Edo moves to recover $31m from Igbinedion

The Edo State Government on Wednesday said that it had begun moves to recover $31m which it said was allegedly “fraudulently taken” from the government coffers, during the administration of former Governor Lucky Igbinedion.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Peter Okhiria, on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Louis Odion, disclosed this at the end of the State Executive Council meeting.

He also said that the state government would commence a legal action against the former governor’s administration, in order to recover what had been taken from the government coffers.

The commissioner said, “There is the issue of a fraud that was discovered while looking into our books. We found that $31m was fraudulently taken from the state coffers under the administration of Chief Lucky Igbinedion. The comrade governor has directed the Attorney-General to commence a legal action in that direction.

“So, in the coming days, the state government will take a legal action to ensure that what was stolen from the Edo State Government is recovered. When you convert $31m to naira, it fetches you a whooping N7bn. You can imagine what N7bn will do in improving the human condition in Edo State.”

The commissioner praised some landlords and companies in the state for their compliance with the payment of the land use charge.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Abdul Oroh, alleged that the $31m was allegedly used to fund a cement firm in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state.

Oroh said, “As the money was withdrawn, the construction of the company started and all the major structures were in place, 90 per cent completed, machines were installed but there was no other contribution from any other source for the construction and procurement of these equipment. So, everything invested in that company came from the Edo State Government.”

He also accused the Igbinedion administration of allegedly privatising the state fruit juice processing company at a “giveaway” price.

“The fruit juice processing company in Ehor was established in 2001 by the Lucky Igbinedion’s administration. The cost of establishing that company was N368,458,195 invested in this company by the Edo State Government. The company was owned 100 per cent by the Edo State Government. The materials for the company were imported from England from a company at a sum of £310,000,” he said.

Oroh added, “The company was now sold including the land and the three hectares pineapple farm which was also developed by the Ministry of Agriculture for N283.8m. The company was completed and there was a test-run. There was no reason to privatise it and it was sold out at a giveaway price which only could have been influenced by criminal intentions.’’

Efforts to get the comments of the former governor failed but a source close to him said Igbinedion would react to the allegations later.

Punch

APC sets up 40-member campaign committee for Sylva

The All Progressives Congress has inaugurated a 40-man campaign committee for the Bayelsa State governorship election slated to hold on December 5, 2015.

The committee, which has Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, as chairman, also has the governors of Sokoto, Kano, Lagos, Borno, Imo, and Zamfara states as members.

Inaugurating the committee at the APC national headquarters, in Abuja, on Monday, the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said the party’s expectation was that all the party’s 22 governors would storm the state for the campaign.

He, however, expressed gratitude to the seven governors who have so far volunteered to serve in the committee. He explained that the importance of the APC securing victory in the December polls could not be overemphasised.

According to him, while the APC was not seeking to make Nigeria a one-party state, the task ahead required that everyone should be brought on board.

Oyegun said, “I think it underscores in very clear terms, the importance the whole party attaches to the Bayelsa election. The time is short; that we understand, but the circumstances and the situation are very upbeat and very promising for eventual victory at the election.

“Just as I was confident about the national election, I am confident of the Bayelsa election because we have a good product. Secondly, we have a totally and abysmally underperforming governor in Bayelsa State.

“Thirdly, the governing party in Bayelsa State has crumbled because most of the significant people in that party are today with us seeking votes for a progressive party. Lastly, we have a crack team comprising members of the campaign council and our job here today is to send them forth to undertake this challenging assignment.”

He informed members of the committee that the task before them was simple. He said they should ensure that they do everything legally possible to bring the people of Bayelsa State into the APC fold.

In his remarks, the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal said, “Our task is very clear to us and the task has been defined and blessed by God almighty.

“We shall do everything humanly possible within the confines of the law to bring into Government House of Bayelsa State, Timipreye Silva, come December 5, 2015.”

He assured President Muhammadu Buhari and the members of the party that the committee made up of committed party members would ensure that the state joined the APC family.

Other members of the committee included Governors Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos); Kashim Shettima (Borno); Rochas Okorocha (Imo); Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano) and Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), among others.

Goodluck to APC.

Pwajok’s body arrives in Jos

The remains of the Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the April 11 governorship election in Plateau state, Senator Gyang Pwajok, arrived in the country on Wednesday.

Pwajok, or GNS, as he was fondly called, died On Wednesday October, 28, 2015, at the age of 49 in an Indian hospital following complications from Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

The body arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja at about 3:20pm on Wednesday aboard an Emirate Airline.

The body was received by the former governor of Plateau state and Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial Zone, Senator Jonah Jang, his other colleagues in the Senate, Joshua Dariye and Jeremiah Useni amidst tears and emotions by a large crowd who had thronged the international wing of the airport.

Just before the body left for Jos, prayers were offered at the airport.

Punch

LASUTH centre treats 997 rape victims

The Mirabel Centre of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital says that a total of 997 rape cases have been treated in its two years of existence.

The Centre Manager, Mrs. Juliet Olumuyiwa-Rufai, said this when the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Lola Akande, visited the centre on Tuesday.

The manager explained that the centre was in charge of the rehabilitation of sexually assaulted victims in the state.

Olumuyiwa-Rufai informed Akande that the centre had been receiving tremendous support from LASUTH, and the state government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as the Ministry of Justice.

Akande, in her response, said it was important for victims of rape to always report such cases to the authorities.

She noted that it was when victims speak out and come to places like Mirabel Centre and her ministry that they could get the right help through counselling, medical care and access to justice free of charge.

She urged the police and all other relevant security agencies to rise up and prosecute the perpetrators when reported, so that victims could get justice.

While condemning landlords and prominent society members that always tried to shield rapists and perpetrators of sexual abuse, she disclosed that thenceforth, people that tried to cover up or shield rapists would also be prosecuted.

Akande also visited the ministry’s transit home where victims of domestic violence, particularly children and women, are kept in custody to shield them from further abuse.

At the home, Akande urged the administrator to ensure proper upkeep and education of children in their custody. She noted that she came on the visit to have firsthand information about the needs of the home.

Punch.

Robbers dare Ambode,rob Lagos motorists again

Armed robbers on Wednesday attacked motorists along the ever-busy Awolowo Road and Onikan areas of Ikoyi, Lagos, making away with valuables such as mobile phones, handbags, wristwatches and money.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the robbery took place shortly after Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said on his official Twitter handle that he had ordered the police to increase its presence on busy roads in the state.

The Lagos State Government on its official Facebook page, subsequently posted a picture of the governor leading a team of policemen and aides on an inspection of some black spots, particularly the Awolowo Road, Ikoyi.

Also, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, had after the State Security Council meeting which was also attended by the governor on Tuesday, read the Riot Act to robbers in the state and claimed that the police had increased its presence on busy roads.

However, it was learnt that around 6.30am on Wednesday, a gang of robbers attacked several motorists trapped in the gridlock.

A victim, who is also a reader of Linda Ikeji’s blog, said her car window was shattered by the robbers while her phone was stolen.

The report, which had a photo of the vandalised vehicle, stated, “Three guys attacked the owner of this car as she descended the bridge to enter the Island (Muson Centre area) on her way to work. They broke the driver and passenger’s side windows, took her phone and her chain. Fortunately, she said she kept her bag in the boot because of similar stories she had read online.”

Another reader, who identified himself as Rowland Adimoha, said he witnessed the Wednesday morning traffic robbery.

He said, “I was at same location this morning at about 6.15am when those boys attacked the woman. She wasn’t the only one robbed at that point this morning. Some vehicles noticed the menace and diverted towards Marina.

“The miscreants ran across the highway towards the Obalende side. Imagine the trauma people go through every day!”

Meanwhile, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Christian Olakpe, who resumed duties at the Oshodi headquarters of the agency, has given marching orders to officers to arrest the traffic situation.

He said the officers of LASTMA must brace up for the task of removing traffic gridlock and ending insecurity on the roads.

In a statement on Wednesday by the Public Relations Officer of LASTMA, Mamud Hassan, Olakpe said the officers must desist from extorting money from motorists, adding that officers caught would be sanctioned.

He said, “I am in LASTMA as part of the ongoing efforts to revamp, refocus and improve performance and relations with the public. Every LASTMA official is a public relations officer and must now perform the duty of enforcing traffic law within the ambit of the law.

“Officers must henceforth exhibit a high level of discipline, commitment and dedication to duty, because gone are the days when officers engaged in extortion.”

The retired Assistant Inspector General of Police sought the support and cooperation of motorists and members of the public to move the agency forward.

The General Manager of LATMA, Mr. Braimah Bashir assured him of the support and cooperation of the members of staff.

 Punch