These are the stories that drove the conversation today:
A former governor of Plateau, Joshua Dariye, is reported to still earn his allowances and salaries as Senator representing Plateau Central at the National Assembly, despite being in prison.
According to a report by Punch, the lawmaker who was in June, convicted for 14 years by an FCT High Court for laundering public funds to the tune of N1.162bn is still receiving the N750, 000 salary and N13.5m monthly running cost from the National Assembly “because his seat had yet to be declared vacant by the leadership of the national assembly,” and since his conviction been paid N85.5 million as salaries and allowances since his conviction.
As reported by the newspaper, an aide to the former governor, Christopher John, who spoke on the developmet is quoted as saying his principal is still receiving his full allowances as a Senator along with his aides, as he has already appealed the case while the decision of the supreme court is still been awaited.
The Senate on Tuesday declined the confirmation of four nominees as members of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for further legislative input.
In a report presented at Tuesday’s plenary by the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes (EFCC), citing lopsidedness in the proposed appointment, the legislators noted that the South-East and South-South were not represented in the Commission.
The nominees are: Ndasule Moses, Lawan Mamman, Galadanci Imam Najib, and Adeleke Adebayo Rafiu.
In a related development, a former presidential aide in the administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe, is being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abuja as he spends second day in their office.
Acting spokesperson of the agency, Tony Orilade,who spoke to Channels Television on Tuesday, confirmed that Okupe is in its custody, as he has questions to answer over alleged financial activities in his office when he was in government.
Okupe had reported at the office of the anti-graft agency in Wuse, Abuja, following an alleged raid on his Lagos home, wherein he offered to visit the agency’s office instead of following them on Monday and has since remained there.
The Ad hoc committee on under remittance of revenue by some agencies into the federation account set up by the House of Representatives has commenced a four-day investigative public hearing on the alleged issue.
Delivering an address at the commencement of the hearing on Tuesday, Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara recalled that Federation Account Allocation Committee meeting was called off three times in March as a result of controversies regarding non remittance of funds by some agencies, noting that the situation led to delays in payment of salaries of public workers across the country.
He further stressed that with the dwindling funds from the oil sector, it was important to close up all leakages in revenue, while the Chairman of the committee, James Faleke expressed hope that the outcome of the public hearing would reposition revenue generating system at all levels.
Temidayo Taiwo-Sidiq is a Journalist, Political Analyst and Satirist with major interest in Nigerian Politics, Governance and Sports.
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