 votes in the December 5, 2020 election.
Justice Ekwo, in the judgment, upheld the plaintiff’s claim that the APC did not conduct a valid primary election.
The judge noted that, while seven aspirants were to participate in the primary election, the party unlawfully manoeuvred the process, made the participation of a single aspirant possible and denied the other six the opportunity to participate.
He added that the APC acted unlawfully by conducting the purported primary election outside the party’s secretariat, as required by law.
Justice Ekwo faulted the respondents’ claim that the winner of the purported election, Matthew Oguche was substituted with Atule Egbunu, noting that Oguche was not one of a legitimate aspirants before the election.
The judge proceeded to declare the primary held by the APC as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional and subsequently set it aside.
Justice Ekwo declined the plaintiff’s request for an order for the conduct of a fresh primary election but ordered that the candidate of the party that came second in the election be inaugurated.
The judge held that the time for the conduct of primary and nomination of candidate for the December 5, 2020 bye-election had lapsed.
Enemona, a member of the APC and an aspirant for the state House of Assembly, had sued to challenge the propriety of the September 3, 2020 primary election conducted by his party.
He argued among others, that the party unlawfully excluded six other aspirants from the primary election and also did not allow delegates to vote.
The plaintiff stated that, while as required by the law, the primary elections should have been conducted at the party secretariat in Onyedega, officials of the APC took the primary election to a mall.
He further stated that INEC was not given the required 21-day’s notice before the said primary election, as required under Section 85 of Electoral Act, 2010.
The plaintiff contended that while the APC guidelines stipulated direct primary election, officials of the part manipulated the guidelines and used indirect system to pick the purported candidate.
He, among others, prayed the court to void the purported nomination of Egbunu and order the conduct of another primary election.
January 29, 2021
FG govt plan to reintroduce toll gates, as 12 highways set for concession
The Nigerian government is set to reintroduce toll gates on Nigerian roads as 12 highways have been earmarked for concession to private companies.
This was made known on Friday in Abuja by the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, while receiving the Outline Business Case Certificate of Compliance for 12 pilot federal highways billed for the concession which signifies the return of the toll gates as concessionaires will have to recoup their investments.
The Minister said that the 12 earmarked roads were under the ministry’s Highway Development Management Initiative, adding that the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission would hand over the certificate to the ministry at the FMWH headquarters in the FCT.
The 12 highways in the pilot phase include the Benin-Asaba, Abuja-Lokoja, Kano-Katsina, Onitsha-Owerri, Shagamu-Benin and Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga highways.
Others are the Kano-Shuari, Potiskum-Damaturu, Lokoja-Benin, Enugu-Port Harcourt, Ilorin-Jebba, Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta, and the Lagos-Badagry-Seme Border highways, which have a combined 1,963km stretch.
A document on the objectives of the HDMI presented by Fashola indicates that the initiative would attract sustainable investment and funding in the development of road infrastructure in the country.
The document also stated that the HDMI would maximise the use of assets along the right-of-way and develop other highway furniture.
According to the ministry, the targets are to develop an ecosystem along the federal highway network by bringing multi-dimensional resources of skills, finance, technology and efficiency into national highway governance.
January 29, 2021
Mark condoles Okowa over father’s death
… Mourns State Assembly leader
Former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has sent a message of condolence to the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa over the demise of his father Sir Arthur Okowa.
Senator Mark also commiserated with the government and people of the State over the death of the majority leader of the State House of Assembly, Tim Owhefere.
in a statement signed by Paul Mumeh, Media aid to the former Senate President noted that the deaths coming on the heels of the gas explosion that claimed several lives and properties in Agbor last week must have been devastating to the government and people of the State at this time.
Senator Mark who described the incidents as unfortunate and heart-breaking urged the Governor to be strong for his people to lean on.
He described the late Sir Okowa as a pathfinder who trained his children to be patriotic and responsible citizens contributing to the socio-political and economic development of the nation.
The success story of Governor Okowa and his siblings, Senator Mark said, bears eloquent testimony of an ideal father in late Okowa who lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation.
He told the governor to take solace in the fact that his father left his positive footprints in the sand of time.
On the majority leader of the State House of Assembly, Senator Mark lamented that Owhefere died in his prime when his services were most needed.
Although, Owhefere died in his prime, Senator Mark pointed out that “Owhefere demonstrated patriotism and loyalty to his fatherland. His honest and objective disposition to national issues and his robust debate would be sorely missed.”
He prayed that God in His infinite mercies grant the deceased eternal.
January 29, 2021
Senate summons NPA MD over non-payment of N1.1bn gratuity
The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions has summoned the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala-Usman, over the non-payment of about N1.1bn gratuity of 130 retired workers of the agency.
Also expected to appear before the Senate panel alongside Bala-Usman, are the Chairman, Secretary and other members of the NPA board as well as its management staff.
The Chairman of the Senate panel who issued the directive on Thursday, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, said the committee observed that by that action, the NPA has tampered with the implementation of the 2018 budget of the agency.
He said the agency, by doing so, had “shortchanged innocent Nigerians who retired from the services of NPA after a 35 years meritorious service to the Nation”.
The senate panel acted on a petition brought to it by one Isa Usman Kunini and three retired workers on behalf of 126 other ex-officers of the NPA over the non-payment of a significant portion of their gratuity by the NPA after their retirement in 2018.
In the petition, the retired workers requested that the Senate should look into the matter and urge the NPA management to include the sum of N1,160, 732, 309.43 being the outstanding amount that accrued to the ex-officers in the 2020 budget for immediate payment.
Kunini and three others appeared before the Committee and made a presentation on 17th December, 2020, but NPA management did not show up.
Akinyelure flayed the action of the NPA management and warned that his committee would no longer sit back and allow any government agency alter the implementation of the budget duly passed by the National Assembly.‌
He said some management staff of the agencies hid under the guise of board approval, which ran contrary to the Appropriation Act signed to law by the President of Nigeria.
January 28, 2021
APC distributes membership registration materials to States
Ahead of the membership registration, update and revalidation exercise of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) on Thursday began distribution of registration materials to States.
As at the time of filling this report, four trucks were seen at the National Secretariat in Abuja being loaded with registration materials for onward distribution to states under strict and tight security checks.

By the timetable and schedule released for the registration exercise last Saturday, the distribution of the materials will be carried out from Thursday January 28 all through to Monday 1st of February.
The timetable further showed the registration exercise proper is billed for Tuesday 2nd February to 16th February, 2021 while sorted registered details at ward registration centers will be forwarded to LGAs and the State Secretariat on the 17th February, 2021.
The train-the-trainers workshop for the registration exercise is ongoing at the Barcelona Hotel, Abuja where Chairmen and Secretaries of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and 36 States Registration Committees along with some key officers of the party are in attendance.
The training is being supported by the National Democratic Institute (NDI)
Details shortly…
January 28, 2021