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Reps spokesman to Akpabio: Make public your claims
The spokesman for the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu (APC-Abia) has allegef that the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, has not proved his allegations against members of the parliament.
In a statement, Kalu challenged the minister to go public with documents to prove that 60 per cent of contracts in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) were awarded to lawmakers.
He recalled that Akpabio had made the allegation at an investigative hearing on the alleged N40 billion financial malfeasance in the NDDC.
He recalled that the Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabimila, challenged the minister to publish the list of the members within 48 hours.
According to him, instead of publishing the list for the world to see in the interest of transparency, the minister chose to send an eight-paragraph private letter to the speaker.
Kalu explained that the letter by the minister made reference to projects of 2018 which pre-date the 9th House of Representatives and had little to do with the bogus allegation.
“The House therefore reiterates that the minister was given an ultimatum to publish names and not to write a personal letter to the speaker.
“The minister is hereby cautioned to desist from spinning tales and is invited to go public as instructed.
“Nevertheless, it will interest Nigerians to know that paragraph three of the minister’s letter fully exonerated the 9th Assembly.
“Also, in paragraph seven, the minister completely withdrew his previous statement about 60 per cent of the NDDC projects being awarded to members of the 9th Assembly.
“It is also instructive for Nigerians to note that the total number of projects in the 2019 NDDC budget was 5959 out of which 5416 projects were rolled over from 2018, which the 9th Assembly obviously had no influence or control over,” he said.
Kalu said that Akpabio presented an ineffectual spreadsheet of only 266 projects out of which about 20 projects were attracted by past members of the National Assembly as constituency projects.
He said that the projects were given to the members as contractors, but in furtherance of their representative mandate for the constituency.
According to him, the projects presented in the Akpabio’s letter are not within the scope of the investigation and has do nothing to address the leadership’s ultimatum.
Kalu said that contrary to the mischievous narrative being peddled on the internet, the only mention of the Chairman of the NDDC Committee of the 9th House of Representatives, Rep. Olubumi Tunji-Ojo in that letter, was as to his alleged request for the complete payment of 19 contractors.
The legislator said that the contractors had had approached Tunji-Ojo with complaints over NDDC’s non-payment for their services.
He added that the allegation had been completely refuted by Tunji-Ojo and for which there is no evidence linking him.
The spokesman, however, said that the directive to press charges against the Akpabio has not been lifted by the House as the leadership was busy considering the weight of the minister’s letter.
“If it does not clear the doubt and wrong perception, it will be sent to the court for clearance as the speaker stated,” he added.(NAN)
By: Fabian Apechihin
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has resigned from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet amid a growing controversy surrounding his academic credentials.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed Nnaji’s resignation in a statement issued late Tuesday.
Nnaji’s exit follows mounting allegations that his academic certificates were forged. Investigations revealed that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), disowned the Bachelor of Science degree he claimed to possess, stating that he never completed his studies at the institution and was therefore not issued any certificate.
According to UNN Vice-Chancellor Prof. Simon U. Ortuanya, Nnaji was admitted in 1981 but failed to meet the requirements for graduation.
In a related development, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) reportedly disowned the certificate of national service presented by Nnaji, describing it as fake.
His resignation marks the latest in a series of controversies to hit the Tinubu administration over questions of integrity and accountability among public officials.
INEC chairman, prof. Mahmood Yakubu has concluded his second tenure as INEC chairman today.
After ten years in office, prof. Mahmood yakubu handed over to inec national commissioner, May Agbamuche Mbu, as acting INEC chairman, pending the appointment of a new INEC chairman by the president.
The handing over was made during a meeting with resident electoral commissioners
Israel Launches Heavy Airstrikes in Gaza as Ceasefire Talks Collapse
Tensions in the Middle East have surged once again as Israel carried out a series of heavy airstrikes on Gaza late Sunday night, following the collapse of ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
According to international reports, the strikes targeted areas suspected of housing Hamas infrastructure, including tunnels, weapons storage sites, and command centers. Witnesses described powerful explosions that lit up the night sky, with plumes of smoke and debris rising across Gaza City. Emergency responders have been racing to rescue civilians trapped under the rubble, while hospitals struggle to cope with a growing number of casualties.
The Palestinian health ministry reported several deaths and dozens of injuries, though the exact figures remain unclear amid the chaos.
The renewed violence follows weeks of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas aimed at achieving a durable ceasefire and improving humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Sources close to the negotiations said discussions collapsed over disputes concerning prisoner swaps, border access, and security assurances.
Israeli officials said the airstrikes were a “necessary response” to continued rocket attacks from Gaza, while Hamas vowed swift retaliation.
The United Nations, the European Union, and several world leaders have called for restraint and a resumption of dialogue to prevent the situation from spiraling into a wider conflict. Meanwhile, civilians on both sides continue to bear the brunt of the violence—facing blackouts, food shortages, and growing fear as hopes for peace once again fade.
BREAKING: Tinubu’s Minister, Uche Nnaji, Resigns Amid Certificate Forgery Scandal
INEC Chairman, Yakubu Hands Over
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