Africa Security Investigation News

Bilkisu Adejoh

The National Assembly is both the symbol and an important governance institution that mirrors the democratic character of a nation state. Therefore, priority interest and active participation of voters in the election of the National Assembly Members is crucial to Nigeria’s democracy development and democratic consolidation.

He reminded that on Saturday, February 25, 2023, precisely 17 days from today, eligible Nigerians will gather in the 176,876 Polling Units across the federation of Nigeria to exercise their democratic rights to elect a new President for the country.

The Team Lead, African Parliamentary Advocacy and Reform Group (APARG), Amb. Chibuzo Okereke noted this during the press conference on the state of the 2023 National Assembly Race held on Wednesday 8th February, 2023 in Abuja

On the same day in line with the INEC Time-table, voters will cast their ballots to elect to office, the 109 Members of the Senate and 360 Members of the House of Representatives, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who will form the 10th National Assembly and exercise legislative powers on behalf of the people of Nigeria and their various constituencies.

“While we note with interest the efforts of the INEC, the Media and other stakeholders to deliver a free, fair, transparent, peaceful and credible elections, APARG is however concerned about what appears to be a deliberate suppression and low interest in the National Assembly Campaigns by the Media and other stakeholders.
Whereas the media platforms are saturated with the Presidential Campaign Rallies and media engagements with presidential candidates and their policy documents in all the political affairs programs of the major media organizations in Nigeria, little or no attention has been channeled towards the electoral campaigns for the National Assembly elections.” Said Okereke

In his words,
“It is important to state that the National Assembly elections are as important as the presidential elections. The legislature is as important as the Executive arm of government. The National Assembly Members do not only perform constituency representation and service functions, they also perform important national functions of lawmaking, oversight, confirmations, loan approvals, policy interventions, foreign relations, quasi-judicial functions and Treaties domestication, etc. But over the years, election reports of several accredited observer groups and the Media have shown near complete disinterest for the National Assembly electoral campaigns and elections.”

He therefore expressed the organization’s sadness over their observation with grave concern that there are no clear and articulated national issues on the ballot for the National Assembly elections. Accordingly, National Assembly candidates make ultra-varies promises on the campaign trail that are outside their constitutional mandates thereby promoting excessive clientelistic relationship with voters, which often creates undue burden on the country’s governance systems.

This is a challenge that we believe can be solved through a strategic mass enlightenment campaigns and public education of the electorates across the constituencies,he said

He called on the National and Community print and electronic Media Organizations, and all relevant stakeholders to use the remaining 15 days campaign window to focus attention and consummate publicity on National Assembly elections to highlight the important facts that no President in a constitutional democracy can successfully implement its policy agenda without the presence of a functional, knowledgeable and consenting National Assembly.

Speaking also,the Executive Director, DEAN Initiative,Semiye Micheal enlightened that the parliament are saddled with the responsibility of making laws,considering bills and scrutinising the work of the Government as such voters should also see them as a priority while casting their votes

“The Parliament in our system has immense powers because it is the representative of the people,vote them” Semiye Micheal added

Two of the five persons standing trial in the $1.6billion money laundering charge before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Victor Briggs and Abiye Membere, both former top officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, were today, February 7, 2023, convicted by the court for “unethically collecting car gifts as public officials,” in contravention of section 98 of the Criminal Code Act.. According to the trial judge, public officials must act at arm’s length with private individuals, especially those that have business relations with their Departments or Agencies.

The court however ordered that the fourth and fifth defendants should be kept in the custody of the EFCC pending their sentencing on Wednesday.

Surprisingly, the court acquitted three other defendants, Olajide Omokore and two companies linked to him, Atlantic Energy Brass Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, purveyors of the car gifts for which the 4th and 5th defendants were convicted, on the grounds the EFCC failed to prove its case against them.

How the receiver of a gift will be guilty of an offence while the giver is allowed to go home is the key puzzle of this judgment more so as the first defendant, Omokore, is also on the charge for which the 4th and 5th defendants were convicted.

Consequently, ahead of the sentencing of the 4th and 5th defendants on Wednesday, the EFCC will approach the Court of Appeal to set aside the acquittal of Omokore and the two companies linked to him.

Omokore, two of his companies, Atlantic Energy Brass Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, as well as Victor Briggs, former managing director, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC and Membere Abiye were prosecuted by the EFCC for alleged oil fraud to the tune of $1.6billion.

Specifically, Omokore was alleged to have used the Strategic Alliance Agreement signed between the NPDC and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited to swindle the NPDC and the Nigerian government of monies running into billions of dollars through the lifting of crude oil from some oil wells between March 2013 and May 2014.

The other defendants who were senior management staff of the NNPC were accused of conspiracy in inducing the NPDC to facilitate the lifting of crude by Omokore, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited; and receiving car gifts from Omokore, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited.

One of the charge reads: “That you, OLAJIDE JONES OMOKORE, ATLANTIC ENERGY BRASS DEVELOPMENT LTD, ATLANTIC ENERGY DRILLING CONCEPT LTD and KOLAWOLE AKANNI ALUKO (now at large) between May 2013 and March 2014 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court obtained by false pretense and with intent to defraud, 7,551,867 barrels of crude oil (Brass blend) valued at the sum of $823,75,189.95 (Eight Hundred and Twenty Three Million, Seventy-Five Thousand, One Hundred and Eighty-Nine US Dollars and Ninety-Five Cents) from Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Federal Government of Nigeria on the false pretence that you had funds (both local and foreign) necessary to support the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited in petroleum operation for the OML 60,61, 62 and 63 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act Cap. A6, 2010, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.

Prince Adewole Adebayo, the Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP),  on Monday said the party is committed to being on the ballot in the forthcoming presidential and governorship elections.

The presidential hopeful made this known via his official Twitter handle in response to the hardship being melted on Nigerians as regards the naira swap going on currently and the alleged threat by political parties threatening to boycott the general election.

He outrightly condemned the hardship but made it known that the SDP will be on the ballot at all levels during the electioneering period and not part of the political parties that intend to boycott the election.

In his tweet he said “Social Democratic Party SDP is committed to contesting Presidential, National, and State elections slated for February and March 2023. SDP, a major political party with credible and popular candidates working hard for victory is NOT part of any ’13 parties’ threatening a boycott.”

Recall that Prince Adebayo had earlier faulted the currency redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) saying that the CBN shouldn’t be an extension of politics in Nigeria.”

By Emmanuel Daudu

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) where the two tax authorities would collaborate on joint tax audit, investigation and automatic exchange of information.

According to Johannes Oluwatobi Wojuola,
Special Assistant to the Executive Chairman, FIRS in a press release on
February 7, 2023, the MoU signing ceremony which took place at the State House, Marina, Lagos State, Monday was executed by the Executive Chairman, FIRS, Mr. Muhammad Nami, and the Executive Chairman, LIRS, Mr. Ayodele Subair, and was witnessed by the Honorable Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba as well as the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The MoU which establishes a joint FIRS, LIRS Audit and Investigation team obliges the two tax authorities to share relevant information that would assist both parties in their tax administration and enforcement roles, while also providing for capacity building between both authorities. 

Speaking during the ceremony, the FIRS Executive Chairman noted that the cooperation would enable the two authorities to work as a team to achieve these objectives.

“We will carry out joint audit and investigation as a team; we will also conduct automatic exchange of information for gathering data for the purpose of tax administration. With that information, we would be able to carry out tax administration seamlessly.

“In addition to that, what we are going to introduce administratively because of our joint operation, is to ensure that we are able to implement presumptive tax regime as far as issues of tax administration is concerned.

“But that is going to happen after we are done with the regulation we are putting together with the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, which the Honourable Minister of Finance would issue in due course.

“The presumptive tax would be for the purpose of Personal Income Tax and also Ground Rent administration in Lagos State.

“Another key issue I want to emphasize is capacity building. There are certain things we know as FIRS and would like to share with the State Inland Revenue Service. And there are also areas of specialization you have that we expect you to share with us through capacity building.

“The major objective of this collaboration is to raise enough funds for Lagos State government and the Federal Government to be able to fund their budgetary requirements,” the FIRS boss stated.

In his message to the people of Lagos, Mr. Nami stated that “civilisation globally does not happen by accident,” but that “people or citizens of various jurisdictions, states and countries globally make it happen through the taxes they pay.”

Mr. Nami explained that without funds received by the government through taxes, governments all over the globe would not be able to provide critical infrastructures such as roads, hospitals, internationally rated airports, schools and be able to cater for security and safety of their citizens.

He stated that “with this collaboration, we are confident that Lagos State would earn more revenue from taxes, and be able to deliver to Lagosians a 4th Mainland Bridge, a Lekki International Airport — which it has already conceived — and other critical infrastructure.

“I appeal to the Lagos State Government to continue to give Lagosians—particularly taxpaying residents—value for the taxes they pay.”

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babjide Sanwo-Olu in his remarks stated that this collaboration commenced over a year ago with the intention to improve the fiscal space of the country.

He noted that the country’s tax to GDP ratio, at around six to eight percent was unimpressive and unacceptable, stating that other nationals within the Sub-Saharan region are doing better.

“Other nations even within the Sub-Sahara region are doing between 14 to 15 percent. If you talk about developed countries, they are doing 35 to 40% and that is what makes them developed countries because indeed, it is really an avenue for you to support your government and hold them accountable.”

Mr. Sanwo-Olu noted that with this collaboration, the State was on track to rise above its N1.7 trillion to within the region of four to five trillion Naira.

The Honorable Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba commended the two tax authorities for this landmark agreement, and appealed to other states to follow suit.

An Operations Manager of a leading Commercial bank in Abuja Central Area was today, February 6, 2023, arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Commission, EFCC, for refusing to load the Automated Teller Machines, ATMs, of the bank despite having N29million of the redesigned Naira notes in the branch’s vaults.

Before he was whisked away for further questioning, the operatives ordered the loading of all the ATMs and the payment of the stipulated amount across the counter to the delight of the distraught customers who had spent hours on queues without getting the new notes.

This discovery, which indicates a sabotage of the government’s monetary policy by some banks, was made by the EFCC in continuation of the ongoing surveillance and visit to banks across the country to access their vaults and verify whether they were deliberately refusing to dispense the redesigned Naira notes. More than five bank branches were covered today by the operatives in Abuja. Similar exercises were ongoing in Zonal Commands across the country.

The operation will continue until normalcy is restored to the banking system.

Nigerians finding it difficult to access their funds at any bank and suspects foul play should contact the commission, for immediate intervention.

Wife of the SDP presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo,  Queen Lilian Adebayo has urged Christian women to vote right by voting the  SDP candidate because he is one that speaks for citizens and not himself.

While representing her husband at the Royal Light Chapel Faith Hill Prophetic Assembly’s service on Sunday February 5, she urged the women to look inwards and vote for a party that would listen to the sufferings of Nigerians.

She said, “Mothers are the ones who suffer the most because you see your children, you can’t pay their fees, you can’t send your children out all by themselves. So I’m just here to say these things to us that regardless of what you see on TV or what you hear, we should look inward, who do we really want to rule this country the way that we will all want, that will not put himself first but will put the country first and the people of this country, the citizens”.

Citing the story of Jesse and David in the bible, Queen Lilian said Christians should understand that a good leader comes from the lord, and Nigerians shouldn’t be fazed by the candidates that have been presented as ‘frontrunners’ in the election.
“This time is a very important time because we all need to choose right this coming election. We cannot take it for granted, and as Christians we all know that a good leader comes from the Lord. We have to play our parts as Christians as we all know the story of David in the Bible”.

She described Prince Adebayo as the only fearless candidate who has spoken outrightly concerning the ills of the country, hence why he should be voted in.
“God only knows who he has chosen, fit to be the leader, to be president and that’s what I’ve come to talk about here, to talk about the person of my husband. His name is Prince Adewole Adebayo; he is the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic party SDP. He might appear to look like the underdog, the media don’t want to put him in front; they hear him but they thought to put him behind, not to put him in forefront so people will hear him talk about the problems of this country.
“So we should all come out this time around and vote right. Vote right means to look at all the candidates, what they’ve said and choose which one has spoken for you and not himself. And I can assure you that we have that person in my husband, who has come out boldly to speak the problems of this country while others are shying away from it”.
“I plead for the support of everyone. The party logo is a horse, so on that day of election, you’ll see the horse on the ballot paper, so that’s the one you’ll vote for, the president of this country”, she said.

The ministering Bishop, Justice Great Oluwafemi  Itomog ministered on the topic: “Every step of faith has been ordered divinely as a step of victory”.

Queen Lilian’s Entourage comprised of Madam Hannatu Molkulong – SDP FCT women leader, Madam Podibeze Peter – SDP AMAC Women leader, Mrs Pat Paul, Madam Christie Anteh and Grace Omugbe Anthony.

Prince Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has promised to raise Nigeria’s revenue if elected as president

The SDP presidential candidate said this while responding to a question on Nigeria’s monetary policy, during a parley organised by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) for him, on Thursday February 2, 2023.

While stating that a lot of money is not accounted for in the country’s revenue, Prince Adewole said his party will eliminate deficit finance and also create wealth.
“We will eliminate deficit finance for now;  we’ll give you three consecutive balanced budget. So with that, you committed to assist in debt, an increase in GDP.
“If you create works, which we are going to create, if you create wealth, you have people who are able to take care of themselves will be off social spending or go by the government”, he said.
He also noted that if a government invests in infrastructure, agriculture, education, health and housing, it will be able to deal with unemployment in the country.

Responding to a question on vote buying, the SDP presidential candidate noted that his party does not take part in vote buying, even as he urged Nigerians to desist from selling their votes and rather understand the issues.
“Anybody who is selling their vote knows that they are signing an agreement with the devil because you are now signing a note of poverty and mismanagement and waste. So why will you do that? So I think people should just stop from selling it. Secondly, people should also understand issues”.

He further promised that his party will give every Nigerian access to modern facilities and access to basic amenities, noting that a school in a village will be well equipped like a school in an urban area.
“I will give every Nigerian access to modern facilities, I will give every Nigerian access to primary healthcare and sound education”, he said.

Dignatries present at the event  were; Mr Tanko Dabit, Prof Ayo Omotayo – DG NIPSS, Mr Samson Omale – Silver Bird TV, Jos, Hajiya Fatima Suleiman, CSO Jos, Prof James Adegoke  – African Development Bank (AfDB) Lome Togo, Prof Funmi Para-Mallam mni,v, Dr Nathaniel Urama, Head/Chief Operating Officer, Centre for Financial Economics – NIPSS Kuru, Science University of Jos.

Prince Adebayo’s entourage comprised of  Khadijat Okunnu – Deputy APCO DG, Chief Godwin Osigbeme -Director of protocol, Sen. Ugochukwu Uba – Director of Finance, Pst Ade Alabi, Madam Sa’adatu – SDP national women leader, Dr Olu Agunloye- SDP national secretary and Madam Hannatu Molkulong.