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Osun Govt Suspends Two Heads Of Agencies
Osun State Government has approved the immediate suspension of Dr Niyi Oginni, the Executive Secretary of Osun Health Insurance Agency (OHIS) and Dr. Adebukola Olujide, the Head of the Primary Healthcare Development Board.
This was contained in a statement signed by Hashim Abioye Esq., Secretary of Osun Committee on Contracts Review, on Friday.
According to Abioye, the directive came from Committee’s Chairman, Hon. Niyi Owolade, consequent upon the deliberations and resolutions of the Committee members.
“The directive followed revelations that a large chunk of fees accrued to the state government as tender fees for contracts awarded for infrastructures and supplies under the past administration was not paid to the treasury, noting that the illegitimate practice had resulted in loss of hundreds of millions of naira in revenue for Osun state on yearly basis.
“The Committee expressed shock when some Agencies of Government only rushed to pay tender fees of contracts already awarded in the past only after the Committee set up by the new administration in the State took them up on that. Examples abound in the Osun Health Insurance Agency where the Executive Secretary only rushed to pay the tender fees for the OHIS headquarters building contract two days after interrogation by the Committee when the contract is already reaching an advanced stage. It is even disheartening that as against the actual sum collected from each of three (3) contractors as tender fee for the contract which was not at all paid into the State’s treasury, Dr. Oginni only rushed to pay the sum of seven hundred and fifty thousand naira each to the State purse two days after the Committee interrogated him.
“The Committee condemned the unethical practices of the respective career heads of the OSHIA and the Primary Health Care Board as distasteful of Heads of Government Agencies given the rate at which contract awards were carried out without due process, non-remittance of actual tender fee collected from contractors to the State’s treasury, contracts without value for money like the PHCs, deliberate split awards of contracts resulting in outrageous inflation in contract sums, awards to cronies, blood relations, and many other anomalies.
“It is on record from the Committee’s findings that the OHIS Career Head gave contracts to the tune of several millions of Naira to his own biological daughter and his own private Hospital in the Agency he is heading, while the Acting Career Head in the Primary Health Care lied on oath when she falsely denied knowledge of all contracts of infrastructures and supplies in the PHCs, resorting to bulk-passing and blame trading.
“However, pending the final conclusion of the Committee’s sittings, it is expedient that all outstanding tender fees for supplies and infrastructures contracts in all Agencies of Government, which are in hundreds of millions of naira be immediately pursued and paid into the State’s purse without further delay.
“It is equally expedient that the respective Career Heads of OSHIA and the PHCDB be immediately suspended so as not to further put the health of Osun workers and citizens in avoidable risks due to incompetence and corruption”, the statement concluded.
Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is set to address a world press conference at his residence in Abuja on Friday.
The specific reason for the media briefing has not been disclosed as of the time of filing this report.
SEE ALSO: Mambilla: ICC Orders Sunrise Power to Pay Nigeria $11.8m After 9-Year Battle
Atiku’s planned engagement comes amid several developments attracting public attention, including a recent report from TheCable concerning a $500,000 payment allegedly transferred in 2003 to his former wife, Jennifer Douglas, by Leno Adesanya, promoter of Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited.
TheCable reported that Adesanya told an international arbitration tribunal that the payment was part of a foreign-exchange transaction carried out for Atiku.
The report further stated that the payment was made through China Castle Investments Limited, an offshore company controlled by Adesanya.
The development comes shortly after an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) tribunal ruled in favour of Nigeria in the $2.35 billion arbitration dispute brought by Sunrise Power over the Mambilla hydropower project.
The tribunal also ordered Sunrise Power and its promoter to reimburse Nigeria for a portion of its legal fees and expenses.
However, there is currently no official indication that Atiku’s scheduled press conference is connected to the Sunrise Power report, the arbitration ruling or any other specific issue.
The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that no one found culpable in the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State will be shielded.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, gave the assurance in a statement released on Friday while expressing the Federal Government’s condolences to the Niger State Government, the families of the deceased and the people of the Wushishi community.
The deaths occurred following the arrest of the suspected illegal miners during enforcement operations against illegal mining activities in the Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Niger State.
ALSO READ: 37 Miners’ Deaths: Interior Minister Arrives Minna, Set to Inspect Detention Centre
Idris said the circumstances surrounding the deaths require a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation, stressing that the government’s responsibility is to establish the facts and ensure justice is served.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had ordered the suspension of the Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and directed a full investigation into the incident.
“The swift action taken by the Honourable Minister of Interior underscores the seriousness with which the Federal Government views this matter,” Idris said.
He added that the investigation would be allowed to establish exactly what happened and that appropriate action would be taken based on its findings.
“There will be no attempt to shield anyone found culpable. At the same time, we mustn’t prejudge the outcome of the investigation. The Government’s responsibility is to ensure that the facts are established and that justice is served,” the minister said.
Idris stressed that while the Federal Government remains committed to combating illegal mining and other unlawful activities, enforcement operations must be conducted within the law and with respect for human life and dignity.
He appealed for calm in Wushishi and across Niger State, urging residents and other concerned parties to allow the investigation to proceed without interference.
The minister also assured the families of the deceased and the people of Niger State that the Federal Government shares in their grief and remains committed to fully establishing the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Friday arrived at the Niger State Government House in Minna following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The minister’s visit comes as pressure mounts on authorities to explain the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the detainees.
SEE ALSO: How Can 37 Suspected Illegal Miners Die in Gov’t Custody? Nigerians Demand Answers
Tunji-Ojo is expected to meet with officials of the Niger State Government as part of his visit to the state.
He is also expected to proceed to the detention centre where the suspected illegal miners were held before their deaths.
The incident has sparked public concern and protests in Minna, with residents demanding answers over the deaths of the detainees while in government custody.
The Federal Government has ordered an investigation into the incident, while the Niger State NSCDC commandant has been suspended pending the outcome of the probe.
Details shortly…….
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