Responding to a query issued by President Muhammadu Buhari over the claims of allegedly failing to pay eligible contractors despite budgetary release of over N98 billion in the 2018 allocation which led to an outstanding of N49 billion, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr. Mohammed Bello, has implicated Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono and his Permanent Secretary, Abdulkadir Mu’azu.
In the query issued by President Mohammadu Buhari, through the Head of Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan, Mohammed was told to respond to the offence of financial misconduct while he was Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
However, in a copy of the response that was sent to the federal government from Mohammed, dated May 14, he disclosed that it was Sabo Nanono and the Federal Executive Council FEC that gave approval for the purchase of the building.
He described the allegations as baseless and without facts alleging that Nanono and Abdulkadir were behind his travail.
“Kindly note that we have been invited, interrogated and cleared by the EFCC and ICPC on this particular matter after glaring facts were presented to them. While denying in totality all the allegations, I hereby forward my representations and response to all the false allegations contained in the query. I am constrained to give details of the transactions I approved to set the records straight and clear my name. I will like to state the following that all transactions at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development were approved through administrative processes and principles as traditioned in the conduct of government business. That FMARD runs a rolling budget year in year out as most projects are being captured as ongoing; that all contracts/procurement and payments at the FMARD followed due process. There are procedures for contracts/procurement and payments handled by various departments in all government agencies, FMARD inclusive.
“That my tenure as Permanent Secretary at FMARD commenced from January 10, 2019 to December 18, 2019 and hence cannot be held responsible or liable for actions prior to January 10, 2019. I state that contractors were duly paid. The allegation of contractors not being paid is totally false.
“All contractors whose contract was captured in the 2018 budgetary allocation were paid in accordance with budgetary releases. However, contractors whose contracts are ongoing were rolled over as ongoing. Rollover capital projects are not new in contract management.
“I will state that due process was followed to the latter in the purchase of the said building. After submission of recommendations to the Minister of Agriculture; he approved that Council Memo be made to that effect. We then sent the Memo to the Secretary to Government of the Federation who then scheduled it for Federal Executive Council Approval. Consequently, the Federal Executive Council approved the purchase of the building”.
“It may interest you to know that as I left FMARD in December, 2019, MTB (Ministerial Tenders Board) met that same December 2019 and among the projects approved then includes: The remodelling and partitioning of new office complex; Procurement and installation of 1000KVA generator set; fencing of new office complex and other related auxiliaries; Procurement and Installation of ICT internet at the new office complex and; Procurement and Installation of Solar Energy in FMARD.”
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Report any officer asking for money for release of suspect as Police insist bail is free
Report any officer asking for money for release of suspect as Police insist bail is free
The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has insisted that bail is free, and called on the public to report any officer asking for money to release a suspect on bail.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
Adeh spoke in reaction to public outcry that some police officers were demanding money to release suspects on bail in the territory.
She said the report of the erring officers would serve as a deterrent to others, adding that it was fraudulent to demand for money to release a suspect on bail.
Adeh blamed the yielding to such fraudulent demand on ignorance on the part of the victims who refused to stand on their rights.
“A similar case was reported where an officer demanded money to release a suspect on bail and when the matter was reported, we requested for evidence from the victim.
“The evidence was provided because the money was transferred to the officer’s account and actions are being taken on the issue.
“So, I encourage the public to take advantage of the FCT Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU) lines on 08107314192 to report such misconduct with evidence,” she said.
Adeh urged the public to always insist on their rights and refuse any form of payment to release a suspect on bail.(NAN)
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Former President sentenced to five years in prison by Court
Former President sentenced to five years in prison by Court
South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk Yeol was on Friday sentenced to five years in prison for obstruction of justice.
The Seoul Central District Court found that the 65-year-old conservative, with the help of the presidential security service, had tried to prevent his own arrest and deleted multiple documents related to the investigation against him.
Yoon shocked the nation by imposing martial law on December 3, 2024, amid a budget dispute with the opposition, plunging the country into a political crisis.
He justified the drastic measure as necessary to protect South Korea’s democratic order and accused the left-leaning opposition of being infiltrated by communists with ties to China and North Korea, though he provided no evidence for these claims.
In a separate trial, prosecutors have sought the death penalty for Yoon on charges of incitement, with a verdict expected on February 19.
While the death penalty remains legally in force in South Korea, it has not been carried out for nearly 30 years.
Yoon’s actions previously alarmed international investors and led to withheld investments, damaging the reputation of South Korea as a political and economic model for the region.
Since last summer, South Korea has been led by President Lee Jae Myung, a left-leaning centrist and long-time political rival of Yoon. (dpa/NAN)
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JUST IN; Imam that famously shielded 262 Christians from death during Plateau attack is dead
JUST IN; Imam that famously shielded 262 Christians from death during Plateau attack is dead
The Imam of Nghar village, Abubakar Abdullahi in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, who famously sheltered 262 Christians during communal violence, has passed away.
The Imam’s Son Saleh Abubakar, confirmed the development to Daily Trust on Friday, saying that the cleric died on Thursday night at the Plateau Specialist Hospital in Jos.
The Son said, his father “died ten days after he was admitted” in the hospital.
“He was initially diagnosed with a heart problem. He’d go for check-ups and return. His health hadn’t been stable since the heart disease diagnosis.”
Imam Abubakar died at the age of 90. He is survived by 19 children – 12 sons and seven daughters.
Tecall that in June 2018, during violent, faith-based communal clashes that affected 10 villages in Barkin Ladi, Imam Abubakar sheltered 262 Christians in his mosque and residence until the violence subsided, saving them from certain death.
His courage earned him widespread recognition, including the International Religious Freedom Award presented by the United States Department of State in 2019.
The late cleric will be laid to rest on Friday (today) in Nghar village after the Juma’at prayers.
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