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.
NEWS
Police Detain Man over Alleged Murder of Business Partner in Yobe
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)
NEWS
Maiduguri Flood: Over N12b Support Generated for Victims
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)
NEWS
Jigawa Reviews mid-year Performance of MDAs
The Performance Delivery and Coordination Unit (PDCU), says it has concluded mid-year performance review of Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs), to enhance good governance in the state.
The PDCU being supervised by the office of Gov. Umar Namadi, conducted a three-day retreat on the review mid-year performance of the MDAs.
This is contained in a statement by Hashim Hashim, the unit’s Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Facilitator, in Dutse on Thursday.
He said the unit interfaced with representatives of the MDAs to verify submitted data on the progress recorded against set targets in the performance bond earlier signed in January.
According to him, the workshop is pivotal in streamlining government achievements into one single scorecard and finalising the mid-year performance reports for the attention of the governor.
The statement quoted the PDCU Coordinator, Adamu Muhammad, who doubles as Public Private Secretary to the governor, as stressing the importance of the exercise in driving the manifested 12-Point Agenda of the governor.
Muhammad was quoted as emphasising the need for the members of the unit to scrutinise and fine tune all the submitted evidence for accuracy, relevance and completeness.
The coordinator lauded the FCDO-PERL programme for the support to the state government in actualising the PDCU and supporting the review process.
“The PDCU comprises of professional technocrats selected based on merit and specialisation to support the delivery of the Governor’s 12-Point Agenda”. (NAN)