The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB)

  • Assets declaration: ‘Why CCB didn’t interview Saraki during investigation’

    Assets declaration: ‘Why CCB didn’t interview Saraki during investigation’

    …Trial resumes March 21

     

    The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) did not see the need to interview Senate President, Bukola Saraki while investigating the alleged inconsistencies in the various assets declaration forms Saraki submitted, a senior official of the bureau explained Thursday.

    Saraki has consistently claimed to have been denied fair hearing on the ground that he was not interviewed by the CCB on the alleged discrepancies in his assets declaration forms before he was charged before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    But, Thursday, CCB’s Head of Investigation Department, Samuel Madojemu explained that it was not a mandatory requirement that everyone being investigated by the CCB must be interviewed personally before charges are filed against such a person before the CCT.

    He said, in Saraki’s case, the CCB chose not to invite him for interview because his statement on oath as represented by his declarations in the various assets declaration forms he submitted to the CCB was sufficient.

    Madojemu spoke while being cross-examined as the third prosecution witness by Saraki’s lawyer and former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Kanu Agabi (SAN), at the resumption of proceedings yesterday in the Senate President’s trial before the CCT.

    “The defendant (Saraki) was not interviewed because he had already made his statement on oath in the form of his assets declaration form.

    As a matter of convention in the CCB, we usually invite subjects (those being investigated), but it is not compulsory. It is within the prerogative of the Chairman of the CCB to invite or not to invite,” Madojemu said.

    He also said Saraki was not the only former state governor investigated by the CCB.  Madojemu said he could not confirm if the team that investigated Saraki in 2006 interviewed him, because he (the witness) was not part of that team.

    The witness, who said he was a member of the team of investigators that investigated Saraki’s assets declaration claims in 2015, stated that the 2015 investigation was in furtherance of an earlier investigation conducted in 2006.

    He said the latter investigation was informed by complaint from the Federal Ministry of Justice, which found that report of the 2006 investigation scanty. He said he was not aware there was a petition to the CCB against Saraki.

    Madojemu said: “The 2015 investigation was informed by the need for further investigation of his claims in the assets declaration forms. I am not here to challenge the work of the 2006 investigation team, but to state that, based on the outcome of the investigation conducted by the 2006 team, which was found to be scanty; there was need for further investigation.”

    When Agabi sought to know who declared the 2006 report scanty, the witness said the EFCC reviewed the report and found that it did not cover all the years Saraki served in public offices and decided there was need for further investigation of all his assets declaration claims.

    On who directed the 2015 investigation, Madojemu said: “The complaint came from the Federal Ministry of Justice, arising from the investigation by the EFCC. From the complaint and intelligence supplied by the Federal Ministry of Justice, the CCB and EFCC decided to collaborate to ensure detailed investigation of the case.”

    The witness gave names of some members of the 2015 investigation team to include himself, Michael Wetkas (of the EFCC), Nura (EFCC), Samuel Yahaya (CCB), Peter Danladi (CCB) and Yahaya Bello (EFCC).

    The tribunal, which sat for less than two hours yesterday, has adjourned further hearing to March 21.

  • FG amends charge against Saraki

    FG amends charge against Saraki

    The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has insisted that it discovered discrepancies in the asset declaration forms submitted to it by the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.

    CCB’s senior official, Samuel Madojemu, who said this on Wednesday, disclosed that investigation revealed that Saraki failed to declare some assets contrary to the requirement of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal (CCB/T) Act.

    Madojemu, who is Head, Intelligence Unit of the CCB, spoke while testifying as the 3rd prosecution witness at the resumption of Saraki’s trial for false assets declaration before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    The witness also identified true copies of the asset declaration forms submitted to the CCB by Saraki. He confirmed them to be the same with the certified true copies (CTC) earlier tendered by the prosecution, which the defence claimed were fake.

    Led in evidence by the lead prosecution witness, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Madojemu said the Senate President declined to declare a property on 15 MacDonald Ikoyi in Lagos State which he allegedly acquired with N3000 million through Tiny-Tee, a company he also refused to declare at the end of his tenure as Kwara governor. 

    The witness, who came to the tribunal with certified true copies of Saraki’s assets declaration forms from 2003 to 2015, said he was part of the team that investigated Saraki’s case.

    CCB

    He disclosed that his team of investigators, which comprised intelligence officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and CCB. 

    Madujemu said: “One of the discrepancies we discovered has to do with false declaration and non-declaration of some assets and liabilities. 

    “MacDonald 15 was acquired at Ikoyi in Lagos in 2006, but it was not declared in the defendant’s end of tenure declaration form as governor,” the witness said.

    At that point, the lead defence lawyer, Kanu Agabi protested the continuation of trial on the existing 16-count charge when the prosecution had already filed an amended one of 18 counts.

    He sought for an adjournment to enable the defence study the new charge, a request Jacobs objected to, insisting that Saraki is made to plead to the new charge immediately to prevent a delay in proceedings.

    Ruling, Tribunal Chairman, Danladi Umar held in favour of the defence. He agreed with Agabi that the defence required time to study the new charge and prepare its defence.

    He adjourned to February 23 for Saraki’s re-arraignment and continuation of trial.

    The latest amendment to the charge against Saraki makes it the third time the prosecution would be effecting the amendment to its charge sine the case commenced in 2015. At inception, the charge had 13 counts, it was raised to16 counts, and now 18. 

  • Dickson orders appointees to declare assets

    Dickson orders appointees to declare assets

    …Receives lawmakers’ nod to engage 10 female advisers
    The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson has ordered his appointees to declare their assets in line with the expectations of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

    Dickson, who spoke while receiving his Certificate of Verification and Clearance from a Federal Commissioner in the CCB, Chief Stephen Bekefula, said his administration made the declaration of assets a state policy from inception in 2012.

    The governor in a statement signed Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the restoration government remained fully compliant with the policies and objectives of the CCB.

    Dickson said the people should be properly sensitised on the importance of declaring their assets, particularly the government appointees and civil servants.

    He said: “Since 2012, the government has made it a policy that before you are given an appointment, you must first declare your assets.  It is nothing unusual as I have done it severally before I became governor.

    “While I call on all appointees to be ready to for it, next year, probity will be the watchword, as every appointee will declare their assets before and after office”.

    Speaking, Bekefula explained that they were in the state to verify the properties of Dickson, deputy governor, secretary to the state government and the local government chairmen.

    He explained that, the code of assets declaration made it important for all political appointees to declare their assets, three months after the assumption of office.

    The Bayelsa State House of Assembly also approved the requests by Dickson’s to appoint 10 female special advisers and six commissioners into his cabinet.

    The approval came two weeks after the 24-member House granted the governor’s request to appoint 20 special advisers.

    The letter of request dated December 6, 2016 explained that the appointment of the 10 women was in the spirit of gender sensitivity and affirmative action.

    The House, presided over by Speaker Kombowei Benson, approved the request to engage the women with dispatch following a motion moved by Peter Akpe, Leader of the House, and seconded by Ingo Iwowari-Gold, a female member representing Nembe Constituency 2.

    But Benson said the House would screen the six commissioner-nominees on Friday this week.

    The nominated commissioners are, Mr. Austin Dressman, Mr. Erefagha Jonny Turner, Dr. Emomotimi Etebu, Mrs. Martha Jenakumo, Mrs. Ebiere Ajuwa Musah and Tamunobiere Oguoh.

    According to the letter the nominees were expected to fill some key vacancies in some ministries.

  • CCT to try 50 public officers in Akwa Ibom

    CCT to try 50 public officers in Akwa Ibom

    The trial of 50 public officers who allegedly breached the code of conduct ethics, in Akwa Ibom will take place between Dec. 6 and Dec. 9.

    This was disclosed by Mr Danladi Umar, Chairman, The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) , in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    According to him, the defendants comprise of ex-Special Advisers and Local Government Councillors that served between 2008 and 2009.

    According to him, two Clerks from Esit and Etim Local Governments will also be tried.

    “The tribunal’s itinerant session helps to clear up backlogs of cases in the zone within the period of the session.

    “It also makes legal services at the door step of the defaulters, particularly the low-ranking public officers and as well serves as a means of publicising the activities of the tribunal within the zone.

    “The essence is to further strengthen the relationship between CCT and the hosting state, whose infrastructure and other logistics would be used for the session,’’ he said.

    The tribunal is the enforcement and disciplinary arm of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

    All public officers in the Federal, State and Local Government levels are compelled by the Act of the bureau to declare their assets within the period of engagement.

    The tribunal recently convicted the former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, for breaching CCB Act, while the trial of the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, at the tribunal is ongoing.

  • Senators cancel visit to CCB over ‘poor reception’

    Senators cancel visit to CCB over ‘poor reception’

    Some Senators created a scene Tuesday at the Annexe III of the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja, when they suddenly aborted their visit to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

    The Senators, who are members of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, were said to have blamed their decision on ‘poor reception’ by officials of the CCB.

    The committee members had planned an oversight visit to the CCB.

    On learning that the Senators had arrived the secretariat complex, the CCB Chairman, Sam Saba was said to have sent his protocol officers to receive them.

    The protocol officers were also to lead the visiting officers to the fifth floor where the CCB office is located.

    It was learnt that on sighting the elated CCB protocol officers, the Senators, led by committee Chairman, Senator Sam Anyawu demanded to be received by the CCB Chairman in person.

    It was further learnt that the protocol officers told the visiting lawmakers that the CCB Chairman and some other members were already waiting at the bureau’s boardroom to receive the visitors.

    On hearing that the CCB boss would not come to the ground floor to receive them, the lawmakers elected to abort their visit in annoyance.

    They were said to have shunned all entreaty to them, returned to their vehicle and left the Secretarial complex.

    The Nation learnt that the power outage being experienced in the Secretariat complex for over three weeks now contributed to the reluctance of the CCB’s senior officials to come to the ground floor.

    Powers supply to most parts of the Federal Secretariat Complex is said to have been disconnected for about a month now owning to unpaid bills.

    A senior official of the CCB, who confirmed the development, told journalists who were invited to cover the visit, that the CCB boss insisted that he had been represented by the protocol team and that it was unnecessary for him to descend the stairs to the ground floor through the stair case.

    “We later tried to reach the senators’ contact person on phone but he did not answer our calls.

    “The CCB chairman also made calls to the chairman of the Senate Committee to no avail. The senator did not answer his calls,” the official said.

    Senator Anyanwu could not be reached on the telephone.

  • CCB Act amendment has nothing to do with Saraki’s trial – Ndume

    Senate Leader, Alhaji Ali Ndume, said amendment of Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) Act had nothing to do with ongoing trial of the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki.

    Reacting to the debate which the issue has generated among Nigerians, Ndume told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri on Tuesday that the National Assembly had no particular interest in the bill.

    “It is insulting on us to say that we are doing the bidding of Saraki, because laws are not made in retrospect.

    “If we make a law today, it cannot immediately invalidate the existing laws on the same issue,” he said.

    He said that the main concern of the National Assembly was to make the organization more effective in its functions.

    “The amendment focused mainly on two things: that is the age of the chairman of the CCB and the number of persons to be appointed as members of the bureau or the tribunal,” Ndume said.

    He added that other issues in the amendment of the Act were secondary to the main ones, pointing out that the Bill for the amendment “did not even emanate from the senate’’.

    “Nigerians should know that the bill emanated from the House of Representatives; our own duty was just to concur.

    “Since I became the Senate Leader of the 8th Assembly I made a proposition that all bills coming from the house must not be allowed to suffer set back, so, we look at those bills every Thursday for consideration,” he said.

    Ndume added that as far as he was concerned “there is no big deal in the bill; laws are not made for individuals.

    “The Senate President is Saraki, but Saraki is not the Senators’ president,” he stated.

    He cautioned that rather than criticize the bill blindly, Nigerians should look at its merit and other sides, in the interest of the country.

  • Assets declaration: CCB invites Adeosun, Emefiele, Fashola others

    Assets declaration: CCB invites Adeosun, Emefiele, Fashola others

    …Threatens to drag defaulters before CCT

     

    The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has invited some serving ministers and recently engaged public official over “issues” about the asset declaration requirements.

    It threatened to drag defaulters and those, who ignore its invitation for clearance to the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for prosecution.

    The CCB, in a statement by its Chairman, Sam Saba, said he has invited some serving Federal Ministers among others.

    They include Kemi Adeosun (Finance), Kayode Fayemi (Mine and Solid Minerals), Adebayo Shittu (Min. of Communication); Babatunde Fashola (Minister of Power, Works and Housing); Ibe Ikachukwu (Minister of State Petroleum); Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu (Minister of Science and Technology)

    Others are Mike Okiro (Chairman, Police Service Commission), Godwin Emefiele (CBN Governor), Abubakar Bawa Bwari (Minister of State Solid Minerals) and Rotimi Amaechi (Minister of Transport).

    Also invited are Sen. Aisha Alhassan (Minister Women Affairs and Social Development); Solomon Dalung (Minister of Youths & Sports Development); Udo Udoma (Minister Budget and National Planning); Gen. Dan Ali Mansur (Minister of Defence); Ibrahim Usman Jibril (Minister of State, Environment); Suleiman Adamu (Minister of Water Resources and Rural Development), Lai Muhammed (Minister of Information) and Mustapha Baba Shehuri (Minister of State Power).

    The CCB said it has also invited Prof. Claudius O, Daramola (Minister of State Niger Delta Affairs); Mrs. Hadiza Usman (MD. Nigeria Ports Authority); Ahmed Kuru (MD/CEO AMCON); Prof. Isaac F. Adewole (Minister of Health); Okechukwu Enelamah 9Minister of Trade Investment and Industry) and Geoffrey Onyema (Minister of Foreign Affairs).

    Part of the statement reads: “Pursuant to paragraph 11 of Part 1 of the 5th Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), every public officer is required to submit to the CCB a written declaration of all his properties, assets and liabilities and those of his/her spouse (if not a public officer) and his unmarried children under the age of eighteen years.

    “Any statement in such declaration that is found to be false by any authority or person authorized in that behalf to verify it shall be deemed to be a breach of this Code.

    “To this end, the Bureau has commenced its 2016 4th Quarter cycle of conference and Field verifications of assets of top public officers.

    “Accordingly, letters of invitation have been dispatched to Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Service Chiefs and other top Public Officers.

    “Those invited are: Ntom Chukwu (DIG NPF),Folunsho A. Adebanjo (DIG NPF), Abdul Bube (AIG NPF), Solomon Arase (IGP-Former), Rear Admiral Joseph Osa .O. (Commandant Operation Delta Safe); Major General M.A. Koleoso (GOC Tradoc);   Mr. Joshak Habila (DIG NPF) and Emmanuel T. Inyang (DIG NPF).”

    Also invited are “Abubakar Malami  (Min. of Justice and Attorney General  of the Federation); Barr. Adebayo Shittu (Min. of Communication);  Maigari Abbati Dikko (DIG NPF); Hyacinth M. Dagala (DIG NPF); Dr. Chimaobi Odunze (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission); Dr. Hamnadu Babanka M. (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commision); Amb. Toye Olofintuyi (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission) And Prof. Aminu Diyo Sheidu  (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission).”

    Others are Dr. Jonah Madugu  (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission); Alh. Rafiu Babatunde Tanibu  (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission); Alh.Alhassan Usman Sokodabo (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission); Engr. Anebi Joselh Garba ( C.G Federal Fire Service); Gen Abayomi G. Olanishakin ( Chief of Defence Staff); Shuaibu Gambo (DIG NPF); AVM Abubakar Baba Sadique ( Chief of Air Staff) and Muhammad Gana Abdullahi ( C.G MSCDS).

    The CCB’s invitation is also extended to Babatunde Muhammed ( C.G Immigration);  Vice Admiral Ibas Ekwe Ibok ( Chief of Naval Staff); Audu Ogbeh ( Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development); Prof. Anthony Anwukah ( Minister of State, Education); Brig. Gen. Sale Kazaure (D.G NYSC); Kashim Tumash ( Ex. Sec, Nig Sao-Tome & Principle Joint Dev. Authority); Maikanti Baru ( G.M.D NNPC) and Chief Joseph Olorunfemi Akande ( Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission).

    Others include Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Agatta  (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission), Alh. Yahaya Yusuf  (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission), Alh. Ibrahim Mohammed  (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission), Mr. Ben Akabueze ( D.G, Budget and National Planning), Ibrahim Umaru ( M.D NDIC), Prof. Abubakar Adamu ( Ex. Secretary NUC), Mr. Simon James Etim  (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission); Adio Onibiyo Waziri (Ex. Sec NEITI); Mrs. Chinelo Anohu Amazu (D.G. PENCOM); Osagie Ehanire (Minister of State, Health) and Pastor Usani Uguru Usani (Minister of Niger Delta Affairs).

    Also included in the list are Mrs. Oyo Ita Ekanem (Head of Civil Service of The Federation), Anibor Kragha (GED. NNPC Refineries), Saidu Mohammed (GED, NNPC Gas and Power), Muhammadu Bello (Minister FCT), Sen. Hadi Sirika (Minister of State Aviation), Hajiya Khadija Bukar (Minister of State Foreign Affairs), Olusegun Awolowo (ED/CEO Export Promotion Council NEPC), Bello Rabiu (GED NNPC Downstream), Sen. Chris Ngige Minister of Labour and Employment) and  Heineiken Lokpobiri (Minister of State Agriculture and Rural Development).

    Saba said the: “This exercise is ongoing and is being carried out concurrently at the Federal, State and Local Government levels.

    “At a satisfactory completion of the exercise, Public Officers are issued with certificate of Assets Conference Verification/Field Verification as the case maybe.

    “CCB however, commends those public officers, who honoured its invitations promptly and submitted themselves for the exercise, among whom are: Anyim Pius Anyim – (former SGF), Abdulrahman Dambazau (Minister of Interior), Zainab Ahmed Shamsuna (Minister Budget & National Planning), Aisha Abubakar (Minister Trade, Investment & Industry (State) ); Prof. Yakubu Mahmood ( INEC Chairman); Prof. Julius A. Okojie – Former (Executive Secretary NUC ) and Malam Adanu Adamu (Minister of Education).

    Also commended are Ekpendu Ezenwa Peter – Former (Controller General of Prisons), Semenitari Mary –Gab Tamunoibim (Ag. MD/CEO NDDC), Lt. Gen. Buratai Tukur Yusufu ( Chief of Army Staff), Rtd. Col. Ibrahim Ahamed Ali ( CG Customs), Ibrahim K. Idris (Inspector General of Police), Boboye Oyeyemi (Corps Marshall FRSC); Amina Mohammed (Minister of Enviroment) and Hope Odhuluma Ikrirko (Fed. Commissioner Civil Service Commission).

    The statement added that “All invited public officers are, to note that failure to honour the invitation by CCB in this regard is a breach of the provisions of the constitution and could lead to prosecution at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

    “Public officers not yet invited are to await their letters of invitation.”

  • Saraki lied in his 2003 asset declaration – witness

    Saraki lied in his 2003 asset declaration – witness

    The trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki for false asset declaration continued Wednesday with the prosecution witness insisting that the defendant lied in the asset declaration form he submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in 2003.

    The witness, Michael Wetkas, who had been subjected to over seven days of intense drilling in cross-examination by the defence team, insisted Wednesday that Saraki made anticipatory asset declaration in 2003 in respect of some landed property he acquired in 2006 in Ikoyi, Lagos.

    Wetkas, a detective with the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) had been differently subjected to cross examination by many senior lawyers recruited by Saraki, inluding former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Kanu Agabi (SAN), Paul Usoro (SAN) an Paul Erokoro (SAN), but he has been consistent that investigation revealed that Saraki made false asset declaration.

    Wednesday, while again, being cross-examined by Usoro, Wetkas said his investigation team relied on information provided by the Presidential Implementation Committee on the Allienation of Federal Government Properties which sold off the property in question on behalf of the Federal Government in 2006.

    Wetkas said the presidential committee informed his team that it did not have on its record, 15 A and B, Mcdonald Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, as declared by Saraki in his 2003 asset declaration form.

    He said contrary to Saraki’s claim, the committee identified the property it sold as No.15, and Block 15, Flat 1 to 4, Mcdonald Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    Wetkas noted that, Saraki, on assuming office as Kwara State governor in 2003, declared that he acquired  15A and B, Mcdonald Road, Ikoyi, Lagos in 2000, whereas, the presidential committee wrote to his investigative team that it sold 15, Mcdonald Road, Ikoyi, Lagos to Saraki through his company, Tiny Tee Limited, in 2006.

    “The only authority that we could refer to was the presidential committee or the Lagos State Land Registry or the Presidential Implementation Committee. The other letters referred to by them (Saraki’s lawyers) were by private individuals.

    “We relied on the document from the Presidential Implementation Committee which said they only had 15, Mcdonald Road and Block 15, Flat 1 to 4, Mcdonald Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, which was occupied by another lessee.

    “We relied on the numbering of the properties by the presidential implementation committee and they stated that 15, Mcdonald Road, Ikoyi was sold to Tiny-Tee.  That was the strength of our conclusion,” the witness said.

    Wetkas said he did not physically inspect the property at 15, 15A and B, Mcdonald Road, Ikoyi, but ylthat other members of his investigative team did, and that they are in a better position to tell th tribunal what they found.

    On why he did not personally visit Mcdonald Road, Ikoyi, Wetkas said he needed not to because the letter from the Presidential Implementation Committee to his team had clarified issues on the existence o otherwise o th property.

    “There was no need for me to ask the implementation committee to take me to the properties. The letter clarified that there were only two properties as 15 and Block 15, Flats 1 to 4,” the witness said.

    Wetkas confirmed that the asset at 15, Mcdonald Road, Ikoyi, was at various times offered to a company, Energy Marine Resources and occupant of the house, Mr. Virtus Nwosu.

    The witness also confirmed that it was eventually sold to Saraki’s company.

    Usoro confronted Wetkas with documents on the property which were obtained from the presidential committee and tendered as exhibits, to fault the prosecution’s case.

    The lawyer said the property described as 15 A and B, Mcdonald Road, Ikoyi, in Saraki’s asset declaration form of assumption of office in 2003, was not the same as the one described as 15, Mcdonald Road, Ikoyi, by the presidential committee.

    Usoro noted that the property as described by the presidential committee was also not the same described by Saraki in his asset declaration form of July 11, 2007, made after the Senate President ended his first term in office as governor.

    Saraki’s asset declaration form which he submitted on assumption of office in 2003 (Exhibit 3), did not give a picture of the property he claime to have on  15A and B, Mcdonald Road, Ikoyi, but the form he submitted on July 11, 2007 after he completed his first term as governor described 15A as a five-bedroom house and 15B as an undeveloped plot.

    A different document, identified by Usoro as Exhibit 14 – a report of the EFCC on Saraki’s assets in 2006 – provided a different description of the property.

    On the request by Usoro, Wetkas read from th document, to the effect that the property identified as 15A and B Mcdonald, Ikoyi were verified. “While the property at 15A is a big one, painted and fenced, the other one at 15 is unpainted and lacks character, although it is also fenced. The properties are residential and belong to the declarant (Saraki).”

    In yet a differnt document, which Usoro again, asked Wetkas to read, 15 Mcdonald, was described as a four-bedroom house.

    Wetkas confirmed that none of those descriptions fitted in with the description of 15 A and B Mcdnald in Exhibit 3, which was the end of tenure asset declaration form made by Saraki in 2007

    He insisted “they are not the same but that is immaterial to me. My understanding is that when you buy a property you can expand it.”

    Usoro disagreed, insisting that 15B described as an undeveloped plot in Exhibit 3 could never have been such property that was later expanded after it was purchased.

    Further hearing has been fixed for May 17.

     

  • CCB/CCT Act’s amendment: Attempt by the senate to shield corruption, says cleric

    CCB/CCT Act’s amendment: Attempt by the senate to shield corruption, says cleric

    The presiding Bishop, Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Dr. Francis Wale Oke, has condemned the planned amendment by the Senate of the Act establishing the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

     

    The cleric described the amendment as an attempt to shied corruption, fight the presidency and legislature.

     

    Bishop Oke stated this while addressing journalists at the Garden of Victory, the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Ibadan.

     

    “The move to amend it is not in the best interest of Nigeria and the anti-graft war of President Muhammadu Buhari. Amending it will render CCB use and make it a toothless bulldog. The senate should not just tell the nation they are fighting corruption, but should prove it beyond all reasonable measure by joining hand with other arms of government.

     

    “This move shows that they are working against the present administration of President Buhari’s war against corruption. The legislature are now seen as confronting the judiciary also. It will be unjust to render CCB useless because one of them  is facing the CCB. They should not drag all the senate into an amendment that will drag the country backward. Amending the CCB act shows that the senate is self-centred. Even if the act is not perfect, this is not the best period to amend it.” he said

     

    According to the cleric, the senate should drop the plan to amend the act and save the credibility and integrity of the hollow chamber.

     

    He went further:” I believe that the senate has better things to do than the issue of amending the CCB acts. We still have the issue of the budget details, missing Chibok school girls, child trafficking issue and more productive matter to deliberate upon.

     

    “God will not allow it to pass through because they are only planning to amend it because some of them has been caught in the CCB Web. This move even looks as if they are trying to formalise corruption and history will hold them accountable if they do so. They should have the fear of God. God doesn’t support corruption and will stop them”

     

    Bishop Oke who appealed to the senate in the name of God, implored the senate to drop the move to amend the act, and work together with the presidency, judiciary to fight against corruption.