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Cashless system helps in tracking election financing — Osinbajo

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By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says a cashless policy, when effectively operated in Nigeria, can help stem the surge of illicit election financing by making it possible to track funds.

Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said the vice president received a delegation of the EU Election Observation Mission led by Mr Barry Andrews.

The EU Chief Observer is also a member of the European Parliament.

“I think that what we should be looking at is to provide more infrastructures.

“ The cashless thing has been really advantageous and helps with tracking.

“That sort of infrastructure is useful for more financial inclusion and the more financial inclusion you have, the easier it is to track.

“So much money can be spent without it being tracked under the current election financing practices in the country.’’

Osinbajo acknowledged the serious difficulty in controlling election financing because of cash transactions.

According to him, there are still infrastructure issues required to be in place to ensure an efficient cashless system in the country.

“With cash transactions, it is still difficult to seriously control election financing.’’

On electoral offences, the vice president said the Electoral Offences Commission Bill was at the National Assembly.

He said he hoped that it would begin a new regime of dealing with electoral offences which would be helpful.

“By and large, one shouldn’t expect INEC to be the investigator of electoral offences.

“I think that law enforcement agencies should be responsible for arresting and prosecuting offenders, state by state.

“Electoral offences are always seen through a political prism; people will always feel that they are being prosecuted because they belong to a certain party.

“What is more important is that we have to find a system where the police could have a special unit for offences during the course of elections.

“The Federal High Courts could also have a special jurisdiction to deal with offences and not extend beyond the Federal High Courts.”

On the role of the judicial system, Osinbajo said that more attention should be paid to the monitoring of tribunals and their outcomes, calling for more scrutiny from the National Judicial Council.

He disclosed that discussions had been had in the past concerning malfeasance on the part of some judges and those found guilty should be brought to the fore.

“There should be sanctions and that way, we would be able to clean up and correct some of the problems,’’ he said.

In his remarks, Andrews said that the mission would be monitoring the elections coming up next month and hope for a peaceful and fair electoral process.

According to him, it is the 7th time the INEC is inviting the EU Mission to monitor the elections, adding that the team had been in the country since Jan 11 and will be around until the end of March, 2023.

Other members of the delegation include Ms Samuela Isopi, Ambassador, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS and Mr Thomas Boserup, Deputy Chief Observer, EU Election Observation Mission. (NAN)

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Commission of inquiry to hold inaugural sitting Monday

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Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf

 

The judicial commission of inquiry on public properties and assets established by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State to probe the previous administration led by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has scheduled its inaugural session for Monday, 29th April 2024.

The commission’s secretary, Salisu Mustapha, said this in a letter addressed to the Director General Media and Publicity on Saturday.

Mustapha specified that the session will take place at High Court No. 3 within the Audu Bako Secretariat on Monday 29th April, 2024 by 10.am prompt.

Earlier this month, Governor Yusuf inaugurated two judicial commissions of inquiry (JCI) to investigate instances of misappropriation of public properties and assets, political violence, and missing persons between 2015 and 2023.

During the inauguration of the JCI members, Governor Yusuf pledged to hold accountable anyone found culpable, emphasizing his commitment to uncovering and prosecuting those responsible for political violence in the state before and during previous elections.

The governor urged the Commission to thoroughly investigate cases of misappropriated public properties and assets during the tenure of immediate past administration.

He instructed the commission members to uphold their integrity, remain true to their oath, and serve the people of Kano State by ensuring justice is served. Governor Yusuf clarified that the initiative was not politically motivated or directed at any individual but rather a response to the mandate of the people of Kano State.

You may recall that Justices of the State High Courts, Farouq Lawan Adamu and Zuwaira Yusuf a long with other eminent personalities were selected and appointed as chairmen and members of the two commissions of inquiry respectively.

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Almajiri Returns Lost Phones Worth Over 2.5 Million Naira

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Haruna Adamu left who found the phones ,right Ibrahim Muhammad Abdullahi the owner

Haruna Adamu, a 37-year-old resident of Kano who recites Quran at Tsangayar Malam Sani, has returned lost phones worth over 2.5 million Naira at Masjidurrahma Mosque in Kano.

The owner of the phones, Ibrahim Muhammad Abu Abdallah, recounted that after prayers, the Muazzin usually cautioned people to take care of their pockets. However, upon checking his pockets after prayers, Abdallah realized his two phones, worth over 2.5 million Naira, were missing. He recalled having visited the mosque’s toilet during that time.

The two phones, both with two terabytes of storage, were essential for Abdallah’s work, and he expressed immense gratitude upon their recovery through Haruna Adamu after forgetting them inside the toilet . He acknowledged that losing the phones could have resulted in a loss of over 20 million Naira due to the valuable data they contained.

The mosque later announced the discovery of the phones, which were found by another worshipperi inside the toilets Mosque , Haruna Adamu , a 37-year-old resident of Tarauni located close to the Mosque. Adamu, who is staying at Tsangayar Malam Sani for Quranic memorization and recitation, returned the phones promptly.

Masjidurrahma is a multi-million Naira Mosque situated along Maiduguri Road,Kano built by renowned businessman AY Maikifi and recently commissioned by Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Saad Abubakar.

The Agony Of The Almajiri System In Northern Nigeria

In appreciation, Abdallah later gifted 100 thousand Naira to Haruna Adamu for his honesty. Adamu resides at Tsangayar Malam Sani, where he recites and memorizes the entire Quran in Tarauni local government area.

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Ace Nigerian Journalist and Parliamentarian Dies at 86, Governor Yusuf Offers Condolences

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Late Sidi Ali

 

The First Republic politician and Second Republic parliamentarian reportedly died in Kano on Thursday evening at 86.

Late Sidi Ali was a prolific writer with National dailies and was one of the Nigerian journalist who covered the civil war.

In his later life, he was a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a member of the party’s Elders Committee in Kano State.

The elder statesman spent years serving the Nigerian International Press Centre, Ministry of Information and National Broadcasting Commission, among other critical institutions.

Born in Kano but raised in Ghana, Ali’s wide travels reportedly influenced his love for journalism and communication.

 

In his 2018 birthday message, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari noted that Ali spent most of his life serving the country as a Public Affairs Officer, “most remarkably for ensuring accurate and balanced information on government activities during and after the Civil War.

 

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf has condoled with the families of late Sidi Ali who died Thursday evening at the age of 86.

In a statement by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf described late Sidi Ali as a trusted Public Affairs Officer who worked hard to ensure the flow of true stories during the Civil war.

The Governor also noted the positive contributions of the deceased as a Senator in the Second Republic in shaping the Senate and the overall development of democracy in the country.

On behalf of the Government and people of Kano State, Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir extend condolences to his families, prayed for the repose of his soul, Aljannah be his final resting place, the courage and the fortitude to bear the loss.

 

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