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N20b UBEC ‘fraud’: EFCC seizes 5 houses from contractor

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has seized five houses from a contractor Prof. Adenekan Iyiola Adesanya for allegedly diverting about N8billion out of over N20billion spent by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for the supply of textbooks, science and technical equipment to schools.

The N8billion was meant for the purchase of science, technical and laboratory equipment to 104 Unity Schools.

The suspect, who is also the Managing Director of Macmillan, was alleged to have paid out N5billion to some individuals and used part of the balance to buy some properties.

The sealed properties include a duplex at 3A Prince Adesanya, Parkview Estate in Ikoyi; another duplex at Plot 10, Segun Olusemo Crescent, Parkview Ikoyi;  and three others in Block B 1-6 Erinko Residential and Industrial Estate, Ijoko in Ogun State housing five firms.

Also, eight firms linked with Adenekan are under probe with their accounts frozen in line with the ongoing investigation.

The eight companies traced to the suspect are Aristocrat Specialities Limited; Bromley Technology Limited;  Bromley Laboratory Equipment Limited; Calendar Investment Limited; Adeyinka Ventures Limited; Taisol Global Limited; L’enfant Enterprises Limited and Melrose Publishing Company Limited.

A top source said : “The EFCC received a petition bordering on alleged reckless award of contracts in UBEC to launder public funds , diversion of contract sums, non-execution of contracts and misappropriation of funds. The petitioner alleged that about N100billion was involved but our detectives have so far traced about N20billion of the funds disbursed.

“We have confirmed that about N8billion worth of contracts(out of the preliminary N20billion being looked into) for the supply of science and technical equipment to 104 Unity Schools(mainly Federal Government Colleges) were not properly executed.

“Most of the contracts awarded to at least seven of these eight companies did not go through the bidding process. There was no evidence of due process.

“In the course of our investigation, we invited the principals of the 104 schools and their store officers to give account of the total quantity of the items supplied. Some schools received about 30% of their equipment, some got 40% and some 50%.

“About three to four schools in the North-East, particularly those sited in Boko Haram insurgency axis, did not receive any science and technical equipment.

“When we discovered that these equipment were not supplied, EFCC investigators decided to track the money paid by UBEC.  The detectives discovered that about N5billion was paid out to some individuals with a strong suspicion that it might have been diverted and used for 2015 general election.

“The suspect allegedly used substantial part of over N3billion  balance to buy and build these properties. We have sealed off the affected buildings. Also, the accounts of the eight firms have been frozen.”

The source added: “When we interrogated the contractor, he simply said he was paid for “services rendered.” He also said he sublet the contracts but he was not able to prove to our team the beneficiaries.”

The anti-graft commission had already quizzed  a former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Mallam Suleiman Dikko and seized his passport.

Also grilled were top directors of UBEC including those in charge of Finance and Procurement.

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Opeifa request for the state government to assist the Railway Police and Otti, thanks Tinubu for picking the best material to rewrite Nigeria Railway history

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Gov. Otti describes Opeifa as a thorough-bred professional ready to rewrite Nigeria Railway history
Lauds President Tinubu for picking the best material to reposition Nigeria’s oldest corporation

A deserving commendation came the way of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa, as the Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, described him as an exceptional professional, most suitable to lead the Nigeria’s oldest surviving public corporation.

Governor Otti spoke on Wednesday, at the Government House in Abia State, during a business visit by the MD/CEO of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, as part of his familiarization tour of the Eastern District of the Corporation.

According to Governor Otti: “I have had so many engagements with past leaders of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, you are clearly different and knows the job”. He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Dr. Opeifa to lead the Nigerian Railway Corporation, expressing assurance at his ability to deliver.

He thanked the MD/CEO for promising to synergize with the Federal Ministry of Transportation, and the State Government to see that the transformation of the transportation system in Umuahia is achieved. According to the Governor, “Umuahia Bus terminal is progressing rapidly and we felt that it is important to replicate what we have in Paignton, United Kingdom in Umuahia, by linking the train station with the Terminal to enhance intermodal transportation services.

The Governor stated that he was very happy to see that the MD/CEO is committed to taking the track from Aba to Enugu and even beyond. He recalled, with nostalgia how the train had served the people of the state and regretted the downward trends of rain services across the entire South East.

On the MD/CEO’s request for the state government to assist the Railway Police in the state, Governor Otti promised that his government will provide mobility for Aba Railway Police.

He added that the state government is always ready to support the Federal Government institutions as users of such federal institutions are people of the state, adding that his administration cannot differentiate between federal and state government workers.

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Airlin Advocacy Commissions Jos Office, Targets 7m Members By Next Elections,Says Mohammed Gamawa

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During the inauguration ceremony, the National Chairman of Airlin, Mohammed Gamawa, delivered a keynote address, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to educating Nigerians on their civic rights and responsibilities.

According to Gamawa, Airlin aims to bridge the gap between citizens and the principles of the rule of law by fostering a society where people understand not only their rights but also what is expected of them by the country.

“Our goal is to foster interaction among Nigerians, promote respect for the rule of law, and ensure citizens know their rights and civic responsibilities — such as voting to elect future leaders not based on materialism but based on integrity and competence,” Gamawa stated.

He added that understanding and exercising one’s franchise, especially during elections, must go hand in hand with being law-abiding and fully aware of civil responsibilities.

As part of its mission, Airlin is currently targeting 19 states in Northern Nigeria, with Jos becoming the 15th state to be commissioned.

The ceremony also featured the appointment of state and local government coordinators who will help drive the organization’s grassroots advocacy efforts.

With a current membership base of 2.1 million Nigerians aged 18 and above, Airlin projects a significant growth trajectory, aiming to reach 7 million members before the next general elections.

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Nothing new in FBI report on Tinubu, says Onanuga

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Senior Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga has dismissed a report of a United State (U.S.) court ordering two law enforcement agencies to release information on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a “purported federal investigation in the 1990s.”

In a tweet on his verified X handle, Onanuga told those agitated by the directive that there would be nothing revealing in the anticipated report.

In an April 9 ruling, District Court for the District of Columbia Judge, Beryl Howell ordered the Department of State, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to release the information to Mr. Allan Greenspan.

The information being sought by Greenspan was classified as “confidential information” generated during a “purported federal investigation in the 1990s.”

Judge Howell said that protecting the information from public disclosure “is neither logical nor plausible.”

Commenting on the ruling, Onanuga said: “There is nothing new to be revealed. The report by Agent Moss of the FBI and the DEA report have been in the public space for more than 30 years. The reports did not indict the Nigerian leader”, Onanuga said yesterday.

He said that counsel to the President have been “examining the ruling”.

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