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The Kogi State Government through the Audit, has uncovered payroll fraud of N157, 350, 381 million, allegedly perpetrated by some senior staff in the Bursary Department of the Kogi State Polytechnic.

A total sum of N157, 350, 381 million was fraudulent diverted from the pause of the school by the alleged perpetrators through different means into their own private accounts for personal use.

The payroll fraud was allegedly perpetrated by five different officers from the Bursary Department of the School within the short period between August 2014 to May 2017.

The suspects are: Dr Okia Abel Adama, the School Bursar; Momoh Adeyanju Yahaya, the Chief Accountant for Part-time Program; Omale Isaac Damian, the Chief Accountant-Budget and Planning; Ebiloma Ilenwa, the Assistant Chief Acountant-Pay Roll, and Falodun Alfred Toyin, the Pay Roll Officer.

From the State Government Audit, the alleged frauds were perpetrated through different means such as:

1. A fraudulent recycling of one off record salary arrears over a period of 24 months (2 years), everything amounting to N39, 217, 671.

2. A total sum of N118, 122, 709.46 was misappropriated through the following manipulations:

(i) Illegal deductions of N41, 276, 193 million from staff salaries.

(ii). Excess of salary subventions of N76, 499, 516. 36 was allegedly diverted to their private pockets through their own personal accounts.

(iii). The fund that was supposed to be meant for ANA dues amounted to N360, 000, was also diverted for personal use rather than remitting it to ANA account.

Adding up all of these you will get a total sum of N157, 350, 381.

All the five of them have been suspended by the Governing Council of the Institution and they shall be prosecuted by the State Government in order for them to face the consequences of their fraudulent actions.

The State Executive Council on Wednesday gave the approval to prosecute the suspects, and subsequently directed the Attorney General and Commissioner For Justice to take the necessary judicial actions against them.

It should be noted that the state is prosecuting them so that the stolen funds will be recovered back into government cofers, and for them to also face the full wrath of the law if found guilty.

The government is taking judicial action against them in order for them to account for the funds they had grossly mismanaged, and whatever punishment that is metted out to them will serve as deterrent to other corrupt officials.

In spite of the limited funds available to Kogi, it is disheartening that some selfish individuals are siphoning monies that are meant for the citizenry, in the name of payroll and wage bill.

It can better be imagined the level of fraud that would have been perpetrated over the years in not being able to judiciously account for the earnings of the institution within this short period.

It is not sustainable because right now the state is feeling the negative impacts of all these misapplications of funds that are supposed to be meant for public use.

This New Direction Government is a responsible government that does not tolerate any act of corruption and would not gloss over any established corrupt practice against any official, irrespective of their status or position.

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JUST IN: President Tinubu, Shettima, Governors, Other VIPs To Pay Toll At Airports

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As part of the Federal Government drive to boost its revenue, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has mandated that President Bola Tinubu, Vice President, Kashim Shettima, Governors and other dignitaries henceforth pay the required fees at tollgates whenever they use the nation’s airports.

The approval was made days after it was revealed that at least 82 percent of airport tollgate revenue is lost through non-paying Very Important Personalities (VIPs).

 

More to come…

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How Content Creator Was Shot Dead On Set In Abuja Over N2,000

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A fast-rising Nigerian content creator, Chidike Emmanuel, has been murdered by gunmen in Mpape, Abuja.

It was gathered that the skit maker was among six persons attacked by the gunmen last Saturday in the federal capital territory.

According to The Cable, source familiar with the incident said that Emmanuel was killed at the location of a project he was supposed to feature in.

The insider disclosed that the gunmen initially demanded money in order to allow them to shoot at the location.

The content creator was said to have given the armed men N2,000. However, what transpired that led to the shooting of the cast members remains unknown.

It was gathered some of the cast members who ran for safety suffered injuries.

Some users close to Emmanuel took to X to mourn the deceased while demanding justice.

“Chidike Emmanuel Obinna I have known you since 2018 You are such a calm and kind soul You couldn’t attend my wedding because you were far away but you sent me your gift #Justiceforchidi,” Helen wrote.

On her part, Rakeli added: “Obinna Chidike Emmanuel, please don’t die please. Pick my calls, reply my chat and tell me all that I am hearing is a lie. Biko I am loosing my mind”.

Efforts to reach Josephine Adeh, the FCT police spokesperson, to comment on the matter have been abortive.

Calls and messages to Adeh’s phone have not been responded to, as of the time of this report.

The development comes a few weeks after Junior Pope passed away after a boat accident on the River Niger in Asaba, Delta state.

The actor and some crew members were heading to a movie location when the boat accident occurred.

His family disclosed that the actor’s final rites will be held on May 17.

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Police Arrest Man ‘Strapped With Bomb’ Inside Bank In Plateau

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Security operatives have apprehended a man strapped with Person Borne Improvised Explosive Device (SPBIED) inside a bank in Plateau.

The individual was arrested at a bank in Dadin Kowa town, which is in Jos South LGA of the state, according to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency journal that focuses on the Lake Chad region. According to the article, the incident happened on May 13.

Makama was informed by intelligence sources that the individual intended to set off the explosives at the bank, but a vigilante officer noticed him and alerted the authorities.

According to the publication, an enraged mob encircled the suspect after he was captured and demanded that he be murdered.

Makama could not confirm if the suspect is connected to the fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).

The publication added that the suspect is in the custody of the police and currently undergoing investigation.

Nigeria has been battling insurgency for two decades, with suicide bombings, displacement of entire communities and kidnapping for ransom by the terrorists, recorded in that span.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said about 83 children, mostly girls, were used as human bombs in 2017 alone.

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