News

EFCC Quizzes AGF Over N585m Humanitarian Ministry Scandal

Published

4 months ago

January 17, 2024

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has interrogated the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, over an alleged link to a N585.2m fraud involving the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Betta Edu.

The AGF was quizzed by EFCC interrogators at the anti-graft agency’s headquarters, Jabi, Abuja on Monday.

Details of the interrogation obtained by The PUNCH on Tuesday revealed that Madein was grilled for over six hours, and was released with no condition in the evening.

An impeccable anti-graft source, who confirmed the development to our correspondent, revealed that she was queried over the payment of N585.2m of government funds from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs into the private bank account of a government official.

The source said, “The Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, has been invited and interrogated by the commission. She was grilled for over six hours on Monday over the payment of N585.2m from the National Social Investment office account to the UBA account of Bridget Oniyelu, the accountant of the Grants for Vulnerable Groups under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

“The AGF was not detained, and she was released with no condition after she made her explanation in writing to the investigators during interrogation. However, she told interrogators that she didn’t approve the memo from Minister Edu for the payment into a private account.”

The PUNCH reports that a leaked memo had revealed how Edu, in December 2023, requested the Accountant General to transfer the money from the National Social Investment office account to the UBA account of Oniyelu, the accountant of the Grants for Vulnerable Groups under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

However, the AGF, in a statement, countered the claim by the suspended minister, while noting that allocations were released to self-accounting MDAs in line with the budget and such MDAs were responsible for the implementation of their projects and payments for such projects.

Edu was last week Tuesday grilled by operatives of the EFCC for over 10 hours over alleged N585m fraud in her ministry. She was suspended on Monday, January 8, by President Bola Tinubu, and is being accused of paying the humanitarian fund into a private account.

Also, Halima Shehu, the embattled Co-ordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency domiciled in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, is being probed by the EFCC over an alleged N44bn cash fraud.

News

Viral Video: Bullied Student Sues Abuja School For N500m, Public Apology

Published

3 seconds ago

May 13, 2024

Editor

Namitra Bwala, the student at the centre of a recently viral video depicting her being bullied by fellow students, on Monday, has initiated legal proceedings against Lead British International School, Gwarimpa, Abuja.

On April 22, an X user, #mooyeeeeeee, posted videos of a female student of Lead British International School, who was seen being bullied by her classmates.

In one of the videos, the victim was seen being slapped repeatedly by another female student while asking “Who broke my heart?”

In another video, the victim was seen sitting next to a male classmate who was heard saying “I spoilt her relationship”.

However, the lawsuit, filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory under case number FCT/HC/CV/2341/24: MISS NAMTIRA BWALA v LEAD BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL LTD, seeks damages from the educational institution for its alleged failure to provide a safe and conducive learning environment for the plaintiff.

According to a public statement on Monday issued by Marvin Omorogbe., the founding partner of the law firm representing Bwala, the legal action is aimed at holding the school accountable for its negligent conduct regarding the highly publicized incident.

The lawsuit further requested, “the Defendant to issue a public apology to the Clamant in two national daily newspapers.

“An order directing the Defendant to pay the Claimant the sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) as general damages for the Defendant’s breach of the duty of care it owes to the Claimant, and its negligent conduct in failing to prevent the assault, torment, emotional distress, pain, trauma and breach of privacy suffered by the Claimant while under the Defendant’s custody and supervision.”

The law firm emphasised its client’s hopes that the lawsuit would catalyse meaningful changes and prompt the implementation of adequate measures to prevent similar occurrences within the school premises.

“Our client hopes that this lawsuit will bring about drastic changes and adequate measures to prevent a reoccurrence of similar issues in the school,” the statement added.

The viral video, which sparked widespread outrage and condemnation, depicted Ms Bwala being subjected to bullying by her peers, raising concerns about the school’s ability to ensure the safety and well-being of its students.

News

Edo, Ondo Polls: INEC To Begin Continuous Voters’ Registration

Published

10 mins ago

May 13, 2024

Editor

Ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship polls, the Independent National Electoral Commission is poised to launch the Continuous Voters’ Registration.

The INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this during a meeting with political parties held on Monday at the commission’s Abuja headquarters.

The CVR is set to commence from May 27 to June 5, 2024.

Details later…

News

Tariff Hike: Nigerians Wallowing In Power Poverty – Ajaero Laments

Published

56 mins ago

May 13, 2024

Editor

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero said Nigerians are currently wallowing in power poverty given the abysmal low supply of electricity.

Ajaero said this at the ongoing protest at the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission in Abuja.

Recall that the Organized Labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress, and their affiliates, vowed to ground offices of the NERC nationwide on Monday about the recent hike in electricity tariffs.

While addressing protesters and management of the NERC, Ajaero noted that the current supply generated by Nigeria is not even enough for Lagos, which is just one state in Nigeria.

Ajaero also faulted the move by the NERC to hike tariff without engagements with stakeholders in the power sector.

He said, “We are here on a peaceful protest, having written so many letters to NERC to remind them that they cannot increase tariffs without meeting with Nigerians. We reminded them that the process of increasing tariffs requires that they meet with all stakeholders, including labour.

“We do not know where this current tariff is coming from. NERC is not oblivious to the fact that Nigeria is wallowing in lower poverty. Nigeria is down the line as one of the countries in the world that are poor in terms of power supply.

“What Nigeria is generating Today is not enough for Lagos alone and it is bad enough for you now to tell us that some Nigerians are bigger than the others. It is bad enough for you to say some Nigerians will get 20 hours while other Nigerians will get two hours.”

The NERC announced the hike in the electricity tariff for Band A customers at a press briefing in Abuja on April 3, revealing that those affected would pay N225 per kilowatt-hour, up from the previous rate of N68/kWh.

The hike represented a 240 per cent increase.

The development marked the removal of subsidy from the tariff of customers in the Band A category, who constituted about 15 per cent of the total 12.82 million power consumers across the country.

Based on the tariff hike, the Federal Government said it would save N1.5tn.

The government stated that the decision took effect on April 3, 2024, adding that Band A customers would enjoy up to 20 hours of power supply daily.