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NNPCL Probe: Ugochinyere denies offering $1.7m to Speaker Abbas, pledges allegiance to House leadership
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
A Member of the House of Representatives, representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, has on Wednesday, debunked allegations that he gave $1.7 million to Speaker Tajudeen Abass and House leadership, to secure the committee chairmanship position.
Ugochinyere, who is currently the House Committee Chairman on Downstream Petroleum, described the allegation as “a low-quality unbelievable Holywood movie crafted in panicking room of scared oil thieves and their paid agents, who are on a failed mission to smear the House and its working committees, in a bid to divert attention from the long overdue need for efficiency and transparency in the nation’s oil sector that has accounted for the economic crisis and fx challenges in the land”.
In a statement issued in Abuja by his Chief of Staff, Ernest Njesi, Ugochinyere said that it was only “a stupid and childish mind” that would believe that he gave the Speaker 1.7m dollars, not to mention issuing a threat to the Speaker, who, up till today is his close confidant held in high esteem, including his able deputy, Benjamin Kalu, and the entire team driving the people’s house .
According to him, it is a false and “nonsensical belated attempt by individuals with vested interests in oil and gas who want to provoke and divert attention from endemic corruption in the oil and gas industry, by attempting to smear the House and scare committed Members away from asking the right questions”.
He said, “the whole noise and kindergarten manufactured fake stories will not stop the commitment to seek transparency and efficiency. Those who also want to build on the failed propaganda to divide the House and cause crisis by planting fake news should know that their plot have backfired and we know who they are now”.
The Lawmaker expressed optimism that, the attempt to drag the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, distinguished Members, and his name into “a Hollywood fiction story is dead on arrival, and all those who aided the stories in one way or another will face the wrath of the law, including other smear campaigns which I will seek for damages for”.
Expressing support for the decision of the House leadership to reconstitute the joint committee investigating challenges in the oil sector, Ugochinyere said he trusted the Speaker’s decision will help to get to the root of the rot with no escape route for those already scared, even when the investigation has not started, adding that if setting up an ad-hoc committee to carry out the investigation was better, then he agrees with him and will support the committee to excel 100 percent.
Ugochinyere said, “The allegation is a belated nonsensical, childish, and unprofessional fiction work aimed at creating division in the House to aid some criminal elements who are long overdue for prison to think they can escape justice, which is impossible as the demand for transparency and reform is a task that will be pushed.
“Only a childish mind will believe the poorly scripted work that Speaker was given 1.7m dollars for something that is not worth a penny. We will not dignify the cheap attempt to distract and divert attention from the House investigation of the corruption in our Oil industry.
“Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu’s all-inclusive administration style has kept the 10th House stable in the last year. Their approach to governance has played a pivotal role in fostering a sense of inclusivity within the parliament. They embraced a collaborative approach that transcends party lines, fostering an environment where all voices are not only heard but also valued.
“So we are not bothered by the disjointed attacks and smear campaign against our Hon. Speaker and the House leadership. These are efforts of unprofessional corrupt elements to pollute the media space in a desperate bid to seek cover from the inevitable that is coming. I remain focused in my fight for good governance.”
News
Change Negative Narrative About EFCC Being Used For Settling Political Scores- Reps
………Ask Anti Graft Agency To Fight Financial Crimes Within Established Laws
.
……My Staff Are Poorly Paid, EFCC
…., States Why Fight Against Yahoo Boys Fierce
The House of Representatives has tasked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to purge itself from the negative impression that its being used to settle political scores and concentrate fighting financial and economic crimes within established laws.
The House handed the advise on Tuesday through the Chairman House Committee on Financial Crimes Honorable Ginger Onwusibe who led members of the committee on the 2024 oversight exercise on the commission.
The oversight covered extensive facility tour of departments and critical operational units of the antigraft agency.
In his terse remarks, Hon. Onwusibe challenged the agency to improve its operational activities in combating economic and financial crimes by complying with its 2004 Establishment Act and other relevant applicable laws like the Money Laundering ( Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022: Terrorism ( Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022: The Proceeds of Crime Act. 2022, as well as other statutes, that compels it to carry out these roles transparently with accountability and show that the negative maxim being peddled in some quarters that the agency is often being used for settling political scores is incorrect .
The committee assured that it will collaborate with the commission to actualize its mandate by enacting new laws or amending old ones and as well providing budgetary interventions, if it must strive tirelessly to be on top of its challenges
The House urged the agency to collaborate with sister agencies and desist from keeping suspects as- awaiting ‘trial in correctional centres nationwide
“At this point let me add that a recent visit to the Maximun and Minimun Correctional centres in Kirikiri Lagos State, numerous suspects have been awaiting trial for over one year and yet we are all acquainted with the saying that justice delayed is justice denied”
” It is on this note that we call on the EFCC, Attorney General of the Federation and the Judiciary to improve and ensure the administration of justice works and is efficiently delivered to the victims”
The House warned the agency to purge itself of rotten eggs in order to fight economic and financial crimes frontally, thereby stimulating the Nigerian economy
It also urged EFCC to focus properly on its mandate.
” The issue of appropriate and proper focusing on the mandate of the EFCC must relentlessly be on the front burner:
“Orders from competent courts , arrest and debt recovery must be pursued religiously” the House cautioned
But on its side, the antigraft agency said it has not deviated from its focus but rather working hard and fighting financial and economic crimes as enunciated in its mandate.
Chairman of the agency , Ola Olukeyede told his guest in his remarks during the oversight visit that the commission was doing much to fight financial and economic crimes and stimulate the Nigerian economy
He said so far that the agency has recovered over N250bn cash, tens of million of Dollars and other foreign currencies, with over 3000 convictions: 17000 petitions while also investigating over 20000,with about 4000 fresh cases , all being handled by a misery number of staff strenght
He noted that its priority is to improve the country’s image and stimulate its economy, such that there could be improvement in foregin direct investments and stimulation of the local economy.
Olukeyede however, argued that the agency needed more staff strenght, funding , better renumeration for staff because they were poorly paid. He also emphasised on modern day technology to fight the ever dynamic cyber criminals
According to the EFCC boss, it was important to give more salary to EFCC staff and deploy modern technology to fight emerging cyber crime dynamism . He expalined that the agency has increased efforts to fight Yahoo, yahhoo, boys because of their ability to crumble any economy within a twinkle of an eye
According to him, the agency was expanding its drag net to focus on ministries, departments and agencies infrastructural projects. ” “Go to MDAs and see their budget implementstion. It is not up to 20%”
“We want to ensure 50% infrastructural development” the anti graft boss announced, insisting that it would henceforth encourage monitoring of project implementation which was an aspect of preventing financial crimes
He said the agency has dismissed lots of erring staff, and will continue to dismiss and even prosecute them going forward.
Olukeyede disclosed that it had designed a template on staff integrity, using the Gift- Policy model
.” It is not every thankful gift we should collect” the EFCC boss warned
” I am advocating for more welfare improvement, better welfare, he said.
“We will do more recoveries, more convictions, but we need more resources to do our work, maintaining that, that was his stand on ethics and integrity .
Olokeyede’s demand for more salary wage for staff of the commission, is seen as an incentive to boost welfare and morale to fight financial crimes to standstill.
He stated that there was the utmost need to increase salaries of staff of the commission
The EFCC boss who spoke on his stewardship in the last one year, further added that it increased the war against Yahoo- Yahoo boys because of the consequences of their nefarious acts which could crumble a nation’s economy in a jiffy.
He argued that more technology was required to fight financial crimes.
For instance he explained that it was a common scenario then for thieves and armed robbers to attack and break into banks with guns and Dynamites
” But it is the same common and more easier scenario and task now to have Yahoo-Yahoo boys and bank thieves attack banks with technology in the comfort of their homes or hideouts”
“So we need technology and we also need to increase our fight against these Yahoo boys who can dismantle any economy within a twinkle of an eye
He called on the national Assembly to improve and increase its finances because fighting Financial crimes was a herculean task that requires adequate funding
Olokeyede who apparently was responding to criticisms of the commission’s over concentration on Cyber crimes/ thieves, perpetrated by Yahoo boys, said he has made tremendous impact in enforcement, investigation and conviction with an outstanding record convictions between October 2023 when he was appointed till date
News
Trouble looming for Obaseki as Gov Okpebholo orders probe of his admin
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has ordered the setting up of a committee to probe the immediate-past administration of Godwin Obaseki for its failure to inaugurate 14 Edo Assembly lawmakers-elect into the 7th Assembly.
Okpebholo disclosed this while giving his inaugural speech as the new governor of the state.
Governor Okpebholo also ordered the State Chief Judge to immediately investigate the initial delay of former Governor Obaseki to inaugurate duly-cleared judges by the National Judicial Council (NJC) last year
News
Naira may depreciate to N1,993 against dollar – Report
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Nigeria’s naira has been projected to depreciate further to N1,993 per dollar in the coming days.
This is according to BMI, a Fitch Solutions subsidiary report title, ‘Weak Naira and Structural Challenges to Constrain Nigeria’s Medical Devices Market Growth’.
The report said the forecasted depreciation will be predicated on the 95 percent dependence on imports for pharmaceuticals in Nigeria.
According to the report, the development would erode both the health system and patient purchasing power.
“We expect that the naira will end 2028 at N1,993/$ from N306/$ in 2018.
“As the naira weakens, the cost of importing medical devices will continually increase, eroding both the health system and patient purchasing power, especially to invest in essential medical technologies given the underfunding of the public health sector,” the report stated.
This comes as Naira fell to N1681.42 and N1735 at the official and parallel foreign exchange markets on Monday.
This comes as FMDQ FX transaction turnover dropped significantly from $1.4 billion on Friday to $471.5 million on Monday.
Last Thursday, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, said the country’s external reserves rose to $40 billion.
Despite Central Bank of Nigeria’s interventions and external reserves rise in the last months, the naira has continued to experience fluctuations in the FX market.
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