News
How FG pays over N900m into private accounts in 3 months
In the last three months of 2023, the federal government, through ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) paid more than N900 million of public funds to different private accounts, as reported by FIJ.
Some of the payments, according to the Budgit govspend portal, were made by the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Productivity Center, Office of the Accountant General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Budget Office and the Pension Transitional Arrangement Department.
According to the online medium, FIJ, that these expenditures are direct violations of Section 713 of the Nigerian Civil Service Financial Regulation 2009.
The regulation states: “Personal money shall in no circumstances be paid into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private bank account. An officer who pays public money into a private account is deemed to have done so with fraudulent intention.”
Recent events and the consequent moves by the Federal Government suggest that such transactions are considered serious violations of the accountability that Tinubu’s administration claims to represent.
On January 8, Tinubu suspended Betta Edu, the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, over allegations of financial misconduct.
Edu had reportedly requested a N585 million deposit into the account of the “project accountant” for the Federal Government Grants for Vulnerable Groups project.
FIJ highlights other conspicuous cases of money sent to “project accountants” and other private individuals between October and December 2023.
MORE THAN N300 MILLION PAID INTO PRIVATE ACCOUNTS IN OCTOBER
It was also gathered that about N338,908,999.92 was paid into private accounts by different agencies in October 2023. The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) alone accounted for about N100 million in October.
According to the payment descriptions, these monies were mostly disbursed for pension allocations to several people under the Civil Service Pension Department (CSDP). Regardless, different private individuals were the beneficiaries of these payments.
Example of Money Disbursed by the PTAD into Private accounts
The Federal Government, through the Secretary General of the Federation, also paid to the accounts of four different “project accountants”: Ayandayo Kayode, Benjamin Akpa, Osahaeyie Ali Innocent, and Aderinlola Omolola Ramota.
Kayode, Akpa, and Ali-Innocent were paid as project accountants for the secretariat, security and media sub-committees during the 63rd independence celebration in 2023. Ramota, on the other hand, was paid as the “project accountant” for a cabinet retreat for top government functionaries in November 2023.
In the same month, the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, also paid N45 million to David Agatha for a project tagged “Expansion of Mapping and Characterization of Ijede and Consolidation of NIMR HDSS Site”.
Most significantly, the Office of the Accountant General paid about N11.5 million to Rufus Egbeba and N5.7 million to Olufunke Taibat. Payment descriptions suggest that Egbeba is affiliated with the National Biosafety Management Agency and Olufunke with the Medical Rehabilitation and Therapists Registration Board of Nigeria.
MORE THAN N259 MILLION PAID INTO PRIVATE ACCOUNTS IN NOVEMBER
About N259,141,705.9 paid to separate individual recipients in November. The most conspicuous payments made in November were courtesy of the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Budget Office of the Federation and the Office of the Accountant General.
Two instances stood out in the case of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). The entity paid Migine Saleh twice on November 14 and November 17. In total, Saleh received about N14 million for fueling, repairing and servicing motor vehicles for the CCB.
The Budget Office paid N5.1 million to Ekoja Peter with a short description that read “payment for sporting activities” on November 30. Seven days before then, the budget office had paid Elijah Oliyide about N7.9 million for the annual public service games in Gombe.
Like the previous month, the PTAD also paid significant amounts of money to separate individual accounts for different purposes.
ABOUT N300 MILLION PAID INTO PRIVATE ACCOUNTS IN DECEMBER
December had the most ambiguous payment descriptions among the three months considered. In total, FIJ found about N299,155,058.47 paid to individual beneficiaries in December.
In one payment, the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation paid Kehinde Ogunsina about N16.5 million for stationaries. In another payment, Ogunsina received about N17.6 million for local training.
The same office paid Ogunsina another N20.8 million for local training. Elisha Illiya got N5 million for “IT and T others” while Ukomah Micheal received N6 million for sporting activities.
PTAD and the Office of the Secretary-General to the Federation also paid considerable amounts of money to different individual beneficiaries with different payment descriptions.
Source: FIJ
“What is needed now is politics that can turn our anxieties about life and the future into hope,” the 64-year-old told reporters.
Takaichi, a former internal affairs minister and close ally of slain ex-premier Shinzo Abe, revealed her bid during a meeting with former Prime Minister Taro Aso, now the LDP’s supreme adviser. Click link to continue reading.
Japanese conservative politician Sanae Takaichi on Thursday announced her intention to run for the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a contest that could make her the country’s first female prime minister, Kyodo News reported.
Takaichi, a former internal affairs minister and close ally of slain ex-premier Shinzo Abe, revealed her bid during a meeting with former Prime Minister Taro Aso, now the LDP’s supreme adviser.
“What is needed now is politics that can turn our anxieties about life and the future into hope,” the 64-year-old told reporters. She is scheduled to outline her policies at a press conference on Friday.
Takaichi is considered one of the leading contenders in the Oct. 4 party election, alongside Farm Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. A Jiji Press poll of 2,000 respondents showed Koizumi ahead with 23.8% support, followed by Takaichi at 21%.
Other expected candidates include Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, former Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and former Economic Security Minister Takayuki Kobayashi.
The LDP leadership vote was originally scheduled for 2027, the end of Shigeru Ishiba’s three-year term, but was moved up after Ishiba announced his resignation on Sept. 7 following his coalition’s defeat in July’s upper house election.
While stepping down as party president, Ishiba will remain prime minister until the LDP chooses a new leader – a role that in Japan’s political system is effectively equivalent to the premiership.
The atmosphere in River State has significantly stabilized following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to lift the six-month state of emergency that had been in place.
Although the immediate tension has eased, the challenges that Fubara will face from the state assembly and local government are looming large.
These potential conflicts could ignite a new wave of political turmoil, threatening to plunge the state back into chaos. Click link to continue reading.
The underlying issues remain unresolved, leaving many apprehensive about the future of governance in River State.
Tinubu, in a statement he signed yesterday, declared that the emergency rule would end at midnight, clearing the way for Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Nma Odu and members of the State House of Assembly led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule to resume duties today.
The president said he saw no reason for the state of emergency to continue a day longer.
A fresh prophecy from Prophet Julius Okonkwo, a cleric and the presiding pastor of Kingdom Seeker Ministries based in the United States, revealed that the storm is not yet over in Rivers State.
“This jubilation should wait; I am not seeing peace at the moment, no peace, no cohesion; everyone is in a mind game, the storm is not over, and there will be another brutal storm. For Fubara, the battle is not over; he’s not happy, and things won’t favour him. The governor would be in his office with folded arms, eating and refreshing, but he wouldn’t have governing power. He has not been forgiven; only time will tell,” said Okonkwo in his weekly message.
Michael Collins Ajereh, popularly known as Don Jazzy or Don Baba J, is a Nigerian record producer, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Following the closure of Mo’ Hits record label, Don Jazzy set up Mavin Records. Here is everything you need to know about Don Jazzy’s bio and net worth.
Don Jazzy is the founder and CEO of Mavin Records, Nigeria’s largest music company that has generated hit songs for several of the country’s top singers.
Don Jazzy has produced several popular songs for a variety of musicians, including D’banj, Wande Coal, Tiwa Savage, and many more. He has received several accolades for his songs, including the Nigerian Entertainment Award for Song Producer of the Year.…click link for full details
President Bola Tinubu’s path to reelection is becoming increasingly challenging with each passing day.
The opposition is intensifying its efforts and developing comprehensive strategies aimed at unseating his government in the upcoming 2027 elections. With political tensions rising, the battle for power is shaping up to be fierce and closely contested. Click link to continue reading.
The atmosphere in River State has significantly stabilized after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu lifted the six-month state of emergency that had been in effect.
While the immediate tension has eased, Governor Fubara still faces major challenges from the state assembly and local government.
These potential conflicts could spark a new wave of political turmoil, threatening to plunge the state back into chaos..
The underlying issues remain unresolved, leaving many apprehensive about the future of governance in River State.
Tinubu, in a statement he signed yesterday, declared that the emergency rule would end at midnight, clearing the way for Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Nma Odu and members of the State House of Assembly led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule to resume duties today.
The president said he saw no reason for the state of emergency to continue a day longer.
A fresh prophecy from Prophet Julius Okonkwo, a cleric and the presiding pastor of Kingdom Seeker Ministries based in the United States, revealed that the storm is not yet over in Rivers State.
“This jubilation should wait; I am not seeing peace at the moment, no peace, no cohesion; everyone is in a mind game, the storm is not over, and there will be another brutal storm. For Fubara, the battle is not over; he’s not happy, and things won’t favour him. The governor would be in his office with folded arms, eating and refreshing, but he wouldn’t have governing power. He has not been forgiven; only time will tell,” said Okonkwo in his weekly message.
A civil society organisation, The Concerned Citizens of Nigeria (CCN), has petitioned US, UK to impose a travel ban and asset freeze on Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal
Group accused Lawal of complicity, citing his own admissions of knowing bandits’ identities yet failing to act
CCN urged global action, asking the US, UK, EU, and Commonwealth to deny him entry, freeze assets, and send a strong message against leaders linked to terror.…click link for full details
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