NEWS

Ekiti sues former Governor, Fayemi, Kolawole for allegedly stealing N4.9bn

Published

7 years ago

January 29, 2018

The Ekiti State government has sued former governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and his finance commissioner, Mr. Dapo Kolawole, for allegedly misappropriating N4.9 billion while in office.The development came less than two weeks after releasing a white paper on the report of the Justice Silas Oyewole Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the finances of the state during the administration of Fayemi, who is now the minister of mines and steel development.

In the 19-count charge filed before the State High Court, Ado Ekiti at the weekend, Fayemi and Kolawole were accused of stealing, abuse of office and criminal contempt, among others.

According to a statement by the Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to Governor Ayodele Fayose, Fayemi and Kolawole were accused of misappropriating N4.9 billion being the proceeds of Ekiti State Bond for the sum of N20 billion earmarked for various projects that were either not executed or partly done.

When the white paper was released on January 15, 2018, the government directed the Ministry of Justice to institute appropriate legal action(s) against the minister and others, saying they should be made to account for the whereabouts of the funds.

Count 12 of the charge read that Fayemi and Kolawole between 2011 and 2014 conspired to steal N2,750,000,000.00 (N2.75 billion) earmarked and released for the construction of ultra-modern market in Ekiti State, which they never built and thereby committed an offence.

Also on the N25 billion bond, Fayemi and Kolawole were accused of stealing N716,688,790.92 out of the N750 million earmarked and released for the construction of Ekiti State School of Agriculture out of which only N33.311,209.08 was allegedly spent.

The duo were also accused of stealing N198,860,023.00 being outstanding of the N500 million earmarked and released for the construction of Ekiti State Liaison Office in Lagos, out of which only N301,139,977 was expended for the said project.

Also, out of the N767, 970,167.47 earmarked in the bond prospectus and released for renovation of the governor’s office, only N87, 622,912.25 was allegedly spent, leaving an outstanding of N681, 347,255.22.

For the renovation of Ado Ekiti Water Works, N335.5 million was earmarked and released but only N155, 523,558 was spent, leaving N197, 979,441.77 as outstanding. The Ero water project, for which N468.6 million was earmarked, was allegedly not executed.

Fayemi and Kolawole were further charged with criminal contempt for allegedly refusing to appear before the commission of inquiry, an offence punishable under Section 13 of the Commission of Inquiry Law, Cap C. 10, Laws of Ekiti State, 2010 and Section 126 (2) of the Criminal
Code laws, Cap C. 16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2010, among others.

The government had banned the duo from holding public office in the state for 10 years, for their refusal to appear before the commission of inquiry, even after the determination of the case challenging the inauguration of the commission.

Meanwhile, Kolawole has filed a N20 billion libel suit against Fayose and two of his aides.

Also joined in the suit are the permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, attorney general of the federation, accountant general of the federation, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Debt Management Office (DMO). Others are chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), secretary to Ekiti State government, accountant general and the commissioner for finance.

Though the suit was filed on January 18 at the Federal High Court, Abeokuta Division, copies were obtained by reporters in Ado Ekiti yesterday.

Kolawole is asking the court to withhold the outstanding N11 billion being awaited as refund from the Federal Government on Ado-Ifaki road, saying it should not be given to the Fayose administration as the road was constructed by Fayemi asministration.

Kolawole is demanding damages of N10 billion each from Fayose’s spokesman, Lere Olayinka and a House of Assembly member for alleged criminal libel and defamation in a statement they made on a television and radio programmes.

Kolawole said Olayinka and the lawmaker claimed that he and his boss, Fayemi plunged the state into debt to the tune of N85 billion that would not be liquidated until 2036.

Other prayers of Kolawole include an order mandating the EFCC (9th defendant), to investigate the circumstances for the diversion and breach of the appropriation laws of Ekiti State through the cancellation of the original contract for Ikere-Iju-Ondo boundary dualisation without first ensuring that all laws and processes of government are strictly adhered to.

He is also seeking an order directing the Federal Ministry of Power Works & Housing to investigate contract relating to the Ikere-Iju-Ondo boundary road and stop further payments or reimbursement due on the project.

The former commissioner also wants disbursement of bailout funds, grants or other reimbursement due to Ekiti State, being Federal Government palliatives, to be disbursed directly through a committee of EFCC, accountant general of the federation, Federal Ministry of Finance, accountant general of Ekiti State, auditor general of Ekiti State and auditor general for local government to avert alleged further diversion or misappropriation of such funds by the state government.

The case will be heard on February 23.

Related Topics:Dr Kayode Fayemi Ekiti Mr Dapo Kolawole

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FOREIGN

Beyoncé Achieves Historic Milestone As Most Certified Female Artist

Published

15 hours ago

December 19, 2024

Reporter

Beyoncé is most RIAA certified female artist of all time | fab.ng

Renowned singer Beyoncé has solidified her position as the most certified female artist of all time, a distinction bestowed upon her by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Her recent surge in song certifications has propelled her to an impressive total of 103 RIAA-certified titles, surpassing all other female artists in this category.

The RIAA celebrated this monumental achievement in a post on X on Tuesday.

“Crowning achievement! Congratulations to @Beyonce, who now holds the record for the most certified titles for a female artist in RIAA history, including her first two Diamond singles! @parkwood @columbiarecords,” RIAA announced in a post on X on Tuesday.

👑 Crowning achievement! Congratulations to @Beyonce, who now holds the record for the most certified titles for a female artist in RIAA history, including her first two Diamond singles! 💎🐝✨ @parkwood @columbiarecords pic.twitter.com/L86gwGkzQN

— RIAA (@RIAA) December 17, 2024

Among her numerous accolades are Diamond certifications for two iconic singles: “Halo” and “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).” These certifications signify extraordinary sales and streaming figures.

Additionally, Beyoncé boasts a string of impressive certifications for her albums. “Renaissance” has achieved 2x Platinum status, “Lemonade” has attained 4x Platinum, and both “Sasha Fierce” and “Dangerously In Love” have earned 7x Platinum certifications.

This latest milestone further solidifies Beyoncé’s legacy as one of the most influential and successful artists of all time.

Her ability to consistently deliver groundbreaking music that resonates with audiences worldwide has undoubtedly contributed to her unparalleled success.

Check out more music updates here.

MOVIES

Netflix Struggles In Nigeria With Only About 300k Subscribers – Comedian AY

Published

17 hours ago

December 19, 2024

Reporter

AY says Netflix struggles in Nigeria with 300k subscribers | fab.ng

Comedian and filmmaker AY Makun has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the alleged decision by Netflix to pause funding for Nigerian original films.

The debate began when filmmaker Kunle Afolayan revealed that Netflix had stopped commissioning Nigerian content. This sparked concerns about the platform’s commitment to the Nigerian market.

During a recent interview with Nollywood on Radio, Makun addressed the issue. He clarified that Netflix is not pulling out of Nigeria.

Instead, he explained that the platform is likely reassessing its approach due to ongoing financial challenges. He emphasised that this does not signal a loss of interest in Nigerian content.

“I recently had a meeting with Netflix, and at no point did they say they were leaving this region,” Makun explained. “During that meeting, we discussed my next project and how they could be involved. I don’t believe they’re leaving Nigeria.”

Makun highlighted that Netflix’s challenges in Nigeria are mainly rooted in financial constraints.

“If you’re running a business in a region and you’re spending much more than you’re earning, you’d need to reconsider your approach. That’s what they’re doing,” he stated.

The comedian explained that Netflix has invested heavily in Nigeria, far surpassing the revenue it has generated in the region.

He emphasised that the platform’s struggles stem largely from the low number of subscriptions and the widespread habit of account sharing, forcing Netflix to reconsider its business model.

“For instance, despite Nigeria’s population of over 200 million people, Netflix has only around 300,000 subscriptions, which indicates a problem that needs fixing,” Makun observed.

Furthermore, he elaborated that a significant number of Nigerians access Netflix by using shared accounts instead of purchasing individual subscriptions. This contributes to the platform’s revenue challenges.

“People often share one subscription with several others, and that’s part of the issue. It’s not just about the filmmakers,” Makun concluded.

Check out more updates here.

MUSIC

CKay Tops The List Of RIAA Best-Selling Nigerian Artists

Published

19 hours ago

December 19, 2024

Reporter

CKay tops the list of RIAA best-selling Nigerian artists | fab.ng

Nigerian pop music continues to make waves globally, particularly in the United States, where Afrobeats artists achieve groundbreaking commercial milestones.

At the forefront of this success is CKay, who leads as one of the best-selling Nigerian artists in the U.S. His viral hit, Love Nwantiti, has sold over 8 million units, earning its place as the most certified Nigerian song in the country.

The 2021 TikTok sensation is now on track to become the first diamond-certified Afrobeats record, solidifying its historic impact.

Following closely, Wizkid maintains a strong position as one of Nigeria’s most successful exports. His hit single, Essence, featuring Tems and Justin Bieber, has surpassed 4 million units in sales.

With eight RIAA certifications, Wizkid is the most certified Nigerian artist in the U.S. This feat highlights his consistent ability to captivate international audiences.

Meanwhile, Rema has secured third place with over 5 million units sold, driven by his global anthem Calm Down.

The record-breaking track, certified six times platinum by the RIAA, became the first African song to surpass 1 billion streams in the U.S.

It also achieved a peak position of No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, the highest for any Nigerian song, and spent an impressive 52 weeks on the chart.

Notably, Calm Down was the first African track to dominate Billboard’s radio chart.

Other Nigerian stars continue to shine as well. Tems became the first Nigerian artist to debut on the Billboard Hot 100, while Burna Boy holds the record for the most Billboard Hot 100 entries by a Nigerian act.

Similarly, Davido made history with Fall, the first Nigerian song to earn an RIAA Gold certification.

These remarkable achievements highlight the undeniable global influence of Afrobeats and showcase the extraordinary talent of Nigerian artists with CKay making waves as one of the best-selling Nigerian artists in the U.S.

Check out more music updates here.