Nation
Failed Banks: Odili, Lafiagi, Others Fingered
Senators on Tuesday named Nigerians who abused their positions in banks, borrowed loans worth N53.3 billion, and refused to pay them back, which made the banks to go under.
A report presented to the senate by its committee on banking, insurance and other financial institutions listed a former governor, a former managing director of banks as contributors to such collapse.
A letter dated June 27, 2008 sent by the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Cooperation (NDIC) to the senate NDIC committee attached a list of ‘insider credits’ of 13 closed banks as at June 2008.
But it noted that in view of the fact that the accounts are insider related, the records are constantly reviewed and reconciled.
Those listed include former Kwara State Governor, Mohammed Lafiagi (N1,156,776.57 unlimited personal guarantee); Sanusi Ado Bayero (N45,003,963.93); former Gulf Bank Managing Director, Babajide Rogers (N11,874,216.56); Chrome Services and Related Companies chairman, Emeka Offor (N3,850,016,620) personal guarantee of Offor and 100,000 units of ordinary shares of Environmental Remediation Holding Corporation, USA), and another N3,850,016,620 loan without guarantee.
Victor Odili, N41,103,498.56 – fixed and floating debenture on the assets of the company, N2,628,979.05; N10,856,129.75.
Owner of liquidated All States Trust Bank now Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) chairman, Ebitimi Banigo, Nta Henshaw, and others (N48,551,995,304.83); former Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) Governorship candidate Remi Bakare (N1,093,247,535.40); Mike Ajegbo (N210,291,896.21); C.M. Ibeto (N643,340,680.92); and former Information Minister, Dapo Sarumi (N3,847 743.90).
Oluwaogbon Motors chairman, S.O. Bakare (N544,585,269.86 and N21,311,398.59); former City Express Bank chairman, Samuel Adedoyin; former City Express Bank chief executive officer, Sola Adeoti, Former Minister of State for Health, Funke Adedoyin (N5,131,275,864.01); and Angela Onyeador (N30,755,363.13-legal mortgage).
Committee chairman, Nkechi Nwaogu, noted that 50 banks failed because of the huge debts that were never paid, including 36 which crashed before consolidation in 2005, and 14 after consolidation.
But less than two minutes after she read out the list, threatening death text messages flooded her mobile telephone, according to Eyinnaya Abaribe who sat beside her.
Based on the death threats, senate president David Mark, directed the inspector general of police, Mike Okiro, to provide personal security for all the 12 members of the committee immediately.
He lamented that the debtors could go to the extent of threatening the lives of the committee members when they are supposed to be ashamed.
Mark told the committee members: “You have performed wonderfully well and there is absolutely nothing for you to fear because you have done what you ought to do for your country.
“All those sending text messages to you should think twice about what they have done to this country rather than having effrontery to send text messages to you.
“All of us here take collective responsibility for this report. It is not a report from senator Nkechi Nwaogu”
Nation
Mbah Inaugurates ESUT Governing Council
The Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has inaugurated the newly constituted Governing Council of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), in line with Section 6 (1) of ESUT Establishment Law, stressing that education remains the strongest weapon to fight poverty.
The Governing Council has Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa as Chairman with Prof. Ikenna Chukwu, Engr. James Ifeanyi, Mrs. Gladys Okoro, Hon. Chinedu Onu and Dr. Eric Oluedo as members.
He noted that the Governing Council was constituted based on competence and the expressed confidence that the institution and state government would benefit from members of the Council, given their track records, networks and experience.
Mbah, while calling on the new Governing Council to ensure operational effectiveness of the institution, urged both Council and the Management to work hand-in-hand to realise the lofty dreams for which the institution was founded.
“You know that your responsibility as the Governing Council of the university is widespread and is far-reaching. And it is my hope that you are going to cultivate a harmonious relationship with the management team of the university. You should see your roles as complementary. That is the only way we can achieve the objective of the university.
“Of course, our expectation is that you are going to put in place an effective control in the area of management of finance and the investment of the university; and that you are going to see yourselves as bringing value to what the management team of the university is doing. So, it is our hope and belief that there will be a harmonious relationship between the Council and the management of the university.
“It is also my hope that this inauguration would in effect redouble the operational effectiveness of the university.”
He reminded the members of the Governing Council that their appointments came at a very auspicious time when the government had earmarked 33 per cent of the annual budget for education, stressing that it underscored his administration’s belief that “education is the strongest weapon with which to fight poverty.”
“We are constructing 260 smart schools across the 260 wards of our state. We are establishing a Centre for Experiential Learning. Similar centers like the tech hubs and the innovation hubs are also being set up in the state
Nation
Kebbi Commences Census Of Almajiri Schools
Kebbi State government through the Ministry of Religious Affairs has commenced the census of Almajiri schools across the State to identify the parents, origin, location as well as number and age of the pupils with a view to finding lasting solution to the educational system.
The Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Muhammad Sani Aliyu, who revealed this at the ongoing ministerial briefing organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture held in Birnin Kebbi, said the Ministry was working round the clock to fashion out modalities that would position Almajiri system of education side by side with the secular education for the overall development of the society.
He stressed that the current state of Almajiri education where children below the age of five were sent to schools without means of sustenance, forcing them to roam streets and houses begging for means of survival was in direct contrast to the teachings of Islam, a problem the Ministry was poised to correct.
Aliyu said the Ministry would henceforth regulate the conduct of Almajiri training, streamline the concept of Almajiri education as well as improve Almajiri system of education in order to curb the vices associated with the deviants amongst the Almajirai who usually end up in political thuggery and drug addiction.
The commissioner also revealed that through the Zakat Department, the Ministry between May 2023 and March, 2024 had treated 23,542 psychiatric related cases across the State free of charge in Neuro Psychiatric Programme Outreach of the State being carried out on Saturdays and Sundays.
The patients, he said, were drawn from the 21 local government areas of the State, neighbouring States as well as Benin and Niger Republics and are treated at Zauro General Hospital, on the outskirts of Birnin Kebbi with medical personnel drawn from Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital and Usumanu Danfodio Teaching Hospital all in Sokoto.
Nation
Bauchi Rewards Community With 200 Bags Of Rice For Preventing Looting
The government of Bauchi State has applauded Daben Kasuwa community in Ganjuwa Local Government Area for safeguarding a fallen trailer loaded with grains against looting.
For a commendable display of integrity, the community was awarded 200 bags of rice and millet as a token of appreciation.
This act of communal vigilance became widely acknowledged following a viral social media video that captured the villagers protecting the overturned truck from potential looters.
Governor Bala Mohammed, represented by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Abdu Hassan, during the reward ceremony, lauded the residents of Daben Kasuwa for their exceptional behaviour, contrasting sharply with recent incidents of mass looting in various parts of Nigeria fuelled by rising food prices and widespread hunger.
The governor’s accolades were specifically directed towards the youth of Daben Kasuwa, acknowledging their role in positively distinguishing the LGA and Bauchi State at large.
On behalf of the community, Sarkin Daben Kasuwa, Malam Sanusi Sale expressed gratitude towards the State’s recognition and reward.
He highlighted the community’s long-standing record of peace and low crime rates, and seized the opportunity to appeal to the government for the provision of essential services such as clean water, education, electricity and healthcare facilities in Daben Kasuwa.
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