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National President of Revolutionary Lawyers' Forum, Tope Akinyode, has hailed the decision of a Federal High Court in Lagos, which slammed a N1m fine on the Nigerian Government for disrupting the #RevolutionNow protest of August 5, 2019.

Akinyode in a statement on Monday said that government opened up Nigeria to the highest level of disgrace when it cowardly arrested Convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement, Mr Omoyele Sowore, on August 3, 2019 for organising the protest.

According to him, the ruling showed that Sowore and co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, were innocent of the trumped-up charges government had brought against them at the Federal High Court in Abuja. 

Akinyode said, “We commend Hon. Justice Maureen Onyetenu for her sound reasoning in awarding the sum of N1m and compulsory apology in three national dailies against the Federal Government for wickedly and disgracefully disrupting the RevolutionNow protest on August 5, 2019.

“The Federal Government had opened up Nigeria to the highest level of disgrace when it cowardly arrested Convener of the RevolutionNow Movement, Mr Omoyele Sowore on 3rd August, 2019 for imploring Nigerians to flood the street in protest against the maladministration of the President Muhammadu Buhari regime.

“We had painstakingly taken time to warn the government that the RevolutionNow Movement was entirely constitutional and that the ongoing trial of Sowore on trumped up charges was a big disgrace.

“However, just like the classical quotation that "those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad", the government ignored our call for reasoning.

“Now, we have been vindicated in our position by the judgment today wherein the judge held that the police disruption of the protest on 5th August, 2019 was “illegal, oppressive, undemocratic and unconstitutional”.

“Indeed, the ongoing sham trial of Sowore is absolutely illegal, oppressive, undemocratic and unconstitutional too.

“We hereby urge Hon Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu to follow the impressive reasoning of Justice Onyetenu and decisively quash the baseless charges against Sowore which has been lingering for a while now so that Sowore and his co-defendant would be set free to go about with their businesses without hindrance.”

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Some Nigerians, who experienced temporary layoff and permanent job losses as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak and its impact on the economy, are counting their losses, calling on government to intervene on their behalf.

They spoke in separate interviews with SaharaReporters on Monday.

A worker in an insurance company, who identified herself only as Abeni, was one of those affected by the job loss.

Abeni, who doesn’t want to reveal the name of her ex-employer, said the company decided to dismiss some workers due to the financial impact of the Coronavirus.

“’E don happen! We are sorry to inform you that due to COVID-19 pandemic which is quite unfortunate….’ In a nutshell, I lost my job,” she said.

Another member of staff of an insurance company, who simply gave his name as Femi, said his company ordered some of them to proceed on compulsory leave without pay.

“In the email sent to us, they said because of the pandemic, some workers have to leave. We were sent on compulsory leave without pay.

“As it stands, there is no hope of returning to work, the probability is 50/50,” he said.

SaharaReporters gathered that some media organisations have introduced a deduction in staff salary to stay afloat.

A journalist with one of the national newspapers in Nigeria revealed that the company introduced a slash in salary for those, who decided to continue working while others, who could not take the salary deduction were asked to leave.

Similarly, a top management staff in another online media outfit said the company’s revenue had dropped because of the global economic effect of the pandemic.

She said that while revenue had hugely dropped, the company couldn’t afford to keep running without a cut in expenditure.

“Advertisers are currently not coming because of the pandemic and Google Adsense has dropped payment for ads from dollars to cent.

“We can’t afford to keep running, we can’t pay full salaries and also can’t employ new reporters,” she said.

Experts predict that the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country would lead to more job losses.

Recall that the International Labour Congress had predicted that almost 25 million jobs could be lost worldwide as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.

Similarly, a study by the African Union shows that 20 million jobs are at risk in Africa as the economy of the continent shrinks.

Though the Central Bank of Nigeria had ordered that banks should halt their plans to sack their staff, the fate of millions of others hangs in the balance as more companies continue to lay off workers to shed financial weight.

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The United States Government has told Nigeria to be ready to “replace” the $300m General Sani Abacha loot it returned to the country if the fund was misused. 

According to the U.S. Justice Department, the money must be used for the agreed public projects highlighted in the agreement signed with it before the fund was returned to Nigeria. 

The United States and the British dependency of Jersey agreed with the Nigerian Government in February to return the $300m Abacha loot, according to Reuters. See Also Money JUST IN: Nigerian Government Receives $311m Abacha Loot From United States 0 Comments 3 Hours Ago

The U.S. Justice Department outlined the so-called "claw back" provision in a response to a query from a powerful American senator questioning the prudence of returning the cash.

"Should any of the parties — including the United States —conclude that any of the returned funds had been used for an ineligible expenditure, a "claw-back" provision would then obligate the FRN (Nigeria) to replace fully any such improperly diverted monies," the letter said.

It did not specify how and to whom the money would be "replaced".

The provision is notable as Nigeria continues efforts to repatriate money allegedly stolen during Abacha's brutal regime from 1993 until his death in 1998.

Transparency International estimates that he stole as much as $5bn of public funds during that time. 

 

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A driver at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Akure, Ondo State, has tested positive for Coronavirus. 

A source at IDH disclosed to our correspondent that the driver was showing symptoms of the virus few days ago before his sample was later collected for test.

It was gathered that the driver always carried blood samples and patients for the IDH since the outbreak of Coronavirus in the state.  

Two casual workers attending to patients at the same hospital also tested positive for the virus.

All three persons have since been isolated at the same facility in Akure. 

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu described the driver and the two casual workers as "heros", adding that the state was ready to compensate them for their efforts when they recover from the virus. 

He said, "Both the driver who carries samples to test centres outside the state and the two casual workers in the wards took the highest risk in helping their fellow human beings. They are our heroes. 

"I want their families and loved ones to know that Ondo State Government stands firmly with them and will walk with them through these difficult times until they recover and fully get back their daily lives.

"To further demonstrate our understanding and total commitment to supporting the frontline risk bearers, I have directed immediate absorption into the public service of the infected casual workers at the IDH. 

"I have also approved that all health workers in the state be paid 50 per cent of their consolidated basic salary as hazard allowance."

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The Nigerian Government has confirmed the receipt of $311m looted by late military dictator, General Sani Abacha.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, confirmed this on Monday in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr Umar Gwandu.

Malami said that the loot was repatriated from the United States and the Bailiwick of Jersey.

He said the amount increased significantly from over $308m mentioned in an earlier statement in February to over $311m as a result of the interest that accrued from February 3 to April 28, when the fund was transferred to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Malami said the legal process to have the money returned to Nigeria began in 2014 while the diplomatic process which led to the signing of the agreement on February 3, 2020 by the governments of Nigeria, United States, and the Bailiwick of Jersey, started in 2018.

He said, “This agreement is based on international law and cooperation measures that set out the procedures for the repatriation, transfer, disposition and management of the assets.”

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The Jigawa State Government has confirmed that a pregnant woman had died of COVID-19, bringing the total number of deaths in the state to two.

Abba Zakari, the state’s Commissioner for Health, Abba Zakari, made this known. 

He said, “The state recorded the second death from a pregnant female patient, a resident of Miga Local Government Area of the state, who bled to death as a result of the miscarriage she had at the Dutse Isolation Centre. 

“She is said to be the wife of a Lagos returnee, a resident of Fanisau community in Dutse Local Government Area, who died from the disease.”

The commissioner further said the deceased was initially admitted at two different health facilities in the state before she tested positive for COVID-19. 

The woman has since been buried according to Islamic rites.

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Following the commencement of the gradual lifting of the lockdown occasioned by the outbreak of Coronavirus in the country, commercial banks in the Federal Capital Territory on Monday witnessed an unusually large number of customers in their facilities.

Residents of the city thronged banks from as early as 7:00am on Monday for various transactions but bank officials prevented them from gaining entry into the hall.

The situation led to chaos at the main gates of the many banks as customers struggled to find their ways in. 

Things get a bit out of hand at the at the branch of Eco Bank in the Kubwa area of Abuja as customers threw caution to the wind and violated social distancing in the process of gaining entry into the facility. 

Many of the customers failed to put on face masks and other items to protect them against the virus as mandated by government.

The story was same in all the banks visited in the city by our correspondent on Monday.

Also, many of the government employees had difficulty getting to their offices as a result of checkpoints mounted on the road by security agents to screen those coming into the city.

SaharaReporters also gathered that three buses loaded with persons coming from Zamfara Stare were arrested at a checkpoint in Lugbe, a suburb of Abuja. 

 

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A Michigan store guard is shot in the back of the head after confronting a customer who had no mask.

Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution, and Free Nigeria Coalition have both said that the proposed bill on control of infectious diseases was capable of undermining national security.

The civil society groups said the bill was against certain constitutional powers vested in the President, governors, National Assembly and was not inclined to judicial review. 

In a statement jointly signed by the conveners of both groups, Ariyo-Dare Atoye and Adebayo Raphael on Monday in Abuja, the coalition called on lawmakers not to rush the passage of the bill, maintaining that it had the tendency to emasculate fundamental human and democratic rights. 

The groups went on to urge lawmakers to shelve the idea of embarking on the third reading of the bill because it had no good intention for Nigerians.

See Also Politics Dino Melaye Sues National Assembly Over Controversial Infectious Diseases Bill 0 Comments 2 Hours Ago

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Additional six Coronavirus cases have been recorded in Adamawa State, according to the authorities.

Chairman of the state containment committee, who is also the Secretary to the State Government, Bashiru Ahmad, gave the update in Yola, the state capital, on Monday. 

The SSG also disclosed that the second patient, who escaped from Gombe State isolation facility was apprehended today in Lamurde town.

He further explained that five out of the seven registered cases on Monday were from Mubi town where a medical doctor was discovered with the virus last week.

With this update, Adamawa State now has a dozen cases of the deadly infectious disease.

 

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Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Chikwe Ihekweazu, has said that the country will experience an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases because of the disregard for safety guidelines put in place by citizens.

Residents in Lagos, Ogun and FCT poured out on Monday, besieging banks, markets and motor parks as government gradually eases the total lockdown it imposed on all three cities earlier.

Ihekweazu while speaking at the Presidential Task Force briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja on Monday, said government may be forced to issue another lockdown if cases explode.  NCDC Boss Chikwe Ihekweazu

He said, “It is not the guidelines per se, it is the thinking behind it. How do we want to manage the risk of explosion and transmission? Today, we might forgive a little bit because it is the first day.

“We will have infection because of what happened today, no doubt about that. But how can we learn from the mistakes of today into tomorrow, next tomorrow so by Friday hopefully we have normalised some of these things.

“Yes, we knew today would be a problem because for the first time, people were let out of their homes but now they are out and we have seen the sunlight again, the challenge for us as a society is how do we now organise ourselves to mitigate these risks and limit transmission?  See Also Sahara Reporters COVID-19: Abuja Residents Ignore Safety Rules, Besiege Banks In Large Numbers 0 Comments 7 Hours Ago

“We might have a few extra infection today and tomorrow but what we don’t want is an explosion of new infections.

“If we do have that infection, there will be almost no choice left for the leadership of the country than to ask all of us to go back into our homes.

“So, for the benefit of coming out to reopen parts of the economy, there is a price to pay which is to reorganise ourselves to do this safely.”

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The palace of the Emir of Daura has been sealed after it recorded many cases of COVID-19.

Daura is the hometown of President Muhammadu Buhari in Katsina State. 

According to Dr Mustapha Inuwa, Secretary to the State Government, the results of samples taken will determine when the palace will be reopened.

He said, “It is a normal protocol worldwide that anywhere positive cases are recorded, the places are sealed off and samples taken to address spread.”

Katsina State on Sunday recorded eight new cases of Coronavirus, according to data released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 46.

 

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Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has redeployed some senior officers in the state’s parliament hours after SaharaReporters revealed that he had used his office to approve a N10m monthly allocation to one of his three wives under the guise of gender inclusiveness programme for women.

The programme, according to a document seen by SaharaReporters, would be headed by his wife, who would also be in charge of the funds.  Lagos Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa

In a letter written by the Clerk of the House ordering the release of the funds, the monthly allocation would be for the establishing of a grassroots support programme, which will be centred on socio-economic and political programmes to be coordinated by wives of legislators at the various constituencies.  See Also Exclusive EXCLUSIVE: How Obasa’s Wife Receives N10m Illegal Monthly Allocation From Lagos Assembly 0 Comments 9 Hours Ago

Checks by SaharaReporters revealed that no programme around socio-economic and political activities was established at various constituencies.

Wives of lawmakers interviewed claimed not to know of the allocation or receipt of any such amount from the Speaker’s wife.

They also denied having knowledge of the establishment of any socio-economic and political programmes at their constituencies.

They added that only two meetings have been held between 2018 and now.

Angered by the report, Obasa on Monday sanctioned the redeployment of some senior staff of the Assembly believed to have been behind the leakage of information to SaharaReporters. 

Among those redeployed are Mrs Afolabi-Rufai Moriam Abiola, Chief Admin and HR Officer, who was moved from Employee Relations to LAHASCOM; Akinpelu Olabisi Ajokeade (Mrs), an Assistant Chief Finance and Accounts Officer, was moved from Employee Benefits to LALBRO; Abolaji Muinat Tanwa, an Assistant Chief Finance and Accounts Officer, was moved from FIS to Budget Planning and Statistics Directorate; Omitaomu Liafisi Ekundayo, Principal Finance and Accounts Officer, was also moved from FIS to Budget Planning and Statistics Directorate; and Sadiq Shade Shakirat, Senior Admin and HR Officer, was moved from Library to Learning and Development.

Others redeployed are  Dosunmu Olanike Saidat nee Sarumi, Senior Finance and Accounts Officer, was moved from Employee Benefits to Budget Planning and Statistics Directorate; Ogunbadejo Adedayo Temitope, Senior Finance and Accounts Officer, was moved from Finance and Accounts Directorate to Budget Planning and Statistics Directorate; Gbadamosi Gbenga Michael, Senior Finance and Accounts Officer, was moved from Employee Benefits to LALBRO; Onumonu Adama Esther, a Senior Auditor, was moved from Internal Audit Unit to LAHASCOM, Morakinyo Stephen Olaolu, Finance and Accounts Officer II, was moved from Budget Expenditure Control to LALBRO; Idowu Olubusayo, a Finance and Accounts Officer II, was moved from Budget Expenditure Control to LAHASCOM, and Ogunmekan Shakirat Olajumoke, a Prin. Finance and Account Officer 1, was moved from Employee Benefits to Budget Planning and Statistics Directorate.  See Also Exclusive EXCLUSIVE: In Wasteful Spending Of Public Funds, Lagos Assembly Speaker, Obasa, Approves N47.5m For Quarterly Media Promotion Of House 0 Comments 2 Weeks Ago

Commenting on the redeployment, a key officer in the state Assembly said those moved were those Obasa suspected he does not have close relationship with and could leak his corrupt activities to the public.

“Hon. Obasa pressed the panic button with the redeployment of principal staff of the Assembly’s Finance Department.

“The Speaker who has been in the eye of the storm in the recent past for his financial malfeasance and abuse of office due to SaharaReporters’ investigative journalism, accused the account officers in the Assembly of leaking confidential documents to the public.

“Those redeployed were suspected persons in key finance department in the Assembly,” the source said.

Before the latest revelation, SaharaReporters had exposed how Obasa used a number of companies registered under different names to execute contracts and siphon public funds.  See Also Corruption EXPOSED: Speaker Of Lagos Assembly, Obasa, Awards Contracts To Self Through Company Registered In Son's Name 0 Comments 1 Month Ago

The online news medium also exposed how he spent N17m monthly to maintain his personal residence and guest house from tax payers’ money.  See Also Exclusive Lagos Speaker, Obasa, Gets N17m Monthly For Maintenance Of Personal Residence, Guest House 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

The media organisation also revealed how the Speaker had mobilised thugs with N50m to invade its Civic Media Lab office in Ikeja, Lagos, to burn down the place with anybody found there as a way of getting back at SaharaReporters for exposing his fraudulent activities in the Lagos parliament where he had been feeding fat on public funds. See Also Corruption Lagos Speaker, Obasa, Gives Thugs N50m To Burn Down SaharaReporters' Civic Media Lab, Targets TVC Journalist, HEDA For Criticizing Him 0 Comments 1 Day Ago

 

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Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has redeployed some senior officers in the state’s parliament hours after SaharaReporters revealed that he had used his office to approve a N10m monthly allocation to one of his three wives under the guise of gender inclusiveness programme for women.

The programme, according to a document seen by SaharaReporters, would be headed by his wife, who would also be in charge of the funds.  Lagos Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa

In a letter written by the Clerk of the House ordering the release of the funds, the monthly allocation would be for the establishing of a grassroots support programme, which will be centred on socio-economic and political programmes to be coordinated by wives of legislators at the various constituencies.  See Also Exclusive EXCLUSIVE: How Obasa’s Wife Receives N10m Illegal Monthly Allocation From Lagos Assembly 0 Comments 9 Hours Ago

Checks by SaharaReporters revealed that no programme around socio-economic and political activities was established at various constituencies.

Wives of lawmakers interviewed claimed not to know of the allocation or receipt of any such amount from the Speaker’s wife.

They also denied having knowledge of the establishment of any socio-economic and political programmes at their constituencies.

They added that only two meetings have been held between 2018 and now.

Angered by the report, Obasa on Monday sanctioned the redeployment of some senior staff of the Assembly believed to have been behind the leakage of information to SaharaReporters. 

Among those redeployed are Mrs Afolabi-Rufai Moriam Abiola, Chief Admin and HR Officer, who was moved from Employee Relations to LAHASCOM; Akinpelu Olabisi Ajokeade (Mrs), an Assistant Chief Finance and Accounts Officer, was moved from Employee Benefits to LALBRO; Abolaji Muinat Tanwa, an Assistant Chief Finance and Accounts Officer, was moved from FIS to Budget Planning and Statistics Directorate; Omitaomu Liafisi Ekundayo, Principal Finance and Accounts Officer, was also moved from FIS to Budget Planning and Statistics Directorate; and Sadiq Shade Shakirat, Senior Admin and HR Officer, was moved from Library to Learning and Development.

Others redeployed are  Dosunmu Olanike Saidat nee Sarumi, Senior Finance and Accounts Officer, was moved from Employee Benefits to Budget Planning and Statistics Directorate; Ogunbadejo Adedayo Temitope, Senior Finance and Accounts Officer, was moved from Finance and Accounts Directorate to Budget Planning and Statistics Directorate; Gbadamosi Gbenga Michael, Senior Finance and Accounts Officer, was moved from Employee Benefits to LALBRO; Onumonu Adama Esther, a Senior Auditor, was moved from Internal Audit Unit to LAHASCOM, Morakinyo Stephen Olaolu, Finance and Accounts Officer II, was moved from Budget Expenditure Control to LALBRO; Idowu Olubusayo, a Finance and Accounts Officer II, was moved from Budget Expenditure Control to LAHASCOM, and Ogunmekan Shakirat Olajumoke, a Prin. Finance and Account Officer 1, was moved from Employee Benefits to Budget Planning and Statistics Directorate.  See Also Exclusive EXCLUSIVE: In Wasteful Spending Of Public Funds, Lagos Assembly Speaker, Obasa, Approves N47.5m For Quarterly Media Promotion Of House 0 Comments 2 Weeks Ago

Commenting on the redeployment, a key officer in the state Assembly said those moved were those Obasa suspected he does not have close relationship with and could leak his corrupt activities to the public.

“Hon. Obasa pressed the panic button with the redeployment of principal staff of the Assembly’s Finance Department.

“The Speaker who has been in the eye of the storm in the recent past for his financial malfeasance and abuse of office due to SaharaReporters’ investigative journalism, accused the account officers in the Assembly of leaking confidential documents to the public.

“Those redeployed were suspected persons in key finance department in the Assembly,” the source said.

Before the latest revelation, SaharaReporters had exposed how Obasa used a number of companies registered under different names to execute contracts and siphon public funds.  See Also Corruption EXPOSED: Speaker Of Lagos Assembly, Obasa, Awards Contracts To Self Through Company Registered In Son's Name 0 Comments 1 Month Ago

The online news medium also exposed how he spent N17m monthly to maintain his personal residence and guest house from tax payers’ money.  See Also Exclusive Lagos Speaker, Obasa, Gets N17m Monthly For Maintenance Of Personal Residence, Guest House 0 Comments 1 Week Ago

The media organisation also revealed how the Speaker had mobilised thugs with N50m to invade its Civic Media Lab office in Ikeja, Lagos, to burn down the place with anybody found there as a way of getting back at SaharaReporters for exposing his fraudulent activities in the Lagos parliament where he had been feeding fat on public funds. See Also Corruption Lagos Speaker, Obasa, Gives Thugs N50m To Burn Down SaharaReporters' Civic Media Lab, Targets TVC Journalist, HEDA For Criticizing Him 0 Comments 1 Day Ago

 

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An assistant commissioner of police, Atiku Nagodi, is dead.

Nagodi died on Monday after a brief illness, a police source told SaharaReporters. 

His death is the latest among increasing deaths in Kano.

Nasir Gwarzo, who led a Federal Government medical intervention team to Kano, said his team suspected that the mysterious deaths in the city were caused by Coronavirus.

 

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Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, Prof Itse Sagay (SAN), has reacted to the return of $300m looted by the late dictator, Sani Abacha.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, confirmed the return of the looted funds on Monday in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr Umar Gwandu.

Speaking in an interview with SaharaReporters on Monday, the professor of law said it undermines the sovereignty of Nigeria for the United States to give conditions on the use of the money by the Nigerian Government.  Itse Sagay

The United States Government had told Nigeria to be ready to “replace” the $300m General Sani Abacha loot it returned to the country if the fund was misused. 

According to the U.S. Justice Department, the money must be used for the agreed public projects highlighted in the agreement signed with it before the fund was returned to Nigeria.  See Also Money JUST IN: Nigerian Government Receives $311m Abacha Loot From United States 0 Comments 6 Hours Ago

Sagay further explained that although it was wrong to give conditions, the US resorted to that based on previous experience with returned loot which was stolen upon getting to Nigeria.

Reacting specifically as to whether it was wrong for the US to give conditions on how the money should be spent, Sagay said, “In principle, it is wrong for them (US) to do that, it undermines our sovereignty and I will almost say it’s an insult of some sort given the fact that it is our money, which was taken to their jurisdiction illegally.

“What they (US) are doing is based on experience. We have had a lot of loot; Abacha loot released in the past which was simply relooted by those in power. That happened a lot and the whole world knows that that is why they have been giving conditions.  See Also Money Be Ready To “Replace” Returned $300m Abacha Loot If Misused, United States Tells Nigerian Government 0 Comments 5 Hours Ago

“You find that the social investment project was as a result of this type of situation, where the World Bank was supervising the project because that was the condition, on which whatever money that was released was released.

“In the past, those funds were ‘relooted’ by those in power. It’s a pity because those in power now are the very antithesis of those who were in power then but the international community is not aware of that and it is not prepared to countenance or appreciate that fact.

“I think as long as both parties agree and that is what the government wanted to use it for in the first place or it was not imposed on them, it’s okay.

“Whatever is agreed to, usually it would be a good thing, usually, it will be for the benefit of the most vulnerable at times, maybe infrastructural project. Whatever it is, let the Nigerian government truly apply it to it and then the country will be better for it.”
 

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