Connect with us

News

Corruption: Buhari Suspends NBC DG, Kawu

Published

on

The Presidency has suspended the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Mallam Ishaq Modibbo Kawu.

Sources in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation said Modibbo reportedly got the suspension letter during the week but had been battling to have it reversed.

“I have confirmed from the relevant department, it is true that the DG of NBC, Mallam Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, was ordered to be suspended by the President (Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) following series of petitions and allegations against him,” a source in the SGF office stated.

Yet, another source said he was asked to “step aside” following investigation of the petitions against him.

The suspension came many months after an ongoing prosecution of Kawu by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other-Related Offences Commission for alleged corruption.

Consequently, the Director (Broadcast Monitoring), Armstrong Idachaba, was said to have been directed to act pending the outcome of the case.

When Saturday PUNCH visited the NBC on Friday, the issue was being discussed in hushed tones among staff members.

But when contacted, the spokesperson for NBC, Ekanem Antia, told our correspondent that he would not speak on the issue as according to him, he did not have details of the allegation.

“I am not aware (of it), as we speak now. I don’t have any document on my table to confirm (it). But we will issue a statement if at all it is true. The office is still working; we are all in the office. Everybody is in their department,” he said.

Several calls later put across to him didn’t go through as his telephone line indicated that it was switched off.

Last year, a civil rights organisation under the aegis of Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance, said it had made a fresh discovery of 16 illegal slots of radio licences approved by the NBC DG.

The organisation had alleged that while six slots were for his private company, Word, Sound and Vision Multimedia Limited, another 10 were approved for companies which did not apply or were not on the list approved by Buhari.

The chairman of CACOBAG, Alhaji Toyin Raheem, who raised the issue in a statement issued in Abuja, claimed that a former SGF was one of the 10 beneficiaries of the radio licences recently doled out by NBC.

The CSO asked the Presidency to direct anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and ICPC to investigate its findings.

But Antia had said the allegations were not new as the same group had petitioned ICPC.

The ICPC had urged the Federal Government to suspend Kawu and 32 other public officers/civil servants undergoing corruption trial at the time.

The commission had arraigned Kawu and two others, Dipo Onifade and Lucky Omoluwa, on alleged N2.5bn fraud.

They are being prosecuted on 12 counts for allegedly conspiring with one another to use the position of Kawu to confer a corrupt advantage on Omoluwa, his friend and associate, for which they pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.

The anti-graft agency also charged Kawu for allegedly deceiving Mohammed to sign the deal.

The embattled NBC boss allegedly asked Mohammed to approve payment of N2.5bn to Pinnacle Communications Limited owned by Omoluwa as “Seed Grant” under the Digital Switch-Over Programme of the Federal Government.

The suspended DG has however denied the allegations.

The Punch

Continue Reading
Advertisement


Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Okuama Massacre: Military Declares Eight Persons Wanted

Published

on

The Defence Headquarters has declared eight persons wanted over their roles in the recent killing of 17 military personnel in Delta State.

The military released the list on Thursday at a briefing in Abuja.

Those declared wanted are Prof. Ekpekpo Arthur, Andaowei Dennis Bakriri, Akevwru Daniel Omotegbo (Aka Amagben), Akata Malawa David, Sinclear Oliki, Clement Ikolo Oghenerukeywe, Reuben Baru, and Igoli Ebi.

During the briefing, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, called on Nigerians especially residents of Delta and adjoining states to assist the military with credible information that would lead to the arrest of eight persons allegedly responsible for the killing of seventeen soldiers in Okuama community in Delta State.

General Buba says the military remains determined to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous act in Delta State, reaffirming its commitment to rescue all kidnapped and abducted victims in Nigeria.

Continue Reading

News

Army Buries 17 Personnel Killed in Okuama Community

Published

on

The 17 military personnel killed in Okuama community in Delta on March 14 have been laid to rest.

The corpses of the soldiers, which arrived at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja at about 2:26 pm on Wednesday, were committed to mother death after burial rites were observed.

President Bola Tinubu, Service Chiefs and other dignitaries were in attendance at the burial ceremony.

DAILY POST recalls that the troops of 181 Amphibious Batallion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, while on a peace mission to Okuoma Community were ambushed and killed by some irate youths.

The incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call following a communal crisis between Okuoma and Okoloba communities in Delta State.

The personnel comprised one Lieutenant Colonel, two Majors, one Captain and 13 soldiers.

The officers are Commanding Officer 181 Amphibious Battalion, Lt. Col. A.H Ali; Maj S.D Shafa (N/13976); Maj D.E Obi (N/14395) and Capt U Zakari (N/16348).

The soldiers are SSgt Yahaya Saidu (#3NA/36/2974); Cpl Yahaya Danbaba (1ONA/65/7274); Cpl Kabiru Bashir (11NA/66/9853); LCpl Bulus Haruna (16NA/TS/5844); LCpl Sola Opeyemi (17NA/760719); and LCpl Bello Anas (17NA/76/290).

They also include LCpl Hamman Peter (NA/T82653); LCpl Ibrahim Abdullahi (18NA/77/1191); Pte Alhaji Isah (17NA/76/6079); Pte Clement Francis (19NA/78/0911); Pte Abubakar Ali (19NA/78/2162); Pte Ibrahim Adamu (19NA/78/6079) and Pte Adamu Ibrahim (21NA/80/4795).

DailyPost

Continue Reading

News

FrieslandCampina Unveils Value4Dairy Consortium, Targets 50,000 Milk Producers

Published

on

FrieslandCampina WAMCO, makers of fine quality dairy products, has, in a bid to ensure a transformative journey in the Nigerian dairy sector, inaugurated the latest Value4Dairy Consortium project. The project is aimed at discovering 50,000 milk producers from three regions of the country.

Held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Oyo State, on March 19, 2024, the event signals a significant leap forward for Nigeria’s dairy industry.

Co-funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this project represents a substantial investment in Nigeria’s dairy sector. It aims to boost small-scale milk production and promote sustainability across three dairy zones in Oyo, Osun, and Abuja. The inauguration ceremony brought together government officials, industry leaders, farmers, and key stakeholders to celebrate this groundbreaking initiative.

These self-sustaining dairy zones will not only facilitate milk aggregation but also provide essential resources and training to enhance productivity sustainably. Led by FrieslandCampina WAMCO, the Consortium will leverage cutting-edge advancements in feed, breeding, and sustainable farming practices to uplift local farmers and drive economic prosperity across the sector. Through strategic interventions, the Consortium aims to empower 10,000 pastoralists and smallholders initially, with plans for expansion to include 40,000 milk producers in subsequent years.

The project’s impact transcends mere dairy production, encompassing broader societal benefits such as improved food security, heightened nutrition, and reduced conflicts between herders and farmers. Embracing a gender-intentional approach, the programme also includes dedicated initiatives to empower women and foster inclusive growth.

At the Inauguration Ceremony, Mrs. Winnie Lai-Solarin, Director of Animal Husbandry Services at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, delivered a compelling address on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari. In her speech, Mrs. Lai-Solarin emphasized the profound significance of the Value4Dairy Consortium project in Nigeria’s agricultural landscape.

Highlighting the project’s potential to enhance food security and uplift rural communities, Mrs. Lai-Solarin commended FrieslandCampina WAMCO for its dedication to driving progress within the Dairy Value Chain. She underscored the company’s commitment to implementing impactful programs aimed at accelerating development and fostering sustainability in the sector.

Mr. Roger Adou, Managing Director of FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are immensely proud to embark on this transformative journey, expanding our dairy development footprints in Nigeria. Through collaborative efforts and innovative strategies with our Value4Dairy partners, we are unwavering in our commitment to driving economic prosperity and empowering communities nationwide.”

Launched in April 2021, the Value4Dairy Consortium is a collaboration of four strategic partners with expertise in various agri-related value chains: FrieslandCampina WAMCO (a subsidiary of FrieslandCampina and Nigeria’s leading dairy company); URUS (a global leader in artificial insemination, genetics, and herd management systems), Barenbrug (a leading grass and forage seed company), and Agrifirm (a global company that operates in the animal nutrition and crop farming business).

Through various initiatives, including the Value4Dairy Consortium and the Center for Nigeria Dutch Dairy Development (CNDDD), as well as partnerships with academic institutions, FrieslandCampina WAMCO is actively engaged in shaping the future of dairy development in Nigeria.

Continue Reading