Flowerbud News

Category: General News

  • MEDICAL ADVICE FOR MEN

    MEDICAL ADVICE FOR MEN

     

    By Dr. Ibrahim (Chukuku), Abuja

    One of the causes of Kidney damage is STANDING WHILE URINATING…. Do not be surprised that Northern part of Nigeria are having less records of Kidney problems than Eastern and Western part of Nigeria.

    Now, let me explain in details. It is parts of Islamic etiquettes to bend down (Squat) while urinating, i thought it was formed to prevent splash of urine on our clothes because when you have urine stain on your clothes and you pray with it, your prayer is invalid.

    But medically, it is more than that, your bladder is like nylon filled with water, when you compress it, the water in it easily finds its way out without stress. When you bend down to urinate, your bladder compress with the help of 4 abdominal muscles and detrusor muscle, the detrusor muscle is to contract during urination to push the urine out of the bladder and into the urethra. The detrusor muscle will relax to allow the storage of urine in the urinary bladder. urine easily escape through urethra tube when you bend down (Squat) to urinate.

    When you are standing while urinating, you apply more force to urination than while bending down. That force you are applying, you are directly damaging your kidney capsule. You are destroying your kidney.

    It is possible to face Urinary incontinence and retention at old age. When you are facing this then, you need Catheter to pass out urine or you can as well face separation of patchment membrane known as DIALYSIS.

    Squatting has a “more favourable urodynamic profile”, allowing the bladder to empty faster and more completely. For men with lower urinary tract symptoms (Luts), for example, caused by an enlarged prostate – “the Squatting position is preferable to the standing.

    This message is for MEN . The nature of WOMEN is to bend down and urinate. One of the reasons why it is rare to see women suffering from kidney problems.

    Health is Wealth.

  • Court orders interim forfeiture of N228.4m traced to ex-governor of Abia

    Court orders interim forfeiture of N228.4m traced to ex-governor of Abia

     

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has made an order of interim freezing and forfeiture of the sum of over N228.4 million linked to former Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia to Federal Government on allegations of money laundering.

    Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on an ex-parte motion moved by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s lawyer, Fadila Yusuf, also directed the EFCC to make publication of the order on its website and Daily Trust Newspaper.

    According to Justice Nwite’s order, interested parties should show cause within 14 days of the publication of the order.

    The judge adjourned the matter until Feb. 3 for report of compliance.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Orji also served as two-term senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District before his retirement from active politics.

    The anti-graft agency had, in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/03/V/2025, brought the suit pursuant to Section 44(2)b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

    The motion dated Dec. 30, 2024 and filed Jan. 2 by Yusuf, was also brought under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

    The lawyer sought an order granting an interim freezing and forfeiture of the sum of N228, 497, 773. 12 domiciled with Keystone Bank set out in the schedule attached to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    She also sought “an order authorising the commission to make publication of interim freezing/forfeiture order made by this honourable court on the EFCC website and Daily Trust Newspaper and the interested parties to show cause within 14 days of the publication of the order.”

    The lawyer, in her five-ground argument, said the money described in the schedule was subject matter of investigation by the EFCC and found in the possession of Effdee Nigeria Ltd.
    She said it was reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
    “Effdee Nigeria Ltd is alleged to have conspired with others to defraud Abia State Government to wit: conspiracy, abuse of office, obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering and diversion of public funds.
    “Effdee Nigeria Ltd, in whose possession the monies were found, is reasonably suspected to have conspired with Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji, the former Governor of Abia State, some officials in the former governor’s administration and his family members,” she said.
    Yusuf said they were being investigated by EFCC for the allegations following intelligence report received by the commission against Orji.
    According to her, there is need to preserve the monies pending investigation and/or prosecution.
    Tahir Ahmed, a litigation officer with EFCC, said sometimes between 2016 and 2017, the commission received an intelligence report against Sen. Orji, some officials in his administration and his family members.
    He averred that Effdee Nigeria Limited, a sewage and waste disposal entity, was used by the former governor, some officials in his administration and his family members for the diversion and laundering of Abia Government funds while Orji was in office.
    “The company was used to siphon funds and divert monies with the ald of some officials of Keystone Bank,
    “The Intelligence report was assigned to the Economic Governance Section of the commission for investigation,” he said.
    He said the team commenced Investigation into the case which led to the arrest of Austin Akuma, the Divisional Head of Keystone Bank Pic in Umuahia who was discovered to be the middleman between the contractor (Effdee Nigeria Limited) and Erondu Uchenna Erondu, Special Adviser, General Duties to the forer governor.
    He alleged that the banker, in a statement made upon words of caution at the EFCC office, stated that it was agreed between himself (Akuma) and Erondu that the contractor’s company, Effdee Nigeria Limited, would be used to received funds from Abia State Government accounts.
    “Thereafter the contractor would distribute these monies to several accounts of specific customers of the bank to be provided by the banker after which these various customers would withdraw cash and return same to the banker who in turn takes the cash to the Special Adviser in the Government House,” he alleged, attaching the statements made as Exhibit EFCC 1.
    According to him, letters of investigation activities were also written to Keystone Bank and analysis of the statement of the above account of Effdee Nigeria Limited revealed substantial inflow from various agencies in Abia State Government leaving a balance of N228, 497, 773.12.
    Ahmed, however, said that investigation was still ongoing in relation to the allegations received against the suspects.
    He said there was need to preserve the res to prevent the dissipation of the above mentioned monies pending the conclusion of investigation and conclusion of the multifarious criminal complaints and ongoing investigations pertaining to the suspects.
    After Yusuf moved the motion, Justice Nwite, who said the application was meritorious, granted the prayers.

  • Alleged bias: Group urges withdrawal of police from Abuja land dispute matter

    Alleged bias: Group urges withdrawal of police from Abuja land dispute matter

     

    The Initiative Against Human Rights Abuse and Torture (INAHURAT), on Wednesday, asked the Nigerian Police Force to withdraw from the ongoing investigation into Abuja land dispute.
    Director of Legal of INAHURAT, Maxwell Opara, who made the call during a press briefing in Abuja, said the call became necessary in order to ensure diligent prosecution on behalf of Hajia Colleen Yesufu.
    “The 79-year-old Mama Yesufu became the beneficial owner of a property lying and situate at Plot 4022, Guzape District, Cadastral Zone AO9, Abuja, FCT in December 2010, after buying it from the original allottee and executing the requisite transfer documents.

    (Mr Walter Ogbonna; Mr Maxwell Opara, Director of Legal, the Initiative Against Human Rights Abuse and Torture (INAHURAT) and Mr Paul Obameso during a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja.)

    “Mama Yesufu was informed by an unknown number in August 2023 that some persons had criminally trespassed on her property and were offering same as investment properties to innocent Nigerians.
    “Subsequently, Mama’s lawyers petitioned the Solicitor General at the Legal Services Secretariat, FCTA and its numerous agencies i.e. Lands, AGIS and Development Control who promptly marked a ‘STOP WORK’ of the development on the 30th August 2023.
    “The FCTA Director of Investigations and Prosecutions Mr Joseph Eriki, scheduled numerous meetings with all parties and the relevant FCTA departments but the trespassers blatantly refused to appear before the enquiry panel or send any documentation,” he said.
    The lawyer alleged that investigations later revealed that a fake power of attorney was fraudulently registered and a forged Right-of-Occupancy was used to obtain the building approvals by the suspect.
    He said this led to the withdrawal of the building permit, the sealing and marking of the building for demolition in October 2023.

    Opara said besides, petitions were written to the police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for discreet investigations.
    He alleged that while the EFCC investigated the matter, the police did not.

    “This matter was reported to the Nigeria Police on several occasions but the investigation was compromised and stopped for no justifiable reason,” he alleged.

    According to him, without going into too much of the details with the ongoing investigations, we can confirm that the EFCC conducted a thorough and professional investigation, and have concluded their investigation.
    “It is important to note that in the course of the EFCC investigation, it was discovered that this same suspect also forged AGIS and CAC documents of this same Yesufu family lands in Katampe in a brazen and unbelievable fraudulent scheme and sold off same to many innocent Nigerians.
    “Thankfully, the EFCC restored confidence in the system on this particular matter by securing an interim forfeiture order on the 20th of December from the Federal High Court in Abuja and has began to recover the stolen properties for Mama and her family,” he said
    Opara, therefore, called on the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and his men to withdraw from the matter since the complainant no longer have confidence in them.
    “Finally, we call on the EFCC Chairman Mr Ola Olukoyede to finish the good work the commission and its operatives have done thus far, by charging suspects and ail their accomplices in the alleged fraud to court without further delay.”

  • Diaspora leader tasks ECOWAS countries on protocol for trade, relationship to flourish

    Diaspora leader tasks ECOWAS countries on protocol for trade, relationship to flourish

    By Flowerbudnews
    The immediate past President of the Nigerian Union of Traders of Ghana, Chief Chukwuemeka Nnaji, has tasked member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on maintaining its Protocol.

    “It is only when ECOWAS member states (countries) maintain its Protocol on free movement, establishment and association of its citizens within its borders then trade and relationship will flourish,” Nnaji said in Ubahu community near Enugu on Wednesday.

     

    The Diaspora leader told newsmen that other regions or blocs had gone far in putting in place and holistically implementing protocols, programmes and policies that liberalise trade, exchange and relationship for benefit of all.

     

    According to him, citizens of ECOWAS member states should trade freely without unnecessary given an ECOWAS citizen trade commencement levy, which is not the usually tax/levy paid by aborigines of the state or country.

    This, he said, remained discriminatory and unhealthy for the West Africa region since the ECOWAS Protocol had bond all together.

     

    “Nigeria and Nigerians are part of the ECOWAS States and there is also an Act and Protocol that says that every member of ECOWAS states have the right of movement, right of establishment and right of residence.

     

    “These rights (or ECOWAS Protocol) should be complied with to its fullest. So, that all West Africans can trade among themselves, reside among themselves and move among themselves.

     

    “Since, there is a Protocol that has made us to be one.

     

    “So, I don’t see any reason why we should not come together, obey this Protocol and we have a very open business and trade among ourselves,” he said.

     

    The Enugu-born Ghana-based businessman urged Presidents of ECOWAS member states to look into the issue and find a way to make the ECOWAS Protocol on right of movement, right of establishment and right of residence work out seamlessly.

    “We also appeal to the new President of Ghana, His Excellency Dr John Mahama, to look into the issue in the interest of all,” he appealed.

     

    Nnaji, who was the President of Nigerian Union of Traders of Ghana for eight years, said that Nigerians and Nigeria traders in Ghana are currently living harmoniously with their Ghanaian counterparts and Ghana traders.

     

    “We appreciate God that when we had squabbles in Ghana years ago; the High Commission of Nigeria in Ghana, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Investment as well as Nigeria Diaspora Commission and the Government of Ghana resolved the issue amicably.

     

    “As a leader, I found out that there was need for communication among all traders in Ghana; based on this, I reached out to the President of Ghana Union of Traders and we started relating closely and calming all traders down.”

  • VP Shettima’s Ill-advised Kemi Badenoch Bashing

    VP Shettima’s Ill-advised Kemi Badenoch Bashing

     

    By Bisi Olawunmi

    Now that the storm over a recent comment by Kemi Badenoch, the British Conservative Party leader of Nigerian descent, has lost much steam, it is time to critique the entire episode.
    Let me start with Abike Dabiri-Erewa who started the fireworks.

    According to the story, Abike had reached out to celebrate Kemi, as she usually does to Nigerian Diaspora achievers, on her landmark election to the Conservative party’s leadership. But her goodwill gesture was ignored, and unrequited. She had disclosed this during an interview that unleashed a lynch mob on Kemi.

    The question arises: Why was it difficult for Abike to make the information public instead of projecting Kemi as slighting and denigrating Nigeria? I see an ego factor here.

    Abike, a three-term Federal House of Representatives member and CEO of Nigeria Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) felt miffed that a younger person could show her such disrespect and wanted to get her pound of flesh, hence the negative portrayal of the British politician. That was an error of judgement. Had Abike demonstrated the maturity of her age, she would have tempered her apparent anger, knowing there could be other occasions of interaction, and the subject of her angst might even offer an apology. But her bruised ego and a sense of self-importance got in the way. So, 62-year-old Abike Kafayat Dabiri-Erewa, in an apparent vengeful fit, felt she must gaslight her ‘aburo’ (‘younger sister ‘), 44-year-old Olukemi Olufunto Badenoch, who she must have considered an effete snob, to teach her a lesson!

    The lynch mob was unsparing, and Kemi Badenoch responded in kind, leading to brickbats. The critics denounced her for the alleged denigration of Nigeria, the country of her ancestry. An angry Kemi shot back that she was not interested in identifying with the corruption-ridden Nigerian state, hobbled by Boko haram insurgency, banditry and Islamic fanaticism, but rather with her Yoruba ethnic nativity. She would not want to be lumped with the northern part of the country which she considered an enemy to her Yoruba people. Her spokesman said she was not inclined to do public relations for Nigeria.

    Kemi’s unrepentant stand incensed the critics. One of the first to jump into the fray was Femi Fani-Kayode, the loquacious ex-aviation minister during the Olusegun Obasanjo presidency, who in his characteristic vitriolic use of language poured venom on Kemi. Fani-Kayode, we all know, thrives on inserting himself into every controversy, apparently to retain visibility in the public arena. He is often precipitated in his interventions to steal the limelight. I concede that Fani-Kayode occasionally makes articulate public presentations, but his lengthy Kemi bashing was one of his many intemperate, vituperative inanities.

    Prof. Ishaq Akintola, executive director of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) became a police apologist, blasting Kemi for projecting the Nigeria Police as corrupt, contending that policemen stealing Kemi’s brother’s shoes could not justify such generalisation. Do you mean it, Prof.? This is playing the ostrich, given documented evidence of not only police extortion and brutality but killings from ‘accidental discharge’ and deaths of suspects in police detention.

    A most recent example was in central Kwara State, where rogue policemen, in mid-December 2024, detained a debtor to a brother of one of their colleagues and the man ended up dead in police custody.
    Kehinde Yusuf described Kemi Badenoch “elenu razor’’ (A razor-sharp-tongued person) for her outspokenness, pointing out that ‘’with immensely astounding attributes which are undermined by equally fundamental flaws’’, she has ‘’the making of a tragic hero’’. That is morbid negativism.

    Enter the big masquerade into the Kemi bashing arena – the vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima. While performing an official function on migration in Abuja, Senator Shettima could not resist the temptation of joining the fray. Displaying an expansive mood, as shown on TVC News, the vice president praised former British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, as a “very brilliant young man” who was ‘’originally from India’’, for not denigrating his country of origin. Wrong, Mr. Vice President. Rishi was born in the UK, but the words “originally from India’’ implied he was born in India and migrated to the UK.

    Vice President Kashim Shettima together with his Spokesperson, Mr Stanley Nkwocha.

    Secondly, unlike Kemi who lived in Nigeria in her formative years, Rishi never lived in India, so, there is no basis for comparison. Rishi Sunak’s father was born in Kenya to Indian migrants, highlighting his generational distance from India. Describing Rishi as “very brilliant’’ was also meant as a put-down on Kemi. But pray what is “very brilliant” about a Prime Minister who led his party to its worst electoral defeat? Using such a superlative word that is not evidence-backed is spurious.
    Shettima was also apparently, confused about which political party Kemi Badenoch is a leader. He had stated on live TV: Mrs Kemi Badenoch, the leader of British Labour, Conservative party …! This is the kind of embarrassing gaffe that happens when someone jumps, precipitately, into a fray.

    The clincher was Vice President Shettima telling Kemi Badenoch that she could “remove the Kemi from her name if she does not identify with Nigeria.”

    Kemi is a Yoruba name, her ethnic group, which she reveres and proudly identifies with, so Vice President Shettima asking her to jettison the name was gratuitous and illogical advice.
    Kemi had distanced herself from Northern Nigeria as having nothing in common with her Yoruba people. That was a bit of an exaggeration. We may also ask: What do the Nigerian tribes or ethnic groups have in common? Yet, Kemi’s comment could be seen as a reality check, not an umbrage, a wake-up call to the North’s leadership.

    Prof. Rasheed Ojikutu, in a write-up in The Guardian of Sunday, 5 January 2025, titled: Garland for Kemi Badenoch, put it very succinctly: “A woman who says she is proudly Yoruba, but disregarded Nigeria as an entity may not be ‘’silly’’ after all because she certainly knows her onions. She is certainly not a fool in her attempt to “separate Paul from Barnabas’’.
    Alluding to corruption, one of Kemi’s grouses against Nigeria, Prof. Ojikutu asked: ‘’Why do we want to nail Kemi Badenoch to the cross … why should someone with international repute not be ashamed about a country where an individual is alleged to have built 753 duplexes from the money taken from the purse of taxpayers?‘’ Kemi’s position about the North constituting enemies of the Yoruba is taken literally by many and condemned. But were the state governments in Yoruba land not forced to raise the Amotekun security outfits to contain perceived invading enemies (killer herdsmen) from the North?

    Perhaps, Vice President Shettima’s angst was Kemi’s disparaging of Boko haram which possibly touched a nerve, considering that Shettima was governor of Borno state, the epicentre of Boko haram insurgency, between 2011 and 2019, when the insurgents were at their destructive peak, controlling many local government areas and unleashing a spate of bombings, including on the UN Office in Abuja.

    Shettima, a state Commissioner who served in five ministries between 2007 and 2011 when he was elected governor, was a protégé of Governor Ali Modu Sheriff who has been tainted with allegations of sponsoring Boko haram which emerged in Maiduguri in 2002 during Sheriff’s governorship tenure (1999-2011). Following lingering allegations, Ali Modu Sheriff had to address a press conference in Abuja on 3 September 2014, three years after leaving office, to deny any links with Boko haram.

    Vice President Shettima’s decision to join the Kemi bashing attracted foreign media reportage.

    The Independent, (UK) of 11 December 2024 captioned its story: Nigerian government hits out at Kemi Badenoch after she criticised the country. The story reads: “New Conservative leader is embroiled in a diplomatic row over comments she made about the African country where she grew up.”

    It was projected as “a diplomatic row” because of Shettima’s status as vice president, which was probably lost on him.
    The newspaper in a follow-up on 15 December 2024, captioned: “Nigerian VP who attacked Kemi Badenoch was accused of failures when Boko haram kidnapped 200 girls.” The Independent quoted Kemi’s allies as urging “people to scrutinise the record of Mr Shettima as being illustrative of the problems in Nigeria and its failings “.

    The BBC on 11 December 2024 headlined its report: “Badenoch stands by Nigeria comments after criticism” while, the Voice of America (VOA), also on 11 December 2024 said: “Nigeria’s vice president slams British Conservative party leader.”

    Shettima was governor of Borno state (2011-2019) and 2014 was the peak of the Boko haram insurgency with the most notorious incident being the kidnapping of 276 Chibok secondary school girls on April 14 that year, and the additional killing of an estimated 310 persons on May 5, at a staging base for rescuers of the Chibok girls.

    According to statista.com, Boko haram attacks led to 38,255 deaths in Borno state between 2011 and 2023.

    Speaking at Chatham House, London, in 2015, then Presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari stated that 14 Local Government Areas were under Boko haram control in Northeastern Nigeria – most of them in Borno state. He described the situation as “a big disgrace”.

    Boko haram mutated into banditry in the Northwest, the twin evils which Kemi Badenoch distanced the Yoruba from thereby drawing the ire of Vice President Shettima.

    It is intriguing what might have informed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to pick Shettima, the former governor of Borno state, the epicentre of Boko haram as his running mate, and the appointment of Bello Matawalle, former governor of Zamfara state, the epicentre of banditry, as Minister of Defence!

    Shettima, as vice president, should not have joined the lynch mob against Kemi, in the first instance. Many Nigerians, at home and in the Diaspora, are frustrated with the insecurity and level of corruption plaguing their country, contrary to Shettima’s grandstanding.

    Kemi Badenoch’s knocks on Nigeria should be seen in the context of someone disappointed about the greatest Black nation on earth, the country of her ancestry, not living up to its billing.

    I give the last words to Prof. Ojikutu: “Instead of being sheepishly dogmatic and unnecessarily self-opinionated, we should call on Mrs. (Kemi) Badenoch to bend her head for a garland because she is able to prick our memory to systemic failures in our nation building”.

    *Dr. Bisi Olawunmi is a Senior Lecturer at Adeleke University, Ede and a former Washington Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Email: olawunmibisi@yahoo.com Phone (SMS ONLY) 0803 364 7571.*

  • Over 40 INIABUJA  Profs, etc, Protest Appointment of Maikudi as VC

    Over 40 INIABUJA  Profs, etc, Protest Appointment of Maikudi as VC

     

    Over 40 Profs, Senior Lecturers At UNIABUJA Protest At Ministry Of Education Over Illegal Appointment Of Prof Maikudi As Substantive VC

    The protest which held at the front of the Federal Ministry of Education, was to compel the minister to do the needful and dissolve the council and the charade called the appointment of a VC.

    Amid the crisis ravaging the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) over the imposition of acting Vice Chancellor Prof Aisha Maikudi as the substantive Vice-Chancellor without due process, over 50 Professors and other senior lecturers are protesting at the Federal Ministry of Education against the charade.

    The Bureau Newspaper learnt that the protest which is currently ongoing at the front of the Federal Ministry of Education, was to compel the minister to do the needful and dissolve the council and the charade called the appointment of a VC.

    According to one of the sources, the lecturers who are currently at the front of the Ministry of Education, wondered why the Minister was so lenient in taking action against the illegal appointment of Vice Chancellor in UniAbuja, but he was quick in intervening at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) Vice Chancellor’s appointment.

    The source wondered what had changed in the two appointments if the Minister of Education could wield his power in Anambra and now reluctant to do the same in Abuja.

    “I guess the protest is for the minister to do the needful to dissolve the council and the charade called appointment of a VC.

    “The process by all standards is against the law and laid down procedures and if the Minister finds what is done in Awka wrong; why is he dragging his feet on that of UniAbuja. Who is really behind the illegality,” the source said.

    The Bureau Newspaper also gathered that the lecturers would hold a world press conference to condemn the foot dragging of the ministry of education in the illegal appointment of VC in UniAbuja.

    The Bureau Newspaper reported on December 31, that the University of Abuja’s Senate members passed a vote of no confidence on the Governing Council, citing manipulation of the Vice-Chancellor appointment process and breach of university laws.

    In a letter to the Minister of Education, dated December 27 and signed by 43 Senate members, the senators expressed their loss of faith in the Governing Council’s ability to appoint a qualified VC.

    The letter which The Bureau Newspaper obtained on Monday evening, urged the Minister to dissolve the Governing Council, declare their proceedings null and void, and reconstitute a new council to oversee a fresh and fair appointment process.

    Titled, “complaint regarding the manipulation of Vice Chancellor appointment processes at the University of Abuja,” they warned that failure to address their concerns could have far-reaching consequences for the university and Nigeria’s higher education system.

    Interestingly, the development comes after a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a suit filed by six senior lecturers against the university’s Vice Chancellor, citing that the suit was statute-barred.

    The court’s decision may have paved the way for the Senate members to take a stand against the Governing Council’s actions.

    “Thus, we urge you to take immediate corrective action to restore the integrity of the process by dissolving the Governing Council, declare their proceedings null and void, reconstitute a new Governing Council to superintend fresh and free process that will lead to the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor for the University of Abuja.

    “Failure to address our concerns will have far-reaching consequences for the University and the higher education system in Nigeria as other Governing Councils will gladly emulate this ugly and unfortunate path taken by the University of Abuja Governing Council.”

    On December 24, that a tense scene unfolded at the University of Abuja when the acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aisha Maikudi, allegedly deployed over 30 local vigilantes to disrupt a Senate meeting, allegedly assaulting professors in the process.

    It had also been reported that professors at the university staged a protest earlier before the meeting against the selection process for the new VC, sparking a heated controversy within the institution.

    At the heart of the issue is the alleged attempt by the acting VC and some others to manipulate the selection process.

    In a move that sparked outrage, the acting VC had scheduled a meeting last Tuesday at 9am to replace Senate members on the joint selection board who refused to endorse a rigged selection process.

    The Senate maintained that the deliberate irregularities currently witnessed in the University clearly indicate the insensitivity, brutal attack on and disregard for laws and procedures, and gross determination by the Governing Council to ensure that the Acting Vice Chancellor succeed herself at all cost.

    “This situation undermines the credibility of the appointment process and the principles of fairness, equity, and merit that should guide the selection of a Vice Chancellor.

    “The flawed process also jeopardize the reputation and autonomy of the University of Abuja as an academic institution of excellence.”

    The 43 Senate members who signed the letter are: “Professor Olanrewaju Aladeitan, Prof. Umaru D. Muhammed, Prof. Mabel I.E Evwiohana, Prof. Jude Omeje, Prof. Effiok Bassey Uwatt, Prof. Ifeoma Echezona, Prof. S.A.J Obansa, Dr. Yekeen Abdulmalik, Prof. F. N Ogwueleka, Prof. M.O Durojaye, Prof. Ndana R.W, Prof. W.D Nafarnda, Prof. O.F Ajagbona, Prof. Yusuf Ahmadu, Prof. Yau Muhammed Damagum, Prof. Abdulhamid Ozohu-Suleiman and Prof. Philip Akpen.”

    Others are: “Prof. Rosemary Udeozor, Prof. Otaki Alananan, Prof. Simon Abochol, Prof. Saleh Dauda, Prof. Muhammed A. Katcha, Prof. J.O Ogedendenge, Prof. Aisuodionoe-Shadrach O.I, Prof Sani Saka, Prof. Yusuf Zoaka, Prof. Muktar A. Muhammed, Prof. J.J. Ndana, Prof. Nkiruka C. Odoh, Prof. Ejeikwu E.O., Prof. Simon M.K, Prof. M.U Ndagi, Prof. Obida Gobna, Prof. Shimawua Atimga, Dr. Sylvester S.

    “Prof. C.B.I Alaw, Prof. A. M Maisamari, Prof. I.C. Nnadi, Prof. G.M Oladele, Prof. Uwakwe Abugu, Prof. James Ojobo, Prof. Magdalene Igbolo and Prof. Ishaya M. Dagwa.”

  • DSS is not Recruiting – Mgt.

    DSS is not Recruiting – Mgt.

     

    By Biola Lawal
    Abuja (Flowerbudnews): The Directorate of State Security Service (DSS) has declared that ot is currently not recruiting personnel.

    In a notice posted on its official X handle, DSS urged the public to disregard any notice announcing recruitment by the Service.

    ”THIS IS TO DRAW THE ATTENTION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO KINDLY DISREGARD ANY NOTICE OF RECRUITMENT IN THE DSS, PLEASE, ‘ DSS wrote.

  • Support new tax reform bills, ex Rep. Egoh urges northern govs

    Support new tax reform bills, ex Rep. Egoh urges northern govs

     

    Lagos:   A former Member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Oghene Egoh, has appealed to the northern state governors to support the new tax reform bills before the National Assembly.

    Egoh made the plea in an interview on Tuesday in Lagos.

    Rather than outright opposition, the former federal lawmaker urged the governors to seek more clarification for a better understanding of the provisions of the tax reform bills.

    “Some northerners government condemed President Tinubu tax bill because they do not understand it.

    “Some of the governors said that it will make their states to be poorer.

    “The purpose of the tax reform bills is to ease collection of tax, to streamline the various laws in the country and to make it easier to collect more tax across the states.

    “The reform will provide enough money to be distributed to all states and also there will be enough money to run capital projects among other benefits,”Ogene said.

    He said that the tax reform would ensure the country to realize more revenue that would be visible by the states and federal governments.


    Egoh said that with the act, money generated through VAT and other taxation would be enormous adding that every state would earn more money.

    The former lawmaker said that under the proposed bill less money would be remitted into federal government while higher per centage would go to the states.

    He said if the bills were passed and properly implemented, no state would become poorer.


    Egoh said that there was an element attached to VAT collection which was introduced to the bills, adding that the major indexes would be based on the revenue generated among each state.

    “What worries some governors about the reform is that Lagos State will get more money due to revenue collection but it does not make any difference because Lagos State is not getting money from petroleum derivation .

    “Lagos State budget is the highest in the federation because they have Internal Generated Revenue which is more than revenue generated by 10 states put together.

    “Other states should work harder to improve their Internal Generated Revenue, the same principle of tax that relates to various states is what also relates to Lagos State.

    “The more economic activity the state has the more VAT it will collect and this will make state governments to put in efforts to collect the VAT,”Egoh added.

    He said that when the VAT is collected more percentage of over 60 per cent would go to the state while th balance would go into federated account for division.

    “I can not imagine a state like Ekiti which was small in population and commercial activity will be able to collect VAT more than Kano State, also Ebonyi, cross River that has little oil derivation will get more money than Kano or Kaduna.

    “Some state governments are saying that he bill is introduced to suffer the north, it is not correct because the will is not selecting in application but what each state is abel and to collect,”Egoh said.

    He said that River state the highest earn on VAT followed by Delta State and Oyo state which was realized though their efforts.

    The former reps mentioned commercial activity at Aba, Onitsha, which he described the business activities that be second to Lagos adding that VAT should be generated more from the environment too.

    He said that every said had it own economy indexes adding that there were lot of agricultural produced coming from the north which VAT could be generated from the the goods.

    Egoh urges state governments to give Mr President chance to change the narrative to enable more development in the country through collection of VAT.

     

     

    Allow Tinubu ‘s reforms bill to be passed: former Rep. tells state governments

     

    The former Federal House of Representative, Mr Oghene Egoh, has urged the other states government to adopt the four reforms bill proposed by President Bola Tinubu to be passed before the National Assembly.

     

    Hon. Egoh made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

    He said that some state governors who were condemning President Tinubu reform bill should ask for more explanation to enable them understand better rather than the open condemnation.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Bola Tinubu transmitted four tax reform bills to the National Assembly on October 3, 2024.

    NAN also reports that the bills were the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.

    The bills would overhaul tax administration and revenue generation in Nigeria, as many of the provisions contained in them were landmark in nature.

    These tax reform bills were products of a year’s worth of intense hard work and consultation by the Taiwo Oyedele-led Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms.

    The Tax Communitee was inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu in August 2023, two months after assuming office as President.

    “Some northern governors and politicians condemn President Tinubu tax bill because they do not understand it.

    “Some of the governors said that it will make northern states to be poorer.

    It is not true that any state in the federation both north and south will be poorer because of the tax reform.

    In fact every state in Nigeria will be richer because of the tax reform.

    The tax reform will enable state to generate more income through tax. And the percentage of tax distribution favour the state more than the federal government.

    “The purpose of the tax reform bills is to ease collection of tax, to streamline the various laws in the country and to make it easier to collect more tax across the States.

    “The reform will provide enough money to be distributed to all states and also there will be enough money to run capital projects among other benefits,” Hon. Oghene said.

    He said that the tax reform would ensure the country realised more money that which all the state will benefit from.

    Hon. Egoh said that with the act, money generated through VAT and other taxation would be enormous adding that every state would earn more money.

    The former Rep. said that President Tinubu’s bill had reduced money that would be sent into federation account while higher percentage would go to the state .

    He said if the bills were passed and properly implemented that no state would become poorer.

    Hon. Egoh said that there was an element attached to VAT collection which was introduced in the bills adding that the major indexes would be based on the amount each state generated.

    “What worries some governors about the reform is that Lagos State will get more money due to revenue collection, but it does not make any different because Lagos State is only getting higher percentage on what they are getting on the revenue from VAT.

    “Lagos State budget is the highest in the federation because they have excess of Internal Generated Revenue which is more than revenue generated together by ten states put together.

    “Other states should work harder to improve their Internal Generated Revenue, the same principle of tax that relates to various states is what also relates to Legos State.

    “The more economic activity the state has the more VAT it will collect and this will make state governments to put in efforts to collect the VAT,” Hon. Egoh added.

    He said that when the VAT is collected more per centage of over 60 per cent would go to the state while th balance would go into federated account for division.

    “I can not imagine a state like Ekiti which was small in population and commercial activity will be able to collect VAT more than Kano State, also Ebonyi, cross River that has little oil derivation will get more money than Kano or Kaduna.

    “Some state governments are saying that the bill is introduced to suffer the north, it is not correct because the bill is not selecting in application but what each state is able and to collect,”Egoh said.

    He said that River state the highest earn on VAT followed by Delta State and Oyo state which was realized through their efforts.

    The former reps mentioned commercial activity at Aba, Onitsha, which he described the business activities that be second to Lagos adding that VAT should be generated more from the environment too.

    He said that every said had it own economy indexes adding that there were lot of agricultural produced coming from the north which VAT could be generated from the the goods.

    Egoh urges state governments to give Mr President chance to change the narrative to enable more development in the country through collection of VAT.

    President Bola Tinubu transmitted four tax reform bills to the national assembly on October 3, 2024.

    Also reports that the bills were the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.

    The bills would overhauled tax administration and revenue generation in Nigeria, as many of the provisions contained in them were landmark in nature.

    These tax reform bills were products of a year’s worth of intense hard work and consultation by the Taiwo Oyedele-led Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms.

    The tax committee was inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu in August 2023, two months after assuming office as President.

  • Alleged money laundering: Court orders temporary forfeiture of $378, 000, exotic car to FG

    Alleged money laundering: Court orders temporary forfeiture of $378, 000, exotic car to FG

     

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered a temporary forfeiture of 378, 000 US dollars and a Mercedes Benz GLS 600 Maybach to the Federal Government.

    Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, made the order after Osuobeni Akponimisingha, counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), moved a motion ex-parte to the effect.

    Justice Nwite, who granted the motion, also directed the commission to publish the notice in a national daily for interested person(s) to show cause why the cash and the vehicle should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

    The judge adjourned the matter until Feb. 20 for report of compliance.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the money and the vehicle, allegedly said to be proceeds of unlawful activities, were linked to Paul Chukwuma, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fides Et Ratio Academy Limited.

    In the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1982/V/2024 and filed by the ICPC Chairman himself, Dr Musa Aliyu, SAN; Chukwuma, Prof Dr Klaus Stierstorfer, and Fides Et Ratio Academy Limited we sued as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

    Aliyu, in the motion, sought an order temporarily forfeiting the sum of 378,000 dollars being funds restricted vide Post No Debit Order placed in the Zenith Bank Account of Fides Et Ratio Academy Limited-5074703084.

    He also sought an order “temporarily forfeiting the movable property to wit: MERCEDES BENZ GLS 600 MAYBACH” to Federal Government.

    Besides, he prayed the court for an order directing the commission to publish a notice in any national newspaper for interested person(s) to show cause why the said property should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
    Aliyu further sought an order directing the anti-corruption commission to open an escrow (interest yielding) account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the name of the ICPC and Fides Et Ratio Academy Limited in respect of the alleged $378,000.00.
    Giving 10 grounds why the application should be granted, the ICPC chair said the victims of the alleged crime of the respondents is the Federal Government of Nigeria and its citizens who honestly and diligently pay their taxes as and when due.
    He said the alleged unlawful activities of the respondents had continued to cause untold hardship on honest Nigerians, especially, students of tertiary institutions.
    According to him, without an order of this honourable court, the applicant cannot legally recover the alleged moveable property already restricted vide Post-No-Debit Order into the commission’s recovery account domiciled with CBN for proper use for the benefit of honest Nigerians.
    Idris Abubakar, a litigation officer, Legal Services Department, ICPC, in the affidavit he deposed to, said the commission received a petition alleging that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) allegedly made payment to a contractor for unexecuted project.
    He said during the investigation, it was discovered that TETFund entered into a memorandum of understanding with two companies to provide ICT services to tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
    He, however, alleged that TETFund jettisoned the conditions given by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and went ahead to engage Fides Et Ratio Academy Limited.
    Abubakar averred “that TETFund, through its Executive Secretary and under the hand of the Honourable Minister for Education, secured approval in the sums of N8,600,000,000.00; N3,550,000,000.00 and N3,100,000,000.00, and guidelines for ICT support services for universities, polytechnics and colleges of education from the then president, President Mohammadu i Buhari, GCFR.”
    He said following the approval of the sums and guidelines, TETFund under the hand of its ICT Director, Joseph Odo, wrote a letter to all vice chancellors, rectors and provosts of public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education requesting for their readiness to commit 50 per cent of their ICT support intervention funds to the programme.
    “TETFund, in fragrant disregard for extant procurement procedures, received proposal from Fides Et Ratio Academy Limited for capacity building ICT related course tor the public universities, polytechnics and colleges: of education,” he said.
    The officer said the academy was engaged to provide the services in two phases to the institutions vide a letter dated May 22, 2023.
    According to him, the services to be provided by Fides Et Ratio Academy Limited was divided into two categories of online and physical.
    He said the total cost implication under Category 1 (Online) was N3, 072, 000, 000 (three billion seventy-two million).
    He said in Category II, the total cost implication was N740, 500, 000 (seven hundred and forty million, five hundred thousand naira).
    He said total cost implication for Category 1 (Online) plus Category 2 (Physical) was N3, 813, 500, 000. 00 (three billion, eight hundred and twelve million, five hundred thousand naira).
    Abubakar, however, alleged that the academy only trained 391 participants out of 502 participants under Category 2 (Physical)
    He said the company also admitted receiving full and final payment for Category 2 in a document captioned: “Details of Total Payment Received” dated June 19, 2024, despite the evidence showing that the company only trained 391 out of 502.
    Besides, he alleged that the academy received final and full payment for Category 1 (Online) from TETFund to the tune of over one billion naira without executing any work to justify the payment.
    He added that evidence from beneficiary tertiary institutions revealed that the company did not carry out any online training activity in their institutions.
    He said the MD/CEO of the company, Chukwuma, also made extra-judicial statements to the ICPC in the course of investigation explaining his own side of the story.
    Abubakar also gave analysis of Fides Et Ratio Academy Limited account domiciled with Fidelity Bank and how monies were received in tranches.
    He said on June 30, 2023, the sum of N550,380,780.23 was received from TETFund by the academy.
    He said from the amount, Chukwuma made some transfers, including a deposit of N150, 000, 000.00 (one hundred and fifty million naira) on July 13, 2023, to Globe Motors Holdings Nig. Ltd for the purchase of one unit of Mercedes Benz GLS 600 Maybach for the academy.
    Again, he alleged that on July 26, 2023, the sum of N1,503,743,850.00 was received from TETFund, and from the sum, Chukwuma made some transfers, including the sum of N150, 000, 000.00 sent to Globe Motors Holdings Nig. Ltd, for another deposit for the purchase of one unit of Mercedes Benz GLS 600 Maybach.
    “For the over N300 million transferred to Globe Motors Holdings Nig. Ltd, Mr Paul Chukwuma claimed he had communication with his international partner, Prof. Dr. Klaus Stierstorfer on the need to buy a car for Fides Et Ratio Academy Limited.
    “In this regard, he presented to the ICPC investigators two separate written communicates he had with Prof Stierstorfer,” he said.
    The officer alleged that when the ICPC investigators requested Chukwuma to provide them with information on how to get across to Stierstorfer, the effort was unsuccessful till date.

    According to him, the applicant (ICPC) is still on the trail of Prof. Dr. Klaus Stierstorfer, with a view to get him to clarify some of the claims of Mr. Paul Chukwuma.
    The officer, who said that the application was brought in the interest of justice, said the respondents would not be prejudiced if the request was granted.