The Code of Conduct Bureau has commenced verification of the N48bn assets declared by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
Makinde had declared the N48bn assets in June.
The director of the bureau in Oyo State, Mr Bisi Atolagbe, said this in Ibadan during a meeting of the South-West states’ directors of the bureau with the member representing the region on the CCB board, Prof. Samuel Ogundare.
Atolagbe has said a few weeks ago that his office had forwarded the assets estimates to the bureau’s headquarters in Abuja.
However, Atolagbe said on Saturday that the exercise had commenced, adding that the process might not be concluded so quickly given the technical parts of the verification.
He said, “Work has started in the verification of the content of declaration submitted by Governor Seyi Makinde. At the right time, the report will be available. It is not about noise making but technically doing the work to ascertain assets that are declared. However, I must point out that the process is not a public exercise.
“The governor has not committed any crime by declaring his assets. It is just to ascertain what he has declared; to check if they are not anticipatory.”
Ogundare said there had been a near 100 per cent compliance to CCB regulations by current and former public office holders in the South-West. He explained that both the newly sworn-in political office holders and those whose tenure ended on May 29 in the zone had made their pre-service and post-service assets declarations.
He said former governors Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo State), Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos State) and Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun State) and their deputies had declared their current assets.
He said, “Our governors in the South-West have shown good examples in compliance. They have done what the constitution requires them to do before and after occupying office. Since the governors and their deputies showed good examples, almost all state lawmakers and appointees have also complied.”
The Governor of Rivers, Nyesome Wike on Sunday says he has nothing against Islam or any faith.
Wike made the remarks while showing the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi the site of the mosque he allegedly demolished in Port Harcourt.
A statement issued by NGF’s Head of Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo in Abuja, said that Fayemi was in Port-Hacourt to verify the true situation about the issue.
Wike claimed that there was no mosque at the site, but a sewage line.
“I have nothing against Islam or any faith for that matter.
”As you can see there was never a mosque on this ground instead it is a sewage site which has been in contention between the state government and some groups because they want to develop on prohibited land,” he said.
Wike appreciated the NGF Chairman, who was accompanied by the Director General of the Forum, Mr Asishana Okauru, for taking time to visit and verify the truth about the situation.
He also commended Fayemi’s leadership style which he described as exemplary, noting that he did not join those who rushed to judgement on the matter.
According to the NGF statement, “those who yelled about the demolition were being plain mischievous.”
It said “there was nothing there to show that a mosque ever existed on the site.”
The Super Eagles arrived in Dnipro for their international friendly against Ukraine without their kits.
This is because Turkish Airline, which flew the team from Istanbul to Dnipro, did not take the kits along, following a mix-up.
Items also missing include bags of six players, who were on the flight to Dnipro.
“Our kit bags did not arrive with us from Istanbul.
“The bags of six players also did not arrive, but we have alerted Turkish Airline and they have promised to deliver them to us in Dnipro between Sunday and Monday,” the Team Administrator, Dayo Achor, was quoted as saying in the statement from the NFF media department.
One person died on Sunday when suspected hoodlums attacked an electoral officer for announcing Mr Abdullahi Suleiman Chukuba as the winner of chairmanship primary for Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
Chukuba participated on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Alhaji Adamu Usman, Commissioner of Police, made the announcement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.
He said that five other persons also sustained injury during the attack.
He said that the Divisional Police Officer and other security agencies had taken the returning officer from the collation centre to Minna.
He explained that after announcing the results, some people loyal to the defeated aspirant, Alhaji Akilu Isiyaku, attacked the returning officer and damaged his vehicle.
“One Isa Saidu lost his life and five others injured during the incident”, he said.
The commissioner said that the command would do everything humanly possible to arrest those responsible and bring them to book.
”Thuggery, intimidation and demonstration of violent conduct will not be tolerated before, during and after the local government elections.
”We will not tolerate any act capable of bringing confusion to the state before, during and after the elections,” he said.
The police chief warned that any person or groups found wanting would be arrested and prosecuted
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has proposed a bill seeking to allow a President-Elect and his Vice move into the Presidential Villa before their swearing-in.
The bill first introduced in 2016 and jettisoned afterwards is entitled “Presidential (Transition) BL 2016”.
Specifically, the Bill seeks to make provision for the smooth and orderly transfer of power from one Government to another.
Copies of the reintroduced Bill was made available to reporters in Abuja on Sunday
The general principle of the bill states that the upon the declaration of the winner of a presidential election as the President-Elect, he shall after two weeks move into the presidential Villa especially where he did not succeed himself.
In the case where the incumbent President dies not succeed himself, he shall within the period make accommodation available for the President-elect, his vice and 10 others aides.
Below is the synopsis of the bill which shall come under debate when enlisted for second reading in the House.
General Purpose of the Bill
“Section 1 (1). When at any general election for the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the incumbent President is not re-elected, the President shall within 2 weeks of the declaration of the President-elect as the winner of the election provide space for not more than 10 persons designated by the President-elect to begin a review and analysis of budgeted expenditures during the tenure of the current President, review all other necessary documents as may be requested by the President-elect’s transition team and to acquire a working knowledge of the various offices, departments, commissions, boards and other agencies of the executive arm of the Federal Government with a view to promote the orderly transition of the executive power in connection with the expiration of the term of office of a President and the inauguration of a new President.
“(2) The President shall also constitute his transition team who must cooperate with the President-elect and the staff he so designated and provide any assistance that may be reasonably requested.
“(3) The provisions of this section shall apply at all times after each general elections whether or not the power change is within the same party or from one party to another.
“(4) For the purpose of this act, the President shall include the Vice President and the President-elect shall include the Vice President-elect.
“Section 2 (1). The President shall provide for the President-elect in connection with the preparation for his assumption of office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria the following facilities:
“(a). Office space well-furnished and equipped with all relevant machines and electronics within the Presidential Villa to enhance smooth working relationship with the President’s team; such equipment shall include but not limited to computers/laptops, printers, binding machines, papers, communication services to aid the transition team in achieving the objectives of this Act.
“(b) Payment of allowances for members of the President-elect’s team at such rate as may be determined by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to cater for the team and such rate must not exceed what is obtainable in the civil service.
PROVIDED that any employee of any agency or department of government may be drafted to be part of the transition team of either of the President or President-elect and he shall continue to be entitled to such compensation provided by law for his regular employment and shall be entitled to the rights and privileges associated with his regular employment without any interruption.
AND PROVIDED that in appointing the Transition Team, the President-elect shall consider key areas requiring professional/expert input to the extent that extra funds shall not be provided by the state to hire the services of Professionals outside the Transition team.
(c ) payment of travel expenses and subsistence allowances
Appointment of Administrator-General
“Section 4 (1). There shall be appointed an Administrator-General who shall oversee the Transition process after each general election.
“(2). The Administrator-general shall be appointed by the President subject to ratification by the Senate.
Functions of the Administrator-General
“Section 5 (1). The Administrator-general shall:
(a) be the Head of the government estates and shall take and keep an inventory of all assets and properties of the Government which assets and properties not vested in the Governor of the states as provided by the Land Use Act 1978.
“(b) Ensure that all assets and properties of government are maintained and are in good condition.
“(c) Ensure that were relevant, such assets and properties are transferred from the incumbent government to the new government in good condition.
“(d) Make recommendations to the President for budgetary allocation required in a transition for passing the reins of power from one government to another.
“(e) Ensure that all budgetary documents and all other relevant documents requested for by the President-elect are provided without any delay and to ensure that the facilities required to be provided by the Transition Team of the President-elect are provided.
“(f) Immediately after the new President is sworn in initiate/commence the prosecution of any person who breaches any provision of this Act.
“Section 5 (2). The Administrator-General shall be removed by the President on the ground of gross misconduct subject to ratification by the Senate.
Authorization of Appropriations
“Section 6 (1). It is hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator-general such funds as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act not exceeding the sum of N100,000,000 (One Hundred Million Naira) only for anyone Presidential transition for the fiscal year in which the transition occurs.
“(2) The President shall include in the budget transmitted to the National Assembly for each fiscal year in which his term of office expires a proposed appropriation for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
PROVIDED that in the event that the incumbent President is re-elected, the funds so appropriated shall not be disbursed.
Criminal Liability
“Section 7 (1). Any person who violates any provision of this Act by failing to provide the necessary facilities required to be provided under this Act or fails to provide any required documents thereby frustrating the efforts of the transition team shall upon conviction be liable to a fine of M10,000,000 or a term of imprisonment of not less than 6 months or to both fine and imprisonment as the case may be.
Big Brother Naija, BBNaija, housemate Tacha on Sunday attacked fellow housemate, Seyi.
Tacha and Seyi have been at loggerheads in the house.
Concourse News recalls that Tacha had shouted at Seyi for calling her out, warning him not to try such again.
When asked about her fight with Seyi on Sunday during the live eviction show, Tacha told Ebuka that Seyi is just older than her but does not have sense and act his age.
According to her, she has achieved more than him at the age of 23.
“Seyi is old but does not have sense and act his age.
“If it wasn’t for Big Brother, he wouldn’t have achieved anything.
“What I have achieved at 23 , Seyi has not achieved at his age,” Tacha boasted.
