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N298million SUV Scandal: NCSCN Gives Tinubu Seven Days To Probe TCN Managing Director, Abdulaziz
The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) has given President Bola Tinubu and other relevant institutions a seven-day ultimatum to suspend the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Abdulaziz Ahmed Sule, over sundry corruption allegations.
It was earlier reported how Ahmed Sule allegedly bought a 2023 Lexus LX 600 model for the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu to perfect his stay in office.
The SUV was procured for N298,444,187.
Sources had also told SaharaReporters that Sule bought the vehicle from the internally generated revenue of the company to bribe the minister to ensure that President Bola Tinubu did not remove him from office.
Meanwhile the call by NCSCN was made in a press statement issued by Blessing Akinlosotu, the council’s Executive Director, describing the TCN boss’ action as insensitive towards what Nigerians were currently facing in the country’s power sector.
Commenting on the development, NCSCN said that over 20 petitions had been brought before the Civil Society Council against the MD/CEO of TCN and a few others directed at the leadership of the Distribution Companies (DISCOs).
The statement continued, “However, the most alarming is the recent reports concerning bribery allegations against the Managing Director of TCN, Engr. Sule A. Abdulaziz, that he purchased an SUV Car to induce the Honourable Minister of Power to influence his retention.
“The most painful aspect of this ugly development to the Civil Society Community is that while the nation is languishing in darkness and epileptic power supply, about 226 containers of power equipment and transformers owned by the TCN are at the various ports in Nigeria.
“Aside the corruption component in this offensive action, the gross insensitivity and irresponsibility therein is clearly showcased in the fact that this same MD of TCN has been unable to raise and pay up a paltry sum of one billion naira to take delivery of about 226 longstanding containers of power equipment and transformers that are trapped in various ports as a result of inability of the MD/CEO of TCN to raise paltry sum of money required to clear and take final deliveries.
“The Civil Society Council is in custody of a letter dated November 7, 2023 with reference TCN/MD/CEO/01/E,001/VOL 7/227/2023 signed by the MD/CEO of TCN himself to the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service appealing for intervention to cancel the huge demurage and duties that had accumulated up to about N5billion, of which the Comptroller General graciously obliged, cutting down to only 20% about N1billion, in order to help improve electricity supply in Nigeria, yet, despite the goodwill and kind gesture of the Comptroller General of Customs, the MD of TCN is still unable to pay and take deliveries till date.
“We can all imagine the positive impact of 226 container load of power equipment and transformers to the national grid and electricity supply across the country, instead the MD of TCN can raise over one quarter of the same amount to buy car for a Minister.
“NCSCN considers this failure to clear and take delivery of the containers of power equipment, purchase of car for the Minister of Power, and other violation of Procurement Act, as the height of irresponsibility and insensitivity to the plight of the masses, that calls for stiff punitive measures against the MD/CEO of TCN.
“It is in the light of the foregoing that the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) strongly demands the immediate suspension of Engr. Sule A. Abdulaziz by President Tinubu and investigation into these allegations by the EFCC, also that the Honourable Minister Power urgently addresses the Nigerian public on these very important matters.
“The Council hereby issues a 7-day ultimatum starting from today of this Press Conference to relevant authorities [President Bola Tinubu, Minister of Power, Director General, State Security Services, Inspector General of Police, and General Public] to take actions on the above demands, failure to which we shall be left with no other option than to mobilise a mass protest nationwide to drive home our demands. Nigerians can no longer tolerate the excesses of the MD of TCN, and we demand remedies now or never.”
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Air Force Begins Moving Electoral Materials For Edo Guber Election
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has began airlifting the sensitive election materials for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to Benin, Edo State, ahead of the upcoming governorship election scheduled for September 21, 2024.
This was disclosed on Wednesday by the Deputy Director, Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Kabiru Ali.
The operation is part of the NAF’s efforts to ensure the timely and secure delivery of materials necessary for a smooth electoral process.
This development reinforces the collaboration between NAF and INEC to facilitate logistics and ensure a peaceful election in Edo State.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, had previously reiterated NAF’s commitment to providing airlift support for the swift movement of electoral materials during a meeting with INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
This airlift operation is a crucial aspect of NAF’s constitutional responsibility to provide Military Aid to Civil Authority, underscoring the force’s dedication to supporting democratic processes in Nigeria. With the election just days away, the NAF’s timely intervention will help ensure the successful conduct of the governorship elections in Edo State.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State had earlier accused the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, of working with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to hunt the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and supporters in the state and force them into hiding ahead of September 21 governorship election.
Obaseki, who made the allegation when a delegation led by the former Head of State, Abdusalam Abubakar, met with him to get the governor and his party to sign peace accord, said that the IGP had made nonsense of his (Obaseki’s) role as the chief security officer of the state.
The governor had said that the police chief obtained a warrant to arrest 60 members and supporters of PDP in Edo and that the IGP sent an armed “gang” of policemen who invaded the state, attacked PDP members, shot at a local government chairman and arrested 10 persons who are currently being detained in Abuja without charges.
Asked by the former head of state if his party would sign the peace accord, Obaseki said, “The person who is supposed to enforce the peace accord is now an active participant in creating a destructive environment.
“We are now in a situation where from the Inspector General’s office, there are armed gang policemen who came into Edo State, invaded, arrested and took away PDP members.
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“Dancing gives me abundant joy and peace of mind”-Gov Adeleke
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has given reasons why he loves dancing.
The ‘Dancing Governor’, as he is fondly called, revealed this on Wednesday while responding to a tweet on X.
An X user, @Iwogoke, while praising the governor, stated that Adeleke has been busy fulfilling his electoral promises to the people of Osun State, while his political opponents believe he is only good at dancing.
Iwogoke tweeted, “I’m not flattering you, Your Excellency, your opponents think you can only dance but while they are busy shouting and calling you ‘Dancing Governor’, you are busy fulfilling your electoral promises to the people.”
Responding to the tweet via his verified X account, Adeleke explained that he loves dancing because it brings him joy.
Speaking further on his love for dancing, Adeleke highlighted that while dancing brings him immense happiness, his greater fulfilment comes from delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Osun.
Outlining his administration’s efforts to enhance the state’s infrastructure, he noted that primary health centre rehabilitation is underway in at least 200 out of the 332 wards across Osun State, adding that road construction projects are also progressing in every local government area.
He wrote, “Dancing gives me joy, but delivering on my electoral promises and providing the dividends of democracy to the good people of Osun gives me even greater joy. Rehabilitation of primary health centers is ongoing in at least 200 out of 332 wards, and road construction is progressing in every Local Government!”
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