A report released by the Centre for the Study of African Economies (CSAE) has shown that the Nigerian economy is not creating jobs for young citizens.
The report which covers a period from 2000 to 2020, also shows that the mining sector is worse in lack of job creation.
Presenting the report, one of the CSAE researchers, Mma Ekeruche said the research shows that the economy is not creating jobs for young people.
According to her, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the continent more especially Nigeria with jobs declining from 51 million to 31 million with women and youth mostly affected.
“From 2000 to 2020, jobs have declined in Nigeria. The worst hit is mining, which fell from 29 percent to 10 percent in 2020.
“Employment growth in financial and business services increased by 24 percent and employed a large number of people.
“Mining can’t absorb large numbers of people and it is on the decrease. The sectors that contributed are the financial and the business sector which is also resilient to shock.
“Agro processing, financial and business, ICT, Tourism, formal trade and transportation increased in the share of employment and hold the keys to future jobs,” she said.
According to her, highly skilled and the female population will be the most needed in future jobs adding that 41 million jobs will be created for male, while 16 million jobs will be created for females if the needed infrastructures are created.
Mma mentioned the challenges that will affect the future jobs to include – poor infrastructure, lack of access to finance, corruption, skills gaps, land policies.
The researchers recommended that investment should be increased on infrastructure, close skills gaps, strengthen development of financial institutions, improve governance and regulatory framework and increase logistics.
Speaking during the unveiling of the report which was launched at the CSAE office in Abuja, the Advisory Partner and Chief Economist, PwC, Nigeria, Dr Andrew Nevin, said music, entertainment, fashion and cyber security will play a serious role in the Industries Without Smokestacks (IWOSS) adding that such businesses have a good value chain.
Speaking, a lecturer with University of Nigeria Nsuka, Prof Emmanuel Nwosu said African countries have not been able to have a substantial value for their export that’s why the export is low.
On his part, the Chief Economist at the Development Bank of Nigeria, Prof Joseph Nnanna said the federal government has taken the bull by the horns for having a law that enables the private sector to generate and distribute power.
He said several jobs will be created with the economy looking promising in the aftermath of the CBN’s direction to unify the exchange rate adding that such have sent a signal to the international community that Nigeria is open for business.
Chief Research Economist, African Development Bank, Nigeria Dr Anthony Simpasa, said the bank is very clear on how they look at partnership that will unlock potentials adding that their partnership is on how to reduce poverty.
In Nigeria, he said they undertook numerous programmes focusing on the youth.
“This programme will benefit all the sectors of the economy adding that the Bank has invested in that area.
Deputy Director, McArthur Foundation Nigeria, Dr. Amina Salihu said they must enlighten the society to know what is changing in the future.
She said there must be a mix of a political economy with effective institutions that have influential networks.
She said over 100m dollars in the last five years has gone to the empowerment of the Nigerian people and boosting the economy.
The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Aluwafemi Aro said most of the entrepreneurs in Africa are challenged by lack of access to capital adding that their target is new businesses and growing businesses that have the potential for job creation.
The Defence Headquarters says troops of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) have destroyed 57 illegal refining sites and apprehended 16 suspected oil thieves in the last two weeks.
The Director, Defence Media Operation, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, said this on Thursday in Abuja at the bi-weekly news conference on the operations of the armed forces.
Danmadami said the troops had sustained the tempo in the war against oil theft, illegal refineries and other criminal activities through aggressive raid, patrol and clearance operations amongst others.
He said that 27 wooden boats, 158 storage tanks, 149 ovens and eight dugout pits were discovered and destroyed within the period.
He added that troops also recovered 122,600 litres of crude oil, 89,850 litrers of AGO, seven vehicles, 18 pumping machines, one outboard engine, one speedboat, six assorted ammunitions, one weapon and one tricycle.
According to him, all recovered items and arrested suspects have been handed over to the relevant authority for further action.
“It is worthy to mention that a total of N82.4 million was denied the oil thieves during the period in focus,” he added.
Danmadami said the air component had on June 2 and June 3 conducted air reconnaissance and air interdiction operation at Okoro Nyong and Ndele which were observed to be rife with illegal refining activities.
He said the locations was bombarded and destroyed while the illegally refined products and equipment were engulfed in flames as a result of the air strike.
In the South East, Danmadami said the troops of Operation UDO KA continued to clampdown on the Indigenous People of Biafra, Eastern Security Network terrorist and other criminals in the zone.
He said the troops neutralised two terrorists and apprehended 25 suspects, as well as recovered several arms, ammunition and other items during the period.
The Labour Party has suspended its National Legal adviser Barr. Samuel Akingbade along with twelve other officials over attempt to factionalise the party in support of Lamidi Apapa-led faction.
Other suspended party officials include the Osun State Women leader Mrs. Susan Ojo and 11 Local Government Chairmen across the state, who were said to be involved in gross misconduct with a vow to create animosity within the party in the state.
Speaking with newsmen on behalf of the party leadership on Thursday at the party secretariat in Osogbo, Osun state Chairman, Bello Adebayo said the suspended officials were trying to factionalise the party in the state.
“All identified card-carrying members of the Labour Party who were part of a NEC meeting that took place in Bauchi, Bauchi State on Wednesday, 3rd May, 2022 are hereby suspended indefinitely.
“Among those identified and affected by this decision are; Barr. Samuel Akingbade (National Legal Adviser), Mrs. Susan Ojo (State Women Leader) and 11 chairmen of Local Government of our party in Osun State who participated in a meeting organized by the National Legal Adviser and suspended State Woman Leader.
“These members stand suspended for anti-party activities and gross misconduct. This decision will be forwarded to the National Working Committee of the Labour Party and other relevant bodies including all security agencies for further actions.
“Without prejudice, we are all aware that our party is currently facing some challenges at the national level, and this is snowballing into crisis in some states. However, we have been so lucky in Osun State, the State Executive of the party has remained united in spite of the shenanigans of some people.
“We cannot shy away from the fact that some members of the party have been attempting to take advantage of the crisis at the national level to cause confusion and division in Osun State Chapter of the Labour Party. We equally acknowledge the presence of members with inordinate ambition, which is gradually leading to the factionalization of the party.
“The intention is to create parallel structures at the National level and the states to lend support to the dirty agenda of scuttling the legal struggle of reclaiming the mandate of Mr. Peter Obi and Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed in the 2023 Presidential election.
“We observe that if the activities of these undemocratic persons are not checked on time, it will either weaken the Labour Party structure in Osun or collapse it totally. Based on the foregoing, the State Executive Council of the Labour Party met on Thursday, May 11, 2023 to address all the issues and forge ahead.
“At the meeting, we resolved among other things, that: We affirm and assert our loyalty, support and commitment to the National Working Committee of our great party led by our lawfully recongnised National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure”, he said.
Justice Tijjani Ringim of a Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos have convicted a clearing agent, Felix Olame, who was arrested with container load of pangolin scales, elephant ivories, tusk and bones by the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS).
Justice Ringim convicted the clearing agent, after he pleaded guilty to three counts charge made against him by the Customs.
The convicted clearing agents, according to the prosecutors, David Ereh and Mike Osong, was arrested on January, 2021, at Apapa Port, Lagos, for being in possession of 1X20ft Container marked CSLU 2362640, containing 158 sacks of pangolin scales and 57 sacks of elephant ivory, horns and bones.
The prosecutors told the court that the convict conspired with some others, who were said to be at large to commit the offence.
The prosecutors told the court that the offences committed by the convict, are contrary to and punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. And section 7(3) of the National Environmental (Protection of Endangered Species in International Trade) Regulations, 201 and punishable under section 7(4) of the same Regulations
The convict pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
Upon his plea, the prosecutors reviewed the facts of the charge, and urged the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.
But counsel ….., pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy, saying that his client was used by those who wanted to smuggle the items.
He pray the court should tender justice with mercy by given the defendant an option of fine.
Delivering judgment on the charge, Justice Ringim held that: “in the certificate of the provision of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, the prosecution review evidence after the defendant pleaded guilty to the three counts charge.
“I have painstakingly looked at the three counts charge and I observed that count two and three are the same, therefore the defendant can not by punished on the two counts together to avoid the principle of double jeopardy.
Consequently count two is hereby struck out.
The defendant is hereby convicted on count one and three only.
“Consequently, the convict is hereby sentenced to six months imprisonment.”
Economy: We campaigned, danced and begged for tough job, we can’t complain - Tinubu tells governors
AdminPresident Bola Tinubu on Thursday said that having campaigned and won the election, he and state governors cannot complain about the huge task of growing the economy, saying that they have no reason to fail.
He made the declaration on Thursday at the Presidential, Abuja while inaugurating the National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by Vice President, Kashim Shettima.
While restating his plans, the President observed that NEC has the mandate to advise the President concerning the economic affairs of the federation, and in particular, on appropriate measures for the coordination of the economic plans and programs of government, ministries, departments and agencies.
Tinubu noted that the monthly meeting of NEC has remained the official economic platform for robust dialogue among the federal government, the 36 state governors, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and other key stakeholders.
He stated: “In my inaugural speech of May 29, year 2003 I expressed this administration’s commitment to improving the lives of Nigerians in a manner that’s not just our humanity, encourages compassion towards one another, and duly rewards our collective effort to resolve the social ills that seek to divide us.
“I also listed the principles that will guide our administrations and it is as follows: to be impartial, to govern according to the Constitution, and the rule of law; to defend the nation from terror and all forms of criminality; to promote economic growth and development, through job creation, food security, and an end to poverty.
“To prominently feature women and youth in all our activities, and to take proactive steps such as championing a credit culture to discourage corruption, while strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of various anti-corruption agencies.
“I also highlighted eight priority areas to which this administration would focus, security, economy, jobs, agriculture and infrastructure.
“We have already taken significant steps by ending the first subsidy and unifying the foreign exchange rate. This government will continue to transform our nation’s fortunes and bring about unprecedented development through good governance.
“We are committed to sustainable initiatives and programmes that will stimulate the rejuvenation of the economy without causing inflation.
“The plans and ideas we have presented underscore our confidence in our ability to meet the challenges of the day and pave the way for a better future.
“The NEC meeting has over the years, been very constructive and productive and key outcomes, resolutions and recommendations are translated into brilliant government policies.
“It is also evident that the task of growing our economy is quite anomalous, but you and I asked for it, we campaigned for it, we even danced for it, we begged for it. So, we have no reason to complain.
“We must harness the growth potential of Nigeria and bring about serious development to bring us from a potential nation to pragmatic economic development in a rapid manner. Their expectation is on NEC as a veritable source of articulating policies and programmes that are people-oriented.
“I cannot overemphasize that. It is also reassuring to note that the populace and members of this country are behind us, they want reforms and they want it quick to have a meaningful impact in their lives.
“We have enormous challenges facing us, it is you and I, we have all the 36 governors and stakeholders and you have the flexibility of using the local government to rapidly develop the infrastructure within the local government areas.
“Collaboration is not a crime. Please let us do so.”
Tinubu expressed his appreciation to the Vice President and council members
Following the removal of the petroleum subsidy and the attendant hike in the cost of living, Tinubu had recently requested NEC to come up with measures to mitigate the effects.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has assured consumers of Indomie and other noodle brands in Nigeria of the safety of the staple food amongst children and some adults.
It stated that investigations by the agency have revealed that Indomie Noodles implicated in the recalls in Malaysia and Taiwan are not in Nigeria.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, according to a statement, disclosed this on Thursday at the MAN House, Ikeja, Lagos during the Quarterly Interactive session between the Agency and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria MAN, where she implored Nigerians to always eat safe.
“I love to eat good food, including noodles. But I want to be sure that the food I am eating is not going to make me sick, take medicine. And if I am taking medicine the food that I am eating will not make me add to the medicine that I am taking. Therefore, I take food very, very seriously,” she said.
She explained that immediately the news of the recalls of Indomie Noodles from Malaysia and Taiwan got to Nigeria she directed the Director, Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Mrs. Eva Edwards, and Director of Laboratory Services (Food), Dr Charles Nwachukwu, respectively to begin tripartite discussions with manufacturers and marketers.
The DG disclosed that someone asked her when the results were going to come out, adding that the Agency had run all the necessary tests. “But we needed a chemical standard. It’s all science. We are a science organization, and our processes are science driven. We cannot conduct our own Nigerian science. No. We have to use the international standard chemical agents and things like that.”
She insisted that the implicated foreign noodles are not in Nigeria, hence, the locally produced noodles are safe for human consumption.
The family of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has sacked Mike Ozekhome, SAN; and Ifeanyi Ejiofor as lead counsels to the IPOB leader.
The family accused Ozekhome’s of refusing to allow Kanu’s personal physicians access to him in the DSS Custody for an urgent ear surgery.
Kanunta, who is the embattled IPOB leader’s younger brother, in a series of tweets on Thursday titled “Notice of dismissal”, wrote “After Mazi Nnamdi kanu’s case on 11th May 2023 Prof Mike Ozekhome SAN has refused to see his client in DSS headquarters Abuja even after several messages from #MNK to see him.
“Secondly, for stopping the medical doctors who were to examine #MNK on 5th June even when he and Bar. lfeanyi Ejiofor were duly informed on 2nd of June and #MNK told them to inform his family to arrange that.
“For this obvious reasons and many more, Prof Mike Ozekhome SAN and Barr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor are hereby SACKED as Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s counsels.
“The Kanu’s family do appreciate your time and efforts so far, please handover the legal documents asap.”
Recall that Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of the State Services (DSS) since June 27, 2021 after he was arrested in Kenya and repatriated by the Nigerian government.
The Nigerian Court of Appeal on October 13, 2022 in its judgment discharged and acquitted Kanu of all the charges leveled against him and ordered his immediate and unconditional release from detention.
However, he remained in detention as the government objected to the Appeal Court ruling.
But reacting to the dismissal of the lawyers, some IPOB sympathizers have taken to the social media to express their displeasure.
@biafran retweeter tweeted “Lolz the same way you sacked the members of the @real_IpobDOS and today you still hide to listen to @ChinasaNworu on radio Biafra whenever he’s on air speaking. We know your tactics Kingsley. Why are you so angry this time around? Oh because your dearest bank Orji Uzor Kalu cried”.
@Patrickcashbag ” Who is one? Where are you from? What is your name? What do you represent?”.
@Ikechuks2000 ” gradually you will confess the deal you made with the Igbo politicians, & the Fulani government and how you sold MNK to them, which made you keep silent for 8 days after knowing about MNK ‘s kidnap”.
Following the suspension of some government officials by the government of President Bola Tinubu, a group within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on the auspices of the Progressive Foundational Movement (PFM), has called for the immediate suspension of chairmen of Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over alleged inefficiencies.
The APC group claimed the two agencies have failed woefully in the fight against corruption in the past four years, especially the Code of Conduct Bureau, where the Chairman has not, in the past four years, sent one person to be prosecuted at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
In a statement released Thursday in Abuja by the National Coordinator of the group, Barrister Aganaba Johnson, he said the chairman of the CCB, Isah Mohammed, “is inefficient to continue to hold the position of CCB chairman. For the first time in CCB history, a Board member has to petition the Chairman to the National Assembly for ineptitude and corruption, because the Chairman is running the Bureau as his personal business empire without recourse to the Board for any decision he takes.”
The statement added that the CCB chairman should also be investigated for “hobnobbing with the suspended CBN governor Godwin Emiefiele and the NNPC GCEO, Mele Kyari.
“The President should also beam his sweeping anti-corruption cleansing to the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Code of Conduct Tribunal, as these two agencies have failed woefully in the fight against corruption in the past four years, especially the Code of Conduct Bureau, where the Chairman has not in the past four years sent any one person to be prosecuted in the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
“The Chairman Isah Mohammed is inefficient to continue to hold the position of CCB chairman, it is on record that for the first time in CCB history a Board member has to petition the Chairman to the National Assembly for ineptitude and corruption, because the Chairman is running the Bureau as his personal business empire without recourse to the Board for any decision he takes.
“He has more than two thousand petitions on his table that he refuses to be investigated and prosecuted. Several instances abound with petitions against NNPC and CBN henchmen where the Chairman refused to assign the petitions for investigation.
“The Chairman needs to be investigated for his hobnobbing with Emiefiele and Mele Kyari, and because he was appointed by Malami and the Villa cabal, he feels he’s above the law just like Bawa, the suspended EFCC Chairman,” the statement said.
The group listed cases the CCB Chairman allegedly refused to investigate to include; “Cases of abuse of office, corruption against the suspended CBN Governor, Godwin Emiefelie, case of abuse of office and corruption against NNPC GCEO, Mele Kyari, case of abuse of office and corruption against former MD of NDDC, Effiong Akwa, case of abuse of office and corruption by the former Accountant General, case of abuse of office and corruption and non-declaration of Assets against the MD and all the Directors in PHCN, case of abuse of office and corruption against the former MD of NIRSAL, case of abuse of office and corruption against former Minister of Aviation, case of abuse of office and false declaration of assets against Deputy Governor of CBN Kingsley Obiora, case of abuse of office and corruption against the former permanent secretary, Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono.
“Others are cases of abuse of office and corruption against former Secretary, National Universities Commission, cases of abuse of office and corruption against Permanent Secretary, Director of Procurement and Director of Finance, Ministry of Power and lastly cases of abuse of office against the permanent secretary and several Directors of Ministry of Works, among others.”
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has alerted that consumers should be prepared to pay higher amount for goods as prices are set to rise.
The President of MAN, Segun Ajayi Kabir, gave the hint on Thursday while explaining the downside risk of the new Central Bank of Nigeria policy of liberalizing the naira at a single window, the Investors’ and Exporters’ (I&E) window.
Although expected, the CBN on Wednesday sent a circular that signals banks can buy FX from anywhere and at market price.
The new policy is at variance with the different windows held by the apex bank where they dictate the pricing of forex.
Ajayi said on Arise, “To us, it comes with a lot of certainties. I believe that it is going to create efficiency in the market and it is going to lead to capital inflow and give us a market penetration. It would improve our participation in the export market.
“As manufacturers, there is a downside. It is going to make our imports more expensive and so you will expect that the cost is going to be transferred to the final consumers. But on the balance, we see it as a positive development.
“What has happened tends to be in line with what we had anticipated that there will be some measure of unification and so this floating has tended to narrow if not remove the gap between the official rate and the parallel market rate which we have always complained has been inimical to productivity and particularly manufacturing.
“Our immediate reaction will be that it has its pros and cons but at least it has given us some measure of certainty and we are able to plan better and anticipate what we will require to import our raw materials, spares, and machines that are not locally available.
“But like I said, it comes with plus and minuses even when we had the official rate, most of our members were unable to procure forex and most of them were having to rely on the parallel market or some other means.”
Under the Godwin Emefiele-led forex regime, manufacturers had decried that they were unable to source dollars at the official rate which was pegged around N460/USD.
Asides from forex, manufacturers are grappling with rising taxes.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari introduced new Fiscal Policy Measures (FPM) for 2023 in a Circular dated 20 April 2023 signed by Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning.
The MFP revised Excise Duty Rates and additional excise taxes ranging from 20 per cent to 100 per cent increase on previously approved rates for alcoholic beverages, tobacco, wines and spirits which took effect on 1 June 2023.
These are above the 2022 FPM’s approved Roadmap for 2022-2024 in the form of new and higher ad-valorem excise duties and specific rates while the excise duty rate on non-alcoholic beverages was retained at of N10 per litre.
He said the fiscal policy measure implemented at the last minute of Buhari’s government escalated the problems of the sector.
He accused the past administration of negligence of the plights of businesses, adding “A well-researched document was given to them on the impact of the policy on those industries.”
But the MAN president said, “The trust deficit that Nigerians have for the system is actually deep. In the manufacturing sector especially, there are perennial and lots of promises that have been made.
“For instance, the issue of infrastructure. The Electricity Act 2023, people believe that it holds a lot of promise and the fact that people can self-generate power.
“There are low-hanging fruits that the government can do to make fiscal and monetary policy. The multiplicity of taxes and levies. A joint tax force has a unified collection of taxes but some state governments have already taken that license to impose outrageous and sometimes irresponsible taxes imposed on the people. You can imagine asking a small-scale business in Kaduna to pay a haulage fee of N5m.
“I mean that is ridiculous because they are not even able to make that turnover in a quarter of the year. They are the issues that the Federal Government, state, and local governments have to work together on multiple taxes.”
Despite the recent increase in the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 18.5 per cent by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to curtail the rise in inflation, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) which measures inflation rose to 22.41 per cent in May 2023.
The CBN said inflation is a major challenge, adding that the drivers of inflation are outside its control including Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) supply.
The 22.41 per cent surge was disclosed by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released on Thursday indicating the fifth consecutive surge in 2023.
According to the report, the figure showed an increase in 0.19 per cent points when compared to the 22.22 per cent recorded in April 2023.
Similarly, on a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 4.70 per cent points higher when compared to the rate recorded in May 2022, which stood at 17.71 per cent.
The NBS report stated, “In May 2023, the headline inflation rate increased to 22.41 per cent relative to April 2023 headline inflation rate which was 22.22 per cent. the May 2023 inflation rate showed an increase of 0.19 per cent points when compared to April 2023.”
The NBS attributed the surge to the food inflation rate which quickened to 24.82 per cent in May from 24.61 per cent in the previous month
Also, on a year-on-year basis, it rose by 5.33 per cent points higher compared to the 19.5 per cent recorded in May 2022
The rise in food inflation on a year-on-year basis was caused by increases in prices of oil and fat, yam and other tubers, bread and cereals, fish, potatoes, fruits, meat, vegetable, spirit
Other factors that contributed to the May inflation according to NBS are, food and non-alcoholic beverages recorded to be 11.61 per cent, housing water, electricity gas & other fuel 3.75 per cent, and transport to be 1.46 per cent amongst others.
Recall that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during the World Bank meeting, disclosed that Inflation is a global threat now to economic growth, and Nigeria is on the receiving end.
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A Kaduna High Court has dismissed a defamation suit filed by the immediate past governor of the state, Nasir el-Rufai, against a former senator representing Kaduna central, Shehu Sani
The ex-governor had sought N2 billion in damages over comments credited to the former lawmaker.
In the suit filed in 2018, El-Rufai said Sani defamed him by referring to him as a “drunk, loose cannon and an embarrassment to President Muhammadu Buhari”.
El-Rufai claimed that Sani’s statements are totally false and injurious to his person in the eyes of the public.
While delivering his judgement on Thursday, the trial judge, Justice H.A.L Balogun dismissed the suit filed on the ground that it was an abuse of court processes
Balogun said the same case was filed by el-Rufai in different courts in the state.
Counsel to Sani, Kimi Livingstone Appah, had drawn the attention of the court to the fact that the former governor filed the same case in four different courts in the state.
The judge agreed with Appah’s preliminary objection and dismissed the case.
Addressing journalists after the ruling, Appah described the ruling as a victory for democracy and freedom of expression.
Over the years, El-Rufai and Sani have been involved in a series of altercations based on their political differences.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has closed its case against a former Minister of Power, Mohammed Wakil and four others.
In the matter which was ongoing before Justice K. Dagat of the Federal High Court, Maiduguri, Borno State and the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the EFCC, the suspects were re-arraigned on a-seven count charge of criminal conspiracy of commiting money laundering to the tune of N450,000,000.00.
Wakil, alongside Garba Abatcha, Ibrahim Shehu Birma, Dr. Abubakar Ali Kullima and Engr. Muhammad Baba Kachalla, allegedly connived to commit the crime.
According to EFCC, they received the said sum from the $ 115 million disbursed by a former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.
The commission presented three witnesses who testified against them and they pleaded not guilty to the charges read to them.
Count one of the charges read: “That you, Hon. Muhammad Wakil, Garba Abatcha, Ibrahim Shehu Birma, Dr. Abubakar Ali Kullima and Engr. Muhammad Baba Kachalla on or about the 26th day of March, 2015 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did agree amongst yourselves to do an illegal act, to wit: conspiracy to commit money laundering and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2022 (as amended).”
Before closing its case today, the prosecution counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed appearing alongside S.O Saka, Faruku Muhammad, A.D Aliyu, V.O Ekanem and A.A Ayanshola tendered some documents.
The documents include the statements of the defendants and evidence of payment received by the three Senatorial districts.
A draft from the first defendant and a response letter from Fidelity Bank detailing the means of identification of the first and second defendants, which were admitted as exhibits as well.
Justice Dagat thereafter adjourned the case till October, 3, 4 and 5, 2023 for the defendants to open their defence.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited the immediate-past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, over the investigation into the Nigeria Air project.
The minister is due to appear before the commission within the week to answer questions related to the launch of the national carrier and the alleged N3billion spent on the airline project.
EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, who confirmed that there was an ongoing investigation on the Nigeria Air project, however, did not give further details.
He said, “I can confirm that there is an ongoing investigation in that regard.”
However, EFCC sources said the commission would look at the N3 billion public fund sunk into the project.
The EFCC had already questioned officials of the Nigerian Air over the recent launch of the airline in Abuja.
The sources told LEADERSHIP that, “We have already questioned some officials of Nigeria Air.
“We have invited the former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika. We are expecting him within the week.”
Recall that Sirika had explained on a national television few days ago that the federal government had spent less than N3billion on the Nigeria Air project so far.
The former minister, who stated this while he appeared on Arise News Channel on Sunday, said the total money budgeted for the project in the last seven years was N5billion out of which only N3 billion had so far been released.
Sirika further said the bulk of the money has been spent on consultancies, salaries and administrative costs, stating that the N85 billion figure being bandied around as purportedly spent on Nigeria Air was false and baseless.
On the total money for the establishment of the Nigeria Air, the minister said the total market capitalisation was $200 million out of which all shareholders will pay according to their shares.
He explained that Ethiopian Airlines owns 49 per cent, MRS owns 31 per cent, SAHCO owns 15 per cent while federal government of Nigeria owns five per cent.
The former minister also made it clear that no amount has been paid in cash by any shareholder as the signing of the agreement was ongoing.
On the monies spent by the federal government already, he explained that they would be used as the five per cent equity and if it spend above 5%, the federal government will get a refund.
He also said Nigeria Air won’t enjoy any special tax privileges as all the taxes other airlines are expected to pay will be the same taxes Nigeria Air will be paying.
The minister also accused the immediate-past chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nnaji Nnoli, of asking for five per cent shares of the Airline for him and his people.
The minister said Nnoli approached him for five per cent for him and his people (which could be fellow committee members or family members) and he told him to approach the shareholders to buy the shares from them as the federal government of Nigeria is not the owner of the airline.
DOCUMENTS: How INEC ‘Blurred Additional 2.5M Votes’ In 18,088 Polling Units Against Peter Obi – Professor Tells Presidential Tribunal
AdminA professor of Mathematics at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra, Eric Uwaduegwu Ofoedu, on Thursday told the Presidential Election Petition Court sitting in Abuja that from the INEC Result Viewing Portal, IREV, 18,088 polling unit results were blurred but when compared with Form EC8As (polling unit results) given to Labour Party agents at the affected PUs, votes of 2,565,269 accredited voters were not reflected in the final results announced by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Yakubu Mahmood.
This was contained in Ofoedu’s statement on oath admitted before the PEPC after being lead to give his evidence in chief by the lawyer representing the LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN.
In his statement on oath obtained by THE WHISTLER, the professor, who said he specializes in numerical functional analysis and data science, disclosed that the affected scores from the polling units which favoured Obi was recovered using LP agents EC8A copies and certified true copies of EC8As as supplied by INEC.
He said on February 20, 2023 he was engaged by the Labour party and was later subpoenaed to carry out a data analysis on the election results state by state.
“I observed that, from IREV portal, scores on Form EC8As of 39,546 polling units were inaccessible – contain uploads not connected with the Presidential Election.
“From IREV portal, 18,088 polling units results were blurred. This number of PUs negatively impacted the votes of 2,565,269 accredited voters and 9,165,191 voters that collected their PVCS,” he said.
According to him, overvoting checks on the 2023 presidential election showed that 4,457 polling units with a total of 2,317,129 PVCs collected were affected, adding that the figure exceeds the margin of lead of 1,807, 206 votes over the first runner declared by INEC, that is, Atiku Abubakar.
On the 39,546 polling units allegedly not accessible on IREV, Ofoedu disclosed that both the number of accredited voters (5,532,553) and the number of PVCs collected (23,119, 298) exceeded the margins of lead by far from the INEC-announced results (1,807,206 over Atiku and 2,693,193 over Obi).
Citing Rivers State as an example, the witness said: “From results on IREV portal, LP got 208,564 votes while APC got 118,999 votes in Rivers state as against 175,071 votes for LP and 231,591 votes for APC as announced by INEC.”
In Benue state for instance, he said in the court document that a final vote count of 281,426 votes for Obi and 258,683 votes for Tinubu were obtained after he added actual votes on the Form EC8As obtained from LP agents in the state.
He was of the view that there is no correlation between the results declared by the INEC Chairman and what is available on the IREV portal or CTC of Forms EC8As from the polling units as supplied by the electoral umpire.
At the proceedings on Thursday, he asked the court to adopt his statement on oath while admitting his evidence as Obi’s exhibits against the 2023 presidential election.
But before he spoke, the legal team of INEC, President Bola Tinubu, and All Progressive Congress raised an objection, asking the court not to take his testimonies or admit his documents as evidence.
The five-man panel of the court led by Justice Hassan Tsammani noted their objections but directed the witness to go ahead and adopt his statement.
The witness, through Ikpeazu, tendered as his evidence, Reports of Data Analysis from the Results of the February 25, 2023, presidential election in Nigeria(IREV Scores Investigation alongside LP agents EC8A copies and CTC of EC8A from INEC), River state, Benue state among other documents.
The documents were again opposed by the respondents but the court admitted them while adjourning to Friday for cross-examination of the witness.
Recall that INEC said on March 1 that Tinubu polled 8,794,726 votes while Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of the Labour Party had 6,984,520 votes and 6,101,533 votes respectively.
But petitioners contend that if the actual results from the 18,088 polling units are reflected and the alleged overvoting are deducted, the court would see he was the elected winner of the 2023 polls.
After that, the next subpoenaed witness called by Obi’s legal team was Lumic Edevbie, a Director of Operations, Arise News.
He tendered a video recording contained in a flash drive to the court as evidence.
The respondents objected to the video being played but the court noted their assertion but ordered that it be played.
It was admitted in evidence and the video was played.
The video showed when INEC Chairman, Yakubu Mahmood gave an address at Chatham House, London, saying that the result transmission real-time was the way to go and IREV was a secured archive of scanned polling unit results.