CULTURAL NIGERIA

FRAUD IN IMO SPEAKER’S OFFICE 20th December 201 His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha (OON) The Executive Governor Imo State. Your Excellency, May I appreciate you Sir in this period of Christmas in Jesus Mighty name Amen. I am constrained by recent development in the Office of the Rt. Honourable Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly to write your Excellency and formally report that fraud and corrupt practices have gained tap root in that Office. Your Rescue Mission Administration which is doing its best to reposition the State (which also went further to elect some very competent individuals to facilitate her mission; top of the list is Rt. Hon. Chief Benjamin Chukwuemeka Uwajumogu whose leadership at the Imo State House of Assembly has been able to achieve the following – Passing of over 40 people Oriented Laws (Bills) and over 100 people oriented motions, Appropriation and oversight functions, Resolution of communal crisis across the state, building bridges of understanding among leaders in the state, facilitating infrastructural projects across the state, amongst others) has in the past few months been receiving bashing, attacks and severe critisms from Imo People due to the fraudulent activities and corrupt practices of political appointees in this government. The Chief of Staff to the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Mr. Kodichi Anamekwe and the acting Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, Mr. Emeka Ahaneku are severely damaging the image and reputation of this government with their fraudulent practices at the Assembly. While the Chief of Staff (without the knowledge of the Speaker) is massively involved in fraud and corrupt practices, the acting SSA on Media (also without the knowledge of the Speaker) is involved in stealing and diversion of stipends meant for accredited correspondents of Imo State House of Assembly. The Assembly correspondents have written petitions to the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly. On the 7th of November 2013, I personally wrote a letter to the Speaker complaining and reporting the activities of the Chief of Staff (Mr. Kodichi Anamekwe) and his cohorts. I asked the Speaker to set up a 4 man panel to investigate my allegations. But instead a query was issued to me 36 days later (on the 13th of December 2013). I responded to the query immediately pleading that at least a 4 man panel made up of honourable members should be constituted to look into my allegations. The intrigues that followed made me to resign my appointment as the Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties on the 17th of December 2013. Your Excellency, I am therefore calling on you most respectfully to compel the leadership of Imo State House of Assembly to set up a 4 man panel/committee made up of only honourable members who must invite me in the presence of Pressmen to make statements against the Chief of Staff and the acting SSA on media. This rescue mission government will only have genuine meaning if fraudulent and corrupt political appointees like Mr. Kodichi Anamekwe and Emeka Ahaneku are appropriately investigated. Imo must be better. My Regards. Citizen Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha Former Senior Special Assistant on Media Immediate Past Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties. Copy: (1)Force Headquarters (2)EFCC (3)Media Houses (4)Nigerian People -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nigeria: How State Lawmakers Collect Billions in Salaries By Nuruddeen M. Abdallah, 25 November 2013 Lawmakers in the 36 State Houses of Assembly have received about N12 billion in salaries and allowances in the first two years of their tenure and passed 601 bills, most of which were initiated by the governors. There are 978 members in the state legislatures, soaking up about N6 billion per annum in emoluments. A state legislator receives about N6 million per annum, comprising basic salaries and other perquisites, according to a Daily Trust analysis based on records obtained from the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). The RMAFC documents were obtained officially through a Freedom of Information Act request filed by this newspaper. With these emoluments, a state lawmaker earns more than 24 times the country's Gross Domestic Product per person (GDP). This means the legislator's package is 24 times what each Nigerian citizen is worth when the nation's total wealth is shared by the population. According to RMAFC records, a state legislator receives an annual basic salary of N1.34 million; accommodation, N802,335; vehicle maintenance, N267,445; and recess allowance, N133,772. The lawmaker also receives, once in four years, a vehicle loan of N5.3 million, furniture allowance of N2 million and N2.6 million as severance gratuity. Other yearly emoluments are N334,306 for constituency allowance; N334,306 for domestic staff; N133,772 for utilities; and N66,861 as newspapers allowance. In addition, the state lawmaker is entitled to N25,000 as duty tour allowance (DTA) per night and 600 US dollars estacode while on foreign trips per night. Principal officers of the assemblies are entitled to responsibility allowance, while the speaker and his deputy are entitled to security and robe allowances as well as special assistants and legislative aides. Each lawmaker is also entitled to medicals and special assistants. The cost of maintaining the state lawmakers is coming to light four months after Daily Trust published details of similar fat-cat emoluments enjoyed by their counterparts in the Senate and House of Representatives, who are on top of the global MPs' salaries chart. Executive bills Daily Trust investigations revealed that despite receiving over N12 billion from June 2011 to June 2013, the lawmakers only passed 601 bills into law. They appear to be merely waiting to rubber-stamp bills forwarded to them by the executive, as most of the bills passed in the two-year period were annual appropriation bills and supplementary budget bills submitted by the state governors. Also, there are many states whose assemblies did not pass a single individual member's bill into law within the period. In the two years from June 2011 to June 2012, the 202 state lawmakers in the North West passed 122 bills (Katsina State not included as details are not available) and collected N2.424 billion; while 176 legislators from South West received N2.112 billion and passed 107 bills into law (with the exception of those from Ekiti, whose records could not be obtained). The 158 lawmakers from the South-South, with the exception of Edo where records have not been obtained, had passed 69 bills into law and received N1.896 billion as salaries and allowances. The North East has 156 state assembly members, who passed 130 bills (with the exception of Borno) after collecting N1.872 billion as emoluments. The North Central zone, with 158 legislators had collected N1.896 billion and passed into law 125 bills; while the 128 lawmakers from South East had passed 48 bills (with the exception of those from Anambra and Abia states whose records could not be obtained) and received N1.536 billion as emoluments. 'Stooges of governors' Commenting on story, Malam Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), said the lawmakers lack capacity to perform their functions. "In Nigeria, the state Houses of Assembly have turned themselves to be the stooges of their state governors as a result of their weaknesses," he said. "The state legislatures have failed to ensure full implementation of budgets passed by them by the governors. After reviewing the performance of state Houses of Assembly in the current dispensation, human rights activists, civil society organisations, eminent lawyers and leaders of some political parties, have declared them 'dead'". The CISLAC boss said also that "it is very unfortunate that the doctrine of separation of powers enshrined in the amended 1999 Constitution only exists on paper as the state legislatures have become mere extensions of the executive arm of government, because they are more of toothless bulldogs. Some speakers of the states legislatures and other lawmakers have turned themselves to rubber-stamp to the governors. "For instance, in many states lawmakers have failed to call their governors to order over their shoddy implementation of the state's budgets, unbudgeted spending, misconduct, abandonment of capital projects, looting and stealing of public fund etc... . "It on record that most of the state assemblies they don't hold public hearing, debates and deliberation on key vital important issues that affect their people due to fear of the governors and their incapacitation and inexperience in legislative work." Daily Trust contacted the chairman, Conference of Nigerian Speakers, who is also the Speaker of Gombe State House of Assembly, Alhaji Inuwa Garba, for comments, but he said he had no time to answer questions on this story. He asked our reporter to direct his questions to individual speakers of the state Houses of Assembly. {Additional reporting from Rakiya Muhammed (Sokoto), Christiana T. Alabi (Kaduna), Ismail Mudashir (Kano), Abdullahi Anako & Abdulkadir Badsha Mukhtar (Dutse), Garba Muhammed (Birnin Kebbi), Shehu Umar (Gusau), Hamisu Kabir Matazu (Damaturu), Adamu Saleh (Gombe), Kabir Anwar (Yola), Ahmed Muhammed (Bauchi), Usman A. Bello (Lokoja), Abdullateef Aliyu (Ilorin), Lami Sadiq (Jos), Hope Abah (Makurdi), Hir Joseph (Lafia), Victor Edozie (Port Harcourt), Chris Eze (Yenagoa), Eyo Charles (Calabar), Patrick Odey (Uyo), Johnkennedy Uzoma (Owerri), Nabob Ogbonna (Abakaliki),Tony Adibe (Enugu), Bola Ojuola (Akure), Dele Ogunyemi (Ibadan), Kehinde Akinyemi (Abeokuta), Hameed Oyegbade (Osogbo), Femi Akinola (Lagos) and Beatrice Onuchukwu (Awka).} -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. .Senate probes missing $27m from sale of foreign mission assets . Thursday, 27 June 2013 01:00 From Bridget Chiedu Onochie and Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Abuja News - National .THE controversies surrounding the $27 million proceeds from the sale of Nigerian property in New York may have resonated, as the Senate Thursday began inquiry into the matter following a petition by Daniel Elombah. The petition, on behalf of the non-governmental Transform Nigeria Citizen Initiative, notified the Senate President, David Mark, of the alleged misappropriation and embezzlement of funds by then Nigerian Ambassador to the United States (U.S.), Dr. George Obiozor. Elombah wrote that the events of the past three years demanded that the lawmakers investigate what happened to the funds realised from the sale of certain Nigerian property in the U.S. between 2004 and 2007. He stated: “Available records showed that between year 2004 and 2007, the Embassy of Nigeria sold four prime property of the Nigerian Government located in Washington DC and Maryland. It also commenced sale of a fifth property located in San Francisco, California. “For the sale of those properties, the government of Nigeria retained the services of ECULAW Law Firm; out of those sales, Nigeria realised approximately $27 million. All funds realised from these sales, except those set aside as fees, were remitted to the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington DC.” As of June 2007 when the law firm that advised the embassy on the sale of the properties met with embassy officials at the premises in Washington, he alleged, all those funds and transactions were duly confirmed. He added: “M&T Bank had been the bank the embassy used for other transactions and had about three different accounts with that bank. “It was confirmed in clear terms that their bank was holding huge deposits comprising the proceeds of the sales of these properties. This remained the position after Ambassador George Obiozor had returned to Nigeria upon completing his service in Washington. “Those huge funds were lodged in Washington rather than being remitted to Nigeria. Surprisingly, the embassy left that money in Washington partly because it yielded substantial monthly interests, which the officials would never account for.” However, he alleged that between the time Ade Adefuye became ambassador until March 2012, the money in the accounts mysteriously disappeared. According to him, “this became clear when the M&T Bank was forced to close the bank accounts of Nigerian Embassy and terminate all banking relations with the embassy at the beginning of 2012.” Appearing before the Matthew Nwagwu-led Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to explain the issue were Dr. Obiozor, Prof. Joy Ogwu and Adefuye, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Gbenga Ashiru. Before journalists were ordered out of the Senate hearing for the second time, Nwagwu agreed that there were allegations of embezzlement of funds in Washington. Addressing the minister and ambassador, he said: “It is alleged that the resources were squandered by embassy officials. Ours is to give you a chance to address the committee, to tell us what you know about the administration and management of the fund within your tenure from 2004 till date.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why Delta can’t claim Ibori’s $15m bribe – FG July 11, 2013 by Ihuoma Chiedozie, Abuja 34 Comments The Federal Government on Wednesday gave reasons why the Delta State Government should not claim the $15m said to have been received by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from an agent of former Governor James Ibori in 2007 as a bribe . The Government said the state had once distanced itself from the sum when it deposed to an affidavit stating that it had not lost any money when Ibori was being investigated by the EFCC. The money was kept in the Central Bank of Nigeria as an unclaimed property since August 2007, but an Abuja Federal High Court, presided by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, on July 24, 2012, granted an interim order forfeiting the cash to the Federal Government. And at a hearing in the legal dispute over the controversial cash on Wednesday, EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), argued that it was already too late for state government to lay claim to the $15m. Jacobs said, “It is too late for the Delta State Government to lay claim to the money because of their own action. When the EFCC was investigating Ibori, the Attorney-General of Delta State filed an action against the EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation, stating that the Delta State Government account should not be investigated. “What is interesting is that they deposed in their affidavit that no money was lost by state government; that the Attorney-General of the state had investigated and the account was proper.” The EFCC lawyer further argued that the state government ought to have filed charges against Ibori, if it was certain that the $15m belonged to it. “When Ibori was convicted in London, the judge stated that he was convicted for money laundering. The Attorney-General of Delta State did not deemed it fit to file any charge against Ibori for this money which they claim is theirs .” Jacobs stressed that the state has not placed any evidence before the court to prove that the $15m belonged to it. The Federal Government also noted that the state might give the money to Ibori. “We are saying that if the money is released to Delta State, it will be returned to Ibori,” Jacobs added. Arguing that the money belonged to it, the state through its Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Charles Ajuyah (SAN), noted that money recovered from two other governors – Joshua Dariye of Plateau State and Diepreye Alamieseigha of Bayelsa State – were returned to the states. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fraud Rocks IBC, Secret Deals Of Ex-Perm Sec Exposed As Pensioners Protest Unpaid 30 Months Allowance Posted by admin on May 30th, 2013 and filed under News Extra. Fraud and Sharp Corrupt Practices appears to have gotten a tap root in the state government owned, Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), Owerri. At the centre of the sharp corrupt acts is one Goddy Dike one of the retired permanent secretaries sent packing in a major shake-up in the state civil service recently. A document obtained by Trumpeta and signed Chidubem Ogechi Nwogundu, revealed startling revelations about the nefarious and corrupt acts of the said Dike. According to him, shortly after Governor Rochas Okorocha announced the provision of a brand new 500 KVA generator set, Dike allegedly arm twisted the then Acting DG to cough out N750,000 as transportation of a new gen set, which turned out to be an old 650KVA left behind by Dee Sam Mbakwe’s government. The document stated that three weeks after the deal or one man show the same Goddy Dike forced the IBC, to give out to him, another three hundred and fifty thousand naira for the repairs of a wall damaged by the generator. The document continued “shortly after the two deals, the same Dike sent another killer letter to the then Acting GD, Alex Nwahiri, demanding a deposit of N2 million naira to repair IBC vehicles only God knows how such request was settled. Alex Nwahiri, Richard Nkwopara, Acting OF and S.I Eluchie are living witnesses till date” Nwogundu, the complainant, regretted that while IBC Pensioners groan in pains, poverty and death, the same Dike joined the Acting Director General to attend BON meetings outside the state at inflated traveling allowances. He further alleged that he (Dike) gave Esther. O, Egbuna, multiple promotions when there were no promotions in IBC, adding that “her (Egbuna’s) letters for promotion were hurriedly written, sent, withdrawn, re -written repeatedly all to make sure that she jumped over those, her senior” “He made shocking disclosures on how the Corporation’s monies were frittered away stating Goddy Dike was in IBC last Friday, pursing another weekend N100,000 when his name came-up among those retired” the document explained. Nwogundu unveiled that at one time, the ex perm see requested for N6 million as debts owed PHCN, while it was about N1.5 million that was eventually paid for the purpose. Meanwhile, IBC pensioners, for the second time went on protest yesterday to demand payment of 30 months pensions. The pensioners, that stormed the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, where a Novelty match between Legislations/Executives, accused Governor Rochas Okorocha of refusing to pay their pensions. Chairman of IBC pensioners, Chief Donatus Asimugwo (JP) said it is pitiable that proponents of the Rescue Mission have abandoned them despite peacefully protesting at the parastatals. He recalled that he personally submitted their pension request to Governor Okorocha at Assumpta Cathedral during his one year in office celebration. The furious pensioner’s boss fired at the secretary to the state government, whom he accused of insulting and abusing them. In his speech, a retired IBC pensioner, Chief Ahamfule Ibekwe lamented on the negligence of the state government to their plight, adding that it is regrettable that IBC pensioners were not paid their entitlements. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aircraft: FG threatens to prosecute Rivers for forgery May 3, 2013 by Oyetunji Abioye and Chukwudi Akasike Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah THE face-off over the registration or otherwise of a Bombadier aircraft owned by the Rivers State government took a twist on Thursday with the Federal Government threatening to prosecute Rivers for forgery. Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, said in a statement that the clearance documents used by the aircraft had been discovered to be forged, threatening that the state government would be prosecuted for the action which the minister said amounted to a violation of the nation’s aviation laws as well as other extant criminal laws of the land. The statement issued on behalf of the minister by her Special Assistant, Media, Joe Obi, reads in part, “The presentation of false information or forged documentation to regulatory authorities in the processing of official approvals or permits is clearly a serious violation of the Civil Aviation Act, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations and other extant criminal laws in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “Upon conclusion of these internal investigations, the Ministry will take all necessary steps required by law.” Efforts to get the reaction of the Rivers State government to the development on Thursday failed as several calls made to both the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari; and Comunication for Transport, Mr. Tofolari George, were unaswered. The aviation minister alleged that the flight clearance documents used by the aircraft might have been forged because Caverton Helicopters, whose name appeared on the clearance documents, had denied doing so in a letter to the Federal Government. According to her, the NCAA had discovered that the aircraft was operating illegally within the Nigerian airspace. Specifically, she said it was revealed that the aircraft did not have a valid flight clearance for its operations on April 26, 2013 when it was grounded in Akure as the last purported clearance obtained for the aircraft expired on April 2, 2013. She said, “Upon further investigation, however, it also emerged that the last purported flight clearance (and indeed several flight clearances previously obtained for this aircraft) had been obtained using the name of Caverton Helicopters. A letter from Messrs Caverton Helicopters dated April 26, 2013 expressly disclaimed any knowledge of or involvement with the flight clearances previously obtained in its name for the said aircraft. “The NCAA’s investigations specifically further revealed that the following flight clearances were obtained for the aircraft using the name of Caverton Helicopters: Flight Clearance for 04 – 06 January 2013; Flight Clearance for 23 – 27 January 2013; Flight Clearance for 28 March – 2 April 2013. “In view of Caverton’s letter expressly denying its involvement with the said clearances applications, the Ministry has directed the NCAA to commence a full investigation into all the circumstances surrounding the false clearance applications.” Oduah explained that the flight clearance process was a vital safety and security component of civil aviation worldwide. She noted, “It requires the involvement of both the civil aviation authorities and the national security agencies before approval is given and full disclosure of the aircraft, passengers and crew must be provided as required by law. The security implication of this requirement is further emphasised where a foreign-registered aircraft (such as the current aircraft) is engaged in domestic flight operations. Failure to fully disclose or attempting to conceal the identities of passengers aboard an aircraft is considered a serious security breach both locally and internationally. “On April 26, 2013, the said aircraft was refused start-up at Akure airport due to insufficient and improper documentation. Specifically, the pilot failed and/or refused to file a proper passenger manifest declaring the full identity of all passengers on the aircraft for the intended flight as mandatorily required by the regulatory authorities.” Aviation lawyers who spoke on the matter on Thursday, under condition of anonymity, because of the sensitive nature of the matter, however said that if investigation concluded that the clerance documents were forged, the government could prosecute the American crew that flew the aircraft. “The pilot in command is the sole person responsible for the safety and security of any flight, including its documentation. Maybe government can prosecute the American pilots that flew the plane. But I don’t think the government can go far with this because there is politics in the whole thing,” a reputable aviation lawyer told our correspondent. The imbroglio over the Rivers State aircraft has generated a bitter controversy since it was briefly grounded in Akure last week with politics being read into the issue. On Monday, the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State queried Governor Rotimi Amaechi over the matter. The governor said the query was “sad and laughable.” On Tuesday, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Otelemaba Amachree, raised the alarm that the Felix Obuah-led PDP exco had perfected a plot to impeach Ameachi using the unsuspended five members of the House to carry out the impeachment and thus causing confusion in the state. Twenty-seven, out of the 32 members of the Rivers assembly, had been suspended on Monday by the Obuah-led exco but a court on Tuesday revoked the suspension. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fuel subsidy: EFCC quizzes Ubah May 1, 2013 by Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday arrested the Managing Director of Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited, Ifeanyi Ubah. Sources said he was arrested by the security operatives of the commission in his Abuja home in connection with the fuel subsidy scam. His level of involvement in the scam could not be ascertained as of press time. But our correspondent gathered that he was interrogated by the operatives of the commission and allowed to go home. Confirming the arrest, EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said, “It is true he was arrested. But he has been allowed to go home.” Asked when he was expected back at the commission, Uwujaren said, “That will be communicated to him, but for now he is no longer with us.” About 40 persons and companies are facing trial over the fuel subsidy scam. Meanwhile, the Code of Conduct Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday stayed proceedings in the trial of the Director-General of the National Centre for Technology Management Dr. Willie Siyanbola. Siyanbola, who is facing a one count of abuse of office, allegedly recruited over 60 percent of the staff of the organisation from a particular section of the country. When the matter came up on Tuesday, Sinyabola’s counsel, Mr. Adamson Adeboro, moved the application for stay of proceedings pending the outcome of the appeal challenging the decision of the tribunal to assume jurisdiction. Adeboro, in the notice of appeal filed at the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, held that the tribunal erred in law by assuming jurisdiction to hear the matter. The prosecution counsel, Abbas Ibrahim, did not oppose the application. The CCT Chairman, Justice Danladi Umar, who presided over the three-man appeal panel, granted the application as prayed and stayed proceedings pending the outcome of the appeal. He adjourned hearing in the matter till June 30. Siyanbola was accused of employing over 60 per cent of the organisation’s staff from the South-West, where he comes from, in contravention of the Code of Conduct and Tribunal Act. 1998. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Delta indigenes besiege N’Assembly over alleged minister’s N58.9tr oil blocks fraud . Thursday, 25 April 2013 00:00 From Terhemba Daka, Abuja News - National . .INCENSED by what they considered a monumental fraud involving N58.9 trillion, representatives of five oil-producing communities of Delta State Thursday besieged the major gate leading to the National Assembly complex in Abuja. The Delta State indigenes, who were protesting against alleged exclusion of the host communities from the sale of the Oil Mining Leases (OML), submitted a petition to the lawmakers. They alleged that the bidding for the OML was shrouded in secrecy. “By this deal, 60 per cent of NPDC’s 55 per cent stake of these assets is about five billion barrels, which when calculated with the 2013 crude oil benchmark, comes to $380 billion or N58.9 trillion. This figure is exclusive of the 4 Trillion Cubic Feet (4 TCF) of gas asset in the blocks valued at $15.72 trillion “, they said. For six hours, the over 300 youths, including women who stormed Abuja in chartered buses late Wednesday, mounted a blockade yesterday and prevented vehicular movement to the National Assembly complex. The development, which left the police and other security operatives in utter helplessness, also compelled parliamentary workers as well as visitors to trek the distance from the National arcade located in the Three Arms Zone to the National Assembly complex. But a quick intervention by the leadership of the National Assembly prevented the protest from degenerating into a crisis as the Senate President, David Mark, as well as the Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, sued for calm and assured that the relevant committees of the parliament would liaise with other stakeholders within 30 days during which a solution to their grievances would be arrived at. The Senate Deputy Majority Leader, Abdul Ningi who received the petition on behalf of the Senate President, specifically assured that the two chambers of the parliament would urgently intervene in the matter for the benefit of the host communities. “The issue of host communities is critical to the parliament and the two chambers will within 30 days look at the petition and ensure that justice is done on the matter,” he said. House Chief Whip, Isiaka Bawa, who received a copy of the petition along with Deputy Leader of the House, Leo Ogor on behalf of the Speaker, also assured that both chambers of the National Assembly would address the issues in line with legislative procedures. The leader of the group made up of Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo, Isoko and Ndokwa ethnic nationalities, Chief Emami Ayirimi, alleged that two days before President Goodluck Jonathan dissolved the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in 2011 so as to reconstitute it for his new mandate, officials of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), of which the Petroleum Minister is Chairman, secretly transferred production rights in four large oil blocks, OMLs 26, 30, 34 and 42, to a company which neither tendered nor bid for the blocks. He urged the parliament to specifically put on hold the handover of OMLS 4, 26, 30, 34, 38, 41 and 42 to the company and another one pending the determination of the issues raised in the petition. Ayirimi also urged the House to order a cancellation of all the awards on OML 4, 26, 30, 34, 38, 41, and 42 and right of first refusal to be given to the qualified indigenes of the local communities to buy into them. “Why was the entire process organised in such a calculated manner as to completely exclude the interest of the host communities by ensuring that no indigenous company from the host communities benefited from the award?” he queried. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EFCC files fresh charges against Shuaibu, others . Tuesday, 23 April 2013 00:00 Editor News - National .THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed separate charges before a Federal High Court in Abuja, against 40 suspects implicated in alleged N4.56 billion pension scam. According to a statement by the anti-graft agency, those facing the new separate charge are a former Director, Pension Administration in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Sani Teidi Shuaibu, nine other accused and 30 companies. Apart from Shuaibu, others are Mohammed Ahmed Katun, Garba Abdullahi Tahir, Abdul Mohammed, Emmanuel Olanipekun, Aliyu Bello, Abdullahi Omeiza, Phina Chidi, Franklin Okey Nwankwo and Omoefe Eric Uduesegbe. The suspects have been standing trial on a 24-count charge bordering on stealing before Justice Adamu Bello. But at the resumed hearing yesterday, the prosecuting counsel, Godwin Obla informed the court of his intention to constitute separate trial for all the accused, and that he had filed seven separate charges against the accused persons. He also informed the court that all 10 accused persons have been duly served with the new charges. Counsel to the 1st accused, Sunday I. Ameh, however, objected to the oral application made by the prosecution to amend or withdraw the previous charge, saying the prosecution has not placed sufficient reasons before the court to justify the action. Ameh also claimed that his client has just been served with the new charge and will need time to study it and raise objection, if necessary. He therefore called for an adjournment. Other defence counsel aligned themselves with Ameh. However, Justice Adamu Bello ruled that it is within the prosecution’s right to withdraw any charge before the court or file a new one where necessary. He therefore dismissed the defence objection to the new charges as baseless and lacking in merit. With the new charges, the suspects are expected to take fresh pleas. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EFCC arrests Imo commissioner, accountant April 19, 2013 by Kamarudeen Ogundele and Ozioma Ubabukoh Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has arrested Imo State Commissioner for Finance, Okafor John, and the Accountant-General, Eche George. They were being detained as of press time at the commission’s office in Abuja. They were arrested on Wednesday. The arrest followed petitions written against them in connection with the over N1bn construction contract awarded to JPROS International Limited. Former Deputy Governor, Jude Agbaso, was recently impeached over the same contract. The anti-graft agency had in January quizzed the two over the allegation. They were later granted administrative bail after producing sureties. Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party in the South-East, has denied offering anyone N3bn to impeach Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State. Contrary to media reports, the South-East PDP also said it never contacted the Imo State House of Assembly Speaker, Mr. Benjamin Uwajumogu, to execute any impeachment plot. Uwajumogu had alleged that the PDP National Vice Chairman, South-East, Col. Austin Akobundu (retd.), alongside other persons, offered him N3bn to facilitate the impeachment of Okorocha. However, the party on Thursday said the allegation was “infantile, irresponsible and disingenuous.” A statement by Osita Igbe, Special Adviser to the South-East PDP National Vice Chairman, read, “It fits into an emerging picture of politics in Imo State since April 2011, which is based on dishonourable propaganda and flagrant disregard for the truth. “Assuming that such a plot even existed, there is no chance that Col. Akobundu, a former military officer, who knows the value of loyalty, would entrust it to a political turncoat like Uwajumogu.” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ACP dismissed for extorting N21.6m from police sergeants April 18, 2013 by Adelani Adepegba and Mike Odiegwu Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar The Police Service Commission has dismissed an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Fausat Oduwole for extorting N21.6m from police sergeants who wrote promotion examinations in one of the police colleges in the country. Oduwole, who was dismissed by the commission at its 35th plenary meeting in Abuja on April 3,2013 was found to have collected the illegal levy from the police officers to enable them to get promotion. The commission’s axe also fell on Chief Superintendent of Police, Olusegun Fabunmi, who shot dead one Ademola Aderinto at Yaya Abatan Street,Ogba, Lagos during the fuel subsidy protest in January 2012. Fabunmi, the Divisional Police Officer, Pen Cinema,’ Police Division was dismissed from the Force for acts unbecoming of a senior police officer. The former DPO is being prosecuted for murder by the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender at a Lagos High Court. Other officers that were sacked by the PSC commissioners whose tenure ended on April 11, included a Superintendent, an Assistant Superintendent, and a Deputy Superintendent of Police for acts unbecoming of senior police officers. Chief Information Officer of the PSC, Ferdinand Ekpe, confirmed to our correspondent on Wednesday that Oduwole and Fabunmi were among the officers that were sanctioned by the commission. Meanwhile, there were indications on Wednesday that the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has opposed request by the Bayelsa State Police Command to conduct a mass burial for the 12 policemen killed by gunmen in the state two weeks ago. Our correspondent gathered that some senior police officers in the command had advised that the policemen should be given a mass burial since their remains were burnt beyond recognition. But Abubakar was said to have kicked against the idea, insisting that a medical examination must be conducted on the mutilated bodies to ascertain their identities. A senior police officer told our correspondent that the IG had already sent a team of qualified pathologists to conduct the examination. The officer, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said the medical team was headed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police. “The IG has ordered medical investigations to know the identities of persons killed by the gunmen. The IG is against burying them in a mass grave despite the fact that their bodies were burnt beyond recognition,” the source said. Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, said the command had insisted that the victims deserved a befitting burial. Akhigbe in a telephone interview with our correspondent, said, “I am in Uyo for a programme. But before I left arrangements were on top gear to receive the pathologists. I don’t know whether they have come.” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ex-minister misappropriated N3bn contract fund –EFCC April 18, 2013 by Agency Reporter An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Chike Nwibe, on Wednesday told the Federal High Court, Abuja that a former Works Minister, Hassan Lawal, misappropriated N6.4bn for Brutu and Bagana bridges contracts. The EFCC, on May 11, 2011, had arraigned Lawal, alongside 14 others, for alleged fraudulent award of contracts, money laundering and embezzlement of funds for projects in Kogi and Nasarawa states. Lawal is standing trial on charges of N24.3bn contract scam. Charged with him are Adeogba Ademola, Digital Toll Company Ltd; Swede Control Interlink Ltd; Proman Vital Ventures Ltd; Nairda Ltd; Siraj Nigeria Ltd; and Wise Health Services Ltd. Others are Dave Enejoh, Okala Yakubu, Thahal Paul, George Elzogbi, Abbey Ayodele and GIS Transport Ltd. Nwibe, during cross-examination, said an investigation carried out by the EFCC showed that N6.4bn was the actual figure received by the contractors of the N24.3bn contract sum. He alleged that of the figure, Lawal authorised the payment of N3bn in 2009. He said, “I do not think it is correct to say that payment of over N4.5bn was made before 2009 when Lawal became a minister. “We went on-the-spot assessment of the contract site and found that the extent of work was not commensurate with the amount paid. “The work done was about 30 per cent of the sum collected. The assessment was based on our projection and according to experts.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How non-existent ship ‘imported’N1.5bn fuel Written by Lanre Adewole - Lagos Tuesday, 16 April 2013 00:00 A prosecution witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday told a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory that a vessel purportedly used in importing fuel into the country actually ceased to exit a year before the supposed importation as trial continued in an alleged N1.5 billion subsidy scam. A statement issued by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren stated that “ prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Alhaji Saminu Rabiu, Jubril Rowaye, Alminnur Resources Limited and Brila Energy Limited who are alleged to be involved in a N1.5billion Subsidy scam, Tolu Olanubi on Monday April 15, 2013 told the court that MT KRITI, the vessel allegedly used by the accused persons in shipping Premium Motor Spirit to Nigeria in 2011 had ceased to exist since 2010. “Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, Olanubi, an investigator with the EFCC told the court that, in the course of the investigation, a relationship was established between the EFCC and Lloyd’s List Intelligence, an organization that provides information on vessels, ownership of vessels, movement and location of vessels. “She said the EFCC subscribed to the website of Lloyd’s List Intelligence where it was discovered that MT KRITI which was purportedly used to ship in Premium Motor Spirit on June 14, 2011 had ceased to exist and declared “Status: Dead.” She also told the court that the last place of location of the vessel was Gadani Beach in Pakistan. “It is not possible for the vessel to have sailed into Nigeria on June 14, 2011 since it was reported dead on 17th April 2010”, she further told the court. She added that the vessel had changed its name from KRITI to AKIT before it ceased to exist. She later demonstrated to the court, using a projector and a Laptop Computer attached with an internet modem, how she arrived at her facts. However, Ajibola Oloyede, counsel for the 2nd and 4th defendants, challenged the admissibility of the documents saying it was generated through a computer. He alleged that the documents did not meet the procedure of tending such documents as stated in the Evidence Act. “It is not for the witness to say it was printed from the computer, the document printed should have all the information of how it was produced”. However, counsel to EFCC objected, saying the documents are relevant and that enough foundation was laid in compliance with the Evidence Act. “The documents speak for itself. The date and time the documents were printed is on the face of the documents. As to the issue of certification, the Evidence Act did not prescribe the form or mode of certification. So the way it is certified should suffice,” he declared. Justice Adebukola Banjoko upheld the documents. Justice Banjoko had earlier dismissed an application by the 2nd accused person in which he sought to have his travelling document returned to him on the grounds that he wanted to travel abroad for medical treatment. Justice Banjoko in his ruling said though there was a letter purportedly written by a medical practitioner backing the accused that he had a complicated heart problem, there was however no sufficient proof that the case cannot be treated in Nigeria. The EFCC had on October 17, 2011 arraigned the quartet for allegedly defrauding the Federal Government of Nigeria by submitting forged document and making false claims from the Petroleum Support Fund, as subsidy payment to Alminnur Resources Limited. They were said to have conspired to obtain the over N1.5 billion from the Federal Government of Nigeria as subsidy for the purported importation of 19,000 MT of PMS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ EFCC arrests NSPMC ex-MD April 15, 2013 by Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja Leave a Comment Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, Ehi Okomoyon. The Nation learnt that his arrest was in connection with the controversial contract awarded for the printing of polymer currency notes to an Australian firm. The contract was awarded when Prof. Charles Soludo was governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, between 2006 and 2008. There were reports that Okomoyon resigned from the NSPMC after several billions of N1000 banknotes worth N2.1 billion suddenly disappeared under his watch. Confirming the arrest, EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren said, “it is true that we arrest him. He is being interrogated in respect of the polymer contract. He was arrested yesterday (Sunday). Uwujaren, however, did not say if he Okomoyon would be charged to court. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EFCC probes Chime’s N13.6bn Enugu secretariat project April 15, 2013 by Ozioma Ubabukoh, Enugu Enugu State Governor, Mr Sullivan Chime Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has begun a full-scale investigation into the ongoing N13.6bn Enugu State secretariat project. The anti-graft agency’s zonal office in Enugu in November 2012 had carried out preliminary investigation into the secretariat project, following a petition by the Coordinator of Congress for Progressives Change in Enugu State, Mr. Osita Okechukwu. The state government had approved N13.6bn for the project while Arab Contractors Limited won the contract. During the preliminary investigation, which took place while Governor Sullivan Chime was away on prolonged medical vacation, the then Accountant-General, Eunice Ugwu, reportedly told EFCC investigators that the project would cost N8bn and not N13.6bn as claimed by the petitioner. She also allegedly told the investigators that government only released money for the feasibility studies and demolition of old state secretariat, which were provided for in the 2012 budget. However, immediately the governor returned to the country on February 8, Ugwu was redeployed to the Civil Service Commission as a Permanent Secretary. Our correspondent gathered that based on findings made from the preliminary investigations, the anti-graft agency’s office in Abuja has re-opened the case file for another round of inquiry. Our correspondent on Sunday obtained a copy of the EFCC invitation extended to Okechukwu through his lawyers, T.M. Eke and Associates of Magnolia Chambers, Enugu, to appear at the commission’s Abuja office on Wednesday, April 18. The letter read, “Investigation Activities Re-Petition against the Accountant General of Enugu State. You may recall that you wrote a petition dated September 18, 2012 on behalf of your client, Congress for Progressives Change against the Accountant-General of Enugu State. “In view of the above, you are kindly requested to inform your client to report for an interview with the undersigned through Mr. Chris Owobu on April 18, 2013 at No 5, Block C, Fomella Street, Off Adetokumbo Ademole Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, by 1000hrs. Your cooperation in this regard is highly solicited please.” The Head, Economic Governance, EFCC, Olufunke Adetayo, signed the invitation letter. When contacted on telephone, Okechukwu confirmed that he received an invitation through his lawyer to appear at the EFCC Abuja office on Wednesday for an interview. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAFDAC nabs fake drugs, alcoholic wines syndicate . Thursday, 11 April 2013 00:00 By Chukwuma Muanya with agency reports Features - Science • Parades alleged fake pharmacist for forgery • Links rising kidney problems to indiscriminate use of chemicals • Wants life jail, confiscation of properties for offenders • Claims 59 per cent reduction in fake drugs THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has busted a fake drugs and alcoholic wines syndicates across the country worth over N1 billion that specialises in illegal importation of fake regulated products, local manufacture and importation of counterfeit medicines, importation of unregistered food products, illegal importation of saccharin with forged NAFDAC stamp, illegal manufacture of fake Red Label whiskey and Carlo Rossi red wine; and a pharmacist for alleged forgery. Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, while parading the suspects in Lagos recently, said the suspects have been interrogated and products taken for laboratory analysis, and will be prosecuted as soon as investigation is concluded. Orhii said the agency is currently reviewing its law to ensure that offenders get life jail term and their property confiscated and part of it used to compensate their victims. This is against the current NAFDAC law that allows maximum of 15 years imprisonment and N500,000 fine for offenders. The NAFDAC DG also said the agency has been able to reduce the prevalence of fake drugs and substandard products in the country from about 64 per cent in 2008 to less than five per cent in 2012 due collaborative efforts with governmental and non governmental agencies such as the Nigerian police, Customs Service, Department of Security Services, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Ports Authority, the media, among others; and using Truscan and other anti-faking devices introduced by the agency. Orhii, however, dismissed suggestions that the rising cases of kidney problems in the country was due to fake and adulterated/ substandard products but rather blamed the situation on indiscriminate use of chemicals such as insecticides and pesticides. He said Nigerians have right to good, safe, effective and wholesome regulated products and NAFDAC is there to ensure that citizens enjoy this right. Orhii appealed to members of the public to report any suspicious activity relating to NAFDAC regulated products around their community to the nearest NAFDAC office for immediate action and see it as part of their contribution in the fight against counterfeit and fake products. The paraded nabbed syndicates include Mr. Tochukwu Eze of No 5 Oworeaya Street Obosi, Anambra State for smuggling fake regulated Gino Tomato paste and Ejulo Investment Limited Railway, Iddo Terminus Lagos for smuggling fake Mcdowell Reserved Whiskey; Mr. Nne Ikenna for illegal manufacture of medicines such as Zentel tablets, Lincocin capsules and Postinor tablets; Mrs. Awoyinka Mary, a Superintendent pharmacist at Uchest Pharmaceutical Limited at 9 Ekwulummiri Street, Iyiowa Odekpe layout and Block 237 Niger Head Bridge market Onitsha for alleged use of forged Pharmacists Council yearly licence to practice and retention of premises certificate to import one 20 feet containers of pharmaceuticals. The other syndicates busted by NAFDAC are: Mr. Maduabuchi Abuzu of 21 Ashogbon Street Idumota Lagos, alleged member of a syndicate in China that specialises in importing counterfeit medicines to Nigeria, for importation and sales of suspected fake medicines including Coartem tablets, Amalar tablets, Maloxine tablets for the treatment of malaria; Divine Chris Link Communication for importation of three 20 feet container of unregistered Mama Stars De Tomato paste through APMoller Terminal Apapa Port, Lagos; Mr. Chukwudi representing Vyn Trade 102 Faulks Road Aba, Abia State for illegally importing one 20 feet container of saccharin with forged NAFDAC stamps; and Mr. Kingsley Okoro and Mr. Fred Nwafor for illegal manufacture of fake Red Label whiskey, Johnny Walker whiskey, and Carlo Rossi red wine at their residence at N 7 Afolabi Close Ojo, Lagos. On the reduction in fake drugs and substandard products prevalence, Orhii said: “The determination was by the World Health Organisation (WHO) when it did a study on anti-malaria drugs, which are the most often counterfeited drugs, and found that Nigeria has the worst case with more than 64 per cent fake drugs. In 2012, the WHO did another study that showed the level of anti-malaria drug faking has reduced to less than 20 per cent. A study by NAFDAC last year using Truscan that detects fake drugs on the spot showed only 6.2 per cent of the drugs sampled were fake. Another independent study by a United States researcher showed it has gone down to less than five per cent. “However, the prevalence of fake drugs is a little higher in the rural areas. We can say NAFDAC is winning the war: from 64 per cent to 20 per cent then 6.2 per cent then five. We believe it is going to drop further when we start enforcing the mandatory Text Message System (TMS) on all anti-malaria and antibiotic drugs marketed in Nigeria.” On the review of punishment for offenders, Orhii said: “Now we have more than 100 cases and we have got some convictions, and the highest punishment we got for an offender is three years jail term. We are presently reviewing the law. It is a very lengthy and slow process. We have a very strong legal team made up of Senior Advocates (SAN) and professors of Law from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and others. “I wanted a death penalty for fake drugs peddlers because they are worst than armed robbers. But I have to come to terms with civil rights activists who are opposed to that. Now we want lifetime jail term and confiscation of all their assets, and when proven that the fake drugs caused death or bodily harm, some of the assets can be used to compensate the victim. We also want the offence to be non-bailable to ensure speedy trial. We want the new law to enable us reward people who come forward with information. If you bring us information that is credible we will reward you.” On the link between fake drugs and food products to rising cases of kidney failure, Orhii said: “There are so many things that can cause kidney problems. I disagree with the suggestion that fake drugs are to be blamed. Indiscriminate use of chemicals is a major factor. The chemicals/pesticides we use to store beans, the insecticides we use at our homes and indiscriminate use of fertilisers.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Nigeria: I Didn't Receive N458 Million Bribe From Jpros Ltd - Agbaso By Innocent Anaba, 21 March 2013 Related Topics Nigeria Embattled Deputy Governor of Imo State, Mr. Jude Agbaso, yesterday, denied receiving N458million bribe from a contractor in the state, Jpros Limited, saying that the allegation was part of a plot to paint his family in bad light ahead of the 2015 governorship election in the state. Agbaso, who addressed newsmen in Lagos, said: "The allegation is not true. I never solicited for such payment from the company or any contractor for that matter and at no time did I receive such money from the company. "What gives me concern is why the company could claim to have paid such amount to a person that has no interest or was not in any way connected to the company. N1.5 billion was approved by the state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, who directed the state Accountant-General to pay the company, which he did. "Usually, upon the approval of such money, same is communicated to the Accountant-General, for it to go through the normal process, as a certificate would be raised and other steps followed. I was not the governor who gave the approval for the money to be paid orally. "The contractor claimed I promised to give him jobs in the local governments. Mind you, in Imo State, such contracts are awarded by the council chairmen or influenced by the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs or better still the governor. How can the contractor claim that I, who was then the Commissioner of Work, have had the power to influence contracts, when it's obvious that I didn't?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Okorocha breached due process in awarding contract – Agbaso March 21, 2013 by Ade Adesomoju Leave a Comment Imo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Jude Agbaso | credits: www.imostate.gov.ng Imo State Deputy Governor, Jude Agbaso, on Wednesday accused Governor Rochas Okorocha of breaching due process in awarding the controversial N1.15bn road contract in the state. Agbaso is alleged to have received N458m bribe from a contractor, JPros Nig. Ltd, the cause for which the state House of Assembly has begun an impeachment proceeding against him. Addressing reporters in Lagos, Agbaso, who used to double as the state Commissioner for Works, denied collecting bribe from the firm or any other contractor in the state. He noted that the governor negotiated and awarded the contract in February 2012 without his knowledge. He said, “The contract in question that one JPros Nigeria Ltd was executing in Imo State was approved by the Governor of Imo State. It was really negotiated by the Governor, my boss, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. “While the approval was given, I was not really in the country. The Principal Secretary to my governor conveyed the direct approval of the contract and payments of the sum of N1.151bn to the Commissioner for Finance, who directed the Accountant General to make payments. “Also, recall that I had stated earlier that the normal process was that when such approvals are made, the money is paid into the coffers of the state Ministry of Works where due processes is now applied. Certificates will be raised based on those vouchers. “There are ways contracts are negotiated and awarded. Where the establishment in Imo State chooses to do it differently; where the governor makes the approval differently, I cannot control.” Describing the allegation of collecting bribe from the contractor as “laughable”, Agbaso maintained that he was an innocent man. He challenged the police and other anti-corruption agencies to wade into the matter, saying their investigation would reveal his innocence. He also denied having any link “directly or indirectly” with the companies or accounts into which the bribe was paid. Agbaso said the police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, should be able to “establish who the actual promoters of the companies and accounts are”. “Such information can be sought to determine if there is a nexus or connection between these companies and my person directly or indirectly,” he said. However, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chinedu Offor, said Agbaso ought to be blamed if due process was not followed in awarding the contract. He said, “As the commissioner for works what did he do on realizing that due process was not followed? “He authorised the letter that requested the governor to approve the payment and so he has a question to answer as to his duties.” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The laundering of $182 billion March 15, 2013 by Punch Editorial Board NIGERIA has been financially haemorrhaged by some corrupt leaders, as a report from the United States-based Global Financial Integrity indicates. The agency recently said a total of $182 billion was stolen and laundered offshore between 2000 and 2009. Nigeria is ranked eighth out of 20 countries notorious for illicit financial outflows, just as it is placed 135th out of 176 in the Transparency International’s Global Corruption Perception index. The plundering of our commonwealth by just a few goes against the grain of prevailing crippling poverty, unemployment and decrepit socio-economic infrastructure. The GFI described Nigeria as “the leading source of illicit financial outflow from sub-Saharan Africa.” This is a huge paradox as the theft happened under a democracy. Since 1999, the country has been under civil rule. According to the GFI, it relied on analysis of data from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to reach its conclusion, stressing that developing countries lost a total of $903 billion in 2009. Even now, the trend is accelerating as graft is worn as a badge of honour. What fostered this heist is not difficult to fathom. Ours is a government being run by narrow minds, and harder hearts. Mismanagement of oil wealth and illegal oil bunkering have strewn a cobweb of corruption, making slush funds easily available for pillaging. However, the seemingly industrial scale of the looting, despite the operations of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt and other Related Offences Commission, should arouse some curiosity. Is it that the anti-graft bodies were deficient, complicit or looked the other way while the looters had a field day? And what role did the banks play? These are genuine concerns. The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit and the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering were established to strengthen the performance of the EFCC. Under the act, through automation, banks alert the EFCC on transactions that fall within the “suspicious thresholds.” From periodic revelations of how public funds are looted by public officials, with banks as conduits, it is obvious that extant laws on money laundering are observed only in the breach. Annually, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation audit the books of these banks; yet the humongous illicit transactions that pass through their systems in violation of extant financial regulations are not made public. Nevertheless, the only oasis was the CBN’s hammer of 2009, which fell on some corrupt bank chief executives who were not only relieved of their jobs but were prosecuted. Money Laundering Prohibition Act (2011) as amended prescribes limits of financial transactions in banks by individuals and bodies corporate, beyond which a bank must alert the EFCC or make transaction reports. The MLPA increased the threshold for reporting transactions by individuals from N1 million to N5 million and between N5 million and N10 million for corporate bodies. Abuse of this regulatory regime was evident in the pension funds looting spree uncovered by the Senate in a recent investigation. The political leadership is not sincerely committed to the eradication of corruption. As the chairman of the ICPC, Ekpo Nta, once put it, “there is no political will to fight corruption in Nigeria.” Key public officials do not demonstrate exemplary conduct such as adopting a modest lifestyle, and avoiding corruption themselves. People found guilty of corruption are not punished because of their position or status in the society. The “big fish” are not only protected from being prosecuted for corruption, the unlucky few that are prosecuted get light sentences. Besides, spurious state pardons are remedial measures for the few that get convicted. It is this vacuous moral compass that led the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, in cahoots with corrupt politicians, to hound the pioneer chairman of the EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, out of office. In the corporate sphere, the scourge is as corrosive and devastating as it is in the political arena. A disgraced former bank executive reportedly acquired 12 homes in the United States, 28 shops and seven residential houses in Dubai, and four houses in South Africa, all bought with laundered funds. Indeed, the rot in the banks is very deep. Since successful money laundering is largely a product of either connivance of, or negligence of, bankers, the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria Act 2007 has a redemptive role to play here. Striking out names of its members aiding and abetting money laundering from its register has become imperative. By so doing, such elements become professionally prostrate and are seen as lepers who should never be employed by other banks. But, the situation is becoming hopeless. The former US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, described the level of corruption in Nigeria as “unbelievable.” Fighting corruption requires a strong political leadership. The basic requirement of civilised democracy is that everyone plays by the rules and that the rules command public confidence. Brazen stealing of public funds will continue until laws aimed at fighting corruption are strictly and consistently applied. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reps query CBN, NCS, FIRS about missing N7.9bn March 12, 2013 by John Ameh, Abuja Deputy Governor (Operations) of the CBN, Mr. Tunde Lemo The House of Representatives on Monday uncovered a N7.935bn discrepancy in the remittance of revenue generated by the Nigeria Customs Service to the Federation Account in 2007. A report of the House Committee on Public Accounts indicated that Customs generated and remitted N233.430bn to the Federation Account during the year, but found out that only N241.366bn was released to the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee for sharing between the three tiers of government. This left a difference of N7.9bn, which the committee said was not accounted for. The committee queried the Central Bank of Nigeria, the NCS and the Federal Inland Revenue Service about the development. It directed them to explain what led to the discrepancy. The Chairman of the committee, Mr. Solomon Olamilekan, gave the directive in Abuja during a meeting with officials of the three agencies. They were asked to either reconcile the discrepancy or report back to the House on Wednesday (tomorrow) what happened to the N7.9bn. According to an audit investigation conducted into the operations of the Federation Account, the committee noted that while the NSC claimed that it remitted the N2334.430bn, records at the CBN indicated that only N241.366bn was made available to FAAC. “This implies that the actual amount of revenue generated and remitted by the NCS was less than the amount presented to FAAC for sharing as indicated by the CBN”, Olamilekan stated. The committee immediately set up a sub-committee headed by one of its members, Mr. Pally Iriase, to liaise with the Acting Chairman of the FIRS, Alhaji Mashi, the Deputy Governor (Operations) of the CBN, Mr. Tunde Lemo, and the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla, to find answers to the discrepancy. The committee also found out that in another case, N14.210bn generated as import duty was not remitted to the Federation Account for five months. Rather, it was paid into the CBN’s Port Harcourt account by the Port Harcourt Customs Area Command. The committee noted that while the money was generated in August 2006, it was not until January 2007 that it was transfered to the Federation Account. While Mashi informed the committee that the CBN and FIRS had tried to do some reconciliation of figures over time, Lemo observed that some of the issues were not exactly the fault of the CBN. However, both officials could not convince the committee. Among others, a sub-head captured in the records showed that the Nigerian Governors’ Forum was paid N450m for its secretariat project from the Federation Account in 2007. Furthermore, the committee pointed out what it termed “other irregular deductions” from crude oil sales and other revenue windows in 2007. For example, it pointed out Joint Venture Cash Calls of N549bn and Excess Crude money of N1.168tn were deducted without justifiable reasons from the Federation Account. In the same vein, it said petroleum product subsidy of N236.641bn was deducted from crude oil sales. The apex bank was also queried for allegedly deducting another N124.673bn from the Federation Account under a sub-head it called “Funding of FAAC.” The committee expressed surprise that the details of such an expenditure were not captured in the books by the bank. There were another payments of N210m and N13.341m in March and April 2007 respectively under the name of “contractual obligations of states”, where Anambra State in particular benefitted in 2007. The committee resolved that this particular payment was a breach of the 1999 Constitution. It added, “The payment is contrary to the provisions of Sections 162 (1), 162(3) and 120(3&4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999( As amended). “The Accountant-General of the Federation has been informed of these irregular payments from the Federation Account and he was advised to ensure that henceforth payment of contractual obligations from the Federation Account should cease.” On the governors’ forum project, a report of the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation considered by the committee, stated, “Another case of irregular payment from the Federation Account was the sum of N540m paid for the governors’ forum secretariat project and upkeep of the Federation Account secretariat.” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EFCC re-arraigns Nnamani, others for laundering N5bn March 8, 2013 by Ade Adesomoju Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday re-arraigned former Enugu State Governor Chimaroke Nnamani at a Federal High Court Lagos, for allegedly laundering N5bn. EFCC lawyer, Mr. Kelvin Uzozie, said the accused laundered the money, believed to be proceeds of crime. The anti-graft agency had charged Nnamani, his former aide, Sunday Anyaogu, and seven companies, including a school and a hospital, on an amended 105 counts of fraud. The accused firms are Rainbownet (Nig) Ltd, Hillgate (Nig) Ltd, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile (Nig) Ltd, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School. The accused pleaded not guilty to all the counts filed before Justice Justice Mohammed Yunusa. The charges were first preferred against the accused in 2007. Their arraignment was before Justice Charles Archibong (now retired) before his transfer out of Lagos last year. Justice Tijani Abubakar was the first judge to preside over the case before its transfer to Archibong. Yunusa acceded to the request by the accused persons’ counsel, Mr. Ricky Tarfa (SAN), to allow his clients to continue enjoying the earlier bail granted them by Archibong. The judge adjourned till May 28 for trial. The accused allegedly lodged the N5bn laundered by them, in a secret account, with the aim of concealing the source of the proceeds. The accused also allegedly failed to comply with the lawful inquiry of the then EFCC Director of Operations, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, (now the commission Chairman). The offences allegedly contravened the provisions of the Money laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 and the EFCC Act, 2004. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Govt probes missing N873b solid minerals’ fund . Thursday, 21 February 2013 00:00 From Madu Onuorah and Mathias Okwe, Emeka Anuforo, Abuja News - National .• NEC okays take-off of SWF in March • 18 PHCN firms, BPE sign pacts • NERC moves to tackle consumers’ complaints SHOCKED by the magnitude of the corruption involved in the alleged misappropriation of N873 billion solid minerals development funds, the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has begun moves to probe the scam. The allegation sparked off fury at the National Assembly last Tuesday when some legislators alleged that the funds could not be located in the books of the Solid Minerals Ministry. In what seemed a response to the allegation, the RMAFC led by its Chairman, Mr. Elias Mbam and members of the Non-Oil Sector Committee of the commission went on an oversight visit to the Ministry of Solid Minerals to confirm the allegation and to also ascertain the volume of revenue generated by solid minerals and how much of it had been remitted into the Federation Account. RMFAC Head of Public Relations, Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed, Thursday said the delegation with the Solid Minerals Development Minister, Musa Mohammed Sada, stressed the need for the Federal Government to intensify efforts aimed at strengthening the solid minerals sector for generating increased revenue into the federation account. The statement said Mbam told the minister that they were on an oversight visit to the ministry as part of its monitoring of all revenue-generating agencies of government to ensure transparency and accountability in total remittance of accruals into the federation account and disbursement to the three tiers of government in line with the constitution. He observed that the solid minerals sector, which had already generated over N1 billion into the federation account remained a viable alternative to hydrocarbon resources, which he described as exhaustible and non-renewable. Responding, Sada told the committee that the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development was largely accountable to RMAFC because of its oversight function and as such the ministry welcomed partnership from the commission and other relevant agencies of government in its quest to reposition the solid minerals sector for optimum revenue generation. Sada disclosed that the ministry had engaged the services of NEITI, which conducted a study on transparency issues covering 2007-2010 to assess the performance of the sector. Findings from the study according to him, exposed that the revenues realised in the form of royalties, charges and fees did not represent the actual revenue generated due to inherent flaws in the system. To address this anomaly therefore, the minister called for a holistic review of laws on royalties and the institutionalization of a viable fiscal policy to guide operators and regulators just as he called for adequate funding of the sector. Meanwhile, the nation’s National Executive Council (NEC), umbrella body of the 36 state governors and Federal Government’s economic managers rose from its second meeting of the year approving final modalities on how the $1 billion Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) will operate .The fund will become operational at the end of next month. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy (CME), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told journalists at the end of the council’s meeting that the operation of the fund would be in the areas of Stabilization Fund, Infrastructure Fund and Future Generation Fund. Flanked by Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi and Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, the Minister of National Planning, Okonjo-Iweala explained that the three investment windows would be explored by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), the corporate governance system put in place to fast-track the use of the fund. The Chief Executive Officer of NSIA, Mr. Uche Orji, said that the operation of the SWF was firmly on track, stating that by employing a “hybrid strategy”, the authority would have lean staff to drive down the cost of running the organization. On the recent pension scam, she said the government immediately froze the accounts of the organization so that additional money could not be stolen. Government, she stated, was creating a new pension office that would replace the old one where the subsisting problem emanated from. On the 2013 budget, Okonjo-Iweala said President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the National Assembly (NASS) were both interested in having a budget that was responsive to the needs of the people. The executive, she added, was having a constructive engagement with the NASS just as the president was very keen on having the budget signed. The council also deliberated on the report of the Presidential Committee on the Rehabilitation of Tertiary Education, which it established last year. On corruption, which was one of the issues discussed at the meeting, Obi said it was agreed “there should be a session where we will discuss the matter that there will be prudent management of resources available to government.” Obi said: “The committee was further directed to look into the problems bedevilling primary and secondary education in the country. Council is fully aware of the problems in the education sector but it has to find ways to mitigate many of these problems aggressively. It is just to say let us turn it around - have qualified teachers, instructional materials and others.” Dr. Shamsudeen Usman added that prior to the setting up of the Presidential Committee, the Minister of Education had set up a NEEDS Assessment Committee headed by the former head of TETFUND, Prof Mahmoud Yakoub, which submitted its report to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and later to the NEC. He said stakeholders were invited to brainstorm on the report before the current incumbent committee went to work. Also, the Federal Government yesterday restated its resolve to increase Nigeria’s energy supply level to meet the aspirations of the citizenry so as to boost industrialization in the country. Vice President Namadi Sambo who gave the assurance at a ceremony where investors bidding to invest in the 18 unbundled companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) signed Share Purchase Agreements (SPAs) with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) explained that the World Bank had already offered a partial risk guarantee for any investment in the Nigerian power sector. The SPA is a pact between the investors and the BPE on the post-acquisition plan for the firm in transaction and payment timelines by the investors and the commitment of the BPE towards the investors before and after takeover. Sambo, represented at the ceremony by the new Minister for Power, Prof. Chinedu Osita Nebo said: “The privatization of Generating Companies (GENCOs) and the Distribution Companies (Discos) created out of the unbundling of the PHCN is one of the cardinal foundations of the restructuring of the industry. We are here today to witness the execution of Share Purchase Agreements and concession agreement between the BPE and the preferred bidders of the companies.” He continued: “ I would like to seize this opportunity to reiterate that as we inch closer to handing over control of these companies to the private sector, the Federal Government would take all necessary steps to ensure that the expectations of the Nigerian people in terms of improved service delivery are achieved. “After all, privatization is not an end in itself but a strategy of improving on efficiency and customer service delivery. Today marks the beginning of a new dawn for the power sector. For the international community and local investors here present, the Nigerian power sector is open for business. “Let me seize this opportunity to particularly express our gratitude to the World Bank for its support towards making these agreements bankable through the provision of partial risk guarantee credit support instrument. We are also grateful to Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (NIAF) for its technical support for the PHCN successor companies in negotiating the very gas agreements.” The other agreements executed yesterday were: the signing of ancillary agreements between the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) with the GENCOs; the grid connection agreement with the GENCOs and DISCOS and the transmission use of system agreement with the GENCOs and the DISCOS. Also undertaken were the signing of the power purchase agreements between the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company Plc (NBET) with the six GENCOs as well as the signing of the vesting contract between the NBET and the 10 already sold DISCOS. The Chairman of the National Council on Privatization (NCP) Mr. Atedo Peterside, represented at the ceremony by his Deputy, Alhaji Haruna Sambo, said within 15 days after the signing of the SPA, the bidders are to make a down payment of 25 per cent of the Share Purchase Price, while 90 days after signing of the SPA or Shareholders’ Agreement, whichever is earlier, the bidder will be required to pay the outstanding 75 per cent of the Share Purchase Price to complete the transaction. He added that after payment of the full purchase consideration, the successor company would be handed over to the preferred bidder. Earlier in a welcome address, the Acting Director-General of BPE, Mr. Benjamin Dikki spoke of the significance of the agreement signing protocols, saying it was binding on all the parties. According to him, “ Today’s signing ceremony is not an end in itself, it’s a beginning of a voyage. There is still a need for route charting, navigation and steering in the right direction. As we move to the handover date, there are transitional issues that will arise between the payment of 25 per cent and the handover of the company to the core investors. “ The rules of engagement between the preferred bidders, the staff and management of the successor companies need to be carefully defined and handled. Arrangements need to be put in place that allow the preferred bidders to monitor activities of the successor companies to give them the comfort that there will not be any material adverse effects on the assets they are taking over. What form this will take will be mutually determined. Preferred bidders have already been asked to send in proposals. BPE will soon after this signing ceremony engage the bidders and CEOs of the successor companies to finalize an arrangement that gives bidders comfort without them taking over before full payment.” November 23, 2012 was the deadline for receipt of bank guarantees for 15 percent (15%) of the transaction value for the last set of the PHCN firms privatized. The BPE confirmed last January 15 that its bankers had verified all the bank guarantees provided by the preferred bidders. Thus, all the preferred bidders were then declared qualified to enter this stage of the privatization process—which is the finalization of negotiation between the Federal Government and the bidders. NERC also yesterday empowered a panel of relevant stakeholders to entertain electricity consumers’ complaints and seek prompt redress on their behalf, where necessary. The committee is named Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission Forum and has membership drawn from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Consumer Protection Council (CPC), non-governmental organizations and the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). NERC Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi, administering the oath on the forum members, said the team was carefully chosen to cover commercial, industrial and household customers. Amadi said the different categories of members were chosen from the different categories of groups that have stakes in the power industry. “The central idea is linked to the composition of the Forum. In as much as we are focused on increasing capacity and efficiency in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), the ultimate beneficiaries of our interventions is the customer. It is the customer that we are here to serve and it is the customer that the operators are there to serve. “The Forum is designed like an appellate court. It is a quasi-judicial committee that NERC has empowered. No matter how efficient we are, there are issues around customer care that keep cropping up that we must handle with utmost dedication,” Amadi said. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EFCC re-arraigns oil marketers for N1.5bn subsidy fraud February 22, 2013 by Ade Adesomoju EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday re-arraigned three oil marketers, along with two firms, before a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, for alleged N1.5bn fuel subsidy fraud. The accused, Ifeanyi Anosyke, Emeka Chukwu and Ngozi Ekeoma, along with Anosyke Group of Companies and Dell Energy Limited, pleaded not guilty to all the eight counts. They were re-arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo. The re-arraignment followed the elevation of the former trial judge, Justice Habeeb Abiru, to the Court of Appeal. The accused were first arraigned before Abiru on October 5, 2012. They were, on October 9, 2012, granted bail in the sum of N75m each, and the matter was adjourned till January 2013 for commencement of trial. However, Abiru was elevated to the Court of Appeal on November 6, 2012, a development which ended his power to continue presiding over the matter. It thus necessitated the re-assignment of the case to Onigbanjo and subsequent re-arraignment of the accused on Thursday. EFCC prosecutor, Tayo Olukotun, accused the defendants of conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, obtaining by false pretence, forgery, uttering of forged documents. Olukotun alleged that they fraudulently collected N1,537,278,880.82 from the Federal Government on January 23, 2012, claiming to have imported 15,000 metric tonnes of Petroleum Motor Spirit (petrol), under the Petroleum Support Fund. The documents allegedly forged and uttered to the Federal Government were said to have been tendered to facilitate payments for the quantity of fuel they never supplied. Among the said forged papers were Bill of Lading tendered as evidence of shipment of 15,000 MT from Belgium; Certificate of Quantity, documents of ship-to-ship transfer of the product offshore Cotonou. Dell Energy Limited, Chukwu and Ekeoma were separately accused of forging Board Resolution document purportedly issued by Anosyke Group of Companies for the opening of an account with Stanbic IBTC. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $620,000 bribe:Farouk Lawan faces trial today February 1, 2013 by Ihuoma Chiedozie Hon. Farouk Lawan At long last, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other-Related Offences Commission will today arraign a member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan, over a seven-count charge bearing on corrupt enrichment. The charge stems from allegations by a businessman, Chief Femi Otedola, that Lawan demanded and received $620,000 as a bribe from him while he (Lawan) was the chairman of the House AdHoc Committee on Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy Regime. The arraignment of Lawan alongside the secretary of the adhoc committee, Mr. Boniface Emenalo, seems an indication of the Federal Government sudden readiness to up the tempo of its anti-corruption campaign. On Wednesday, a former Assistant Director of the Police Pension Office, John Yusuf, was rearraigned and remanded in prison custody barely 24 hours after an Abuja High Court handed him a light sentence after admitting to conniving with others to defraud the office and pensioners of N27.2bn. Many civil society groups and Nigerians, including students, had denounced the Abuja High Court judgment, saying it was an indication of Federal Government’s unwillingness to take on the fight against corruption headlong. Lawan and Emenalo, will however, be arraigned before Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi of a Federal Capital Territory High Court today. Oniyangi had on Thursday granted the ICPC leave to file the seven counts against them. Oniyangi said, “Upon careful consideration of the application and attached documents in support of same filed by the complainant’s counsel, leave is hereby granted to the complainant/applicant to prefer criminal charges under section 185 (b) of the Criminal Procedure Code. “The case is fixed for February 1, 2013 for arraignment.” Lawan and Emanalo are to be tried for “Violation of the Corrupt Practices and Other-Related Offences Act, 2000.” The charge sheet with reference number FCT/HC/CR/76/2013 was signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mrs. O.O. Fatunde, on behalf of the Attorney- General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN). The Federal Republic of Nigeria is the complainant, while Lawan and Emenalo are the defendants. Count one of the charge reads, “That you, Farouk Lawan (M) and Mr. Emenalo Boniface (M) sometime in April 2012 or thereabouts in Abuja within the Federal Capital Territory under the jurisdiction of this honourable court did while acting in the course of your official duties as Chairman and Secretary (respectively) of House of Representatives AdHoc Committee on Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy Regime conspired between yourselves and with each other to corruptly obtain the sum of $3,000,000 for yourselves from Mr. Femi Otedola, Chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, as inducement to remove the name of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd from the House of Representatives AdHoc Committee on Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy Regime’s Report and did cause the House to remove the name of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd from the said list and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 26(1)(c) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other-Related Offences Act, 2000, and punishable under section 8(1) of the same Act.” In count two, Lawan was accused of corruptly asking for $3,000,000 from Otedola with the intention of favouring him (Otedola) in the report of the adhoc committee, an offence punishable under section 8(1) of the same Act. While in count three, Lawan was said to have corruptly agreed to accept the $3,000,000, count four indicated that he obtained $500,000 from Otedola Otedola. In the same vein, count five accused Emenalo of asking for$3,000,000 for himself from Otedola as a bribe, an offence punishable under section 8(1) of the ICPC 2000 Act. The prosecution alleged in count six that Emenalo was offered bribe by Otedola but he failed to report the offer to any officer of the ICPC, an offence contrary to section 23(1) of the ICPC Act, 2000, and punishable under section 23(3) of the same 2000 ICPC Act. In count seven, Emenalo was equally accused of receiving $120,000 from Otedola . In an affidavit deposed to by one Chidi Amaeze, the ICPC disclosed that investigation into the criminal case had since been concluded. Lawan had repeatedly denied Otedola’s accusations, saying he collected the $620,000 as evidence to expose the businessman’s attempts to bribe him. The prosecution is coming several months after the police had concluded investigations into the allegation. The report of the police investigation, as well as the case file, was reportedly submitted to the AGF in August 2012. The AGF’s silence on the matter had given rise to insinuations that the Federal Government had swept the matter under the carpet. However, a lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, had last week, sent draft charges against Lawan to the AGF, and in a letter accompanying the charge, he gave the AGF a one-week ultimatum to indicate his readiness to prosecute Lawan. The ultimatum expired on Tuesday. Keyamo had explained that he decided to prepare, and send the draft charge to the AGF following indications that he (AGF) was unwilling to prosecute the case for undisclosed reasons. But reacting to Keyamo’s ultimatum, government prosecutor, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), had informed journalists that Lawan would be arraigned during the week. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NIGERIAN WONDER: N27bn pension thief gets N750,000 fine January 29, 2013 by Ihuoma Chiedozie, Abuja 14 Comments Pension thief Surprise pervaded a Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja on Monday when a director of the Police Pension Office, Mr. John Yusuf, was handed down only a two-year jail sentence for conniving with others to defraud the office and pensioners of N27.2bn. Yusuf admitted to stealing N2bn of the money. But he would not spend the two years in jail as Justice Abubakar Talba gave him an option of fine in the sum of N750,000 for the three offences he pleaded guilty to. Each of the three offences attracts a two-year jail term. The sentences run cuncurrently. Yusuf, who by his sentence becomes the first to be jailed in the ongoing trial of persons involved in the N38.8bn Police pension scam, will however forfeit 32 houses in the FCT and Gombe as well as N325m which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said were proceeds from the crime. Many in the courtroom openly expressed their amazement with Talba’s judgment. The exchanges among the gathering, which included lawyers, journalists, relatives of all the accused persons and observers, were loud enough for the court clerk to call everybody to order. The lenient nature of the sentence was underscored by the reaction of Yusuf’s lawyer, Maiyaki Bala, who said his client was ready to pay the fine immediately after the sentencing. With EFCC lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), noticeably close to tears, Bala told journalists that they intended to take up the option of fine immediately. There were indications that Yusuf, who appeared calm and confident in a light green kaftan with a matching green cap, made the payment before leaving the premises of the court, located in Gudu. Although his bank accounts were reportedly frozen by the order of the court, it seemed he was still able to raise money – perhaps through friends and relatives – as it was gathered that he was issued with a Revenue Collector’s Receipt before he left the court premises. The convict, who had been on bail before he was sentenced, was driven away in his personal car. Before Talba read the judgment, the embattled director had made a U-turn on his earlier not guilty plea by admitting that he committed three offences. Yusuf specifically pleaded guilty to counts 18, 19 and 20, where he was alleged to have connived with the other suspects –Essai Dangabar, Atiku Kigo, Ahmed Wada, Veronica Ulonma, Sani Zira, Uzoma Attang and Christian Madubuike – to convert the sums of N24.2bn, N1.3bn and N1.7bn, belonging to the office to their personal use. Yusuf’s sentencing came after he pleaded guilty to betraying trust and fraudulently converting N2bn of police pension funds to private use. The trial continues for the other accused. He admitted to the 19th and 20th offences relating specifically to him, each involving betrayal of trust and the conversion of N1bn apiece. The maximum penalty for the offence is two years. Attang and Madubuike were added in an amended 20-count. Attang is still in service as Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Communications. He was a director in the PPO between 2007 and 2008. The trial of the other accused persons was adjourned till February 26, 2013. Their action is punishable under section 309 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria 2007. Yusuf’s guilty plea had apparently taken the courtroom by surprise, but immediately after, Jacobs asked the court to convict and sentence him. He also made an application for the forfeiture of 13 houses and the N325m. “We urge you to take into account these properties and the money, so that the court can make an order that the proceeds from the sales of the properties should go back to the Police Pension Office for the payment of the entitlements of legitimate pensioners,” Jacobs said. Bala, also moved immediately by pleading for a lenient sentence. He said that his client had shown remorse for the offences. Bala said, “By pleading guilty, the convict has shown respect to this court and has saved the precious time of the court. “The court will also find out that he is a first time offender without any previous record of conviction; furthermore, he is the head of a family of four, a wife and three children, two of who are university students while one is a primary school pupil. “These people depend on him for their survival and wellbeing, including the payment of school fees. “It is also pertinent to note that he has a chronic heart condition which has aggravated to a serious case of high blood pressure, a condition that requires frequent medical attention. “His aged parents are still alive and due to old age, have attendant medical complications which require regular medical attention and both depend on him to deal with these.” Bala added that Yusuf was a community leader with a number of students depending on him for scholarship. He noted that the students would lose the opportunity if justice was not tempered with mercy. The counsel added that should the court grant the application for forfeiture of his client’s assets, the EFCC would take everything from him (Yusuf) . He urged the court to exercise its discretionary powers granted it under section 309 of the Penal Code in favour of the convict and give him an option of fine. Bala argued that doing so would encourage the other accused persons to admit their guilt, where it exists. Pronouncing sentence on the convict, Talba said he had taken favourable note of the fact that Yusuf was a first time offender, and had also opted on his own volition to plead guilty, thereby saving the time of the court. But he stressed that the court also had a duty to the country, which had suffered from corruption. He held that section 309 of the Penal Code, under which the accused persons were charged, stipulates a two-year prison term with an option of fine or both. Consequently, he sentenced Yusuf to two years’ imprisonment for each of the three counts or a fine of N250, 000. Among the properties are two units of a three-bedroom semi detached bungalows at R2, A and B, Sunny Homes, Dakwo District, Abuja; two units of three bedroom semi bungalow- detached at M24, A and B, Sunny homes, Dakwo District Abuja; four units of a 3bedroom semi- detached bungalows, in Abuja; eight units of an Estate of two-bedroom flats, at Gombe, GRA; one unit Semi-detached Duplex at house 21, 4th Avenue, Gwarinpa, Abuja; four units of a two bedroom semi – detached duplex at Bricks City, Kubwa Road, Abuja and one unit of Semi- Detached Duplex, at 14B Democracy Crescent, Gaduwa, Abuja. A displeased Jacobs protested the option of fine given to the convict, noting that it mocked the anti-corruption campaign of the Goodluck Jonathan administration. In a statement later on Monday, the EFCC condemned the judgment. The commission said it would study the judgment and respond appropriately. Parts of the statement signed by its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwajaren, reads, “The EFCC has expressed reservation about the ruling of an FCT High Court, Abuja which handed a six-year-jail term with the option of N750, 000 fine to John Yakubu Yusufu, one of the persons standing trial in the N32.8bn Police Pension scam. “Justice Mohammed Talba convicted and sentenced Yusufu to two years’ imprisonment with the option of N250, 000 fine on three of an amended 20-count. “The commission is of the view that the option of fine runs contrary to the understanding between the prosecution and the defence wherein the convict consented to a custodial sentence with the forfeiture of all assets and money that are proceeds of the crime.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Reps probe missing of N2.1b from minting firm . Thursday, 17 January 2013 00:00 From Azimazi Momoh Jimoh and Terhemba Daka, Abuja News - National . AN investigation into the alleged disappearance of N2.1billion from the vaults of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC) in December last year may have been launched by the House of Representatives. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is the Chairman of the Board of the NSPMC. Also, the House of Representatives Thursday directed two of its committees to jointly investigate the allegation of cover-up and professional misconduct in police investigation of the killing of Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s Principal Secretary, Olaitan Oyerinde. Besides, members of the House Thursday passed a resolution urging the Federal Government to immortalise the First Republic Minister of Finance, the late Festus Okotie-Eboh. The House has also directed its Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure its report on the Dana Airlines Aircraft crash on June 3, 2012 that recommended the sack of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Director General, Dr. Harold Demuren and the withdrawal of the Aircraft Operating Certificate (AOC) of Dana Airlines is implemented by the Executive. Welcoming his colleagues back from the Christmas and New Year break for the 2013 parliamentary duties on Wednesday, the Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal vowed that the House would adopt a pragmatic approach to the fight against corruption. His words: “We shall continue to adopt a pragmatic and functional approach to ensure that the war against corruption is removed from the realm of rhetoric by exercising absolute diligence in our oversight function so as to enhance transparency and accountability in both high and low.” He stressed that it was high time that government woke up to its duties and changed the fortune of the hapless citizens who see daily, the wealth of the nation siphoned by some privileged few. Consequently, at the resumption of plenary yesterday, the House resolved to constitute a special ad-hoc committee to probe the whereabouts of over N2 billion which allegedly disappeared from the vaults of the NSPMC and report back to the chamber within four weeks. This followed the adoption of a motion brought by Albert Tanimu Sam-Tsokwa who expressed concern over the mysterious disappearance of N2.1 billion of newly printed N1,000 notes in the course of production in the first week of December 2012. “This is the second time that large sums of monies have allegedly disappeared in the course of production due to security breaches as admitted by the management of the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC),” the lawmaker disclosed, just as he further revealed that about 39 workers of the company were summarily sacked from the establishment after news about the theft became public knowledge. “There has been conflicting information on the actual amount of money declared missing; while the CBN Governor said it was about N2 billion, the Managing Director of the NSPMC had declared that the amount missing was N1.5 million, and the Media Adviser to the Managing Director claimed that the actual amount missing was N900,000 due to a security breach and that a security operative was arrested in Lagos with the said sum of N900,000,” the lawmaker told the parliament yesterday at the session presided over by the Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. The security materials and documents printed by the NSPMC include among others, bank notes, coins, bank cheques and drafts, postal stamps, postal orders, treasury bills, passports, examination papers, certificates, licences, tickets, vouchers, diplomatic papers, customs, and immigration documents. Also, the House of Representatives yesterday directed two of its committees to jointly investigate the allegation of cover-up and professional misconduct in police investigation of the killing of Oyerinde. Adopting a motion sponsored by Pally Iriase (ACN, Edo State), the House ruled that the investigation into the killing of Oyerinde, which would be conducted jointly by the House Committee on Police Affairs and Justice, should be concluded within 14 days. The joint committee was directed to determine the veracity or otherwise of the allegation of cover-up and professional misconduct levelled against the police in their own investigation. Oshiomhole had last week publicly accused the police particularly the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (D.I.G.) Peter Gana, of alleged cover-up and gross professional misconduct in the investigation of the murder of Oyerinde. Defending his motion earlier, Iriase noted that Oshiomhole’s allegation had attracted comments and concern about the safety of citizens in Edo state. He was worried that the police had not defended themselves nor denied authorship of the police report sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution in Edo State, which exposed the alleged “shoddiness and criminal cover-up allegedly perpetrated by the named D.I.G.” He said that the House should be further concerned “that the allegation, if proven, clearly contradicts the avowed vision and mission statements contained in the code of conduct document and belies the values espoused therein.” The lawmaker drew the attention of the House to the fact that “ the State Security Service (SSS) had arrested and paraded six suspects, who confessed that they murdered Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde. The suspects gave a graphic description of how the crime was committed and the SSS found on them an I-Pad, cell phone and laptop belonging to Comrade Oyerinde and the wedding ring of the victim’s brother- in-law” According to him: “The SSS in a commendable display of inter-agency cooperation handed these suspects and the case file to the police who have curiously refused to arraign the suspects.” Iriase said that “the security challenges we face as a nation today make it incumbent on the House to treat the allegation, bordering on criminal connivance to deny justice, by the police with utmost seriousness.” Adopting a motion sponsored by Daniel Reyenieju (PDP, Delta State) the House noted that Okotie-Eboh deserved to be immortalised for his contributions to national development. Defending his motion, Reyenieju informed his colleagues that the national recognition being sought for the late politician had been accorded to most prominent political office holders who were killed during the first military coup’d etat of January 1966. He recalled the events that took place during the military coup of 15 January 1966 in which the first post-independence democratic government was toppled. Reyenieju said: “He was also the first Member of the House of Representatives from Warri Federal Constituency.” He explained further that it was the former minister that established the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company. “Of all those that were killed during the coup only Okotie-Eboh has not been immortalised,” he noted. Reyenieju continued: “Okotie-Eboh had the opportunity to escape but refused to do that, instead he was repeatedly asking the security men where is my boss, the prime minister before he was assassinated. “Even the policeman who recovered the corpses of both the prime minister and the finance minister is still very much alive but very old.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EFCC arraigns Babalakin, others Posted by: Adebisi Onanuga Posted date: January 17, 2013 Granted bail on self recognition The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday arraigned the chairman of Bi-Courtney Limited, Chief Olawale Babalakin and four others, before a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, for allegedly conspiring and laundering N4.7 billion for the former governor of Delta State, James Ibori. However, the court presided by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo granted him and the second defendant, Mr. Alex Okoh, bail on self recognition. Babalakin was arraigned along with his company, Bi-Courtney Limited which is the 4th defendant in the suit. The other defendants are the construction giant, Stabilini Visioni Limited and Renix Nigeria Limited are which 3rd and 5th defendants respectively. They were arraigned on a 27- count charge bothering on conspiracy to commit felony to wit: corruptly conferring benefit on account of public action contrary to section 98A (1) (a) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C17, Laws of Lagos State 2003. The offence was committed between May and December 2006. Babalakin and Okoh had pleaded not guilty to each of the 27 charges preferred against them by the EFCC. After the plea of the defendants had been taken, counsel to Babalakin, Mr. Wale Akoni (SAN), who led 10 other lawyers told the court that they have several pending applications before the court for different prayers. Akoni, while urging the court strike out an application dated January 17, 2013, prayed the court to consider their application dated November 29, 2012 and grant his client bail pending the determination of the substantive suit. He said the bail application was supported by a 14 paragraph affidavit deposed to by Dr. Abiodun Layonu and accompaigned by a written address. The counsel asked the court to consider paragraph 3(1) (i-ix) of the affidavit in support of the application and prayed the court to grant bail to Babalakin on self recognition. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How British police exposed Babalakin’s alleged N3.4b deal with Ibori Posted by: Yusuf Alli, Abuja Posted date: January 08, 2013 The London Metropolitan Police blew the lid off the N3.4billion allegedly laundered through Mauritius for ex-Governor James Ibori to buy a Challenger jet, sources said yesterday. Embattled Bi-Courtney chair Olawale Babalakin and four others have been charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC) over how the money was wired. The others are Alex Okoh, Stabilini Visioni Limited, Bi-Courtney Limited and Remix Nigeria Limited. They are also to face a 27-count charge in the High Court of Lagos State , Ikeja Division, bordering on the siphoning of $11.3million abroad for Ibori through Erin Aviation Account in Mauritius. It is believed in some political and business circles that the filing of charges against the five suspects was not aimed at witch-hunting Babalakin, who is a reputable player in the construction and aviation sectors. A government source, who pleaded not to be named, debunked such insinuations yesterday. Besides, it was gathered that the alleged laundering of N3.4billion was discovered during the London Met Police’s comprehensive investigation into Ibori’s activities. It was also learnt that after the ex-governor was convicted, the Met Police made its investigation report available to the EFCC for “Nigerian content” of others allegedly implicated in the money laundering. It was learnt that some evidence from the UK police might be tendered during the trial of the suspects. A source conversant with the investigation said: “The Metropolitan Police and the EFCC established that the money in question was transferred from Delta State Government account to some companies owned by Babalakin and it was further laundered through Erin Aviation Account in Mauritius to a company in Canada where the Challenger aircraft was bought. “All the transaction documents will be tendered during the trial of the five suspects. If the court deems it fit, relevant desk officers in Met Police might be invited to give evidence during the trial. “Once the trial takes off, the public will have access to the records of the court, including the proof of evidence. “This is certainly a case involving joint collaboration between Metropolitan Police and the EFCC.” Another source said: “After getting some clues from Met Police, it will not speak well of our anti-corruption campaign for the EFCC not to step into the matter. “Do not forget that we have bilateral agreement with the UK on money laundering and other related crimes.” On alleged witch-hunt of Babalakin, the government source said: “This trial has nothing to do with the termination of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway contract as being insinuated. “Government took note of Babalakin’s roles as a critical local investor and made sure the EFCC went about its investigation in the best international practices. “In fact, when Babalakin was initially arrested and grilled, the EFCC did not make it a media issue. The businessman was given a fair hearing and decent treatment. “The case became public knowledge and attracted controversy when he did not fully honour his commitment to appear for arraignment in court. This commitment was part of the conditions which made the EFCC to grant him an administrative bail. “President Goodluck Jonathan is not a vindictive leader at all; he has no cause to witch-hunt or frustrate Babalakin because of his closeness to any former President. “The suspect is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN); he knew what transpired during his interaction with the EFCC. He also wrote statements on oath; he should tell the public his testimony to the EFCC.” Barring last-minute hitches, the trial of Babalakin and others will begin next Thursday. The charge sheet, dated November 21, 2012 was filed by A.M. Yusuf, Esq. on behalf of the EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation. All the suspects will be arraigned in court for alleged “conspiracy to commit felony, to wit: corruptly conferring benefit on account of public action, contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Law, CAP. C17, Laws of Lagos State, 2003.” They are also to respond to allegation of “corruptly conferring benefit on account of public action, contrary to Section 98A (1) (a) of the Criminal Code Law, CAP. C17, Laws of Lagos State, 2003.” The third peg of their trial borders on alleged “retention of proceed of a criminal conduct, contrary to Section 17(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EFCC, ICPC probe 12 governors for massive fraud January 6, 2013 by TOYOSI OGUNSEYE EFCC Chairman, Lamorde NO fewer than 12 governors are being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission for massive fraud and misappropriation of public funds in their states, a SUNDAY PUNCH investigation has revealed. Our correspondent learnt that the discreet investigations commenced after the anti-graft agencies received several petitions against the 12 governors. While the EFCC is investigating eight governors, the ICPC is probing four. It was gathered that most of the petitions were received after the said governors had celebrated their first year in office. A senior official of the EFCC, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, told our correspondent that the number of the petitions against each of the governor was so huge that the agency could not ignore them. The official added that though the commission did not have the powers to prosecute the governors because of the immunity they enjoy, it would continue with the probe. According to the source, nearly all the governors were aware that there were petitions against them but they did not know that investigations had begun. He said, “We won’t wait until they finish their tenure before we start our work. Moreover, we are not talking about one or two petitions against the governors, the petitions are in huge numbers and we have a duty to act. Of course, not all the allegations in the petition will be true but we have to find out first. “Once they finish their tenure, we will be sending out invitations and making arrests. We have a minimum of two years to finish our investigations on them. When they finish ruling, we will be ready.” When pressed by SUNDAY PUNCH to divulge the identity of the governors, the source refused. The official expressed fears that the governors could scuttle the investigations by bringing political pressure to bear on the agency and its investigators. He, however, identified Governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo State; and Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State as being on the probe list. “Both of them are aware of the investigations but others are not. If we give you their names, they will start intense lobbying and manoeuvrings which won’t aid our investigations,” the source added. Last year, the sacked chairmen of the 27 local governments in Imo State had told the EFCC that Okorocha misappropriated funds from a N13.5bn bond raised by his predecessor, Ikedi Ohakim. The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria also alleged that since June 2011, the Joint Accounts Committee in Imo State had not functioned and all statutory allocations due to the local governments totaling over N80bn had been misappropriated by Okorocha. Following the ALGON petition, among others, operatives of the EFCC visited Imo in October and commenced probes into the operations of the state joint account with the local government as well as the financial records of the state under former Governor Ikedi Ohakim. However, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chinedu Offor, had said, “The investigation of the state finances is a welcome development because the EFCC is finally making efforts to investigate and hopefully recover billions of Naira spent on phantom Internet-based projects. “Okorocha was the first sitting governor to have called on the EFCC to set up a unit in every governor’s office to pre-empt and prevent corruption rather than launching investigations after the funds go missing. He runs the most transparent administration in the country and has nothing to hide.” SUNDAY PUNCH further gathered that Uduaghan was being investigated for the “suspicious award of Asaba International Airport contracts and other projects.” “The petitions against the Delta State governor and some of his officials queried the way they have been awarding contracts and questionable projects. We have gone to the state and invited some of the officials. They have told us what they know but we are not satisfied so we will keep at it,” the source added. Confirming the petitions against the governors, the Head, Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said, “We have petitions against some of the sitting governors and we are making some enquiries about the petitions. I cannot tell you the governors being investigated even though the public is aware of some. Yes, the governors enjoy immunity but it won’t deter us.” Similarly, ICPC spokesman, Mr. Folu Olamiti, confirmed that the agency was probing four governors. He said, “I can’t give you their names and I can’t tell you how far we have gone but we are investigating four governors. The governors enjoy immunity but the people they use to pilfer public funds don’t. We are interrogating their men and when we are done, we will charge them to court.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Babalakin: EFCC’s LUTH siege continues till Dec. 12 Posted by: Yusuf Alli Posted date: December 09, 2012 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is to retain its surveillance team on the Chairman of Bi-Courtney, Dr. Wale Babalakin, at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) till December 12 when the businessman will be arraigned in court, it was gathered yesterday. Also, it was confirmed that the operatives of the Commission were still keeping a close tab on him at the amenity ward where he is receiving treatment. The surveillance has impeded the movement of Babalakin who found it difficult to move out of his ward. His associates have, however, expressed concern that the surveillance has amounted to “House arrest.” Babalakin and four others have been charged to court over N3.4billion allegedly laundered through Mauritius for ex-Governor James Ibori to buy a Challenger Jet Aircraft. The others are Alex Okoh, Stabilini Visioni Limited, Bi-Courtney Limited and Remix Nigeria Limited They are also to face 27-count charge in the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja Division bordering also on alleged siphoning of $11.3million abroad for Ibori through Erin Aviation Account in Mauritius. But when the suspects were to be arraigned last week, Babalakin was said to be ill and on admission in LUTH. The sudden illness however forced Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo to adjourn the case to December 12, 2012. But on Monday, EFCC operatives mounted surveillance on LUTH to ascertain that Babalakin was actually on sick bed. The anti-graft agency is however not in a hurry to “reduce the noose on Babalakin.” Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the EFCC decided to retain its surveillance on Babalakin to make sure that he respects the court by appearing for arraignment on December 12. A reliable source in the Commission said: “We are still retaining our surveillance on Babalakin in LUTH and we will do this till December 12 when he is due to appear in court. “Babalakin had given us his words that he would come to court for arraignment, we hope that he will honour his promise now that the court has given him enough time to attend to his health. “It is a good thing that he is in a government hospital where the court could get records of his true state of health. There is no hiding place for him.” But one of the associates of Babalakin, who spoke in confidence, said: “The EFCC has placed our principal virtually on what can be described as ‘house arrest’ because he cannot move out of his ward in the hospital. “They are watching over his movement as if he is a prisoner. This is a violation of his fundamental human rights. What we have is really a siege. “Even if they are adamant that it is surveillance, what court permitted them to do so? This is illegal and an abuse of the order of the Federal High Court in Lagos. They have forgotten that there is a subsisting order of prohibition preventing the EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation from going ahead with Babalakin’s arraignment. Are they saying that the order of a court is useless? “This is the time Nigerians should cry out. An injustice to one Nigerian is an injustice to all. It could be anybody’s turn tomorrow.” The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, who spoke with our correspondent last night, said: “Babalakin is being watched but you will not see our men there, we are not disturbing his treatment. We are not disrupting activities in the hospital in any manner. “The image of a siege was a dummy to deceive the public. Babalakin is under surveillance and when somebody is under surveillance, you will not notice it. If it was true that we stormed LUTH, the public will notice it. “I challenge them to prove the claim that Babalakin is under siege, they should publish the photograph of the operatives that allegedly stormed LUTH. They are just embarking on a campaign to smear the hard-earned reputation of the EFCC. It is sheer propaganda to divert the attention of the public from the issue in court.” As at press time, it was gathered that the EFCC is already getting set for the arraignment of Babalakin. All the suspects will be arraigned in court for alleged “conspiracy to commit felony to wit: corruptly conferring benefit on account of public action contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Law, CAP. C17, Laws of Lagos State, 2003.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Abacha loot: Switzerland has returned $700m to Nigeria – Swiss envoy On December 5, 2012 · In News 9:43 am BY SONI DANIEL & CLIFFORD NDUJIHE ABUJA—Nearly 15 years after the death of General Sani Abacha, Nigeria’s former military ruler, the Swiss Government has said that it has so far returned to Nigeria the sum of $700 million stolen by the late dictator and deposited in several Swiss banks. The Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Hans-Rudolf Hodel, announced the figure at a media briefing in Abuja, yesterday. Hodel also hinted that his country had begun proceedings in Geneva against one of Abacha’s sons -Abba, for allegedly sponsoring a criminal organization but did not give further details. The envoy explained also that in the last 15 years, Switzerland has returned about $1.7 billion of illicit money to their countries of origin including Angola, Peru, Nigeria and the Philippines. The briefing was in respect of an international seminar by the Switzerland embassy and the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa, GIABA, and Combating the Financing of Terrorism. The envoy however used the forum to deny the existence of fresh $1 billion being alluded to by former President Olusegun Obasanjo as still being held by the Swiss banks. Hodel stated that the Abacha’s case in particular compelled his country to adopt more stringent measures to combat illicit dealings in its financial sector. He said: “Swiss banking secrecy does not give any protection against criminal prosecution, neither within Switzerland nor regarding international legal assistance. Additional measures prevent assets from being withdrawn before foreign authorities and law enforcement agencies submit a formal request for legal assistance or information for investigative purposes.” He expressed the hope that the repatriated funds would not be embezzled by corrupt officials of the benefitting nations. He also spoke on the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Switzerland noting that $225 million was invested by Swiss businesses in the Nigerian economy in 2010 up from $201 million in 2009. It will be recalled that a Geneva court had two months ago confirmed the sentence handed down on the son of the former Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha for belonging to a criminal organisation linked to looted assets charges. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Police arrest six oil companies’ MDs over alleged N24.6billion oil subsidy scam Posted by: Jude Isiguzo Posted date: November 17, 2012 In: Featured, News | The Special Fraud Unit, Milverton Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, has arrested the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officers of six oil marketing companies over their alleged involvement in a N24.6 billion oil subsidy scam. They were arrested following SUF’s continued investigation of oil marketers, as referred to it by the Presidential Committee on Oil Subsidy. Those arrested are Mr. Odjegba Onoriode, Managing Director Eurafric Costal Services; Mr. Ejiofor Innoma Chikadiba, Group Managing Director, Caades Oil and Gas Ltd; Mr. Sowami Olatunde, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Prudent Energy and Services Ltd; Mrs. Gladys Amaefule, Managing Director, Somerset Oli and Gas Ltd; Mallam Bashir Adamu Gusau, Managing Director Imad Oil and Gas Ltd, and Sir Daniel Chikwudozie, Managing Director, Dozzy Oil and Gas Ltd. SFU’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Tunde Ogunsaki, confirmed to The Nation that the suspects are still in their custody. The spokesperson for SUF, Ngozi Isintume-Agu, an Assistant Superintendent, who also confirmed their arrest, told The Nation that investigation so far has revealed that a total subsidy amount of N6.130billion was paid to Eurafric Coastal Services Ltd, based on 85, 519 million litres of fuel imported between November 2010 – 2011 financial year, which comprises six transactions. She explained that a total amount of N9.935 billion was due to CAADES Oil & Gas Ltd, based on 13.501 million litres of PMS imported in December 2011, which comprises two transactions. Prudent Energy & Services Ltd, Somerset Oil & Gas Ltd, and IMAD Oil & Gas Ltd got payments of N1, 360, 898,638.10 was paid to based on a single importation of 18, 316, 767 million litres of PMS, N2.690 billion was paid to based on 40.165 million liters of PMS imported in two transactions, of N2.760 billion was paid to based on 55.426 million liters of Petroleum Motor Spirit imported which comprises three transactions respectively. Dozzy Oil & Gas Ltd also claimed N1, 773, 938, 533.60 in a single transaction dated 01/07/2011. Isintume-Agu noted that investigation is on-going and that trial of the suspects will commence at the end of the investigation. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Report exposes corruption in Nigeria’s oil industry Agency Reporter Posted date: October 24, 2012 … Says ‘country loses billions in cut price deals’ Nigeria lost out on tens of billions of dollars in oil and gas revenues over the last decade from cut price deals struck between multinational oil companies and government officials, a confidential report seen by Reuters says. A team headed by the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu produced the 146-page study on an oil ministry request. It covers the year 2002 to the present. Nigeria is Africa’s largest crude oil exporter, shipping more than two million barrels per day (bpd), and is also home to the world’s ninth biggest gas reserves and one of its largest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export terminals. The report provides new details on Nigeria’s long history of corruption in the oil sector, which has enriched its elite and provided the oil majors with hefty profits while two thirds of people live in poverty. The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke told Reuters on Tuesday she had received the report last month but that it was a draft and the government was still supposed to give input. The one seen by Reuters was labelled “Final Report.” The report concluded that oil majors Shell, Total and Eni made bumper profits from cut-price gas, while Nigerian oil ministers handed out licences at their own discretion. This, while not illegal, did not follow best practice of using open bids. Hundreds of millions of dollars in signature bonuses on those deals were also missing, it said. “We have not seen this report and are, therefore, unable to comment on the content, but we will study it if and when it is published,” a Shell spokesman said. The report alleges international oil traders sometimes buy crude without any formal contracts, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had short-changed the country’s treasury billions over the last 10 years by selling crude oil and gas to itself below market rates. There was no suggestion that the oil majors or traders had done anything illegal, but the report highlighted a lack of transparency in their dealings in a nation rife with graft. “It is a draft,” Alison-Madueke said. “There will be some areas where the government … may have a slightly different opinion … (and) will put its point of view to the committee.” The minister said she expects the final report to be with President Goodluck Jonathan within two weeks. --------------------------------- EFCC arraigns 10 marketers over N10bn scam today October 5, 2012 by Friday Olokor EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is to arraign fresh suspects in the ongoing trial of persons and organisations implicated in the fuel subsidy scam. According to the anti-graft agency, 10 suspects comprising four companies and six individuals will be arraigned today (Friday) before Justice Habeeb Abiru of a High Court in Ikeja. A statement by the spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, on Thursday named Ifeanyi Anosike, Emeka Chukwu, Ngozi Ekeoma, Alhaji Adamu Aliyu Maula, George Ogbonna and Emmanuel Morah, Anosyke Group of Companies Limited, Dell Energy Limited, Downstream Energy Sources Limited and Rocky Energy Limited as the individuals and firms to be prosecuted. He said, “These suspects are among several suspects scheduled for arraignment by the Commission over the theft of N10.6bn in dubious subsidy claims. “Anosyke Group of Companies, Ifeanyi Anosike, Dell Energy Limited, Emeka Chukwu and Ngozi Ekeoma will be arraigned on eight counts bordering on conspiracy to obtain by false pretence; forgery and false documents to the tune of N1, 537,278,880.82 being payments fraudulently received from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported supply of 15, 000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit. “Downstream Energy Sources Limited, Alhaji Adamu Aliyu Maula, Rocky Energy Limited, George Ogbonna and Emmanuel Morah who will be facing trial on an eight count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain property by false pretence; conspiracy to forge documents, forgery and uttering false documents to the tune of N789,648,329.25, being payments fraudulently received from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported supply of 14,273,0227 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------- UK court orders Akingbola to refund N164b Fat bank accounts: EFCC to summon indicted judges next week |Written by Lanre Adewole, Abuja Friday, 21 September 2012 Ibrahim Lamorde, EFCC Chairman AS investigation deepens in the alleged corruption rocking the judiciary, judges in the centre of the probe would be summoned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigerian Tribune learnt on Thursday night. A source close to the investigation revealed that the leadership of the commission had given the team of investigators in charge of the probe the go-ahead to issue summons for questioning on the indicted judges before the end of the next week. Two chief judges, each from the northern and southern parts of the country, are to be summoned alongside three other senior judges, one of who presides over a court in the North-Central geo-political zone. Indications also emerged on Thursday that a female justice of a senior court (names withheld) is also being fingered in the fat-bank account saga. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- WEDNESDAY, 01 AUGUST 2012 00:00 EDITOR NEWS - NATIONAL THE High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division, London, has found Dr. Erastus Akingbola, the erstwhile Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc (now Access Bank), liable of unwholesome practices and criminal misappropriation of the bank’s funds to the tune of N164 billion. In a ruling delivered in London yesterday in the case against Akingbola, Justice Burton ordered Akingbola to refund the sum of N164 billion being proceeds of unlawful share purchase scheme and fund misappropriation and converted it into personal use while at the helm of affairs as Managing Director of former Intercontinental Bank Plc. The court held that Akingbola devised and oversaw the implementation of the strategy to buy the bank’s shares. The court found under cross-examination that Akingbola told obvious lies that he did not know that the bank was buying its own shares. It was discovered that shortly before the implementation of the strategy to increase the bank’s share price with the intent of benefiting from the unethical and illegal scheme, Akingbola had borrowed N9.3 billion to purchase a large quantity of the bank’s shares for himself. The court held that the illegal share purchase scheme substantially contributed to the collapse of the erstwhile Intercontinental Bank Plc. Further investigation by the court revealed that at a time the bank was undergoing significant liquidity strain, Akingbola misappropriated the sum of N16 billion, which was paid to Tropics Companies, a business company owned by his family to repay debts owed by the companies personally guaranteed by Akingbola. Akingbola was found to have misappropriated another £8.5 million, which was paid to his English solicitors to complete the purchase of luxury property in London in his name. ---------------------------------------------------- Oyo uncovers N2.6b pension scam WEDNESDAY, 01 AUGUST 2012 00:00 FROM IYABO LAWAL, IBADAN NEWS - NATIONAL THE Oyo State government has uncovered a N2, 608, 398, 709.29 fraud in its local government service pensions board. The chairman of the board, Lasisi Ayankojo, stated that the interim investigative report of the commission into the account of the board between September 2010 and March, 2011,which unearthed the colossal fraud, had indicted ten civil servants (names withheld) who were allegedly involved in the scam. According to him, eight of the alleged perpetrators of the fraud were at present being detained by the police while two of them had absconded. He said upon the receipt of the report of the committee, the board met with Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who ordered that the board should get to the root of the scam immediately. Ayankojo disclosed that the board uncovered the scam following complaints from local government workers and teacher retirees that their pensions had not been paid by the government. He said that upon the receipt of the complaints, the board set up a committee to look into the details of the retirees’ grouses, stating that the committee, in the process of its work, found out that monies were indeed collected by civil servant intermediaries working in the commission and never remitted to the pensioners. The board chief revealed that the total amount of the money involved in the scam was collected via issuance of cheques to the affected civil servants in their own personal names, rather than through e-payment into the accounts of pensioners, a situation he said made the fraud to sail through easily. Author of this article: FROM IYABO LAWAL, IBADAN ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Audio tape relays Otedola, Lawan $2.5m bribe deal By Yusuf Alli, Abuja 16 hours 26 minutes ago Otedola And Lawan My voice doctored, says Rep Police demand to quiz Jagaba A twist emerged yesterday in the $620,000 cash-for-clearance scandal involving a lawmaker, Farouk Lawan, and businessman Femi Otedola. A Lagos television station aired what it described as a purported conversation between the former chairman of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee, which probed the fuel subsidy fraud, and Femi Otedola, chairman of diesel retail giant Zenon Oil. The businessman said the lawmaker demanded $3million from him to facilitate the removal of his company’s name from the list of the firms indicted in the misappropriation of subsidy cash. He said he paid the $620,000 in three tranches in a sting operation involving the State Security Service (SSS). The dollar bills given to Lawan, he said, were marked. Lawan confessed to collecting the cash, saying he did so to prove that Otedola pressurised him. He also said he informed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) informally that he deposited the cash with the chairman of the House Committee on Narcotics, Drugs and financial crimes, Hon. Adam Jagaba, who said the money is not with him. In the 81-second audio, two men are heard discussing how some money will change hands between them. One appears to be on an aircraft, about to travel to a destination he reveals as China. Their conversation centres on how the “balance of $2.5 million” will be passed from one person to the other. The other gives the phone number of an aide (08036513355) he named as “TJ” to the first, asking him to give the said money to the intermediary. He said he would be “busy in the chambers” by the time the other person’s messengers arrive with the money. The conversation appears to be cut midway when the person at one end mentions the amount and the other says: “Just hold on, just hold on.” Here are the details of the conversation, as aired by Channels, which disclosed no source of the tape: Lawan: Oh, you would take it to your house? Otedola: No. I don’t want to bring it to my house. It is a lot of money Lawan: Ha… so where? Because I’m hastening to the… you are at the airport now? Otedola: Yes… at the airport; in the aircraft Lawan: Well I can’t come over now and before they can come over now unless I send somebody to the airport but I can’t leave by the time they come. I should be in the chambers. I have a lot of things to do myself Otedola: Is there anybody you think I can give it to or maybe I should just…or maybe I should postpone my China trip till tomorrow? Lawan: No, no it’s ok. I will arrange it with someone. Let me give you his number Otedola: Ok Lawan: Yeah. The number is 080… Otedola: hold on hold on hold on. 080… Lawan: 08036513355 (Otedola repeats after Lawan) Otedola: What’s the name? Lawan: Yeah…TJ Otedola: Sorry? Lawan: ah… TJ Otedola: Ateezay? Lawan: No… TJ! Otedola: Teezay? Lawan: TJ…T…J Otedola: Okay. So I will give him the balance; that is em… 2.5 million dollars, yea? Lawan: That’s right. Hold on. Just hold on, just hold on. I’m calling him to be sure his phone is on… Otedola: Where will I meet him? Lawan: Just hold on... hold on. Don’t quick send. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ $3m bribery scandal: Lawan releases police memos •Says: $620,000 deposited with House in April •Pressure mounts on Tambuwal to convene emergency meeting •More revelations on committee’s contact with NNPC, oil chiefs Written by Olawale Rasheed, Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel, Abuja Tuesday, 12 June 2012 THE bribery saga in the House of Representatives took a new turn on Monday when documents made available to journalists in Abuja showed that the Inspector General of Police and the relevant House committee were officially informed of alleged attempt by Mr Femi Otedola to bribe the committee as soon as the offer was made. Lawan had in a statement on Sunday denied taking any bribe from any oil magnate in the course of the probe of the fuel subsidy. About four correspondence were distributed to journalists by a highly placed official in the House of Representatives showing that the police authorities were informed and actions were taken to investigate the oil magnate`s attempt to bribe the committee. One of the letters revealed that the Inspector General, in a correspondence dated, May 9, 2012, directed the task-force on investigation to meet him. The IGP, in the letter with reference number CR:3000/IGP.SEC/STF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL 2/309, called Lawan’s attention to an interview he granted a national newspaper on April 28,2012 and directed, “a discreet investigation into the matter.” The letter was signed by the Commissioner of Police, Special Task Force, Ali Amodu. Another correspondence dated May 16, 2012 with reference number CR:3000/IGP.SEC/STF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL 2/319, and signed by Amodu, the IGP requested money exhibit, names of witnesses and other material evidence from him. Another document showed Lawan explaining in a letter dated May 31, 2012, to the Inspector General of Police that the matter (bribe offer) had been referred to the relevant committee of the House for legislative actions. A fourth correspondence revealed that the IGP, in a letter to the Speaker of the House, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, dated June 4, 2012, stated that a detailed criminal investigation had been ordered into the matter. In the letter entitled, “Investigation activities: Letter of invitation in a case of criminal conspiracy and attempt to pervert the course of justice by offering gratification,” the office of the IGP stated that “the Inspector General of Police has directed a detailed criminal investigation into the matter.” Lawan had intimated the Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Crimes, in a letter dated April 24, 2012, of Otedola’s persistence to offer him bribe to influence the outcome of the investigation. This letter was also made available to the media. According to the letter, “Atttached (to the letter) is the sum of five hundred thousand dollars only offered to me with another promise of two million, five hundred thousand dollars.” On why he did not inform the House in session, Lawan stated in the letter that he kept mute on the matter because it would overshadow the essence of the fuel subsidy probe. Lawan stated in the letter, a copy of which was made available to journalists, “I had considered bringing this issue as a matter of privilege on the floor of the House later today (April 24), but I am concerned that the controversy it will generate will dwarf the contents of the report, which needs public attention so that necessary reforms in the sector could be affected.” He said, “Given the desperation of Mr. Otedola, handling this matter, in a firm but diplomatic manner is necessary as he has also made some veiled threats which put me and members of the committee in a delicate situation.” The ad hoc committee chairman also disclosed in another letter to the House leadership that the clerk of the committee, Mr Boniface Emenalo, had, in a letter written to him on April 24, 2012, said Otedola offered him $100,000. Otedola had, in an interview with a national newspaper on Monday, said Lawan and the secretary of the committee, Mr Emenalo, had collected $620,000 from him in a sting operation masterminded by the security agencies. Meanwhile, strong indications emerged on Monday that the House of Representatives may cut short its recess, as members are reportedly mounting pressure on the speaker to convene an emergency session over the $3 million bribery scandal rocking the Lawan-led committee that probed the fuel subsidy regime. Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that most of the members were not happy over the incident, which was coming at the time the seventh session of the House was still battling with the N44 million bribery allegation levelled against the embattled chairman of the House Committee on Capital Market and Other Institutions, Honourable Herman Hembe. According to most of the lawmakers who spoke with Nigerian Tribune on Monday, the matter had become complicated with Otedola’s confirmation that he actually gave out the bribe, adding that the best thing for the leadership of the House to do was to call for an emergency session, with a view to taking necessary measures to save the image of the House. One of the lawmakers specifically stated that there was no need for further delay on the matter, since the person who was at the centre of the whole saga had come out openly to confirm that he actually gave out the bribe on the order of security agencies in the country. This is coming as more revelations emerged on Monday that the embattled ad hoc committee actually made contact with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and reportedly demanded a whopping amount of money from the corporation and other oil marketers in exchange for favourable report. Nigerian Tribune authoritatively learnt that the NNPC could not meet up with the demand of the committee, as its Group Managing Director (GMD), Mr Austin Oniwon and his management team were said to have resolved not to pay the amount because of the anti-corruption posture of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and its implications should the deal be blown open. It was gathered that already, security agents are in possession of evidence of the committee's contacts with the NNPC and other oil marketers, and were reportedly working on those evidence. Efforts to speak with the officials of the NNPC over the alleged bribery scandal, on Monday, were unsuccessful, as none of them was willing to volunteer information, as those approached claimed that they were still mourning the death of the spokesman of the corporation, Dr Levi Ajuonuma. However, the House spokesman, Honourable Zakari Mohammed, when contacted by phone, said "we can’t take any action now until we resume from our two-week break.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------- I took Otedola’s N96m bribe to expose him –Lawan June 12, 2012 by Our Correspondents CONTRARY to his insistence on Sunday that he did not meet with or receive any bribe from anybody, documents in possession of The PUNCH showed that Chairman of the House of Representatives probe panel on fuel subsidy mismanagement, Farouk Lawal, indeed accepted $500,000 from billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola. Clerk of the committee, Boniface Emenalo, also received $100,000 from the businessman. The sums added up to the $600,000 bribery scandal rocking the House committee which recently exposed how some subsidy thieves robbed the nation of whopping N1.7trn. Farouk and Emenalo, as the documents, mostly correspondence, indicated, however let in the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, into the “attempt” by Otedola to bribe them. Also, there were indications in the correspondence that Lawan intimated the House committee chairman on Drugs/Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Adams Jagaba. Sundry documents In one of the documents sourced by our correspondents in Abuja on Monday, Lawan, in a letter to Jagaba, wrote, “Attached (to the letter) is the sum of five hundred thousand dollars only offered to me with another promise of two million, five hundred thousand dollars.” Another letter written by Emenalo to Lawan read, “I wish to inform you that I was on his invitation, at the residence of their Chairman, Mr. Femi Otedola, in Maitama (Aso Drive) this morning and he offered me the sum of one hundred thousand US dollars in two bundles of $50,000 each. The money is herewith forwarded as evidence.” Another letter, reference number,CR:3000/IGP.SEC/STF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL 2/309 indicated that the IG directed “a discreet investigation into the matter.” The letter was signed by Commissioner of Police, Special Task Force, Ali Amodu. Both Jagaba and the police on Monday declined comments on their involvement in the matter. While Jagaba told our correspondent that he could not comment on the matter on the telephone, spokesman for the police, Frank Mba, said he had yet to get an update on the probe. “I was unable to reach CP Ali Amodu who is handling the investigation but I will get back to you once I get an update on the matter,” he said on the telephone on Monday. Obasanjo, Mark view video The fresh insight into the bribery scandal came as The PUNCH learnt on Monday how the video recording of the transaction between Lawan and Otedola had been shown to President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senate President David Mark and House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal. Otedola had revealed in an interview with THIS DAY newspaper how he involved the security agents to supervise Lawan’s persistent demand for a bribe from him. He also narrated how he released a total sum of $620,000 to Lawan and Emenalo in three tranches, all monitored and recorded by the security agents. The ad hoc committee chairman said in another letter that he did not raise the issue of Otedola’s pressure on him on the floor of the House because it would overshadow the essence of the fuel subsidy probe. Lawan stated in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by The PUNCH on Monday that, “I had considered bringing this issue as a matter of privilege on the floor of the House later today (April 24), but I am concerned that the controversy it will generate will dwarf the contents of the report, which needs public attention so that necessary reforms in the sector could be affected.” The ad hoc committee chairman added that Otedola issued veiled verbal threats against him. He said, “Given the desperation of Mr. Otedola, handling this matter, in a firm but diplomatic manner is necessary as he has also made some veiled threats which put me and members of the committee in a delicate situation.” The ad hoc committee chairman also disclosed that the clerk of the committee, Emenalo, had in a letter written to him on April 24, 2012, said Otedola offered him $100,000. Threat allegation Lawan also stated that the police were aware of the offer of a bribe as the Acting Inspector-General in a letter dated, May 9, 2012, directed the task force on investigation to meet him. Lawan explained that in a letter dated May 31, 2012, he told the IGP that the matter (bribe offer) had been referred to the relevant committee of the House for legislative action. He said that he promised that the House would inform him about the outcome of the legislative action. According to him, the IGP in a letter to the Speaker of the House, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, dated June 4, 2012, stated that a detailed criminal investigation had been ordered into the matter. In the letter titled, “Investigation activities: Letter of invitation in a case of criminal conspiracy and attempt to pervert the course of justice by offering gratification,” the office of the IGP stated that “the Inspector General of Police has directed a detailed criminal investigation into the matter.” Calls for investigation The President of the Campaign for Democracy, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, has however called on the EFCC to investigate the bribery allegation against Lawan. Okei-Odumakin, in an interview with one of our correspondents on Monday berated the EFCC for not prosecuting those indicted by the committee. She said that while the anti-graft agency had found it convenient to prosecute the Chairman of the House Committee on the Capital Market, it had found it difficult to prosecute oil thieves. The CD president said, “The EFCC is prosecuting Hembe with N600,000 estacode, yet it has not done anything to the subsidy thieves who stole the country broke. “If there is any allegation, it should be investigated. The EFCC should work rather than play media shield.” Also, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre on Monday called for probe of the bribery scandal. This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja and signed by executive director of CISLAC, Mallam Auwal Ibrahim. The statement called on the National Assembly and the executive arm of government “not to let the current scandal serve as a straw to bury the probe report under the carpet”. It advised the leadership of the House to urgently institute a thorough investigation into the alleged bribery and involve anti-graft agencies to also probe the circumstances and reality of all claims. “Those indicted by the report may go to their wits’ end in order to rubbish an exercise that is widely applauded by Nigerians in view of the nasty dealings it uncovered”, CISLAC said. A lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay, also on Monday expressed shock over the bribery allegation levelled against Lawan. Sagay, who spoke with one of our correspondents on Monday said the development was saddening, describing it as a tragedy which spelled doom for the future of Nigeria. The Save Nigeria Group asked security operatives to invite both Otedola and Lawan for interrogation. Spokesman for the group, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said such an invitation was necessary to clear the air about the allegation that Lawan collected $600,000 bribe from the oil marketer. Odumakin said if it was ascertained that money actually changed hands, the giver and the taker must be punished. He, however, advised Nigerians not to allow the issue to distract them from demanding the prosecution of the subsidy thieves. Odumakin said, “Both Otedola and Lawan should be invited by security agencies to ascertain the veracity of this allegation. If it is true that money changed hands, the giver and the taker must be punished. Nigerians must not allow this to distract them from the demand for the prosecution of the subsidy thieves which this latest video production by the Presidency clearly wants to achieve.” Meanwhile, our correspondents learnt on Monday that the EFCC was planning to use Otedola as a prosecution witness against Lawan. Sources within the commission said though Otedola had not been officially queried over the role he played in the bribery saga, it was said that since he carried the security agencies along, he might be used to nail the lawmakers. “Yes, we may use Otedola as a prosecuting witness in the case. But we are still carrying out our discreet investigation. When that has been sufficiently done, then we will swing into action,” the source added. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Police to Lawan: surrender $600,000 bribe cash By Yusuf Alli, Abuja Hon. Lawan Rep vows not to release ‘evidence of bribe’ THE police have stepped into the cash-for-clearance controversy rocking the House of Representatives. House member Farouk Lawan is accused of collecting $600,000 bribe from businessman Femi Otedola. The lawmaker, chairman of the House Committee which probed the fuel subsidy scandal, insists that he reported to a House official that he got cash from the businessman who, he said, wanted his company’s name removed from the list of those who collected money from the Federal Government but imported no products. But, Otedola maintains that he was blackmailed into parting with the cash and that he told security agencies who, in fact, gave him the dollar bills that Lawan got. The police have directed Lawan to surrender the “marked” cash. The lawmaker insists he will not because, according to him, it is the only proof he has that he rejected a bribe from Otedola. Inspector-General of Police M. D. Abubakar has asked a Special Task Force(STF), headed by a Commissioner of Police, Ali Amodu, to examine the issue. The STF began investigation on May 9, but the police have been having difficulties in retrieving the cash from Lawan. The Nation yesterday stumbled on some documents, including details of the interaction between the police and Lawan. In a May 9 memo to Lawan, entitled “Re: Criminal Conspiracy and Attempt to Offer Gratification to Pervert the Course of Justice”, Amodu said: “Consequent upon the publication in the Leadership newspaper of Saturday 28/04/2012 captioned ‘Marketers offered subsidy committee plane load of dollars’, the IGP directed a discreet investigation into the matter. “The Task Force on the investigation will require meeting with you to assist them in the ongoing investigation at your earliest convenience. Your cooperation will be highly appreciated, please.” In a follow-up letter to Lawan on May 16, (Re: Criminal conspiracy and attempt to offer gratification to pervert the course of justice), CP Ali said: “Further to my letter dated 9th May, 2012 in respect of the above subject matter, and the recent meeting you held with DCP Peace Abdallah, you are requested to avail this office with the following requests: Monetary exhibit; Names of the vital witness; and any other material evidence that may be of use to this investigation. Your usual co-operation would be highly appreciated. Accept the best wishes of the Inspector-General of Police please.” But Lawan, in his response on May 31 (Re: Criminal Conspiracy and Attempt to Offer Gratification to Pervert the Course of Justice) said: “I refer to your letter of 16th May, 2012, and wish to inform you that as DCP Peace Abdallah was briefed, the subject matter was referred to the relevant Committee of the House of Representatives for further legislative action. You shall be availed of the outcome in due course.” Ali replied Lawan on June 4, in a memo which was entitled “Investigation activities: Letter of invitation in a case of criminal conspiracy and attempt to pervert the course of justice by offering gratification.” The letter said: “I refer to a letter dated 31st May, 2012 addressed to this office by Hon. Farouk Lawan, the Chairman of House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on the Monitoring of the Subsidy Regime on the above subject matter (copy attached) and to inform you that the Inspector General of Police has directed a detailed criminal investigation into the matter. “Consequently, the Hon. Speaker is requested to ask the Chairman, Hon. Farouk Lawan and the Secretary of the Committee to have a meeting with the under-signed on Thursday 7th June, 2012 at 100hrs at Force Headquarters, Room I.D 068, First Floor, Louis Edet House, Abuja . “This is to enable detectives to conduct further investigation into the matter. “While awaiting the Hon. Speaker’s kind consideration of this request, do accept the assurances and esteemed regards of the Inspector- General of Police, please.” A highly-placed source said: “The butt of the investigation has been on the retrieval of the bribe sum from Lawan by the police. I think some people are planning to relieve him of the evidence in his possession. “But it was alleged by Otedola that the SSS gave out the money for a sting operation. Why are the police worried about the bribe sum? “Lawan is prepared to lay the bribe sum only before a court. He does not want his evidence tampered with. “In the last few days, Lawan has been receiving threat messages from some quarters. And for him to release the evidence he will rely in court to prove his case will amount to suicide. Why are they not disturbing the bribe giver?” The decision by the House leadership to get to the root of the allegation may, however, slow down the police investigation According to the documents obtained by our correspondent, the bribe was actually offered on April 24. Some of the documents contain the transcripts of calls between Farouk and Otedola during the sitting of the committee. In a hand-written memo to the Chairman of the House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Adams Jagaba, which is dated April 24 and timed 3.47am, Lawan gave details of what he said transpired between him and Otedola. The memo said: “You may please recall that I intimated you of the persistence of Mr. Femi Otedola, Chairman Forte Oil, Zenon Oil and AP Petroleum to offer monetary inducement to influence the outcome and Consolidation of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Petroleum Subsidy. “Attached is the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) only offered to me with another promise of two million, five hundred thousand dollar ($2.5m). I had considered bringing this issue as a matter of privilege on the floor of the House later today when the House sits, but I am concerned the controversy it will generate will dwarf the content of the report which needs public attention so that the necessary reforms in the sector could be effected. “I however believe that given the desperation of Mr. Otedola, handling this matter in a furious but diplomatic manner is necessary as he has also made some vested threats which put me and members of my Committee in a delicate situation. “While reporting this matter to you and hoping that appropriate action will be taken, we shall continue to monitor him and if further offers are made, we shall duly handover to your committee.” The Secretary to the Ad Hoc Committee, Mr. B. C. Emenalo, who also wrote a memo to Lawan on April 24, explained his encounter with Otedola. The memo, entitled “Consistent Pressure to Compromise by Managing Director and Chairman, Zenon Oil and Gas, AP and Forte”, reads: “My earlier report/discussion with you on the above subject matter and your directives refer. “I wish to inform you that I was on his invitation, at the residence of their(Zenon Oil and Gas, AP, Forte) Chairman, Mr. Femi Otedola in Maitama, (Aso Drive) this morning and he offered me the sum of One hundred thousand US dollars in two bundles of $50,000 each. The money is hereby forwarded as evidence. “Please find attached the exhibit for onward transmission to the relevant Committee and Leadership.” According to sources, although Lawan was allegedly tricked to collect the money at about 3.47am, he sensed the danger and decided to alert Jagaba. A source said: “On the day the bribe was offered, Lawan left a meeting at about 2.30am but he saw over 50 missed calls from Otedola and became curious on why the oil baron wanted him. He insisted that Lawan must come to his house and they met at about 3.47am. “Nigerians will hear what they have never heard before on this matter. Let them go to court so that there won’t be any cover-up. “Let them also play the tape, provided they have not edited it. Nigerians will be able to know the true story.” Responding to a question, the source said: “Lawan had wanted to raise the alarm on the floor of the House but he was prevailed upon by some members not to do so. “Actually, there was a division on whether to bring it up immediately or not. But Lawan notified the Representatives and principal members of the House. They asked him to stay action. “When he could not withstand it, Lawan decided to grant an interview to Leadership newspaper to alert the nation.” The police investigation of the bribery allegation is said to be at the prompting of some forces in the Presidency. The House member, insisting on his integrity, released some documents yesterday. One of them shows that the embattled Chairman of the House Ad Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Regime was offered the bribe by Otedola, Chairman of Forte Oil, on April 24 - barely six days after the submission of the panel’s report. The panel submitted its report on April 18, 2012. But Lawan actually reported and handed over the controversial $600,000 bribe to the Chairman of the House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Mr. Adams Jagaba the day it was offered, according to a letter Lawan wrote. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alleged N6.5bn fraud: Sylva secures N100m bail On June 7, 2012 · In News 9:56 pm.. By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA — After spending two days in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, former governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Timipre Sylva, Thursday, regained his freedom. Sylva is facing trial over allegation that he masterminded the illegal diversion of funds from the Bayelsa State treasury while he was in power. Timipre Sylva Consequently, the anti graft agency, on Tuesday, docked the ex-governor on a six-count criminal charge bothering on conspiracy, money laundering and obtaining by false pretence contrary to section 1(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2004, as well as section 14(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2004. Shortly after the accused person pleaded his innocence before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, trial Justice Adamu Bello, ordered his remand in the custody of the EFCC pending the determination of his application for bail. At the resumed sitting on the case yesterday, Justice Bello said he was satisfied that the defence lawyer, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, successfully adduced sufficient reasons capable of swaying the court’s discretion in favour of his client, just as he ordered the release of the accused person after he deposited N100 million as bond. Noting that the offences preferred against the ex-governor were bailable offences, Justice Bello, however, ordered Sylva to produce someone resident in Abuja to stand surety for him, adding that such person must be an owner of a landed property worth the bail sum. The judge stressed that the court registrar must verify the authenticity of the title deed of such property before okaying release of the accused person from the grips of the EFCC. Meanwhile, sequel to fears expressed by the anti-graft agency over alleged surreptitious moves by the ex-governor to run out of the country once he is granted bail, Justice Bello, yesterday, seized all his International Passports, warning that he should not leave the shores of Nigeria without first securing the consent of the court. The court said that breach of any of the conditions would amount to an immediate revocation of the bail. According to Justice Bello, “I am persuaded by the submission of the learned Senior Advocate as well as the contents of the affidavit in support of the bail application and hereby exercise the discretion of the court in favour of the applicant. “He is hereby granted bail in the sum of N100 million and ordered to produce one surety in like sum. The surety must be resident in Abuja and must be an owner of a landed property worth the bail sum. The title document of the property must be deposited to the court registrar for verification before the release of the applicant from custody.” It would be recalled efforts by Sylva’s lawyer to persuade the court to release him on self recognition proved abortive. Moving the bail application dated May 22, Fagbemi, SAN, pleaded the court to take cognizance of the fact that the accused ex-governor, on his own volition, appeared for his trial. He said: “My lord, I wish to stress the point that the offences for which the accused is standing trial are bailable offences. Secondly, the accused person, on his own volition, came to court to answer to the charge preferred against him. He has never been declared wanted, at least, there is no such evidence before this court. “The main purpose of bail is to ensure the attendance of the accused person at the trial. My lord, enough facts and reasons have been adduced to warrant your lordship to grant the application for bail. “Until proved guilty under appropriate laws of the land, the accused have right to walk the street, breathe Nigerian air and walk free like every other innocent man. This is why I urge my Lord to make the condition for his bail liberal. “He should be released on self recognition as former Governor of Bayelsa state and the fact that he willingly submitted himself for trial.” The said bail application was supported by an affidavit of 12 paragraphs sworn to by one Akeem Umoru. However, the EFCC, in a 16 paragraph counter-affidavit deposed to by one Seyi Bakare on May 25, vehemently opposed the bail request, saying it previously found it very difficult to trace the whereabouts of the accused who it said vanished into thin air immediately the charge was filed. According to EFCC lawyer, Mr Festus Keyamo, “This court has absolute discretion to either grant or refuse bail, but we urge the court to consider in this particular case, the efforts we expended to bring the accused person to court. This court has judicial notice of that fact. “An accused person who has shown propensity to bolt away at the slightest threat of the long arms of the law around him cannot be trusted to present himself for trial. “That the offence is bailable is not sufficient reason for grant of bail, it is the availability of the accused person to face his trial that is more important. My lord if evidence is strong and direct, the Supreme Court said trial courts should be very weary in granting bail. “We ask the court to deny the bail application and remand the accused person. We are ready to commence trial,” he added. Specifically, EFCC had in a charge it filed on February 24, acused Sylva of stealing, just as it identified three persons whose Bank accounts it said was used as conduits pipes for illicit transfer of funds secured through loan from Union Bank Plc in the name of the Bayelsa state government. Names of the said accomplices were given as Habibu Sani Maigidia, a Bureau De Change Operator with Account No. 221433478108, in Fin Bank, Plc, Enson Benmer Limited with Account No. 6152030001946, in First Bank, Plc and one John Daukoru with Account No. 04800250000418, in United Bank for Africa Plc. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Ibori: Bribe scandal rocks Scotland Yard By Our Reporter Ibori, Gohil and Keith Vaz Were the Scotland Yard detectives who investigated former Governor James Ibori ‘extorting’ money from him? An enquiry has been launched to establish the truth A Scotland Yard anti-corruption detective and three ex-officers from the Met were arrested yesterday amid claims serving police were pocketing bribes worth up to £20,000 from private investigators. Officers are accused of taking money for information about an inquiry into a politician who defrauded a Nigerian state of more than £150million. The 45-year-old detective constable is being questioned on suspicion of providing information about Nigerian fraudster James Ibori in return for cash. Two private investigators, aged 53 and 58, and another man are being held in connection with providing the money after raids at the London offices of Risc Management Ltd. The Metropolitan Police confirmed yesterday the firm has previously worked with the force. A lawyer told MPs at a Parliamentary inquiry yesterday into the work of private investigators that he had evidence of substantial cash payments made over nine months. Mike Schwarz said invoices from a law firm reveal an undetected case of ‘apparent corruption right at the heart of Scotland Yard.’ He accused a handful of senior officers responsible for orchestrating the inquiry of also leaking information for cash. If true, the incendiary allegations would ignite a fresh scandal at the London force which remains embroiled in a damaging race row. And they would raise serious questions about links between police and private investigators who want to obtain information to undermine the criminal justice system. The claims centre on a wide-ranging and complex inquiry into the James Ibori, the former governor of Nigeria’s Delta State. He was jailed for 13 years last month after admitting he embezzled huge sums to fund a lavish international lifestyle for his family. Keith Vaz MP has said there is growing concern that some private investigators are operating in ‘the shadows’ of the law Documents passed to the Commons home affairs committee, and seen by the Daily Mail, appear to show payments were made in return for police information. They include a series of detailed invoices from a London law firm and leading private investigation company RISC Management, which is run by former Scotland Yard detective Keith Hunter. The paperwork indicates that both companies were hired to work for Ibori in 2007 after he discovered he was being investigated for fraud. Yesterday, Mr Schwarz, who represents one of Ibori’s co-defendants, said the invoices document payments to ‘sources’, presumably police officers close to the inquiry. He added: ‘The records show about half a dozen payments totalling about £20,000 over a period of eight or nine months... it appears to be inappropriate if not corrupt.’ One invoice includes a charge for £5,000 with the note: ‘Engaged with source in eliciting information re: forthcoming interview strategy to [be] deployed by police.’ Mr Schwarz said he has also seen emails which confirmed contact had been made between the private investigators and detectives. The allegations have been circulating since last year but only surfaced in public yesterday after Mr Schwarz used Parliamentary privilege to make them. His client is Bhadresh Gohil, a London-based solicitor jailed for orchestrating Ibori’s vast money-laundering operation. The Met has briefed reporters that there is evidence that casts doubt on the credibility of the evidence against the officers. But following the intervention of Mr Schwarz sources said an investigation into them is being taken more seriously. Keith Vaz, who chairs the home affairs committee, has said there is growing concern that some private investigators are operating in ‘the shadows’ of the law. The latest inquiry comes in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal and is scrutinising links between private investigators, who include retired police officers, and former colleagues. RISC Management denied all the allegations about the company. Mr Hunter said:” We pride ourselves on our ability to provide positive solutions and accurate information legitimately. A Met spokesman said: “The Met is investigating an allegation that illegal payments were made to police officers for information by a private investigation agency. ‘The Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission in October 2011 which agreed to supervise a DPS investigation into the allegations.” --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trial of banks’ chiefs: EFCC disturbed over lawyers poor commitment to cases By Yusuf Alli, Abuja Strong indications emerged yesterday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is disturbed over alleged poor commitment to the trial of former Chief Executive Officers of nine distressed banks by its counsel. The commission may be forced to withdraw the service of such counsel from its brief, it was gathered. Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the EFCC Review Team had uncovered alleged poor handling of the trial of 13 former bank executives. It was learnt that although the EFCC had investigated and arraigned the suspects in court, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is overseeing the payment of the legal fees. But it was gathered that the EFCC is unhappy that some counsel have been paying lip service to the trial of these bank chiefs. A source said: “A study of the cases by our Review Team has shown that some of the reversal of fortunes being suffered in court had to do with mishandling of cases against ex-bank chiefs on trial by counsel. “No one in the management of the EFCC is happy about this development where cases are thrown out on avoidable technical grounds. “Yet, it has been difficult for the EFCC to call some of these lawyers, including a few Senior Advocates to order because the anti-graft agency is not paying their bills. “But the EFCC is getting the backlash for setbacks recorded in court as if the commission is compromising or deliberately frustrating the trial of these former bank chiefs.” The source added: “We have reached out to some of the counsel to sit up or else we may be forced to withdraw their service. “We may resort to drastic action if apathy towards the trial of these ex-bank chiefs continues.” Asked why the CBN is footing EFCC’s legal bill, the source said: “The trial of these former bank chiefs was a consequence of CBN reform and it offered to bear the cost. “The issue is really not about legal fees because the CBN has never defaulted but it has to do with lack of diligent prosecution by some counsel. “We are certainly worried as a commission because some issues raised by the court to reject some applications by some of our counsel revealed untidiness. “But the EFCC is made the scapegoat for these lapses. Also, public opinion weighs heavily against the commission.” Even a judge of the Federal High Court flayed the EFCC lawyers for failing to dutifully prosecute a case. The CBN had in August 2009 sacked some bank Executives following Audit the Records of the affected banks. The audit exercise had indicted the banks of allegedly accumulating margin loans of N500 billion which had gone bad and eroded shareholders’ funds. The CBN said the decision was taken to safeguard the financial sector from systemic collapse. But barely two and a half years after the removal of the bank chiefs, only one has been convicted through plea bargaining. Yesterday, EFCC chair Ibrahim Lamorde condemned the high rate of connivance between some professionals and fraudsters in the country to commit economic crimes Lamorde spoke while receiving a delegation of Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) led its President Segun Ajanlekoko, in Abuja. He said: “Most of the corrupt cases we encounter are aided by one professional or another. In money laundering for example, bankers and accountants are involved, in estate and property- related crimes, quantity surveyors are also involved,” he said. “You should identify bad eggs in your fold and sanction such people. It is not in all cases that people steal raw cash but in some instances rely on professionals to doctor documents that will aid them in perpetrating corrupt acts.” He reassured the association of the Commission’s willingness to collaborate with it especially on some of its investigations that require professional input. Lamorde urged Nigerians to resist the temptation of adopting what he called ‘I don’t care attitude’ whereby they feel corruption is either the fight of anti-graft agencies or is too big a problem to be tackled by an individual. “The crusade should not be limited to stolen monies but to other corruptive practices. It should equally cover policies which are endemic and even more dangerous,” he said. He said the Association, which is made up of twenty-six (26) professional bodies that are chartered and recognised by Acts of Parliament, would help EFCC in its fight against corruption. He urged the management of EFCC to avail its staff of management training programmes and to support the APBN Foundation which is aimed at promoting best practices, good corporate governance and capacity building among corporate and educational entities. Ajanlekoko was accompanied on the visit by Ramatu Aliyu, Chairman, Abuja Chapter; Mrs. Beatrice Oji, Treasurer, Abuja Chapter and Adebayo B.A., National Secretary, among others. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- N18bn scam: Doma, others have case to answer, EFCC tells court ON MAY 24, 2012 By Oscarline Onwuemenyi ABUJA — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has told a Federal High Court sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State presided over by Justice Marcel Awokulehin, that a former Nasarawa State governor, Aliyu Akwe Doma and six others standing trial on a 17-count criminal charge of laundering state funds totaling over N18 billion, have a case to answer. The commission has, therefore, argued that the defendants’ applications seeking to quash the case before the court lacked merit and should be struck out. The other accused persons are Senator John Dangoyi, Abdulmumin Jibrin, Timothy Anthony Anjide, Dauda Egwa, Suleiman Ibrahim, Broworks Ltd and Green Forest Investment Ltd. At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, May 21, 2012, prosecution counsel, Dele Adesina, SAN who stood in for Kemi Pinhiero, SAN told the court that EFCC was opposing eight applications brought in by Doma and six other co-accused persons seeking to quash the case against them. Counsel to all the accused persons excluding the 4th and 8th accused persons, S. I. Ameh, SAN, had earlier moved a motion to quash the charges preferred against them. Also, counsel to Doma and Abdulmumin Jibrin, Charles Edosonwan, SAN, had prayed the court to discharge the accused persons on the grounds that prosecution did not disclose the element of crime in the charge, saying: “This is a criminal proceeding that ought not to proceed.” He said the case was an attempt to criminalise government and that the trial was instituted because they once held government positions. However, EFCC counsel argued that the accused persons’ counsel should have brought the application to quash the case before their plea was taken. He said the case of Federal Republic of Nigeria vs. James Onanefe Ibori cited by the defence counsel was different from the case before the court. He said by taking their plea, they had joined issues with the prosecution and had actually challenged the prosecution to prove the case for which they have been charged. As to whether the charges are vague and ambiguous, Pinhiero urged the court to look at its record which showed that the accused persons having pleaded not guilty to the charges cannot go round to say the charges they listened to are now vague and ambiguous.” The judge, after ruling that Doma and his co-accused persons have a case to answer, adjourned the case till June 11, 2012. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- How MTN, NCC, others cheated Nigeria of N1trn •Ex-NITEL chief tells court •Petitions EFCC, ICPC •Fingers cabal members •We’ll reply soon -MTN, NCC Written by Lanre Adewole, Abuja Monday, 14 May 2012 THE Federal High Court, Abuja has been told how telecommunications firm, MTN Nigeria allegedly colluded with the leadership of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to defraud the nation of over N1 trillion, as well as engaging in systematic destruction of NITEL’s facility to the benefit of MTN. Spilling the beans was Mr Solomon Ogundele, leader of the Nigerian team that drafted and prepared the first Interconnection Agreement with the Private Telecommunications Operators (PTOs) in Nigeria, including MTN. Ogundele, former NITEL’s Principal Liaison Officer (PLO) to NCC between 1994 and 2000 made his claims and allegations on oath, by deposing to a 62-paragraph affidavit, filed at the court’s registry on May 9, 2012. Ogundele, who retired as NITEL’s General Manager (Operations) also disclosed that the alleged corruptive tendency of MTN got to a point in 2005 that former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, had to make official complaints to his South African counterpart, Thabo Mbeki. Attaching press cuttings as evidence, he also stated that in 2006, the then Managing Director of NITEL, Albert Mashi held a press conference on how MTN was deliberately damaging NITEL’s cables, with the then MTN’s Nigerian boss and now Group Chief Executive Officer worldwide, Mr Sifiso Dabengwa, reportedly concurring and promising to pay N13 billion as damages which the deponent claimed was never paid. Ogundele noted that he deposed to the affidavit to support the claim by former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, in his N150 billion suit that MTN engaged in unethical practices on the call logs of the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Isa Salami, as well as proving that the second defendant in the said suit, NCC, had allegedly been hands in gloves with MTN on the alleged nefarious activities. Ogundele told the court that his petition over the alleged sleaze sent to President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke, SAN and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2011, had been completely ignored by the addresses, though it was gathered that EFCC and ICPC might have commenced investigation on the basis of reminder letter sent to them. Disclosing that the first Nigerian interconnectivity agreement was signed using South African law, Ogundele in his affidavit that “I led the team that prepared or drafted the first Interconnection Agreement with the Private Telecommunications Operators (PTOs) in Nigeria; based on South African Law, since Nigeria did not have appropriate legislation at the time. As the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited’s Principal Liaison Officer to NCC, I made available to it all information and specifications for installation of plants and equipment. “NCC, with corruptive lobby from MTN and others unilaterally jettisoned the first Interconnection Agreement without reverting to the presidency that approved the 1997 Agreement. NCC completely abandoned the first Interconnection Agreement and opted for a new one which did not take the interest of NITEL into account. The Interconnection Agreement between the MTN, Vodacom and Telkom South Africa only gives discount to the parties to it. NCC does not allow discount to operate in Nigeria but rather allows the private telecommunications operators to use the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited’s facilities, free of charge. “MTN is busy selling unregistered Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards and yet NCC has failed/refused/neglected to exercise its regulatory control over it. The corruptive tendency of MTN in Nigeria got to a point in 2005 that the former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, had to report its activities in Nigeria to the former president of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo reported MTN to Thabo Mbeki about the corruption of Nigeria’s polity through its policy of giving free recharge cards to members of Nigeria’s National Assembly. “Apart from the condemnation of the criminal and unethical conduct of MTN by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2009, the then Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, also had to issue a stern warning to the officers of the Ministry of Information and Communications and NCC officers to desist from collecting free recharge cards and toll free numbers from MTN. “MTN participated in corruptly influencing NCC to change the existing Interconnection Agreement with a view to enabling MTN and others to use NITEL’s network and services free of charge. In 2006, Albert Mashi, the then Managing Director of Nigeria Telecommunications Limited did, at a press conference reported by ThisDay newspaper of 30th March, 2006, cry out that MTN was damaging NITEL’s Optic Fibre Cables. The said newspaper is hereby attached and marked Exhibit B. “The estimated cost of the systematic, nationwide damage done to NITEL’s Fibre Optic Network by MTN was in the region of Thirteen Billion Naira (N13bn). This fact of deliberate destruction of NITEL’s infrastructure was brought to the attention of NCC with whose collusion, MTN has, till date, failed/refused/neglected to pay compensation to NITEL. “The CEO of MTN at the time who supervised the systemically planned nationwide destruction of NITEL’s Fibre Optic Network, Sifiso R. Dabengwa was subsequently rewarded with his appointment as Group CEO MTN Group; obviously for a job well done. “I was deeply involved in the interconnection issues by virtue of my former position as General Manager (Operations) of NITEL. MTN and NCC have, for many years, been working together jointly and have embarked on, and continue to engage in, activities radically inimical to the Nigerian economy and Nigerian interests and because of the dubious and anti-national-interests relationship that exists between them, any complaints, grievances, disputes or accusations against MTN directed, lodged, forwarded or submitted to NCC will not see the light of day or be acted upon by NCC”. The deponent further added that “there was massive corruption in the telecommunications sector in Nigeria which diverted over one trillion naira (N1,000,000,000,000.00) of NITEL revenues to MTN Nigeria Communications Limited and others. NCC deliberately and in collusion with MTN and others, introduced in Nigeria, a fraudulent Interconnection Agreement which allocated specific but excessive value to call termination as a means of perpetrating massive fraud and laundering NITEL’s revenues to MTN and others. “The massive fraud in the telecommunications sector is embedded or inherent in the fraudulent Interconnection Agreements that NCC imposed on the telecommunications sector in collusion with MTN and others. The explosion and proliferation of GSM phone lines in Nigeria has led to the liquidation of NITEL because NCC ordered the unfettered use of NITEL’s highway; free of charge. “At the inception of deregulation in the telecommunications industry in Nigeria, NITEL would have made more than One Trillion Naira for the Nigerian government. It could not make the aforementioned amount due to the fact that NCC did compromise its statutory and regulatory functions, role and control over it and others. NCC compromised its statutory and regulatory functions, role and control by fraudulently allowing MTN and others to use the telecommunications highway which only NITEL possessed at the inception of deregulation, free of charge. “NCC has been colluding with MTN to ensure massive capital flight from Nigeria to South Africa with severe debilitating effect on the exchange rate of the Naira and the Nigerian economy as a whole. Its imposed, fraudulent Interconnection Agreement did divert the huge revenues that NITEL would have made on its telecommunications highways to MTN and others. “The only legal licence MTN is holding in Nigeria is the GSM licence, which it paid for in 2001. Other operational licences held by it in Nigeria, including the 3G frequency spectrum and communications backbone licences are illegal by virtue of illicit exemptions, violation of the relevant provisions of the Public Procurement Act and fraudulent encroachment on the National Carrier Licences legally and validly issued to NITEL and Globacom Limited (GLO). “To all intents and purposes, NCC has accorded MTN the status of a National Carrier, through the backdoor. To a large extent, MTN is essentially or substantially operating illegally in Nigeria and NCC has failed to exercise its statutory and regulatory control over it. “Despite the fact that MTN has embarked on massive destruction of NITEL’s plants and equipment under the guise of expanding its network, NCC has failed/refused/neglected to exercise its statutory and regulatory control and NCC was so reckless in liquidating NITEL that it created the situation where NITEL has also been compelled to settle invoices of MTN and others running into several billions of Naira which NITEL cannot verify with its own internal data because NCC prevented NITEL from doing so. “I know as a fact that NITEL was in compliance with the Federal Government Financial Regulations of keeping Call Data Records which are the basis for its revenues for ten years. In the absence of any other regulation abolishing this practice, MTN was expected to follow this precedent. I also came across a publication on the Internet where Business Wire claims and I believe them that MTN is using File Tek version of Storehouse software to provide secure archive repository for call data records (CDR) for a mandatory minimum of three years as demanded by South Africa’s Regulatory authorities. I am also aware that the European Union Data Retention Directive 2006/24/EC requires telecommunications operators to store data relating to a wide range of customer activities for up to two years. The telecommunications industry in Nigeria has a cabal and MTN and NCC are prominent members of this telecommunications industry cabal”. Meanwhile, both the MTN and NCC have asked the court to give them a week to reply to the allegations raised in the affidavit, while the court, presided over by Justice B.B Aliyu, adjourned till June 4, 2012, further hearing in the suit Oyinlola and the Peoples Democratic Party (Osun and Ekiti chapters), asking for the revocation of MTN’s licence, as well as N150bn damages, over allegations of improper corporate conduct. At last Thursday’s proceedings, N20,000 cost was awarded against Oyinlola and PDP for filing out of time. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Arunma Oteh at House capital market probe, Okereke-Onyiuke blew N186m on Rolex watches By Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja -Stock Exchange ‘spent N37m on yacht’ -Council members ‘shared N1.7b surplus’ -N1.3billion spent on business travels FOR those seeking answers to the sudden crash of the stock market, some came yesterday. The market succumbed to a combination of ailments - sensational lifestyle and financial recklessness, among others - according to the Director–General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms. Arunma Oteh. Oteh was explaining why SEC eased out the former DG of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mrs. Ndi Okereke-Onyuike. Oteh, in a presentation before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee probing the near collapse of the Nigerian Capital Market, said: “There were incidents of financial skimming, misappropriation, false accounting, misrepresentation and questionable transactions against the former NSE DG. “For instance, the NSE bought a yacht for N37million and wrote down the book value within one year by recognising it in the books as a gift presented during its 2008 Long Service Award (LSA), yet there are no records of the beneficiary. “The Exchange also spent N186million on 165 Rolex wrist watches as gifts for awardees out of which only 73 were actually presented to the awardees. The outstanding 92 Rolex watches valued at N99.5million remain unaccounted for. “This happened in previous years. Other notable fraudulent transactions include the reclassification of the sum of N1.3billion originally expended on business travels. Of this sum, N953million was reclassified under “Software Upgrade” and subsequently expended as against being capitalised. There were other cases of such unethical accounting practices. “In 2009, N1.7billion of the 2008 operational surplus was distributed to Council members and employees, in violation of CAMA and SEC rules which preclude the NSE from such, given that the NSE is a company limited by guarantee. “Given the foregoing, it was important to me that we engage the NSE to address these weaknesses. Unfortunately, the former CEO of the NSE did not attend most of the meetings we scheduled. “These were the kinds of financial imprudence that were perpetrated at the NSE. These transactions were routed through companies owned by some senior officers of the Exchange,” she said. Oteh said the SEC launched a forensic investigation to examine the allegations of financial irregularity and mismanagement. “While these investigations have been concluded, the results are unavailable because the former CEO of NSE, Mrs. Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, and three other former employees have an injunction against releasing the report.” The SEC DG said while all the fraudulent practices were going on, the SEC, which was at the time headed by Musa Al-Faki, did not do enough to stem the irregularities. On Market abuses by banks between 2006 and 2008, Oteh said: “The extent and nature of the market abuses carried out between 2006 and 2008 are the primary reasons for the continuation of the investor apathy that we see today. I will give examples of some of the market abuses that the SEC investigation of the intervened banks uncovered. “Afribank: With respect to Afribank, Afribank Trustees, Afribank Registrars and their Directors, committed various grave market infractions in share buyback schemes, made misrepresentations in the returns to the SEC to prevent detection that the Bank funded its public offer, violating Section 106 (4), and Section 110 of the ISA 2007 as well as Rule 109B of SEC Rules. Shares owned by 1,258 entities (some fictitious) and individuals were merged into fourteen accounts of nine companies, some of which were owned by Afribank and its directors. These transactions were done outside the floor of the Exchange. Falcon Securities, Fidelity Finance and Spring Capital were some of the entities used. “Finbank: Between August 2006 and December 2008, the Executive team of Finbank engaged six law firms to incorporate 95 companies and transferred more than 4425 billion of depositors’ funds to nine of these companies and purchased 2.8 billion units of its own shares, violating Rule 109b of SEC Rules. The Bank also violated Section 105 of the ISA 2007, which prohibits a person from creating a false or misleading appearance of active trading of a listed security. “Intercontinental Bank: Between June 2007 and December 2008, Intercontinental Bank, its directors and principal officers engaged in unlawful share buyback schemes, buying about 3.4 billion units of shares using depositors’ funds. It violated Section 105, 106 and Section 110 of ISA 2007 as well as Section 160 of CAMA and Rule 109b of SEC Rules. “Union Bank: In 2007, Union Bank borrowed amounts totaling N30.4 billion from two foreign investment banks. These funds were transferred to Union Trustees, which in turn transferred the funds to Falcon Securities. In four days in November 2007, Falcon purchased 620.4 million units of shares worth N30.8 billion, ahead of a public offer/rights issue. In 2007, Falcon Securities carried out 181,088 transactions with respect to Union Bank shares. This drove up the share price of Union Bank stocks from a low of N23.30 in January 2007 to N50.33 in November 2007, in other words, a price appreciation of over 110% within 11 months.” On “wonder banks”, Oteh said: “Wonder Banks, Umana Umana, Ponzi or Pyramid Schemes are unsustainable fraudulent schemes that use funds from new investors to pay off older investors at high rates of return, thereby quickly attracting new investors. “A total of 440 wonder banks were identified in Nigeria and these had defrauded the unsuspecting public to the tune of £4106 billion. The Commission, in addition to spearheading efforts to track and bring to book operators of such scams, is also a member of an Inter Agency Committee consisting of representatives of financial services regulators and law enforcement agencies such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Police. “So far, the Committee has obtained court orders to wind up the identified outfits. The Committee continues to make more recoveries as investigations progress. Furthermore, promoters of the schemes are also being handed over to the relevant law enforcement agencies for criminal prosecution. According to Oteh, part of SEC’s actions included dragging 260 entities and individuals to the Investment and Securities Tribunal (IST) She said: “As a result of the SEC investigations with respect to the intervened banks, we instituted legal proceedings, at the Investment and Securities Tribunal (1ST), against 260 entities and individuals. The Commission is alleging that these individuals and entities were involved in different forms of market abuse including insider dealing, pump and dump, wash sales and share price manipulation. We are seeking declaratory orders for the illegally gained profits that were made to be disgorged to restitute poor However, the Ibrahim El-Sudi-headed eight -man ad hoc committee took the SEC DG to task over her decision to take 260 entities and individuals to the Investment and Securities Tribunal. According to the committee members, the SEC had no right to move the cases particularly as the issue was being investigated by the Administrative Committee. The SEC DG also washed her hands off the nationalisation of Afri bank, Bank PHB and Spring bank. The Committee wanted to know the roles played by the SEC being the body responsible for mergers and acquisitions in the process of taking over the three banks by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). The process was concluded within three days over a weekend but the SEC boss said her organization was not involved. “So, it is safe to say that your organization is not involved in the Nationalization process of those banks,” Dogara said. When further prodded on the role played by the SEC to protect the interest of investors in the affected banks while the Central Bank (CBN) and the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) were protecting the interests of their primary responsibilities, she said her organization played the role of protecting public interest. Saying that the three banks were no longer listed on the stock exchange, Arumah said she was not aware of what became of their investors. “It was an industry-wide decision and if I were to insist on protecting the investors’ interest, then they would have to give something back because the three banks’ shareholder’s funds were in the negative of over N600b,” she added. On Project 50 which was meant to celebrate 50 years of Capital market in Nigeria, she said it was not against the rules to receive donations from potential investors and industry players to fund the project. “There was no compromise, there is no conflict of interest and it is not abnormal to partner with others toward the development of the market” However, to the disappointment of the committee members, she failed to obliged the Committee with the list of contributors to the Project, saying she would have done so if she had been earlier informed. Meanwhile, reminiscent of what led to the personalization of issues that eventually culminated in the stepping down of the previous committee probing the capital market, the DG was reproached for evading questions. She also evaded a question on when the SEC would conclude its intervention programme in the NSE and disengage its nominees from the NSE Council where the regulatory body has 8 members out of 15. According to her, the intervention and the inclusion of eight members from SEC on the Council of NSE was to strengthen and professionalize its oversight function of the NSE. “It’s our bid to strengthen and professionalize the NSE and for our nominees to bring their expertise to that organization. We have a report and we will do justice to it”. There were however moments of friction between the committee and the SEC boss. Problem began when the DG was asked why its powers to resolve conflicts between industry players and in her extended explanation alluded that the committee lacked confidence in the Investment and Security Tribunal (IST). She also failed to state the extant rule that empower SEC to abort an administrative proceeding established by SEC to handle a particular dispute between a bank and its investors that was transferred to the IST. She however said that unclear definition of responsibilities between conflict resolution bodies in the sector. Though she posited that it would assist the market to see culprits punished, Arumah however confirmed that convictions are yet to been seen in the sector. She also mentioned that her organization has resolved over 1,700 disputes though her organization was not meant to guarantee investors’ funds. On another occasion when the confronted her with the issue of labour as contained in a petition, she told the committee that the right thing was for the committee to give her the document to go through “I take exception to that remark. We have rules here and it is not for you to dictate to us how to conduct proceedings here,” El Sudi warned. Earlier during the presentation of the Director-General of the Nigeria Stock Exchange, Oscar Onyeama, had explained to the committee that the SEC had 8 nominees in the Council of the 15 members does not mean they will exert any untowards influence on the NSE. The committee had expressed the fear that it may affect the daily management of the NSE and open the organization to overt influence from the SEC which is meant to be a regulator. “People say because there are 8 members nominated by that SEC, that SEC owns NSE. It’s wrong. They have been professional in their conducts. “So far, we have not received directions on what management should do on a daily basis. Besides, I think I am known globally as being independent.” A member of the committee, Yakubu Dogara noted that those who were responsible for the crash of the Capital Market should be brought to book.. His words: “Those that cooked up phantom figures that caused the crash of the Capital market must be brought to book. Because if we are not careful, we will be back here doing another public hearing on this issue.” The hearing continues today. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subsidy: House committee uncovers N229bn fraud •Invites EFCC to recover money Written by Okey Muogbo, Abuja Tuesday, 17 April 2012 THE House of Representatives committee which probed the subsidy on petroleum products by the Federal Government has uncovered N229,706,023,200.00 fraud in the payment of the subsidy between 2010 and 2012. The subsidy probe committee, headed by Honourable Farouk Lawan, in its recommendation called in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to go after the companies that took more money as subsidy than was due them. Sixty-eight companies, according to the committee’s report, were found guilty of subsidy abuse while the “office of the Accountant-General of the Federation should account for the sum of N213.678 billion, being total of excess payments made by it over and above what PPPRA identified as paid in 2009 and 2010.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How they bleed Nigeria! THURSDAY, 19 APRIL 2012 00:00 FROM AZIMAZI MOMOH JIMOH, TEHERMBA DAKA, ABUJA NEWS - NATIONAL House report reveals rot in subsidy, oil sector Says 35 firms collected allocation without registration Panel asks NNPC, PPPRA, marketers to refund N1.1tr Queries national oil corporation’s solvency Indicts Offices of Budget, Accountant-General Blacklists three audit firms Wants PPPRA’s ex-scribe prosecuted Seeks two ministers of petroleum resources Proposes N557b subsidy for 2012 IT was a policy designed to bring succour to poor Nigerians. But it turned out to be the drain-pipe on the treasury and a source of ill-gotten wealth for both Nigerians and foreigners. The fuel subsidy saga reverberated yesterday in Abuja as the House of Representatives’ Ad-hoc Committee, which investigated the petroleum products’ subsidy, presented its report to the whole House. The damning report unmasked the key actors in the sleaze in the nation’s oil sector. From its first page to the last, the lawmakers in their 61-point recommendations, displayed the roll-call of institutions, private enterprises that ran a well-organised corruption regime, where both state officials and their private cohorts denied Nigerians the benefits of the subsidy policy, diverted public funds, over-invoiced fuel imports, and collected rebate for them. Sadly enough, some of the industry regulators overpaid themselves under the subsidy regime. In this regard, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), were named the chief culprits in the looting spree where fuel marketers acted for themselves and also as conduit pipes for state officials to defraud the government. The panel, therefore, recommended that the NNPC, PPPRA, and other companies, which failed to appear before it, should refund N1.067 trillion to the Federal Government for reaping where they did not sow. Presenting the report on the floor of the House yesterday, the committee said, as at present constituted, Nigerians would never get value for money from the NNPC and therefore proposed that it be unbundled. The salient aspects of the report included its recommendation of the refund of N1.067 trillion to the federal purse. The NNPC’s share of this money is N310,414,963,613 for kerosene subsidy. It gave the breakdown simply as: • NNPC (above PPPRA recommendation) -N285,098,000,000.00; • NNPC (self-discount) - N108,648,000,000; • Marketers (total violations of Petroleum Support Funds (PSF) - N8,664,352,554; • Companies that refused to appear before the panel - N41,936,140,005.31; and • PPPRA’s excess payment to self - N312,279,000,000 bring the total money stolen by the agencies and others to N1,067,040,466,171.31. The presentation of the report by Lawan Farouk-led committee may have reduced the apprehension among the citizenry that some powerful forces were set to scuttle it . Revelations that the committee members were divided on the issue caused fresh concerns in the polity. There were speculations that the panel had recommended the prosecution of several officials of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPC, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) and PPPRA for their role in ripping the country off through the fuel subsidy scheme. The fears heightened on Tuesday when the committee did not present the report as earlier announced. However, The Guardian learnt that the ad-hoc committee’s members were divided on the reach to which the prosecutorial sweep should be applied. While some members believe only managers in oil agencies should face prosecution, others say this should go the whole length to include the Minister of Petroleum Resources. More knocks came for the NNPC when the panel doubted its solvency and urged the House to look into the matter because of the huge debt claims against the corporation. The panel, which indicted officials in the Federal Ministry of Finance, Office of the Director-General Budget, and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation involved in the extra- budgetary expenditure under the PSF scheme (2009-2011), said they should be sanctioned in accordance with the Civil Service Rules and the Code of Conduct Bureau. It said: “The payment of N999,000,000 in 128 times within 24 hours (12th and 13th January, 2009) by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation should be further investigated by relevant anti-corruption agencies.” The report said that the unbundling of the NNPC could be achieved through the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). “The committee recommends that the NNPC should be unbundled to make its operations more efficient and transparent and this we believe can also be achieved through the passage of a well-drafted and comprehensive Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). The committee, therefore, urges the speedy drafting and submission of the bill to the National Assembly.” The committee also asked the government to blacklist three audit firms for three years over their roles in the fuel subsidy scam. And in a move to douse the avalanche of criticisms and ostensibly to curry credibility to the report, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, declared that the clause by clause consideration of the report would be relayed on Tuesday next week live on national television. Tambuwal directed the Albert Sam-Tsokwa-led Committee on Business and Rules to liaise with the ad-hoc panel to make copies of the report available to members today for their perusal. His words: “Chairman, Rules and Business, please liaise to ensure that each member gets the report latest tomorrow (Thursday) morning. “Members should please study the report and come back for consideration on Tuesday next week. And any television channel interested in covering the report live will be given that privilege to do so,” he added. In the words of the panel, “the NNPC should refund to the Federation Account the sum of N310,414,963,613 paid to it illegally as subsidy for kerosene contrary to the presidential directive of July 29, 2009 withdrawing subsidy on the product. “That the House directs the auditing of the NNPC to determine its solvency. This is as a result of plethora of claims of indebtedness and demands for payments by NNPC’s debtors, which if not well handled, will not only affect the entire economy of Nigeria but also the supply and distribution of petroleum products. “The House should direct the NNPC to stop any form of deductions not captured in Appropriation Act before remittance to the Federation Account, and the corporation should submit its transactions to the operational guidelines of the subsidy scheme.” It added that the NNPC retail, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOMAN) should be the outlets for the distribution of kerosene to ensure availability and affordability of the product to Nigerians. The lawmakers said the NNPC should also refund to the Federation Account the sum of N285.098 billion being over- deduction as against PPPRA approvals for 2011, adding that the relevant anti-corruption agency should further investigate the corporation over deductions for 2009 and 2010. Furthermore, the panel said as postulated earlier in “this report, data provided by NNPC and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) tends to suggest that for 2009, 2010 and 2011, NNPC deducted subsidy payments from two different accounts. It is the recommendation of this committee that relevant anti-corruption agencies conduct thorough investigation into this matter and where it is established that double withdrawals were made, the extra amounts should be paid to the treasury and those involved prosecuted. “The management and board of the NNPC should be completely overhauled. Under the PSF scheme, importers, especially the NNPC, should be mandated to patronise Nigerian flagged vessels provided they produce the standard safety and sea-worthiness certificates in tune with international best practices. According to Farouk, “given the large and complex nature of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the committee recommends that two ministers should be appointed to take charge of the upstream and downstream.” He said the current template being used by PPPRA in computing and paying PSF “in fill off in-built prices” for wastages and inefficiencies, citing lightening exercise, demurrage as areas that could be plugged to save the nation’s scarce resources. “We therefore recommend the revision of the template. “Henceforth, the PPPRA margin of error on the payment template for ascertaining allowable volumes on imported products should be no more than +/-5 per cent as against the current +/-10 per cent. “The PPPRA should provide the Nigerian Navy and NIMASA advance copies of allocation and vessel arrival notification documents to enable the Navy monitor, track and interdict vessels seeking to avoid Naval certification. “The Executive Secretary of PPPRA 2009- February, 2011 should be investigated and punished for the official recklessness he exhibited in the implementation of the board’s decision to reverse the qualification for participation in the scheme. The allocations/approvals to import products given to 35 companies before their formal registration with PPPRA testify to this. “Companies that lack the required competence and expertise to import petroleum products and even those who did not meet up with the agreed standards were also awarded large chunks of the allocation, an act that culminated in huge loss of resources to the nation. Many companies under his watch who had neither depots nor through-put agreement were allowed to participate in the scheme contrary to the revised eligibility guidelines. “The practice whereby PPPRA as a regulator in the petroleum downstream sector being supervised by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources whose minister is the chairman of the board of NNPC (a major importer/participant in the PSF scheme) negates the principles of checks and balances and international best practices. “The committee therefore recommends that the regulatory capacity of PPPRA be strengthened and the National Assembly should commence the process of amending the Act to make the agency autonomous.” The committee said the PPPRA should, within two weeks of the adoption of this report, conduct a performance assessment of all companies involved in the PSF scheme and publish such reports, adding that its view that if any petroleum product is deserving of subsidy, HHK should be given priority. The panel said the sum of N557.70 billion should be provided for as subsidy in the 2012 Appropriation Act, with the sum of N249.006 billion allocated as subsidy for kerosene. Other recommendations of the panel are: • The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) should follow up on the companies listed earlier to pay their taxes with due penalties in line with the provisions of the Companies Income Tax Act. • The PSF guidelines should be revised to make tax compliance a mandatory pre-qualification requirement for all participants under the scheme. • Marketers who obtained FOREX but did not import petroleum products should be referred to the relevant anti-corruption agencies with a view to verifying what they used the FOREX for. • Payment for PMS with effect from the second quarter of 2012 should be based on certified truckouts at depots confirmed at the retail outlets and no longer on discharges from vessels into tank farms. Consumption should be defined in a way to exclude what is imported but only what is put in the tank. • The markets of opportunity situated within Nigerian territorial waters, which are designated “offshore Cotonou” or “offshore Lome” to qualify for FOREX payment and to evade payment of appropriate levies, dues and taxes to the government should be discontinued forthwith. • A Marine Transport System should be put in place that is safe, secure, reliable, cost effective and efficient to reduce the present high cost of doing business in Nigeria. • Any importation without permit or where the difference is above approved quota should not be entitled to any amount on the template. • It is strongly recommended that marketers without storage facilities and retail outlets should be excluded from participating in the PFS scheme as this will end the bazaar that constituted a serious drain on the nation’s economy and created room for abuses. Others are that the services of accounting firm of Akintola Williams, Deloitte and Olusola Adekanola and Partners should be discontinued with immediate effect for professional incompetence on this particular assignment. “In view of the above, the two firms should be blacklisted from being engaged by any Federal Ministry, Department and Agency (MDA) for a period of three years. “This committee shall in its monitoring stage conduct extensive and thorough investigation into the operations of the PEF (MB) in other to ascertain the management of the bridging funds under the subsidy regime. Penalties should be indicated for non-compliance and promptly imposed to ensure the smooth operation of the scheme.” It said the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) should be encouraged within a time-frame to improve on the draught level of the Nigerian waters to encourage the berthing of all types of vessels so as to eliminate the present ship-to-ship (STS) transfers by importers of petroleum product. Also, the panel proposed that: • The National Assembly should enact an Act to criminalise extra- budgetary expenditure. • CBN and the Federal Ministry of Finance should critically examine and review the policy guiding payment for importation of petroleum products to avoid the current fraudulent system that allows importers to bring in products from off-shore “Lome” or “Cotonou” to qualify for FOREX payments. • The Committee notes that several alarms were raised by the CBN on the escalation of subsidy figures but these early warning signals were ignored by relevant agencies. The committee wishes to encourage whistle-blowing by regulatory agencies on threats to the economy with the hope that proactive measures could be taken. • The committee recommends that the PPMC management be overhauled. In furtherance to the above recommendations of the committee, institutional mechanisms be urgently developed to ensure the monitoring of actual delivery of kerosene to the Nigerian masses. • The PPMC should deploy modern state-of-the-art devices to protect its facilities and pipelines to eliminate wastages arising from vandalism. In the short-term however, PPMC should establish a surveillance system, which should incorporate community-protection and using part of the bridging funds on the PSF template to finance this . • All extant circulars preventing the Nigeria Customs Service from carrying out its statutory functions be immediately withdrawn by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Finance. • The committee recommends that NNPC takes immediate action to pay the N46 billion owed the Nigeria Customs Service and the N66 billion owed the Nigeria Ports Authority. • The failure of NPA to provide this committee the vital vessel data, particularly the IMO numbers, is an indication that either NPA has a very poor record-keeping system or that it was a deliberate ploy to cover up its collusion between its officials and importers. We recommend an investigation into the operations and activities of this authority. • The port operations of the Nigeria Ports Authority be investigated with a view to determining the extent to which its officials are complicit in the classification of maritime areas for reception of Nigerian bound petroleum products as “offshore Cotonou” and “offshore Lome” in the face of evidence that these vessels never did lighter at those ports. The rest of the report reads: “From the findings of this Committee the consumption level for 2011 is estimated at 31.5 million litres per day. However, in 2012 marginal increment of 1.5 million litres a day is recommended in order to take care of unforeseen circumstances, bringing it to 33 million liters per day. And to maintain a strategic reserve, an additional average of seven (million liters per day (or 630 million litres per Quarter) for the first quarter of 2012 only is recommended. Thus, PPPRA is to use 40 million litres of PMS in the first quarter as its maximum ordering quantity should be 33 million litres per day. For kerosene, the Committee recommends a daily ordering quantity of 9 million litres. “With regards to the 445,000 bpd allocation to NNPC to refine for local consumption, the Committee established that the allocation is sufficient to provide the nation with forty million liters per day for PMS and Ten million litres of HHK. The above can be achieved conveniently through; .•SWAP arrangement, • Offshore processing, •Outright sale of the 445,000bpd and or partial sale of the excess from the local refining capacity of 53 percent. Therefore there is no reason for government to grant subsidy importation to any other marketer. Even though we have quoted 40 million litres as a liberal figure, in the course of monitoring the implementation of the subsidy regime the actual daily consumption will then be determined. In order to reduce and gradually eliminate lightening associated with inefficiency and cost , Government should invest in the provision of Single Point Mooring (SPM’s). This provision should be followed up by instituting Regulations to compel owners of jetties, depots and storage facilities to develop pipeline throughout to facilitate direct delivery of imported products by heavy vessels, in-shore Nigeria. *There should be a deliberate policy by Government to encourage the utilization of gas in automobiles, domestic (Cooking) and industrial facilities. *In the course of this investigation, a lot of efforts were made to establish cases of round tripping and diversion of products including the use of the data from Llyods List Intelligence resulting in the cases so far reported. However, given thje scale of connivance and collusion by government officials involved in the certification process, the committee believes that further investigation will reveal more cases. It is therefore recommended that all the data obtained in the course of this investigation, especially from the Llyods List of Intelligence be forwarded to the relevant anti-corruption agencies for a more detailed investigation. *The present management of APEF(M)B should be overhauled and the board when constituted should comprise of persons of impeccable integrity who should be knowledgeable in aspects of its mandate. This is without prejudice to the coming into force of the Petroleum Industry Act. *PEF(M)B should establish a tracking system on all trucks from point of loading to point of discharge (retail outlets) and direct that all trucks involved with transportation of products should install approved tracking devices on them. *It is hereby recommended that the regulatory capacity of DPR be strengthened. The National Assembly should commence the process of amending the Act to make the Agency autonomous. “The DPR should take immediate steps to bring all facilities and depot owners into compliance with international best practices by ensuring the installation of modern metering gadgets and sealable and non-return valves, to eliminate the rampant cases of round tripping. “The DPR should brace up to its role of regulation and compel the NNPC/PPMC to comply with all the regulations issued to ensure transparency and accountability. “As a matter of urgency and in furtherance of our national security requirements, a national strategic reserve should be immediately enhanced so as to accommodate 90 days stop gap strategic reserve. “We strongly recommend that relevant standing committees of the National Assembly should be more proactive in their oversight responsibilities to forestall future occurrences. “ Author of this article: From Azimazi Momoh Jimoh, Tehermba Daka, Abuja --------------- EFCC uncovers another N9b police pension fraud By Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Abuja THERE seems to be no end to the pension fund scam. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it has uncovered another N9billion fraud in the Police Pension Office. The cash was withdrawn between 2007 and 2008. Some of the six suspects standing trial over the N32.8billion police pension scam are said to have been involved. The six suspects on trial before Justice Abubakar Talba of the FCT High Court in Gudu are the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Esai Dangabar, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, John Yakubu Yusufu, Mrs. Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula and Sani Habila Zira. The anti-graft agency has kept key witnesses who will testify against the six suspects in protective custody. These facts are contained in a counter-affidavit deposed to in court by the EFCC through one of its detectives, Simon Iorzua, who was a member of the team that discovered the N32.8billion scam. The EFCC’s deposition reads in part: “That the team is still investigating the accused/applicants on account of other funds allegedly misappropriated by them while at the Police Pension Office. “That apart from the present charge, our team also discovered that the accused/applicants in the period of 2007 – 2008 withdrew N9 billion with First Bank and there is an ongoing investigation on the involvement of the accused/applicants. “That our team further stumbled on some other accounts being operated by the accused/applicants in other commercial banks which they did not disclose to our team during interrogation. “That the Commission is still investigating other complaints against the applicants bordering on money laundering, fraudulent acquisition of properties and misappropriation of public funds.” The EFCC expressed concern about the safety of some of its key prosecution witnesses. Although the commission did not give the exact figure of the witnesses in the affidavit, a source said “they are more than 10”. The affidavit added: “That the accused/applicants corruptly enriched themselves as public servants and diverted the funds of the Police Pension Office to their personal use. That I know as a fact that the evidence gathered against the Applicants by my team is overwhelming... “That some of the proposed prosecution witnesses are civil servants who worked with or under the accused/applicants as junior workers at one time or the other. “That many of the proposed prosecution witnesses are now apprehensive and some of them are in protective custody as a result of continuous threat to their lives by the applicants’ agents and persons connected with them.” The anti-graft commission gave the details of its investigation and specific findings on how the funds were looted. It added: “That the EFCC received an intelligence report to the effect that over N19 billion was withdrawn from the account of the Police Pension Office by 5th Applicant (Mrs. Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula) herein in violation of the e-payment circular and the financial regulation. “That it was alleged in the intelligence report that at various times, the 1st – 3rd accused/applicants (Esai Dangabar, Atiku Abubakar Kigo and Ahmed Inuwa Wada) in collaboration with the other applicants, authorised the fraudulent withdrawals of the said funds and shared same among themselves. “That the Commission accessed the intelligence report and found same to be credible. The intelligence report was further referred to my team for further investigation. “That my team went into action by investigating the case and our investigation revealed the following: “The 1st accused/applicant (Esai Dangabar) was the director in the Police Pension Office between 2008 and 2009. “That the 2nd accused/applicant (Atiku Abubakar Kigo) was a director in the Police Pension Office between February 2010 and February 2011. “That the 3rd accused/applicant (Ahmed Inuwa Wada) was a director in the Police Pension Office between February 2010 and June 2011. “That the 4th accused/applicant (John Yakubu Yusufu) was an Assistant Director, accounts in the Police Pension Office between February 2009 and September 2011. “The 5th accused/applicant (Mrs. Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula) has been with the Police Pension Office since 1999 and she is currently the cashier of the office.” The 6th accused/applicant (Sani Habila Zira) “is the Head of ICT (Information Communication Technology). ---------------------------
--------------------
Move to sack Oteh, Hembe, Reps over bribery scandal begins

FRIDAY, 23 MARCH 2012 00:00 BY OSIGBESAN SULTAN LUQMAN (LAGOS) AZIMAZI MOMOH JIMOH AND KARLS TSOKAR (ABUJA) NEWS - NATIONAL

IT is one bribery allegation too many at the National Assembly and if the lawmakers think they can sweep this one under the carpet as usual, they have not reckoned with Civil Society.
For the embarrassment it has caused the country on the global stage and to save the nation’s democracy, several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or non-state actors in the country have resolved to seize on the on-going bribery scandal rocking the House of Assembly Committee on Capital Market to purge the National Assembly of all corrupt elements.
In a move that aims to make it a landmark case in Nigeria’s history, the NGOs have resolved to write all members of the House Committee on Capital Market to resign their membership of the Lower Chamber on account of the allegation of bribery levelled against them by the Director-General (DG), Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), Arunmah Oteh.
If the committee members failed to take this path of honour, the NGOs pledged to write to their constituencies, with a view to asking the latter to activate the recall clause as provided by the 1999 Constitution and get the members out of the House of Representatives.
Also, stating that her position was no longer tenable following the bribery saga, especially the disclosures on her official expenditures by the House panel, the rights activists have asked Oteh to resign from office, failing which the Presidency or the appointing authorities should sack her from the SEC post.
Beyond the particular case at hand, the rights groups yesterday alleged that it has become the norm for all committees of both chambers of the National Assembly to demand monetary contribution towards their public hearings or probes and travels from agencies they have oversight on .
Stressing that this condemnable practice has created a cesspit of corruption and turned a drag on nation-building efforts, the NGOs have also resolved to write to each member of the National Assembly to put a stop to it forthwith individually and collectively.
The rights activists dismissed the sack of the Hembe-led panel and its replacement with an ad-hoc committee to continue the Capital Market probe as a grand attempt to provide soft landing for the embattled committee members and sweep the grave allegations raised against them under the carpet.
According to sources, the rights groups that may spearhead this move include the Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO), the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and Alliance for Credible Election.
But the House of Representatives has advised all parties to the Capital Market probe to avoid making inflammatory statements capable of jeopardising the exercise.
At a media briefing in the National Assembly yesterday, Spokesman of the House, Zakari Mohammed said: “It is necessary that all parties involved in the matter give the ad hoc committee the benefit of doubts and wait for its report. The committee has 21 days to work on the matter and I can assure you that there will be fair hearing for all the parties involved.
“The SEC should caution its spokesman from using inflammatory statements on this issue as Herman Hembe has kept silent waiting for the outcome of the panel’s report. Anything the involved parties say now will go a long way in distorting what is on ground because it is just like a matter in the court.
“And you know that with this issue on ground the integrity of the House of Representatives has been called to question.”
The bribery scandal has overshadowed on-going attempt by the House of Representatives to probe the Capital Market meltdown.
In a related development, a coalition of stakeholders united in the fight against corruption in Nigeria has lamented the country’s seemingly intractable corruption profile in the world.
Participants at a public and private sector partnership against corruption in Nigeria summit organised yesterday in Abuja by the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) in collaboration with United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and Siemens, agreed that the trend was unacceptable and needed to be checked.
His opening address, Chairman, NESG, Mr. Foluso Phillips, stated that Nigeria’s image had constantly been battered in the international community due to its rating as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Phillip spoke on the new Nigerian phenomenon tagged “the Elite Capture”, where a few elite individuals take advantage of government resources or funds meant for the general public and redirect such funds to benefit their group.
The workshop with the theme, “Openness and Transparency: A stakeholder commitment against corruption”, was organised as part of the implementation of the Siemens Integrity Initiative in Nigeria, with the aim of creating awareness about the UN Global Compact’s 10th principle against corruption that promotes fair market conditions for all economic actors by employing collective action strategy against corruption and fraud in all ramifications.
Meanwhile, a part of the National Assembly narrowly escaped being razed yesterday due to some electrical faults in a room at its annex .
The fire was reportedly caused by a power surge in a store where some Assembly documents were kept.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the incident occurred at about 10.45 a.m. The fire was swiftly put off when the workers pulled off the electrical appliance involved.
The room where the incident occurred was originally designed to be used as a kitchen.
The public hearing on the capital market probe took a dramatic twist last Thursday when Oteh accused the panel’s Chairman, Herman Hembe, of alleged corruption.
In turn, Hembe accused the SEC chief of trying to influence the work of the committee by approving N30 million for its activities.
The scandal claimed its first set of casualties on Tuesday as the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly asked its Committee on the Capital Market to step off the investigation, opting instead to set up an ad hoc panel to do the job.
The House directed its Committee on Ethics and Privileges to investigate the allegations that the Hembe-led Committee demanded the sum of N44 million to fund its public hearing.
The Ethics Committee was asked to conclude its investigation within 14 days and submit a report to the House for appropriate decision.
The eight-member ad hoc committee is headed by Ibrahim el-Sudi. Other members are Toby Okechukwu, Yakubu Dogara, Bimbo Daramola, Ini Udoka, Buba Jibril, Usman Adamu Mohammed and Rose Okoh.
Also on Tuesday, Hembe denied the bribery allegation levelled against his panel by Oteh and personally withdrew from the investigation. He also vowed to clear his name in court.
The scandal has further ruptured investors’ confidence in the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). Worried by the bribery allegations, foreign investors trading on the NSE threatened to dump their shares on the market.
The NSE management has been under pressure from investors outside the country seeking detailed explanation on the ongoing allegations and counter-allegations of corruption between the SEC and the House panel.
Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) accounts for over 80 per cent of total purchases (inflows) in the Nigerian market, driven primarily by investments from the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (U.S.) as well as from Hong Kong, Luxemburg, South Africa and Germany, among others

--------------------
Bringing the Nigerian knowledge workforce home (1)

ON FEBRUARY 8, 2012 • IN TECHNOLOGY
By Chris Uwaje

For more than seven decades, they have been lining up for travel and immigrant visas in the dead of the night. In their millions, they traveled by air, sea and on land, through the deadliest deserts of the world.
But the Nigerian dream, vision, mission and enterprise agenda does not need 160 million people to realise and deliver the mission’s critical assignment of 21st century development. No! We only need a few, maybe three million smart hot-heads, who have the right thinking and creative mindset to take us to the promised land and sit us on the cerebral table in the comity of nations.
Destiny says we can’t all be smart, but we can all drink from the wealth of our patriotic knowledge, embedded in just a few, to enable us smash the world knowledge Olympics record. It is a fundamental task that must be done and with accelerated dispatch.
However, it is significant to emphasize that the concept of bringing them home is not just physical but linking and connecting with the Diaspora Knowledge worldwide – irrespective of where they are. The home runs will be left to and dictated by constructive circumstances, opportunities and competitiveness.
Wasting resources
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Dr. Adeniji, Mr. Peter Obi, Prof. Emmanuel Aniebonam, Prof. Bolaji Aluko – to mention but a few – are key among indicators of the enormous Nigerian knowledge resources wasting abroad (and contributing to the development of other nations) and represent a significant roadmap on how to strategically prepare for the 21st century Knowledge Olympiad.
The Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) in 2001 embarked on a major project of re-connecting with Nigerian knowledge resources abroad by mounting the first Nigerian Information Technology Summit at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., USA.
This digital knowledge adventure was what has today become the Nigeria Diaspora Day – now celebrated every July 25th. Not only that, it has also led to the establishment of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission by the Federal Government.
However, the above is just a tip of the iceberg of the mission critical assignment that a nation such as Nigeria is expected to undertake and accomplish. Now that we have established the Ministry of Communications Technology (what a name!), perhaps the greatest assignment it should accomplish as part of its mandate is to embark on the reversing the Technology Brain Drain (TBD) and creating a knowledge multiplier model for coordinated and sustainable development.
Numbers speak
Numbers speak indeed! Reliable estimates have it that there may be more that 10 million Nigerians living outside Nigeria. It is amazing that over the years, our ambassadors have been unable to collate the real figure! How long do we have to wait to know?
However, what we know is that currently, there are 1.15 million Nigerians in the United States (last US Census). There also are 45,000 Nigerian medical doctors in the US. There are over 15,000 full time Nigerian professors and another 10,000 academic staff of Nigerian extraction in US higher institutions.
There are over 15,000 Nigerian pharmacists, 28,000 Nigerian nurses, and 7,000 Nigerian lawyers in the US. There are over 174,000 information technology (IT) Specialists of Nigerian descent in the US, with most of them in telecommunications, helpdesk support, programming, database administration, software project management, and general application development.
For Nigeria to survive the emerging serious impact of IT, be relevant and benefit from the immense opportunities provided by Information Society, she must build a formidable army of software CODE WARRIORS in preparation for the fierce competition of the global knowledge industry. Above all, she must take some high risks to net high gains.
The major IT race of this century (as far as developing countries are concerned) will be determined, demonstrated and won or lost in the software domain. Therefore, converging our global knowledge resources in software workforce becomes a strategic imperative for success. We must design a Grand Master Plan (GMP) to harness and bring our knowledge base in the Diaspora back home.
Perhaps, the best way to do this is to start a massive establishment and deployment of “Resident Knowledge Parks” nation wide – knowing that nothing short of a National Knowledge Reconstruction (NKR) will sanitise this monster — creature identifiable with the big letter ‘N’! (Naija?).
Knowledge parks
But at least, clustering residential knowledge parks where investors and operators are granted a five to ten-year “Income and Company Tax-free” incentive will be a good start. Considering the fact that the task of this write-up is to share knowledge across the board, the following information was delivered by Goubadia Oswald oswald.gobadia@gs.com and sourced from FORTUNE Website on an article on Technology, titled “Reverse Brain Drain” written by Erven Brown and David Kirkpatrick as served below http://www.fortune.com/fortune/careers/articles
Reversing Technology Brain Drain:
Foreign-born techies head home as they lose their jobs and work visas.“Tech executives have plenty to worry about. Stocks in the dumps. PC sales at a crawl. Layoffs from San Jose to Austin. And then there’s the people problem: the reverse brain drain. With tech entering the third year of its slump, a significant number of foreign-born engineers who flocked to America in the ’90s are heading home, either by choice or, increasingly, because they’ve been laid off and have lost their work visas. Take Rama Velpuri.
The Indian-born engineer is a U.S. citizen with a degree from Louisiana State, and he spent the ’90s working at Oracle. But when he started his own software firm, Oramasters, he decamped for Hyderabad, India. There he runs his company for only $30,000 a month (including payroll for his 25 employees) and pays $1,000 a month for a five-bedroom house in Hyderabad’s Tony Jubilee Hills (complete with three maids, a chauffeur, and a gardener).
There’s plenty of evidence that thousands of less lucky foreigners have been forced to leave the U.S. too. Thom Stohler, a lobbyist for the American Electronics Association, points out that the number of temporary work visas, known as H-1Bs, has dropped from more than 163,000 in 2001 to a projected 90,000 in 2002. Girish Gaitonde, CEO of Xoriant, an IT services firm in San Jose, says he employed 400 H-1B workers in 2000 but has only 125 today.
This trend has begun to haunt Nigerians in Diaspora and something must be done at home to prepare how to respond to the surge of home-comers this century! Lest we forget, the next wave of the digital revolution points to the emerging culture of e-nationalities and digital colonies!
Uwaje is CEO of Connect Technologies and President, ISPON.

---------------------
Govt official stashes N2bn loot in residence •Pension reform team leader gives evidence

Written by Idowu Samuel, Abuja
Friday, 03 February 2012

SOME officials of government, both at the state and federal levels have perfected the act of corruption as the very daring among them now stash billions of looted government funds in their private homes.

The chairman, Pension Reform Task Team, Mr Abdulrasheed Maina stunned officials of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Thursday with the revelation of how his team caught a top civil servant in the pension unit at the office of the Head of Service with cash of N2 billion stashed in his private residence.

Maina also recounted how another civil servant was caught with a pile of dollars in his house, stressing that some officials of government had over the years been involved in mindless looting of the pension arrears of helpless retirees, many of whom had died while many others were stricken with ailments arising from denial of their pensions by government officials.

The Head of Pension Reform Task Team was at the ICPC national headquarters to inform the officials of the progress by the team in recovering looted pension funds, disclosing that so far, the team had recovered the total sum of N151 billion meant to have been looted by officials saddled with the task of managing the pension funds.

He said the offenders had been arrested and were already undergoing the process of prosecution, stressing that those arrested so far had had the properties they bought with looted funds, including private buildings, offices, hotels, shopping malls, confiscated by the Federal Government.

According to him, the team, in conjunction with the EFCC, had traced and recovered a total of N35 billion and another N15 billion worth of properties from the “very few corrupt government officials in the office of the Head of Service, Pension Department.

Maina said the breakthrough recorded so far by members of his team was facilitated by the EFCC and the ICPC through the officials they seconded to the reform team.

He said the team was able to record progress in tracking the fraud in pension management in Nigeria with the use of Electronic Management Pension Scheme, which, he said, made the creation of data on pension profile in the country possible, adding that the data base contains bio-data, biometrics on payment of pension, which have ultimately reduced the incidence of ghost pensioners in the country.

He said when the Pension Reform Task Team conducted a nationwide biometric verification of pensioners, it detected no fewer than 71,133 fake pensioners from the total of 141,790 on the payroll of the government.

He said prior to the verification exercise, the Federal Government was erroneously paying the sum of N5 billion monthly as pension, noting that the sum had now been reduced to N825 million after verification.

He said the team also discovered that for a long time, genuine pensioners totalling 44,320 were never paid, most of them having retired between 1968 and 1975, disclosing further that after a thorough review of the process of payment, the pensioners have now started receiving payments.

He also notified the ICPC top officials that the task team had also succeeded in reducing the monthly pension of the Nigeria Police from N1.5 billion to N500 million, an indication that corruption had also taken hold of the pension department of the police force.

Maina, however, appealed to the ICPC to assist his team in the task of busting the cabal in the management of Nigeria’s pension fund, while ensuring that those already arrested as looters of the funds should face prosecution meant to prevent them from returning to their duty posts to continue looting.

The acting chairman of ICPC, Ekpo Nta, expressed delight at the activities of the Reform Team, which, according to him, had started touching lives across the federation, stating that ICPC has equally embarked on system review of public department, just as he enjoined Nigerians to emulate the transparent manner by which the team had been going about its assignments.

He vowed to ensure that anyone found culpable of mismanaging the pension arrears would not go free, just as he said ICPC would like to bring the outcome of the intervention by the Reform Task Team to the public domain.


----------------------------

Politicians behind subsidy riot - Jonathan •US backs subsidy removal •Cautions FG on implementation

Written by Leon Usigbe, Abuja, with Agency Report Tuesday, 17 January 2012

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has described protests in parts of the country which trailed the discontinuance of fuel subsidy as political riots, blaming politicians for the nation’s woes.
Speaking during the 38th edition of the President’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Awards in the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja, on Monday, he thanked Nigerian youths for not taking part in the mass protests.
Jonathan explained that because of government’s realisation of the importance of the youth in national development, the leadership of students in the country was among the stakeholders consulted by the government before the decision to deregulate the oil sector was taken.
The president urged Nigerians, particularly the elite, to desist from acts that were capable of distracting the government and compounding the current security challenges in the country.
According to him, “from inception, our administration has demonstrated absolute commitment to the promotion of democratic ideals and unwavering respect for the rule of law.
“By the same token, we expect that all stakeholders would continue to operate within the ambit of the law at all times. Rights and privileges come with responsibilities.
“I wish to reiterate my commitment to working unrelentingly for the enduring welfare and well-being of Nigerians at all times.
“Nigerians elected me and I remain committed to transforming Nigeria in a way to engender the greatest good for the greater number of us.”
The president pointed out that whatever his government was currently doing, especially in the area of economic transformation was for the sake of the future of the country.
“If we cannot build good roads for our children; if we cannot leave hospitals for them, then one thing we must not leave for them is debt for them to come and pay,” he said.
He reiterated that government could not continue to borrow money to subsidise fuel for people “who have 10 or 15 cars and all their underaged children will be driving the cars around Lagos.”
Jonathan blamed politicians for the many evils bedevilling the country, saying “if NYSC uniform now attracts evil men, before once you wear NYSC uniform, people can give you a ride freely.
“Who are those creating these problems? They are not ordinary men and women in our villages. They are politicians.
“It is politicians who are exploiting the situation negatively. We are even making our youths to hit themselves in the name of politics. We will all change.”
He announced the offer of automatic employment to 52 former NYSC members for their excellent performance during their service year.
Drawn from 2009 Batch ‘C’/2010 batches ‘A’ and ‘B’ service years, the awardees are also to enjoy scholarship for their masters and doctorate degrees in universities anywhere in the world.
He said the decision to add scholarship and automatic employment to the certificates and medals received by the ex-corps members was to encourage them and other youths to continue to work hard.
The president directed the ministers of Youth Development, Education, as well as Mineral Resources to coordinate the exercise, adding that the scholarship for those in sciences and petroleum-related fields, including Petroleum Law or Petroleum Economics, would be funded by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, while the Education Tax Fund would fund the rest.
US Support
Meanwhile, the United States government openly declared its support for the removal of the fuel subsidy, but cautioned the Federal Government on how it manages the situation, according to a press release from the US State Department issued on Monday.
Empowered Newswire reported that US administration officials, speaking with reporters travelling with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to West Africa this week, said of the fuel subsidy removal by the Nigerian government, “we support the government’s efforts to remove the fuel subsidy; how they do it is, of course, a question that they have to work out.”
Clinton is visiting, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Togo and then Cape Verde. The US government statement, however, came before the deployment of troops in Lagos on Monday morning.
Previously both the US government and the United Nations had cautioned the Nigerian government on its use of force in quelling the protests, with the UN Human Rights Commission warning that atrocities committed in Nigeria was being observed globally and some of them might be crimes against humanity, against international treaties and fundamental human rights.
But while speaking to reporters on Sunday, the US administration officials with Clinton said while the American government supported the removal of fuel subsidy in Nigeria, “the issue is a serious one for them, and it will be one that they will have to deal with and work through over the next several weeks.”
According to the US government press release, the fuel subsidy in Nigeria is very costly and has kept the prices abnormally low.
The US government press release quoting a US official said: “There is currently an ongoing strike in that country related to the government’s efforts to remove a very costly fuel subsidy which has kept fuel prices abnormally low, and which has resulted in the government losing something in the neighbourhood of $8-$9 billion worth of revenues every year.”
The US said it regarded Nigeria along with South Africa, as “one of the two most important countries in sub-Saharan Africa,” with what the US estimates as 170 million people and being the largest African supplier of petroleum to the United States – coming in at roughly eight or nine per cent, “rivalling anything we get from Saudi Arabia – this is a country of great significance.”
Continuing, the US government added that the reason the Nigerian government wanted to stop the subsidy “is because there has been a huge import of fuel into the country, which is then smuggled out of the country across the borders into Togo, Benin, into Niger, and into Cameroon, which is also an enormous drain on the federal Nigerian budget.”
The statement then noted, however, that the Nigerian federal government would have to work through this, but that the US supported the government’s efforts to remove the fuel subsidy.
According to the press release from the State Department, four top US officials spoke to reporters on the record, but on condition of anonymity, as is often the practice of US government when it chooses to speak without identifying the name of public officials. The agreement with reporters who spoke live with these officials is to simply refer to them as administration officials.

-----------------------
FUEL SUBSIDY PAYMENT: EFCC raids PPPRA’s office

Written by Dare Adekanmbi Tuesday, 17 January 2012

IN line with the presidential mandate to engender accountability and good corporate governance in government, especially as regards payments to oil marketers as subsidy, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, visited the Abuja office of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).
The visit of the anti-graft body, it was gathered, was to give effect to an order from President Goodluck Jonathan that payments to oil importers be scrutinised.
It was leanrt that officials of the EFCC have also commenced investigation into the alleged acts of graft and misappropriation in the importation of petroleum products with a view to bringing culprits to book.
EFCC spokesperon, Wilson Uwujaren, who confirmed the visit to the Nigerian Tribune in a telephone chat, said the commission had impounded some documents it obtained from the agency's office, adding that it was the beginning of subsidy payment probe.
Uwujaren explained that the early stage of investigations would be focused on the fuel importers/marketers to determine who got what and why.
The spokesperson further explained that the anti-graft body would go through the obtained documenmts with a fine tooth comb so as to ascertain the vessels that imported petroleum products, as well as authenticating the origins of the imported products and the truth about their costs.
According to Uwujaren, “there will be a foreign leg of the investigation to determine the true price quoted for products at the time of purchase so as to verify the claim of marketers.”
He stressed that the investigation would be thorough, leaving no area untouched, while reiterating the position of acting chairman of the commission, Ibrahim Larmorde, that arrest of culpable suspects would be the final stage of investigation.

---------------------
2012 Predictions: Violent Revolution Imminent -Olabayo •All Will Be Well In Oyo -Adeboye

Written by Muda Oyeniran, Ebenezer Adurokiya and Kola Oyelere
Saturday, 24 December 2011

As year 2012 is fast approaching, Nigerians have been told to prepare for hard times as hunger, anger, anarchy and

starvation will reign supreme, just as a military strike has been predicted in the coming year.

This was part of the predictions made by prophets and an astrologer , including Founder of the Evangelical Church of Yaahweh, Primate T.O. Olabayo; Founder and Spiritual Head of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos, Primate Babatunde Elijah Ayodele and Alhaji Ali Abdul–rashed, who spoke with Saturday Tribune on what 2012 holds in stock for Nigeria and Nigerians.

According to them, Nigerians should brace up for hard times next year arising from harsh economic situation that will lead to loss of jobs, insecurity due to incessant armed robbery attacks and Boko Haram insurgence, among others, with Primate Olabayo predicting that a messiah that will take the country to the promised land would emerge after the first quarter of the year.

“President Goodluck Jonathan is not the messiah that the nation needs at the moment. Even before Jonathan became president, I had predicted that his time will witness a lot of terrorism and bombings. That time, I advised that a Northerner should be allowed to rule first; that Jonathan is still young. He is a forerunner, not the messiah,” Olabayo said in his prediction for 2012.

He declared that there will be anarchy in the country which would lead to a military strike even though he said there will be no coup de’ tat.

Olabayo, who predicted that hunger, anger, anarchy and starvation would would be witnessed in the country, added that there would be revolution which would pitch the poor against the rich.

“Nigeria has not seen anything. Next year is going to be tough. We may witness a revolution similar to what happened in Egypt. The poor will face the rich. There will be no war, but what is going to happen will be more than war. There will be hunger and anger and this will lead to problem,” he added.

He said further: “What will happen in the country will be very pathetic. Nigerians should prepare for sacrifice in order that they do not become the sacrificial lamb. It is a year that the untouchables will be consumed. The problem of Boko Haram and Terrorism will be on the increase. It is a year that the military will strike although there will be no coup. There will be anarchy and young officers will take over reign of power and put things right.”

However, Olabayo said “the year 2012 will be a year of divine flourishing for the righteous. But for the wicked, it is a year people will take their blood.”

“Those that enslave us, God will deal with them. Although cases of corruption will be on the rise in the country and the poor will continue to suffer in the new year, their prayer will be heard and a messiah will emerge,” Olabayo stressed.

He urged all Nigerians to be closer to God, saying the year 2012 is not an ordinary year that should be taken for granted.

But the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, on Friday brought a good tiding to the people of Oyo State when he came on a visit on the occasion of the 2011 December’s Let’s-Go-A-Fishing yearly programme tagged: “The Coming of Joy” at RCCG, Covenant Sanctuary, Oluyole Estate, Ibadan, the state capital.

In what looks like a prophecy for a state that is grappling with insecurity, filth, hooliganism, unemployment, incessant traffic gridlock and poverty, among other debilitating debacles, Pastor Adeboye declared that henceforth news coming from the pacesetter state will be nothing but glad tidings that will put smiles on the faces of the people of the state and the governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

The Let’s-Go-a-fishing programme, which entails going out to harvest souls for Jesus Christ, is a divinely inspired way the RCCG family worldwide celebrates both Easter and Christmas festivities beyond the razzmatazz that accompany the periods.

Good Tidings

“I bring this news to you today, that your joy has come at last, because the One, Who is visiting you today, Whose servant I am, is the One Who brings joy to people and whenever He wishes to bring joy to somebody, He usually comes suddenly,” Adeboye declared, taking his Bible reference from I Kings17:8-16.

Adeboye, who mounted the pulpit to give his message amid expectant and excited mammoth crowd at exactly 10:49 a.m, said that the fact that he was starting this December’s Let’s-Go-a-Fishing programme with the first visit to Ibadan was a sign that people of the state were special to God.

Amid his sermon that lasted for barely 10 minutes, the man of God, who clocks 70 next March, simply declared thus: “The Almighty God will bless Oyo State. He will bless our governor. He will bless his government. He will bless his household. From now on, anytime we hear from Oyo State, it will be good news.”

Earlier before his arrival, the General Overseer of Gethsemane Prayer Ministries International, Reverend Moses Aransiola and the Presiding Bishop of Victory International Church, Bishop Taiwo Adelakun, had led the congregation through the word and prayer, declaring that “The Coming of Joy,” which is the theme of the programme, is prophetic.

Dignitaries that graced the occasion included wife of the Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi; wife of the deputy governor of Oyo State, Mrs Adeyemo; wife of the Oyo State Chief of Staff, Mrs Modupeolu Akande; wife of the Secretary to the state government, Alhaja Olajide, and Special Adviser to Oyo State governor, Mrs Adesola Ajebo, among others.

The Founder and Spiritual Head of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos, Primate Ayodele, who also predicted hard times, assured that those who decide to wait upon the Lord, their strength will be renewed to overcome the difficulties of the new year.

Boko Haram and New Offensive

The seer, who disclosed these to Saturday Tribune in Lagos said that God has revealed to him that the Boko Haram will evolve new strategy to penetrate the security network around the president in order to embarrass him.

The primate said there will also be religious uprising in bigger dimension in some parts of the Northern states that will threaten the unity of this country.

The cleric continued: “The Boko Haram sect will give Jonathan more headache. It will get more funding and backing within and outside the country. The Boko Haram will try to embarrass Jonathan more in Abuja by attacking certain places, causing heavy casualities. For this reason, Jonathan needs to be watchful and the National Security Adviser (NSA) should sit tight as well.

“The President should make sure that the presidential jets are certified fit before travelling in them especially in March, June and October 2012.

Jonathan

“The Boko Haram sect will not last long. Through prayers, God will expose their hideouts, unveiled their financiers and informants within and outside the government.

“ The president needs prayer to forestall death of someone close to him and occurrence of strange things in the villa like death.

“Political leaders in the South East will want Jonathan to endorse their kinsman for 2015 presidency, but Jonathan will disagree. This will cause enmity between him and the Igbo leaders. Vice President Namadi Sambo will cross path with Jonathan over his ambition to succeed Jonathan in 2015. I can tell you that Sambo should forget it because he cannot get it.

“Some of those working for Jonathan will go all the ways to sabotage his efforts at providing good governance so that people can think that the president is not competent. The president needs to be watchful of these sycophants. The president should not attempt to recontest in 2015 as doing so will cause disintegration of this country.”

Ondo

In the area of politics, the Primate said, ”Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko should not leave his party (Labour Party) for another party. If he should decamp, he will lose the election. His opponents will give him a good fight, but he will triumph.

Edo

“In Edo State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will attempt to unseat Governor Adams Oshiohmole, but it will not be possible. Oshiohmole needs to sit tight. In Bayelsa State, If Governor Timpre Sylva prays very well and work harder, he will overcome his present problem and return to the Government House.

Ogun

“Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State will be misled by the elders he trusted making him to have problem with the people. He needs to be careful.

Ekiti

“Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State will be disappointed by the people he trusted. They will sabotage his efforts at providing good governance to the people. If he will listen and watch carefully, he will not fall into their traps.

Oyo

“Some actions of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State will set him against party leaders in his state. He should be careful, and should devote more of his time to providing good governance to the people because that will help him triumph over some booby traps.

Sokoto

“There will be problems with the Sokoto governorship election but the governor will triumph eventually.”

PDP

“Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) needs to put its house in order if it wants to retain the presidency in 2015. Some legislators and governors are not likely to complete their terms. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Senate President, David Mark should beware of plans by some political associates to bring them down through scandals.

EFCC

“Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) will run into problems and their plans will be frustrated. Its chairman needs prayers to survive. There would be shake up of the service and security chiefs, new ones will take over. Let’s pray against loss of a Navy warship, inferno in any of the dockyards and dealth of prominent Air Force officer.

A Death Caution

“A former president will fall sick, lets pray that he doesn’t die. A former governor in the South West needs prayer not to pass on in 2012.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Edwin Clark should be cautious of their leadership style if they want to remain relevant in 2015.

“Cultism in tertiary institutions will take a worrisome dimension in the new year and will chatter peace in many of the institutions. A front line business mogul resident in Lagos will pass on. Some local government chairmen in Lagos State will face a lot of crises which will work against the ruling party in the state in the 2015.

The Abia State governor should pray to God to overcome evils hovering round him. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should pray so that it doesn’t lose any of his members. Steven Keshi will take certain steps that will cause ripples in the NFF. He needs to be watchful. Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Alhaji Rasaq Okoya, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero and JP Clark should pray for good health and protection in the year.

Economy

“Removal of fuel subsidy will set Jonathan’s administration against the people. If he should remove it, he will still reverse it because it will be counter-productive due to wrong method used. The Labour will disappoint Nigerians.

“I have not seen anything fantastic about the economy in 2012. The budget will not bring any change. Hard time awaits Nigerians as prices of food stuff and building materials will skyrocket, leading to rise in criminal activities like armed robbery, kidnapping for money and ritual purposes. There will be many dead bodies and mad people along the streets due to hunger. Lets pray against natural disaster and famine in 2012.

Petrol will be discovered in some states, including South West and the North Central. The brand of Nigeria oil will change which will have consequence on Nigeria’s economy. The CBN Governor will face crisis.

“The African Petroleum (AP) will have some problems and will attempt to change name. It will win a big contract which will land it in trouble and court case. Chevron oil will operate at loss in March and April Capital Oil should pray against shortage and lost and as well, the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporatio(NNPC) will face some crises which will distabilise the organisation.

Communication

MTN: will have trouble in their major stations causing them to shut down and this will cause general problems. The management of Airtel will be thrown into confusion. Etisalat will face court cases and they should pray so that they don’t lose in any of their promotion.

Foreign

“There will be uprising in Zimbabwe and its president needs prayers so that he will not have health problem. The President of Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, also needs to pray for good heatlh for I foresee his health failing him and also losing someone very important to him. Former South African President, Nelson Mandela, should pray for good health and protection in the new year.”

Speaking with Saturday Tribune, Alhaji Abdul-rasheed, a Kaduna-based astrologer, who stated that Nigeria could avert myriads of problem in 2012, called on President Jonathan to pray harder for good health and that of his wife.

He also urged him to be cautioned and extra careful in handling international matters as well as pray to avert losing one of his family members.

Alhaji Abdul-rasheed predicted that there will be a great misunderstanding between the Nigerian Customs and some members of community.

Ex-President

According to him, prayers should be said in order to avoid the death of a top officer of the Nigerian Armed Forces as well as sickness of an ex-president which could eventually lead to his death.

He also called for prayers to avoid death of a great former Eagles’ player, two old famous musicians, two actors and one actress. He, however, predicted that two former ministers may fall sick and die as a result.

Alhaji Abdul –rashed equally predicted on what is going to happen state by state.

Ondo

“The governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, should pray to succeed and his efforts not be in vein. He should pray against students and women protests as well as armed robberies threat. There will be less profit in cocoa farming in Idanre this year.

“The state should also pray against misunderstanding between the traditional rulers while girls should be careful of abortion in Idanre. The governor should pray against sickness that would affect his leg.

Zamfara

“There should be a fervent prayer to strengthen the governor and also the need to pray against crisis rocking the state House of Assembly. One of the commissioners in the state may be attacked.

Bauchi

“The people of the state should be in deep prayer, because one popular person will fall sick while there may be sport/ students violence. Okada riders should be careful.

Lagos

“Governor Babatunde Fasola should commit himself to prayers so that all his efforts to move the state forward should not receive negative response because the people may want to turn against him.

“A prayer should be said to avert a fatal accident in the state capable of causing injuries and loss of lives especially on the bridge.

“There may be violence in some local government areas and there may be an exchange of gun shots in Sieme Border.

Kano

People of the state should also commit themselves to prayer in order not to lose two important persons which may turns into crisis. The people also need to guide against occurrence of bomb explosions, fire disasters, among others in the state.

Oyo

There is need for a prayer against death of a traditional ruler and serious violence in Ibadan and Oyo town.

Delta

There is need to pray against violence between the traditional rulers in the state.

Cross River State:

The government should be wary of any ceremony until the middle of the year.

A special message to the governor: A lady would deliver twins between this month and April, her name is Victoria. The governor should take responsibility of the twins.

Ogun

The Ogun State people should pray for the governor so that God would give him more strength to fulfil his promise to the people and avoid having problems with the traditional rulers.

Osun

Markets people and Shop owners’ protest in Osogbo would lead to violence. Let us pray Allah to take control. Also, the National Union of Road Transport Workers should beware of violence.

Edo

The state should pray to avert untimely death of two important people while the governor should pray not to lose his coming election.

Kogi

The elders and traditional rulers should pray for solution to the problems confronting the state. The first lady should be deep in prayer.

Bayelsa

The traditional ruler in the state should pray to solve a spiritual problem that would affect the people especially women in the state. No children should be allowed to go to the stream from 7.00p.m to avoid any spiritual sickness till the elders decide.

River

There would be a disturbance that could likely lead to violence.

Kwara

People should pray to avert sickness of a former governor and politician capable of leading to their death. Also the present governor should pray to avert disagreement and problem with his people. A commissioner should avoid being poisoned by a woman.

Kaduna

There is need for prayer to avert crisis in Jaji Barrack while there would be a protest in Zaria capable of causing destruction of property.

Benue

The governor should be extra careful not to fall into woman’s trap. A commissioner may be poisoned.

Borno

The governor should have a special prayer for pregnant woman while elders of Borno should be deep in prayer. An important personality will die in the state.


-----------------------
News
At least 67 dead in north Nigeria sect attacks

By JON GAMBRELL - Associated Press | AP – 54 mins ago

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Residents fearfully left their homes Saturday to bury their dead in northeast Nigeria following a series of coordinated attacks that killed at least 67 people and left a new police headquarters in ruins, government offices burned and symbols of state power destroyed.
A radical Muslim sect known locally as Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attacks in Borno and Yobe states, with the worst damage done in and around the city of Damaturu. The group also promised to continue its bloody sectarian fight against Nigeria's weak central government, with residents nervously moving through empty streets, waiting for the next attack.
"There's that fear that something might possibly happen again," Nigerian Red Cross official Ibrahim Bulama said.
In Damaturu, the capital of Yobe state, a car bomb exploded Friday afternoon outside a three-story building used as a military office and barracks, killing many uniformed security agents, Bulama said.
Gunmen then went through the town, blowing up a bank and attacking at least three police stations and some churches, leaving them in rubble, he said. Gunfire continued through the night and gunmen raided the village of Potiskum near the capital as well, witnesses said, leaving at least two people dead there.
On Saturday morning, people began hesitantly leaving their homes, seeing the destruction left behind which included military and police vehicles burned by the gunmen with the burned corpses of the drivers who died still in their seats.
Bulama spoke to The Associated Press by telephone Saturday morning from a common Muslim burial ground in the city as his family buried a relative and friend, a police officer who died after suffering a gunshot wound to the head in the fighting.
Officials anticipated a dusk-till-dawn curfew to fall over the town, though state officials repeatedly declined to comment on the violence. The violence destroyed federal offices, public buildings and an immigration office, said Aliyu Baffale Sambo, an official with Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency.
Bulama said Nigerian Red Cross statistics showed at least 63 people died in and around Damaturu. Sambo said government estimates suggested as many as 70 people could be dead there.
The attacks around Damaturu came after four separate bombings struck Maiduguri, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) east. One blast detonated around noon outside an Islamic college. Another bombing alongside a road in Maiduguri killed four people, local police commissioner Simeon Midenda said.
A short time later, suicide bombers driving a black SUV detonated their explosives outside the base for the military unit charged with protecting the city from Boko Haram fighters, military spokesman Lt. Col. Hassan Ifijeh Mohammed said. That blast injured several soldiers.
A Boko Haram spokesman claimed responsibility for the attacks in an interview Saturday with The Daily Trust, the newspaper of record across Nigeria's Muslim north. A Boko Haram spokesman using the nom de guerre Abul-Qaqa promised that "more attacks are on the way."
"We will continue attacking federal government formations until security forces stop their excesses on our members and vulnerable civilians," the spokesman said.
His comments come as human rights activists say soldiers have beaten and killed civilians while trying to search for the sect in Maiduguri.
Boko Haram wants to implement strict Shariah law across Nigeria, an oil-rich nation of more than 160 million which has a predominantly Christian south and a Muslim north. Its name means "Western education is sacrilige" in the local Hausa language, but instead of schooling, it rejects Western ideals like Nigeria's U.S.-styled democracy that followers believe have destroyed the country with corrupt politicians.
Boko Haram's attacks occurred ahead of Eid al-Adha, or the feast of sacrifice, when Muslims around the world slaughter sheep and cattle in remembrance of Abraham's near-sacrifice of his son. Police elsewhere in the country had warned of violence ahead of the celebration in Nigeria, a country largely split between a Christian south and a Muslim north. On Wednesday, police in Maiduguri had said they broke up a plot to bomb the city over the holiday.
President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian who took office amid religious and political rioting that saw at least 800 die in April, canceled a trip to Bayelsa state for his younger brother's wedding Saturday, spokesman Reuben Abati said. He said the presidency did not consider those who launched the attacks "true Muslims," as the assault came during a holy period.
Abati also promised that "every step will be taken" to arrest those responsible — the same pledge made again and again as Jonathan has visited other sites bombed by Boko Haram.
"The security agencies will tell you that what happens on this scale is even a fraction of what could have happened considering the scope of the threat," Abati said. "The security agencies are busy at work trying to make sure the will of the majority of the Nigerian people is not subverted by a minority (group) with a suicidal streak."
However, the Nigerian government faces an increasingly dangerous threat from Boko Haram. The group apparently has split into three factions, the AP has learned. One faction remains moderate and welcomes an end to the violence, another wants a peace agreement with rewards similar to those offered to a different militant group in 2009.
The third faction, though, refuses to negotiate and remains the most radical. This faction is in contact with al-Qaida's North Africa branch and likely the Somalia-based terror group al-Shabab, a diplomat said on condition of anonymity according to embassy orders.
That sect likely is responsible for the increasingly violent and sophisticated attacks carried out in the sect's name. In August, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for a suicide car bombing at the United Nations headquarters in Nigeria's capital, which killed 24 people and left another 116 wounded.
An AP count shows the group has killed at least 327 people this year alone.
___
Associated Press writer Njadvara Musa in Maiduguri, Nigeria contributed to this report.
___
Jon Gambrell can be reached at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
-----------------