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Again, Three soldiers killed by bandits in Niger community

Published

3 years ago

May 19, 2021

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Three soldiers have lost their lives in the fight against armed bandits and other criminal activities in the Magama Local Government Area of Niger State.

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello stated this in a state broadcast at the Government House, Minna, shortly after the meeting held with the heads of security agencies from the state and some relevant and key stakeholders with the view to get an update on the security situation within the state.

According to the governor, “three soldiers were unfortunately killed in Magama Local Government by bandits but I can assure you that those bandits at the moment are being trailed by our security agencies and by God’s grace, they will be apprehended, while some of the bandits were killed by soldiers and two of their bodies were recovered so far. But there has not been any arrest yet. We should however hope that in the next few days or hours we should be able to see some arrests.”

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Governor Bello assured that the state government will support both the Federal Government and the State security agencies, saying “we are up to the challenges” while highlighting that very soon the state government and the security agencies will come to a final solution to the security challenges bedevilling the state.

While conceding that the state was still confronted by some security challenges as Nigerlites were aware that some communities were still under a security threat, adding that the security agencies were doing their best to control the challenges.

“At the moment, I will like to commend our Service Chiefs at the federal level and the heads of security agencies, who are our Service Chiefs at the state level. I want to specifically thank the security agencies for a job well done so far,” he said.

Governor Bello said “very soon we will address some of these issues. I don’t want to say much for now because we have some security operatives on the ground at the moment but we still have some areas where we still have to look at and they are being looked at present.”

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He explained that the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from about more than 25 communities have been returning and being transported back to their communities while normalcy was gradually being restored to those areas in Shroro: Galkogo, Shaku, Bofa, Makera Chukuba, Galadimakogo and Erena.

“Also in Munya, you have Mangoro, Kuchi, Lape, Bada, Zanzzaga, Guni, Fuka, Gini and Dandaodu respectively while in Mariga LGA, you have Shadagi, Kakivun, Fara Toka, Shaga, Garguzo, Indago, Dusai and Gulvivoka among others,” he said.

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JUST IN: Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as chairman of education loan fund

Published

2 hours ago

April 26, 2024

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President Bola Tinubu has appointed Jim Ovia as the chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, announced the appointment of Ovia, chairman of Zenith Bank, in a statement on Friday.

More to follow…

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ICPC detains TETFund boss ‘over questionable N7.6bn project’

Published

6 hours ago

April 26, 2024

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has detained Sonny Echono, executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

Demola Bakare, ICPC spokesperson, confirmed the development on Friday.

Bakare said that Echono was invited by the anti-graft agency on Thursday.

“The executive secretary of TETFund is here with us. He has been invited for questioning. He is still in custody. He was invited yesterday.” Bakare said.

“He was invited on Thursday. He has not been released. He’s still with us. Investigation is still ongoing.”

It was earlier reported that TETfund awarded two contracts to Fides Et Ratio Academy and Pole Global Marketing (PGM) within two months at the cost of N3.8 billion respectively without the approval of the federal executive council (FEC), which is required for the contract size.

The contract was to provide capacity building course and learning management systems to about 2 million students across higher institutions in the country.

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In a rejoinder, TETFund said it did not award N7.6 billion contracts to two companies without due process.

The agency said it was wrong to say they were contracts, whereas they were ICT projects implemented under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which doesn’t require competitive bidding in public procurement.

TETFund further said its disbursement guidelines were approved by the president on the recommendation of the “Fund’s Board of Trustees and concurrence of the Honourable Minister of Education in line with the TETFund Act 2011″.

In an interview with TheCable, Echono said there was no form of irregularity in the N7.6 billion project.

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American school writes EFCC, seeks to refund $760k of Yahaya Bello’s children fees

Published

7 hours ago

April 26, 2024

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The American International School of Abuja (AISA) has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to provide “authentic banking details” for the refund of fees paid for the children of Yahaya Bello, immediate-past governor of Kogi state.

It will be recalled that Bello had àllegedly paid $720,000 in advance as fees for five of his children from the coffers of the Kogi state government.

The children are in grade level 2 to 8 at the school.

On April 17, EFCC operatives laid siege on Bello’s residence in Abuja in attempt to arrest him over an alleged N80.2 billion fraud.

While the operatives were at the house, Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, arrived at the property and reportedly whisked Bello away.

In a letter addressed to the Lagos zonal commander of the EFCC, the school said the sum of $845,852 has been paid in tuition “since the 7th of September 2021 to date”.

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AISA said the sum to be refunded is $760,910, because it had deducted educational services already rendered.

“Please forward to us an official written request, with the authentic banking details of the EFCC, for the refund of the above-mentioned funds as previously indicated as part of your investigation into the alleged money laundering activities by the Bello family,” the letter reads.

“Since the 7th September 2021 to date, $845,852.84 (Eight Hundred and Forty Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty Two US Dollars and eighty four cents) in tuition and other fees has been deposited into our Bank account.

“We have calculated the net amount to be transferred and refunded to the State, after deducting the educational services rendered as $760,910.84. (Seven Hundred and Sixty Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ten US Dollars and Eighty Four cents).

“No further additional fees are expected in respect of tuition as the students’ fees have now been settled until they graduate from ASIA.”

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The school said it will draw the attention of the anti-graft agency if there are any further deposits by the Bello family.

In a statement signed by Greg Hughes, AISA also said “Ali Bello contacted the school on Friday 13 August 2021 requesting to pay the family school fees in advance until the students graduate from High School”.

The EFCC has since declared Bello wanted, with the NIS placing the ex-governor on a wanted list.