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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has made an allegation against the federal government.
NLC accused the federal government of planning to reduce the tenure of labour union leaders to two years.
The labour centre declared it would not be intimidated by what it described as an orchestrated campaign against its leadership and operations.
The NLC’s head of information and public affairs, Comrade Benson Upah, who addressed journalists in Abuja on the development, including last week’s raid on the NLC secretariat, accused the government of gross interference in the unions’ internal matters, warning that the move is part of a broader strategy to weaken the labour movement.
Upah stated that if the government insists on a two-year tenure for union leaders, it should apply the same standard to all public offices, including the presidency.
The NLC spokesman also condemned the government’s attempts to suppress the NLC’s voice, including a recent threat from the Registrar of Trade Unions regarding the NLC’s relationship with the Labour Party, stating that the action violated constitutional rights and international labour conventions.
The NLC also responded to police statements justifying the raid, dismissing their claims as contradictory and lacking credibility.
The union further challenged the police to provide evidence for their actions and expressed concern over the potential risks posed by the raid, vowing to hold the police accountable for any future incidents.
He said, “Government is also frantically working to reduce to two the number of years trade unionists could hold office. This constitutes a gross interference in the internal running of the trade unions in violation of the corpus of labour laws and ILO conventions.
We advise the government to stop further acts of intimidation against the Nigeria Labour Congress and indeed against the generality of Nigerians”.
“We demand that government put an end to this hybrid war against congress. However, if government feels two years is the best tenure to go, it should be two years for every one including the President of the country.
“We advise the government to stop meddling in the affairs of Labour Party even as it’s destabilization campaign against opposition parties has reached a crescendo. The decision of a competent court of jurisdiction guides our actions.”
The Federal Government has appealed to aviation unions to shelve their plans for a strike over the deduction of 50 per cent of the internal revenue of aviation agencies.
In a memo dated August 14, the unions comprising the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreation Services Employees (AUPCTRE) had threatened to strike.
But the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo has appealed to them to shelve the planned strike.
Keyamo in a statement he signed on Friday, assured the workers’ unions and other stakeholders in the sector that President Bola Tinubu is “very concerned about the improvement of the Aviation sector and will give their demands due consideration with the goal of finding a lasting solution that balances both the fiscal needs of the government and the operational requirements of the Aviation Agencies”.
“We appeal to all workers to remain calm and maintain industrial peace while the Government is working assiduously towards amicably resolving the matter. The Ministry appreciates their patience and understanding and remains committed to ensuring a conducive work environment for all,” Keyamo said
READ PRESS STATEMENT BELOW
Friday, 16th August, 2024
Press Statement by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Regarding the Call to Action by Aviation Unions over the Deduction of 50% of the Internal Revenue of Aviation AgenciesThe Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development has been made aware of the call to action by the workers’ unions within the aviation sector to protest the Federal Government’s deduction of 50% of all internally generated revenue of Aviation Agencies at source. The concerns of the workers, especially regarding the negative impact these deductions have on investment, maintenance of critical infrastructure, and overall operations of the Agencies, have been duly noted.
2. We understand the significance of the issues raised and recognize the vital role that our aviation workforce plays in ensuring the safety, efficiency, and smooth operation of the industry. The Ministry is committed to addressing these challenges in a manner that ensures the continued viability and sustainability of the sector while maintaining the highest standards of service delivery.
3. The Honourable Minister wishes to assure the workers’ Unions and other stakeholders that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is very concerned about improvement of the Aviation sector and will give their demands due consideration with the goal of finding a lasting solution that balances both the fiscal needs of the government and the operational requirements of the Aviation Agencies.
4. We appeal to all workers to remain calm and maintain industrial peace while the Government is working assiduously towards amicably resolving the matter. The Ministry appreciates their patience and understanding and remains committed to ensuring a conducive work environment for all.
5. We thank the workers for their understanding and continued dedication to the aviation sector.
Thank you,
Festus Keyamo SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK)
Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
Federal Republic of Nigeria
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared the results of the 2023 presidential election are “official and authentic.”
INEC dismissed claims that the last presidential election was riddled with discrepancies between the results on its website and those presented by returning officers at the National Collation Centre.
The electoral body was responding to a letter from the Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ), claiming that in the televised announcements, INEC reported 1,578 polling units (PUs) where voting was cancelled due to irregularities.
The letter was dated August 7 and addressed to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
CCIJ made the claim while relying on the Freedom of Information Law.
In the letter, CCIJ said no figures were given for the reason, but officials claimed overvoting, violence, and other irregularities, adding that the total number of registered voters was about 1,205,000.
Responding, Yakubu’s spokesman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said INEC does not announce election results on YouTube, adding that there are no discrepancies either in the number of registered voters or the presidential election results announced by the Commission.
He said: “There are no ‘differences’ in the number of polling units and registered voters in the listed states. The total number of polling units and registered voters remains as announced by the Commission.
“The result of an election may be cancelled for specific reasons, including violence, over-voting, and refusal to use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), as stipulated in the extant laws. At the same time, the conditions for making a return when the result of an election is cancelled or declared null and void in specific polling units have also been explained in the Electoral Act 2023 and the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections (2022). You are invited to read the full details on our website, www.inecnigeria.org.
“The results of the 2023 presidential election presented by our 36 State Returning Officers and the Returning Officer for the FCT at the National Collation Centre, Abuja, are official and authentic.
“The figures quoted in your letter purportedly from some local government areas in Imo State are inconsistent with the details/results presented publicly by the Imo State Returning Officer at the National Collation Centre, Abuja.”
There is a growing concern again among Nigerians as the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), better known as fuel or petrol, is nearing ₦1,000 per litre at filling stations across states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.
Naija News understands that the supply of petrol has experienced intermittent availability throughout the nation, resulting in numerous filling stations being unable to provide the product.
Recent findings have revealed the unpleasant experience of motorists and general consumers of the product in FCT and various States across Nigeria.
It has been revealed that at certain stations operated by members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in the satellite towns of the FCT, petrol is being sold for nearly ₦1,000 per litre.
Meanwhile, motorists are enduring extensive wait times at the outlets of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and a select few major oil marketers that are dispensing fuel within the city of Abuja.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has attributed the ongoing petrol shortage to a lack of direct supply from the NNPCL.
Speaking on the development on Thursday, a former Chairman of IPMAN, Ejigbo Depot, Lagos, Akin Akinade, told Daily Trust that: “Our members have no direct supply from NNPC. We buy from Third Party. We buy at DAPMAN (Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria) Depot in Abule Ado.”
FCT/Abuja
Naija News learnt that numerous fuel stations in Abuja were closed yesterday, while the few that were operational experienced extensive queues.
This predicament began several days prior to the #EndBadGovernance protest, which started on the 1st of this month and has continued for over two weeks since then.
At the Umaru Ngelzarma Filling Station located in the Lokogoma area of Kabusa District in the FCT, one of our reporters noted yesterday that petrol was being sold at ₦980 per litre.
Additionally, at Christee’s Petrol Station, also situated in the Lokogoma area of Abuja, the price for the product was recorded at ₦950 per litre.
Long lines were observed at the NNPCL station in Katampe, along the Kubwa Expressway, where motorists indicated they were prepared to spend the night in order to purchase fuel at ₦617 per litre.
Another NNPCL station at Airport Junction, Jabi, was not dispensing fuel during a visit by one of our reporters yesterday.
This scenario was consistent across most petrol stations in Abuja and its surroundings, primarily due to the scarcity of the product.
Lagos
Journalists in Lagos reported yesterday that long lines formed at NNPCL stations offering fuel at ₦568 per litre, while other stations such as Mobil, MRS, and North West charged between ₦600 and ₦650 per litre.
Commercial drivers shared their significant worries regarding the ongoing scarcity and the steep price increases at the limited stations that are still operational, primarily located on the outskirts of the nation’s commercial hub.
“The hike in fuel price is the major problem we have in Nigeria. I bought ₦900- ₦950 in Calabar, that is why I have not travelled again. It is affecting our business.
“I left my bus because some filling stations sold ₦1,000 per litre,” Omotayo Adenikeju, a transporter, told newsmen.
However, a former chairman of IPMAN, Ejigbo Depot in Lagos, Akinade, told Daily Trust that third-party vendors from which some of their members source the product, “sell to us ₦840, ₦850; and by the time you add transportation to that, there’s no way our members would sell less than they’re selling.
“If they bring down their price, we’re also going to bring down our price. We’re in business to make money.”
Kano
Motorists in Kano reported purchasing fuel at ₦950 per litre from independent oil marketers’ stations, while NNPCL stations offered it at₦620.
This includes locations such as Kano Line, Kofar Nasarawa, Club Road near Murtala Muhammed Way, and Tal’udu Sabon Titi.
A commercial driver, Habibu Sani, expressed a preference for waiting in line at the NNPCL station rather than paying over ₦900 for a litre of fuel. Another driver, Kabiru Yakasai, stated that he had to park his vehicle due to the unaffordability of fuel priced above ₦900 per litre.
At an AY Maikifi outlet on Maiduguri Road, it was noted that fuel was being sold for ₦900, while A.A. Rano Station on Gyadi-Gyadi Zaria Road was dispensing it at ₦730.
Bashir Umar, an independent oil marketer in Kano, explained that the current supply shortage is due to marketers hesitating to transport fuel from Lagos, fearing a price drop once Dangote Refinery begins its market supply.
He indicated that marketers acquire fuel at ₦900 per litre in Kano and subsequently sell it for ₦950, accounting for transportation expenses.
Maiduguri
Reports from this region revealed that virtually all the NNPCL filling stations in the Borno State capital are located at the Bulumkutu area, along Kano Road; Mohammed Indimi Way, Off Damboa Road and Galadima Junction along Low-Cost Road, were closed yesterday.
A driver, Aminu Idris, said: “We cannot afford to buy petrol from independent marketers at ₦950”.
Speaking, IPMAN Chairman, Borno State chapter, Mohammed Kuluwu, told journalists that most stations in the state deliberately suspended fuel supply owing to “the crisis resulting from the #EndBadGovernance protest”.
Oyo
Naija News authoritatively reports that fuel is currently being sold at ₦850 and ₦900 at several filling stations in the Oke-Ogun axis of Oyo State.
Our correspondent, who recently bought fuel at two different stations, reports that the product was sold on Monday at ₦850 and subsequently, on Thursday, many of the petrol stations changed their pump price to ₦900.
Meanwhile, black markets around this region of the state currently sell the product at exorbitant prices.
CSO’s Reaction
Naija News reports that the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has conveyed its concerns regarding the ongoing fuel scarcity affecting Nigeria.
In a statement released by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA articulated its dissatisfaction with the federal government’s lack of response to this issue.
The organization noted that fuel scarcity has become a prevalent issue nationwide, with Abuja and other significant urban areas consistently experiencing extended fuel queues.
“Despite the various excuses provided by the NNPCL, the crisis persists, leading to speculations that the company may be benefiting from the situation.
“In the past three months alone, the NNPCL has churned out no fewer than five different excuses for the ongoing fuel scarcity, ranging from logistics challenges to supply chain disruptions.
“However, none of these explanations hold water, given that the crisis continues to linger unabated. If the NNPCL were serious about resolving the issue, they would have done so by now”, it said. HURIWA alleged that if the NNPCL had not benefited from the fuel crisis, it would have resolved it long ago.
“The simultaneous occurrence of fuel scarcity and the reported challenges faced by the Dangote Refinery suggest an orchestrated effort to undermine the refinery’s operations, further entrenching the NNPCL’s monopoly over Nigeria’s petroleum industry,” the organization noted.
However, the NNPCL has yet to issue any official statement regarding the recent development as of the time of filing this report.
[NaijaNews]
Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, the Chinese firm that got a court injunction to ground three presidential jets belonging to the Federal Government in Europe, has initiated plans to seize other Nigerian assets in the United Kingdom, United States of America and in six other countries, The PUNCH learnt.
The PUNCH also learnt that the company had instituted legal proceedings in about eight jurisdictions globally, regarding the dispute.
The other countries include Belgium, Canada, France, Singapore and the British Virgin Islands, documents relating to the case, which were obtained by our correspondent, were revealed on Thursday.
This comes as the Federal Government vowed to protect its foreign assets from “predators.”
There has been serious controversy following reports that the Chinese company got judgement to ground three presidential jets belonging to the Federal Government.
In 2001, China and Nigeria signed a bilateral investment treaty aimed at promoting commercial investment between the two countries.
In 2007, Ogun State reportedly entered into a joint venture agreement with a Chinese company and another company to create the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone Company. The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, a Federal Government entity that oversees free-trade zones in Nigeria, then delegated control and operation of the free-trade zone to the company.
In 2010, the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone Company contracted with Zhongshan’s parent company to develop an industrial park in the free-trade zone. The goal was for Zhongshan’s parent company to develop the park and build factories in it for tenants to use.
In the first half of 2016, however, the agreement between both parties was terminated, leading to Zhongshan filing lawsuits in Nigerian federal and state courts seeking reinstatement of its contractual rights but the legal proceedings were discontinued in Spring 2018.
However, a French court, recently, authorised the seizure of three of Nigeria’s presidential jets, two of the jets – a Dassault Falcon 7X and a Boeing 737 – are part of Nigeria’s presidential air fleet that were recently put up for sale and the third, an Airbus 330 purchased by Nigeria, but not yet delivered.
Zhongshan had again dragged Ogun to court, where an independent arbitral tribunal, chaired by the former President of the UK Supreme Court, awarded the Chinese firm $74.5m compensation, which Ogun was yet to pay.
The court order prohibited Nigeria from moving or selling the presidential jets until the Chinese firm was paid the $74.5m by Ogun, its sub-national.
However, documents indicated that the Chinese company attempted to seize a jet being recovered by the country from Dan Etete as proceeds from fraudulent acts in Canada.
The Federal Government had tracked down and grounded the luxury private jet purchased by former petroleum minister, Etete, with some of the alleged proceeds of the notorious $1.3bn Malabu OPL245 oil deal.
“The goal is clear – that Mr Etete will avoid the seizure of an asset he got with stolen Nigerian money, with Zhongshan’s connivance.”
According to the documents, Zhongshan was originally engaged as a developer and manager of Fucheng Industrial Park but was asked to manage the facility after the government terminated the joint venture with CAI because it didn’t meet the necessary requirements.
The document claimed that the Ogun government cancelled the contract after it received a Diplomatic Note 1601 from the Economic and Commercial Section of the PRC Consulate in Lagos, alleging that Guangdong illegally held shares in China Africa Investment Limited, a state asset and that entity (New South Group) was the company properly entitled to manage OGFTZ.
The document read, “In 2007, the Ogun State Government, in partnership with the Guangdong province in China conceived and set up the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone, which sits on 2,000 hectares in Igbesa, Ogun State.
“Ogun State signed a Joint Venture Agreement directly with China Guangdong Xinguang China-Africa Investment Limited representing Guangdong Province in the joint venture. OGFTZ houses several enterprises as well as subdevelopments, including one Fucheng Industrial Park, measuring 224 hectares. In 2010, OGFTZ contracted Zhongshan to develop and manage Fucheng Industrial Park.
“However, in 2012, Ogun State terminated the joint venture with CAI because CAI had not met obligations under the 2007 JVA. Ogun State then appointed Zhongshan as an interim manager of the Zone, since it was already managing Fucheng Industrial Park. In June 2012, Zhongshan assumed management control of a 51 per cent stake in CAI and subsequently signed another JVA with Ogun State Government in September 2013.”
It further stated that the company had been making efforts to enforce the tribunal award.
“As of August 2024, there are court proceedings in about eight jurisdictions of the world regarding this dispute.
“These include USA, UK, Belgium, Canada, France, and the British Virgin Islands. Till date, Zhongshan has not realised a single penny from the Award, and all signs indicate that Zhongshan is unlikely to do so anytime soon.”
It added that the company was still tracking the location of Nigerian assets abroad.
Meanwhile, a court document has revealed that the Chinese company was demanding compensation of $130.6m due to a breach of contract by reneging on terms between both parties to create the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone.
The document obtained by our correspondent on Thursday, however, listed the Federal Government as the defendant because the direct agreement was between Nigeria and China and not with the company based on international treaty conditions.
The case filed at the United States District Court for the District of Columbia (No. 1:22-cv-00170) was argued April 22, 2024 and decided August 9, 2024 by Circuit Judges Millett, Katsas and Childs.
In presenting its argument, the company stated that Nigeria violated the Investment Treaty with China in five ways “by failing to provide Zhongshan with fair and equitable treatment, engaging in unreasonable discrimination, neglecting to protect Zhongshan, breaching the contract, and wrongfully expropriating investments without compensation.”
Giving details of the deal, the company said it invested millions of dollars and significant resources to develop and build infrastructure in the industrial park, including roads, utilities and opened services such as a hospital, hotel, supermarket, and bank.
By 2016, businesses had moved into the zone and Nigeria had collected approximately N160m in tax revenue from the free-trade zone.
It read, “In the first half of 2016, however, Ogun State terminated its agreements with Zhongshan. Ogun claimed that a different Chinese company was legally entitled to Zhongshan’s share of the free-trade zone and that Zhongshan had defrauded Ogun.
“Things continued to deteriorate. One Ogun official texted a Zhongshan executive, urging him ‘as a friend’ to ‘leave peacefully when there is opportunity to do so, and avoid forceful removal, complications and possible prosecution.’ The next month, Ogun issued an arrest warrant for two executives, alleging a ‘criminal breach of trust.’
“Nigerian federal police arrested one Zhongshan executive at gunpoint and held him for ten days. During that time, the police denied the executive food and water, beat him, intimidated him, and questioned him about the whereabouts of the other executive.
“Based on these findings, the arbitral tribunal found that Nigeria had breached its obligations under the Investment Treaty and that Zhongshan was entitled to $55.6m in compensation from Nigeria and $75,000 in moral damages, along with interest and legal and arbitral fees.”
Reacting, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said his office and that of the National Security Adviser have commenced legal and diplomatic moves to recover the three presidential aircraft seized by the Chinese firm.
FOUNDER of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola, yesterday, took a swipe at the Federal Government over the distribution of palliatives, describing it as an attempt to turn Nigerians to beggars and leading them to poverty.
He also threw his weight behind the Patriots’ call for a new constitution.
Babalola made this known when the Prestige Sisters League came on a thank-you visit to him at the ABUAD campus.
Speaking on the recent protest across the country, he said that those protesting against hunger do so because everyone knows there is hunger in the country.
He said: “Those who are complaining about hunger are doing so sincerely. They are hungry. A hungry man can go to any length to show his anger. We do not need anybody to tell us about hunger in the country. The protest was genuine and the government should listen to them.
“The duty of government is the welfare of the people. The problem we have now is that people cannot move freely. They have abandoned the farms. People are being killed in their farms and everybody wants to stay where they are safe. It is because the government has failed in this regard that we have hunger.
“It is wrong for the government to be sharing garri, beans and rice as palliatives. They are turning the people into beggars. The government that is giving the people rice and beans is leading us to poverty. The government is discouraging people from working, whereas, the government must provide the people enabling environment for people to work and feed themselves.”
On the Patriots’ call for a new constitution, he said Nigeria does not have to go through any constitutional conference but the parliament should reenact the 1963 constitution.
Babalola said: “I read the publication of the Patriots visiting President Tinubu and I am in full agreement with them. We need a new constitution. But I do not agree that we should go through any constitutional conference.
“Recently, you are aware that President Bola Tinubu asked us to go back to the old National Anthem; there was no conference for it before it was passed by the National Assembly and assented by the President. The 1963 constitution was the one made by all of us. By the same token, the parliament should bring back the 1963 and reenact it.”
The Lagos federal high court has ordered the interim forfeiture of $2.045 million, seven landed properties, and shares linked to Godwin Emefiele, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Akintayo Aluko, the presiding judge, made the order on Thursday after an application filed by Rotimi Oyedepo, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a suit marked FHC/L/MISC/500/24.
Oyedepo said the forfeited items were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
“In the course of this investigation, it was revealed that the erstwhile CBN governor negotiated kickbacks in return for allocation of foreign exchange to some companies who were in desperate need of foreign exchange for their lawful and legitimate businesses,” he told the court.
“Upon investigation, it was revealed that one Ifeanyi Omeke, a deputy general manager and head of litigation of Zenith Bank Plc, who worked closely with Godwin Emefiele, ran several errands for him, which included the purchase and perfection of title documents for several properties located in highbrow areas of Lagos.
“And that upon a search conducted in the office premises of Mr. Ifeanyi Collins Omeke by the operatives, several seals for various companies, including but not limited to Queensdorf Global Fund Limited, were recovered.
“That the said seals were kept in custody of Mr. Ifeanyi Collins Omeke by Godwin Emefiele, and that investigation has revealed that all seven companies… are suspected to be shell companies used by Godwin Emefiele as vehicles for money laundering and holding proceeds of his illicit activities.”
“The two shares’ certificates are of Queensdorf Global Fund Limited Trust, while the properties are all located in the highbrow Lekki and Ikoyi parts of Lagos and Agbor in Delta.
“The landed properties are listed as two fully detached duplexes of identical structures at No. 17b Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1; an undeveloped/bare land, measuring 1919.592 sqm with survey plan No. DS/LS/340 at Oyinkan Abayomi drive (formerly Queens drive), Ikoyi; a bungalow at No. 65a Oyinkan Abayomi drive, Ikoyi; a four-bedroom duplex at 12a Probyn Road, Ikoyi; an industrial complex under construction on a 22-plot of land in Agbor; eight units of undetached apartments on a plot measuring 2457.60sqm at No. 8a Adekunle Lawal road, Ikoyi; and a full duplex together with all its appurtenances on a plot of land measuring 2217.87sqm at 2a Bank road, Ikoyi.
“I also know as a fact and verily believe that the properties sought to be forfeited were acquired in the name of corporate entities with a view to concealing the unlawful origin of the funds used for their acquisition and that the title document in respect of the properties listed in schedule A herein were recovered by the team in the course of this investigation.”
The EFCC lawyer sought a forfeiture of the investments to the federal government.
After granting the request, the judge directed the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper to enable anyone interested in the properties to appear before the court and show cause within 14 days of why it should not be made in favour of the government.
Further hearing of the matter was adjourned to September 5.
Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has described the allegations that protesters looted and carted away ‘sensitive documents’ relating to his corruption trial as a huge joke.
The former Governor of Kano State in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu on Thursday said credible intelligence reports revealed that the protest, which tragically turned bloody, was directly sponsored by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration.
He said contrary to the claim by the Kano government suggesting that APC sponsored the recent violent protests in Kano, rather it was the Kano State government that funded the protest to tarnish the image of President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
The chairman stressed that it was alarming that a sitting governor would incite such chaos and violence within his state, putting the lives and properties of innocent citizens at risk.
Ganduje, therefore, condemned this reckless and irresponsible behaviour, which he said was an attempt to destabilize Kano, undermine the peace and security of the region, and more importantly tarnish the good image of the President.
He demanded that the federal government, through relevant security agencies, immediately launch a thorough investigation into the Kano State Government’s involvement in this unfortunate incident.
Ganduje maintained that the sponsors of this violence must be brought to justice to ensure that this does not set a dangerous precedent for other states.
He noted: “It is laughable that governance has been reduced to a huge joke in Kano state that the state government will condescend low to suggesting that demonstrators broke into a court and carefully selected documents relating to the trial of the APC National Chairman, handpicked them and take them away in this digital age, no discerning mind will buy into this pedestrian propaganda.
“What happened to the documents with the government lawyers? The state government is bereft of ideas on how to run the affairs of the state and has always resorted to churning out myriads of corruption allegations against the former governor of the state Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and his family who served the state diligently.
“This claim is nothing more than a desperate attempt by Governor Yusuf’s administration to divert attention from their culpability in the violence that erupted in the state.
“The insinuation that such critical documents could be carted away during a protest is not only far-fetched but also a clear indication of the state’s growing incompetence in handling both security and legal matters.”
‘The ₦21 Million Naira Mentioned By Senator Sumaila Is Not A Personal Allowance Or Salary’ – Nigerian Senate counters claim
AFOLABI
The Nigerian Senate, on Thursday, debunked reports that lawmakers in the upper chamber of the National Assembly receive ₦21 million naira monthly as salary and allowances.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu, made this clarification in a statement in Abuja.
According to him, running costs, as mentioned by Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila in his earlier interview, is not peculiar to the National Assembly, and neither is the mentioned amount a personal emolument for any Senator.
The explanation follows the disclosure by Sumaila, who represents Kano South senatorial district of Kano State in the National Assembly, that Senators get ₦21 million naira monthly each as allowances and running costs.
He made the revelation in a chat with the BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday morning.
The disclosure generated fresh controversy over the earnings of Nigerian lawmakers amidst the allegation by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that members of the National Assembly, fix bogus salaries and allowances for themselves in contravention of extant laws.
However, Adaramodu said that “running cost” was quite different from the salary and personal allowances of the lawmakers.
He explained that the running costs are not personal to any lawmaker, but used for official purposes such as maintaining lawmakers’ Constituency offices and staff, oversight functions and community engagements.
The Senate spokesperson said the lawmakers do not engage in wasteful spending, explaining that “The Nigerian Senate is an Assembly of accomplished and successful professionals, administrators and captains of industries, who are not driven by these often touted egregious pecuniary bits, rather for their patriotic zeal in the nation’s quest to breathe life to Nigeria’s political and socio-economic dry bones.”
Adaramodu said the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMAFC) has already clarified and disclosed the monthly salary of lawmakers in the country, and all other figures apart from what the commission declared should be ignored.
“For the umpteen time, the Senate is compelled to react to the obsolete allegations of a phantom salary and personal emoluments spuriously credited to Senators monthly.
“The Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission, the agency of government that fixes political officials’ salaries and allowances, has duly disclosed the monthly personal take-home of Senators.
“However, all arms of Government and their personnel, Governors, Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Directors-General, State Commissioners, even Boards and parastatals, including local government councils run their activities with running costs and the National Assembly is not an exemption.
“Thus the money referred to by Senator Kawu Sumaila is neither his salary nor personal allowance.
‘It’s for the daily running of offices by Senators and other attached statutory officials. It equally provides funds for Constituency office staff. It is also for oversight functions and community engagements.
“This funds are not static and it’s provided for in the annual budget. Such funds are retired by relevant officers after being used for official purposes and proof of genuine expenditure.
It’s not a personal allowance or salary of the legislator.
“The National Assembly receives about one per cent of the federal budget and has never exceeded this, even when the non-availability of funds is pervasive.
“The Nigerian Senate is an Assembly of accomplished and successful professionals, administrators and captains of industries, who are not driven by these often touted egregious pecuniary bits, rather for their patriotic zeal in the nation’s quest to breathe life to Nigeria’s political and socio-economic dry bones,” he said.
Zhongshan, the Chinese company involved in a legal dispute with the Ogun State government, has expressed its readiness to settle with the Nigerian government after a French court authorized the seizure of three Nigerian presidential jets.
The court’s decision prohibits the movement, sale, or purchase of the aircraft until Zhongshan receives $74.5 million, awarded to the company in an arbitration ruling.
The jets, including a Dassault Falcon 7X, a Boeing 737, and an Airbus A330, were all undergoing maintenance at airports in France and Switzerland when the seizure orders were issued.
The seizure is part of efforts by Zhongshan to enforce the arbitration award granted in its favor in March 2021, following the revocation of its export processing zone management contract by the Ogun State government in 2016.
In a statement sent to Premium Times, on Thursday, Zhongshan indicated that it is willing to negotiate a settlement with the Nigerian government to resolve the dispute.
This development comes amidst efforts by the Federal Government, through the Offices of the National Security Adviser and the Attorney-General of the Federation, to challenge the court orders and ensure the release of the seized jets.
The Federal Government has argued that the aircraft are sovereign assets, used solely for official purposes, and therefore immune from attachment.
The statement reads, “Zhongshan has only ever sought to assert its rights under international law and is confident in its case. The independent arbitral panel was found unanimously in its favour, and courts in multiple countries have upheld the view that the panel’s compensation should be enforced. The French court was fully aware of the facts when it reached its decision.
“Far from being just a fence, the Ogun Free Trade Zone was featured as a significant international investment by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
“Zhongshan has for a long time been ready to enter serious negotiations with the federal government of Nigeria to settle this case and still awaits an indication that the government is equally willing.”
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The Federal Government has initiated legal and diplomatic actions to overturn the interim orders leading to the attachment of three Nigerian presidential aircraft in France.
These steps are being coordinated by the Offices of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), according to a statement released by Kamarudeen Ogundele, spokesperson for AGF, Lateef Fagbemi.
The Federal Government became aware of the temporary attachment of the jets on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.
The orders, which were issued by the Judicial Court of Paris on March 7 and August 12, 2024, were secured by Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, a Chinese company seeking to enforce an arbitral award granted in its favor on March 26, 2021.
The dispute stems from a contractual disagreement between Zhongshan and the Ogun State Government over the operation and management of the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone.
Despite the dispute originating at the subnational level, the enforcement actions are being directed against the Federal Government, as international law holds that actions of subnational entities are attributable to the state.
In its statement, the Federal Government clarified that the jets in question are sovereign assets, used solely for official purposes, and thus immune from attachment.
“Further actions are being taken to resolve the entire dispute through available legal means,” the statement read, emphasizing Nigeria’s firm position on the immunity of its sovereign assets.
The seized aircraft include a Dassault Falcon 7X stationed at Le Bourget airport in Paris, a Boeing 737, and an Airbus A330 located at Basel-Mulhouse airport in Switzerland.
All three jets were undergoing routine maintenance at the time of the seizure.
The Presidency has stated that it is aware of the various failed attempts by a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, to take over offshore assets of the Federal Government of Nigeria through subterfuge.
Naija News reported earlier that a French court had authorized the seizure of three presidential jets linked to the Federal Government of Nigeria as part of a legal battle involving Zhongshan, a Chinese company.
The company had a business dispute with the Ogun State government, which led to this significant legal action.
But in a statement on Thursday, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated that the Federal Government is not under any contractual obligation with the company.
He said the case in which Zhongshan is trying to use every unorthodox means to strip our offshore assets is between the company and the Ogun State Government.
According to him, the Federal Government is fully aware of efforts being made by the Ogun State Government to reach an amicable resolution on the matter.
The statement continues: “It must be said without any equivocation that Zhongshan has no solid ground to demand restitution from the Ogun State Government based on the facts regarding the 2007 contract between the company and the State Government to manage a free-trade zone.
“When the contract with Ogun State was revoked in 2015, the company had only erected a perimeter fence on the land earmarked for a free trade zone.
“While the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is working with the Ogun State Government on an amicable resolution, Zhongshan obtained two orders from the Judicial Court of Paris dated March 7, 2024, and August 12, 2024, without any notice being duly served on the Federal Government of Nigeria and Ogun State Government.
“This arm-twisting tactic by the Chinese company is the latest in a long list of failed moves to attach Nigerian government-owned assets in foreign jurisdictions.
“The material facts in the transaction between the Ogun State Government and Zhongshan point to another P&ID case in which unscrupulous and questionable individuals falsely present themselves as investors with the sole objective of undercutting and scamming Governments in Africa.
“Undoubtedly, Zhongshan withheld vital information and misled the Judicial Court in Paris into attaching the Nigerian government’s presidential jets, which are on routine maintenance in France. The use and nature of the Presidential jets as assets of a Sovereign entity whose assets are protected by diplomatic immunity forbid any foreign Court from issuing an order against them.
“We are convinced the Chinese company misled the Judicial Court of Paris regarding the use and nature of the assets it seeks to attach and did not fully disclose to the court as required by law.
“This same Chinese company had tried to enforce its questionable judgment in the UK and USA but failed.
“Like the P&ID case, foreign companies are trying to defraud Nigeria with the collaboration of some bureaucrats. Zhongshan appeared to have sold the judgment they got to a venture capitalist seeking to make money by embarrassing the Federal Government and President Bola Tinubu.
“We want to assure Nigerians that the Federal Government is working with the Ogun State Government to discharge this frivolous order in Paris immediately.
“Nigerian Government will always work to protect our national assets from predators and shylocks who masquerade as investors.
“Background to the Zhongshan Fucheng Case:
“A contract between Ogun State and Zhongshan to manage a free-trade zone was executed in 2007. The parties entered into a dispute in 2015, and arbitration began in 2016.
“By 2019, the arbitration hearing had been concluded. The Arbitral Panel awarded over 60 million USD against the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), a co-defendant, when all Zhongshan had done was build a perimeter fence around the free-trade zone.
“Based on legal advice, the Ogun State Government resolved to resist the enforcement of the award. The resistance was successful in 8 different jurisdictions. There are pending appeals against recognition orders issued in both the US and UK.
“Ogun State also engaged Zhongshan in settlement discussions on reasonable terms. The last meeting, held in September 2023 in London, lasted for three days and was attended by several officials of Ogun State, including Governor Dapo Abiodun and the Attorney General/Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi.
“Zhongshan’s initial reasonable readiness to consider Ogun State’s offer was surprisingly reversed by the second day when it insisted on the government paying the full arbitration debt. This led to a breakdown of the mediation, with parties agreeing to meet again in the first quarter of this year.
“Since then, Zhongshan has been evasive. Instead, it embarked on a series of enforcement proceedings, which the legal team appointed by the FGN and Ogun State successfully opposed. In cases similar to the present one, where Zhongshan obtained an ex-parte order, Ogun State successfully set aside the orders.
“Ogun State has not given up on a reasonable settlement option, with the most recent letter sent to Zhongshan last week. Zhongshan only responded after obtaining this latest illegal order.”
Former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) president, Olisa Agbakoba, has advised President Bola Tinubu to work towards giving the country a new constitution.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Olisa Agbakoba said the current political structure of the country has been ineffective for too long.
In a statement, on Thursday, on X, Agbakoba said the current power-sharing structure in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) did not decentralize governance.
“It’s time to reconsider Nigeria’s governance structure. We’ve been operating within a system that has been ineffective for far too long. Too much power has been centralized in Abuja, limiting the authority of states and regions and stifling their power. We need to go back to basics with a constitutional reform that truly redistributes power, empowering states to drive their own development.
“History has taught us a valuable lesson. In 340 AD, Roman Emperor Diocletian believed that his empire was too vast for one person to effectively govern. What did he do? He appointed four co-emperors, decentralizing power and allowing the Roman Empire to thrive for another 1,500 years! This is the bold action required in Nigeria.”
He further advised the National Assembly to start up the process for constitutional reform. He noted that decision-making should be closer to the citizens.
“We should aim for a governance structure where governors have the authority to lead their states, local communities have a say in their affairs, and decision-making is closer to the people it affects.
“The National Assembly holds the key to making this change. We need a constitutional reform that recalibrates the balance of power and allows real strong political and economic development to take hold in Nigeria,” Agbakoba added.
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has lambasted the government of President Bola Tinubu over the reports on the seizure of some jets in the country’s presidential fleet by foreign business partners.
Obi, in a personally signed statement on Thursday, described the development as an international embarrassment.
He accused the Tinubu government of operating in secrecy and running the government like a personal family asset.
The outburst by the former Anambra State Governor follows the disclosure that a French court had authorized the seizure of three presidential jets linked to the Federal Government of Nigeria as part of a legal battle involving Zhongshan, a Chinese company.
The company had a business dispute with the Ogun State government, which led to this significant legal action.
Obi, in his reaction via a statement released on his X account, said the development has exposed the failed leadership in Nigeria.
He also accused the Tinubu government of mismanaging the country’s resources while a large portion of the citizens continue to languish in poverty.
The former presidential candidate questioned what both the Ogun state and Federal governments did before the French court action.
According to him, “The trending international news on the seizure of three Jets belonging to Nigeria’s Presidential fleet is yet another of many embarrassing things exposing our failed leadership and our attitude to the rule of law even in a democracy. It has also exposed multiple dimensions to our leadership failure and our insensitivity to the plight of the growing poor class in our midst.
“The fact that the federal government went ahead with the jet deal despite the cacophonous cry against the purchase of a Presidential jet at this time when the people are going through a horrifying economic hardship shows the insensitivity of this administration.
“Added to it is the embarrassing aspect of our country’s Presidential jets being held for contractual breaches arising from yet another dimension of inadequate leadership tidiness. I have been loud in my demand over time that the government at all levels should be accountable to the people, meaning that they must be very transparent in all their dealings. Until a court in France prohibits Nigeria from moving or selling these three jets, Nigerians have no iota of information about both the buying and selling of these aircraft.
“It has been done in secrecy. Federal Government property, which belongs to the people, is being managed as a personal family asset.
“Paying as much as $100m dollars for a Presidential jet for a country that is the poverty capital of the World and has more out-of-school children with over 40% food inflation is the height of concern for the people’s feelings.
“This incident has also opened up an aspect of indiscipline that is copiously embedded in our country which is the abuse and disrespect for the rule of law.
“Here are questions begging for answers:
“To what extent did the Ogun government follow its agreement with the Chinese firm?
“After the UK court ruling that prohibited some Nigeria building in Liverpool, what did both Ogun state and Federal government do before the French court action?
“I would like to, therefore, challenge the federal government to come clean and transparent on this matter and tell Nigerians how we got to this latest international mess. – PO”