Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, of the federal high court, Ikoyi Lagos, on June 9, struck out the money laundering case filed against Ayo Oke, the immediate past Director-general of the National Intelligence Agency NIA.
This followed a termination notice filed before the judge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, who had earlier Oke to court over the discovery of $43 million, £27,000 and N23 million in a flat at Ikoyi, Lagos.
The anti graft agency told the court National Security informed its decision to stop the prosecution of the dismissed former DG.
Kayode Ajulo, lead counsel of Oke’s defence team concurred with the EFCC’s motion.
Former president Muhammadu Buhari reportedly approved the termination of the case before he left office.
IKOYI $43M
In April 2017, the EFCC informed the nation it had found $43 million, £27,000 and N23 million stashed in a flat on Osborne Road in Ikoyi after a tip-off from a whistle blower.
Investigations later traced ownership of the said cash to the NIA. In its defence, the Intelligence agency said the funds were part of the $289,202,382 collected for “special covert intelligence operations” from the account of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in February 2015.
Public outcry on this compelled the federal government to set up a three-man panel headed by former vice president Yemi Osinbajo to look into the matter. The panel in its report, indicted Oke and recommended his dismissal, which was effected in October same year.
On January 20, 2019, Osinbajo said criminal allegations would be filed against Oke and Babachir Lawal, former secretary to the government of the federation, following a directive from Buhari.
But influential Intelligence community scholars including Emeka Anyaoku and the respected Professor Bolaji Akinyemi expressed concern over the move to dock Oke openly which they feared compromise the nation’s security operations.
The five men on-board the missing Titanic vessel have now been confirmed dead.
OceanGate Explorations confirmed the deaths shortly after the US Coast Guard confirmed that debris was found.
The shocking news came just moments before a press conference led by United States Coast Guard’s Captain Jamie Fredericks took place.
A statement from OceanGate said: “We now believe that our CEO Stockton RUsh, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding and Paul-Henri Nargeolet have sadly been lost.
“These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans.
“Our hearts are with these five souls and every member of their families during this tragic time.
“We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew.”
On Thursday, the People’s Democratic party, PDP and its Presidential Candidate, Abubakar Atiku, presented a digital forensic expert, Mr Hitler Nwala, to testify on his reports which showed alleged “crime” associated with some Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines deployed for the presidential election in the Federal Capital Territory, CT.
Atiku Abubakar
The Forensic Expert is his 26th witness. He tendered seven volumes of forensic reports and an nexus on findings arrived at after allegedly carrying out investigation on the functionality of 110 BVAS and i-rev devices in the federal capital territory through Chris Uche sSAN. This was after adopting his statement on oath which is his evidence in the petition.
According to him, the data he extracted from about 100 BVAS machines deployed in the FCT showed that criminal malpractice took place on the devices and the polling units he analysed, including PUs where the PDP flagbearer Atiku Abubakar won.
BVAS is a technological device that was deployed by INEC for accrediting voters and uploading scanned polling unit results during the 2023 poll.
Under cross-examination by INEC lawyer A.B. Mahmoud, he said the polling unit results contained in the BVAS machine for the FCT was deliberately deleted even though the FCT was not scheduled for governorship election.
But Mahmoud told him that his reports before the PEPC were false because he did not inspect all the BVAS machines deployed in the FCT.
The witness disagreed, saying “when you have a small sample space and you have a deviation, by the time you have a larger sample space, the deviation will be more.”
Mahmoud showed him about 3 BVAS machines to confirm if they were part of those he inspected.
The witness told the court he would not identify the devices shown to him by Mahmoud, explaining that having inspected the BVAS under review several weeks back, he was not in a position to state if they had been tampered with again.
Taking questions from President Bola Tinubu’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun SAN, the witness admitted making typographical errors by giving different figures for some BVAS machines he inspected.
He also agreed with Olanipekun that the BVAS devices he inspected were the primary source of his forensic report.
“All your reports evolve around the 110 BVAS machines you inspected. Am I right?” Olanipekun asked, to which the witness responded in the positive.
The witness was further told that he embarked on his inspection exercise with the mindset that crime was committed at the elections, having tagged it “Crime Type”.
But Nwala replied, “It (the title) is a format of forensic report.”
Olanipekun further told the witness to “Tell my lord whether the crime you detected affected the polling unit where PDP won”.
“Yes,” the witness replied, adding that he is aware that Labour Party won the presidential election in the FCT and that he also included polling unit results won by LP in his report.
Forensic Expert told the court that as of the time of his inspection of the BVAS machines, nothing was intrinsically wrong with the device.
According to him, all the results in the 110 BVAS machines he inspected were deleted but he was able to recover them using a tool called “Celebral Physical Analyser.”
Under cross-examination by APC lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, the witness said he did not bring the tool to court.
He maintained that the polling unit results he mentioned were those on the BVAS machines, not those uploaded to the INEC Results Viewing Portal, IRev.
The witness added that he did not physically inspect the INEC Form EC8A.
After his testimony, he was discharged from the witness box.
PDP’s lawyer, Eyitayo Jegede SAN then tendered Form EC8As for Ogun (20 LGAs), Ondo and Jigawa states as part of the team’s evidence.
The five-man panel of the court led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, admitted them in evidence while adjourning the proceedings to Friday.
The PDP and Labour Party will be closing their cases on Friday.
Freight forwarders operating at Seme Border have written to the Federal Government demanding the opening of the border for vehicle importation.
The Director of Road Transport, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Ibrahim Musa, disclosed this at Seme during a meeting between officials of Nigeria and Benin organised by the Economic Community of West African States.
He explained that freight forwarders appealed to the former Minister of State for Transportation during his last visit to the border, asking for the reactivation of the border.
He said a memo prepared and sent to the Federal Government based on the request was approved by the Federal Executive Council.
The director said FEC had promised to leave the approval on reopening the border to the new government to act on.
He said, “I was here with the former Minister of State for Transportation and the freight forwarders pleaded that the border should be reactivated for free movement of goods and services. The minister made us prepare a memo to that effect. It was considered and sent to the government.”
Also speaking at the event, the Customs Area Controller in charge of Seme Command, Dera Nnadi, said the service had noticed a reduction in its revenue since the importation of vehicles was banned from the land borders.
He said, “The Honourable Minister of Transportation, the immediate past one, responding to some of our requests and from the stakeholders, promised to take them to the Federal Executive Council; one of them is how to fully open this border.”
Nnadi also said illegal checkpoints along the border corridors have been dismantled by customs, while the Border Control unit of the Nigerian Police Force has promised to do the same.
He urged the Federal Government to complete the highway from Lagos to Seme Border, saying the completion would grow trade and investment in the Abidjan-Lagos corridor.
The Seme Customs boss maintained that the corridor is important for the growth of trade, investment, cultural diversity, and peace in West Africa and the whole of Africa.
Comptroller Nnadi who is also a Co-chair of the Joint Border Post said, “Abidjan-Lagos Corridor is an important corridor for trade among West African countries, a melting point where our people share culture and religion. It is a very important place where we maintain relationships and peace with ourselves. It is important to keep the corridor alive.
We appreciate ECOWAS for its contribution to the growth of business in the corridor. While appreciating the Federal Ministry of Transportation for the ongoing rehabilitation of the highway, if the road is complete, it will improve trade.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Thursday in Paris-France joined world leaders on the consensus for redesigning the global financial architecture, which will favour poverty reduction, debt restructuring or cancellation, and more consideration for vulnerable countries affected by climate change and Covid-19.
The President arrived at the venue of the event, Palais Brongniart, at 8.59 am (Local Time), for the opening ceremony of the High Level Summit for New Global Financing Pact and he was received by the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna.
Welcoming the world leaders to Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron, said the Summit would focus on drawing up a new financial order that will scale up finances and support developing countries for energy transition, poverty reduction, while respecting the sovereignty of each nation.
The French President noted that African countries had been at the receiving end of the major global challenges, with debt hangovers that hamper growth and development.
“Covid-19 pandemic brought lots of difficulties and now we are faced with the war in Ukraine that has been draining resources that should be channeled into human development,” he said.
Macron told the leaders from 50 countries, multilateral institutions and the private sector that justice and fairness must be imperative in redesigning the new world financial architecture, with more focus on the most vulnerable.
The French President listed four elements for consideration by the leaders, starting with an acknowledgement that reducing poverty would require collective efforts, with a more diverse and comprehensive framework.
“We must admit that no country can succeed alone in reducing poverty and protecting the planet,” he added.
Macron said the framework should be relevant to each country, and subregional roles included, with clear responsibilities and benefits, while multilateral institutions like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank must be re-engineered to be more people and solutions driven.
The French President noted that the private sector must be carried along in the new pact that seeks to harmonise growth, as they control most of the financial instruments that need to be liquified for more even development, especially on health, education and food security.
On behalf of the African countries, the President of Niger Republic, Mohammed Bazoum, said the new pact must be “urgent” and “essential” to Africa, and the framework should be “just” and “robust” in reflecting the reality of developing countries as partners.
Bazoum said the challenges of impoverishment and desertification had stimulated unrest in most countries, affecting peace and stability in sub-regions and the continent.
“In Africa, we need support for infrastructure, health, food security and education,” he stated.
UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, told the gathering of leaders that the high level summit would need more mobilisation and political will for redesign and implementation.
The UN scribe said many countries were still struggling from effects of Covid-19 and climate change, and the war in Ukraine had heightened sufferings.
Guterres said some African countries had been unable to service their debts, with indications that generations might be affected.
“African countries,” he said, “were not properly captured in the global order.”
He said the new global financial pact must address fragmentations and frustrations, and enable the kind of change that encourages debt relief, suspension of repayments, change of business models and more commitment from development banks, with guarantees.
The UN scribe said leaders must look beyond reforms, and accept the need for transformation.
“We are at a moment of truth and reckoning, and we can make it a moment of hope,” Guterres said.
Climate Activist, Vanessa Nakate, from Uganda, who called for a moment of silence for the helpless and hopeless across the world, said broken promises cost the lives of many in developing nations.
The Presidents and leaders of multilateral institutions and the private sector at the Summit went into syndicate sessions to discuss the new financial architecture.
President Tinubu will on Friday participate at the summit, which will unveil a New Global Financing Pact and mechanism for implementation.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Thursday in Paris – France said ongoing reforms, starting with removal of fuel subsidy and streamlining of exchange rate, will be sustained for a more competitive economy that attracts Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), urging investors to take advantage of opportunities in Nigeria.
“We are ready for business, prepared to welcome investments,’’ he said, while receiving President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim), Prof. Benedict Oramah and President of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Odile Renaud–Basso, in separate meetings, on the sidelines of the Summit for New Global Financing Pact.
The President assured the delegation of AfreximBank Executives led by Dr Oramah that the Federal Government will continue to stimulate the economy with policies that support investments in areas of Nigeria’s competitive advantage, particularly agriculture.
“We need reforms for national survival,’’ he added, noting that it would take boldness and courage to reposition the economy, calling for more collaboration to solidify the economy.
“We must stimulate recovery for the growth and prosperity of our people, which will not be far away. Nigeria is ready for global business and our reform is total.
“Nigeria is blessed with human and material resources,’’ President Tinubu told the delegation, who had earlier listed areas of interventions to buoy the economy, like infrastructure, health, energy and agriculture.
The President of AfreximBank commended President Tinubu for the bold steps in removing the fuel subsidy and unification of the exchange rate, assuring the Nigerian leader of the full support of the financial and development institution on the ongoing reforms.
Dr Oramah said the bank was already building the first African Specialist Hospital in Abuja, and Energy Bank, pledging to inject more money into the economy to further build confidence of investors.
In the meeting with the EBRD, President Tinubu said, “We are challenged in terms of reforms, and we have taken the largest elephant out of the room with removal of fuel subsidy, and multiple exchange rates are equally gone. We are determined to open up the economy for business. Consider us a stakeholder in the Bank.’’
He told the EBRD President that Nigeria’s economy was too large and potent to be ignored, adding, “Ignoring Nigeria will be a peril to the universe.’’
Renaud-Basso said it would be a mistake for the development bank not to invest in Nigeria, after considering six potential economies for investment.
She explained that focus would be on the private sector, especially Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).
The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared a total sum of N786.161 billion May 2023 Federation Account Revenue to the Federal Government, States and Local Government Councils.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting for June 2023; chaired by the Accountant General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein.
The N786.161 billion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N519.545 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N251.607 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) of N14.370 billion, and Exchange Difference revenue of N0.639 billion.
In May 2023, the total deductions for cost of collection was N38.238 billion and total deductions for transfers and refunds was N163.193 billion.
The balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) was $473,754.57
The communiqué stated that from the total distributable revenue of N786.161 billion; the Federal Government received N301.889 billion, the State Governments received N265.875 billion and the Local Government Councils received N195.541 billion. A total sum of N22.855 billion was shared to the relevant States as 13% derivation revenue.
Gross statutory revenue of N701.787 billion was received for the month of May 2023. This was higher than the sum of N497.463 billion received in the previous month by N204.324 billion.
From the N519.545 billion distributable statutory revenue, the Federal Government received N261.686 billion, the State Governments received N132.731 billion and the Local Government Councils received N102.330 billion. The sum of N22.798 billion was shared to the relevant States as 13% derivation revenue.
For the month of May 2023, the gross revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) was N270.197 billion. This was higher than the N217.743 billion available in the month of April 2023 by N52.454 billion.
The Federal Government received N37.741 billion, the State Governments received N125.804 billion and the Local Government Councils received N88.062 billion from the N251.607 billion distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue.
The N14.370 billion Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) was shared as follows: the Federal Government received N2.155 billion, the State Governments received N7.185 billion and the Local Government Councils received N5.030 billion.
From the N0.639 billion Exchange Difference revenue, the Federal Government received N0.307 billion, the State Governments received N0.156 billion, the Local Government Councils received N0.119 billion and the sum of N0.057 billion was shared to the relevant States as 13 percent mineral revenue.
According to the communiqué, in the month of May 2023, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Companies Income Tax (CIT), Oil and Gas Royalties, Value Added Tax (VAT), Import and Excise Duties increased significantly, while Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) decreased marginally.
We have followed with consternation the viral story of the purported 114% increase in the salary of the President, Vice President, elected Federal and State political office holders and judicial officers.
We state without any equivocation that President Bola Tinubu has not approved any salary increase, and no such proposal has been brought before him for consideration.
While we recognise that it is within the constitutional remit of Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to propose and fix salaries and allowances of political office holders and Judicial Officers, such can not come to effect until it has equally been considered and approved by the President.
It is important to note that RMAFC, through its Public Relations Manager, has responded to this fake story being circulated and has already set the record straight.
However, that this unfounded story gained prominence on social media and in a section of mainstream media, again, brings to the fore the danger fake news poses to the society and our national well-being. The misinformation was, obviously, contrived to create ill-will for the new administration, slow down the upward momentum and massive goodwill the Tinubu-led administration is currently enjoying among Nigerians as a result of its fast paced, dynamic and progressive policies.
It is important to reiterate to journalists, media managers, and members of the public that stories on government activities and policy issues that do not emanate from approved official communication channels should be ignored.
Media practitioners are enjoined to, at all times, cross-check their stories to ensure accurate reportage, which is the hallmark of responsible journalism.
RMAFC
Dele Alake
Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communications & Strategy
I’m pretty sure everyone is agitated to confirm their suspicion of the legendary Afrobeat King Fela Anikulapo Kuti as being the father of fast growing Afro pop icon Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy.
Who is Damini Ogulu “burna Boy’s” father?
The truth is Fela was indeed Burna boy’s father, from a musical orientation, but not his biological father. Damini was born into a bombastic music loving home. His father Samuel Ogulu was a Jazz lover and an occasional singer too (aside managing a welding company). His mother Bose Ogulu (née Idonije) was once a dancer for Fela and the daughter of a famous icon of Nigerian journalism Benson Idonije.
Burna boy’s grandfather was a broadcaster and music critic known for being the first band manager of Fela Kuti. Little wonder his daughter Bose Ogulu became a Kalakuta dancer and radio translator. He (Burna’s grandfather) is regarded as one of Nigeria’s most revered music critics, and was part of the pioneering group of broadcasters who started Radio Nigeria 2 (now Metro FM) in 1977.
In 2012, the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism awarded Benson Idonije the Life Time Award for Journalism Excellence.
On June 19 2016, media experts, business personalities and friends gathered to honour singer Burna Boy’s grandfather Benson Idonije – who was Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s first manager – as he turned 80. A clip of the event where Pa Idonije was seen praying for Burna immediately went viral and caused social media users to wrongfully state that “parents and grandparents are willing to pray for any successful child regardless of what they do for a leaving.”
To better understand the importance of Damini’s grandfather, his 80th birthday celebration was a week-long event featuring paper presentations and musical performances organized by the Committee of Relevant Arts and Culture Advocates Caucus in several parts of Lagos including the Ojo campus of the Lagos State University, Freedom Park, Broad Street and the MUSON Centre.
Benson Idonije has also published books.
Damini Ogulu is the only son and second child of Samuel and Bose Ogulu. And also the grandson of legendary journalist and Fela Band manager Benson Idonije. It is no surprise that Pa Idonije is also Burna boy’s music director.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State on Thursday, identified health system gaps and challenges, dearth of qualified personnel, low quality of care, inadequate utilization of available health facilities, and lack of access to essential medicines as factors fueling the high maternal and child mortality rates in the country.
Oborevwori who disclosed this while flagging-off of the first round of the 2023 Maternal and Newborn Health week in Asaba, said that providing accessible and affordable healthcare for mothers, newborns, and children is a critical component of any effective – and sustainable – primary healthcare policy.
Oborevwori noted that successive administrations in the state have provided free healthcare for pregnant women and children under five years in recognition of the importance that is attached to their survival and wellbeing.
He said his administration will not only continue the free healthcare for pregnant women and children under – five, but it will also improve Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) services in the state.
According to him, available data showed that maternal and newborn mortality rates in Nigeria are among the highest globally.
“In fact, in 2015, Nigeria overtook India as the country with the highest maternal and child mortality rates in the world.
“Yet Nigeria’s population is less than one-fifth that of India! That tells you the magnitude of the problem on our hands.
“Generally, the high maternal and child mortality rates in the country are traceable to health system gaps and challenges, dearth of qualified personnel, low quality of care, inadequate utilization of available health facilities, and lack of access to essential medicines.
“Others include poor nutrition, complex pregnancy-related illnesses, and high cost of out-of pocket expenses at the point of service,” he said.
The Governor further said that “to meet the global targets in maternal, newborn, and child health services requires the participation of all, not just the government.
“The Delta State Government will continue to do its best to improve health infrastructure across the state and expand the health insurance scheme to capture more people in the informal sector.
“Furthermore, we shall continue to implement policies and programmes that will create wealth for our people so that they can invest in quality nutrition.”
He called for the involvement and cooperation of womenfolk to embrace and practice healthy social habits that improve women’s health, such as breastfeeding, regular physical exercises, and abstinence from illicit drugs.
“It is my earnest expectation that Deltans would take advantage of this week-long programme to receive basic
primary healthcare services at various locations close to their homes and offices.
“Mothers and care givers should endeavour to bring out their newborns and under-5 children to the Primary Health Centres and other outreach facilities to avail themselves of the health services.
“We need to embrace these promotional and preventive health services to avoid unnecessary medical complications, health emergencies, and avoidable deaths.
He called for the support of Local Government Council Chairmen, royal fathers, religious and opinion leaders in the engagement and mobilization of their subjects and followers to participate in this exercise.
He commended various partners in the health sector who have
always collaborated with the State Government in its march to achieve the Universal Health Coverage mandate of the United Nations.
Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr Philomena Okeowo said the goal of the Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week was to improve the health status of women and children by increasing the coverage of key interventions.
She noted that the state had made considerable progress over the years with Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) dropping from significantly below 200/100,000 live births and Child Mortality Ratio (CMR) reduced to 53/1000 live births.
In her goodwill message, Delta State World Bank Coordinator, Dr Faith Ireye, lauded the State Government for its commitment to mother and child survival as shown in the implementation of Primary Health Care services in the state.
She said Delta State witnessed a reduction in the outbreak of maternal and childhood killer diseases.
“Worthy of note is the significant reduction in the incidences of measles; there was 82 percent reduction in laboratory confirmed measles cases in the state in 2023 when compared with same period in 2022,” Ireye stated.
