AFOLABI
FG spent N14bn on 16 foreign missions without envoys — Report
Amid prolonged delays in the appointment of ambassadors to oversee Nigeria’s diplomatic missions, the Federal Government disbursed an approximate sum of N14bn to no fewer than 16 foreign missions in July 2024, findings by Saturday PUNCH have revealed.
Nigeria has 109 missions: 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates globally.
Recall that on September 2, 2023, President Bola Tinubu recalled all career and non-career ambassadors operating the country’s diplomatic missions, embassies, and consulates globally.
The envoys, which include 41 non-career ambassadors and 42 career ambassadors, were directed to return to the country on or before October 31 by Tinubu, having been appointed by the President’s predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, in July 2020.
Since last year, the lack of appointed ambassadors has continued to elicit public concerns over the country’s diplomatic representation and the effectiveness of its foreign missions.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, attributed the delay in the envoys’ appointments to financial and economic challenges being faced by the current administration.
Tuggar, who disclosed this during a ministerial sectoral briefing in Abuja in May, said the ministry had not been receiving the necessary funding to operate effectively.
“The whole idea was to stop subsidising consumption and focus on subsidising production. However, the government has faced various other challenges. When the microeconomic reforms began showing benefits, platforms like Binance and the rise of crypto currencies began undermining those gains,” Tuggar stated.
He noted that it was pointless to appoint ambassadors without the financial resources to support their travel and the effective running of missions abroad.
However, checks by our correspondent using GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks and analyses the Federal Government’s spending, showed that the government disbursed the sum of N13.7bn for the personnel costs of 16 foreign missions.
The overseas missions are those located in The Hague (Netherlands), Tokyo (Japan), Vienna (Austria), Washington (United States), Berlin (Germany), Brasilia (Brazil), Brussels (Belgium), Paris (France), Beijing (China), Geneva (Switzerland), Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), London (United Kingdom), Madrid (Spain), Moscow (Russia), New York (USA), and Ottawa (Canada).
The funds were wired through the FGN Treasury (TSA Settlement Centre) on Friday, July 19, and Monday, July 29, 2024.
On the last day, The Hague received N504,071,400, Tokyo N761,253,100, Vienna N505,361,900, Washington N1,115,260,900, Berlin N813,678,400, Brasilia N564,693,300, Brussels N593,438,800, UNESCO Paris N545,086,850, Beijing N657,566,000, Geneva N830,278,500, and Jeddah N527,993,000.
Others include London N1,233,706,800, Madrid N803,821,400, Moscow N516,013,500, New York (CG) N915,844,500, New York (PM) N1,523,174,400, Ottawa N631,663,800, and Paris N611,712,300, while New York (PM) also received N576,147,689 on the first day.
Speaking to Saturday PUNCH, a former Nigerian ambassador to Singapore, Ogbole Ode, said even though paucity of funds had hindered the appointment of the envoys, the heads of missions at the consulate level had been deployed.
He noted that in the Foreign Service accounting system, there were different subheads, one of which were for personnel, adding that the free fall of the Nigerian currency often increased the naira value of the funds the government disbursed to the overseas missions.
Seven suspects arrested over killing of Kwara female student
The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, says the command has arrested seven suspects involved in the alleged murder of a graduate of the Kwara State College of Health Technology, Mojisola Awesu.
Mojisola, 21, who was invited to Ilorin, the state capital, by a dismissed student of Summit University, Offa, Adebayo Happiness, to act as his girlfriend at a party for a fee of N15,000, was allegedly murdered in a hotel where she was lodged on Friday, August 9, 2024.
During the parade of some suspects at the police headquarters in Ilorin on Friday, Olaiya said seven suspects had been arrested in connection with the alleged murder.
The police boss said, “Those arrested included the prime suspect, Adebayo Happiness, his parents, Pastor Adebayo Adeniyi and his wife, Mrs Bukola Adeniyi; Miss Kolawola Timileyin who linked the deceased with the prime suspect as well as three workers of the hotel where she was lodged and gruesomely killed.
“The hotel workers arrested included Adeoye Adeola, Lawal Amina and Bulus Peter.”
According to the police boss, after the murder was committed, the suspect “returned to Offa and concealed the stolen phone in his hostel wardrobe. Through careful and discreet investigation, Mr and Mrs Adebayo Adeniyi, the suspect’s parents, were apprehended.
“Following their son’s arrest, they attempted to tamper with evidence by retrieving Adebayo Joshua Happiness’ belongings from his school. It was discovered that Mrs Adeniyi Bukola had removed the SIM card from the deceased’s iPhone and concealed it within a wall some distance from their residence.
“Contrary to Adebayo Joshua Happiness’ initial claim that he had discarded the phone into the Afelele River, Offa, both the iPhone and SIM card were recovered from his parents’ possession.
“After further investigation, it was discovered that the hotel staff on duty found the deceased’s body in the room and unlawfully disposed of her body at the refuse dump.”
The CP said that upon completion of the investigation, the suspects would be “duly charged to court to face the full extent of the law.
“We assure the public that the Kwara State Police Command remains committed to ensuring justice and maintaining peace and security within the community. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.”
Police arrest two for robbing sex workers in Lagos
The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended a gang of robbers for allegedly targeting and robbing three commercial sex workers on Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, Bode Thomas, Surulere Local Government Area of the state.
The state command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed on Friday that the two suspects, whose identities were not disclosed, were taken into custody on August 28, 2024, for their involvement in the crime.
PUNCH Online gathered that on August 23, 2024, around 4.30 pm, the suspects allegedly picked up the three sex workers from Adeniran Ogunsanya Street in Bode Thomas, seeking their services.
Pretending to drive the sex workers to a location where they falsely claimed to be staying, the suspects abruptly stopped the vehicle midway, leaving the victims in shock.
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After stopping the vehicle, the suspects allegedly robbed the sex workers of their valuables, including two iPhones worth N1.5m , a Redmi Note 12 valued at N140,000, and an iPhone XR valued at N240,000.
According to the police, the victims were coerced into transferring additional N25,000 and N8,000 to a single account provided by the suspects during the incident.
Hundeyin stated, “The victims reported recognising the suspects who had robbed them. They stated that they were picked up as commercial sex workers on Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, Bode Thomas. The suspects were arrested.
“During the investigation, the suspects confessed to the crime. One of the victims’ phones, a Redmi Note 13, a Toyota Camry (golden colour) with the number plate APP 335 JA, and two other blank plates used in their operations have been recovered.”
PUNCH Online reports that incidents involving robbers and sex workers are not uncommon in Lagos and Ogun States.
In 2018, operatives of the Rapid Response Team apprehended a gang of robbers who specialised in stealing from sex workers in Ogun State and selling the stolen items to other sex workers in Lagos.
Police arrest quack doctor in Bayelsa
Men from Zone 16 of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested a fake medical doctor, Doubara Esamasuode, operating without a licence in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
In a statement signed and released on Wednesday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Emonena Gunn, the arrest was described as “a display of unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring public safety.”
The statement noted that Esamasuode was operating under St. Maximilian Medical Centre, located at Winners Junction in the Etegwe area of Yenagoa. It added that his arrest was based on credible intelligence provided by the zone’s Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Paul Omata.
Items recovered during a search of the medical centre included injection syringes, drugs, hospital equipment, photographs of his fake convocation, hospital folders, and 200 copies of images of an ultrasound report.
The suspect confessed to “various offences, including being a fake medical doctor, operating an illegal medical facility, forgery, and impersonation.”
The AIG reiterated his personnel’s dedication to protecting the lives and property of citizens within his jurisdiction and the nation at large.
“This parade serves as a testament to the ongoing work being done to maintain law and order and instil a sense of security within our environment.”
The statement said the arrest “sends a clear message that criminal activities will not be tolerated,” adding that “the investigation is ongoing, and he will be charged to court in due course.”
The police have called on the public to continue cooperating with law enforcement agencies by providing timely information that can aid in the investigation and apprehension of criminal elements.
Police Bust Suspected Notorious Gun Runners, Armed Robbery Syndicate In Katsina
The Katsina State Police Command on Friday announced that it arrested three suspected notorious gun runners and recovered a large cache of live ammunition along Dutsinma town in the state.
Their arrest, according to the Command’s Spokesman, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, was part of the significant breakthrough in its fight against armed banditry and gunrunning.
The suspects are Ahmed Mohammed Kabir, 25, of Hayin Danmani quarters, Kaduna State; Mannir Musa, 25, of Dutsinma town, Dutsinma LGA and Aliyu Iliya, 25, of Dankauye village via Ummadau, Safana LGA, Katsina State.
They were apprehended on 29th August 2024, at about 1245 hours, while attempting to deliver seven hundred and forty (740) rounds of live 7.62mm ammunition to suspected armed bandits in Yauni forest, Ummadau village, Safana LGA of Katsina State, according to the police.
ASP Sadiq in a press briefing held at the Command Headquarters, Katsina, said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects received the ammunition from Nasarawa State to deliver to one Harisu, a suspected notorious armed bandits’ kingpin currently at large.
Noting that the trio has confessed to their involvement and implicated Harisu as the mastermind, the command said it is working tirelessly to apprehend more suspects and bring them to justice.
“This achievement demonstrates our commitment to combating armed banditry and gunrunning in Katsina State and beyond”, Sadiq added.
In a related development, the command said it has on the 27th August, 2024, arrested the trio of one Abubakar Ibrahim, m, age 35, of Dunawa village, Niger Republic; Abdullahi Nafi’u, m, age 35, Madalla quarters, Abuja, and Adam Musa, m, age 36, of Kano State, in connection with a suspected case of armed robbery at Baure LGA of Katsina State.
“The fact of the case is that on 3rd August, 2024, the command received a complaint that on the same date at about 0130 hrs, a three-man gang of suspected armed robbers criminally conspired and attacked the residence of one Ukashatu Isah, m, of Kofar Arewa quarters, Baure LGA, Katsina State, where they robbed him of his two (2) mobile phones, one Samsung Galaxy M32 and one Itel A12, at gunpoint.
“Also, the suspects, using the stolen mobile phones, criminally transferred a total sum of six million naira (6,000,000.00) from the victim’s bank account into three (3) different bank accounts.
“Upon receipt of the report, promptly, detectives swung into action, where they successfully traced and arrested the trio in connection with the offence.
“During the investigation, the suspects confessed to the commission of the offense and would soon be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigations”, he noted.
Eguavoen to lead Super Eagles as Bruno Labbadia deal with NFF hits the block
The Nigeria Football Federation has been forced to abandon its agreement with German coach Bruno Labbadia to lead the Super Eagles, citing complications arising from strict German tax regulations, Soccernet.ng reports.
The deal fell apart after the NFF refused to shoulder the additional tax burden, which could have amounted to between 32% and 40% of Labbadia’s salary.
NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau revealed that while both parties had initially reached an agreement in principle, the unexpected tax issue became a sticking point.
“We have been on the tax issue for the past three days, and I told him clearly that there was no way the NFF will agree to offset the concomitant tax percentage on his salary that will be demanded by German tax authorities,” Gusau said. “We were doing our best to be flexible in the discussions, but he was adamant that the NFF had to pay the full tax amount as well. We simply cannot do that.”
With the Labbadia deal now off the table, the NFF has turned to its Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen, to lead the Super Eagles in their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches.
Eguavoen, who is stepping in for his fourth stint as head coach, will guide the team in crucial matches against Benin Republic on September 7 in Uyo and Rwanda on September 10 in Kigali.
Eguavoen’s appointment brings a familiar face back to the helm of the three-time African champions, but the sudden change in leadership just days before the qualifiers has raised concerns about the team’s readiness for the challenges ahead.
Oil Giant Shell To Cut Hundreds Of Jobs as part of cost-cutting program
British energy giant Shell plans to cut hundreds of jobs from its oil and gas exploration division as part of a cost-cutting program announced last year, a person familiar with the matter said Friday.
The cuts will affect two units specialising in exploration and development of hydrocarbon extraction projects, with their workforces set to be reduced by 20 per cent, the source told AFP.
Offices in the United States and the Netherlands will be most affected, the person added, but the details of the plan are subject to talks with unions.
Shell announced in June 2023 that it intended to implement “structural operating cost reductions of $2 billion to $3 billion by the end of 2025”.
Achieving those reductions will require “new efficiencies and a leaner overall organisation,” a Shell spokesperson told AFP, without confirming the job cuts.
Shell earlier this month said net profit dropped eight per cent in the first half due to weaker gas prices and write-offs.
Despite the fall in margins, the result was helped by lower operating costs and higher hydrocarbon production volumes.
Shell, like its compatriot BP, has backtracked on some climate targets in recent months to the dismay of environmental campaigners, putting more emphasis on oil and gas to boost its profits.
Boko Haram Attacks Islamic Boarding School In Yobe, Kills 3 Students
Gunmen kill Three, Injure One In Yobe Islamic Boarding School
Gunmen suspected to be Boko haram terrorists have invaded Faudiya Islamic boarding School in Geidam, Yobe state killing three students and injuring one.
The Islamic School which belongs to Muslim Brotherhood Movement (Shi’ites) is located in Geidam, the headquarters of the Geidam local government area of Yobe state.
Spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force in the state, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim who confirmed the incident to Channels Television revealed that the attackers arrived at the school on motorcycles, armed with AK47 rifles around 4.00 am today Friday 30th August 2024 shooting sporadically.
“Yes, there was an attack on Faudiya Islamic School in Geidam the headquarters of Geidam local government area. The school belongs to the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (Shi’ite)”
“When Police received the distress call and rushed to the school, they discovered a total number of 3 students have been killed, while 1 was injured and is currently receiving medical treatment at Geidam Specialists Hospital” he said.
Muhammadu Saleh, 22 years, Ahmed Abdulrahman, 21 years and Abdullahi Adamu, also 21 years were said to have been killed while Sani Haruna, 25 years who was injured is currently receiving medical treatment.
Geidam located 183 kilometres away from Damaturu the state capital and a border community with Niger Republic was once, one of the epicenters of the Boko Haram insurgency in the state between 2012 and 2016 as well the hometown of the immediate past Inspector General of Police, IGP Alkali Baba.
It Is Failure To Buy New Jet, Yacht When Nigerians Are Hungry – Donald Duke To Tinubu
A former of Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, on Friday, condemned the purchase of a presidential jet and yacht when Nigerians are hungry.
According to Duke, it is a failure of leadership for President Bola Tinubu to make this purchases, when Nigerians are going through economic crisis.
Duke stated this while speaking on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television.
Duke said, “There is no glamour in saying your people are going through hard times. It’s a failure of your leadership. If I’m the head of a family, I want my family to have everything. I don’t want life to be difficult for them.
“If life is difficult then I feel I’ve failed to provide for them or do the things I ought to have done. I’d ask him (Tinubu) to see the Nigerian nation as his family. What is good for his family is good for the nation.
“Buying a new aircraft or yacht or living large is a failure. You can’t have kids who are hungry and you are living lavishly, going to parties and wearing the biggest agbada.”
Duke said the recent #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests by hungry Nigerians showed that the President has not been a good father to Nigerians.
The former governor said, “A protest is like your kids coming to tell you that ‘Daddy, I am not happy with you. You have failed to do this and do that for me’.
“I’d ask him (Tinubu) to rethink a number of things that are going on and test his policies. The policy of floating the currency was a mistake because it wasn’t thought through.
“The largest pressure on the Nigerian currency is the importation of fuel, and the way it is being done, it is fuelled by corruption. So, we are paying the price for it.”
Duke tasked the President to hold security agencies responsible, reform the judiciary, and address the economy with local indigenous solutions, far from those of the Bretton Woods system.
DSS Gets Court Order To Freeze 13 More Bank Accounts Over Terrorism Charges
In its ongoing efforts to combat terrorism within the nation, the Department of State Services (DSS) has successfully obtained a fresh order from the Federal High Court in Abuja to freeze 13 bank accounts associated with a suspected terrorist, Henry Okocha.
Naija News understands that the accounts held across seven different banks will remain frozen for 60 days, allowing the agency to conduct thorough forensic investigations into the alleged terrorist activities linked to the individual.
In a ruling on an ex-parte application supported by various exhibits, Justice Peter Lifu authorized the DSS to impose a freeze on the accounts for the specified duration to facilitate the investigation.
According to an eight-paragraph affidavit accompanying the ex-parte motion, the DSS accused Okocha of receiving substantial sums of money into these accounts, which are believed to be proceeds of terrorism.
After his arrest, Okocha was placed in the security agency’s custody for further investigation.
The DSS’s application was presented by its attorney, Yunus Ishaku Umar, who informed Justice Lifu that the freezing order was necessary to prevent the suspect from utilizing the funds for unlawful activities that could harm innocent citizens.
The attorney further explained that the account freeze would assist the DSS in identifying the individuals involved and ensuring their prosecution in court.
The ex-parte application, FHC/ABJ/CS/1036/2024, was filed under sections 5 and 81 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act of 2022.
The banks involved in this matter include United Bank for Africa, Guaranty Trust Bank, Union Bank of Nigeria, First Bank of Nigeria, Providus Bank, Palmpay Limited, and Resolut Limited.
Justice Lifu denied the request for a 90-day freeze, granting only 60 days, which will automatically expire at the end of that period.
It is noteworthy that a similar order was previously issued against a suspected female terrorist, Aisha Abdulkarim, whose 20 bank accounts were also ordered to be frozen for 60 days by the DSS.