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Account For N729bn Payment To Poor Nigerians, Court Orders Sadiya Umar-Farouq

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7 months ago

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The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disasters Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, to account for payments of N729bn to 24.3 million poor Nigerians for six months.

 

The court also ordered the former minister to provide the list and details of the beneficiaries who received the payments, the number of states covered, and the payments per state.

 

The judgment was delivered in June by Justice Deinde Isaac Dipeolu following a Freedom of Information suit number: FHC/L/CS/853/2021, brought by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project.

 

The certified true copy of the judgment was obtained last Friday by the organisation.

 

In his judgment, Justice Dipeolu held that “The former minister is compelled by the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act to give information to any person, including SERAP. I therefore grant an order of mandamus directing and compelling the minister to provide the spending details of N729 billion to 24.3 million poor Nigerians in 2021.”

 

Justice Dipeolu ordered the minister to “provide SERAP with details of how the beneficiaries have been selected and the mechanisms for the payments to the beneficiaries.”

 

The judge also ordered the minister to “explain the rationale for paying N5,000 to 24.3 million poor Nigerians, which translates to five per cent of Nigeria’s budget of N13.6 trillion for 2021.”

 

She ruled that “the minister did not give any reason for the refusal to disclose the details sought by SERAP. SERAP has reeled out the relevant sections of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 that the minister contravened and has, in line with sections 20 and 25(1) of the Act, prayed this Court for an order of mandamus to direct and compel the minister to provide the information sought.”

 

Justice Dipeolu dismissed the objections raised by the minister’s counsel and upheld SERAP’s arguments.

 

Consequently, the court entered judgment in favour of SERAP

against the minister.

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Society

DSS Arrests, Detains Lagos House of Assembly Members Over Obasa’s Removal As Speaker

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6 days ago

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January 30, 2025

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The last may not have been heard over the crisis rocking the Lagos State House of Assembly as two members of the House, Hon. Lanre Afinni and Hon. Sylvester Ogunkelu are currently being detained at the DSS office in the State.

 

According to an impeccable source from the House, the two are facing interrogation in connection with the removal of Hon Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker.

 

 

Obasa was removed as Speaker by the majority of the members on January 13 and replaced with the former Deputy Speaker, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda.

 

 

In solidarity with their colleagues, the Deputy Speaker, Hon Mojeed Fatai with some other members of the House stormed the DSS office to secure their release.

 

 

Details later…

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Society

EFCC Arrests Ex-NHIS Boss Usman Yusuf

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6 days ago

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January 30, 2025

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Professor Usman Yusuf, the former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has been apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

 

Society Reporters reports that The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the arrest to Channels Television during a phone interview on Wednesday.

 

 

Professor Yusuf was taken into custody following a raid on his residence by EFCC operatives.

 

 

The Commission has announced that he is scheduled to be arraigned today January 30, 2025.

 

 

This arrest follows a petition submitted to the previous administration under former President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Ministry of Health, citing allegations of misconduct and fraudulent activities.

 

 

Professor Yusuf was dismissed from his position in 2019, a decision made seven months after a fact-finding panel from the Federal Ministry of Health recommended his removal due to alleged mismanagement of 919 million Naira.

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Society

Just In: APC expels Rauf Aregbesola

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7 days ago

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January 29, 2025

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The All Progressives Congress, APC, has expelled Rauf Aregbesola, a former Minister of Interior and ex-Osun State Governor, over alleged anti-party activities.

 

Aregbesola, who was a two-term governor of Osun State had been having a running battle with the Osun chapter of the APC in recent times.

 

The disagreement with the APC led him into forming a factional group within the party, known as The Osun Progressive (TOP) which later mutated into the Omoluabi Caucus.

 

 

 

A letter from the APC leadership seen by newsmen on Wednesday officially confirmed Aregbesola’s expulsion.

 

The letter, titled “Allegations of Anti-Party Activities – Conveyance of State Exco Decision to You,” accused him of breaching Article 21 of the party’s constitution, which outlines disciplinary measures for members.

 

The letter read in part, “At the end of the investigation, the State Executive Committee (SEC) considered the report of the Disciplinary Committee. Having carefully reviewed the findings and recommendations, the SEC resolved to approve your immediate expulsion from the APC.

 

 

The decision was predicated on clear evidence of your actions, which undermined the unity and integrity of the party. As a result, you are no longer a member of the APC and must refrain from holding yourself out as one or acting on behalf of the party in any capacity.”

 

More details to come…..

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