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The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), has urged men and officers of the agency to shun any enticement that conflicts with the ethos of their profession as anti-narcotic operatives.
Marwa gave the charge on Saturday in Jos, Plateau State, during the graduation of members of the Strike Force elite corps in the agency.
In his remarks, the agency boss appealed to the officers to embrace the discipline that had been instilled in them during their training and ensure they were incorruptible in the discharge of their duties as anti-narcotics officers.
“Here is my appeal to each of you: shun any enticement that conflicts with the ethos of your profession as an anti-narcotic operative. Anything that would compromise your discipline and dedication to duty should be avoided.
“As an anti-narcotic officer, you bear a huge obligation to remain incorruptible in the face of any temptation that might be sprung on you by drug traffickers and barons”, the NDLEA boss who was represented by the Director, Special Duties/Commander, Strike Force, Deputy Commander General of Narcotics, DCGN Ahmed Ningi told the officers.
While addressing the graduating members of the Strike Force Elite Corps, he added, “To the Strike Force operatives, I want you to be mindful that today is a milestone in your professional career in the Agency. This specialized training and the skills acquired therefrom will undoubtedly enhance your competence in the special role you will be playing for the Agency in the war against illicit drugs.
“It is important that I remind you that as the Agency scales its operation against illicit drug trafficking, your service will become increasingly essential to the successful attainment of our organisational goals. The special nature of your training requires that you serve as a force multiplier for the conventional NDLEA staff in the field.
“Moreover, the progress report I received, including the on-the-spot assessment, confirmed that the objective of the course has been achieved. Therefore, as you graduate today, I urge you not to rest on your oars, as your competence will be tested from time to time by challenges that will recur in your career as an anti-narcotic operative.
“It is gratifying to note that you have been exposed to classroom and outdoor exercises in line with the current challenges. You are, therefore, urged to consolidate the knowledge gained and apply it judiciously in your various commands. Generally, I am hopeful that the benefits of the course will reflect positively on your performance in the field.”
Explaining the significance of the elite force within the agency, Marwa said, “We have great expectations of the Strike Force, one of NDLEA’s tactical creations in 2021. The Strike Force adds strength and purpose to our drug supply reduction effort by reinforcing officers and men of NDLEA who have to work in dangerous terrain while carrying out their duties.
“The merit of having the Strike Force was evident in February 2023 when, on two occasions, the Agency was able to successfully carry out raids, seizures, and destruction of a significant amount of psychotropic substances in territories that in the past were hostile and almost out of bounds for anti-narcotic officers.
“In Ondo and Ekiti States, for instance, 255 hectares of cannabis farms were destroyed across five local government areas in a seven-day operation. Similarly, in Lagos State, a notorious drug den in Patey, Lagos Island, was successfully raided in broad daylight, with over 5,000kg of cannabis and other assorted drugs seized, along with the arrest of the drug kingpin and six other suspects. Both operations were dangerous, but the Strike Force provided the needed cover, repelled mob attacks, and ensured our officers and men performed their duties safely.”
He noted that the success of the course could not have been possible without the commitment of the training facilitators and the NDLEA team of instructors.
In his welcome remarks, the Commandant of the NDLEA Academy, Jos, Hamza Umar, commended the leadership of the agency for exposing officers and men of the agency to continuous training at home and abroad.
He added, “With this new graduation, what we are saying and we have sent the signal and it is very clear that the drug barons, the drug traffickers, their days are numbered. Wherever they are, whatever it is, we’ll subdue that threat and make Nigeria suitable”
He asked the graduands not to take the privilege for granted.
A total of 391 personnel of the strike force passed out from the training which lasted for about three weeks.
Aloy Ejimakor, the Special Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Saturday said the Supreme Court has settled the controversy that the agitator never jumped bail.
Ejimakor said the Supreme Court also clarified that Kanu’s bail should not have been revoked.
Recall that in 2017, Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court in Abuja had granted Kanu bail.
Upon his release, a military invasion of his ancestral home in Umuahia, Abia State, in September 2017, forced into exile, hence he did not attend his trial on the next scheduled date and thereafter.
From then till June 2021 when he was transferred from Kenya to Nigeria, there has been a robust public debate as to whether he jumped bail or not.
But, the Appeal Court had discharged and acquitted Kanu of all terrorism charges.
This judgment was later overturned by the Supreme Court which transferred the case back to the Federal High Court.
In the Certified True Copy of the judgment delivered in December 2023, the apex court declared that Kanu did not jump bail.
Commenting on this, Ejimakor, said: “As Of Counsel, I had joined in this debate and always made it clear that Nnamdi Kanu, in the unique circumstance of the military invasion, did not jump bail. I had also written well-publicized legal treatises, maintaining that this self-evident truth will be proved and confirmed in Court in due course of time.”
He said the first judicial confirmation came in January 2022 when, in a landmark judgment, the High Court of Abia State declared that the said military invasion was a flagrant violation of Kanu’s constitutional rights, consequent upon the Court awarded him N1 billion in damages and public apology.
He said: “Following this judgment, I had issued a public Legal Notice warning all and sundry to thenceforth cease and desist from peddling the falsehood that Nnamdi Kanu had jumped bail. Whereas, vast majorities of the mainstream and social media had complied, some malicious traducers and elements from the federal government persisted with the defamatory bail-jumping narrative.
“In summation, in addition to ruling that Nnamdi Kanu never jumped bail, the Supreme Court also held that the Federal High Court should never have revoked his bail; that the prosecution wrought grand deception on the Court on the bail-jumping issue and that the bench warrant that triggered Nnamdi Kanu’s infamous extraordinary rendition was obtained by deception and should never have been issued.
“For the foregoing reasons, I implore the media, members of the public and pertinent public officials to abide by the judgment of the Supreme Court and henceforth cease and desist from peddling or publishing the false and defamatory narrative that Nnamdi Kanu had jumped bail.”
The winner of the 2023 gubernatorial election in Kogi State, Usman Ododo, has been sworn in as the governor of the state.
This comes barely three months after he was elected to take over from Yahaya Bello, who has completed his second term in office.
Naija News learned that Ododo took the oath of office at around 2:24 pm in Lokoja, the state capital, on Saturday.
His inauguration came just minutes after Salifu Joel Oyibot took his oath of office as the deputy governor of Kogi State.
With his swearing-in, Ododo has become the 5th executive governor of Kogi state.
The event had in attendance the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, Ododo’s predecessor, Yahaya Bello, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje and other top members of the party.
Meanwhile, Yahaya Bello has rated his administration with good marks, stating that he would be departing office and leaving the state in better shape than when he arrived.
Recall that Governor Bello, whose second term in office will elapse in a few weeks, gave this remark while accepting the Fellowships Award at the 4th Combined Convocation of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, during the weekend.
At the State Polytechnic of Lokoja’s joint convocation for 2013/2014–2022–2023, the governor, who was a distinguished guest, remarked that one of his accomplishments is the State Polytechnic’s repositioning to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.
The Federal Government has vowed to probe allegations of coordinated oil bunkering scheme and multibillion-naira contract-splitting fraud levelled against the Chief of Naval Staff, Emmanuel Ogalla.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, made this known in a press statement released Friday by his spokesman, Henshaw Ogubike.
Naija News understands that Ogalla is facing allegations of impropriety on many fronts since his clandestine dealings came to light, details of which had reached top levels of the chain of command and on the verge of being brought to the notice of President Bola Tinubu.
According to Peoples Gazette, Ogalla was accused to have repeatedly offered the protection of the Nigerian Navy to oil thieves since he took office.
Additionally, the news platform reveal a concerted effort to stifle inquiries into vessels suspected of trafficking stolen crude oil, further tarnishing the integrity of his nascent leadership as well as a violation of the Procurement Act 2007 by splitting navy arms procurement into 30 contracts awarded to a single firm in November 2023.
Ogalla was also said to have refused to approve transfer of naval officers found culpable of several unprofessional conducts to the dismay of other members of the navy brass and disciplinary unit.
But according to Matawalle, the allegations levelled against Ogalla are serious, adding that the government is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability within the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The statement added: “In the light of the allegations, we assure the public that the ministry of defence will collaborate fully with relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
“It is our collective responsibility to maintain the trust and confidence of the Nigerian people in the institutions that safeguard our nation’s security. We call for patience as the investigative process unfolds and trusts that justice will be served in accordance with the rule of law.’’
Guinness World Records Should Recognise Tinubu For Causing Nigerians Most Hardship – Peter Obi
AdminThe 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has said President Bola Tinubu should be recognised by the Guinness World Records for “causing Nigerians the most hardship.”
Recall that Tinubu had recently bragged that he deserved to be included in the Guinness World Records over his performances in the country since he assumed office.
Speaking in a recent interview with Vanguard, the former Governor of Anambra State said Nigerians are really suffering because the reforms implemented by the Tinubu administration are not achieving what they are meant to achieve.
He said, “He (Tinubu) may actually be correct when he claims that his name deserves to be in the Guinness World Records. Don’t forget that people’s names don’t always make it into the Guinness World Records for only altruistic reasons.
“So, it depends on which angle he is coming from. If the idea is to put his name in the Guinness Book of Records for causing Nigerians the most hardship – untold hardship, of course he is spot on and I will totally agree with him because his reforms are not achieving what they are meant to achieve.”
Obi added that he had put the 2023 general elections behind him already and he was now focusing on governance and real issues.
He stated that the biggest lesson from the 2023 general elections is the fact that Nigerians are actually committed to good governance and not as complacent as people thought they were.
The former governor noted that Nigerians on the streets could judge the performance of Tinubu so far since he assumed office on May 29, 2023.
He added: “Well, for me, the biggest lesson (from the 2023 general elections) is the fact that Nigerians are actually committed to good governance. They are not as complacent as people thought they were because they, especially the youths, were actually committed to doing the right thing. That is why they came out in their numbers to participate in the elections.
“The second lesson is the realisation that the leaders, most people in the elite class are not actually interested in good governance because you can classify the electoral umpire as part of the elite class, the government, all of us are not prepared to do the right thing because if the elites are prepared to do the right thing, the result or the outcome of the election would have been different.
“But for me the elections have come and gone and I don’t want to talk about the issue of the 2023 elections again. It has come and gone and I am done with it. What I am talking about now are issues of governance because the average Nigerian today is talking about the Nigeria of today, and the Nigeria of tomorrow. That is what is important.”
Speaking on how he rates the government so far, he said, “That is really a question for the generality of Nigerians to answer. Ask the average Nigerian how he is faring today. The truth is that we have many more Nigerians thrown into poverty, millions of Nigerians don’t know where the next meal will come from. Nobody is sure what the price of a cup of rice, garri or a loaf of bread will be tomorrow. So, it is Nigerians that you should ask the question.
“It is not a question for me to answer. It is not something I alone will tell you. Ask Nigerians, the masses out there on the streets of Nigeria and you will get a feel of what they are going through. But I know that the situation is critical.”
A man, Aminu Ibrahim, who is alleged to be the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ward chairman for Birnin Yero Ward in the Shinkafi local government area of Zamfara State, has been arrested by the Nigerian Military for alleged weapons smuggling.
Naija News understands Ibrahim was arrested alongside two other men by Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadarin.
Information gathered from PRNigeria has it that the suspected chairman and his accomplices, namely Musa Usman Seun and Isah Mohammed, were arrested on Monday., 22nd January at Shinkafi.
The source quoted by the platform stated that the sum of two million, five hundred and eighty thousand naira, 1 Volkswagen Wagon, 3 mobile phones and other items were recovered from the suspects after their arrest.
The money recovered from the suspects was said to be part of the planned fund for the purchase of weapons at Ilela border in Sokoto State.
The matter is currently under investigation.
According to the source, “The troops of the Joint Task Force North West Operation HADARIN acting on a credible intelligence on activities of a notorious gunrunner with intentions to smuggle arms into Zamfara state, troops immediately set up a roadblock and apprehended 3 suspected persons.
“The 3 suspects namely Musa Usman Seun, Aminu Ibrahim, and Isah Mohammed were arrested recently at Shinkafi on 22 January 2024 and the sum of Two Million Five Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira, 1 Volkswagen Wagon, 3 mobile phones and other items were recovered from the suspects.
“A preliminary investigation revealed that the huge sum of money recovered from the suspects was for exchange of Assorted weapons at the Illela border in Sokoto state. The suspects are undergoing further interrogation”.
- Overrides governor’s veto on four bills
- You were caught in crossfire, Fubara tells returning pro-Wike commissioners
- Rivers elders/leaders forum, others hail gov on S’Court victory
Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly appear to have returned to the trenches in their battle of wits with Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The House yesterday passed a bill stripping the governor of power to appoint caretaker committees for the local government areas.
The bill – The Rivers Local Government Amendment Law – was one of the four passed by the House to override the governor’s veto of the same earlier passed to him for assent.
The assembly’s action came on a day the governor swore in the nine pro-Wike commissioners, who had resigned their appointments in the heat of the crisis between the governor and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike.
Fubara, in a veiled reference to the circumstances that triggered the resignation of the commissioners, said they were caught in cross fire.
Other bills passed yesterday by the assembly in defiance of the governor’s veto were the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Amendment Law; the Rivers State Advertisement and Use of State Owned Property Prohibition Repeal Law and the Rivers State Funds Management and Financial Autonomy Law.
One other implication of the Local Government Amendment Law is that the state has to conduct local government election at the expiration of the three-year tenure of the current officials in the next two months.
Martins Wachukwu, Special Adviser on Media to Speaker Martin Amaewhule, said the House, at its 99th Legislative Sitting, bypassed the assent of the governor to the four bills following a letter from the governor justifying why he failed to sign the bills.
The governor, in the letter read on the floor of the House, argued that such amendments would create confusion and breach constitutional provisions.
However, the Speaker, citing Section 100(5) of the 1999 amended Constitution, said the House was empowered to override the governor in the event of the governor withholding assent.
The Speaker then put the issue before the House for members to vote.
Twenty-four of them, more than two-thirds majority, unanimously voted that the bills should become laws without Fubara’s assent.
The section says “where the Governor withholds assent and the bill is again passed by a two-thirds majority, the bill shall become a law and the assent of the Governor shall not be required.”
Amaewhule said the reasons adduced by the governor for withholding assent on the Local Government Amendment Bill were anticipatory and tailored towards creating a situation that would make holding election in the state impracticable.
“The key thing here is that this law removes the power of the Governor to appoint caretaker committee chairmen for the local governments. The governor is not happy that we’re removing his powers to appoint caretaker chairmen,” he said.
Amaewhule described the amendment to the Rivers State Traditional Rulers’ Law as innocuous and wondered why the governor declined assent.
He said the law was amended to include a resolution of the House in the recognition, de-recognition or suspension of traditional rulers in the state to curb arbitrariness.
On the repeal of the Rivers State Advertisement and Use of State-owned Property (Prohibition) Law No. 7 of 2022, the Speaker said that the House decided to repeal the law to avoid financially overburdening the people of the state or impeding their access to the use of state-owned facilities and regretted that the governor withheld assent to such people-oriented bills.
He said that the House would continue to strengthen democratic institutions and ethos in the state and instructed the Clerk of the House to ensure that copies of all the laws were transmitted to relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
You were caught in cross fire, Fubara tells returnee commissioners
Regardless of the development in the State Assembly, Fubara swore in the nine loyalists of Wike who had resigned as commissioners in the heat of the crisis.
Their re-instatement was part of the agreement reached at the Abuja peace talks brokered between the Fubara and Wike sides by President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking at the event yesterday, Fubara told them he had nothing against them and asked them to engage in activities that would make them to be positively remembered by posterity.
Observing that they had already read the charge as contained in their oath of office, Fubara in a statement signed by his Special Assistant, Media, Boniface Onyedi, enjoined them to uphold and defend the state’s laws.
He said: “I wish you well in your coming back. Stand for justice and stand for the interests of our dear state. That is the purpose of your appointment, and that is the truth.
“I can see how heavy your hearts are. But I assure you that I don’t have anything against anyone of you. You were caught in between during the crossfire.
“I will advise that you give your best. Like I said the first time, let this state and posterity remember you for what is good.”
With the inauguration of the returnee commissioners, it was observed that the governor had almost fulfilled the resolutions contained in the peace accord apart from an item which required him to re-present the Rivers 2024 Appropriation Bill to the House of Assembly led by Speaker Amaewhule.
Let’s forego our differences to develop Rivers, says Fubara
Also yesterday, Fubara, in a broadcast following his electoral victory at the Supreme Court, urged all stakeholders in the state to put aside their differences and unite to develop the state.
He told the people to expect accelerated growth and development of the state following an end to the legal battles challenging his election.
The litigation experience, he said, was a tortuous journey that had validated the choice and confirmed the mandate freely given to him by the electorate.
He said: “It is with great joy and total deference to the Almighty God that I address you after a tortuous legal journey following the governorship election in our state.
“It is with great nostalgia I reflect on your trust and the absolute confidence you bestowed on us on that fateful March 18, 2023 when you gave us your mandate.
“Even with that overwhelming support, we had to go through litigation to validate your choice and confirmation of your mandate to us.
“We are deeply elated by the verdict of the Supreme Court of our dear nation, which has finally affirmed our victory. I owe this victory not to my efforts or our ingenuity, but to God and to you the good people of Rivers State.”
Fubara also thanked President Bola Tinubu for playing the role of a father in Rivers, all Rivers leaders and well-meaning people of the state.
The governor said the Supreme Court judgment was an immeasurable energizer to accelerate governance with utmost sense of commitment for the benefit of Rivers people irrespective of political persuasion or ethnic affiliation.
He said: “In this regard, what is important to us is the accelerated growth and development of our dear state.
“Now that the litigations are over, we call on the opposition political parties in the state to join hands with our government to build the Rivers State of our dreams.
“I extend the olive branch to my contenders and all others who went through the hog and or who withdrew their cases for the love of the state.
“I believe we are all Rivers people and by virtue of that brotherhood, let us therefore put aside our differences and bond together to build one indivisible and greater Rivers State that posterity will remember us for.”
Rivers Elders/Leaders Forum, others hail him
The Rivers State Elders/Leaders Forum congratulated the governor on his victory and asked for the support of the people for him.
The forum in an eight-point communique hailed the apex court for “this excellent timeout determination of the electoral matters in Rivers State.”
It said: “The judgment has calmed the outstanding political tension in the state and indeed the Niger Delta.
“In this contest, there is no victor, no vanquished. All we crave for at this forum is the sanctity of the laws of the country and the Rule of Law.
“This judgment lays to rest the era of strong men, but protects and encourages strong and viable institutions.”
The Leader of Oyibo chapter of “Activate Sim”, a socio-political group in the state, Dr. Gift Okere, said the victory of Governor Fubara would engender development in the state.
Okere, while reacting on the judgment, reiterated the commitment of Oyibo people to continue in their support for all the programmes and activities of Governor Fubara, and called on every member of the state to throw their weights behind the Governor in the interest of the state.
“For us in Oyibo, the victory means a victory for Nigeria, democracy and Rivers State, particularly the progressive minded people of the state,” he said.
On his part, a rights activist and Convener Rivers Peace Initiative, Obinna Ebodigi, said the judgment marked a pivotal moment for the state, and urged parties to adopt the no-victor-no-vanquished option for peace and unity of the state.
He said: “Indeed the unfortunate activities of the last few weeks have left our state tensed and sharply polarized many Rivers people along party and ethic lines as have never been seen in our shared history.
“But as we navigate through the decision of the apex court today, it is important that we unite in a shared commitment to peace, understanding, and collective pursuit of justice for all.”
[TheNation]
Umahi violates Procurement Acts, pays N9.3 billion road project funds to Microfinance Bank – BudgIT Report
AdminTracka, BudgIT’s platform for monitoring service delivery, has alleged that the Minister of Works, David Umahi disbursed a total of N9.3 billion from the Federal Ministry of Works to FIMS Microfinance Bank Ltd, an apparent violation of the 2007 Public Procurement Act.
According to Tracka, the payment was made between June and December 2023 for 62 projects, including the construction of road projects across the country, amongst others.
Providing complete details of the transactions in its publication seen by Nairametrics, the projects include the payment of N1.4 billion construction of Yaba-Yangoje Road in the FCT, the payment of N1.2 billion for the rehabilitation of a 2km road from Oriawo-boroboro-oke-medina School of Science Road in Atiba, Oyo state as well the payment of N1.2 billion for the rehabilitation of Ejule-otukpo Road in Benue State, among others
The report claimed:
- “Some of these projects, as revealed on the Govspend platform, include the payment of N1.4 billion in September 2023 for the construction of Yaba-Yangoje road in the Federal Capital Territory; the payment of N1.2 billion in October 2023 for the rehabilitation of a 2km road from Oriawo-boroboro-oke-medina school of sci. road in Atiba, Oyo state; the payment of N1.2 billion in October 2023 for the rehabilitation of Kosoboawe junction road in Oyo East LGA in Oyo state; and the payment of N1.2 billion between August and November 2023 for the rehabilitation of Ejule-otukpo road in Benue State; to mention a few.”
Violation of the Public Procurement Acts
The 2007 public procurement Acts (as amended) specifically section 16 (6) (a) (i), (iii), and (iv) as they state that: All bidders in addition to requirements contained in any solicitation documents shall (a) possess the necessary: (i) professional and technical.
Qualifications to carry out particular procurements; (ii) financial capability; (iii) equipment and other relevant infrastructure; (iv) shall have adequate personnel to perform the obligations of the procurement contracts.
The disbursement, therefore, raises legality concerns, as FIMS Microfinance Bank Ltd is not recognized as an institution providing construction services within the country.
The report stated,
- “According to its mission statement and information on its website, FIMS Microfinance Bank Ltd. Was incorporated on December 11, 2009, to conduct microfinance businesses/services with a certificate of incorporation number RC 858800.
- “As a financial institution, the award of road construction contracts amongst others to this company is a violation of the Public Procurement Act 2007, specifically s.16 (6) (a) (i), (iii), and (iv) as they state that: All bidders in addition to qualifications to carry out particular procurements; (ii) financial capability; (iii) equipment and other relevant infrastructure; (iv) shall have adequate personnel to perform the obligations of the procurement contracts.”
More Insights
- According to BudgIT, Umahi has been sent a request to respond to the accusation.
- The report also noted that they urged “Bureau of Public Procurement to review the transactions for violations of the Public Procurement Act 2007 and met out appropriate sanctions for breaches where identified.”
- Furthermore, the organization called on anti-graft agencies, namely the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to investigate these payments thoroughly and prosecute any officers found guilty.
- “We call on the anti-graft agencies—the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC—to question and probe these payments and prosecute the erring officers,” the report added.
[Nairametrics]
•5th columnist, terror financiers deep in it
•How top Military men who tried to expose financiers of terrorists were eliminated
•Boko Haram financiers known by FG – Retired Military personnel
Insecurity in Nigeria has become an issue of grave concern to every Nigerian, with each passing day introducing new methods, more daring approaches and brazen displays of flagrant disregard for constituted authority, by violent non-state actors.
More worrisome is the continued spread of terrorism accentuated by the role of terror financiers.
Findings by Saturday Vanguard have revealed how some top Military officers who attempted to fight terrorists holistically were allegedly killed under questionable circumstances or had their plans botched.
Former CDS Badeh
One of them was the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, who served under former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, between 2014 and 2015 .
His vehicle was attacked on the evening of Tuesday, December 18, 2018 by gunmen on the Keffi- Abuja expressway, while returning from his farm.
Though two principal suspects who were linked to his murder, said he was killed during a robbery operation, revelations by his close lieutenants revealed that he was killed because he threatened to open a can of worms on activities of some government officials sponsoring terrorists in Nigeria.
Why he was killed
It would be recalled that while in office as CDS , in October 2014, terrorists briefly occupied his hometown in Vimtim, Adamawa State and killed one of his cousins who lived next door to his house. His house was burnt, including the hospital he built in memory of his late mother, for the community.
Irked by the terrorists’ effrontery, Saturday Vanguard was reliably informed that the General took some of his trusted lieutenants on a covert operation in Maiduguri.
Military sources said during the operation which lasted some days, he ran into some top government officials “as they were coming out of a meeting with Boko Haram Commanders, in the Nigerian Army underground Armory which was seized by Boko Haram.
“He exercised restraint and ordered us not to shoot. He took pictures of the scene which he never released to the government when he retired in July 2015, two months after Buhari assumed office as President..
Threat to expose sponsors
He was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on the directive of Buhari, over alleged misconduct established against some retired and serving officers in the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Army , of which late Badeh was included.
Sources alleged that Badeh’s inclusion was orchestrated by some government officials who got wind of the picture he took during the covert operation in Maiduguri. Sources further stated that he was never given the go-ahead to arrest or investigate those he saw with Boko Haram Commanders.
Sources said, “ Do you know he was assassinated because he threatened to expose government officials sponsoring terrorists in Nigeria? He threatened he would expose them at the next hearing in court. Before you knew it ,boom! He was assassinated.
“Till date , the only thing Nigerians were made to understand was that he was killed by robbers. If a whole General could be killed that way , then who is safe?
Fani Kayode’s view
In a press statement released by former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, on Badeh’s demise, he disclosed that it happened one month after the former CDS raised the alarm that two hooded men tried to break into his Asokoro house.
Part of the statement read: “ He knew many of the government’s excesses and secrets, he worked quietly against them from behind the scenes and, by his numerous actions and interventions, he saved the lives of many of his Middle Belt people.
“First it was Rear Admiral Daniel Ikoli, the Fleet Commander of the Western Naval Command, who reports suggest was conducting an investigation into secret arms sales to Boko Haram, that was assassinated.
“Then it was ex-Military Intelligence Chief and the former Director of Administration of Defence Headquarters, General Alkali, who was privy to a lot of damning information, that was assassinated.
“Then it was the ex-Chief of Defence Staff under whose leadership Boko Haram was annihilated, Air Vice Marshal Alex Badeh, that has been assassinated.
“All three of these worthy and noble warriors and sons of Nigeria were murdered in the last one year (2017-2018) and all three had quite a story to tell about what was really going on in certain circles in our country! I urge our people to ponder on this and to think, think and think again! ”, the statement read.
Botched attempt to end Boko Haram
These suspected financiers were reportedly responsible for the most botched attempt to address insurgency at its early stage during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure in office.
He did not mince words when he admitted during a church service at the National Ecumenical Centre as part of the annual Armed Forces remembrance day celebrations, that members of the extremist Boko Haram sect had succeeded in infiltrating his government and planting its members in government agencies and security outfits.
Western Military intervention frustrated
Sources disclosed that at that time, one of the Western countries’ Military which volunteered to help the Jonathan’s government annihilate terrorists, left in anger , after its planned operation was leaked to terrorists.
Saturday Vanguard learned that a meeting between some selected government officials, top Military officers and the foreign Military was held, after which a survey of the Sambisa forest was conducted to map out strategy on how to get the terrorists .
A retired General in the Nigerian Army who claimed to be privy of the information expressed shock that what was supposed to be a top secret operation was leaked to the terrorists.
The General who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “ After the survey of the Sambisa forest, the plan was to use ‘ humane warfare’ which involved the use of sleeping gas to stun everyone in the forest, capture them alive , separate abducted victims from the terrorists and take detailed profile of the terrorists to ascertain the exact terrorist group they belong .
“But to everyone’s amazement, on the day of the operation, when the drones were flown to the forest , all the terrorists were discovered to be wearing respirator masks! The foreign Military left in anger. To date, no one knows how the terrorists got wind of the sting operation, which some top Military officers weren’t privy to.
Sabotage
Between 2011 and 2014, some military hardware reportedly procured were alleged to be below standard . Sources revealed that the difficulty to procure weapons outside the country that would match those of the terrorists was attributed to hindrances from financiers of terrorists.
Even in the face of the war then, soldiers were killed like chickens due to the limited and unsophisticated weapons that could not match those of the enemies then.
Fifth columnist in Military
The Military is aware there are saboteurs from within its ranks, who connive with the terrorists by leaking operational road-maps and strategies to the insurgents which resulted in soldiers being ambushed and killed by terrorists.
These saboteurs as gathered willfully donate arms and ammunition, including armoured personnel carriers, APC to terrorists.
Just last year , a Nigerian Army Lance Corporal and instructor with the Nigerian Army Special Forces in Geidam, Yobe State, identified simply as Jubrin, committed suicide after he was exposed as a Boko Haram agent and collaborator.
An army intelligence unit was reported to have tracked Jibrin, who disappeared from his duty post to Gashua , where he was seen among the Boko Haram terrorists who had earlier attacked Geidam town, in Yobe community.
Similarly, another soldier was arrested with 162 rounds of 7.62 mm Special, 60 rounds of 7.62 mm NATO and IED materials concealed in a travelling bag without a valid Identity Card. Preliminary investigation further led to the recovery of one AK47 rifle, three empty magazines and one magazine loaded with 10 f 7.62 mm Special.
In other instances, two Nigerian soldiers, Sergeant Alhaji Oloche (05NA/56/1435) and Lance Corporal Namo Daniel (09NA/62/1097) attached to the Operation Yaki security outfit in Kaduna State, were arrested in March 2022 for alleged kidnapping.
Another soldier attached to Headquarters 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, PTE Danladi Hadau (20NA/79/4219), was arrested along with two vigilantes identified as Mustapha Kasim and Ibrahim Mohammed for collaborating with bandits. In this case, they were arrested while attempting to collect ransom around Dumbi Dutse Road, in Zaria, Kaduna State , after orchestrating the abduction of a resident of Dorayi village in the Zaria Local Government Area of the state, Alhaji Lawal Ahmed on March 3, 2022.
The immediate past Chief of Defense Staff , Gen Lucky Irabor, who expressed outrage over activities of such fifth columnists, revealed an increase in cases of aiding and abetting by personnel, in various Theatres of Operations, TOO, in a letter to Field and Operational Commanders of troops, titled, “Need to Educate Personnel on the Implications of Collaborating with the Enemy” and signed by Commodore CE Orji.
The arrests of these personnel are indicative of insider action that has continued to aid the adversary, pertinently with immediate or potential impact on Military operations.
Way forward
To end the senseless killings of Nigerians by terrorists , many senior security agents are of the view that the Federal Government should muster the political will to fish out financiers of terrorists , be they serving government officials or not.
One of such views was shared by former General Officer Commanding ,GOC 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj Gen Danjuma Ali-Keffi (rtd),in a recent interview , where he disclosed how he was arrested, detained and compulsorily retired, following the revelations of a presidential investigative task force he headed that exposed the involvement of senior government officials, a top banker, and top military brass in terrorism financing
He was quoted to say ”A syndicate, which had an extensive network in the country as well as being affiliated to an international criminal network, was at the centre of moving finances for terrorism for other criminal activities.
”The most worrisome aspect was that some of the individuals involved in terrorism financing of Boko Haram terrorists and who were also involved in procurement and movement of arms and ammunition for BH and other criminal organisations had links with the military.
“It was, thus, apparent that terrorism and insurgency in the North-East, North-West, and North-Central were a criminal enterprise and were largely undertaken with profit rather than any ideology, as the primary motive.
“Thus, we at the BOI arrived at the obvious conclusion that progress cannot be achieved except the financiers, collaborators, supporters and the leadership of the terrorists and insurgents groups are identified and the network dismantled”.
Government knows terror financiers
The notion that terror financiers are allegedly in government circles is not news to the Military and other security agents.
In 2021, Navy Commodore, Kunle Olawunmi(rtd) while barring his mind on insurgents attacks on the Nigerian Defence Academy,NDA during an interview with a television station, stated categorically that the fight against insurgency was beyond security agencies,
Like Ali-Keffi, he revealed that the centre of gravity of Boko Haram and insurgency in Nigeria were sponsors of the programme!
According to the retired operational Commander who served in the Military Intelligence for 35 years, ”When you have a problem at policy level, what you need to do is to identify the centre of gravity.
“If the President is changing Service Chiefs and buying Tocando, it is not the solution because it is not kinetic. The centre of gravity is what they should look at and that is the sponsors of Boko Haram.
“ When I worked with the DSS in 2007, I was surprised at the tremendous amount of information they had.
They had so much information about what I am talking about. If a fish is going to get spoiled, it must start from the head.
“It has to do with politics, the sponsors. Therefore 10 percent or 20 percent of casualty is allowed to achieve the end game
The end game for them is to just turn the country into a Taliban country. It is a mindset and anything goes.
The problem is not about the terrorists and bandits but the sponsors of Boko Haram are the problems.
“The defense headquarters can’t do anything about that because it lies within the policy strategic level. When they have a policy problem they can’t go beyond their masters. The Defense headquarters can’t conduct any operations that are not sanctioned by the Chief of Armed Forces. This government (previous government ) does not want to solve this problem ,they are escalating it because of tribal issues.
“The INTERPOL has a list of those sponsoring terrorists . The government of Dubai has a list of those people. During the trial of those people that were caught, names were mentioned.
“The government also told us they have arrested 400 sponsors of Boko Haram. Why won’t they try those people and bring peace and harmony to this country”, he asked.
Frustrations
Some security agents who spoke to Saturday Vanguard on the condition of anonymity said on several occasions , suggestions by committees set up by previous governments to end the war against insurgency were watered down due to counter opinions by those suspected to be sponsors of terrorists.
One of the suggestions as gathered was for the Federal Government to procure Blimps.
By the way , blimps are like airships used by the Military for various purposes such as surveillance, communication and transportation.
Sources said, “This equipment can fly some distance. They are used in Afghanistan and Kenya. This would have helped us with intelligence to know where these terrorists are, how they operate and where they go after their operations. This will help us in our operation.But till date, there had been no procurement”
A serving senior officer in one of the security agencies also expressed worry over the difficulty faced by heads of security agencies in the fight against terrorists.
He said, “ Most times when you journalists write, we laugh and shake our heads in pity because most Nigerians are bereft of the true position of things.
“ We are putting in our best to bring this fight to an end. But some saboteurs are frustrating our efforts, by working against decisions that would help tackle the menace. And if anyone acts otherwise , he will be taken off the lane. As it is, our hands are weakened”.
Those who spoke with Saturday Vanguard unanimously stated that except President Bola Tinubu musters the political will to fight this menace by fishing out terror financiers in Nigeria, his administration may end up like previous ones, with increasing killings of innocent and helpless Nigerians
Gunmen have kidnapped the deputy vice chancellor of the Abia State University, ABSU, Uturu, Prof. Godwin Emezue.
Emezue was said to have been abducted at a filling station near Amachara, in Umuahia South council area where he had gone to refill his tank, along with his wife.
Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that the gunmen numbering about three, had accosted the don at the station and dragged him into a waiting Lexus SUV jeep.
Vanguard gathered that the gunmen sped off towards the Abia- Imo border.
Police Public Relations Officer, Abia State Command, ASP Maureen Chinaka, was yet to respond to a text message and calls placed on her mobile number.
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.... President Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Fumio Kishida, Paul Kagame, Tony Elumelu, Sen. God's will Akpabio, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Apostle Dr Ken Nwakanma and others were winners of the GAMA Awards 2024.
The Quest for the Helpless Initiative, an NGO with passion to serve the interest of humanity. This NGO has taken the quest to help the less privilege in the society very seriously and also appreciating other NGOs and individuals doing same.
The Quest NGO Global Advancement Merit Award, GAMA, was born out of the need to honour people performing humanitarian service in the world. This award cut-across all walks of life, giving awards to all those who have done meritorious service for the advancement of humanity.
This year the award happens to have an expanded version with the addition of the Presidential and governor's humanitarian service awards. The award also recognizes other personalities who have distinguished themselves in the humanitarian field of service. This year's award saw the inclusion of dignitaries worldwide who have touched lives in humanitarian service.
The awards recipients is as follows:
Presidential Humanitarian Service Award
1. Rt. Hon Fumio Kishida
Prime Minister of Japan
Asian continent
2. President Paul Kagame
Rwanda President
African continent
3. Rt. Hon Anthony Albanese
Prime Minister of Australia
Australia continent
4. Rt. Hon Christopher Luxon
Prime Minister of New Zealand
Antarctica continent
5. President Emmanuel Macron
President of France
European continent
6. President Joe Biden
US President
North American continent
7. President Nayib Bukele
El Salvador President
CONTINENTAL HUMANITARIAN SERVICE AWARD
1. Mr. Tony Elumelu
Tony Elumelu Foundation
Nigeria- Africa
2. Mr. Adam's Abdullahi Basinu
UAE- Asian
3. Yvonne Chahhoud and Michael Tonbia
Hope Charitable Foundation
Australia- Australia continent
4. Mrs. Dame Jacinda Arden
Former Prime Minister of New Zealand
New Zealand- Antarctica
5. Robert Bosch Stiftung
Robert Bosch Stiftung foundation
Germany- Europe
6. Chuks Feeney
The Atlantic Philanthropist
America- North America
7. TECHO NGO
Chile- South America
PARLIAMENTARIANS/GOVERNOR'S HUMANITARIAN SERVICE AWARD
1. Senator Godswill Akpabio
Senate President Nigeria
2. Rt. Hon Tajudeen Abbas
Speaker House of Representatives
3. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori
Delta State governor
4. His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-lu
Governor of Lagos State
5. His Excellency Yusuf Abbas
Governor of Kaduna State
6. His Excellency Abdullahi Sule
Governor Nasarawa State
7. Rt. Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru
Governor of Ebonyi
8. His Excellency Babagana Zulum
Governor of Bornu State
INDIVIDUAL HUMANITARIAN SERVICE STAR AWARD
1. Honourable Festus Keyamo,SAN, FCIArb
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
2. Apostle Dr. (Amb.) Ken Nwakanma
3. Mr. Victor I.
CEO Visco Communication Limited
4. Hon Jonathan Onoriode Evwierhurhoma
CEO TESCO Engineering
Former Aspirant Delta State House of Assembly
5. Mr. Andy Kor
CEO
6. Chief Kayode Ajayi Akeogun
7. Mr. Oladele Daniel Jarba
8. Mrs. Jennifer Atalakpa
9. Mrs. Titilayo Gabriel
10. Mr. Odogwu Collins
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST OF THE YEAR
1. Comerade Ustauz Dawood
2. Mrs. Jennifer Atalakpa
A quick look from the foregoing, it is very evident, all these persons have one way or the other in humanitarian service to humanity.
The Quest for the Helpless Initiative NGO board of Trustees said, after thorough scrutiny and voting process the winners were indeed deserving. The results of the 2024 winners was announced on the 26th January, 2024. According to the Chairman of the NGO, Mr. Sunday Silver Evwierhurhoma the award was was done on merit and all the recipients have met the NGO's standard requirements and have been awarded accordingly.
He also express hope that the year 2025 GAMA Awards, more efforts will be put into it and the lapses noticed in this particular award will be corrected. He congratulated all the winners and said the NGO considers it a thing of joy to be giving the winners the awards.
The award gala night comes up in a later date yet to be announced by the board of trustees. The Quest for the Helpless Initiative NGO will communicate the date to all winners to be present to receive their awards, the Secretary said.
A New York City jury awarded $83.3m to E Jean Carroll in her defamation trial against Donald Trump on Friday.
Carroll will receive $18.3m in compensatory damages and $65m in punitive retribution. The former president is paying Carroll compensatory damages of $18.3m – $11m to fund a reputational repair campaign. The $7.3m is for the emotional harm caused by Trump’s 2019 public statements. Carroll and her legal team were beaming as they left court in a black SUV. They did not answer questions immediately after court let out.
Moments after the decision was announced, Trump decried it as “absolutely ridiculous” on Truth Social, and said he would be filing an appeal.
“I fully disagree with both verdicts, and will be appealing this whole Biden Directed Witch Hunt focused on me and the Republican Party,” Trump wrote. “Our Legal System is out of control, and being used as a Political Weapon. They have taken away all First Amendment Rights. THIS IS NOT AMERICA!”
The Manhattan federal court decision comes less than one year after Carroll won $5m in her sexual abuse and defamation trial against Trump.
This sum stems from Carroll’s rape claim against the president in a June 2019 New York magazine article. The publication ran an excerpt of her then-forthcoming book, What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal.
In that excerpt, Carroll said that Trump raped her inside the dressing room of a luxe Manhattan department store around early 1996. The tenor of Trump’s denials – saying, for example, that she lied and was a political operative – became the subject of her 2019 defamation suit against him.
At the time, Carroll could not sue Trump over the alleged assault, as it would have taken place outside the civil statute of limitations. A novel New York state law in 2022, the Adult Survivors Act, opened a one-year window for adult accusers to file suit for incidents outside the civil statute of limitations.
Carroll filed another lawsuit, this one over the incident and defamatory statements after Trump’s presidency ended. This lawsuit proceeded to trial first and the judge in both cases, Lewis Kaplan, determined jurors’ findings – that Trump sexually abused Carroll and tarnished her reputation – would be accepted as fact in this trial.
As a result, Trump could not re-litigate her sexual abuse claim. The jurors were tasked only with weighing financial penalties for damaging Carroll’s reputation – and the sum required to keep Trump from making still more defamatory statements.
“I’m here because Donald Trump assaulted me, and when I wrote about it, he said it never happened,” Carroll said on the stand. “He lied, and it shattered my reputation. I expected him to deny it, but to say it was consensual, when it was not. But that’s what I expected him to say.”
She continued: “The thing that really got me about this was, from the White House, he asked if anyone had any information about me, and if they did, to please come forward as soon as possible, because he wanted the world to know what’s really going on – and that people like me should pay dearly.”
Trump did not attend Carroll’s first trial but made appearances at the second – marking the first time she confronted him publicly in a courtroom. Trump’s comportment during the courtroom showdowns was in keeping with his infamously bombastic behavior, prompting warnings from the judge.
“Mr Trump has the right to be present here. That right can be forfeited, and it can be forfeited if he is disruptive, which is what has been reported to me, and if he disregards court orders,” Kaplan warned.
“Mr Trump, I hope I don’t have to consider excluding you from the trial … I understand you are probably very eager for me to do that.”
“I would love it, I would love it,” Trump retorted with a gesture.
“I know you would, you just can’t control yourself in this circumstance, apparently,” Kaplan said.
The end stages of this trial were also marked by another hallmark of Trump’s legacy: Covid-related chaos. On 22 January, trial proceedings were postponed as one juror experienced coronavirus symptoms; his leading attorney, Alina Habba, also told judge Kaplan that she felt unwell and had been exposed to Covid.
Trump did take the stand on 25 January. Kaplan restricted the scope of her questions and his responses, as per his prior ruling that he could not re-litigate her claims.
Habba was allowed to ask: “Do you stand by your testimony in the deposition?”
“One hundred percent, yes,” he said, referring to the deposition in which he denied her claims.
“Did you deny the allegation because Ms Carroll made an accusation?”
“That’s exactly right. She said something, I consider it a false accusation. No difference,” Trump retorted. This sparked an objection from Carroll’s camp. Kaplan said that everything after “yes, I did” was stricken.
“Did you ever instruct anyone to hurt Ms Carroll in your statements?”
“No. I just wanted to defend myself, my family, and frankly, the presidency,” Trump said. Carroll’s team objected again. Kaplan deemed that everything after “no” be stricken, so jurors were ordered to disregard this statement.
In total, Trump’s direct and cross testimony lasted about two or three minutes.
NCAA Grounds Mattini Airline Services Limited, Begins Audit After Runway Incident at Ibadan Airport
AdminThe Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the license of Mattini Airline Services Limited and launched a comprehensive audit of private jet operators following a runway excursion incident involving one of its planes at Ibadan Airport on Thursday.
A Challenger CL 601 jet operated by Mattini Airline under a Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) veered off the runway while landing at Ibadan Airport on January 26, according to a statement by the NCAA.
The regulatory agency said it has commenced an economic inquiry into Mattini Airline’s adherence to its PNCF terms and conditions. Consequently, the airline’s PNCF has been suspended pending confirmation of compliance.
Additionally, the NCAA has kicked off a sweeping audit of all private jet operations in the country – scrutinizing both safety and economic aspects.
The incident is also being investigated by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau to identify contributing factors.
NCAA Director of Public Affairs, Michael Achimugu, said the actions underscore the organization’s commitment to prioritizing safety and maintaining confidence in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
The increased oversight follows repeated incidents and violations involving private jet operators in Nigeria over the past year.
No fewer than 140 officials will track and assess the performance of federal ministries, departments, and agencies ahead of the first assessment exercise at the end of this month.
This is as the officials joined the third technical retreat for delivery desk officers of federal ministries on the implementation of presidential priorities and ministerial deliverables in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, which began on Wednesday.
A senior official working closely with the Central Delivery Coordination Unit headed by the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Mrs Hadiza Bala-Usman, revealed that the officers, who would conduct the assessment, were drawn from 35 federal government ministries, departments and agencies.
“It will involve a permanent secretary and directors of planning and other officials, four each from 35 ministries. They are considering the modalities of the assessment, the key performance indicators and the reporting mechanisms and all of those,” the official who did not want to be mentioned told one of our correspondents.
At the retreat, Bala-Usman echoed President Bola Tinubu’s words to participants when she warned that her principal would sack ministers who failed to perform their duties.
She noted that Tinubu was poised to deliver on his promise of making life better and easier for Nigerians.
Calling for the total commitment of delivery officers and directors of planning in ministries, Bala-Usman said, “We must understand that the President is very serious about his promises and that ministers will be assessed, and ministers will be dropped if they don’t perform.
“You must understand that as ministerial delivery desk officers, you are the engine room that will provide that feedback, constantly track ministerial progress, and report challenges and bottlenecks to the central coordinating and delivery unit.”
The presidential aide, who dove into the specifics, explained, “In the Ministry of Aviation, we will be assessing FAAN on customer experience at the airports; are the escalators, lifts, and conveyor belts functional?
“What are the consequences of delayed time of departure for airlines? These are things that everybody can feel and see.
“When talking about agriculture, we want to see our index of fertiliser use per hectare grow because of the attendant investment that has been made in fertiliser interventions.”
On October 17, 2023, Bala-Usman said her office would begin a quarterly assessment of the performance of the 48 ministers (now 47) appointed by the President by January 2024.
She said January would be the best period to begin the exercise as all the ministries would have received their budgets for the 2024 fiscal year.
“We’re looking to commence an assessment of the respective ministries in January 2024. We’re going to have a quarterly assessment of performance, which will culminate into an annual scorecard,” the former boss of the Nigerian Ports Authority explained in an interview on TVC.
She said the annual scorecard would be reviewed during periodic retreats where performances would be assessed against key performance indicators.
The three-month period for the first evaluation will follow a three-day cabinet retreat for ministers and presidential aides, which was held from November 1 to 3, 2023, where ministers signed a performance bond with the President.
The bond signed by each minister and permanent secretaries detailed the deliverables each ministry plans to achieve within the 2024 budget cycle.
“That performance bond is what we’re going to use to track the performance of the ministers,” Bala-Usman had said.
Lawyers, CSOs comment
Commenting on the development, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome, said the performance review of the ministers should not be the priority of the government as the nation was in a dire strait.
He stated, “This President should be one in a hurry. This country is battered and tattered. The country is bleeding. The people are downtrodden. There is anger and melancholy. There is poverty. There is agony. Nigerians are crying and in abject penury. There is gnashing of teeth across the divides in Nigeria.
“How can a bag of rice be selling at over N55,000 and the Presidency is talking about assessing ministers? Take a look at the naira that is currently in a free fall because we are subjected to neo-colonial dictates from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
“To me, it is a case of ‘Physician heal thyself’ as the President is trying to heal the ministries. To assess a minister is to know the deliverables. What benchmark did the President set when he appointed the ministers? What was in the All Progressives Congress manifesto as to their deliverables?
“Since the ministers were sworn in more than six months ago, what have they done? If we take the Ministry of Works, for instance, it will be easy to assess how many roads have been constructed or started or earmarked for commencement. But, for other ministries like special duties; how will they be assessed?
“As for the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Humanitarian Affairs, how will they assess them? Where is all the money that has been pumped to alleviate poverty? Why is there so much poverty in the land? What number of Nigerians has been brought out of poverty? What are the verifiable indices to show that this has been done? I have already seen some ministers who are not performing at all. Some of them are just there like onlookers.”
On his part, Chief Yomi Alliyu (SAN), faulted the move, saying, “In the first instance, I don’t see how anyone will assess a minister. The criteria are bound to be subjective rather than objective. This is because ministers are not really the ones working in the ministries. They are just policymakers. The civil servants are the ones who will implement policies. In that instance, it is the members of the public who can assess whether a minister is working or not.
“A minister could be hyperactive and corrupt. We have seen ministers use their former companies as pipes to siphon government money from another ministry and some of them are still serving.
“You will not say because a minister has some media hype, he will score well and perform. Sometimes, it is not the people that you hear of who are the performers in this country. Nobody can evaluate any minister other than members of the public.”
Also reacting, another senior lawyer, Mr Ebun Adegboruwa (SAN), stated that it was PresidentTinubu himself who needed to be assessed.
“I don’t think the President has the moral justification for such an assessment. It is the President himself who needs an assessment. The ministers have no direct responsibility to the people of Nigeria. They were not the ones elected. The buck stops on the President’s table. Is it for the insecurity, inflation, or the collapse of the exchange and forex regime?” he queried.
Civil Society Organisations called on Tinubu to suspend ministers who underperform or are found to be enmeshed in corrupt practices.
The Chairman of Civil Society Organisations in Rivers State, Enafaa Georgewill, made the call in an interview with one of our correspondents, adding that ministers could be likened to employees who should be held accountable when necessary.
Georgewill stated, “The President can be likened to an employer and if an employer employs an employee and the employee is not performing as expected, he who hired them should fire them and where there is a need for caution, disciplinary action like suspension and other reprimand actions should be taken.
“Until those in authority, and in this case, the President, begin to instil discipline and real governance, as well as social welfare, we will not be able to make real progress. So, yes, the President has the power to reprimand ministers and he should use it.”
The Director of Youths for Change, Taiwo Oyayinka, urged the President to ensure the dismissal of underperforming ministers as he had earlier promised.
He said, “President Tinubu promised us last year that ministers who underperform would be dismissed; he should stand by this charge. Corrupt ministers should be flushed out of the system.
“Such an action will serve as a deterrent to others. There should be no sacred cow in power. All those found culpable should be suspended or dismissed.”
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Segun Sowunmi, said the assessment of ministers was a novel idea, but noted that such an endeavour must be holistic.
He said, “This is the first time we have heard that ministers are going to be accessed and that there will be consequences after the assessment, but you know anything with government, especially in our country, it is always better for you to exercise some caution because if you celebrate early, you may just end up disappointed.
“On the surface, it is a good idea; maybe it will help us scale up service delivery. Also, maybe the report of the assessment can serve as a benchmark either for the others or people who will be taking government office.”
The National Secretary of New Nigeria People’s Party, Mr Oladipupo Olayokun, “I think that is the normal thing to do because when you give someone an assignment, you should periodically assess his performance because don’t forget that the President told Nigerians that the ministers would be assessed. It is a departure from what we witnessed in the past eight years, especially given what Nigerians are experiencing under this government.”
The National Director, Media and Publicity of the Labour Party, Dr Yunusa Tanko, said, “Any minister found wanting shows he or she is not qualified to serve the country. If the President wants to begin to screen his aides, that means he must have presented himself for screening ab initio. He does not have a locus standi to start screening people because if they were screened ab initio, we would have known about their credentials.”