The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ibrahim Lamuwa, has been suspended by the Office of the Head of Service due to allegations of sexual harassment.

Naija News reports that the Head of Service, Folashade Yemi-Esan, has constituted a committee to investigate the matter and the permanent secretary will remain on suspension until the outcome of the probe.

“The permanent secretary has been suspended pending the outcome of the probe by the committee set up, “ a senior director in the OHCSF told The PUNCH.

The allegations against Lamuwa were brought to the attention of the Head of Service by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, through a petition submitted on behalf of a staff member, Simisola Ajayi.

Ajayi has accused Lamuwa of serial sexual harassment, creating an unsafe and uncomfortable working environment.

The petition, signed by Adebayo A. Oniyelu of Falana & Falana’s, detailed multiple instances of harassment, including inappropriate advances and remarks made by Lamuwa during a policy retreat on October 7, 2023, and an incident on November 10, 2023, where Lamuwa allegedly invited Ajayi to travel to Hong Kong with promises of personal benefits.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a letter addressed to the Head of Service on May 27, 2024, expressed concern over the gravity of the allegations and requested that the matter be handled accordingly.

“I am compelled to write to inform you of a formal complaint against the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ibrahim Adamu Lamuwa, on allegations of sexual harassment.

“Bearing in mind the gravity of the matter, I feel it necessary to draw your attention to it and ask that you handle it accordingly,” the minister stated in the letter.

An official familiar with the case has confirmed that a probe panel has been set up and pieces of evidence and witnesses will be gathered to investigate the matter thoroughly.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter, said, “Yes, the Head of Service has set up a committee to probe the whole matter. There are pieces of evidence, which will be tabled and witnesses who will also be invited to speak on the matter, so it is not a matter that will be swept under the carpet.

“The minister (Tuggar) is also very much interested in the outcome. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a special ministry that operates even outside the shores of the country, so you can’t expect that an issue of such gravity will be swept under the carpet.”

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has described the recent re-introduction of the old national anthem by the federal government as a waste of time and resources.

Governor Makinde lamented that there are more pressing issues that would impact the lives of Nigerians better than superficial issues such as a new national anthem.

Speaking yesterday, the Oyo State Governor said Nigerians are hungry, the economy is in shambles and the government needs to focus on solving such challenges rather than chasing frivolities.

He maintained that the return of the old national anthem shouldn’t be our priority when so many Nigerians are suffering.

The governor said: “Our country is in a state of crisis, and we must act now.

“Our people are hungry, our infrastructure is crumbling, and our economy is in shambles.”

“We should be focused on finding solutions to these problems, not wasting time and money on superficial changes like a new anthem.”

“We are at a point in Oyo State and our nation where we must prioritise economic development in Oyo and our nation. As a country, we have to prioritise production, we have to be productive. There cannot production without mobilisation.”

“Our strongest resource is our people. The training and education of our people is the best empowerment we can give them.”

“We have to keep on educating our people. Let them use their God-given talents to support what we are doing in Oyo State.”

Makinde called on the federal government to urgently take decisive actions that would tackle the myriad of challenges Nigerians are facing, stating that “We cannot afford to waste any more time.”

“Our people deserve better.

“They deserve a government that is focused on their needs, not on distractions and empty gestures.

“Let us put our resources and our energy where they are most needed, and let us work together to build a better, brighter future for all Nigerians,” he stressed.

The Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused some ministers and colleagues of the embattled ex-governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, of shielding him from prosecution.

Naija News recalls that Bello has been in a legal battle with the EFCC over alleged N80.2bn fraud.

Following a failed attempt to arrest him and his repeated absence from court for his arraignment, the EFCC declared Bello wanted, while the Nigerian Immigration also placed the governor on a watchlist.

The EFCC acting Zonal Director, Benin Zonal Command, Effa Okim, during a familiarisation visit on Wednesday to the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Asaba, Delta State capital, said Bello had ridiculed the Nigerian justice system by failing to present himself for trial in court.

When asked why the EFCC had yet to arrest the governor months after he was declared wanted, Okim claimed that the ex-governor was being shielded by some ‘political masters’ and associates.’

Okim noted that the case had a moral aspect beyond legality.

He said, “This is the last question I expected because the shame is on all of us. Is that a question I should answer alone? It’s not me, it is the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“That politically-exposed Yahaya Bello, whose crime has been traced to him by the allegation and has been invited by EFCC to come and explain, and for months he is acting drama and we are all here wanting to ask questions! The shame is our own shame!

“Can’t we catch him? We can, but do we go all out to catch him? Do we need to do that when he has his masters? Can’t they call him and tell him, ‘You are disgracing Nigeria’ What are you telling the world? Tell him to go and explain himself like others have done.

“Where are the ministers? Where are Yahaya Bello’s colleagues, even in his hiding? So, Nigerians can’t tell him ‘This is not fair, go and report; they are not going to kill you’? But people are still eating and dining with him.

“Where has morality gone before legality that we can’t summon that man and tell him to go and report himself to the EFCC? Some persons are writing, supporting him, while some are criticizing the commission.

“The problem is our own problem that borders on Nigeria’s image. Our children are watching their parents behave like children.

“To me, the truth has vanished. Even in Animal Farm, this will not happen, that a man who was part of the system that was a custodian of our culture, rules and laws can behave like this and you are asking questions.

“The media should come out for the first time to harmonise, criticise that action and forget about prosecution but tell him to make himself available; thereafter we know what to do.”

Super Eagles skilled winger, Ademola Lookman, has been named as Atalanta’s Player of the Month for both May and June.

Naija News reports that Lookman surpassed Gianluca Scamacca and Ederson in the voting process to clinch this prestigious award.

During these two months, the 26-year-old talented winger managed to score six goals and provide three assists, showcasing his exceptional abilities on the field.

Concluding the season with a total of 17 goals and eight assists in various competitions, Lookman truly proved to be a valuable asset for Atalanta.

Naija News reports that Lookman has been a revelation for Atalanta since joining them in 2022.

His contributions have been significant, both statistically and in terms of the team’s overall success:

Lookman has been a prolific scorer. In his two seasons at Atalanta, he’s amassed a total of 30 goals, finishing as Atalanta’s fifth-highest scorer in Serie A during his first season.

Lookman’s biggest moment came in the 2023/24 Europa League final. He single-handedly secured Atalanta’s first European trophy with a stunning hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen, held at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, becoming the first player to achieve this feat in a one-legged European final since 1969.

The Nigerian player brings more than just goals for Atalanta. His pace, dribbling skills, and ability to create chances for teammates make him a constant threat on the wing.

Nigeria’s crude oil output hit a new low in the month of May, dropping to 1.25 million barrels per day, as reported by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Naija News reports that OPEC’s monthly report on the global oil market for June indicated that Nigeria’s daily average production was 1.25 million barrels per day in May, marking a 2.34% decrease from the 1.28 million barrels per day seen in April.

The OPEC noted that the data on production was gathered through direct conversations with Nigerian officials.

The organization receives information on crude oil production from two main sources: direct communication with member countries and secondary sources like energy intelligence platforms.

Further examination of the report revealed that production levels were at 1.3 million barrels per day by the end of the fourth quarter of 2023 and the beginning of this year.

Despite the drop in production, OPEC acknowledged that the fight against crude oil theft and pipeline damage by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had shown some improvement.

The decline in production was observed despite the reported efforts to curb these issues.

However, OPEC highlighted that Nigeria still maintained its status as Africa’s top oil producer, followed by Libya, which produced 901,000 barrels per day in the month under review.

OPEC also mentioned that Algeria was the third-largest oil producer, with production reaching 264,000 barrels per day in May.

On the other hand, the OPEC report pointed out that data from secondary sources suggested Nigeria’s crude oil production had increased by five percent to 1.41 million barrels per day from the previous month’s 1.35 million barrels per day.

These figures were lower than Nigeria’s quota set by the OPEC for the year 2024, which was 1.5 million barrels per day.

The OPEC report stated: “According to secondary sources, total OPEC-12 crude oil production averaged 26.63 million barrels per day in May 2024, 29 million barrels per day higher than the previous month.

“Crude oil output increased mainly in Nigeria, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, while production in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Libya and Congo decreased.

“At the same time, total non-OPEC DoC crude oil production averaged 14.29 mb/d in May 2024, 152 tb/d lower, m-o-m

“Crude oil output increased mainly in Mexico, while production in Russia and Kazakhstan decreased.”

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has reacted to the Democracy Day Speech by the President, Bola Tinubu, where he gave assurance of a new minimum wage for the workforce, saying he failed to give them the much expected gift on June 12.

Ag. President of NLC, Comrade Prince Adewale Adeyanju who reacted on behalf of the union said the President may have accurately recounted parts of our democratic journey’s history, but that it is evident that he has been misinformed regarding the outcome of the wage negotiation process.

He said they expected the President to harmonize the two figures submitted to him by the Tripartite Committee in favour of workers and masses, stating that it would have been a fitting Democracy Day gift.

Quoting Mr. President; “As we continue to reform the economy, I shall always listen to the people and will never turn my back on you.

In this spirit, we have negotiated in good faith and with open arms with organized labour on a new national minimum wage. We shall soon send an executive bill to the National Assembly to enshrine what has been agreed upon as part of our law for the next five years or less.

In the face of labour’s call for a national strike, we did not seek to oppress or crack down on the workers as a dictatorial government would have done. We chose the path of cooperation over conflict.

No one was arrested or threatened. Instead, the labour leadership was invited to break bread and negotiate toward a good-faith resolution”

Adeyanju said the organised Labour appreciate the President’s commitment to those fine democratic ideals which allowed the work of the Tripartite National Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee to proceed unhindered despite some hiccups.

He said Labour had expected Mr. President to have used this understanding as one of those who was in the vanguard of the struggle with us around the nation to rescue Nigeria from the hands of the military to harmonize the two figures submitted to him by the Tripartite Committee in favour of workers and masses. It would have been a fitting Democracy Day gift.

According to the Acting NLC President, the NLC would have expected that the advisers of the President would have told him that we neither reached any agreement with the federal government and the employers on the base figure for a National Minimum Wage nor on its other components. Our demand still remains N250,000 (two hundred and fifty thousand Naira) only and we have not been given any compelling reasons to change this position which we consider a great concession by Nigerian workers during the tripartite negotiation process.

“We are therefore surprised at the submission of Mr. President over a supposed agreement. We believe that he may have been misled into believing that there was an agreement with the NLC and TUC.

“There was none and it is important that we let the President, Nigerians and other national stakeholders understand this immediately to avoid a mix up in the ongoing conversation around the national minimum wage. We have also not seen a copy of the document submitted to him and will not accept any doctored document.

“However, we want to reaffirm our belief that the President on whose table the Tripartite Committee’s report presently resides would prepare an Executive Bill which content will reflect the true demand of Nigerian workers. We think that this is an opportunity for him to demonstrate his love for Nigerian workers and masses by shunning the pieces of advise that may be coming from those whose intentions are continuously focused on hurting the poor and struggling workers of Nigeria. Mr. President should not allow these individuals and groups to sabotage his promise of lifting Nigerian workers out of poverty.

“President’s advisers obviously did not tell him the truth that the leaders of the trade unions were intimidated and harassed. It is therefore important that Mr. President understands that we were threatened severally by his operatives perhaps without his consent.

“Series of media Propaganda calculated to intimidate and harass us were, and, are still being waged against the trade unions by senior officials of this government. Fully armed soldiers surrounded us while we were in a negotiation with the Government and despite denials, recent statements by senior officials of the Government reaffirmed our fears contrary to the assurances by the Government. However, we remain assured that the President’s democratic credentials will come to the fore in favour of Nigerian workers and masses.

“It is also important that Mr. President should know that most of his officers are working round the clock to set up the leadership of congress and the trade unions. We never agreed on a 5-year duration of the minimum wage Act though we acknowledge that the President mentioned 5 years or less. We also agreed that inflation should be pegged at a level for certain amount to be agreed as minimum wage. This is to bring clarity to what the report should contain.

“Once again, we reiterate that it will be extremely difficult for Nigerian workers to accept any national minimum wage figure that approximates to a starvation Wage. We cannot be working and yet remain in abject poverty. We seek justice, equity and fairness for all Nigerians and this we hope would also drive the actions of Mr. President who promised a Living Wage to Nigerian workers. This is an opportunity to show that he listens to Nigerians as he promised!

“Together, we can build a stronger democratic nation based on equity which guarantees prosperity to the majority of the citizenry and not one where few individuals monopolize our collective resources. That is the only way to build a sustainable democracy. It is the true democracy that we all yearn for as a people!

…Expert Cites Data Management Issues

It has been 48 days since over 115 inmates escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State, following a downpour on the night of April 25, 2024.

However, the Federal Government has yet to release the identities of the escapes, thereby raising concerns about the data management capabilities of Nigeria’s correctional services.

The incident occurred when the heavy downpour caused damage to the custodial centre’s infrastructure, including a breach in the perimeter fence, which facilitated the inmates’ escape.

During an inspection on May 9, 2024, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, confirmed that several escapees had been recaptured but refrained from disclosing specific details to avoid “compromising” ongoing efforts.

“Yes, we have recaptured a lot of people and work is actually going on. We are working with other sister agencies but the details of that I won’t be able to disclose in public to avoid jeopardizing the hard work of the agencies. We want to re-emphasize that it is no longer business as usual but business unusual,” he had said.

Unlike the Kuje Jailbreak in July 2022, where the identities of 573 escapees were promptly published on the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) website, the identities of the Suleja escapees have not been uploaded to the website, checks by THE WHISTLER show.

Since the Suleja jailbreak, there have been over 10 reported attacks in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and neighbouring states like Nasarawa and Niger, with at least 50 people being kidnapped. .

The delay in releasing the identities of the escaped inmates has raised questions about the correctional service’s data management capabilities.

Expert Cites Data Management Issues

A security expert, who spoke to THE WHISTLER on the condition of anonymity, attributed the delay in releasing the identities to poor data management in Nigeria.

The expert identified the lack of digitisation in the correctional services and issues with the National Identification Number (NIN), passport numbers, and different security numbers, among others, for the inability to identify the escapees.

The expert said, “It’s a problem with National Identification Number (NIN), with passport numbers, and different security numbers. I think the minister of information technology is trying to address this. So, at the heart of all this is just a data problem. It’s a bit of a misnomer because the correctional service should be able to digitize their record, it just shows some of the analogue problems. It is a problem that the correctional service has, perhaps the minister of interior should be about efforts to digitize the correctional system.

“I know he has a strong background in technology and then we should press on what they are doing about digitisation of the systems that we have across the correctional service, that should be of interest.

“Clearly, if they had the data, there’s no reason it shouldn’t be published. One should expect that their biometrics should be captured at the point of incarceration. Those small shots should be taken and then warehoused. This issue arises from a manual system and it highlights a technological gap in our criminal justice system.”c

NCoS Promises To Release Identities Of Escapees Soon When contacted, the spokesperson for the NCoS, Umar Abubakar, assured that information on the escapees would be released soon. He cited technical issues and the need for thorough verification as reasons for the delay.

“We have been able to get a lot of their identities, which we are trying to verify because for everyone’s admission as an offender or suspect charged to court, first is a suspect. It is when the case is heard and sentenced that the person becomes an offender, then an inmate upon admission to our facility,” Abubakar explained.

He confirmed that 23 inmates have been recaptured so far and emphasised the need for a thorough verification process to avoid publishing incorrect information.

“We are also working with NIMC and NIS. We don’t want a situation whereby innocent people’s pictures are uploaded to the public space. So, we want to do our work thoroughly,” he said.

As Nigeria celebrates 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) warns leaders they will be held accountable for their actions.

In a statement signed by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, CAN acknowledged the country’s democratic journey but emphasized that the government still faces significant challenges.

“Insecurity, economic hardship, and social injustice continue to afflict our citizens. We urge the government to prioritize the common good, address these pressing issues, and ensure that our democracy serves the people, not just the interests of a few,” the statement said.

The statement also stressed the importance of unity and inclusivity, valuing Nigeria’s diverse backgrounds.

“We emphasize the importance of integrity, transparency, and accountability in governance. Our leaders must recognize that power is a sacred trust, and they will be held accountable for their actions,” the CAN president added.

CAN called on leaders to work together to build a stronger, more just Nigeria where everyone has a voice and equal opportunities.

The former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Mohammed Lukman, has withdrawn his membership of the party.

Lukman disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

According to Lukman, his resignation from the party stems from what he describes as a “lack of internal democracy” and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s alleged failure to implement necessary reforms within the party.

The APC chieftain had been a critic of the party’s leadership, and accused it of straying from the founding vision of the party and ignoring calls for reform.

He said, “It is possible to remain in APC if at all President Asiwaju Tinubu will allow internal reform in the party to return it to its founding vision, which as it is, is very remote.

“But my reality now in the party is that my membership has been rendered useless and there is no need for me to continue to impose myself.”

While expressing future plans he said, “I have therefore gone back to the trenches and will try to work with all committed Nigerians who agree and subscribe to the goal of actively campaigning for the survival and development of democracy in Nigeria.

“We must grow our democracy to the point whereby elected representatives at all levels are accountable to the party and it is possible for Nigerians represented by various interests to develop strong relationship with political parties and elected governments based on which policies of governments can be made to reflect wider interests of Nigerians.

“I am confident that a strong democracy with functional political parties is possible in Nigeria. I am also confident that in our lifetime we can produce governments that are truly capable of making the lives of Nigerians better.“

Lukman acknowledged that his decision might not be well-received by party leaders, adding that he remains hopeful for the unity among all who are dedicated to advancing democracy in Nigeria.

“I don’t expect party leaders will agree with my decision. I believe that eventually, we will be united will all party leaders and other Nigerians who are committed to developing Nigerian democracy,” he added.

Former international Victor Ikpeba has challenged Super Eagles players to step up their fight to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Super Eagles have endured a stuttering start to their campaign, failing to record a win in four matches.

Finidi George’s side currently occupy fifth position in Group C with a paltry three points from four games. 

Ikpeba, who represented Nigeria at two World Cups, said the players must up their game.

“The players have become too comfortable, they now have to step up and take full responsibility,” he was quoted by SCORENigeria.

“The talent is there in the team for them to turn things around next year.

“History will be kind to them when they fight back and qualify Nigeria.

“We missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and it was a special tournament.”