$7 Million Allegedly Illegally Kept In Heritage Bank Recovered By Special Presidential Investigation Panel!

The fight for corruption in Nigeria seems to be taking a new turn as the Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP) set up by the Presidency for the Recovery of Public Property reportedly recovered the sum of "seven million Dollars ($7 million) Or (₦2.1 billion at official rate) illegally kept in Heritage Bank."

Information made available to the public by the Social Media Aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, Lauretta Onochie, on Sunday, 17th June, 2018, revealed the  following: 

• "The Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP) for the Recovery of Public Property has recovered seven million Dollars ($7 million) Or (₦2.1 billion at official rate) illegally kept in Heritage Bank.
• Chairman of the panel, Mr Okoi Obono-Obla, disclosed this while briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on activities of the panel.
• The panel has also recovered ₦533 million and land worth N1.5 billion, from the “Previous Management” of NEXIM Bank. (The recovered funds and property had since been returned to the bank.)
• The panel has also recovered and returned to the National Theatre, ₦24 million which was diverted by some directors of the agency.
• Also recovered, were 2 hectares of land in Abuja valued at over N2 billion, belonging to the National Council of Arts and Culture.
• The panel went on and recovered and returned a part of Agura Hotel belonging to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). The recovered part of the hotel had been illegally “annexed by some so-called powerful persons with untouchable connections for over 20 years”.
• Other recoveries by the SPIP, according to Obono-Obla, are 19 official Sports Utility Vehicles allegedly made away with by former Commissioners of the National Population Commission after their tenures in office.
• He said the panel had charged a former Director in the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to court for failure to declare his assets. The assets include houses in upscale areas of Abuja, a quarry and a farm within the Federal Capital Territory, for which a court has granted an interim forfeiture order.
• The SPIP is also investigating some members of the National Assembly and former governors for a range of alleged offences. These include illegal purchase of designated official residences for principal officers of the National Assembly excluded from the monetisation policy at giveaway prices.
• Others are purchase of several properties worth hundreds of millions in various currencies, and flagrant abuse of office thus causing financial adversity to the nation.
• Mr. Obono-Obla said the SPIP was partnering with the United Kingdom’s Home Secretary to ensure that some public officers "perceived to have looted public funds and illegally acquired assets both in Nigeria and the UK”, were prevented from entering that country.
• The SPIP chairman equally told the President that the panel was beaming its searchlight on several companies for a wide range of alleged offences. Some of the companies, he said, are

1. Celtel, for alleged tax evasion since 2005;
2. Western Oil and Gas, for illegally drilling crude oil in Delta, and seven others for alleged failure to pay royalties to the Federal Government in about 10 years.

• He said some multinational oil companies based in Egi Kingdom, Rivers, were also being investigated for allegedly conniving with unscrupulous individuals to dodge their obligations to the community to the tune of ₦38 billion and $30 million
• Also under investigation by the panel is another company, which has failed to fulfil its contractual agreement to dredge the Calabar Channel, years after receiving $12 million.
• The panel has also compiled a list of over 200 past and serving public officers perceived to have illegally enriched themselves at the expense of the nation and the Nigerian people, among others,” Obono-Obla said in the briefing.
• Pres. Buhari, assured the panel of his continued support and non-interference in line with his administration’s stance on the anti-corruption fight.
• Obono-Obla said the panel would remain committed to its mandate, in addition to complementing the Federal Government’s fight against corruption.
• He solicited the continued support of Nigerians to the panel with useful information that would lead to the recovery of looted public assets.

The News agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the panel  was inaugurated by the then Acting President Yemi Osinbajo in August 2017. (NAN)."

About Eight People Injured And Hospitalised After A Taxi Crashed Into World-Cup Fans In Moscow!

About eight people were rushed to the hospital  following injuries they sustained when a taxi rammed into a crowed of world-cup fans at  Ilyinka Street, Central Moscow, Russia, on Saturday, June 16, 2018.

Photo: The Moscow Times

Among the injured persons, two-Mexicans, two Russians, and one Ukraine reportedly hospitalised were reported to be in stable condition. However, one woman is reported to be in serious condition.

Reports said the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the crowd.

Photo Of The Day, Even Keke Dey Rock Our Jersey!

Commercial tricycle popularly known as 'keke-Marwa' in Nigeria, seen rocking the Super Eagles famous jersey around Lagos, metropolis.

It's a win-win situation....when we are united.

Gridlock Returns To Inwards Ajah At Lekki-Epe Express Way!

Despite the construction of Jubilee Bridge at Ajah area to avert traffic at the busy Lekki-Epe express way, gridlock appeared to have returned to Ikota/Ilaje bus-stop axis. Pictures below, taken in the evening of Thursday, June 14, 2018  show the situation inward Ilaje bus-stop from Ikota area. 

Lekki-Epe Express Way, by Ikota, inward Ilaje bus-stop

One of the reasons for this 'traffic return' Roving Informant gathered, is the bad state of the Ikota- Lekki Scheme 11- Ogombo road alternative route. 

...See link below, to previous publication on the need for alternative route in Lekki area of Lagos state.

http://rovinginformant.blogspot.com/2017/06/roving-informant.html

The 'alternative-route' is supposed to divert vehicles headed to Lekki-Scheme 11 area, Abraham Adesanya, Ogombo, even Shongotedo and beyond, while making the express-way free for those headed to Ado-Road, Badore, Thomas Estate areas...and heavy duty trucks, vans and pick-ups.

Lekki-Epe Express Way, by Ikota, inward Ilaje bus-stop

With the teeming population of the ever-growing Lekki axis of Lagos State, the need for alternative routes, and a major Beach-Road can not be over emphasised. It is hoped that with persistent clamour, the authorities will consider making 'alternative-route' project a reality.

Operation Clear The Drainage: Flood Swallowing Up Lagos Markets!

This is Ultra Mordern Market Ajah, Lekki area of Lagos state, Nigeria. As seen on Wednesday morning, June 13, 2018. Result of years of uncleared drainage has resulted in flood, bringing businesses almost to a halt whenever it rains. 

Ultra Modern Market Ajah, Lekki-Lagos

Ultra Modern Market Ajah, Lekki-Lagos

This is once again, a call to relevant authorities and sundry to do the needful...clear the drainage.

Click on link to read previous stories on drainage. http://rovinginformant.blogspot.com/2016/11/drainage-clearance-needs-waste-disposal.html

Nigeria Sign Agreements on Regional Gas Pipeline, Chemical Plant, Agricultural Training With Morocco!

Nigeria and the Kingdom of Morocco among two other agreements, signed a Regional Gas pipeline Agreement on Monday, May 11, 2018, in Rabat, Morocco's capital city.

                                        

The Regional Gas pipeline Agreement is expected to enable Nigeria provide gas to other West-African countries, and to Morocco and Europe.

The feasibility study of the pipeline-agreement was signed by the Group General Manager, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Farouq Said Garba, and Mrs Amina Benkhadra, Director General of the National Office of Hydrocarbon and Mines. The agreement is expected to be concluded by July 2018.

According to a statement signed by Senior Special Assistance to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, "The construction of the pipeline will be phased and based on increasing needs of the countries crossed, and Europe, for the period of 25 years.

The Nigeria Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP), designed to be 5,660km long, will reduce gas flaring in Nigeria and encourage diversification of energy resources in the country, while cutting down poverty through the creation of more job opportunities.

The NMGP will further encourage utilisation of gas in the sub-region for cooking, and discourage desertification". The statement read.

Other agreements signed were the Memorandom of Understanding for the development of a chemical plant in Nigeria for producing ammonia and its derivatives, signed by the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Nigeria Sovereign Wealth Authority, Mr Uche Orji and the Chief Executive Officer of the Office of the Management of Phosphate in Morocco, Mr Mostafa Terrab. 

The Cooperation Agreement on Vocational Training and Technical Supervision, was signed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh and his Moroccan counterpart, Mr Aziz Akhannouch. This agreement is expected to boost skills on better management of agricultural outfits in Nigeria.

After witnessing the agreements signing, Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari and King of Morocco, His Majesty King Mohammed V1, proceeded to a meeting which focused on strengthening economic relations in gas resource development, global investments and agricultural training and management.

President Muhamadu Buhari is on a two-day official visit to The Kingdom of Morocco.

House-Boy Arrested, Confessed To Killing Naval Officer To Cover-Up Lorraine Onye's Murder!

Investigation into the murder of 22- year-old Lorraine Onye, who was initially reportedly murdered by her boy friend, a Naval officer identified as Lt. Abubakar, Yahaya Yusuf, in May, 2018, in Naval Quaters, Borokiri, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, recently took a new turn.

At the time the body of the deceased was discovered a few days after the murder, hidden inside a foam in the suspects room; it was reported that Lorraine was killed by her boyfriend,  Lt. Abubakar, during an argument over Lorraine's refusal to accept a break-up in their relationship. It was alleged that the suspect fled the country after the heinous need. 

However, investigation reportedly conducted by operatives of the IGP-Intelligence Response Team revealed that Lt. Abubakar's house-boy, 28 year-old Taddues Jaja upon his arrest, confessed to killing the late Ms Lorraine Onye during an argument.

The Intelligence Team reported that the new-suspect, Taddues Jaja confessed that after killing Lorraine, he went ahead to kill an unsuspecting Lt. Abubakar, by poisoning his drink with a drug known as Talen, to cover-up his track. 

According to the report, Taddues Jaja, drove the life-less body of Lt. Abubakar to a forest in Ubima, Ikwere Local government area, Rivers State, where he reportedly burnt the body. 

It was reported that the suspect led the investigating team to a location where the remains, believed to be that of Lt Abubakar, Yahaya Yusuf was discovered burnt beyond recognition. With the aid of a Pathologist, the remains was recovered and deposited at the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) Morgue. 

The investigating team reportedly recovered a white coloured Turbo Hyundai,  with registration Number: ASB- 512 AG, said to have belonged to Lt Abubakar, Yahaya Yusuf, where the suspect sold it to a buyer in Benin - City, southern Nigeria.  A mobile hand-set which belonged to Lt. Abubakar, Yahaya Yusuf was also recovered from another buyer in Port-Harcourt.

The late Lorraine Onye was reported to be a 300 level, Educational Foundation student at the Rivers State University, Diobu, Port-Harcourt.

There is need for Forensic analysis performed on recovered remains believed to be that of Lt Abubakar, Yahaya Yusuf, in order to strengthen this investigation.