TSA : CBN recovers 8.6billions from firm

•How Sanusi, Lemo appointed firm to implement e-Collection solution

Obinna Chima

 

The Central Bank of Nigeria has recovered N8.6 billion deducted by a Lagos-based software firm, SystemSpecs, which provided the e-Payment/e-Collection solution used for the transfer of government funds from commercial banks to the treasury single account (TSA) domiciled with it, THISDAY investigations have revealed.

The central bank, according to sources in the CBN, directed the company which owns the Remita software platform used for the funds transfer, when it was discovered that SystemSpecs had deducted as much as N8.6 billion for the remittance of government funds from banks to the TSA in the last few weeks.

Throwing more light on the e-Payment/e-Collection Remita software, which the Senate on Wednesday resolved to probe, CBN sources said the implementation of the modular solution was approved by the former CBN Governor who is currently the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, and former CBN Deputy Governor, Operations, Mr. Tunde Lemo, in 2011 to facilitate the transfer of government revenue to the TSA.

On Wednesday, the Senate had ordered its joint Committee on Finance, Banking and Other Financial Institutions and Public Accounts to probe the allegation that the e-Collection agent, Remita, had been paid 25 billion, being the 1 per cent commission it charged for the transfer of N2.5 trillion of federal government funds to the TSA.

The motion, which was moved by Senator Dino Melaye and adopted by the Senate, held that the N25 billion payment was in gross violation of Section 162(1) of the 1999 Constitution which states that “the federation shall maintain a special account to be called the federation account into which all revenues collected by the government of the federation except the proceeds from the personal income tax of the personnel of the Armed Forces of the Federation, the Nigeria Police Force, the ministry or department of government charged with foreign affairs and the residents of the FCT, Abuja”.

However, investigations by THISDAY showed that Remita was not an agent or company, but the software platform used for the transfers, while SystemSpecs, whose Managing Director is Mr. John Obaro, is the owner of e-Payment/e-Collection solution.

The company’s website further revealed that the chairman of SystemSpecs is the former Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, Dr. Christopher Kolade.

Other directors of the company include a former Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Ernest Ndukwe, Mr. Emmanuel Ocholi, Mr. ‘Deremi Atanda and Dr. Emmanuel Eze.

Remita, which has been adopted by the CBN as the e-Payment and e-Collection platform of the federal government, is currently used by all 22 commercial banks and over 400 microfinance banks nationwide.

CBN sources informed THISDAY that contrary to the assertion of the Senate that N25 billion had been paid to SystemSpecs, it was N8.6 billion that was deducted by the company for the transfer of N1.5 trillion since the enforcement of the TSA by the current administration in the last few weeks.

“Remita is an e-Payment/e-Collection software that has been in place since 2011, because the TSA transfers started under the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

“It was Tunde Lemo’s baby and approved by former Governor Sanusi for the transfer of funds to the TSA.

“But when it was discovered that SystemSpecs had deducted about N8.6 billion for the recent TSA transfers of N1.5 trillion, we immediately asked them to reverse the deduction, which they complied with.

“The issue was brought to the attention of the president (Muhammadu Buhari) and he asked that the money be returned immediately which is what has happened.

“Going forward, it is our intention to review the contract on the software, because the CBN has its own software for e-Payments and e-Collections,” a CBN official, who did not want to be named, said.

Breaking! Saraki's Trial to tarry a while - Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has ordered the suspension of the trial of the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

Mr. Saraki is facing a 13-count corruption charge at the tribunal. He denies the allegation of false asset declaration and graft.

Two High Courts and a Court of Appeal had earlier rejected his request to quash the charges.

Before doing doing so, the court of appeal halted the case briefly to allow it take a decision.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court also said the corruption case against Mr. Saraki “should tarry a while” pending the conclusion of an appeal he brought before it.

PRESIDENT BUHARI SWEARS IN NIGERIA'S NEW MINISTERS

President Mohammadu Buhari has assigned portfolios to the newly constituted Federal Executive Government in Abuja Wednesday.

Former Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, was announced as Minister of Works, Power and Housing.

And for Nigerians, this is key because the economy revolves around power, just as many want to see the roads fixed.

The Solid Mineral Ministry is headed by Dr. Kayode Fayemi, as the former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, was also assigned Transportation and Aviation ministry.

Ministry of Labour and Employment is headed by Dr. Chris Ngige, while the Ministry of Finance is headed by the former Commissioner for Finance in Ogun State, Kemi Adeosun. 

List Of Ministers And Portfolios

Abubakar Malami (SAN) – Justice

Geoffrey Onyeama – Foreign Affairs

Khadija Abubakar Abba Ibrahim – State Minister of Foreign Affairs

Brigadier-General Muhammad Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd) – Defence

Adamu Adamu – Education

Professor Anthony Onwuka – State Minister of Education

Mrs Kemi Adeosun – Finance

Okechukwu Enelama – Industry, Trade and Investment

Aisha Abubakar – State Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment

Senator (Dr.) Chris Ngige – Labour and Employment

Barrister James Ocholi – State Minister of Labour and Employment

Muhammodu Bello – Federal Capital Territory

Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau – Interior

Senator Udoma Udo Udoma – Budget and National Planning

Zainab Ahmed – State Minister of Budget and National Planning

Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu – State Minister of Petroleum Resources

Babatunde Fashola (SAN) – Power, Works and Housing

Mustapha Baba Shehuri – State Minister of Power, Works and Housing

Chief Audu Innocent Ogbeh – Agricultural and Rural Development

Heineken Lokpobiri – State Minister of Agricultural and Rural Development

Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi – Transportation

Senator Hadi Sirika – State Minister of Aviation

Isaac Folorunso Adewole – Health

Dr. Osagie Ehanire – State Minister of Health

Senator Aisha Al-Hassan – Woman Affairs

Pastor Usani Uguru – Niger Delta

Claudius Omoleye Daramola – State Minister of Niger Delta

Barrister Adebayo Shittu – Communications

Lai Mohammed – Information

Amina Mohammed – Environment

Ibrahim Usman Jubril – State Minister of Environment

Engineer Suleiman Adamu – Water Resources

Barrister Solomon Dalong – Youth and Sports

Kayode Fayemi – Solid Minerals

Abubakar Bwari – Minister Of States of Solid Minerals

Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu – Science and Technology

SARAKI Submits List of Confirmed Ministers to President Buhari.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday formally presented the list of 36 ministerial nominees screened and confirmed by the Senate to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. 

Saraki arrived the seat of power about 3:00pm along with the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang and the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), Suleiman Kawu.

Saraki confirmed this on his Twitter handle, writing: “Today, I presented the confirmed list of ministers to Mr President.” On September 30, the president had submitted the first list of ministerial nominees containing 21 names to the senate president.

In October, he submitted another list containing 16 names to Saraki. However, he later withdrew the nomination of Musa Ibeto from Niger state owing to an administrative error. The senate confirmed all 36 nominees as ministers after a screening exercise that lasted five days.

Some of those confirmed as minister include Lai Mohammed, Babatunde Fashola, Kayode Fayemi, Ogbonnaya Onu, Audu Ogbeh, Ibe Kachikwu, Amina Mohammed and Chibuike Amaechi.

Others are Heineken Lokpobiri, Cladius Daramola, Adebayo Shittu, Shehuri Mustapha, Ocholi James, Adewole Folorunso, Bawa Bwari, Geoffrey Onyeama, Zainab Ahmed, Mansur Dan Ali, Usani Uguru, Okechukwu Enelamah, Anwuka Anthony, Musa Bello, Adamu Adamu, Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim and Aisha Abubakar

All eyes will now be on Wednesday’s meeting of the federal executive council, where President Buhari is expected to inaugurate the ministers.

Human Waste can Power a Million Homes - UN University

Biogas from human waste has the potential to generate electricity for millions of homes while improving health and protecting the environment, a UN University institute said on Tuesday.

The biogas potentially available from all the human waste in the world would be the equivalent of up to 9.5 billion dollars worth of natural gas a year.

This volume of waste could produce electricity for as many as 138 million homes, the U.N. Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) said in a study.

In low-income countries, the use of biogas – generated by bacteria breaking down the waste – could finance development, it said.

Breaking! Tribunal upholds Abia State Governorship Election

The Abia state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has upheld the election of Okezie Ikpeazu as the duly elected Governor of the state. In its ruling delivered today in Aba, the tribunal dismissed the petion of the APGA candidate Alex Otti for lack of merit.

FORMER PENSION BOSS MAINA APPEARED IN ABUJA

The embattled former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina who was declared wanted by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday has appeared in Abuja. He appeared Tuesday on a popular community Radio show Brekete Family hosted by the Ordinary Ahmed Isah. Mr Maina made live calls during the show where he maintained that he has done nothing wrong and wondered why the EFCC will declare him wanted. The EFCC spokes person Mr Wilson Uwujaren who called in during the show described Mr Maina as a fugitive. He said that if Maina is as innocent as he claims, he should come and clear his name in the law court. He however wondered why he has decided to evade justice only to call from an anonymous location. Abdulrasheed Maina has been charged with former Head of service Mr Oronsaye at the Federal High court in Abuja over allegations of  fraud, and diverting  pension fund for his personal use. Mr Wilson Uwujaren said Maina is wanted for his role in the fraudulent biometric contracts through which he and former Head of Service, Steve Oronsaye and two others allegedly stole over N2 billion of pension funds.