Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: corruption

  • You’re unfit to lead an agency like EFCC, PDP condemns Magu

    You’re unfit to lead an agency like EFCC, PDP condemns Magu

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Saturday said the President Muhammadu Buhari-Federal Government must not cover for the indicted Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), but ensure that he answers for alleged corruption, reported violation of rules, victimisation of Nigerians and stealing of recovered funds for which he has been suspended.

    “What Nigerians expect at this time is for the Federal Government to ensure Magu’s prosecution in court as well as take necessary and decisive steps to restore the integrity of the EFCC by ensuring that Magu’s replacement as EFCC Chairman is thoroughly screened to avoid the ills and violations experienced under the suspended acting chairman,” PDP said.

    The party described Magu as not only being unfit to lead an agency like the EFCC, but has also allegedly “reduced the anti-corruption agency to a house of corruption and a partisan witch-hunt organisation that thrives in violation of rules, abuse of investigation processes, manipulation of court procedures as well as a vehicle to harass and extort money from innocent Nigerians.”

    The opposition party stated that “Magu should be made to provide answer to allegations in the public space that he was more interested in securing politically induced convictions rather than justice, for which he allegedly turned EFCC into a terror house where innocent Nigerians are harassed with trumped-up charges and convicted on media trial even before being allowed to defend themselves in court.”

    The party said: “There are also allegations of violation of rights, including allegedly making his victims to make statements in custody without the services of their lawyers. This is in addition to insinuations in the public that the indicted EFCC boss was also harassing certain judges to get conviction on cases.

    “Similarly, there are several cases of officers and ranks of the commission whose employment in the service were unjustly suspended or terminated.”

    PDP accused Magu og destroying “the integrity of the anti-corruption agency with his manifest selective fight against corruption, in which no member of the current administration, including those who have been openly indicted for corruption, has been prosecuted by EFCC.”

    “Nigerians can recall that under Magu, the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, was bold to state that once a corrupt person joins the APC, all his sins are forgiven.

    “Moreover, the memo by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, detailing charges of diversion of recovered funds, secret sale of seized property and insubordination among others now validates the position of most Nigerians that Ibrahim Magu lacks the required discipline, exposure and experience to head an agency like EFCC,” the party added.

    PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, also urged “an investigation into the alleged connection between the indicted EFCC boss and certain judges handling EFCC cases, while calling on the judiciary to sanitise the courts in this direction.”

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • EFCC: DCP Mohammed Umar resumes as Acting Chairman, PDP berates Govt.

    EFCC: DCP Mohammed Umar resumes as Acting Chairman, PDP berates Govt.

    A Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Mohammed Umar, has been appointed as Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The appointment of Umar by President Muhammadu Buhari comes after Ibrahim Magu, who is being investigated for alleged corruption, was suspended.

    Recall that the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Abubakar Malami had In his petition against Magu recommended to the President three candidates to replace the now suspended Acting Chairman, Umar’s choice as Acting Chairman is a deviation from that list.

    Mohammed, who, until his appointment, was the Director of Operations at the anti-graft agency, resumed duties yesterday, Wednesday.

    The presidential probe panel headed by Justice Ayo Salami, is specifically looking into sundry documents and meeting with persons connected to the case at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Reports have it that access to the premises of where the probe panel is sitting was heavily guarded by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

    However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded that the Federal Government immediately begin prosecution of Magu.

    The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, yesterday, observed that the alleged diversion of recovered funds and fraudulent sale of assets seized by the EFCC among other forms of sleaze, as detailed in the memo by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, as well as the DSS report on Magu’s activities, further exposed the racket that the fight against corruption had become under the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

    It stated that Magu’s indictment reinforced its position that the hyped corruption war by the EFCC under Magu had been a huge scam.

    Also, an arm of the party known as the Peoples Democratic Party Youth Alliance (PDPYA) called for immediate resignation of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for his involvement in the case. Magu, who is under probe on a 22-count charge of fraud, alleged that he gave N4 billion out of the N39 billion he recovered to Osinbajo.

    In a release made available to newsmen yesterday, Kalu said the development was clear evidence that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration had only been paying lip service to the corruption fight.

    In the same vein, former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has asked security agencies to tighten the noose around Magu, for him not to escape. Fayose yesterday called on the DSS, the police and other security agencies to place the suspect on the country’s watch list, so that he would not disappear into thin air.

    This is just as the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) called on the panel to be thorough and fair in its investigation. According to the Executive Director, CISLAC, Auwal Musa (Rafsanjani), while it is unclear what the real issues are, “CISLAC is concerned about the conflicting signals it sends to Nigerians. Being that Magu heads a very sensitive position in a government agency tasked with the investigation of financial crimes, it is thus pertinent that the case be handled with all diligence and transparency to ensure that the gains in the fight against corruption are not lost in the battle for supremacy and political advantage.”

  • Misconduct: President Buhari suspends NSITF Director, 11 top officials

    Misconduct: President Buhari suspends NSITF Director, 11 top officials

    President Muhammadu Buhari has suspended indefinitely the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Mr Adebayo Somefun.

    The decision of the President was contained in a statement on Thursday from the Head of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Charles Akpan.

    Other 11 top officials of the agency affected include Jasper Azuatalam (Executive Director, Finance and Investment), Olukemi Nelson (Executive Director, Operations), and Tijani Sulaiman (Executive Director, Administration).

    Others are Olusegun Bashorun (General Manager, Administration/Human Resources/Maintenance), Lawan Tahir (General Manager, Finance), Chris Esedebe (General Manager, Claims and Compensation), Olodotun Adegbite (Deputy General Manager, Investment and Treasury Management), and Emmanuel Sike (Deputy General Manager, Finance and Accounts).

    Also affected by the suspension are Olutoyin Arokoyo (Deputy General Manager/Acting Head, Legal), Dorathy Tukura (Deputy General Manager, Administration), and Victoria Ayantuga (Assistant General Manager, Internal Audit).

    According to the statement, their suspension from office arose from the preliminarily established prima facie infractions on the extant Financial Regulations and Procurement Act, and other acts of gross misconduct.

    It said, “During the period of their suspension, the suspended officers are to face a Joint Board and Audit Investigative Panel that has been set up to look into the financial and procurement breaches, as well as gross misconduct in the NSITF for periods of 2016 to date, which have invariably put the Contributions of stakeholders in a perilous state.

    “The affected officers have also been directed to hand over to the most senior officers in their respective departments.

    “The Executive Directors are, therefore, to hand over to the most senior general managers, while the managing director will hand over to the most senior officer in the Fund.”

    Thereafter, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, directed the Regional General Manager in charge of the Ibadan Region, Temitope Akinwale, to take charge as General Manager in charge of Finance and to concurrently oversee the Office of the Executive Director of Finance and Investment as the acting Executive Director.

    He also asked the Regional General Manager in charge of Port Harcourt Region, Maureen Allagoa, to move to NSITF Headquarters as General Manager in charge of Administration, Human Resources and Maintenance, and to concurrently oversee the Office of the Executive Director of Administration as acting Executive Director.

    Ngige also directed the General Manager of Administration and Maintenance, Baba Kabir, to move to the Enforcement Department while concurrently overseeing the office of the Executive Director of Operations in an acting capacity.

    He asked the General Manager of the Health, Safety and Environment Department, Dr Kelly Nwagha, to assume the position of acting Managing Director/Chief Executive, as the most senior General Manager in the Fund.

    “All the appointments are with effect from Monday, July 6, 2020, and will last until further notice.

    “The Honourable Minister has also charged the Chairman of the Board, Mr Austin Isire, FCA; FCII; to take charge, in order to ensure that the Investigative Panel commences work as soon as possible and for the Board to facilitate the smooth running of the Fund by creating the enabling environment and all the necessary staff adjustments and movements, in order to guarantee that services by staff to the Contributors do not in any way suffer,” the statement added.

  • Ize-Iyamu: Alleged N700m case against APC Edo guber candidate adjourned

    Ize-Iyamu: Alleged N700m case against APC Edo guber candidate adjourned

    Trial of Pastor, Osagie Ize-Iyamu and four others in an alleged fraud case has been adjourned till July 7 by a Federal High Court sitting in Benin, on Thursday.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) a Governorship candidate of the in the September 19 contest for the seat of Edo Governor, Ize-Iyamu and four other accused are standing trial for charges bordering on an alleged N700 million money laundering case filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Ize-Iyamu and four others were supposed to appear on Thursday before Justice M.G. Umar today, Thursday.

    According to Premium Times, there was no court sitting, but it was observed that some of the defendants and counsels were around the premises.

    Premium Times further reported that while speaking to journalists, counsel to one of the accused, Barrister Pascal Ugbomhe, said the case had been adjourned till July 7.

    While It was reported that the counsel did not specify the reason why the court sitting was adjourned, Ugbomhe said, “it is a normal occurrence in court duties. It’s nothing unusual to adjourn matters.

    In its last sitting in Benin on June 18, the court had validated the corruption charges against the defendants and adjourned the case to July 2, for further hearing.

    The four other defendants in the suit include former Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Dan Orbih; the state chairman of the party, Tony Aziegbemi; former Deputy Governor of Edo State Lucky Imasuen, and Efe Erimuoghae-Anthony.

    The EFCC, in Suit No. FHC/BE21C/ 2016, had filed eight count charges against the accused persons bordering on alleged illegal receipt of public funds to the tune of N700 million for the purpose of the 2015 general elections.

    The EFCC further accused the defendants of conspiring among themselves to commit the offence in March, 2015, alleging that they took possession and control of the funds without any contract award.

  • Alleged N225M Fraud: SERAP, Budgit call on IGP as Senator Aduda’s loyalist threatens activist

    Alleged N225M Fraud: SERAP, Budgit call on IGP as Senator Aduda’s loyalist threatens activist

    By Tobiloba Kolawole

    The threat to the life of anti-corruption activist Garba Abdullahi over his role in exposing alleged misappropriation of N225 million constituency projects involving Senator Philip Aduda, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources has been condemned by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

    The civil rights organization in a statement Tuesday urged Nigerian authorities including the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR) to ensure the safety and security of Abdullahi.

    “We also urge authorities to promptly, thoroughly and transparently probe the alleged threats and bring to justice anyone suspected to be responsible”, SERAP demanded.

    The group reiterated the important role of activism IN checking corruption and executive recklessness in public office, which is backed by a United Nations (UN) Convention.

    “UN Convention against Corruption which Nigeria has ratified, recognises [in arts 5, 13 and 63] the important role activists play in the fight against corruption, impunity, and promotion of access to public services. They should never have to face threats to their safety or lives.”

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    Not loosing track of the uncovered corruption as alleged by Abdullahi, SERAP did not only challenged the relevant agency to investigate corruption allegations leveled against the Federal Ministry of Water Resources but to ensure that the suspects, including an undisclosed Senator are prosecuted.

    “We urge ICPC to promptly, thoroughly and transparently probe the alleged misappropriation involving @FMWRNigeria (Federal Ministry of Water Resources) and a Senator, find out where the public funds ultimately ended.

    “The ICPC should prosecute suspected perpetrators if there is relevant admissible evidence”, the group added.

    Trouble started for Garba Abdullahi, a community champion for Budgit, an independent civic organization when he shared a “Fraud Alert” article that implicated Senator Aduda and some officials of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, which was initially posted on the organization’s Facebook page.

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    In a statement by the spokesperson for Budgit Tuesday, Iyanu Fatoba affirmed that Abdullahi has been reviewing threats since he shared the organization’s “Fraud Alert” article.

    While calling on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for his intervention, Fatoba confirmed that the involvement of of Senator Aduda is true as her organization will not put out any unverified information.

    “We also maintain that we will not share false information with members of the public to incite misunderstanding between them and their representatives at any point. By issuing this press release, we are calling on The Inspector General of Police to investigate this issue and prevent any mishap from happening to any of our staff, community champions – Garba Abdullahi or affiliated persons” she stated.

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    Read Full Text by Budgit Below:

    Our attention has been drawn to a threat received by our community champion in Abuja as a result of a fraud alert post shared from our Tracka page to his Facebook page, sometime last week.

    The post, which was initially published on our Tracka page on the 30th of May, called out Senator Aduda and The Ministry of Water Resources for allegedly mismanaging financial resources to the tune of N225m and converting a public project into a personal project, by naming the constituency project after Jummai Aduda, Senator Aduda’s mother. The post which reads “Fraud Alert, Sen. Aduda aided by Min of Water Resources has converted a public project of N225M “mine.” The Constituency Project – gulped N100m (2016) N75m (2017) & N50m (2019) – is now JUMMAI ADUDA YOUTH CENTRE with engraved mother’s picture.” garnered several reactions from active citizens who joined BudgIT and Tracka in condemning the unacceptable and unconstitutional act.

    Following this post, Sunday Dogo Zaka – a loyalist to Senator Phillip Aduda issued a threat through his Facebook page that the Abuja South PDP youth forum would “take care” of him, after which we received a distress call from our Community champion, Garba Abdullahi. He claimed that he has been receiving calls from strange and unfamiliar people who also threatened his life. Another anonymous caller advised him to visit the Senator’s former aide because they plan to “do him something bad”. As we speak, our community champion, Garba Abdullahi, has gone into hiding as a result of these threats.

    As an organization, BudgIT, together with Tracka reaffirms our position that the naming of constituency projects is not left to the prerogative of the parties involved as there are laid down procedures to be followed when re-naming a project. This might have community inputs but the Honourable Senator is aware that there are laid down principles in re-naming a public project, as against what was stated in the Appropriation Act.

    We also maintain that we will not share false information with members of the public to incite misunderstanding between them and their representatives at any point. By issuing this press release, we are calling on The Inspector General of Police to investigate this issue and prevent any mishap from happening to any of our staff, community champions – Garba Abdullahi or affiliated persons.

  • EFCC arrests Chinese nationals for bribing officer with N100m

    EFCC arrests Chinese nationals for bribing officer with N100m

    Two Chinese nationals have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for offering bribes worth N50 million to a top official of the anti graft agency.

    The EFCC disclosed in a statement posted on its verified Twitter page that the suspects, Meng Wei Kun and Xu Koi, who were arrested in Sokoto on Monday allegedly offered to bribe the Zonal Head of the agency in the State, Abdullahi Lawal with the objective of compromising ongoing investigation of corruption.

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    “The bribe was allegedly offered in a desperate bid to compromise ongoing investigations of a construction company, China Zhonghao Nig. Ltd, handling contracts awarded by the Zamfara State Government in the sum of N50,000,000,000.00(Fifty Billion Naira)”, the commission stated.

    The EFCC’s investigation of China Zhonghao Nigeria Ltd is in connection with the execution of contracts for the construction of township roads in Gummi, Bukkuyun, Anka and Nassarawa towns of Zamfara state, including the construction of 168 solar- powered boreholes in the 14 local government areas of the state.

    The EFCC stated that due to “the consistency and professionalism of investigation being conducted, the company reached out to Lawal with an offer of N100,000,000( One Hundred Million Naira) as bribe to “bury” the matter.

    “In a grand design to trap the corrupt officials, Lawal played along. On Monday, two representatives of the company Meng Wei Kun and Xu Kuoi offered him cash totalling fifty million naira in their office along airport road, Sokoto. The cash was offered as a first installment.

    “The suspects were promptly arrested with the cash as an evidence”, EFCC stated.

    China Zhonghao Nig. Ltd is being investigated for alleged conspiracy, misappropriation of public funds, embezzlement, official corruption, abuse of office, stealing and money laundering obtained against the Zamfara state government through inflated and uncompleted contracts awarded to the company.

    Investigations have so far revealed that China Zounghao Ltd has received payments of over N41 billion from the Zamfara State government out of which about N16 billion equivalent to over $53 million was allegedly diverted and traced to some bureau de change operators .

  • Ex-Abia Governor, Kalu escapes 12year prison term after Supreme Court ruling 

    Ex-Abia Governor, Kalu escapes 12year prison term after Supreme Court ruling 

    The 12year jail term handed to former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor-Kalu, has been nullified by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

    In a unanimous decision by the seven-man panel of Judges, led by Honourable Justice Amina Augie, the Supreme Court ruled that the Federal High Court in Lagos lacked jurisdiction to convict the trio of Kalu, his Slok Nigeria Limited firm and a former Director Of Finance in Abia State, Jones Udeogu

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    Former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor-Kalu and associate

    Nigeria’s apex court held that, as at when Kalu and other defendants were convicted for siphoning about N7.1 billion belonging to Abia State,  the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Liman, was no longer a Judge of the Federal High Court because he had already been promoted to the Court of Appeal.

    On the basis of this, the Supreme Court thereby vacated the judgement of the Federal High Court in Lagos that convicted Kalu and Co, therefore ordering a fresh trial.

    In his remark, after exiting the prison, the former Governor of Abia State, who is a serving Senator said, his five months incarceration gave him the opportunity of learning “invaluable lessons” about Nigeria and the citizenry.

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    The Senate Chief Whip, who is representing Abia North Senatorial District at the upper arm of the National Assembly was found guilty of fraud and money laundering in December 2019, and subsequently, sentenced to 12year imprisonment.