How MDAs Short-changed Nigeria by Remitting Dollar Revenue in Naira

 Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade

•  States: CBN bailout insufficient to offset backlog of salaries

Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

The National Economic Council (NEC) was on Thursday told how some federal government agencies short-changed the country by remitting dollar revenue into the Federation Account in naira.

The Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade, who briefed State House correspondents alongside three of his colleagues – Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto and Darius Ishaku of Taraba – said the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, gave the council a brief report on the agencies that were involved in the practice.

Ayade specifically mentioned the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) as some of the culprits. He however said that the scam was not limited to the agencies mentioned above.

Ayade said: “We received a brief report on the FGN agencies remitting dollar revenues in naira into the Federation Account, which was given by the CBN governor.

“He (Emefiele) said investigations were ongoing. Such agencies include but are not limited to NNPC, NIMASA and NPA.”

Also yesterday, state governors warned that in the face of continuing shortfalls in accruals to the federation, the bailout funds from the CBN was still not enough for the states to take care of the backlog of salary arrears owed workers in their states.

The states however assured the public that all funds received so far from the CBN for the purpose of offsetting the backlog of salaries would be used for that purpose only.

Concerns were raised that some states planned to divert the bailout funds amounting to N338 billion for 27 states to other projects.

But the governors maintained that they had no plan to divert the funds.
While answering questions after the briefing, Mimiko disclosed that the bailout funds would not be enough to take care of outstanding salaries, which includes pensions and gratuities, in the face of continuing revenue shortfalls accruing to the Federation Account.

He said: “The bailout is a short term measure to cater for the salary arrears. But the truth is that the accruals are low, so the final solution to the shortfall for the payment of salaries still has to be addressed.”

The states also said that the federal government had assured them that it would assist them in tackling the crisis created by floods in affected states.

On the status of the Excess Crude Account (ACA), Ayade said: “The permanent secretary (Ministry of Finance) briefed the council on the excess crude account which stands at $2.2 billion as at October 15th.

“Also on the provision of concessionary loans to states based on collaterisation of the excess crude account, the CBN governor briefed that 27 states had made a request for the N10 billion facility and that is currently being processed.

“He (Emefiele) has called on the affected states to complete all necessary documentation for the said loan to the 27 states.”

On the demand for a refund of funds spent by the state governments on federal government projects in their states, he said Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo also assured them that those who had followed the right procedure and due process in incurring the expenses, a review was being undertaken by the federal government to address the issue.

“Also there was an update on all states that are affected by flooding and the vice-president briefed us and confirmed that the federal government was processing all such affected states with a view to assisting states impacted by floods,” he said.

Fielding questions from the correspondents on why some states still owed their workers salaries despite the bailout funds disbursed by the CBN, Ayade and Mimiko said that their own states no longer owed salaries.

They also denounced allegations that the bailout funds were being diverted into other purposes.

According to them, there was a verification process carried out by the state governments, which was responsible for the delays in some states.

“Cross River is not owing and we are not diverting the funds. But also do not forget that when the money comes, there is a verification process to be done. The ICPC is sending a team to intervene and guidelines and modalities were prescribed in the way and manner this money will be disbursed.

“So some states are just beginning to receive the money and they need to get through this procedure before the CBN can release the funds. I want to assure you that for any state that has received the bailout, the money is specifically for salaries and it is not gong to be used to service any other business or for any infrastructure project.

“The money is specifically for the payment of salaries and all the states will comply as far as we receive it, because it is a computation of what has come up.
“When states were doing the compilation of their salary indebtedness, they included things like gratuities and all other things which were removed by CBN when they were paying.

“So all of that had to be streamlined at the state level before they could effect payments and that explains some of the delays. Definitely there will be no movement of the funds outside the mandate of payment of salaries,” Ayade explained.

Also, the governors spoke on the outbreak of floods, the funds set aside for such emergencies and measure being put in place to salvage flooded areas in the country.

On the measures being taken to mitigate the flooding is some states, Mimiko said: “The details were not discussed as per what individual states should be doing but there is no question about the fact that individual states are customising their responses depending on the level and impact of the flooding that has been experienced.

“What the council discussed was the mechanism whereby the federal government will come up with a holistic approach. We have not discussed the details, the details may be discussed at the next meeting but it does not mean that the states are not intervening to mitigate the disaster.”

In his briefing, Ishaku added: “Let me add that before the flooding took place, the federal government had issued warning alerts. So most of the people in the flood prone areas had been evacuated but you know that there are some communities that found it very difficult to relocate and now they are facing the realities on the ground.

“But a lot of effort has been made by most states and the VP has also asked that those states that have not briefed the federal government, should compile their reports. However, most states have done so.”

Culled from Thisday

Robbers overrun FESTAC Town

•40 robbers invade banks in broad day light
•Heavy shooting, stray bullets kill mum, baby girl
By Chris Oji, Mosunmola Omokunga and Chioma Igbokwe


The peace of Festac Town in Mile 2 area of Lagos was shattered on Tuesday when 40 armed robbers stormed three banks located on 4th Avenue and carted away currencies in naira and dollars.
The hoodlums, however, left behind wailing, anguish and pain in the household of Mr. Peter Ndirika after a stray bullet shot by the robbers killed his wife, Jane Ebele and   her one and a half year old baby, Masoma Ndisika.
The robbers, who operated for over two hours without restraint, and numbering about 40, reportedly accessed the banks through the canal in a speedboat and announced their presence by shooting sporadically into the air.
At the end of the operation, little Masoma laid dead having been hit in the neck by a stray bullet which had earlier hit her mother, Jane. The bullet, according to her neighbours penetrated her chest before hitting her daughter.
While Masoma died in their flat on Block 8, Flat 13 on 4th Avenue, her mother, Ebele died in the  hospital she was  rushed to for treatment.
Eye witnesses told Daily Sun that the robbers gained entry into the banks by blowing up the entrance with dynamite and the sound of the explosion sent panic across the vicinity.
Thereafter, it was two hours of chaos, fear, panic and pains. After robbing and looting the vaults of the two banks, they  stormed another bank in the area.
It was also gathered that while the robbery lasted, the robbers who were armed with GMP riffles fired their guns sparodically to scare away policemen.
The robbers eventually succeeded in carting away about N28 million. But according to witnesses, the robbers went away with cash in foreign and local currencies in Ghana-must-go bags.  Some eyewitnesses said while the robbers fled the scene, some bundles of dollar notes and naira fell from the Ghana-must-go bags. “Can you imagine, they took the dollar notes and left naira notes!”
Daily Sun also gathered that, that same morning, local bureau de change dealers on 22 Road in FESTAC Town were robbed before the attacks on the banks
As the robbers shot  bullets into in the air, there was response from other quarters  (speculated to have come from men of  the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) which temporarily destabilised the robbers. The eyewitnesses said that the response infuriated the robbers who shot sporadically into the air and in different directions as a form of defence.
They eventually escaped with a speedboat through the canal.
However, at the Ndirika’s residence in Flat 13, it was anguish and pain all through.
Ndirika reportedly worked at Alimosho Local Government area as a nurse and was on afternoon duty preparatory to going to work when the unfortunate incident happened.
Mrs Uju Darlington, a family friend, who was also in the same house when the incident happened, narrated the story to Daily Sun. She said they were all at home when the shootings started and so, they all “ran for cover and immediately, shut the door and laid down on the floor as a safety measure.
“But, while they were lying on the floor, the woman heard the voice of her baby who was in the room. She dashed into the room to comfort her.
“As was cuddling her baby, in less than a minute, the woman just screamed and threw the baby on the bed. As she screamed, there was a flash of fire in the house.
“Everyone in the house ran to her rescue and the woman started shouting ‘please help me fast…, please help me fast, oh God I’m dying o, I’m dying’. The woman was in pains and in the pool of her own blood.
“By the time paramedics arrived to administer First Aid, they discovered a deep cut on her shoulders and her chest, which suggested that the bullet ripped her chest to get to her shoulders.
“Amidst the pandemonium, and since the shootings was ongoing, there was no way that they could rush the woman to the hospital. First aid was performed on her by dressing the wound and covering it. We waited while the shootings continued for another one hour. At that point, the baby was no longer crying but in the pool of her own blood…
“When they finally arrived at the hospital, Masoma was confirmed dead on the spot and her corpse was brought back home. But her mother was admitted in the hospital where she later died.”
The bereaved, Mr. Peter Ndirika, has been inconsolable since yesterday morning. It was gathered that he had left for work when the incident happened. However,  neighbours broke the news to him.
Not less than 10 minutes after the robbers left, heavily armed policemen, came to the scene in about 20 police vehicles and an ASP amour tank. Even the Area Commander of FESTAC Town, Mr. Frank Mba, was also on ground.
In a jiffy, a huge crowd had besieged the area to have a glimpse of what happened.
Although Mba led his men to the scene, a huge crowd had besieged the area and was almost unruly, when news filtered in  about the death of Masoma and her mother. Police reportedly called for reinforcement with naval officers and soldiers who restored calm.
He told Daily Sun that, “at about 8.25, the Command received information of sporadic shooting along 4th Avenue. A joint team of policemen from Area E and FESTAC Division promptly responded to the incident.
“On arrival, the policemen engaged the robbers numbering over 40 all in military camouflage and armed to the teeth in fierce gun battle. Not withstanding the numerical disadvantage of the police strength at the beginning of the operation, the hot exchange of fire, forced the robbers who were simultaneously robbing two banks to abandon the operation.
“The police action equally forced the robbers to abandon N27 715.921.74k, which was later recovered by the police and transferred under armed escort safe keeping into another bank. Police actions also forced the armed robbers to abandon 240 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
“The robbers later retreated to the water front from where they fled in speed boats
The scene of crime has been condoned off while investigating has since commenced.”
A Police source told Crime watch Today, however, “we were deceived  by the robbers. They came with two vehicles believed to have been be snatched. “We didn’t confront them in order to avoid casualties. We called for reinforcement, barricaded the roads, not knowing that the hoodlums had already parked two speed boats in the canal near 6th Avenue.
“As we were chased them, they drove towards 6th Avenue and escaped in two boats. It was a well organised robbery.It was a big lesson to us.
“I must confess, the robbers were armed with GMP riffles and dynamites. The two persons the robbers shot dead were not killed at the scene.They were hit by stray bullets but, there has not been any official report about the deaths…”

Culled from Sun

Police Arrest 10 as Adenuga’s In-law is Killed in Land Tussle

 Tajudeen Disu
 

• Ambode orders police to fish out perpetrators

Gboyega Akinsanmi and Chiemelie Ezeobi in Lagos

The Managing Director of Lekki Worldwide Investment Company, Mr. Tajudeen Disu, who was in charge of the Lekki Free Trade Zone, was monday morning killed in Lagos during a community uprising.

Disu was the father of Jameel Disu who is married to Bella, the second daughter of business mogul and Chairman of Globacom, Mr. Mike Adenuga.

The Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Dangote Refinery, who was identified as Colonel Usman (rtd), was also severely injured in the fracas.

THISDAY gathered that the fracas began in the morning when members of the Okunraye community in the Lekki area of the state sighted some members of staff of the said refinery at the site.

According to an eyewitness, the members of the community stormed the site and asked them to vacate the vicinity, alleging that the said land was snatched from them.

During the confrontation, the deceased tried to calm frayed nerves when some hoodlums allegedly hijacked the otherwise peaceful protest and unleashed mayhem in the process.

According to another report, the deceased had called in the police to restore peace, but the policemen allegedly shot at the crowd and killed two people.

After regrouping, the community again angrily stormed the area and it was in the process that some persons killed Disu and severely injured the refinery’s CSO.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Joseph Offor, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the command had initially arrested 20 suspects in connection with the murder.

He said: “Immediately the incident happened, the police were able to restore peace and they also arrested 20 persons in connection with the incident including the Baale (chief) of the community.”

THISDAY however gathered that although 20 suspects were initially arrested, 10 of them were later released after they had been profiled and found innocent of the said allegations.

However, Offor said the police still have the Baale and the chairman of the O'odua Peoples Congress (OPC) and other high profile community members in their custody.

Also, the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said the police have swung into action and investigations have commenced into ascertaining what really happened.

He said: “We have so far arrested 10 suspects and the arrests we have made are of those who were directly responsible. We are in the state of the operation.

“We would do a diligent investigation and we would ensure that those people behind the fracas and death – not just the people we see on the road are perpetrators – and there may be sponsors, are brought to book.

“We will go after these sponsors and I can assure you that we will ensure the investigation is carried out as speedily as possible and we will make sure they are diligently prosecuted.”

Reacting to the incident, the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, monday ordered the police to fish out the perpetrators behind the murder of Disu.

While expressing shock and sadness over his death, Ambode said the late Disu was shot by assailants during an official visit to one of the villages within the zone in the early hours of yesterday.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, the governor said: “We are deeply touched over the loss of our dedicated officer at the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Alhaji Tajudeen Disu, who was until his death the arrow head of the free trade zone Initiative.

“It really saddens my heart and the heart of all of us because this was somebody that had been dedicated to his duty in the past 10 years. He was a man who was committed to promoting the inflow of investment to Lagos State.

“This is a great concern and I have directed the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to investigate the cause of the death. The Commissioner of Police must do a thorough investigation to unravel the root cause of what has just happened because he was on a peaceful mission to that place.”

He urged residents of the area to remain calm, as his administration would continue to ensure that the security of lives and property is accorded necessary priority and that the zone is safe for investors.

He said: “I want to appeal to all our people in Ibeju Lekki axis that they should give peace a chance; it is in the interest of all Lagosians that we attract as many investors to the state.

“That is what we have been doing and have improved upon in the last four months. I implore everybody to be calm. We would get to the root of this unfortunate incident.

“I will like everybody to also know that we are trying our best but we can only appeal to our people to allow peace to reign in the free trade zone.

“That is the only way we can allow more people to be involved in this trade zone. Let me tell our people that we are on the right track for the kind of job creation we want to bring to Lagos State.”

Culled from Thisday

How Alamieyeseigha Died Few Hours Before Planned Oversea Treatment- By Osa Okhomina

Fresh facts emerged yesterday on how the first elected governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alameiseigha died at the Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) few hours before he could be flown abroad for further treatment by the Bayelsa State government.
Also confirmed was the fact that Late Alameiseigha was never in a coma for two days as claimed by some media reports.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the Bayelsa State government had activated a plan to fly him overseas for further treatment before he died on Saturday.
The arrangement, according to a top Bayelsa State government official, was at the instance of the state deputy governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (rtd) after his visit to Alamiyeseigha on his sick bed at the hospital in Port Harcourt.
It was gathered that the state deputy governor, who was at Omoku in Rivers State for a programme at Agip on hearing about the former governor’s poor health called him on phone on Friday and spoke with him at about 8.15pm, before his demise on Saturday contrary to claims that he (Alamieyeseigha) was in coma for two days before he passed on.
“This is a sad loss for Bayelsa and Ijaw nation. Contrary to claim that Alamieyeseigha was in coma for two days before he passed on, the state deputy governor who was at Omoku for a programme at Agip on hearing about Alamieyeseigha’s poor health called and spoke with him on phone at about 8.15pm.
He even directed the state commissioner of Health, Dr. Ayibatonye Owei to stay back and monitor him. The deputy governor later visited him at the hospital on Saturday morning before leaving for Yenagoa with an instruction that an air ambulance be put on notice for him (Aalamieyeseigha) to be flown abroad for further treatment.
“Shortly after the deputy governor arrived Yenagoa, he received the sad news that Alamieyeseigha had passed on,” the source said.
The state commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dan Kikile, confirmed to LEADERSHIP yesterday said the deputy governor, actually spoke with the former governor on phone on Friday but declined further comments.
He confirmed that Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha died of complications arising from high blood pressure and diabetes which affected his kidney. “He had chronic kidney disease which was aggravated by the sudden rise in his blood pressure and the long diabetes,” he said.

Culled from Leadership

Hajj Stampede: NAHCON Confirms 99 Nigerians Dead, 214 Missing-Sunday Okobi

Hajj Stampede



National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Thursday confirmed the death of 99 Nigerian pilgrims, 42 injured and 214 others missing in the recent stampede at Mina, Saudi Arabia.

The total number of Nigerians pilgrims affected in the stampede were 355, the commission further revealed.

According to the Commissioner Planning, Research Statistic Information and Library Service (PRSILS) of the commission, Dr. Saleh Okenwa told reporters in Makkah on Thursday that the total number of Nigerians affected in the incident was 355.

He however insisted that those missing cannot be declared dead, since identification of those affected were still being collated by the Saudi Arabia health authorities in conjunction with Nigerian and other health officials.

He further gave the breakdown of the victims as 73 deaths from the state pilgrim welfare board, agencies and commissions, while the remaining 26 were from the tour operators.

“Those injured were 42, 41 from the state pilgrims and one from tour operators. The numbers of missing from the states were 96 males, 94 females and four males who were officials, totaling 194, while 10 males and 10 females were missing from the tour operators. Of those injured only seven remain in the hospitals on admission and receiving treatments and others were discharged,” Okenwa said.

When asked on the fate of the missing if there were hope that they can be found alive, the commissioner said: “In the early days people expressed hope but the hope is weaning. We cannot declared those missing as dead since there is no evidence to state that they have been confirmed dead."

Culled from Thisday

Money Laundering: EFCC Quizzes Diezani’s Ally, Omokore Abdullahi UmarMoney Laundering: EFCC Quizzes Diezani’s Ally, Omokore- Abdullahi Umar

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday quizzed Jide Omokore, owner of Atlantic Energy, who is said to be a business associate of former petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reports.
But Omokore was said to have been granted administrative bail after answering certain qestions from the EFCC operatives.
Omokore is being investigated by the EFCC on allegations of money laundering and conspiracy to siphon billions of naira in fraudulent oil industry contracts while Alison-Madueke was minister.
Atlantic Energy recently debunked the corruption allegation levelled against it that it facilitated bogus oil swap deals that cost the country billions of naira.
Our sources at the anti-graft agency noted that the commission conducted simultaneous searches on Omokore’s houses in Lagos and the house of the former minister in Abuja, as she was being questioned in the UK.
The sources also confirmed that officials from the United Kingdom National Crime Agency are presently in Nigeria, actively collaborating with EFCC operatives on the ongoing probe of the oil sector.

Culled from Leadership

Saudi Tragedy: Iran, Egypt, Nigeria Top List of Foreign Casualties

 Scene of the stampede at the hajj in Mina, Saudi Arabia

Saudi authorities have yet to provide a breakdown of the nationalities of the 769 Muslim pilgrims they say were killed in the hajj stampede, but a number of countries have announced the deaths of their citizens.

The death toll given below by foreign officials and media is now 990, well in excess of the Saudi figure, reported AFP.

The tallies also show another 615 people as unaccounted for: Iran - 464 dead; Egypt - 124 dead, 72 missing; Nigeria: 64 dead, 244 missing; Mali: 60 dead; Indonesia: 59 dead, 74 missing; India: 51 dead, 63 missing; Pakistan: 46 dead, more than 40 missing; Niger: 22 dead; Cameroun: 20 dead; Ivory Coast: 14 dead, 77 missing; Chad: 11 dead; Algeria: 11 dead; Senegal: 10 dead; Morocco: 10 dead, 29 missing; Somalia: 8 dead (media reports); Libya: 4 dead, 16 missing; Tanzania: 4 dead; Kenya: 3 dead; Tunisia: 2 dead; Burkina Faso: 1 dead; Burundi: 1 dead; Netherlands: 1 dead; Benin: unspecified number of deaths.

Culled from Thisday