FUEL SUBSIDY: EFCC RECOVERS N13BN ILLEGAL PAYMENTS
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered about N13bn as proceeds of illegal payments made under the subsidy regime between 2017 and 2021.
This was based on the National inherent risk assessment of money laundering and terrorist financing in the Nigerian extractive sector document obtained from the website of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit.
The report read says, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the agency responsible for the investigation and prosecution of fraudulent subsidies in the oil and gas in Nigeria recovered N12,998,963,178.29 as proceeds of illegal payment made under the subsidy regime between 2017 and 2021.”
A breakdown showed that approximately N4.67bn was recovered in 2017, N4.29bn in 2018, N2.41bn in 2019, N416.51m in 2020 and N1.22bn in 2021.
It was also noted in the report that there were several opportunities for fraudulent activities in the oil and gas sector from extraction to sales of refined products to consumers..
The report added, that absence of reliable equipment to measure the volume of crude oil being extracted makes it impossible to estimate the volume of crude oil extracted and even stolen through oil theft and vandalism.
HAUSA, FULANI CLASH IN ONDO
Some Fulani and Hausa settlers at the Ogbese Community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State reportedly engaged in a bloody clash.
It was gathered that one person was feared killed while many others sustained injuries in clash that started on Tuesday evening and degenerated into a full-blown crisis by Wednesday morning.
Many shops in popular Ogbese market belonging to two northerners were reportedly burnt down at midnight.
At the time of filing this report, the real cause of the fight was yet to be known but it was learnt that palpable tension was permeating the community.
The Ondo state Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed that eight shops were razed down according to the report she got.
BENUE TEACHERS CRY OUT OVER 13-MONTH UNPAID SALARIES
Public primary schools’ teachers in Benue State have cried out following the non-payment of 13 months salaries by the state government.
According to state chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Levi Akuma, the teachers had suffered hardship due to their unpaid salaries. He added that the union was negotiating with the state government to avert any strike action.
Akuma stated that the backlog of the unpaid salaries include 10 months in 2017, December 2021, and February and March 2022.
The union recently asked teachers to stay at home for a short period but they had since returned to work.
Speaking on the stay-at-home, Akuma said, “What happened recently wasn’t a strike, but our teachers stayed at home because they didn’t have money to transport themselves to work.”
EX-MINISTER LOSES TRADITIONAL TITLE FOR ‘DISRESPECTING’ GOVERNOR
A former Minister of Special Duties, Bello Kirfi, has been stripped of his traditional title of “Wazirin Bauchi” by the Bauchi Emirate Council.
He has also been removed from being a Council Member for the second time in five years.
The new development was said to be connected to the ex-minister’s alleged “disloyalty and disrespect” to the State Governor, Bala Mohammed.
The Octogenarian’s removal was conveyed in a letter addressed to him by the Secretary of the Bauchi Emirate Council, Alh. Shehu Mudi Muhammad. It was dated January 3rd, 2023 with reference No: BEC/ADM/20/VOL.XV and titled: “Removal from office as a Council Member and Traditional Title of Wazirin Bauchi.”
Kirfi, a retired federal civil servant, was a Minister in the government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari in the 1980s, and also the Pro-Chancellor, University of Ilorin from 1997-99.
He also became Minister of Special Duties during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo in the 2000s.
OKOWA TO DELTANS: CAST 1M VOTES FOR PDP TO MAKE ME RELEVANT
The Delta State Governor and vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has urged voters in the state to cast over one million votes for his party, to justify his emergence as the running mate to the presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
He said they should make his ambition a reality through their votes, “for the good of all ‘Deltans’ and Nigerians”.
Okowa, spoke at a rally in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government, where he described his emergence as an act of God, stressing that he was at home when he was chosen to become the vice-presidential candidate.
He advised the people to go back home and mobilise votes for the party, noting that God had sanctioned the party’s victory at the polls.
PRESIDENCY: TINUBU IS DIVINE CHOICE – AYORINDE
The Founder/General Overseer of World Evangelism Incorporated (WEBIC), Prophet Samson Ayorinde, has said next month’s elections will hold despite attacks on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices in some states.
According to him, the candidate of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will win.
Ayorinde spoke in his New Year prophecies when he hosted the media in Lagos.
INEC offices were torched by arsonists, who burnt Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), and others.
The development made INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmoud, to raise the alarm of threat on the elections.
But Ayorinde said God told him He has intervened. “Tell my children that the enemies of Nigeria have been defeated. Fear not, the elections shall hold.”
On Tinubu, Ayorinde said he prophesied to him as governor of Lagos State in June 2005 that after his tenure in Lagos there shall be a break, but he will rule the country.
ONDO STAKEHOLDERS ASK COURT TO STOP NDDC BOARD INAUGURATION
The stakeholders in the Ilaje Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State have asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop President Muhammadu Buhari from inaugurating the governing board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) pending the hearing and determination of their suit.
The plaintiffs in the case, former Clerk of the National Assembly and Chairman Board of Trustees of Ugboland Development Congress, Asiwaju Oluyemi Ogunyomi, the trustee Mr. Adebowale Karaki and Secretary Dr. Mann Ali.
The other plaintiffs are Incorporated Trustees of Ilaje Advancement Forum, Mr. Idowu Mafimisebi, Mr. Olaniran Obele and Mr. Ige Asemudara, all lawyers representing Ilaje Lawyers Forum.
They filed the suit on Tuesday at the Abuja headquarters of the Federal High Court through their counsel Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN).
According to a statement by Adegboruwa, the Plaintiffs are seeking, among others, an order of injunction to restrain the President from inaugurating, recognising or dealing with Mr. Charles B. Ogunmola as the Executive Director, Projects of the NDDC, arguing that he he is from Owo in the northern axis of Ondo State.
BROTHERS REMANDED IN PRISON FOR ‘ENTICING’ MARRIED WOMAN
A Shari’a Court sitting in Kano on Wednesday ordered the remand of two brothers, Saifullahi Hamisu, Mujahid Hamisu and one Hassana Surajo, in a custodial centre for allegedly enticing a married woman.
The defendants, who live at Bachirawa Quarters Kano, are facing a three-count charge of aiding, abetting and enticing a married woman.
The Prosecutor, Mr Aliyu Abideen, told the court that one Abubakar Ahmad of Fagge Quarters Kano reported the matter at SCID Bompai Kano on Dec.22, 2022.
Abideen alleged that on the same date at about 4:00pm the defendant criminally conspired and trespassed into the house of the complainant situated at Dorayi Quarters, Kano.
