News

Court Fixes Hearing For N50m Suit Qgainst AGF, Finance Minister Over Alleged Salary Seizure

Published

3 years ago

October 31, 2022

Editor

The National Industrial Court in Abuja on Monday fixed December 7 and 8 for the definite hearing of a N50m suit instituted against the Finance Minister, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and others over alleged unlawful salary seizure.

A senior staff of the Budget Office of the Federation, Mrs Bilkisu Okenne Sanusi in the suit is alleging abuse of government powers to illegally and unlawfully withhold her salaries and entitlement for daring to expose corrupt practices being perpetuated in the Budget Office of the Federation (BoF).

Also joined in the suit marked NICN/ABJ/ 96/2022 as defendants are, the Head of Service of the Federation, Director General, Budget Office of the Federation and Accountant General of the Federation.

At Monday’s proceedings, the Director, Legal Services in the Budget Office, Mrs M. D Agada, representing the 2nd and 3rd defendants and Aliyu Abdulkadir, representing the Attorney General of the Federation told the court that they have filed a memorandum of appearance and their responses to the originating summons of the claimant.

However, the trial Judge, Justice Oyebiola Oyewumi observed that the memorandum of appearance of the 4th defendant was without a stamp as required by law and ordered parties to file all necessary papers before December 7 and 8 fixed for definite hearing in the case.

The claimant had in her statements of facts alleged that she discovered monumental corrupt practices by some staff of the Ministry of Finance (3rd Defendant) in the office of the Director General, Budget Office of the Federation (2nd Defendant).

She claimed that the corrupt practice bothers on manipulation of budget proposals by MDAs, which she reported to the Director General and also alleged further that the 2nd Defendant, being her immediate boss, was complicit in the alleged acts.

Following open aggression against her person, the plaintiff said that she reported the matter to the Head of Service of the Federation (1st defendant) and the Ministry of Finance (3rd defendant) who also allegedly sailed in the same boat with the 2nd defendant.

The claimant averred that the issue led to the removal of her name from payment vouchers in addition to other efforts to frustrate her.

She alleged further that the 2nd defendant also without any justification caused her Secret and Open Files domiciled with the Budget Office of the Federation Registry to be removed and kept in an unknown place to frustrate her from proceeding on her retirement.

The claimant alleged that the 2nd defendant, in a bid to frustrate her also instructed his allies in the Finance department to withhold and deny her due financial and maternal benefits and rights incidental to her employment and office in the Budget Office of the Federation.

The claimant, therefore, wants the court to declare that “The termination of the Claimant’s salaries and entitlements prior and from the 26th November 2021 till date by the 1st, 2nd 3rd and 5th defendant is illegal, unlawful and gross abuse of governmental powers as such null and void and of no effect.

“That with-holding of the Claimant’s Secret and Open Files and fringe benefits, bonuses and Christmas, Easter and Sallah gifts and all other benefits howsoever called incidental to her position as a staff of the Budget Office of the Federation by the 2nd Defendant 1st is illegal, unlawful and a gross abuse of governmental powers as such, null and void and of no effect.

“That the 1st defendant lacks the power to impose punishment or suspension of salary on the Claimant safe as stipulated by the Public Service Rule which Rule must be adhered to as expressly stipulated as doing otherwise amounts to a nullity.”

She also seeks an order of the court “Compelling the defendants to pay the Claimant all her salaries, Entitlements, fringe benefits, bonuses and all benefits however called incidental to her position as a staff of the Budget Office of the Federation withheld by the defendants illegally and unlawfully amounting to N2, 214, 250 only.

“An order, compelling the 2nd defendant to forthwith release the Claimant’s Secret and Open File to enable her proceed with the processing of her retirement

“The sum of N50 Million only as exemplary damages in favour of the Claimant against the defendants having acted in bad faith against her.

News

Shock As Adeleke Employs Roadside puff-puff Hawker As Govt House Chef

Published

2 hours ago

August 30, 2025

Editor

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday shocked a female puff-puff seller during a rally in Osogbo by buying all her snacks with ₦50,000 and offering her employment as a chef at the Government House.

This happened when Osun public servants trooped out in their thousands in what they called an appreciation solidarity rally in support of the governor for his support and care since he took over state governance.

It was observed that the governor, who sat in the bus, had sighted the woman who was among the crowd cheering him.

He immediately beckoned to the woman carrying a plastic container filled with puff-puff on her head and asked how much it would cost to buy all the snacks.

The female hawker, who was visibly surprised and star-struck at the level of her proximity to the governor, found it difficult to even tell the governor how much she sold the snacks.

Surprisingly, Adeleke handed her a bundle of ₦50,000 to the cheers of the crowd.

The lucky woman knelt down in appreciation of the governor’s generosity.

Excited onlookers quickly rushed to share the snacks in the plastic already purchased by the governor.

The governor invited the vendor inside the vehicle where one of his officials questioned her academic background, and she revealed that she holds a Nigerian Certificate in Education.

Adeleke further asked about the dishes she could prepare and instructed his aides to take her contact details for employment as a chef in the Government House.

Confirming the development, the Commissioner II at the Osun State Civil Service Commission, Olaniyan Taofeek, shared the video on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “The moment Gov. Adeleke turned the life of a puff-puff seller into a Government House chef.”

A Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Media, Oni Gbenga Lawrence, also corroborated the incident in a post on X, stating: “Moment Governor Ademola Adeleke turned the life of a puff-puff seller to Government Chef… not only ₦50k but he invited her into his car and employed her as chef in the Government House.”

The Guardian correspondent, who was at the scene of the welcome rally, made efforts to interview the lucky vendor, but they did not yield as she was not allowed to alight from the bus throughout the event.
(The Guardian)

News

Katsina Govt Revokes Licenses Of All Private, Community Schools

Published

3 hours ago

August 30, 2025

Editor

The Katsina State Government has withdrawn the operating licenses of all private and community schools in the state, with effect from August 13, 2025.

The announcement came through a circular issued by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and signed by Commissioner Hajiya Zainab Musa-Musawa.

The ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Malam Sani Danjuma, released the document in Katsina on Saturday.

According to the circular, the move is part of the government’s effort to strengthen quality assurance and standardization within the education sector.

“The withdrawal of licenses is aimed at ensuring that schools operate in line with approved standards and provide quality education to students,” Danjuma said.

The circular also outlined a review of fees for license application, registration, and annual renewal.

“Owners of affected schools are required to obtain fresh licenses by submitting proof of payment to the ministry on or before September 30, 2025.”

The statement also added that school operators have been warned not to increase tuition or other charges without government approval.

The ministry further promised to issue additional guidelines soon, including categorization of schools and the revised fee structure.

News

JUST IN: Oldest Missionary To Nigeria, Ruth Elton, Is Dead

Published

4 hours ago

August 30, 2025

Editor

British-born Nigerian missionary, Ruth Elton, reputed to be the oldest missionary has passed on at the age of 91.

Ruth Elton, born 7 September 1933, was a British-born Nigerian missionary whose lifelong dedication to faith, healing, and revival left an indelible mark on communities across western and central Nigeria.

It was learnt that Elton died on Saturday at Sharon compound, Alafia Bamin Quarters in Ilesa, Osun State.

She was the only daughter of Pa Elton and her remains have been deposited at the mortuary.

Ruth Elton, daughter of Sydney Granville Elton (Pa Elton), who is referred to as one of the founding fathers of Pentecostalism in Nigeria, had approached a Kaduna court and nationalised as a Nigerian.

At old age and despite the happenings in Nigeria, she still held in high esteem her father’s prophecies that although Nigeria could be known globally for corruption, it would only for a while as new dawn would beckon when the country would be known worldwide for righteousness and prosperity.

Elton moved to Nigeria in 1937 with her parents and served as a Christian missionary across Egbe, Okene, Koton Karfe, and other parts of Kogi, Ondo, Oyo, and Osun States.

A naturalised Nigerian, having renounced her British citizenship in the 1970s, she embraced the country completely and became fluent in Ebira and Yoruba.

Elton, who remained single, believed that she had made a true mark in the country and apart from her missionary work, she saw her efforts in taming infant mortality, especially in Okene, Kogi State as a generational impact.

Relating her experience on infant mortality in the country, Elton recently noted that many newborn babies had passed on due to lack of proper care and hygiene, adding that the practice of force-feeding babies contributed to the challenges, especially in the face of poor awareness.