Nation
N12bn Fraud: Ex-Gov Accuses Kwara Govt Of Political Vendetta
Former Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed, has reacted to the findings of an audit report alleging that the sum of N12 billion was stolen between 2011 and 2019.
The audit report, commissioned by the State Government, said public funds were looted from the treasury without any project to show for the funds withdrawn
Mr Ahmed, a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), was the Governor from 2011 to 2019.
“The audit also showed that N2 billion cash withdrawals, not tied to any project or official expenditure, were made within eight days in February 2019, barely one month to the general election,” Rafiu Ajakaiye, the Chief Press Secretary to the current Kwara Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, said in a statement.
Speaking during the submission of the report to the Governor, Partner at the SSAC and Professionals, Anthony Iniomoh, said the report was in two volumes covering Internally Generated Revenue; Capital Receipts; Internal and External Loans; Recurrent/Overhead Expenditure; Personnel Cost (Salaries and Wages); Capital Expenditure; Assets Disposed of; Kwara State Internal Revenue Service; Infrastructural Fund Kwara (IFK); Harmony Holdings Limited; amongst others.
But in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Wahab Oba, the former Governor said the forensic audit report was “politically motivated.”
He said all expenditures covering his two terms as Governor were appropriated with due process.
“The allegations are preposterous, naive, unspecific and generally unfounded. Every expenditure during the period under review was properly appropriated and followed due process. If there were infractions as alleged, there are laid down procedures for correction”, the statement said.
Ahmed said the release of the forensic audit report was suspicious since it was coming months to the 2023 general elections.
“Since we left office more than three years ago, the accounts have been properly audited by various auditing agencies and had been certified. Any query now, six months to the election, on the legality or otherwise of the expenditure, are an afterthought and politically motivated.
“Rather than search for what is not lost or embark on a political vendetta, this Government should account for more than N.3trillion accruing to it in the last three years without commensurate infrastructural development,” he said.
While absolving himself of any wrongdoing, Mr Ahmed accused the current All Progressive Congress (APC) government in the state of incurring “unaccounted” loans.
“The debt profile of this government is unprecedented in the history of Kwara State. As of today, Kwara State is paying not less than N1.3 Billion monthly as interest on various largely unaccounted-for loans.
“As recently confirmed by His Excellency, AbdulRaham AbdulRazak in his guided chat with his media agents, N17 billion out of N27 billion bond is ‘sitting in a bank’ while the State continues to pay interest on it. This raises a lot of questions as to the reason the bond was taken in the first place.
“The Governor should tell Kwarans when last he held a State Executive Council meeting to approve various contracts and other expenditures,” Ahmed said.
Nation
FRSC To Begin 24-Hour Patrol To Curb Crashes
The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed, yesterday lamented the spate of fatal road crashes in September.
He specifically raised concerns about the accidents that occurred on September 8 in Niger; September 12 in Sabon Wuse, and September 15 in Kaduna State.
These three incidents, according to him, resulted in the tragic loss of at least 91 lives. Speaking during a meeting with fleet operators and other stakeholders in Abuja, Mohammed expressed frustration that despite the government’s efforts to provide and maintain transport facilities according to global standards, many drivers continue to undermine these efforts with reckless behavior on the roads.
“In the last month or thereabouts, the corps witnessed three landmark crashes that were caused by negligence, fatigue, speeding, night trips, and dangerous driving.
“These three landmark crashes include that of Niger State, which occurred on September 8, 2024, and killed 48 people; that of September 12, 2024, which killed 18 people in Sabon Wuse; and that of September 15, 2024, which happened in Kaduna State and led to the death of 25 people. These three crashes alone, which proved to have been obviously avoidable, claimed the lives of 91 people. This is alarming and it calls for concern.”
Mohammed ordered commanding officers to ensure round-the-clock enforcement of traffic laws.
He also disclosed that a special operation would be conducted to address the incessant accidents recorded across the country.
Mohammed said, “I am compelled to state that the spate of crashes recently recorded is, however, very disturbing, and every step must be taken to avert continued future occurrences. It is against this backdrop that I have directed Commanding Officers to ensure round-the-clock enforcement of traffic offenses to mitigate these excesses. A special patrol operation will be instituted, and enforcement will be carried out nationwide.”
Nation
Jubilation As Rivers Community Gets New Paramount Ruler
There was jubilation in Kpean community in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State following the installation of Engr Lucky Ewoh as the new paramount ruler of the community.
Sources from the community had it that Lucky who is from the Gbene-Ewoh royal family of Kpean succeeded Chief Nwineh Bariyiramue who was allegedly deposed by the community.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen during the installation ceremony, former chairman of the governing council of Kpean community Prof Patrick Nwinyokpugi said the people are happy over the emergence of Engr. Lucky Gbene-Ewoh as their new paramount ruler.
Prof. Nwinyokpugi said this can be seen from the massive turnout of both men and women for the installation as well as the celebration across the community.
He alleged that the former paramount ruler was deposed following his inability to restore peace to Kpean as well as check the incessant cult killings in the community.
“Some years ago, we got a judgment in favour of the deposed chief, but four years down the line, lots of atrocities have happened. Just last month a young boy was murdered and his head severed off his body, heart and private part taken away and the matter was not reported to the police by the deposed chief”, he said.
Prof. Nwinyokpugi said the community has confidence that the new chief will not derail and describe it as a new dawn in the community.
Also speaking, the youth leader of Kpean Community, Comrade Lemii D. Petaba said the installation of Chief Lucky Ewoh at the community sacred square , shows its acceptability not only by the people by also by the gods of the land.
According to him, “today the Gene-Ewoh royal family is introducing a new paramount ruler to us and the people are happy”
He said the occasion was to officially install him and to do the traditional rights that follows.
Speaking later with newsmen, the new paramount ruler, Chief Lucky Gbene-Ewoh thanked his people for the confidence reposed on him, promising not to fail them.
He also pledged to ensure the returns of peace to the community.
Meanwhile, efforts made to reach the alleged former paramount ruler proved abortive as neither his phone contact nor his residential address in Portharcourt could be reached.
Nation
Kano Dissolves 44 LG Caretaker Excos
The Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has dissolved the caretaker chairmen of all the 44 Local Government Areas in the State.
The governor announced the dissolution at a special meeting held at the Government House, Kano, on Wednesday.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature.
This comes a week after the state House of Assembly approved a two-month extension for the caretaker chairmen, as their tenure expired on September 8, 2024.
The extension, slated to run from September 9 to November 9, 2024, was to ensure continuity in local governance.
The governor, however, dissolved the council, as the council election had been slated for October 26, 2024.
“With local government elections scheduled for October 26, 2024, Governor Abba Yusuf has directed the caretaker chairmen to hand over leadership of the councils to their respective Directors of Personnel Management.
“This dissolution applies to all chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries, and councillors,” the statement read.
The governor thanked the caretaker chairmen for their contributions to the development of their areas and hinted at potential future collaborations.
However, he warned the DPMs against political interference and asked them to discharge their duties as required by law.
“We are warning the DPMs to make sure they do not interfere in any political activities as respected civil servants but to discharge their duties as required by the law.
“I have directed the anti-corruption commission to arrange a seminar for them to enhance their capacity,” the governor said.
The caretaker chairmen also thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve their communities.
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