News

Senate Probes Accountant General Over N978bn Service Wide Vote

Published

3 years ago

December 20, 2022

The Senate has commenced investigation into the N978 billion received by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation from the Service Wide Votes, SWV between 2017 and 2021.

The investigation is coming less than one week after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC said it has collected about N30 billion from the former Accountant General of Federation, Idris Ahmed who is currently being tried for alleged N110 billion fraud.

But the N978billion from the SWV is said to be capital and recurrent expenditures which were disbursed to the ministries, department and agencies of the federal government within the period.

Speaking at the opening of the investigative hearing, the chairman, Senate Public Accounts Committee, SPAC, Senator Mathew Urhoghide (PDP Edo South), observed that there are some releases from the Votes without Authority to Incure Expenditure, AIE and this elicited suspicious by the panel.

Senator Urhoghide disclosed that the Office of the Accountant General only provided memos to back the releases, which he declared was acceptable to the committee.

The chairman, who also expressed dissatisfaction with the submission of the Office of the Accountant General, called for “explanation on bit-by-bit of the expenditures for proper understanding because the figures are enormous and response to the committee is not satisfactory.”

“From what I have seen, we may need time so that we can analyse the expenditure one by one. These figures are enormous and the response is not satisfactory,” he added.

However, the Office of Accountant General of the Federation, represented by the Director of Funds, Sabo Mohammed requested for more time to respond to the issues raised by the lawmakers.

He said: “It will take some time (for the Office to respond), we should do it systematically to save our time and your time, this is a matter of going back and doing them one after the other.

“We have responded to some, we will still go back and separate our own from that of the MDAs.

“We have found out that many of the figures may not be correct.”

The panel chairman, therefore, asked the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to go back and put the documents together and appear on Thursday.

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

5 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

11 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

11 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.