Olajide Meseko
The Federal Government has warned the governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, on supplying misleading information to the public.
It said that the government provided misleading information on its gold purchase, and in the process, made it look as if the state has the exclusive right to the minerals located in the state.
Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite, who said this, stated that the Federal Government issues licences to those interested to purchase minerals, as long as they meet the necessary criteria.
DgovScoops recalls that a human rights lawyer and Activist, Mr. Joseph Onu Silas has written the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) seeking cancelation of the purchase of gold worth 5 billion Naira from Zamfara State government by the bank.
The human rights lawyer said section 1(4) of the CBN Act, 2007 which permits the bank to acquire, hold and dispose of movable and immovable property does not extend to engaging in a business venture such as the purchase of gold neither does section 2 of the Act which sets out objectives of the bank include “commerce or trading in gold”.
Credit: The Nigerian Lawyer