Ibrahim Magu, suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), will not appear before the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) on Tuesday, TheCable reports.

CCB had summoned Magu even as he is currently being investigated by a presidential panel over alleged misappropriation of recovered assets under his watch.

In the letter dated November 2, 2020, CCB asked Magu “to come along with the certified true copies (CTC) of the following: Acknowledgement slips of all your assets declaration to the Code of Conduct Bureau since you joined public service. Copies of your appointment letter, acceptance, records of service and pay slips from January to May, 2020. All documents of your landed properties, both developed and undeveloped”.

The CCB said the invitation was made pursuant to its mandate and power as enshrined in the constitution.

But TheCable understands Magu will be writing to the bureau to seek an extension on the ground that he is unable to access his office for the requested documents.

“He is writing CCB to give him more time to enable him access requested documents in his office,” a source told TheCable.

In July, TheCable had reported how CCB was prepared charges against Magu for allegedly failing to declare his assets.

Wahab Shittu, his lawyer, however, had described the allegation of not declaring his assets as “gross misrepresentation and blatant falsehood”.

Magu’s probe followed a memo by Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), who accused him of grave malfeasance.

He has, however, denied the allegations.

In its interim report submitted in August, the panel headed by Ayo Salami, retired president of the court of appeal, had recommended that Magu, a commissioner of police, should be sacked and prosecuted over allegations of corruption and abuse of office.

A former Executive Secretary of the Adamawa State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Bishop Luscious Mayo has been handed a seven-year jail term for financial misappropriation.

A cashier who served under him, Rhoda Thompson, was similarly jailed seven years.

A high court in the state capital, Yola, passed the judgement on Monday, freeing two other defendants against whom the court could not find evidence of fraud.

The state High Court IV, on the other hand, said it found the former Executive Secretary, Luscious Mayo and his cashier, Rhoda Thompson guilty of misappropriating various funds put in their charge while they were at the board between August and December 2016.

Passing judgement on the case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Dr Luscious Jinga Mayo and Three Others, Justice Danladi Mohammed convicted and sentenced Luscious Mayo and Rhoda Thompson to seven years each without option of fine.

The EFCC had initially brought 9 charges against the four defendants but the suit was amended to a 10-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, misappropriation, forgery, diversion of funds and non-declaration of assets.

On count 3 and 4, Justice Mohammed sentenced the ex-executive secretary to 7 years each without an option of fine, while on count 5 the first defendant was sentenced to one year imprisonment with an option of N100, 000 fine, while on count 8 and 9 he was sentenced to two years imprisonment or an option of 100,000 fine while on count 10, the first defendant was sentenced to five years imprisonment without option of fine.

On count two the two convicts are to refund N84,948,600 while on count 3 the first defendant will refund N50,000 deposit made by each of the Christian pilgrims who upgraded their BTA from $500 to $750, amounting to N26,348,750.

On count four, the first respondent will return N15,690,000 to Adamawa State Government while on count 6 he is to refund N2,540,760 to four Christian pilgrims who deposited the funds to enable them perform the spiritual exercise but which he diverted.

The two convicts will serve seven years jail term each as their sentences are to run concurrently.

Buba Galadima, a former ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, has condemned the clampdown on some #EndSARS protesters.

The CBN had secured a court order, directing some banks to freeze the accounts of 19 individuals and a company linked to the #EndSARS protests on allegations of terrorism financing.

Modupe Odele, a member of the feminist coalition who offered legal aid to persons arrested during the demonstrations, had also said the Nigerian Immigration Service seized her passport.

Speaking when he featured on Arise TV on Monday, Galadima asked Buhari to order that the affected bank accounts be unfrozen.

Galadima described the move as unconstitutional, amd reminded the president that Nigeria operates in a democracy, not in a military regime.

“What the government has done is not right. It has no such right or powers to block bonafide Nigerians from travelling out of the country or from accessing their (bank) accounts. Blocked for what? What have they done?” Galadima asked.

“These young men were peacefully protesting the actions, omissions or commissions of government. Why do you, after you persuaded them or after agents of government allegedly attacked or killed them, follow this draconian disposition of blocking their accounts? That is not constitutional.

“I’m sending this message to Mr President whether he knows or he doesn’t know, let him be shown what I am saying. His people have no right to do what they are doing.

“Please, they should desist and unblock the accounts of these young people and allow them to carry on with their normal activities as Nigerians. You cannot harass them. We are in a democracy; we are not in a military regime.”

Ahead of the 2023 general elec­tions, there are fresh intrigues threatening to tear the Indepen­dent National Electoral Commis­sion (INEC) apart and completely erode its independence as a body that should serve the inter­est of all political parties, Daily Independent reports..

This followed the formal handover by its National Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, last week, pending the Senate’s confirmation for the renewal of his tenure as chairman of the commis­sion.

Also, there are strong indications that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is going through a re­gime of crisis as a result of intense power play among key players within the party’s leadership cadre who have constituted themselves into strong power blocks within the context of who holds which sphere of influence, preparatory to the 2023 gen­eral elections.

In this mix of power play is also a minister from the North-West geo-political zone who is angling to seek the governorship of his state in 2023.

One of the signs of the power play emerged penul­timate week, following the announcement by Presi­dent Muhammadu Buhari that the tenure of Professor Yakubu and some national commissioners have been renewed.

This was done in total disregard to the constitution that says that the president in the exercise of his power to make appointment to INEC, ‘shall’ consult the Council of State made up of ex-presi­dents and all serving gover­nors of all political parties.

A credible source in­formed our correspondent that such announcements are usually made after the Council of State meeting through the instrumental­ity of a letter written to the Senate for a reconfirmation of a renewal of the tenure for such appointments.

The President of the Sen­ate, it was gathered, usually reads out the letter from the executive signed by President Buhari, requesting Senate confirmation.

Informed sources within Aso Villa, the APC leader­ship cadre and the Senate disclosed that the announce­ment was made “with a view to checkmating other moves by members of other power blocks angling to take over control of INEC”.

In fact, the simmering contention in the APC over the timely organisation of its national convention, where members of its Na­tional Executive Committee (NEC) are expected to be voted into office, is not un­connected to the unfolding power game which has INEC as its centrepiece.

Whereas there were con­flicting signals regarding what went into the renewal of the tenure of Professor Yakubu, and those for now outsmarted threatening to open up can of worms in the days coming, notwithstand­ing the perceptible dismal showing and the deep in the esteem of INEC as a result of election outcomes that con­tinue to draw the indignation of members of the public, civil society and some foreign election observers – apart from the recently conducted governorship election in Edo State adjudged by many to be free and fair – there is palpa­ble apprehension that the re­newal of Professor Yakubu’s appointment by the Senate may be stormy.

Until the Edo election, the incremental progress insti­tuted by Professor Attahiru Jega, the immediate past national chairman of INEC, had suffered tremendous damage in the hands of the present EMB.

While there are indica­tions that the Senate may not resume its plenary sit­ting until January 2021, as a result of on-going work on next year’s budget by various committees, the information floating around is that there is pressure being mounted by the power block in APC behind Prof. Yakubu’s reap­pointment on the leadership of the Senate, to reconvene this week for the purpose of sealing the renewal of Profes­sor Yakubu reappointment.

The push for the resump­tion of the Senate is report­edly being spearheaded by a very powerful member of its leadership whose hands is said to be fully in the plot for the retention of the chairmanship of INEC by Professor Yakubu.

Indeed, from the Senate end, there are said to be two power blocks interested in not just the headship of INEC, but the fresh appoint­ments of national commis­sioners and resident elec­toral commissioners who are either party members or sympathisers. This move will ensure that current ex­perienced commissioners who have acted truly inde­pendent and had exhibited neutrality in the conduct of elections that should be ele­vated are possibly removed.

Two very powerful offi­cers in the Senate are said to be in opposing camps and both are of the APC.

While one is for the reten­tion of Professor Yakubu, the other, said to be acting in concert with some other forces within Aso Rock Pres­idential Villa, is believed to be rooting for the appoint­ment of one of the national commissioners who hails from his own geo-political zone and an in-law to take over from the incumbent.

At the executive branch is powerful minister from the North-West who wants to be a governor. He had penciled down his own chairman­ship candidate nominee and those who should be commissioners but has been outsmarted for now by one of the blocks behind Profes­sor Yakubu.

From the camp of the APC leadership, the reap­pointment of Yakubu is seen as a potential repudiation of further push from the South-West zone regarding what an insider described as a “seeming entitlement of a takeover in 2023 after President Buhari.”

This calculation thrusts into the battlefield, as well as pours cold water on the aspirations of both Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Yet, a source within INEC made it clear that “the poten­tial series of crises that are likely to overwhelm INEC are going to rear their heads with the filling of slots that would soon be vacant in North-East – on account of tenures that have ended – as well as operational nuanc­es that may alter long-held procedures of engendering elections that would stand the test of time.

“Some of the new people that Nigerians will begin to see within the commission will likely signpost the type of election Nigerians will witness in 2023. All those whose faces represent a hopeful future for credible elections in the system at the moment may be eased out instead of been elevated as national commissioners.

“At least, the nomination of a known presidential aide as a national commissioner was a clear indication of what is to come and meant to test the waters and Nigeri­ans should not be fooled into believing that there will be an independent commission but rather all efforts are be­ing made to compromise the composition of the commis­sion with partisan individ­uals for total control,” the source lamented.

“As of last week, there were ripples within INEC over the moves to bring in another national com­missioner nominee from the same state of Gombe where the acting chairman, AVM Mauzu (rtd.) hails from within the North-East geo-political zone.

“This is apart from sur­reptitious moves being made to upturn the balance in the ethnic configuration of the top management of the commission, with an emerging plot to reverse a Federal Government of Nigeria circular which sus­pended the tenure policy in the Federal Civil Service to achieve what insiders in INEC described as planned ethnic cleansing of individ­uals holding directorates that must be yielded to a favour some others.

“Some of the moves go­ing-on now over the struggle for the takeover and control of INEC are said to be part of the fallout of the demise of both former Chief of Staff to the President, late Mallam Abba Kyari and Ismaila Isa Funtua, as well as the absence from active participation in Villa pol­itics of Mallam Mamman Daura, who wanted a re­branding of INEC and had wanted a new chairman with track records that Nige­rians would applaud to boost the image of the electoral management body and the country and such a choice should possibly come from the South.

The intended move by Daura, sources say, is part of efforts to help President Buhari leave behind a leg­acy, even as his presidency struggles to do away with the perception of ethnic bigotry.

Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has warned move by the Federal Government to implement its Executive Order 10 will destroy the criminal justice system in states.

Wike said the order, which allows the deduction of funds from each state’s account to finance the judiciary, was politically motivated and geared towards the 2023 general election.

A statement by Wike’s Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said Wike spoke at the 3rd Annual Nigerian Criminal Law Review Conference organised by the Rule of Law Development Foundation in Abuja on Monday.

The Governor said ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Federal Government, which he said had been hostile to judges, wanted to lure the judiciary by presenting a body language it believed in independence of judiciary.

He said: “Independence is not to take resources and preside over award of contract. If you cannot give judgment according to your conscience; if you cannot give judgment according to the law, then there is no independence. And this of course affects the criminal justice system.”

Wike also said the politicisation of security by the Federal Government had continued to negatively affect the criminal justice system in the country.

He said the prevailing cases of kidnapping, banditry and armed robbery threatening the existence and stability of the nation clearly justified the establishment of state or community police.

He noted while establishment of state police might require amendment of the extant Section 214(1) of the 1999 Constitution, the Rivers State Government was of the opinion that community police or neighbourhood watch could be established without constitutional amendment.

Wike said: “The truth of the matter is that with the current strength of the Nigeria Police Force which stands at about 372,000 the Nigeria Police Force lacks the operational capacity to fulfill its primary or core mandate of crime detection, crime prevention and maintenance of public safety, law and order or protection of lives and property of persons in Nigeria.

“To put it plainly, the Nigeria Police lacks the operational capacity to police the nation which is a federation of about 923.768km (356.669 sqm) with an estimated population of 195.9 million.

“It is this stark reality that informs call for establishment of State Police to provide complementary role to the Nigeria Police Force in crime detection, prevention, and maintenance of law and order.”

The Governor explained it was against the backdrop that Rivers enacted the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Law, No. 8 of 2018 which established the Rivers state Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency as a corporate body.

He said the agency was vested with powers to set up uniformed Neighbourhood Safety Corps in the 23 Local government Areas of the State and prescribe regulations guiding the operations of the corps and any other local government vigilant groups in the state.

He said following the law, his government began recruitment and training of members of the uninformed Neighbourhood Safety Corps at the NYSC orientation camp , Nonwa in Tai LGA, after obtaining all necessary approvals from the Nigerian Army and other relevant security agencies.

But he said the exercise was violently disrupted by the Nigerian Army, claiming it was illegal and unconstitutional.

Wike noted despite the recent ruling of a competent court of jurisdiction upholding the constitutionality of the Rivers state Neighbourhood Safety Corps, the Army had refused to allow it carry out its recruitment and training of personnel.

He said: “The point being made here is that as long as the Federal Government continues to politicise issues of security whether national or local, so long shall our criminal justice system remain seriously jeopardise.

“The suzerain power exercisable by the Federal Government over matters of security is made manifest by the irregular postings of Commissioners of Police to the Rivers state Police Command”.

Wike emphasised the need for critical stakeholders in the criminal justice sector to rethink the system through reform designed to address current challenges.

A magistrate court in Yaba, Lagos State has set November 17 for the bail hearing of Eromosele Adene, an EndSARS campaigner after the police asked to detain him for 30 days.

Adene was arraigned before the magistrate court today on charges bordering on criminal incitement, cyberstalking as well as provoking a breach of public peace.

He was returned to Lagos on Sunday night to be arraigned in court on Monday.

Adene was arraigned at the magistrate court, Yaba on Monday, having been detained for eight days already.

Speaking to newsmen, Tunde Jinadu, lawyer to the accused, condemned Adene’s transfer to Abuja without the knowledge of neither his families nor counsel, saying, “This sharp practice of the police needs to stop.

“We were not served. We were not called that he was being brought to SCID. An ACP told me they didn’t know where he was. This sharp practice of the police needs to stop. They just wanted to shut us out. That was how they flew him to Abuja last week without my knowledge.

“Luckily, some good people informed me that he (Eromosele) had been taken to a magistrate court. Thank God I have a car. I was able to quickly arrive at the court. “

Jinadu, however, revealed that his timely arrival at the court prevented Eromosele from being detained for 30 more days.

“The police asked for an order to remand the activist for 30 more days,” he said.

Adene was reportedly arrested at his home on November 7 for participating in the #EndSars protest and was later transferred to Abuja without the knowledge of his family.

The Enugu state government has confirmed reports of strange deaths in three local government areas.

Ikechukwu Obi, the state commissioner for health, said in a statement that it is not yet confirmed whether the deaths are linked to Yellow fever as previous cases.

TheCable had reported strange deaths in Igbo Eze north local government area in Enugu, which health authorities later confirmed to be as a result of a Yellow fever outbreak.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) later confirmed that a similar outbreak in Delta and Bauchi has led to 76 deaths in total.

Obi said on Sunday the state government received reports of some deaths with no known cause in two more LGAs, and that it is awaiting test results of samples taken.

He said: “Following the confirmed cases of Yellow Fever in Igbo Eze North LGA of Enugu State and the concerted efforts to control the situation in the LGA by the State Government, Stakeholders and Partners; Federal and International, reports have also been received of ‘strange deaths’ within communities in Nsukka, Isi-Uzo and Igbo-Etiti LGAs.

“The Enugu State Ministry of Health Rapid Response Team, LGA Rapid Response Teams, International and National Partners have also visited these LGAs to investigate the reports and take samples for testing just as was done for the reports at Igboeze North.

“The new set of samples from these LGAs have been sent to the National Reference Laboratory at the Federal Capital Territory Abuja for a thorough and complete examination to determine conclusively the reasons for these new set of reports and the results are expected back early this week.”

He asked residents to take necessary precautions against Yellow fever, adding that those who have been recently vaccinated do not need to do so again.

“It takes 10 days or more for Yellow fever vaccine to start working after you have received it,” he said, adding: “If you or your loved one are not feeling well, please visit or take your loved one to a nearby hospital for treatment.”

….Tackles agency on 2021 budget

…Moves to save agency N2.4 billion 

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Narcotic Drugs, Dr. Francis  Ottah Agbo, has challenged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, to learn from the experience of former Director General of NAFDAC, late Prof. Dora Akunyili on how to effectively run NDLEA in the face of paucity funds.

Dr. Ottah Agbo gave the challenge during the 2020 Budget Performance and 2020 Budget Defense Hearing of his committee with the NDLEA on Monday.

He recalled that only little was known about NAFDAC before Prof. Akunyili became the Director General of the agency but said she was able to use her influence to make impact in spite of poor funding.

He said, “Before the late Prof. Dora Akunyili became the DG of NAFDAC, most people didn’t know of the existence of NAFDAC in Nigeria.

“NAFDAC was underfunded, underequipped and understaffed like NDLEA, but when she came in as DG of NAFDAC, she changed the narrative and many people began to know about NAFDAC in Nigeria.”

Dr. Ottah Agbo said though the management of NDLEA is doing its best, but its best is not good enough and called on it to work harder.

He said, “Chairman and management team of NDLEA need to work harder so that Nigerians would truly know about the existence of the NDLEA the way they knew about NAFDAC when Akunyili was DG in the face of poor funding.”

The House Committee chairman  offered to intervene to save the NDLEA the sum of N2.4 billion contained in its budget which it is proposing to use to purchase property for use as office.

Dr. Ottah  Agbo who represents Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency, said his committee would liaise with the ministry of Justice to have one of the property seized as proceeds of financial crime by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, handed over to them instead of spending money to purchase a new office.

Dr. Ottah Agbo popularly known as the Ozigizaga of Enone Politics, suggested that rather than allocate N2.4 billion for the purchase of property which would eat deeply into the budget of the agency, it would be better to explore the process set by the Federal Government to hand over some of the confiscated property to the agency.

He said this would enable the NDLEA which has been complaining of poor funding to have more funds at its disposal to purchase arms, ammunition, more sniffer dogs,scanners, vehicles and so on to achieve its core mandate of fighting the menace of drug addiction in the country.

Dr. Ottah Agbo regretted the fact that many of the weapons used by NDLEA to fight drug traffickers were those used during the civil war, a situation he noted has made Nigeria a laughing stock in the international communities!

He enjoined members of the committee of Narcotic Drugs to help NDLEA in sensitising Nigerians against drug addiction by budgeting for it in the mail 2021 Appropriation.

“We should look at what the budget for sensitisation is and see if it is enough. If it is not enough as a committee we do something about it,” he stated.

Ottah Agbo who is the Spokesman of the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives, said his committee did not remove, amend or adjust any figure in the 2020 budget as presented by the NDLEA because it believed it got its priority right.

The Lawmaker said his committee will decline to pass the 2021 Appropriation if at  any point it has evidence of lack of due diligence in the implementation of the 2020  budget.

He said with the challenges facing Nigeria owing to the Covid-19 Pandemic, year 2021 presents an opportunity to re-appraise, re-strategise and reposition.

“The role of the NDLEA at this time can never be less challenging than it was. Whilst I do not envy you at this time, I urge you to rise up and vigorously work in conjunction with other sister agencies and international organisations to ensure the attainment of your mandate.

He said the process where over the years, budget defense has been turned into ritual of rhetoric without corresponding action must stop.

“For us to attain greatness and be respected in the committee of Nations, we have to translate our budget to tangible outcomes,” he added.

The NDLEA chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Mustapha Abdallah had stated while presenting the 2021 budget estimate of the agency that the agency has 49 formations with one each in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory as well as in sea ports and airports.

He said the NDLEA is however finding it difficult to fund the formations with N15 million allocated for that purpose  per month.

He said there’s need for increase surveillance in all local governments in the country.

The NDLEA is proposing N12.688,496, 733 billion as budget estimate for 2021 out of which it is proposing to spend N9.195, 395, 368, 466 as recurrent expenditure and over N3 billion as capital with N398, 073 million for overhead.

He said the agency is yet to have an  office headquarters in Abuja and appealed to the House Committee to come to the aid of agency.

The NDLEA chairman said the NDLEA currently lacks funds for information gathering and for other operations saying funding will go a long way in curbing corruption among the rank and file of the work force and reduce threat of insecurity and enhace a drug free Nigeria.

On the issue of declassifying Cannabis for economic advantage, the NDLEA chairman said Cannabis by law is not allowed in Nigeria and that it is not true that it has medicinal value.

The mortal remains of the former President, Flt Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, who shockingly died last Thursday at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, is likely to be cremated as that appears to be one of his last wishes.

The 73-year old, who is credited with Ghana’s current democratic dispensation, having returned the country back to constitutional rule in 1992, before his demise, had indicated that he wants to be incriminated for a very interesting reason.

Mr Rawlings, sometimes affectionately called Chairman Rawlings, who attended the popular Achimota School in Accra with his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, in one of his many interviews, said he wants to be incriminated and his ashes scattered in the Achimota Forest, where his former Alma Mata is sited.

JJ, in a tribute he wrote for his mother; Victoria Agbotui, revealed he spent more time in the Achimota Forest interacting with nature more than he did on campus.

He disclosed how many occasions his mother will visit him on campus to meet his absence because he had gone into the forest.

According to him, on one occasion, while returning from the forest, he chanced upon his mother angrily leaving a warning with a student for him.

The former Charismatic leader and founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), made the declaration during an interview with the Editorial Board of Achimota School’s magazine in 2016.

The long interview, published in April 2016 edition entitled “Walking down memory lane with his Excellency Ft. Lt Jerry John Rawlings” had the ex-Military leader, saying he wanted his remains back in the Achimota Forest to enable plants to grow.

Speaking on a number of issues covering his days at the popular school, the former President said because he loved the Achimota Forest, and he wished that when he dies, his body will be cremated and the ashes spread inside of the thick forest.

“Since I love the Achimota forest, I am looking forward to being cremated and my ashes brought to the forest and used to plant a few trees”, he said when asked what he missed most about the school.

His wish, which shocked the Editorial Board made of young Achimita students, was followed with a question by the late former President retorting “How else can we protest the forest for you?

He asked, “Are you afraid my ghost will be appearing?

But in his usual jovial self, Mr Rawlings laughed at what he had said explaining, his request is to get the forest which is one of the few historical sites left on the national capital preserved.

He laughed “Hahahahaha. So, let people believe it; that way, it will help preserve the forest”, The NDC founder went on by imploring others to emulate his wish, but was quick to add that in the event that others do not tow his line, he will be glad to be kept all alone.

“Some others should also do the same, if they don’t, the fewer the merrier. I don’t mind having that whole place to myself”.

Source Mynewsghana.net