Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has congratulated his Ondo State counterpart, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, on the occasion of his 67th birthday.

Mr Sanwo-Olu, in a statement by his chief press secretary, Gboyega Akosile, on Saturday, also congratulated the wife of Ondo State Governor, Betty Akeredolu, on her 70th birthday.

He commended Mr Akeredolu’s commitment and dedication to the service of the Ondo State people, as well as his great contribution and excellent leadership among the South-West governors.

The governor described Mr Akeredolu as a renowned legal icon, administrator and governor, who had made valuable impact in the lives of many people in Ondo State, South-West and Nigeria.

He said that Mr Akeredolu, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is an advocate of good governance, restructuring and true federalism in Nigeria.

Mr Sanwo-Olu wished Mr Akeredolu and his wife prosperous birthdays and prayed to God to grant them unending peace and good health, as they continue to render service to the people of Ondo State.

He also prayed for fast recovery for Mr Akeredolu, who is currently out of the country for medical treatment.”

On behalf of my family, the government and the people of Lagos State, I congratulate Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on his 67th birthday. I also congratulate Ondo’s First Lady, Mrs Betty Akeredolu on her 70th birthday.”

Governor Akeredolu’s input in the growth and development trajectory of Ondo State, formerly as Attorney-General and now Governor, is a pragmatic testament to his visionary leadership,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He said that Akeredolu’s developmental strides in Ondo State and national growth were noticeable in different areas of endeavour.

According to him, Akeredolu has also provided courageous leadership in the South-West, to defend the people of the region on many occasions, especially on the issue of insecurity, restructuring, true federalism and good governance.”

Governor Akeredolu’s penchant for diligence is evident in his contributions toward the development of Nigeria’s socio-economic and political landscape, based on his profession as a lawyer and service as NBA President, before assuming his current position as Governor of Ondo State.”

I also praise Ondo First Lady, Mrs Betty Akeredolu, for being a pillar of support to Governor Akeredolu. She deserves to be celebrated for impacting many lives positively as First Lady of Ondo State.”

On this occasion of Governor Akeredolu’s 67th birthday and his wife’s 70th birthday, I wish them more years in good health and wisdom, as they continue to render more service to humanity, Ondo State, and Nigeria,” Mr Sanwo-Olu said.

The federal government on Friday charged states and local government councils to domesticate and implement the revised 2021-2026 National Gender Policy (NGP) for equity and welfare of vulnerable groups.

Monilola Udoh, the permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, made the call at a dissemination and sensitisation workshop on the 2021/2026 revised NGP in Abuja.

She said:

“The overall goal of the 2021 NGP is to build a just society in which women, girls, and other vulnerable groups will enjoy the same opportunities, rights and obligations in all spheres of life.

“The policy will also protect women’s human rights and mitigate sexual and gender-based violence through appropriate buffers and related services.”

According to her, the NGP will explore and fully harness women’s human capital assets as a growth driver for national development through women’s economic empowerment, participation and representation in leadership and governance.

She, therefore, urged all gender officers represented to ensure the domestication and full implementation of the policy in their various states for overall impact and national development.

Beatrice Eyong, the Country Representative, UN Women, highlighted the importance of NGP towards setting the tone for meaningful engagements on issues around gender equality and women’s empowerment.

“UN Women has always been at the forefront of the development of the strategy; we feel very honoured to continue to be part of this,” she said.

Ms Eyong, represented by Patience Ekeoba, the national programme officer, UN Women, urged all development partners to continue supporting the review, dissemination and implementation of the policy at all levels.

Olabisi Aina, the executive director of the Centre for Gender, Women and Children in Sustainable Development and Lead of the 2006 Gender Policy stressed the need to mainstream gender equity in all sectors across the states.

“Unless we get all the processes right, we will not make it in terms of development, and this is the reason why the gender policy must be domesticated across all states of the federation,” he said.

Other partners present included the African Development Bank (AfDB), ActionAid, religious and traditional leaders, and women groups.

Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State has forwarded to the state’s assembly executive bills to establish three parastatals and amend revenue administration law.

This is contained in a statement on Friday by the chief press secretary to the governor, Ibrahim Kaula.

“The bills and amendments are in line with the governor’s unwavering commitment to advancing the state’s development and creating a conducive environment for growth and progress,” he said.

According to Mr Radda, the bills will proactively address security, development management, land administration and revenue generation issues.

He called on the assembly to give expeditious consideration to the proposed bills, in line with the aspirations of the state’s people for a brighter and more secure future.

The governor said the proposals have garnered widespread support from various stakeholders, including community leaders, industry experts and citizens.He explained that they recognised the positive impact of the initiatives on the state’s socio-economic landscape.

“The bills and amendments proposed include a bill to establish the Katsina Community Watch Corps, aimed to enhance the security and safety of communities across the state.

“The bill will allow the establishment of a vigilant and community-oriented watch corps that will collaborate with security agencies to bolster in combating crime, to ensure peace and stability in the state.

“And also a bill to establish the Katsina Development Management Board, which will focus on promoting efficient development planning and implementation.

“The board will play a critical role in coordinating developmental projects and initiatives, fostering collaboration between various stakeholders and ensuring optimal resource allocation for sustainable growth,” he said.

According to him, the third bill seeks to establish Katsina State Geographic Information System (KATGIS) to modernise land administration and facilitate investment in real estate.

The governor added that KATGIS would be established to introduce an efficient and digitised land information system that streamlines land ownership processes and encourages responsible land use.

He said the bill was to amend the Katsina State Revenue Administration (Codification and Consolidation 2021) to strengthen the financial framework of the state and ensure transparent and effective revenue administration.

“The bill seeks to enhance revenue collection systems, optimise tax compliance and improve accountability in financial matters,” said the governor.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the Infrastructure Support Fund (ISF) for states as part of measures to cushion the effects of the petrol subsidy removal on Nigerians.

A statement by the president’s spokesman Dele Alake said the approval was disclosed at the monthly meeting of the Federation Account Allocation Committee on Thursday in Abuja.

He said the new Fund would enable states to intervene and invest in the critical areas of transportation, including farm-to-market road improvements, agriculture, livestock, and ranching solutions.

Other areas are health, education, power and water resources to improve economic competitiveness, create jobs and deliver economic prosperity for Nigerians.

Mr Alake also mentioned that the committee resolved to save a portion of the monthly distributable proceeds to minimise the impact of the increased revenues occasioned by the subsidy removal and exchange rate unification-on money supply, as well as inflation and the exchange rate.

He said out of the June distributable revenue of N1.9 trillion, only N907 billion would be shared among the three tiers of government, while N790 billion would be saved, and the rest for statutory deductions.

He explained that these savings would complement the efforts of the ISF and other existing and planned fiscal measures aimed at ensuring a tangible improvement in the lives of Nigerians.

Mr Alake said the committee commended Mr Tinubu for the bold decision to remove the petrol subsidy and for supporting the states to cushion the effects of the removal.

The National Economic Council (NEC) has directed that states should develop a comprehensive social register for vulnerable people, the target beneficiaries of the government’s cash transfer programme.

Governor Charles Soludo disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the NEC meeting, chaired by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Mr Soludo said NEC resolved that the states should develop their own registers, using formal and informal means. He said that all beneficiaries at the subnational level could easily be identified that way.

“We need to face the problem of the fact that we don’t have a credible register,” stated the Anambra governor.

Mr Soludo affirmed that NEC also discussed ways to cushion the impact of the recent petroleum subsidy removal.

“The first question that was raised was in relation to cost of governance. I think it’s an omnibus concept, and it’s not something you sit down in a meeting to legislate for each and every state,” the governor explained.

“But the fact is that the council recognizes that this is an issue that each tier of government should now focus on as an area of concern.”

Mr Soludo added,

“Take the cost of running the state, the way we even live, so, some gave an example of a state governor going with about 20 vehicles in a convoy, and all these have to be fuelled.”

Governor Umaru Bago has directed the immediate sack of all revenue collectors contracted by the Niger state ministries, agencies and departments.

This is contained in a statement by Abubakar Usman, the secretary to the state government (SSG) in Minna, on Thursday.

He said the disengagement aimed to ensure transparency, accountability and efficiency in revenue enforcement and collection in Niger.”

The measure is part of the broader efforts by the present administration to ensure a more organised and accountable revenue generation system that will foster sustainable economic growth in the state,” Mr Bago said.

The governor directed the affected organisations to immediately return official vehicles and relevant documents to the permanent secretary or the most senior director in the respective MDAs.

The governorship election petitions tribunal in Sokoto has adjourned sitting until August 26 for the adoption of addresses in the petition challenging the election of Governor Ahmad Aliyu and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Tribunal chairman Haruna Mshelia adjourned the case after Mr Aliyu, Deputy Governor Idris Gobir, and APC closed their defence in the petition filed by Sa’idu Umar of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Mr Umar, the PDP candidate, presented 32 witnesses to prove his petition. He prayed the tribunal to nullify Mr Aliyu’s election and declare him the winner.

Earlier, the respondents’ counsel, Yusuf Ali and Wole Olanipekun, led the APC assistant secretary in Sokoto, Yakubu Maccido and presented the headmaster of Model Primary School Sabon Birni, Jamilu Yakubu in evidence.

Mr Yakubu testified that Mr Gobir attended his school and presented a school register admitted as an exhibit.

Mr Maccido testified that the election had complied with the requirements of law and prayed the tribunal to discuss the petition.

During cross-examination by the petitioner’s counsel, led by Garba Tetengi, some school documents were tendered through the headmaster, earlier admitted in exhibits.

After a series of arguments and presentations, Mr Mshelia ordered parties to file written addresses and adjourned to August 26 for the adoption of addresses as required by law.

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, ordered the State Security Service (SSS) to grant the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, access to his medical records.

Justice Binta Nyako, in a judgment, held that the SSS objections to Mr Kanu’s request were unmeritorious.

Ms Nyako held that Mr Kanu was constitutionally entitled to have access to both the records he requested and medical doctors of his choice.

The judge, however, directed that the independent medical examination of Mr Kanu by his personal physicians should be supervised by the SSS, with the entire process recorded and sealed for security purposes.

Mr Kanu, through his team of lawyers led by Mike Ozekhome, SAN, had filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/ 2341/2022 against the SSS and its director general as 1st and 2nd respondents.

In the suit, the IPOB leader prayed the court for an order granting him leave to, “apply for judicial review in the form of an order of mandamus, compelling the respondents to allow the applicant unhindered access to his medical doctors to enable them conduct an independent examination of his present deteriorating health condition.

“An order of this Honourable Court granting leave to the applicant to apply for judicial review in the form of an order of mandamus, compelling the respondents to avail the applicant with all his medical records, from the 29th day of June 2021, till date.”

Mr Kanu listed some of the records he would require from the DSS, to include; his admission records, medical and clinical notes, nursing notes, observation charts and documentation during treatment or stay-in-hospital, laboratory test results, pharmaceutical records, radiological scans, images and reports, blood transfusion records, physiotherapy and rehabilitative treatment records, clinical findings, as well as diagnosis and treatment prescribed records.

But in a preliminary objection filed by the SSS, the security outfit urged the court to dismiss the suit for want of jurisdiction.

It argued that there was a subsisting judgement of a sister court delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo (rtd.) on June 3, 2022, in suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1585/2021 between Mr Kanu and DG of SSS and two others wherein the court dealt substantially with the issue of allowing the IPOB leader access to his personal physician.

It said the instant suit was similar to the earlier one and that Mr Kanu had filed an appeal against the judgement.

A group, Forum of State Chairmen of Defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), has made a case for former Governor Tanko Al-Makura as the next national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The endorsement is contained in a statement jointly signed by the group’s national coordinator, Kassim Mabo, national secretary, Sulaiman Oyaremi and national publicity secretary, Godwin Erhahon, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The group described the former governor as a unifier and bridge builder, stressing that Al-Makura’s emergence would promote cohesion within the party.

“The Forum for State Chairmen of the Defunct CPC is of the considered opinion that Al-Makura is the best hand for the vacant seat. This is sequel to the recent resignation of the immediate past National Chairman of the APC and the need to search for a capable, experienced and reliable personality to occupy the seat,” the group explained.

It added,

“Apart from his sterling leadership qualities, which is testified to by all party members, he is also one of the four contenders for the position during the last APC National Convention.

“Other three are the immediate past national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who has voluntarily resigned.”

The group also mentioned Saliu Mustapha, senator representing Kwara Central and George Akume, the SGF.

“We urge the party’s leadership to look in this direction in order to promote cohesion within party system,” added the group.

The APC National Working Committee announced the resignation of APC chair Abdullahi Adamu and national secretary Iyiola Omisore.

Their resignation was announced Monday during the NWC meeting by Abubakar Kyari.

Mr Kyari is acting as the APC national chairman, while deputy national secretary Festus Fuanter is acting secretary.

The Niger State House of Assembly has urged the state government to reduce the number of working days for civil servants to cushion the effect of petrol subsidy removal.

The Assembly made the call in a resolution following a matter of urgent public importance raised by Nasir Umar, member representing Paiko Constituency, during plenary on Wednesday in Minna.

Speaker of the House, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, while reading the resolution, called on government to, as a matter of urgency, reduce the number of working days for civil servants.

He also urged the executive arm to put in place necessary measures that would cushion the hardship experienced by residents of the state as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy.

Earlier, Mr Umar explained that the removal of fuel subsidy had brought untold hardship on residents, especially civil servants.

The lawmaker urged the state government to emulate some states that had come up with measures to alleviate the suffering of people.

Mr Umar also moved a motion calling on the house to direct the state Ministry for Education and the state Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB) to take measures to avert the collapse of the UK Bello Memorial Primary School in Paiko.

He said that the one-storey building primary school, which comprised eight classrooms, was poorly constructed and was on the verge of collapse.

Mr Umar noted that if nothing was done to avert the impending disaster, the lives of about 2, 300 pupils and 84 teachers were at stake.

He stated that the head teacher of the school had raised several compliant to NSUBEB through the education secretary over the deplorable condition of the building to no avail.

He, however, urged the house to direct the concerned authorities to act with immediate effect in order to avert collapse of the building.

The Senate has urged employers of labour in the country to de-emphasise age requirements as a precondition for employment in Nigeria.

The Senate resolution was sequel to the consideration and adoption of a motion at plenary on Wednesday.

The motion titled “Age Requirement Precondition for Employment in Nigeria, Urgent Need for Intervention” was sponsored by Senator Abba Moro (PDP- Benue).

Mr Moro, in his debate, said the age limit as a precondition for employment violates chapter 4, section 42(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which guarantees every citizen the right to freedom from discrimination.

He said the provision of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) had defined employment discrimination in economic terms as a violation of human rights that entails a waste of human talents with detrimental effects on productivity and economic growth.

Mr Moro said it also generated socioeconomic inequalities that undermined social cohesion, solidarity and acted as a brake on reducing poverty.

He said it was pathetic for a graduate in Nigeria who could not get a job upon graduation and decided to return to school, hoping that a higher qualification, vis-a-vis a second or Master’s Degree, could give him a better employment opportunity.

“It is ironic that a graduate in this country can serve in the National Youth Service Corps programme at age 30 but cannot be gainfully employed, thereafter on the fact that he/ she is now above 30 years, a situation that is a flagrant breach of his fundamental rights.

“The circumstances described in the foregoing present the predicament of the Nigerian youth who has the requisite qualification, knowledge, and skills and is ready to work but disqualified or excluded on the sole and unjustifiable ground that he/she is above the age limit by reason of his/ her birth,” the senator said.

Mr Moro said the sad situation had led many to commit age fraud by falsifying their age to remain within the age limit of employability in the Nigerian Civil Service and all other employers of labour in the country.

In its resolution, the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity, and other relevant agencies to restrict and discourage public and private employers from depriving millions of job seekers of employment opportunities merely for not meeting age requirements.

It urged the ministry to immediately draw up policies that relate to equality of opportunity and treatment in access to employment at all levels.

The Nasarawa House of Assembly Service Commission has commenced the screening of over 100 casual workers of the state legislature for absorption into the mainstream of the state’s civil service.

Yusuf Ibrahim, a commission member, confirmed this during the exercise in Lafia on Tuesday.

Mr Ibrahim said Governor Abdullahi Sule had approved the absorption of over 100 casual staff into the civil service, hence the need for the screening.

He assured that only casual assembly workers would be given the appointments as directed by the speaker of the parliament, Ibrahim Balarabe.

“I want to assure you that only the casual staff will be absorbed into the mainstream civil service. We are here to screen the casual staff by screening their credentials, among other requirements,” Mr Ibrahim explained.

“His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Sule has approved the absorption of the casual staff into permanent and pensionable appointments.”

He added,

“And the Rt. Hon Speaker, Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, has given us go ahead to carry out the exercise, warning strongly that only casual staff of the House should be screened. There is no outsider that is here for the screening, people that you are seeing here are all casual staff that are working with the State House of Assembly.”

The commission’s secretary, Mohammed Musa, assured that only casual staff would be given permanent and pensionable appointments.

Mr Musa urged the beneficiaries to justify their appointments and reciprocate the gesture through a commitment to duties and hard work if finally engaged.

The Senate has urged the federal government to direct the federal ministry of works and housing to begin repairs and reconstruction of damaged portions of the Onitsha-Owerri federal road.

It urged the ministry to begin repairs on the sections between Upper Iweka Roundabout in Onitsha, in Idemili South Local Government of Anambra state that spanned 6km.

The Senate resolutions followed the consideration and adoption of a motion at the plenary on Tuesday.

The motion, titled “Urgent Need to Control the Erosion Ravaging Onitsha-Oba Section of the Onitsha-Owerri Federal Highway in Anambra State,” was sponsored by Victor Umeh (LP Anambra).

Mr Umeh, while presenting his motion, decried the devastating effects of the ravaging gully erosion and landslide on Onitsha-Owerri Federal Road, between electrical parts market and Metallurgical Training Institute, Obosi in Idemili North local government, and Oba Junction, near Rojenny games village along Onitsha-Owerri Federal Highway.

He said one lane of the affected road had been cut off by the gully erosion at the Oba junction.

He also added that the second lane was under serious threat of imminent collapse while buildings and factories within the vicinity were on the verge of collapsing into the gully.

He expressed concern that the erosion and landslide were creating traffic gridlock along the sections of the Onitsha-Owerri highways.

Mr Umeh further expressed concern over the menace of the gully erosion, stating that if the landslide was not urgently controlled, those sections of the road would completely cave in.

This, he said, is leading to a total disconnection of the highway with severe consequences and cutting off vehicular movement to Imo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Cross River states.

He said the Onitsha -Owerri Federal Highway was a gateway to business activities and other relationships between the Western states and South-East and South-South states.

He added that the magnitude of the menace was beyond the control of the state government.

The Senate, further in its resolution, urged the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to ensure regular surveillance of federal highways to identify and nip erosion threats to federal roads in the bud.

It also urged the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to join in the detection and prevention of erosion menace on the highways.

The Senate urged the federal ministry of works, environment and the Ecological Fund Office to also urgently fix the erosion challenges in Obom in Abia state.

It further urged the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) to evolve workable measures to solve the erosion challenges in the country.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said the Senate could do a holistic analysis of erosion in the country and bring the report to the attention of relevant authorities to proffer a solution.

Aconstitutional lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, has urged President Bola Tinubu to align the salaries of judges in Nigeria with that of senators. Mr Ajulo said this in a statement on Monday.

He decried the disproportionate remuneration of the judiciary compared to the other two arms of government despite the significance of its works.

He said judges’ social and welfare security should also be critically addressed, including fair and improved salaries and emoluments.

Mr Ajulo drew attention to the 2022 judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, which called for a substantial increment in the salaries of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and other judges.

“It is unacceptable that judges’ salaries have remained stagnant since 2008, and this necessitates immediate action,” he noted.

Mr Ajulo underscored the crucial role of the judiciary in upholding democracy and serving as the common man’s refuge in governance, stressing that despite shouldering the burden of political irregularities and providing justice for politicians, the judges’ wages do not reflect the significance of their work.

“With less than 300 federal judicial officers compared to over 400 politicians at the national assembly receiving substantial salaries and emoluments, it is imperative to ensure that judges receive salaries commensurate with their indispensable role.”

The salaries of Nigerian judges have remained stagnant since 2008, when they were last reviewed.

Judges receive about N4 million per annum, considered far below what their counterparts earn in other countries.

Nigeria’s anti-corruption group, Human and Environmental Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a thorough investigation into the tenure of the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, over several allegations of corruption and abuse of office against him.

In a four-page petition document signed by HEDA’s chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, and issued as a statement on Sunday, HEDA decried the lack of any investigation or report by anti-corruption agencies of some allegations as conveyed by media reports and documentary evidence in total disregard for the rule of law while Mr Malami was Minister of Justice.

HEDA, in its petition, which was copied to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, also cited several corruption allegations against Mr Malami.

The group mentioned ten alleged corrupt practices connected to his name, including distributing 30 cars worth over N1 billion as gifts to his supporters in Kebbi State.

The group said the cars, widely reported by PremiumTimes in May 2022, included 14 Mercedes Benz, 8 Prado SUVs, 4 Toyota Hilux and 4 Lexus LX and the beneficiaries were social media influencers, executive members of Mr Malami’s foundation and women support groups.

“Illegal auctioning of sea vessels holding crude oil seized by the Federal Government, violating Section 31(2) and (4) of the EFCC Act 2004 and assuming the role conferred on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission as reported by The Cable Newspaper on the 13th July 2020.

“Alleged duplicity of payment of $16.9 million fees to two friends as new lawyers for the recovery of the loot traced to a former Nigerian Head of State, Sanni Abacha, after a Swiss lawyer, Enrico Monfrini, hired and fully paid by the previous government, to help in the recovery had completed his brief as reported by PremiumTimes on the 10th of April, 2018.

It was alleged that Mr Malami undertook the action with the intention of kickback from the deal.

“Allegedly seeking the withdrawal of cases against Bello Adoke, Diezani Alison-Madueke, Abubakar Aliyu and others involved in the Malabu scandal through his letters to former President Buhari on the ground of lack of significant evidence to prove allegations of sharp practices against prominent players in OPL 245 oil deal.

As reported by PremiumTimes on the 18th of February, 2018.The group is also asking the anti-corruption agency to investigate the returns of looted funds of $78 million to Nigeria and how his office instituted cases on behalf of Nigeria in Italy and the United Kingdom against the same suspects.

HEDA said that Mr Malami confessed to a conflict of interest in his recent book, “Traversing the Thorny Terrain of Nigeria’s Justice Sector; My Travails and Triumphs” (page 30) that “Muhammad Adoke, former Attorney-General, gifted some books, an office desk and chairs while setting up my new office.

“Though a friend to my principal, Mr Adoke and I had developed a direct relationship and because of how frequently I was in court, Mr Adoke gave me files to handle….”. This personal and conflicted relationship with Mr Adoke was never disclosed while pretending to discharge his official functions over the matter.”

“Reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) into the Federal Civil Service under a controversial circumstances defying due process, and indicating compromise of Malami by Maina after his dismissal in 2013 for corruption and declared wanted by EFCC as reported by Daily Trust Newspaper of April 3rd, 2018.

“This was after Malami admitted before Senate ad hoc Committee that he met with Maina in Dubai, at a time when Maina was wanted by the EFCC for over N2billion corruption.

“Mr Malami also displayed his unpretentious hatred for the fight against corruption by writing a letter dated 16th December 2016 to withdraw the case of fraud filed against Mr. Godsday Orubebe, the former Minister of Niger Delta, filed by the ICPC in a case involving over N1.97 billion, on the ground that, in his opinion, there was no basis for filing the charges.

“Meanwhile, HEDA said it strongly believes that those allegations are too serious to be ignored or allowed to go without investigation and therefore demanded thorough, immediate, and urgent investigation of Mr Malami for the sanity of the public office and image of the country.

The anti-corruption group also says it believes in the prevalence and sanctity of the rule of law, and due process.

It, therefore, asked the ICPC for diligent investigation and timeous action to restore the sanctity of the commission’s core mandate, which it said is on the verge of collapse due to the alleged abuse of power and office by public officeholders.

“We shall monitor developments on this petition and look forward to your timely response on actions embarked upon by your commission within reasonable time, considering the alleged former officer had exposed the country to unprecedented opprobrium with these and other condemnable mismanagement of his office and affairs of the country.”

The federal government has called on the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), to ensure prompt remittance of revenues to the consolidated revenue fund (CRF) by all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Zacchaeus Adedeji, special adviser on revenue to President Bola Tinubu, made the call during a visit to the chairman, FRC, Victor Muruako, on Saturday in Abuja.

Mr Adedeji said that the call was in line with Mr Tinubu’s quest to improve the revenue generation architecture of the country.

He said that the current administration was determined to ensure all revenues of the federal government were properly articulated and remitted timely into the CRF.

He stressed the need for inter-agency co-operation amongst all government-owned enterprises to ensure optimal results in revenue remittance.

The special adviser said that the Tinubu-led administration would continue to take proactive measures in ensuring that basic revenue framework of the government was adequately secured.

In his response, Mr Muruako said that the commission had, over the years, developed a culture of blocking all leakages of revenue due to the federal government.

While congratulating Mr Adedeji on his appointment, the chairman assured him of the full co-operation and maximum support of staff and management of the FRC.

The federal government had in 2022 directed the FRC to ensure 100 per cent remittance of revenue generated by fully funded agencies, departments, and commissions into the CRF.

Mr Muruako told journalists, on the sideline of the visit, that the commission was doing its best, noting, however, that task was not easy.

He said that although the commission has recorded significant improvements in compliance to the directive, much still needs to be done to improve.

“We were able to improve the nation’s independent revenue as a commission, but it was not easy getting agencies and government-owned enterprises to remit all revenues due to the government.

“In line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act, MDAs are expected to ordinarily remit their internal and independent revenues to the CRF.

“However, we are in a situation where some of the MDAs are not complying and we have to keep urging them,” he said.

He commended the Senate committee of finance and House of Representative committee on finance, for assisting the commission to improve the remittance of revenue generation to the CRF.