News
Property recovery: Reps summon Malami, Obono-Obla, others


The House of Representatives on Thursday summoned the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Malam Abubakar Malami, to appear before it on Tuesday.
Also summoned are the Chairman of Presidential Panel on Recovery of Public Properties, Mr Okoi Obono-Obla and members of the committee as well as the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris.
The list also includes Office of the Vice president, Office of Secretary to Government of the Federation (OSGF), Office of Head of Service of the Federation (OHSF), Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) and Auditor-General of the Federation.
Others are representatives of the Ministry of Finance, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Budget Office of the Federation and Nigeria Bar Association (NBA).
Rep. Aliyu Ahman-Pategi, Chairman of the House’s Ad hoc Committee Investigating the Modus Operandi of the Special Presidential Investigative Panel, who issued the summon, warned that the invited persons must appear in person.
The warning stemmed from the “disrespect’’ by most of the invited persons, who were absent or sent representatives at the committee’s session on Thursday, forcing it to adjourn until Tuesday.
Addressing Obono-Obla’s representatives on the absence of their principal, Ahman-Pategi said “we will not take that arrogance here.
“Even if a situation warrants our inviting President Muhammadu Buhari, we will do it. I will read Section 88 of the Constitution, which gives us the powers to do what we are doing.
“We are worried about the level of ineptitude and incompetence exhibited by government appointees and functionaries.
“This should be the last time heads of MDAs are invited here and they fail to appear. If anybody fails to honour our invitation next Tuesday at 10 a.m., we will wield the big stick.”
The committee insisted that it would not take brief from a representative of Panel’s chairman and other invited government agencies at the hearing.
The members threatened to invoke the provisions of Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution if the invitees shunned the next sitting.
The House had in March, mandated the ad hoc committee to probe the activities of the Special Investigation Panel.
This followed a resolution on the constitutionality and otherwise of the presidential panel.
Consequently, the committee, in a letter dated March 28, 2018 and referenced NASS/8HR/DCD/016180/001, requested the chairman of the panel to submit the list, curriculum vitae and certificates of the members.
The committee also demanded for documents showing “the annual budgetary provisions for the panel since inception, list of investigations carried out from inception to date and list of all the seizures carried out from inception till date.
The documents were also requested to indicate locations and names of persons from whom the seizures were made, details of bank accounts and details of income and expenditure since inception.
Declaring the investigative hearing open earlier, Speaker of the House, Mr Yakubu Dogara, said that the legislature had the constitutional responsibility to ensure that there was good governance, law and order in the country.
Represented by Deputy Minority Whip, Rep. Binta Maigari, the speaker noted that the imperatives of the fight against corruption and doing things right in line with international best practices were necessary.
He added that the 1999 Constitution had vested the power of investigation of corruption on the National Assembly.
He expressed reservations on the constitution of the presidential panel, adding that the House’s ad hoc committee was not to witch-hunt anybody but to enthrone accountability and good governance.
Members of the ad hoc committee are Rep. Toby Okechukwu (Enugu-PDP) and Rep. Kingsley Chinda (Rivers-PDP). (NAN)


Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has congratulated Christians in Nigeria on this year’s Easter celebration, and urged them to emulate the noble qualities of Jesus Christ.
The company, in a goodwill message to the Christian faithful in the country, lauded their perseverance through the Lenten period which preceded Easter. It enjoined them to always promote the ideals of selflessness, love and peace among all as a way of demonstrating the virtues of the exemplary life of Jesus Christ.
“Peace, love and sacrifice are the central message of Easter. Christ offered himself in atonement for the sins of the world and he lived a life which made Him an eternal symbol of peace and goodwill for mankind”, Globacom added.
The company enjoined all Nigerians to share in the lessons of promoting selflessness, a necessary ingredient in the growth and development of every society. It also enjoined all Nigerians to join hands to make Nigeria a better place for all.
Easter is celebrated yearly at the end of the Lenten season of fasting and prayer considered as a ritual of purification for the Christian faithful. It also precedes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday and His eventual resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The company assured its customers of seamless voice, data and Short Messaging Service (SMS) during and after the Easter celebrations, while urging them to avail themselves of the various data and voice offerings on the network.


The Guild of Private Broadcast Managers has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as it celebrates its 70th Anniversary.
In a congratulatory message signed by the Guild’s National President, Ambassador Patrick Uzoyi-Peters, JP MNGRM, the guild described the milestone as a testament to the NUJ’s unwavering commitment to upholding press freedom, journalistic integrity, and the advancement of democracy in Nigeria.
“For seven decades, the NUJ has played a pivotal role in shaping the media landscape, advocating for the rights and welfare of journalists, and ensuring that the voice of the people remains strong and unyielding. Your resilience, professionalism, and dedication to ethical journalism have been instrumental in fostering transparency, accountability, and national development”.
Celebrating this historic achievement, the Guild’s President, Uzoyi-Peters recognized the sacrifices and contributions of journalists across the nation who work tirelessly to inform, educate, and empower society.
The Guild reiterated it commitment towards collaborating with the NUJ in promoting responsible journalism and strengthening the media industry for the greater good.
While wishing the NUJ continued success, growth, and greater impact in the years ahead, President Uzoyi-Peters prayed that the anniversary serve as a renewed call to uphold the principles of truth, fairness, and press freedom in our collective pursuit of a more informed and just society.
News
Family Marks one-year Memorial of Late APC Chieftain, Ojougboh with Charity Outreach
By Ikenna Oluka


The family of the late chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, led by his wife, Mrs. Bose Ojougboh, marked his one-year memorial anniversary with a series of charitable initiatives aimed at honoring his legacy of philanthropy and service to society.
The memorial activities included the donation of school books and bags to pupils of Erigbe Primary School, in Agbor within the Ika South Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State, where Dr. Ojougboh had received his early education.
The outreach also included extension of financial assistance to patients at Central Hospital, Agbor, and the provision of toiletries, cash, and food items to children at the Salve Regina Children’s Home, Agbor.
The outreach was carried out under the ‘Dr. Cairo Ojougboh Foundation’, a family-led initiative established to immortalise him and continue his lifelong commitment to education, healthcare, and social welfare.
Speaking during the event which took place recently, Mrs. Ojougboh reaffirmed the family’s dedication to sustaining the ideals of the late APC chieftain, describing him as a man who strongly believed in education and giving back to society.
“We are here to celebrate the life of my husband, Late Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, who passed on a year ago. In his honour, we decided to give back to society. He was a man who valued education and was always willing to help others. It is only fitting that we continue his legacy through acts of generosity,” she stated.
Honouring his passion for education
The first visit was to Erigbe Primary School, where Dr. Ojougboh had received his early education. The Foundation distributed school bags, writing materials, and food packs to the pupils. The family encouraged the pupils to take their education seriously and strive to become responsible citizens.
Supporting patients at Central Hospital, Agbor
At Central Hospital, Agbor, Mrs. Ojougboh and her entourage moved through the medical wards, offering financial support to patients to assist with their treatment costs. The hospital staff and beneficiaries responded with prayers and words of gratitude for the kind gesture.
Reaching out to orphaned children
The outreach team also visited Salve Regina Children’s Home in Agbor where they donated cash, food items, and toiletries to the children.


The Matron of the home expressed her deep appreciation to the Ojougboh family, commending their commitment to sustaining the late politician’s legacy of compassion and social impact.
Dr. Cairo Ojougboh’s enduring legacy
Reflecting on her late husband’s contributions to society, Mrs. Ojougboh emphasised that his legacy of generosity and service to humanity would not be forgotten.
“Dr. Cairo was a selfless man who touched many lives. His contributions to the Nigerian political landscape, his mark in Agbor Kingdom, Delta State, and the country at large, will always be remembered. He may be gone, but his impact will continue to be felt for generations,” she said.
The Dr. Cairo Ojougboh Foundation has pledged to continue supporting education, healthcare, and social welfare initiatives in his memory, ensuring that his vision for a better society lives on.
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