News
N544m Contract Fraud Charges Against Ex-SGF, Babachir Lawal Unnecessary, EFCC Witness Admits In Court
Published
2 years agoon
By
EditorA witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the ongoing trial of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Dr Babachir Lawal, has admitted that the alleged N544 million contract fraud charges against the defendant were absolutely unnecessary.
The witness, Dare Folarin, told a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja that the allegations against Lawal ought to have been dropped immediately after the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) confirmed giving approval for a contract award to Rholavision Engineering Company.
He admitted that the Bureau of Public Procurement, which gave approval for the award of the contract that led to the filing of charges against the defendant never recommended investigation of the contract to EFCC.
Under cross-examination by Chief Akin Olujimi SAN, the witness admitted that the anti-graft agency ought not to have proceeded further immediately the BPP confirmed giving approval to the contract under the emergency procurement procedure to salvage the people of the North East.
Folarin, who is an operative of EFCC, like other witnesses in the trial, admitted that Babachir Lawal was not a member of the Ministerial Tenders Board under the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE) initiated by President Muhammadu Buhari and that his role as SGF was to formulate policy and be notified of the report of the board.
The witness however testified that he could not remember being told by Babachir Lawal that he never recommended any company to PINE for contract award.
He also told the court that he could not remember being informed by the defendant that he ceased to have anything doing with Rholavision Engineering Company immediately he was appointed as SGF.
The EFCC witness further testified that he could not remember that Lawal told him during the investigation that he was never aware of any contract award to Rholavision Company and that he (defendant) got to know about the contract award during the Senate ad-hoc investigation.
READ ALSO: EFCC Bust Hideout, Arrest 29 Internet Fraudsters In Rivers
“I am aware in the course of the investigation that approval for the contract award was admitted to have been granted by the Bureau of Public Procurement BPP due to its no objection to the proposal by the PINE Ministerial Tenders Board.
“I am also aware that the BPP did not recommend an investigation to EFCC on the alleged abuse of office and procurement violation,” the witness said.
Meanwhile, Justice Charles Agbaza has fixed March 31 and April 1, 2022, for further hearing in the matter.
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The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has explained why the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, servers failed to work during the 2023 presidential election.
He said the ‘establishment of criminality’ made the INEC servers not work during the last last general elections.
Obi stated this, while addressing the issues of the 2023 elections, including the IREV servers, in Canada during the weekend.
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The Labour Party flagbearer in 2023 said people must intensify engagement with all the stakeholders to make the system work.
The former Anambra State governor explained that Amazon testified there were no glitches recorded globally on the day of the presidential election.
He said: “Where did we go wrong in the last election? We didn’t go wrong anywhere. We did the right things.
“But as I can always tell people: when you bring a change, you fight all those who live off the old order. They don’t go away; they gang up. And don’t think it’s a straight race to remove an establishment.
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“It’s a long-distance journey anywhere in the world. Go and check anywhere, whether you are looking at what happened in India, with Mandela in South Africa, or America. No change has happened overnight, it takes time.
“I urge all of you, if you really want change, we have just begun. We just have to continue from where we are.
“Yes, there might be one or two things we will correct, those things we will correct. I assure you we are correcting them without naming them.It’s not going to be easy.”
The Ijaw National Congress (INC) says time has come to internationalise the “Ijaw struggle” beyond rhetoric.
Prof. Benjamin Okaba, President, INC, said this in a communique of the 2024 edition of the Ijaw National Day celebration held in Bayelsa.
Okaba said that the vexatious factors that provoked grievances between the late Maj. Adaka Boro and the federal government in the improper management of the oil political economy of Nigeria, have remained unmitigated.
He noted that the situation had worsened with its attendant impunity.
READ ALSO: Ijaw Not Biafra, Count Us Out Of Your Planned Attack Military, INC Warns IPOB
According to him, the Ijaw environment continues to bear the brunt of petroleum resources exploitation-related pollution without concomitant remediation or reparations of the heavily despoiled ecosystem.
“Instead, Ijaw communities still face the adverse effects of uncontrollable spills, perennial flooding, ocean encroachment and so on,” he said.
The INC president noted that at different forums, it had been made clear that the Ijaw agenda of self-determination was premised on resource and environmental justice.
“What all Ijaw people seek is for a fair, just and justifiable reward for our resources and sacrifices.
“The Ijaw Congress has articulated a set of prescient conditions for its continuous commitment to the Nigerian project and these include restoration of true federalism (fiscal federalism).
READ ALSO: Ijaw Group Tackles OPC, CSO Over Call For Review Of Tompolo’s Surveillance Contract
“Devolution of power and repel of all obnoxious and discriminatory environmental and resource related laws (Land Use, PIA), as well as restoration of Ijaw Territory as non-balkanised, administrative and politically generated unit(s).
“This is for the reassurance and promotion of Ijaw developmental pursuits by creating at least two additional states, more local government areas and wards for the Ijaws.
“Remediation of our massively polluted and endangered environment and the enforcement of adherence to international environmental best practices by IOC’s operating in Ijaw territories,” he said.
Okaba also demanded for the relocation of the administrative headquarters of all oil companies and their subsidiaries to their operational bases in Ijaw territory and Niger Delta.
READ ALSO: Ijaw Demand Environmental Clean-up Before IOCs Exit Niger Delta
He further called for proper funding and management of the Interventionist Agencies such as the Presidential Amnesty Programme and Niger Delta Development Commission.
“We call for the promotion of modular refineries owned by our people.
“We also want a balance in appointment at the federal levels (the civil service, military and oil companies) as well as equitable distribution of critical infrastructure, to reflect the true principles of federal character.”
He said it was against this backdrop that the theme of the 2024 Ijaw National Day “Re-Invigorating Our Resolve to take the Ijaw struggle for Self-determination beyond Rhetoric” was derived.
News
Drake Gives Condition To Quit Music As Feud With Kendrick Lamar Thickens
Published
7 hours agoon
May 5, 2024By
EditorUS rapper Drake has vowed to quit his music career if allegations regarding a secret daughter are substantiated.
The controversy started when rival artiste Kendrick Lamar, in his diss track ‘Meet The Grahams,’ levied accusations suggesting Drake’s involvement with an 11-year-old secret daughter.
Lamar branded the Canadian rapper a “deadbeat” for purportedly neglecting his paternal responsibilities
Renowned American media personality Akademiks, however, disclosed rapper’s response to the allegations during a recent broadcast.
According to Akademiks, Drake denied the claims, going as far as promising to leave the music industry and work for Akademiks if any evidence of the alleged secret daughter emerged.
During his Saturday night show, Akademiks shared the rapper’s direct message, stating, “Drake hit [texted] me, he said, ‘Ak, if you or anybody can prove that I have an 11-year-old daughter, I’ll quit rapping and come work for you.’”
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