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Ebonyi indigenes reject handing-over of Uburu varsity to Catholic Church

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3 years ago

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The Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora (AESID) has rejected the donation of King David University of Medical Sciences Uburu, which it described as “Greek offer” by the governor of the state, Dave Nweze Umahi, to the Catholic Church.

The group said if the situation is not properly managed it could lead to animosity between the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, who had claimed ownership of the new varsity and the Catholic Church.

 

At the Episcopal Ordination and installation of Rt. Rev. Msgr. Peter Nworie Chukwu as the 3rd Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki on Thursday, August 19, 2021, Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, announced the handing over of the King David University of Medical Sciences Uburu to the Catholic Bishops Conference for what he termed “optimum management and academic excellence.”

As reported via a statement made available through his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Francis Nwaze, the Governor declared; “The contributions of the church to the Educational Development of Nigeria is unparalleled and for this, I, on-behalf of the State wish to give the King David University of Medical Sciences Uburu to the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria to own and run.

Reacting through a statement signed by its President, Amb. Paschal Oluchukwu, on Sunday, the Ebonyi indigenes wondered how a governor such pronouncement “which is capable of not only pitching the mother church against her sister Presbyterian Church which has been in court challenging the forceful takeover of the said property but also further negate the provisions of our extant Laws, create chaos and confusion and deepen animosity between the Christian faith even as we yet see Ebonyi as a secular State only dominated by the Christian religion.”

According to the statement, in public’s best interest, no law permits a Governor to build such a massive edifice with millions of unaccounted public funds and hand same over to a people of a particular faith in a multi-religious society like ours.

 

“Apart from the severe breaches of the law typified by the non-passage of any Law enabling the donation of the said institution which was built with public funds, unaudited and unaccounted for by the Ebonyi State’s House of Assembly- an ordinarily third arm of government that has been serially amputated and utterly neglected by the Governor, Umahi has by this pronouncement shown that he’s merely a desperate dealer trying to cover-up his suspected dirty tracks by currying the favour of the largest and most populous Catholic Church.

“No one, we repeat, no church or organisation for that matter therefore should accept any such compromised dealings from a Governor like Umahi.

For we are certain that his motives on this particular offer are as ulterior as the majority of his dealings with Ebonyi people in his past six year’s on the saddle as Ebonyi Governor.”

Stating the controversies on the said Uburu varsity, the statement said: “First, the Presbyterian Church had alerted the general public that, on Friday, the 12th of July, 2019, it received a hint that the Ebonyi State exco approved Government takeover of the Presbyterian Joint Hospital, Uburu.

Also announced on the same day on the State broadcast network, was the award of contracts for the construction of several blocks of buildings for the Ebonyi State Teaching Hospital on property the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria holds on lease and has developed over 107 years as the Presbyterian Joint Hospital, Uburu.

 

“We are aware that Umahi had sent a letter asking for approval to the State’s House of Assembly asking for the State’s takeover and acquisition of the oldest Hospital founded by a Missionary, Dr. John Hitchcock which his lackeys in the said arm of government readily granted without any due diligence or investigation, the head of Information Department and Public Affairs of the Presbyterian Church, Rt. Rev. Nnoke Ibe had in a detailed Press release accused the State Governor of forcefully taking over the hospital for which it still paid rents to the family and village donors of the land upon which it is situated.

“The release, made since July 2020 had asserted without a counter-claim from the Umahi-led government that, ‘The Church is also aware that the Government’s power of eminent domain confers a power to take land it requires for public purposes; but that power is made constitutionally subject to procedures which guarantee the rights, privileges and entitlements of occupiers and holders.

The statement said: “we haven’t also forgotten that the plan was actually to acquire and build the said institution as the new State’s University medical school.

We are also knowledgeable about the fact that the Ebonyi State government recently released an outrageous fee regime of between N1 to N3M as annual School fees for the institution following the approval of it’s courses by the NUC and even announcements for job recruitments. From where and how then can the Catholic community fund, maintain and sustain such academic institution which could become a monumental waste if not properly-funded?

“If truly Umahi loves and wants academic excellence, why has he proposed the above monumental fee regime in a poor state like ours? Why has he also totally neglected the public education sector in Ebonyi without reasonable grants to the existing state-owned Primary, Secondary and especially, tertiary institutions in the State?

” he should await his days of reckoning with the antitrust agencies for all his lawless actions, misconducts and unaccountability in governance which has made Ebonyi remain the poverty capital of the entire Southern Nigeria.”

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Court Renews Order of Arrest Against Mr. Bright Echefu for Allegedly Defrauding BCGNEEDS Company of $651,280.00 USD

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14 hours ago

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December 20, 2024

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Court Renews Order of Arrest Against Mr. Bright Echefu for Allegedly Defrauding BCGNEEDS Company of $651,280.00 USD

A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory has renewed and extended its order of arrest against Mr. Bright Echefu, Owner of Briech Intelligence Fusion Limited to January 14, 2025.

On November 19, 2024, the court had ordered the arrest of Mr. Bright Echefu, following his failure to appear before the court on the allegation of defrauding BCGNEEDS Company of the sum of $651,280.00 USD.

In a prior appearance, Mr. Bright Echefu’s lawyer, had communicated that his client was not within jurisdiction. On December 9, 2024, Mr. Bright Echefu’s lawyer told the court again that Mr. Echefu had traveled out of jurisdiction and requested that the court allow him time to produce Mr. Echefu in court when he returns. BCGNEEDS’ lawyer argued that Mr. Echefu has no justifiable reason not to be in court but has only been evading arrest. He further requested the court to extend the order to enable the Police effect his arrest.

After hearing from the Police on the efforts they are making to arrest Mr. Echefu, the court patiently listened to the parties and renewed the order of arrest against Mr. Bright Echefu. The court adjourned the case to January 14, 2025.

Mr. Bright Echefu, who is also the Owner of Telecom Satellite Television, is said to have allegedly defrauded BCGNEEDS Company of the said amount under the pretence of supply of drones and accessories. BCGNEEDS told the court that Mr. Echefu, under false pretence used Briech Intelligence Fusion Limited, to request for supply of Drones and Accessories worth $651,280.00 USD from BCGNEEDS via a Local Purchase Order with Ref: BIFC/LPO/TS/ABJ/088106 dated the 21st day of October, 2022.

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BCGNEEDS also told the court that after the delivery of the drones and accessories, Mr. Echefu became incommunicado and refused to pay, since 21st of October 2022 till date. Despite several demands, Mr. Echefu criminally converted the drones, accessories, and the sum of $651,280.00 USD under false pretence of doing business with BCGNEEDS Company.

This is not the first time Mr. Echefu has been implicated on allegations of fraud. It will be recalled that Mr. Echefu had earlier been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on allegation of tax evasion, money laundering and advanced fee fraud.

In another charge before the Federal High Court marked FHC/ABJ/CR/254/2023, Mr. Echefu, Igboanuga, TSTV and another company, Briechberg Investment Limited, were listed as the first to fourth defendants, respectively. In the charge, Mr. Echefu and Igboanugo were said to have on May 18, 2020, committed money laundering bordering on tax evasion, unremitted VAT, company income tax and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) deducted from the salaries of 165 workers punishable under Section 15 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 as amended in 2012.

Mr. Bright Echefu was also said to have defrauded Turaki Tanimu, a former minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, of N969m under false pretence. The money was said to have been paid into Briechberg Investment Limited with account number 1015561485 domiciled at Zenith Bank.

It would appear that the issue of evading arrest raised by the prosecution in the criminal charge by EFCC against Mr. Echefu at the Federal High Court is also playing out in this case where BCGNEEDS’ lawyer has also complained that Mr. Echefu has been evading arrest. Whether Mr. Echefu will turn himself in voluntarily or be brought to court on the next adjourned date by his lawyer; or whether he will be arrested by the Police in line with the order of bench warrant granted by the Court in this case remains to be determined.

 

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Budget:President Bola Ahmad Tinubu And Vice President Kashim Shettima’s Trips To Gulp Over 9 Billion Naira

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15 hours ago

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December 20, 2024

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima will spend N9.36 billion on local and foreign travels as well as refreshments in the coming year.

This is contained in the details of the 2025 Appropriation Bill released by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

The president had, on Wednesday, present the N49.7 trillion 2025 budget proposals to a joint session of the National Assembly.

The fiscal document is christened: ‘Restoration Budget, Securing peace and building prosperity.’

According to the budget proposal, Tinubu will spend N7.44 billion on travels and refreshments; while Shettima will spend N1.9 billion for same.

The president’s international travels in 2025 will gulp N6.14 billion; and his local trips, N873.9 million.

Also, the sum of N431.6 million was earmarked for Tinubu’s refreshments and meals as well as foodstuffs and catering supplies.

The vice president’s international travels in 2025 will gulp N1.31 billion; and local trips, N417.5 million.

Refreshments and meals as well as foodstuff and catering supplies for the vice president will gulp N186.02 million.

In 2024, President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima, and First Lady Remi Tinubu spent not less than N5.24 billion on local and foreign travel between January and March 2024, according to an analysis of the travel expenses using GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks and analyses the Federal Government’s spending.

Presidency to spend N10.6bn on cars, honorarium, fuel, SAs office

The Office of the President also proposed N4,760,035,960 for vehicles, with N3,661,566,123 for the purchase of State House operational vehicles and N1 billion for the replacement of Sport Utility Vehicle (SUVs).

Another N255,728,214 was budgeted for purchase of cars, with N127,864,107 set aside for the procurement of SUVS for the president and vice president as well as N127,864,107 for the purchase of operational vehicles at the Presidential Conference Car Unit (CCU) fleet.

The sum of N5,938,883,548 was proposed for honorarium, construction for Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants’ Office Complex and fuel for generators.

The budget proposals showed that N2,118,521,128 was earmarked for sitting allowance/honorarium, N1,989,579,359 for fuel and N1,830,783,061 (billion) is for construction of office complex for SAs and SSAs.

2025 Appropriation Bill scales second reading

The National Assembly yesterday passed the N49.7tn ‘Restoration’ Budget for a second reading.

The budget was passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives after various deliberations on the bill’s general principles by senators and members of the House of Representatives at their separate sittings.

In the Senate, the budget was passed and referred to the Committee on Appropriations after being put to a voice vote by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session.

Similarly, in the House of Representatives, the appropriation bill was passed for second reading and referred to the House Committee on Appropriation for further legislative actions.

Also, the House also passed through Second Reading, a Bill to extend the capital component of the 2024 Budget to June 30th, 2025.

The bill was presented on the floor of the House by the House Leader, Rep. Julius Ihonvere.

It was titled, ‘A Bill for an Act to Amend the Appropriation Act, 2024 to extend the Implementation of the Capital Component of the Appropriation Act, 2024 from 31 December, 2024 to 30 June 2025 and for Related Matters (HB.2023).’

Meanwhile, both chambers of the National Assembly have adjourned sittings to January 14, 2025, to observe recess for the yuletide celebrations.

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CBN permits BDCs to buy up to $25,000 FX

Published

16 hours ago

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December 20, 2024

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted Bureau de Change (BDC) operators temporary permission to purchase up to $25,000 weekly in foreign exchange (FX) from the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM).

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted Bureau de Change (BDC) operators temporary permission to purchase up to $25,000 weekly in foreign exchange (FX) from the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM).

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This move, detailed in a circular dated December 19, 2024, is designed to meet seasonal retail demand for FX during the holiday period.

The circular was signed by T.G. Allu, on behalf of the Acting Director of the Trade and Exchange Department.

The arrangement will be in effect from December 19, 2024, to January 30, 2025.

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