President Muhammadu Buhari sends condolences to family, friends and professional associates of founder and Executive Chairman of Complete Communications Ltd, Dr Emmanuel Sunny Ojeagbase, whose vision and diligence transformed sports reporting and inspired a generation of media entrepreneurs.
President Buhari commiserates with his wife and longtime business partner, Pastor (Mrs) Esther Ojeagbase, who worked with her husband in publishing, ministry and charity, bringing out many titles which include Complete Football magazine, Complete Football International (CFI), International Soccer Review (ISR) and Success Digest.
The President affirms that Ojeagbase, who worked for the Daily Times, Concord newspapers and The Guardian, before pioneering sports news publication in Nigeria, 1984, was also a teacher and preacher of the Word of God, and he lived by the tenets of the Holy Bible, greatly motivating others to grow spiritually and apply the principles of honesty, fairness and integrity in business.
President Buhari prays that Almighty God will remember the good works of the media entrepreneur and philanthropist and grant his soul eternal rest.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
February 28, 2022
Gov. Ugwuanyi invites Enugu State leaders of Tricycle, Tipper, Motorcyle unions to a security meeting on Tuesday
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has invited the state leaderships of Association of Tricycle Riders Transport Union (ATRTU), Tipper Union and the Nkanu East and Nkanu West Local Government Area branches of Motorcycle Transport Union to a security meeting on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.
A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information, Steve Oruruo, disclosed that the meeting will hold at the Government House, Enugu, at 2:45pm.
The statement stressed that “All invitees to this meeting are expected to be seated by 2:45pm on Tuesday, the 1st of March, 2022 at the Government House, Enugu”.
Full text of the statement reads:
“The leaderships of the following Associations are hereby invited to a security meeting with His Excellency, the Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Tuesday, 1st March 2022, at Government House, Enugu.
“Association of Tricycle Riders Transport Union (ATRTU) Enugu State.
“Enugu State Tipper Union.
“Motorcycle Transport Union of Enugu State: Nkanu East and Nkanu West Local Government Branches.
“All invitees to this meeting are expected to be seated by 2:45pm on Tuesday, the 1st of March, 2022, at the Government House, Enugu.
“Steve Oruruo
Special Adviser to the Governor on Information”.
SERAP sues Buhari over ‘failure to probe alleged misuse of security votes by governors’
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Muhammadu Buhari “over the failure to promptly and thoroughly probe allegations of systemic mismanagement of security votes by state governors since 1999, and to ensure the prosecution of those suspected to be responsible.”
The suit followed Buhari’s 2022 New Year Message in which he raised concerns about “the persistent insecurity in certain parts of the country,” and his promise in his 2015 inaugural speech to “check gross corruption and ensure that there is accountability at all levels of government in the country.”
In the suit number FHC/L/CS/189/2022 filed last week at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to compel President Buhari to direct Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to probe allegations of systemic mismanagement of security votes by state governors since 1999.”
SERAP is also seeking “an order of mandamus to compel President Buhari to direct Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN to prosecute anyone suspected to be responsible, as appropriate; if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and to recover any mismanaged public funds.”
In the suit, SERAP is arguing that, “Compelling the Federal Government to probe the spending of security votes since 1999 would ensure accountability, and improve the ability of the government to deliver on the promises to ensure the security of Nigerians, and to keep them safe.”
SERAP is also arguing that, “It is in the interest of justice to grant this application. Ending impunity for allegations of corruption in the spending of security votes and recovering any mismanaged public funds are matters of public interest.”
SERAP is arguing that, “the responsibility to guarantee and ensure the security and welfare of the Nigerian people is interlinked with the responsibility under Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999 [as amended] to ‘abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of office.’ This imposes a fundamental obligation to ensure accountability for the spending of security votes by state governors.”
According to SERAP, “The government has the primary and constitutional responsibility to protect the lives and property of the Nigerian people. Section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution provides that ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government’.”
SERAP is further arguing that, “Pervasive tendency by public officers since 1999 to regard or treat security votes given to them for security of the state as their personal entitlement or funds is antithetical to the Nigerian Constitution and international standards.”
According to SERAP, “Security votes should be used for improving the security situation in the states or returned to the public treasury.”
Joined in the suit as Respondent is Mr Malami.
The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms Joke Fekumo, read in part: “Longstanding allegations of mismanagement of security votes have hugely contributed to the growing insecurity in the country, and the failure to ensure the security and welfare of Nigerians.”
“As revealed by a recent report by Transparency International (TI), most of the funds appropriated as security votes are spent on political activities, mismanaged or simply stolen. It is estimated that security votes add up to over N241.2 billion every year.”
“On top of appropriated security votes, state governments also receive millions of dollars yearly as international security assistance.
“Articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention against Corruption impose legal obligations on the government to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds, and to promote sound and transparent administration of public affairs.”
“While sitting state governors may enjoy immunity from arrest and prosecution, they do not enjoy immunity from investigation. Any allegations of mismanagement of security votes against sitting governors can and should be investigated pending the time they leave office and lose immunity.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
Kolawole Oluwadare
SERAP Deputy Director
27/2/2022
Lagos, Nigeria
Emails: info@serap-nigeria.org; news@serap-nigeria.org
Twitter: @SERAPNigeria
Website: www.serap-nigeria.org
For more information or to request an interview, please contact us on: +2348160537202
