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National Assembly Fails To Account For N9 Billion – Audit Report

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The National Assembly management failed to account for a total expenditure of over N9.4 billion in 2014, the latest audit report has revealed.

The money included N9.39 billion for which no “documentary evidence” was provided and a N47 million to be returned to government coffers out of which only N360,000 was returned; giving a total of N9,440,844,572 (nine billion, four hundred and forty million, eight hundred and four thousand, five hundred and seventy two Naira).

The audit report of government bodies (2009-2014) was submitted to the Clerk to the National Assembly in March 2016 as statutorily provided. The full contents were recently publicly disclosed by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation on its website.

The report indicted several government bodies of illegal and profligate spending, and failing to remit over N3 trillion into government’s treasury.

Apart from the National Assembly, other key bodies indicted include the state oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Ministry of Interior, the Presidency, Central Bank of Nigeria and some foreign missions.

According to the report, between January and December, 2014 under the leadership of David Mark as Senate President and Salisu Maikasuwa as the Clerk, the Management Department of the National Assembly Commission transferred N9,392,995,515.00 (Nine billion, three hundred and ninety-two million, nine hundred and ninety-five thousand, five hundred and fifteen naira) from the general services account to other accounts in different banks.

The purposes stated for the transfer include Senate General Services, Appropriation, Constitutional Review, House of Representatives Services, UNDP Projects and Research Office Services.

However, “no expenditure returns or documentary evidence were rendered to account for how these sums were expended,” the report said, raising question of accountability and legality.

In another case, the report disclosed that the National Assembly management remitted only N360,000, out of a N47 million balance of total personnel vote release and actual expenditure for 2014.

“It was further observed that the total Personnel Vote release for the year 2014 was N1,856,510,517.00 (One billion, eight hundred and fifty-six million, five hundred and ten thousand, five hundred and seventeen naira), and the Actual Expenditure for the same period was N1,808,661,460.18 (One billion, eight hundred and eight million, six hundred and sixty-one thousand, four hundred and sixty naira, eighteen kobo), resulting in a balance of N47,849,057.00 (Forty-seven million, eight hundred and forty-nine thousand, fifty-seven naira).

“However, only an amount of N360,115.08 (Three hundred and sixty thousand, one hundred and fifteen naira, eight kobo) was paid back to treasury at the end of the year.”

No Denial

In May – after the audit report had been submitted to the National Assembly, the Senate Committee on Public Accounts led by Andy Uba (PDP-Anambra) held a public hearing during which a number of government bodies refuted certain findings of the audit report, particularly the disclosure that they didn’t submit their internal audit reports between 2009 and 2014.

Some of the bodies that challenged aspects of the report were CBN, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and Nigeria Pension Commission.

However, the National Assembly has not denied the findings of the audit report as they related to the lawmaking body – though its committee castigated the then Auditor-General of the Federation, Samuel Ukara, for an “unsatisfactory report”, cashing in on complaints by other government bodies.

The law says the National Assembly should refer the audit report to its committee on Public Accounts for consideration.

After considering the report, the committee is empowered to pass a resolution to either publish the report in the National Assembly journal or government’s official gazette.

Since the committee considered the report, it has not passed the resolution for its publication in either channel.

Efforts to reach Mr. Uba for comments were not fruitful. He did not pick calls to his phone or reply to text message.

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Decimated Hezbollah says it is ready for cease-fire talks with Israel

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Hezbollah said Tuesday it is now ready to engage in cease-fire talks with Israel, after suffering serious blows to its leadership and ranks in recent months.

The terror group in Lebanon made the announcement after firing more than 100 rockets at the Jewish state hours earlier.

Hezbollah’s deputy secretary general, Naim Qassem, publicly endorsed a truce with Israel, the first such time the terror group has proposed a cease-fire not conditioned on the war in Gaza.

“We support the political efforts led by [Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih] Berri under the banner of achieving a cease-fire,” Qassem said, according to a CNN translation.

“Once the cease-fire is firmly established and diplomacy can reach it, all other details will be discussed and decisions will be made collaboratively,” he added.

Qassem’s announcement came within hours of a massive barrage that sent more than 100 missiles soaring from Lebanon at Israel’s northern city of Haifa, the third-largest metropolis in the Jewish state.

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Davido, Wizkid’s Songs Aren’t Selling Again, They Are Using Controversy To Stay Relevant’ – Portable

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Controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, better known as Portable, has reacted to the ongoing feud between his colleagues Davido and Wizkid.

We reported that Wizkid reignited the long-standing beef with Davido on his X page, marking their second major online spat in 2024.

Wizkid, who labelled Davido ‘wack with no talent,’ also threw tantrums at the singer’s family, including his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke.

In a series of Instagram posts on Wednesday evening, Portable criticized both artistes, claiming their songs no longer sell and are using controversy for music promotion.

The ‘Zazzu Zeh’ hitmaker also said he is now more relevant and celebrated than Davido and Wizkid. However, the claims starkly contrast with the current happenings in the music scene.

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Breaking: CJN Kekere-Ekun Issues First Warning after Swearing-in

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The newly-inaugurated Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Motomori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, vowed on Monday in Abuja that obedience to court orders will not be negotiable under her watch.

She said that no individual or institution, irrespective of their standing, would be permitted to treat judgments of the court with levity or disregard.

The CJN spoke on the occasion of the commencement of the 2024/2025 legal year and the inauguration of the 87 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) held at the Supreme Court.

Justice Kekere-Ekun stated that the judiciary stands resolute in ensuring that the sanctity of legal decisions is upheld in line with the rule of law.

To achieve this new narrative, the CJN canvassed that all hands must be on deck in fostering an unwavering commitment to the full enthronement of the rule of law.

“Disobedience to court orders or non-compliance with judicial directives is a direct affront to democracy and an invitation to anarchy.

“As such, it is critical that we respect and observe all the features of an enduring democracy, for in doing so, we maintain the delicate balance that sustains our society.”

“Let us, therefore, work together collectively and tirelessly to ensure that Nigeria continues to abide by the rule of law, upholds the best democratic practices, and remains vigilant in the protection of citizens’ rights.

“The rights of every Nigerian must be valiantly safeguarded against oppression and impunity, utilizing the full array of legal instruments at our disposal.”

Maintaining that a new dawn and a new era in the Nigerian judiciary has come with her appointment, Justice Kekere-Ekun assured Nigerians of her commitment to work diligently to improve public perception of the judiciary.

According to her, “Over the years, various factors have contributed to the negative image of the judiciary. However, we are determined to change the narrative and make the judiciary a source of pride for all Nigerians.”

“When the legal compass of a nation falters, everything suffers, including public and international perception.”

“The attitude of some of us in the justice sector is sometimes less than salutary, and that has contributed to the current image deficit of the country’s legal system.”

The CJN condemned the forum shopping by some lawyers, which she claimed has led to the emergence of conflicting orders by courts of coordinated jurisdiction.

To address this ugly trend, the CJN vowed that there will be consequences for any act of indiscretion that could bring the judiciary to disrepute

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