The Nation Newspaper

Tag: bribe

  • N23.3b bribe: Bank, INEC officials refund N408.7m

    N23.3b bribe: Bank, INEC officials refund N408.7m

    More arrests are on the way in the probe of the huge cash some oil companies pumped into the failed bid to change the 2015 presidential election results. Some of the cash has been recovered.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested some bankers. It plans to haul in some oil barons who contributed $115m (N23, 299,705,000billion) to bribe some Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials. The officials were to alter the results of the election in which President Muhammadu Buhari, the tehn candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) beat then incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The owner of an oil company, Leno Olaitan Adesanya, yesterday reported at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja for interrogation.

    He was however asked to go to the commission’s office in Lagos for questioning.

    Two others, who have been summoned by the EFCC, were said to have gone underground and incommunicado.

    The EFCC has recovered N408.7million from some of the beneficiaries of the slush funds.

    Fidelity Bank refunded N49.7million, its profit from the disbursement of the N23.29billion provided by former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    Some former and serving INEC officials in Oyo and Ogun states refunded N359millon.

    More officials of INEC were said to have rushed to the EFCC to refund the bribe given to them.

    The EFCC team has intensified its investigation into the scandal.

    It was learnt that besides INEC officials in the 36 states, the EFCC has invited the owners of the oil firms which contributed $88.35million of the $115million sent to Fidelity Bank by the ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources.

    One of the four oil firms implicated in the bribery saga has been linked to former Governor of Delta State, who is serving a jail term in the United Kingdom, James Ibori.

    It was gathered that the oil companies were mandated by Mrs Alison-Madueke to part with $88.35million as their contribution to Dr. Jonathan’s campaign.

    Some of the oil chiefs were shocked by the findings of the EFCC that their donations were deployed in bribing INEC officials, The Nation learnt.

    An EFCC source, who spoke in confidence, said:”Our investigation into the N23.29billion bribe has reached a critical stage. Six teams are working round the clock in all the geopolitical zones.

    “The top officials of Fidelity Bank in custody have made statements, including the list of all beneficiaries and bank details of payments made to them.

    “We are likely to arrest more suspects, especially the oil chiefs who provided about $88.35million of the $115million lodged in Fidelity Bank for conversion to naira.

    “One of the clues we are probing is the likelihood of these funds being laundered by the oil firms and their owners.

    “If these clues are proven, they may eventually face trial for money laundering. We will surely interact with these oil magnates.

    “Some oil companies are under surveillance for their covert operation in diverting taxes and revenue meant for the Federal Government to fund campaigns. You can now understand why some of them were given tax waivers.”

    The source added: “One of the oil chiefs, Leno Olaitan Adesanya, reported at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja but he has been directed to go to the Lagos office.

    “We are expecting him for grilling on Friday (today). We have invited other oil chiefs but two of them have gone underground. We will fish them out wherever they are.”

    Fidelity Bank and some former and serving officials of INEC have refunded about N408.7million to the EFCC.

    While the bank refunded N49.7million, some former and serving INEC officials in Oyo and Ogun states paid back  N359millon

    A top EFCC source said: “While scrutinizing their records, we discovered that Fidelity Bank made a profit of N49.7million from the disbursement transactions made in all its branches nationwide. The management of the bank on Thursday refunded the profit while we are continuing investigation on other funds.

    “Some former and serving INEC officials in Oyo and Ogun have paid back N359million to EFCC. What happened was that while N802m was voted for bribery of INEC officials and NGOs in Oyo State to change presidential poll results, about N629m was dished out in Ogun State,

    “But some of these beneficiaries in Oyo and Ogun were suspicious of the sources of the funds. They cooperated and went to the designated Fidelity Bank branches and collected the cash. Instead of spending it, they sought the service of lawyers who advised them to open accounts to keep the cash in case there are issues in the future.

    “When this matter came up, the lawyers assisted in locating the funds and the N359million was refunded.

    “We are working on other beneficiaries to recover the slush funds.”

  • I accepted Otedola’s $100,000 bribe to expose him, says Emenalo

    Former co-accused to Farouk Lawan, the ex-Chairman, House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy, Boniface Emenalo, yesterday told a High Court of the Federal Capital territory (FCT) in Lugbe, Abuja, why he accepted $100,000 from businessman Femi Otedola.

    He said he took the money offered members of the committee by the businessman with the intention of exposing his plot to influence the outcome of their investigation.

    Emenalo, who the prosecution later substituted as its witness, leaving only Lawan as the accused, spoke yesterday while testifying in Lawan’s trial before a High Court of the Federal Capital territory (FCT) in Lugbe, Abuja.

    Lawan is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) for allegedly “corruptly” collecting $500,000 out of the $3 million bribe he requested from Otedola.

    Lawan is accused of accepting the bribe in exchange for the removal of Otedola’s company’s name, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, from the list of firms indicted by the House committee for allegedly abusing the fuel subsidy regime in 2012.

    Emenalo, who on March 7,  gave details of how he collected the $100,000 from Otedola in $100 bills, denied yesterday, while being cross-examined  by Lawan’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), some of the allegations against Lawan by the prosecution.

    The witness said, on Otedola’s invitations, he met with him on April 22, 2012, and on Tuesday April 24, 2012, at his home in Aso Drive, Maitama, Abuja.

    He said at his first meeting with Otedola, they had discussions on issues, including those relating to the work of the committee and areas he (Otedola) could make suggestions. Emenalo denied receiving $20,000 bribe from Otedola during their first meeting.

    The witness confirmed that it was during the second meeting that Otedola gave him the $100,000, which he claimed to have handed to Lawan as exhibit.

    When asked to read part of the two statements he made to the police during the investigation, he insisted that Otedola gave the money to him as a bribe.

    The statements, one of which was dated June 14, 2012, and the other undated, were tendered by Ozekhome and admitted as exhibits without any objection from the prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).

    Emenalo confirmed that Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd belonging to Otedola was one of the companies indicted by the ad-hoc committee for obtaining foreign exchange for importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) under the fuel subsidy scheme, but diverted it.

    He said Zenon got $232,975,385.13 foreign exchange, but failed to use the money for fuel importation.

    The witness added that Otedola wrote a complaint letter to the secretariat of the committee on April 18, 2012, asking for his company’s name to be removed from the list of indicted firms. He said his committee could not do anything on his case, because by then, the report had been submitted on the floor of the House.

    Emenalo denied calling the then Managing Director of Zenon Petroleum, Kareem Otaru, to ask for direction to Otedola’s house.

    When told that Otaru had claimed in his statement that that he (the witness), was the one who called to ask for direction to Otedola’s house, Emenalo said: “Never; I did not call him. He was the one who called me. I will be very surprised if he said I called him, asking for Mr. Otedola’s house.”

    The witness also denied collecting Otedola’s phone number from Otaru.

    Emenalo concluded his evidence yesterday when defence lawyer, Ozekhome, told the court he was through with his cross-examination of the witness.

    The trial continues today.

  • N4bn false bribe allegation against PDP govs, DSS boss lands three in trouble

    N4bn false bribe allegation against PDP govs, DSS boss lands three in trouble

    Telephone conversations and interpersonal discussions imputing corruption by the Director General of the  Department of State Security Services (DSS) and Supreme Court justices have landed three men in trouble with  the security agency.

    Usman Ahmed Dan-Mallam, Nura Shehu Lawal Giwa (alias Marafan Zazzau) and Hussaini Monguno (alias Colonel) were arrested on February 17 for allegedly using blackmail to extort money from important personalities.

    Spokesman for the DSS, Mr Abdullahi  Garba told reporters yesterday in Abuja that the suspects “had perfected plans to blackmail the Director-General of DSS, solely based on falsehood. The group claimed that the DGSS collected the sum of N4 billion from the PDP governors of Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Abia and Taraba States to influence the judgement of the Supreme Court in their favour, in the recently decided electoral cases by the court.

    “They were also to misinform the President and, in fact, the Nigerian public that the DGSS has acquired choice properties in Maitama and Asokoro areas of Abuja; the overall objective was to scare the DGSS and put him under pressure, just for the group to extort money from him to serve their pecuniary interest.

    “To state the obvious truth, the DGSS couldn’t have approached the justices to accomplish the said feat attributed to him because his office doesn’t work in that manner; the DG couldn’t have helped the same PDP governors who daily accuse him, even in the press, of not supporting them.”

    The three paraded suspects claimed innocence.

    The DSS accused Hussaini Monguno of referring to himself as ‘Colonel’, and  a security expert who had served  General Ibrahim Babangida and the late General Sani Abacha on special assignments.

    He said that Nura Giwa, who claims to hold the title of Marafan in Zazzau Emirate, initiated the plot aimed at extorting money.

    Garba said:“Dan-Mallam, who hails from Matazu LGA of Katsina State, admitted, like the other two members of his group, to the crime but claimed that the smear campaign was initiated by Giwa who came up with the various allegations.

    “He also revealed that he co-opted Monguno into their plans, based on his (Monguno’s) self-confessed expertise in national security as well as alleged connection with high-profile personalities including Mr. President.”

    Hussaini, defending himself, said:“I have never extorted from any individual and never claimed to be a Colonel but Dan-Mallam has been a friend for ten years; I returned from Saudi Arabia on Monday and he (Dan-Mallam) called me on telephone on Wednesday to express those allegations about the DG.

    “The SSS should go over our telephone conversation to note whatever we discussed; I am a businessman and politician.”

    For his part  Dan-Mallam said:  “Shehu Giwa visited my house because I was sick; he told me that there were rumours that they (PDP governors) gave DG N4 billion” while Giwa said: “I have been here for eight days but I don’t know anything about this matter”.

  • Alleged N225,000 bribe: Activists seek suspension of judge, lawyer

    The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has petitioned the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Ms. Monica Pinto, requesting her to prevail on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to suspend the judge alleged to have been involved in the N225, 000 bribery scam.

    The group also urged Ms Pinto to prevail on the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to ask the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) to suspend the lawyer, pending  investigation and/or final determination of trial, if any.

    In a petition, dated February 19: “Alleged N225,000 bribe: SERAP drags NJC and NBA to UN”, by SERAP’s Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni, the group expressed concern that the NJC had not  suspended the judge pending conclusion of allegations against him while the NBA was also yet to take the lawyer before its disciplinary committee.

    The petition reads: “SERAP is concerned that despite these serious allegations of bribery and corruption, the National Judicial Council has failed and/or refused to suspend the judge involved pending any investigation and/or trial of the judge. Similarly, the Nigerian Bar Association has failed and/or refused to ask the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee to suspend the senior lawyer involved pending the final determination of the case against him.

    “SERAP is concerned that the allegations of bribery and corruption, such as the alleged payment and receipt of N225, 000 threaten the essence of the independence of the judiciary and the actors in the legal profession.

    “Such allegations also severely undermine the rule of law, the public’s confidence in the judiciary, raise the cost for judicial services because litigation is driven by corruption instead of by the legal process, discourage people from resorting to the formal justice system, and ultimately victimise the most disadvantaged sectors of the population, who do not have the means to play by the informal rules set by a corrupt system.

    “The allegations also undermine fair competition and economic growth, as there is a clear correlation between the level of economic activity in a country and an effective judiciary combating corruption.

    “SERAP believes that the NJC and the NBA are in the best position to tackle judicial corruption and corruption within the legal profession, and to ensure the application of appropriate disciplinary measures in cases of bribery and corruption, such as the alleged N225,000 bribe.

    “Indeed, both the NJC and the NBA have clear responsibilities to counter and combat judicial corruption and corruption within the legal profession. Therefore, the continuing failure by the NJC to suspend the judge, and the NBA to ask the LPDC to suspend the lawyer will continue to allow judicial corruption to grow, undermine the efforts of other institutions of governance, and can lead to impunity.

    “SERAP notes that Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights recognises the principle of equality of persons before courts and tribunals and the guarantee of a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law. However, the enjoyment of the right to a fair, effective and efficient administration of justice is impossible if the judiciary and the legal profession cannot act with integrity”, the group stated.

  • N225,000 was a donation not bribe, says Rickey Tarfa

    Embattled Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chief Rickey Tarfa yesterday admitted that he gave N225,000 to Justice M. N. Yunusa of the Federal High Court, but explained that the money was not a bribe.

    He said it was a donation from him and some of his friends towards the burial of Justice Yunusa’s father-in-law who died on December 28, 2013.

    In an affidavit filed on his behalf at the Federal High Court, Lagos, before Justice Mohammed Idris by one John Olusegun Odubela, Head of Chambers of Messrs Rickey Tarfa and Co., dated February 18, the senior advocate  denied bribing the judge with the money or “any other sum at all.”

    Tarfa appeared yesterday before Justice Idris in continuation of his N2.5 billion fundamental rights suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for wrongful arrest and detention.

    He was represented by  Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), Anthony Idigbe (SAN) and four other SANs as well as 115 other lawyers.

    The EFCC was represented by Mr. Wahab Shittu and five others.

    Tarfa was arrested by operatives of the commission on February 5, within the premises of the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere after a five-hour stand off during which the EFCC claimed that he prevented its operatives from arresting two of Tarfa’s clients.

    The commission alleged that Tarfa hid the foreigners in his car from about 11:30 am until some minutes past 5pm.

    In response to the senior lawyer’s suit, the EFCC filed preliminary objection on the grounds that the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

    In a counter-affidavit filed on February 19 by one of the commission’s operatives that arrested Tarfa, Moses Awolusi said  that a check carried out on the Access Bank account of Tarfa’s law firm revealed that a sum of N225,000 was sent to Justice Mohammed Yunusa on January 7, 2014.

    The EFCC claimed on Thursday that the amount was a bribe.

    Awolusi said: “I know from the facts revealed during investigation that the said bribe of N225,000 was accepted and acknowledged by Justice Yunusa in a text message to the applicant, wherein he said, ‘Thank you, my senior advocate.’

    “I also know that investigations have revealed that the applicant’s law firm was in the habit of asking the Chief Registrar of the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court to assign his cases before His Lordship, Honourable Justice M.N. Yunusa in furtherance of the understanding between the applicant and the particular judge.”

    However, Tarfa averred through Odubela that the money in question was a donation from a committee of friends of the judge, including him, to support the judge in respect of  the burial of his late father-in-law in Maiduguri since they could not be there physically.

    Odubela stated that his principal, Tarfa, was not informed upon his arrest and detention on February 5 by the EFCC that he was arrested on the allegation of bribing the judge.

    He said the claim of the EFCC that the judge acknowledged the receipt of the alleged bribe by a text message which reads: “Thanks my senior advocate”, was untrue.

    In urging the court to dismiss Tarfa’s claim for exemplary damages of N2.5b, Shittu said from the facts  available  the commission never set out to arrest the applicant.

    He said Tarfa invited arrest by obstructing the commission’s officials from carrying out their lawful duties.

    “I urge the court to dismiss the entire suit with punitive costs,” Shittu added.

  • EFCC: Tarfa bribed judge with N225, 000

    EFCC: Tarfa bribed judge with N225, 000

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Thursday alleged that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Rickey Tarfa, bribed Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court with N225, 000.

    It alleged that Tarfa, last January 7, transferred the money to Justice Yunusa, and that the judge acknowledged the “bribe” with the words: “Thank you my senior advocate”.

    This allegation is contained in a counter-affidavit filed Thursday in opposition to Tarfa’s fundamental rights suit against EFCC and others.

    The counter affidavit, along with exhibits, including MTN call logs, were filed by EFCC’s lawyer Mr Wahab Shittu.

    Tarfa filed a N2.5billion suit against the EFCC on February 9 following his arrest by the commission.

    EFCC arraigned Tarfa Tuesday on a two-count charge bordering on obstruction of justice and attempting to pervert the course of justice by communicating with a Federal High Court judge handling a suit filed by him against the commission.

    The commission alleged that on February 5, Tarfa hid two suspects, Nazaire Sorou Gnanhoue and Modeste Finagnon, both Beninoise, in his Mercedes Benz Sports Utility (SUV) vehicle.

    The Beninoise were alleged to have fraudulently converted assets belonging to Rana Prestige Nigeria Limited to their use. They were also accused of tax evasion running into millions of naira.

    Following his arrest, Tarfa sued EFCC, its chairman Ibrahim Magu, the operative that arrested him, Moses Awolusi and Deputy Director Operations, EFCC, Lagos office, Iliyasu Kwarbai, demanding N2.5billion.

    Tarfa asked the court to compel the respondents to release his two mobile handsets which he said were “deceitfully collected” from him, as well as his vehicle.

    The Senior Advocate demanded an apology from the respondents, to be published in at least two widely circulated national newspapers, social media and two television stations with national reach 24 hours from judgment day.

    Besides, he asked for an order of perpetual injunction restraining EFCC and its agents from further violating his rights; as well as N20 million as cost of the suit.

    But, EFCC, in the counter-affidavit sworn to by Awolusi, denied violating Tarfa’s rights.

    The operative said EFCC received an intelligence report of fresh criminal allegations against Nazaire and Modeste not covered by the pending criminal proceedings.

    Based on the report, Kwarbai directed him and his fellow operative to invite Nazaire and Modeste for further interrogation and to make undertaking that they would not escape from justice.

    Awolusi said they were asked to wait outside the court premises for the suspects and to brief Tarfa on the new developments.

    He said they sighted the suspects outside the court at about 11.30am and explained their mission “politely and courteously”.

    “The applicant (Tarfa) deliberately kept the suspects locked up in his black Mercedes Benz jeep and prevented the EFCC operatives including myself from gaining access to the suspects and also prevented the suspects from honouring the invitation,” Awolusi said.

    According to him, Tarfa kept the suspects in his vehicles between 12noon and 5pm.

    He said they were forced out of the vehicle when the engine had to be turned off having run out of fuel.

    It was when they disembarked that the suspects along with Tarfa were arrested, Awolusi said.

    Among items taken from Tarfa were his phones, which Awolusi said was seized due to intelligence report that the SAN communicated with Justice Yunusa “in a desperate bid to pervert the cause of justice in an earlier proceedings involving the suspects.”

    The operative said when data on Tarfa’s mobile phones were analysed, “startling revelations about secret, unhealthy communications between the applicant and judicial officers emerged.”

    Awolusi said EFCC’s investigation of Tarfa’s Access Bank account number 0000964760 “shows that before the institution of the above proceeding, particularly on 7th January 2014, the applicant bribed His Lordship, Honourable Justice M. N. Yunusa with the sum of N225, 000; a copy of the applicant’s firm’s account details showing the transfer of the sum of N225, 000 from the applicant’s firm to Honourable Justice M. N. Yunusa is hereby shown to me and marked Exhibit ‘O’.”

    The operative added: “I know from facts revealed during investigation that the said bribe of N225,000 was accepted and acknowledged by Justice Yunusa in a text message to the applicant wherein he said ‘Thank you my senior advocate’.

    “I also know that an investigation has revealed that the applicant’s law firm was in the habit of asking the Chief Registrar of the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court to assign his cases before His Lordship Honourable M. N. Yunusa in furtherance of the understanding between the applicant and the particular judge.”

    The EFCC operative alleged that even a junior lawyer in Tarfa’s law firm “also engaged in the corrupt practices of their boss” by manipulating the court’s registry to fix and assign cases by them to particular judges.

    According to Awolusi, there is evidence that Tarfa instructed bank officials through his mobile phone to transfer funds to other public officers.

    The operative said details of such instructions “are being kept to prevent the applicant from tampering with evidence concerning allegation of corrupt practices against the applicant.”

    EFCC alleged that sometime in 2005, Tarfa collected $500,000 from one of his clients “under the pretext that he was going to bribe some officials of EFCC.”

    The commission recalled that on April 29, 2015, Tarfa’s law firm represented Michael Igbinedion, who was standing trial for laundering N25billion.

    EFCC said Tarfa, on April 30, attended a book launch in honour of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, in company of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, who was the chief launcher, and who donated N8million.

    EFCC said Tarfa did not advise Igbinedion not to donate the money since Igbinedion’s son, who was later convicted, was standing trial before the court.

    The commission said Tarfa and his brother silks donated N7million on the occasion despite having cases before the Chief Judge.

    According to the agency, Tarfa obtained $500,000 from one Prince Akinruntan in 2006, who later stated that it was by “false pretence.”

    EFCC quoted Akinruntan as saying: “He (Tarfa) told me that the money is not for him alone, that he is going to settle the court, EFCC and many other people.”

    According to the commission, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has refused to discipline Tarfa as recommended by a former judge of the Lagos State High Court, Justice Joseph Oyewole.

    “This is not the first time the applicant will be accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice. I know that the respondents would be highly prejudiced if this application is granted,” the commission argued.

    EFCC said Tarfa’s prayer for aggravated damages in the sum of N2.5billion “is provocative, annoying, self-serving and groundless in the circumstances.”

    It said it cannot release Tarfa’s phones and vehicle to him yet because they are “necessary and vital” evidence against him.

    “It would be in the interest of justice and equity that the reliefs as contained in the motion paper are not granted,” EFCC said.

    The case comes up today for hearing.

  • Don’t bribe God

    Don’t bribe God

    The story had it that Attahiru Bafarawa clucked with N4.6 billion for spiritual purposes. Quite a hefty sum for God, I thought. But it may have made sense if Jonathan won the election. Bafawara could have aped his Christian friends and yelled, To Allah be the glory. But the electoral loss means we could have spent the money well.

    Look, for instance, at Lagos. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode spent N4.7 billion to protect 16 million Nigerians. He invested it in a series of helicopters, gunboats, fleet of cars and motorbikes as well as communication gadgets. We are feeling the impact in Lagos now. The devout will say Ambode spent his money on mammon while Bafarawa and Jonathan spent on God.

    Mammon seems well now that their project has failed with Jonathan’s loss. The 16 million Lagosians will appreciate the money more than marabouts and other places where the money might have gone. Lesson: don’t’ bribe God. When the people rejoice, N4.6 billion as offering meets brick wall of heaven.

  • CCT trial: Orubebe alleges witch-hunt , denies taking bribe

    CCT trial: Orubebe alleges witch-hunt , denies taking bribe

    With a strong message for President Mohamadu Buhari to halt alleged witch-hunting by some government agencies, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Peter Orubebe has dismissed allegations of false declaration of assets and acceptance of a N70 million bribe.
    The former Minister is to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on November 9 on a four-count charge of receiving N70 million bribe from a contractor and failure to declare his ownership of two plots of land in Abuja.
    Speaking with reporters in Abuja on Sunday afternoon, Orubebe who said that he personally collected the tribunal’s summons last Friday asserted that he had been wrongly blamed for the disappearance of N600 million that vanished during his successor’s tenure while some government departments have been inviting him for questioning unnecessarily.
    “This simply tells me it is an issue of witch-hunt and it is not good for the development of this country,” he stated while urging President Mohammadu Buhari to stop government agencies’ undue harassment of perceived foes.
    “If these things are coming out because of the role that I played at the International Conference Centre as an agent of the PDP, then it is unfortunate.
    “The role I played that day, I played it diligently to the best of my ability as an agent representing my party and since that day, we have allowed sleeping dogs to lie quietly.
    “God has given victory to Buhari, what we expected of him is to use his good office to carry everybody along, to move Nigeria forward.
    “It would be sad to use that office that is meant to serve Nigerians, to try to intimidate people with government departments; before now, I had been called to appear before government institutions over things that I know nothing about,” he said.
    Addressing the specific allegations for not declaring his ownership of two plots of land, Orubebe who noted that he was only one of a few who ever served Nigeria as Ministers for more than six years stated that government gave him two plots of land which he disposed to take care of his needs as Minister, adding that he cannot declare continued ownership of a gift that he had disposed of.
    “Normally, government gives land to ministers, governors and others; the government that I served gave me these plots of land – one in the outskirts of Asokoro and one in Kyami near Abuja.
    “ I make bold to tell you that I never saw the land at any point in time; these were not land that I bought with my money, they were given to me by the government and all ministers were given land as had always been the practice.
    “They allege that I left government temporarily and didn’t declare the land but the salary of a minister cannot meet up with the needs of a minister in Abuja. So, when you have opportunities like having such land, you do something with it to meet up your needs.
    “If you give me a piece of land that ended up not being my own, I do not see any reason why I should still come and declare that I still have such land.
    “ I committed no offence there; I did not buy the land, it was government that gave me the land and I used them the way I needed to use them, they were no longer mine,” he stated.
    Responding to questions on the N70 million bribe allegation, the former minister said that there is unnecessary confusion over the sum and his alleged role.
    According to Orubebe, he asked President Goodluck Jonathan, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Bureau of Public Enterprises to revoke about seven shoddily-handled contracts for the construction of Skill Acquisition Centers, only for a Pastor who owned one of such contracts to pay N20 million into the accounts of Glory Christian Sanctuary, an evangelism center built by the ex-minister in his village.
    “ I am the founder of Glory Christian Centre for evangelism in my village and while going through their records, I saw that there was N20 million deposit in the account of the centre; I asked them who brought the money and they said it was my private secretary, Akpokome, a civil servant.
    “I asked and he told me that it was the pastor that gave him the money; I was so furious and I told him that the same way he collected the money, he should return the money to the man; I told the officers managing the centre to return the money to the account from which the money was sent (into ours) and they returned it.
    “I then asked the Permanent Secretary to constitute a committee to investigate the matter – all these happened in 2012- and involved the EFCC.
    “It was in the course of the investigation that we realized that the man gave them N50 million and it was out of that N50 million that they sent N20 million to the sanctuary account and shared out the remaining.
    “The investigative committee made recommendations and disciplinary actions were taken against him (Akpokome) and all the papers, including account details, were forwarded to the EFCC.
    “I never saw any money, he never discussed with me; he (pastor) paid through them and I blew the whistle; a disciplinary committee was set up, disciplinary actions were taken.
    “I could not have taken money from someone whose contract I had cancelled, raised an alarm and then do what he alleged. There is a formal letter, including findings from the ministry of Niger Delta to EFCC dated 26th June, 2013,” he said.
    Alleging that there is a clear systematic effort to smear his name, Orubebe said that he has never been corrupt, adding that he even deserves some special recognition for his contribution to Nigeria’s economic well-being.
    “I found these charges very empty and frivolous; I served this country as a minister for over six years which is a feat on record, that so many people have not gotten from 1960 till date.
    “This was the minister, when Nigeria was going down economically in 2009, risked his life to go to the creeks, to sleep in the camps, eat with militant leaders and brought them together. I worked with so many other people and we had the Amnesty Programme that has economically sustained this country to date.
    “To get this of treatment from the Nigerian system is unfair; it is not good enough, it is not good for the future of Nigeria
    “I want to say categorically that I, Elder Godsday Orubebe was, is and will never be corrupt; as a minister, I never took any bribe from anybody throughout more than six years when I was a minister of the federal government of Nigeria.
    “I dare any Nigerian to tell the people of this country if they ever gave me bribe,” he stated.

  • Wike set to borrow another N10bn to bribe tribunal judges —APC

    The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that the Governor Nyesom Wike’s administration is set to obtain another N10 billion loan from Zenith Bank to bribe judges of the tribunal and Appeal Court, less than three months after borrowing N30 billion from two banks.

    The APC noted that Wike’s government’s desperation for more loan was in view of a spate of recent negative outcomes for the Rivers governor and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the various election petitions tribunals in Abuja.

    Speaking through its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, yesterday in Port Harcourt, the APC stated that Wike was not interested in good governance and development of the state, but his personal ambition of remaining as governor.

    It will be recalled that, On June 11, the Wike’s administration obtained a loan of N10 billion from Zenith Bank Plc, while on June 30, the government took another loan of N20 billion from Access Bank Plc, totalling N30 billion.

    Wike has, however, maintained that the APC simply raised the false alarm, describing it as frivolous.

    The Rivers governor, who spoke through one of his allies, Samuel Nwanosike, who is also the state’s PDP’s Publicity Secretary, noted that he would always follow due process, and that if he wanted fresh loan, he would have sent a letter for approval to the Rivers House of Assembly, led by Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani.

    One of the chieftains of the APC in Rivers (names withheld), yesterday said that Wike had actually concluded arrangements to obtain a fresh N10 billion loan from Zenith Bank, adding that the party decided to raise the alarm in order to safeguard the future of the people of the state and generations yet unborn.

    Rivers APC said: “To date, Wike has collected a total of N100 billion, comprising federal allocations, internally generated revenue (IGR), balance in the Rivers state Reserve Fund and other sundry sums left in the state’s accounts with the banks by May 29.

    “The aforementioned sum is exclusive of the earlier N30 billion obtained from banks by the Rivers governor since he assumed office. In sum total, N130 billion has passed through the hands of the governor in three months, with only a few projects of his predecessor he is completing and some cosmetic asphalting and pothole filling of some streets to show for it.

    “If he borrows additional N10 billion from Zenith Bank, as he has already decided to do, Rivers people and our next generation shall have been enslaved further to the tune of N40 billion as loan, before the tribunal shows the governor the way out of Government House, Port Harcourt.

    “Most worrisome to the APC is the fact that information available to us indicates that the governor made up his mind to borrow the N10 billion from Zenith Bank, which he will keep exclusively to bribe judges every step of the way, especially now that news coming to the governor from the tribunal’s sitting in Abuja is not that cheery to his ears.”

    The APC also pleaded with well-meaning Rivers elders and leaders-of-thought to prevail on the state’s governor against the “incessant and needless high-interest borrowing he had embarked on for his selfish desires”.

    However, an ally of the governor said: “APC’s allegation is untrue. Governor Wike, as a legal practitioner, and he will always follow due process in his transactions as the Governor of Rivers State. They have forgotten that we have a properly-elected Governor in Rivers State, who knows his onions and he knows the rule of law. Before Governor Wike will obtain any loan, he will first seek the approval of the 32 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. There is no letter before the House of Assembly to obtain a fresh loan.

    “If APC is trying to get information, its members should spend time to do the proper work, instead of carrying frivolous allegation or rumour. If they do not understand the workings of the government, they should be patient till when the workings of government will come before the public.”

  • Alleged N15m bribe: Tribunal ends trial without Gaidam’s ADC’s testimony

    •Fixes Sept 22 for adoption of final written addresses

    The Yobe State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has concluded its trial in the petition challenging the declaration of Ibrahim Gaidam as winner in the April 11 election.

    The tribunal ended the trial on Friday without the testimony of the governor’s Aide-de-Camp Zakari Deba, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), accused of paying N15 million into the bank accounts of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Abu Zarma.

    As was the case with Zarma on Thursday, Deba, whose lawyer, Titus Ashaolu (SAN), told the tribunal that his client was ready to present his case and testify, failed to attend the proceedings.

    Deba and Zarma are named as the fourth and fifth respondents in the petition filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last governorship election, Adamu Waziri and his party. Other respondents are: Gaidam, his party – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Waziri and the PDP alleged, among others, that Gaidam, in a bid to compromise the REC, made Deba to pay N15 milling into Zarma’s two accounts with two prominent banks.

    Ashaolu, on Thursday, told the tribunal that his client was on his way to Abuja, praying that proceedings be shifted till Friday.

    But, on Friday, many of those hoping to hear details of how and why the alleged payment was made, were disappointed when Ashaolu announced that his client was no longer willing to testify.

    He said: “We met with our client yesterday (Thursday) and, having perused the evidence on record, led by the petitioners and the 1st and 2nd respondents (Governor Gaidam and PDP), we discovered that there is no cause of action against the fifth respondent (Deba) to warrant him being put in the witness box.

    “Earlier, we had raised a preliminary objection, which we will further amplify in our written address, to the extent that this tribunal has no jurisdiction to try the fifth respondent and that all actions alleged against the fifth respondent do not affect the conduct of the election. We are closing our case.”

    Zarma’s lawyer, Abeny Mohammed (SAN), on Thursay, gave a similar excuse for his client’s absence.

    Mohammed said: “The short adjournment afforded me the opportunity to review and evaluate evidence adduced to by the petitioners. Our conclusion is that we are not calling any witness but to rest our case on the case of the petitioner. I, therefore, close the case of the third and fourth respondents (Zarma and INEC) in this petition.”

    In the course of the trial, the petitioners called officials of the banks and an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who testified on the transaction and confirmed the payment.

    “We recommended that Deba and Kukawa be prosecuted for attempting to bribe Zarma,” Odofin said.

    On Friday, after Asaholu closed his client’s case, the tribunal Chairman, Justice Mojisola Dada announced the end of trial in the petition. She gave the respondents seven days, within which to file and serve their final written addresses; the petitioners, seven days to file their reply addresses, and extra three days for the respondents to reply on point of law.

    She adjourned till September 22 for the parties to adopt their final written addresses, following which a date will be chosen for the judgment.