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EU: 2023 Elections Lacked Transparency, Trust In INEC Severely Damaged

The 2023 general elections did not ensure a well-run transparent, and inclusive democratic process as assured by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has said.

The EU EOM noted that shortcomings in the law and electoral administration hindered the conduct of well-run and inclusive elections and damaged trust in INEC.

In its final report released on Tuesday in Abuja, the EU EOM said public confidence and trust in INEC were severely damaged during the presidential poll and were not restored in state-level elections, leading civil society to call for an independent audit of the entire process.
“The widely welcomed Electoral Act 2022 (the 2022 Act) introduced measures aimed at building stakeholder trust. However, the Act’s first test in a general election revealed crucial gaps in terms of INEC’s accountability and transparency, proved to be insufficiently elaborated, and lacked clear provisions for timely and efficient implementation.
Thugs Kill Naval Rating In Ondo

sanctions for electoral offences and breaches of campaign finance rules.

“Furthermore, the presidential selection of INEC leadership at the federal and state level leaves the electoral institution vulnerable to the perception of partiality. Closer to the polls some started to doubt INEC’s administrative and operational efficiency and in-house capacity. Public confidence gradually decreased and was severely damaged on 25 February due to its operational failures and lack of transparency.

“While some corrective measures introduced before the 18 March elections were effective, overall trust was not restored,” it said.

Addressing a press briefing in Abuja, the Chief Observer, EU EOM, Barry Andrews, noted that his team carried out its work between 11 January and 11 April on the invitation of the INEC.
The EU EOM offered 23 recommendations for consideration by the Nigerian authorities that would contribute to the improvement of future elections.

Andrews said: “We are particularly concerned about the need for reform in six areas which we have identified as priority recommendations, and we believe, if implemented, could contribute to improvements for the conduct of elections.”

The six priority recommendations point to the need to; remove ambiguities in the law; establish a publicly accountable selection process for INEC members; ensure real-time publication of and access to election results; provide greater protection for media practitioners; address discrimination against women in political life, and; impunity regarding electoral offenses.

Reacting, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, who spoke to journalists after the presentation said: “We are going to harmonise all the reports by international observers that have been presented and we are going to look at the reports holistically.

“From the report presented, the EU made mention of the fact that there have been significant improvements in our electoral process and there have been so many positives to this particular election.

“One of the positives is that we registered over 93 million Nigerians during this election. Not only that if you look at the reports submitted by international observers, in terms of voters accreditation, the BVAS performed optimally.”

Okoye, however, admitted that there were challenges, promising that recommendations from international observers would be worked on and implemented.

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Indian Govt Goes After Fugitive Brothers ‘Balling’ In Nigeria, Seeks Court Order Compelling FG To Extradite Two Of Its Nationals

The Indian government has approached an Abuja High Court seeking an order compelling the Federal Government of Nigeria to extradite two of its nationals whom it has accused of financial crimes but are living large in Africa’s biggest economy.


After failed diplomatic efforts to have the Nigerian government extradite the Indian brothers, Nitin and Chetan Sandesara, who own Sterling Energy and Exploration Production Ltd in Nigeria, the country is seeking a court order to extradite them and seize their Nigerian assets.


When contacted, Vipul Mesariya, spokesman of the Indian high commission in Nigeria, said: “It is sub judice. The matter is in court. We cannot comment on it.”


Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has accused the tycoons of absconding after defrauding public banks of more than $1.7 billion. They were declared Fugitive Economic Offenders.

A Fugitive Economic Offender is a legal term in India. It relates to any individual against whom a warrant for arrest in relation to a “scheduled offence” has been issued by any Indian court under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act. It applies to individuals who either left India to avoid criminal prosecution or, being abroad, refuses to return to India to face criminal prosecution.

However, under Nigerian law, extradition isn’t often a straightforward process. It gets complicated when the subject has been accused of a crime in Nigeria.

Last year, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja rejected an application by the Federal Government seeking the extradition of Abba Kyari, the suspended deputy commissioner of police, accused of fraud and money laundering in the United States.

In dismissing the application, Justice Inyang Ekwo said “the application is in breach of Section 3(f) of the Extradition Act, and by that Act, it is incompetent.”

Section 3(f) provides that “a fugitive criminal who has been charged with an offence under the laws of Nigeria or any part thereof, not being an offence for which his surrender is sought, shall not be surrendered until such a person has been discharged either by acquittal or on the expiration of his sentence”.

Extradition matters in Nigeria are governed by the Extradition Act 1966, the Extradition Act Modification Order 2014, Federal High Court Extradition Proceedings Rules 2015, Extradition Amendment Act 2018 and its various treaties with nation-states.

Section 1 empowers the president to extend the application of the Extradition Act to any country with which Nigeria has signed a treaty regarding the surrender of persons wanted for prosecution or punishment.

Under Nigerian law, a Nigerian citizen, as well as a non-citizen, can be extradited provided that such a person has been accused of a crime and proper application has been made for the surrender of such person to face trial.

The case of the Indian brothers is more nuanced. While the Indian government has charged them with crimes, the Nigerian government is treating them like guests as they have enough dollars to invest in the oil sector.

Sandesara Group’s Nigerian arm Sterling Global Oil Resources Ltd in 2004-05 won a small area of 29 sq. km for exploration in Nigeria via bidding. The company said it has a licence to explore and produce crude oil from four onshore blocks with a total acreage of almost 2,000 sq. km, with Shell and Chevron as neighbours.

The group’s subsidiaries — Sterling Oil Exploration & Production Co. and Sterling Global Oil Resources Ltd. — pump about 50,000 barrels of crude a day in the delta via contracts with the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

Another unit expects to bring a third block into production this year that will eventually raise total daily output to above 100,000 barrels per day in a period of five years.

Section 3 of the Extradition Act provides that a fugitive may not be extradited for political crimes, or if he sought merely to be punished on account of his race, religion, nationality or political opinion. If the application was otherwise not made in good faith or in the interest of justice, or in the case that if surrendered, the person is likely to be prejudiced at his trial.

Nigeria has refused India’s request to extradite them, and BusinessDay has seen Nigerian government documents shielding them from extradition to India.

Some analysts contacted said the issue has implications. Paul Ananaba, a senior advocate of Nigeria, said: “Nigeria has a moral obligation to allow anyone being prosecuted to face trial; however, countries often act in their best interest and Nigeria may have its reasons for refusing.”

There is a concern that sheltering persons accused of using the proceeds of crime to facilitate oil investments in Nigeria apart from damaging the country’s reputation does not help current efforts to remove Nigeria from an international list of countries with weak systems to check money laundering and other financial crimes.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog, identifies jurisdictions with weak measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing in two FATF public documents that are issued three times a year.

The FATF’s process to publicly list countries with weak anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regimes has proved effective. As of June 2023, the FATF has reviewed over 125 countries and jurisdictions and publicly identified 98 of them. Nigeria is one of them.

Nigeria is classified under Grey-list countries, which refers to those actively working with the FATF to address strategic deficiencies in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.

Nigerian authorities responsible for implementing the country’s AML/CFT framework say they are working hard to exit Nigeria from FATF’s grey list.


At a retreat in Abuja on June 23, Modibbo Tukur, CEO of the NFIU, through a representative, said: “Stakeholder agencies involved in the country’s AML/CFT framework together with representatives from the private sector met in May this year and agreed a revised strategic roadmap to exit the grey-list.”

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Tinubu Returns To Lagos From UK Ahead Eid-el-Kabir

President Bola Tinubu has returned to Lagos from his international trips to Paris and London respectively.

 

The President, on Tuesday, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at exactly 05:13pm.


Tinubu was received by supporters and high-ranking members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) including Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state, amid warm display by colourful members of the Presidential Guards.


Recall that the President had travelled to the Paris, France on Friday during, where he participated in the summit for ‘A New Global Financing Pact’ hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.

After the two-day summit, the President proceeded to London, United Kingdom, for a “short private visit”, according to his spokesman, Dele Alake, in a statement last Saturday.


Alake had hinted that the President would be back in Nigeria today (Tuesday) for the Eid-el-Kabir festivities on June 28 and 29, 2023.

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FG Will Save N2tr From Subsidy Removal In Six Months, Says World Bank

Says $800m Loan To Nigeria Was Approved December 2021

 

The World Bank has predicted that the Federal Government will save N2 trillion in the remaining six months of 2023 with the removal of petrol subsidy and over N11 trillion by 2025.


The World Bank made this projection in its June 2023 Nigeria Development Update released on Tuesday in Abuja.


According to the NDU report, the removal of the petrol subsidy and FX management reforms are vital steps toward rebuilding fiscal space and restoring macroeconomic stability.

The report emphasised the need for further policy reform measures and acknowledges the critical reforms that the new administration has already initiated to address macroeconomic imbalances.

It advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take advantage of the opportunity to have a transformative impact on millions of Nigerians and establish a solid foundation for sustainable and inclusive growth.

The NDU recommended implementing a comprehensive reform package, including a new social compact to protect the poor and vulnerable towards maximising the collective impact on growth, job creation, and poverty reduction.

World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, commended the Tinubu government’s efforts to implement long-awaited reforms and emphasised the need for compensatory actions to mitigate the short-term impact on the poor.

Chaudhuri also advocated for the implementation of a cash transfer programme to provide relief to those most affected by higher petrol prices as part of a broader agreement to redirect fiscal resources towards development priorities.

Also Chaudhuri clarified that the 800 million dollar loan from the bank was approved as of December 2021, a time when the government of Muhammadu Buhari contemplated the removal of fuel subsidy.

Its Nigerian articles Country Director, Dr Shubham Chaudhuri, made this known on Tuesday at an event organised by the World Bank to assess the nation’s economy in the last six months.

Chaudhuri explained that the fund is a loan and not a grant as speculated.

He said that the funds will be channelled into ameliorating the sufferings of the poor and vulnerable owing to the removal of the fuel subsidy.

The loan was delayed as Former President Muhammadu Buhari soft-pedaled on the fuel subsidy removal until his last days in office.

Few weeks to his handover, Buhari had sent a letter to the Senate seeking approval to take a loan to the tune of $800 million from the World Bank to cushion the effects of subsidy removal.

The former Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, had said that the disbursement of the fund is in light of the planned subsidy removal in June 2023.

On his inauguration on May 29, President Bola Tinubu eventually announced the removal of the petrol subsidy.

The Nigerian Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, 48 hours after Tinubu’s declaration, announced price adjustment for petrol.

The World Bank Country Director also expressed support for the Federal Government’s subsidy removal and the exchange rate unification.


According to Chaudhuri, the policy though painful remains key to rebuilding the economy of the nation.

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Anti-Tinubu Protester Obiajulu Uja Sent To Prison

The Zuba Magistrate Court in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has ordered the Kuje Correctional facility to continue holding Obiajulu Uja in their custody for further urgent medical treatment for a period of 2 months.

Naija News reports that Uja, in early April, was carried off a Lagos-Abuja flight, after he started a lone protest demanding that President Bola Tinubu (then President-Elect) must never be sworn in as President, on May 29.

The man is said to be mentally-unstable, according to a medical report tendered to the Court at previous hearings, on the case.

But Magistrate Abdulazeez Ismail Muhammad, the trial judge, at the hearing on the matter today, referred him back to the medical facility at Kuje Correctional facility.

After listening to submissions of the prosecutor and defence counsels on bail application as well as the examination of the medical report which presupposed that the defendant is suffering from mental disorder, the magistrate noted that the defendant is of unsound mind and consequently is not fit for trial.

The magistrate said: “Having equally found that the defendant need urgent further treatment and having released the medical observation report is not too conclusive on the peculiar mental challenge of the defendant and in the interest of justice the appropriate thing for the court to do is to further subject the defendant to further medical care at the expense of the federal government.

“Thus, I hereby refer the defendant back to the medical facility at Kuje Correctional Center for further urgent medical treatment for a period of two months at the expense of federal government of Nigeria pursuant to the provision of Section 278(4).”

“The control of the corrections (medicals) is at liberty to engage experts from other medical facilities within the FCT. However, if the mental soundness of the defendant appropriates during this period and before the expiration of the period, the medical officer shall file a report forthwith to enable the court proceed with trial including delivering its ruling on the the defendant’s bail application,” Magistrate Abdulazeez Ismail Muhammad said.

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FG Introduces Proof Of Ownership Fee For Vehicles

The Federal Government has started the issuance of Proof of Ownership Certificate (POC) for all categories of registered vehicles nationwide.

 

Unveiling the new policy at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Lagos, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation Engr AbdulHafiz Toriola said the certificate which will come into force in the State in July ,would be part of requirements to be renewed annually.


What that means is that it is now mandatory that all vehicle owners, obtain as a matter of policy, the Proof of Ownership Certificate annually, unlike what hitherto obtains when you only obtain proof of ownership of vehicle when you purchase a used vehicle or changed the engine of your vehicle.


He said: “This certificate upon successful completion of the necessary requirements and procedures, will serve as part of official documentation of a vehicle’s legal owners.”

Toriola explained that the POC which would affect all classes of vehicles from motorcycle, to tricycle, to mini vehicles, saloon cars, all classes of trucks, articulated vehicles and such likes that coveys people or products from one point to the other.

Toriola said it will contain vital information including the vehicle’s registration details, such as, licence number plate, model, year of manufacture in addition to owner’s name and address.


​According to him, all States of the Federation are expected to begin the implementation of the new policy, and each vehicle owner is expected to pay a minimum of N1,000 to procure the document.

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Eid-el-Kabir: REDAN felicitates with Muslims, seeks ascent to RECON bill

The President, the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Dr Aliyu Wamakko, has felicitated with Muslims on the occasion of this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

In a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja, Wamakko admonished Muslims to use the occasion to pray for a secure and better Nigeria.

He also stressed the need to pray for national peace, economic development as well as the safe return of Nigerians who are on a pilgrimage to Mecca.

According to him, the task of repositioning Nigeria for greatness required the prayers and support of everyone irrespective of religion, tribe or political differences.

The President of REDAN used the opportunity to reiterate the commitment of the association towards quality housing delivery as a way of reducing the housing deficit in the country.

He noted that REDAN was already partnering with other relevant organizations within and outside the country on the need to ensure affordable and accessible accommodation for every segment of Nigerians nationwide.

He, therefore, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ascent the Bill for an Act to establish the Real Estate Regulatory Council of Nigeria (RECON), stressing that bill, when signed into law, will enhance professionalism in the real estate business, reduce building collapses as well as address problem of housing deficit in the country.

The President of REDAN also advised state and local governments to put in place, policies and programmes that would assist their people in owning their houses and as such will improve their living conditions.

He restated the commitment of the association towards complimenting the efforts of government at all levels in ensuring quality and affordable housing for the citizens.

[Guardian]

 
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We Will Ensure Quick Access To Single Digit Loans For Small Businesses— Shettima

With the ripple impact of the fuel subsidy removal and floating of the naira on businesses, President Bola Tinubu is planning a loan scheme that will allow Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises access loans at a single-digit interest rate.

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima made the disclosure on Tuesday in his World MSMEs Day speech, seen by THE WHISTLER.

Shortly after the fuel subsidy was officially removed, prices of fuel jumped to an average of N537 per litre, while the naira is trading over N760 for a dollar after the floating of the naira.

KPMG predicts that inflation will jump to 30 per cent from 22.41 per cent in the coming months due to the new policies initiated by the administration.

Shettima said, “The government of President Tinubu recognises the vital role that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play in driving economic growth, creating jobs, and promoting innovation.

“We urge all stakeholders to come together to champion the growth and success of MSMEs to achieve sustainable development for all, while we also recognize the plethora of issues that face MSMEs as a result of the subsidy removal, however, the government is working urgently to ensure quick access to single digit loans for Nigerian small businesses within the shortest time possible.”


The prime lending rate which is for secured credit-worthy customers rose to 14.07 per cent in May from 14.05 per cent in April.

The maximum Lending Rate which is charged to customers with low credit ratings settled at 28.31 per cent in May.

The lending rate rose on the multiple increases of the Monetary Policy Rate by the Central Bank of Nigeria to 18.5 per cent under the last meeting chaired by suspended CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

“We remain committed to providing support, fostering an enabling environment, and improving access to finance for MSMEs, especially in these unprecedented times,” Shettima added.

President Tinubu has criticised Emefiele’s monetary policy saying it needs “through housecleaning.”

“Interest rates need to come down, currently too high, anti-people, anti-business – we have to work on all of those,” Tinubu had said.

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Egbetokun orders withdrawal of police personnel from VIPs

The acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Olukayode Egbetokun has ordered the withdrawal of the Police Mobile Force, PMF on VIP escort and guard duties.

Egbetokun gave the directive in Abuja during a conference with police tactical commanders on Monday.

Speaking at the conference, the IGP explained that the force will conduct an assessment of all the duties of the mobile police to ensure effective utilisation.

 

He said a special committee headed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, has been created to evaluate strategies and ensure enforcement.

“Specifically, we shall effect the withdrawal of PMF personnel from VIP escort and guard duties,” Egbetokun stated.

In his explanation, the IGP noted that while the protection of dignitaries remains paramount, it is also imperative that priorities are realigned to address the escalating security challenges faced by Nigeria as a whole, ”by relieving the PMF of VIP escort and guard duties and redirect their focus toward addressing critical security concerns affecting our nation.”

[DailyPost]

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Diri Has Done Enough to Get Second Term, Says Aide

Director, New Media of the Bayelsa State Government, Dr. Kola Oredipe, yesterday asserted that Governor Douye Diri has done much to earn a second term in office.

He made the declaration at a parley with members of the Federated Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Bayelsa State Council in Yenagoa.

Oredipe emphasised that within the last three years in office, the governor had embarked on key projects and infrastructure such as roads,  education, security and welfare of civil servants and pensioners.

He stated that with over 85  per cent in performance so far, Governor Diri is poised for victory and get a second term in the November 11, 2023 gubernatorial electios in the State.

“I can tell you that if election is conducted today, Governor Douye Diri will win in all the eight local government areas of Bayelsa State regardless of where the other candidates come from. The project Bayelsa is very key to him and he feels very strongly about it.” 

“He restored peace and order to the State on assumption of office. Infrastructure wise, roads, education, sports, empowerment and different skills acquisition programmes, he has done so much in all these areas. Wherever you go, everybody is singing Governor Douye Diri for second term. Having been a public servant, a teacher,a private businessman and rich experience in politics: Commissioner, Deputy Chief of Staff, Principal Executive Secretary, House of Reps member and Senator and now Governor, it’s not surprising that he has been able to achieve a lot,”  Oredipe said.

He pointed out that with accomplishments in critical projects such as the Nembe Unity Bridge, Elebele Bridge, Imiringi Bridge, and ongoing construction works on the Nembe-Brass Road, the Yenagoa-Oporoma road as well as accreditation for the Bayelsa State College of Education, Sagbama and the Niger Delta University, the Governor has fast tracked the development of the State.

 Oredipe said with the prevailing peace across the state more investments were underway to access the Blue Economy through the Ocean via the three senatorial roads which will give access to the sea.

Responding to questions from the correspondents,  he  said Governor Diri had directed the redesign, reconstruction and rehabilitation of some internal roads with drainages as works would soon commence on such roads such as Okaka, PDP and others.

On the issue of perennial flood disaster in the State, he said the governor had created a Directorate of Flood and Erosion Control to prepare adequate response in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment to open up blocked drains, canals and water channels. He explained that the administration had committed funds to address the erosion threat at Obogoro community in Yenagoa Local Government Area.

On Tourism, he stated that the governor was considering constructing a new recreational centre in Yenagoa to enable revelers and fun seekers have a place to relax, positing that there was thriving nightlife in the Bayelsa State capital.

On the report by the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission which was released recently in London,  Oredipe commended the immediate past Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson for initiating the idea of the commission to stop the environmental genocide in the state. He said the report of the commission highlighted that Bayelsa State is the most polluted area in the world due to the negligence of the multinational oil companies. He stated that the findings of the Commission were shocking as the State experience a spill every 12 hours for the 14 years it covered, accounting for 25  per cent of oil spills in Nigeria between 2006 and 2022 which is 3508 out of 13,251 spills, urging the oil companies to clean up the polluted sites.

[ThisDay]

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