GOV GANDUJE LOSES KANO TO KWANKWASO’S SON-IN-LAW AFTER FINAL RESULTS OF 44 LGAs

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Abba Kabir-Yusuf, has got the highest number of votes from results of the 44 Local Government areas in Kano State.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the state, Riskuwa Shehu, had ordered for fresh collation of results from the wards in Nasarawa local government after the local government collation centre was attacked and the main result sheet was torn.

However, Kabir-Yusuf, a son-in-law to ex-governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, won the pending local government which had delayed the final announcement of governorship election result in the state.

After collation of results from 10 wards of the local government last night, PDP scored 54,349, votes while the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), scored 34,297 votes.

Based on the results collated at the state collation centre, the PDP, which had earlier polled 960,004 votes from 43 local governments now has a total of 1,014,353 votes.

The APC which had polled 953,522 votes from 43 local government areas now has 987,819 votes.

INEC CAN’T WITHHOLD OKOROCHA'S CERTIFICATE OF RETURN - EBUN-OLU ADEGBORUWA

Activist-lawyer Ebun-Olu Adgboruwa has said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has no power to withhold the certificate of return of an election winner.

He said there was no basis in law for INEC to review an already declared result of an election “no matter the circumstances”.

He faulted the commission for withholding the certificate of return of Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha.

INEC said Okorocha was declared winner of a senatorial seat “under duress”.

Adegboruwa said the ommission of Okorocha's name from the list of those presented with certificates of return “is illegal and ultra vires the electoral body”.

He argued that based Section 68 (1) (c) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), only a tribunal could overule an election.

The Section reads: “The decision of the Returning Officer on any question arising from or relating to declaration of scores of candidates and the return of a candidate, shall be final, subject to review by a Tribunal or Court in an election petition proceedings under this Act.”

Adegboruwa said: “In the case of Governor Okorocha, there was a declaration of his scores in the election and he was announced and returned as elected, by INEC.

“However, the Returning Officer claimed that he did the declaration and return under duress to save his life. This is an allegation, coming from INEC.

They are facts that will aid the Election Petitions Tribunal to take a decision on whether or not to nullify the election, in view of the alleged violence or duress.

“But INEC cannot in law raise an allegation of duress or violence and then proceed to investigate it and then take a decision on it. You cannot be a judge in your own cause!

“Whereas I do not support that any electoral officer should be threatened or compelled to make a declaration, but once when a declaration has been made, it becomes final.

“It cannot be reviewed, retracted, reversed or investigated by INEC. Section 68 gives that power of review to a Tribunal or Court in election petition proceedings. This is clear beyond any controversy, from the letters of section 68 above.

“INEC has no power under the law, to withhold or refuse to issue a certificate of return, to a person whose scores or votes have already been declared, even if done under duress or through violence.

“Section 75 of the Electoral Act provides as follows:

‘A sealed Certificate of Return at an election in a prescribed form shall be issued within seven days to every candidate who has won an election under this Act: Provided that where the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court, being the final appellate court in any election petition as the case may be, nullifies the Certificate of Return of any candidate, the Commission shall, within forty-eight hours after the receipt of the order of such Court, issue the successful candidate with a valid Certificate of Return.’

“From the foregoing, INEC must issue a certificate of return to every candidate who has been declared to have won an election, it has no discretion in the matter.

“Whether he won under duress or with violence, is immaterial. Okorocha has been duly declared and INEC has no choice than to issue him a certificate of return. The facts of how he got himself declared are for the Election Petitions Tribunal.”

Adegboruwa said based on Section 75 (1), where a certificate of return has become a subject of litigation and is nullified by the court, then INEC will issue a new certificate of return to the other candidate who has succeeded in the court case, as the old certificate of return stands nullified by the court.

“Thus, it is not the candidate who has been declared in any election that will go to court to compel INEC to issue him with a certificate of return, but rather for the aggrieved candidate to approach the Elections Petition Tribunal to have the certificate of return nullified.

“Section 75 (2) of the Electoral Act: ‘ Where the Commission refuses or neglects to issue a certificate of return, a certified true copy of the order of a court of competent jurisdiction shall, ipso facto, be sufficient for the purpose of swearing-in a candidate declared as the winner by the court.’

“Section 75 (2) is simply meant to enforce the proviso to section 75 (1). It is about what happens post-litigation. It does not confer INEC with power to withhold certificate of return for a candidate that was originally declared winner of an election.

“Reading sections 75 (1) and (2) together, here is what the law says:1. Once a candidate’s score or election results have been declared, INEC must issue him with a certificate of return.

“Where that certificate of return has been challenged and is nullified by the court, INEC must issue a new certificate of return to the person newly declared by the court as winner of the election.

“If the candidate newly declared by the court is unable to get INEC to issue him with a new certificate of return within 48 hours of the judgment of the court, then he can rely upon a certified true copy of the court judgment for his swearing-in, in place of the certificate of return.

“It is clear that INEC has no power in law, to review the outcome of election results or declarations and it has no power to withhold certificate of return.

“We must be careful not to create monsters and terrors from our institutions, where the law has not conferred such powers on them.”

SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (SI) JOB VACANCY [2 POSITIONS]

Solidarites International (SI) is a French humanitarian organisation operating for over 35 years who is committed to providing aid in the event of conflict and natural disasters. 

Our mission is to provide aid as quickly and as efficiently as possible to endangered populations by meeting their vital needs: water, food and shelter.

SI has started activities in North-eastern Nigeria in August 2016 in the fields of Wash and is now intervening in 4 areas of the state for Wash and Shelter activities. 

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

1. Job Title: Admin Assistant

Location: Monguno, Borno

Beginning of Contract: ASAP

Contract Duration: 3 months (with 

possibility of extension)

Probation Period: 1 months

Salary and Conditions: In 

accordance with SI’s Terms of Employment; for national staff in Nigeria

Delocalized Status and related benefits:Applicable

Mission

At his/her assigned base level, the administrative assistant supports the administrator in the processing of accounting operations as well as all tasks relating to Human Resources.

Main Tasks
Administrative management of personnel:

Welcome and participate in administrative briefing of new personnel

Assist the administrator for the administrative management of recruitment and hiring

Participate in the organization of training

Ensure archiving and monitoring of individual dossiers and deliver all documents relative to the professional life of Solidarités International employees

Ensure the confidentiality of all HR datas

Participate in the monitoring of work contracts on the base

Collect payment details and integrate them into the Human resources management  software (Homère)

Issue pay slips and supervise payment of salaries after approval by the administrator

Calculate taxes and duties and create pay records for the relevant organizations

Keep an organization chart up to date for the base

Assist the administrative in the organization and conduct of meetings with personnel representatives

Participate in the application of policies relating to salaries and benefits for Solidarités International

Monitor changes in the cost of living

TEAM MANAGEMENT:

Train and support team members under his or her supervision

Ensure the minimal replacement of members of the admin services in case of absence (days of, sickness etc.)

TREASURY / ACCOUNTING / MANAGEMENT:

Supervise the physical maintenance and safety of cash boxes

Prepare monthly closing, revision and integrity of accounts for the base

Issue vouchers, supervise archiving of records

Participate in audits or any checks issued by partners or head office, at the base level

Participate in the consolidation of budget follow ups and cash forecasts at the base level

Monitor due dates for payments of contracts managed by the administrative coordinator

List liquidity needs in concert with the admin coordinator

Carry out pay-outs and advances, within established guidelines

Keep the registry of cash pay-outs and the cashier’s register

Record budgetary transfers and keep accounting codes

Verify, before recording, that records conform to regulations and procedures of Solidarités International

Translate accounting documents if necessary

Exchange currencies at request of superiors

Verify cash balances daily and report any discrepancies to superior

Archive accounting records according to Solidarités procedures after a final verification of receipts etc.

Guarantee security of the cash and confidentiality of information

REPORTING / COMMUNICATION:

Participate in supervision of regulations in effectAid admin coordinator in relations with administrative authorities

REQUIREMENTS
Personal Abilities

Dynamic, organized, methodical, team player, with sound communication skills

Languages: Fluent in English and Hausa (additional languages a plus)

Personal qualities: Reliable, honest, very good organization, resistance to stress, capacity to delegate and to manage, initiative and autonomy, capacity of prioritisation of tasks, work under tight deadlines

TECHNICAL COMPETENCES:

Professional experience: At least 1 year of experience in similar position in administration, human resources and finance especially with INGOs

Bachelor Degree in Economics, management, administration, HR, social science or any related fields

IT skills : Microsoft software practice, sound Excel skills

2. JOB TITLE: Admin Manager

LOCATION: Monguno, Borno

BEGINNING OF CONTRACT: ASAP

CONTRACT DURATION: 3 months
(with possibility of extension)

PROBATION PERIOD: 1 months

DELOCALIZED STATUS AND RELATED BENEFITS: Applicable

MISSION:
Under the supervision of the administrative coordinator, the administrator carries out administrative, accounting and financial management of his/her base, in compliance with donor and SOLIDARITES International procedures.

He/she supervises accounting operations and cash management, and carries out budget follow up in conjunction with the program managers.

He/she is also one of those charged with ensuring that Solidarités International’s Human Resources policy is properly implemented at the base.

He supports monitors and trains the members of his administrative team.

MAIN TASKS
Administrative management of personnel:

Apply the formalities provided for sanctions and for termination or breach of contract

Supervise the collection of elements needed to establish wages and monitor their proper implementation

Calculate taxes, complete returns and make statements and payments to the necessary organizations

Assist in defining and applying Solidarités International’s salary and social policies

Evaluate risks linked to changes in compensation and social policies

Oversee the setting up of legal representation and consultation bodies for personnel at his/her base, and assist in conflict management and resolution

Conduct meetings and communication with personnel

Track the cost of living

Update the mission organization chart

Assist in welcoming and integrating new personnel, ensure they receive administrative briefing

Supervise the administrative management of personnel recruitment and hiring at his/her base

Supervise the archiving, handling and security of Solidarités International personnel files

Draft employment contracts for employees at his/her base, and ensure that they are adhered to

Ensure that performance reviews are carried out according to defined procedure, and monitor the professional development of personnel

Centralise training requests from teams and set up a training plan

Assist in ordering and determining disciplinary measures

TEAM MANAGEMENT:

Define the needs of administrative personnel at his/her base, and recruit according to the resources allocated

Train, support and evaluate the administrative team at his/her assignment base

Plan and direct the activities of the administrative teamLead meetings for the administrative team

CASH-FLOW /BOOKKEEPING:

Supervise account keeping at his/her base, monitor cash balances

Monitor bank books for his/her base and keep the safe

Prepare and supervise the monthly closing, review and integration of the accounting for his/her base

Verify the accounting files before they are sent to  coordination

Manage his/her base’s cash-flow and ensure that banks and cash boxes are well supplied

Manage transfers and monitor the security of funds

Formulate cash-flow forecasts with the logistics officer and the program managers

Supervise the upkeep and security of safes and cash-boxes

Validate all disbursements and commitments of expenditure, in compliance with Solidarités International procedures

BUDGETARY / FINANCIAL MONITORING:

Oversee adherence to donor administrative procedures

Aid the administrative coordinator in formulating financial reports and carrying out audits

Assist in formulating budgets for new projects

Update allocation boards for his/her base

Update and analyze budget follow up in conjunction with logistic and program teams

Make connections between budgetary consumption and activity progress

Propose solutions if necessary

Monitor functioning costs at his/her assignment base

ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT OF THE MISSION:

Verify and validate all contracts drafted at the base

Assist in selecting Solidarités International premises

Ensure administrative monitoring of insurance locations, claims and contracts

REPORTING/COMMUNICATION:

Supervise the sending of administrative files to the  coordination

Ensure administrative and financial reports are made to the coordination according to the Solidarités administrative calendar.

Establish and maintain relationships with local and regional administrative authorities, monitor regulations in force

Take part in meetings relating to administrative aspects, represent Solidarités International on request and/or by order

REQUIREMENTS:
Technical competences :

Professional experience: at least 2 year of experience in similar position in Administration and Finance especially with INGOs

Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Management or any related fields

IT SKILLS: Microsoft software practice, sound Excel skills.

PERSONAL ABILITIES:

Dynamic, organized, methodical, team player, with sound communication skills

Languages: fluent in English and Hausa (additional languages a plus)

Personal qualities: Reliable, honest, very good organization, resistance to stress, capacity to delegate and to manage, initiative and autonomy, capacity of prioritisation of tasks, work under tight deadlines.

SALARY AND CONDITIONS
In accordance with SI’s Terms of Employment; for national staff in Nigeria.

HOW TO APPLY
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Application Deadline: 29th March, 2019.

NOTE:
The CV attached must be named with your name and surname.As position is required as soon as possible, Solidarites International reserves the right to select a candidate and finalize the recruitment before the final date.

EASTER CELEBRATIONS: FG DECLARES MARCH 25, 28 PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

The Federal Government has declared Friday, March 25 and Monday, March 28 as public holidays to mark the Good Friday and Easter celebrations, respectively.

The Minister of Interior, Retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, made the declaration in a statement issued by the acting Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido on Tuesday in Abuja.

The minister urged Christians and Nigerians in general to support and join hands with President Muhammadu Buhari in his sustained efforts to build a peaceful, united and virile nation.

He further enjoined Nigerians to use the occasion to pray for peace and unity across the nation.

He wished Nigerians and Christians worldwide happy celebrations.

MINORITY LEADER SLOT IN 9TH SENATE TEARS PDP SENATORS AND SENATORS-ELECT APART

All appears not to be settled in the camp of Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) sitting Senators and Senators-elect.

Feelers indicate as All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators are plotting for position of the Senate President, PDP Senators have launched intense scheming for the slot of Senate minority leader.

It is gathered the intrigue and scheming for leadership positions in the Senate clearly manifested during the issuance of certificate of returns to Senator and members of the House of Representatives on Thursday.

The PDP is expected to produce the minority leader in the ninth Senate with its 42 senators. APC boasts of 65 and YPP has one.

A competent source in the National Assembly told our reporter on Monday the calculation is the South East geo-political zone with its 13 senators, still counting, would produce the Senate minority leader.

He noted the South South geo-political zone is already out of the race for Senate minority leader because the zone occupies the exalted position of PDP Chairman in the person of Prince Uche Secondus.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and South East caucus leader in the upper chamber, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, are said to be highly favoured to clinch the Senate minority leader.

The source, who said he is aware the PDP leadership would soon come out to declare its position, said: “On who gets what in the Senate and House of Representatives” noted that “the position of Senate minority leader is not elective position.”

He said: “Senate minority leader position is a party affair. The PDP leadership will soon declare its stand about who should occupy the position.

“PDP wants to get it right in order not to make the mistake of Senator Godswill Akpabio who abandoned the position to defect to APC in the build up to the general elections.

“It is incumbent on the party to decide. The position is purely a party affair. It is not elective. Especially now that the momentum seems to be on the side of the PDP with expected more states to its fold, it is for the party to sustain the tempo by installing effective opposition leader.

“The Senator Godswill Akpabio scenario must not be allowed to play out again.”

The source also said that the PDP planned to install “a cohesive opposition leader that would articulate the position of the party in the Senate.”

Asked who is likely to get the slot between Ekweremadu and Abaribe, he hesitated and said: “PDP leaders are weighing options but what I can deduct from the body language of some party leaders is that perhaps they would want Ekweremadu to now play a father-figure role in the Senate which former Senate President, Senator David Mark, effectively played in the Eight Senate.

‘It is on record that Ekweremadu, having served as Deputy Senate President for three consecutive times with active support of the PDP and its Senators, nobody challenged him, it is widely expected that he should now play a father-figure role in the Senate. Senator David Mark, a former Senate President, did it to the admiration of party members. Nobody should be desperate about anything.”

He assured that “PDP will put its house in order and come up with a suitable name.”

MINIMUM WAGE: FG IN DILEMMA OVER INADEQUATE BUDGETARY ALLOCATION TO PAY N30,000

THE Federal Government appears to be in a dilemma on how to source funds to pay the new N30,000 minimum wage to workers.

The development is generating tension as the government fears that this might lead to another round of crisis between it and organised labour.

It was reliably reliably gathered that between N200 billion and N300 billion is required annually to handle the payment of the new N30,000 minimum wage but the Federal Government budget of about N150 billion is said to be grossly inadequate to take care of the workers’ new salary structure.

Though the Federal Government has indicated its willingness to pay, having assured workers, the calculation by appropriate ministries shows that the government requires about N300 billion annually to cover all agencies of government.

More worrisome is the fact that both the Senate and House of Representatives have recommended the N30,000 but government appears to be in a big mess because it doesn’t have that amount in the budget. It was further gathered that with N150 billion, some agencies of government such as the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, will not have money to pay salaries.

A competent source in one of the ministries told Vanguard that serving members of the NYSC are supposed to be paid the N30,000 new minimum wage and additional ten percent of the N30,000, which makes it N33,000 monthly.

The source further said that with the present budgetary allocation, the corps members may not be part of it. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source told Vanguard that it was expected that adequate budgetary provision should be made, taking cognizance the relevance of workers in all the agencies and parastatals that are expected to benefit from the new salary payment.

“We had expected that the economic team of the federal government should make adequate budgetary provision for the payment of the new wage. In fact, what is required is between N250 billion and N300 billion. “As it stands now, the budget of about N150 billion will not take care of the new salary payment.

Even the NYSC members are not captured in the new payment. The corps members are supposed to be paid the N30,000 plus ten percent of the amount which makes the total package N33,000 per month.”

“I don’t know what was the intention of the economic team when they were making budget. It is not that the money is not there.

If nothing is done to make up the shortfalls, it is going to create another crisis between labour and government. “I am quite sure that organized labour will not accept anything less than the newly approved amount and will not listen to excuses from government,” the source said.

Attempts made to get the government’s position on the matter did not yield any results as the Director of Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze, neither picked calls to his GSM lines nor replied the text message sent to him. Recall that President Buhari had, while hosting the leadership of organized labour, led by the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, that paid him a congratulatory visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja after he was declared winner of the February 23 election, called for cooperation from the labour unions.

While recalling the negotiations that led to the approval of the N30,000 minimum wage, he said he had to ask the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, to remind the workers what his administration met on ground and what it’s been able to achieve with minimal resources.

President Buhari had said: “During your negotiation with the minister of labour and when he briefed us in council on N30,000 minimum wage. I gave an analogy of a mad woman, who went to fetch firewood but then she realized it was to heavy for her to carry, instead of reducing it, she added more. “I said we are struggling to survive as a nation.

You (workers) knew what this country was earning between 2009 and 2015, you knew the state of infrastructure when we came in, God gave them 16 years of unprecedented earnings. Multiply 2.1 million by $100 by 16 years. I don’t think the PDP has been been able to successfully explain to Nigerians what they did with that money.

“Most of you are unanswerable to Nigerians, I appealed to you through our mutual friend, the minister of labour, to tell you where we found the country, where we are, and what we have been able to do with the resources available to us.

“We cannot succeed without your cooperation. I appreciate the pressure you are under from your respective constituencies, most especially if you have to submit yourself for elections, you have to prove to your members that you are with them rather than with the government and we understand.”

DELTA COURT SACKS OMO-AGEGE, GREAT OGBORU , UDUAGHAN

The Federal High Court sitting in Asaba today sacked the Jones Erue-led executive committee of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Delta State. 

In its two-hour judgment, the court, presided over by Justice Toyin Adegoke upheld the Cyril Ogodo-led Delta APC faction in the state, declaring the executives as duly elected.

Justice Adegoke further held that all actions purportedly taken by the Erue-led executives were null and void, thereby nullifying the candidacy of the candidates who emerged from the primaries conducted by the Erue-led executives.

According to Rowland Ekpe, the counsel to the Cyril Ogodo exco, the re-election of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, representing Delta Central and other candidates in the just-concluded elections, is now null and void following the judgment since they all emerged from the primaries conducted by the Erue-led executives.

“The Primaries conducted by Mefor Progress, those names are the authentic names,”Mr Ekpe stressed.

Other candidates affected by the judgment include the state governorship candidate, Great Ogboru, and the senatorial candidate for Delta South Senatorial District and immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, among others.

Meanwhile, Mr Okubo Nwachukwu, counsel to the Erue-led executives said they would review the court’s judgment, noting that they would appeal the verdict passed by Justice Toyin Adegoke.

“We will look at the judgment, and see what we are going to do, but hopefully we are going to appeal against the judgment. I am very certain that the appeal will be favourable,” Mr Nwachukwu stated.

Source: https://www.channelstv.com/2019/03/18/2019-elections-court-nullifies-omo-agege-others-candidacy/

DUFIL PRIMA FOODS PLC CURRENT JOB

Dufil Prima Foods Plc – Over the past 17 years in the Nigerian market, Dufil Group has had a remarkable impact on the Nigerian culinary Landscape.

Their Product, Indomie Instant Noodles which appeals to several demographic groups has grown to become a household name across the country.

Dufil Prima Foods Plc was incorporated in 2001 as a private limited liability company at Choba, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Upon completion of a restructuring exercise the company was converted to Public limited company and became the holding company of the group in year 2008. 

The existence of the facility arises due to the growing demand for the product from the consumers of the region and the nation.

The objective is to provide fresh and quality product to the consumers. We are in need of young graduates to join our Graduate Management Trainee scheme in the position below:

Job Title: Sales Partner – Graduate Management Trainee

Location: Nationwide

Job Delivery:

• Responsible for meeting targets set for the products assigned to him/her,

• Responsible for maintaining a healthy relationship with distributors and addressing distributors’ service issues,

• Responsible for creating new customers,

• Responsible for leading a team of secondary sales force and ensuring they are motivated to meet the targets,

• Responsible for tracking competition activities,

• Responsible for giving feedback to the marketing team to ensure a smooth sales performance.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum of BSc/Btech First Class in Marketing; Mass Communication; Social Sciences (Business Administration, Economics, Sociology, etc); Information & Media Studies;

Not more than 26 years old as at December 31st 2019.

Must have completed NYSC by March 2019.

Experience: not necessary

Scope: Must be ready to work in any part of the Country after the scheme.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Application Deadline: 25th March, 2019.

INEC MAKES FINAL DECISION ON RIVERS GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will continue with collation of results in Rivers State

INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi said this on Channels TV on Sunday night

Osaze-Uzzi explained that the commission will conclude the collation exercise in Rivers because it was not declared inconclusive.

Recall that collation of Rivers results was suspended by INEC due to alleged electoral malpractices and violence.

The INEC spokesman further added that the Collation Officer for Bauchi was replaced because of the threats to her life and that of her family.

“In case of Rivers, the commission will conclude the collation exercise there because it was not declared inconclusive.

“Initially, we had penciled Bauchi down as one of the states for which there will be supplementary election, but as I speak now, quite honestly, we are not sure of that.

“The commission will on Tuesday appoint a new collation officer who will go back and conclude the collation for areas affected in the state

“Also if it is found out that there are no sufficient votes and there is need for a supplementary election, then one (an election) will be conducted.”

SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL INVESTIGATION PANEL (SPIP) DISOBEYS OSIBANJO'S DIRECTIVE, SAYS HE CAN'T ORDER THEM

SPECIAL REPORT: Presidential panel repeatedly disobeys Osinbajo’s directives

For over a year, the Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), Okoi Obono-Obla, has continued to run the panel in contravention of multiple presidential orders, PREMIUM TIMES can report.
At least three letters were, within this period, dispatched to the anti-corruption boss to either soft-pedal in what was perceived as excessive use of authority or stop all the activities of the panel.

The first letter from the office of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, in 2017, instructed Mr Obono-Obla to stop carrying out activities until President Muhammadu Buhari instructs otherwise. The letter reminded him of the provisions of Section (1) 1 of the recovery of Public Properties Act from which the panel derives its power.
The letter quotes the section to state that the president may constitute a panel for the purpose of conducting ‘an investigation into any matter with which (an) officer has been concerned in the performance of his duties or…into assets of any such public officer.’
From the same office, another letter was issued to Mr Obono-Obla one month after, stating his confines as SPIP boss.

This was followed by a series of other cautionary letters. But despite these, Mr Obono-Obla has continued to carry out his duties in violation of his statutory mandate and in disregard to warnings.

The warning letters

The SPIP was set up in August 2017 by the then Acting President, Mr Osinbajo. The panel led by the Special Adviser to the President on Anti-corruption, Mr Obono-Obla as chairman, has three other members and a secretary.
The Act setting it up makes provisions for the investigation of the asset of any public officer who is alleged to have been engaged in corrupt practices, unjust enrichment and abuse of office, or anyone who breaches the Code of Conduct for Public Officers in the country
However, just two months into its establishment, the panel was deemed to have derailed and hence, was cautioned.
On October 20, 2017, Ade Ipaye, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, wrote the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, through the office of the Vice President.

The AGF was directed to ‘please inform Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, in strict compliance with Section (1) 1 of the recovery of Public Properties Act, he should refrain from carrying out any activities as Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), Until his Excellency, the Vice President so instructs.’

“As envisaged by this section, it is for the President to specify the purpose or mandate of the panel. It, therefore, came as a surprise that Chief Okoi Obono-Obla had issued notices to several judges to declare their assets without receiving any specific mandate in that regard,” the letter further reads.
Apparently, due to a disregard of the first letter, the Vice President wrote the AGF again as a reminder on November 17, 2017. The reminder came with specifics.
The VP asked the panel to remove ‘Presidency’ from its letterhead and remain ‘Special Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property,’ as provided by its enabling statute and not ‘Special Presidential Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property.’

The letter also directed the SPIP boss to refer all cases of asset recovery to the AGF after investigation, adhere to the approved budget and due process in its dealings and warned that the panel ‘cannot arrest and detain suspects, but must refer them to relevant law enforcement agencies when necessary.’
In addition to these, the presidency expects the panel to regularly give updates of its activities and recoveries.
Mr Obono-Obla replied the first in a letter addressed to the vice president on November 10, 2017, wherein he stated that none of his actions was intended to disrespect the vice president’s authority.

“I also understand and align with your directives that the panel can only act on a written mandate received from the Presidency, and will seek authorisation from the presidency to undertake fresh mandates in accordance with extant laws of the federation,” the letter reads.
But despite his reply, PREMIUM TIMES’ sources say the SPIP boss continues to run the panel without recourse to the presidency.

This development forced the AGF to again write the vice president. The letter dated March 16, 2018, noted that Mr Obob-Obla was still operating in contravention of the vice president’s orders. The AGF said his office had received at least five petitions against him.

Issues raised in the petitions were part of the activities the panel carried out without taking directives from the Presidency, even after warnings.
The Vice President’s office responded by directing the AGF to request Mr Obono-Obla to respond to the issues raised in the petition, explain why he disobeyed the vice president’s order and submit a detailed report of activities of the panel since inception.

Suspension of all activities

Following complaints of unauthorised activities of the panel, Mr Obono-Obla in a January 25, 2019 letter was asked to suspend all activities of the panel until further directives.

The letter, a copy of which was seen by PREMIUM TIMES, made references to earlier ones informing Mr Obono-Obla of his excesses and consequent warnings.
“Despite the foregoing, the office of the Vice President has been inundated with complaints from various sources, including members of the panel, regarding allegations of unauthorised and illegal activities of the Special Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property,” the letter signed by Ade Ipaye reads.

“In consideration of the forgoing, I am directed by His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, to instruct you to immediately cease all activities, pending an ongoing review of the SIP mandate and further directives of His Excellency.” Despite the clear directives of the letter, however, Mr Obono-Obla has continued to carry out activities of the panel.

Breach of directive

Despite the January letter conveying a direct order to Mr Obono-Obla to seize all activities, the SPIP boss has continued to run the affairs of the panel.
Sources privy to these activities told PREMIUM TIMES that the SPIP has been functioning as of before.
“He has continued to investigate unmandated cases,” a source who does not want to be named told this newspaper. “He has continued to give instructions as if nothing happened, as if there was no directive. Recently, he sent some operatives outside Abuja to seize some properties.”

Apart from ignoring the vice president’s directives, Mr Obono-Obla has continued to work without recourse to superior authorities, another source said.
“For instance, if there is a case of litigation, the panel is supposed to seek guidance from the AGF but he doesn’t do that before acting,”

Multiple sources who have related with the panel also confirmed that the panel still uses a letterhead bearing ‘presidential’ as part of its name.
“It’s an investigative body. You can even investigate the president himself. So, the name is not supposed to bear presidential, any action taken will appear as if the president is going after someone,” the source said.

Sidelines other panel members

Apart from ignoring repeated presidential directives, Mr Obono-Obla has also side-lined the three other members of the panel while delegating their duties to his trusted assistants, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.
Rather than call for panel meetings to deliberate on issues before taking actions, as expected by law, sources close to the panel confirmed that Mr Obono-Obla runs teh place like a sole-adminitrator without consulting other panel members.

One source said other members of the panel have complained to the AGF’s office and to the presidency, out of frustration. This much was confirmed by Mr Osinbajo who stated in his letter to Mr Obla that his office has “been inundated with complaints from various sources, including members of the panel…”
When PREMIUM TIMES contacted two other members of the panel, they declined to comment on this report.

Proceeding Despite Directive To Stop Work

Despite the January directive, Mr Obono-Obla has continued the panel’s operations. The panel has continued with the prosecution of Adedayo Thomas, executive director of the National Film and Video Censor Board (NFVCB), who was arrested for allegedly stealing a multi-million naira generator set. He has been granted bail.
Mr Thomas was arrested after SPIP recovered a Turban generating set in Lagos on November 13, from where he allegedly sold it.
Apart from this, the panel has continued its legal battle with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials over an allegation of mass corruption in the country’s football house.

Obono-Obla speaks

Mr Obono-Obla justified his actions when contacted on the myriads of allegations against him. The SPIP boss said he would not comment on his response to petitions against him and requested for a copy of the petition from the AGF for him to respond to the alleged breach of the Vice President’s directive.

“I will not like to talk to the media about this. These are official issues,” he said.
He confirmed that the panel still uses letter head bearing ‘presidential’ but justified it on the mode of communication on the change.

“I didn’t appoint myself, my letter of appointment read ‘special presidential…’ and it was signed by the Acting SGF who was responsible for those things and I have not gotten a letter from the SGF office saying that we should remove ‘presidential’ from the panel’s name. I’m relying on my letter of appointment.”
Mr Obono-Obla also suggested that he was not bound by the the vice president’s directive but only by that of the president.

“The panel was appointed by the president and the panel reports to Mr President. I’m not aware of those communications (to cease activities). Otherwise, the letter should be written by the chief of staff to the president.

:If you look at the law, it (the panel) was appointed by the president and the panel is supposed to be reporting to the president by virtue of the law. I’m not aware of those communications,” he said.

VP’office, AGF not responsive

Both offices of the Vice President and the AGF did not respond to inquiries by PREMIUM TIMES.

Laolu Akande, the media aide to the Vice President did not respond to questions.
Telephone line of Salihu Isah, the media aide to Mr Malami, was not reachable as at the time of filing this report.

Source:
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/320737-special-report-presidential-panel-repeatedly-disobeys-osinbajos-directives.html