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The governing party of PM Ludovic Orban could cling to power by allying with smaller parties.

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The Pakistan hospital runs out of oxygen for hours, with patients' relatives 'begging' staff to help.

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Over half of the US state's 40 million people will be affected as intensive care capacity plummets.

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More than 17 million Ghanaians are eligible to vote on Monday's poll to elect a new president and parliament.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared a  former Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, the winner of Bayelsa West Senatorial Bye-election.

Dickson, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, polled  115,257 while Peremobowei Ebebi of the All Progressives Congress Scored 17500 votes.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared a  former Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, the winner of Bayelsa West Senatorial Bye-election.

Dickson, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, polled  115,257 while Peremobowei Ebebi of the All Progressives Congress Scored 17500 votes.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared a  former Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, the winner of Bayelsa West Senatorial Bye-election.

Dickson, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, polled  115,257 while Peremobowei Ebebi of the All Progressives Congress Scored 17500 votes.

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The Lagos State Police Command has said security agencies will not fold their arms as youths plan fresh protests against police brutality and extortion.

This was contained in a  statement on Sunday by the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, titled ‘No room for violent protest, gathering in Lagos’.

Lagos CP Hakeem Odumosu.
The statement was issued after a poster titled “#EndSARS reloaded phase II” went viral on social media.

In a copy of the poster, it was stated that the “phase II” of the #EndSARS protest would begin on Monday, December 7 in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Delta, and Bayelsa.

The demands of the protesters, according to the poster, are “Buhari, Buratai, Sanwo-Olu must resign and face ICC for killing innocent Nigerians at Lekki toll; free all #EndSARS protesters; unfreeze all bank accounts of #EndSARS protesters and referendum.”

Reacting, the police described the organisers as “unpatriotic”, warning that “any unlawful gathering, procession or protest will be suppressed”.

The statement read, “The Lagos State Police Command has again warned against any gathering, procession or protest in Lagos State as some unpatriotic individuals and groups are planning to embark on the replica of the recent destructive and violent Endsars protest that left pains and agonies in Lagos State.

“The Command has reliably gathered intelligence that specific individuals/groups have concluded plans to lure unsuspecting Lagosians, especially youths, into their planned protest which is proposed to commence tomorrow, Monday 7th December 2020 at designated locations in the state.

“The Lagos State Police Command wishes to re-echo and remind the general public that the Government of Lagos State, businesses, individuals, and security families still groan in losses and pains that the last violent Endsars protest occasioned. Lagos State is still nurturing the wounds orchestrated by some violent Endsars protesters and not fit to accommodate such protest for now.

“In the light of the above, the Lagos State Police Command, therefore, warns those who might want to disguise under Endsars protest to cause another set of mayhem, brouhaha and violence in the state, to desist from such plans as the police and other security agencies will not fold their arms seeing individuals or groups orchestrating another violence and anarchy in the state.

“The Command also warns parents and guardians to warn and discourage their children and wards from being lured into any act, gathering or protest capable of causing violence in the state.

“The Command wishes to reiterate that any unlawful gathering, procession or protest will be suppressed professionally in accordance with the provisions of the law. The police command encourages Lagosians and those who are in Lagos for their genuine engagements, to go about their lawful businesses as all hands are on deck to maintain law and order within the length and breadth of Lagos State.”

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The Lagos State Police Command has said security agencies will not fold their arms as youths plan fresh protests against police brutality and extortion.

This was contained in a  statement on Sunday by the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, titled ‘No room for violent protest, gathering in Lagos’.

Lagos CP Hakeem Odumosu.
The statement was issued after a poster titled “#EndSARS reloaded phase II” went viral on social media.

In a copy of the poster, it was stated that the “phase II” of the #EndSARS protest would begin on Monday, December 7 in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Delta, and Bayelsa.

The demands of the protesters, according to the poster, are “Buhari, Buratai, Sanwo-Olu must resign and face ICC for killing innocent Nigerians at Lekki toll; free all #EndSARS protesters; unfreeze all bank accounts of #EndSARS protesters and referendum.”

Reacting, the police described the organisers as “unpatriotic”, warning that “any unlawful gathering, procession or protest will be suppressed”.

The statement read, “The Lagos State Police Command has again warned against any gathering, procession or protest in Lagos State as some unpatriotic individuals and groups are planning to embark on the replica of the recent destructive and violent Endsars protest that left pains and agonies in Lagos State.

“The Command has reliably gathered intelligence that specific individuals/groups have concluded plans to lure unsuspecting Lagosians, especially youths, into their planned protest which is proposed to commence tomorrow, Monday 7th December 2020 at designated locations in the state.

“The Lagos State Police Command wishes to re-echo and remind the general public that the Government of Lagos State, businesses, individuals, and security families still groan in losses and pains that the last violent Endsars protest occasioned. Lagos State is still nurturing the wounds orchestrated by some violent Endsars protesters and not fit to accommodate such protest for now.

“In the light of the above, the Lagos State Police Command, therefore, warns those who might want to disguise under Endsars protest to cause another set of mayhem, brouhaha and violence in the state, to desist from such plans as the police and other security agencies will not fold their arms seeing individuals or groups orchestrating another violence and anarchy in the state.

“The Command also warns parents and guardians to warn and discourage their children and wards from being lured into any act, gathering or protest capable of causing violence in the state.

“The Command wishes to reiterate that any unlawful gathering, procession or protest will be suppressed professionally in accordance with the provisions of the law. The police command encourages Lagosians and those who are in Lagos for their genuine engagements, to go about their lawful businesses as all hands are on deck to maintain law and order within the length and breadth of Lagos State.”

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The vote looks set to hand President Maduro control of the opposition-controlled National Assembly.

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The co-chief executive of Europe's largest online fashion platform is cutting short his contract.

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Byron Bay's beach is eroding away, so how is the headland is to blame?

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Authorities are struggling to stop smugglers moving drugs over the Greek-Albanian border.

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If you've been struck by the feeling of living through history, maybe it's time to write it down.

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A new Netflix film tells the story of Giorgio Rosa and the island he built off the coast of Italy.

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Newly eligible voters could have a big impact on who controls the Senate and define the nature of Joe Biden's presidency.

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The coronavirus pandemic has led millions of young Americans to move back in with their parents.

Six Nigerian nationals, including a woman, were arrested in Navi Mumbai for allegedly living illegally without any valid documents and running a restaurant at a flat in a residential building, police said on Saturday.

The Vashi police raided an apartment in Juhu Gaon on Friday night and found six Nigerian nationals in the premises, senior inspector Sanjeev Dhumal said, according to a report by Republicworld.com.

Vashi police station

The police found that one of the accused, a 47-year- old woman, was operating a restaurant inside the flat, the official said.

The arrested accused have been identified as Obiora Anivavveva (57), Prince Oki John (49), Ahomo Ile Helen (47), Chukudi Luke Usloar (30), Nalomorisa Cosmos Chinenye (50) and Okaiyo Tuchukoa Philip (43), he said.

Offences under relevant sections of the IPC, Epidemic Act, Indian Passport Act, Foreign Nationals Act and Prohibition Act have been registered against the accused, the official said.

Further probe is underway to trace the owner of the apartment, he added. 

 

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There was a drama at the state secretariat of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Owerri when the Election Returning Officer, Hakee Adikum, declared All Progressives Congress, the winner of the Imo North bye-election which held Saturday without returning a candidate.

Adikum, who quickly rose after announcing the results scored by various political parties and their candidates, said, "I now return the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the bye-election held in Imo North on Saturday, December 5."

ChannelsTV

In announcing the results, the Returning Officer said that APC scored 36, 811 votes, while Emmanuel Okewulonu of the Peoples Democratic Party came second with 31, 903 votes.

According to Adikum, APC won in five out of the six Local Government Areas in the senatorial district while PDP won in one LGA.

While PDP won in Obowo LGA where its candidate hails from, the Returning Officer said that APC won in Okigwe, Onuimo, Isiala Mbano, Ehime Mbano, and Ihitte/ Uboma LGAs.

INEC's failure to return any candidate as the winner of the election caused disquiet in the hall, as the supporters of the two persons, Ifeanyi Araraume and Frank Ibezim, laying claims to the APC ticket who were waiting to jubilate outside went home unannounced.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo state, Prof Francis Ezeonu, told journalists that the electoral umpire was unable to return a particular candidate from APC as the winner of the election because of what he called several court orders for and against Araraume and Ibezim of the APC.

The PUNCH reports that an Abuja Federal High court had on Friday disqualified Ibezim from contesting the bye-election election.

The same day, a court of Appeal in Owerri sacked Araraume as the candidate of the APC and declared Ibezim as the authentic candidate of the party.

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There was a drama at the state secretariat of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Owerri when the Election Returning Officer, Hakee Adikum, declared All Progressives Congress, the winner of the Imo North bye-election which held Saturday without returning a candidate.

Adikum, who quickly rose after announcing the results scored by various political parties and their candidates, said, "I now return the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the bye-election held in Imo North on Saturday, December 5."

ChannelsTV

In announcing the results, the Returning Officer said that APC scored 36, 811 votes, while Emmanuel Okewulonu of the Peoples Democratic Party came second with 31, 903 votes.

According to Adikum, APC won in five out of the six Local Government Areas in the senatorial district while PDP won in one LGA.

While PDP won in Obowo LGA where its candidate hails from, the Returning Officer said that APC won in Okigwe, Onuimo, Isiala Mbano, Ehime Mbano, and Ihitte/ Uboma LGAs.

INEC's failure to return any candidate as the winner of the election caused disquiet in the hall, as the supporters of the two persons, Ifeanyi Araraume and Frank Ibezim, laying claims to the APC ticket who were waiting to jubilate outside went home unannounced.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo state, Prof Francis Ezeonu, told journalists that the electoral umpire was unable to return a particular candidate from APC as the winner of the election because of what he called several court orders for and against Araraume and Ibezim of the APC.

The PUNCH reports that an Abuja Federal High court had on Friday disqualified Ibezim from contesting the bye-election election.

The same day, a court of Appeal in Owerri sacked Araraume as the candidate of the APC and declared Ibezim as the authentic candidate of the party.

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The Independent Electoral Commission has declared the state Assembly bye-election conducted in Bakura constituency in Zamfara State on Saturday as inconclusive.

Similarly, two ad-hoc staff of the commission have been declared missing, and their whereabouts were still unknown at the time of filing in this report.

Addressing journalists today, the returning Officer Professor Ibrahim Magawata, said, "The election results of five polling units in Bakura ward have been cancelled."

The affected units, according to Professor Magawata, have a total number of 11,429 votes.

He, however, declared that, so far, the PDP candidate, Alhaji Ibrahim Tudu, has scored the total number of 18645 votes, while the APC candidate, Alhaji Bello Dankande Gamji scored 16464 votes.

"A new date for the conclusion of the election for the affected polling units would be announced later," he added.

 

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The Independent Electoral Commission has declared the state Assembly bye-election conducted in Bakura constituency in Zamfara State on Saturday as inconclusive.

Similarly, two ad-hoc staff of the commission have been declared missing, and their whereabouts were still unknown at the time of filing in this report.

Addressing journalists today, the returning Officer Professor Ibrahim Magawata, said, "The election results of five polling units in Bakura ward have been cancelled."

The affected units, according to Professor Magawata, have a total number of 11,429 votes.

He, however, declared that, so far, the PDP candidate, Alhaji Ibrahim Tudu, has scored the total number of 18645 votes, while the APC candidate, Alhaji Bello Dankande Gamji scored 16464 votes.

"A new date for the conclusion of the election for the affected polling units would be announced later," he added.

 

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The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Tokunbo Abiru, has emerged victorious in the Lagos East senatorial bye-election conducted in the state on Saturday.

The Independent National Electoral Commission announced that Abiru obtained a total of 89,204 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Babatunde Gbadamosi of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Tokunbo Abiru (left), Babatunde Gbadamosi (right).

Gbadamosi secured a total of 11,257 votes to emerge second.

Abiru won in all the five local government areas in the senatorial district.

Candidates from 12 political parties contested the Lagos East Senatorial bye-elections while eight candidates contested the Kosofe Constituency II, Lagos State House of Assembly by-elections.

See Also Elections Nigerians React To Low Turnout In Lagos Bye-Election 0 Comments 16 Hours Ago

The contestants for the senatorial election are Muyiwa Adebanjo, Action Alliance; Ms Mercy Adeoye, African Action Congress, and John Kome, African Democratic Congress.

Others are Adebowale Ogunlaru, Action Democratic Party; Adetokunbo Abiru, All Progressives Congress; Olusola Babatope, Allied Peoples Movement; Mrs Florence Trautman, Labour Party; and Ms Adijat Lawal, New Nigeria Peoples Party.

They also include Babatunde Gbadamosi, Peoples Democratic Party; Akin Olukunle, National Rescue Movement; Saheed Aluko, Social Democratic Party and Taiwo Temitope, Young Progressive Party.

The eight contestants for the Kosofe Constituency II bye-election are John Akerele, AA; Sadiq Olawale, AAC; Wasiu Saheed, APC; Adekunle Oladapo, LP; Muyideen Agoro, NNPP; Ademorin Adelaja, NRM; Sikiru Alebiosu, PDP and Mrs Mary Abojeh, ADC.

The two bye-elections became necessary following the demise of the former occupants who were members of APC.

See results in the five LGAs as reported by Punch newspapers.

Shomolu

APC: 17,728

PDP: 2,067

Epe

APC: 22,213

PDP: 1,826

Ibeju Lekki

APC: 16,336

PDP: 937

Ikorodu

APC: 19,204

PDP: 3,766

Kosofe

APC: 13,723

PDP: 2,661

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The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Tokunbo Abiru, has emerged victorious in the Lagos East senatorial bye-election conducted in the state on Saturday.

The Independent National Electoral Commission announced that Abiru obtained a total of 89,204 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Babatunde Gbadamosi of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Tokunbo Abiru (left), Babatunde Gbadamosi (right).

Gbadamosi secured a total of 11,257 votes to emerge second.

Abiru won in all the five local government areas in the senatorial district.

Candidates from 12 political parties contested the Lagos East Senatorial bye-elections while eight candidates contested the Kosofe Constituency II, Lagos State House of Assembly by-elections.

See Also Elections Nigerians React To Low Turnout In Lagos Bye-Election 0 Comments 16 Hours Ago

The contestants for the senatorial election are Muyiwa Adebanjo, Action Alliance; Ms Mercy Adeoye, African Action Congress, and John Kome, African Democratic Congress.

Others are Adebowale Ogunlaru, Action Democratic Party; Adetokunbo Abiru, All Progressives Congress; Olusola Babatope, Allied Peoples Movement; Mrs Florence Trautman, Labour Party; and Ms Adijat Lawal, New Nigeria Peoples Party.

They also include Babatunde Gbadamosi, Peoples Democratic Party; Akin Olukunle, National Rescue Movement; Saheed Aluko, Social Democratic Party and Taiwo Temitope, Young Progressive Party.

The eight contestants for the Kosofe Constituency II bye-election are John Akerele, AA; Sadiq Olawale, AAC; Wasiu Saheed, APC; Adekunle Oladapo, LP; Muyideen Agoro, NNPP; Ademorin Adelaja, NRM; Sikiru Alebiosu, PDP and Mrs Mary Abojeh, ADC.

The two bye-elections became necessary following the demise of the former occupants who were members of APC.

See results in the five LGAs as reported by Punch newspapers.

Shomolu

APC: 17,728

PDP: 2,067

Epe

APC: 22,213

PDP: 1,826

Ibeju Lekki

APC: 16,336

PDP: 937

Ikorodu

APC: 19,204

PDP: 3,766

Kosofe

APC: 13,723

PDP: 2,661

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The Delta and Edo State governments have spent over N842m on pensions and benefits for two convicted ex-governors in the last 12 years, findings by Sunday PUNCH have shown.

The two former governors, James Ibori of Delta State and Lucky Igbinedion of Edo State were convicted for embezzling public funds between 1999 and 2007.

Lucky Igbinedion (right), James Ibori (left). SaharaReporters Media

Ibori and Igbinedion had shortly before the end of their tenure signed laws that would guarantee life pensions and several benefits for them and their successors.

Igbinedion stole billions of naira from the state’s treasury and was convicted of money laundering and ordered to return N500m as well as three houses. He was sentenced to six months in prison but given the option of paying a fine of N3.5m through a controversial plea bargain with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in 2008

The former Edo State governor had, while in office, signed a law which made all former governors entitled to 100 per cent of all allowances of sitting governors.

The law also makes a former governor to be entitled to an officer not above grade level 12 as a special assistant, and a personal secretary not below grade level 10 who shall be selected by the former governor from the public service of Edo State.

According to the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission, a governor’s basic salary is N185, 308.75 while he is entitled to a hardship allowance of N92, 654.37 and a consistency allowance of N370, 617.50 bringing the total monthly package to N648, 580.62 or N7.7m a year.

The SA and personal secretary are not expected to earn less than N350,000 jointly based on the civil service salary structure.

This implies that Igbinedion has earned about N92.4m from the Edo State treasury since leaving office while N50.4m has been spent on his aides, bringing the total to N142m.

For former Delta State Governor, Ibori, who served between 1999 and 2007, he signed into law the Delta State Governor and Deputy Governor Pension Rights and Other Benefits Law 2005 which was later amended in 2009.

The law makes provision for an ex-governor to be paid allowances and other benefits which were pegged at N50m per year.

Such perks include one duplex in any city of their choice within Nigeria, one sport utility vehicle and a backup car replaceable every two years, an office with four aides, two security personnel and a monthly salary, among others.

This means that Ibori has earned at least N600m and house modestly estimated to be worth N100m bringing the total of funds spent on the former governor at N700m.

Two of a kind: James Ibori (left), Lucky Igbinedion (right). Both are confirmed thieves. Two of a kind: James Ibori (left), Lucky Igbinedion (right). Both are confirmed thieves. PT

Ibori was convicted on February 27, 2012, after pleading guilty to 10 counts of money laundering and conspiracy before a Southwark Crown Court, London for stealing £250m

Defending the payment of the money to Ibori in 2012, the then Commissioner for Information, Mr Chike Ohgeah, said Ibori would continue to be paid yearly until a court nullified his tenure in office.

Ogeah said this in reaction to an affidavit deposed to by the EFCC which accused the state government of enriching the ex-governor.

He said, “The truth is that like every other elected governor who had served the state, Ibori was paid his pension entitlement and other benefits alongside his deputy under existing law. The law is the Delta State Governor and Deputy Governor Pension Rights and Other Benefits Law 2005 and the Delta State Governor and Deputy Governor Pension Rights and Other Benefits (Amendment) Law 2009.”

Speaking with our correspondent, the Deputy Director, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the pension laws were hidden and several Freedom of Information requests sent to the several states were ignored.

He said, “We found out in the course of our research that those laws are not accessible as they should be. Laws are a matter of public records and people should have them but they are so challenging to get. They may say it is not deliberate, but if SERAP cannot get the law, you can imagine what others are facing.

“So, what we did was to write FoI to all the state governors asking if they had pension laws or not and reveal how much has been paid to ex-governors, but most of them did not respond and we have gone to court over the matter.”

Oluwadare said there was a need to scrap the pension laws rather than target only those ex-governors who had been convicted.

“Unfortunately, one thing common with all the state laws, which complies with Section 124(5)is that all the governors can only be denied benefits if they were impeached from office. So, there is no provision for what happens if a governor is convicted in these states. So, this is why you shouldn’t have those laws in the first place because if we start the argument of ex-convict, some people will still end up earning it. So, these laws shouldn’t exist at all.”

When contacted on the telephone, the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, said he was not conversant with the law and thus could not tell if Ibori was still being paid or not.

Responding to a question, he said, “I don’t know, I have not read the law. Go to the House of Assembly. I have not read the law.

The Spokesman for Edo State Governor, Crusoe Osagie, also said the governor’s cabinet had been dissolved and thus he could not comment on the matter.

However, a former governor in Edo State confirmed to our correspondent that indeed he had been receiving a pension.

“It is true. I have been receiving a pension for the last ten years based on the law that was signed by Lucky Igbinedion. However, I am not entitled to N100m house like Adams Oshiomhole. I receive just about N7m a year, and I think it should be more because once you have been governor, there are certain jobs you cannot do anymore. There is a status you have to maintain,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun, said the Assembly had yet to meet to discuss the possibility of repealing the pension law for ex-governors and their deputies, noting that there were more pressing issues to be tackled.

He said, “For now, we have not met concerning the scrapping of the pension for ex-governors and their deputies. But if there is anything like that, the press and the public will surely know.

“The challenge is that people look at laws from the surface and they spontaneously react to them. But if they know the details of these laws, they will understand the principle and what it seeks to achieve. I cannot tell you that we are against the payment of such pension or in support of it.

“People hear that they get jumbo pay, but the question is how much do ex-governors and their deputies earn in Edo State? But the fact is that we have not sat to discuss the issue because there are more burning and pressing issues that affect the people that we need to quickly deal with by putting the right legislation in place that will create an enabling environment for development.”

 

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The Delta and Edo State governments have spent over N842m on pensions and benefits for two convicted ex-governors in the last 12 years, findings by Sunday PUNCH have shown.

The two former governors, James Ibori of Delta State and Lucky Igbinedion of Edo State were convicted for embezzling public funds between 1999 and 2007.

Lucky Igbinedion (right), James Ibori (left). SaharaReporters Media

Ibori and Igbinedion had shortly before the end of their tenure signed laws that would guarantee life pensions and several benefits for them and their successors.

Igbinedion stole billions of naira from the state’s treasury and was convicted of money laundering and ordered to return N500m as well as three houses. He was sentenced to six months in prison but given the option of paying a fine of N3.5m through a controversial plea bargain with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in 2008

The former Edo State governor had, while in office, signed a law which made all former governors entitled to 100 per cent of all allowances of sitting governors.

The law also makes a former governor to be entitled to an officer not above grade level 12 as a special assistant, and a personal secretary not below grade level 10 who shall be selected by the former governor from the public service of Edo State.

According to the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission, a governor’s basic salary is N185, 308.75 while he is entitled to a hardship allowance of N92, 654.37 and a consistency allowance of N370, 617.50 bringing the total monthly package to N648, 580.62 or N7.7m a year.

The SA and personal secretary are not expected to earn less than N350,000 jointly based on the civil service salary structure.

This implies that Igbinedion has earned about N92.4m from the Edo State treasury since leaving office while N50.4m has been spent on his aides, bringing the total to N142m.

For former Delta State Governor, Ibori, who served between 1999 and 2007, he signed into law the Delta State Governor and Deputy Governor Pension Rights and Other Benefits Law 2005 which was later amended in 2009.

The law makes provision for an ex-governor to be paid allowances and other benefits which were pegged at N50m per year.

Such perks include one duplex in any city of their choice within Nigeria, one sport utility vehicle and a backup car replaceable every two years, an office with four aides, two security personnel and a monthly salary, among others.

This means that Ibori has earned at least N600m and house modestly estimated to be worth N100m bringing the total of funds spent on the former governor at N700m.

Two of a kind: James Ibori (left), Lucky Igbinedion (right). Both are confirmed thieves. Two of a kind: James Ibori (left), Lucky Igbinedion (right). Both are confirmed thieves. PT

Ibori was convicted on February 27, 2012, after pleading guilty to 10 counts of money laundering and conspiracy before a Southwark Crown Court, London for stealing £250m

Defending the payment of the money to Ibori in 2012, the then Commissioner for Information, Mr Chike Ohgeah, said Ibori would continue to be paid yearly until a court nullified his tenure in office.

Ogeah said this in reaction to an affidavit deposed to by the EFCC which accused the state government of enriching the ex-governor.

He said, “The truth is that like every other elected governor who had served the state, Ibori was paid his pension entitlement and other benefits alongside his deputy under existing law. The law is the Delta State Governor and Deputy Governor Pension Rights and Other Benefits Law 2005 and the Delta State Governor and Deputy Governor Pension Rights and Other Benefits (Amendment) Law 2009.”

Speaking with our correspondent, the Deputy Director, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the pension laws were hidden and several Freedom of Information requests sent to the several states were ignored.

He said, “We found out in the course of our research that those laws are not accessible as they should be. Laws are a matter of public records and people should have them but they are so challenging to get. They may say it is not deliberate, but if SERAP cannot get the law, you can imagine what others are facing.

“So, what we did was to write FoI to all the state governors asking if they had pension laws or not and reveal how much has been paid to ex-governors, but most of them did not respond and we have gone to court over the matter.”

Oluwadare said there was a need to scrap the pension laws rather than target only those ex-governors who had been convicted.

“Unfortunately, one thing common with all the state laws, which complies with Section 124(5)is that all the governors can only be denied benefits if they were impeached from office. So, there is no provision for what happens if a governor is convicted in these states. So, this is why you shouldn’t have those laws in the first place because if we start the argument of ex-convict, some people will still end up earning it. So, these laws shouldn’t exist at all.”

When contacted on the telephone, the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, said he was not conversant with the law and thus could not tell if Ibori was still being paid or not.

Responding to a question, he said, “I don’t know, I have not read the law. Go to the House of Assembly. I have not read the law.

The Spokesman for Edo State Governor, Crusoe Osagie, also said the governor’s cabinet had been dissolved and thus he could not comment on the matter.

However, a former governor in Edo State confirmed to our correspondent that indeed he had been receiving a pension.

“It is true. I have been receiving a pension for the last ten years based on the law that was signed by Lucky Igbinedion. However, I am not entitled to N100m house like Adams Oshiomhole. I receive just about N7m a year, and I think it should be more because once you have been governor, there are certain jobs you cannot do anymore. There is a status you have to maintain,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun, said the Assembly had yet to meet to discuss the possibility of repealing the pension law for ex-governors and their deputies, noting that there were more pressing issues to be tackled.

He said, “For now, we have not met concerning the scrapping of the pension for ex-governors and their deputies. But if there is anything like that, the press and the public will surely know.

“The challenge is that people look at laws from the surface and they spontaneously react to them. But if they know the details of these laws, they will understand the principle and what it seeks to achieve. I cannot tell you that we are against the payment of such pension or in support of it.

“People hear that they get jumbo pay, but the question is how much do ex-governors and their deputies earn in Edo State? But the fact is that we have not sat to discuss the issue because there are more burning and pressing issues that affect the people that we need to quickly deal with by putting the right legislation in place that will create an enabling environment for development.”

 

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The Delta and Edo State governments have spent over N842m on pensions and benefits for two convicted ex-governors in the last 12 years, findings by Sunday PUNCH have shown.

The two former governors, James Ibori of Delta State and Lucky Igbinedion of Edo State were convicted for embezzling public funds between 1999 and 2007.

Lucky Igbinedion (right), James Ibori (left). SaharaReporters Media

Ibori and Igbinedion had shortly before the end of their tenure signed laws that would guarantee life pensions and several benefits for them and their successors.

Igbinedion stole billions of naira from the state’s treasury and was convicted of money laundering and ordered to return N500m as well as three houses. He was sentenced to six months in prison but given the option of paying a fine of N3.5m through a controversial plea bargain with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in 2008

The former Edo State governor had, while in office, signed a law which made all former governors entitled to 100 per cent of all allowances of sitting governors.

The law also makes a former governor to be entitled to an officer not above grade level 12 as a special assistant, and a personal secretary not below grade level 10 who shall be selected by the former governor from the public service of Edo State.

According to the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission, a governor’s basic salary is N185, 308.75 while he is entitled to a hardship allowance of N92, 654.37 and a consistency allowance of N370, 617.50 bringing the total monthly package to N648, 580.62 or N7.7m a year.

The SA and personal secretary are not expected to earn less than N350,000 jointly based on the civil service salary structure.

This implies that Igbinedion has earned about N92.4m from the Edo State treasury since leaving office while N50.4m has been spent on his aides, bringing the total to N142m.

For former Delta State Governor, Ibori, who served between 1999 and 2007, he signed into law the Delta State Governor and Deputy Governor Pension Rights and Other Benefits Law 2005 which was later amended in 2009.

The law makes provision for an ex-governor to be paid allowances and other benefits which were pegged at N50m per year.

Such perks include one duplex in any city of their choice within Nigeria, one sport utility vehicle and a backup car replaceable every two years, an office with four aides, two security personnel and a monthly salary, among others.

This means that Ibori has earned at least N600m and house modestly estimated to be worth N100m bringing the total of funds spent on the former governor at N700m.

Two of a kind: James Ibori (left), Lucky Igbinedion (right). Both are confirmed thieves. Two of a kind: James Ibori (left), Lucky Igbinedion (right). Both are confirmed thieves. PT

Ibori was convicted on February 27, 2012, after pleading guilty to 10 counts of money laundering and conspiracy before a Southwark Crown Court, London for stealing £250m

Defending the payment of the money to Ibori in 2012, the then Commissioner for Information, Mr Chike Ohgeah, said Ibori would continue to be paid yearly until a court nullified his tenure in office.

Ogeah said this in reaction to an affidavit deposed to by the EFCC which accused the state government of enriching the ex-governor.

He said, “The truth is that like every other elected governor who had served the state, Ibori was paid his pension entitlement and other benefits alongside his deputy under existing law. The law is the Delta State Governor and Deputy Governor Pension Rights and Other Benefits Law 2005 and the Delta State Governor and Deputy Governor Pension Rights and Other Benefits (Amendment) Law 2009.”

Speaking with our correspondent, the Deputy Director, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the pension laws were hidden and several Freedom of Information requests sent to the several states were ignored.

He said, “We found out in the course of our research that those laws are not accessible as they should be. Laws are a matter of public records and people should have them but they are so challenging to get. They may say it is not deliberate, but if SERAP cannot get the law, you can imagine what others are facing.

“So, what we did was to write FoI to all the state governors asking if they had pension laws or not and reveal how much has been paid to ex-governors, but most of them did not respond and we have gone to court over the matter.”

Oluwadare said there was a need to scrap the pension laws rather than target only those ex-governors who had been convicted.

“Unfortunately, one thing common with all the state laws, which complies with Section 124(5)is that all the governors can only be denied benefits if they were impeached from office. So, there is no provision for what happens if a governor is convicted in these states. So, this is why you shouldn’t have those laws in the first place because if we start the argument of ex-convict, some people will still end up earning it. So, these laws shouldn’t exist at all.”

When contacted on the telephone, the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, said he was not conversant with the law and thus could not tell if Ibori was still being paid or not.

Responding to a question, he said, “I don’t know, I have not read the law. Go to the House of Assembly. I have not read the law.

The Spokesman for Edo State Governor, Crusoe Osagie, also said the governor’s cabinet had been dissolved and thus he could not comment on the matter.

However, a former governor in Edo State confirmed to our correspondent that indeed he had been receiving a pension.

“It is true. I have been receiving a pension for the last ten years based on the law that was signed by Lucky Igbinedion. However, I am not entitled to N100m house like Adams Oshiomhole. I receive just about N7m a year, and I think it should be more because once you have been governor, there are certain jobs you cannot do anymore. There is a status you have to maintain,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun, said the Assembly had yet to meet to discuss the possibility of repealing the pension law for ex-governors and their deputies, noting that there were more pressing issues to be tackled.

He said, “For now, we have not met concerning the scrapping of the pension for ex-governors and their deputies. But if there is anything like that, the press and the public will surely know.

“The challenge is that people look at laws from the surface and they spontaneously react to them. But if they know the details of these laws, they will understand the principle and what it seeks to achieve. I cannot tell you that we are against the payment of such pension or in support of it.

“People hear that they get jumbo pay, but the question is how much do ex-governors and their deputies earn in Edo State? But the fact is that we have not sat to discuss the issue because there are more burning and pressing issues that affect the people that we need to quickly deal with by putting the right legislation in place that will create an enabling environment for development.”

 

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