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CSO seeks comprehensive data on COVID-19 donations, expenditure

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Connected Development (CODE)  a civil society organisation, has urged Federal and State Governments to provide comprehensive data of interventions, recipient organisations and expenditure of donated funds for tackling COVID-19.

ALSO READ:COVID-19: Germany to evacuate citizens from Nigeria

The Chief Executive Officer of CODE, Mr Hamzat Lawal, made this call in a statement on Tuesday  in Abuja.

Lawal said the group demanded the breakdown of the 50 per cent contribution by the 43 Cabinet ministers who pledged half of their March 2020 salary to support the Federal Government effort to combat the Coronavirus pandemic in the country.

“Following the spate of donations and interventions to tackle the current pandemic threatening Nigerian healthcare system, CODE is holding the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to transparency standards.

“According to CODE, trust in Nigerian public institutions has recently been measured by lack of transparency, poor accountability and poor communication.

“However, the current crisis provides an opportunity for the Nigerian Government to regain citizens’ trust in its fight to end the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While commending donations by well-meaning Nigerians and Organisations, CODE notes that although donations have risen to N44 billion, there is no clarity from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health on proper collation and disbursement.”

Lawal said the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari, had earlier responded to CODE on twitter, stating that NNPC and its 30 partners donated about N11 billion.

He said that Kyari said that NNPC would donate in kind and donors would follow their company procurement processes to deliver on their pledges.

According to him, there is need to know which partner donated what? How much is cash and how much is in kind?

“The vagueness of this response makes it impossible to hold either NNPC, its partners or the NCDC to account,” he said.

Lawal further said that President Muhammadu Buhari had instructed in his COVID-19 speech that “all contributions and donations be coordinated and centralised to ensure efficient and impactful spending”.

“How is the Presidential Task Force looking to effect this? What measures have the Ministry of Health, the NCDC and the Ministry of Finance put in place to collect, aggregate funds and ensure proper utilisation?

“These are pertinent questions that require timely responses.

“Now is the time for the government ministries to champion a culture of transparency, consistency and high-quality communications,” he said.

Lawal said that CODE would utilise its social accountability platform, www.ifollowthemoney.org, with over 5,300 members and its well structured community mobilisation strategy to advocate strongly for improved healthcare facilities for all as the nation combats COVID-19.

He said that citizens would be provided online tools to monitor, drive conversation to spark actions and advocate for a transparent and inclusive approach.

He said that the group would urge government stakeholders to make public all funds released for the fight against COVID-19 and its implementation plans.

He said that CODE had severally urged the federal government and the Ministry of Health to prioritise the nation’s healthcare sector.

Lawal said that CODE’s call for accountability and transparency in the sector was to prepare the country to tackle challenges that a pandemic like the Coronavirus presented.

He said that the group was disturbed that the existing healthcare structure in the nation was not sufficient to combat the pandemic, especially with the prediction that COVID-19 cases in Nigeria may rise to up to 39,000.

He however said that CODE was hopeful that the interventions and other non-monetary resources would cushion the gaps and develop Nigeria’s healthcare system.

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Kaduna Government Allegedly Orders Activist’s Arrest Over Anti-APC Remarks

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By: Fabian Apechihin

The Kaduna State Government under Governor Uba Sani has allegedly ordered the arrest of political activist Zamani Musa, popularly known as Mycah Dangata, following comments in which he urged residents to vote against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to sources familiar with the matter, Dangata was reportedly arrested after publicly campaigning against the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Sani. He was also said to have called on Kaduna residents to reject all APC candidates in future elections.

Sources told SaharaReporters that the activist’s arrest followed the circulation of a video he recorded shortly after the APC primaries. In the video, Dangata allegedly declared support for the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) and former Senator Danjuma Laah, while advocating for a power shift to Southern Kaduna.

A source claimed that Dangata was arrested by Operation Fushin Kaduna, a security outfit established by the state government in collaboration with the Kaduna State Police Command and other security agencies to combat banditry, kidnapping, and illegal arms trafficking.

“He was arrested by Operation Fushin Kaduna, the state security outfit composed of policemen,” the source alleged.

Another source suggested that Dangata may have drawn the government’s displeasure after comparing Governor Sani unfavourably with former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai.

Activist Criticises Governor Sani

In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, Dangata, speaking in Hausa, criticised Governor Sani’s leadership style and political decisions. He praised El-Rufai, arguing that the former governor adopted a more people-centred approach to governance.

According to Dangata, El-Rufai allowed communities greater freedom in choosing their preferred candidates, whereas he accused the current administration of imposing candidates on local communities.

He further urged residents to unite politically against the APC, stating that those concerned about Kaduna State’s future should work together to defeat the ruling party at all levels of government.

“We should vote out Asiwaju (President Tinubu), vote out Uba Sani, and vote out every candidate presented by the APC,” he said.

Dangata described the alleged imposition of candidates as inconsistent with democratic principles and argued that residents should collectively oppose what he characterised as undemocratic practices.

As of the time of filing this report, the Kaduna State Government and security authorities had not publicly responded to the allegations surrounding the activist’s arrest.

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One Killed, Several Houses Burnt as Suspected Militias Attack Benue Community

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By: Fabian Apechihin

Suspected militia members have attacked a community in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, killing one person and setting several houses ablaze before fleeing the area.

According to reports, troops operating under Sector 1, in collaboration with personnel of the Benue State Civil Protection Guards, responded to a distress call at approximately 8:30 a.m. on June 4 following an attack on residents of Mbasa community in Utange Council Ward.

Security operatives swiftly deployed to the area but found that the assailants had already escaped before their arrival.

A preliminary assessment revealed that one resident lost his life during the attack, while several homes were destroyed by fire allegedly set by the attackers.

During a search of the scene, security personnel recovered two empty 7.62mm special ammunition cartridges, suggesting that firearms were used in carrying out the assault.

The victim’s body was later evacuated by family members for burial in accordance with local customs and traditions.

Military authorities stated that efforts are ongoing to apprehend those responsible for the attack. They also confirmed that security presence has been strengthened in the area to prevent further violence and reassure residents of their safety.

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EFCC Arraigns Husband, Wife for N1bn Fraud in Ado-Ekiti

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Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a self-styled native doctor, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo, and his wife, Awolegan Omolola Omotola, for an alleged contract scam to the tune of N1,098,961,500 (One Billion, Ninety Eight Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-one Thousand, Five Hundred Naira Only).

The couple were arraigned before Justice Abubakar Usman of the Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on a six-count charge bordering of obtaining money by false pretence and retention of proceeds of crime contrary to Section 17(a) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004.

Taiwo and Omotola ran into trouble when a widow, Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, a proprietor of a private school in Delta State, petitioned the EFCC alleging that the first defendant, Taiwo, approached her to finance a road construction contract purportedly awarded to him by the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

Kenechukwu further alleged that a total sum of N1,980,000,000.00 (One Billion, Nine Hundred and Eighty Million Naira Only) was paid into Taiwo’s account domiciled with Access Bank Plc.

Investigation further revealed that the couple invested the proceeds of the illicit activities in the acquisition of two properties in Ado-Ekiti, namely: Town Tavern Lounge, located at No. 1, Ikere Road, off Florence Court School, Ado-Ekiti, and a four-bedroom bungalow located on Florence Court, Irewolede Estate, Ado-Ekiti

The Commission had on Monday, May 25, 2026 secured the interim attachment of the two properties.

Count 2 of the charge reads:
“That you, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo and Awolegan Omolola Omotola, sometime between January 2024 and November 2025, in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N1,098,961,500.00 (One Billion, Ninety-Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty-One Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) from one Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, which was paid to you through Olorunbukunmi Taiwo’s account number 0027303340 domiciled with Access Bank Plc, by falsely representing that same would be used to execute a road construction contract awarded to you by the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADobobEC), a pretence you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.

Following their pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Sesan Ola, prayed the court to fix a date for trial and order the remand of the defendants.

Justice Usman adjourned the matter until Thursday, June 11, 2026, for hearing of the bail application, and commencement of trial. The judge also ordered the remand of the defendants in the EFCC custody.

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