The Nigerian Senate, on Thursday, debunked reports that lawmakers in the upper chamber of the National Assembly receive ₦21 million naira monthly as salary and allowances.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu, made this clarification in a statement in Abuja.

According to him, running costs, as mentioned by Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila in his earlier interview, is not peculiar to the National Assembly, and neither is the mentioned amount a personal emolument for any Senator.

The explanation follows the disclosure by Sumaila, who represents Kano South senatorial district of Kano State in the National Assembly, that Senators get ₦21 million naira monthly each as allowances and running costs.

He made the revelation in a chat with the BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday morning.

The disclosure generated fresh controversy over the earnings of Nigerian lawmakers amidst the allegation by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that members of the National Assembly, fix bogus salaries and allowances for themselves in contravention of extant laws.

However, Adaramodu said that “running cost” was quite different from the salary and personal allowances of the lawmakers.

He explained that the running costs are not personal to any lawmaker, but used for official purposes such as maintaining lawmakers’ Constituency offices and staff, oversight functions and community engagements.

The Senate spokesperson said the lawmakers do not engage in wasteful spending, explaining that “The Nigerian Senate is an Assembly of accomplished and successful professionals, administrators and captains of industries, who are not driven by these often touted egregious pecuniary bits, rather for their patriotic zeal in the nation’s quest to breathe life to Nigeria’s political and socio-economic dry bones.”

Adaramodu said the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMAFC) has already clarified and disclosed the monthly salary of lawmakers in the country, and all other figures apart from what the commission declared should be ignored.

“For the umpteen time, the Senate is compelled to react to the obsolete allegations of a phantom salary and personal emoluments spuriously credited to Senators monthly.

“The Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission, the agency of government that fixes political officials’ salaries and allowances, has duly disclosed the monthly personal take-home of Senators.

“However, all arms of Government and their personnel, Governors, Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Directors-General, State Commissioners, even Boards and parastatals, including local government councils run their activities with running costs and the National Assembly is not an exemption.

“Thus the money referred to by Senator Kawu Sumaila is neither his salary nor personal allowance.

‘It’s for the daily running of offices by Senators and other attached statutory officials. It equally provides funds for Constituency office staff. It is also for oversight functions and community engagements.

“This funds are not static and it’s provided for in the annual budget. Such funds are retired by relevant officers after being used for official purposes and proof of genuine expenditure.

It’s not a personal allowance or salary of the legislator.

“The National Assembly receives about one per cent of the federal budget and has never exceeded this, even when the non-availability of funds is pervasive.

“The Nigerian Senate is an Assembly of accomplished and successful professionals, administrators and captains of industries, who are not driven by these often touted egregious pecuniary bits, rather for their patriotic zeal in the nation’s quest to breathe life to Nigeria’s political and socio-economic dry bones,” he said.

Zhongshan, the Chinese company involved in a legal dispute with the Ogun State government, has expressed its readiness to settle with the Nigerian government after a French court authorized the seizure of three Nigerian presidential jets.

The court’s decision prohibits the movement, sale, or purchase of the aircraft until Zhongshan receives $74.5 million, awarded to the company in an arbitration ruling.

The jets, including a Dassault Falcon 7X, a Boeing 737, and an Airbus A330, were all undergoing maintenance at airports in France and Switzerland when the seizure orders were issued.

The seizure is part of efforts by Zhongshan to enforce the arbitration award granted in its favor in March 2021, following the revocation of its export processing zone management contract by the Ogun State government in 2016.

In a statement sent to Premium Times, on Thursday, Zhongshan indicated that it is willing to negotiate a settlement with the Nigerian government to resolve the dispute.

This development comes amidst efforts by the Federal Government, through the Offices of the National Security Adviser and the Attorney-General of the Federation, to challenge the court orders and ensure the release of the seized jets.

The Federal Government has argued that the aircraft are sovereign assets, used solely for official purposes, and therefore immune from attachment.

The statement reads, “Zhongshan has only ever sought to assert its rights under international law and is confident in its case. The independent arbitral panel was found unanimously in its favour, and courts in multiple countries have upheld the view that the panel’s compensation should be enforced. The French court was fully aware of the facts when it reached its decision.

“Far from being just a fence, the Ogun Free Trade Zone was featured as a significant international investment by the Economist Intelligence Unit.

“Zhongshan has for a long time been ready to enter serious negotiations with the federal government of Nigeria to settle this case and still awaits an indication that the government is equally willing.”

In an unexpected and embarrassing turn of events, a pornographic video clip interrupted a crucial investors’ call organized by Nigeria’s Debt Management Office (DMO) on Thursday.

The call was part of a hybrid roadshow aimed at securing dollar investments for the federal government’s dollar-denominated domestic bond.

The incident occurred during an online session attended by investors, analysts, bank officials, and government stakeholders, who had gathered to discuss the prospects of the federal government’s $500 million domestic bond, set to be issued on August 19.

The DMO has yet to issue a statement regarding the incident, which has been linked to hackers.

According to a source who attended the event and spoke to TheCable, the video clip played for about 10 seconds before the session was abruptly disconnected.

The clip reportedly featured explicit content, which caught attendees off guard due to its graphic nature and volume.

The roadshow was expected to highlight Nigeria’s economic reform and development efforts, with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, emphasizing the government’s readiness to launch the bond.

The initiative is aimed at raising a minimum of $500 million from both local and international investors, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms.

Edun further explained that the bond issuance is designed to leverage the Nigerian financial system, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), banking systems, and investment bankers.

The government is particularly focused on attracting foreign currency held by Nigerians abroad, as well as other international investors who support the macroeconomic reform initiatives led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“In the financial market, you never know. When you wake up and you see an event that helps the issue, you will take advantage of it,” Edun remarked during the session, despite the disruption.

He expressed the government’s eagerness to not only secure the funds but also to involve Nigerians in taking leadership roles in this critical area.

The Federal Government has initiated legal and diplomatic actions to overturn the interim orders leading to the attachment of three Nigerian presidential aircraft in France.

These steps are being coordinated by the Offices of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), according to a statement released by Kamarudeen Ogundele, spokesperson for AGF, Lateef Fagbemi.

The Federal Government became aware of the temporary attachment of the jets on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.

The orders, which were issued by the Judicial Court of Paris on March 7 and August 12, 2024, were secured by Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, a Chinese company seeking to enforce an arbitral award granted in its favor on March 26, 2021.

The dispute stems from a contractual disagreement between Zhongshan and the Ogun State Government over the operation and management of the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone.

Despite the dispute originating at the subnational level, the enforcement actions are being directed against the Federal Government, as international law holds that actions of subnational entities are attributable to the state.

In its statement, the Federal Government clarified that the jets in question are sovereign assets, used solely for official purposes, and thus immune from attachment.

“Further actions are being taken to resolve the entire dispute through available legal means,” the statement read, emphasizing Nigeria’s firm position on the immunity of its sovereign assets.

The seized aircraft include a Dassault Falcon 7X stationed at Le Bourget airport in Paris, a Boeing 737, and an Airbus A330 located at Basel-Mulhouse airport in Switzerland.

All three jets were undergoing routine maintenance at the time of the seizure.

The family of the late Nigerian gospel singer, Aduke Ajayi, popularly known as Aduke Gold, has broken silence on the cause of death.

Naija News reports that this comes after a viral video of Aduke Gold made rounds online, with many people speculating that she had undergone fibroid surgery, which resulted in her death.

Recall that the singer’s unexpected death triggered diverse responses on social media as fans and her colleagues in the industry continue to grieve.

However, reacting to the controversies generated by the singer’s shocking death, her brother, pastor Ajayi Aderogbo, in a video making rounds on social media, said Aduke Gold died at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, on Monday, August 12, 2024.

He confirmed that the music star died of cervical cancer and warned those spreading unverified information to stop.

He said, “Whoever is saying what is not should stop it, our daughter was ill, she had cervical cancer, she was taken to UCH in Ibadan and unfortunately, she died. The information spreading around is false.

“Whoever is saying she died of fibroid surgery should stop it. Our daughter was ill, to the glory of God, she rested on Monday, 12th of August. It is always ideal that you get information from the right source.”

Four individuals suspected to be kidnappers have been arrested by police operatives in Yobe State.

Naija News learnt that the sum of ₦8 million, which allegedly constitutes a portion of the ransom obtained from the families of their victims, was recovered by the operatives of the Fika Division of the Yobe State Police Command.

Leadership quoted a source within the Command to have verified the arrests.

The source indicated that the suspects were detained following the receipt of a partial payment of the ransom from the relatives of their victims.

“We received intelligence from a local government chairman and concerned citizens regarding a group of kidnappers planning to collect ₦15 million from the relatives of their victims.

“We mobilised our patrol team and some members of the local vigilante group to the location, and the operation resulted in the successful arrest of the suspects,” the source, who was not authorised to speak to the press, told newsmen on Thursday.

In recounting the events, the chairman of the Fika local government area, Hon Abdul Gadaka, stated that the incident, which took place in Gubana, Dalla-Balli Village, was brought to his attention by the victims’ family after the suspects demanded a ransom of ₦15 million following the initial collection of ₦8 million.

He reported that four of the six suspects, identified as Manu Alhaji Bura, Musa, Juli Gogo, and Alhaji Bura, have been apprehended and are currently in police custody for further investigation.

Gadaka noted that the two remaining suspects, known as Mai Ruwa and Mai Kudi, managed to evade capture with the ₦8 million ransom previously taken from the victims’ families, as revealed by the apprehended suspects during their interrogation by law enforcement officials.

He emphasized that this incident will prompt the community to take proactive measures to address similar occurrences in the future, thereby enhancing the safety and security of the area.

The Presidency has stated that it is aware of the various failed attempts by a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, to take over offshore assets of the Federal Government of Nigeria through subterfuge.

Naija News reported earlier that a French court had authorized the seizure of three presidential jets linked to the Federal Government of Nigeria as part of a legal battle involving Zhongshan, a Chinese company.

The company had a business dispute with the Ogun State government, which led to this significant legal action. 

But in a statement on Thursday, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated that the Federal Government is not under any contractual obligation with the company.

He said the case in which Zhongshan is trying to use every unorthodox means to strip our offshore assets is between the company and the Ogun State Government.

According to him, the Federal Government is fully aware of efforts being made by the Ogun State Government to reach an amicable resolution on the matter.

The statement continues: “It must be said without any equivocation that Zhongshan has no solid ground to demand restitution from the Ogun State Government based on the facts regarding the 2007 contract between the company and the State Government to manage a free-trade zone.

“When the contract with Ogun State was revoked in 2015, the company had only erected a perimeter fence on the land earmarked for a free trade zone.

“While the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is working with the Ogun State Government on an amicable resolution, Zhongshan obtained two orders from the Judicial Court of Paris dated March 7, 2024, and August 12, 2024, without any notice being duly served on the Federal Government of Nigeria and Ogun State Government.

“This arm-twisting tactic by the Chinese company is the latest in a long list of failed moves to attach Nigerian government-owned assets in foreign jurisdictions.

“The material facts in the transaction between the Ogun State Government and Zhongshan point to another P&ID case in which unscrupulous and questionable individuals falsely present themselves as investors with the sole objective of undercutting and scamming Governments in Africa.

“Undoubtedly, Zhongshan withheld vital information and misled the Judicial Court in Paris into attaching the Nigerian government’s presidential jets, which are on routine maintenance in France. The use and nature of the Presidential jets as assets of a Sovereign entity whose assets are protected by diplomatic immunity forbid any foreign Court from issuing an order against them.

“We are convinced the Chinese company misled the Judicial Court of Paris regarding the use and nature of the assets it seeks to attach and did not fully disclose to the court as required by law.

“This same Chinese company had tried to enforce its questionable judgment in the UK and USA but failed. 

“Like the P&ID case, foreign companies are trying to defraud Nigeria with the collaboration of some bureaucrats. Zhongshan appeared to have sold the judgment they got to a venture capitalist seeking to make money by embarrassing the Federal Government and President Bola Tinubu.

“We want to assure Nigerians that the Federal Government is working with the Ogun State Government to discharge this frivolous order in Paris immediately.

“Nigerian Government will always work to protect our national assets from predators and shylocks who masquerade as investors.

“Background to the Zhongshan Fucheng Case:

“A contract between Ogun State and Zhongshan to manage a free-trade zone was executed in 2007. The parties entered into a dispute in 2015, and arbitration began in 2016.

“By 2019, the arbitration hearing had been concluded. The Arbitral Panel awarded over 60 million USD against the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), a co-defendant, when all Zhongshan had done was build a perimeter fence around the free-trade zone.

“Based on legal advice, the Ogun State Government resolved to resist the enforcement of the award. The resistance was successful in 8 different jurisdictions. There are pending appeals against recognition orders issued in both the US and UK.

“Ogun State also engaged Zhongshan in settlement discussions on reasonable terms. The last meeting, held in September 2023 in London, lasted for three days and was attended by several officials of Ogun State, including Governor Dapo Abiodun and the Attorney General/Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi.

“Zhongshan’s initial reasonable readiness to consider Ogun State’s offer was surprisingly reversed by the second day when it insisted on the government paying the full arbitration debt. This led to a breakdown of the mediation, with parties agreeing to meet again in the first quarter of this year.

“Since then, Zhongshan has been evasive. Instead, it embarked on a series of enforcement proceedings, which the legal team appointed by the FGN and Ogun State successfully opposed. In cases similar to the present one, where Zhongshan obtained an ex-parte order, Ogun State successfully set aside the orders.

“Ogun State has not given up on a reasonable settlement option, with the most recent letter sent to Zhongshan last week. Zhongshan only responded after obtaining this latest illegal order.”

The Ogun State government has criticized the judicial process that led to the provisional attachment of three Nigerian presidential jets by the Judicial Court of Paris.

The court had ordered the seizure of the jets on March 7 and August 2, 2024, as part of a legal dispute involving a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd. 

The jets, which include a Dassault Falcon 7X, a Boeing 737, and a newly purchased Airbus A330, were undergoing maintenance at airports in France and Switzerland when the seizure orders were issued.

The Dassault Falcon 7X was stationed at Le Bourget Airport in Paris, while the Boeing 737 and Airbus A330 were located at Basel-Mulhouse Airport in Switzerland.

The dispute stems from an aborted contract between Zhongshan and the Ogun State government, initiated in 2007.

The Chinese company had sought court orders in relation to this dispute, leading to the attachment of Nigerian assets abroad.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Ogun State government, through the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, condemned the legal actions taken by Zhongshan.

The government described the latest developments as part of a broader attempt by the Chinese company to appropriate Nigerian assets in foreign jurisdictions.

Ogun State accused Zhongshan of concealing the litigation from both the Nigerian government and Ogun State authorities, as well as their legal counsel.

This, the government argued, allowed the company to quickly secure seizure orders without full disclosure to the court regarding the nature of the assets.

The Ogun State government and the Federal Government have reportedly taken immediate steps to lift the provisional attachments on the jets.

The statement also accused Zhongshan of reneging on earlier discussions aimed at reaching an amicable resolution.

The Ogun State government likened the case to the infamous P&ID case, describing it as another instance of unscrupulous individuals disguising themselves as foreign investors with the intent to defraud Nigerian entities.

The statement reads, “On August 14, 2024, the attention of the Ogun State Government was drawn to the provisional attachment of three Nigerian government-owned aircraft in France by the Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd. (Zhongshan).

“Ogun State also learned of two orders of the Judicial Court of Paris dated 7 March 2024 and 12 August 2024 respectively, both obtained by Zhongshan without notice being duly given to the Federal Government or Nigeria, Ogun State or their legal counsel.

“This is the latest in a series of ill-advised attempts by Zhongshan to attach Nigerian-owned assets in foreign jurisdictions, none of which have to date led to the recovery of any sums from Nigeria.

“Each of the three aircraft is used solely for sovereign purposes and as such are immune from attachment under international and French laws. In obtaining the provisional attachments, Zhongshan deliberately withheld information from the Federal Government of Nigeria, Ogun State and their legal counsel.

“Just like the P&ID case, this is another unfortunate case of unscrupulous individuals masquerading as foreign investors with the sole aim of defrauding Ogun State and Nigeria.

“It should be recalled that the underlying contract between Ogun State and Zhongshan was executed in 2007, 12 years before the present administration, for the management of a free-trade zone.

“The parties entered into a dispute in 2015 with arbitration commencing in 2016.

“By 2019, when the current State Administration took office, the hearing at the arbitration had been all but concluded.

“The Arbitral Panel awarded over 60 million USD against the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) which was a co-defendant, when all Zhongshan had done was to build a perimeter fence around the free-trade zone. Needless to say this was a bad/unfair decision.

“The present State Administration could not in all good conscience allow such an unconscionable and baseless decision, which would dissipate the commonwealth of the good people of Ogun State.

“Accordingly, and based on erudite legal advice, this Administration resolved to resist the enforcement of the award. The resistance was successful in eight different jurisdictions.

“Currently, there are pending appeals against recognition orders issued in both the US and UK.”

Former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) president, Olisa Agbakoba, has advised President Bola Tinubu to work towards giving the country a new constitution.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Olisa Agbakoba said the current political structure of the country has been ineffective for too long.

In a statement, on Thursday, on X, Agbakoba said the current power-sharing structure in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) did not decentralize governance.

“It’s time to reconsider Nigeria’s governance structure. We’ve been operating within a system that has been ineffective for far too long. Too much power has been centralized in Abuja, limiting the authority of states and regions and stifling their power. We need to go back to basics with a constitutional reform that truly redistributes power, empowering states to drive their own development.

“History has taught us a valuable lesson. In 340 AD, Roman Emperor Diocletian believed that his empire was too vast for one person to effectively govern. What did he do? He appointed four co-emperors, decentralizing power and allowing the Roman Empire to thrive for another 1,500 years! This is the bold action required in Nigeria.”

He further advised the National Assembly to start up the process for constitutional reform. He noted that decision-making should be closer to the citizens.

“We should aim for a governance structure where governors have the authority to lead their states, local communities have a say in their affairs, and decision-making is closer to the people it affects.

“The National Assembly holds the key to making this change. We need a constitutional reform that recalibrates the balance of power and allows real strong political and economic development to take hold in Nigeria,” Agbakoba added.