National
Julius Berger Commences Building Of VP House Without Pay
Leading construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC has commenced the building of the official residence of the Nigeria’s vice president even without mobilisation, Elanza News gathered.
The present residence of the Vice President, Aguda House is sitting on a land not approved by the FCDA and the current minister of the FCT, Barr Nyesom Wike has promised to bring down any structure that is sitting in an unapproved land.
But haven been awarded the project for the construction of an official residence of the vice President, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC have swing into action even without pay.
To this end, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr Nyesom Wike has promised to mobilised Julius Berger by December, 2023.
Wike, while inspecting some on-going projects within the Federal Capital City (FCC), was amazed at the work kickstarted by Julius Berger even though they have not been mobilised.
The project for the building of the official residence of the Vice President, Elanza News reports, is located at roads B12, B6, Circle Road, Abuja Central Area.
The Minister who assured the contractors that the necessary funds would be made available to ensure that the projects are completed by May, 2024, commended the contractors for the quality and pace of work of the projects.
Speaking at the official residence of the Vice President, being constructed by Messrs Julius Berger, Barr. Wike said: “You made a promise to us that you will complete this project within 7/8 months. Even though we have not mobilised you, you have shown concern by working.
“It is very important and shows that you have confidence in us. Let me assure you that we will mobilise you before December. After that you have to expedite work to ensure completion before May 29, 2024.
“I believe that you have the capacity to achieve that. I also believe there is no need to wait. If you know my antecedent, you know that I don’t make promise I cannot fulfil. As far as I have gotten the support of Mr. President and Vice President, I can tell you go ahead and put everything in hand so that we can achieve this, so that all the stories of abandoned properties will no longer be there. It will be a thing of the past. The manpower shows that you are really serious, so just go ahead and we will give you the funds to be able to mobilise,” Wike said, adding that he had the backing of the President to identify key projects that are deliverable within one year.
Wike said the projects inspected fall within the category, stressing that the FCTA will continue to fund them.
Wike, who lamented the increased cost of executing projects that were awarded years ago but abandoned, said this hike in cost was putting a lot of strain on the finances of the FCTA and stunting growth and development of the nation’s capital.
“Look at the Vice President’s residence that was awarded in 2010 at the cost of N7 billion. That project was abandoned. And we have called back Julius Berger and say look, can you complete this project within eight months? They said yes but they can’t continue with it at the same cost, which is obvious.
“A project that was awarded in 2010 at N7billion and was abandoned because of no funding. They said they cannot do it for less than N15billion, looking at the cost of building materials. We have told them that before the end of the month we will fund them so that they are able to finish it”.
“For me, we are happy because the promises made by Mr President of renewed hope has come back. Residents of Abuja are now seeing that projects abandoned are now being completed and they are seeing a renewed hope for this country and commend Mr President”, he added
On the funding for the projects, Wike said the FCTA is not relying completely on the federation account as the Administration was working on improving its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to fund the projects.
Even though Elanza News had reported that Wike has saved a whopping sum of N110 billion within three months in office, Wike said all their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) would be attached to projects.
“As I speak to you today, we have done very well in terms of IGR and these monies would be attached to specific projects. So that there is no reason to say there is no money to execute the projects. For example, what we are doing now. We have submitted some projects’ budgets for 2023, Mr President has promised to transmit it to the national assemble
“We are asking they should allow us to spend N61 billion before 2024 because we have the money and we want to use the money to execute specific projects so that by May 29, these projects are completed, then we take new other projects for 2024. So, be assured that no project we have started will be abandoned”.
Other projects to toe this line, according to Barr. Wike, include the Millenium Towers, which, he said, when completed will change not only the Abuja landscape but the economy of the territory as well.
A statement issued by the Director of Press, at the office of the minister, Anthony Ogunleye, said contractors all pledged to deliver their project within the specified timeframe.
Present at the inspection tour were. The Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmed, Director, Engineering Services, FCDA, Engr. Ferdinand Obiora Ezeoha and other senior officials of the FCTA.
By Abubakar Yunusa
A leading civil society organisation, the Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED), has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of former military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida over his role in the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.
In a statement released on Thursday in Abuja, CHRICED’s Executive Director, Comrade Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, described Babangida’s recent self-incriminating remarks as a critical test for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
He asserted that failure to hold the former leader accountable would undermine Tinubu’s moral and political legitimacy.
“We firmly assert that if President Tinubu fails to take decisive action against General Babangida and does not ensure that he faces the consequences of his actions—specifically, imprisonment, which is where he rightfully belongs—he will lack the moral and political legitimacy to govern effectively,” Zikirullahi stated.
The organisation argued that Babangida’s candid admission of his role in annulling the election paints him as a figure who has evaded justice for too long.
It warned that failure to prosecute him would further entrench a culture of impunity in Nigeria.
The statement also highlighted the tragic aftermath of the annulment, including the deaths of protesters and the imprisonment of pro-democracy activists.
Among those mentioned were Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the election, who was detained and later died under suspicious circumstances, as well as journalist Dele Giwa, whose unresolved murder remains a symbol of repression during Babangida’s regime.
“For decades, successive governments have claimed a lack of evidence to prosecute Babangida.
However, with his recent confessions and public statements, there is now compelling evidence for legal action,” CHRICED said.
The organisation also criticised the financial waste associated with the annulled election, arguing that resources used to conduct the poll could have been better utilised for national development.
The center blamed Babangida’s administration for fostering a political culture where power is acquired through manipulation rather than democratic means.
“The decisions made by Babangida and his associates have led to the infiltration of unqualified individuals into various positions of authority, undermining governance and eroding public trust,” the statement read.
CHRICED urged President Tinubu to take a stand for justice, insisting that addressing Babangida’s role in the June 12 annulment is crucial to restoring faith in Nigeria’s democratic process.
“This is not just about the past; it is about Nigeria’s future. If impunity is allowed to persist, the cycle of injustice and corruption will continue to plague our nation,” Zikirullahi warned.
Gunmen have abducted some female students of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University in Makurdi, Benue state.
The students, reportedly numbering up to four, were abducted on Tuesday evening at the university’s North Core campus.
The students were said to have been headed for “night class”, a practice of late-night studying in Nigerian campuses.
The gunmen were said to have invaded the hotel area of the campus before abducting the four students.
Some moments after the incident, operatives of the Nigerian army arrived at the school.
Sewuese Anene, Benue police spokesperson, told TheCable on Wednesday that a report received by the police indicated that only two students were kidnapped during the incident.
Anene added that the police have launched an investigation into the matter.
The Markurdi incident is the latest in a series of abductions targeted at Nigeria’s tertiary school students in recent years.
In August 2024, at least 20 medical and dental students were kidnapped in Benue State while travelling to a convention in Enugu.
In September 2023, gunmen abducted approximately 20 students from a university in Zamfara state.
At Greenfield University in Kaduna State, at least 20 students and two staff members were kidnapped in April 2021.
Tragically, five students were killed during captivity before the remaining hostages were released after a month.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Jude Okoye, the elder brother and former manager of Paul and Peter Okoye of the defunct music group, P-Square, on charges of laundering ₦1.38billion, $ 1 million and £34,537.59.
Jude was arraigned alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd, before Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a seven-count charge
One of the counts read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly acquire a landed property known as No 5, Tony Eromosele Street Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos worth ₦850,000,000.00 (Eight hundred and fifty million naira) only, which money you knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Another count read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did indirectly using bureau de change convert the sum of $1,019,762.87 (One million nineteen thousand, seven hundred and six-two dollars eighty-seven cents), domiciled in Access Bank Plc operated by Northside Music Lid to the naira equivalent and remitted into various bank accounts with the intention of concealing that the said fund form part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2)(a) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Larry Peters Aso, applied for a date for hearing as well as for the remand of the defendant in the correctional facility pending trial.
The defendant’s counsel, Inibehe Effiong, informed the court of a pending bail application. He asked for a short date for the hearing. Effiong also asked that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC’s custody pending the hearing of the application.
Aso objected to the request for the defendant to be remanded in the EFCC custody. He argued that the EFCC custody was already congested with suspects awaiting arraignment. He urged the court to remand the defendant to the correctional facility since he had taken his plea.
Justice Owoeye adjourned the matter till February 28 for bail hearing and April 14 for trial.
He also ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Ikoyi correctional facility.