The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bribery

  • Checking bribery

    Checking bribery

    • This is a task for governments at all levels as well as all well-meaning Nigerians

    Although bribery is frowned at in many societies, it still thrives all over the world, with various degrees of occurrences. But it is more prevalent in the developing countries where there are lax rules in defining what constitutes bribe, and the possibility of being caught and sanctioned for taking or receiving it.

    In Yorubaland, southwest Nigeria, it used to be called ‘owo eyin’  (money taken from the back). In the olden days, policemen who wanted to take bribe on the road  would simply move some distance away from passengers in a vehicle and stretch their hands backward for the drivers or conductors to put the bribe in their hands. This way, only the drivers and policemen involved knew what actually transpired. The passengers could only hazard a guess until the driver returned to tell them what happened. How much he parted with, etc.

    But that was then. Nowadays, many policemen at checkpoints no longer care about who is looking at them; they take the bribe in the full glare of the passengers and other road users. That is how far things have degenerated.

    For the chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, to have claimed that 87 million bribery incidents in which about N700billion changed hands in 2023 is indication that bribery remains a thriving ‘industry’ in the country. A whopping 87 million cases in one year?

    Aliyu’s revelation was contained in his keynote address at the International Law Conference organised by the Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He spoke on “Law and Contemporary Societal Issues: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities.”

    Of course, we are not surprised that, as Dr Aliyu said, the frequency of bribery is higher in the rural areas than the urban centres. The reason is simple: ignorance and illiteracy. Many people in the rural areas do not know their rights. They are therefore more susceptible to threats by security agencies and other public officials who demand bribes from them for various infractions, rather than face the law.

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    It is however heartwarming that more people are now reporting incidents of bribery to the appropriate authorities.

    “Despite these challenges, we are making progress. The rate of citizens reporting bribe payments to official authorities increased from 3.6 per cent in 2019 to 8.6 per cent in 2023.

    This is a testament to the growing awareness and willingness of Nigerians to fight corruption,” Aliyu said.

    Although he did not so specifically indicate, we want to believe that the increase in awareness he mentioned has to do with the urban centres. Again, although we do not know what the increase in the reported cases of bribes from 3.6 per cent to 8.6 per cent represent in absolute terms, the fact of the matter is that 87 million incidents of bribery in a country, and in one year, is still huge.

    As a matter of fact, we want to believe that the figures would be far higher because ours remain a society where so many things are shrouded in secrecy.  Many incidents of bribery definitely must have gone unreported.

    We need to deal with the scourge because of its implications as an aspect of corruption. Corruption is the fourth major problem that affected Nigeria in 2023, after cost of living, insecurity, and unemployment, going by figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). We have to kill it if it is not to kill the country.

     The present government must do better than its predecessor which although popularised the expression “we have to kill corruption before it kills us” even though it didn’t do much to deal with the scourge.

    And, in order to reduce its incidence to the barest minimum, we must address it holistically. That is, we must take cognisance of its various dimensions as both a legal as well as social problem requiring a comprehensive and sustained approach.

    It is a problem that the judiciary must buy into if we are ever to get out of it. Many bribery cases involving Nigerians and foreigners that had long been disposed of in other countries remain at preliminary stages in the country.

    This does not augur well for the nation.

  • AIG Maritime Police warns field officers against bribery, corruption

    AIG Maritime Police warns field officers against bribery, corruption

    Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Maritime Police Command, Lagos, AIG Olofu Adetutu Rhoda, has urged officers to uphold diligence, energy and professionalism in the execution of their duties.

    She cautioned them against engaging in bribery and corruption.

    Olofu said any form of illicit conduct would not be tolerated, and severe measures would be taken against those found guilty.

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    She gave the warning during a meeting with the State Marine Officers (SMOs), otherwise known as the field officers of the command, to strategise and implement effective measures to ensure safety and security along the waterways.

    According to a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP Ehinmode Rowland, the AIG emphasised the pivotal role of the Marine Police in safeguarding life and property within the marine environment and inland waterways, while stressing the need for officers to adapt to modern policing techniques by enhancing their knowledge and capacity.

  • Alleged bribery: Judge to move sick SAN’s trial to another courtroom

    A Lagos High Court in Igbosere Wednesday adjourned till May 30, to find a convenient courtroom to continue the ‘judge bribery’ trial of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Rickey Tarfa.

    Justice Adedayo Akintoye made the decision after being informed that Tarfa, who is recuperating from surgery, is – even on a wheelchair – unable to climb the staircase leading to her courtroom at the single-storey foyer of the high court complex.

    The judge reasoned with prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and defence counsel Mr Abiodun Owonikoko SAN, that Tarfa might be able to access a courtroom with minimal entry challenges, such as one on the ground floor.

    Tarfa is standing trial on a 26-count charge of offering gratification to two judges of the Federal High Court – Justices Hyeladzira Nganjiwa and Mohammed Yunusa, as well as justice perversion.

    The case has stalled since January 21, when Tarfa obtained leave of court to travel abroad for medical attention.

    Upon his return, the defendant was unable to move into the courtroom on March 11 and 19, because, according to his counsel, he had difficulty moving or sitting for long.

    At the commencement of proceedings yesterday, Tarfa was, yet again, not in the courtroom.

    Owonikoko informed the judge that the defedant was in his car downstairs but could not enter the courtroom due to the severity of his condition.

    He reminded the court that on March 19, he filed a medical recommendation from Tarfa’s doctors which stated that he required a minimum of three months medical leave to enable him recuperate.

    Owonikoko suggested that but for the trial, the defendant would have been confined to a bed.

    But Oyedepo observed that for the defendant to make the trip to court, there was a presumption that he could attend the trial.

    He lamented that the situation was foisting a delay on the proceedings.

    “If the defendant can manage himself to get here, I don’t think it will be out of place for him to come into the courtroom.

    “I want to plead with the defence that they should do the needful for him to appear in court. His movement from the car to this place should not be impossible,” Oyedepo said.

    Following the arguments, Justice Akintoye ordered the court registrar, Oyedepo and Owonikoko to go and verify that Tarfa was actually outside.

    They did and upon their return, Oyedepo confirmed that they found Tarfa seated in the back seat of a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).

    He said: “One part of his leg is about swollen, but he was seated. If it’s possible to come up, if we can get another venue that is downstairs, it might be possible to continue the trial.”

    But Owonikoko informed the judge that court access was not the primary problem.

    “He (Tarfa) can’t sit for too long, he has to be lying for the wound to heal properly,” the Silk said.

    Ruling, Justice Adedayo said: “We’ll look for a court that is downstairs and check if they can accommodate us. We’ll take two weeks (a two-week adjournment) during which we’ll look for a venue. If we find, the registrar will communicate a venue and time to the parties and we’ll come for trial.”

    She adjourned further proceedings till May 31.

    Tarfa was arraigned by the EFCC on March 9, 2016 and subsequently re-arraigned on November 16, 2016 on an amended charge.

    The anti-graft agency claimed that between June 27, 2012 and January 8, 2016, Tarfa paid a total of N5.3 million in several tranches into Justice Nganjiwa’s account.

    He was also accused of paying into Justice Yunusa’s account, N800,000 in three tranches between February 9 and November 30, 2015.

    The SAN was equally accused of age falsification.

    Tarfa pleaded not guilty and was granted bail on self-recognizance.

    The EFCC has since closed its case, following which Tarfa opened his defence after the court dismissed his no-case submission.

  • Bribery saga:Whistle-blower to appear before Committee

    The whistle-blower and witness in the $5m bribery allegation against the Kano state Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has given conditions to be physically  present and testify before the a seven–man Kano state House of Assembly investigative Committee.

    The conditions were given in a three page letter written on his behalf by his Counsel, Sa’idu Muhammad Tudunwada &Co dated November 4, 2018.

    Among the six conditions to be fulfilled is the physical presence of the Governor before the committee, not by proxy in tandem with transparency.

    After other conditions are met ,the panel shall convene a joint session comprising of the Governor, Jaafar Jaafar, the witness and Sheik Aminu Daurawa.

    The letter signed by Barr. Saeed Muhammad T/Wada and addressed to the investigative committee Chairman requested that all the video clips already in circulation shall be submitted to two Cinematographers and video imaging experts for analysis and reports.

    One of the expert should be an expatriate who shall be invited into Nigeria through the embassy of his country of residence whilst the second expert shall be an officer serving with the Department Of State Services (DSS).

    It also demands for the sitting be restricted to limited persons and that the witness should be allowed to wear mask, bear pseudo name and receive protection from authorities for himself , family and business undertaking.

    The Nation recalls that despite a court order issued last Monday 5th November by Justice A.T Badamosi directing the investigative committee to maintain status quo ante, the committee addressed a news conference on Tuesday, agreed to appear  before the court on Monday 12 November,2018.

    The committee said  the order was misunderstood as it did not ordered it to stop the investigation but rather maintain status quo.

  • EFCC arraigns INEC officials for alleged money laundering, bribery

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned three Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials at the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged money laundering and bribery.

    Gbadegun Abiodun, Oladipo Oladapo and Afolabi Albert were arraigned before Justice Chuka Obiozor on five counts of conspiracy to receive millions of naira in cash without going through a financial institution.

    EFCC said the three, on March 30, 2015, conspired to accept cash payment of N177.3 million without going through a financial institution.

    The commission said the offence of accepting cash payment exceeding N5 million violates Section 18 and is punishable under Section 16 (2) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended by the Act No 2, 2012.

    Abiodun, Oladapo and others at large were said to have used N22 million in April 2015, which they allegedly obtained through forgery, thereby violating Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Act.

    In Count Four, EFCC said Oladapo and others at large took possession of N3 million in cash from Abiodun, when he “reasonably ought to have known that the said N3 million was proceed of your unlawful activity to wit: bribery.”

    The prosecution further alleged that Oladapo and the others who are unnamed also took possession of N10 million through the United Bank for Africa (UBA) account of Bacole Multiconcerns Universal Limited operated by him.

    EFCC, through its prosecuting counsel, Mr. Ekene Iheanacho and G. C. Akaogu said Oladapo reasonably ought to have known that the money was paid as bribe.

    The alleged offence violated Section 18 (c) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the Money Laundering Act.

    The defendants, said to be attached to INEC in Osun State, pleaded not guilty to each of the counts.

    Defence counsel Dapo Esan pleaded that they be remanded in EFCC custody pending hearing of their bail application.

    He said they were well-treated by EFCC officials while in the commission’s custody.

    But Iheanacho said the facility was overstretched, adding that only those being investigated were kept in EFCC custody.

    Justice Obiozor ordered that the defendants be remanded in Ikoyi prison.

    He adjourned until August 7.

  • House flays $30,000 bribery allegations

    MEMBERS of the House of representatives yesterday threatened court action over a publication alleging that lawmakers of the House collected $30,000 dollars each not to override the veto of President Muhammadu Buhari on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

    In the interim, the Green Chamber has sent the matter to its Committee on Ethics and Privileges for investigations and advice on if it should commence with a court action and the nature of charges it should file.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to a point of order of privilege raised by Danburam Nuhu (APC, Kano) during plenary.

    The lawmaker, while moving the motion, said the allegation was capable of discrediting the House as an institution.

    He said: “I am beginning to worry that my constituents are now doubting my integrity.

    “I want the House to support this matter so that the House committee on Ethics and Privilege can investigate this matter, which is alleged to tarnish our images as members of Parliament.”

    House Leader Femi Gbajabiamla said the allegation was a slap on the face of members of the House, adding that rather than sending the matter to Ethics and Privilege Committee, it should be contested in a court of law.

    After debate on the motion, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, in his ruling insisted that the investigation should start from within.

  • 11 Saudi princes accused of bribery, embezzlement -official

    11 Saudi princes accused of bribery, embezzlement -official

    An official has said that bribery, embezzlement, money laundering and abuse of power are among accusations leveled against 11 Saudi princes.

    The official said that the 11 princes, four ministers and tens of former ministers were detained late on Saturday after King Salman decreed the creation of an anti-corruption committee chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

    The new body was given broad powers to investigate cases, issue arrest warrants and travel restrictions, and seize assets.

    The official said billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a nephew of the king and owner of investment firm
    Kingdom Holding , faces allegations of money laundering, bribery and extorting officials.

    Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, who was removed as head of the powerful National Guard, is accused of
    embezzlement, hiring ghost employees and awarding contracts to his own companies, including a 10 billion dollars deal for walkie-talkies and bulletproof military gear worth billions of Saudi royals.

    Former Riyadh Governor Prince Turki bin Abdullah is accused of corruption in the Riyadh Metro project and of taking advantage of his influence to award contracts to his own companies, the official said.

    The official said former Finance Minister Ibrahim al- Assaf, a board member of national oil giant Saudi Aramco, is accused of embezzlement related to the expansion of Mecca’s Grand Mosque.

    The official added that Al-Assaf was also accused of allegedly taking advantage of his position and inside information to benefit from land deals.

    The accusations could not be independently verified.

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  • Two admit illegal arms importation, bribery

    Two admit illegal arms importation, bribery

    •Defendants to plead guilty

    TWO men, who were arraigned by the Federal Government for importing arms and ammunition without authorisation, yesterday told the Federal High Court in Lagos that they committed the offence.

    Oscar Okafor and Donatus Achinulo, who were among five persons arraigned on June 14, told the court that they would change their plea from not guilty to guilty.

    The others are Mahmud Hassan, Mathew Okoye (at large) and Salihu Danjuma.

    They were accused of illegally importing double barrel short guns, pump action rifles and single barrel shotguns (firearms).

    They were arraigned on nine counts of conspiracy to illegally import prohibited firearms, “uttering” of forged documents, bribery and importation of prohibited goods.

    All the defendants pleaded not guilty at their arraignment.

    Justice Ayokunle Faji refused to grant them bail applications due to the gravity of the charges.

    Yesterday, Okafor and Achinulo (second and third defendants), who were represented by new counsel Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) and Mr. Paul Ananaba (SAN), said they would enter a guilty plea.

    Justice Faji directed them to notify the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) of their intention.

    Count one of the charge said the defendants “on or about January 21, 2017, at Apapa, Lagos conspired together to illegally import into Nigeria 661 pump actions rifles”.

    The prosecution said they brought the arms from Turkey through the Apapa Port in Lagos, using a 40-feet container, which they falsely claimed contained steel doors.

    The Federal Government said the defendants violated Section 98A (1) (b) of the Criminal Code Act by corruptly offering bribe to public officials on two occasions.

    It said Hassan offered N400,000 to Federal Operative Unit’s Examination Officers on January 21 at Apapa to prevent “100 per cent search” of the 40 feet container numbered PONU 825914/3, which they knew contained prohibited goods.

    The prosecution said Hassan on the same day, “corruptly gave the sum of N1million to government officials at the Apapa Port through one Danjuma Abdullahi in order to prevent search of your container by Customs officials which you knew contained 661 illegally imported pump actions rifles.”

    The defendants allegedly forged documents, such as a bill of lading, a Form M and a Pre-Arrival Assessment Report, in a bid to deceive the officials.

    According to the prosecution, in order to evade payment of Customs duty, the accused allegedly forged a bill of lading issued at Istanbul on January 9, 2017, claiming it was issued in Shanghai, China.

    The Federal Government also alleged that the defendants “illegally imported into Nigeria double barrel shotguns, pump action rifles and single barrel shotguns (firearms) between 2012 and 2016)”.

    Justice Faji adjourned until September 26.

  • LASU sacks ASUU leader, 16 others for alleged bribery, forgery, other offences

    LASU sacks ASUU leader, 16 others for alleged bribery, forgery, other offences

    The accusations and counter-accusations between the Management of the Lagos State University and the Chairman of the school’s branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Isaac Akinloye Oyewunmi, reached a climax yesterday with Oyewunmi’s dismissal by the authorities of the university.

    Also dismissed alongside Oyewunmi were 14 academic and two non-academic staff of the university, whose dismissals were ratified at the sitting of the Governing Council on Thursday.

    The dismissed staff of the university include Dr. Adebowale Adeyemi-Suenu, Senior Lecturer and Acting Head, Department of History and International studies; Mr Olatoye Mubin Raji, Assistant Lecturer, Department of Religions (Islamic Studies Unit); Dr. Olugbenro Bankole Odofin, Senior Lecturer, Department of Education Foundation and Counselling Psychology; Dr. Adebowale Adebayo Ademeso, Senior Lecturer, Department of Theatre Arts and Music; Dr. Scholastica Ebarefimia Udegbe, Lecturer 1, Department of Marketing and Dr. Olufemi Olugbenga Soyeju, Lecturer ll, Department of Jurisprudence and International Law.

    Others are Dr. Olawale Ganiyu Raimi, Senior Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry; Mr Ademola Olusola Adesina, Lecturer ll, Department of Computer Science; Dr. Shamisudeen Olusesan Badmus, Lecturer ll, Department of Accounting; Dr. Emmanuel Sesofia Asapo, Senior Lecturer, Department of Chemical and Polymer Engineering; Dr. Christiana Ibidun Obagbuwa, Lecturer ll, Department of Computer Science; Mr Lateef Babatunde Salami, Lecturer ll, Department of Microbiology; Olubukola Adetoun Oyeniya, Assistant Research Fellow, Centre for Environmental Sciences and Sustainable Development; Dr. Fatimat Oluwatoyin Bakare, Assistant Lecturer, Department of Chemical and Polymer Engineering; Mr Ramon Ajose Alli (former Head Machine Operator); Mr Emmanuel Baoku Babatunde, a Senior Security Officer and Mr Ernest Odili, an Assistant Security Officer.

    Their dismissal was contained in a statement signed by the university’s acting Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Adekoya, and made by available to The Nation.

    The allegations against the affected lecturers ranged from bribery, result/grades falsification and doctoring of certificates to defaulting on the conditions of their training leave bond and dishonesty, among others.

    Similarly, Dr. John Olufemi Adeogun, an associate professor, Department of Human Kinetics, Sports and Health Education, Faculty of Education, was demoted for “acts bordering on dishonesty,” while a non-teaching staff and senior security officer, Mr Emmanuel Baoku Babatunde, was also reduced in rank for “deliberate sabotaging of the university’s security operations.”

    The case of Oyewunmi, a senior lecturer in the Department of Human Kinetics, Sports and Health Education, had been on the table since November last year when the school’s management alleged that he collected a N50,000 bribe from 2003 modular year students of Political Science Education on the sandwich Programme.

    Oyewunmi, who until his dismissal yesterday was the ASUU-LASU chairman, denied it all.

    His case was to later polarise the rank and file of the union, with some pitting their tents with management others described it as victimisation of the union by management, using certain elements who were considered loyal to the immediate past administration which had a running battle with ASUU-LASU and other unions, but was eventually kicked out.

    However, the management said it premised its judgement on the integrity of the investigative panel as well as the individuals being given a fair hearing.

    “The Joint Council /Senate (Academic) Disciplinary Committee and the Joint Council (Administrative and Technical Staff) Disciplinary Committee which heard the cases strictly followed all laid down procedures, and duly gave opportunity to the individuals involved to defend themselves. The Lagos State University is poised to continue to quality assure its processes,” the statement further stated.

    The university’s branch of ASUU said yesterday that it was aware of the report and would make its pronouncement known at the appropriate time.

    ASUU-LASU Secretary, Dr Tony Dansu, said the union would keep mum on the issue for now.

     ”We are aware of the release, but we want to be silent for now.

    “We shall soon convene a meeting, and whatever is the outcome shall be made public through you. That I can assure you,” he said.

  • We are not corrupt – Police

    We are not corrupt – Police

    A report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in conjunction with National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and others had released a report titled “Corruption in Nigeria: Bribery: Public experience and response” Which has described police officers as the most corrupt.

    The report which was released Wednesday in Abuja indicated that police officers are the type of public officials to whom bribes are most commonly paid in Nigeria.

    The police ranked high with 46.4 percent while prosecutors ranked directly after them with 33.0 percent.

    Other public officials put into perspective are Judges and magistrates, tax and revenue officers, customs officers and public utilities officers.

    Reacting to the report, the Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood described the report as false.

    He also urged Nigerians to disregard the report noting that there is no way the Nigeria Police Force officials could be corrupt.

    He said: “I don’t think the UNODC are for such purpose. We have not seen such report and we cannot react to what we have not seen but what I know is that Nigeria Police Force is not corrupt.

    “Corruption is a personal thing and Nigeria Police Force is not a corrupt institution and it is not for anybody to have made such allegation.

    “The allegations are mischievous because it is not empirical and we distant ourselves from such and we want all Nigerians to condemn such.

    “In fact a lot of changes have been introduced into the Force to ensure that we are accountable to the people.

    “Such a report is unacceptable by the Force and we want everybody to disregard such because the Nigeria Police is not corrupt. The allegation is not empirical and it cannot stand any test or proof.  It is misleading.”