The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved about N120,717,387,596 for the implementation of various projects across the country.

The approvals came during the 26th meeting of the council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja on Wednesday.

Ministers of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; and Water Resources Suleiman Adamu, who addressed correspondents on the matter, explained the contracts as they concerned projects in their various ministries.

Fashola said his ministry got approval for three memoranda, totalling N117,485,081,325, saying that while two were in respect of various roads and bridges works, the third was for a banking application software for the Federal Mortgage Bank.

He explained: “Council approved a total sum of N18,923,846,198.47 billion for roads and bridges. First is the rehabilitation of 26 kilometres of Kano – Kazaure – Daura – Mai’adua Road in the Kano-Jigawa-Katsina States at N8.767 billion. Omor – Umulokpa Road in Anambra and Enugu N1.712 billion.

“Rehabilitation of Oye – Oranto off Enugu Express Dunukofia in Anambra At N2.504 billion. Okpokwu Bridge along Ogoja – Okuku – Aliforkpa-Benue Road in Cross River N1.057 billion.

“Bridge at kilometre 22 +700 meters along Bida -Zungaru road in Niger at N1.022 billion; Nkwumi Bridge linking Abia and Enugu states at N1.072 billion, and Chalawa – Runku – Sawa – Kayi Road in Kombotso, Kano State N2.787 billion.

“The other memorandum relating to roads is for the total sum of N98,73,840,842.81 billion. The roads are in Rijiya – Gusau Road in Zamfara N1.799 billion; Jega – Kwanar Sanagi – Kebbi – Gunmi Road in Kebbi N31.539 billion; Koko- Mahuta Road in Kebbi, N19.713 billion; Kukar Babangida – Gangara Road in Katsina N11.731 billion, Ihiala-Orlu -Umuduru Road to Uko at N16.750 billion, Oye Ama Etitte road to Umuawulu Road in Anambra at N2.155 billion and rehabilitation in Bichi Road in Kano State N8.34 billion.

“The third memo was the procurement of a core banking application software for Federal Mortgage Bank in the sum of N487.394,285.71 million for Messers FINTAX software to enable Federal Mortgage Bank to provide all the frontline services that other banks now provide across its branches nationwide.

“Unlike other banks, Federal Mortgage Bank is still unable to send automated notices, statements and all of those to national housing fund contributors. This application will now enable the federal mortgage bank to provide those kinds of services and do a lot of automation and reconciliation loan and credit processing when fully installed.”

On his part, Aregbesola said his ministry presented two memoranda to Council, one of which was the furnishing of the already completed technology building (the data and communication command and control centre) at the cost of N2,100,080,759.65 billion.

It was awarded in favour of messers Julius Berger Nigeria Plc at the total sum approved of N2,100,080,759.65 billion.

He said Council also approved the purchase of 44 operational vehicles for meant to enhance the efficiency of the officers recently promoted, which include Comptrollers, Assistant Comptroller Generals, Deputy Comptroller Generals as well as for patrol duties, at the cost of N768,077,08 million.

Aregbesola added: “The council approved procurement of 44 operational vehicles at a total contract sum of N768,077,08 million. The beneficiaries are messers PAN, Kawra and Wanla Motors Nigeria Ltd.

“While the final phase of consultancy was given to Messers APTECH Practice Ltd, architectural design consultants. The ward is a total sum of N163,956,232.03. The duration of the project is four months.”

FEC also approved a memo seeking the award of contract for the reversed cost for an extension of time of the consultancy services at Tadasungai Irrigation project in Kwara State.

Minister of Water Resources, Adamu recalled that council had okayed the reversal of the total cost of the main project and the ministry got approval to extend the services of the consultant, Messers Tech Consult Consultancy International and associates, Ltd for another 12 months.

“It was 24 months plus 12 months extension plus 12 months liability period, making it 36 for a total sum of N200,192,200 million inclusive 7.5 per cent VAT. These are high priority project along the banks of River Niger and has the potential to improve production in the country especially rice production,” he stated.

The Minister said the council also approved the award of contract for a dedicated power line for middle Ogun Irrigation project phase one which is in Iseyin in Oyo State.

According to him, the irrigation system used to be powered by diesel generators, “but because of deregulation and with diesel it has become so expensive and not sustainable.

“So, we have to look for other ways and means to power irrigation systems. We are looking at both the National grid and solar. In this case, we have an interim arrangement to extend power for national grid power to irrigation scheme and in the future, before it is finished, we will take it to solar.”

He said that capacity coverage is about 3,000 hectares while about 1,300 hectares have already been finished but cannot be irrigated because of lack of power.

An Assistant Commissioner of Police serving in No. 73 PMF Squadron, Magumeri, Borno state, ACP Egbe Eko Edum has been reportedly axed to death in Calabar, Cross River State Capital by unknown men.

The attack took place in the early hours of Wednesday, December 2, at about 1:00 am along Murtala Mohammed Highway in Calabar by Pepsi depot, sources said.

“He dropped off from a public transport and had called his wife to pick him up before he was attacked by the unknown men. We are investigating the incident and the family has recovered the body from the scene,” the PPRO explained.

She reiterated that the deceased “is an Assistant Commissioner of Police who serves in Borno State; he is not serving here. I think he was coming to see his family here in Cross River, he arrived in Calabar at about 1:00am when the incident happened.”

Until his death, Edum was a commander of the Police Mobile Force Squadron 73 in Magumeri, area of Borno state.

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, ruled that the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa, and the Attorney General of Delta State, Peter Mrakpor, both have a case to answer in a suit filed against them by former minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in a ruling, delivered yesterday in the suit numbered, FHC/ABJ/1267/2020 also joined the Delta State Attorney General and Commissioner of Police as third and fourth respondents in the suit by the former Minister.

Taiwo in his ruling, while citing the provisions of Section 2(a) of the Public Officers Protection Law, said a public officer can be joined in a suit where it is believed that the fundamental right of an applicant may have been contravened during the course of discharging their duties.

“There is no doubt, that in law, the person being sought to be joined, though he is the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, can be sued in his personal capacity. It is my considered view, that the Commissioner of Delta State can be sued in his personal capacity,” he said.

According to the Judge, “The fundamental rights in the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can be deployed against anyone by an applicant who claims that his fundamental rights have been, is being or likely to be contravened by any person, even when he acts in his official capacity.

“After due consideration of the processes filed for and against the application, I find merit in the application to joinder, and I hereby order that Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa and the Attorney General, Delta State, be joined as the third and fourth respondents in this matter,” Justice Taiwo ruled and adjourned till December 17, 2020, for hearing of the suit.

Thenigerialawyer

President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday proved cynics wrong, as he agreed to comply with the resolution of the House of Representatives summoning him to appear before it to explain why insecurity is threatening the country to its very fabric and what he’s doing about it.

Making the disclosure while answering questions from journalists after leading a delegation to a meeting with the president, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, said the group was in the State House to covey to Buhari the resolution summoning him to appear before it.

He said aside conveying the resolution to the president, they also had the intention of fixing the date for the president’s appearance but they later declined fixing the date in deference to the president’s office.

However, he was swift to add that they eventually reached an agreement with the president on the date he would appear before them, but declined to make the date known, promising instead that it would be communicated to journalists later.

“We came to see the President on developments in the country. He was so willing to listen as typical of the president.

“The usual democrat that he is. What we basically sought was to convey the resolution of the House and to fix a date which we did not fix out of respect for Mr. President and his very tight schedule, what date will be convenient.

“We have agreed on a date and he will meet with the House to address the situation. We have fixed a date but we will communicate with you. He is a perfect democrat. He will come to the House to address members in the nearest future,” he said.

Asked what was his perception of the president’s handling of security threats ravaging the country, Gbajabiamila was swift to add that the president was more concerned about the worsening insecurity bedeviling the country.

He added, however, that he would avoid pre-emptying the president until he personally appears before the House, adding that Buhari is committed to addressing security crises threatening the country.

According to Gbajabiamila, when Buhari appears before the House, he will not be there to address only the lawmakers, but will rather use the floor of the House as a platform to address the entire citizens of the country.

“I think he is more concerned than me and you. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. We will leave everything until when he comes to the House. Let me not pre-empt him. All I can tell you for now is that he is fully committed to the security of lives and property of Nigerians.

“He is coming to talk to Nigerians through the House. You know that the House, as it is constituted, every Nigerian is present in the House. Every constituency in this country is represented in the House. So, when Mr. President is talking to the House, he is talking to Nigerians through their representatives,” he added.

The House had entered into a rowdy session on Tuesday following a motion presented by a member from Borno State, Hon. Satomi Ahmed, on behalf of other 10 Borno State lawmakers.

Ahmed’s motion which was the fallout of the heinous killings of 43 farmers on their rice farms in Zarbamari by Boko Haram insurgents on Saturday, also demanded a declaration of a state of emergency on security matters in the country by the president.

Ahmed had disputed the claim that the number of people killed was 43, saying the exact number was not yet known, recalling how the insurgents tied up farmers and slit their throats.

However, Ahmed had in his motion deliberately omitted the prayer summoning the president, prompting one of the co-sponsors of the motion, Hon. Ahmadu Jaha, to raise a point of order, drawing his colleagues’ attention to one of the prayers in the motion which Ahmed had failed to express.

According to Jaha, all sponsors of the motion agreed that Buhari should be summoned to tell the House what he’s doing about the security situation in the country.

Jaha’s point of order, calling for the House’s resolution summoning the president, received the backing of majority of members, but some opposed it, thus throwing the House into a rowdy session, until Gbajabiamila called for the dissolution of the House into an executive session.

The outcome of the session was not made public, until Gbajabiamila led a delegation to a meeting with the president yesterday.

Well meaning Nigerians and groups, including Afenifere and Northern Elders’ Forum swiftly threw their weight behind the House motion to summon Buhari, lamenting how insecurity had become a norm in the country.

Nigerian police operatives at the Ogun State command have exposed a baby factory where a physically challenged man has been employed to impregnate young girls and the babies sold after delivery.

Police said the baby factory is located at Ofada, Mowe, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, southwest Nigeria.

So far, 10 pregnant girls and some unsold kids have been rescued while the operator of the factory, Mrs Florence Ogbonna reportedly fled during the raid on Tuesday, December 1.

However, her daughter and the physically challenged man engaged to make the girls pregnant were arrested.

The physically challenged man is allegedly responsible for impregnating the young girls and after delivery, Mrs Ogbonna sold their babies.

The woman Mrs Ogbonna had earlier been arrested for a similar offence and is standing trial for human trafficking before this incident. Ogun police spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi said the young expectant mothers aged 18 to 24 years, were transported from Imo, Abia and the Ebonyi States with a promise of securing employment for them but later lured into the illicit trade.

The raid was conducted at the baby factory owned by the woman who is under court bail, after one of the victims resisted the plan to put her baby for sale, escaped and reported the illicit trade to the police.

The lady identified as Chidera Onuoha revealed that she reported to the police after the fleeing woman wanted to sell her baby.

On how much the babies cost, she said: “If the baby is a boy, they sell the newborn for N250, 000. If it’s a girl, it is N200, 000.”

Two students, Endurance Bako of the University of Jos and Happy Bako, an SS1 student, have been kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Wulko, Nasarawa Eggon local government area of Nasarawa State.

While the two sisters are still in custody of the kidnappers, their mother, who was shot twice on her leg by the kidnappers, is currently receiving treatment at the National Hospital, Abuja.

Endurance Aushi Bako, 22, a 300 level student of University of Jos, and Happy Bako, 17, an SS1 student, were whisked away by the kidnappers who are demanding 30 million naira ransom.

A member of the family, Alex Esla Bako, who narrated what happened to our correspondent, said the kidnappers gained access to the family house in Wulko, near Endehu resort around 11pm on Sunday night, through the fence.

“They gained entrance into our house around 11pm on Sunday night, through the fence and when my mother noticed some strange movements, she came out and the kidnappers flashed her torch light in the face before shooting twice at a close range on the leg.

“Since they took my two sisters away, they called time to time, with different numbers and the first demanded 30 million, now they are saying 20 million,” he said.

The overseer of Agidi Development area in Nasarawa Eggon local government of the state, Emma Yaro, who confirmed the development, said he had reported the case to the Police. (The Nation)

“Unless those who want to be politically correct by playing poker with the country’s fate, most Nigerians, after more than five years of Buhari’s presidency, have come to the inexorable conclusion that the onerous task of governing Nigeria is way beyond his ken.

In any other country apart from Nigeria with its asinine and highly flawed leadership recruitment process, a man with Buhari’s competencies will thank his stars if he is rewarded with the chairmanship of a local government.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, amplified this depressing fact on November 26 at the fourth quarterly meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council in Abuja, when he said bandits were fast overrunning the North.

“People think the North is safe but that assumption is not true. In fact, it’s the worst place to be in this country because bandits go around in the villages, households and markets with their AK 47 and nobody is challenging them. They stop at the market, buy things, pay and collect change, with their weapons openly displayed,” he lamented.

But it is not only the North that is in ruins. Buhari’s incompetence and lack of capacity have ruined Nigeria. Farmers in the South also need security escorts to access their farms.

It is unfortunate it took the slaughtering of innocent rice farmers and the international opprobrium on the country for the North to realise that Buhari is a bad omen for all. But it is not enough for fellow compatriots to wake up from their lethargic slumber.

It will be good if the right lessons have been learnt by all Nigerians, Southerners and Northerners alike, which is: If the North is worse off in spite of the fact that a rabid ethnic supremacist like Buhari is in office, then Nigerians are better informed that competence should trump all other mundane considerations when making a choice in 2023.”

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*Emefiele denies freezing #EndSARS promoters’ accounts

The Police have initiated a move to stop various panels probing allegations of rights abuses and other acts of impunity against police officials, particularly operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

State governments have raised the panels to investigate alleged infractions by SARS operatives, following nationwide #EndSARS protests by youths.

The panels have since been sitting in almost all the states.

But, the Police have approached a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking among others, an order restraining the Attorneys-General of the 36 states and the panels of inquiry they constituted, from proceedings with their investigation of the activities of the police and their officials.

The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1492/2020, filed for the NPF by its lawyer, O. M. Atoyebi (SAN) has 104 defendants.

The defendants include the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the attorneys-general of the states and chairmen of the panels set up by the states.

It is the plaintiff’s main contention that the decision by governors to set up panels of inquiry to investigate activities of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and their officials in the conduct of their statutory duties violate Section 241(1)(2)(a) and Item 45, Part 1, First Schedule to the Constitution and Section 21 of the Tribunals of Inquiry Act.

The NPF is of the view that by the provisions of 241(1)(2)(a) and Item 45, Part 1, First Schedule to the Constitution the Federal Government of Nigeria has exclusive power to “organise, control and administer the Nigeria Police Force.”

The plaintiff raised three questions for the court’s determination. It is also seeking four main reliefs.

One of the prayers is a declaration that having regard to the provisions of Section a14 (1)(2) (a) and Item 45, Part 1, First Schedule, 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Federal Government of Nigeria has the exclusive power to organise, control and administer the Nigeria Police Force.

Other reliefs being sought by the plaintiff are:

* A declaration that the establishment of panel of inquiries by the Governors of the various states of the Federation of Nigeria, to inquire into the activities of the Nigeria Police Force in relation to the discharge of her statutory duties is a gross violation of the provisions of Section 241 (1)(2) (a) and Item 45, Part 1, First schedule, 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 21 of the tribunals of inquiry Act, Cap.T21, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

* A declaration that having regard to the circumstances of this case, the attitude of the governors of the various states of the Federation of Nigeria in this case is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

* An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 3rd to 38th defendants (the attorneys-general of the 36 states) from making or conducting any investigations, sittings and inquiries and/or from making or conducting any further investigations, sittings and inquiries in respect of matters affecting the Nigeria Police Force, and or further setting up any panel of inquiry in any state whatsoever in the country.

The case listed on the cause list for Wednesday, could not be heard because the court did not sit. It was rescheduled for December 18.

Also on Wednesday, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, faulted a claim that the apex bank obtained court orders to block accounts linked to promoters of the #EndSARS protests.

Emefiele’s position was stated by his lawyer Mike Aondoakaa (SAN) while appearing before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Aondoakaa, a former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, is Emefiele’s lawyer in the case, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1384/2020)of CBN v.Bolatito Rachael Oduala and 19 others in which Justice Ahmed Mohammed granted an order freezing the accounts of the defendants for 90 minutes in the first instance.

The former AGF spoke while reacting to remarks by Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), lawyer to Albert A. Ugochuwu and others, whose accounts were also frozen in similar circumstance by another judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo in the case marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/12000/2020.

Aondoakaa, who insisted that his client acted within the provision of Section 60 (b) of the Bank and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA), that allows the CBN to apply for a freezing order pending the conclusion of investigation.

The ex-AGF faulted Adegboruwa claim that the CBN was going about filing multiple cases to freeze people’s accounts, including those linked to the #EndSARS protests.

He said the CBN did not apply for the freezing of any accounts because of the owners were associated with the #EndSARS protests.

Aondoakaa stated that his client only applied to have the accounts frozen following suspicious and questionable transactions in them.

He noted that none of those affected by the orders have claimed, in the processes they filed, that they are #EndSARS protesters.

Arguing earlier, Adegboruwa accused the CBN of filing multiple cases to freeze accounts of people indiscriminately. He cited the case of those associated with the #EndSARS protests.

He argued that the CBN had a misconception of Section 60(b) of the BOFIA, and that its lacks the power to conduct investigation into alleged infraction of the law.

Adegboruwa noted that the CBN came before the court on September 21, 2020 and obtained the freezing order pending the conclusion of its investigation.

“The law permitting the CBN to approach the court makes it a clearing house. Not to investigate. The CBN is arogating the powers of the investigating agencies. The CBN lacks the power to investigate crimes,” he said.

Adegboruwa prayed the court to vacate the order earlier made by the court and dismiss the CBN’s suit.

Justice Taiwo adjourned the matter till December 16 for ruling.

The Federal Ministry of Transport has responded to a Freedom of Information, FOI request by former 2nd Vice-President of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Monday Ubani and Lagos-based lawyer, John Nwokwu for detailed information of the $1.96billion Kano-Niger Republic rail project.

Ubani and Nwokwu had last month sought details of the controversial rail project using the FOI Act insisting that Nigerians deserve to know amongst other things the economic benefits of the project, including the funding mechanism.

In what appears to be a clear departure from government agencies’ usual dismissal of FOI request, the Ministry last week responded to the demand and gave more details of the project.

On the cost of contract, the Federal Ministry of Transport insisted that the actual cost of the project is USD 1,959,744,723,71 (One Billion, Nine Hundred and Fifty Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Forty Four Thousand, Seven Hundred and Twenty Dollar and Seventy one Cent) inclusive of 7.5% VAT.
They confirmed that the track length of the rail is 378km starting from Kano – Danbatta – Kazana – Daura – Meshi – Kastina – Jibiya – Maradi (Niger Republic) with branch line to Dutse in Jigawa State. It also confirmed that only 20km of the track length is within Niger Republic while 358km is within Nigeria.

On the awarded contract documents and names of the firm and procedures for bidding, the Ministry said it advertised for qualified contractors to bid for the project in two national newspapers in 2018 and submission of the RFQ closed by 12 noon on the 19th of June, 2018.

Part of the response from the Ministry reads “Evaluation of RFQ commenced on the 5th of July, 2018 and ended on 9th of July, 2018. Following the exercise, seven out twelve companies that responded to the RFQ were shortlisted and issued Request for Proposal (RFP) on the 31st of July, 2018. Bids were subsequently opened on the 30th August, 2018 at FMoT
“Mota-Engil Africa in line with the ICRC guidelines and Public Procurement Act, 2007, was recommended as the preferred bidder for the Project haven been ranked first for submitting an excellent response to the RFP, and providing all the required information.
It also had good financial and technical credentials responsive to the project requirements and has relevant experience in Africa and emerging economies.”

The FOI response also stated that FMoT, the federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and Mota-Engil Africa are negotiating the Contract Agreements and financing at the moment.

On budgetary allocation for the rail project, the Ministry claimed in its response that the project is to be 100% funded by Messrs Mota-Engil Africa under an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing (EPC+ F) model through combination of lenders from Export Credit Agencies (ECA) and commercial facilities backed by a sovereign guarantee.

It however failed to provide any Memoradum of Understanding or agreement between the Fedral Ministry of Transportation and MotaEngil to this effect.

Enumerating the economic benefits of the project, the Ministry said its study estimates a total cost of road accidents saved per year is USD 57,224,095. Other economic benefits according to the Ministry include, saving from greenhouse gases reduction, saving in road maintenance and promotion of Intra Africa Trade.

Ubani in a statement made available to this medium commended the unusual timely response of the Ministry, he however added that he would study the response along with his partners to fashion out the best possible response. The method of funding and the liability of the funding on Nigerians, to him, appear suspicious.

According to him the contract papers were not provided by the Ministry in clear compliance with the Freedom of Information Act.

Their detailed response to this information as provided by the Ministry shall be made public soon after critical study, he concluded.

Theleadnewsreport