February 03, 2012

Page 1

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

News Robbers steal $600,000 at Lagos Airport cash shop Sport Coach Keshi invites 30 for Nigeria-Liberia friendly Business Govt loses N37b to import waivers, says Customs

P7 P24 P11

www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 7, NO. 2024 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

N150.00

Pension cartel ‘rakes in N3.3b monthly’ T

HE Chairman of the Presidential Task Team on Pension, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, yesterday said a pension fraud cartel was swindling the Federal Government of about N3.3billion monthly before the team was put in place. He said after verification by his team, the pension

•Mr Nta

By Our Reporter

rates being paid by the government reduced from N5billion to N1.7billion. He said the N28billion police pension fund found in an account will be returned to the Budget Office. Maina, who spoke at a meeting with the Acting Chairman of the Independ-

ent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ekpo Nta, said the team has recovered N151billion embezzled funds and assets from corrupt civil servants, especially those in charge of the Pension Office. He said a civil servant, who was involved in the pension racket, had 555

accounts. “A figure of 258,000 pensioners was submitted to the Budget Office by the ‘cartel’ in the Pension Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for which N5 billion was usually released monthly. “But out of the N5 billion, the task force discovered that the government only

needed N1.7 billion out of N5billion to pay the 70,657 genuine pensioners. “The government is only paying N1.7billion to pensioners instead of the hitherto N5billion. Obviously, those profiting from the scam were not happy. They have been issuing threats to members of my team. Continued on page 4

Detectives storm Boko Haram kingpin’s home Suspect is our man, says sect Six killed in Borno From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

S

ECURITY agents are sure they have seized, the man using the pseudonym Abu Qaqa, spokesman of the dreaded Boko Haram sect. Qaqa’s aunty and a cousin of his, who were flown to Abuja from Kaduna on Wednesday, are being interrogated by the State Security Service (SSS). The sect confirmed yesterday that the suspect is its man. A security source, who spoke in confidence, said preliminary investigations confirmed that the suspect is “the wanted spokesman of Boko Haram”. Detectives left Abuja last night for Damaturu, Yobe State to search the suspect’s home. The source said: “After prolonged interaction with the suspect, he admitted to the SSS team of interrogators.” “I am Abu Qaqa,” he was quoted as saying. Security agents are suspecting that he is an Ebira from Kogi State, going by his intonation. “We have been working on a theory that he Continued on page 4

•Dr Fayemi reading the communique ... yesterday. Listening are: from right Aregbesola, Fashola and Amosun

Governors demand more power for states

M

EMORIES of the good, old days of the former Western Region were rekindled yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, where governors called for more powers for states. Making the demands are governors of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun and Edo states that make up the old Western Region. The quick devolution of “more powers” to the constituent parts of the country, in their view, will accelerate development.

THE DEMANDS •Quick devolution of power to the states •Revival of derelict Federal roads in Southwest •Review of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway concession From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

The governors said they deliberated on critical developmental and economic issues that would enhance the integration of the former Western Region. According to them, the Federal

Government has accumulated “many responsibilities and power” that should have come within the purview of the federating states. The meeting resolved that it had become “expedient” to review the existing power structure that arrogated so many responsibilities to

the government at the centre by devolving power to the federating states. The meeting held at the Valley View Government House, Isale – Igbein, Abeokuta, was chaired by Lagos State Governor Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN). It was attended by host Governor Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun). Governors of Edo and Ondo Continued on page 4

•BRAND P13 •AGRIC P17 •SPORTS P23 •SOCIETY P29 •POLITICS P45


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