Senate uncovers alleged multi-billion naira fraud in NTA

The Senate said it has uncovered an alleged multi-billion naira fraud in the joint venture operations between the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and a Chinese Satellite Pay TV, StarTimes.

The allegation was made through the Senate Joint Committee on Finance and National Planning, which is currently considering the details of the 2021-2023 MTEF & FSP documents, scrutinised the spending and expenditure of the Nigerian Television Authority for 2021.

The Senate Panel was amazed to discover that the multi-billion naira deal with StarTimes was not captured anywhere in the documents submitted to it as presented by the Director-General, Mallam Mohammed Yakubu.

Trouble started for NTA after the Chairman of the Senate Panel, Solomon Olamilekan asked why NTA was blocking StarTimes from being registered with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). Responding, Yakubu denied the allegation; stressing that NTA couldn’t have blocked StarTimes as it was currently in a Joint Venture Agreement with the company.

The DG’s statement prompted further questions from the Senate Panel as they asked to know how much NTA had earned from the Joint Venture with StarTimes over the years. The Senate Panel suspicious at that point demanded to see records of what NTA generates from production, adverts and documentaries.

It also asked that NTA should return on Monday with its debt profile containing the names of its debtors, the date, and the amount incurred as well as the name of the official who authorised it for publication.  The NTA entered the Joint Venture with StarTimes in 2010 with a sharing ratio of 70-30 in favour of the Beijing based company.

Irked by NTA’s outing, the panel ordered that henceforth all revenue-generating agencies of government should remit all their earnings into the Consolidated Revenue Funds out of which their cost of the collection will be given to them. This, the panel said will shore up revenue for the government as well as block wastages in the system.

A Senate report has revealed how top management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) paid themselves N85.6 million to attend a graduation ceremony in the United Kingdom at a time Nigeria was on lockdown and airports shut.

Daniel Pondei, Acting Managing Director of NDDC.

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A Senate report has revealed how top management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) paid themselves N85.6 million to attend a graduation ceremony in the United Kingdom at a time Nigeria was on lockdown and airports shut.

The report shows that approval for the funds was made in April – at the time when countries were on lockdown and flight activities suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The money was shared in April for a supposed trip in June, none of the officials travelled for the trip and none of them had returned the money as of July when the Senate investigated the matter, the lawmakers said.

This is one of the many revelations that emerged from the National Assembly’s investigation into spending by the NDDC, which has generated mixed reactions among Nigerians.

The Senate had, on May 5, set up a seven-member ad-hoc committee to probe the “financial recklessness” of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the NDDC. The committee was particularly asked to probe the IMC for allegedly squandering N40 billion in three months.

In the same vein, the House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta commenced an investigative hearing on the alleged mismanagement of N81.5 billion between January and July by the commission.

There were accusations and counter-accusations from the investigative hearings conducted by the Senate and House committees in July, between some lawmakers and members of the NDDC, amid startling discoveries.

Besides how lawmakers allegedly ‘hijacked‘ NDDC projects and how the commission spent N1.3 billion for staff as ‘COVID-19 relief funds’, another revelation is how the NDDC spent a total of N85.6 million on the graduation ceremony in the UK.

This was contained in the report of the Senate ad-hoc committee. The Senate had on July 23 considered the report that exposed the ‘reckless’ and ‘budgetless’ spending by the IMC.

Top among the beneficiaries are the Managing Director, Daniel Pondei, the acting deputy director, projects, Cairo Ojougboh, another director, Luke Ibanga, and a Seledi Wakama who got the lion share of the fund.

The report

According to the document, the NDDC account shows a one-off travel expenditure with the description tagged “Delegate to attend graduation ceremony of NDDC scholars in the United Kingdom in June 2020”.

The total cost of this trip was N85.6 million, covering 14 staff to travel to the United Kingdom. And the travellers include Messrs Pondei, Ojougboh and lbanga.

The report listed 14 beneficiaries paid different amounts for the ‘graduation.’ They are:

Saledi Wakama (N33.3 million), Messrs Pondei, Ojougboh and Bassey Etang who got N4.6 million each, Mr Ibanga (N3.5 million), Nimite Ateki and Allwell Hanachor, who got N3.2 million each.

Others are, Chinyere Madume (N3 million) and Marg Consultant (2.9 million). While Irene Okezie, Clara Braide, Bestman Nnwoka, Omoren Usenobong and Kubiat Bassey were paid N2.9 million each.

Two other beneficiaries were also listed in the overseas travel expenditure but for different purposes.

They are Ekpebu Lawrence who was paid N4.6 million for “participation at International Labour and Employment Relations Association in South Korea 2018” and Abgenglasede Nosa paid N3.6 million for attending “2019 Association of Certified Fraud in Texas 2019.”

The report said these payments demonstrate a form of internal control failure in the NDDC, especially with the management‘s choice to subject such transactions as cash payments to Individual staff. And that the corporate affairs department in collaboration with the Human Resource Department should have been responsible for direct payments for visas to the relevant embassies and airlines as direct cash payment to staff could be abused.

“It is also curious that these payments were made on the 17 April, 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 lockdown for a June 2020 trip. Obviously, monies had been paid to the 14 staff involved. There was no evidence that these trips took place as Nigeria and the United Kingdom were on lockdown during this period with all international flights and consular services by the UK High Commission suspended.

“The EIMC team explained that the trip was planned to take place In June and September without any consideration for the Covid-19 pandemic, therefore an early disbursement of fund (CovId-19 was already here in April!) was made to enable staff make timely visa arrangements,” part of the report read.

The committee however said since the trip “is no longer going to hold, everyone paid must refund the monies paid to them for the trip.”

This comes at a time many Nigerian students under the NDDC scholarship are stranded abroad because of the lack of funding from the commission.

The commission paid “scholarship grants” to Mr Pondei and other top officials rather than to the suffering students.

In May, the students wrote to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, complaining that life for them abroad has been compounded by the coronavirus pandemic which has prevented them from even engaging in menial jobs for survival.

President Muhammadu Buhari has, however, directed the NDDC to pay the fees and stipends of scholars of the commission who are facing hardships abroad.

Since the revelations emerged, individuals and civic groups have called for the prosecution of guilty NDDC officials as well as sanction of lawmakers who are complicit in the NDDC scandal.

Senate begins eight-week recess

The Senate, on Thursday, adjourned plenary till September 15, 2020, to enable members to enjoy the annual eight-week vacation.

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, made the announcement after approving the votes and proceedings for Thursday’s plenary session.

He, however, said the various committees of the Senate would be working during the vacation.

Lawan urged the committees on Petroleum (Upstream and Downstream) and Gas to engage the executive arm of government, particularly the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Department of Petroleum Resources, on the Petroleum Industry Bill to be submitted to the National Assembly.

He stated, “It is our hope and desire that we are able to break the jinx that has visited the PIB since 2007.

“If we are able to do it, we will get more revenue into the coffers of the Federal Government as well as attract and retain investments into the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.”

Senate amended the Criminal Code Act Bill which increase jail term of kidnappers to life sentence

In the attempt to reduce the tide of the ever-increasing rate of kidnapping in the country, the Senate on July 14, 2020 passed for third reading an amendment to the Criminal Code Amendment Act Bill which increased the jail term prescribed for kidnappers from 10 years to life imprisonment.

This followed the adoption of a report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters on a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code Act Cap.C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, which was presented by the committee Chairman, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.

The bill seeks to, among others, provide for life sentence for persons found guilty of kidnapping as against the provisions of Section 363 of the Act, which prescribes imprisonment for a term of 10 years, where the offence of kidnapping is established.

The bill notes that the frequency of kidnapping across the country, the resultant trauma as well as the number of lives lost to the crime, all make it imperative to review existing laws with a view not only to ensuring appropriate punishment for perpetrators but also to serve as deterrent to potential offenders.

Senator Bamidele in his lead contribution to the debate on the bill said the legislation will address the lingering issue of kidnapping which, in recent times, is on the rise.

The lawmaker stated that contrary to views expressed by those opposing the passage of the bill on the ground that it would usurp the powers of the states of the federation to legislate on the subject matter, the bill seeks to amend the Criminal Code Act of 1916 and not the criminal codes of the states.

It would be recalled that in her lead debate at plenary late last year, sponsor of the bill, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, observed that the frequency of kidnap cases across the country, its accompanying trauma, and the number of lives lost to the crime, are imperatives that necessitate the review of existing laws on kidnapping.

This is with a view to ensuring appropriate punishment for perpetrators as well as deterrence for potential criminals.

She lamented over the existing provision which prescribes a more severe punishment “for stealing replaceable property than the stealing of a human being”.

Until recently, when banditry took over the crime space in parts of the country, kidnapping at a time was about the worst security challenge that confronted the nation after insurgents were degraded by troops.

In 2017, kidnapping became a ‘money-spinning job’ for criminals.

Sometime in 2018, kidnappers almost made the Abuja-Kaduna highway their den.

Last year, they stretched their nefarious activities to Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja.

This was also as the payment for ransom advanced to bitcoin. In 2019 alone, about 1,000 kidnap cases were reported in the media.

So many lives and property have been lost to perpetrators of this crime.

The trauma which some kidnap victims suffer in the hands of their abductors as well as the nightmares their family members go through are better imagined.

Due to huge losses, some traders have gone bankrupt.

To evade kidnap, many peasant farmers have abandoned their farms in areas where the crime is most pronounced.

The high incidence of this crime has also continued to divert the attention of troops from combating renewed insurgency.

Although Senator Oluremi Tinubu had maintained that life sentence is a tough punishment for persons found guilty of kidnapping, it is tougher when it is accompanied by hard labour.

Where the victim is killed, it should be the death sentence.

The bill could further be improved upon to, in addition, provide for confiscation of properties of persons guilty of the crime.

The house used for keeping kidnap victims should also be demolished.

It would seem ridiculous to have a threshold of punishment that is lower than the penalty already legislated by some states.

A heinous crime deserves a heinous punishment!

I won’t tolerate disrespect to National Assembly, Buhari warns Keyamo, other ministers

President Muhammadu Buhari says ministers and all heads of departments and agencies should at all times conduct themselves in ways that will not undermine the National Assembly as an institution, its leadership and members. 

President Buhari said this on Thursday when he received in audience Senate President Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Honorable Femi Gbajabiamila at the State House, Aso Villa, Abuja. 

Senate approves N168.8bn for FIRS Buhari dares NASS, backs Keyamo on recruitment The President, in a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, re-emphasized his utmost respect for the National Assembly. He said that any disrespect to the institution by any member of the executive branch would not be accepted. In the course of their conversation, recent events at the National Assembly were highlighted. 

The meeting, which lasted for almost an hour, was characterized by an engaging discussion on a range of key issues of national importance particularly the role of the legislature as a critical component in supporting their common goal and commitment towards improving the lives of the people of Nigeria. Buhari and the leaders of the National Assembly recognized and acknowledged that the executive and legislative arms of government are essential partners in the fulfilment of their mutually aligned goal of improving the lives of the Nigerian people, according to the statement. statement

The Minister of State for Labour, Productivity and Employment, Festus Keyamo, had on June 30, clashed with the federal lawmakers when he appeared before the joint committees of the National Assembly on Labour to brief them on the recruitment of 774,000 youths under the Special Public Works programme (SPW). 

An argument over the composition of the selection of the committees of the scheme snowballed into war of words between the minister and the lawmakers. Thus, the federal lawmakers announced the suspension of the scheme. 

Subsequently, President Buhari, on Tuesday, reportedly threw his weight behind the minister by giving him a go-ahead to continue with the exercise, despite the suspension by the lawmakers. Related Concerns over standoffs between NASS, heads of agencies Ahmed Lawan: Every appointee should emulate Buhari’s attitude to National Assembly Buhari dares NASS, backs Keyamo on recruitment 

Labour ministry, senators clash over bill

Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen Chris Ngige

The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity, on Wednesday, clashed with members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and other Financial Institutions, at a public hearing.

The Public hearing is on Banks and other Financial Institutions Act Cap B3  LFN 2004 (Repeal and Reenactment ) Bill 2020( SB.178)  and Electronic Transaction Bill, 2020 (SB.155).

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The ministry’s Director of Productivity and Labour Standards, Eyewumi Neburagho, who represented the Minister, Chris Ngige, had called for the suspension of both the public hearing and the bill when he was invited to make comments during the hearing.

He said as a major stakeholder, the ministry was not availed or presented with a copy of the bill on which this public hearing is called.

He said the ministry must know how the bill would affect workers interest.

He, therefore, said the Senate panel should either step down further actions on the bill or expunge aspects that would affect workers’ interest.

“Nigeria has ratified the International Labour Organisation convention no 144 on tripartite consultation, traditional labour standard.

“We, in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, have not been availed or presented with a copy of the said bill on which this public hearing is called.

“Rather, in view of the interventions of the Nigerian Labour Congress on part of the bill as it affects the issue of labour legislation, we will like to state that this public hearing be stepped down until the bill is circulated to all social partners to ascertain if the bill meets international labour standards and best practices.

“The Ministry of Labour and Employment wish to propose that the proposed bill be stepped down and the public hearing be suspended until the labour issues in the bill are sorted out in the appropriate tripartite consultative forum.

“On the other hand, the sponsors of the bill may wish  to expunge the labour aspect of the bill and go ahead with the areas on digital financial transactions.”

His submission did not go down well with the members of the committee who said the legislative process on the bill would continue.

The committee chairman, Senator Uba Sani, warned the ministry against dictating to the National Assembly on its procedures.

Keyamo, senate committee disagreed over LG recruitment

The Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Mr Festus Keyamo, traded words with members of the National Assembly on Tuesday over the National Directorate of Employment recruitment exercise.

Trouble started when the Director-General of the NDE, Mr. Nasiru Ladan, could not defend the N52 billion budgeted for the recruitment of 774,000 Nigerians under the NDE.

The minister said his ministry was asked to supervise the recruitments by President Muhammadu Buhari. But the federal lawmakers disagreed with Keyamo.

 

The public works 20-man selection Committee is being chaired by the Director General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Nasir Ladan Argungu and supervised by Keyamo.

Argungu could not also explain the modality for choosing the 20-man national selection Committee for the programme.

He said he could only account for eight statutory members of the selection Committee and that it is only the Minister of State that can account for the remaining 12 persons.

The lawmakers insisted Kayamo should tell them how the remaining 12 members of the Committee were chosen.

Some members of the committee complained that the representatives of their states in the selection Committee for the Programme were not known to them.

They also wanted the Minister to explain how a programme he included representatives of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), youth groups and market women on the selection Committee meant to select the public workers.

The lawmakers frowned at a situation where a Federal Government programme expected to gulp N52billion is being shrouded in secrecy.

At this point, a co-chairman of the Committee, Senator Godiya Akwashiki said the session would resolve into closed door to thrash out salient issues about the programms.

However, the Minister insisted since the questions were asked and allegations were made in the full glare of television cameras, closed door was not necessary as he wants his Defence to be captured by the press as well.

His insistence the session should continue in the open to enable him respond to queries angered the lawmakers who insisted that Keyamo cannot direct how a session by a National Assembly Committee should be conducted.

The members of the committee asked Keyamo to apologise for attempting to disobey directives on how the sitting should be conducted.

Keyamo insisted that he would not apologise, saying he had done nothing wrong.

The Minister threatened that he would walk out on the committee if they will not allow him to speak in the presence of the press.

The committee said he can go if he was not ready to abide by the Committee’s decision to go into closed door.

This disagreement by the lawmakers and the insistence by the Minister led to raised voices, flared tempers, banging on tables and eventual storming out of the session by Keyamo.

The uproar brought the session to an abrupt end.

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