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Reps Query N450bn Amnesty Contracts Under Jonathan

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  • Reps Query N450bn Amnesty Contracts Under Jonathan

The House of Representatives, on Monday, queried contracts worth over N450bn awarded under the Presidential Amnesty Programme between 2010 and 2015.

The House Committee on Public Procurement and the Committee on Niger Delta are investigating the contracts, which were meant to execute projects for the rehabilitation of ex-Niger Delta militants.

The Lead Chairman of the hearing, Mr. Oluwole Oke, said documents obtained by the House showed numerous breaches of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, by the officials of the Presidential Amnesty Office.

They allegedly “colluded” with many companies that had doubtful background to execute the contracts.

Oke also said the over 300 firms that handled the controversial contracts did not register with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service also wrote the House to say that many of the firms had no tax clearance certificates.

Oke added, “Over N450bn was committed to the programme under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“We are out to find out how the money was utilised; this is not a witch-hunt, but this hearing is to find out the truth.

“FIRS, CAC, the Industrial Training Fund, they wrote us on the status of these companies with them.

“We have to ask these questions because the Amnesty programme was a good intention by the Federal Government under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua to address the challenges in the Niger Delta region.

“At a time we are facing economic recession, we are aware that the Niger Delta is key to our (economic) recovery.

“So, if so much money was committed to resolving those challenges and we are still where we are with the same problems, we have to ask questions.”

As the roll call of former Special Advisers to the President on Amnesty Programme was taken, only Mr. Timi Alaibe was present at the hearing.

Mr. Kingsley Kuku, who headed the office up till the time the Jonathan’s administration wound down in 2015, did not honour the committee’s invitation.

However, Alaibe informed the committee that he was ready to cooperate with the investigation.

He told the lawmakers how the “protocol” of the Amnesty programme was jettisoned after he left office.

Alaibe stated, “There was a protocol of the Amnesty programme. Was it followed?

“There were five pillars of the programme. What the committee is looking at here is only the procurement.

“But, I have a detailed record of what we did before we left office.”

A former Director of Procurement at the Amnesty Office, Mr. Tikolo Phillip, came under a barrage of questions from lawmakers when he claimed that the office complied with all procurement requirements in awarding the contracts.

When confronted with the evidence that FIRS, CAC and ITF’s reports discredited the firms which handled the contracts, Phillip replied that they “met minimum requirements of law.”

According to him, some companies merely produced evidence of sworn affidavit attesting to their competence and qualifications.

However, he admitted how under Kuku, some contracts were awarded in line with the urgency to mobilise ex-militants to camps for training.

Some ex-militant leaders, who came to the hearing, created a mild drama when they accused “political leaders” in the Niger Delta of being responsible for the non-implementation of the programme.

One of them, ‘General’ Morocco Wilifred, alleged that N500m was set aside to take care of the welfare of ex-militant leaders shortly before President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in 2015.

He alleged that the money “disappeared” within a few days without traces.

Wilifred added, “The N500m was meant to be shared to 53 ex-militant leaders. The money disappeared.

“Our Niger Delta political leaders are the people destroying the region. They will tell you that they trained some of the boys, but they don’t even know anything.

“Some trainees were sent abroad, but they were sent back to Nigeria because they stopped paying their bills.”

Another ‘General’ David Ogwekpe, claimed that Kuku “tortured” some ex-militants for daring to confront him over the non-implementation of some rehabilitation projects.

Ogwekpe alleged that at a point, the amnesty funds were being rationed out to family members by officials.

“They were busy sharing the money to themselves and family members. The main people (ex-militants) were sidelined and they turned the amnesty programme to a political programme,” he said.

Is the CEO and Founder of Investors King Limited. He is a seasoned foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and other prominent platforms. With over two decades of experience in global financial markets, Olukoya is well-recognized in the industry.

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Donald Trump Projected To Occupy White House, Congratulated By Nigerian President

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President Trump Signs Executive Order In Oval Office Of The White House

There is an indication that the former President of the United States of America, Donald Trump may become the 47th President of the US.

Trump became more confident in his political comeback in American history after securing his third battleground victory on Tuesday evening by clinching Pennsylvania, bringing him closer to a White House win.

The 78 presidential candidates of the Republican Party already won 266 of the 270 Electoral College votes needed to defeat Vice President Kamala Harris of the Democrat Party.

Trump reversed his 2020 losses in the crucial states of Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — running up big margins among his white rural and working-class base while making significant inroads among ethnic minorities.

Addressing supporters in Florida, Trump claimed victory, saying his performance is unprecedented in the history of the country.

He promised to help the US to heal, stressing that the country needs help very badly.

He also assured citizens of fixing critical infrastructure and other necessary areas of the country.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday extended his congratulations to Donald Trump on his re-election as the 47th President of the United States of America.

Tinubu expressed his eagerness to strengthen the ties between Nigeria and the United States amid the complex challenges and opportunities of the contemporary world.

His congratulatory message was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Identifying synergy and cooperation with the US government as a means of fostering economic prosperity, the President of Nigeria noted that the relationship would promote peace, and address global challenges that affect their citizens.

He said Trump’s victory reflects the trust and confidence the American people have placed in his leadership.

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EFCC Nabs Ex-Delta Governor, Okowa, For Alleged N1.3trn Fraud

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Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, over the alleged diversion of N1.3 trillion.

Sources with the EFCC revealed that Okowa visited the EFCC office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday before he was subsequently detained by officials.

The N1.3 trillion reportedly represents the 13% derivation fund from the federation account between 2015 and 2023.

It was gathered that Okowa was at the Port Harcourt office of the Commission following an invitation from investigators probing the allegations against him.

The former governor was said to have been apprehended no sooner than he arrived at the anti-graft office.

Okowa was also accused of failing to account for the funds, as well as another N40 billion he allegedly claimed was used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas.

Sources said the former governor reportedly bought shares worth N40 billion in one of the country’s major banks, representing an 8% equity stake, to support the offshore LNG project.

The funds are alleged to have been misappropriated for other purposes.

They noted that investigators are also examining the alleged diversion of funds by the former governor to acquire estates in Abuja and Asaba, Delta State.

Okowa was the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in the 2023 election.

He was the governor of Delta State from 2015 to 2023 and was succeeded by Sheriff Oborevwori, the incumbent Governor.

When contacted, EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the arrest but declined further comment on the matter.

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FG Frees Minors Remanded For Protesting Hunger In Nigeria

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Some minors who joined the nationwide #EndBadGovernance in Nigeria have regained their freedom.

Their release followed the striking out of the treason charge against them by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday.

Investors King had reported that the Federal Government through its security agencies arrested and preferred treason allegations against the minors who participated in the August #EndBadGovernance protest.

However, President Bola Tinubu had directed the release of the minors owing to the outrage that greeted their arrest, prosecution and incarceration.

Carrying out the presidential directive when the matter resumed on Tuesday, counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, made an application for discontinuation of the case.

Abubakar, who is the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), premised his application on provisions of Sections 174(1), (b), and (c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

He informed the court that the AGF had officially taken over the case file, saying the Federal Government no longer has interest in the case against the protesters.

The DPPF also applied for the proceeding to be conducted without the presence of the minors in the courtroom, in line with provisions of Section 266 (b) of the ACJA, 2015, and Section 1 of the Child’s Rights Act.

Counsel to the defendants, including Mr Femi Fanala, SAN, did not oppose the application.

To this end, Justice Obiora Egwuatu struck out the charge against the protesters who were minors.

Recall that the judge had last Friday admitted the 114 protesters arraigned by the police to N10 million bail each with two sureties each in like sum.

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