The former Minister of Power, Professor Bart Nnaji, has called on the Federal Government to resume the signing of power purchase agreements (PPAs) with private sector investors to ramp up Nigeria’s electricity generation.

Nigeria currently has about 13,000-megawatt nameplate capacity but generates only about 5,000MW due to a number of factors, including insufficient natural gas availability for the country’s gas-fired plants, which account for 80% of national grid electricity.

Nnaji, who is the founder and chairman of Geometric Power, Nigeria’s foremost integrated electricity group, told a forum of professionals involved in the electricity value chain, including bankers and lawyers, at a large meeting organised by the Udo Udoma and Belo-Osagie law firm in Lagos today that without the resumption of the PPAs, “it will be very difficult for any investor to provide money for grid power generation”.

He said that the PPAs “provide comfort to investors”, citing the example of the 450MW Azura power plant in Edo State which cost about $900m to build.

“Creditors”, he noted, “were able to provide the long-term funds because of the partial risk guarantee (PRG) provided in 2012” when he was the power minister under President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to Nnaji, no new plants have been built by the private sector since the suspension of the PPA in 2015.

ExxonMobil and General Electric of the United States which has been trying to develop a thermal plant of 1,000MW in Aba in partnership with Geometric Power have since paused action on the projects after spending hundreds of millions of dollars.

It costs between $1.3m and $1.5m to build just a one-megawatt gas plant, according to Cliff Eneh, a former engineer with Texas Power and Light in the United States who is now an energy consultant in Lagos.

“The Federal Government and various state governments”, said Eneh, also a former manager with the defunct National Electric Power of Nigeria (PHCN), “don't have enough resources to close the well over 50,000MW gap in the country”.

Egypt and South Africa, which are among Africa’s largest economies, generate 58,000MW each, but South Africa has since 2007 been experiencing load shedding because of inadequate power availability.

“This shows that 58,000MW can’t be enough for us”, Eneh asserted, supporting Nnaji’s call for the reinstatement of PPAs.

Nnaji also told the gathering about the “great urgency to address the paralysing supply gas crisis bedevilling the country.

 “A situation where Nigeria, the world’s 9th largest gas country, can’t provide gas for domestic consumption”, he continued, “isn't justifiable”.

He revealed that his 188MW Geometric Power Plant, commissioned last February 26 by Vice President Kashim Shettima on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, has “been grappling with gas scarcity, sometimes staying weeks without supplies”, despite building a 27-kilometre gas pipeline from the plant’s location in the Osisioma Industrial Layout in Aba to Owaza in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.

The former distinguished engineering professor in the United States observed that the challenges in the power sector “are, to a large extent, a reflection of the broader economic crisis in Nigeria”, advising the political class to embrace patriotism to solve the problems.

“When I was the Minister of Science and Technology in 1993”, he recalled, “all government officials and government establishments were using locally assembled Peugeot vehicles which provided thousands of citizens and businesses with direct and indirect jobs.

Government officials in the United States, France, the UK, Italy, Germany, and other places use only vehicles manufactured in their countries.

“At Geometric Power, we made it a policy to patronize only locally produced vehicles like Innoson and Peugeot, just as we use Cutix and Coleman wires and cables made in Nnewi, Anambra State, and Arepo, Ogun State, respectively”.

Participants in the forum on Nigeria's electricity value chain included Dafe Akpeneye, a commissioner with the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC); Kola Adesina, the chief executive of Sahara Energy; and Nicholas Okafor, head of the energy team at the Udo Udoma and Belo-Osagie law firm.

President Bola Tinubu congratulates the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, on his 71st birthday on 20 October, which also coincides with the eighth anniversary of the King’s ascension to the throne of his ancestors. 

He notes that since the coronation of the 40th Oba of Benin in 2016, his kingship has heralded a new era of peace, understanding, and civility among the people.  

The President believes that Ewuare’s illustrious career in diplomacy has influenced his leadership style and reassured the people of his ability to lead with wisdom and grace.  

Oba Ewuare served at various times as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Angola and Sweden, with accreditation to Norway, Denmark, the Republic of Finland, and later Italy.  

President Tinubu extols the Oba’s courage and unwavering commitment to preserving his domain's rich cultural heritage and tradition.

He says the King’s relentless efforts and exploration of international networks to return priceless and timeless artefacts, which carry the weight of the Benin Kingdom's history, identity, and nationality, reflect his love for his people.  

The President says this cultural preservation work is a source of pride and connection for all who share the Benin Kingdom's rich history. 

The President commends Ewuare II for his wise counsel to leaders in the private and public sectors and strong advocacy for participatory democracy and development. His sustained efforts in promoting civic responsibility and participatory democracy inspire hope for a brighter future.  

President Tinubu offers his heartfelt prayers for the continued well-being of the Oba of Benin, his family, and the entire kingdom.

May the Kingdom continue to prosper under the wise and benevolent leadership of Ewuare II, and may he and his family be blessed with health and happiness.  

Bayo Onanuga 

Special Adviser to the President  

(Information & Strategy)  

The remains of that great daughter of Igbara-Oke Kingdom, ACP Ayodele Fadairo (Nee Salotun), were buried today (18/10/24) in Ikoyi Cemetery, Lagos.

ACP Fadairo, popularly known to her many fans as Aunty Ayo L’alagbon, retired from the Nigeria Police Force more than a decade ago.

Her tomb is now adjacent to the the premises of the 

Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, FCIID, Alagbon-Close, Ikoyi, Lagos.

That command is simply known as Alagbon. 

Aunty Ayo served meritoriously there in the course of her distinguished career in the Force.

Legendary highlife muscian, Orlando Owoh, sang about his experience at Alagbon and his encounter with Aunty Ayo among other police officers. It was Orlando who actually registered the sobriquet “Aunty Ayo L’alagbon” in popular consciousness. Orlando paid compliments to Aunty Ayo in the music for her professionalism and humanity as a police officer.   

It was learnt that the organisers of her admirably curated funeral deliberately chose the spot, separated only by a fence from the Alagbon police station, as the resting place of Aunty Ayo.

The well-attended funeral service conducted at the cemetery was preceded earlier in the week by a Service of Songs and a Christian Wake.  

During the Wake yesterday there were testimonies to Aunty Ayo’s remarkable life of impact, selflessness and generosity of spirit.

A colourful reception was later held for guests in Ikeja.

Different groups, donned in the _aso-ebi_ uniform presented guests with lavish souvenirs and food packs. 

Many serving and retired police officers were at Aunty Ayo’s grave side to pay their last respects just as many members her church, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International (MFM) and others were also there to say farewell to the lady and officer.    

Aunty Ayo was also a noble alumna of the Anglican Grammar School, Igbara-Oke (AGSI). Among the old students of the great school at the occasion were a former president of the AGSI Alumni Association, Chief Wale Taiwo, SAN, and a former national officer of the body, Mr. Dele Oyedokun.

The Igbara-Oke Community in Lagos was, of course, well represented by its members including former Chairman of Igbara-Develoment Council (IDC), Siji Ijogun, and the Chairman of Igbara-Oke Citizens in Lagos, Barrister Toyin Bankole.

Not a few observers of the funeral activities said Aunty Ayo’s was a lesson in living a good life.

There is no belabouring the matter that sorrow not only stalks the land, it is ravaging it. So thick is it you can almost touch its emanations that fill the atmosphere. But for its wide-spread nature, you could almost want to hold it in its intangible folds and condensation and throw it up. As a result there are lamentations from want; there are lamentations over escalation in prices of essentials, principal among which are foodstuffs and energy, that is the pump prices of Petroleum Motor Spirit more generally referred to as petrol or fuel. The one of gasoline is practically on the lips of everybody. It is elating and hope-laden that the authorities are acutely aware of this. One point I quickly wish to make is that since fuel prices have been identified as the trigger of the inflationary waves, more oil should be supplied to Dangote Refinery and at a more reduced price until the four public refineries are fixed and proper competition ensues. Reduced price from the oil source is bound to translate into reduced cost price and selling price.

It is not just bread and butter that man is grappling with in these times. There is the issue of understanding the elements as well. There is already an alert from the National Emergency Management Agency that 362 communities are under the threat of flooding. This was the same way 31 communities were tipped off last year. They were told heavy rains were on the way that would lead to heavy flooding and they should begin to take precautionary measures. National Flood Early  Warning Systems Centre, an arm of the Federal Ministry of Environment, had said all through this week, running from Monday till today, Friday, there would be heavy rains that would give rise to serious flooding which would sweep through the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and 22 states. Indeed, the cities and towns that would be hit in the listed states were mentioned. According to the Early Warning Systems Centre, ‘’Also, due to the rise in the water levels of Rivers Donga, Benue and Ogun, communities on the flood plains of these rivers, as well as other flood plains, are advised to evacuate.” Last month, several parts of the North, were ravaged by floods, hard hit in particular was Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State. Two weeks ago, water for households was rationed at intervals of two days to enable the government effect repairs on damaged facilities and in the words of the Ministry of Water Resources to fix “the broken –down water facilities and networks as a result of the flood that affected Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and its environs…” For the period the rationing covered, water was predictably gold!

These have become perennial problems and we human beings, relying solely on machine forecast have closed ourselves to the prompting and advice of the elemental beings, who are conscious beings and who have responsibility to protect or warn other creatures on the consequences of their own actions in bringing about heavy rains to cleanse the earth surface. The alluvial deposit from floods enhances the fertility of soils especially in areas moisture level is low. Floods raise water levels under the ground and fill water subterranean water reservoirs. Those who preoccupy themselves with these phenomena say cold spells, for example, promote oxygen supply in the lakes, in their deep water layers, and thereby raise the quality of plant and animal lives in the depth of the lakes. Thunderstorms and lightning ensure balance in electrical discharges between the tropical region and the temperate region.  Oceans would be hindered in providing the basis for development and preservation of plant life if there were no floods and hurricanes. 

What I am getting at is that these occurrences are not intended to harm but to work as agents of periodic re-creation and enhancement of life. And in the wisdom of the Most High, as Terence McKenna once said, “Nature is not mute; it is man who is deaf!” Women who have been endowed to be in the fore-front to pick promptings from Nature Beings are busy pursuing executive exertions and public acknowledgement– to be presidents or governors, renowned pilots, gold-medalist footballers, Crane drivers and weight-lifters and thereby suppress their womanliness in which lies their connection with the power of the Light and men clap for them! Any wonder the world is upside down and there is sorrow everywhere. Man is at a cross-roads. And all our religions have offered mankind for ages is a caricature of an all-loving, all-forgiving and indulgent Creator of all the worlds, not One Who demands unremittingly compliance with His immutable Laws which bear His Holy Will in which alone lies genuine happiness. 

The question we may then wish to ask ourselves is: How is it that animals, reptiles and birds are hardly hit by what we call natural disasters? It is mainly those that are in tethers or the zoos that often get caught in the storms; they are the ones often affected, some even killed. Animals, birds and reptiles pick the promptings of the elemental beings and heed their warnings and guidance. Those even in cages make frantic but futile efforts to get free and run!

The USA TODAY online published on Tuesday the report of what it described as whole families, swept away by floods. It is captioned: Entire Families Swept Away with the rider, ‘A piece of all of us’: The children lost to Hurricane Helene’s Floodwaters. The experiences are captured in part as follows: “A single pink rose blossomed on a scraggly bush next to where the front wall of the Drye family home stood until 16 days ago, the plant’s greenery a welcomed brightness amid the mud-coated land.

“Two thorny offshoots, each holding a single unopposed bud, clung defiantly to the bush. Despite floodwaters rising 27 feet above the road the plant persevered, its leaves now soaking up the bright Asheville sun. A smattering of plants and at least one tree also remained standing when the waters receded after Tropical Storm Helene.

“But it was the trio of roses that Megan Drye took solace in on a Sunday afternoon in mid-October. She believes they are a sign from her parents and young son, who perished when the family’s home collapsed into the Swannanoa River on September 27. Megan 39, was the sole survivor of the flood, which killed seven-year-old Micah Drye and Nora and Michael Drye, both 73.

“Micah was just one of the children lost in the storm. Nine-year-old Felix Wisely and his seven-year-old brother, Lucas, also died. At least one other student from Buncombe County Schools is confirmed dead, and roughly 20 remained unaccounted for Monday. Superintendent Rob Jackson said the district is ‘continuing to search’ for them.

“As the nation’s attention turned to Florida and the devastation wrought by Hurricane Milton, North Carolina is still reeling from Helene, mourning those confirmed dead and holding vigil for those still missing. In Buncombe County, home to Asheville, at least 72 have died, the largest share of Western North Carolina’s 124 confirmed deaths so far, according to USA TODAY Network analysis. Authorities expect the death toll to rise as search and rescue crews continue recovery efforts. 

“Micah was a piece of all of us,” she told the Asheville Citizen Times, part of USA TODAY Network. “He was silent –he was actually quite shy until he opened up just like Mom, and then he was your best friend. ‘And he was affectionate, just like my dad and me. He got a little piece of everyone.’

“When floodwaters forced her family to the roof, Megan texted her sisters who live out of state and told them they had escaped to the highest spot in their home. Though cell service was already knocked out, Megan’s phone upgrade the week before allowed her to message by satellite. Her sisters Jess Drye Turner quickly took to Facebook to post about the increasingly frightening situation. ‘They are watching 18 wheelers and cars floating by,’ she wrote as flooding ravaged the region. ‘This is definitely a moment faith is all you have. God knows the outcome already.’

“She soon added a photo Megan had snapped of her white sneakers on the roof, water nearly reaching the eaves and two hours later, she added a second photo. It drew thousands of reactions. Drye Turner’s next update wasn’t for almost 11 hours. Her parents and nephew had drowned, she wrote. Megan also was plunged into the river when the home collapsed, though she was rescued after becoming wedged between storage containers. Drye Turner and her sister didn’t know where Megan was taken. As she prepared to leave Texas and head to western North Carolina, she turned again to Facebook. Could anyone help them find Megan?”

Accounts such as these in the foregoing culled from USA TODAY online edition can’t but be heart-rending and sobering. In the light of the explanation of why we cannot but have flooding for the good of the soil, lakes and oceans, is it all flooding that we can say are beneficial? There are many natural disasters that, true to the words, are disastrous. Such cannot be ascribed to the activities of the Nature Beings that work in perfection and who manifest the benevolence of the Almighty Creator.  A great many instances of devastations arise from carelessness by we human beings, disregard for natural order and ignorance. To start with, man is no longer in harmony with nature. Whether it is government, private enterprises, there is absence of plants, trees that would serve as wind breakers, shrubs and grasses to rapidly absorb rain water. 

Clusters of skyscrapers going to 25 floors or even 50 seeking to touch the clouds, do not allow the soil to breathe. They also constitute excessive weight on the area where they are erected. But these are regarded by the modern man as engineering and architectural feat. With them there is oxygen supply deficiency for the less plant life, the less the supply of oxygen and rarified air. As I did state recently, plants absorb carbon dioxide and through the process of photosynthesis convert this into oxygen. Indeed, in the process we know as photosynthesis, the energy of sunlight is used to drive reactions between carbon dioxide around us and water to form carbohydrates. The complex chemical substances called carbohydrates are put in plant storage organs as in yams, cassava, potatoes—all roots, and grains such as in rice, maize, wheat and so on. When we eat them the chemical energy in them is turned into a form we need for breathing, motion, thinking, speaking and writing, for all human activities. Where there is reduction in plants, activities of Nature Beings are correspondingly reduced. Without the activities of the elemental beings life on earth for any living being, man and animals as well as birds, would have been impossible. It was not for nothing that the Whiteman built Ikoyi as a model town – all buildings erected in leafy surroundings. Our elite rushed there only for many of them to reduce a serene, beautiful town to their level!

Where there is a jungle of concrete there will be flooding. First, there is absence of plants and grasses to absorb the water. The ground compacted with heavy equipment loses the capacity to absorb water. Concrete makes it impossible for water to permeate. The water simply flows away. A collection of such becomes floods menacing the neighbourhood and the city as a whole.

Other mistakes that trigger floods are blocked drainage and natural water pathways through buildings. Buildings and commercial activities are also found in flood or landslide-prone areas. Christopher Vasey who has written extensively on “questions relating to our world view”, says “Everything in nature is interconnected; every injury in one part affects other parts, which again has a knock-on effect. Seemingly small mistakes can ultimately trigger great catastrophes.” 

However, we cannot always talk about sorrow. We must learn to plant joy and brighten up. We must understand the chemistry of sorrow and the waves of joy and happiness for they have spiritual content even in their intangibility. 

(FULL DICOURSE NEXT WEEK).

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has disbursed N1.298 trillion to the Federal Government, state governments, and Local Government Councils (LGCs) for the month of September.

This was revealed in a communiqué issued after FAAC’s October meeting, which took place on Thursday in Abuja.

Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), shared the communiqué with the press.

The document stated that the N1.298 trillion distributed revenue consisted of N124.716 billion in statutory revenue and N543.518 billion in Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue.

Additionally, the breakdown included N18.445 billion from the Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), N462.191 billion from Exchange Difference revenue, and an augmentation of N150 billion.

It also noted that the total available revenue for September was N2.258 trillion.

It stated, “Total deduction for the cost of collection was N80.993 billion, while total transfers, interventions and refunds was N878.946 billion.”  

The statement further explained that gross statutory revenue in September 2024 stood at N1.043 trillion, a decline of N177.426 billion from the N1.221 trillion collected in August.

In terms of VAT, gross revenue of N583.675 billion was generated in September, which represented a slight increase of N10.334 billion over the N573.341 billion recorded in August.

“From the N1.298 trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received a total sum of N424.867 billion, and the state governments received a total sum of N453.724 billion.” 

LGA allocation  

• The LGCs were allocated N329.864 billion, while N90.415 billion (representing 13% of mineral revenue) was distributed to the oil-producing states as derivation revenue.
• Regarding the N124.716 billion statutory revenue, the Federal Government received N43.037 billion, state governments were allocated N21.829 billion, and LGCs received N16.829 billion.
• An additional N43.021 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was distributed to the oil-producing states as derivation revenue.

“From the N543.518 billion VAT revenue, the Federal Government received N81.528 billion, the state governments received N271.759 billion and the LGCs received N190.231 billion,” the statement added. 

Oil and gas revenues: The communiqué also noted that in September, Oil and Gas Royalty, Excise Duty, EMTL, and CET Levies saw significant increases, while VAT and Import Duty recorded marginal growth.

However, the Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Companies Income Tax (CIT), and other revenues witnessed notable declines.

[Nairametrics]

President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the death of late President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, describing him as a “colossus of many parts”.

In a heartfelt tribute on Friday, Tinubu said Iwuanyanwu, who passed away on July 25, 2024, was renowned for his contributions to sports, business, politics, and philanthropy, leaving an indelible mark on the nation’s development.

In his message, President Tinubu highlighted Chief Iwuanyanwu’s pioneering role in Nigerian sports, particularly as the founder of Iwuanyanwu Nationale Football Club (now Heartland F.C.), which achieved significant success under his leadership.

Tinubu praised the late statesman’s dedication to excellence, which saw his club win several national and international championships.

Beyond sports, Chief Iwuanyanwu served Nigeria in numerous official capacities, including as the founding chairman of the Raw Materials and Research Development Council (RMRDC) and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC).

He also chaired the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) board, the Nigerian National Lottery, and the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos.

Describing him as “courageous, defiant of injustice, and uncompromising,” Tinubu lauded Iwuanyanwu’s contributions to business and philanthropy.

He noted that the elder statesman believed deeply in Nigeria’s potential, with investments spanning multiple sectors.

Tinubu also acknowledged his philanthropic efforts, which included scholarships for indigent students, the construction of schools and hospitals, and support for numerous charitable causes.

The President expressed his condolences to the Iwuanyanwu family, the government and people of Imo State, and the wider Igbo community as preparations begin for the late statesman’s burial.

Tinubu remarked that Iwuanyanwu’s legacy of service and leadership would be fondly remembered, and prayed for his soul to rest in peace.

Iwuanyanwu, who was 81 years old, is remembered as a towering figure whose influence extended across various sectors of Nigerian life. His death, President Tinubu said, is a “massive loss to the nation.”

[Leadership]

A driver of the Lagos State Bus Rapid Transport, Andrew Nice Omininikoron, standing trial over the alleged murder of his passenger, Oluwabamise Ayanwola, has opened his defence in the state high court at Tafawa Balewa Square annex.

The defendant, who was led in his testimony by his counsel, Abayomi Omotubora, told Justice Sherifat Shonaike that he didn’t rape or kill Miss Ayanwola, as accused.

He said it was three male passengers, who boarded his bus after official hours, that raped her and threw her off the vehicle.

Omininikoron was arraigned in March 2022 on four counts bordering on alleged rape, conspiracy and murder of the 22-year-old lady on February 26, 2022, on the Lekki-Ajah Expressway.

He was said to have conspired with others now at large and forcefully had sexual intercourse with the fashion designer after which they murdered her.

But while giving his testimony, he told the court that he illegally picked up Bamise at the Chevron bus stop on a return trip to Oshodi after he had off-loaded passengers on the Oshodi-Ajah route at around 8pm that day.

“I resumed at our Oshodi office that day on the afternoon shift. I loaded my bus with passengers going to Ajah. On getting to Ajah, I offloaded the passengers and took a return trip with another set of passengers to Oshodi, offloaded them and then loaded another round to Ajah. It was around 8pm, by then, I am not permitted to load any more passengers to Oshodi. But we normally pick passengers after 8pm and tell them the cowry machine is not working, so that they can pay the bus fare in cash and we will keep the money for ourselves.

“Our salary is not enough, they promised us N120,000 monthly, but we are paid N71,000. Whenever we load passengers after official hours, we usually have them sit at the back and dim the bright lights in the bus so that the surveillance cameras on our routes cannot spot them.”

He added that shortly after Bamise boarded his bus, he picked up three more passengers—all males—at Agungi bus stop.

The driver said around Osbourne under bridge, one of the men walked up to him at the driver’s seat and pointed a gun at him, ordering him to cooperate with them. He said he had never seen them before and could only recognise the man who pointed a gun at him.

“The driver’s seat usually has a glass around the driver, like a room to one’s self, but the bus I drove that day had no door. I was heading towards Third Mainland Bridge but they ordered me to drive to Carter bridge.

“The three men dragged her down, she was shouting for help and they raped her. They pushed her off the bus and alighted afterwards while I continued on my trip. On getting to Oshodi, I parked the bus and went home. That day was a Saturday, I was off duty the next day.

“On Monday, I was going to work when my MD called me to see my depot manager (Mr Ola) at Oshodi. When I got there, I was told not to drive any bus but to wait. While waiting, a colleague asked me why I picked up a passenger illegally, as she has now gone missing. When I heard that, I was afraid and fled because I know my employers will not take it easy with me. My MD used to say that he will spend N1 million to deal with anyone who stole N100 from him. Picking passengers illegally amounts to stealing from the company.”

The defendant told the court further that he fled to Ososa in Ogun State to stay with his friend (Hope), adding that he was arrested there by DSS officials arrested.

When he was asked if he was aware the deceased was sending voice notes to her friend that night expressing her misgivings about the other passengers on the bus, he said he didn’t know.

During police interrogation at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, the defendant alleged that he was tortured by the officers and that they refused to give him water when he told them he was thirsty.

He added that he couldn’t write his statements because he was weak from the beatings he received.

The defendant also denied sexually assaulting two other women (names withheld) on his bus at different intervals before the alleged incident with Bamise and that he wasn’t questioned about the women.

He however said he dated one of them, but broke up with her because she was always asking him for money.

While adjourning at the request of his counsel for further examination-in-chief of the defendant till Monday, October 21, Justice Sonaike strongly expressed displeasure at the slow pace of the case.

The court said the frequent adjournment in the trial had been at the instance of the defence counsel and that the last hearing was on February 15, 2024.

The Director of Public Prosecutions at the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Babajide Martins, in his response to Omotubora’s request for adjournment, said he had received a query by the Attorney General of the state over the case, as the Prosecution had closed its case since November 2023.

Three, out of the eight corps members from Akwa Ibom State, who were kidnapped in Zamfara State on their way for the mandatory one year national service have recounted their harrowing experiences in their kidnappers’ den.

The victims, before regaining their freedom, stayed between two months and one year in captivity.

Speaking with our correspondent in Akwa Ibom in an interview facilitated by the Founder, Open Forum Care for Humanity Foundation, Matthew Koffi Okono on Thursday, the freed corps members (one female and two males) narrated how they were tortured, fed with grasses and drank flood water.

They thanked governments (Federal and Akwa Ibom State) and the NYSC for interventions and pleaded to be employed in the civil service or have any other rewarding establishments.

How it all happened

“The incident happened on August 17, 2023. It was along Gusau road, Zamfara State. You can’t move at speed because of bad spots on the road. They mounted a road block with logs of wood and we thought it was a checkpoint, our driver slowed down waiting for them to remove the blockade.

“Unfortunately, the guys came out, some were wearing kaftans, some put on military camouflage and insignia. They were well armed and they marshalled us out into the bush, including the driver. They carried some of our luggages, stripped us of our belongings, but in the process of taking us into the bush, about three persons escaped.

Our ‘place of abode’

The place is a forest, it was an open place and there was no shelter, there were only rice sacs which we put on the ground to sleep.

Anytime it rained, we would go under the tree shades for cover until the rains stopped.

All of us, including the kidnappers, stayed there together, they never left us; the only difference is that they held us in captivity and were expecting ransom or money at the end of the day, while we were only expecting our freedom. They are used to that kind of lifestyle while we are not. It was a traumatic experience

The most traumatic experience in the forest

There are so many that I don’t know the one that is most traumatic, is it staying in that bush without the sound of anything other than wild animals? I never knew that I would survive it, let alone staying there for several months. We saw snakes, scorpions, even bush dogs. The only thing is that if those bush dogs come, our captors will shoot in the air and they will run and never come back. We’ve killed scorpions, snakes. It was just God that was protecting us there.

How they singled me out and took me to Kaduna

Yes they singled me (Solomon) out and said I’m the most stubborn of us all. This could be because I told them there was no money to pay for my ransom and when they contacted my parents, they also told them that there was no money. They threatened to kill one of us so that we would know that they were serious. I was beaten, tortured and forced to eat grass and drink flood water. Before the grass incident, we stayed for three weeks without food and water. I was later chained and transported from Zamfara to Kaduna on motorcycle through bush tracks.

That was around December, I was very sick; for three months, I couldn’t urinate or defecate, I thought I would die. From the torture and beatings, I had a tear on my head and arms. All these marks on my body (showing off the marks) were from there.

There was nothing like medical care. If you complain, they’ll ask you to sit down. I was just there. I wore the same clothes for the one year I stayed with them and bathed like three times.

Our routine in the forest

Nothing, when I wake up, I’ll just start my own prayer and be sitting down, nowhere to go to, no one to talk to because I was separated from others. Sometimes they asked me to fetch water and I will go with like three armed guards to get it for them.

At some point, I lost hope of coming out alive but I still believed in God. I believed that one day I’ll be released and God did it for me.

How the rescue came

As I said I was separated from my colleagues and taken to Kaduna, so on August 22, 2024, about one year and five days, the military came and I was rescued alive. I want to use this opportunity to deeply thank the Army for their gallantry, President Bola Tinubu, Director-General of NYSC, General Yusha’u Dogara Ahmed, Governor Umo Eno, other security operatives, and well-meaning Nigerians for their efforts in securing our freedom.

Lady shares experience while in captivity

For me, I stayed there for two months, I gained freedom in October 2023. I never believed that I could survive a day in the forest. As my colleague said, for three weeks, there was nothing like food or water until it rained, we were drinking the flood water. So many of us fell sick. it was horrible, we were kept in a small place and you can’t go anywhere.

The issue is that the people you were facing don’t even understand your dialect or English language, even pidgin. We were trying as much as possible to use sign language to communicate. Also, there’s a way you will behave, they would think you wanted to escape and that would even earn us severe beating. Even as a lady. I wore only one piece of clothing for two months. Even when you are in your period, you are just there, not moving anywhere to clean up. I can’t remember bathing up to three times before I was rescued.

Response from the government and the NYSC

Government facilitated our freedom and when we were eventually released, though different months and dates, NYSC paid us arrears of our monthly allowances and presented us with two options of either to continue with our service year or to start afresh. We chose to continue and not to start afresh having suffered so much in the kidnappers’ den. We all have received our discharge certificates.

Our expectations

We want to passionately appeal to both the federal and the Akwa Ibom state government to grant us employment to assuage our trauma. They should have compassion on us having suffered so much for months in captivity; it won’t be nice that we will be staying idle at home, we want to be employed and have something to care for our families.”

[DailyPost]

The Honourable Speaker,

House of Representatives,

National Assembly Complex,

Three Arms Zone,

Abuja, FCT.

Dear Rt. Honourable Speaker,

RE: URGENT LEGISLATIVE ATTENTION ON CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND ANTI-CORRUPTION EFFORTS.

Our attention has been drawn to the separate letters addressed to the Senate and House of Representatives, dated October 14, 2024, entitled: "Re: Urgent Legislative Attention on Constitutional Reforms Relating to Law Enforcement Agencies and Anti-corruption Efforts", Dr. Olisa Agbakoba contended that the power under which EFCC was established was beyond the powers of the National Assembly.

Convinced that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is “an unlawful organisation” because it was “unconstitutionally established", Agbakoba stated he was delighted to note that many states had finally taken it upon themselves to challenge the constitutionality of the EFCC. Even though, he did not refer to any particular case, Dr. Agbakoba said that the Supreme Court has knocked the EFCC on many occasions. On the contrary, the Supreme Court has consistently supported the efforts of the ICPC and EFCC in fighting the misma of monumental corruption in the country.

However, the argument of Dr. Agbakoba is anchored on the premise that the establishment law of the EFCC has violated the basic tenets of federalism. It is pertinent to recall that in the celebrated case of the Attorney-General of Ondo State v Attorney-General pof the Federation & Ors (2022) 27 WRN 1, the Plaintiff (Ondo State Government) had challenged the constitutional validity of the establishment of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission Act, 2000. The Attorney-General of Ondo State was the Plaintiff while the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Attorneys-General of 35 States were the Defendants.

In that case, the Late Professor Ben Nwabueze and Dr. Agbakoba were the amici curiae while I was privileged to have represented one of the Defendants. It is on record that several Defendants and the amici curiae had argued profusely that the ICPC Act was unconstitutional in every material particular. Both amici curiae urged the Court to annul the ICPC Act.

Upon a critical analysis of the submissions of all counsel including the amicus curiae, the apex court upheld the constitutional validity of the ICPC Act. In the leading judgment of the Court delivered by Uwais CJN (as he then was) it was held that the National Assembly "has the sole power for the establishment and regulation of authorities for the federation or any part thereof so as to promote and enforce the observance of the nation’s responsibility to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power [which fall under the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy in section 15(5)” of the 1999 CFRN.

“If this is a breach if the principles of federalism, then, I am afraid, it is the Constitution that makes provisions that have facilitated breach of the principles. As far as the aberration is supported by the provisions of the Constitution, I think I cannot rightly be argued that an illegality has occurred by the failure of the Constitution to adhere to the cardinal principles which are at best ideals to follow or guidance for an ideal situation.

…the provisions of section 13 thereof apply to ‘all organs of government and all authorities and persons exercising legislative, executive or judicial powers’. The provisions do not distinguish between Federal, State or Local Governments. Again the provisions of Section 14 subsection (4) specifically apply to the ‘government of a State’, a local government council or any agencies of such government or council, and the conduct of the affairs of the government or council or such agencies.” See Olafisoye v. FRN (2004) 4 NWLR (Pt. 864) 580.

Even though we cannot comment on the merit of the case of Attorney-General of Abia State & 15 Ors v Attorney-General of the Federation pending at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, it is pertinent to refer the members of the National Assembly to the case of Attorney-General of Abia State v Attorney-General of Federation (2024) LPELR -62576 (SC).

In that case, the Plaintiff had argued that the power of the EFCC to prosecute financial crimes did not extend to the management of the accounts of Abia State Government. The plaintiff then sought "declarations, including a perpetual injunction, toggf prevent the EFCC from taking any such actions, including the freezing of its bank accounts." The defendant (AGF) filed a preliminary objection to the effect that it had been incorrectly sued, because the EFCC was an independent body outside its lawful management and control.

In upholding the preliminary objection of the Defendants, the Supreme Court held that the facts of the case did not disclose any dispute between the plaintiff and the defendants within the meaning of section 232(1) of the Constitution and that there was no complaint against the first defendant (AGF) as representing the Federal Government as all the complaints were against the EFCC.

Consequently, the Supreme Court struck out the case but held that the plaintiff is at liberty to sue the EFCC, but not in the Supreme Court as the EFCC is neither a State nor the Federation. We wish to state without any fear of contradiction, that no State Government has followed the advice of the apex court by filing a suit to challenge the constitutionality of the EFCC Act in a court of competent jurisdiction.

However, a number of former governors have continued to question the locus standi of the EFCC to arrest, investigate and prosecute them for the criminal diversion of public funds belonging to state governments. For instance, in the case of Nyame vs Federal Republic of Nigeria (2010) 3 SC (Pt.1) 78, the Supreme Court held inter alia:

“Sections 6 (m) and 46 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act vest in EFCC the function and duty of investigating and prosecuting persons reasonably suspected to have committed economic and financial crimes. For a person to rush to court to place a clog or shield against criminal investigation and prosecution is a clear interference with the powers given by law and the Constitution to EFCC in the conduct of criminal investigation and prosecution."

In view of the duty imposed on the State by section 15(5) of the Constitution to "abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power", the Supreme Court has held in the case of Shema Federal Republic of Nigeria (2018) 9 NWLR (PT. 1624) 337 @ 398 that "In the co-operative federalism practiced in Nigeria, the EFCC is a common agency empowered to investigate and prosecute offenders for both the Federal and state economic and financial crimes and as such it qualifies as 'any other authority or person' empowered by section 211 (1) (b) of the Constitution to institute or initiate criminal proce edings. EFCC is the co-ordinating agency for the enforcement of the provisions of any other law or regulation on economic and financial crimes, including the Criminal Code and Penal Code. The Commission has powers under section 13 (2) of the EFCC Act to prosecute offences so long as they are financial crimes.”

Instead of ensuring that the EFCC, ICPC and Code of Conduct Bureau serve as "common agencies" of the people of Nigeria in combating the misma of monumental corruption in the country, some state governments have a penchant for terminating grave economies and financial crimes by filing vnolle prosequi applications. Others usually rush to either State High Court or Federal High Court to procure frivolous court injunctions to frustrate the prosecution of serving public officers and thereby making a mockery of public accountability and transparency in government.

In the light of the foregoing, we urge the members of the National Assembly to take advantage of the ongoing constitutional review to end the diversionary debate about the validity of the EFCC Act and ICPC Act by entrenching both Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission in the Constitution. In other words, if both commissions are constitutionalised, they will be protected and strengthened to fight the menace of corruption and money laundering.

As we await your reply to this letter, please accept the assurances of our highest esteem and professional regards.

Yours sincerely,

FEMI FALANA, SAN.