HEDA petitions NSA to probe alleged mismanagement Police trust fund - ITREALMS

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The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), a prominent anti-corruption organization, has formally petitioned the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to launch an immediate investigation into allegations of mismanagement and corruption within the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF).

In a petition dated August 21, 2023, addressed to the NSA, HEDA voiced its deep concern over recent reports published by The Nation news online platform. These reports detailed serious allegations of financial misconduct and misadministration within the NPTF. According to The Nation, the Goldstreet Associates, an Abuja-based human rights group, submitted a petition to President Bola Tinubu on August 15, 2023, outlining these accusations.

EFCC quizzes former governor, Bafarwa, Raymond Dokpesi over suspected arms deal

ITRealms:

Reportings reaching our newsroom indicates that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Tuesday quizzed the former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa and former Chairman, Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi over alleged transfers made from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) under Sambo Dasuki, reports ITRealms.
 

Bafarawa was being interrogated for his alleged role in transferring money from the office of the National Security Adviser, between December 2014 and May 2015.

This is coming just as the former Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, has spent his second day in the custody of EFCC.

A media report on Channels Television monitored by ITRealms, the Head, Media at EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, noted that Chief Dokpesi invitation by EFCC was in connection with money disbursed from the office of the former NSA Dasuki.

According to EFCC spokesman, there was no explanation about what the money was meant for and it was pathetic that the office of the NSA was used as “a warehouse to dish out money to people.”

He described the transfers as very worrisome in that hard-earned money is taken from the coffers of the country to private individual without any major project attached to them.

When contacted by Channels Tv, lawyer to Dokpesi, Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN), said that it is a return to authoritarian regime as only last week Daar Communications Holdings, not Dokpesi, was invited by the EFCC to explain alleged contracts to the company from the office of the former National Security Adviser and that tax payments and other documents should be supplied to EFCC.

“I do not regard this as an arrest. If you are invited by the EFCC that is not the same thing as an arrest. We got this information through a mere phone call. There is no warrant of arrest and as a well-respected obedient nationalist, Chief Dokpesi decided to go and answer the invitation,” Ozekhome said.

Correspondent/GEE
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Dambazzau denies racing for national security adviser position

ITRealms:

The former Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau has declared that he is not desperate to take up any political appointments in the country, just as he denied contesting for the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) reports ITRealms.

Gen Dambazzau, made this disclosure on Thursday, saying he is not desperate to hold any political position, and denied rumour that he was  in the race for the National Security Adviser (NSA); a position which was given to retired Major General Babagana Monguno, on Monday by President Muhammadu Buhari.

"What race? There was no race for the office of National Security Adviser (NSA). And if there was one, I was not a contestant. For very good reasons, people may have their expectations, but that should not be translated as mine. Of course I will be glad to work for the President if he assigned me any task or appoints me in any capacity he feels I can contribute towards the success of the government. This is especially because I was the CPC Chairman of the Security Committee in 2011 and he personally appointed me and also in 2015 as Director, Intelligence and Security of the APC Presidential Campaign Council."

"At any rate the President has the prerogative to appoint any person of his choice to any of the available positions, but in the final analysis it is God that determines who becomes what. My prayer therefore is for the Almighty God to guide President Muhammadu Buhari in this very important task of nation-building He has given him."

Dambazzau stressed that his relationship with Mr. President does not hinge on political appointment, so whether or not Buhari assigns him a particular office, he had resolved to support the President and ensure he succeeds.

“He is a person I highly respect and I am ready to support him throughout his tenure. I am not doing him a person favour, but I consider it as a duty to contribute in fixing Nigeria. I have immensely benefited from Nigeria after reaching the peak of my career as a General and commanded the army, and acquired the highest educational qualification (PhD), it is only reasonable to consider this opportunity as a payback time," he said, warning that some elements are desperate to soil his name.

Over the year, Dambazzau pointed out he has built a very good reputation both home and abroad, and doubt very much if anyone could easily destroy it. 

Such people, he said, should not see him as an obstacle to their ambition, emphasizing that power and wealth belong to God and He gives to whomever He wishes at the time He wishes.

ITRealms recalls that before he retired from the army as the 17th Chief of Army Staff, in 2010, he was the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Ibadan. Before then he was the Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation; a Directing Staff and Director, Higher Military Organization and Operations at the then National War College; Principal General Staff Officer (PGSO) to the Hon Minister, Ministry of Defence; Chief Instructor, Support Weapons Wing, Nigeria Army School of Infantry; Academy Registrar, Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA); Commander, Provost Groups of 3 Division and 1 Division, respectively.

As a young officer, he served as ADC to the Chief of Army Staff and special Investigator, Special Investigation Bureau of the Military Police. Outside the military, he was a part time lecturer in Criminology in the Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University for about four years. In the last five years since his retirement, General Dambazau has been engaged in business as security consultant and estate development. He is also the Founder and Chairman, Foundation for Victims of Child Abuse (VCAF).

 

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Buhari names new service chiefs, NSA

ITRealms:

Just few hours after sacking former service chiefs and National Security Adviser (NSA)P resident Muhammadu Buhari has approved their replacement, reports ITRealms.

The new service chiefs include, Major-General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin - Chief of Defence Staff;  Major-General T.Y. Buratai - Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas - Chief of Naval Staff; Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar - Chief of Air Staff; Air Vice Marshal Monday Riku Morgan - Chief of Defence Intelligence and Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd.) as the National Security Adviser.

Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a press statement confirmed this to ITRealms, just as he said that the new Chief of Defence Staff, Maj.-Gen. Olonishakin (N/6901) hails from Ekiti State and until his was the Head of the Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command in Minna, Niger State.

He also said that the new Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Buratai is from Borno State and until his new appointment was the Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force which has its headquarters in Ndjamena. Adesina noted that Maj-Gen. Buratai has previously served as Commander of the Nigerian Army's 2nd Brigade in Port Harcourt and Commander of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry in Jaji, Kaduna State.

The new Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibas (NN/0746) hails from Cross River State and began his service with enlistment in the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 26th Regular Course in 1979 and was commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant in 1983. 

His previous appointments include Naval Provost Marshal, Chief Staff Officer, Naval Training Command, Chief of Administration, Naval Headquarters, Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command and Chief of Logistics, Naval Headquarters. Until his appointment as Chief of Naval Staff, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Navy Holdings Limited.

The new Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar (NAF/1433) hails from Bauchi State and was previously appointed as Chief of Standards and Evaluation, NAF Headquarters; Chief of Defence Communications and Air Officer Commanding, NAF Training Command and until his  latest appointment was the Chief of Administration, NAF Headquarters.

The new Service Chiefs will hold their appointments in an acting capacity until confirmed by the Senate.
  +ITRealms DSA +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)

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Buhari sends Service Chiefs, Dasuki packing

ITRealms:

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, Monday sent the four Service Chiefs and the National Security Adviser (NSA), packing after a closed door meeting in Abuja, ITRealms reports.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, Chief of Army Staff, Major General Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin and Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Adesola Amosu, as well as the NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki were in the list of those fired, at the end of a meeting with Mr. President.

Even though reason for their sack is still unfolding, it would be recalled that the service chiefs were appointed by the immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan even as their replacements were still unknown.

But the Presidential sources said the service chiefs were commended for their assistance to their motherland whilst relieving them of offices, which came with immediate effect.

ITRealms gathered that their sack may not be unconnected to the recent onslaught by the terrorist group, Boko Haram, which has left estimated 800 Nigerians dead since the May 29 assumption of office by the Buhari-led APC government.

Defence analysts told ITRealms the service chiefs and even NSA whose resignation letter was reportedly turned down; expected they would be fired any day since May 29, as such, they were hardly settled for the complex war against Boko Haram following the change of government.

 
Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

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