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Reps Begin Probe Into Alleged Misuse of Agricultural Funds

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By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has commenced investigations on the alleged mismanagement of funds meant for agricultural development by government agencies outside the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.

Declaring open the inestigation, Chairman Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Rep.Chike Okafor, said the hearing was to uncover the truth and ensure accountability in the use of public funds.

Rep. Okafor noted that despite trillions of naira reportedly spent on agriculture over the years, Nigeria still battles food shortages, hunger, and high food prices.

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“This hearing is not a witch-hunt. Our purpose is not to target individuals or institutions but to uncover the truth, identify systemic failures, and ensure that public funds allocated for agricultural development are utilized transparently and effectively.

“If these funds had been judiciously spent, we would not be facing the current crisis where millions of Nigerians struggle to afford basic meals,” he said.

The probe, according to the Chairman, follows a motion passed by the House titled “Alleged Mismanagement of Government Agricultural Initiatives and Funding by Departments, Agencies, and Government Programs Outside the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security”.

He listed key institutions under scrutiny, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Bank of Industry (BOI), Bank of Agriculture (BOA), and the National Agricultural Development Fund, among others.

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Some of the figures raised by the committee include:

– ₦1.12 trillion disbursed to over 4.6 million farmers through CBN’s Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP),

– ₦215 billion disbursed by NIRSAL to support agriculture and agribusinesses,

– ₦3 billion given to 22,120 smallholder farmers by BOI,

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– ₦59.4 billion in loans for agro and food processing businesses,

– ₦5 billion livestock loan facility to BOA in 2023,

– ₦1.6 billion recovery fund released in 2024 by the National Agricultural Development Fund to fight ginger blight disease.

Rep. Okafor explained that the Committee is empowered by the House rules to investigate how these funds were allocated and used, and determine if they truly made an impact.

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He demanded foe detailed information from the agencies covering the period between 2017 and 2024, including lists of beneficiaries, addresses, project locations, loan terms, recovery plans, and collaboration with donor partners.

“The Nigerian people deserve to know how their resources are being used, and this Committee is committed to ensuring that every kobo allocated to agriculture serves its intended purpose,” he said.

He also acknowledged that the Bank of Agriculture recently appointed a new Managing Director and confirmed that a letter to that effect has been received by the Committee.

The Chairman therefore urged all agency representatives to be open and sincere in their presentations, and charged the media and civil society to play their part in holding government accountable.

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“The goal is not to antagonize but to collaborate in finding solutions. Where there are gaps, let us address them. Where there are inefficiencies, let us correct them. And where there are infractions, let us take necessary actions to prevent recurrence.

“With that, I declare this investigative public hearing open. I look forward to a robust, insightful, and solution-driven deliberation,” he stated.

Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, represented by Mr Kwasari John Harman, an acting director in CBN said the Apex bank disbursed N1.21 trillions and N871 billion among others

He said that all commercial banks in the country received funds from the federal government on the Anchor Borrowers Scheme of the previous administration.

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Kogi varsity expels two students over gay practice, rusticates four for fighting

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The Management of Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, has expelled two students for alleged involvement in gay practice and rusticated four others for one academic session over a campus fight.

According to a statement issued on Friday by the university’s Information and Protocol Unit, the sanctions were ratified during the 31st Regular Meeting of the University Senate following recommendations from the Students’ Disciplinary Committee.

The statement read, “The Management of Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, has approved the expulsion of two students for involvement in gay practice and the rustication of four others for one academic session over acts of fighting on campus.”

The affected students were notified in letters signed by the Deputy Registrar, Academics, Eli Gbadafu, copies of which were made available to the Information, Public Relations and Protocol Unit of the university.

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The statement further read, “The institution stated that the disciplinary actions were taken in accordance with the provisions of the Students’ Handbook, Second Edition, as amended in 2025.”

Onumoko Hamza of the Biology Education department and Abdulazeez Eneji of the Mining Engineering department were expelled over gay practice.

Four other students were rusticated for one academic session over fighting. They are Favor Akowe of the Microbiology department, Simbiat Babamuharuna of the Biology department, Zainab Omayoza of the Biochemistry department, and Sukura Bukola, also of the Biochemistry department.

The statement read, “The University Management reiterated its commitment to maintaining discipline, order and a conducive environment for teaching and learning.”

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It added, “Management warned that it would not hesitate to take decisive disciplinary action against any student found guilty of violating the rules and regulations of the University.”

The statement read further, “Students are therefore advised to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the Students’ Handbook and conduct themselves in accordance with the established rules and regulations of the University.”

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CAN faults FRSC amendment bill, seeks Tinubu’s intervention

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The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the South-West region has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withhold assent to the proposed Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

The Senate had passed an amendment to the FRSC Act, proposing tougher penalties for a range of traffic offences as part of efforts to improve road safety and strengthen compliance with traffic regulations.

One of the major provisions of the amendment bill introduces a N100,000 fine for motorists who fail to obey traffic lights, road signs, road markings, or other traffic control devices.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Bishop Dr. Barnabas Tunde Akinsanya, CAN said it supports the Federal government’s efforts to improve road safety and reduce accidents.

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It explained that it is concerned about the provisions prescribing sanctions for preaching in commercial buses and prohibiting hawking in such vehicles.

The association further argued that the measures could also infringe on the constitutional rights to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and expression.

According to the association, although the government has a responsibility to protect lives and ensure public safety, it must also uphold the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

“We therefore respectfully appeal to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to withhold assent to the Bill in its present form and encourage further consultation with relevant stakeholders, including religious bodies, civil society organisations, legal experts, transport unions, and road safety professionals.

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“Such dialogue will help produce legislation that effectively promotes road safety while preserving the constitutional rights and dignity of every Nigerian,” the statement said.

The association also warned that an outright ban on hawking in commercial buses could worsen the economic hardship facing many Nigerians who rely on informal trading for their daily livelihood.

Rather than introducing measures that could further reduce people’s means of survival, CAN urged the government to focus on creating employment opportunities, reducing poverty, improving public transportation, strengthening security and enhancing citizens’ welfare.

The Christian body appealed to President Tinubu to decline assent to the bill in its current form and instead facilitate broader consultations involving religious organisations, civil society groups, legal experts, transport unions and road safety professionals.

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It maintained that such engagement would help produce legislation that enhances road safety without undermining the constitutional rights and dignity of Nigerians.

CAN stressed that Nigeria needs laws that promote national unity, safeguard lives without unnecessarily restricting fundamental freedoms, and strengthen public confidence in democratic governance.

The association, however, reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement with government to advance justice, peace, constitutional democracy and national development.

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Court Of Appeal Upholds Refusal To Restrain NCC, Dismisses COSON’s Appeal

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The Court of Appeal, Lagos Judicial Division, has dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed by the Copyright Society of Nigeria Ltd/Gte (COSON) against the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), affirming an earlier decision of the Federal High Court refusing to grant an injunction restraining the Commission.

In a unanimous judgment delivered on July 9, 2026, the appellate court also awarded ₦200,000 in costs against COSON.

According to a statement on Saturday, the three-member panel, led by Justice Polycarp Terna Kwahar, with Justice Folasade Ayodeji Ojo and Justice Muslim Sule Hassan concurring, held that there was no existing operating approval that could be preserved through an interlocutory injunction.

The appeal stemmed from COSON’s substantive suit challenging aspects of the Copyright (Collective Management Organisations) Regulations, 2007.

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Pending the determination of the case, COSON had sought an interlocutory injunction restraining the NCC from revoking its operating approval or interfering with its management, finances, bank accounts, audits and royalty collection activities.

However, the Federal High Court, in a ruling delivered on December 1, 2021, declined the application, holding that an interlocutory injunction cannot be granted to restrain an action that had already been completed.

The court noted that COSON’s operating approval had been suspended by the NCC in April 2018 and subsequently expired in May 2019, before the substantive suit and the application for injunction were filed.

In affirming the lower court’s decision, the Court of Appeal ruled that the legal status existing before the commencement of the suit was that COSON’s operating approval had already become inoperative.

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Justice Kwahar, in the lead judgment, stated: “Both the Appellant and the Respondent have demonstrated vide their affidavit evidence that the Appellant’s operation had prior to the commencement of the suit become inoperative by virtue of the suspension of the Appellant’s licence and expiration by effluxion of time. That is the status quo ante bellum before the commencement of the suit at the lower Court.”

The appellate court emphasized that the purpose of an interlocutory injunction is to preserve the status quo pending the determination of a substantive case, not to reverse actions that had already taken effect before litigation commenced.

It therefore held that granting the relief sought by COSON would have altered, rather than preserved, the existing legal position, and consequently dismissed the appeal for lacking merit.

Reacting to the judgment, the Nigerian Copyright Commission described the ruling as a reaffirmation of its position that there was no subsisting operating approval for the court to preserve through an injunction.

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The Commission further reiterated that COSON is currently not approved to operate as a Collective Management Organisation (CMO) in Nigeria.

The judgment is regarded as a significant legal victory for the NCC, reinforcing the Commission’s regulatory authority over collective management organisations and clarifying the legal limits of interlocutory injunctions in disputes involving expired or suspended regulatory approvals.

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