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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the Abubakar Ahmad Sirika, the brother of Hadi Sirika, the immediate past Aviation Minister over an alleged contract fraud in the aviation ministry.
Abubakar was picked up by the anti-graft agency on Sunday, February 4 following an investigation in the Aviation Ministry.
During his tenure as minister, Sirika faces allegations including conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, contract inflation, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering totaling N8,069,176,864.
The Commission stated that the amount in question is related to four aviation contracts awarded by the former minister to a company called Engirios Nigeria Limited, which is owned by his younger brother.
In addition to being designated as the MD/CEO of the company, Abubakar is the only signatory to its two accounts, which are maintained in Zenith and Union banks, according to the agency.
Contract Awarded to Sirika’s Company
- Sources within the EFCC disclosed that Sirika granted the contracts to his brother fully aware that Abubakar is a civil servant serving as a deputy director on Level 16 at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, a position he has held since 2000.
- The first of the disputed contracts granted by the ex-minister to Engirios Nigeria Limited was on August 18, 2022, involving the construction of a Terminal Building at Katsina Airport, with a total cost of N1,345,586,500.
- The second was awarded on November 3, 2022 for the establishment of Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre in Katsina Airport, valued at N3.8 billion.
- The third contract, signed on February 3, 2023, involved the procurement and installation of lifts, air conditioners, and a power generator’s house at Aviation House in Abuja, with a total cost of N615 million.
- Meanwhile, the fourth contract, awarded on May 5, 2023, was for the procurement of Magnus Aircraft and a simulator for the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology in Zaria, totaling N2.2 billion.
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- According to reports, the former minister allegedly disbursed N3.2 billion to his brother’s company, Engirios Nigerian Limited, which subsequently transferred the funds to various entities and individuals.
- Despite this transaction, there is no evidence of any work being carried out on the contracted items to date.
- Abubakar Sirika is presently held in EFCC custody, where he is offering supplementary information concerning the financial dealings of the ministry, all under the supervision of his older brother, Hadi Sirika.
[Nairametrics]
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday nullified a criminal charge preferred against a former Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosu, and two others over alleged N21.5 billion money laundering.
DAILY POST reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had re-arraigned the defendants on an amended 13-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N21.5 billion.
Justice Aneke on Tuesday upheld a preliminary objection by the defence counsel challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case on the grounds that the defendants were serving officers of the military at the time.
It had argued that the defendants were, therefore, only subject to trial by a court martial, since they were still officers during the period.
[DailyPost]
Operatives of Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSNL) owned by former freedom fighter, Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo, in collaboration with security personnel, have arrested another vessel for crude oil theft in Bayelsa State.
The vessel MT Harbour Spirit, with IMO No. 8226272, is anchored at the Tantita facility in Oporoza.
Details shortly…
[TheNation]
Former Kaduna Senator, Shehu Sani, has said the peaceful protest embarked on by Niger residents in Minna on Monday was a message for President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
Vanguard recalls that women and youths flooded the roundabout in the Pkakungu area of Minna to express their grievances over the economic hardship they are grappling with.
Some of the protesting men blocked the road, disrupting vehicular movement, as efforts by the police to stop the demonstration were abortive.
It took the intervention of the Deputy Governor of the state, Yakubu Garba, who addressed them for normalcy to return to the city.
Reacting to the incident, Sani, on his X account said the protest was a call for immediate impactful measures to address the epidemic poverty in the country.
The ex-federal lawmaker also disclosed that peaceful demonstration is within the scope of the rights of the citizens.
“The protest in Minna, Niger State against the high cost of living falls within the ambit of the right to peaceful dissent,” Sani wrote.
“Protest against the cost of living was also done in other European cities experiencing economic pains. “The protest is simply a message and a call for immediate and impactful measures to address the problems of the epidemic of poverty in the country,” he added.
[Vanguard]
Former Senate Minority Leader and senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has blamed the arrest and continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, by the Federal Government for the rising insecurity in the South East.
Speaking at an event in Enugu, he noted that while attempts were on to find solution to the crisis, it was also important to look into other issues affecting the zone, including the worsening economic activities and politics.
He described some security issues in the region as contrived; thereby making it seem as if they cannot be tackled by the security agents.
He called for a paradigm shift in the zone in all aspects to return to the past glory.
Abaribe said: “As much as we know that we cannot do anything without security, I posit that we must, while dealing with insecurity (some of which are contrived) also start to discuss some other pressing issues within our polity.
“I say contrived because it is obvious that it is the general malaise in our society today that makes it seem as if insecurity cannot be tackled by our various security agencies.
“We have reached the point where we, as Ndigbo must heed the clarion call for a total paradigm shift. When I say shift, I mean both in governance trajectory, cultural/traditional reappraisal, business/commercial practices (including our famed apprenticeship system or i gba boi), and most importantly our economic orientation and political alignments.
“Ndigbo are progressives. We are development conscious. More than that, we have always been a people who do not depend on others to drive growth. All we have always needed was to come together as a people, and drive growth. This is evident in the preponderance of town unions, village development associations etc. which we have leveraged on to provide development for our communities.
“These loose associations are today, pivotal to most development strides in our communities and of course, these efforts have expanded to the areas of community security associations to complement government efforts.
“While we acknowledge that we have been given the short end of the stick in the Nigerian project, we must pull ourselves up, stop moaning about how badly we have been treated by Nigeria and embrace the Igbo adage: ‘onye ajuru aju, anaghi aju onwe ya.’ We have done it before, and we can do it again, if we commit to it.”
The vocal senator urged the Igbo to stop complaining and confront the reality with all the tact and zeal, adding that they did not consolidate on their previous successes.
“Our progress going forward must now be dependent on how we use this self-rediscovery.
“Yes, Ndigbo today have insecurity issues, but it was not the case in the recent past. Today’s insecurity started from the Nnamdi Kanu/IPOB saga in 2021. Did the economic downturn in the South-East start from that date? The answer is a resounding no,” he declared.
The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has adjourned the trial of Ali Bello and his co-defendant, Dauda Suleiman, until Tuesday to continue hearing a charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice James Omotosho adjourned the matter after Edward Bannada, EFCC’s second prosecution witness, was cross-examined and re-examined by counsel for the defence and prosecution.
While A.M. Aliyu, SAN, appeared for the first defendant, Mr Bello, Nureini Jimoh, SAN, represented Mr Suleiman, the second defendant in the suit, FHC/ABJ/CR/550/2022.
While being cross-examined by Mr Jimoh with respect to the evidence he tendered (statements of accounts), Mr Bannada, an official of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), said he could not remember seeing the names of the two defendants as beneficiaries who made withdrawals from the bank statements tendered.
He, however, confirmed that Abdulsalam Hudu made most of the withdrawals from the account statements.
The witness also stated that he played no role in the entries in the statements of account and only became a witness in the matter due to EFCC’s invitation.
Mr Bannada also confirmed that the cash transactions of the Kogi State Government and the Kogi State Government House Administration, as seen in the statements of account, were majorly inflow of security funds and the cash withdrawal of the inflow, which did not contradict the cash withdrawal policy of the CBN, the bank or any law.
He also confirmed that the withdrawal by Mr Hudu did not exceed the limit of the security fund lodgement.
When the anti-corruption agency’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, attempted to re-examine the witness on the issue of the absence of the name of Messrs Bello and Suleiman on the statements of account and the operation of a computer, the court overruled him.
The matter was consequently adjourned until February 6 for trial continuation.
The EFCC had, on December 15, 2022, arraigned Mr Bello, a nephew of former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello and Mr Suleiman, on a 10-count charge of alleged misappropriation and money laundering.
The anti-graft body claimed the duo, alongside Mr Hudu, a cashier at the Kogi State House who is at large, withdrew N10.2 billion from the state’s treasury for personal use.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has said that President Bola Tinubu is behind every development he is bringing to the nation’s capital
Wike said this during the flag-off of the construction of a 5km dual carriageway in Kuje Area Council of the FCT.
The former Rivers helmsman said the road project was part of efforts to rekindle the hope of the people and reassure them that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu means well for the FCT.
He said the FCT Administration has been lucky to have the support of the President, who is sparing nothing to ensure that all residents reaped the dividends of democracy, adding that the FCTA has no excuse not to perform.
According to the Minister, “I want to say that Mr. President is fully in support of us and his mandate is very clear to the Hon. Minister of State and my humble self.
“When you people are saying that the Minister of State and my humble self are working, it’s because we have a President who gives us anything we want.
“He has given us the support and so we have no excuses to give but to let the people know that Mr. President is behind everything we are doing.
“Every request we have made, Mr. President has always given to us. So, for us, we don’t have any excuse not to do what we are supposed to do.”
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has identified poverty and unemployment as responsible for the security challenges bedeviling the North-West region of the country.
He said that the best way to tackle the challenges was through good governance.
The governor made the observation in Kaduna on Monday while receiving members of the Kaduna State Elders Forum who paid him a congratulatory visit over his victory at the Supreme Court.
He stated that as the Kaduna State government intensified military actions against banditry and kidnapping with the support of the Defence Headquarters, his government was also adopting good governance as the best non-kinetic solution to the security challenges.
Sani lamented the alarming rate of out of school children, stressing that it must be addressed to ensure a secured state and region.
According to the Governor, “the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army and the Chief of Air Staff have assured us of their support to our security efforts.
“They have decided to set up two Forward Operation Bases (FOB) in Kaduna, one in Southern Kaduna, Zangon Kataf to be precise and the other one in Birnin Gwari to serve Birnin Gwari down to Giwa. The FOBs will be set up in the next three weeks.”
He explained that it was one of the most important interventions by the Defence Headquarters.
He said he would be signing the bill for the establishment of the Security Trust Fund, 2024.
The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, in Jigawa State have collectively rejected the N10,000 wage award proposed by the state government as a palliative in response to the removal of fuel subsidy.
The rejection was communicated in a press statement issued after a meeting of the Organized Labour in the state held in Dutse, the state capital.
The joint statement, signed by the state chairmen and secretaries of NLC and TUC, described the state government’s announcement of the wage award as premature, asserting that no agreement had been reached on the matter.
The statement mentioned that the NLC Salary Negotiation Committee had engaged in prolonged negotiations with the state government committee, presenting various submissions without receiving any response.
The Organized Labour expressed surprise at the state Commissioner for Information, Youth, and Culture, Hon Sagiru Musa’s announcement of the N10,000 wage award for three months.
“It is important for the general public to note that the Organized Labour has not signed any Memorandum of Understanding with the Jigawa State Government on the N10,000 wage award; the Negotiation Committee is yet to conclude its assignment,” the statement clarified.
However, when contacted for comments, the state’s Head of Service, Muhammad K. Dagacire, stated that the NLC Negotiation Committee was fully aware of the decision taken by the state government regarding the palliative measures for the workers.
Dagacire explained that the agreement included a three-month wage award, distribution of food palliatives, and provision of farm inputs, including lands, for every civil servant.
“So it is surprising to hear this story from you on the said NLC’s rejection of N10,000.
“Our interventions to workers to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal are of three stages and Governor Malam Umar Namadi is committed to fulfilling all,” he stated.
Amid the recent surge in security threats in the Southwest, the Oodua Youth Coalition has urged the Generalissimo of Yoruba land, Gani Adams, to fulfil the responsibilities of his office and safeguard the region.
Describing the recent attacks in the region as alarming, the coalition emphasized the urgency of addressing the killings of Yoruba monarchs and the abduction of schoolchildren by gunmen.
In an open letter addressed to Gani Adams, the President of the coalition, Tayo Oluyi, highlighted that Yorubaland has historically been defended by its people.
Consequently, the Aare Ona Kakanfo must exemplify the wisdom of their ancestors by taking a proactive stance and leading from the forefront in the face of current challenges.
The letter urged Gani to emulate the legacy of past Yoruba warriors and leaders and lead efforts to coordinate security-interest groups in safeguarding the region.
“I am writing with deep concern regarding the escalating insecurity in Yoruba land. Recent events in the Southwestern states indicate a disturbing trend of invasion by individuals whose sole purpose is to disrupt the peace of our people.
“The untimely demise of two Yoruba monarchs, Oba Olatunde Olusola of Imojo and Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin, the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, at the hands of gunmen within Ekiti borders, as well as the abduction of pupils from Apostolic Faith Nursery and Primary School in Emure-Ekiti, and the alarming explosion in Ibadan linked to foreign miners, are distressing occurrences that demand urgent attention and decisive action.
“Throughout history, the Yoruba people have upheld the tradition of securing their territory, with warriors rising to confront transgressors threatening the peace.
“Recognising that security is a collective responsibility, I implore you, as the Generalissimo of Yoruba land, to rise to the occasion and find ways to complement the government’s efforts in securing our homeland.
“Aare, the time has come to emulate the legacy of Kurumi, Ojo Iberu, Aare Latoosa, and MKO Abiola, who made significant contributions to fortifying the unity and security of our people.
“It is crucial to lead from the front, coordinating security-interest groups across the zones to quell the activities of marauders endangering our peace.
“I sincerely hope you heed this call and fulfil the responsibilities of your esteemed office as the Generalissimo of the Yoruba race,” the letter stated.
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The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has assured Nigerians that the hard times being faced is temporary and will soon be over.
She gave the assurance during a meeting with wives of 36 State Governors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday.
Mrs Tinubu said times like this calls for sober reflection, saying that all hands must be on deck to ensure that the country overcome its challenges.
She said: “Times like this calls for sober reflection, hence, all hands must be on deck. Moreover, the hardship situation is temporary, it will soon fade away.
“The mission of the RHI is driven by my office to complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Tinubu.”
She said Women Agricultural Support Programme (WASP), under her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) will empower 20 farmers each, from five states in the South East Zone.
“These farmers will get N500,000 each and a total draft of N10m will be given to five RHI states’ coordinators as the case may be.
“The National Agricultural Land Development Authority in partnership with the RHI will support an additional 80 female farmers from each state with the provision of training and capacity building and agricultural inputs.
“We will buy-off all produce from the farms after harvest,’’ she said.
The First Lady said she would soon launch “Young Farmers Club’’ in public schools across the nation to encourage farming among young population.
She said schools with the best farms would be identified, and prizes would be given to them, ranging from school renovations, equipping of school science laboratories, provision of ICT equipment and upgrading of school libraries.
..misses Super Eagles trip to Bouake
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen could miss the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final against South Africa after failing to travel with the rest of the squad from Abidjan to Bouake.
Nigeria face rivals South Africa in the first semi-final of the competition on Wednesday in Bouake for a place in Sunday’s final.
In a statement released by the Super Eagles media team, Osimhen will be monitored in Abijdan while the rest of the squad head to Bouake where they will take on South Africa.
“We will fly from Abidjan to Bouaké today via a 10pm Air Cote d’Ivoire flight,” an official statement from the team on Monday night says.
“Victor Osimhen will not join us on this trip as a result of an abdominal discomfort.
“Team medics confirmed that he has been placed under close watch with a member of the medical team staying behind in Abidjan with him.
“If cleared by tomorrow morning, he will join the rest of the squad before 5pm.”
Osimhen has started in all of Super Eagles’ five matches in Cote d’Ivoire, scoring one goal and chalking up one assist.
Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP) has attributed the increased prices of drugs in the country to the high cost of diesel and forex.
This is even as the association has voiced grave concern over the detrimental implications of the current economic climate on the country’s import and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals.
NAIP chairman, Kenneth Onuegbu, in an interview with LEADERSHIP, hinted that if the government did not move to address these two pressing problems – the high price of fuel and the lack of foreign exchange – Nigerian pharmaceutical companies may find it more difficult to supply essential drugs at affordable rates.
Outlining the key challenges faced by the pharmaceutical sector, Onuegbu said, “We have insecurity issues, and how to get the medication from the point of production to the final consumer is another challenge that we have not been able to solve. To access forex is a big challenge. The process can take a year to get the CBN-subsidised rate, hence, we resort to the black market. We buy dollars at the rate of N1,300.00 which automatically affects production.
“If we don’t do something about it, there is going to be a scarcity of essential medicines. We must call for the domestication of medications to reduce the production cost.”
He further pointed out that the environment is over-regulated.
“Our regulations ought to have a Nigeria face; we cannot be promoting local production when you are making it difficult for them to start.
“Government needs to tackle insecurity, epileptic power supply, forex and a host of others if they really want pharmaceutical companies to survive in this country,” he said.
Also, the president, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Prof. Cyril Usifoh, told LEADERSHIP that it was extremely crucial that Nigeria produce its Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) used in the production of drugs, to cut down the cost of drugs.
According to him, without APIs, drugs cannot be produced.
Usifoh claimed that all pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria import APIs to produce their drugs locally.
The PSN president expressed concern over the high cost of medicines as it affects the common man, while calling on the government to provide an enabling environment for local production of drugs.
He said, “When you provide an enabling environment, assuming we get the issue of energy right, that will reduce the cost of production drastically. Also, if we have our petrochemicals such as APIs, we will even sell drugs to other West African countries, thereby increasing our internal foreign exchange earnings.
“So, I think telling us to look inward will help us. By the time there is increased local production,that will also help. I think NAFDAC is working judiciously on that, that is why they will always tell you that if you import drugs, after three or five years, you should be able to get the infrastructure to make sure that we produce in the country and when you do so, that will affect foreign exchange and employment.”
However, Usifoh hinted that the federal government was working closely with pharmaceutical companies towards increasing local production.
“They dialogue with pharmaceutical companies so that we meet some of these and bring the cost of drugs down. When there is medical security, we can guarantee what is happening, not like what happened during the COVID era; if it happens now, it’s going to be disastrous.”
Meanwhile, the federal government has disclosed that it will be partnering with the private sector to boost local production of drugs to 60 per cent.
The special adviser to the president on Health, Dr Salma Ibrahim Anas, who disclosed this at a conference, in Lagos, averred that the Tinubu-led administration is focusing on medical industrialisation.
There was heavy traffic gridlock in some parts of Lagos on Monday as motorists formed long queues outside the forecourts of filling stations on what appeared may herald a fresh scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit.
One of our correspondents observed along the Ikorodu Road axis how motorists endured an unusually heavy gridlock due to a long queue of motorists waiting to buy petrol at filling stations. Also, the Total Filling station at the Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way had queues which led to heavy tariff around the Ikeja axis.
Our correspondent also noticed that many of the filling stations along the Ikeja axis, through Obafemi Awolowo Road in Ikeja were shut.
Meanwhile, some motorists had begun to hike the prices of their fares due to the development.
A commercial transport operator plying the Unilag-Jibowu axis in Yaba one of told our correspondents that he was forced to hike his fees after waiting for hours to buy fuel.
The commercial transport operator, who refused to disclose his name said, “Do you know how long it took me to buy fuel today? Anybody who doesn’t want to enter should stay out.”
Our correspondent also observed that all the filling stations along Ogunnusi Road inbound Berger did not also sell petrol to customers.
It is not immediately clear why fuel queues have resurfaced in Lagos.
Meanwhile, our correspondents gathered that the queues were noticeable in major filling stations considered to be selling at lower rates.
It was gathered that a number of filling stations owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway did not dispense fuel too.
The National Vice Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Hammed Fashola, said he was aware of the queues in some filling stations in Lagos.
However, Fashola said the queues might be due to panic-buying on the part of customers.
“I am not in Lagos as we speak. But I heard about it too that there are queues in Lagos. It may just be panic buying. I am not sure there is fuel scarcity. People are just panicking. However, I will find out what the problem is,” Fashola said.