News
N12 million land scam rocks Borno NUJ as 4 Exco members resign
Sadiq Abubakar Maiduguri
Confusion and controversies rockes Borno State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists as the union’s four (4) 100×50 square meter plots of land donated by the immediate past administration of Governor Kashim Shettima to be developed as new Borno NUJ State Secretariat/Press Center have been secretly sold.
The plots were sold without due process, unnoticed, improper communication in a shabbily transacted manner with consent of the State Executive Council (SEC) members.
On revelation of the deal, four other Exco members who claimed not to have been privy to the sale of lands tendered their resignation and called for investigation into the matter by the State Congress of the NUJ.
CAPITAL POST gathered that
the State Chairman, Bulama Talba, the State Secretary, Mohammed Ibrahim and the Auditor, Habib Sale connived and sold the plots without any SEC or Congress meeting knowing or any other members of the State Exco.
This prompted the four other Executive members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Borno State chapter on Tuesday to tender a joint resignation letter to all the respective chapels of the State union, which was copied to other security agencies and the national body of the union in Abuja, following what they described as breach of trust and direct attempt to ruin their integrity by the Bulama Talba as Chairman.
Bulama Talba, a Director from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Information and Culture, and about to retire from the Civil Service, is currently the Director of Press Affairs at the office of the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Usman Kadafur.
The Chairman was alleged to have connived with his Secretary, Comrade Ibrahim Mohammed of the Maiduguri NTA Zonal network Centre, North East, and the Auditor of the Union, Alhaji Habib Saleh who is an Information Officer at the Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, MRRR, and sold some four plots of land at the cost of N12 million only out of the over 12 plots earlier allocated to the union as permanent site by former governor, Kashim Shettima.
The landed property is located along Maiduguri-Biu road within the metropolis, which was sold to Borno indigene without the knowledge of the other four aggrieved mentioned officials, and the State Executive Council (SEC).
The four aggrieved officials who jointly issued their resignation letter and copied to all the chapels, cited reason that, “they were compelled to resign following a scandalous act in which, the Chairman connived with the Secretary, Ibrahim as well as the Auditor, Saleh and sold the four plots near Bakasi Housing Estate, Maiduguri Borno State, after they wrote to the national body of the union demanding to sell only two plots to enable them fence the plot to prevent incursion or revoke by the State Government.
The aggrieved NUJ officials who tendered their resignation letters collectively are; Babagana Bukar from Borno Radio and Television (BRTV) who was the Vice Chairman of the Union while Mrs Hauwa Bata of the Peace FM Maiduguri was the sidelined Treasurer.
Others aggrieved officials who signed the joint resignation letter, and believed to have not been carried along in the scheme of the Union are Chiroma Ali Ibrahim of Peace FM who was the Assistant Secretary, as well as Mr. Dauda Iliya of Radio Nigeria, a member of the Correspondents’ Chapel who was the financial secretary of the union.
In an internal memo which was presented to national secretariat, State body of the Union, and all the other seven chapels that made up the council dated Monday 23, January 2022, a copy which was made available to our Correspondent reads in part: “We will like to bring to the kind notice of members of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Borno State about a scandalous act in which the Chairman of our great Union, Comrade Bulama Talba connived with the Secretary as well as the Auditor and sold four plots of NUJ land near Bakasi Housing Estate, Maiduguri Borno state.
“The trio without consulting the remaining state council officials, without convening a State Executive Council (SEC) meeting or Congress meeting wrote a letter dated 15th October, 2021 to NUJ National Secretariat seeking approval to sell 2 plots of the land for the purpose of fencing the entire NUJ land alleging that Borno state government is planning to revoke the property if not developed and was granted approval on the 20th October.
“Four months after the approval, the Chairman, Secretary and Auditor shrouded the disgraceful act in secrecy until on 22nd January, 2022 when the State Working Committee (SWC) had its meeting.
“Surprisingly, the matter was not on the Agenda of the meeting, and when we inquire to know the position of the land, the Chairman vehemently denied knowledge that some portion of the land was dispose of.
“After long interrogation, the Secretary, Mohammed Ibrahim confessed that they sold four (4) instead of the two (2) plots earlier approved by the National Secretariat at the cost of N12 million naira and shamelessly shared N11 million money among the three of them, while N1 million was sent to the National Secretariat as check up dues.
“Sadly, up to this moment, there is no single block placed for fencing of the land, hence disassociating ourselves with this disgraceful act.
“It is in light of the above, that we hereby tender our resignation letter in accordance with Article 5 (e)(5) of the NUJ constitution and after due consultation with our respective chapels to protect our integrity and that of the union.
“We will like to appreciate the support and cooperation given to us by the entire members of NUJ Borno Council throughout our stay as officials. Thank you.” The signatories pointed in their joint resignation letter.
Presently, the Chairman through his Secretary issued an invitation letter for an emergency SEC meeting which took place on Wednesday at the state secretariat, with a view to deliberate on the issue stake stake.
Meantime, at the end of the SEC meeting which was attended by Chairmen and Secretaries of the seven chapels, the trio have agreed to refund all the money for peace to reign.
Another explosion has rocked the Soku oil
facility in Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Sunday’s fire is the second in a week after an explosion hit the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, thus raising concerns of sabotage.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), a prominent grassroots NGO active across the Niger Delta, confirmed the incident on Sunday, March 23.
In a statement signed by Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, its executive director, YEAC disclosed that its youth volunteers reported an early morning explosion accompanied by fireballs at the facility, which is operated by Nigeria LNG (NLNG) Limited.
“An explosion accompanied by fireballs was heard and seen in the sky from the facility area, which is difficult to reach. The fire is still ongoing as of the time of this report,” Fyneface stated.
The cause of fire at the gas station in Toru LGA was not yet clear at the time of the press, but speculations about equipment failure to sabotage or even deliberate attack was rife.
It marks the third explosion at oil facilities in Rivers State within a week, intensifying concerns over the state’s oil infrastructure.
The first explosion occurred in Ogoni, while the second took place in Oga/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area. The latter incident was referenced by President Bola Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast on March 18, during which he declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State.
In response to the escalating security challenges, President Tinubu took decisive action by suspending the Rivers State House of Assembly, Deputy Governor, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The move followed allegations that the governor failed to protect the state’s critical oil infrastructure.
Tensions have further heightened following a viral video in which some youths issued warnings against the governor’s impeachment.
The recent string of explosions has raised alarm among stakeholders in the Niger Delta, a region already grappling with environmental degradation and security issues tied to oil production. With fires still raging at the Soku facility, calls for an urgent investigation and enhanced security measures around oil infrastructure have grown louder.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, over the passing of his mother, Hajiya Safarau Umar Baribari.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Dr. Ganduje described Hajiya Safarau’s death as a profound loss that has left a deep void in the hearts of her family, friends, and the people of Katsina State.
Extending his sympathies, the APC National Chairman condoled with Governor Radda, the bereaved family, and the entire people of Katsina State during this difficult time.
He acknowledged the remarkable contributions of the late Hajiya Safarau and prayed for Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant her eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus while strengthening the family to bear this irreplaceable loss.
Dr. Ganduje urged Governor Radda and others affected to find comfort in the cherished memories and enduring legacy of the deceased.
Reaffirming the APC’s support, the former Kano State governor assured the people of Katsina State of the party’s solidarity in their time of grief and prayed that Allah (SWT) grant the departed soul Al-Jannah Firdaus. Ameen.
The wife of Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), Hajia Aishat has offered cash and food items worth millions of naira to widows and vulnerable women across Dekina local government Councils, promises to take similar gesture across the nine local government in Kogi East.
The exercise which was tagged: “Widows Empowerment”, saw the Senator’s wife distributing cash and food items to cushion the effect of Ramadan.
Items distributed are bags of rice bags of salt, cartons of seasoning, maggi etc, which were evenly distributed to widows and vulnerable women across party lines.
A beneficiary who spoke with our correspondent at Odu in Dekina Local Government Council, Hon Fitumi thanked Hajia for her continuous effort in coming through for widows and vulnerable regularly.
She acknowledged similar gesture by Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), a fortnight ago at Ankpa when youths in their numbers from three Local Government Areas were trained in Agriculture and empowered, stressing that people are now living testimony to the effort of the lawmaker.
“”We are aware of several intervention projects, empowerment and developmental projects of Senator Echocho and we are not surprised seeing Hajia toeing the similar path.
“The distribution of food items and cash today is not only a rekindling of hope to the beneficiaries, but an encouragement that despite their condition, they were not forgotten.
Hajia Labran, and other APC Women leaders who spoke on behalf of women, applauded Hajia Aisha Echocho and pray Allah to strengthen her to carry on, urged others to emulate her sustainable initiatives.
The women advised other political office holders to emulate what is good and just, which they believed would strengthen the party.
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