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Exposed: Patrick Ukah, Former Commissioner Of Information In Delta, In Millions Of Naira Scandal

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Patrick Ukah,  the immediate past Commissioner of Information in Delta state , is currently enmeshed in a  case of financial malfeasance running into several millions of naira.  Ukah was said to have  gone on a  bogus spending spree  claiming to have purchased  cameras and repaired transmitters for  the Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba and Warri.
SaharaReporters reliably learned that Ukah, claimed to have purchased eight cameras for the two state- owned broadcasting outfits at  the sum of N18,721,738.00.
  However, finding  loopholes in Ukah’s claim, the state’s transition committee  decided  to launch  a probe into his supposed financial transactions,  confided a member of the committee  in our correspondent.
“We received some documents from the commissioner for information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, where huge sums of millions of naira were used to purchased cameras and repairs of transmitters at the Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba and Warri. The documents shows huge fraud, corrupt and sharp practices to cover up the looting in the two broadcasting houses in Asaba and Warri.
“How can you purchase eight camera for N18.7 million.? As part of our duty, we as a committee had to carry out a market survey on the cameras. The camera make and model is Sony Digital HXR-NX 100 and with our findings, we discovered that one of the cameras is often sold for less than a N500,000 and the commissioner for information claimed to have purchased one each at the sum of N2.3 million by his calculation.
“Ukah also claimed to have bought four tripods and four wireless microphones at the sum of N9,654,750.00 for DBS, Asaba and Warri. This is nothing but outright fraud. In all the documents presented by Ukah to the transition committee shows that, he only succeeded in using the state owned media houses to corruptly and fraudulently amassed wealth to himself without recourse to improving the deteriorating current status of the broadcasting houses.” a member of the committee  stated.

One of the Cameras Bought By Ukah
 In some of the documents presented by the state commissioner for information, Patrick Ukah to the committee and obtained by SaharaReporters, he claimed to have purchased eight cameras for DBS, Asaba and Warri at the cost of N18,721,738.00, repaired the FM coaxial feeder line at DBS, Warri at the cost of N16,620,000.00, repaired the back-up transmitters at DBS, Asaba, Ubulu-Uku and Warri at the cost of N43,000,000.00, as well as mast tensioning, painting and repairing at the cost of N11,150,000.00.
Continuing with the breaking down of the expenses incurred, the commissioner claimed that he purchased some equipment for DBS, Asaba and Warri, which he failed to name, at the cost of N12,553,750.00, provision and installation of antenna and repairs of another transmitters at the cost of N57,240,000.00, briefed governor Ifeanyi Okowa on the 2017 flood disaster in DBS, Asaba and restoration of the station back to air at the cost of N17,000,000.00, repair of faulty back up transmitters at DBS, Asaba, Ubulu-Uku and Warri at the cost of N68,380,000.00.
Meanwhile as mixed reactions have  continued to trail the monumental fraud and corrupt practices linked to the former informer commissioner, some of the addresses of contractors which Ukah claimed to have awarded the millions of naira contracts to, could not be located by our correspondent.
As at the time of filing this report, calls and messages put to the commissioner for information, Patrick Ukah were not responded to, but his Special Assistant on media, Samuel Ijeh, confirmed that the documents obtained by our correspondent were true copies of the documents submitted by his boss to the transition committee, adding that “But we later discovered that there some typographical errors” and when asked why his boss failed to carefully read through all the documents he submitted, Ijeh could not answer. 
“We received some documents from the commissioner for information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, where huge sums of millions of naira were used to purchased cameras and repairs of transmitters at the Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba and Warri. The documents shows huge fraud, corrupt and sharp practices to cover up the looting in the two broadcasting houses in Asaba and Warri.
“How can you purchase eight camera for N18.7 million.? As part of our duty, we as a committee had to carry out a market survey on the cameras. The camera make and model is Sony Digital HXR-NX 100 and with our findings, we discovered that one of the cameras is sold for less than a N500,000 and the commissioner for information claimed to have purchased one each at the sum of N2.3 million by his calculation.
“Ukah also claimed to have bought four tripods and four wireless microphones at the sum of N9,654,750.00 for DBS, Asaba and Warri. This is nothing but outright fraud. In all the documents presented by Ukah to the transition committee shows that, he only succeeded in using the state owned media houses to corruptly and fraudulently amassed wealth to himself without recourse to improving the deteriorating current status of the broadcasting houses.” a member of the committee  stated.In some of the documents presented by Ukah to the committee and obtained by SaharaReporters, he claimed to have purchased eight cameras for DBS, Asaba and Warri at the cost of N18,721,738.00, repaired the FM coaxial feeder line at DBS, Warri at the cost of N16,620,000.00, repaired the back-up transmitters at DBS, Asaba, Ubulu-Uku and Warri at the cost of N43,000,000.00, as well as mast tensioning, painting and repairing at the cost of N11,150,000.00.
Continuing, the commissioner claimed that he purchased some equipment for DBS, Asaba and Warri, which he did not name, at the cost of N12,553,750.00, provision and installation of antenna and repairs of another transmitters at the cost of N57,240,000.00, briefed governor Ifeanyi Okowa on the 2017 flood disaster in DBS, Asaba and restoration of the station back to air at the cost of N17,000,000.00, repaired of faulty back up transmitters at DBS, Asaba, Ubulu-Uku and Warri at the cost of N68,380,000.00.
Meanwhile as mixed reactions  have continued to trail the monumental fraud and corrupt practices linked to the former information commissioner, some of the addresses of contractors which Ukah claimed to have awarded the millions of naira contracts to, could not be located by our correspondent.
As at the time of filing this report, calls and messages put to the commissioner for information,  were not responded to, but Samuel Ijeh, his Special Assistant on media, , confirmed that the documents obtained by our correspondent were true copies of the documents submitted by his boss to the transition committee, adding that “But we later discovered that there are some typographical errors” and when asked why his boss failed to carefully read through all the documents he submitted, Ijeh could not answer.

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Nigerian transparency watchdog demands Immediate release of Amb. Dr. Otunba Adejare Adegbenro, public apology from police

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The Nigerian Transparency and Accountability Watch Group, a non-partisan organization dedicated to upholding transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, has issued a fervent call for the immediate release of Amb. Dr. Otunba Adejare Adegbenro, who has been detained by the Nigeria Police under unclear circumstances.

 

Amb. Dr. Otunba Adegbenro, a distinguished diplomat and grandson of renowned figures in Nigeria’s history, including Pa Alfred Rewane and Alhaji Aloye Dauda Soroye Adegbenro, was taken into custody on 26th April 2024. Despite his significant contributions to social justice and security in Nigeria, the reasons behind his detention remain shrouded in mystery.

 

In a public statement issued today, Comrade Zakari Hashim, the National Coordinator of the Nigerian Transparency and Accountability Watch Group, condemned the arbitrary his detention as a violation of his fundamental rights.

 

Hashim emphasized the importance of upholding due process and ensuring fair treatment for all individuals, regardless of their status.

 

“As an organization dedicated to promoting transparency and accountability within Nigeria, we strongly condemn any actions that undermine the fundamental rights of individuals,” stated Hashim.

 

“The arbitrary detention of Amb. Dr. Otunba Adejare Adegbenro without clear justification is a blatant violation of his rights and is inconsistent with the principles of democracy and the rule of law.”

 

The Nigerian Transparency and Accountability Watch Group has called upon the relevant authorities, including the presidency, the Inspector General of Police, and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), to intervene and secure the immediate release of Amb. Dr. Otunba Adegbenro.

 

Additionally, the organization has demanded a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding his detention to ensure accountability for those responsible.

 

Comrade Hashim reiterated the group’s commitment to monitoring the situation closely and advocating for justice and accountability in Nigeria. “We remain steadfast in our pursuit of transparency and accountability,” he affirmed.

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Former education minister, Kenneth Gbagi dies at 62

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A former Minister of Education and industrialist, Kenneth Gbagi, has died at the age of 62.

Gbagi was the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the last election in Delta State.

He was reported to have died on Saturday, May 4, 2024.

This was confirmed in a statement released by his family.

The statement, signed by his eldest son, Chief Emuoboh Gbagi, read, “It is with profound sadness but gratitude to God that we announce the passing of our beloved father, grandfather, husband, and brother.

“Olorogun Kenneth Omemavwa Gbagi, former Minister of Education, departed this life on the 4th of May 2024 at the age of 62.

“We take comfort in the fond memories of his life, his achievements, and the impact he made on the lives of countless individuals and communities.

“We kindly request your thoughts and prayers for our family during this challenging time of loss.

“May his soul rest in perfect peace.”

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Ex Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, Wife, others To Be Arraigned April 17 Over Dollar Video…..

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The Kano High Court is set to arraign Kano State’s immediate previous governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, on April 17, 2024, on charges of bribery, diversion, and theft of money, including the alleged acceptance of $413,000 and N1.38 billion in bribes.

Haruna Dederi, Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, confirmed the situation, saying Ganduje would be charged with his wife and six others.

The accused individuals named in the summons are Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Hafsat Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lesage General Enterprises.

The Kano State Government, which initiated the criminal suit against the eight respondents, has declared its readiness to present 15 witnesses to testify before Justice Usman Na’aba of State High Court number four.

“It is very true. We have filed the case and it’s going to hold on the 17th of April, 2024. What I cannot confirm is whether he is served or not, but he will definitely be served,” he said.

Dederi further highlighted the significance of accountability in governance, remarking, “What he (Ganduje) doesn’t understand is that you cannot run away from the evil day, it will definitely come to you, and this will even serve as a deterrence to all of us that are also in government now.”

The commissioner also addressed the jurisdictional aspect of the case, asserting,
“He was saying that we can’t prosecute him, forgetting that the offence also falls under the category of the state offences,” he said.

“It’s not totally a federal affair and we have even appealed to Justice Liman ruling on that.”

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