Sixteen state governors have submitted reports expressing their supports for establishing state police to the National Economic Council.

They also recommended changes to the constitution to allow for the creation of state police.

The reports were amongst documentations received at the 140th NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja on Thursday.

Special Adviser to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed Thursday titled, ‘NEC endorses take-off of $617M i-DICE programme across states.’

According to the statement, NEC is still awaiting reports from 20 states. It expressed confidence that others would support.

NEC was established by the provisions of section 153(1) and Paragraphs 18 & 19 of part I of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Its membership comprises the 36 state governors, the Governor of the Central Bank and other co-opted government officials.

Chaired by the Vice President, NEC meets monthly to execute its mandate of “advising the President concerning the economic affairs of the Federation, and in particular on measures necessary for the coordination of the economic planning efforts or economic programmes of the various Governments of the Federation.”

Disclosing discussions at Thursday’s NEC, the Vice-President’s spokesman, Nkwocha said, the “Secretary to NEC (Mr Nebeolisa Anako) made a presentation on submissions by states on the state policing initiative. Reports have been received by 16 states on the establishment of State police. 20 states have yet to send in report. All states across the country expressed their support for the establishment of state police for the following reasons.

“States made presentations in support of the creation of state police. States recommended changes in the constitution and the current policing structure to enable the operationalisation of the initiative.”

However, no details were given about the specific states. The Vice President’s spokesperson had affirmed that the total number would be presented at the next NEC meeting even as “the compilation is still going on”.

This comes weeks after the Federal and state governments, on February 16, 2024, resolved to develop modalities to create state police to tackle the country’s security crisis.

Abduction wave

The nation has been wracked by waves of abductions, attacks by suspected bandits and other violent crimes, reviving calls for the establishment of a multi-level policing system, including state police.

Bandits have in recent times 495 persons in Kaduna, Sokoto and Borno states.

On March 7, over 280 pupils and teachers of Government Secondary School and LEA primary School at Kuriga, Kaduna State, were kidnaped.

The terrorists reportedly invaded Kuriga in Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna, shooting at their targets before whisking away the pupils and teachers from both schools.

A day earlier, the United Nations confirmed the abduction of at least 200 internally displaced persons from their camp in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State.

The UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, in a statement said the abductees, including women, boys and girls, were captured while fetching firewood. Fall added that the terrorists released some older women and children below 10 years.

On March 9, bandits reportedly kidnapped no fewer than 15 Tsangaya students at Gidan Bakuso area of Gada Local Government Area in Sokoto State.

On March. 14, at least 17 Nigerian soldiers were killed while on a peace-keeping mission to douse clashes between Okuoma and Okoloba communities in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

On February 20, bandits kidnapped over 26 travellers along the Gusau-Sokoto highway. They were said to have blocked the road around Kwaren Kirya village under Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State and abducted travellers from a Toyota 18-seater bus and a Volkswagen golf vehicle.

At President Tinubu’s meeting with the governors last February, the Federal Government and states agreed to recruit a yet-to-be-disclosed number of forest rangers and invest in more training to “keep our forests and our borders safe,” said the Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, when he briefed State House Correspondents after a meeting between Tinubu and the 36 state governors.

“The Federal Government and the state governments are mulling the possibility of setting up state police,” said Idris, adding that “this is still going to be further discussed.”

He explained, “A lot of work must be done in that direction. But if our government and the state governments agree to the necessity of having state police, this is a significant shift.”

“Like I said, more work needs to be done in that direction. A lot of meetings will have to happen between the federal government and subnationals to see the modalities of achieving this,” Idris noted.

On February 20, 2024, a bill proposing the creation of state police successfully passed the second reading at the House of Representatives.

The legislation titled, ‘A bill for an Act to alter the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to provide for the establishment of State Police and related matters,’ was slated for a second reading before the end of this week.

Backed by 13 House members, the bill gained the majority’s favour in the Green Chamber, with many lawmakers arguing that the security challenges take preeminence over concerns about political victimisation by state governors.

Meanwhile, the Presidency has said although President Bola Tinubu has given his nod for the creation of state police outfits and forest guards, Governors would ultimately determine the success of both moves.

It also said it expects the re-opening of the Nigeria-Niger border to fight the illegal influx of arms roaming the Sahel from the conflict in Libya.

Speaking exclusively with our correspondent on the issue, a presidency official who did not want to be named said, “The President told the state governors to discuss it further at the state level. A committee was set up for that. We have not heard from the committee yet. Don’t also forget that simultaneously, the national assembly is considering inserting state policing in the constitution. So, there is a consensus around state policing.

“As for the forest guards, work is going on with it. There are existing forest guards in several states, but they are under the states’ ministries of agriculture. The goal now is to strengthen their capacity by arming them properly and recruiting more people.

“Still, it all falls in the hands of states to strengthen the forest guards. That is where we are now.”

Another Presidency official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the opening of the Nigeria-Niger border was part of efforts to stall the proliferation of the small arms and light weapons non-state actors use for their enterprise.

“What I know is this: some people have linked our security problems to the situation in Libya. The Libya conflict has led to the flow of arms to Nigeria. We share a long border with Niger. And many arms are flowing into the country.

“Our borders with our Sahelian neighbours are largely ungoverned. So, there are many arms in the hands of this bandit.

“We had to make peace with Niger because of this. It was an attempt to appease Niger. We share the same border. If we are not at peace with them, they may ignore the arms flowing in. Even the food shortage we are talking about, many goods come from Niger to Nigeria. We exacerbated things when we shut the border,” the official said.

In a similar development, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, in a communique its issued at the conclusion of its virtual meeting, and signed by its Chairman, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, dated Wednesday and made available to the press on Thursday, emphasised the importance of incorporating State policing as a crucial amendment in the ongoing 1999 Constitutional Amendment process to address a fundamental flaw in the national security framework.

The communique read in part “The Forum commiserated with the Governor of Delta State, H.E Sheriff Oborevwori, over the communal clash between Okuama in the Ughelli South Local Government Area and Okolaba in the Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, and which led to the death of many including 16 military personnel. While condemning the heinous act, members observed a minute of silence for the souls of the departed.

“Members reviewed the progress of the National Minimum Wage Committee and ongoing multi- stakeholder engagements towards agreeing on a fair minimum wage.

“Members urged the NMWC to consider the current realities, individual State peculiarities and consequential impact on the capacity of the government as well as private sector employers to pay. Members also emphasized the need for proposals to be data- driven and evidence-based.

“The Forum highlighted the need for State policing as a critical amendment in the ongoing 1999 Constitutional Amendment proceedings to correct a fundamental flaw in the national security architecture.”

The debate for creating state police in Nigeria primarily stems from the centralised nature of the Nigerian Police Force, which many security pundits perceive as inadequate for addressing the unique security challenges across the country’s diverse regions.

Proponents argue that the outfit would bring law enforcement closer to the communities they serve, enhance the effectiveness of policing, and allow for more localised control over security matters.

However, opponents fear that state police could lead to the abuse of power, particularly in states with strong political control, potentially exacerbating regional tensions and undermining national unity.

Says attack on party HQ act of lawlessness

Abure, a pathological liar—NLC’s Political Commission

The National Chairman of Labour Party, Comrade Julious Abure, has accused the Joe Ajaero-led Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and those they led to besiege the party’s national secretariat of stealing funds meant for payment of staff salaries, among other valuables during Wednesday’s attack.

Abure, who spoke for the first time since the picketing of the party’s secretariat, described the action of the labour leaders as a shame and act of rascality. In a statement signed on his behalf by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, in Abuja, yesterday, Abure said, “What we saw was a show of shame, a show of rascality, an abuse of office and an abuse of the law of the land.

“Nigeria Labour Congress is subject to the law. NLC under Joe Ajaero is not above the law and the law precludes Ajaero and the leadership of NLC to take laws into their hands, where they besieged the office, broke the fence, destroyed the gates, unlawfully took possession of the secretariat and destroyed properties worth millions of naira.

“Properties stolen, including monies, made for the payment of salaries and other official purposes. This is unfortunate. It is becoming unbecoming.

“I must state today that the leadership of NLC under Joe Ajaero is on the path of destroying the successes we recorded in the 2023 general election.”

Abure, a pathological liar—NLC’s Political Commission

Reacting to Abure’s allegation, Acting Chairman of NLC’s Political Commission, Professor Theophilus Udubuaku, among others , said, “Abure should be reminded, since he is now suffering from selective amnesia that it took the picketing by Ajaero-led NLC to drive Lamidi Apapa away from the LP headquarters before he moved in.

“Talking about lies, it speaks much about who Abure really is when he claims that billions of naira were stolen when the picketing was conducted in the presence of scores of policemen, DSS officers and pressmen. These lies alone define Abure as a man who is grossly irresponsible.”

“We would like the Nigerian media to appreciate the fact that NLC is not interested in a media war with a man who thinks he can successfully transform himself into a sole administrator of LP.

“The press is expected to do its duty and fact-check the comments from Abure and his men and call them out as liars.

Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba, Gani Adams, yesterday, backed calls for the country to return to a parliamentary system of government, insisting that the presidential system is too expensive and it breeds corruption across all sectors of government.

Adams, who is the Chief Promoter of the Olokun Festival Foundation, OFF, also lamented the country’s security challenges, saying bandits and kidnappers are on the prowl daily.

Addressing newsmen at the 12th edition of the Eledumare Festival in Lagos, Adams, represented by Asoju Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Yinka Oguntimehin, said the country’s present structure cannot take it anywhere.

His words: “As we celebrate the Eledumare festival, I also make a case for a complete overhaul of the structure of this country. I make a case for a parliamentary system of government, where the region will be allowed to function and prosper accordingly. Today in Nigeria, the country is faced with various challenges including economic, political and structural. The security challenges are also very alarming. Just last week about 16 soldiers of the Nigerian Army were murdered in Delta State. Bandits and kidnappers are daily on the prowl. The situation is becoming very unbearable.

“As far as I am concerned, I know for a fact that the present structure cannot help us in fulfilling the dreams of the country. The current system is very expensive, and it breeds corruption across all sectors of the government. So, I hope that if Nigeria is restructured along regional lines, we will be able to secure the future of our country and set a new path for a prosperous nation.

“Going forward, I hope that in the coming years, the Eledumare festival and all other festivals we celebrate annually will continue to attract more prospects in the future. Apart from the spiritual blessing expected by celebrating the Eledumare festival, I also believe that this festival will provide special grace, rewards and better opportunities for all our members to seek the face of the highest God.

The Black Princess of Ghana have been crowned champions of the women’s football tournament at the 13th African Games holding in Accra.

At the end of 120 minutes of football, the Black Princesses edged the Falconets 2-1.

Loveth Edeh had put the Falconets in the lead in the 21st minute.

With 12 minutes left on the clock, Ghana got a leveler through Tracy Twum.

Mukarama Abdullai, in the 99th minute of extra-time, popped up to score the winner as her low shot on the edge of the box beat the Falconets keeper.

The loss means the Falconets relinquished their reign as African Games champions.

The Court of Appeal has ordered the police authorities to pay a cumulative sum of N80 million to the Shi’ites, followers of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H), for attacking them while on religious procession on August 19, 2021, in the state.

The three-member panel of Justices of the Sokoto Division of the court, in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, held that the appeal succeeded and hereby allowed

The court faulted the judgment of the trial court delivered on May 17, 2022 and agreed with the submission of the appellants’ counsel, led by Chief M.D. Abubakar that the trial judge, in his judgment, rather than relying on uncontroverted facts in the appellants’ various affidavits, opted unjustifiably to form opinions, raised doubts and went on to resolve them against the appellants in an action for enforcement of fundamental rights involving lives.

Members of the Shiites had, on August 19, 2021, embarked on the Ashura procession to commemorate the killing of Imam Hussaini bn Ali bn Abi Talib (AS), the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).

While the procession was about to end, the officers of the Nigerian Police were alleged to have attacked the procession around the Mabera area of Sokoto, Sokoto State.

Four mourners were said to have been killed and numerous others were injured in the incident.

The Shiites alleged that Hassan Abubakar, Imrana Umar, Bello Muhammad and Haidar Musa Bodinga were among those who were killed by the police.

After the incident, a fundamental rights suit was instituted before Justice James Omotosho at Federal High Court, Sokoto division where the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police in the state were sued as 1st amd 2nd defendants.

However, Justice Omotosho delivered a judgement in favour of the police.

Dissatisfied with the judgment, the appellants filed an appeal marked: CA/S/131/2022 on May 30, 2023.

The 10 appellants, who filed the appeal on behalf of the entire Shia Muslim Community in Sokoto, include Prof. Shehu Maigadi, Mal. Sidi Mannir Mainasara, Mal. Sa’adu Shehu, Abuzar Daniya, Mubarak Jega, Mustapha Shinkafi, Aliyu Abubakar Appel, Nazir Shehu, Mustapha Yusuf and Zayyanu Ladan.

In the judgement delivered on March 18, 2024, but its certified true copy made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja, the Appeal Court declared that the vicious attack by the police officers against the Ashura mourners in Sokoto City on August 19, 2021, that is, opening fire and shooting on Shiites sporadically, using live ammunition, resulting in the deaths of Hassan Abubakar, Imrana Umar Bello Muhammad, Haidar Musa Bodinga, and fatal wounds to Abuzar Yahaya Daniya and others, is deliberate, unwarranted, inhuman, unconscionable, and unlawful, and that the same violates Section 33 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.

The court, therefore, ordered the police to pay compensation of N10 million for each of the four mourners killed and also pay N2 million to each of the five mourners whose personal dignity was violated by the fatal bullet wounds inflicted on them by the police.

The appellate court also ordered police to pay the Shi’a Muslim community in Sokoto State the sum of N30 million for the degrading and inhuman treatment of firing live ammunition at them during the Ashura procession in Sokoto on August 19, 2021.

Other members of the panel of justices include Justice Muhammed Shu’aibu and Justice Ebiowei Tobi.

The Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, presided over by Justice Akintayo Aluko, has convicted and sentenced two men, Umar Muhammed and Ibrahim Musa to 12 months imprisonment for breaking into the Federal Government’s warehouse, located at the Nigerian Customs Service, Ikeja, Lagos.

Justice Aluko slammed the jail terms after the prosecutor, Mr Michael Osong, reviewed the facts of the charge against them.

It would be recalled that the duo were arraigned before Justice Aluko on March 14, on the charge bordering on unlawful access to the warehouse and wilful destruction of seized vehicles parked in the warehouse.

While the suspects were being arraigned, Osong hinted to the judge that the convicts illegally entered the warehouse between December 2023 and January 2024.

The prosecutor informed the court that the convicts, after entering the warehouse, unlawfully destroyed some seized vehicles packed in the warehouse, and as well destroyed some cables and wires in the warehouse.

The lawyer told Justice Aluko that the offence contravened Section 133(1) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and was punishable under the same Section of the same Act.

The duo pleaded guilty to the charge, prompting Justice Aluko to adjourn for a review of facts and sentencing.

During the resumption of the review of facts on Thursday, Osong called a witness, Usman Maigari, an Assistant Superintendent of Customs (ASC) attached to the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Ikeja, Lagos.

In his testimony, Maigari hinted to the court as to how the convicts illegally entered the warehouse and burgled the place.

The witness further tendered the convicts’ confessional statements, parts of the vehicles, the cables, and wires vandalized by the convicts, which were admitted as exhibits by the court.

Osong urged the court to sentence the duo based on their plea, exhibits tendered, and in accordance with the Sections of the Acts they were charged with.

But the convict’s counsel, Mr Henry Orarotimi, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing the convict, adding that the convicts are first-time offenders without any record of previous conviction.

Orarotimi particularly urged Justice Aluko to grant them a fine option or non-custodial sentence in lieu of the jail term.

In his judgment, Justice Aluko sentenced the convicts to 12 months imprisonment on each of the counts but held that the sentences should run concurrently.

The judge equally directed the convicts to pay the sum of N100,000.00 each in lieu of the jail term.

The charge reads: “That you, Umar Muhammad, Male, Adult of Garbula, Biu Local Government Area of Borno State and Ibrahim Musa, Male, Adult of Ijebu Mushin in Ogun State, between December 2023 and January 2024 in the Nigeria Customs Service Government warehouse, Ikeja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria did obtain access to the Nigeria Customs Service Government warehouse, Ikeja without lawful authority and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 133(1) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and punishable under the same Section of the same Act.

“That you, Umar Muhammad, Male, Adult of Garbula, Biu Local Government Area, Bornu State and Ibrahim Musa, Male, Adult of Ijebu Mushin in Ogun State between December 2023 and January 2024 in the Nigeria Customs Service Government Warehouse in the Nigeria Customs Service Government warehouse, Ikeja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria did willfully destroy seized vehicles parked in the Government warehouse and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 133(3) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and punishable under the same Section of the same Act.”

Former Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has damned the consequences of meeting with officials of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who is a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was seen in a viral video on social media paying a consultation visit to the national chairman of the SDP, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam.

The party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, had earlier visited El-Rufai at his Abuja residence.

Later, the SDP National Working Committee (NWC) officials received El-Rufai at the party’s secretariat.

During the visit, Gabam reportedly noted El-Rufai’s rich and remarkable political pedigree, saying he is a friend and respected national figure.

“This is a welcome development that concerned Nigerians are cross-fertilizing ideas on how to salvage the nation’s present unpleasant socio-economic challenges of the times. The prevailing circumstance calls for bi-partisan and robust collaborations that transcend ethnic and religious lines to address the nation’s woes and find sustainable ways to redeem the situation,” Gabam was quoted to have said at the meeting.

He also said to achieve the needed transformation in the country, Nigerians need a leader like El-Rufai whom he said has a high political pedigree.

However, in one of the videos of the visit, someone was heard at the background telling the photographer not to upload the photos and video on X, but El-Rufai responded, saying, “Let them upload it; I don’t care.”

The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was on his way to securing a ministerial appointment in the government of President Bola Tinubu but he was dropped in the dying minute.

Although Tinubu nominated him and he was screened by the senate, the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly failed to confirm him, citing a security report.

Subsequently, the former minister went abroad and literarily withdrew from politics.

However, he returned to the country and continued his life quietly.

Wednesday’s visit to SDP has sparked rumours on El-Rufai’s interest in contesting the 2027 presidency against Tinubu.

‘El-Rufai not running against Tinubu’

But Muyiwa Adekeye, the former governor’s media aide, has denied that his principal is gearing to square up with Tinubu.

In a statement posted on X, Adekeye said, “I consider the most recent speculations about Malam Nasir @elrufai as reflecting an unhealthy obsession with politics. People have personal histories and relationships that predate political affiliations. It cannot be a hallmark of civilisation to have friends from within only your political party. When people visit each other or mingle across party lines, it is because human relationships exist, distinct from the political or the partisan.”

“Malam Nasir @elrufai is a senior member of the APC, one of the signatories to its merger documents, and a significant contributor to the party’s demonstrated viability. These contributions do not require that he treats friends as anathema on account of politics or maintains an antiseptic distance from them.

“Malam Nasir @elrufai hosted some friends to Iftar on Tuesday, 19 March 2024. NSA Nuhu Ribadu was at the Iftar with a senior APC figure like Alh. Kashim Imam. SDP National Chairman Shehu Musa Gabam was among the friends who partook in the Iftar. Gabam was not accused of considering crossing over to the APC on account of that.

“When Malam Nasir @elrufai visited Gabam the next day, he was merely returning a visit to a friend who happens to be SDP chairman. Malam El-Rufai is known for being open and forthright. If he had any political decisions to make, it would not be in character to let them be subject to speculation.

“”Unfounded speculations about Malam Nasir @elrufai have become an industry that has delivered tons of lies and clickbaits in the last 18 years. This is unlikely to abate anytime soon, given the persistent obsession of its purveyors who relish in negativity and their tireless indulgence in conflating assumption with fact. A recent instance was when he visited former presidents late in 2023 to explain his Nigerian governance study book project covering each of their tenures, the speculators said it was about politics! That is why it is sometimes necessary to clarify matters lest the unwary be taken in.”

The National Peace Committee, led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, on Thursday, explained why it did not penalise candidates and political parties who flouted the peace accord entered into ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The NPC had come under criticism over its silence following reported skirmishes, intimidations, and alleged vote-buying activities, especially at the February 25 presidential election where the current President, Bola Tinubu, was declared the winner.

Reacting to the criticism, NPC’s Head of Secretariat and Executive Director of The Kukah Centre, Revd Fr Atta Barkindo explained that the national peace committee does not have the constitutional power to arrest or prosecute any politician.

Addressing newsmen at the public presentation of preliminary evaluation report on support to the NPC through The Kukah Centre on Wednesday, Barkindo said it was the responsibility of the police and other security agencies constituted by law to go after violators of the peace accord.

He said, “What people don’t understand is that the NPC as a peace committee doesn’t have a constitutional power to arrest or prosecute anybody.

“All the agencies constituted by law are available to do all that. What we are adding is a moral intervention where these institutions have failed. So what we do is once we sign an accord and it is violated, there are institutions we hand them (erring politicians) over to.

“Even without the NPC handing them over, people can clearly see what is happening. Let the police and those who are constituted by law get up and do their job.

“We are simply adding value, and I don’t want people to place too much expectation on the National Peace Committee to go beyond its mandate. But beyond the signing of the peace accord, when you assemble presidential candidates two days to an election and they are all over the media, they can actually publicly recommit themselves to the process.

“For me, that is adding value to the entire electoral costs and that is what we bring to the table because it helps to douse the tension, reduce the level of bitterness and helps citizens to hold these people to account especially, when they publicly declare that they will accept the outcome of the vote as long as it is free, fair and credible.

“And to be honest, people are abiding by the terms of the accord because at the end of the day, when the results were announced, there was no widespread violence. People went to court, and that was what the accord said.

“If you’re aggrieved, go to court. Some people were aggrieved, and they actually went to court. So as far as we are concerned, the terms of the accord have been really complied with. The rest of the issues of violence, there are agencies constituted by law to address that. I think they should just get up and do their job.”

The cross-examination of a deputy director from the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mr Yakubu Abisogun, in the trial of the Principal and some staff members of Chrisland School Opebi, over the death of Whitney Adeniran, a 12-year-old student of the school, continued on Thursday before Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the State High Court, Ikeja.

While answering questions under cross-examination, from one of the defence counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olukayode Enitan, the witness testified that Agege Stadium where Chrisland School held its inter-house sports competition was owned by the Lagos State Government.

The witness also admitted that the stadium as rented out to the school lacked emergency facilities in case of any accident or emergency. According to him, “there was no need for it”.

On the 9th of February, 2023, Chrisland School, Opebi, Lagos, organized an Inter-house Sports at the Agege Sports Stadium for its students and during the Inter-house Sports, one of the students, Whitney Omodesola Adeniran, aged 12 years was said to have been electrocuted. A doctor who examined her shortly after she was rushed to a nearby hospital, said she was brought in dead.

Through the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, the Lagos State Government filed a criminal charge against the school, the principal and other defendants, disclosing that they all negligently killed Whitney Adeniran by not ensuring her safety.

At the resumed hearing of the case, the third prosecution witness, Mr Abisogun continued his testimony.

The witness was asked if it was part of the work of the Sports Commission to establish and make sure that there are proper medical facilities to treat emergencies, and he responded, “No.”

He was also asked to read an Official Gazette of Lagos State No 9 volume 50 which was admitted as exhibit. He said the Sports Commission was created by the law of Lagos State, and added that law No. 4 states the function of the commission to include that it shall establish and maintain clean fields and premises for holding sports competitions, matches etc.

He also confirmed that the stadium is covered by an executive order that’s contained in the Safeguard Policy of the Lagos State Government, as a recreation centre but maintained that he was not aware that people paid money for usage of the stadium.

After his evidence, Justice Ogala adjourned further cross-examination of the witness to April 18, 2024.

The Federation Account Allocation Committee shared N1.152.trn to the three tiers of government for February 2024 from a gross total of N2,326.14trn.

This was revealed in a statement signed by its Director, Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Manga, after its February 2024 meeting chaired by the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, on Thursday.

FAAC is responsible for reviewing and adopting the allocation of funds to states and the Federal Government.

Every month, the committee distributes revenue to all 36 states and 774 local governments in Nigeria.

This funding is expected to fuel development and assist governments at different levels in fulfilling their responsibilities

From the stated amount inclusive of Gross Statutory Revenue, Value Added Tax Electronic Money Transfer Levy and Exchange Difference, the Federal Government received N352.40bn, the states received N366.95bn, the local government areas got N267.15bn, while the oil-producing states received N166.24bn as derivation, (13 per cent of mineral revenue).

The statement added that N66.45bn was given for the cost of collection, N856.93bn was allocated for transfer intervention and refunds, and N250bn was saved.

The document showed the total revenue distribution for the month.was drawn from Statutory Revenue of N101.34bn VAT of N428.80bn, N15.15bn from EMTL, and N607.44bn from Exchange Difference, bringing the total distributable amount for the month to N1,152.75trn.

The communique issued by the FAAC at the end of the meeting indicated that the Gross Revenue available from the VAT for February 2024 was N460.48bn, which was an increase from the N420.73bn distributed in the preceding month, increasing to N39.75bn.

From that amount, N18.42bn was allocated for the cost of collection and N13.26bn was given for transfers, intervention and refunds.

The remaining N428.80bn was distributed to the three tiers of government, of which the Federal Government got N64.32bn, the states received N214.40bn, and local government councils got N150.08bn.

Accordingly, the Gross Statutory Revenue of N1,192.42bn received in the month was higher than the sum of N1,151.80bn received in the previous month of January 2024 N40.62bn. From that amount, the sum of N47.40bn was allocated for the cost of collection, a total sum of N843.67bn for Transfers, Intervention and Refunds and a total of N200bn saved.

From the remaining balance of N101.34bn, FG got the sum of N7.35bn, States received N3.72bn, while the sum of N87.39bn was allocated to LGCs as Derivation (13 per cent Mineral Revenue).

Also, the sum of N15.78bn from EMTL was shared and the FG received N2.27bn, States got N7.57bn, LGCs received N5.30bn, while N0.63bn was allocated for Cost of Collection.

The statement also disclosed that from the sum of N657.44bn from Exchange Difference, the FG received N278.46bn, States got N141.24bn, while the sum of N108.89bn was allocated to Local Government Councils, N78.85bn was given for Derivation (13 per cent of Mineral Revenue) and the total of N50bn was saved.

It also revealed that Petroleum Profit Tax Value Added Tax, Import Duty, Excise Duty and Customs External Tariff levies increased significantly, while Oil and Gas Royalties increased marginally. Electronic Money Transfer Levy and Companies Income Tax recorded considerable decreases.

In his opening remarks at the meeting, Edu said, “On the fiscal side, there is a move to raise the forex trading.”

He informed the gathering that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, in its determination to achieve and ensure rapid and sustained economic growth in the country, has commenced the intervention programme which is a direct payment to about 15 – to 17m poorest and vulnerable Nigerians, after carefully making sure that the system is fraud-free, using the Biometric Registration and Digital Registering.

He explained that “there is an increase in revenue, and we are commending the revenue-generating agencies for their hard work.”