Embattled Dr Marilyn Amobi, NBET MD/CEO Committed Gross Misconduct- Auditor General for the Federation

In a report exclusively obtained by our online newspaper, the Auditor General for the Federation has dragged the embattled Dr Marilyn Amobi who has about 10 days to bow out of office before the leadership of the National Assembly for final determination on established gross misconduct, fraudulent activities, disrespect for due process and extant circulars. All the shoddy deals were successfully perpetrated by Dr Amobi under the supervision of the treasury staff from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation posted to NBET- Mr Ibrahim Salihu Otaru and Mrs Hauwa Bello, after the forceful removal of whistle-blowers in 2017.

By Provision of Section 85(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Auditor General for the Federation does not conduct full audit of the Federal Government Parastatals, Companies, or Agencies, NBET inclusive. However, the Auditor General is empowered to carry out periodic checks on Parastatals and Agencies in line with Section 85(4) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and make comments on their Audited Financial Statement. We wonder where the Accountant General of the Federation derived its power to post treasury staff to head NBET’s Finance and Internal Audit departments if not to assist in committing fraud. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC- the Regulator) consistent with other parastatals/agencies and Federal Universities have no presence of OAGF staff in their Finance and Internal Audit department based on our findings.

A twist was recently introduced by Dr Amobi when she started biting the fingers that fed her so as to distract the stakeholders who monitor whether the government of President Muhammadu Buhari would allow her to go scot free despite established corruption activities on her neck.  She sued the Minister of Power, Ministry of Power alongside the whistle-blower- Mr Sambo Abdullahi whose salary and other emoluments were stopped since December 2017 till date for raising audit queries on her fraudulent activities at the Abuja Court of Appeal in a suit No CA/ABJ/CV/278/2020.

Dr Amobi has expended about N500million taxpayers’ money in the pursuit of one libel case or the other to redeem her image. Just recently, we gathered that GTBank London denied Dr Amobi a bank guarantee due to several reported and established fraudulent activities against her which were being investigated in both the UK and Canada. Time shall tell whether Dr Amobi is above the law in Nigeria!

The report which was signed by Mr A. M. Ayine, FCA, the Auditor General for the Federation noted that because of the public interest generated in NBET’s affairs, “I hereby issued a Special Audit Report having duly considered the entity’s responses to our earlier Management Report”. This has corroborated the position of the reports of the BPP, EFCC and ICPC of which prosecution was not carried out for whatever reason.

The agency under the watch of Dr Marilyn Amobi did not submit annual audited financial statements for six (6) years: 2014 – 2019 in violation of Financial Regulations 3210(v) which requires the Chief Executive Officer of each Government Parastatals, Agency or Company to submit both Annual Audited Accounts and Management Report not later than 31st May of the following year. This online newspaper had earlier reported how Mr Babatunde Fashola approved the appointment of one Aminu Ibrahim & Co (Chartered Accountants) in 2017 to audit the agency’s account of 2015 and 2016. Dr Amobi resisted the accounting firm from carrying out the annual audit despite emerging from transparent procurement process because the firm is from the Northern part of the country and she cannot manipulate the outcome of the report.

Amobi was also indicted for payment for contract worth N21million which was not executed. The contract was awarded for the review of NBET’s Audit Manual. Insider source who crave anonymity for fear of been punished  confided in us that the contract was actually for Mrs Hauwa Bello (OAGF staff posted to Head Internal Audit of NBET) after the forceful removal of Mr Sambo (who exposed the fraudulent activities in NBET running into billions) by Dr Amobi. The initial development of the audit manual was carried out by one of the leading accounting firms in Nigeria- KPMG for a fee of N14million, how can a road side accounting firm now review the same document for N21million and yet contract was not executed. The Auditor General has recommended that the MD/CEO should refund the amount if the reviewed audit manual is not presented for their scrutiny. This and many more are what the incoming MD/CEO will have to battle with upon his assumption of office July 25, 2020.

The Auditor General noted in the report a contract variation of N4.8million from the initially approved amount of N136million for the partitioning of office space awarded to Julius Berger which thereby brought the total contract sum to N141million without the approval of the appropriate Tenders Board. Dr Amobi however responded that the variation amount of N4.1million was within her threshold. The MD was however overruled by the Auditor General and she was asked to refund the N4.1million

This online newspaper had reported in the past how Dr Amobi connived with one Prof Larsen of Aarhus University, Denmark who is a partner in ESL Economics and Management Associates Ltd with RC No 751030- a company in which Dr Amobi holds 80% shares and which also arranged a fruitless training for NBET staff and none staff in Denmark for hundreds of millions of naira. Despite the public outcry and the specific directive from President Buhari placing embargo on international travel/training for civil servant, Dr Amobi was reported to have expended another N66million on foreign training. The Auditor General has requested the leaderships of the National Assembly to sanction Dr Amobi in line with Financial Regulation 3129 which says any officer who violates any other provisions for which no sanction is specifically recommended shall be taken to have committed gross misconduct and shall be disciplined accordingly.

The Auditor General’s report also noted that Amobi acquired 12 vehicles for N355million between June 2017 and June 2018 despite the fleet of cars she inherited in 2016 when she assumed office. A member of NBET finance team conversant with Amobi’s atrocities confirmed to this online newspaper that several cars were bought between June 2018 and date which the subsequent Auditor General’s report would reveal. Some of those cars were issued out to none staff of NBET by Dr Amobi in appreciation of covering up her dirty deals while several other vehicles were parked unused as at the time of this report. Whereas one of the cars bought with the taxpayers’ money is one BMW 2019 model being used by her, Dr Amobi maintained that procuring luxury vehicles rather than operational vehicles did not constitute frivolous spending of Government funds. Auditor General has however recommended to the leadership of the National Assembly that Amobi should be sanctioned in line with Financial Regulations 3129 and other extant rules and regulations. We have gathered that Dr Amobi who bows out from the company on the 24th of July 2020 is planning to take along most of the cars as her parting gift.

Attached is the detailed Auditor General for the Federation’s report on NBET.

Saudbi Arabia And Nigeria Reiterate Their Firm Commitment To The OPEC+ Agreement

The Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva had a phone discussion with HRH Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman Al Saud, the Saudi Minister for Energy on Monday, 13th July, 2020.

In a press release signed by the GGM/SA Media to Hon Minister of State Petroleum, Garba Deen Muhammad, he said that the discussion between the two ministers focused on developments in the global oil markets, the improvement in demand for oil, and progress towards full implementation of the OPEC+ agreement.

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At the end of the call the two ministers issued the following joint statement: “Saudi Arabia and Nigeria reiterate their firm commitment to the OPEC+ agreement and to the level of production cuts to reduce output.

HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the chairman of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee of OPEC+, emphasized the importance for all OPEC+ participants of meeting their production stated in the agreement, in order to accelerate the rebalancing of the global oil market.

HE Minister Sylva confirmed the commitment of Nigeria to the OPEC+ agreement. He clarified that his country has not yet met the terms of that agreement, and is currently below the level of the agreed cuts, as reported by the secondary sources that monitor the market.

HE Minister Sylva also confirmed Nigeria will raise its level of conformity to 100 percent, and will compensate, during the months of July, August and September, for the over-production in May and June.

At the end of the call, the two Ministers stressed that efforts by OPEC+ countries towards meeting production cuts as stated in the agreement will enhance oil market stability and help accelerate the rebalancing of global oil markets.

MURIC Asks Sahara Reporters To Apologize To Pantami

An Islamic Human Rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has declared that the Minister of Communications, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, deserves an apology for the wrong accusation from Sahara Reporters.

In a press release signed by the Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola, he said that Sahara Reporters accusation of Dr. Ali Isa Pantami of purchasing three houses within the period that he became a minister is a highly defamatory and malicious allegation.

It will be recalled that Popular Nigerian tabloid, Sahara Reporters, recently published a story in which it alleged that the Minister of Communications, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, has purchased three houses within the period that he became a minister. The Minister last week denied the allegation with solid facts but nothing has been heard from the newspaper after the minister’s rebuttal.

The statement read, “The Muslim Rights Concern is deeply concerned that Sahara Reporters has picked on an innocent Islamic scholar of international reputation for yellow journalism. Minister Pantami is a rare product of Islamic scholarship. We are proud of him and we frown at any attempt to stain his name.

“The fact that many Nigerians go into politics and hold public office for ulterior motives does not mean that all Nigerians are thieves. There are still a large number of honest Nigerians at home and in diaspora. We have no scinttila of doubt that Dr. Pantami stands tall among the latter group.

“We have remained quiet all this while hoping that Sahara Reporters would withdraw its statement particularly after the minister had successfully defended himself. Facts are known to be sacred in journalism and we expect the newspaper to restrict itself to facts only. We know that the press is powerful but no media house has the moral right to abuse that power.

“It is our honest belief that Minister Pantami has been wronged by Sahara Reporters. He deserves an apology. Therefore the newspaper should do the needful otherwise it will lose the respect of the general public.

“MURIC appeals to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to take necessary steps towards ensuring that journalists uphold the ethics of the profession. Freedom from malicious damage is the fundamental right of every citizen and NUJ has a duty to protect innocent citizens from antagonistic journalism.”

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello Expresses Shock Over The Demise Of A Former Commissioner In Niger State, Dr Ibrahim Babamini Sule

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State has expressed shock over the demise of Dr Ibrahim Babamini Sule a former Commissioner of Health in the State.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary Mrs Mary Noel-Berje, the Governor described the deceased as a committed, dedicated and hardworking personality who has carved a

niche for himself in the Health sector. 

He said having served the State together with Late Dr Sule as Commissioners in the immediate past administration; no doubt the deceased has played a significant role towards the development of the state.

The Governor stated that indeed death is an inevitable end of all mortals but the wealth of knowledge and experience of Late Dr Sule will be greatly missed.

He then prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased and for Allah to grant him Aljannatu Firdaus as well as the courage for the family to bear the irreparable loss.

Late Dr Sule until his death was the Chairman of a 7-man committee appointed by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello to investigate the high rate of deaths occurring in private hospitals in the state.

A renowned consultant gynecologist, who served the state in the previous administration as Commissioner for Health and Hospital Services, Commissioner Works and Infrastructure Development, and Commissioner Water Resources.

As then Commissioner of Health, late Dr Sule started the agitation for the establishment of the College of Medicine for Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai.

He left behind a wife four children and grand children 

Rehabilitation Work On The Minna City Gate-Chanchaga Road Kicks Off: Work To Be Completed In Sixteen Weeks

The Niger State Government has flagged off the rehabilitation of the Minna City Gate-Chanchaga Road despite the economic crisis facing the Country. 

The rehabilitation work which would gulp 403 Million Naira is expected to be completed in sixteen weeks as captured in the contract agreement.

The Chief of Staff to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello who doubles as the Chairman, Infrastructure Project Monitoring Committee, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe flagged off the road repairs project on behalf of the Governor.

He assured that the project will be strictly supervised to ensure value for money.

Though the State Government is aware of the Federal Government policy of not refunding State Government for rehabilitating Federal roads, the Governor has directed the Infrastructure Monitoring Committee to engage the relevant Federal Government Authorities towards possible refund to the State Government as the road is a Federal road but is being fixed at the instance of the State Government due to its deplorable condition and peculiarity.

The road when fixed will facilitate and ease movement of goods and services especially by the road users plying the route.

The H&M Company was given the contract having showed the capacity to work all the year round. 

However, the State Government said it is constrained with regulating the movement of articulated vehicles across the State as most of the roads are Federal Government roads,adding

that discussions are on, with relevant Federal Government Agencies to come up with measures of regulating the movement of articulated vehicles.

Broadband Penetration: We Have Achieved An Almost 10% Increase Within One Year - Pantami

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ibrahim Pantami has that as at the time he assumed office, Broadband Penetration was at 31.5% and as at July, 2020 in less than a year in office, Broadband Penetration stands at 40.18%; resulting in almost 10% increase.

Pantami also said that prices of data and telecommunication services are expected to crash by 40% following steps so far taken by the Federal Government to attract huge local and foreign investments,

The Minister said this while delivering his welcome address during the opening ceremony of a five-day capacity development programme on “Digital Skills In News Reportage For ICT Journalists” taking place at the Public Service Institute of Nigeria, Abuja.

According to Pantami, the government has addressed two critical challenges in the telecommunications industry, particularly Right of Way (RoW) Charges and infrastructural protection and development.

Pantami made the remarks while declaring open a week-long training programme organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for ICT/Telecomm reporters in Abuja.

He said improvement on infrastructure has pushed up broadband penetration from 30 percent to 40.18 within the past one year.

The training programme, which began at the Public Service Institute of Nigeria, Kubwa, Abuja, had the theme “Digital skills in news reporting for ICT journalists”

The Minister said the government is targeting 40 percent reduction in data prices and other telecommunication services between now and 2025.

He asserted that it was part of the policy measures taken by the present administration to promote digital economy and improve the living standard of the citizenry.

The Minister said the Federal Government would be putting emphasis on skill acquisition and development, rather than certificates and degrees, stressing by doing so millions of jobs would be created in all sectors of the economy.

The Minister said the training for newsmen was part of government’s contribution towards upgrading the skills and knowledge of members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm as the new knowledge acquired during the programme would benefit the larger society.

The Minister said the roles of journalist towards a knowledge-based economy cannot be over emphasized, pointing out that while professionalism, fairness, and justice in reportage of news and events are critical, journalism remains the key to stable democracy and good governance