News

Estate Developer Seeks Tinubu’s Intervention Over Illegal Demolition Of Properties

Published

8 months ago

April 28, 2024

By Gloria Ikibah

A real estate developer in Abuja, Engr. Success Obioma, has called for intervention of President Bola Tinubu the over the demolition of his multibillion naira property in Abuja.

Obioma, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Praco International Ltd., Psalm 127 Ltd.,

and Peace Be Still Ltd., foremost and highly reputed, in an interview lamented the unwarranted persecution by perceived enemies of progress, who misled the authority and had all his documents and titles seized and got property worth billions of naira destroyed.

According to him, in his quest to meet the housing need of the masses in the FCT, acquired, developed and managed properties for his numerous clients in FCT including high profiled Nigerians and politicians.

He narrated his ordeal and how his aspiration was frustrated and truncated, and had lost over N10 billions to demolition by FCTA.

Obioma said he was incarcerated for over two years in the struggle to get justice over illegal demolition of his properties and that of his clients.

He stated how the FCTA humiliated and frustrated him for over 20 years by seizing of title documents with destruction of multibillion naira property and even incarcerated him for more than two years and yet no hope in sight for a relief from unwarranted persecution by the authority.

Obioma, who said he had secured reliefs through court judgment over the release of his title documents, said urged the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike should know that the restoration of his title documents followed due process and he should release the remaining seized documents or restore them.

According to him, the committee set up by the FCTA as directed by the former president Olusegun Obasanjo cleared him of all allegations of possession of fake land documents as was being speculated or forge documents to acquire lands.

He said that for the 20 years the matter lasted, no one could produce one victim of his alleged illegal land deals to testify

He stated: “The membership of the committee comprised of all department heads, directors and management staff of FCTA because they were looking for fake documents as was being speculated by enemies of progress that I forge land documents to acquire lands. It gave me the opportunity to prove myself as an honest business man.

“For the 20 years the matter lasted, they could not produce one victim of my illegal land deals to testify’’.

Obioma therefore called on the Minister of FCT Nyesom Wike to intervene, even as he urged him to publish the committee report of 2002, publish the documents seized from him for the world to see how fake or originals they are.

This he said was necessary because his life was being threatened by his clients who believed that he had sold their land.

“The minister should also ask the members of that committee who are still in service to explain how I was screened, my activities screened, and documents verified and they could not identify that there were no ministerial approvals covering over 200 plots they linked to me.

“He should also study the Federal High Court judgment as a lawyer to see that there was no stone left unturned by EFCC and their collaborators to prove their informants wrong.

“H.E. Nyesom Wike should be made to know that the restoration of my title documents followed due process and he should release the remaining seized documents or restore them”, he added.

“Yes my life is being threatened by those whose properties have not been restored. Most of them have waited since 2003 till date they are now asking, having been acquitted by a court of competent jurisdiction what else is holding their documents? They have been alleging that I sold them”, he pleaded.

The developer who is presently away in London since for completion of his PhD programme he abandoned since 2003 said he was ready to suspend it to pave way for resolution of the issue

“Yes am not in the country, but am ready to suspend what am doing here to come if my attention is needed by the minister as a solution to the confusion created by the demolition.

“The demolition gale be checked so that investors would not lose interest in FCT”, Obioma said.

News

Nigeria Congratulates Qatar on National Day

Published

4 minutes ago

December 18, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The Federal Government of Nigeria has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the State of Qatar on the occasion of its National Day, celebrated on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.

In a statement signed by the Acting Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Nigeria’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, conveyed fraternal greetings to Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

The statement highlighted Qatar’s commitment to promoting global peace and its significant contributions to humanitarian services worldwide.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria commends the commitment and strategic efforts made by the State of Qatar in the promotion of global peace; and more so, the excellent contributions to humanitarian services in different parts of the world,” it read.

Ambassador Tuggar emphasised the strong and growing relations between Nigeria and Qatar, expressing satisfaction with the collaborative efforts to strengthen ties for the mutual benefit of their citizens.

He wished Qatar peace, prosperity, and progress, reaffirming Nigeria’s enduring friendship and support.

This underscores Nigeria’s recognition of its diplomatic relationship with Qatar and its shared commitment to global cooperation and development.

News

Reps Recommends Delisting NECO, UI, Labour Ministry, 21 Others From 2025 Budget

Published

13 minutes ago

December 18, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has called for the removal of the National Examination Council (NECO), University of Ibadan (UI), Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, and 21 other federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) from the 2025 budget.

This recommendation follows their repeated failure to account for previous allocations and internally generated revenue.

During an extraordinary session on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, the Committee resolved that these MDAs should be excluded from the budget until they comply with its directives.

Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Bamidele Salam, stressed: “The Financial Regulation empowers the National Assembly to exclude any Ministry, Department, or Agency (MDA) that fails to account for their previous appropriations. As such, the listed MDAs should be excluded from the 2025 budget until they appear before this constitutional committee.”

The decision was prompted by the consistent non-compliance of these MDAs despite multiple summons issued by the Committee to scrutinize their financial operations.

Prominent institutions among those recommended for delisting include hospitals, universities, and federal development agencies. Some of the affected MDAs are:

Federal Medical Centre, Bida
Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment
Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria
Nigeria Police Force: Department of Information and Communication Technology
Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba
Federal College of Education, Yola
Federal Polytechnic Ekowe, Bayelsa State
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi
Federal University of Technology, Minna
Cross River Basin Development Authority
Nigeria Office for Trade Negotiation
National Examination Council (NECO)
Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil
Presidential Amnesty Programme
Galaxy Backbone
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals

Others include the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority, National Space Research and Development Agency, Federal Cooperative College (Ibadan), Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority, University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, and Federal School of Survey, Oyo State.

The Committee unanimously recommended that the MDAs in question be delisted from the 2025 budget until they comply with the request for documentation and provide necessary financial clarifications.

News

Reps Call for Revival of NAPAC to Boost Transparency, Accountability

Published

22 minutes ago

December 18, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has called for the revitalization and strengthening of the National Association of Public Accounts Committees (NAPAC) to enhance transparency, accountability, and good governance across Nigeria.

Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts (PAC), Rep. Bamidele Salam, stated this at the joint sitting of Public Accounts Committees of Senate and House and inauguration of an Adhoc Committee for the reconvening of NAPAC at the National Assembly on Tuesday, emphasised the importance of collaboration among Public Accounts Committees at both federal and state levels.

Formed in 2014, NAPAC comprises 38 chapters nationwide, including the Public Accounts Committees of the Senate, House of Representatives, and all 36 State Houses of Assembly, Rep. Salam noted that the Association has been dormant in recent years, necessitating urgent action to restore its relevance.

He stated, “This Association is a pivotal platform for promoting transparency and accountability in governance. However, in recent times, the Association’s activities have been dormant, necessitating the need for a quick revitalization.

“It is in this context that we are inaugurating this Ad-hoc Committee, tasked with the vital responsibility of reconvening the meeting of NAPAC.”

Salam outlined committee’s objectives, including reviving NAPAC’s activities, adopting innovative strategies to combat corruption, and collaborating with anti-corruption agencies, civil society, and the media.

He also stressed the importance of leveraging partnerships with continental and regional associations such as AFROPAC, WAPAC, and SADCOPAC for capacity building and knowledge sharing.

“The task ahead is daunting, but with collective effort, unwavering commitment, and an unshakeable faith in our nation’s potential, I am confident that we shall succeed,” he added.

In an interaction with journalists, thr Committee chairman, stressed plans to engage with the Auditor General of the Federation and Accountant General of the Federation to address delays in submitting reports on Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

“Of course, Nigerians should expect that we’re going to have more productivity, especially in consideration of the report of the Auditor General,” he said.

He noted that only the 2021 Auditor General’s report is currently before the National Assembly, a situation he described as inconsistent with constitutional provisions. Salam expressed the committee’s determination to ensure Nigeria catches up with the 2022 and 2023 reports by next year.

He added, “We’ll also be able to bring more of these agencies of government in line to ensure that all monies appropriated by the National Assembly are spent judiciously, efficiently, and in a lawful manner.”