Index to Nigerian Newspapers

Ambassador Mohammed Dauda, former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), has accused his removal from office of being orchestrated by those he refused to release public funds to for personal use. Dauda moved the $44 million to the office of the National Security Adviser for three reasons: to protect Gen Jaafaru, to guard the controversial money, and to create a witness. He was recently re-instated as DG of the agency by the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal. Dauda challenged his removal in court, arguing that the dismissal was wrong and did not follow due process. The Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) ordered Dauda to be reinstated as head of the agency and pay his salaries and entitlements from March 2018 to date. Dauda attributed his sack to lack of godfatherism in government and alleged that the negative press against him was a plot to cover up ineptitude, nepotism, impunity, tyranny, and administrative rascality at the nation's apex Intelligence agency.

The Rivers State High Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of three expatriates staff of Saipem, Giandomenico Zingali, Vitto Testaguzza and Davide Anelli, over an alleged conspiracy to cheat and defraud the Government of Rivers State of the sum of $130 million USD, being advanced payment for the construction of the OCGT power plant in Port Harcourt. The lead counsel to the Rivers State Government, Chief Godwin Obla, SAN, prayed that those absent be tried in absentia since they have been duly served court processes. The Rivers State Government had a contract with Saipem SPA and Saipem Contracting Nigeria Ltd in respect of Turbines and their building in Afam 11 in Oyigbo local government area of Rivers State, but the work did not progress beyond 40% of the contract sum. Forensic analysis revealed criminal infractions and charges have been brought against the company and individuals working with the company.

EFCC witness Chidi Eboigbe told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory that former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, was not reported to law enforcement agents because there was nowhere in a statement of account that showed Lawal carried out any transaction for a company. Rholavision Engineering Company is one of five defendants standing trial in the ongoing alleged N544 million contract infractions.

Nigeria's Vice President, Kashim Shettima, announced that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered assets worth over N500 billion in the past two years of President Bola Tinubu's administration. Shettima emphasized the administration's policy of non-interference in anti-graft agencies' operations, prioritizing public accountability and enhancing institutional accountability. The EFCC has recorded over 7,000 convictions and recovered assets in excess of N500 billion. The proceeds of recovered assets are being channeled into developmental initiatives, including students' loan and consumer credit schemes. Shettima also emphasized the administration's commitment to the rule of law and urged members of the judiciary to discharge their duties with patriotism and integrity. He called for collective commitment among all arms of government to strengthen the fight against graft.

The House of Representatives called for a forensic audit of rehabilitation projects at Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna Refineries and Petrochemical Companies, citing omissions in NNPCL's submissions. The report revealed rehabilitation costs of N11.35 trillion over 13 years, with unproductive refineries causing losses. The report shows that NNPCL's refineries underperformed from 2010 to 2019, with annual combined capacity below 30%. The report recommends using the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 to accelerate rehabilitation and refunding $438,012.44 paid by FBNQuest Merchant Bank for unsuccessful rehabilitation.

The People's Alternative Political Movement (TPAP-M) has requested information on the N3 trillion fuel subsidy demanded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited for 2022. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued President Muhammadu Buhari and two others at the Federal High Court, Lagos for failure to probe allegations that over N3.1 billion of public funds are missing from the finance ministry. The National Industrial Court (NIC) will hear the contempt suit filed by the Association of Specialist Medical Doctors in Academics against Ahmed for alleged disregard to a court order. The court had ordered the defendants to pay the doctors based on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and associated allowances, which was approved by the Federal Government on September 29, 2009. However, from August 2021 till date, the defendants are yet to fully comply with the order. The claimants are seeking an order for leave of the court to proceed with committal proceedings for disobedience to its order.

The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Jalal Arabi, and the commission's secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora, have been detained for the third night in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody due to their failure to meet bail conditions. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is investigating the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria helmsmen over alleged mismanagement or diversion of N90bn released by the Federal Government to subsidy the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. The investigation revealed that Arabi fraudulently overpaid himself and others for the necessary operational costs. The EFCC has previously grilled Arabi for hours and released him on bail. The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria Chairman and secretary are currently in custody and facing serious interrogations on the N90bn subsidy, among other allegations.

Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has revealed that the Rivers State government has discovered one of the state's Legacy 600 aircraft, flown to and abandoned in Germany since 2012 by the then Governor Chibuike Amaechi administration. Wike led a delegation of Rivers leaders to General Atomics Aerotec in Munich, Germany, where the aircraft had been abandoned for 10 years, and said efforts to repair and retrieve the aircraft would cost the state over 300 million Euros. Wike had to travel to Munich, Germany with a state delegation to prove that the Legacy 600 aircraft had been discovered and returned to Nigeria. Froetschi expressed delight that Wike took the initiative to repair and return the aircraft to Nigeria for use by the state government.

Fifty-five years ago, the late Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu warned that corruption was making Nigeria look big for nothing and that to set Nigeria on the path of unimpeded development, corruption must be eradicated. Our successive military rulers, from Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi to General Yakubu Gowon, led the charge against corruption. General Murtala Muhammed turned the civil services upside down to rid them of corruption, and the probes were the wind that exposed the posterior of the chicken. None of our leaders has won the anti-graft war so far, but corruption continues to dare and force the commanders and foot soldiers in the war to blink first. The EFCC was set up by President Obasanjo in 2003 to fight corruption. Its first chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, was a zealous man who worked hard to expose the rotten underbelly of our political system. However, corruption remains with a smirk on its face, making it the giver of favours and creator of instant wealth with no questions asked.