Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC), an investigative journalism and anti-Corruption crusaders based in Abuja with a field base in Minna, Niger State, has condemned in strong terms an attack yesterday on an Investigative reporter, Mr Odimayo Olatunde working with Grace Fm Radio, Lokoja, Kogi State by thugs of ‘Marijuana’hotspot cartel in Lokoja, after his undercover story of the illicit business on his weekly programme sponsored by WAMAC with the support of MacArthur Foundation. The barbaric and cruel attack on Mr Odimayo by those illicit drugs cartel in Lokoja is condemnable and totally unacceptable to the journalism profession, particularly investigative journalists amplifying the fight against corruption and demand for Good Governance and Accountability. We urged the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ayuba Edeh Ekpeji, who earlier on Saturday visited the journalist at his hospital bed through the Command Police Public Relation Officer to speedily arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of the attack on the journalists on their location at the central Lokoja, whom are known by the security agents and the public to face justice. Equally, we urged, the police and other security agents to give maximum protection to journalists in their line of professional duties. While we await swift action by the security personnel on the illicit substance cartel in Lokoja, we implore journalists, particularly investigative Journalists not to be deterred in their efforts to unravel monumental corruption, economic crimes and demand for good governance and accountability for the betterment of our society. We called on all media professional organizations both national and international to join hands and condemned this attacks on Mr. Odimayo of Grace Fm Radio, Lokoja and device a means of protecting journalists in any part of the country from falling prey of further attacks, dehumanization and molestation. Zubair A Idris Programmes Officer Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) An Investigative Journalism Centre and Anti-Corruption Crusaders with the Support of MacArthur Foundation. 17th April, 2021.
NIMC: Kwara Immigration Official faces sanction over extortion of enrollees
An officer with the immigration services Ilorin simply identified as Mr. Bayo has been caught on camera extorting enrollees for the National Identity card. This much was confirmed according to a secret video recording by an undercover reporter. The said immigration officer simply identified as Mr. Bayo, who works at the Federal Secretariat office of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Ilorin, Kwara. Mr. Bayo who was in uniform was seen in the video collecting money from the undercover reporter in exchange for helping him jump the queue, took him to a corner of the registration point, helped him fill the NIN registration form. Meanwhile, the Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC), an anti-corruption crusader based in Abuja has commended the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for the commencement of an investigation over alleged extortion of National Identity Card applicants in Ilorin. This much was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Ilorin, stressing that the Immigration boss should conduct a similar exercise of purging the service of corrupt officers across the federation. “WAMAC commends the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Comptroller, Kwara State Command, Mr. Jerry Inalegwu for commencing a thorough investigation with a pledge that “any staff found involved will be dealt with appropriately“ The investigation of alleged extortion was as a result of a report by an undercover journalist of Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) posing to be enrolled into NIMC database.“Mr. Inalegwu stressed that the service through the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammed Babandede has warned staff against involving in any corrupt practices” it reads
NIN Registration: WAMAC Calls For Nationwide Investigation Of Officials Over Extortion Allegation
Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC), an anti-corruption crusader based in Abuja has commended the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for the commencement of an investigation over alleged extortion of National Identity Card applicants by one of its staff, Mr. Bayo…, and urged the service to conduct similar activities nationwide.The said immigration officer works at Federal Secretariat office of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Ilorin, Kwara State and is allegedly known for demanding money from individuals applying for National Identity Card. The service that should have been carried out free of charge.The investigation of alleged extortion was as a result of a report by an undercover journalist of Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) posing to be enrolled into NIMC data base. Reacting to the allegation, WAMAC commend the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Comptroller, Kwara State Command, Mr. Jerry Inalegwu for commencing a thorough investigation with a pledge that “any staff found involved will be dealt with appropriately”Mr. Inalegwu stressed that the service through the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammed Babandede has warned staff against involving in any corrupt practices.SIGNEDFOR WADATA MEDIA & ADVOCACY CENTRE (WAMAC)(An Anti-Corruption Media Advocate through Investigative Journalism based in Abuja with the Support of MacArthur Foundation)
Sum of N14m was paid to spiritualists and vigilantes to fight insecurity –council secretary
Secretary of Shiroro local government council in Niger State, Mr. Adams Kefas, has said that a sum of N14m was paid to spiritualists and vigilante groups to curtail the incessant insecurity bedeviling the area. Adams Kefas told the Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the suspended chairman of Shiroro local government council, Suleiman Dauda Chukuba over a petition alleging misappropriation of N50m tenement rate that belongs to the local government. He said the engagement of the spiritualists was as a result of an advice from some people within the area who told them that some communities who were also victims of the armed bandits attacks did engaged them and it worked for them “then we heeded to their advice that was the reason we resorted to engage the services of the spiritualists and vigilante groups to assist us in curtailing the security challenges we are facing in our communities.” According to the council secretary, some of the spiritualists were brought in from Akare in Wushishi Local government area and Chikun Local government area in Kaduna state while some of the vigilante groups were from the local government and were also brought from Chikun local government to join hands with our own vigilante groups in our local government. When asked by the chairman of the commission, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik on his faith as a Christian if he believes in engaging the services of spiritualists to curtail security challenges, the secretary told the commission that, he never knew that he was going to meet the spiritualists “not until I reached the place then I don’t have anything than to do what I did just to assist my area in curtailing the security challenges our people are facing on daily basis.” He further told the commission that the award of some contracts was the collective resolution of the council legislature at a meeting held with some stakeholders of Shiroro local government at Markson Farm, Mutum Daya, where we identified some of the projects to be sited in their respective wards which was agreed upon by the councilors. “There was a resolution of the legislature at a meeting that the issue of contract was discussed; the meeting collectively resolved that the councilors should identify their projects; of which they did identify projects of their interest and their location. That was what was resolved at the stakeholders meeting at Markson Farm, Mutum Daya held some times in May, 2020.” the Secretary told the commission.
WAMAC has investigated the story which led to the arrest of suspended Chairman by ICPC
An Investigating officer with Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Mr.Abah Abangbo has told the Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the suspended chairman of Shiroro local government council, Suleiman Dauda Chukuba that the commission is still investigating the petition against the suspended chairman. He told the commission that one Mohammed Awaisu Giwa had forwarded a petition against the suspended chairman of Shiroro local government, Suleiman Dauda Chukuba alleging the diversion of N50 Million received from Transmission Company Of Nigeria (TCN) as tenement rate belonging to the local government. He said the commission was still investigating the suspended chairman and he would not make any comment relating to the matter before the commission stating that any comment as regard the matter will jeopardize their investigation. “The matter is still under investigation as at now; and if I divulge anything, it will jeopardize the outcome of the ongoing investigation which will affect the commission,” he told the commission. He explained that he only honoured the invitation of the commission as a result of the letter forwarded to ICPC which necessitated his coming. “As earlier stated, the investigation is still ongoing there are certain things I cannot say here which will affect our own investigation,” he said.
How free Maternal Drugs were diverted by Health officials in Maiduguri
An episode of a radio program Cigaban Al’umma/ Jire k3ji dated 29/1/2021 on FRCN Peace FM Maiduguri which exposed the diversion of free maternal drugs by health officials in public hospitals in Borno state has triggered action by the state government. This particular episode amplified the challenges pregnant women encounter during ante and post natal services in government hospitals. According to officials of the hospital who confided in the team of journalists from FRCN Peace FM after the announcement of the sack of the commissioner for health Dr. Salihu Kwayabura by the Borno state Governor Babagana Zulum.The programme they said immediately after the first broadcast generated anxiety among top management staff of the hospitals featured in the said episode and further express concern that it may consume the Medical Directors of the two hospitals.
WAMAC UNCOVERS BROTHEL WHERE UNDERAGE GIRLS ARE SEXUALLY EXPLOITED IN LOKOJA
The anti-Corruption crusaders, Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) based in Abuja with a field base in Minna, Niger State, has investigated and uncovered a child trafficking, sexual offences against children and drug-related crimes by cartel operating in Kogi State. WAMAC has investigated on its anti-Corruption programme “Kpuff Corruption” on Grace FM Radio 95.5, Lokoja, maiden edition has uncovered places at Kasuwan-ruwa Lokoja and Saban Zango near Zango before Kabba Junction, where commercial sex activities involving children (from within the states of Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Chad republic, etc) are pushed into sex slavery. In the programme journalist of Grace FM using techniques of investigative reporting as undercover agent, penetrated into the child slavery places of Kasuwan-Ruwa and Sabon Zango were pushed into sexual abuses, while the owners of the brothel cashed money paid leaving the girls in penury. As a result of the programme which was widely listened the State Commissioner of Women Affairs, Kogi State called on the journalists of Grace FM to her office. The Commissioner was shocked on the revelation in the programmes and promise to take the issue before the state Executive Council meeting for Government necessary action. While we await the outcome and decision by Kogi State Government WAMAC, commend, Grace FM trained investigation journalists for these milestones achievement in their maiden edition, worth emulating by other WAMAC Partner Radio Stations. Zubair A Idris Programmes Manager. Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) An Anti Corruption Crusaders with the Support of MacArthur Foundation.23rd January, 2021.
WAMAC UNCOVERS BROTHEL WHERE UNDER-AGE GIRLS ARE SEXUALLY EXPLOITED IN LOKOJA
The anti-Corruption crusaders, Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) based in Abuja with a field base in Minna, Niger State, has investigated and uncovered a child trafficking, sexual offences against children and drug-related crimes by cartel operating in Kogi State. WAMAC has investigated on its anti-Corruption programme “Kpuff Corruption” on Grace FM Radio 95.5, Lokoja, maiden edition has uncovered places at Kasuwan-ruwa Lokoja and Saban Zango near Zango before Kabba Junction, where commercial sex activities involving children (from within the states of Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Chad republic, etc) are pushed into sex slavery. In the programme journalist of Grace FM using techniques of investigative reporting as undercover agent, penetrated into the child slavery places of Kasuwan-Ruwa and Sabon Zango were pushed into sexual abuses, while the owners of the brothel cashed money paid leaving the girls in penury. As a result of the programme which was widely listened the State Commissioner of Women Affairs, Kogi State called on the journalists of Grace FM to her office. The Commissioner was shocked on the revelation in the programmes and promise to take the issue before the state Executive Council meeting for Government necessary action. While we await the outcome and decision by Kogi State Government WAMAC, commend, Grace FM trained investigation journalists for these milestones achievement in their maiden edition, worth emulating by other WAMAC Partner Radio Stations. Zubair A Idris Programmes Manager. Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) An Anti Corruption Crusaders with the Support of MacArthur Foundation.23rd January, 2021.