Doyin Okupe, a former aide of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has stated his position on the
purported 2023 presidential ambition of Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressives
Congress, APC.
Okupe said Tinubu was the most competent Nigerian to contest the upcoming presidential race. He pointed out that the administrative acumen of the former Lagos State governor was worthy of
commendation.
In a series of tweets on his Twitter handle, Okupe insisted that Tinubu would be a good president. According to Okupe: “Tinubu is the most sagacious and competent to vie for the presidential seat
come 2023.
“Asiwaju is one of the most politically sagacious politicians in this period. His acumen and
administrative competence are worthy of commendation. “In summary, Asiwaju will be a good President.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the revelation of another $2.5bn arms purchase scandal in
which officials of the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration was named is
another ugly testament to the stench of corruption oozing from the current administration.
In a statement on Thursday, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan National Publicity Secretary of the party said the
exposed contract scam of $2.5 billion as well as the outright disappearance of $1 billion, earlier
revealed by the NSA, shows the level of corruption among APC leaders.
The party has now asked the Buhari Presidency to explain both the $2.5 billion and $1 billion alleged
missing funds.
“The party alerts that with this fresh $2.5 billion arms scandal, reportedly involving the National
Security Adviser (NSA) Gen. Babagana Monguno, who had earlier revealed that $1 billion also for
arms cannot be traced, an alarming $3.5 billion (N1.3 trillion) meant for the purchase of weapons to
secure our country under the Buhari administration has been looted.”
“The APC leaders and their agents are stealing funds meant for arms while our citizens are daily
marauded, pillaged and murdered by terrorists, bandits and kidnappers.
“In fact, the unending exposure of sleaze in the security architecture of the Buhari-led administration
has further heightened apprehensions in the public space that the security situation has been turned
into a huge racket for corrupt enrichment of sneaky APC leaders and the cabal in the Buhari
Presidency. ” The statement said.
Mr. Kola further stressed that “It is more distressing that instead of standing on the side of the people
to demand a clean-up of the system and recovery of the stolen funds, the APC, as a party, is rather
desperate to justify acts of corruption, because its leaders and officials of its government are involved. “Our party demands that the Buhari Presidency should come clean and offer explanations on both the
$2.5 billion and $1 billion.
“Furthermore, the PDP restates its call to the National Assembly to conduct a joint open inquest into
the funds and other monies drawn purportedly for the security of our nation under President
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has alleged that politics has been used to deny the state
access to agricultural loans offered by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Governor Wike made the accusation when he hosted the Minister of State for Agriculture, and Rural
Development, Mustapha Baba Shehuri at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Monday. The governor decried the situation where every issue in the country including agriculture has been
politicised instead of implementing such policy dispassionately to achieve the intended food security
and jobs for the youths.
“I think, I am one of those States that nobody gives loans for agriculture. I don’t know what hatred the
Central Bank Governor has for us? We do not know.
“We have been hearing of ANCHOR borrower this and ANCHOR that. But when it concerns Rivers
State, you will hear a lot of things.”
Governor Wike explained that in an idle situation devoid of politics, the Central Bank of Nigeria will
partner with the Rivers State government to achieve the objectives of setting up the state-owned
cassava processing plant.
“Please tell the Governor of Central Bank to remember us too, that we are part of Nigeria. When we
applied, they said this loan was N5 billion. We have applied for more than one year now. They said we
should bring this and bring that.
“They said we should bring the co-corporative societies and I say this where the politics come from. If I
want to eat government money, I can sit here and write cooperative societies. The previous
administration took loans and said they gave them to cooperative societies of over N3 billion. Who
are these corporative societies? And the money went off like that.
Governor Wike said even without the loans from the Central Bank of Nigeria, his administration is
achieving a revolution in cassava processing that will create jobs for youths and enduring patronage
for farmer folks.
He said the State government will invite the Minister of Agriculture to commission the cassava
processing plant. According to him, many companies have keyed in already to buy off what will be
processed.
“We have over 3000 farmers who have registered. From them, the company will buy off all their
The Minister of Niger-Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has said there will be no substantive
board of the Niger-Delta Development Commission until the forensic auditors of the NDDC
complete their assignment.
Senator Akpabio while briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt, said this in reaction to calls by the South-
South Governors Forum on the Federal government to stop all payments to the NDDC until a Board
is set-up.
Chairman of the South-South Governors Forum and Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa said it was
worrisome that the running of the NDDC in over a year by the Interim Caretaker Committee, “does
not augur well for the people of the Niger Delta.
But Senator Akpabio in reaction said he was not opposed to the constitution of a substantive Board
for the NDDC.
He, however, explained that setting up a board in the middle of the investigation will compromise the
forensic audit, adding that South-South Governors themselves requested for the audit.
“Let me first tell you that we have appealed to Governors to ensure that Local government councils
have elected Executives. Some Governors for eight years use Caretaker Committees to run Local
governments and the Federal government did not deny them funds.
“We are not against the formation of a Board for the NDDC but if in 19 years they could not build the
NDDC Headquarters. They could not even use a mere N16 million to connect the old NDDC office on
Aba Road to the National grid. That is to tell you that the constitution of Boards sometimes has
misplaced priorities.
“But we are saying that there would be a formation of Board for the NDDC but we have to first finish
the forensic audit. Let me tell you, Boards have various interests; if you are a contractor and you can
nominate somebody into the Board, don’t you think the person will conflict with the forensic
auditors?
“In a few months the forensic audit will be over and a Board will definitely be inaugurated for the
NDDC. It doesn’t need fighting or Governors calling on the President to constitute a Board. “Rather, the Governors should concentrate on conducting Local Government elections and not Local
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has said that the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation has no plans to investigate the national chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu.
Malami, who appeared on a Channels Television Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, made this known while reacting to reports that the APC chieftain was being investigated.
According to him, no investigation has been instituted at its instance against the former Governor of Lagos by any agency of government be it EFCC or the Code of Conduct Bureau.
“The Office of the AGF has not taken any decision, filed or instituted any action before any court in the land relating to Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“But then, within the context of the law as you rightly know, the EFCC and the Code of Conduct are all statutory bodies vested with statutory powers to act within the context of the law establishing them. So, I am not in a position to give you a precise answer.
“However, the Office of the AGF and its arm, which is the Director of Public Prosecutions, has not initiated any proceedings and no investigation has been instituted by either EFCC or the Code of Conduct Bureau against the APC chieftain,” he said.
The Central Bank (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele has been summoned to appear before the
Senate Committee on Public Accounts headed by Senator Matthew Urhoghide on Tuesday. The summon to the governor who is expected to appear with his officials, was in connection with
alleged disappearance of $9.5 million interest accrued from Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) investment.
The Senate had opened investigation into the principal sums deposited, the tenor and rate of interest,
but were shrouded in secrecy by the apex Bank, a development that has infuriated the panel last week. Petroleum profit tax (PPT) is a tax applicable to upstream operations in the oil industry. It is
particularly related to rents, royalties, margins and profit sharing elements associated with oil mining,
prospecting and exploration leases.
The summon was sequel to the consideration of a report by the Auditor-General for the Federation,
which probed the spendings of federal government’s agencies.
During the hearing last week, the Accountant General, Ahmed Idris, was unable to provide any
documentary evidence on the said fund.
Irked by this development, the committee resolved to invite the CBN officials to give explanation on
issues raised in the Auditor-General’s report.
The report had said, “During the examination of transfers to Foreign Excess PPT/Royalty and Foreign
Excess Crude Accounts, it was observed that during the year 2016, amount totalling $6 million and
$3.5 million were credited to the Foreign PPT/Royalty and Foreign Excess Crude Account as interest
on funds investments.
“The authority for placing the funds which yielded the above interests totaling $9.5 million in deposit
account, the principal sums deposited, the tenor and rate of interest were not made available for audit
verification.
“This observation had also been a subject of my reports since 2017 without any positive response from
the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“Records made available for audit further revealed that the balance in the foreign PPT/Royalty and
Foreign Excess Crude accounts as at 28th December 2016 were USD0.00 and USD251,826 respectively. “This suggests the foreign PPT/Royalthy was depleted before the year end.
“The Accountant General has been requested to provide the authority for the funds invested, tenor of
the investment, rate unrest payable, certificate for the funds invested and forward same for audit
verification.”
In a related development, the Senate panel also summoned the apex bank over N121 billion 2014
outstanding subsidy paid to Independent Petroleum Marketers in 2016.
The Senate Committee on Public petition, Ethics and Privileges has issued a warrant of arrest on the
management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ayo Akinyelure issued the order following the management’s
failure to honour the invitation of the Senate panel to account for how the sum of N2.6 billion
palliative fund which was released by the Federal Government was spent.
The Senate panel which began the investigation of the alleged misappropriation of N2.6 billion
palliative fund has been finding it difficult to have the NDDC management interrogated. The petition was at the instance of the NDDC palliative Chairman, Mr Jackrich Sobomabo who
insisted that the fund which was supposed to be disbursed under his supervision was diverted by the
NDDC management. Speaking after the warrant of arrest, Mr. Jackrich Sobomabo lamented how he put his effort and
resources the management of the palliative before the NDDC management allegedly misappropriated
the funds.
“I was appointed the palliative Chairman, but when the sum of N2.6 billion was released by the
Federal Government, the NDDC management spent the fund without my knowledge.
“It’s unfortunate that they have been evasive when the Senate Committee wanted them to come and
explain how the fund was spent.
“If they eventually come around and explain satisfactorily, I will be alright, but they must appear to
explain how the fund was disbursed.
He expressed optimism that the Nigerian Senate would bring the perpetrators to book.
Mike Davids, former Omega Fire Ministries pastor, has threatened to disclose more information on
the alleged infidelity scandal involving the church’s founder, Apostle Johnson Suleman and Stephanie
Otobo in 2017.
Otobo, a Nigerian based in Canada, accused Suleman of having a sexual relationship with her, an
allegation the clergyman denied.
However, Davids threatened to reveal his role in getting Otobo to apologise to Suleman’s family in
Auchi, Edo State.
Davids stated this while countering Apostle Suleman’s claim that he doctored a recent conversation
between them.
Davids has been having a running battle with Apostle Suleman over the allegation that the clergyman
slept with his wife.
While trying to back his claim of infidelity, Davids had released an audio of the OFM founder
threatening to make him disappear.
But, Apostle Suleman, however, claimed that the audio was doctored.
Responding, Davids who took to his Instagram page said: “We all know the part I played in the
Stephanie Otobo saga. You knew how we got Stephanie to come to the altar and apologise to Mama. “I’m coming to that issue because you are pushing me really hard. Because I’m sure that the world and
Nigerians will be interested to know how Stephanie eventually came to Auchi to make that confession
the day she actually did.”
He also gave Suleman 48 hours ultimatum to order the unfreezing of his accounts or face the
consequences.
“Thirdly, you are supposed to be a man of God… and I don’t know why they will have my accounts
freezed so that I will have no access to funds. I want everyone around the world to be aware of what is
going on,” Davids said.
“Presently, as I speak to you my account has been frozen. You have 48 hours to instruct those who are
behind the blocking of my bank account to undo whatever they have done. If they don’t, you won’t like
what is going to follow. Don’t say I didn’t give you this warning
Junaid Mohammed, Second Republic lawmaker, has said both Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the All
Progressives Congress, APC, and Atiku Abubakar, ex-Nigerian Vice President would govern the
country better than President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mohammed said both Tinubu and Atiku has the capacity to govern Nigeria better than Buhari. Speaking with the former lawmaker said both the APC and the PDP chieftains were not nepotistic
while in government.
Mohammed lamented that Buhari’s appointments has the imprints of those around him. According to Mohammed: “The problem will be if PDP put him forward, the strength he has in the
party now is not what he had during the party’s convention in Port Harcourt.
“Two, it’s an open secret that Tinubu is desirous of contesting the 2023 presidential election. In my
view, he has what it takes to contest the election on the platform of APC. For one APC was his own
creation, without Tinubu there would be no APC and without the party there would be no Buhari
presidency.
“Buhari is not a man who believes in loyalty but he demands it and he is the kind of person who wants
to pretend to get people into serving him till their last breath but has never been loyal to anybody. “The genesis of this attempt to undermine Tinubu emanates from the Presidency to governors to
Ministers. But that those not disqualify him nor would Buhari’s hatred disqualify Atiku.
“Atiku can emerge as candidate of PDP but those not guarantee that he would be the president. “Both Tinubu and Atiku are better than Buhari. In terms of governance of a country like Nigeria with
its landmass and population, we need somebody who is economically literate to govern us. Secondly,
we must have somebody who has the necessary knowledge of international affairs.
“In this day and age no country is an island no matter how big you are, you must learn to relate with
other country.
“Tinubu has been a governor while Atiku has been a Vice President under one of Nigeria’s most
remarkable president though controversial.
“I think Tinubu’s problem will come if he wins the nomination and decide to pick somebody outside
the North and a Muslim.
“In the case of Atiku, Northeast is essentially a war zone so conducting a campaign and election in
such an area today is a challenge, but he has a history of being rootless so he may pull it off but I don’t
know.
“What I said is that any of them who emerges may face these challenges but I hope their strategies
would not inflame the polity further than it is already.
“Anyone of them who emerges as president would be better than Buhari I can tell you with all the force
at my command.
“Neither Atiku nor Tinubu is a nepotist non of them has the reputation of bringing their relations
while in government but in the case of Buhari every major appointment has the imprint of his cronies,
friends, families, and to make it worse non of them have done well.”
Mohammed Adoke, Nigeria’s former attorney general, appears before a Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital over financial crimes charges on January 22, 2020. – Nigeria’s anti-graft agency said on January 21, 2020, it had filed corruption charges against a former justice minister over a $1.3 billion dollar oil scandal involving international majors Shell and Eni. Mohammed Adoke was arrested last month on arrival from the United Arab Emirates where he had been detained on a Nigerian warrant in connection with one of the West African state’s biggest-ever corruption scandals. (Photo by KOLA SULAIMON / AFP) (Photo by KOLA SULAIMON/AFP via Getty Images)
A former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Bello Adoke and an oil
magnate, Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar, were on Thursday re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) over their alleged complicity in the multi-billion dollar Malabu Oil
scandal.
They are on trial over a 42 -count criminal charges alongside others, before the High Court of the
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on the Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 245, otherwise known as Malabu
Oil.
Others docked along with them include Rasky Gbinigie; Malabu Oil and Gas Limited; Nigeria Agip
Exploration Limited; Shell Nigeria Extra Deep Limited and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production
Company Limited.
Adoke and the other defendants were first arraigned in the case marked FCT/CR/151/2020 before
Justice Idris Kutigi, sitting at Gwagwalada, Abuja, by the anti-corruption commission on January 23,
2020.
However, at the resumed trial of the case on Thursday, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Bala Sanga, told
the court that the EFCC had filed an amended charge dated January 18, 2021, against the defendants
and urged the court to allow the charges be read to them to take a fresh plea.
Thereafter, the charges were read to the defendants who pleaded not guilty.
Following their not guilty plea, Sanga asked for a date for the commencement of trial. Based on the agreement of parties, Justice Kutigi adjourned the case till April 14-15 for hearing. The judge ordered Adoke, Aliyu and Gbinigie to remain on bail earlier granted them by the court.
