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  • Magu warns bankers, says politicians now repatriate stolen funds

    …EFCC uncovers how top politician sold property abroad for general elections—Magu

     

    The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu on Thursday warned compliance officers in banks against colluding with politicians who are repatriating stolen funds for general elections.

    He said the EFCC has uncovered a top politician who sold a choice property abroad with plans to repatriate the proceeds for electoral inducement.

    He asked the officers to report suspicious transactions in a timely manner to anti-corruption agencies.

    Magu gave the warning in Lagos at a session with the Association of Compliance Officers.

    In the text of his speech which was released to newsmen in Abuja, he urged bankers to stop laundering funds for politicians.

    He said: “I deem this forum as very important to serve as a means to communicate to you the observations of the EFCC on the various activities of financial institutions and the deliberate connivance and collusion of most of the banks in laundering illicit funds for criminals as well as politicians.

    “We are not ignorant of the prevailing electioneering activities going on in the country today and the efforts being made by many politicians who had stolen our commonwealth to repatriate to Nigeria these stolen funds for the purpose of influencing the elections through vote buying and compromise of election officers to do their bidding, as well as engage in various other illicit activities calculated to undermined the integrity of the elections.

    “The impact of allowing these elements to compromise our elections will be grievous, and devastating, we must as such and as a matter of urgency team up together to ensure that these elections are not compromised in any form or manner.

    “We are all under a civic duty to comply with our various responsibilities and ensure that we do the needful to obey the laws and regulations governing the elections.”

    The EFCC chairman spoke on the desperate methods being employed by some politicians to repatriate illicit funds into the country.

    He said the anti-graft commission has received an intelligence report on how a top politician sold a property abroad to finance elections at home.

    He said: “Foreign properties bought with proceeds of crime are sold and the proceeds transferred to Nigeria through international banks as legitimate funds that can be used to finance several activities including elections.

    Recently we have received intelligence report from a sister agency in another country informing us of a top Nigerian politician who has sold his property in that country and intends to repatriate the proceeds of the sale of the property to Nigeria. This same individual had earlier denied ownership of the said property.

    “Goods bought with proceeds of crime abroad are sent to Nigeria to support empowerment programs during elections periods. The goods are mostly cleared with deficient trade documents processed through the international banks.

    “Moving proceeds of crime earlier taken across border to neighbouring countries back to Nigeria by depositing such funds in Banks with corresponding banking relationship with local banks in Nigeria. “These funds can be used to finance elections in the country by physical distribution of the funds for political inducement or financing empowerment schemes to solicit votes from citizens.

    “Private Bankers for international banks facilitate the movement of proceeds of crime i.e. physical movements of cash to the country via charted airlines in the guise of the Bank.

    “International Banks facilitate the purchase of assets such as airlines from foreign jurisdictions that are brought to the country for elections purpose.

    Magu said inducement of voters attracts a 12-month imprisonment or a fine of N100, 000.

    He added: “Let me remind you that the provisions of the Nigerian Electoral Act, 2010, Article 130, provide that:

    “A person who- Corruptly by himself or by any other person at any time after the date of an election has been announced, directly or indirectly gives or provides or pays money to or for any person for the purpose of corruptly influencing that person or any other person to vote or refrain from voting at such election, or on account of such person or any other person having voted or refrained from voting at such election; or

    “Being a voter, corruptly or takes money or any other inducement during any of the period stated in paragraphs (a) of this Section, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N 100,000.00 or 12 months imprisonment or both.”

    The EFCC chairman pleaded with compliance officers to serve as responsible gatekeepers by reporting suspicious transactions.

    He said: “While vote buying is subject to punishment, the attainment of compliance to this legal obligation remains the challenge and it is our responsibility to prevent these crimes.

    “We have come to realize that political inducement has now taken other forms and tagged in different names, i.e. Stomach Infrastructure, empowerment schemes, non-interest yielding loans, outright cash handouts etc.

    “These inducements take place during or before the day of the elections, which makes it rather difficult for law enforcement agencies to track.

    “Because you are the gate keepers, you must keep your eyes open to these inducement schemes, your obligations are not different from your usual filing of suspicious transactions reports to the relevant authorities, and the prompt filing of currency transaction reports as well as foreign transaction reports.

    “We have also observed the upsurge of illicit financial flows into the country through the borders and it is disheartening to see the role financial institutions play in either facilitating the flows of these funds into the country.

    “It is obvious now that financial Institutions serve as intermediaries between law enforcement agencies and the criminals, at a simple push of the button so much is moved to any jurisdiction of their choice.

    “It is a known fact that no country can combat the flow of illicit funds without the cooperation of financial institutions, because in most cases it is the financial institutions that provide the means, logistics and strategy the criminals to tread on.

    “Some methods which we came across in the course of our various investigations on repatriation of funds back to the country, that were successfully moved off shore and are being ploughed back into the Nigeria Economy include;

    “These activities of the criminals can be checkmated by increase transaction monitoring by the Bank officers and reporting suspicious transactions to the relevant agencies timely. Establishing customer due diligence and enhanced due diligence for politically exposed persons.

    “It is our collective responsibility to make the system work and to ensure that criminals are not given the chance to take over government and by extension the economy of the country. Whatever you do wrong or allow today may come back to haunt you.

    “Be rest assured that, we on our part are committed to investigate and prosecute anybody or institution found breaching the provisions of the law but in the same vein we will work with you if you desire to partner with us.”

  • Boko Haram major threat to polls, says CAN

    The resurgent activities of Boko Haram terrorists may pose a threat to the forthcoming 2019 general elections, the Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN ) warned on Thursday.

    The CAN leadership urged the federal government to tackle the attacks before the polls.

    This was part of the resolutions at the first quarterly meeting of CAN in Abuja.

    The Christian body also pointed out efforts of the government in providing security is “not yielding the needed results as wanton killings have continued, especially in some States in the northern part of the country.”

    CAN urged Nigerians to pray for the peaceful conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    Read Also: Boko Haram: Elections’ll be restricted to 3 centres in Madagali

    A statement by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant (Media & Communications) to the CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle said: “Boko Haram appeared to have resurrected again, decimating communities in Borno and Yobe States in particular, not sparing soldiers.

    “This resurgence of insecurity in the Northeast portends danger for the forthcoming general elections if efforts at curtailing it are not increased. Many voters might be disenfranchised from voting.

    “The Association commends President Muhammadu Buhari for the continuous reassurance that all will be done by the government to make the forthcoming general elections free, fair and credible.

    “We at the same time implore Mr. President to make sure that all these promises are transformed into reality through concrete efforts that would prevent violence and other electoral malpractices.

    “The Association calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police and other security agents not to make themselves available to be used for rigging or any form of electoral malpractice by the politicians.

    “No voter or election observer must be intimidated or harassed throughout the period of the election.

    “We equally urge politicians to run away from vote buying while the electorates should not allow anybody to buy their votes. If you sell your vote, you sell your future.”

    The body added: “We reaffirm our support for all efforts of government geared towards stamping out corruption from our country.

    “We, however, caution that efforts geared towards stamping out corruption from Nigeria must follow due process of the law while the independence of each arm of government for peace and harmony in the society must be well maintained.

    “Wisdom and caution should be applied by those in government and other Nigerians in all that we do so that our actions and speeches might not set our nation on fire at this crucial period of election.”

  • Shittu harps on local content drive to grow ICT sector

    The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, on Thursday, expressed the ministry’s readiness to partner with any group or stakeholder toward transforming the Information Communication Technology (ICT) local content for rapid development of the sector.

    The minister said this at the 2nd Annual Local Content Roundtable and Technology Fair in Abuja.

    The fair, which focused on homegrown solutions to challenges confronting the ICT sector has “The Pathway to Sustainable Digital Transformation and Economic Growth” as its theme.

    Shittu also reiterated the commitment of the ministry to initiatives that would attract local and international investments into the country, with a view to boosting development in the technology sector.

    According to him, the private sector service providers and government have critical roles to play for local content programme to succeed in Nigeria.

    He, however, said that while government would provide guaranteed order for the local products, the private sector must ensure quality services and products.

    He added that “the Ministry of Communications is committed to the implementation of the local content programme and the executive order on local content.

    “Local content does not mean excluding foreign participation in our economy. Rather, it means concerted and collaborative efforts by all players to build a strong indigenous economy.

    “For instance, the win-win formula plays out in a situation where the locally assembled computers must run on Microsoft operating
    system and Intel processors.

    “Therefore, for every locally assembled computer bought by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Microsoft and Intel would be the key beneficiaries along with our own local original equipment manufacturers. Everyone benefits.”

    He said that the ministry would soon issue directives to encourage MDAs to use emerging technologies and other platforms, noting that

    “I am happy to report that there has been an increase in patronage of locally-assembled ICT devices and services in Nigeria since the inception of the present administration.”

    The Lead Facilitator of the fair, Mr Inye Kemabonta, emphasised the need to take advantage of the enormous potential in the country to create jobs and wealth.

    He said “Nigeria is a country with huge potential, but experts and policy makers have predicted that its development as a regional economic power, can only come from reliance on its own human and material resources.

    “Opportunities for utilising and building indigenous human and technological capacity exist in all sectors of the economy.

    “There is an urgent need therefore to take advantage of the opportunities and harness them for job and wealth creation, and for overall growth of the country.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event attracted a wide audience of indigenous solution providers and young innovators, as well as stakeholders in the ICT sector.

  • No bomb on Abuja-Lagos Air Peace flight – FAAN

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN ) has described as false the alarm that a bomb was planted on an early morning Air Peace flight from Abuja to Lagos on Wednesday.

    Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, General Manager, Corporate Affairs of FAAN, made the rebuttal in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Yakubu siad that the passenger, who allegedly raised the alarm, was said to have a history of mental illness.

    She said that the passenger had been handed over to the security agencies and medical experts for assessment.

    She said: “Following the false information, officers of FAAN’s aviation security swiftly evacuated passengers, crew and cargo on board the flight and a bomb squad immediately conducted a thorough check on the aircraft and baggage, which confirmed the information to be false.

    Read Also: Attempt to steal aircraft: Court summons NCAA, FAAN bosses

    “After due diligence test has been carried out on the aircraft, a fresh boarding call has been made and passengers have boarded the flight for take-off to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

    “FAAN will like to re-assure passengers and all airport users that our airports are safe and secure.

    “They should carry on their lawful activities without any fear,” she said.

    News Agency of Nigeria reports that there was panic in the aircraft on Wednesday morning, after a passenger raised an alarm that a bomb was planted in the aircraft.

  • Pensioners to Buhari: have mercy on us

    Pensioners in the Federal Civil Service have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to give more attention to the welfare of the senior citizens who had served the country meritoriously during their active service.

    Although, they appreciated the efforts made so far by the present administration, but still pleading that the payment of the remaining outstanding allowances should be made for the survival of their members.

    They spoke through the new chairman of the Federal Civil Service Pensioners( FCSP) in Ondo state, Kehinde Durotoye on Monday during the inauguration of its new executives in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

    The election was coordinated by Officials of FCSP from Abuja under the aegis of Nigerian Union of Pensioners( NUP).

    He said the federal government should fast track the efforts in settling all outstanding arrears of pensioners, stressing that many of them had died due to lack of funds to meet various needs especially food and medication.

    Durotoye recalled with dissatisfaction May 2011, when he was appointed as the state coordinator of the union by former leadership of the union and inaugurated alongside other sister states of Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi and Ogun.

    He said”: We thought we had arrived but the shenanigans that played out between the former leaders and NUP National Headquarters scuttled that dream.

    The chairman noted that the National Headquarters decided not to recognize the inauguration on the grounds that they were not carried along despite being duly informed in writing and approved fund for the exercise.

    The state NUP Chairman,Chief Raphael Adetuwo congratulated the new officers, noting that as leader of Pensioners, he should be ready to tolerate incessant worries from senior citizens because of old age hazards and poverty.

    Other new executive members include Segun Ayegoro, Vice Chairman, Mrs O.Agbi, Treasurer, Olusegun Jacob, Auditor, James Aremu, State Trustee 1 and Femi Owoeye, State Auditor 11.

  • Updated: Buhari, Mbaka meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met with the Catholic Priest and Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
    The closed doors meeting was held at the President’s office.
    Mbaka, before the 2015 general elections had predicted that President Buhari would defeat the immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan.

    Read Also; Ex-VP to Buhari: the world is watching you

    The priest, who arrived the forecourt of the Presidential Villa through the security gate in a BMW car, maroon colour, had passed through the same way and in the same vehicle at the end of the closed doors meeting.

    He left the Villa before journalists could get to him.

    No official statement has been issued on the meeting as at press time.

     

    Details soon…

  • Court okays INEC’s rejection of Zamfara APC’s candidates

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has held the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) acted within its powers by refusing to accept list of candidates for the next general elections from the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu said it was not the fault of INEC that the APC failed to conduct a valid primary within the period scheduled by the electoral body.

    Justice Onjukwu said INEC’s action was intended to curb impunity among political parties and politicians; ensure that rule of law is adhered to.

    The judgment was on a suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1279/2018, filed in the name of APC by some individuals, who said they emerged from a consensus arrangement adopted by the party in Zamfara State.

    Justice Ojukwu, who dismissed the case for being without merit, noted that evidence presented before the court by parties did not show that the APC conducted its primaries within INEC’s published schedule of activities, which required parties to conduct their primaries and submit list of candidates within August 18 and October 7, 2018

    The judge said the decision of the APC in Zamfara to select its candidates through a consensus option, breached the provision of the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.

    Read Also:  Zamfara APC: Court okays INEC’s rejection of candidates

    Justice Ojukwu said, by the fact before the court, it could not be held that INEC acted ultra vires by rejecting Zamfara APC’s candidates’ list.

    The judge added that INEC’s decision was to deter impunity and ensure that the right thing was done and the provisions of the law complied with by political parties.

    She said: “The intendment of the law is that due process must be followed. The 1st defendant’s (INEC’s) action was to ensure that the party complies with rule of law.”

    The judge said it was obvious that, as at the close of nomination for the 2019 elections, according to INEC guideline, the party (APC) had no candidates, having failed to conduct legitimate primary.

    Earlier, Justice Ojukwu dismissed the preliminary objection brought against the suit and held that there was no similarity between the case before her court and the one pending before the High Court of Justice, Zamfara State, marked: ZMS/GS/52/2018 filed on December 6, 2018by Alhaji Babandida Abdullahi, Chairman, APC, Gusau Local Government and others against the APC and others.

    While Justice Ojukwu was delivering judgment in the case in Abuja, Justice Muhammad Bello Shinkafi of Court 3, High of Zamfara State in Gusau, also rendered judgment in the suit by Alhaji Abdullahi and held that the APC actually has candidates having conducted valid primaries between October 3 and 7, 2018.

    Justice Shinkafi proceeded to order INEC to accept the candidates produced by the primaries as APC candidates in Zamfara for all positions in the forthcoming general elections.

    Read Also: Gana rejects Appeal Court affirmation of Duke

    A certified-true-copy (CTC) of the judgment certificate signed by an Alhaji Lawali Sanda Kaura (Assitant Director), sighted by The Nation on Friday, indicated that the court granted all the prayers by the plaintiffs.

    It reads in part: “Now, on the strength of evidence adduced by the plaintiff, the evidence elicited from both DWS1 and 2 during cross-examination, as well as the documentary evidence tendered and admitted in evidence, I am satisfied that the plaintiffs have proved their case against the defendants.

    “Consequently therefore, the above issue for determination formulating is hereby. Answered in the affirmative and all the reliefs claimed by the plaintiffs are hereby granted.

    “An order declaring as lawful and valid the primary election conducted by the APC (herein plaintiffs’ party) under the supervision of the 3rd defendant (INEC) and security agents on the 3rd and 7th October 2018 for the purpose of producing candidates to vie for various offices, which produce the plaintiffs, under the platform of the 1st defendant.” The court also order INEC to “accept and accord due recognition to the list of the candidate that emerged as winners” in the primaries of the 3rd and 7th October 2018

    The court also ordered the 1st defendant (APC) to “recognise and accept the list of candidates that emerged as winners” in the primaries.

    The court further granted a perpetual order of injunction restraining the defendants and their agents “from taking any steps towards cancelling/rejecting the result of the primary election held on the 3rd and 7th of October 2018 and monitored by the 3rd defendant.”

    Lawyer to the plaintiff in the Zamfara case, Mahmud Magaji (SAN) said, with the judgment of January 25 given in his clients’ favour, INEC cannot afford not to accepts the list of candidates that emerged from the primaries that the court has said were valid.

  • 27, 474 apply for PTDF scholarship

    A total 27,474 candidates applied for the various platforms of Petroleum Technology Development Fund ( PTDF ) scholarship scheme for the 2019/2020 academic year.

    This was disclosed in a statement by the Press and External Relations Unit, Mr. Kalu Otise of the PTDF in Abuja on Friday.

    The applications include the ones for the Overseas Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme under PTDF Strategic Partnership with universities in UK, Germany and France, and applications for the Undergraduate, Masters and PhD Scholarship awards in Nigerian Federal Universities under PTDF Local Scholarship Scheme.

    The statement reads in part: “The application window for the Overseas Scholarship Scheme closed on December 31st, 2018 while that of the Local Scholarship (LSS) expired on the 16th of November 2018. The application period for both Schemes lasted six weeks respectively.

    “A breakdown of the applications indicate that fifteen thousand, eight hundred and twenty-two (15,822) applied for the Overseas Scholarship Scheme in the MSc category, while three thousand, five hundred and one (3,501) applications were received for the PhD scholarship award.

    “Of the eight thousand, one hundred and fifty-one (8,151) that applied for the PTDF Local Scholarship Scheme, three thousand, seven hundred and forty (3,740) were for the Undergraduate award, three thousand, three hundred and ninety-three (3,393) for MSc and one thousand, seventeen (1,017) for PhD.

    Read Also: LASPOTECH dismisses NASUP chairman, others over unionism

    “The next stage of the processing is the screening of candidates for interview shortlist.

    “This will be based on the following criteria; class of degree, O-level grades, and strength of personal statement.

    “Only those who meet the minimum requirements for each category of the programme and those who possess the best credentials based on the strength and quality of their qualifications and relevance of their proposed study to the Fund’s mandate and the oil and gas industry will be invited for interviews at a date to be announced by the Fund.

    “Applicants are therefore advised to look out for notifications from PTDF for further information in respect of their applications.“

  • Ethiopian Airlines moves operations to Abuja new terminal

    Ethiopian Airlines, the largest African airline, on Thursday, moved its operations to the newly inaugurated terminal building at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, constructed by the China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation (CCECC).

    Ethiopian Airlines is the second international airline to move its operations to the new terminal, inaugurated on Dec. 20, 2018, by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Asky Airlines was the first to start flight operations from the terminal on Jan. 6.

    Mr Sani Mahmud, the Regional Manager, North Central, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said that the terminal had been equipped to handle all the international carriers.

    Mahmud, who is also the Airport Manager of NAIA, said that the terminal had been equipped with fibre backbone to provide free internet services to passengers and airport users.

    He expressed optimism that other airlines such as Emirates, Lufthansa, Egypt Air and British Airways would
    likely move their operations into the terminal in the not too distant future.

    The regional manager said that the issue of connectivity had been the reason given by some airlines for the
    delay in moving their operations to the terminal.

    He, however, added that “we feel great that the terminal has come alive after it was commissioned last year
    and one of the biggest airlines, Ethiopian Airlines has moved its operations into the terminal.

    “We are grateful for their cooperation and we hope that very soon, others will join.

    “When we have these two giants here, others will be eager to come.

    “Hopefully, all the airlines will come in within a week because the connections have been done. The duty free shops are in progress because the management wants a uniform-style that will be of international standard and we are ready to provide world class services here.”

    Read Also; Abuja new airport terminal to process 15m passengers annually

    Meanwhile, the Traffic and Sales Manager of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr Tilahun Tedesse, said that the airline was determined to continue to champion air transport services in Nigeria.

    Tedesse said that the airline hoped to expand its operations, considering the space and facilities in the new terminal,
    adding that it currently operated about 100 routes from Abuja.

    He added that “we just started today in this new terminal and we will continue to be an example to other airlines.

    “If you remember the last time this airport was closed we moved to Kaduna to serve Nigerian people and Nigerian passengers and this time also, we have been asked to start using this facility and we have started today.

    “Asky is our partner and we asked them to start first, but we are the first to commence international long haul from here to connect our passengers to Asia, Europe and America.

    “We didn’t have a good space at the old terminal but here, we have enough space, many check-in counters and the air conditioner is perfect.

    “We usually deploy our big capacity aircraft to this airport when we were using the small space, but now, I believe we will be able to deploy aircraft like the Airbus and B777 series.”

    A passenger, Dr Ayodeji Samuels, a medical practitioner, commended the government for the new terminal, saying it was befitting for the seat of power like Abuja.

    Samuels urged the authority to provide adequate signage and self-service facility within the terminal to enable passengers to have seamless experience.

    “This is more befitting for the Federal Capital Territory than what we used to have and we hope that operations will go on smoothly and most importantly, this improvement should be maintained.

    “It would be good to have appropriate signage to direct passengers where exactly they should go and there should also be self-service kiosks where passengers can check themselves in before approaching the counter for boarding pass.”

  • Photos: Badeh buried in military cemetery in Abuja

    Former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, has been buried in Abuja.

    He was buried at the military cemetery in Abuja on Wednesday

    Badeh was shot dead along the Abuja-Keffi road while returning from his farm on December 18, 2018.

    Pic 21.Wife of the late former Chief of Defence, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, Mary, performing dust-to-dust rite, during the burial of her husband at Military Cemetery in Abuja

     

    Body of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, being buried at military cemetery in Abuja
    Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gebriel Olonisaki (R), presenting flag to wife of the late former Chief of Defence, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, during the burial at Military Cemetery in Abuja

     

    Body of the slain former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, being taken to the church, for a funeral service, at the Nigerian Air force headquarters Protestant Church in Abuja
    From left: Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gebriel Olonisakin; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha and others, during the funeral service for the slain former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh at the Nigerian Air force headquarters Protestant Church in Abuja