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Empowerment projects now conduit for embezzlement – ICPC
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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has raised concerns over what it described as politicisation of empowerment projects in Nigeria.
ICPC also revealed that empowerment programmes had become significant conduits for embezzlement and mismanagement of public funds.
This was revealed in the Phase VI report of the constituency and executive projects tracking exercise, which was released by the commission on Thursday.
A total of 1721 government-funded projects with a total value of N284, 602,881,868.57 were tracked during the exercise which spanned from November 2023 to May 2024.
In the report, the ICPC identified numerous instances where empowerment items, which are intended for poverty alleviation and to support the most vulnerable, were procured but hoarded by project facilitators for potential use in political campaigns.
The report added that of the total tracked projects, 26.1 per cent—or 449 projects—were categorised as empowerment initiatives, amounting to over N35.5 billion in contract awards.
The report partly read, “Empowerment items are meant to be distributed to intended beneficiaries to empower them or to serve as poverty alleviation items. These items were procured but hoarded by the project facilitators possibly for electoral campaign activities.
“Large-scale soft/fluid projects and empowerment projects as major conduits for siphoning public resources: Empowerment/soft projects deserve special attention in this report in view of their increasing propensity within the budget as more project sponsors now prefer to embed such projects for execution in the budget.
“In the course of Phase VI project tracking, it was discovered that the aggregate number of empowerment projects tracked amounts to 449 empowerment projects (26.1% of the total tracked projects), while the aggregate sum/value of contract award on empowerment projects is N35,585,340,728.91.
“In all the shenanigans found in the course of tracking empowerment projects, contractors, project facilitators as well as the executing agencies staff cannot be excused of gross connivance.
The ICPC further revealed that in agencies such as the North East Development Commission and the Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, empowerment items were handed over to stakeholders instead of directly reaching the intended recipients.
News
SAD! Nigerian popular General Overseer is dead
Pastor Adamson Aromaegbe, the founder and General Overseer of Rock Word Church and Dominion International, has died.
Aromaegbe, who was based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, reportedly died on Friday, August 21, 2026.
His death was confirmed by the leadership of the church in a statement released on Sunday.
The statement was signed by Rev. Nnamdy Echezona and shared through the ministry’s official Facebook page.
The church described the late pastor as a respected Christian leader who dedicated his life to preaching the gospel and building the ministry.
His work as a preacher, teacher, mentor and church leader reportedly influenced many people within and outside his ministry.
Following the announcement, the church called on members, friends and other supporters to pray for Aromaegbe’s family as they come to terms with his death.
Prayers were also requested for the church and members of the wider Dominion International family.
The church said arrangements for the late pastor’s funeral and other activities to mark his death would be announced later.
Aromaegbe’s death has left members of Rock Word Church and Dominion International mourning the loss of a leader who had spent years working in Christian ministry.
News
Security operatives rescue kidnap victims in Imo waste two suspects
Security operatives comprising DSS officers, other agencies and local vigilantes have rescued a kidnap victim and neutralised two suspected kidnappers in Imo.
The Department of State Services (DSS) disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen in Owerri on Sunday.
According to the statement, the operatives rescued 29-year-old Ibeabuchi Adibenma, who was abducted in Orlu Local Government Area.
Adibenma was kidnapped at about 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 18, around Afor-Ogidi Market in Isiala Amaifeke community.
The victim was reportedly returning from Umuna, Orlu market, when the armed assailants intercepted his vehicle near the market.
The attackers operated on two motorcycles and double-crossed the victim before forcing him to an undisclosed location.
Following the abduction, the kidnappers contacted Adibenma’s family and demanded N15 million ransom for his release.
However, on Aug. 20, security operatives launched a coordinated operation to rescue the victim from his abductors.
According to the DSS, the operation led to Adibenma’s rescue at Ihioma Community in Orlu.
“Two suspected members of the kidnapping syndicate were neutralised during the operation, while two high-calibre weapons and ammunition were recovered.”
The rescued victim was subsequently taken into protective custody before being reunited with his family.
The DSS commended the coordinated efforts of the participating security agencies and local vigilantes in securing the victim’s safe release.
The successful operation also highlights ongoing security efforts against kidnapping and other criminal activities in communities across Imo.
News
Remains of popular Nollywood actor Ogogo arrives hometown, Ilaro for burial today
The remains of Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, have arrived in his hometown, Ilaro, Ogun State, ahead of his burial on Monday.
The development was confirmed by some of those who accompanied the remains and through videos circulating on social media.
In one of the videos, one of Ogogo’s daughters was seen accompanying the remains. Traditional authorities were also present, with the staff of office of a traditional ruler brought to receive the late actor.
Ogogo’s remains were taken to Ilaro on Sunday following his death earlier that day at the age of 66.
Veteran actor Jide Kosoko had announced on Sunday that Ogogo’s remains would be taken to Ilaro, where a lying in state ceremony would be held on Monday.
Jide said the ceremony would take place at 11am at the Pavilion in Ilaro.
The Ilaro Muslim Community also announced that the burial prayer would hold at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion Ground at 10am on Monday, in accordance with Islamic rites.
Ogogo died at about 3pm on Sunday, after battling stage four cancer. His death was confirmed by his daughter, Kira Taiwo, during an emotional Instagram Live session.
His death came only days after his daughters, Lima and Kira, publicly appealed for medical assistance for their father.
On August 17, Lima said the actor was battling stage four cancer and appealed to hospitals, medical professionals and other well wishers to help the family find treatment for him. She said his condition had deteriorated and that some hospitals had refused to continue treating him.
The family had also previously dismissed reports that Ogogo had died. On August 18, Lima described the report as false after a social media post claimed that the actor had passed away.
Ogogo, who was born in Ilaro, built a career spanning several decades as an actor, filmmaker and director and became one of the recognised figures in cinema.
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