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Tag: AGF

  • AGF overpaid FIRS, DPR by N837bn in 2016 – OAuGF

    The recent report of the year 2016 Federal Government Financial Statement submitted by the Auditor General for the Federation, Mr. Anthony Ayine, to the National Assembly has revealed discrepancies in the amount payable to the Federal Inland Revenue Service ( FIRS) and Department of Petroleum Resources ( DPR).

    The whooping amount of N837,082,637.24 was paid in lump sum to the Federal Inland Revenue Service ( FIRS) and Development of Petroleum Resources ( DPR).

    The Report said:” Our examination of the Accountant-General’s Transcript and FAAC figures revealed that the FIRS and DPR were over paid cost of collection in the month August 2016 in the amounts of N305,922,200.48 and N531,160,436.78 respectively totaling N837,082,637.24.

    “It was observed that what was captured in the Accountant-General’s Transcript as payments for the month of August for FIRS and DPR as cost of collection differs from what FAAC approved in the FAAC file.

    “It is expected that only figures approved by FAAC are to be paid by the Accountant-General of the Federation. The difference resulted in overpayments of N837,082,637.24 by the Accountant-General to the two collecting agencies.”

    Read Also: NNPC, DPR to explain zero collection of revenue – AuGF

    Statutorily, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) receives 4% of the monthly revenue as its cost of collection. Also, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) receives 4% of monthly revenue it generates from Royalties on crude oil and gas concessions, rentals, gas flaring penalties, among others.

    Also, concerning the maintenance of excess crude oil/ppt/royalty account without legal authority, the report by the OAGF has shown that the Excess Crude Account (ECA), revealed that a sum of N361,230,422,517.15 was deducted from total Oil and Gas revenue collected before the balance was paid to the Federation Account.

    The report said: “Examination of records and documents presented to the Audit Team in respect of the Excess Crude Account (ECA), revealed that a sum of N361,230,422,517.15 summarized below and classified as PPT/Royalty was deducted from total Oil and Gas revenue collected before the balance was paid to the Federation Account.

    “These deductions would appear to contravene the provisions of Section 162 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 which states as amended.

  • Court serves Dasuki’s release order on DSS

    •Family, associates await ex-NSA’s freedom

    A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has formally served an order to release ex-National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) on bail on the Director General of Department of State Services (DSS) and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

    Dasuki’s counsel Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN) confirmed yesterday that the bail conditions of his client have been fulfilled and the ex-NSA’s family and associates are awaiting a positive response from  the Federal Government and the DSS.

    Raji said: “I am pleading and begging the Federal Government and DSS in the name of God Almighty to please comply with court order on my client Col. Sambo Dasuki. We have served them with the court order and in the interest of justice and rule of law, I am begging this government, being a democratic government, to please respect the rule of law on Dasuki.”

    Family members, friends, associates and well-wishers of Dasuki yesterday stormed his Abuja residence in anticipation of his final release from the DSS’ detention, where he has been held by the Federal Government since December 29, 2015.

    The court, on July 2, granted Dasuki conditional bail, which he had perfected fully yesterday through his two sureties, who are standing for his freedom as ordered by Justice Ijeoma Ojuku.

    Although the sureties had anticipated that the detained ex-NSA would be handed over to them, sources, however, said the DSS boss might need to contact the Presidency before finally handing over Dasuki to the sureties in compliance with the judgment of the Federal High Court.

    The warrant of release dated July 16, 2018, titled: “Verification of Bail Conditions” and signed by Deputy Chief Registrar, Federal High Court Abuja, Mr. Mba Nkem A. Omotosho, was served on the DSS Headquarters and the Office of Minister of Justice in Abuja.

    The warrant of release read in part: “Pursuant to the judgment order made on Monday, the 2nd day of July 2018, granted by His Lordship, Hon Justice Ijeoma L. Ojukwu, directing various conditions to be fulfilled prior to the release on bail of the applicant (Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

    “I have scrupulously verified the entire conditions of bail as ordered by his lordship and the three ambits are fulfilled.

    “Hence, the respondents, the Director-General, State Security Services, and Attorney General of the Federation, are hereby notified as directed by His Lordship for the subsequent compliance of same.

    “Attached herewith is the enrolled Order of the court and all the necessary bail documents for your perusal and aggrandisement,” it concluded.

    Before the latest judgment by Justice Ojukwu, Dasuki had previously perfected bails granted him by four different judges of high courts, including Justices Ademola Adeniyi and Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court and Justices Hussein Baba-Yusuf and Peter Affen of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Courts.

    The ECOWAS Court of Justice had also ordered his immediate release from detention.

     

    He ’ll be released on bail soon, says Presidency source

    INDICATIONS emerged yesterday night that formal National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki will soon be released on bail.

    A Presidential source said Dasuki would be released on bail if he meets the bail conditions set by the court.

    “We have confirmation from the DSS that Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) will be allowed to go on bail if he meets the conditions set for him by the court.” the source simply stated.

    Dasuki has been on trial since December 2015 over missing billions of dollars in his involvement in the procurement of arms and equipment in the Armed Forces and Defence sector from 2007 to early 2015.

    The executive arm of government has been severally criticised for not obeying court orders for his release. Senators last week added their voices by accusing the Federal Government of human right abuses.

    President Buhari, based on Interim Report of Investigative Committee on Arms Procurement, had in 2015 ordered arrest of Dasuki and other indicted persons.

     

    The statement then issued by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, had read “On the authority of Mr. President, a 13 man committee was set up by the Office of the National Security Adviser to audit the procurement of arms and equipment in the Armed Forces and Defence sector from 2007 to date.

    “While the committee, which was inaugurated on 31 August 2015, is yet to complete its work, its interim report has unearthed several illicit and fraudulent financial transactions.”

     

  • AGF: $500m loot coming

    Another $500 millin loot  will soon be repatriated to the country, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami said yesterday.

    He spoke after the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    “Nigeria has engaged other countries, including the UK, US, France and others, in further negotiations relating to repatriation and I am happy to report that we are almost concluding the processes relating to the repatriation of additional $500 million,”Malami said.

    Malami said this is in addition to the $322 million released by Switzerkand after negotiations.

    He said: “you will recall that in December 2017, the federal government participated in a global forum on asset recovery in Washington DC during which Nigeria and Switzerland signed an agreement that paved the way for the repatriation of $322 million.”

    He added: “What transpired was only reported back to the council today. The report today was not only about the signing of the agreement but the report of the eventual repatriation of the amount of money that was signed and agreed to be repatriated during the forum”.

    He added that FEC also approved N500 million for lawyers who represented the Federal Government towards recovering N330 billion from telecoms giants, MTN.

    He said: “FEC approved the payment of professional fees to lawyers engaged by Federal Government relating to the MTN case instituted against the Federal Government in pursuance of penalty of over N1 trillion imposed by the government on MTN.

    “MTN as you will recall, instituted a case seeking to restrain the federal government from recovering the over N1 trillion imposed on it.

    “The federal government engaged the services of lawyers to put up defence, the case was eventually settled by the parties amicably and arising from that settlement, the lawyers were entitled to their fees.

    He said the amount approved for payment is less than one percent of the fee instead of the internationally recognised fee which is pegged at five per cent.”

    On the posthumous awards given to June 12 heroes, he said “I think we need to make distinctions between the Nigeria National Merit Award Act and the Nigerian National Honours Act. They are two distinct and different applicable laws as far as National honours awards are concerned.

    “You have the National Merit Award on the strength of which the law of the governing board comes into effect and then as it relates to the National Honours Act, the board does not have any relevance in terms of processing of the Honours.

    “For then, above all, we equally have in existence, precedence as it relates to the award of posthumous Honours. I can recall that a former Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed was equally honored posthumously, among others.

    On Public holidays, Malami explained that “there is truly a Public Holiday Act, but it is in the process of amendment. So, when the Act has been fully amended, the declaration of the President will come into effect. It is a declaration of intention, a declaration of desire and that will eventually be given effect with the amendment of the existing law.”

  • AGF, firm clear air on Northeast N5.8b relief food materials

    Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) Ahmed Idris and some of the companies involved in the supply of materials to victims of insurgency in the Northeast have cleared the air on the controversy over the supplies.

    According to them, no cash was given to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for the supply of relief food materials.

    Idris and some of the firms made the submission yesterday at the ongoing House of Representatives investigation into NEMA’s activities.

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) confirmed the disbursement of the Fund in accordance with a mandate from the Accountant General’s office.

    Idris said the need to release the fund for the supply followed the scaling down of funding by international agencies operating in the region, which could jeopardise the lives of the people.

    Represented by Director of Funds, Mohammed Usamn, the AGF said: “N5.8 billion was released to five companies and N829 million to NEMA for logistics.

    “The objective of the release of the Fund was the scaling down of international donor food funding in the region by 85 per cent.

    “However no money was given to NEMA other than the money for logistics, but it was charged to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.”

    When the Isa Ali led-Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Committee insisted on the reasons behind the release of the money, he said: “I would have come with the records concerning reasons for the release of the Fund, if such request was included in what we were asked to provide the committee with.”

    He pleaded for time to come up with the requested information.

    One of the companies that were engaged for the supply of the relief food items also confirmed that NEMA was not involved in the disbursement of money for the cost of the food materials.

    The representative of Dangote Industries, one of the companies that supplied maize worth N936 million, Ahmed Hasheem, said it had no contract with NEMA on the subject matter.

    According to him, the CBN engaged the companies to mop up food items around the country in 2016 in anticipation of off season.

    “In December 2016, with others companies in food business, we were given money by CBN to mop up grains from local markets so that it can be used off season.

    “We were paid after which we mopped up the food grains and later we were asked to supply the items to NEMA which we did. All the documentation of the grains supplied and delivered are available but we were contacted for the supply in 2017,” he said.

    The committee however gave the AGF 72 hours to supply the requested information.

    The meeting was adjourned indefinitely.

  • AGF seeks amendment to maritime laws

    Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN) has urged the National Assembly to amend maritime laws to allow private guards carry arms onboard vessels.

    Speaking at the Lagos International Maritime Week and exhibition hosted by Zoe Maritime Resources Limited in Lagos yesterday, the AGF said it was not lawful for armed guards to carry guns onboard merchant ships.

    Represented by Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Financial Crimes, Biodun Aikomu, the AGF called on maritime stakeholders to rally round the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in order to take advantage of existing relationship between NIMASA and the Navy.

    He said: “Maritime security has become an important requirement for merchant vessels over the last decade due to the increased threats from pirates across the world. The issue of maritime security in the Nigerian territorial waters is one that should be taken very seriously; human beings have the responsibility for self-preservation of lives and limbs, and by extension, private properties and investments.

    “As to the legality or illegality of armed guards on merchant vessels in Nigeria, the debate should no longer be based on whether armed guards should be employed but rather how they can effectively, legally and safely be engaged, with the emphasis on accreditation and accountability.

    “Even though Nigerian flagged vessels cannot make use of armed private security guards as the Law stands today, the reality is that there must be a dynamic strategy of dealing with the security challenges facing Merchant Vessels in the Nigerian waters.

    “It may be necessary to amend the relevant laws in the long terms but in the meantime, stakeholders should develop a strategy to deal with the challenge within the permissible scope of powers of NlMASA in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy and Marine Police.”

     

     

     

    Also speaking, the Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye lamented the inadequacy of maritime infrastructures in Nigeria which she said has largely reduced the country’s ability to harness the full potentials inherent in her maritime industry.

    She said: “In order to benefit from the inherent wealth of the maritime sector, it behooves on us as government and people to commit our resources towards the development of requisite infrastructure for the sector.”

    Oladunjoye called for investments in ports and terminals, cargo handling equipment, channels and harbors, warehouses, vessel repair and ship building yards, port access roads, inter-modal transport, ICT, deep seaport, power and water.

    In her welcome address, convener of the event, Mrs Oritsematosan Edodo Emore said the introduction of the youth to the maritime industry is key to the long term development of maritime manpower in Africa.

    The theme of the event was: ‘Developing Maritime Infrastructure in Africa’.

    She said the Lagos Maritime Week is an event that brings together maritime stakeholders from around the globe to deliberate on concurrent challenges that face the industry, network and proffer solutions

  • Omo-Agege’s suspension illegal, AGF tells court

    THE suspension of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central) by the Senate is illegal, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) has said.

    Malami, who is the third defendant in the ongoing suit brought by Omo-Agege challenging his suspension from the Senate, spoke through his counsel, Mr. Dayo Apata. The case is before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

    Apata, who is the Solicitor-General of the Federation, in his submission, said the role of the AGF was to defend and protect the constitution, adding that he had to react to any issue that had  to do with the constitution.

    “According to Section 4(8), 39, 40 of the Constitution and Articles of the African Charter on Human Rights, all the actions of the Senate relating to the suspension of the plaintiff (Omo-Agege) are unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful.”

    The solicitor-general urged the court to hold that the Senate’s actions were unlawful.

    Mr. Mahmud Magaji (SAN), counsel to the Senate and the Senate President, in his submission, urged the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that the senator had himself, participated in the suspension of other senators.

    “The plaintiff is not an ordinary senator but a lawyer and a member of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

    “He has participated in several committee meetings leading to the suspension of other senators such as Ndume. So, he who lives by the sword, should die by the sword.

    “He who has participated in the suspension of his colleagues cannot now run to the court for protection.

    “He swore to an oath to be bound by the rules of the Senate, including the standing orders,” Magaji said.

    Mr. Alex Iziyon (SAN), counsel to Omo-Agege, prayed the court to consider what had been done by the Senate as an affront to the dignity of the court.

    Iziyon argued that the court had the powers to pull down what has been done by the Senate.

    He said this was on the grounds that while the matter was still pending in court, the Senate went ahead and slammed the 90 legislative days’ suspension on his client.

    Having listened to submissions from all the counsel, the judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, adjourned the matter until May 10 to deliver judgment.

    The court refused an application by Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Senator Bala Ibn Na’allah, Chairman and Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and other Petitions.

    The senators had applied to be joined as parties in the suit but the court refused on the grounds that they were not necessary parties in the suit.

    Mr. Paul Erokoro (SAN), counsel to both senators, had urged the court to allow them to be joined as parties by virtue of the fact that they were chairman and vice chairman of the committee.

    “They are necessary parties in this suit because it is the report their committee produced that the plaintiff seeks to impugned and set aside.

    “Moreover, whatever decision the court takes will affect them and members of the committee because their personal conduct is being questioned,” Erokoro said.

    Omo-Agege filed the suit to challenge his suspension from the Senate.

    He asked the court to among other reliefs, grant an order restraining the defendants, their servants, agents, privies or officers from interfering with his rights and privileges as a senator.

  • Dasuki sues DSS, AGF for ‘rights violation’

    Former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki has sued the State Security Service (SSS), its Director General Lawal Daura and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami over his continued detention.

    Dasuki has been in the custody of the SSS since December 29, 2015. The Community Court of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in a judgment delivered on October 4, 2016  declared his detention unlawful and ordered his release.

    In a fundamental rights enforcement suit marked filed on March 15 before the Federal High Court, Abuja, Dasuki is praying the court to order his unconditional release.

    He is also praying the court to award in his favour, and against the respondents, N5billion as “general damages and compensation” for the alleged violation of his rights.

    The ex-NSA wants the court to order the respondents to the suit to tender public apology to him in two  widely published newspapers for allegedly violating his rights “as enshrined under Sections 34(1), 35(1), (4) & (5), 37 & 41(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)”.

    Dasuki also wants the court to declare that the applicant is entitled to the dignity of his person, personal liberty, freedom of movement, private and family life as enshrined under Sections 34(1), 35(1), (4) & (5), 37 & 41(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

    “A declaration that the continued detention of the applicant, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), by the operatives of the 2nd respondent under the instruction and direction of the 1st respondent (Daura) since Tuesday December 29, 2015 till date violates his fundamental rights under Sections 34(1), 35(1), (4) & (5), 37 & 41(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Article 6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and is therefore unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal, null and void.

    The suit has been assigned to Justice Ahmed Mohammed , but no date has been scheduled for hearing.

  • N2.1b pension fraud: Our case against Maina, by AGF, EFCC

    •Justify declaring him wanted, obtaining warrant for his arrest 

    The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have given reasons why they are interested in the prosecution of former Chairman of the Presidential Task Team on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina.

    The AGF and EFCC  faulted Maina’s claim that he was being wanted in relation to the alleged theft of N2.l billion pension fund, but said he was allegedly involved in multiple offences.

    They said the case against Maina includes allegations of misappropriation, money laundering, forgery and procurement fraud.

    The AGF and the EFCC justified the various steps taken so far to bring him to justice, including placing advertorials in newspapers, declaring him wanted and obtaining a bench warrant against him from a competent court.

    They said the arrest warrant was still valid and that it would be executed at the appropriate time.

    The AGF and the EFCC argued, in court documents filed in response to two suits by Maina before the Federal High Court in Abuja, that the suits were meant to further shield him from the law.

    Maina, in both suits is alleging violation of his fundamental rights through being declared wanted and a bench warrant issued against him.

    He equally alleged constant intimidation and harassment by security agencies, queried the competence of the warrant issued by a Magistrate Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for his arrest.

    Respondents in both suits are AGF, EFCC, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Commissioner of Police (Interpol) and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

    The EFCC, in a counter affidavit, said “the applicant (Maina) is wanted by the 2nd respondent (EFCC) over allegations of misappropriation, money laundering, forgery and procurement fraud.

    “Several letters of invitation was extended to him through the Ministry of Interior to come to the office of the 2nd respondent to respond to allegations levelled against him.

    On the 30lh day of October 2017, the Ministry of Interior wrote back to the 2nd respondent wherein they intimated the 2nd respondent that the whereabouts of the applicant is unknown which incapacitated them from serving him an official letter of release to enable him to report to the office of the 2nd respondent.

    “The Ministry of Interior also advised the 2nd respondent to take any further appropriate action in search of him.

    “The 2nd respondent was constrained to seek for and obtain a warrant of arrest after all efforts made to bring him to the 2nd respondent‘s office proved futile.

    “The warrant of arrest was issued by the Chief Magistrate Court Abuja dated 26th October 20l7

    “The applicant is being investigated for several offences, including money laundering, obtaining money by false pretence, breach of trust, cheating, official corruption, embezzlement of public fund and abuse of office. ‘

    “There is no order of court directing the 2nd respondent from investigating and or prosecuting the applicant.

    “The applicant has remained at large since 20l5 and, as such, could not be arraigned before the Federal High Court in Charge No FHC/ABJ/CR/297/20l5 wherein he was charged alongside Stephen Orosanya,Osorenkhhoe Afe and four others. Attached hereto and marked as Exhibit EFCC 3 is a copy of the charge.

    “Charge No FHC/ABJ/CR/297/20l5 pending at the Federal High Court Abuja for which the applicant has evaded arraignment and for which he was subsequently declared wanted bothers on money laundering and not theft of the sum of N2.lb pension fund contrary to the deposition of the applicant.

    “The warrant of arrest issued by the Chief Magistrate Court, Abuja which is the fulcrum on which the declaration of the applicant as a wanted person is founded is valid and subsisting and has not been set aside.

    The counter-affidavit further reads: “In 2015, the EFCC pressed charges of corruption to the tune of N2 billion against the applicant and his accomplices.

    “The applicant was declared wanted by the 2nd respondent consequent upon his refusal to make himself available for investigation on allegations of corruption running into over N2billion, rather the applicant absconded to evade investigation, arrest and possible prosecution.

    “In further investigating the applicant as it relates to corruption charges, the applicant evaded questioning by relevant security agencies.

    “In an effort to secure the presence of the applicant to aid the investigation into the alleged corruption, an arrest warrant was further issued to secure his presence.

    “The applicant had consistently not made himself available for investigation by relevant security agencies.

    The publication made in the national dailies was to ascertain the whereabouts of the applicant and aid the investigation of the allegation of corruption against the applicant.

  • Malami queries Magu over CCT chair

    Malami queries Magu over CCT chair

    •Lawyer: I’ve responded

    Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN) has sought clarification from the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Festus Keyamo, in relation to the charge they filed against the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar.

    The clarification, which was contained in a query, dated February 16 and signed by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Mr. Dayo Apata, was made available to reporters yesterday in Abuja.

    Apata said the EFCC Acting Chairman had up to today to advance his response to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

    The query asked Magu to explain what informed the filing of corruption charges against the tribunal chairman, having been cleared of corruption allegation two times by the same EFCC.

    One of the letters titled: “FRN VS Danladi Umar (CR/109/18) request for briefing,” reads in part: “The attention of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation was drawn to news report that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed charges of corruption against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Hon. Justice Umar, before Chief Justice Ishaq Bello of the FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja.

    “I am directed by the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation to seek clarification from you as to whether the charges were filed on your instruction or directive and if in the affirmative, what is the compelling basis for doing so. This clarification becomes imperative in view of the following background facts.

    “The commission’s investigation report dated March 5, 2015 addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation stated as follows: “The facts as they are now against Justice Umar raised a mere suspicion and will therefore not be sufficient to successfully prosecute for the defence.

    “The commission’s position in paragraph 2(a) above was also maintained and sustained by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation while appearing before the House of Representatives’ Investigative Committee sometimes in 2015 to the effect that report of investigations showed that the allegations against Hon. Justice Danladi Umar were based on mere suspicions.

    “In view of the foregoing, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation requests for your prompt briefing as to the existence of new facts, which are contrary to the position in your attached investigation report, sufficient evidence or other developments upon which the prosecution of Hon. Justice Danladi can be successfully based.

    “Kindly accord this letter top priority while your prompt response within 48 hours from the receipt of same is required in the circumstances.”

    A separate letter to Keyamo, who was purportedly engaged as a private lawyer by Magu to prosecute the CCT boss, also requested him to confirm who authorised him to file the corruption charge against Umar.

    Like Magu, the senior lawyer was given till today to furnish the Office of the AGF in writing detail of who engaged or issued him with authority to file the corruption charges.

    The letter to Keyamo was also dated February 16 and signed by the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary.

    It reads in part: “The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation hereby requests that you kindly furnish this office with the details of the instruction or authorisation upon which you instituted the case under reference. Kindly accord this letter top priority while your prompt response on or before Tuesday, February 20, 2018 is solicited in this regard.”

    When contacted yesterday, Keyamo acknowledged receiving a letter from the Federal Ministry of Justice on the CCT Chairman’s issue.

    Keyamo said he found nothing unusual about the letter. He said it was a private letter sent to him for enquiry and to which he has since responded.

    He declined to dwell on the content of the letter.

    Keyamo said: “I received a letter from the Ministry of Justice. It is not a query. It’s an enquiry and I have responded to it.

    “It was a private letter, and I don’t have to make the content of a private letter public. Yes, I received a letter and I have responded to it.”

    The EFCC had written two separate letters to the Federal Government in 2015 and 2016 through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

    They cleared Umar of any wrongdoing in the alleged N10 million bribery allegations made against him by a defendant, Rasheed Taiwo Owolabi, who was standing trial before him on false asset declaration.

    Upon receipt of the petition from Owolabi, the EFCC had investigated the petition and sent its report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) dated March 5, 2015 and personally signed by the then EFCC Executive Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde.

    The letter exonerated the CCT boss of the bribery allegation.

    The EFCC report said: “The facts as they are against Justice Umar raised a mere suspicion and will, therefore, not be sufficient to successfully prosecute for the offence.”

    Other EFCC’s documents showed that in 2016, a fresh investigation was conducted into the same N10 million bribery allegation and the same anti-graft agency, in its second report, again absolved Umar of any wrongdoing.

    Findings revealed that the action of Magu in instituting criminal charges against Umar had caused serious confusion and embarrassment to the Federal Government because the EFCC reports had made clear that the CCT boss had no case to answer.

    The AGF was said to have been thoroughly embarrassed with the corruption charges because he had already informed the National Assembly that Umar had no corruption case to answer based on the two reports of EFCC to the Federal Government.

    The commission had on February 2, brought a two-count charge against the CCT Chairman bordering on alleged receipt of the N10 million bribe from Taiwo. The charge was signed by Keyamo as a private prosecuting counsel and one Offem Uket, an official of EFCC.

    Umar was accused of receiving N1.8 million through his personal assistant, Gambo Abdullahi.

    March 15 has been fixed for arraignment of the CCT boss at the High Court of FCT, Abuja.

     

  • AGF decries increase in detainees without trial

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) has expressed concerns that awaiting trial inmates constitute 70 per cent of the nation’s prison population.

    Malami said the development was a violation of the rights of inmates, which must be reversed through deliberate efforts of the state to decongest the prisons.

    Deputy Director (Information) in the Federal Minister of Justice, Ogundoro Modupe, quoted the AGF as speaking when he led the Federal Government Stakeholders Committee on Prison Decongestion to Rivers and Imo states on February 5 and 6.

    Malami decried the unchecked violation of fundamental rights of prison inmates across the country, explaining that the purpose of the visit was to oversee the implementation of the Federal Executive Council’s directive in fast-tracking the decongestion of prisons.

    He added that the Committee would also review cases of inmates who have been convicted of minor offences with option of fines and are unable to pay.

    According to Malami, “The committee wishes to secure the release of as many of such inmates as possible through the payment of their fines.

    “I am therefore pleased to announce that the committee will, in addition to ensuring the payment of fines, also conduct a review of cases of inmates awaiting trial for more than five years, in the select priority prisons.

    “These able bodied men represent our potential workforce, they represent tomorrow’s fathers to raise the next generations of Nigerians.

    “We must, therefore, begin to find improved ways of addressing the issue of crime and the treatment of minor offenders in our criminal justice system.”

    The committee’s Chairman and Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Ishaq Bello, during the tour of prisons in Imo State, facilitated the release of 13 inmates, whose fines were settled by the Governor Rochas Okorocha.

    In Rivers, the committee released 26 inmates, among who governor, Nyesom Wike assisted in paying their fines

    Justice Bello also released those whose offences were minor but were either remanded for years without trial or sentenced beyond  the provisions of the law.

    He stated that the problem with  the prisons is not only about the crowded space inmates were subjected to, but also the attendant psychological and emotional impacts.

    Wike flayed the police for delay in charging arrested persons to court, alleging that the this was partly responsible for the swelling figure of inmates.

    Speaking during the meeting with the Committee in Owerri, Okorocha admitted that prison atmosphere in Nigeria cannot guarantee transformation of inmates upon their release.

    He also identified the country’s justice system as part of the factors responsible for prison congestion.

    Okorcha suggested prison concession or a private, public partnership, which he said, would enable the private sector participate in the construction of prisons and the welfare of inmates.

    Among those freed was a young woman, Joy Goodluck, an indigene of Imo State, sentenced to three years jail term in Port Harcourt prison for stealing a half bag of cassava.

    The lady, who was a month pregnant at the time of the offence, was set free with her baby after she narrated the circumstance that took her to the prison.