EFCC discovers 21 exotic cars at Yari’s residence

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have reportedly uncovered 21 exotic cars during a raid at the Talata-Mafara residence of Abdulaziz Yari, former governor of Zamfara state.

EFCC had raided Yari’s residence on Sunday evening when the ex-governor was out of the country.

The anti-graft agency also searched the houses of Jafaru, Yari’s brother, and Sha’aya Mafara, his intimate friend.

TheNation reports that 21 exotic vehicles were found in the compound of the ex-governor, who until he left office in 29th May, was chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

Yari is currently being investigated for alleged questionable payment of N19 billion from the London-Paris Club refund; N35 billion spent on internally displaced persons (IDPs); ecological and stabilisation fund and how he incurred N151,190,477,572.02 liabilities on ongoing projects.

TheNation quoted a source as saying the governor is expected to honour the invitation of the anti-graft agency in order to provide answers to some questions connected to the ongoing investigation.

“The onus is on Yari to explain how he came about the exotic vehicles; whether or not he declared them in his Asset Declaration Form; and if these vehicles were in his exit Asset Form as a former governor in May,” the source said.

“Once he is able to justify the acquisition of the vehicles, the EFCC has no problem with Yari. Otherwise, he has a question to answer.”

Yari famously blamed an outbreak of meningitis in the state on “fornication”.

His bid to become senator was quashed by the supreme court which nullified his candidacy in the general election.

- THECABLE

Nigeria opens National ID enrolment centres In UK, Germany

Enrolment centres to register Nigerians abroad for the New National Identification Number are being opened in the UK and Germany.

VFS Global, along with Dantata Universal Services launched new centres in London and Leicester on 2 August for the convenience of Nigerians in the United Kingdom 

New centres will also open in Berlin and Frankfurt, Germany on 12 August.

The centres are being opened as part of the endeavour to support the initiative by the National Identity Management Commission’s (NIMC)to enrol Nigerian adults and children into the National Identity Database (NIDB). 

Appointments can be obtained beforehand online by visiting www.vfsglobal.com/NIMC/Nigeria for the National Identification Number enrolment and subsequently the issuance of General Multi Purpose Card (GMPC) issuance to eligible Nigerian citizens in diaspora.

A dedicated contact centre and email support service is also available for applicants to answer queries and track the application status. 

The National Identification Number is a unique set of eleven digits number issued to the Nigerian citizens in diaspora. 

  NIN is used for processing all forms of transactions that involves submitting an identity verification in Nigeria such as getting a driver’s license, voter’s card or even for opening a bank account which will offer greater convenience and transparency.

Mr. Jiten Vyas, Regional Group COO, VFS Global, said: “The launch of our new National Identification Number enrolment centres in UK and Germany to support theinitiative by the National Identity Management Commission, Nigeria highlights our efforts to offer solutions that ensure a secure and seamless experience in the Identity and Citizen Services space globally. By leveraging our capabilities of having successfully implemented such large-scale diaspora enrollment services across the world, we are confident that the new centres would greatly benefit this global initiative.”

With nearly two decades of experience, VFS Global has established itself as a world leader in offering solutions in both visa application processing and identity-based citizen services. 

Having processed over 86 million biometric enrolments since 2007, VFS Global currently serves 38 Client Governments across 138 countries with its biometric solutions.

- PM NEWS

Bayelsa spends N6bn yearly on political appointees — same as its health budget

Seriake Dickson, Bayelsa governor, says the state spends about N6 billion annually to service 1,500 political service holders. 

NAN quoted the governor as saying this on a radio programme.

An analysis of the oil-rich state’s 2019 budget by TheCable shows that the budget for the entire health sector is N6 billion.

According to Dickson, the huge “political capital” investment is responsible for the high number of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants in the state.

Dickson, who has been governing Bayelsa on the mantle of the PDP since 2012,  explained that the opposition party had invested the money to sustain its loyalists appointed to serve in his administration.

He said 21 aspirants had collected and returned the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms at N21 million each.

The party’s primary election is scheduled to hold on September 2, ahead of the November 16 governorship election in the state.

“The party leadership decided to make the contest open and all-embracing and as a consensus builder, I believe that every aspiration is legitimate, it is a right that they have to test their popularity at the primaries,” Dickson said.

“The large number of aspirants is an indication that the party is a platform of choice for any politician to actualize his governorship ambition and looking at the rival party, they don’t have up to two aspirants.

“Nothing is happening there, the PDP is taking the shine and it is all happening because of the political capital we invested in building the party, if I lost my re-election in 2015, the party would have been dead by now in Bayelsa.”

In March 2019, Dickson signed N299bn for the fiscal year.

Presenting the appropriation bill in December 2018 to the state house of assembly, the governor had said that about N23 billion was earmarked for education while N6 billion was proposed for the health sector.

- THECABLE