EFCC and fleeing White Lion
Photo Credit: The Nation Nigeria
Ordinarily, for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and indeed other anti-corruption agencies, the fear of a mere mortal who christens himself the ‘White Lion’ of Kogi State, the political entity he presided over for eight years like a feral beast with neither conscience nor compassion, ought to be the beginning of wisdom. But alas, what have we seen ever since Mr. Yahaya Bello formally quit office in May last year and handed over to his minion and irredeemable stooge, Usman Ododo? The EFCC has turned out to be the lion-hearted and the self-styled white lion, Yahaya, no more than a feeble-hearted rat on the run for fear of having to answer questions the anti-graft agency has raised as regards the expenditure of over 80 billion Naira under Bello’s watch in the confluence state, one of the most richly endowed with natural and human resources in the country, yet whose long-suffering people are the most pathetically immiserated.
When he assumed office in a legally questionable manner following the death of the winner of the 2015 governorship election in the state, Prince Abubakar Audu, before the result of the poll was announced, Bello incessantly harped on the fact that he was the youngest governor in the country. He was a little above 40 at the time he became governor. But his performance during his eight-year tenure has proven, once again, that age cannot be the sole criteria for determining suitability for elective office. While you have many dynamic, gifted, focused, and result-oriented youth holding their own creditably in leadership positions in both the public and private sectors, there are also many who, like Bello, are hungry for public office but lack the discipline, character, vision, integrity, and capacity for the industry that such offices demand. Bello is surely the poster boy for this category of indolent and mentally vacuous youth.
It is difficult to understand why Bello is creating so much needless drama and hysteria over his invitation to respond to allegations against him by the EFCC, which was acting within the bounds of its statutory responsibilities as stipulated by valid laws of the country. What exactly is so special about this ex-governor that he presumes himself to be above the law? I recall that after handing over to his successor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), on Tuesday, May 29, 2007, the former governor of Lagos State and now President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, honored the EFCC’s invitation to clarify issues as regards the management of the finances of the state during his 8-year tenure. He reported at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja in the morning and left late at night after responding to questions by the commission’s interrogators on major contracts awarded by his administration and sundry matters. We can also all recall how a former governor of Ekiti state, Mr. Ayo Fayose, promptly reported himself to the EFCC after he left office and till date still has a case filed against him in court by the agency.
Photo Credit: Google
Tinubu targets increased gas production
Photo Credit: Punch Newspaper
President Bola Tinubu will commission three critical gas infrastructure projects undertaken by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and its partners.
They are the AHL Gas Processing Plant 2 in Delta State, the ANOH Gas Processing Plant, and the ANOH-OB3 CTMS Gas Pipeline Projects in Imo State. The gas projects have a combined estimated output of 1,400 million standard cubic feet per day.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed this in a statement he signed Friday titled ‘President Tinubu to commission critical gas infrastructure projects.’
“The projects support the federal government’s effort to grow value from the nation’s gas assets while eliminating gas flaring…and deepen domestic gas supply as a critical enabler for economic prosperity,” said Ngelale.
The AHL Gas Processing Plant 2 is an expansion to the Kwale Gas Processing Plant, which currently supplies about 130MMscf/d of gas to the domestic market.
The processing plant is designed to process 200MMscf/d of rich gas and deliver lean gas through the OB3 Gas Pipeline. However, the facility already injecting gas is scheduled to ramp up to 180mmscfd by the end of May.
Ngelale said this additional gas supply will “support further rapid industrialisation of Nigeria” and also “produce about 160,000 MTPA of Propane and 100,000 MTPA of Butane, which will reduce the dependency on LPG Imports.”
EFCC to consider fresh petition over Matawalle N70bn fraud case
Photo Credit: Punch Newspaper
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has said it would consider the fresh petition it recently received over the alleged N70bn corruption case of Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
The EFCC’s acting Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwajuren, stated this while addressing protesters under the aegis of the APC Akida Forum who were at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Friday to demand the reopening of the pending case.
On May 18, 2023, the EFCC, through its Director, Media and Publicity Affairs, Osita Nwajah, had said it was probing corruption activities, award of phantom contracts, and diversion of over N70bn allegedly carried out by the minister during his tenure as Zamfara State governor between 2019 and 2023.
Recall that members of the Zamfara Alternative Forum had staged a protest at the EFCC headquarters in January, asking the Commission to probe the financial activities of the former governor.
But presenting a copy of their petition to the EFCC on Friday, the Chairman of the APC Akida Forum, Musa Mahmud, said the commission should reopen and intensify efforts on the investigation.
He said the call came amidst growing concerns about corruption in Nigeria and the bold steps taken by the APC administration regarding government officials suspected of embezzlement, including former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, among others.
Responding, Uwajuren said that the anti-graft agency would consider the fresh petition and take concrete action on it.
APC Grassroots Movement elects new excos
Photo Credit: The Nation Nigeria
National Chairman of Consolidated APC Grassroots Movement (CAGraM), Engr. Salisu Magaji and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) have congratulated the newly elected executive members of the Lagos State Chapter on their successful election.
In the statement signed by the Acting National Secretary of the group, Engr. Keruwole Murisik Abiodun, who was present at the Lagos State Chapter election, stated that the NWC is equally proud of the transparent conduct of the state electoral committee under the watch of the trustworthy CAGraM South West Zonal Executives led by the Vice Chairman, Com. Kolawole Okedara.
The national executives shall always be behind their progressive initiatives for the advancement of CACram in Lagos State politics.