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EFCC- YOUR SLOUCHY UTTERANCES AGAINST BELLO SHOW HE WILL NOT GET JUSTICE BEFORE YOU
Since the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, ( EFCC) in 2002, its activities have elicited both support and suspicion in the fight to tackle graft cases in Nigeria. Patriotic citizens from all walks of life have consistently stood by the EFCC in the difficult mandate given to it through an Act of the National Assembly.
Going through the recent press statement issued by the EFCC in which it has accused an imaginary named former Governor and two ex- ministers of spearheading a planned protest against the Commission is not only baseless, absurd but also cowardly. The story credited to the EFCC giving credence to some faceless 259 civil society organisations under the aegis of nonexistent Coalition for Transparency is a disgrace carried too far in the anti- graft war in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
With the story credited to the EFCC, one would think that the Commission was deliberately fashioned for lies, gross mischief and drain pipe purpose – a channel of deception and castration of Nigeria’s puberty. From all indications, the groups being celebrated by the EFCC are either the creation of the Commission or the agency cash and carry, non existent nor unregistered NGOs/ CSOs arrangement and hatchet jobbers with them on retainership basis. Not long ago, one of such beneficiaries wrote a petition to the National Judicial Council,( NJC) against a Judge handling the case between the EFCC and a former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. Sadly, the author of the said petition to the NJC was once arrested and charged to court by the Nigeria Police for mischief, falsehood and frivolous claims against a former Attorney-General of the Federation. What a shame and a coincidence for the EFCC- to be hobnobbing with such a disgruntled and malicious character parading himself as an activist.Has the EFCC forgotten the ethos of crime101 of profiling and carrying out due diligence of any of its friends before association?
Rather than remain a vile witness of dishonour, false alarms, arbitrariness and politicization of the anti- graft war, we must posit that the era of fighting the anti-corruption war with disobedience to court orders, selective prosecution, intimidation, gestapo like arrests, defamation of character and blackmail are gone forever with the wind. The Commission should rather concentrate its energy on the investigation of N23 billion Kano- Maiduguri abandoned rail line contract, the CCTV contract scam awarded for Lagos and Abuja worth over USD100 million, monies in billions spent by NDDC, the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry’s mind boggling “N729 billion” fraud, among others and also during the COVID-19 lock down.
Consequently, they also have an obligation to identify the Nigerian government officials that have been collecting bribes and perpetuating money laundering through Bitcoins platforms since 2016. But they all left these serious state matters in the coolers to go after a political assumed enemy and a juggernaut who has become a rallying point for the youths in Nigeria and a formidable ally of Mr President. These are all in a bid, to please their monstrous paymasters and retain the office of the Chairman of the EFCC. How long will Olukayode be using unethical methods and gestapo like arrests and movements to persecute and hound Yahaya Bello in order to please his self-serving ambition and cohorts?
Nigeria is a country founded on constitutional democracy, anchored on the rule of law and due process. Therefore, we challenge the EFCC to disclose the identity of the ex-Governor and two former ministers spearheading the concocted protest against the EFCC, including the venue and time where the meeting took place. They must furnish Nigerians with details of attendance list of the meeting and the money earmarked for the imaginary and phantom protest as alleged! How can the Commission stoop so low to embark on the dissemination of such hearsay, falsehood, orchestrated plots, red imaginary shadows, misrepresentation and innuendos without due process and the rule of law? The EFCC has become the accuser, prosecutor and judge in its own case. What a misnomer?
We must state categorically, to those who are either ignorant of the law establishing the agency or trying to display some affinity with the arrogance of the EFCC to note the motive behind the creation of the Commission wasn’t meant for the abuse of prosecutorial powers or usurp political authority. This presupposes that the Commission and its agents must act in accordance with the constitution and civil conduct in the discharge of their duties in consonance with the rule of law and civility in all its obligations to the citizenry, but the reverse is now the case under the present leadership.
We wish to ask the EFCC some salient questions relevant to the handling of their case against Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello. Why are they shopping for a pliable Judge to handle their persecution of Bello? Contrary to the standing operational procedure? Why did the Chairman place a call directly to Bello and wants him to follow the back door if there is no hidden agenda? What was the motive behind the Chairman’s placement of direct call to Bello? Why was he interested in ushering him via the Chairman’s special entrance gate and exclusive door? A back door arrangement that Bello rejected outright till date, has become his being hounded regrettably!
This brings us to the shadow boxing placement of Bello on the watch list of Interpol. The apt description of the action of the EFCC in this regard can be described as ultravires, premeditated, teleguided and an agenda for settling scores, having an axe to grind.
It is a big shame, ridiculous and embarrassing for obvious reasons, the EFCC is granting interviews and issuing statements in a clearer attempt to ambush and preempt judicial officers handling their case against Bello who are already in various courts of competent jurisdiction. What a shameless act by the agency!
The EFCC must desist from further overheating the polity, from undemocratic and unconstitutional practices in the handling of this case and others. The era of plotting shenanigans and suffocating excuses in the fight against graft is over. Therefore, all cases before the courts must be allowed to be exhausted in full and the outcome decided. The anti-graft body must not be seen to probate and reprobate in a desperate bid to crucify any accused persons under investigation or prosecution under its watch. Actions of resorting to self help, amounts to prejudicial and subjudicial, that are entrenchently intolerable in terms of both legal and moral compliance.
Only an institution that has abandoned its core mandate would embark on a proxy war, name calling and grandstanding. Blaming white witches and village people for their incompetence, lack of due diligence and unprofessional conduct. Wasting tax payers’ monies on wild goose chase that would lead Nigerians to no where, except the land of voodoo warriors insinuating about planned and sponsored protest against the EFCC.
For the umpteenth time, let us state that the placement of Bello on the watch list which is already before the court is mischievous, self serving, arbitrary obnoxious and devoid of fairness.
It is on this ground that we are urging the Chairman of the EFCC to resign from office forthwith, due to his inability to discharge his mandate without fear, favour and biases.
Let us make it abundantly clear, that natural justice is anchored in the will of Almighty God taught to mankind. The EFCC should always act with fear of God devoid of sentiments and preferential treatment of requesting suspects to see the Chief Prosecutor through his special backdoor. Nigerians are still waiting for explanation on other high suspects granted such merited or unmerited favours. The criteria used for the selection process and the fate of those who accepted and others who rejected such private gestures! The Nigerian people are interested in the overall outcome of what transpired during both day and night visits through the Chairman’s exclusive door!
Finally, the desperate agenda to crucify Bello amounts to giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it. The constant review of human regulations and laws is evidence of civility, as Edmund Burke aptly captures it plainly when he said “Bad laws are worst sort of tyranny”. The EFCC has goofed once again and should explain to Nigerians the extant rule of the exclusive backdoor passage which Yahaya Bello declined and rejected.
We therefore call on the International Community, Donor Agencies and Partners to dispassionately read in between the lines in terms of the backdoor arrangement/exclusivity offered by the Chairman of EFCC to Bello and the glaring double – standards and inconsistencies in the handling of the anti-graft war as it relates to politically exposed persons in Nigeria!
With the above, the Chairman of EFCC has no moral right to stay a day longer in office as the Chairman of the agency!
Signed:
Comrade Musa Abdullahi
Secretary General, Movement for the Protection of People’s Rights(MPPR)
Comrade Abiola Adegbite
Dir, Media & Publicity,(MPPR).
12th July, 2024.
By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
The Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has entered into partnership with
Nigeria Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Nasarawa State Chapter, to drive fresh investment options in the State.
With 68,000 hectares, the Dangote’s Nasarawa Sugar Company Limited (NSCL) in Tunga, is considered Nigeria’s biggest Backward Integration Policy (BIP) project in the sugar sector.
Speaking to newsmen, Chairman of the Nigeria Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Nasarawa State Chapter, Nidan Sambo Manasseh, said the 2025 Trade Fair and Exhibition has provided the chance for the Dangote Group and NASSI to consider the numerous business opportunities in the State.
According to Manasseh, “We are actively exploring opportunities to deepen our collaboration with the Dangote Group, particularly in expanding employment programmes through youth and women’s skills acquisition and other vital support services.
“We deeply appreciate the Dangote Group’s invaluable collaboration through financial support and sponsorship of NASSI’s programs. Their contribution has been exceptional, and we are profoundly grateful.”
Continuing, Manasseh said the Nasarawa Trade Fair Exhibition (NASTFE) is a vital catalyst for the State’s economic transformation, adding that the strategic initiative by NASSI directly aligns with Governor Abdullahi Sule’s vision to stimulate investment and unlock significant growth.
He said Nasarawa State’s wealth in mineral resources is a central highlight of NASTFE, adding that the exhibition will showcase how its natural endowment can drive economic growth by encouraging value addition in raw material processing and manufacturing, particularly benefiting Small Scale Industries.
“NASTFE serves as a premier platform to showcase Nasarawa State’s considerable potential, connecting discerning investors with its abundant natural resources and dynamic human capital. Governor Sule’s commitment to a business-enabling environment is evident, with NASTFE designed to effectively communicate this compelling value proposition,” he added.
The chairman of NASSI said its objective is to leverage Nasarawa State’s rich natural resources to fuel economic growth by promoting value addition in raw material processing and manufacturing.
“This focus will enhance economic value, particularly for Small Scale Industries, attract crucial investment, generate employment opportunities, and contribute to poverty reduction,” he said.
A statement from the Dangote Group’s Chief Branding and Communication Officer, Anthony Chiejina, said: “Nasarawa State is central to our overall investment in Nigeria. It is home to Dangote’s Nasarawa Sugar Company Limited (NSCL). The sugar project, when completed, will be one of the biggest sugar investments on the African continent.”
The statement quoted the Senior Special Adviser to the Dangote Group’s President, Fatima Wali Abdurrahman, as saying that: “We are not taking this partnership for granted. Our Strategic Business Units (SBUs) are participating.
According to her, some of the Business Units participating from the Dangote Group are: Dangote Peugeot Automobiles Nigeria Limited (DPAN), Dangote SinoTruck, Dangote Sugar Refinery, Dangote Salt (NASCON) and Dangote Cement, among others.”
Mrs. Abdurrahman said the Trade Fair offers the company an opportunity to interact with stakeholders and Nigerians who may want to do business with the company.
She said a special Help Desk will be created for inquiries to enable the company to receive feedback from participants.
She urged participants to visit the company’s pavilion and take advantage of its innovative products.
By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has pledged to intervene in the workers’ loan repayments that were deducted from their salaries but never remitted to the respective banks.
The Governor made this commitment while responding to an appeal by the Sokoto State Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdullahi Aliyu, who urged the state government to intervene in the matter.
According to the NLC chairperson, many workers who took loans through salary deductions have continued to suffer due to the failure of officials in the previous administration to remit the deductions to the banks.
“Your Excellency, please come to the aid of these people. They have been at a crossroads for years,” Comrade Abdullahi appealed. “We know you to be firm in defending people’s rights. Please apply your popular slogan, in kudi kudi in aiki aiki, to recover the diverted funds.”
Governor Aliyu assured the labour leader and affected workers that his administration will investigate the matter and ensure that the right thing is done .
“This administration prioritizes human rights and will not condone any violations under any guise,” the Governor said. “We are committed to protecting the rights of the weak, the less privileged, and the downtrodden in our state.”
a statement by Abubakar Bawa, the Press Secretary to the governor quoted his principal as appealing to the people of State to continue their support and cooperation with his administration so that they can continue to benefit from the dividends of democracy.
The governor further expressed gratitude for the public’s fervent prayers to his administration and urged them to mentain the tempo.
By Abubakar Yusuf
Over the decades , the administration of Lands in the nation’s city and area councils has been characterised with series of sharp practices, corruption, fake allocation, encroachments, double allocations among many others from the FCT allocation to area councils allocations, creating so many crises that involved even the officials of both FCT and area councils.
These ugly development spanned for over two decades and since the movement of the FCT from Lagos to Abuja does not augur well for the development of Federal Capital Territory FCT, Abuja and had tend to erode and bastardise the original master plan of the FCT , hence creating frequent adjustments and readjustments ,through demolitions among many other things that will restore the FCT original master plan .
Determined to right the wrongs in the Land sector , along with physical, infrastructural and socioeconomic development of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike introduced a sweeping program that will restore not only the dignity of land administration in the FCT and area councils, but bring sanity to land administration in the nation’s city.
This is been done through the need to regularise the over 261,000 lands allocated by the area councils closed to two decades , precisely since 2006,(17 years), with only and barely 8,000 have been regularized.
According to the Minister , the new policy gave land allottees in FCT within 21 days to process and accept documents beginning from April 21, while land development that was kept for many decades will be developed within two years or attract revocation and re-allocation to interested developers without further delay .
It is on record that abandoned plots and uncompleted houses has been the abode for criminals , criminal elements and their collaborators, who engaged in all sorts of vices and criminalities across the length and breadth of the nation’s city and area councils .
In 2000, through Public Private Partnership PPP, Mass Housing of allocation of FCT land was carried out to interested companies and organizations, this was geared towards providing mass and affordable houses for Abuja residents across the FCT, the private developers took advantage of the mass arrangement without doing the needful, by proper titling , with the new arrangements on land reforms , reclamation and recovery, all allotted lands and allottees are expected to regularise their allocations henceforth.
Payment of fees and rents among other bills will be regularized with the new policy, as out of the 445 engaged Mass Housing Program through PPP, only two developers met with the terms and conditions specified by the FCT administration.
The Minister who was very explicit and determined on genuine land reforms made announcement inter alia as follows…
“WIKE INTRODUCES SWEEPING REFORMS IN FCT LAND ADMINISTRATION
• AREA COUNCIL LAND ALLOCATIONS TO BE REGULARISED
• MASS HOUSING PROPERTIES TO BE TITLED IN FAVOUR OF BUYERS
• ALLOTTEES MUST DEVELOP LANDS WITHIN TWO YEARS.”
“We are here to intimate you of the broad and comprehensive reforms on land administration in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), that the Minister, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, CON, has approved for implementation.”
“These reforms, which will become operational from April 21, 2025, cover specific areas like conditions of grant of Statutory Right of Occupancy, contents of the Statutory Right of Occupancy Bill, contents of Letter of Acceptance/Refusal of offer of grant of Right of Occupancy, titling of Mass Housing and sectional interests, as well as regularization of Area Council Land documents.”
“It should be noted that before now, deadline for payment of bills, rents, fees and charges is not specified in the Statutory Right of Occupancy bill, and no penalty for failure to make payment promptly. This has caused delay in revenue receivable due to non-collection of Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) and non-payment of bills, slower pace of infrastructural development, sustained land speculation and racketeering while huge expenses have been incurred by the FCT Administration through repeated advertisements and publications notifying the public on the need for collection of R-of-O and timely payment of bills and charges.”
“Consequently, as against the unspecified period within which to collect the Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) and make full payment of the Statutory Right of Occupancy bills and charges, land allottees now have 21 days from the date of offer, to make full payment of all bills, fees, rents and charges prescribed on offers of Statutory Rights of Occupancy and submit a duly completed Letter of acceptance alongside evidence of payments, or lose the offer.”
“Also, as against the lengthy period within which to develop allocated lands, the period within which to erect and complete developments on any land granted in the FCT is now two years from the date of the commencement of the R-of-O.”
“Therefore, any R-of-O bills and any other payments made outside the stipulated 21 days shall be considered invalid while any land granted should be developed within two years. ”
“On lands previously allocated by Area Councils, the law stipulates that all lands in the FCT are urban land. It therefore becomes necessary that all land documents issued by the Area Councils are considered for regularization to statutory titles in line with relevant statutes.”
“It should be noted that in 2006, the Zonal Land, Planning and Survey offices of the six Area Councils were directed to submit all Area Council allocation lists, layouts, files and registers to Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS)/Lands Department, and this was done by the Area Councils.”
“However, to date, out of the 261,914 Area Council land documents submitted for regularization, only 8,287 have been vetted, out of which only 2,358 were cleared, validated and regularized to statutory titles. The 8,287 were vetted from 2006 to 2023 (17 years), and this represents just 3.2% of the total land documents submitted for vetting and regularization as at today, the FCT Administration is still left with 253,627 submissions in its database.”
“Area Council land documents successfully vetted and confirmed would have statutory titles on such lands issued and the allottees will have sixty days to make full payments of all bills, fees, rents and charges prescribed, failure of which the offers shall become invalid.”
“On Mass Housing, it should be noted that the Mass Housing Programme was initiated in year 2000 to utilize the Public Private Partnership (PPP) strategy with the objective of providing affordable housing for the residents of FCT. ”
“However, from the inception of the Mass Housing programme in 2000 till date, out of the 445 Mass Housing allocations granted, only two developers have successfully met the terms and conditions.”
“A new operational framework for titling of Mass Housing and Sectional Interests has been developed to fast-track the exercise efficiently, effectively and diligently, in line with the Minister’s vision to restore confidence in the administration of lands in the FCT.”
“Currently, the holders/occupiers of properties within the various Mass Housing Estates in the FCT do not pay and bills, rents, fees and charges to the government despite having held and occupied the properties for decades.”
“In recognition of the urgent need to issue titles to the beneficiaries of Mass Housing and Sectional Interests, all applications for titling are to be made by the Subscribers/Developers to the Department of land Administration for processing.”
“Processing of titles for Mass Housing and Sectional Interests shall commence on April 21, 2025, in line with the new operational framework. ”
The release further shed more light…
“The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) screened only 8,287 out of the 261,914 area council land documents submitted for regularization between 2006 and 2023.”
“Mr Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.”
“Olayinka said that the 8,287 vetted land documents represented only 3.2 per cent of the 261,914 documents submitted for vetting and regularization. ”
“According to him, the FCT Administration was still left with 253,627 submissions in its database.”
“He explained that the measure was part of the broad and comprehensive reforms on land administration in the FCT approved by the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.”
“He said that the reforms, which would become operational from April 21, covers specific areas like conditions of grant of statutory Right of Occupancy (R of O), and contents of the statutory R of O bill.”
“Others, he said, would include contents of Letter of Acceptance/Refusal of offer of grant of R of O, titling of mass housing and sectional interests, as well as regularization of area council land documents.”
“He explained that the crux of the sweeping reforms in the FCT land administration would ensure the regularization of land allocations in area councils and title of mass housing properties in favour of buyers.”
“He added that land allottees were also expected to develop allocated lands within two years.”
“The spokesman explained that in 2006, the Zonal Land, Planning and Survey Offices of the six area councils were directed to submit all area council’s allocation lists.”
“He added that the lists, which were submitted to the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) and Lands Department, included layouts, files and registers.”
“Olayinka, however, said that to date, out of the 8,287 vetted documents, only 2,358 lands were cleared, validated and regularised to statutory titles.”
“He said that area council land documents successfully vetted and confirmed, would be given statutory titles on such lands.”
“He added that the allottees would have sixty days to make full payments of all bills, fees, rents and charges prescribed, failure of which the offers shall become invalid.”
“The spokesman explained that the action was in line with the provision of the law, which stipulated that all lands in the FCT were urban land.”
“It, therefore, becomes necessary that all land documents issued by the area councils are considered for regularization to statutory titles in line with relevant statutes,” he said.
In the same vein , the Director of Land Administration, FCTA, opined …
“The Director of Land Administration, FCTA Chijioke Nwankwoeze, said that the decision to regularise lands issued by area councils was to give the land reform a human face.”
“Nwankwoeze noted that not much progress had been achieved from 2006 to date, considering the 253,627 land documents, representing 96.8 per cent awaiting clearance.”
“He, however, expressed optimism that the documents would be cleared in two years following the framework approved by Wike.”
“I am confident that the holders of area councils’ lands will begin to smile because they will now have statutory R of O and Certificate of Occupancy upon full payments of requisite bills,” he said.”
With the new policy thrust, the issue of land speculations , land grabbing and fraud sweeping across FCT, that had become milk and honey of questionable Nigerians will become a thing of the past , as well as restore the good image of the nation’s city and it’s area councils.
Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.