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President Buhari: Let War On Corruption Begin In Earnest

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Punch Editorial – All seem to agree that the anti-graft agencies in the country are weak and, therefore, need to be reinvigorated for effect.

President Muhammadu Buhari used the golden anniversary of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria last week to serve notice to this effect. Doing so, he reasoned, would reinforce accountability in governance. He is right. But doing this would also involve initiating a new strategy to holistically dismantle the iniquitous structure of corruption in the country. It is, indeed, a Herculean task.

Institutionalised corruption has laid waste to the Nigerian economy. This and the obvious incapacity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission to rein in treasury looters over the years have provoked public rage, leading to demands for the removal of their helmsmen.

Perhaps, far beyond anyone’s perception of the stealing binge, we have been inundated with a gale of astonishing information of how public officials mugged the treasury. Buhari has been spitting fire since he returned from a state visit to the United States in July, where the host government revealed how $6 billion was siphoned by a former minister, and how the stealing of crude oil was rampant under Goodluck Jonathan’s lethargic stewardship. The ruling All Progressive Congress also has been clattering around with these shocking exposures. But it is heartwarming that Buhari has vowed not to spare even members of his party that may be found wanting.

According to him, about $150 billion has been stashed away in the last 10 years. “The fraud has been growing for a number of years; a lot of Nigerians cannot comprehend it. We are trying to get these documents. We are getting cooperation from the international community. We are going very soon to make sure that those who perpetrated this crime against Nigerians will be faced with facts and be taken to our courts,” he said.

We demand no less. Indeed, Nigerians are eager to see the suspects officially linked to these allegations diligently prosecuted and punished. But we believe that a quieter approach, which shields the details from the public until the accused are charged, would help the anti-graft campaign, rather than the seeming trial on the pages of newspapers. Revealing details of the corruption spree before trial, undoubtedly, helps the suspects to either properly conceal their loot and tamper with or destroy the evidence against them.

Since August 16, when the President revealed to the so-called National Peace Committee led by a former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, that those who stole the country’s wealth would face trial in a matter of weeks, the polity has been heated up. Even ministers in the last administration had regrouped and chided the Buhari government for promoting what they termed as “lynch mentality against them,” just as newspapers have been awash with sponsored commentaries against the emerging new order. No doubt, corruption is fighting back.

But more disturbing are reports of increasing money laundering activities from those trying to escape from the country. Fact sheet: on September 2, a Nigerian was arrested with 4.6 million Euros (N1.05billion) cash, at the Diori Hamani Airport in Niamey, Niger Republic, en route to Dubai in United Arab Emirates. Police officials in Niamey say there has been an upsurge of huge currency trafficking involving Nigerians since Buhari declared war against corruption. Two days after, a cleaner, Tijani Owolabi, was caught at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, with $271, 133 (N53million), as he tried to convey the money to its owner at the sterile area of the terminal. And another $2.1million was seized at the Domestic Wing of the airport. There are more of such cases. Given the fact that criminal networks sometimes outsmart security operatives, many of these illicit cash transfers might have gone unnoticed.

These attempts to put a pin in the Buhari anti-corruption balloon stems from this undue delay in forming the federal cabinet, especially appointing the Attorney-General of the Federation, whose office drives the legal machinery against those to be prosecuted. It is hoped that a perfect choice for that office will eventually make up for the lost time.

Maximising the advantages offered by the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 is crucial to the success of this new war against corruption. Some of its details are: day-to-day trial of an accused person upon arraignment until the conclusion of the case; or granting maximum of five adjournments if need be; and giving no room for objections on the grounds of a flawed charge, among others. The 2013 practice directions issued to federal courts had the same provision for speedy dispensation of justice. “But for some inexplicable reasons, the practice directions have not been applied by any of the courts,” laments Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

Then the big question: where are the judges to handle the cases, who, like Caesar’s wife, are expected to be above board? The inescapable truth is that even the temple of justice stinks. This is why the integrity of the judges to be involved should not be trifled with.

As Buhari ponders about these puzzles, a temporary relief lies in what the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-corruption, Itse Sagay (SAN), says is plan to avoid those tainted judges. He said, “We need people who can resist the blandishment of material things and those are the ones the system is going to try and pick up.” These are encouraging signs. But beyond this, the selected courts should be properly equipped and staffed.

Indeed, looting of public treasury hit the super-highway in Nigeria on Jonathan’s watch in 2011, when N2.5trillion was purportedly spent on fuel subsidy. Its downward review to N971 billion following the 2012 national protest means government’s admission of fraud. Therefore, some people should have been held to account. But five years on, this has not been done, because the anti-graft agencies have not been alive to their responsibilities. It is not only Nigerians that are deeply worried; the African Union in a recent report ranked Nigeria as the source of the highest illicit capital flight out of Africa.

Although the EFCC flaunts about 200 convictions it claims to have secured since 2012, yet its apparent failure to bring to book, politically exposed persons – the over 10 former governors who left office in 2007, whose cases it has just exhumed – bears no testimony to its zest or efficiency in its assignment.

Yes, some of its handicaps may have been institutional; but some of them are self-inflicted, typified by shoddy investigations and prosecutions that have provided the leeway for many suspects to escape are too glaring.

Our anti-graft war should have a life of its own – it should be institutionalised. But first, what is not in doubt is that our anti-graft agencies need a fresh start with credible and courageous individuals with absolute loathing for corruption and impunity to steer them to a new era.

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Mide Martins bullied me into bleaching, says Habibat Jinad

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Habibat Jinad, the Nigerian actress famous in the Yoruba film industry, has revealed why she decided to bleach her skin.

In a recent interview on Talk To B podcast, Jinad alleged she was verbally abused by Mide Martins, a colleague, on the set of a movie.

She claimed that Mide insulted her and called her a “monkey with a black face”.

Jinad said people always complain about her dark complexion, advising her to “lighten up”.

She added that she “decided to change after Mide insulted me” to make people happy.

“We were at Afeez Owo’s rehearsal ground and a colleague of mine did something wrong which I was not a part of,” she said.

“They told us to kneel down. Mide Martins, my boss and some other people were there. Mide Martins insulted me and called me someone with a black face.

“She said so many things to abuse me and I felt very bad. I later found out that she called me a monkey with a black face.

“I’m sure that till now she might not know that what she said to me the other day somehow affected me.

“Even before then, whenever I was on set, people would say that I’m too dark-skinned and that I need to lighten up.

“So after Mide insulted me, I thought about what I could do to make these people happy. So I decided to change.”

Jinad had previously said she would no longer continue to bleach her skin.

“Nobody can bully me again into using bleaching cream. I’m not bleaching my skin anymore,” she said on Instagram.

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Eniola Badmus, Lege Miami clash over matchmaking service

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Eniola Badmus, the actress, and Lege Miami, the entertainer, have clashed over a matchmaking service.

Lege, who hosts a matchmaking show on YouTube, recently claimed that the actress sought his services to find a partner, but described her as “picky”.

In a viral voice note online, Badmus lashed out at Lege’s comments and criticised his approach to running his matchmaking show.

She also advised him to learn the proper rules of matchmaking if he lacked understanding.

“Hello Lege, it is like your brain is messy, what do you mean no one should look for your trouble? Who is your grandmother? Who are you? I am saying you have to be discreet about what you are doing,” she said.

“You are doing a matchmaking, if you do not know rules, f**king go online and Google rules about it. How dare you put my name out there saying Eniola is picky. You are mad!”

In response, Lege questioned if Badmus paid for a private service and insulted her appearance.

“Eniola Badmus did you pay for a private session? Did you tell me you did not want anyone to know? You are not alright and you will be well soon,” he said.

“You know I used to respect you, I am now running away from you. Did I post the video we made in Abuja? Are you a fool? Wule bantu, you are shapeless”.

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Kwam 1 finally addresses rift with ex-drummer Ayanlowo

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Wasiu Ayinde, the Fuji singer fondly called Kwam 1, has finally addressed his rift with Kunle Ayanlowo, his former drummer.

Ayanlowo recently alleged that Kwam 1 was fond of treating his band members like “slaves”.

The instrumentalist claimed he “achieved nothing” while working under the Fuji singer for over three decades.

Ayanlowo, who left the Fuji singer in October 2022, also asked the public to hold the ace singer responsible should any harm befall him.

Kwam 1 had earlier refused to address the allegations.

But speaking with journalists at his Mayegun Resort in Ìjẹ̀bú Ode, Ogun, the Fuji star denied Ayanlowo’s allegations.

Ayinde also shared his side of the story on his rift with Ayanlowo. The singer said he “single-handedly” formed his band,” adding that the initial sharing formula with members was 60/40.

Kwam 1 said as time went on, he adjusted the sharing formula to 40/60 due to the burgeoning size of his music band.

He explained that whenever they perform at an event, he takes 30 percent of the cut while his band members receive 50 percent. 10 percent of his cut and that of his band go to their management.

The singer also spoke about the years-long financial challenges he faced and his “numerous sacrifices” to ensure the smooth running of the band.

“You know how many things I have overlooked in my life to be able to keep a band working? I never can say how many times I have gone to borrow money to finance my band’s trip,” he said.

“From inception, the agreement between me and my group was 60/40. 40 percent to them because they were not many then. Maybe about nine of them. But when they were becoming larger, getting to 14, 15 there was an adjustment of money conditions. I said okay 50/50.

“It is a sole band. I have the grace of God to be able to be someone that is contented. Do you know how many times I have sold my things to fund my band?”

“In my band now I have like 27 or 28. You can imagine.”

Giving an illustration of the sharing formula, Kwam 1 said: “For instance, if we make N10 million from a show, I take only N3 million. and I pay my security details from the N3 million”.

Wasiu also referred to Ayanwolo as a “troubleshooter” who “complains too much”. The singer said due to the drummer’s troubles, he has left the band on several occasions.

The musician said about seven people have apologised to him on behalf of Ayanlowo to reinstate him in the band.

“Like Ayankunle has been a former member of the band. He has been a troubleshooter. He has gone and come back on several occasions. I will tell you, of all my bandmen, he is the only member that over seven times people have come to beg for to restore. Ayankunle that you see complains too much,” he said.

He also alleged that instrumentalists once absconded from the band when they travelled to England to perform in the 90s.

Kwam 1 claimed Ayanlowo’s “dubious act” was eventually uncovered at the British Embassy after overstaying in the city.

“Ayankunle that is complaining that we tore his passport, let me tell you his story. He ran away from the band in England while we were on tour in the 90s. He ran away from the band with his passport. Together with him and another two members of the band. And we came back to Nigeria,” the singer said.

“After overstaying in London, he now gave the passport to somebody to renew it at the embassy. They took the passport, changed the head, and put another person’s head. When they got to the embassy, they discovered that the interview they did for that one did not tally with the visas in the passport. They now asked the person he sent to tell the owner of the passport to come and collect it. Ayankunle’s passport is inside the British embassy.

“This is a man I did the passport for. He cannot write and read. I did everything for him. He ran away with the passport, how come you that ran away with the passport claimed it is with me?”

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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