A British lawmaker was killed in a shock
daylight street attack on Thursday, throwing
campaigning for the referendum on Britain's
EU membership into disarray just a week
before the crucial vote.
Jo Cox , a 41-year-old mother-of-two from the opposition
Labour Party, was left bleeding on the pavement after reportedly
being shot and stabbed in the village of Birstall in northern England,
according to witnesses quoted by local media.
Police later announced the death of Cox , a campaigner for Britain
to remain in the European Union.
Officers said a 52-year-old man had been arrested and a firearm
had been recovered from the scene.
"This was a localised incident, albeit one which has a wider
impact," West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Mark
Burns-Williamson told reporters.
Cox , a former aid worker, was only elected to parliament last year
but had already made her name campaigning for the government to
do more to aid Syrian refugees and for Britain to stay in the EU.
After the attack, the "Remain" camp said it was suspending all
campaigning for Thursday and Friday while a spokesman for the
rival "Vote Leave" group said their "battle bus" was returning to
headquarters.
Prime Minister David Cameron cancelled a planned rally during a
historic but controversial visit to Gibraltar as part of his campaign
for Britain to remain in the EU in the June 23 vote.
"We' ve lost a great star. She was a great, campaigning MP with
huge compassion, with a big heart," Cameron said in televised
remarks.
On a visit to Copenhagen, US Secretary of State John Kerry said: "It
is an assault on everybody who cares about and has faith in
democracy," he added.
Her husband Brendan wrote: "Jo believed in a better world and she
fought for it every day of her life."
Over parliament the British flag flew at half-mast.
The human rights campaign group Avaaz called for a vigil outside
the Houses of Parliament and a church in Birstall also said it was
planning a commemoration later on Thursday.
- Three shots -
Grieving local residents laid flowers to near the scene of the attack
as police forensic officers were seen examining a shoe and a
handbag in a cordoned-off area.
One witness, local cafe owner Clarke Rothwell, said that Cox had
been shot three times .
"He shot this lady once and then he shot her again, he fell to the
floor, leant over shot her once more in the face area ," he told the
BBC .
Sky News television quoted unconfirmed reports that the shooter
shouted "Britain first".
He was named by British media as local man Tommy Mair.
The attack halted a frantic day of campaigning, as two new opinion
polls indicated that more Britons now want to leave the EU than
want to stay .
If they prove correct, Britain would become the first state in the
nearly six-decade history of the bloc to leave.
- 'Difficult to be optimistic' -
The looming prospect of a Brexit has sparked volatility in the
financial markets and sent the pound plunging, and prompted
interventions from a number of EU leaders.
"I know it's very difficult for us to be optimistic today, we know
the latest polls," EU President Donald Tusk said on a visit to
Helsinki.
But he added: "The EU will survive, I have no doubt -- it is still much
easier to survive when you are 27 member states than completely
alone".
At an economic forum in Russia, European Commission chief Jean-
Claude Juncker also said: "I don't think that the European Union will
be in danger of death if Britain leaves because we continue the
process of closer cooperation in Europe."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel used a press conference in Berlin
to urge Britain to stay.
She said that in the event of a Brexit, "everything related to the
common market, and to the mutual benefit to Britain and all other
European member states, would no longer be available to Britain".
- Too close to call -
A new survey by Ipsos Mori showed support for leaving the EU now
stands at 53 percent compared to 47 percent for those who want
to stay in, excluding undecided voters.
Another new poll by Survation put "Leave" ahead by 52-48,
excluding undecided voters.
Polling expert John Curtice said the race was now too close to call,
telling the BBC: "I think we no longer have a favourite in this
referendum."
London's FTSE 100 share index fell 1.1 percent to 5,899, before
recovering somewhat to end the day 0.27 percent lower at
5,950 .
The pound hit a new two-month low against the euro.
Leading business newspaper the Financial Times endorsed the
"Remain" camp, saying Britain had benefited from its 43-year
membership of the European fold and leaving would "seriously
damage" the economy.
"A vote to withdraw would be irrevocable, a grievous blow to the
post-1945 liberal world order," it added.
Thursday, June 16, 2016
British lawmaker killed in shock attack before EU vote
SGF, Sagay, Falana deplore roles of lawyers in aiding corruption
Ade Adesomoju, Abuja
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Mr. Babachir
Lawal; the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against
Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), and human rights lawyer, Mr.
Femi Falana (SAN), among others, on Thursday lamented the
roles of some lawyers, judges and other professionals in aiding
corruption.
Also speaking along the same line , the Executive Secretary of the
PACC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, said efforts were on to isolate and
penalise professionals, who contributed to money laundering,
failed to expose their corrupt clients but chose to share from the
proceeds of crime.
They spoke in Abuja at a workshop on the ‘Role of professionals
in the fight against corruption’.
The workshop was co-organised by the Sagay-led PACC ,
Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria and the Convention
on Business Integrity.
Lawal said some lawyers and a few of compromised judges,
helped corrupt persons to frustrate their successful prosecution
of criminal cases, a development which he said was injurious to
government’s anti-corruption war.
Babachir, who was represented by an official in his office, Mr.Tor
Tsavsar who is Director, Nigerian National Volunteer Services, said
there was need for professionals to see themselves as
stakeholders in government’s anti-graft efforts .
He said, “From recent revelations, corruption is usually aided and
facilitated by conniving civil servants and professionals in the
public and private sectors . It is no news that most stolen funds
are laundered through our banks and other offshore entities that
are owned and managed by professionals.
“A recent case of the ‘Panama Papers scandals’ is an example
of how politicians , criminals and rogue industries were assisted
by professionals to launder stolen funds . It is equally regrettable
that some of the professionals do not stop at aiding, abetting and
facilitating the stealing of public funds, but more often than not,
go further to offer direct and indirect support to indicted officials
to beat the law.
“It is no more news that corrupt officials are able to engage
some of our seasoned lawyers, who employ negative tactics ‘in
or out of court’ to frustrate trials of indicted officials.
“The retinue of frivolous interlocutory applications, which are
pursued up to the apex court, while action on substantive
matters are stayed, are common examples of how professional
lawyers frustrate the fight against corruption.
“Similarly, some compromised judges always exhibit a
disquieting tendency to indulge these lawyers in their unpatriotic
and unscrupulous conduct. The attitude of some of our legal
practitioners and judges have become so alarming that Mr.
President had, on few occasions, lamented their role in the fight
against corruption.”
Sagay deplored the conduct of professionals who aided corruption
and fraud.
He said the Federal Government was considering how to ensure
that those who aided corrupt and fraudulent acts were also
prosecuted.
Police dismiss cop for collecting N50,000 bribe
Olaleye Aluko
A police sergeant, Daniel Osaimayu, has been dismissed from the
Nigeria Police Force for allegedly collecting N50,000 bribe from
motorists in the Oshodi area of Lagos State.
Our correspondent gathered that Osaimayu, who was attached to
the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences
(Enforcement) Unit, Alausa, was arrested on Monday by the X-
Squad of the Lagos State Police Command.
Our correspondent learnt that the X-Squad operatives had
arrested a hoodlum in the area and found the cash on him.
The hoodlum, however, fingered the police sergeant, who was
posted to the area , as his accomplice.
The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, who confirmed
the dismissal on Wednesday, said four other policemen were
dismissed for extortion and improper dressing.
Our correspondent gathered that the four dismissed policemen
were Samuel Ando, Michael Adeoya, Richard Ugwu and Sulaiman
Muhammed.
It was learnt that Adeoya was dismissed for allegedly wearing
flip-flops while on duty , while Muhammed was dismissed for
allegedly not wearing police uniform while on duty .
Speaking with PUNCH Metro while being paraded,
Osaimayu, who was dismissed for bribe , said the money was
received from motorists in the area and kept with the hoodlum.
The ex-policeman, who denied that the money was collected in
his name, begged the CP to reverse the dismissal as he had no
means to feed his family .
He said, “I was at my duty post on Monday in the Oshodi area
when the X-Squad operatives came to arrest me. It was around
10am. A hoodlum had earlier been arrested and searched, and the
money was found on him. The suspect confessed it was the
money obtained from motorists and he said I authorised him to do
it.
“I did not know he collected any money on my behalf. I was
whisked off to the command headquarters, Ikeja. They searched
me, but no money was found on me. The CP should reconsider
me. I have family members to cater to.”
Adeoya, who was arrested for wearing flip-flops, denied that he
was on duty at that time, adding that he went to the Mile 12
Market to buy food supplements for his fowls.
He said, “I boarded a tricycle to the Mile 12 area. As I alighted,
the X-Squad officials swooped on me and said I was improperly
dressed. But I was not on duty . I worked as a guard to a chairman
of a political party in the Kosofe area.
“As of the time of my arrest, I was going to the market to buy
food supplements for my fowls. I rear fowls in my house. I was
surprised that I was arrested . After I was interrogated, they said I
would be tried for improper dressing. There is nobody to feed my
fowls. They would have all died by now.”
Another suspect, Muhammed, who was attached to the Idimu
Police Division, while pleading for mercy, said he had a health
challenge and was going to treat himself when he was arrested .
He said, “I was on night duty at a politician’ s house in Idimu. I
had an asthmatic attack and I was going to get my inhaler.
Someone gave me a ride to Idimu. I was going to the police
station when they arrested me for improper dressing. I am not
into extortion. I was dealing with my health challenge.”
Owoseni said the Nigeria Police Force was a professional
organisation which would not condone any act of indiscipline.
EDO 2016 : Masari heads six-man panel for APC gov primaries
John Alechenu, Abuja
Kastina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari and six others have
been chosen by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress,
to conduct the Edo State governorship primaries scheduled to
hold on Saturday.
This was made public during the inauguration of the committee at
the APC National Headquarters, Abuja, on Thursday.
The party also inaugurated an election appeal committee which
will be chaired by Opeyemi Bamidele , a former member of the
House of Representatives alongside Mustapha Salisu and Ekwy
Onyido.
National Organising Secretary of the party, Sen. Osita Isunazo who
inaugurated the committees also reeled out guidelines for the two
committees.
He explained that 2873 delegates are expected to vote at the
primaries that will be contested by twelve aspirants.
Isunazo said, “We have the ward delegates comprising of twelve
persons per ward multiply by 192 wards in Edo State, we also
have local governments’ delegates, 26 persons per local
government multiply by 18 local government in Edo State, the
State Executive Delegates, 35 and statutory delegates 66
totaling 2873 delegates.”
In response, Masari assured the party leadership and all
participants of a level playing field by ensuring that the primaries
would be free and fair in the interest of all the aspirants.
CBN targets one million jobs through youth entrepreneurship programme
Ifeanyi Onuba, Abuja
The Central Bank of Nigeria said it is targeting a total of one million
jobs through its Youth Entrepreneurship Development
Programme.
The Director, Development Finance Department, CBN, Mr
Mudashiru Olaitan, said this on Thursday while speaking at the
opening session of a three-day programme for the first set of
applicants of the YEDP.
He said the programme was one of the initiatives of the apex
bank which was inaugurated on March 15 this year by the CBN
Governor,Mr Godwin Emefiele to address the challenges of youth
unemployment in the country.
Under the programme, the apex bank in collaboration with
Heritage Bank Plc would develop the entrepreneurial capacity of
the youths as well as provide them with funds up to N3m each.
Olaitan said following the launch of the scheme, a total of about
10,000 entries were received with 4,833 completing their
allocations with Heritage Bank Plc.
He said out of the 4 ,833 completed applications, 1547 were
successful and would benefit from the capacity building
programme nationwide.
He said the activities to be covered under the programme were
startups and expansion projects in agricultural value chain (fish
farming, poultry, and snail farming), cottage industry, mining
and solid minerals.
Others are tourism, arts and crafts, information and
communications technology and any other activity that may be
determined by the CBN.
This, according to him, would enable the bank conserve the huge
foreign exchange which had been spent on importing food items.
Olaitan said, “This is a unique programme that seeks to unleash
the latent entrepreneurial skills among our teeming youths,
harness their energy and passion and ultimately groom them into
leading entrepreneurs in various fields.
“The programme was developed to strategically deploy our
youthful resources for maximum economic development.
“Successful applicants will also benefit from a robust post-
disbursement support that include business development
support, mentoring and attachment programmes.”
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Ondo House approves access to N14.16bn FG loan
Peter Dada, Akure
As part of efforts to end the ongoing crisis between the
government and workers, the Ondo State House of Assembly on
Thursday approved access to N14.16bn loan from the federal
government.
The legislative endorsement was taken at the plenary sitting of
the Assembly on Thursday where the members passed a motion
to enable the state government access the loan.
The House said it gave the legislative approval so as to enable the
government meet with its financial responsibilities which
included, the salaries of the workers and pensioners allowances.
During the session, the Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Henry
Akinsoyinu, who represents Ondo West II Constituency moved the
motion that the state government should go ahead and access
the loan and was seconded by Mr. Olugbenga Araoyinbo from
Akoko North-West Constituency II.
Another militant group emerges, threatens to attack Utorogu gas plant
Ovie Okpare- Warri
DESPITE federal government ’s ceasefire order to allow for
dialogue with rampaging Niger Delta militants, another militant
group, Utorogu Liberation Movement, on Thursday announced its
birth, threatening to attack West Africa ’s biggest gas plant,
Otorogu Gas Plant in Udu and Ughelli South council Areas of Delta
State.
ULM also threatened to blow up oil facilities along the Oil Mining
Lease 34 and other oil facilities in the upland parts of the Niger
Delta.
The group in a banner message issued by Gen. K. Omovudu and
others which was erected near the Motor Park in Out-Jeremi,
headquarters of Ughelli South council , also declared support for
the Niger Delta Avengers.
Publishers
Utorogu Gas Plant is Nigeria’s biggest plant which fields the
Egbin Power Station, Lagos and others in the country.
A community source who drew the attention of our correspondent
to the emergence of the group said the people of the area were
already living in confusion and fear.
But the group in their banner mission statement said, “My good
people of Utorogun community, Otu-Jeremi , Otor-Udu, Iwkrekan,
Ekakpamre and all oil and pipeline communities within this
region, this is the voice of ULM in collaboration with outgas force.
“It is a secessionist move. The awareness of things happening in
our environment is a means to outline our course of action. The
awareness is an agitation for economic balance. We have a
common enemy, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company,
NPDC and ND Western who hate your progress and wish you die in
poverty.”
A military source confirmed knowledge of the group to our
correspondent. The source added that residents brought the
development to their attention on Thursday morning.
However, an ex-militant and President of National Coalition for
Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, NCNDE -A, Israel Akpodoro, has
condemned the proposed Federal Government dialogue with the
Niger Delta Avengers and other splinter militant groups in the
region.
Akpodoro in a statement issued in Warri said if the FG should
dialogue with the members of the NDA, it meant it was indirectly
in dialogue with ex-militant leader, Mr Government Ekpemupolo
(Tompolo) whom he said prides himself above the law.
He expressed anger with the President Muhammadu Buhari led
government for negotiating from the position of weakness
rather than the other way round.
Dogara orders investigation of three Reps over sex scandal
John Ameh, Abuja
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara,
on Thursday directed the investigation of three members of the
House over an alleged sex scandal.
The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr.
Abdulrazak Namdas, confirmed this in Abuja, saying that the
leadership of the House took the action following a formal
complaint made by the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James
Entwistle.
He said, “We are in receipt of a letter from the US Ambassador,
alleging misconduct by some members of the National Assembly,
who attended a training programme in the United States of
America.
“The leaderships of the House has commenced its own part of
the investigation. When it is concluded, we will brief Nigerians
further on this issue.”
But, Namdas declined to answer questions on how the
investigation would be conducted.
He did not say if a special committee had been constituted for the
assignment or whether it would be conducted by the regular
Committee on Ethics and Privileges.
“When we say we will conduct an investigation, we will conduct
it and there will be a report ,” Namdas stated.
The development came as the US formally withdrew its visas from
the three lawmakers, an indication that they had been barred
from future trips to the United States.
FG shuts NERFUND, sends all workers on indefinite leave
Ifeanyi Onuba,Abuja
The Federal Government on Thursday shut down the operations of
the National Economic Reconstruction Fund following the crises
that have crippled the agency within the last three weeks.
It also directed all workers of the agency to proceed on indefinite
leave pending further action on the agency.
A notice on the shut down of the agency was on Thursday issued
by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance ,
Mahmoud Dutse to members of staff of the Organisation.
The notice made available to our correspondent which was signed
by Dutse, reads, “Following recent developments in your
organization and failure to reconcile the differences between the
executive management and the entire staff , inspite of the
ministry’s intervention on the matter, the Federal Ministry of
Finance has decided to close down your agency with immediate
effect to forestall a further breakdown of law and order.
“Consequently, all members of staff should proceed on an
indefinite leave pending further instructions from the ministry.”
When contacted, the Media Adviser to the Minister of Finance, Mr
Festus Akanbi, also confirmed the development.
He said in a telephone interview, “It is true, NERFUND has been
closed down.”
The Federal Government had through the Ministry of Finance set
up a committee to investigate the allegations of corruption
leveled against the current interim management of the agency
The workers of NERFUND which is under the ministry of finance
had last month disrupted business activities at the headquarters
of the agency over allegations of mismanagement and
embezzlement of funds running into about N700m.
The workers,who later took their protest to the headquarters of
the ministry of finance had lamented the failure of successive
governments to make a pronouncement over the status of the
organisation.
Hijab: Security chiefs meet Christian leaders over crisis in schools
Femi Makinde, Osogbo
Security chiefs and representatives of Governor Rauf Aregbesola,
on Thursday held a peace parley with some Christian leaders over
the lingering crisis caused by the court judgement allowing the
use of hijab in public schools in Osun State.
Sources at the meeting told our correspondent that Aregbesola
initiated the peace parley having realised that the threat issued to
the Christian Association of Nigeria would not work.
Some of the security chiefs, who attended the meeting are:
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Femi Olanipekun ; Director of
Department of State Services, Mr. Ike Maduegbuna and the
Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr.
Ayodele Olusola.
Some former commissioners were also said to be in attendance
at the meeting held at the DSS Office in Osogbo. The former
commissioners are: former Commissioner for Information, Mr.
Sunday Akere and former Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Wale
Afolabi among others.
The source said, “The police commissioner , the director of DSS ,
NSCDC boss and some government representatives were at the
meeting.
“The meeting was basically to appeal to the Christian leaders to
stop instigating Christian students . The state government and
security agencies are worried at the dimension the issue is
taking.
“They appealed to them and I believe, there will be a change . They
saw reasons with us and also said they were not out to disturb the
peace of the state but you know that religious issues are very
sensitive.”
He said that those, who came from the Baptist denomination
wanted to storm out of the meeting but were persuaded.
The source said the Baptist leaders said they were not told that
they were coming to attend a meeting but that they were
summoned by the officials of the DSS.
One of the former commissioners, Akere, when contacted on the
telephone confirmed the meeting.
He said there was a meeting between government officials and
security chiefs on one side and Christian leaders on another side.
“We appealed to them and they assured us that there would be no
crisis. The state belongs to Christians and Muslims and we must
not allow the peace we are enjoying to be shattered.”
Akere said those who lost in a similar case in Lagos State did not
resort to self help but went ahead and appealed.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and
Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria have expressed support for
Muslims in Osun State to continue to wear hijab.
The Secretary General of the NSCIA, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede , said this
in a statement made available to journalists in Osogbo on
Thursday.
Bayelsa plans to commercialise parastatals, agencies
The Bayelsa State Government says it has concluded
arrangements to commercialise some of its parastatals and
agencies.
The measure is to enable the state to diversify the local economy
in the face of dwindling revenues from the Federation Account, a
Government House statement said on Thursday.
The statement quoted the State Chief Economic Adviser, Mr.
Duate Iyabi, as saying the resolution was reached at the
59th Executive Council meeting of the state government in
Yenagoa, as part of efforts to move away from its mono-
economy.
According to Iyabi, the three key areas of the government’s
focus will be on power generation, agriculture as well as land
ownership and housing, as the administration can no longer
sustain its recurrent expenditure from the federal allocation.
He explained that the government ’s decision to commercialize
the state-owned parastatals and agencies was born out of its
inability to properly manage its businesses.
He stressed that the move would boost the internally generated
revenue of the state.
On power generation, Iyabi described the sector as an area where
the state has comparative advantage in, noting that
arrangements were underway to attract power developers to set
up their plants and sell power to the national grid.
On the provision of housing, he noted that the government had
identified two key locations in the state where it would embark on
the construction of low cost houses, medium and high-brow
houses for the people under a public, private partnership.
Also, the Commissioner for Trade, Industry and Investment ,
Kemela Okara, said the commercialisation policy was targeted at
realising the full potential of the agencies and the parastatals
with a view to ensuring job creation, revenue generation and
efficient service delivery.
Allaying the fears of workers , Okara explained that the
government would carry out an audit exercise in such enterprises
with a view to ascertaining their economic viability.
He said, “The primary objective is that we want to achieve the
true economic potential of these enterprises because the idea
behind setting them up in the first place was very good .
“The question is managing them effectively. So, the fate of the
workers would be greatly enhanced; the objective at the end of
the day is to increase the number of opportunities for jobs. So we
must keep faith with the exercise.”
On the proposed industrial park, he said construction work on the
first phase of the project would commence before the end of the
year as a lot of “off taker companies” had shown interest in the
project.
Railway contracts: Reps threaten arrest of 14 firms
John Ameh, Abuja
The Ad-Hoc Committee of the House of Representatives
investigating railway contracts awarded between 2010 and 2014
has threatened to serve arrest warrants on 14 firms.
The committee said the firms handled some of the rail projects
under investigation, but had shunned many invitations to appear
before lawmakers to answer questions.
Four of the firms were said to have handled projects worth
N41.2 bn.
The Chairman of the committee, Mr. Johnson Agbonayinma,
released the names of the firms at the National Assembly in Abuja
on Thursday.
The three are Constain West Africa PLC “in connection with the
N12.2 bn contract for rehabilitation of Jebba to Kano narrow
gauge line ”; Eser Nigeria Contracting Company Limited “in
connection with N19bn contract for the rehabilitation of Port-
Harcourt to Makurdi narrow gauge line”; and Ansaldo South Africa
“in connection with the N10bn contract to upgrade the signalling
and telecoms system in the narrow gauge line .”
Others named by Agbonayinma included Gear Holdinds, A3 and
Wireless Limited, Eser West Africa Limited, Eser Contracting and
Industry Compnay Inc and Ansaldo-A3&O Limited.
“This is the first wave of warrants that will be invoked and the
next group of companies will be processed as soon as possible,”
Agbonayinma stated.
The lawmaker added that the companies had no known
addresses, while all efforts to bring them before the committee
through publications and summons had failed to yield results.
Asked how the warrants would be executed since the firms could
not be traced, Agbonayinma replied that the Nigerian Railway
Corporation, which awarded the contracts, “must produce them
to the committee.”
Meanwhile, in its plenary , the House resolved to investigate
alleged “massive corrupt practices” by Manitoba International,
the management firm contracted by the Federal Government to
manage the Transmission Company of Nigeria.
Acting on a motion sponsored by Mr. Gaza Jonathan, the House
observed several breaches of the management contract.
For example, it noted that while the contract included emoluments
for 15 expatriates, the House said only eight were hired by the
firm for TCN.
However, it said the Managing Director of Manitoba, “a public
corporation, draws a monthly salary of N35,500,000, while
other expatriates and the MD, ISO, earn a monthly income of
N20,500,000 and N19,100,000 respectively.”
The House also faulted the exchange rate being used by the firm,
alleging that since 2012, it had been using a conversation rate of
N395 to the US Dollar.
The motion reads further, “As a result of the unlawful exchange
rate being used by Manitoba Hydro International Nigeria Limited in
the last 13 quarters, the transmission company of Nigeria has
fraudulently and illegally lost N3.7bn over and above its
entitlement under the management contract.”
The Committees on Power and Public Procurement were mandated
to conduct the investigation within four weeks.