​DOES THE PRESIDENT REALLY NEED SENATE CONFIRMATION FOR THE EFCC CHAIRMAN?

Yesterday, I argued thus : Every position, including the one seemingly novel, must be respected until set aside by the highest court of the land.
Today, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, made the point that by virtue of Section 171 of the Constitution, the President does not need a confirmation of the Senate for the appointment of the EFCC Chairman.
Strange position to take? I will rather see it as a novel reading of the law. So, rather than insult him as some would, I thought to check the provisions of the Constitution myself and carefully read it in conjunction with the EFCC Act.
To my surprise, I find, on the basis of the provisions before me that Mr Falana is most likely right. Most likely, as it is possible that there just might be some other provisions that override this reading of ours.

Section 171 vests the power to appoint persons to certain offices from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of Civil Service, Ambassadors, personal staff of the President, Permanent Secretary or HEAD OF ANY EXTRA-MINISTERIAL DEPARTMENT…HOWSOEVER DESIGNATED (EFCC Chair falls into that category, by our reading).
Of all the offices listed, it is only in the case of Ambassadors, High Commissioners and other Principal representative of Nigeria abroad, that provision is made for confirmation by the Senate (Section 171:4).

Nothing in Section 171 or any other part of the Constitution, as I have seen it, provides for Senate confirmation of appointment to the offices listed above. Of course, we know that the appointment of the SGF was never subjected to confirmation by the Senate.

I could be wrong.
I had to pick up the EFCC Act to see if there is anything in that law that provides for confirmation by the Senate. I am yet to find one. All that is listed there are the qualifications of a person to be appointed as Chairman of the EFCC.
He ought to  be a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement agency not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police or equivalent; and possess not less than 15 years cognate experience.

I might be wrong. But my position is that we must receive every new form of knowledge, especially one that comes from the jar of an authority in a particular  field with sobriety and humility, step back, dig deep before engaging it dispassionately.
A novel reading of the law does not make it wrong. 
That something has become a norm does not necessarily make it lawful
Simbo Olorunfemi
My Take:
Am not a lawyer but listening to various debates on this issue. We have to keep the debate going. The President has promised to govern differently.  This might be some of the innovation to expect. Professor Sagey has said Magu could remain in Acting capacity for the 4 years. 
Ola Shamsuldeen Adeniji
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FORGERY: ​EFCC ARRAIGNS SERVING HOUSE OF REP MEMBER FOR CERTIFICATE FORGERY

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday arraigned a serving member of the House of Representatives,  Nse Bassey Ekpenyong  before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State  on a 9-count charge of forgery and alteration of documents.

Ekpenyong, representing Oron Federal Constituency in Akwa- Ibom State, was alleged to have forged an Abia State Polytechnic’s  Ordinary National Diploma Certificate and uttered a December 1999’s West African Examination School Certificate, WASSCE  and thereby committed perjury before an Electoral Tribunal where he claimed that the certificates were genuine. 

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.

In view of his plea, prosecution counsels Ahmed I.  Arogha and S. Hussaini asked for a trial date and accelerated hearing of the matter.  

However, counsel to the defendant, Emmanuel Isangidoho, told the court that he had filed an application for bail for his client and urged the court to admit him to bail.

Justice Ojukwu granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10, 000,000.00 (Ten million Naira) with one surety in like sum.

The surety must depose to an affidavit of means, provide  2 recent passports photograph and 3 years tax clearance certificate. The surety should write an undertaken to produce the defendant throughout the trial and all the documents of the surety must be verified by the Registrar.

Justice Ojukwu also ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail.

The case has been adjourned to 12, 26 April, and 3, 4 May, 2017 for trial.

​Magu Writes SUN Newspaper, Seeks N5bn Compensation for Libel

The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, is seeking a N5 billion compensation from the publishers of The SUN newspaper, for “libelous imputations and statements” made against him in a story published on the March 25, 2017 edition of the Saturday Sun , captioned “Magu Under Fresh Probe over 2 Abuja Mansions”.

In a letter dated March 30, 2017, sent to the publishers by Magu’s solicitor, Wahab Shittu, he noted that the authors of the story – Fred Itua, James Ojo and Lawrene Enyoghasu, “willfully and maliciously made false, destructive, and defamatory statements” against him. 

Quoting unnamed sources, the writers of the “offensive” report, had maliciously alleged that Magu owned “two mansions on different streets in highbrow Maitama area of Abuja”, a case which they could not substantiate, and which in fact was false, and nothing but the figments of their imaginations.

While further reiterating that “neither himself nor his wife own any property in Maitama”, Magu in addition to the demand for N5 billion compensation, has charged the publishers to issue a public apology or retraction of the story within the next seven days. They are also to provide “written assurance within seven days, that you will cease and desist from further defamation” of Magu’s name, integrity, and reputation, “whether the statements are made by you or third party”.

Magu further demanded for the “immediate retraction in writing of these false libelous statements”, within the next seven days, and must be published on the front page of the newspaper, failure of which, “legal remedies including monetary damages, injunctive reliefs, and an order that you pay necessary costs including solicitor’s fees for your defamation”, will be taken.

#NASS: Senators Give 5 Conditions For Peace To Reign With Buhari

Following the continued conflict between the Nigerian Senate and the presidency, the leadership of the upper house of legislature has given conditions for an end to the rift.

Daily Trust quotes an unnamed lawmaker close to the senate leadership as saying that there are 5 things the Presidency need to do for peace to reign between the two arms of government.

The conditions includes:

1. Respect for Senate by Buhari’s cabinet members

He said: “If a resolution is passed, the executive doesn’t respect it, there is general contempt against us. This must stop.”

2. Improved communication with party

“The president must be talking to the party for it to be talking to caucus. If the president is bringing anything to the senate, the party should be involved,” he said.

3. Direct line of communication between Buhari and Senate

“The fifth one is that there is no personal communication between the senators and the president. There is need for this,” he said.

4. Stop Saraki’s trial

He said: “The trial of Saraki is central to the crisis because it is believed that they came up with it because he ‘violated’ the interest of the presidency and the party (APC) to emerge the senate president. If his trial is stopped, there would be peace.”

5. End of Cabal in Presidency

“A camp in the presidency is using the senate against another. This is the second issue that must be addressed for peace to reign. Buhari should dissolve the camp, otherwise no serious progress would be made,” he added.

Daily Trust however reports that the Senate said it officially was not aware of these conditions.

Senate spokesperson of the senate Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi said: “You are just telling me now. I’m not aware of such committee and I don’t know its terms of reference.”

AIT News gathered that this comes just as President Buhari took a big step towards ending the constant disagreements between the Presidency and the National Assembly.

The president, on Wednesday, March 29, set up a committee to end the conflict between the two arms of government.

©AITNews Online 

#ABIA_DRAMA: APC DEMANDS REINSTATEMENT OF DEMOTED HEADMISTRESS

The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has condemned the alleged demotion of a primary school headmistress to a classroom teacher for pleading with the state government to pay teachers their standing salary arrears.

The party described the alleged action as impunity, saying this had characterised the Peoples Democratic Party-controlled state government.

The APC describe the demotion as unacceptable, uncivilised and urge the state government to immediately pay workers their entitlements.

It noted that the Federal Government had been magnanimous to states by releasing bailout funds and the funds from the Paris Club.

The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Benedict Godson, who made the party’s position known while speaking with journalists in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, queried what the state government had done with the various funds accruable to it.

He said, “The Abia State Government owes workers several months’ salaries, despite all the funds at its disposal. They have to put all the money in use. The state government must tell ‘Abians’ why civil servants are being owed arrears of salaries and pensions.”

“The state government should know that this impunity won’t work in Abia anymore. The woman in question has worked all these years to get to the position of a headmistress and shouldn’t be demoted to a classroom teacher for asking for her rights.”

Godson stated that the embattled headmistress had done nothing wrong by pleading with the wife of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Nkechi, to tell her husband to pay workers their salaries and allowances.

He threatened that the APC would drag the stae government to court if Mrs. Maryleen Ezichi was not restored to her rightful position.

Meanwhile, the state government had yet to come up with an official statement over the issue, although the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Enyinnaya Appolos, had said the state government would investigate the incident.

©Punchng.com 

​Another dimension: BY FEMI FALANA

In spite of the official pressure and blackmail mounted by a clique of power mongers on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission it is commendable that that the anti-graft agency was able to conduct a detailed investigation into the looting of the N522 billion  London/Paris Loan Refund paid to the 36 states and local 774 governments in the country.

The alleged criminal diversion of the sum of N19 billion out of the loan refund through the account of the Nigeria Governors Forum is the height of impunity as there is no statutory nexus between the friendly club of state governors and the Federation Account. Happily, the accounts warehousing the said sum of N19 billion in some banks have since been frozen by the EFCC.

Once again, out of the stolen fund, the sum of N3.5 billion is alleged to have been traced to the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and his close associates. In a dodgy and watery defense of his alleged involvement in a malfeasance that is akin to a crime against humanity, Dr. Saraki has described his indictment as “mudslinging” by the EFCC. However, since the investigation of the monumental fraud had been concluded before the recent rejection of Mr. Magu as EFCC chairman by the Senate the resort to vulgar abuse by the Senate president is diversionary and escapist. In any case, whether it is mudslinging or not Dr. Saraki has not denied the fact that the N3.5 billion traced to him forms part of the N19 billion located in 15 frozen bank accounts.

In a country where workers are owed arrears of salaries and pensioners are not paid their gratuity and pension it is immoral and criminal to corner bailout funds and loan refund earmarked by the federal government for payment of outstanding entitlements of serving and retired employees. 
Therefore, given the gravity of the criminal offense arising from the looting of the London/Paris loan refund the EFCC should recover the stolen money and ensure that all the indicted suspects are charged to court without any further delay.  
This is the time to call off the bluff of a few public officers who have sworn to frustrate the war against corruption being waged by the Mohammadu Buhari administration.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, To Write Resignation Letter, Or Be Impeached

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, this time around might be forced by the Presidency to write his resignation letter, or be impeached, as President Muhammdu Buhari begins to study the letter written by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, indicting the Senate President and his Aides, for laundering up to N3.5 billion from the Paris Club loan refund, Post-Nigeria has gathered.

In the report, the EFCC narrated how Saraki, using his Deputy Chief of Staff and other Aides, laundered N3.5 billion that he allegedly received from the Paris Club loan refund to State Governors.

“As I speak to you, the Presidency has concluded plans to treat ‘Saraki’s fuck up’. The evidence tendered by the EFCC against the Senate President is alarming.  This is not like the CCT trial. This time around, pressure is on him to write his resignation letter, or Buhari will have to use his Presidential might on him”, a highly placed Presidential source told post-Nigeria.

He added: “If Saraki is wise, I expect him to have started writing his resignation letter now, to avoid impeachment.  Please for your information, Senate Ali Ndume, has been tipped by the Presidency to start the impeachment process.

”The Presidency has decided to fight the war. The National Assembly must be cleansed just like the Judiciary. The time is now, and the Presidency has no option than to start with Saraki.”

This came as the anti-graft agency has started probing a former Heritage Bank Executive Director, Robert Mbonu, three Aides of Saraki, and three others, on how N3.5 billion was wired into some accounts.

The cash is said to be part of the N19 billion, allegedly diverted from the N522.74 billion initial refund to States.

In a report to the Presidency, the EFCC confirmed that it had traced $183,000 into the account of a Dubai jeweler.

The EFCC report said in part: “Mr. Robert Mbonu, is alleged to have received N3.5 billion into his company’s (Melrose General Services Limited’s) account, from the NGF through Account 0005892453, domiciled in Access Bank.

“Investigation revealed that one Kathleen Erhimu is the Relationship Manager to Dr. Bukola Saraki’s account with Access Bank.

“That Saraki at a meeting introduced one Joseph Oladapo Idowu and Gbenga Peter Makanjuola to her and Hon. Makanjuola, thereafter introduced Robert Mbonu to Ms Kathleen Erhimu.

“That Mbonu operates an account, Melrose General Services, with Access Bank Plc 0005892453, and 0005653500 which was up till 13th December a business account.

“That Halima Kyari, the Head of Private Banking Group, stated in a letter dated 13th December, 2016, that Mr. Robert Mbonu requested a transfer of Melrose General Services Company account, from a Business Account to a Private Banking Group Platform, as he was expecting huge funds into the account.

“Subsequently, on the 14th December, the sum of N3.5 billion was lodged into Melrose General Services Company account number 0005892453, domiciled in Access Bank, from the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF).

“That thereafter, Mr. Obiora Amobi and Hon. Gbenga Makanjuola, were introduced to Access Bank as representatives of Melrose General Services Limited by Robert Mbonu, to enable them cash withdrawals from the account.

“That one Oluyemi Braithwaite, the MD/CEO of Reinex Bureau de Change, Caddington Capital Limited and Westgate Limited, also manages a BDC, stated to have known Mbonu as a client and he requested for dollars in exchange for the Naira equivalent, which were to be handed over to one Mr. Gbenga, in Abuja.

“That Ms Oluyemi Braithwaite contacted one Hassan Dantani Abubakar, the owner of Hamma Procurement Limited, Ashrab Nigeria Limited and Insoire Solar Application, to make available the dollars based on the Naira equivalent. as transferred from Robert Mbonu, who she had introduced via phone to Hassan Dantani.

“That on 16th December, 2016, Melrose General Services transferred the sum of N246 million to Hamma Procurement First Bank Account No. 2030756168, in exchange for the sum of $500,000, which was handed to one Mr. Gbenga, in Abuja, who acknowledged receipt of the same amount.

“That on the 21st Dec. 2016, Ms Oluyemi Braithwaite contacted Hassan Dantani Abubakar, requesting for another transaction of $370,000. Melrose General Services Company, transferred the sum of N181m to Inspire Solar Application. The $370,000 was handed over to one Mr. Dapo, in Abuja.

“That on the 4th of January 2017, Mbonu through Melrose General Services Company transferred the sum of N248, 500,000 to Caddington Capital Limited, belonging to Ms Oluyemi Braithwaite, who transferred same to Hassan Dantani Abubakar’s FCMB account, Ashrab Nigeria Limited, for the sum of $500,000. The dollar equivalent was handed over to Mr. Kolawole Shittu, in Abuja

“That on the 10th of January 2017, Mr. Robert Mbonu, through Melrose General Services Company, transferred the sum of N99,820,000 to Caddington Capital Limited, belonging to Ms. Oluyemi Braithwaite, who transferred same to Hassan Dantani Abubakar’s FCMB Ashrab Nigeria Limited, for the sum of $200,000. The dollar equivalent was handed over to one Mr. Peter, in Abuja.

“That on the 19th December, there was a cash withdrawal of the sum of N50 million from Melrose General Services account via cheque, by Hon. Gbenga Peter Makanjuola.

“Also, the sum of $1,570,000 was received by the trio of Mr. Gbenga Peter Makanjuola, Mr. Kolawole Shittu, and Mr. Oladapo Joseph Idowu, at various times and locations at Abuja, FCT.

“That on the 29th December, 2016, Mr. Robert Mbonu called Mrs. Kathleen Erhimu of Access Bank, requesting her to source for a customer that would have the sum of $500,000 in exchange for the Naira equivalent. She introduced Mr. Robert Mbonu to Acarast Commercial Limited and Capital Field Investment to help him source for dollars.

“That on the 21st December 2016, GCA Energy Limited paid the sum of $25,000 to Asterio Energy Services Limited, which subsequently transferred the sum of $23,200 to Cactus Communication Limited account with Access Bank.

“The MD of Sought-After International Synergy Limited, Julius Okedele, stated that Mr. Kelechi Edomobi of Acarast Commercial Enterprises contacted him and requested to purchase dollars after the transfer of N73, 950,000 to Sought-After International Synergy Limited. Mr. Edomobi gave him the account number of Cactus Communication Limited Access Bank, as the nominated account to receive the dollar equivalent of the sum of $149,000.

“Investigation further confirmed that Cactus Communication Limited is owned and operated by Joseph Oladapo Idowu, an Aide to Bukola Saraki.

“That Mr. Kelechi Edomobi also transferred the sum of N1m on the 15th of January, 2017, to Joseph Oladapo Idowu’s personal account number 0001679877 with Access Bank Plc.

“That Asterio Energy Services Limited on the 21st and 22nd of December, 2016, transferred $100,000 and $85,000 to Bhaskar Devji Jewellers LLC in Dubai, respectively the same company that Dr. Bukola Saraki repeatedly made transfer to from his Black Card Account.

“Furthermore, other payments from Melrose General Services Company have also been linked to companies that Dr. Bukola Saraki has interest in, and carry out transactions with.

“This includes the sum of $183,000, which was transferred to Bhaska Devji Jewellers, Dubai, a company Dr. Bukola Saraki had repeatedly made payments to.

“Also, the sum of N200 million was transferred to Wasp Networks Limited, that subsequently transferred the sum of N170 million to Xtract Energy Services Limited, a company that routinely made deposits into Dr. Bukola’s Access Bank United States Domiciliary Account.”

©Vanguardngn.com 

EFCC FINDS $86M PARIS CLUB REFUND IN NGF’S ACCOUNT

MORE cash believed to be part of the London-Paris Club loan refund has been found by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The US$86,546,526.65 was remitted into the account of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF).

The account is said to have been depleted to about $17million as at the time the probe started.

The EFCC is probing how the cash got into the account, who remitted it and for what purpose.

“The cash was paid into the forum’s domiciliary account in GTB tagged: 0023577047 with sort code 058083215,” the source said, adding that the payment followed a November 21, 2016 memo on the remittance into the NGF’s account which was titled “Consultants fee”.

The cash was described as consultancy and legal fees as the case with the N19 billion which was allegedly diverted from the refund.

“This development has justified the earlier peg of our investigation that the part of the London-Paris Club loan refunds was paid into two accounts of the NGF” the source said, pleading not to be named because he has no authority to talk to the media.

“Operatives are tracking how the $86.5m was used and for what purpose. We want to know whether the affected financial and legal consultants exist or not.”

The Nation had exclusively reported that the Presidency was uncomfortable with how some governors managed the refund.

The Federal Government released N522.74 billion to 35 states as refund of over-deductions on London-Paris Club loans.

President Muhammadu Buhari directed the release of the refund to enable states to pay salaries and pensions.

But more than N19billion of the refund has been enmeshed in controversy over payment of consultancy fees. Some consultants were yet to be paid as at press time.

Some of the infractions noticeable in the management of the first tranche of the London-Paris Club loan refund are:

• computation of state records done at a private home in Maitama, Abuja;

• accounts initially opened in the names of two lead consultants but the details of who to be paid were later changed;

• N19b remitted into two NGF accounts;
commission to consultants cut from 10% to 2% but 5% was on paper as paid;

• the CBN paid directly to each state without the knowledge of the Accountant-General of the Federation; and

• part of the N19b commission was traced to a governor’s account and some individuals, including some members of the National Assembly.

It was also discovered that besides the central consultants, governors hired other consultants, with some conceding about 10-20% commission to them.

In some states, governors served as consultants through proxies.

Some consultants are yet to be paid because the NGF changed the commission formula as soon as the first tranche was remitted, The Nation learnt.

Besides, some governors deviated from using 25 per cent to 50 per cent for payment of outstanding salaries and pension as agreed with President Buhari.

©NATION

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Senate vs EFCC: Who is With-hunting Who?

The EFCC in an incriminating report sent to the President alleges that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and some of his aides and associates, of which his Deputy Chief of Staff, Gbenga Makanjuola, ex-Managing Director of Heritage Bank, Robert Mbonu and other companies, allegedly assisted the Senate President, already on trial for alleged false declaration of assets, in laundering or embezzling as much as N19 billion in refunds from the Paris club loans which should have gone to state governments that made excess payments.

The report was released before Magu’s second confirmation hearing which has made many wonder if both events aren’t connected. In a country where many state governments can’t pay salaries, where government struggles to fund its annual budget as well as its social intervention schemes, these allegations must be tackled head-on.

Magu wasn’t indicted by any court yet the allegations levelled against him were taken as facts by his traducers. 

There can’t be one rule for some and another rule which applies to others: Not in a democracy. 

The allegations concerning Magu came up in a most suspicious manner, in different conflicting accounts.

Will Magu’s replacement have the courage to follow through on his investigations? Will he or she do so with the robustness and vigour which has come to characterize Magu’s EFCC?

The EFCC today is feared and truly belongs to no one, so, if the President cannot confidently answer “yes” to that question then Magu should be allowed to continue in an acting capacity.

The irony of a Senate where many Senators have pending cases in court and where its leader is still himself in court for allegations of false asset declaration calling someone else “unethical” is not lost on Nigerians. 

The President returned to finish what he started. He should be supported to do so or to empower his deputy to play a bigger role, despite the wishes of those in and around government who clearly hate Nigeria.

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ABIA HEADMISTRESS DEMOTED FOR EMBARRASSING IKPEAZU’S WIFE

 

The headmistress of a primary school at Amaetiti Asaga Ohafia, in Ohafia Local Government Area, Abia State, Mrs. Maryleen Ezichi, has been reportedly demoted to a classroom teacher for allegedly embarrassing the wife of Abia State governor, Nkechi Ikpeazu.

It was gathered that Ezichi has been transferred to the Ukwa-East Local Government Area — about 140 kilometers from her former school — to serve as a deterrent for her ‘impunity and lack of respect for constituted authority’.

The headmistress, it was learnt had, during an interactive session with Ikpeazu’s wife after the inauguration of her free meal programme for primary school pupils in her school, complained that ‘teachers were being owed several months of salary arrears and allowances’.

Ezichi was quoted to have told the governor’s wife that teachers had been finding it difficult to meet their financial obligations like the payment of house rents, school fees for their wards, medical bills, transport fares and had pleaded with her to intercede on their behalf.

It was gathered that two days after, the embattled Ezichi was whisked away to Umuahia from the school, where she was handed a letter of deployment and instructed to proceed to the new station immediately.

While defending the headmistress, one of her colleagues, who spoke on condition of anonymity, queried the appropriateness of the government’s action, maintaining that if the government felt embarrassed by her appeal it should do the needful.

He said, “By the way, of what importance is the meal programme to the pupils in particular and the schools in general? What about other schools in the community? All we are saying is that the government should pay us our entitlements period.”

In January, the state’s wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers had embarked on an indefinite strike over their six-month salary arrears, non-payment of leave allowances and non-implementation of their promotions

Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the state’s NUT, Chizobam Akparanta, stated that he was not aware of the incident, adding that if the teacher complained about it to the union, the NUT would look into it.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the state Ministry of Education, Chris Ogbuehi, denied any knowledge of the matter even as he insisted that he was not in the position to speak on such a sensitive matter without the permission of his boss.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Enyinnaya Appolos, said the information made available to him by the Commissioner for Education, Prof Ikechi  Mgbeoji, had it that there was no such incident in the state.

He added that the state would investigate the allegation to ascertain what truly happened.

©PunchNg

The Senate is just like an insect, it’s war against Buhari’s anti-corruption efforts will fail – Presidency

The presidency has warned that the unwarranted attacks on President Muhammadu Buhari should stop.

It also said the war on corruption is a war Nigerians elected President Muhammadu Buhari to wage and “the war’s insecticides only kill insects”, among which is the Senate.

This was the position of the president’s personal assistant on social media, Lauretta Onochie, who made the declaration on her Facebook page 

Onochie stated that the president has the political will to tackle ”the corruption that created insecurity and economic recession in our nation.”

She decried a situation where appointees of the president are subjected to ridicule by the Nigerian Senate.

”It’s a war against President Muhammadu Buhari and the war he is ably leading Nigerians to wage against Corruption. Where there are no issues, they manufacture one,” she opined.

She continued: ‘The Senate is now falling into the habit of calling on the president to sack those he chose to work with him.

”The latest is Colonel Hameed Ali, CG Custom. The president can sack anyone but it has to be his decision based on credible evidence of wrong-doing.

”This war against the President’s war on corruption is bound to fail. It’s a war Nigerians elected President Muhammadu Buhari to wage and the war’s insecticides only kill insects! And there are a lot of insects in Nigeria, including the Senate.

”There’s no hiding place for those with a history of corruption or those who have criminality in their DNA.

”The war on corruption will continue to be waged for as long as some people continue to make corruption an enterprise.”

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Senator Uzodinma’s Letter Pressuring Customs Boss To Release 30 Containers Of Smuggled Rice Imported As Yeast

Hope Uzodinma, Chairman, Senate Committee on Customs, is at the hub of the spat between the Nigeria Senate and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Colonel Hameed Ali. 

It would be recalled that earlier this month, the Upper House ordered Mr. Ali to appear in uniform before it in connection with the service’s directive against owners of vehicles not duly registered with it.  

Hope Uzodinma, Chairman, Senate Committee on Customs, is at the hub of the spat between the Nigeria Senate and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Colonel Hameed Ali.

It would be recalled that earlier this month, the Upper House ordered Mr. Ali to appear in uniform before it in connection with the service’s directive against owners of vehicles not duly registered with it.

He declined to obey either order. Among others, he asserted he was not a career Customs official and had in fact risen to the rank of colonel in the Nigerian Army and would therefore not wear the uniform of a para-military agency such as the Customs. The Senate threatened to have him arrested.

SaharaReporters has learned that the the origin of the spat is a letter, dated November 17, 2016, written by Mr. Uzodinma’s in his capacity as Senate Committee Chairman on Customs. In it, he requested from Colonel Ali the release of 30 seized containers of rice which had been smuggled into the country via Tin Can Island Port and were fraudulently declared as yeast. The containers are owned by Masters Energy Trading Limited, owned by Mr. Uche Ogah, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Abia State.

Sources told SaharaReporters that Mr. Uzodinma had agreed on a financial deal with Mr. Ogah before agreeing to use his muscle as Senate Committee Chairman to make the Comptroller-General order the seized containers to be released.

Titled “Thirty (30) Containers of Rice Seized By The Nigeria Customs Service At Tin Can Port Owned By Masters Energy Commodities Trading Limited,” Mr. Uzodinma’s letter had a tone of faux deference to the Comptroller-General. The letter put the blame for the passing off of rice as yeast on the clearing agents hired by Masters Energy Commodities Trading Limited and argued that the seizure of the consignment was unjust.

“We have gone through the documents, as submitted, and wish to suggest that you use your good office to look into the case of this company, Masters Energy Commodities Trading Limited,” wrote Mr. Uzodinma.

The Senator then proceeded to make an excuse for the importer, saying it may not have consented to its clearing agents’ fraudulent decision to pass of rice as yeast in a bid to evade paying appropriate duties.

“The owner of these containers was probably shortchanged by their agents. The declaration by the agents that the content of the containers was yeast may not be with the consent of the importer of the 30 containers. May we, therefore, suggest that you take a second look at this case, subject to your internal mechanism because the committee is of the opinion that it would be unjust to punish the owners of the 30 containers because of the sins of the agent. We suggest that agents should rather be punished to act as a deterrent to others,” wrote Uzondima, whose conclusions were based on probability, not evidence.

It would appear from subsequent developments that Mr. Ali brushed that letter aside, setting the stage for hostilities from the Senate to him.

Recently, SaharaReporters exposed Senate President Bukola Saraki, for willful evasion of appropriate customs duties on a bullet-proof vehicle he imported which was seized by the Customs. Mr. Saraki had deployed the same trick of trying to use official muscle through a letter signed by a Mr. O.A Ojo, a Director in the National Assembly Service Commission, demanding-unsuccessfully-the release of the vehicle from the Customs boss

SIR GABRIEL ONYENDILEFU, MAYBE THE RICHEST ACCOUNTANT GENERAL IN NIGERIA, OWNS HOTEL WORTH N700M

Abia Facts Newspaper investigative team has taken its time to investigate and unravel some serious financial questions that Abians must ask the current Abia State Accountant General Sir Gabriel Onyendilefu. Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. when there is debate, there are solutions. When there is no sharing of power, no rule of law, no accountability, there is abuse, corruption, subjugation and indignation.

As a media organization, it is our responsibility to investigate and reveal what the people need to know about their leaders with the aim of reshaping the minds and lifestyle of upcoming leaders to live upright and corrupt free.

 

We are not by any means indicting the Abia State Accountant General, we are only drawing the attention of relevant anti-corruption organizations and even the Abia state Governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu to investigate and ask question to make sure some individuals are not amassing wealth while civil servants have not received their salaries and other Abians are suffering and dying of hunger.

It is important Abians do not view this investigation on party line or tribal basis, but they should view it as Abians collectively and ask questions in order to get clarifications and by extension inject some fear into our political office holders and senior Civil Servants  to realize that Abians can request for financial clarification at any time no matter how big they think they are.

Our investigation has revealed that Sir. Gabriel Onyendilefu maybe the richest Accountant General in Nigeria because he owes a hotel worth above N700 million located in Umuahia town of Abia State.

 

In this write up, we will focus and reveal everything about the hotel and in our next revelation we will reveal the massive country home he owns and so many other investments which he has invested heavily in and still ask the relevant questions.

Sir. Gabriel Onyendilufe who hails from Ikem Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South LGA has consistently denied the ownership of Gerobi Hotel which is located at Upstair Line in World Bank Estate, in Umuahia. But information at all our disposal, reveals that the said multimillion-naira hotel was built by Sir. Gabriel Onyendilefu while he was a director in Abia State Civil Service with a salary not more than Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only (N250,000.00) monthly. Sir. Gabriel Onyendilufe’s wife is also a civil servant but on a lower cadre.

Sir Gabriel Onyendilefu was made a Permanent Secretary by Former Governor T. A Orji in 2015 and by that time he has already built and furnished one of the high class hotel in Abia state.

 

Abia Facts Newspaper also gathered that the salary of a Permanent Secretary is not more than Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) monthly in Abia State, off which with that salary he can’t build a hotel worth that amount.

The question Abians should now ask is “How did Sir Gabriel Onyendilefu raise the money to build a hotel worth above N700 million with a salary of N250,000.00? “.

Is Sir Gabriel Onyendilufe a magician that has the ability to turn N250,000.00 into millions of naira every month? If he can do that, then building the hotel is possible.
Is Sir. Gabriel Onyendilefu into money doubling? This is another avenue that can make it possible for him to build a multi-million-naira hotel?

If the above options are not possible for Sir. Gabriel, then he needs to explain to Abians how he came about millions of naira used to build Gerobi Hotel.

Abians can no longer keep quiet in the face of abuse of power for personal gains, Abians have the right to ask questions and get answers. We all know that Abia state is where it is now because of financial recklessness of our past leaders and it is time to set the record straight.
More is coming on Sir. Gabriel Onyedilufe…

Photos:

Geraobi Hotel

 

Geraobi Hotel Restaurant

 

Sir. Gabriel Onyendilefu

©AFN 

IKPEAZU’S MEDIA AIDE THREATEN TO SUE ABIA STATE MEDIA PRACTITIONERS

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Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu’s Chief Press Secretary Mr. Enyinnaya Appolos has sounded a note of warning to Abia State media practitioners to expect legal actions if they publish things against his boss.

This note of warning was contained in a press release issued today and published on the facebook handle of Mr. Enyinnaya Appolos.

By this move, the government may be set to clamp down on Abia State media practitioners who publish information not comfortable with the State government, thereby distroying the core essence of media freedom.

Read Full Press Release :

Press statement

Our attention has been drawn to several malicious publications, outright lies and propaganda being churned out against Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and Abia State Government by desperate politicians and their hirelings using mainstream and social media platforms.

As May 12th 2017, fixed for Supreme Court judgement in the Uche Ogah versus Governor Ikpeazu matter approaches, we fully expect further spikes in such malicious publications aimed at discrediting the Governor and his government.

We wish to urge Abians and the general public to continue to ignore and disregard the well funded campaign of calumny aimed at convincing the court that illegally removing the incumbent will serve public good.
In the past, the same gang of desperadoes had gone as far as manufacturing fictitious documents purporting same to be evidence of oath taking by the Governor. 

They also repeatedly shared false and misleading stories and even imported bad roads pictures from other locations and shared as images from Abia.

All their negative efforts failed in the past and this also will surely fail.

The government of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu is firmly focused on delivering dividends of democracy to the people of Abia State and will not be drawn into a media war with the miscreants and their sponsors. Rather we continue to count on the ability of our people to sieve through the lies and remain steadfast with the task of collectively building a greater Abia for our children and generations yet unborn.

We also wish to use this opportunity to warn that the government might be compelled to pursue legal actions against those publishing and spreading falsehood and lies to undermine the government and its functionaries.
The issues before the Supreme Court have been litigated on points of law and we firmly believe that the learned judges of the Supreme Court handling the matter will dispense justice based on facts presented and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

We therefore wish to urge all law abiding citizens and residents of Abia state to go about their normal duties and await the final victory of the people against the desperate cabal seeking to reverse the great gains we have made collectively in the past 20 months, as Governor Ikpeazu is not perturbed about their lies and propaganda.

Thank you.

Enyinnaya Appolos
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
27/03/2017

HARD FACTS THAT SHOW THAT AMAECHI IS NOT SIGNIFICANT IN ASO ROCK… By Russell Bluejack

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I have never liked Amaechi – that is the bitter truth. Don’t blame me, friends, for it is my right to love or hate. I find noisy fellows distasteful. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi was a very loud, albeit empty, critic of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s government. The former governor told us Buhari is our brother. Below is how brotherly Buhari and this rascal are to the Southeast and South-South.

The FG has earmarked the sum of eighty billion (N80b) naira for construction of 12 federal roads across the nation. Ladies and gentlemen, below is the proposed arrangement:

North. ————- 9 Roads
Southwest. ————- 2 Roads
Southeast. ————- 1 Road

Yes, that is how brotherly our Buhari and Amaechi are to us. They so “love” us that the South-South was excluded. The Southeast is to receive just 1 federal road. Now, I want those APC goons in the South-South and Southeast to check themselves. I think the APC supporters in our region are sick.

Amaechi should tell us why the East-West Road, the same one he almost cut off GEJ’s neck for, is not going to be fixed. How does Amaechi sleep at night? Is it not clear that this Amaechi lavished our money on Buhari and northern governors only to end up as their slave?