Strike: FG, ASUU meeting ends in deadlock, adjourns to Feb 7

The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of
Universities have again failed to reach a compromise to end the
ongoing strike by the university lecturers.

Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment while
addressing newsmen after a closed-door meeting with the union on
Friday in Abuja said the meeting was protracted.

He said, “The meeting was protracted, but the good news is that
we have gotten to the end of the tunnel.

“We met them halfway and we have finished the gray areas and on
the issue of N50 billion, we have offered what we have.

“We do not have N50 billion and we cannot do N50 billion, but we
have offered them something reasonable.

“So they have to take it back, and go and present to their
members”.

Ngige, however, expressed hope that students would return to
school soon, saying “We will know when they will go back by
Thursday”.

Earlier, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU President said the meeting
had been adjourned to February 7.

“So, far on the level of progress made so far, I cannot tell you
that now until I tell my members.

“It is the feedback of the last meeting we came to present to
government today.

“But right now, we have a new set of information that we have to
go and present to our members. Until we tell our members, we cannot
tell you,” he said.

Ogunyemi noted that progress had been made on the ongoing
negotiations.

He added that “We are making progress and the progress we are
making is for everybody’s interest and stakeholders will benefit at
the end of the day.

“We will be meeting on Thursday, after which, we will address
the press.

“We have dealt with all areas, so the progress we have made must
first be related to our members.

“So until we tell them, and they tell us what to do that, that
is only when we can relate to the press. The meeting is adjourned
till Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the strike commenced on
November 5, 2018.

The lecturers are demanding for the implementation of some
agreements with the Federal Government since November 2009.

NAN also reports that one of their major demands is the
implementation of university revitalisation fund.

(NAN)

Patience Jonathan Forfeits N1bn by Court
Order

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured
an interim forfeiture of the sum of N1,000,494,000 (One Billion,
Four Hundred and Ninety Four Thousand Naira) only lodged in three
deposits with Fidelity Bank Plc on 20th and 25th May, 2015.

The forfeiture order by Federal High Court sitting in Kano and
presided over by Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa is consequent upon a
motion ex parte filed by the Commission seeking for the interim
forfeiture of the money, which was found in the Bank account of
Magel Resort Limited, a company linked to the former First Lady of
Nigeria, Patience Jonathan.

The Commission had gotten an intel that a bank account domiciled
in Fidelity Bank, had a huge sum of money that was not being used
by anybody.

Upon receipt of the intelligence, the EFCC swung into action by
conducting preliminary investigation, which revealed that Patience
and some relatives of former president, Goodluck Jonathan were
directors of the Company. Others named as directors are Oba Oba
Tamunotonye, Goodluck Jonathan Aruera, Goodluck Jonathan Ariwabai
and Esther Fynface.

In trying to trace the origin of the money, it was discovered
that N500,000 was deposited on the 20th of May, 2015 by Fynface,
who is alleged to be in charge of the Company, while N1 billion
(One Billion Naira Only) was transferred in two tranches on the
25th May, 2015 from PAGMAT OIL AND GAS NIGERIA LIMITED a company
that was not incorporated with the Corporate Affairs
Commission.

Ruling on the motion, Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa held that: “An
interim forfeiture order is granted to the Federal Government in
the sum of N1,000,494,000 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety
Four Thousand Naira Only) in the Bank account of the 1st respondent
Magel Resort Limited 4011019546 which is maintained with 2nd
respondent Fidelity Bank Plc”.

The court further ordered that the forfeited sum be deposited in
the Treasury Single Account of the Federal Government.

Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity