ASR AFRICA CONFERS ‘THE ABDUL SAMAD RABIU ACHIEVERS AWARD’ ON MENTEES OF ITS MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FROM THE AL-QALAM UNIVERSITY

ASR Africa has conferred the prestigious “Abdul Samad Rabiu Achievers Award” on 40 mentees from its mentorship program in Al-Qalam University, Katsina state, Nigeria.

The 3-month mentorship program organized for students of the Al-Qalam University ended with a closeout ceremony in the University. This program, which focused on 3 thematic areas including career, personal, and entrepreneurial development, brought together female mentors from different walks of life- including the United Nations committee members, global experts from the Middle East, business professionals, media experts, and the ASR Africa subject matter specialists. These mentors provided insights to the mentees through real life training on topical issues as well as experience sharing.

Speaking at the closeout event in Katsina State, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Nair Musa Yauri commended the Chairman of BUA Group and ASR Africa, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu, for his support to Tertiary Institutions in the country. Being a beneficiary of the 250 million naira grant of ASR Africa Tertiary Education Grant Scheme 2022/2023, the Vice Chancellor applauded the management of adding value to the quality of education being delivered by their institution. He applauded ASR Africa for organizing and facilitating the mentorship program for their final year students and added that he is confident that the students have sufficient tools to reach their full potential.

In his response, the MD/CEO of ASR Africa, Dr. Ubon Udoh, thanked the institution for giving ASR Africa the platform to impact the lives of the mentees and to support the University. According to Dr. Ubon, this initiative fits into the vision of Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu, the founder and Chairman of BUA Group and ASR Africa for the educational sector in Nigeria. He added that the benefits of Human Capital development cannot be overlooked as it enhances productivity, skill development, improved morale and innovation. He encouraged the mentees to utilize all they have learned from the program and continue to engage as much as they can with the ASR Africa team whenever they feel stuck.

The mentees expressed their appreciation to ASR Africa for the mentorship program. They thanked the facilitators who devoted their time and resources to educate, motivate, and inspire them to greater achievements. Mentees were presented with Certificates of Completion, and the ASR Africa Achievers Award at the end of the program.

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*Lawyer Replies Agbakoba on EFCC’s legal status

*…your position based on legal sophistry than substance

A lawyer and former member of the House of Representatives, Kayode Oladele, has faulted the position of the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) on the legal status of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing it as “legal sophistry “

Oladele’s response was a rejoinder to an interview granted by Agbakoba wherein he said EFCC lacked the powers to interfere in state affairs, and a fresh letter written by Agbakoba to the Joint National Assembly Constitution Review Committee.

The renewed onslaught against the EFCC is not unconnected with its bold and reinvigorated move, especially in the last one year, to investigate and prosecute some highly placed politically exposed persons like the former Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello and others. Kogi State actually initiated the pending case at the Supreme Court before being joined by about 15 other states.

Oladele maintained that: “It is pertinent to state that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is a Nigerian law enforcement agency established to investigate and prosecute economic and financial crimes, such as advance fee fraud, money laundering and misapplication and misappropriation of public funds,

“With due respect, Mr. Agbakoba SAN’s position is more of legal sophistry rather than legal substance. His position does not represent the correct position of the law as it runs contrary to the long-settled position of the law as handed down by the superior courts of law including the Apex Court in Nigeria. It is settled law that Nigeria operates a co-operative federalism as opposed to dualist federalism and under co-operative federalism as practiced in Nigeria, some agencies are common agencies for both the Federal and State Government,” he said.

Oladele posited further that the view expressed by Agbakoba does not have any legal backing “and therefore unsupportable in law and practice”.

He went on further to state that, “Indeed, the EFCC is a common agency for both the Federal and State Economic and Financial Crimes, and as such, it qualifies as ‘any other authority’ to institute criminal proceedings under section 174(1)(b) and section 211(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

“Again, these statutory provisions have been given judicial considerations by the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, in line with my position and contrary to Mr. Agbakoba’s views or submissions on this issue.

“EFCC is expressly conferred with powers under sections 6(m), 9(2) and 13(2) of EFCC (Est.) Act to initiate criminal proceedings in any court in Nigeria for any offence bordering on economic and financial crimes, even under the Penal Code. The EFCC cannot, therefore, be faulted for initiating the instant charge in the name of “Federal Republic of Nigeria”. This is because the Federal Government of Nigeria is not synonymous with the Federation of Nigeria, or the Federal Republic of Nigeria.