The Economic Financial and Crime Commission (EFCC) has arrested the Oyo State Accountant-General, Alhaji Gafar Bello, over alleged N9billion money laundering, SaharaReporters has learnt.
A source close to the office of the AG confirmed the development to SaharaReporters on Monday.
SaharaReporters learnt that the money was deducted from the local government funds which the governor of the state, Seyi Makinde, allegedly planned to use to finance his 2023 re-election.
According to the source, the money was siphoned through the Director of Treasury in the office of the Accountant General, Mr. Michael Ayanniyi, who is now at large.
The source said Bello was arrested on Friday when EFCC was alerted about a N9billion found in the account of a yet-to-be-identified politician, who was arrested along with the Accountant-General.
SaharaReporters learnt that when arrested, the politician told the EFCC that the money was deposited in his account by the Accountant General.
The source said, “Men of the EFCC were in our office today. Oga was arrested on Friday and he is still in their custody. The director of Treasury, Mr. Michael Ayanniyi has fled. I am not sure but I heard somebody saying the money was stolen to finance 2023 elections in the state. Some people said the money was taken from local government funds.”
Confirming the development to SaharaReporters, a source at the Ibadan Zonal Office of the EFCC said; “Yes, he was arrested.” But the source however refused to speak further on his arrest.
The Supreme Court, on Monday, slated May 27 to deliver judgement on the leadership crisis rocking the Imo state chapter of the All Progressive Congress, APC.
A five-man panel of justices of the apex court led by Justice Kayode Ariwola, adjourned to determine the merit of a suit that is seeking to set aside the judgement of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, which sacked Mr Daniel Nwafor as the Chairman of the APC in Imo state.
The apex court okayed the appeal for judgement after all the parties adopted their final briefs of argument.
The APC had through its lawyer, Robert Emukpoeruo, SAN, urged the court to allow the appeal marked SC/CV/884/2020.
It contended that the appellate court erred in law when it okayed Nwafor’s removal, based on a pre-election matter that was lodged before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, by one of its chieftains in the state, Mr. Evan Enwerem.
Whereas Enwerem, who was listed as the 1st Respondent in the matter, prayed the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal, Nwafor, aligned himself with the APC.
It will be recalled that the Abuja High Court had in a ruling Justice Othman Musa delivered on July 20, 2020, ordered Nwafor not to enforce or give effect to a 2018 judgement of the court that recognised him as Chairman of APC in Imo state, pending the determination of the appeal that was filed by the party.
Justice Musa noted that the crux of the appeal by the APC was that at the time the court entertained the suit that led to the judgement that recognized Nwafor as its Chairman in Imo, it was more than 14 days from the date it held congresses in the state.
Consequently, while granting an order to set aside the judgement, Justice Musa issued an injunctive order that restrained Nwafor from functioning as Chairman, pending the determination of the case.
Specifically, the court held that: “An order is hereby made restraining the 3rd defendant/counter claimant either by himself, officers, agents, subordinates or any person claiming through him from enforcing or giving effect to the judgment of this Court delivered on 14/08/2018 in FCT/HC/BW/CV/103/2018, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal filed by the 1st Defendant /Applicant (APC).
Talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Belarus began just before 1 p.m. Ukrainian time (6 a.m. ET) on Monday.
According to CNN, Ukraine’s delegation includes several high-ranking officials, but not Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky himself.
The country demanded an “immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops” in the lead-up to the meeting.
Meanwhile, CNN reports that Belarusian minister welcomes Ukrainian and Russian delegations for talks, saying they should feel “completely safe”
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“Dear friends, the President of Belarus asked me to welcome you and to provide everything for your work, as agreed with President Zelensky and President Putin. You may feel completely safe here. This is our sacred duty,” Makei said.
“President Lukashenko sincerely hopes that, during today’s talks, it will be possible to find solutions to all the questions of this crisis. All Belarusians are praying for this. Any proposals, in terms of organizing today’s meeting, will be considered and absolutely fulfilled,” he added. “We look forward to the results.”
The exact location of the talks between Russia and Ukraine on Monday has been kept secret for security reasons.
The talks are in Belarus, but the only location that has been announced is that they are on the banks of the Pripyat River in the Gomel region of Belarus.
Meanwhile, the central bank of Russia more than doubled its key interest rate on Monday, as the ruble plummeted after heavy sanctions were imposed on Moscow by the West
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has blamed
the recent rise in the pump price of fuel on an increment in the
ex-depot cost of petroleum.
As fuel scarcity worsened in many parts of the country in the last
fortnight, many fuel stations increased the pump price of petrol higher
than the official N165 per litre.
In some parts of Lagos, Ogun and Bayelsa for instance, the price of a litre of petrol went as high as N200 to N300 per litre.
Chairman, IPMAN Benin Depot, Mr Douglas Iyike, said this while
reacting to a directive issued by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and
Natural Gas Workers asking that the price should be reversed.
According to him, the increment is due to the hike in the ex-depot
price of petrol which should be the area where NUPENG should direct its
threat rather than directing same at marketers.
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“We have read in newspapers the supposed 24-hour notice issued to marketers regarding the increment in the pump price of petrol.
“We want to place it on record that the increment is not due to any
fault of oil marketers because we can only sell based on the price at
which we buy petrol from the depots.
“There has been an increment in the ex-depot price which has left
marketers with no option than to increase the pump price of petrol above
the official N165 per litre in recent weeks.
“We believe that addressing the issue of the ex-depot price should be
the focus of NUPENG and not attempting to picket petrol stations which
might lead to a breakdown of law and order,” he told NAN.
As activities for the 2023 general elections build up, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State may have concluded plans to serve quit notice to all Public and Civil Servants eyeing partisan politics in the State.
Governor Makinde may issue the directive himself or through a circular by the Secretary to the State Government, Olubamiwo Adeosun who will convey the directive.
The governor will ask such aides to resign their appointments before the commencement of party primaries which will start in April, 2022 according to the INEC guidelines.
The source who didn’t want her name mentioned however, said appointees have been warned against canvassing for votes and campaigning for elective offices without resigning.
She added that such actions would attract sanctions and hence a breach of the governors’ directive which will be made official soon.
Meanwhile, further investigation showed that at least, one out of the top six in the government, three commissioners, chairmen of boards and agencies, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants full-time and part-time members of boards, agencies and corporations. have indicated interests to seek elective positions in 2023 secretly.
Most of them have started consultations by making overtures to party leaders in the state, their various senatorial districts, federal constituencies, local governments and wards and delegates who will vote in the primaries. However, some are afraid of losing out totally with the decisions they are about to make.
Should they resign and not get the tickets, they will not be reinstated to their previous positions in Makinde’s administration as fresh appointments will be made to fill the vacuum created by their departures.
The largest plane in the world – Ukraine’s Antonov-225 cargo plane –
was destroyed by Russian strikes outside Kyiv on the fourth day of
Moscow’s invasion, Ukraine’s state-owned Ukroboronprom group said
Sunday.
“Russian invaders destroyed the flagship of the Ukrainian aviation,
the AN-225” at the Antonov airport in Gostomel near Kyiv, the group said
in a statement.
The aircraft was unique to the world, at 84 meters long (276 feet) it
could transport up to 250 tonnes (551,000 pounds) of cargo at a speed
of up to 850 kilometres per hour (528 mph).
It had been named “Mriya”, which means “dream” in Ukrainian.
“This was the world’s largest aircraft, AN-225 ‘Mriya’” Ukraine’ Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted Sunday.
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“Russia may have destroyed our ‘Mriya’. But they will never be able
to destroy our dream of a strong, free and democratic European state. We
shall prevail!”, he added.
Gostomel airport has seen violent clashes since the start of Russia’s invasion, launched by President Vladimir Putin Thursday.
The Russian army has said it is trying to seize strategic infrastructure.
Weapons manufacturer Ukroboronprom estimated that restoring the
“Mriya” would cost over $3 billion (2.7 billion euros) and could take
over five years.
“Our mission is to ensure that these expenses are covered by Russia,
which deliberately inflicted damage on Ukraine’s aviation,” the group
said.
Initially built as part of the Soviet aeronautical program, the An-225 made its first flight in 1988.
After years of not flying after the fall of the Soviet Union, the
only existing copy made a test flight in 2001 in Gostomel, about 20
kilometres from Kyiv.
It has been operated by Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines for cargo flights
and was in high demand during the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• More vessels avoid Black, Mediterranean seas over attacks, sanctions
The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine may further prolong the over three-week scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, in Nigeria, as bulk of the refined products coming into the country from the warring region and its adjoining areas are likely to face some delays.
It was also gathered on Sunday that traders who supply Nigeria with refined petroleum products might pause a little due to the deficit in the supply of crude oil cargoes from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
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NNPC brings in refined petrol into Nigeria using contractors or traders through its Direct Sale Direct Purchase scheme.
Under the scheme, the oil company provides crude oil to its trading partners, who in turn supply the NNPC with refined products worth the volume of crude received from the national oil company.
But impeccable sources both at the oil firm and among traders stated on Sunday that Nigeria through the NNPC had a deficit of about 17 cargoes in its DSDP obligation due to low oil production.
This, they said, could further prolong the fuel scarcity situation being faced nationwide, except something drastic such as the complete deregulation of the downstream oil sector was implemented.
They also noted that the Russia-Ukraine war might worsen the petrol supply situation in Nigeria as products could be hindered from leaving refineries in the region on schedule.
Nigeria imports its refined petroleum products, as its refineries are currently dormant.
“What we face now could be described as a perfect storm, which is when many things go wrong at the same time. We have a fundamental problem, but that problem happens at a time that other things happened and so it aggravates everything,” an oil trader with the NNPC, who pleaded not to be named due to the sensitive nature of the matter, stated.
The source added, “Now, Russia has attacked Ukraine. What is the impact of Russia’s attack of Ukraine on Nigeria? Russia is an oil-producing country, for Ukraine, our refined products come from that part of the world, not only Western Europe.
“So, the price has gone up because our refined products come from that part of the world and disturbances such as the one happening there will impact supply one way or the other.”
On concerns around DSDP and how it would further prolong petrol scarcity, another trader stated the continued theft of crude oil had impeded NNPC’s ability to settle its crude oil supply obligations to traders on schedule.
The source said, “Nigeria is assigned about 1.7 million barrels of crude oil production per day by OPEC, but its production is between 1.3 and 1.4 million barrels daily. But that is a different thing. Now, from the about 1.3 million barrels that the country produces daily, people are stealing from it.
“They are creating holes in pipelines and the ones that they steal are used in illegal refineries in Rivers State, causing soothe and dirt in peoples’ lungs. The other ones that they steal, they put in batches and go to the high sea to sell them.
The source added, “Now the NNPC brings in products through Direct Sale Direct Purchase of crude. Now I’m telling you that the NNPC owes traders crude oil under the DSDP scheme and you know why? It owes crude oil because people are stealing the crude and they don’t have enough crude to pay.
“So the NNPC owes the traders who bring them refined products. So when they (NNPC) say give me some more, the traders will reply by saying, but you are already owing, pay us. The NNPC cannot pay because people are stealing crude.
“This tells you that the petrol scarcity problems may continue if something drastic, particularly the deregulation of the downstream sector, is not done as soon as possible.”
When contacted, the spokesperson of NNPC, Garba-Deen Muhammad, asked our correspondent to send him a text or WhatsApp message on the matter. This was sent to him but he had yet to reply the messages up till the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the cost of shipping crude oil on super-sized tankers from the United States Gulf Coast to the United Kingdom and Asia surged after attacks on vessels in the Black Sea unleashed a risk-based premium into global shipping markets.
According to Bloombergquint.com report, tanker rates for so-called Very Large Crude Carriers that can carry about two million barrels of crude from the US Gulf Coast to the Asian market jumped to about $7m on Friday from $4.4m just three days ago, according to two shipbrokers familiar with the trades.
They also said that rates for booking vessels that carry oil to the European market rose to more than $2.75m from about $1.6m they said.
The higher costs may threaten US oil exports even as Brent crude’s premium to US oil futures is the biggest it has been since the early days of the pandemic.
Shipowners were already avoiding offering their vessels to collect crude from Russia while at least three merchant ships have been reportedly hit since Russian forces began the attack on its neighbour this last week.
Insurers are either not offering to cover vessels sailing into the Black Sea or they are demanding huge premiums to do so.
Meanwhile, fresh indications have emerged that the development has extended to the African market including Nigeria.
A former President of the Nigerian Indigenous Ship-Owners Association, Aminu Umar, confirmed it was now difficult for ships to sail through the Russia-Ukraine region and its adjoining areas due to the escalating tensions, noting that the area had since been classified as a war zone.
According to him, the situation may lead to a shortage of vessels as more ships avoid the regions.
“Some steel imports come from the Black Sea. Due to insecurity and war in Ukraine which you know is in the Black Sea, it is going to be difficult for ships to go there. The insurance world has classified the area as a war zone. So, many ships cannot go there anymore. No ship is allowed to go there until things are cleared, unless the owner of the vessel decides to take the risk directly, going without following advice from his insurance firm.”
As a result of the development, the expert said the situation had led to a major increase in freight rate.
Also, he said insurance premiums had gone up.
Umar said, “There may be a shortage in the number of vessels going to the Black Sea to ferry cargoes to Nigeria. Already, freight has skyrocketed in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. These are places we get cargoes that come to Nigeria. The development is going to affect the shipping world very significantly.
“Again, some vessels are already currently blocked in the Black Sea, they can’t come out. Also, some are going to face embargos and sanctions, which means they can’t trade in cargo. Any shipping company owned by a Russian or flying the Russian flag will be involved in this sanction. Consequently, a number of the vessels trading within the Black Sea and the Mediterranean will end not being able to carry cargo either to Europe, America or any of the African countries, because Nigeria is also following the United Nations sanction.”
Specifically, he said the freight rate on tanker vessels had gone up from $10,000 per day to $30, 000 per day, a few days into the war.
He added, “As at yesterday (Saturday) for tankers that are trading within the Mediterranean and Black seas, their freight rate has increased, they were doing like $10,000 per day, and now they are doing like $30, 000 a day. So, it is almost 300 per cent increase in freight and it is still going up.
The vessel that will load cargo like steel from the Black Sea will now be facing a very high freight because only a few of the vessels can go there; I am talking about tankers, I have not got an update on the general cargos. Also, When they put you on a war risk zone, it means your insurance premium doubles immediately.
Also, the President, the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners, Tajudeen Alao, noted that crude oil prices had gone over $100 per barrel, adding that the Russia-Ukraine war lead to an increase in insurance and freight.
He listed the challenges as “war risk insurance on freight, increase in commodity prices such as wheat and energy in the European market. The multiplier effect affects export to third world. There will also be the introduction of extra charges. Fewer ship owners and crew will want to go to war zones.”
On his part, a shipping expert, Emmanuel Ilori, said the situation is a wake-up call for Nigeria on the need to be self sufficient, especially in the maritime sector.
“The only thing we can say for Nigeria shipping from this development is the need for Nigeria to be self-sufficient, the need for Nigeria to build its own national fleet and be sufficient in terms of the maritime resources. All of a sudden, sanctions have been imposed on Russia. But Russia is relatively maritime self-sufficient so they will be able to handle it.”
According to him, developing capacity in the maritime sector will reduce the country’s dependency on foreign countries.
“If Nigerian is still dependent on foreign countries for its shipping, any sudden development such as a sanction may throw the country out of balance. How are we going to survive as a nation? That is why we need to be self-sufficient in terms of shipping, technology, and all that. We need to develop our maritime sector in terms of technology and infrastructure,” he noted.
Ilori further advised the country to develop the capacity to train cadets, adding that the Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron should be upgraded to train more people.
Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has said that Nigeria and Nigerians would be safe in his hands if he becomes president.
He said this ahead of the 2023 elections where he’s speculated to be vying for the presidential ticket of the People Democratic Party.
According to Daily Nigerian, Atiku said this in a recorded message at the South-West edition of the Atiku Abubakar Town Hall Meetings of National Unity and Prosperity Forum 2022, powered by the Atiku Kawai Media Group, held at the MUSON Center, Lagos.
He said, “I am aware of the daunting challenges faced by visioners as they struggle to create a nation out of an amalgamation of communities.
“The willpower and empathy required to fix Nigeria will need a leader who knows both the historical and contemporary issues of our generations.
“Nigeria and indeed Nigerians will be safe in my hands. And together, we can halt the slide and redirect our collective resources to build a prosperous country.”
Ongoing industrial action by members of the Academic Staff Union of
Universities, ASUU, is seen by some as one of the reasons people
patronise private universities, as lecturers there are not members of
the union and would not go on strike.
Meanwhile, another set of people not participating in the strike are
lecturers in some state universities and those in universities not yet
unionised.
On their part, newly-established public universities are given observer status for some years before being admitted into ASUU.
Nigeria has 49 federal universities, 54 owned by state governments and 109 private ones.
Federal universities are currently on strike while some state-owned
are not part of the strike, the reason being that some major demands by
ASUU are peculiar only to federal universities.
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The issue of inadequate funding of the education sector cuts across
all public universities, just like the demand for better salaries and
other conditions of service.
However, the issues of revitalisation fund and the controversial Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System, IPPIS, are peculiar to only federal universities since it is the FG that uses IPPIS to pay its workers and revitalisation fund is given by it to its universities.
Both federal and state universities are affected by proliferation of universities, as some state governments, for instance Abia and Delta grappling with the challenge of funding one university, are creating more.
The financial implications of the demands by ASUU run into billions of naira. For example, going by an agreement signed by the FG with the union, government is expected to commit N200 billion annually for five years to the revitalisation of the sector.
To meet this segment of the ASUU demand, the Federal Government must cough out N1trillion.
But the best it did recently was the release of N30 billion as a sign of commitment.
Even though the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, and the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN, have appealed to the two warring sides to sheath their swords, no truce is in the horizon. Whereas Comrade Sunday Asefon, NANS President, said students would take to the streets in protest and Alhaji Haruna Danjuma of NAPTAN said students and parents were at the receiving end, a truce is still far from being reached.
National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, is of the opinion that how soon the strike would end lies with government.
Implications
With the education sector yet to recover from the lockdown of schools following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the current strike is another blow to university education.
Whereas certificates issued by the nation’s universities are losing value internationally as holders are subjected to fresh evaluation abroad, staying out of school would further worsen the situation.
Students are getting fatigued as a four-year course sees a student spending six or more years on campus because of strike by workers.
However, universities not on strike are enjoying a sort of advantage over those on strike.
For instance, students of Edo University, Uzairue, told Sunday Vanguard of their excitement that their school is running. The university, set up in 2016, has carved a niche for itself in some areas regarding academic excellence.
A 200 level student of the institution, Awuya Maryanne, said, “Aside the fact that our school is managed by Edo State government, it is not under ASUU and it is also a world class university.
“This has made the academic calendar go as planned.
“If you apply for a four-year course you got to stay here for four years.
“I feel what distinguishes Edo University from others is because it is the only state university I know where lecturers teach well without you hearing any story of assault or taking advantage of students for higher grades.
“Secondly, the facilities needed for some practical courses like mass communication are available.
“By this, students are getting both lectures and practical teaching which differentiate them from others.
“For students, it’s a joy and motivation to know you won’t be affected by strike.
“For parents, it’s also similar to the students own.
“For lecturers, when I view it from their perspective, I would say they also don’t want to be affected by strike because lecturing is their source of income.
“The academic calendar has been going on smoothly.”
Another student, Grace Amasoh, said the fact that the day of graduation is certain is a big plus and advantage at EU.
“The effect on the calendar is stability and more effective lectures,” she added.
On her part, Okwuise Benjamin, also a student in the university, noted, “The major difference between my university and other universities is the calendar.
“Our calendar here does not change no matter the situation. I am happy and staying positive and it is one of the best institutions in Nigeria.”
Akabueze-Chukwudebe Jessica, also speaking, said, “No, my university has never gone on strike. It is known to everyone that if your university is under ASUU, that is when strikes can affect you and, since my school is not under ASUU, strikes don’t affect my school.”
Students in public universities whose lecturers are now on strike would definitely be envious of their colleagues who are not affected by the industrial action. federal and state universities are affected by proliferation of
universities, as some state governments, for instance Abia and Delta
grappling with the challenge of funding one university, are creating
more.
The financial implications of the demands by ASUU run into billions
of naira. For example, going by an agreement signed by the FG with the
union, government is expected to commit N200 billion annually for five
years to the revitalisation of the sector.
To meet this segment of the ASUU demand, the Federal Government must cough out N1trillion.
But the best it did recently was the release of N30 billion as a sign of commitment.
Even though the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, and
the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN, have
appealed to the two warring sides to sheath their swords, no truce is in
the horizon. Whereas Comrade Sunday Asefon, NANS President, said
students would take to the streets in protest and Alhaji Haruna Danjuma
of NAPTAN said students and parents were at the receiving end, a truce
is still far from being reached.
National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, is of the opinion that how soon the strike would end lies with government.
Implications
With the education sector yet to recover from the lockdown of schools
following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the current strike is
another blow to university education.
Whereas certificates issued by the nation’s universities are losing
value internationally as holders are subjected to fresh evaluation
abroad, staying out of school would further worsen the situation.
Students are getting fatigued as a four-year course sees a student
spending six or more years on campus because of strike by workers.
However, universities not on strike are enjoying a sort of advantage over those on strike.
For instance, students of Edo University, Uzairue, told Sunday
Vanguard of their excitement that their school is running. The
university, set up in 2016, has carved a niche for itself in some areas
regarding academic excellence.
A 200 level student of the institution, Awuya Maryanne, said, “Aside
the fact that our school is managed by Edo State government, it is not
under ASUU and it is also a world class university.
“This has made the academic calendar go as planned.
“If you apply for a four-year course you got to stay here for four years.
“I feel what distinguishes Edo University from others is because it
is the only state university I know where lecturers teach well without
you hearing any story of assault or taking advantage of students for
higher grades.
“Secondly, the facilities needed for some practical courses like mass communication are available.
“By this, students are getting both lectures and practical teaching which differentiate them from others.
“For students, it’s a joy and motivation to know you won’t be affected by strike.
“For parents, it’s also similar to the students own.
“For lecturers, when I view it from their perspective, I would say
they also don’t want to be affected by strike because lecturing is their
source of income.
“The academic calendar has been going on smoothly.”
Another student, Grace Amasoh, said the fact that the day of graduation is certain is a big plus and advantage at EU.
“The effect on the calendar is stability and more effective lectures,” she added.
On her part, Okwuise Benjamin, also a student in the university,
noted, “The major difference between my university and other
universities is the calendar.
“Our calendar here does not change no matter the situation. I am
happy and staying positive and it is one of the best institutions in
Nigeria.”
Akabueze-Chukwudebe Jessica, also speaking, said, “No, my university
has never gone on strike. It is known to everyone that if your
university is under ASUU, that is when strikes can affect you and, since
my school is not under ASUU, strikes don’t affect my school.”
Students in public universities whose lecturers are now on strike
would definitely be envious of their colleagues who are not affected by
the industrial action.
