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Anti-corruption Day: EFCC Boss Calls for Stronger Collaboration

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) Mohammed Umar has called for the deepening of cooperation among anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria for improved outcomes in the fight against corruption.

Umar made the call through a webinar hosted by the Inter-Agency Task Team of anti-corruption agencies in the country to mark this year’s Anti-Corruption Day.

Themed  “United Against Corruption: Recover with Integrity”,  the EFCC boss noted that the continuous evolution of new economic and financial crimes and the insatiable appetite for corruption in both the private and public spheres call for unity of purpose and cooperation among the nation’s anti-graft agencies in the pursuit of the goals of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy.

“There is no gainsaying that the situation calls for us to unite with a common purpose, deepen our cooperation and recommit to implementing the broad goals of the of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy in our respective agencies,” he said.

He adding that “the EFCC has prioritized domestic cooperation “as an effective tool for winning the war against corruption and will continue to support any initiative that promotes collaboration.”

He called on anti-corruption agencies in the country to use this year’s occasion to review the country’s anti-corruption efforts, policies and laws towards charting a collective new course in the direction of a more effective and inclusive multi-stakeholders cooperation and actions on the anti-corruption war.

The EFCC boss further noted that anti-corruption agencies ought to leverage on each other’s strengths to create the desired result so that corruption is minimized and he further emphasized the primacy of technology in the effective prevention, investigation and prosecution of corruption offences.

While noting that this year has been challenging making the International Anti-Corruption Day different due to the effects of the COVID 19 global pandemic, Abba observed that the EFCC was able to ride the storms, achieving over 700 convictions.

“In spite of the covid-19 pandemic, the Commission was able to achieve a lot. You will recall that the Commission had to slow its activities but after the lockdown, it continued inviting suspects, investigating high profile cases and we recorded tremendous convictions.

“It is important to tell you that from January 2020 till date, the Commission recorded over 700 convictions and we are still counting,” Umar stated.

As part of the activities to mark this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day, the Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT) organized a poetry competition for 11 secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in which Akorede Sani from Battle Axe Academy came tops in the junior category, while Oluwatosin Ogbasanya from Glistin International Academy, emerged the winner in the senior category.

Suzan O

Nigerian government approves N58.5bn for road construction

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved N58.5 billion for roads construction in some parts of the country.

Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola revealed this to State House Correspondents at the end of the weekly cabinet meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The first segment of the approval was for roads in Kano State at the cost of N12.1billion as well a road linking Kaduna and Plateau States at the cost of N38.7 billion.

The minister said; “The Ministry of Works and Housing presented one memorandum for the award of contracts for the construction of two roads; the Yakasai-Bagume-Damagun road in Kano, for N12.157 billion and the rehabilitation of the Kaduna- Pambeguwa-Jos road linking Kaduna and Plateau States for N38.701 billion and the proposals were approved by the Federal Executive Council.”

Similarly, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello revealed that contracts were approved for the rehabilitation of two roads in some parts of the FCT.

“During the Council’s meeting, I presented two memos on behalf of the FCT administration.

“The first memo was for the augmentation of the on-going contract for the construction of Yaba- Bache in Kawali/Abaji Area Councils and that was in the sum of N431,640,286 and as you know that is an area that is by River Gurara.

“This construction is very important as waterbodies crisscrossing into the FCT. This particular project, we hope when completed will enhance economic development in that area and as well as food security in the FCT.

“The second project is also an augmentation in the sum of N7,302,585, 139. The intention is to link the Northern expressway from ring road III to ring road IV, to complete that critical road that is supposed to connect the Abuja Industrial Park and the rest of the road systems within the territory,” he said.

The Minister noted that FCT administration will try its best to fund the two projects because of their importance to the areas involved.

Suzan O

President Buhari’s summon by NASS outside constitutional bounds – AGF

Zainab Sa'id
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The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami says the summon of President Muhammadu Buhari by the Legislative arm of government to appear before it is outside its constitutional powers.

According to a statement by the Special Assistant to the AGF, Mr Umar Gwandu, the rights of the President to engage the National Assembly and appear before it is inherently discretionary in the President and not at the behest of the National Assembly.

The Chief Law Officer of the country added that the confidentiality and strategies employed by the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are not open for public exposure in view of security implications in the probability of undermining the war against terror.

“As the Commander-in-Chief, the President has exclusivity on security and has confidentiality over security. These powers and rights he does not share. So, by summoning the President on National Security operational Matters, the House of Representative operated outside constitutional bounds. President’s exclusivity of constitutional confidentiality investiture within the context of the constitution remains sacrosanct,” he said.

Mr Malami also said that the National Assembly has no Constitutional Power to envisage or contemplate a situation where the President would be summoned by the National Assembly on the operational use of the Armed Forces.

He also reiterated that the management and control of the security sector is exclusively vested in the President by Nigerian Constitution as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces including the power to determine the operational use of the Armed Forces.

“An invitation that seeks to put the operational use of the Armed Forces to a public interrogation is indeed taking the constitutional rights of law-making beyond bounds.” The AGF added.

It would be recalled that the House of Representatives in Nigeria has summoned Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu to appear before it in order to brief the house on the security situation in the country.

APC: Senate President, Governors, others set to meet

Zainab Sa'id
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Nigeria’s Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase,  and some serving governors of Nigeria’s governing party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), are slated to discuss practical approaches to internal democracy in the APC.

The leaders are meant to gather at the annual conference of APC Press Corps slated for 18th of December 2020.

In a statement released by the Chairman Conference Planning Committee, Mr Babatunde Ayeni, the theme of the Conference is “Contestation, a veritable process in deepening democratic norms, values and culture: The APC story.”

The Senate President is expected to give a keynote address while the Deputy Speaker will be on hand to highlight efforts of the National Assembly on the ongoing constitutional review assignment.

Specifically, a paper on the theme will be extensively delivered by the Director-General of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) Salihu Moh. Lukman.

The statement reads: “The APC Press Corps, a platform for accredited representatives of all the major media organisations covering the activities of the ruling All Progressives Congress, gather annually to assess its activities in the out-going year with the aim of improving on its programmes and designing better templates for discharging our professional responsibilities.

“The aim is also to further deepen its cordial relationship with the rank and file of the ruling party for better coverage of party policies and programmes, thereby helping to deepen our democracy.”

Among the governors expected at the 2020 conference include the Chairman, Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and Governor Abubakar Mohammed Inuwa of Gombe State.

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Minister of Information and the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, as well as the Women Representative in CECPC, Mrs Stella Okotete and Senator Rochas Okorocha are among other prominent party leaders that will be in attendance to present goodwill messages.

Alleged Police brutality: Herdsmen seek extension for Commission in Niger State

Zainab Sa'id
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Herdsmen in Niger state, North-Central Nigeria, have appealed to the Niger state government to extend the time given to the Commission of Inquiry into alleged Police brutality and other matters in the state.

Chairman of the Niger state chapter of the Miyetti Kautal Hore, a Social-Cultural Association of the Fulani pastoralists, Mallam Abubakar Dikko said this is necessary to enable members of the group present their petitions before the panel.

Dikko, who spoke to the Voice of Nigeria in Minna, the Niger state capital on Wednesday said Fulani pastoralists had ugly experiences in the hands of some police personnel which will be presented to the Commission.

He, however, said as herders they were not aware until recently that such a Commission has been set up because they were scattered around the state with some totally cut-off from communication.

“We are happy with the disbandment of the SARS by the government because we nomads have our own share of challenges with the SARS personnel,” Dikko said.

Dikko further lamented the inadequate enlightenment of the people on the setting up of the Commission of Inquiry and other activities saying that the average Fulani person in the forest did not really know about the activities of the Commission.

“There’s need to give us special consideration if really the commission wants to achieve its desired aim, this is why we are asking for the Commissions time to be extended.

“Extending the time given to the commission to sit will also give us the opportunity to persuade most of our people that were subjected to hardship due to their encounter with the SARS personnel and have not been able to appear before the commission because of trauma and fear of the unknown,” Dikko said.

When contacted a member of the commission who craved anonymity said enough enlightenment was carried out about the activities of the commission in the state.

He said offices of the Commission were set up in each of the political zones in the state for easy submission of petitions by the people without them coming to Minna, the State Capital to do so.

He said the commission may consider their petition though it is almost rounding up its assignment.

The 14-Man Judicial Commission of inquiry was set up by the Government of Niger state to receive reports of all unwholesome acts against the police in the course of the lawful discharge of their duties in the state, in the month of October with two months duration to complete the assignment

Land-use Act: FCTA pulls down structure, marks others

Zainab Sa'id
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The Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Department of Development Control has pulled down a storey mall under construction at Sabon Lugbe and marked British Springhall School in Maitama over breach of land-use Act.

The Director Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima after the exercise told Journalists that the exercise followed incessant cases of land-use conversion.

He said, “The pulling down of structures and marking of others is because of cases of land-use conversion, whereby property owners are converting their premises to other use than the designated land use, that is why we have gone round to give them notice to revert within 48 hours.”

The Director decried the situation where most developers changed their land use after obtaining the approval without consulting the department.

Galadima explained that property owners and developers especially in choice areas used holiday periods when officials of the development control are on break to build structures against the approved plan.

He said most of the buildings were built during the period of COVID-19 lockdown.

On why some structures are raised in strategic places without approval, he said the owners only change the use, not the structure.

“The property owners didn’t change the structure, they only convert to another use than the approved one without our approval, and is against the master plan,” Galadima said.

He said the department would stop at nothing to ensure that the structures marked, revert to original use.

“All the places that we have marked, we have given them 48 hours to revert, or they will be sealed.” He said.

Galadima said those who have breached the land use will find it tough as the department would not sleep over it till the needful is done.

The places asked to revert to approved use by the department include Kim’s on plot 17 B and 18 B Colorado crescent, British Springhall School on number 35 Danube street and 2 others, all in Maitama District.

I’ll Be Ready To Rock & Roll! Anytime Against Fury- Joshua

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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IBF, WBO, IBO, WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is trying his best not to look ahead, but he realizes that a full division unification with Tyson Fury could be just around the corner.

On Saturday night at the SSE Arena at Wembley, Joshua will face the IBF’s mandatory challenger, Kubrat Pulev.

Should Joshua win, he will be in line for a showdown with Fury in 2021.

 

Earlier this year, Joshua and Fury reached an agreement in principle on the financial terms of a two-fight deal.

Fury had been slated to return to the ring on December 5, but he pushed back his stay-busy fight until next year.

Outside of Joshua needing to secure a victory this weekend, the biggest hurdle is an ongoing legal battle between Fury and Deontay Wilder.

Fury stopped Wilder in seven rounds back in February at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Wilder has since initiated a legal action to enforce an immediate rematch clause, which Fury believes expired back in October.

If everything works out as planned, Joshua is more than ready to move forward with a Fury showdown in the first half of the coming year.

“There is a genuine possibility, for sure,” Joshua said about fighting Fury.

“I don’t get involved in the show. When it’s serious, I will be ready to rock and roll. I’m training hard and ready to defend my titles, all in the name of the undisputed championship.

“I’m fighting my mandatory so I don’t have to give up my titles so I can fight for the undisputed championship. If I didn’t want to fight for the undisputed championship, I would have vacated my IBF and taken an easier fight. People want to see the undisputed championship so I have to fight tough guys like Pulev along the way to get myself in position.”

President Buhari presides over 27th virtual FEC meeting

Zainab Sa'id
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President Muhammadu Buhari is currently presiding over the 27th virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.

Before the commencement of the meeting, a minute silence was held for former Chief of Defence Staff and member, Supreme Military Council, the late General Domkat Bali, who also served the country as Minister of Defence.

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari are physically present.

Eleven Ministers are physically attending the meeting. They are Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, Aviation, Hadi Sirika, Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouk, and Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello.

Others are Ministers of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, Mines and Steel Development, Uche Ogah and Housing, Abubakar Aliyu.

The Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan and other Ministers are participating in the weekly council meeting from their various offices in Abuja.

INEC Chairman sworn-in for second term of office

Zainab Sa'id
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The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu has been sworn-in for a second term of office.

President Muhammadu Buhari performed the swearing-in on Wednesday at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, ahead of the weekly cabinet meeting.

In an interview with State House Correspondents soon after taking his oath, the INEC boss pledged to discharge his duties to the best of his ability.

Yakubu also promised to conduct credible elections for Nigeria, as demonstrated recently in the conduct of governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu

“I am privileged to be Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission twice and it is a responsibility I am going to discharge consistent with the oath of office I took and in allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 “We have clearly demonstrated in recent elections that elections are getting better and they will continue to get better,” he said.

The INEC Chairman also advocated the speedy amendment of the country’s electoral act, to enhance efficiency and conduct of more credible elections.

He said: “By coincidence today, the National Assembly is holding a public hearing on the amendment of the electoral legal framework. This is important and this time around, working with the National Assembly, we’ll ensure a speedy passage of the amendment bill and once it is assented to, it will help us enormously in confronting the challenges ahead.

 “The preparations for 2023 general elections have proceeded in earnest, we need certainty and therefore the electoral legal framework is fundamental, without which we cannot formulate our regulations and guidelines.

 “Without our regulations and guidelines, we cannot conclude work on the manual for the training of ad-hoc staff for the elections. So, from here, I am going to proceed to the National Assembly, so work begins in earnest and we have already started.”

Boris Johnson heads for Brussels as fears of chaotic Brexit surfaces

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson heads to Brussels on Wednesday for talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a push to avoid a tumultuous Brexit without a trade deal in three weeks’ time.

With growing fears of a chaotic no-deal finale to the five-year Brexit crisis when the United Kingdom finally leaves the EU’s orbit on Dec. 31, the meeting over dinner is being cast as a chance to unlock the stalled trade talks.

A British government source said a deal may not be possible, as did EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier. Ireland also signalled it was pessimistic about the prospects.

“The EU has to move,” Michael Gove, a senior minister in Johnson’s government dealing with Brexit issues, told Times Radio.

While Gove refused to give odds on a deal, he said that often a one-on-one meeting between leaders could result in a breakthrough. He said a compromise could be possible on fishing in British waters – one of the toughest issues so far.

 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Europe’s most powerful leader, said there was still a chance of a deal but that the integrity of the EU’s market had to be preserved.

Failure to secure a deal would snarl borders, shock financial markets and sow chaos through supply chains across Europe and beyond as the world faces the vast economic cost of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A measure of expected price swings in the pounds known as overnight implied volatility jumped 25% to the highest since late March.

EU chief negotiator Barnier said on Tuesday he believed a ‘no-deal’ split in ties with Britain at the end of the year was now more likely than agreement on a trade pact, EU sources said.

A diplomat and an official in Brussels, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Barnier made the remark at a meeting with the European affairs ministers from the 27 EU states. Barnier added that it was time for the bloc to update its no-deal contingency plans, they said.

Britain said on Tuesday it had clinched a deal with the EU over how to manage the Ireland-Northern Ireland border, and would now drop clauses in draft domestic legislation that would have breached a Brexit withdrawal agreement signed in January.

Gove said the deal on Northern Ireland opened up “a smoother glide path” towards a possible deal. He added that if a deal was not done finance minister Rishi Sunak would take steps to ensure British businesses were competitive.

 

Gove confirmed he was helping to coordinate the government’s attempt to prepare for the scenario of Brexit without a trade deal during a surge in winter COVID-19 cases.

Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said he is “on the pessimistic side” about the chances that Britain and the European Union will reach a consensus in the coming days on a free-trade agreement, the Irish Times reported on Wednesday.

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