News
N300 million fraud: Nasarawa Agric College Provost denies allegation
By Abubakar Lawal Lafia
The Provost College of Agriculture, Science and Technology Lafia, Dr. Yahaya Maikafi has denied fraud allegations of over N300 million.
Dr. Maikafi and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Dominic Bako alledgedly embezzled over N300 million belonging to the College, an allegation believed to have been instigated by suspected members of Staff of the college.
He made his position on the matter in an interview in his office, saying:
“As we all know drawing money from government account is not possible. There is a procedure in removing kobo from government coffers.
“Let me also make it clear that you can remove money only if there is a request of any nature which has to be forwarded to the chief executive for his approval.
Dr. Maikafi further explained that after followed all the necessary channels, it is only the Provost and the Busar that have the mandate to sign cheque for the withdrawal and even at that voucher has to be raised for record purposes.
“You as journalists you can ask whoever is the author of the write-up to provide you with useful evidence to authenticate the allegations that myself and chairman governing council are milking the college resources.
On the allegation that he doled out N300 million from the college purse and gave to Council Chairman to support or workout ways for his substantial Provost, Dr. Maikafi maintained that he has never seen that kind of money.
“Let’s look at the College purse. Do they have this huge amount of money that someone will just wake up and give it to Council chairman just to cover me for my appointment.
“We all know who is Dr. Dominic Bako throughout his service carrier, he worked at ministry of finance as commissioner and became the head of civil service where he came out with a clean bill of health. If that man want to make money he would have done that.
He insisted that the allegation lacks substance, just as he pointed out that it is a mere handwork of some enemies of the current development going on in the institution.
He emphasisef that if Dr. Dominic want to make money from government coffers he would have mafe it while serving as the State Commissioner of Finance, but he didn’t steal money there.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the college generates between seventy to seventy five million annually, which is a far cry from N300 million.
It would be recalled that there was a write-up flying on social media without identity of the author accusing the Provost and chairman of governing council for turning the institution into ATM machine.
Senator representing Kogi East Senatorial District, Jibrin Isah Echocho, has congratulated Muslim faithful for the successful completion of this year Ramadan fast, urging them to celebrate the Sallah in love, and unity across our communities.
Echocho in a statement madeavailable to CAPITALPOST in Lokoja o Sunday, described the Ramadan period as stressful, but deserving, because it is the only period for spiritual reflection on abstinence from immorality, sincere sacrifice and supplications to Allah.
He added that, Ramadan symbolises Allah’s way of teaching humanity on virtuous living, where people keep away from all forms of comfort to appreciate what the less privileged experience and deprivation they suffers daily.
He task Muslims to extend the lessons of Ramadan to the way we live with our neighbours.
“Let’s seek peace at all times and promote unity of purpose in our society” the Lawmaker demanded.
“May the celebration brings sustainable peace to our homes, my district, Kogi State and Nigeria, he concluded.
The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio has commended Senator Basheer Lado, for redefining the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, stating that, for the first time in a long while, the office is fully meeting its expectations.
Speaking during his visit to the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters accompanied by distinguished senators, Akpabio described the visit as a significant step in strengthening Executive-Legislative relations.
He praised the Special Adviser and his team for maintaining the confidentiality of communications between the President and Senate, and also, ensuring a seamless flow of information. He further emphasized that the office is now more result-oriented.
Additionally, he acknowledged the office’s diligent efforts in tracking all Bills passed by the Senate and assented to by the President, underscoring its critical role in legislative efficiency.
Expressing his satisfaction, Akpabio noted that he and the Senate delegation were proud of the office’s achievements and looked forward to sustaining the existing cordial and productive relationship between the Executive and the Legislature throughout the administration.
In recognition of his exemplary leadership, Senator Lado presented an Award of Excellence to Senator Akpabio.
In his remarks, Senator Lado reaffirmed his commitment to fostering a harmonious working relationship between the Executive and the Legislature. He lauded Akpabio for his unwavering dedication to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda—defending it with clarity, articulating it with passion, and advancing it through legislative action.
Ahead of the 2025 political party Congresses, Plateau State Chapter of the Labour Party (LP) stakeholders has endorsed the defection of the candidate of the party in the 2023 general elections and the leader of Justice and Rebirth, Barr Gyang Zi SAN, to the All Progressive Congress (APC) with the view to key into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
They made the call in a communique issued at the end of the enlarge meeting of the stakeholders from Plateau North senatorial zone at the residence of Barr. Gyang Zi in Rayfield Jos.
The communique which was jointly signed by Dr. Ayiki Sati Director General, Justice and Rebirth and
Barr. Samuel Galadima- 2024 Chairmanship candidate of Jos East LGA among others said the call became imperative on the sideline of the leadership tussle at the National Level which violates the core principles and values for the formation of the Party as an alternative for Nigeria for the protection, sustenance of democracy and Social Justice.
They regretted that the leadership tussle has also divided the party into factions leaving party loyalists and supporters in the state of despondency and confusion not knowing where they belong.
Our correspondent reports that the gathering included LP candidates from the 2023/2024 general elections, party executives, and support groups from the six local government areas of the Northern Senatorial District.
Besides, the focus of the discussions was centered on the state of the Labour Party at both national and state levels and the need for political realignment ahead of the 2025 party congresses and conventions.
The stakeholders further frowned at the structural weaknesses in LP and resolved to advise Barr Gyang Zi, to leave the party and join the APC while expressing confidence that the APC would provide him with a platform to advance good governance in the state .
The communique also emphasized the importance of political consultations, particularly with APC leaders at both state and national levels. It called for collaboration with Plateau State APC leaders, including Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, Sen. Simon Bako Lalong, Sen. Diket Plang, and other party officials.
According to the communique, supporters of Barr Gyang Zi also pledged to mobilize grassroots support for the APC, stating that their leader’s defection would strengthen the party in the state.
They urged the APC leadership to formally receive Gyang Zi and his supporters into the party, marking their official transition from the Labour Party.
Stakeholders also reiterated the need for inclusive governance, ensuring that youths, women, and less privileged individuals are sidelined in the democratic process and accordingly officially denounced their membership in the Labour Party, declaring their support for the APC.
They assured that all LP structures aligned with Gyang Zi would follow suit, shifting their loyalty to the ruling party in the state and at the National level.
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