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Katsina State Government distributes 720 goats to women
He said that each of 240 women selected across the 34 local governments would be given two female goats and one male goat.
“Research has showed that the goats reproduce twice a year and give up to two liters of milk daily.
“The goats are also insured for one year and veterinary officers will be going round in all the local governments to provide medication to the animals if the need arises,” he said.
Nasir said that the animals were being given to the beneficiaries under a loan scheme and the cost was expected to be repaid after a year.
Nasir also said that the government had disbursed N30 million to 1,890 physically challenged people across the state to establish small-scale businesses.
He said that loan attracted nine percent interest rate and would be paid by the state government.
Masari urged the beneficiaries to utilise the loans judiciously.
Malama Maryam Abdullahi, one of the beneficiaries, commended the government for initiating the scheme.
News
Shake-up in EFCC as Olukoyede appoints chief of staff, 14 directors
Ola Olukoyede, chair of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has appointed Michael Nzekwe as his chief of staff.
As part of a restructuring drive, Olukoyede upgraded all the zonal commands of the EFCC to departments and appointed 14 new directors.
A statement by Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, said the security unit of the agency has been upgraded to a department with a chief security officer at the helm.
“To this effect, 14 new directors have been appointed to head each of the zonal commands,” Oyewale said.
“Additionally, to bolster and fortify the security architecture of the commission, the security unit of the EFCC has been upgraded to a department with a seasoned officer appointed as director, security and chief security officer.
“A new department has also been created in the executive chairman’s office and it is headed by former Makurdi zonal commander of the EFCC, Mr. Friday Ebelo who also doubles as director and coordinator, special duties at the corporate headquarters of the commission.”
Nzekwe was the commander of the Ilorin zonal command and a course one officer.
Nzekwe, a lawyer and an investigator, has served in various departments in the anti-graft agency — including legal and prosecution, operations (now department of investigations), internal affairs (now department of ethics and integrity), Servicom, and asset forfeiture.
The new chief of staff has attended trainings and courses at home and abroad, including the Advance Defence Intelligence Officers Course organised by Defence Intel Agency (DIA).
News
Abuja American school has refunded $760k of Yahaya Bello’s children fees, says EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says the American International School Abuja (AISA) has refunded the fees paid for the children of Yahaya Bello, immediate-past governor of Kogi state.
Bello allegedly paid $760,910 in advance as fees for five of his children from the coffers of the Kogi state government.
The children are in grade levels 2 to 8 at the school.
“The money has been paid into public account,” Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, told TheCable on Saturday morning.
The anti-graft agency had asked the school to refund the money.
In response to a letter addressed to the Lagos zonal commander of the EFCC, the school said $845,852 was paid in tuition “since the 7th of September 2021 to date”.
AISA said the sum to be refunded is $760,910, because it had deducted educational services already rendered.
“Please forward to us an official written request, with the authentic banking details of the EFCC, for the refund of the above-mentioned funds as previously indicated as part of your investigation into the alleged money laundering activities by the Bello family,” the school said in the letter.
“Since the 7th September 2021 to date, $845,852.84 (Eight Hundred and Forty Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty Two US Dollars and eighty four cents) in tuition and other fees has been deposited into our Bank account.
“We have calculated the net amount to be transferred and refunded to the State, after deducting the educational services rendered as $760,910.84. (Seven Hundred and Sixty Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ten US Dollars and Eighty Four cents).
“No further additional fees are expected in respect of tuition as the students’ fees have now been settled until they graduate from ASIA.”
News
‘Mischievous narrative’ — Yahaya Bello’s media office reacts to ‘American school refunding $760k’ claim
The media office of Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi state, has described claims that the American International School Abuja (AISA) intends to refund $760,000 of school fees paid in advance as a “mischievous narrative”.
On April 26, documents in which AISA asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to provide “authentic banking details” for the refund of fees paid for the children of Bello, made the rounds online.
In a letter addressed to the Lagos zonal commander of the EFCC, the school said the sum of $845,852 has been paid in tuition “since the 7th of September 2021 to date”.
AISA said the sum to be refunded is $760,910, because it had deducted educational services already rendered.
On April 23, Ola Olukoyede, the EFCC chair, had said Bello paid $720,000 in advance as fees for five of his children from the coffers of the Kogi state government.
However, in a statement signed by Ohiare Michael, the ex-governor’s media office said “Yahaya Bello’s children have attended the American International School, Abuja, since before he became Governor, and he has paid their fees as due without fail”.
The statement added that Bello did not use Kogi state funds to pay the fees.
“He did not pay USD720,000 or USD840,000 as alleged. The payment commenced in 2021, not when he was leaving office,” the statement reads.
“He did not use Kogi State Government funds to pay the fees.
“The EFCC’s attempt to recover funds from the school was unsuccessful, and the court mandated the school to continue providing services.
“The documents published online are public documents filed in court and show that Yahaya Bello has nothing to hide.
“The payment is the subject of an ongoing court case, and we await the EFCC’s proof in court.”
Michael added that Bello will not be intimidated by blackmail.
“We will not engage in prejudicial statements while the matter is sub judice,” the statement reads.
“We thank Nigerians who recognize the EFCC’s desperation as personal vendetta.
“We implore others not to be misled by mischievous narratives but to follow the case until justice is served.
“Yahaya Bello will not be intimidated by blackmail and will continue to follow due process.”
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