NEWS
Scandal Rocks Cross River Basin Authority over Missing Tractor
From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
Cross River Basin Development Authority Calabar is engulfed in scandal over missing Tractor which has landed the Managing Director (MD), Bassey Nkposong in trouble.
The mysterious disappearance of MF 275 tractor belonging to the Basin Authority where it was parked, in the premises of the company sparked off trouble in 2023
A source which had been on the trail alleged that a component of the tractor had been recovered from the MD’s personal farm at Anyanganse farm in Akpabuyo local government area which is a few kilometers away from the state capital by a crack team of the Nigerian police who had been on the trail.
Investigating Police officer (IPO) Supol Edet Okoho told our reporter that Nkposong had been invited by detectives from Police Anti-robbery unit of the State Investigation Department (SCID) Calabar to answer questions on Tuesday on how N9m tractor mysteriously disappeared from the premises of Basin authority but declined further comments on the issue..
Findings revealed that the tractor was driven out from the premises of Basin Authority when two young men stormed the vehicle yard of Basin Authority on October 6, 2023, at about 6:00PM with 30 litres of diesel, tractor’s battery and authorization letter addressed to the Chief security of the Basin Authority.
The letter purported to have been issued by a high ranking officer in the organization, authorized the release of the tractor to the two strangers so that they can make the tractor available for physical inspection by external auditors, and thereafter be returned to Basin Authority the following day.
Apart from the authorization letter, the two young men also presented to the security supervisor tractor ignition keys that were supposed to be in the custody of the workers’ union chairman Joe Effiong or the MD Bassey Nkposong.
Country director for Rescue Support Initiative (RSI), Ayei Okpa, leading agitation for accountability and transparency in recovery of missing tractor expressed displeasure over an attempt by management of Basin Authority to victimize the principal Works Superintendent officer Mission Udo, even when the matter is already in court.
Ayei, who is also in charge of arraignment in court with the works officer, expressed shock that those at the top echelon of the parastatal cannot exonerate themselves regarding the missing tractor only to rope the works officer in suit No. MC/188C/2024 at the magistrate court presided by Chief Magistrate E.A Orim of being responsible for the theft of the missing tractor.
However a letter, reference No:CRB/AD/M.5/5/Vol XIII dated September 10, 2024 inviting the works superintendent to appear before a disciplinary committee set up by management of Basin Authority was jettisoned by the court, as that will amount to taking the law into their hands and as such declared the invitation null and void.
When contacted, on the issue, workers’ union chairman Cross River Basin authority, Joseph Etim Effiong for his input on the issue he said, “I can’t speak with a journalist on telephone unless you visit our office.
In his remarks, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Cross River State, Irene Ugbo said, “I will get back to you once I get input from Supol Edet Effiong who is the investigating police officer (IPO).
Managing director of Cross River Basin Authority CRBDA Bassey Nkposong, in a telephone conversation denied any wrongdoing saying that it’s the handwork of black mailers who were interested in pulling him down.
From Attah Ede Makurdi
The controversy trailing the truck of palliatives seized by Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia yesterday took another dimension as member House of Representative for Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency; Terséer Ugbor has engaged a team of lawyers to challenge the action of Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Benue State Government in court.
The legal team is expected to examine the accusations and consider taking appropriate action to safeguard the image of Ugbor in order to set the record straight in the court of law. Ugbor, who spoke with our correspondent through a WhatsApp chat, said he was suing the Alia for defamation of character even as he demanded N1bn as compensation.While attending the United Nations General Assembly in the USA, Ugbor learned that the governor had confiscated and handed over a truck load of relief materials to anti-graft agencies which he secured for his constituents from the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) for investigation by operatives of EFCC and ICPC.”While in the USA for the United Nations General Assembly at the invitation of the Presidency, I have learned that NEMA has approved additional palliatives for Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency in response to my requests for more assistance”.A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tersoo Kula says the “truck was caught offloading relief materials meant for IDPs of the Kwande/Ushongo federal constituency at a private residence in Makurdi”.According to Tersoo Kula, “It was later discovered that the goods were released from a National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) warehouse in Jos, and were supposed to be sponsored by the state government and lifted by the State Emergency Management Agency”.The statement quotes Governor Alia, who ordered the impounding of the truck at Government House as expressing dissatisfaction with the findings and directed anti-graft agencies to carry out further investigation, even as he called on relevant officials to ensure that the materials were distributed to the rightful recipients.However, in a swift reaction, Representative Terseer Ugbor disputes the accusations, claiming that the governor’s actions were unnecessary and politically motivated.”I have decided to defend my reputation and ensure that the palliatives get to those in need. Despite the challenges, I encourage my constituents to stay strong and peaceful.”In light of this development, I have instructed my legal team to examine the accusations and consider taking appropriate action to safeguard my reputation and set the record straight in court.”My support for the transportation, storage, and distribution of palliatives to displaced individuals in Kwande is not a new endeavor, yet it has seemingly provoked the governor’s displeasure”.”My duty is to help secure benefits for my constituents. In other states my efforts would have been acknowledged with gratitude”The current climate crisis championed by Governor Hyacinth Alia in Benue State is “unusual “. The claim that SEMA was not informed was premature because the seizure of the palliatives occurred upon their arrival in the state before any unloading, raising suspicions of political motives behind the ordeal.”Accusations that the palliatives were unloaded at a private residence are unfounded, as the truck was parked in front of a well-known warehouse in Makurdi, not in a clandestine location”, Ugbor explained.He urged the people of Kwande /Ushongo to remain resilient and peaceful during these difficult times, remembering the words of Psalm 30:5: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
The Police Command in Yobe, says it has detained a man, Yunus Isa, in connection with alleged murder of his business partner, Lawan Adamu.
This is contained in a statement by the Spokesman of the command, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, in Damaturu on Thursday.
Report says that Adamu’s body was found on Sept.
15, with deep throat cut and stab wounds at Nayinawa area of Damaturu.Abdulkarim said credible intelligence led to the arrest of a prime suspect in the case, Isa, at Shago Tara near Nayinawa.
“Investigation revealed that Lawan Adamu was his employer and business partner in the engine oil trade.
“He (the suspect) borrowed N500,000 from Adamu last year with a profit-sharing agreement.
“However, when he failed to meet the agreement terms, the deceased demanded repayment.
“Isa callously murdered Adamu to avoid repaying the debt, killing him in cold blood,” he said.
The spokesman noted that the swift resolution of the case demonstrated the command’s commitment towards ensuring justice and public safety.
He said the suspect would soon be charged to court. (NAN)
Borno Government says it has realized over N12b cash and material donations for victims of Alau Dam flood disaster in Maiduguri.
Abdurrahman Bundi, the Senior Special Adviser on New Media to Borno Governor, gave the update on the donations for the Maiduguri Relief Fund on Thursday in Maiduguri.
Bundi said the donations came from corporate entities, state governments, State and National Assembly members, individuals, and Non-Governmental Organisations.
List of donors showed that the North East Development Commission (NEDC) donated N3b and food stuff, Aliko Dangote N2b, Aminu Dantata N1.5b, and Mohammed Indimi N1b.
Other donors were Borno LGAs; N1.
2b, Oluremi Tinubu; N500m, Bauchi and Niger states; N250m each while the people of Southern Borno donated N200m.Dahiru Mangal, Atiku Abubakar, Rep. Mukhtar Betara, Ali Modu Sheriff, House of Representatives, Abdulsalam Kachala, and JAIZ Bank states comprising Kebbi, Yobe, Kano, Taraba, katsina, Kaduna and Zamfara gave N100 each.
The Director General of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), Buba Marwa and Matrix Energy donated 10 trucks of fertiliser and foodstuff worth over N120m each.
Those who gave N50m include Adamawa state, Mr Peter Obi, Rabiu kwakwanso, Ahmed Lawan, Mohammad Maifata, Ibrahim Umar, Mohammad Imam, Ali Dalori, Bauchi APC chapter, Sen. Tahir Monguno, and Sen. Kaka Kaka Shehu and I8th Engineering Company, while the State Assembly donated N60m.
The Nasarawa Government also presented six trucks of rice, spaghetti and sugar.
Many other people donated between N1m and N30m respectively. (NAN)
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