LOCAL GOVT AUTONOMY: NIGERIA’S 774 COUNCILS TO OPEN DEDICATED ACCOUNTS WITH CBN
LOCAL GOVT AUTONOMY: NIGERIA’S 774 COUNCILS TO OPEN DEDICATED ACCOUNTS WITH CBN The 774 local governments in Nigero are to open dedicated accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the direct disbursement of allocations to them from the Federation Account, the Association of Local Governments (ALGON) has said The National President, Bello Lawal Yandaki, said the opening of the account is critical to the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling on direct allocations to the councils. He said the apex bank is waiting for the Federal Government’s directive on the opening of the accounts. Also, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) is to monitor the utilisation of the funds by the chairmen in conformity with the principles of transparency, accountability and good governance, a source said. According to the source, the Federal Government has constituted a team of anti-corruption agents drawn from the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute council chairmen and other officials who indulge in corrupt practices. Yandaki, who spoke with reporters in Katsina, the capital of Katsina State, allayed fears over the delay in the disbursement of funds to the councils. He said there was no cause for alarm and attributed the delay to the failure of councils to submit necessary bank details to the Federation Accounts and Allocations Committee (FAAC) required for facilitating the payments. He said: “The CBN is presently awaiting directives from the Federal Government to open local government accounts for the respective states, which can be done between 24 and 48 hours for each.’ “I am a member of the sub-committee that was set up to trash out contentious grey areas, and we have already met relevant stakeholders, including labour unions, local government chairmen, NULGE, and so on. “There’s a general agreement that the commencement of direct federal revenue allocations to LGs will be this January. “Hopefully, we are just rounding off meetings and making submissions to the Federal Government for implantation and there’s no set timeline.’’ A source present at the FAAC meeting at the weekend also said: “The structures are yet to be erected. The LGAs have to be coordinated. “Those that have opened an account with the CBN did not submit their details to FAAC for crediting, resulting in the delay.” During the January FAAC meeting, N361.754 billion was allocated to the LGAs. However, the funds remain undistributed due to these administrative bottlenecks. FAAC officials have urged the councils to resolve these issues before the month’s end to ensure they receive their allocations. The Federal Government’s decision to channel funds directly to the local government followed the Supreme Court’s ruling affirming the autonomy of the councils. However, although the apex court ruling mandates direct allocation of funds to councils, thereby bypassing state governments, there have been concerns about compliance. An example is Anambra State where a state law provides that local government funds can only be disbursed through a joint state/local government account. According to the source, the Federal Government constituted the anti-corruption team to monitor the accounts of the councils in a bid to prevent illegal diversion by governors and ensure financial accountability and autonomy at the grassroots level. Shedding light on the stringent measures to track financial activities across the councils, he added: “If any local government chairman does anything untoward, people will know, and he may be invited by the anti-corruption agencies to answer for it.” The source noted that council chairmen should now take full responsibility for their financial operations. He said: “Local government chairmen should know that because monies are going directly to them, they have no excuse to say the governor has diverted their funds. “They should be careful and know they…
COURT REFUSES EFCC’S REQUEST TO ISSUE ARREST WARRANT ON OBA OTUDEKO, ONASANYA, OTHERS
COURT REFUSES.EFCC’S REQUEST TO ISSUE ARREST WARRANT ON OBA OTUDEKO, ONASANYA,. OTHERS Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, sitting at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi Lagos denied a request by EFCC to issue an Arrest warrant for Dr Oba Otudeko, Dr Bisi Onasanya and others due to lack of formal service on the defendants. The court addressed multiple motions during the session, including the Prosecutor’s request for a warrant of arrest, which the Judge rejected due to the lack of formal service to the defendants. The Judge granted an application for substituted service. The case has been adjourned to 13th February for arraignment. Additionally, Bode Olanipekun appearing for Dr Otudeko sought an order restraining parties from irresponsible use of the media and the Judge advised all parties to exercise restraint in media engagement and urged journalists present to ensure accurate reporting of court proceedings. The case has brought the EFCC under scrutiny for allegedly flouting procedural norms. Critics have faulted the agency for going public with the charges without first formally serving Otudeko and other implicated parties. Legal experts argue that this approach undermines the principle of fair hearing and could prejudice the public against the accused. One lawyer, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said: “The EFCC’s conduct flies in the face of Section 36(5) of the Constitution, which guarantees the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. Even more troubling is their disregard for Order 3, Rule 8 of the Federal High Court (Criminal Procedure) Rules, 2024, which clearly states that charges must be formally served before any public disclosures are made.” The lawyer added that this procedural breach has subjected Otudeko and others to trial by media, creating unnecessary public distrust. Observers have noted that the revival of a 12-year-old matter, which had been previously investigated by the EFCC, appears to coincide with the ongoing tussle over shareholding control and governance concerns at FBN Holdings. This development has raised eyebrows, with many suggesting it could be an attempt to influence or gain leverage in the contentious ownership dispute surrounding the financial institution. They have also noted the potential reputational damage inflicted on Dr Otudeko and others involved. The EFCC’s actions, they claim, have placed these individuals in the court of public opinion, raising questions about the impartiality of the forthcoming judicial process. A legal expert noted, “These kinds of reckless actions by law enforcement agencies do more harm than good. They erode public trust in the system and unfairly tarnish the reputation of individuals involved.” Dr Otudeko has categorically denied allegations levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which centre around his involvement with First Bank of Nigeria, where he served as a non-executive director and left about 4 years ago. In a release “Dr Otudeko stated he is confident that the truth will prevail in due course and looks forward to addressing these claims in the appropriate forum. while Dr Onasanya, while stating that he has no interest in the control dispute at First Bank, also asserted about his record at First Bank that “His stellar reputation of integrity, built over four decades of impeccable professional service, cannot and will not be tarnished by these false allegations and incorrect charges,”. The case has been adjourned to 13th February.
WHY I DO NOT BELONG TO OHANAEZE NDIGBO – WIKE, AS LAWYER DISMISSES ALLEGED EXPULSION OF SENATOR MBATA BY OGBAKOR IKWERRE
WHY I DO NOT BELONG TO OHANAEZE NDIGBO – WIKE, AS LAWYER DISMISSES ALLEGED EXPULSION OF SENATOR MBATA BY OGBAKOR IKWERRE Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, addressed the ongoing discussions about Senator John Mbata’s election as the 13th President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, despite being an Ikwerre man. Wike firmly emphasized his identity as an Ikwerre man, making it unequivocally clear that he does not identify as an Igbo man. Nyesom Wike highlighted his strong and harmonious relationships with the Igbo people while emphasizing his distinct ethnic identity. He stated, “I have no problem with Igbo people, and I will not have a problem with them. I have associated with Igbo people across Nigeria.” This statement underscored his respect for and interaction with the Igbo community, while also maintaining a sense of individuality regarding his own ethnic background. The minister went on to elaborate on the richness and complexity of Nigeria’s ethnic diversity. He remarked, “The mere fact that we are all in South Eastern Nigeria doesn’t mean we are the same. The mere fact that we are all in Northern Nigeria doesn’t make everybody an Hausa man.” This observation highlighted the nuanced differences within Nigeria’s geographical regions, where proximity does not necessarily equate to uniformity in cultural or ethnic identity. Using other ethnic groups to illustrate his point, Wike drew parallels that further clarified the distinctions. He explained, “You may have some similarities in language, but that does not mean that the Tivs and the Kanuris are the same people.” This comparison served to reinforce his argument about the unique identities of different ethnic groups, even when linguistic or cultural similarities exist. Concerning Senator Mbata’s recent election, Wike took a neutral approach while emphasizing his own perspective. He stated firmly: “Sen. John Mbata has the right to associate with whoever he wants to associate with. But I’m an unrepentable Ikwerre man, and I’m not an Igbo man; I’m not an Ohanaeze member.” The minister also raised questions about the personal advantages such affiliations might offer. He remarked: “What benefit would I derive from being a member of the group? He (Sen. Mbata) knows why he is there, and he knows the benefit that will be accrued to him. But I will never get anything to deny my identity because of politics.” Over the years, the FCT Minister has consistently maintained his stance that he is an Ikwerre man, not an Igbo man. This position has often been met with counterarguments from some Ndigbo, who contend that the Igbos and Ikwerres share nearly identical linguistic traits and that the Ikwerres are a subgroup of the Igbos in Rivers State. Despite this, Wike has steadfastly insisted that he prefers to align himself with the minority rather than follow the majority. Meanwhile, a Kaduna-based legal practitioner and Coordinator, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide in the 19 Northern States and Abuja, Barr. Austine Amaechi, has dismissed as unserious, the purported expulsion of Senator John Mbata by an association called, Ogbakor Ikwere. Addressing journalists, Chief Amaechi claimed that the letter of purported expulsion was written, signed and published in the media by just, a few people. Still treating everything with a wave of hand, and advising a few people from Ikwere who had been deceiving themselves and the younger generations to stop denying their identity and origin According to the lawyer, some Ikwere people disclaimed their Igbo origin about 50 years ago, during the civil war in order to save their lives and survive. He therefore urged these people to grow up and stop making caricature of themselves, by denying their identity and origin, since the war has ended. Ikwere, he said, is an Igbo language, adding that the people do not only speak Igbo language, but also bear…
I CAN’T SETTLE RIFT WITH FUBARA – WIKE
I CAN’T SETTLE RIFT WITH FUBARA – WIKE The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has downplayed the possibility of resolving his conflict with Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State. Wike criticised Fubara and his camp for refusing to carry out the directive issued by President Bola Tinubu during the peace meeting he convened. He noted that Fubara and his supporters should have returned to Tinubu to explain their inability to implement all the directives issued by the president. Wike made this disclosure during a media briefing in Abuja on Sunday. Wike and Fubara have been at loggerheads since Fubara became governor. The face-off between the two stems from a struggle for control of the state’s political and structural resources. The rift has also affected the state House of Assembly, with 27 members defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC. Furthermore, the conflict has led to the emergence of factional speakers and a parallel assembly. At the press briefing, Wike said: “I’m wondering, what conflict to resolve? Mr President, in his wisdom, called all parties. He said withdraw the impeachment notice, you go and do this, you go and do that, but they never returned to him. “The Assembly withdrew the impeachment notice; you did one and two, and then you sent people to go to court. Elder, have you gone back to Mr President to tell him we can’t do three and four? Nothing. “I have never seen this in my life — for a president to call parties, and one party goes back and says it’s political. Who does that?”
Dons Eze
- Foreign Affairs
- January 20, 2025
- 35 views
TRUMP PUSHES FOR US CONTROL OF TIKTOK, PROPOSES 50% AMERICAN OWNERSHIP
TRUMP PUSHES FOR US CONTROL OF TIKTOK, PROPOSES 50% AMERICAN OWNERSHIP Donald Trump, during a rally in Washington, outlines his vision for TikTok’s future in the United States. He insists that the app, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, must have at least 50% U.S. ownership to operate legally within the country. Trump highlights the app’s worth and emphasizes that government approval determines its value. “Without U.S. approval, TikTok is worth zero. With approval, it’s worth billions—possibly even a trillion dollars,” he says, proposing a joint venture where the United States becomes a major stakeholder alongside private bidders. TikTok users across the U.S. face a 12-hour service outage following the enforcement of a new law requiring ByteDance to divest its ownership or face a nationwide ban. The service resumes only after Trump reassures providers that they will not face penalties. In a public statement, TikTok confirms the restoration of its services, saying:“We appreciate the clarity provided, ensuring TikTok remains accessible to over 170 million Americans and supports millions of small businesses.” Trump plans to sign an executive order that extends the compliance deadline for the new regulations. The extension aims to secure a deal addressing national security concerns while keeping TikTok operational for its massive U.S. user base. The debate centers on concerns over data privacy and the potential misuse of user information. TikTok, which supports more than 7 million small businesses in the U.S., continues to navigate the delicate balance between meeting regulatory demands and maintaining its presence in the market. This development highlights a broader challenge as governments address the growing influence of foreign tech companies on national security. For TikTok, the road ahead involves navigating U.S. demands for transparency while maintaining its global operations. The outcome could set a precedent for other tech platforms operating in sensitive geopolitical environments.
EBONYI STATE GOVERNMENT SENDS 204 EBONYIANS TO UK ON SCHOLARSHIP
EBONYI STATE GOVERNMENT SENDS 204 EBONYIANS TO UK ON SCHOLARSHIP Ebonyi State government has disclosed that it had sent 204 indigenes of the state on scholarship to the United Kingdom while 541:others are.equally on scholarship in various universities in the country. In a tweet, Ebomyi State Governor Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru wrote: “Yesterday, with great joy and pride, we flagged off our historic initiative, the 2024/2025 Ebonyi State Scholarship programme, marking it with the departure of 204 Ebonyians to the United Kingdom and 541 other Ebonyians in various other Universities in Nigeria for their Masters and Doctorate degree programs. “This celebration is not just an investment in education, but an investment in the future of our State and no infrastructure can be bigger than this. It is an event that demonstrates our commitment to human capital development which occupies centre stage in our Government. “I urge you, our scholars, to immerse yourselves fully in your studies, embrace the cultures you encounter, and build networks that will be invaluable to your growth. But remember, your ultimate mission lies here at home. Upon completing your studies. For emphasis, we expect you to return to our State and channel your expertise into sectors that need your innovation, creativity, and leadership. “May your journey be successful and rewarding as proud ambassadors of Ebonyi State”.
FCT MINISTER, NYESON WIKE, ‘EDUCATES’ ARISE TV CHANNEL ON ACCURATE NEWS REPORT
FCT MINISTER, NYESON WIKE, EDUCATES ARISE TV CHANNEL ON ACCURATE NEWS REPORT The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged Arise News Channel to prioritize accurate reporting and proper interpretation of news. During a ministerial media chat on Sunday evening with selected journalists, Wike addressed a reference by an Arise News correspondent to the Supreme Court’s ruling on the FCT’s status as a state. He clarified that the Supreme Court’s interpretation pertained specifically to elections and did not officially designate the FCT as a state. “That is why in your station, you carry wrong stories,” Wike said. He further explained, “What the Supreme Court interpreted as FCT having the status of a state is proven by elections. They have the status in elections.” Wike emphasized that the FCT is not a member of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and does not receive allocations like states do. He noted, “Because FCT is not a state, that is why it is not a member of FAAC. It does not collect from the Federation Account. We only take from what the federal government takes, which is 1%.” Addressing the correspondent, Wike called for accurate relaying of the Supreme Court’s interpretation. “So when you are saying the Supreme Court interpreted, give the proper interpretation,” he said. He added that political interpretations equating the FCT to a state are misleading. “Political interpretation that FCT is seen as a state does not mean that FCT is a state.” When asked about President Bola Tinubu’s commendation of his performance as FCT Minister, Wike dismissed the question as mischievous. “Ask yourself the question, how would you feel if your boss says he is satisfied with your work?” he replied. He added, “Even though the question was mischievously asked by Arise, with all due respect, that’s how we will kill journalism.” Wike also criticised another Arise News anchor, Dr Reuben Abati, for singling him out during a presidential media chat with Tinubu. He expressed disappointment that the anchor accused him of “land-grabbing” instead of posing a question. “That was a presidential media chat. It is so unfortunate that a first-class graduate would pick out a single minister, not to ask a question, but to accuse him of ‘land-grabbing,’” he said. Wike claimed that the anchor was embarrassed after President Tinubu addressed the issue. “To the Glory of God, he was embarrassed, and after Mr. President answered, he couldn’t ask any more questions. He was embarrassed shamelessly,” Wike remarked.
WHY UPLOAD OF 2023 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FAILED – INEC
WHY UPLOAD OF 2023 PRESIDENTIAL POLL FAILED – INEC Unanticipated system error was responsible for the glitch that affected upload of the Presidential election result on the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) during the 2023 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission has explained. The Commission said a review of the system during the upload process showed that the system was encountering an unexpected configuration problem in mapping the presidential election results uploaded into the system to the participating Polling Units. The INEC explanation is contained in the report of the commission’s stakeholder engagements and retreats carried out by the commission between July 11 and August 5, 2023 to review the conduct of the general elections. Those at in the stakeholders’ engagements include: leaders of the registered political parties, civil society organisations, Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and Administrative Secretaries, security agencies under the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security and media executives. The report said: “During this review, many stakeholders repeatedly sought explanation for the technical glitch that affected the upload of the 2023 Presidential election results. During the review, details of the problem were provided by INEC’s technical experts. “In a nutshell, the challenge of uploading the PU presidential election results on the IReV after the presidential and National Assembly elections on February 25 of 2023 was unique.” Giving an insight into the problem which appeared to have cast some doubt on the credibility of the election, the report said: “As voting ended across the country and POs began the process of uploading the images of the PU result sheets of the elections for the various constituencies around 4pm, the commission began to receive reports that the upload of presidential election result sheets was failing. “Following these reports, the commission immediately engaged with its field officials for details to understand and trace the origin, source, scale and magnitude of the problem across the result management ecosystem to devise appropriate solutions. “In the troubleshooting process, it was established that there was no issue in uploading the PU result sheets of the Senate and House of Representatives elections through the Election Result Modules. However, there was a problem with uploading the presidential election results to the system. “Attempts to upload the results were generating internal server errors, which refer to a significant impairment that usually originate from within an application due to problems relating to configuration, permissions, or failure to create or access application resources correctly. “Further interrogation of the Election Result Modules indicated that the system is encountering an unexpected configuration problem in mapping the presidential election results uploaded into the system to the participating PUs. “Due to the complex, sensitive and critical nature of the systems and the real potential for malicious cyber-attacks, the commission immediately put in place several strict security and audit control measures to prevent any unfettered or elevated access to the Result Upload System.” The report, copies of which have been made available to the Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, also revealed that “in the process of resolving the challenge, it was discovered that the backend system of the IReV was able to query and detect the base States for uploading the PU result sheets based on the mapping of all senatorial district and federal constituency elections to the respective 36 states of the Federation and the FCT as established in the database structure deployed within the system. “In configuring and mapping the election results for the presidential and National Assembly elections, the commission created 470 election types consisting of one presidential constituency covering the entire country, 109 senatorial districts and 360 federal constituencies. “Each senatorial district and federal constituency election on the database was mapped to their respective states. However, the presidential election result…
DESCRETION OF TEMPLE OF GOD: PROPHET SHOT DEAD DURING SUNDAY SERVICE
DESCRETION OF TEMPLE OF GOD: PROPHET SHOT DEAD DURING SUNDAY SERVICE A 54-year-old prophet of the Celestial Church of Christ’s Eagle Parish was shot and killed by gunmen during a Sunday service in the Odo Eran Idiroko area of Ogun State. The gunmen fired at the cleric while the service was in progress, before fleeing the scene. The police spokesperson in Ogun State, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident in a statement issued from Abeokuta on Sunday. “On January 19, 2025, at approximately 10:30 AM, the Divisional Police Officer of Idiroko received a report about a killing at a Celestial Church located along Old Baggage Road, Odo Eran, Idiroko,” she said. Upon arriving at the church, officers found Yomi Adetula, the 54-year-old victim, lying face-up in a pool of blood, his white celestial garment stained. Further examination revealed that his body had multiple bullet wounds, and his head showed signs of severe damage from an axe, confirming his death. The investigation showed that three men had entered the church, brandishing a long double-barreled gun. They aimed at their target, fired a shot, and caused chaos before fleeing the scene. Odutola confirmed that no arrests had been made but reassured the public that police are working to capture the suspects, who are believed to have fled toward the border area. The deceased prophet’s body has been taken to the General Hospital Morgue in Ilaro.
EX-DELTA FIRST LADY DIES, GOVERNOR OBOREVWORI MOURNS
EX-DELTA FIRST LADY DIES, GOVERNOR OBOREVWORI MOURNS Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has commiserated with the Ibru family of Agbarha-Otor in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state on the death of their wife, mother, and wife of former Governor Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru, Edna Ibru. According to information available on Saturday, the wife of the former governor died in London during a brief illness on Wednesday. Olorogun Ibru was the first civilian governor of Delta State, while his wife was a former Miss Nigeria in 1964. The condolence message of Governor Oborevwori was conveyed in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, on Saturday in Asaba. He described the demise of Mrs. Ibru as sad and painful, adding that she was a loving wife and mother who supported her husband and family in all his noble endeavours. He said: “On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I mourn the passing of a great woman of substance, a caring mother and loving wife, Mrs Edna Ibru. “The news of her death came to me as a shock, especially now that the family members needed her motherly and wise counsel. “She was a woman of faith who devoted her time in supporting her husband’s political career which culminated in his election as the first Executive Governor of Delta.” Oborevwori prayed to God to accept the soul of the deceased and grant fortitude to her family and friends she left behind to bear the loss.