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NECO: Gana’s lawyers Nrite SaharaReporters Over ‘Defamation’

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Lawyers representing former Acting Registrar of the National Examinations Council (NECO), Mr Abubakar Gana, have lodged a formal request to SaharaReporters for a public apology and retraction of three defamatory publications against him.

 

Victor Giwa & Associates, conveyed the demand in a letter addressed to the editor-in-chief of the online platform, dated October 5, 2020, in which the law firm described the reports as “libellous, defamatory and capable of lowering Ganas reputation in the eyes of the public.”

 

It would be recalled that SaharaReporters had, in a series of reports, levelled varying allegations against Gana, accusing him of fraud which Gana debunked as false and malicious.

 

In its latest publication of October 2, 2020, the online platform relied on an unnamed source to run the headline “Education Ministry Permanent Secretary, Echono, Former NECO Acting Registrar, Gana, Others Fingered In N6bn Contract Fraud.”

 

“The above statements and publications against our client are libelous, defamatory and they are capable of lowering his reputation in the eyes of the public and in the minds of right thinking persons in the society.

 

“It is on this note that we are urgently making the following demands: That you cause to be made a public apology to our client in two national dailies within 7 days of publication of this notice.

 

“That you pull down and retract all stories and reports relating to our client on the above subject within 7 days of the publication of this notice on your webpage. That you publish same apology on your webpage within 7 days of the publication of this notice,” the letter read in part.

 

 

“A source told SaharaReporters that the indefinite suspension of the former Registrar, Prof Charles Uwakwe on May 10, 2018 provided Echono the opportunity to closely interfere in the procurement process of the examination council using Alih as his proxy,” it said.

 

But Victor Giwa & Associates, in their letter, debunked the allegations as lame and manifestly ignorant as the procurement process of NECO or other parastatals does not involve the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education.

 

The lawyers also noted that all the contracts under Gana’s time were dully awarded and satisfactorily executed, noting that the allegations were “false, malicious, spurious and intended to injure our client’s reputation which he has built for over three decades.”

 

“It is important to note that our Client is a seasoned public servant and a professional examiner, who has given over thirty-four (34) years to productive public service at various levels of government, and has through dint of hard work, commitment and good service, risen to the level of a director before he was appointed acting Registrar of National Examination Council (NECO).

 

“Our client has a track record of excellent service and commitment to duty in his public life and he has received various awards and accolades to his credits. It is therefore our position that the said publications against our client are out rightly false, malicious, spurious and intended to injure our client’s reputation which he has built for over three decades, the law firm said.

 

Gana was at the vanguard of major reforms while acting as Registrar of NECO, a move that instilled prudence and financial responsibility in the agency. Between 2009 and 2017 only N900 million was returned to the Federal Government coffers.

 

But when he took over, in two years he returned over N2 billion generated as proceeds from the conduct of examinations, to the federation account, with an outstanding states indebtedness to the council for 2018 and 2019 towering at N1,045,047,140.00 billion.

 

He abolished the use of scratch cards in NECO to ensure that monies generated go directly to the treasury single account and worked hard to ensure reduction of examination registration fee from N11,350 to 9,850.

 

Meanwhile, his administration generated N600 million per annum from checking of results, from an initial N30 million; and purchased 20 Toyota Hilux vehicles from its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to aid its logistic challenges, and also bought 8000 biometric verification machines to improve the integrity of its examinations.

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Education

Nasarawa Lawmaker, Hon. Sa’ad doles out N28 million for empowerment, JAMB, Ramadan for constituents.

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“… says beneficiaries cut across party lines in all the 6 electoral wards of Umaisha/Ugya constituency…”

Nasarawa State House of Assembly Member Representing Umaisha/Ugya constituency Hon. Ibrahim Abdullahi Sa’ad, PDP has distributed rice worth N23 million to his constituency.

He also registered JAMB for 200 students of his constituency at the cost of N2million.

He made the distribution today in Umaisha, Toto Local Government Area of the state.

Hon Sa’ad also empowered 60 women with N50, 000 each in order to boost their petty business.

Hon Sa’ad, who is the Chairman House Standing Committee on Capital Market urged the students who qualify to write JAMB and yet to submit their names to do that immediately as he is ready to do more in that aspect.

He said that the gesture was borne out of his desire to assist his people, especially at this month of Ramadan in order to improve on their standard of living.

” All the people of Umaisha/Ugya are my people, what I am doing today is because of you, I am proud of you and ready to do what you want

” I have distributed this rice cutting across our people residing in Lafia, Keffi and Abuja in that order before coming home today for this distribution

” I have also empowered vulnerable women in my constituency as I gave N500, 000 each to each of the six electoral wards where 60 women were empowered with N50, 000.each

” I am ready to make the difference to better your standard of living,” he said.

The lawmaker promised quality and effective representation at the state legislature.

The assemblyman assured the people of his constituency of his readiness to provide more dividends of democracy to change their lives positively.

The lawmaker, therefore, solicited for the support of all and sundry to enable him succeed in the House.

He urged his constituents to be law abiding, respect constituted authorities and give their maximum support and cooperation to the policies and programs of Governor Sule to succeed.

He expressed concerned with what happened in Katakpa that resulted in the death of many people including security operatives and urged the people to stay calm as government is at the top of the situation.

“When there is peace, there is development, let’s continue to live in unity and peace,” he plead

Hon Sa’ad also commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule for his prompt action over Katakpa killing by sending delegation to the affected communities to ascertain the level of damage.

He said Gov. Abdullahi Sule promised to provide a military base in Katakpa to address further issues of security challenges

” Let’s all continue to support Engr. A A Sule to succeed so as to enjoy more dividends of democracy” he said

On their parts, Western Zonal Chairman, PDP, Alhaji Iliyasu Ogbehya and Umaisha Women Leader, Hajiya Salamatu Ibrahim appreciated the member and pledged their total support for him to succeed.

In his welcome address at the occasion, the representative of PDP Chairman, Toto Local Government Area, Alhaji Musa Wakili commended the member for the gesture saying that it was the first of its kind in the area that involved people across political parties.

” We are proud of you even before now. You are the reason for us to have mobile phone network services in our area.

“And we know that with this opportunity as member, you can do more, and that is what we are witnessing today,” he said.

He enjoined the people of the area to give all their necessary support to Hon Sa’ad to succeed

Speaking during the occasion, Chairmen of NNPP, SDP and ADP at the ward levels of Umaisha and Ugya commended the member for fostering unity among different political parties in the area which was first of its kind.

They called on their supporters to rally round the lawmaker to succeed so that he can continue with the good job he has started.

It would be reported that the event had the presence of Ward Party leaderships of People Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria People Party,(NNPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), among others.

The rice were shared according to wards, groups, parties, security agencies, campaign committees among others to reduce the people’s hardship especially in this month of Ramadan.

Highlights at the occasion was the presentation of rice to leaders of different benefiting groups by the lawmaker as well as presentation of Two Million Naira Cheque for disbursement to students registering for JAMB.

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