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Failed CCTV Project: Court Orders Buhari Led Govt To Account For $460m Loan

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A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to “account for the spending of $460 million Chinese loan to fund the failed Abuja Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) project.”

The court also ordered the government to “publish the total amount of money paid to Chinese and local companies and contractors, specific details and the implementation of the project.”

Hon. Justice Emeka Nwite made the orders while delivering judgment in a Freedom of Information suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1447/2019 brought by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

This was contained in a statement on Sunday by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) signed by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

According to the statement, the suit followed the disclosure in 2019 by the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed that “Nigeria was servicing the loan,” adding that she had ‘no explanations on the status of the project.’ She reportedly said, “We are servicing the loan. I have no information on the status of the CCTV project.”

In his judgment, Justice Nwite agreed with SERAP that “there is a reasonable cause of action against the government. Accounting for the spending of the $460 million Chinese loan is in the interest of the public. It will be inimical for the court to refuse SERAP’s application for judicial review of the government’s action.

Justice Nwite also said that, “The Minister of Finance is in charge of the finance of the country and cannot by any stretch of imagination be oblivious of the amount of money paid to the contractors for the Abuja CCTV contract and the money meant for the construction of the headquarters of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

Justice Nwite also ordered the government “to provide the details clarifying whether the sum of N1.5 billion Naira paid for the failed contract meant to construct the headquarters of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) was part of another loan obtained from China.”

Justice Nwite’s judgment, read in part: “SERAP’s core objectives are to promote human rights, transparency and accountability and anti-corruption in Nigeria.”

“I am of the humble view that there is a reasonable cause of action against the government [through the Minister of Finance] and I so hold that SERAP has made out a case to be entitled to the reliefs sought.

“The law is well settled that where a document or letter is sent by post, it is the law that same is taken or presumed to have been delivered.

“Following this principle of law and relying on exhibit OS2, SERAP’s Freedom of Information request sent to Ms Ahmed is deemed to have been delivered. Therefore, the averment by the government [through her] that they were not served with the letter is hereby discountenanced. I so hold.”

Joined as defendants in the suit are Ms Ahmed and the Minister of Police Affairs.

Justice Nwite granted the following orders of mandamus against the Nigerian government:

n order of mandamus is hereby made directing and compelling the government [through the Minister of Finance] to provide and make available to SERAP information on the total amount of money paid to contractors, with specific details of names of companies local contractors involved, from the $460 million loan obtained in 2010 from China by the Federal Government of Nigeria to fund the failed Abuja CCTV contract.

An order of mandamus is hereby made directing and compelling the government [through the Minister of Finance] to provide the details of the local companies and Chinese contractors that have received funds from the $460 million loan for the finance of the Abuja CCTV contract as well as details of the status of implementation of the project.

An order of mandamus is hereby made directing and compelling the government [through the Minister of Finance] to provide the details clarifying whether the sum of N1.5 billion Naira mobilisation fee reportedly paid to the contractors for the construction of the Headquarters of the Code of Conduct Bureau in Abuja was part of another loan from China. This is the judgment of the court.

“The onus is now on President Buhari to immediately comply with the court’s orders. We commend Justice Nwite for his courage and wisdom, and urge President Buhari and Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to immediately obey the court orders,” SERAP deputy director said.

“This is a victory for justice, rule of law, transparency and accountability. The judgment shows the way forward in the fight against corruption and impunity of perpetrators. We will do everything within the law to ensure full compliance by President Buhari with this ground-breaking judgment on Chinese loans.

“We call on President Buhari to use the judgment as the basis for publishing details of spending of all Chinese loans and other loans obtained by his government since May 2015.”

Nigeria’s total borrowing from China climbed from $1.39 billion to $4.29 billion between June 2015 and December 2022, according to data from Debt Management Office (DMO).

Nigeria’s 2023-2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) revealed earlier in the year that the federal government will spend N6.31 trillion on debt servicing in 2023, which amounts to about 74.6% of the government’s projected revenue of 8.46 trillion for the year.

It would be recalled that SERAP had in December 2019 filed a lawsuit against Ms Ahmed over failure to “disclose information and specific documents on the total amount of money paid to contractors from the $460 million loan obtained in 2010 from China to fund the apparently failed Abuja CCTV project.

The suit number, read in part: “Servicing Chinese loans for failed projects is double jeopardy for Nigerians—they can neither see nor benefit from the projects; yet, they are made to pay both the loans and the accrued interests.”

“The $460 million loan got for the failed Abuja CCTV project and the N1.5 billion for the construction of CCB headquarters, which may be part of another Chinese loan, may have been mismanaged or stolen, and in any case, remain unaccounted for.

“Transparency in the spending of Chinese loans is good for everyone, as this would help to increase the effectiveness, legitimacy, and contribution of the loans to the development of public goods and services, and the general public interests.

“The information being requested does not come within the purview of the types of information exempted from disclosure under the Act. The Respondent has no legally justifiable reason for refusing to provide SERAP with the information requested.

“Democracy cannot flourish if governments operate in secrecy. The citizens are entitled to know how the commonwealth is being utilized, managed and administered in a democratic setting.”

Man City are confirmed EPL champions after Arsenal defeat at City Ground

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Manchester City have been confirmed as Premier League champions for the 2022/2023 season.

This follows Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat at City Ground, Nottingham on Saturday.

Super Eagles striker, Taiwo Awoniyi scored the only goal for the hosts.

The win guaranteed Forest’s survival in the top flight, as they have 37 points from 37 matches.

This is City’s third consecutive title in a row and their fourth in the last five years under Pep Guardiola.

City host Chelsea in their next Premier League clash on Sunday.

EFCC knocks Gov Matawalle for accusing Bawa of $2m bribe

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has tackled the Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle for alleging that the chairman of the commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa demanded a two million dollars bribe from him.

The governor who is under investigation over alleged corruption, had during an interview with BBC Hausa, insisted that the chairman of the anti-graft agency could not be trusted.

The governor said he was being investigated because he refused to “offer the EFCC chairperson the money he requested from him.”

READ ALSO: EFCC chairman, Bawa begged me for $2million – Gov Matawalle

However, in a rebuttal of the governor’s allegations, EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren in a statement on Friday night, said Matawalle cannot be taken seriously because he has no evidence against Bawa.

The statement reads, “Matawalle’s recourse to mudslinging is symptomatic of a drowning man clutching at straws.

“But despite the irritation of his phantom claims, the Commission will not be drawn into a mud fight with a suspect under its investigation for corruption and unconscionable pillage of the resources of his state.

“If Matawalle will be taken seriously, he should go beyond sabre-rattling by spilling the beans by providing concrete evidence as proof of his allegations”.

Kuje prison jailbreak: 2 fleeing inmates arrested in Adamawa

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Two fleeing inmates of the Kuje Correctional Centre in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, have been arrested in Adamawa State.

The Adamawa State Police Command said on Monday that it arrested the two inmates who were among those who fled the Kuje facility following a jailbreak last year.

The command’s public relations officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje, identified the two fugitives as Atiku Ibrahim, 37, and Adamu Ibrahim, 40.

It can be recalls that no less than 879 inmates escaped during the July 5, 2022, jailbreak. Hundreds of the fleeing inmates have either returned on their own or were recaptured over the months since the jailbreak.

The Islamic State of West Africa Province, ISWAP, claimed responsibility for the attack. It was later said that 64 of those who escaped were high-profile members of the sect held at the facility.

Man kidnaps, strangles six-year-old to death in Adamawa

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The Adamawa State Police Command said it has arrested a 29 years old man, Abubakar Kawu for allegedly kidnapping a boy of six and strangling him to death.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje in a statement said the suspect, Kawu, a dry cleaner had on May 12, 2023, kidnapped his victim, Abdulhafiz Buba Aliyu and demanded a ransom of N3.5 million from the boy’s father.

The child’s father, Muhammed Buba Aliyu, was reported to have begged to pay N50,000, which was all he could afford but the suspect became provoked by the little amount and strangled the boy to death.

The statement said security operatives arrested the suspect a few days after and he confessed to killing the boy

The Police appealed to parents to always monitor their wards, vowing that the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigations are completed.

80-year-old grandmother allegedly raped to death in Ondo

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Tragedy struck during the weekend in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State following the killing of an 80-year-old grandmother.

The body of the octogenarian was found inside her farm in the Costain axis of the local government following suspicion that she had been raped before her assailants murdered her.

Before her body was discovered, the deceased had been declared missing since last Wednesday, when she failed to return home after leaving her farm.

Sources within the agrarian community argued that the victim was raped to death, particularly in the position in which her corpse was discovered.

One of the sources hinted that there had been cases of rape in the community in recent times, a situation she said had prevented most of the women in the community from going to the farm alone.

The source added that a suspect, Sunday, who is a popular palm wine tapper within the community, had been arrested by some youths after the mobile phone of the deceased elderly woman was found on him.

The suspect was said to have revealed during interrogation that the victim was allegedly attacked and killed by suspected herders.

However, the suspect has been handed over to the police at Costain for investigation.

When contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, stated that she would get back for details but has not reverted as of press time.

Air strikes eliminate scores of ISWAP terrorists in Yobe

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Airstrikes carried out by the Nigerian Air Force, (NAF), fighter jets have reportedly killed an unconfirmed number of ISWAP terrorists in Turo and Ambia villages, Gujba local government area of Yobe State.

The terrorists were said to have been eliminated on Monday afternoon after the fighter jet bombed the ISWAP position in an intelligence-led operation.

READ ALSO: Three people die, 271 households sacks due to flood in Yobe

Impeccable sources from the intelligence community also told Zagazola Makama, Counter-Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad region that, the airstrikes were carried out, following surveillance missions showing eight gun trucks conveying ISWAP fighters.

The sources said many of them were killed in the process.

The Headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai has not yet released a statement on the operation.

Corrupt politicians planning to flee Nigeria – EFCC alerts

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alerted the general public of the alleged move by some governors and other politicians accused of corruption to flee the country ahead of the May 29 handover.

EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren raised the alarm in a statement issued on Friday night.

The commission said it is currently collaborating with its international partners to ensure that the plans are frustrated.

The commission vowed that all political actors involved in corruption while in public office must be brought to justice.

The statement reads partly, “Again, the Commission wishes to alert the public about plans by some of the alleged corrupt politically exposed persons to flee the country ahead of May 29.

“The Commission is working in close collaboration with its international partners to frustrate these escape plans and bring those involved to justice.”

Supreme Court to deliver judgment May 26 in PDP suit against Tinubu, Shettima

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The Supreme Court has adjourned until May 26 to deliver judgment in a case by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking the disqualification of President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, the vice-president-elect.

The PDP had urged the apex court to reverse the Court of Appeal judgment, led by Justice James Abundaga, which held that the party failed to establish its locus standi.

Details soon…

Many feared killed in Kutep-Hausa clash in Taraba

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Hausa Quarters in Takum Taraba State is under attack by suspected Kuteb militia in which  many Hausa people were  killed.

A resident of the area Malam Yakubu Sani said the Kuteb militia armed with sophisticated weapons launched attacks on the Hausa quarters early Sunday May 21st, 2023.

He said the Hausa did  not provoke any body, group or any tribe in Takum  to warrant the attacks by the Kuteb militia.

Yakubu Sani explained that the Hausas were not involved in the  crisis between the Fulani and Kuteb in Takum but the Kuteb transferred their aggression on the  law-abiding Hausa community in the town.

Yakubu Sani said “As l am talking to  you now the attacks are still going on and no security is  deployed to stop the militia from killing the innocent Hausa people inside Takum town”.

He stated that  the militia killed thirteen  Hausa travelers along Takum- Maraba, Takum_ Kashimbila and Takum- Katsina-Ala roads within the last few days.

He  called on the Federal and Taraba State Governments  to as a matter of urgency deploy soldiers and police to save the Hausa community from extinction.

Another indigene of Takum who spoke on condition of anonymity said the genesis of the current crisis is that two butchers were killed about a week ago  along Takum- Kashimbilla road and the butchers instead of taking the issue lawfully went for a reprisal attack along the road where they met the Kuteb tribe and pounded on them and the Kuteb people reinforced came to Takum toe and just started killing the Hausa people  in the area who have no connection in any way with the attack by the butchers on them.

He further noted that the problem between the Kuteb and the Hausa in Takum is a long time issue because in the past the Hausa people in Takum have been aligning with the Kuteb in all their crises with the other tribes particularly the Jukun but they realized that their alliance with the Kuteb has no benefit and decided to tilt towards the Jukuns and for this reason the Kuteb were not happy and looking for a slightest opportunity to turn their asenals towards their former allies the Hausas which has been provided by the present circumstances.

He maintained that any figure of casualty provided from any quarter at the moment is vague because many of the Hausa people have run for their dear lives; they don’t even know where many of their people are while many have been killed, the number which they are yet to ascertain.

“We are still looking for our people who ran into the jungle for their dear lives. We don’t even know where they are at the Moment we don’t know whether they are alive or not. We cannot give an exact figure but the casualty is High”.

When Contacted over the alleged attacks by the  Kuteb Militia on the Hausa Community in Takum the National president of Kuteb Association, Mr Emmanuel  Ukwen said

“I am not in Takum  town and will not know what is exactly happening there
lam in Jalingo now and l don’t know what is happening there l am not in the real picture but I will find out what is happening ” he said.

Ukwen however confirmed that the crisis in Takum is not only between the Kuteb and the Hausa people but it affects all the other tribes in the town.

Police Public  Relation’s Officer PPRO of Taraba State SP Usman Abdullahi confirmed that  two Hausa people were initially killed in Takum town and the Hausas revolted against the killings and that was what ignited this new crisis.

He  further  stated that already soldiers and squadron police have been drafted to Takum town to control the situation.

As of the time of filing this report this Monday morning gunshots were still heard in Takum town.