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N52bn SWP Fund: Atiku’s Aide, Keyamo Bicker Over Asset Declaration

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The Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku Abubakar, Mr Phrank Shaibu, has asked the National Assembly to make public the report of its investigation into the N52bn Special Works Programme implemented by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo, across the 774 local governments areas of the country.

Shaibu made the demand in a statement in Abuja, yesterday, in response to claims that Keyamo acquired a house in the United States valued at over $302,000.

But Keyamo in a swift reaction said he had declared his assets, asking those in doubt to contact relevant government agencies.

Keyamo told Vanguard that he is in support of Nigerians scrutinising public officers and encouraged Shaibu to compel relevant government organs to release his assets declaration form.

READ ALSO: My Properties Abroad Not Acquired With Public Funds – Festus Keyamo

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His words: “Any Nigerian for that matter who wishes to know anything about any public officer, including myself, is very much welcome to compel the relevant Government organs to release any document.

“It is very patriotic to do so. I wholeheartedly encourage any Nigerian to do so. They can also ask for my Assets Declaration before I became Minister.

“I am excited to see these inquiries. Maybe they think you have to show flashy cars and jewelleries and designers’ items and expensive wristwatches for people to rate you. They are very much welcome.”

Going down memory lane, Shaibu recalled that in 2021, the Federal Government had in a bid to ameliorate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, approved the sum of N52bn for the hiring of 774,000 Nigerians across all the local government areas in the country for three months.

READ ALSO: How Atiku Destroyed PDP – Keyamo

The 774,000 Nigerians were hired to take on menial jobs such as clearing of drainages, sweeping of markets, cutting grasses and other community services.

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He said: “Keyamo had specifically orchestrated the sacking of the Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, Nasiru Argungu, insisting that he was in charge of the N52bn project which the National Assembly noted was a flop.

“Both the Senate and the House of Representatives had stated that many of the beneficiaries of the funds did not get anything, while others who got did not do any job. They, therefore, questioned Keyamo’s running of the programme and promised to launch an investigation into the matter.”

Shaibu further said: “The National Assembly had described the special works programme as a sham and also questioned how the funds were spent. Keyamo had, for the last two years, defended the shambolic implementation of the programme.”

READ ALSO: 2023: ‘You’re Political Prostitute, Wanderer, Back-stabber,’ Keyamo Hits Dogara

“With his open confession that he has acquired houses in the US, I hereby call on the National Assembly to publish its report on the failed project. I also call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to immediately probe the finances of Festus Keyamo, who only became a senior advocate two years before becoming a minister.

“It is public record that Keyamo was an activist and a prosecutor for the EFCC, doing mostly pro bono cases before taking public office. However, he now boasts of being a real estate mogul after becoming a minister. This is laughable and an insult to the sensibilities of Nigerians.

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“In any case, Keyamo’s time as Minister of State for Labour and Employment witnessed the highest level of unemployment, which KPMG says is about to hit 40%. Under Keyamo, universities also witnessed prolonged strikes, as ASUU proceeded on 10 months strike in 2020 and eight months industrial action in 2021. Keyamo clearly failed as a minister but grew wealthier in the process through his so-called real estate business. He thus needs to be investigated with immediate effect.”

Keyamo had said that by letters dated March 6, 2019, before he was appointed a Minister, he wrote to the relevant government agencies, informing them of the closure of his foreign accounts and the repatriation of his funds to the country since Nigerian law does not allow public officials to operate foreign bank accounts.

READ ALSO: Report Alleging Tinubu’s Involvement In Drug Trafficking ‘Sign Of Frustration’ – Keyamo

He further stated, ‘My assets declaration is there for all to see. Some of us don’t need government funds or patronage to get by. Whatever we do and whoever we support is out of our deep convictions.’

Shaibu, however, dared Keyamo to publish his asset declaration form as submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau in 2019.

He said since Keyamo had boasted many times about being an EFCC prosecutor and an anti-corruption champion, he ought to be bold enough to make his asset declaration forms public to prove that he was telling the truth.

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“Keyamo has one month left on his tenure as minister, which means he will need to declare his assets before the CCB next month. Let him make public his asset declaration forms, before and after office, to prove to Nigerians that he did not steal.

“The truth about Keyamo is that he is a hypocrite, a rabble-rouser who pretends to be on the side of the masses but is only after his stomach.

“He started as a disciple of the great Gani Fawehinmi but has since strayed from Gani’s ideals by serving as Spokesman for a man who was an anathema to Gani and who Gani had accused of forgery and fraud – Bola Tinubu.”

 

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Soldiers’ Killing: Wanted Delta King Surrenders To Police

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Ikolo Clement, King of Ewu kingdom and one of the suspects declared wanted by the Nigerian military, has surrendered himself to the authorities.

Clement, a newly installed traditional ruler of Ewu Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, was among the eight persons declared wanted by the Nigerian Army Defence Headquarters.

They were wanted over the March 14 killing of 17 soldiers at Okuama Community.

Also declared wanted is a suspected militant leader, Akevwru Daniel Omotegbono, also known as Amagbein, who soldiers tracked to the Igbomoturu community in Southern-Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, few days after the incident, but missed him.

READ ALSO: [JUST IN] Okuama Killings: Army Declares Eight Persons Wanted [FULL LIST]

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On the list of wanted persons are the president-general of Ewu, Prof Ekpekpo Arthur and Reuben Baru, the young man who made a viral video recently, narrating why they killed the soldiers.

Igoli Ebi, is supposedly the mother of one of the wanted persons. Atata Malaw David, and Sinclear Oliki are suspected to be part of the Amagbein gang

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Why ERA Is Against Multinational Oil Companies’ Divestment – Chima Williams

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By Joseph Ebi Kanjo 

The Executive Director, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Barrister Chima Williams, has explained why his organisation is leading the campaign against the divestment of multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta.

He said his organisation is leading the campaign because of the negative impacts of such divestment on the people (hosting communities) and the environment.

Williams, who spoke during a webinar meeting on International Oil Companies Divestment from the Niger Delta, said it’s unacceptable for multinational oil companies to have destroyed the area (environment) they operated and thereafter walk away without doing something about the destroyed environment.

READ ALSO: ERA, Others Want Coca Cola, Others Held Accountable For Plastic Pollution

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He said: “Oil companies have caused a lot of damage to our communities and environment, so they cannot leave us destroyed after they have carted away billions in dollars from our environment.

“Of course, oil companies are at liberty to dispose their assets as permitted by the law, but as assets that have caused damage to the people and the environment, there are requirements that must be met. The environment must be returned to the status quo. The livelihood of our people must be restored.

“They must settle the divide and rule style they have introduced to our communities. Before their adventure, our people were living peacefully, but they came and divided our communities; you see brothers fighting themselves. All these are their antics to make sure we do not speak in one voice.”

READ ALSO: CSOs Condemn FG’s Suspension Of Green Taxation On Single Use Plastics

He lamented that rather than oil to be a blessing to Nigeria as obtainable in other oil producing countries, it’s rather a curse.

Chima said this was one of the reasons why his organisation embarked on the campaign: ‘Leaving Oil in the Soil’.

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“Our campaign on Leaving Oil in the Soil was as a result of the negative impacts of oil exploration in our environment and climate change. If oil companies are doing the right thing, there wouldn’t be need for such.

“Look at other oil producing countries such as Saudi Arabia, things are done properly. The oil companies are doing what they are expected to do, so they are impacting lives of the people positively. Even our own Libya here in Africa, before the death of Gaddafi, the citizens were enjoying the dividends of oil exploration in the country,” he said.

According to the Executive Director, multinational oil companies are going into divestment in order to move from the onshore to offshore where their activities cannot be monitored.

He added that since 2021 that Nigerians became aware that they (oil companies) can be held responsible for their operations and damage done to the environment through the law, they started looking for a way to move to an area where their activities cannot be monitored.

Williams, while calling on the government to reject all applicable for divestment by oil companies, urged Nigerians to join hands in the campaign against such divestment without doing the needful.

READ ALSO: ERA Chides Shell For Slow Response To Multiple Crude Oil Spills In Bayelsa Community

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He further called on the National Assembly to enact a law that will spell out pathway for any oil company that wants to go into divestment.

We are asking our legislative arm to enact a law that will spell out a step by step approach to any move for divestment,” Williams added.

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Shaibu Impeachment: Panel Fixes Date For Commencement Of Sitting

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The seven-man panel set up by the Chief Judge of Edo State, Daniel Okungbowa, to probe the impeachment petition against deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, has fixed April 3, 2024 for the commencement of its sitting.

Administrative secretary of the panel, George Odidi, disclosed this in a statement dated March 28, 2024 and made available to newsmen in Benin City.

Odidi said the panel would hold its sittings at Judges Conference Room, New High Court Complex, Benin City.

READ ALSO: CJ Has Seven Days To Set Up Panel On Shaibu – Edo Assembly

He said parties or their counsel are expected to be present while the complainant is expected to be ready to present its case.

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The statement reads, “Take notice that consequent upon the inauguration of the above panel by His Lordship the Hon. Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice D.I. Okungbowa in line with section 188 subsection 5 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the said Panel shall commence sitting at Judges Conference room, New High Court Complex, Benin City on Wednesday 3″day of April, 2024 at 10:00Am prompt.

READ ALSO: Again, Shaibu Loses Bid To Stop Impeachment

“Parties and /or their counsel are expected to be present on that day while the complainant is expected to be ready to present it’s case on that day.”

The Chief Judge of Edo State, Daniel Okungbowa, had on Friday, March 22, 2024, constituted a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations in the impeachment notice served on the deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, in line with the resolution of the State House of Assembly.

Members of the panel are Justice S.A. Omonua (rtd), Professor Theresa Akpoghome, Oghogho Ayodele Oviasu, Surveyor Andrew Oliha, Idris Abdulkareen , President Aigbokhian and Mariam Erakhoba Ilavbare.

 

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