Court orders EFCC to unblock Fayose’s account

Posted on December 13, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes commission, EFCC, to unfreeze all currently blocked accounts belonging to Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose.

The judge, Taiwo Taiwo, gave the ruling at about on Tuesday after considering the arguments of respective counsels on the matter.

The judge also said the decision of the commission to freeze the account, without considering first the arguments or opinion of Mr. Fayose on the matter, amounted to abuse of the defendant’s fundamental rights to fair hearing.

Mr. Taiwo said the act, as perpetrated by the EFCC, was illegal, wrongful and unconstitutional.

He noted that the defendant was a sitting governor who enjoys immunity as enshrined by the constitution and the decision of the EFCC to have acted as it did, amounted to a breach of the constitution.

Mr. Taiwo also ruled that the decision of the commission to freeze his account through the banks, without making Mr. Fayose a party to the process was illegal.

When PREMIUM TIMES contacted the spokesperson for the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, he said he had not seen the judgement.

Senate Abolishes State Joint Local Govt Account

Posted on December 9, 2016 by Staff Reporter

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If the recommendation of the Senate Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution is accepted by the House of Representatives and assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, the state joint local government account will be a thing of the past.

The abolition of the state joint local government account is one of the highlights Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, presented to the Senate Thursday.

Ekweremadu also said that the Senate constitution committee adopted the recommendation to create a mayoral seat for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

He noted that the committee, inaugurated on 13th January, 2016 had a clear mandate to reprocess the aspects of the Fourth Alteration Bill that had gained national consensus and enjoyed huge good-will from the general public, states, non-governmental organizations and international development organizations.

On local government administration, Ekweremadu said that Section 7 of the Constitution was amended essentially to strengthen local government administration in Nigeria by elaborately providing – A uniform 3-year tenure for elected local government council officials; That Local Governments without a democratically elected council shall not be entitled to any revenue from the Federation Account.

Members of the committee, he said, believed that amendments will ensure effective service delivery and insulate local governments from undue and counter-productive interferences from state governments.

On distributable pool account, he said that Section 162 of the Constitution was amended to – Provide for national savings of 50% of oil revenues above the bench mark for a particular year and 10% of any non- oil revenue paid into the Federation Account; Or such other percentage not less than that provided in this section as the National Assembly may determine in the Appropriation Act of a particular year.

To provide that any such savings as stipulated in this section will be distributed in accordance with the prevailing revenue sharing formula and in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution provided that the savings shall not be distributed in any period less than ten years from the date of a particular savings; and to abrogate the State Joint Local Government Account and paying monies due to Local Government Councils directly into their respective accounts

The amended section, he said, also defined the fund of the State government; “that is, internally generated revenue from which a portion shall be paid into the Local Government Allocation Account.”

On authorization of expenditure, Ekweremadu said that Sections 82 and 122 of the Constitution were amended to reduce the period within which the President or a Governor may authorize the withdrawal of monies from the Consolidated Revenue Fund in the absence of an appropriation act from six months to three months.

The amendment, he explained was essentially to compel early presentation of budget proposal by the Executive arm of government thereby giving the legislature sufficient time to scrutinize such proposal.

Twitter boss briefly suspended from his own network.

Posted on November 23, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Twitter account of Jack Dorsey, the social network’s CEO and co-founder, was briefly suspended Tuesday night because of what he called “an internal mistake.”

“Just setting up my twttr…again (account suspension was an internal mistake),” Dorsey tweeted late Tuesday.

For about 15 minutes those trying to access Dorsey’s account received a message stating that the account was suspended.

Only the company can suspend Twitter accounts, though users can deactivate their own.

The company did not respond to an AFP inquiry.

The incident came as Twitter is struggling to increase its user base and seeking a path to profitability.

Co-founder Dorsey returned as chief executive last year but has yet to ignite growth.

Just weeks after reporting job cuts and a disappointing fiscal quarter, Twitter announced earlier this month that chief operating officer Adam Bain was leaving the company.

Twitter was widely reported to be in talks to find a buyer but no deal has materialized.

The company recently said it would cut nine percent of its workforce and discontinue its looping video application Vine in the coming months.

Latest Update: Police Freezes #SaveMayowa Funds Account

Posted on July 30, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The controversial Save Mayowa Campaign has added a new twist after the Founder of Lifestake Foundation, Aramide Kasumu, who was involved in the fundraising, alleged that the family of the ailing Mayowa Ahmed lied that only N30m had been raised while the correct amount was N85m.

The campaign was initiated to raise funds for surgery in a foreign hospital for Mayowa, who is suffering from ovarian cancer, but there have been allegations that the patient’s family was using her condition to defraud members of the public.

Kasumu, in a video posted online on Friday, appeared to have confirmed the allegations when she accused Mayowa’s family members of lying about the amount that had been raised for the patient.

She also accused the family members of attempting to shut out people involved in the fundraising and giving conflicting information about Mayowa’s situation and the hospital they intend to take her for treatment.

“The brother came to the public to say they raised N30m when in actual fact, they raised N85m,” she said in the footage.

“They came and said they had a visa when they didn’t have a visa; they solicited for funds to go to America but now they are saying they are going to Dubai. A lot of things were not adding up and they were not being straightforward. We were saying ‘why are you guys not being straightforward?’ What is our plan?

“And I was like, some things are not adding up here. I need to know what is going on and my concern is: I need to know if they are actually going to get Mayowa treated, that they are not just trying to take advantage of her situation which is my fight because you got me involved.

“People are asking me questions, I cannot answer. I sent Mayowa messages, she wasn’t responding. I called her phones; nobody was explaining anything to me. I said I need answers so that when people ask me, I can answer.”

Kasumu said that the police had taken over the matter to ensure transparency.

In a related development, the Lagos State Police Command has frozen the controversial bank account opened to raise money for Mayowa pending when investigation into allegations of fraud is concluded.

A statement from the Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos, on Friday said the state police commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, “directed full investigation into the report that the ‘Save Mayowa Campaign’ is a fraud” and that the report of the investigation will be made public.

The statement said that Kasumu, and two members of Ahmed family – Mr. Iwaloye Seun and Mrs. Zaneen Ahmed – had earlier been invited to the command’s headquarters for questioning.

It said in part, “…subsequently, the command has placed a red alert on the bank account opened in the name of Mayowa as it has been frozen while effort is ongoing to contact the managers of Gofundme online account so as to ensure funds raised through that platform is not fraudulently diverted.

“Investigation will be extended to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, where the patient is currently undergoing treatment.

The allegations surrounding the case are that doctors at LUTH had told the Ahmed family that Mayowa’s ailment had reached a terminal stage and therefore could not be treated, but that the family had continued to raise money in spite of that.

Credit: The Punch

Freezing Fayose’s Account: Assembly Protests Against EFCC, Holds Plenary On Highway

Posted on June 29, 2016 by Staff Reporter

As part of the efforts to drum support for Governor Ayodele Fayose over the freezing of his accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) , members of the state House of Assembly on Wednesday staged a protest by holding its plenary on the highway to express their disenchantment with the action of the anti-graft agency.

They lambasted the EFCC for flouting section 308 of the constitution which conferred absolute immunity on Fayose. They then called for the immediate unfreezing of the accounts in the interest of justice.

The EFCC had on June 21 frozen Fayose’s two accounts, numbers 1003126654 and 9013074033 domiciled in Ado Ekiti branch of Zenith Bank, alleging that N1.2 billion of the $2.1 billion arms fund from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Dasuki Sambo (rtd.) was traced to the accounts.

The governor was at the Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, seeking for a mandatory order compelling the anti-graft agency to unfreeze the accounts, at the time of filing this report.

The lawmakers, who sat under a canopy on the dual carriage way in Ado Ekiti, were armed with several placards with different inscriptions such as “we are ready for arrest”, “Harassing Ekiti lawmakers/government won’t give you 2018,” “No matter your media trial and blackmail, on Fayose we stand” and “Leave Fayose alone” among others.

Credit: Thisday

Court Orders Jonathan’s Govt To Account For ‘Missing’ N30trn

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to “provide information on the spending of the alleged missing N30 trillion which represents some accruable income during the last four years of the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.”

The judgment was delivered last week by Justice Ibrahim Buba, following a Freedom of Information suit number FHC/L/ CS/196/2015 brought by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

SERAP’s suit followed revelations by former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Charles Soludo, that, at least, N30 trillion “has either been stolen or unaccounted for, or grossly mismanaged over the last few years under Okonjo- Iweala’s watch.”

Justice Buba ruled that: “Mrs Okonjo-Iweala and the Federal Government have no legally justifiable reason for refusing to provide SERAP with the information requested for. The court has gone through the application and agrees that SERAP’s application has merits and the argument is not opposed. SERAP’s application is granted as prayed. SERAP commenced this proceeding by way of originating summons on February 23, 2015, and filed February 25, 2015. Mrs Okonjo-Iweala and the Federal Government filed a Memorandum of Conditional Appearance, a Notice of Preliminary Objection and written address, all undated but filed on September 29, 2015…He who wants equity must do equity. This suit was filed on February 25, 2015. And, from the record of the court, it was served on Mrs Okonjo-Iweala and the Federal Government on July 3, 2015. It took about three months for them to come up with technical response to the simple request for information under the FOI…“Mrs Okonjo-Iweala and the Federal Government have, therefore, been caught by Order 29 of the rules of this court, which requires that an application shall be made within 21 days after service on the defendants of the originating summons…”

Credit: Sun

How Jonathan Paid N400m Into Metuh’s Corporate Account- Witness

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A defence witness in the ongoing trial of the National Publicity Secretary, People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ), Chief Olisa Metuh, yesterday narrated how former President Goodluck Jonathan paid N400 million into Metuh’s account.

The witness, a columnist with The New Telegraph Newspaper, Mr. Ike Abonyi, told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the former president had asked for Metuh’s account details to enable him to transfer money for the image laundering of the party and himself.

The counsel to the first defendant, Tochukwu Onwubufo (SAN), had asked the court for a short adjournment to enable him to study the brief. He said the constitution still allows for adjournments, though not more than 30 days at a time.

But Justice Okon Abang said the application for adjournment orally made by the counsel to the second defendant would not stop the day’s proceeding, which was for the first defendant to open his defence.

Abang said: “Having considered the oral application by counsel to the second defendant as well as the argument by the prosecution counsel, I need to say that I have decided that the only issue was the relevance of Section 3493 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which came as a new issue on his application for adjournment.

“The law is such that once the court has decided on an issue, no party can drag the court back on the same issue. Having ruled that the second defendant was not entitled to adjournment, I cannot reverse the decision and he cannot raise the issue again before this court.

“Section 3493 should be read subject to Section 3492 and as such, the section cannot be of assistance to the second defendant.

“However, in the overall interest of justice, the court will take the interest of the second defendant into consideration at the end of the proceedings.

“The court will take the defence of the first defendant and later adjourn at the instance of the second defendant”, the judge said.

At that instance, the first defendant witness was called to the witness box. Abonyi told the court that he was invited by Metuh to work with him as a public relations consultant when it was obvious that the PDP needed to enhance its image and that of its leadership.

According to him, a consulting firm, CMC Connect was also engaged by Metuh for its skills having worked for the party in the past.

Credit: ngrguardian

NNPC Pays N85bn Into Federation Account– Report

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it has paid N85.96 billion into the Federation Account for Jan. 2016. This is contained in its Monthly Operations and Financial Report for January, released on Sunday in Abuja. The corporation said it made the payment in spite of recording a loss of N3.55 billion in the same month. It also said it paid N1.05 trillion into the Federation Account within a 12-month period, from February 2015 to January 2016.

Giving a breakdown of the amounts transferred in January, NNPC said N85.077 billion was from the sale of crude oil while N880.3 million was receipts from gas sales. It noted that the corporation posted a loss of N3.55billion, compared to a loss of N11.86 billion recorded in Dec. 2015. According to the report, NNPC’s loss-making performance was triggered by a drop in its revenue from N184.4 billion recorded in Dec. 2015 to N130.86 billion in Jan. 2016. The corporation said it recorded expenditure of N134.41 billion in the month under review compared to N196.26 billion in Dec. 2015. It also revealed that the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, (NPDC), recorded a profit of N3.958 billion.

The Nigerian Gas Company, NNPC Retail and the Pipeline Products Marketing Company, PPMC, recorded profits of N3.94 billion, N477 million and N2.25 billion respectively. It listed Integrated Data Services Limited, IDSL, National Engineering Technical Company, NETCO in loss category with losses of N557 million and N215 million respectively. “The Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries posted losses of N2.87 billion, N1.95 billion and N900 million respectively. “The NNPC Group’s Corporate Headquarter and Corporate Services Unit recorded a deficit of N6.37 billion and N1.32 billion respectively’’, the corporation was quoted as saying.

Credit: DailyTimes

Witnesses Give Account Of Adamawa Market Bomb Attack

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Staff Reporter

At least 10 people were reportedly killed in Adamawa State on Friday in a suicide bomb attack at a busy local market in Gombi town of northern part of the state, locals and security sources confirmed.

Residents said several people were also injured when a teenage suicide bomber struck at busy market.

Gombi was recently recaptured from Boko Haram.

A Red Cross official in the state, Maikano Abdullahi, said, “Eight persons were confirmed dead, while 25 others were injured.”

A trader, who said he narrowly escaped death, Adamu Gombi, said the attack occurred in the early afternoon.

“It was around 12 noon, while we were busy trading at Kasuwar Buhu, a teenage boy detonated the bomb, killing himself and several others.

“As I am talking to you now, many lives were lost. I saw about ten corpses and those injured are being evacuated to hospitals,” he said.

According to him, during the ensuing confusion and stampede, many people lost their money and other valuables to pilferers.

“I saw people lying in the pool of their blood. I saw over five died bodies. There should be more security in areas recaptured from the insurgents, else it’s like starting the fight all over again,” a female trader, Grace David said.

Friday’s attack was not the first in the area, recently liberated from the insurgents.

The Adamawa State Police Command spokesman, Othman Abubakar, a deputy superintendent of police, confirmed the incident, but did not give casualty details.

The state commissioner of Information, Ahmad Sajoh, called on residents to remain calm, assuring that security operatives were on the top of the situation.

He said the state government would pay the medical bills of the affected victims.

“It’s unfortunate, but security operatives are on top of the situation, people should be vigilant.

“The state government will foot the medical bills of the affected victims,” said Mr. Sajoh.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Witness Reveals How Ex-NIMASA DG Used His Account To Siphon N546m– Report

Posted on January 20, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A fashion designer, Chukwuemeka Benjamin Onuoha, on Tuesday, painted a graphic picture before Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos, how his company, Extreme Vertevex Limited, was used to siphon over N546,802,000 million from the coffers of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), for a contract that was not awarded to him. Onuoha is the second prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of a former Director-General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi and six others over alleged theft of N2.6 billion belonging to NIMASA. Akpobolokemi was arraigned in a 22-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) along with three others – Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan – and three companies, namely Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and AlKenzo Logistic Limited.

They were accused of converting a total of N2, 658,957,666 between December 23, 2013 and May 28 this year. The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts. When the matter came up, Onuoha told the court that the money was paid into his account with Zenith bank even though he did not tender any proposal or carried out any contract for NIMASA. Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, Onuoha told the court that the disbursement of the money was facilitated by the 3rd defendant (Ekene Nwakuche) who was his secondary school mate.

Onuoha said that sometimes in 2003 when the 3rd defendant secured employment with NIMASA, he (Onuoha) approached him and pleaded with him to remember him if there was any contract he could implement. He stated that shortly after he made the request, the 3rd defendant called him on phone to enquire if he had any registered company that could be used for transactions as well as the company’s accounts. Onuoha told the court that not long after his supplied details of his company and his bank account to the 3rd defendant, he received several alerts from his bank totaling N546,802,000 million. He told the court that on August 2014 he received N21, 802, 000, on November 6, 2014; he received the sum of N318 million and on November 25, 2014 he received alert of N207 million into his account. He further said that when he enquired from the 3rd defendant on what the money was meant for, he was told to wait for further instructions.

Onuoha told the court that he was later instructed to transfer the money to different accounts by the 3rd defendant. Under cross examination, by Dr. Joseph Nwobike SAN, counsel to the first defendant, Onuoha told the court he had never met the first defendant, (Akpobolokemi) or received any instruction from him. Also testifying, a Bureau De Change operator, Hussein Sabo said on March 2014 he was approached by one Muhammed Darlington who told him that the 2nd defendants, (Captain Ezekiel Agaba) wanted to buy dollars. Sabo, in his testimony said: ‘’Darlington collected my account numbers and several millions of naira were paid into the account which I used to buy dollars. Sabo also confirmed that on March 3, 2014, monies were paid into his account namely, N33, 800,000; N35, 000,000; N20, 000,000 and N3, 000,000 respectively. He also disclosed that between the month of March 2014 and December 2014 he received through his account, N85, 305,000, N155, 300,000, N13, 000,000, N10, 000,000, and N84, 000, 000 respectively.

However, there was a mild drama in court, when counsel to the 2nd defendant E G Onyeka sought to know if the witness (Sabo) could read and write either in Hausa or English languages. Sabo who said he could not read, was asked how he wrote his statement tendered by the EFCC and whether he was assured by the prosecution that he would not be charged to court for making the statement. Justice Buba has adjourned further hearing in the matter till February 2, 5, 16 and 19 respectively

Credit: DailyTimes

N10.48bn Abacha Loot Still Left In Account- FG

Posted on December 18, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Federal Government yesterday said the balance in the account of the loot recovered from the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha stood at $26.389m and £19.033m as at last month.

This was disclosed by Benue State Governor, Sam Ortom, while briefing State House correspondents after the National Economic Council, NEC, meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. “We were also briefed on update on Abacha loot in council.

The Accountant General of the Federation reported that the dollar account as at November 2015 ending has a balance of $26,389m, while the pound sterling has a balance of £19, 033m. That is where we are today,” he said.

Also speaking, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma said his ministry made presentation to the council on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, and the Fiscal Strategy Paper, FSP.

According to him, the reports highlighted government’s fiscal policy strategy and direction as well as revenue and expenditure projections for the next three years.

“We briefed Council about our view in terms of the global outlook and micro-economic frame work and the key assumptions underlining our projections,” Udoma said.

Credit: NationalMirror

Witness Gives Account Of The Maiduguri Bomb Blast

Posted on September 21, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Multiple explosions rocked Ajilari Railway cross in Gomari Airport ward of Maiduguri capital city of Borno State last night, leaving scores of people dead and many others critically injured according to residents living around the affected areas.

The explosions, suspected to have been triggered by suicide bombers, occurred between 7:40 and 8pm.

A resident of the area, Ali Babagana, said that the incident occurred at a popular telecommunication service point where many people gathered to buy GSM recharge cards and transact other petty businesses.

“I was close to the scene of the multiple blasts, but God (saved my life as many were feared dead and injured,” he said. “I saw many shattered bodies of human beings at the scene before I ran away for my dear life.”

Hundreds of residents of the area have evacuated the vicinity while security officials have been deployed to the scene of the blasts.

Credit: dailytimes

Pastor Who Reportedly Had An Ashley Madison Account Commits Suicide

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Staff Reporter

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A Baptist pastor, John Gibson, 56, who reportedly had an account on cheaters’ website Ashley Madison has taken his life.

He was found dead by his wife less than a week after hackers exposed the names of accounts on the adultery website.

His wife, Christi, said he left a suicide note addressing his struggles with depression and his remorse surrounding the Ashley Madison saga.

“He talked about having his name on there, and he said he was just very, very sorry,” Christi said.

She explains how John spent his life helping others but could not help himself.

“It wasn’t so bad that we wouldn’t have forgiven it, and so many people have said that to us, but for John, it carried such a shame,” she said.

She also added that he was afraid he would lose his job.

Read More: InsideEdition

Treasury Single Account Has Come To Stay- Osinbajo

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, says the Treasury Single Account policy of the Federal Government has come to stay, as it will address issues of non-transparency especially among revenue generating agencies.

Addressing a gathering of chartered accountants in Abuja on Wednesday, the Vice President gave an analysis of how the nation’s growth indices had improved over the years without a direct impact on the common man.

“The growth recorded in the past 16 years did not translate into job creation and poverty reduction for Nigerians,” he said.

Professor Osinbajo also frowned at the activities of revenue generating agencies that did not remit funds into the Federation Account as and when due.

Read More: channelstv

Ex-Banker Steals N27m From Customer’s Account

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The management of Sterling Bank has accused one of its former employees, Bawa Momodu, of stealing N27 million from a customer’s account. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned Momodu before Justice I. E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on a 16-count charge bordering on forgery, uttering and stealing to the tune of N27 million.
According to the Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, the accused allegedly forged the signature of the said account holder and fraudulently withdrew the money from the bank. He said: “Investigations further revealed that the said amount was transferred to the Sterling Bank account of one Emilia Ugwandu, who is now at large, in a bid to hide the source of the stolen funds.”
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him. In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, A. Olatunji, asked for a date for the commencement of trial. However, the
defence counsel, Allen Nwogwama, prayed the court to grant his client bail. Ekwo granted the accused bail in the sum N7 million and one surety in like sum. The surety must be a responsible member of the society with landed property worth the bail sum, to be verified by the court registrar and the prosecution.
The accused is also to be reporting at the EFCC office on the last day of every month. In a related development, the judge ordered that one Festus Agadi be remanded in prison custody till September 23, when his application for bail would be considered.

Account For Over $20b Excess Crude Account, All 36 Govs. Come For Okonjo-Iweala

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Staff Reporter

THE thirty- Six State Governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’s Forum, NGF yesterday asked the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala to as a matter of urgency account for the money that were accruable to the Excess Crude Account which they put at over $ 20 billion.

Rising from a meeting in Abuja yesterday, the Governors urged the minister to explain how much of this money entered the said account in three years from June 2013 to April 2015, adding that funds in the excess crude were last disbursed in May 2103.

Reading a Communiqué at the end of the meeting which started 9pm and ended 1am, Chairman of NGF and governor of Rivers State, Governor Rotimi Amaechi announced the election of governor Abdullazeez Yari of Zamfara State as the new Chairman of the forum for a period of one year from May 2015 to May 2016 through consensus.

The Governors at the meeting which took place at the Lagos/ Osun Hall of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, also approved the establishment of a Governors’ Forum Academy to be tagged the NGF Leadership Academy that would be responsible for capacity building of Governors and other officials holding public office and to be overseen by the secretariat of NGF.

According to the Governors, there would be an induction course for new and returning Governors June, 2015 aimed at equipping them with knowledge of global and best practices establishing and running their offices.

The Governors who congratulated the President- elect, Muhammadu Buhari on the March 28 Presidential election victory, also hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for his statesmanship in accepting the outcome of the elections.
The Communique reads, ” We are hereby reconciled and reunited as a single umbrella association of the 36 State Governors of Nigeria regardless of party or region.

“Forum Congratulates the President- elect, Muhammadu Buhari on his victory in the recent presidential election which was held on March 28, 2015 and President Goodluck Jonathan for his statesmanship in accepting the outcome of the elections.

“In light of the fact that Funds in the Excess Crude were disbursed in May 2013, there is need for the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala to provide explanation for accruals to this account from June 2013 to April 2015 which is estimated at over $ 20 billion.”

Read More: vanguardngr

You Must Account For Your Actions, APC Replies Jonathan

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has said the incoming Buhari Administration would not persecute anyone, in response to statements credited to President Goodluck Jonathan.

The party however said officials of the outgoing administration must be ready to answer questions regarding their stewardship. Mr. Jonathan had on Sunday said he expects his Ministers and aides to be “persecuted”.

Speaking at a thanksgiving service organized in his honour at the Anglican Church, Life Camp, Abuja, Mr. Jonathan said he believed he lost some allies as well as the March presidential election because of “certain decisions” he took.

“It (the decisions) might be good for the generality of the people but it might affect some people differently,” the president said. “So for ministers and aides who served with me, I sympathize with them, they will be persecuted. And they must be ready for that persecution,” he said.

However, the APC, in a statement in Abuja on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, said those “who played poker with the nation’s destiny must be willing and eager to clear their conscience before man and God.

”That the President-elect is a man of integrity is not an issue for debate, and he has made it clear that he will not be bogged down by endless probes.

”However, the hands of the incoming government will not be tied by those who have chosen to play the victim and exhibit a persecution mentality. Whoever has any reason to be afraid must lay bare such reason before Nigerians,” the party said.

It said that under the climate of change that Nigerians have ushered in with their votes, only the guilty needs to be afraid, and those with a guilty conscience, on account of their actions in the public sphere, must clear such so they can be at peace with themselves.

”The last time we checked, this does not fit the definition of persecution,” the APC said.

The party wondered why the President chose a public forum to express his fears when he could have done so privately during his meetings with the President-elect.

”Since the presidential election was won and lost, the President and the President-elect have met privately a number of times. Why didn’t President Jonathan express his apprehensions during these meetings?

”Even if the two have not met, the President could have reached out to the President-elect over any fears that he may be nursing, instead of engaging in an action that seems like he was being preemptive and seeking to curry public sympathy,” he said.

Read More: premiumtimesng

FG Must Account For Alleged Missing N30tn, Experts Demand

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Economic and financial experts have called on the Federal Government to fully account for the N30tn alleged by a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to have been stolen under the supervision of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The experts said the exchanges between Soludo and Okonjo-Iweala had brought to the fore the lack of transparency in the management of the economy.

Soludo, had in his response to Okonjo-Iweala’s rebuttal of his earlier criticism of the management of the Nigerian economy under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, alleged that over N30tn had been stolen, or lost, or unaccounted for, or simply mismanaged under the supervision of the Finance minister.

Read More: punchng.com

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