The Nation Newspaper

Tag: denies

  • Ogbulafor denies responsibility for kinsman’s conduct

    Former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Vincent Ogbulafor yesterday distanced himself from the alleged fraudulent conduct of his kinsman and ex-Secretary, Secretary of the National Economic Intelligence Agency (NEIC), Emeka Ebilah.

    He admitted that Ebilah, who hails from Abia State like him and whose appointment to NEIC board he facilitated, donated N2million to his campaign fund while he campaigned for the position of the National Secretary of the PDP.

    Ogbulafor, a former Special Duties Minister, spoke yesterday while being cross-examined at his trial before Justice Ishag Bello of the Abuja High Court.

    He is being tried with Ebilah on charges of conspiracy and award of fictitious contracts to the tune of N107million. They are being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

    Under cross-examination by prosecution lawyer, Marcus Abu, Ogbulafor admitted nominating Ebilah for appointment as NEIC board member, but denied being instrumental to his emergence as the body’s Secretary.

    When asked if he knew what Ebilah’s salary was to have enabled him make a N2million donation to his (Ogbulafor’s) campaign, the ex-PDP leader denied knowledge.

    “The N2million he donated was in support of my campaign. Others donated vehicles and took them back after the campaign. When he gave me the money I did not know where it was coming from because it is campaign fund.”

    He also washed his hands off any allegation of misconduct against Ebilah, saying he only recommended Ebilah for appointment and can not be held responsible for his conduct. He said Ebilah should be able to account for his deeds.

    When asked if he trusted Ebilah, Ogbulafor said he knew him (Ebilah) from his community having contested election for the Senate and believed that he must have been a person of good reputation to have been allowed by his community to contest election at that level.

    Ogbulafor admitted knowing Chris Nwoke, who the prosecutor said paid money into the ex-PDP leader’s bank account, an allegation he denied.

    He admitted that the President, while he was the Special Duties Minister, directed him to reconstitute a Renegotiated Debt Committee of the NEIC that renegotiated the debt by the Federal Government to contractors.

    He also admitted that his ministry identified and advised the contractors to be paid by the government.

    Ogbulafor ended his testimony yesterday, following which the trial judge adjourned to July 15 for Ebilah to testify.

  • Presidency denies buying jet for CAN President

    Presidency denies buying jet for CAN President

    The Presidency yesterday denied the allegation by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) that President Goodluck Jonathan bought a private jet for President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, as a reward for his support during the 2011 presidential election.

    CPC’s Spokeman Rotimi Fashakin said that following the spontaneous violent reaction in parts of the North to the outcome of the 2011 presidential election won by Dr. Jonathan, Pastor Oritsejafor, demanded the arrest of Gen Muhammadu Buhari.

    “As a fitting reward for that execrable service and many others, Pastor Oritsejafor was rewarded on 10th November, 2012 with the gift of a Bombardier Private jet at a ceremony in which the President was physically present,” Fashakin claimed.

    But reacting to the allegation yesterday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati said that it was a product of an unimaginative mind.

    According to him, it was a rambling statement that serves no purpose.

    He said: “The statement by Rotimi Fashakin of the CPC is a thoroughly incoherent, stream of consciousness rambling that serves no purpose other than that it fits into a pattern of perpetual heckling and wolf crying by a defeated, unimaginative group that hides under the guise of being an opposition.”

    “More discerning persons know the truth: that the CPC and its ACN conspirators will say anything no matter how unreasonable just so they can be seen to be saying something in the name of politics.”

    “The Jonathan administration remains resolutely committed to the pursuit of the transformation agenda and will not be distracted or discouraged by those who in hustling for relevance have chosen to place their selfish interests before and above the national interest,”Abati said.

  • Okonjo-Iweala’s father denies kidnap suspect’s claims

    Okonjo-Iweala’s father denies kidnap suspect’s claims

    Father of the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, Prof Chukwuma Okonjo, yesterday denied a claim by a former aide in his palace, Chiejine Onochie, that he was owed salaries.

    Onochie was arrested in connection with the kidnap of the minister’s mother, 82-year-old Prof. Kamene Okonjo.

    The suspect had claimed he was part of the alleged kidnap conspiracy because he was owed salaries.

    But the monarch, through his spokesman Law Okolobi, said in a statement that the suspect lied.

    The monarch praised the effort of security agencies in investigating the kidnap, but said he felt compelled to react to “some of the self-serving lies which the main suspect told the media when he and his accomplices were recently paraded by the police.”

    He said Onochie was dismissed from the palace for alleged stealing.

    The fact that he went on to become a kidnap suspect, the monarch said, speaks volumes about his character.

    “These lies are obviously designed to put a positive gloss on the serious crimes they committed by abducting and brutalising an 82-year-old woman for five whole days.

    “For instance, the suspect claimed that Mrs. Okonjo was fed generously while she was in captivity. This is pure falsehood.

    “She was given nothing to eat throughout the period and only survived by the special grace of God.

    “Were it not for the prayers of Nigerians and the quick medical attention she received after she was freed, the story could have ended tragically,” Prof Okonjo said.

    According to the monarch, the kidnapping was no ordinary criminal act.

    “God will reveal the truth in due course,” the statement added.

  • Lagos denies ‘plan’ to seize fire victims’ land

    Lagos denies ‘plan’ to seize fire victims’ land

    Victims of the Jankara Market fire in Lagos have accused agents of the state government of attempts to seize their land.

    They spoke on Wednesday before the Panel of Enquiry sitting on Lagos Island.

    A fire occurred in the market last December when fireworks stored in a building at No. 45, Ojo-Giwa Street, exploded.

    Some of the victims alleged that the Lagos State Urban Renewal Authority (LASURA) and Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) were trying to frustrate the panel.

    But LASURA General Manager Kehinde Benedict denied attempts to seize the victims’ land.

    He said the state was only proposing to redesign the area to comply with the original plan.

    Benedict said: “We are not forcing them to release their land to us. We want to plan with them to improve their economic base and improve the aesthetics of the area.”

    The victims alleged that the agencies met with them after the tribunal was inaugurated.

    Their lawyer, Olawale Ajiya, tendered copies of letters from the agencies to attend meetings at the Old Secretariat, Ikeja.

    The letters, dated March 12 and March 27, directed the victims to come to the meeting with photocopies of documents of the affected property.

    In their testimonies, some of the victims alleged that the agencies urged them to give their land to the government.

    Ajiya said: “When a tribunal set up by the state government and headed by a retired judge is presiding over a matter and the matter has not been concluded, why should government officials representing various ministries, including the Ministry of Justice, be meeting with the victims in a private place and threatening them to part with their land? It is a serious matter.

    “This is an insult to the tribunal. What the state agencies are doing is to prejudice the outcome of the tribunal. They are also wasting the state’s resources.

    “If the government does not need the tribunal, why ask the victims to appear before it? We have minutes of the meetings where our clients were told to submit their land. The agency said the land owners would not be allowed to rebuild their land individually and would have to go through a recommended developer.”

    Ajiya urged Governor Babatunde Fashola to investigate the matter and assure the victims that they would not be dispossessed or restricted in the use of their land.

    Benedict said no land would be seized.

    Speaking with The Nation, he said: “The state government is not asking them to forfeit their property. If you go to the site, you will see that each plot is on a small piece of land.

    “I have photocopies of the Daily Times of 1961, where it was reported that the colonial master then in charge of Lagos Colony wanted to redesign the place. The government acquired the entire area for redevelopment as early as 1951.

    “Nobody wants a disaster to happen, but since it has happened, this is an opportunity for us to plan with the owners and give them back nothing less than their original number of square metres.

    “We have held consultative meetings with them. Why continue to build on what we wanted to do away with since 1951? We are not acquiring anything and are not forcing them to release their land to us.

    “Now that the place is burnt, nobody is occupying it. This is an opportunity to survey the area and demolish the burnt buildings, which have been tested and found to be structurally defective. We do not want any building to collapse on anybody.

    “The government and each family will decide on what to build there. This is an opportunity to build commercial ventures, redesign the area, improve roads and put facilities in place. It is a win-win situation.”

    Fashola inaugurated the tribunal on February 18 to find out the immediate and remote causes of the fire and recommend how to avoid a recurrence.

    The panel is headed by Justice Sunday Ishola (rtd.). A Chief State Counsel, Mrs. Olubunmi Fagbayi, is the secretary.

    Members include a Special Adviser in the Lagos State Office of Infrastructure and Asset Management, Mr. Olokunola Wasiu and Founding Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Legal Practice (SLP) Mr. Richard Ahonaruogho.

  • Okwu denies insulting Ojukwu

    Factional National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Maxi Okwu yesterday called on Igbo elders to caution the embattled national chairman, Victor Umeh, “against his penchant to blackmail anybody who differs with him.”

    He spoke to reporters in Enugu while reacting to a statement credited to Umeh that he (Okwu) should apologise for insulting Ojukwu.

    Umeh accused Okwu of describing the late APGA Leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, as an “extremist”, during the APGA convention in Awka, Anambra State, on Monday.

    Okwu said he wondered why Umeh should attribute falsehood to people.

    He said: “I hereby call on his people to apologise on what was clearly falsehood, as I never at any point called Ojukwu an extremist or used an abusive word against him.”

    He insisted that Umeh, “from the manner he talks and the way he behaves these days, needs an assemblage of Igbo elders to talk sense into him and restrict him from attacking anyone who disagrees with him.”

    Speaking further, Okwu said Umeh should allow the spirit of Ojukwu to rest in peace instead of invoking it at any given time to attract public sympathy.

    He begged Igbo elders to explain to him that the dead, especially people of Ojukwu’s calibre, deserve some respect.

    Okwu said as the new chairman of APGA, one of his cardinal points is reconciliation.

    He said he had led a team of APGA chieftains to visit the founder of the party, Chekwas Okorie.

    “And from our discussion, one could see that Chekwas Okorie has the political interest of Igbo people at heart, but everything about Umeh is selfishness,” Okwu added.

  • Rector denies N4.5m call-up letters’ fraud

    The Rector of the Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi, Mr. Dauda Gyemang, has denied the rumoured sale of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) call-up letters totalling N4.5millioon to its 2012 graduates.

    The denial followed allegations by some parents that the polytechnic authorities defrauded about 900 students, who graduated from the school in 2012 session, of N5,000 each before collecting their call- up letters.

    Mr. Gyemang, who confirmed the payment of N5,000, said: “Money is involved. But this does not mean the school is selling call-up letters. The polytechnic is making the students to pay N5,000 before collecting their NYSC call-up letters because it has already paid N4,500 to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on their behalf.

    “The money was paid to JAMB for the regularisation of the students’ matriculation numbers. The N5,000 we collected is not meant for the polytechnic. Some of the students had paid earlier. But for those who could not do so, the school paid on their behalf and we have to collect the money from them when they want to collect their NYSC call-up letters.

    “The cost of regularising a student’s matriculation number with JAMB is N4,500. The polytechnic is charging the students N500 extra to take care of bank charges and transport fare to the JAMB head office in Abuja.”

    Some parents of the affected students had cried out that their children were being compelled to pay N5,000 before collecting their NYSC call-up letters.

    One of the parents in Jos told The Nation that his son paid N5,000 before collecting his call-up letter, with no receipt to back up such payment.

    He said: “When we got information that the call-up letters from the headquarters of the NYSC were ready, my son went to the school to pick his own, but was turned back because he had no money to pay and the school authority insisted he would not get the call-up letter unless he paid.

    “When my son returned to the school with the amount, they directed him to pay into Highland Micro-finance Bank in Bukuru and bring back the teller as a proof. He was not given any explanation why they collected the money. This is why I suspect a foul play.”

  • Army denies killing varsity students

    Army denies killing varsity students

    The Army has denied that soldiers were involved in the killing of four students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi during a protest on Monday. The protesting students were allegedly shot dead by soldiers who were reportedly invited to the scene by the school authorities.

    The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, at a briefing yesterday, said it took the combined efforts of the Army’s 177 Guards Battalion troops with other security operatives to disperse the rampaging students.

    Gen. Attahiru said: “On February 25, students of the Nasarawa State University came out en masse and barricaded the Keffiyeh- Akwanga Expressway, which is part of the 177 Guards Battalion patrol routes.

    “This road was blocked with logs of wood and burning tyres, which hampered vehicular movement, leaving travellers stranded for hours. Vehicles were vandalised by the violent crowd.

    “It was also reported that the irate crowd looted travellers’s belongings and threw stones, bottles and metal objects at the security operatives on the scene of the incident. However, it is believed that the protest was hijacked by some hoodlums and cult memos, who are students of the university.

    “As a result, the violent crowd burnt down two vehicles at the police station located near the campus and seized a tanker loaded with fuel with the intention of burning down the station.

    “The combined efforts of the 177 Guards Battalion troops with other security operatives prevented the hoodlums from carrying out this act. The violent action of the crowd led to three soldiers sustaining injuries, following the stones, bottles and metals thrown at them.

    “It is important to note that the combined efforts of the troops, in conjunction with other security agents, assisted in dispersing the crowd and removing the blockades from the road to ease the movement of vehicles.

    “At present, law and order have been restored to the area and our troops are monitoring the security situation.”

    The police yesterday said they have begun investigation into the circumstances that led to the killing of students of the Nasarawa State University, during the Monday protest.

    Police spokesman Michael Ada told The Nation on the phone that the police had begun investigation into what he called “the circumstance that led to the killing of the students.”

    He said the police report showed that some protesters on that day hurled stones at the soldiers deployed to quell the protest.

    Ada noted that the police could not say whether there were shootings. He confirmed that two students were killed during the protest.

    He said the police had invited the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Shamsudeen Amali, Chief Security Officer, Mr. John Aboh and some students to make statements that would aid investigation.

    Ada said the police would write a report from the investigation and send it to the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

    “Police action on the killing allegation will depend on the advice of the DPP,” he added.

    But the university spokesman, Jamil Zakari, said on the phone that he was not aware of any police invitation to his boss. He said the VC had returned from Lafia where he presented the report of the incident to the Deputy Governor, Dameshi Barau Luka. The Leader of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) in the university, Comrade Rabiu Omame Tijani, told The Nation that he was not aware if the police had begun investigation into the killing.

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called for the removal of the Commandant of the 177 Guard Battalion over the killing of Nasarawa State University students.

    It also declared Governor Tanko Almakura a persona non-grata.

    Speaking yesterday in Lafia, the National President of NANS, Yinka Gbadebo, represented by his deputy, Comrade Ahmed Jibrin, demanded the release of the students arrested by security operatives during the crisis, saying their bail money should be returned to them.

    NANS is also demanding the probe of the incident that led to the killing of the students. It said it is stopping cooperation with the government until their demands are met.

    “We hereby declare the suspension of cooperation with the government and declare Governor Tanko Almakura a personal non-grata at all public functions until those culpable are brought to book,” NANS said.

    The association said the families of the slain students should be compensated, and government should foot the hospital bills of the hospitalised students.

  • Iran denies operating spy cell in Nigeria

    Iran denies operating spy cell in Nigeria

    Iran yesterday denied allegations by Nigeria that it had trained militants arrested in Nigeria on planning attacks on U.S. and Israeli targets in the country.

    Deputy Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, said such allegations were “made up as the result of the ill will of the enemies of the two countries’ good relations,” Iranian state television reported.

    “Iran and Nigeria have friendly and close relations, and despite the vast efforts of the two countries’ enemies in recent years relations and co-operations have always improved,” he said.

    The State Security Service (SSS) said on Thursday it had arrested Abdullahi Mustapha Berende and two other Nigerians in December after Berende made several suspicious trips to Iran, where he interacted with Iranians in a “high-profile terrorist network”.

    It said Berende and his Iranian handlers were involved in “grievous crimes” against Nigeria’s national security.

    Berende, who will now be charged in court, told reporters at the Nigerian secret service’s headquarters on Wednesday that he had carried out surveillance for the Iranians.

    In 2004, Israeli sources said an Iranian diplomat was arrested on suspicion of spying on the Israeli embassy in Abuja. Tehran denied any arrest.

    In 2010, authorities at the Tin Can ports in Lagos found a hidden shipment of rockets, rifle rounds and other weapons from Iran, supposedly bound for The Gambia. A Nigerian and an Iranian face criminal charges over the shipment.

  • Terrorism: Suspected Al-Qaeda member denies evidence by SSS

    Terrorism: Suspected Al-Qaeda member denies evidence by SSS

    A Suspected member of Al-Qaeda, Mohammed Suleiman Ashafa, has denied a statement tendered in evidence against him by the State Security Service (SSS).

    He is arraingned before Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over allegations of being a member of the group and also involved in training members in terrorism.

    At the resumed trial yesterday, Ashafa insisted that the statement, though carrying his signature, didnt emanate from him.

    Speaking through an interpreter when asked by his lawyer, N.CNwachukwu to verify the statement before the court, Ashafa said: “I wrote my statement in Hausa language while the present document is in English and I do not understand English”.

    The accused who told the court that he deals on Islamic books, told the court how he was forced by some officers of the SSS at gunpoint to sign the present statement carrying his signature.

    “I was tortured, humiliated, severely beaten, and was striped naked by SSS officials in their bid to make me succumb and sign their own version of the statement. One of them even held my manhood and was mocking it “ Ashafa told the court.

    He went on: “When I refused to sign the statement written in English language, a superior officer brought out a pistol and threatened to shoot me dead if I refuse to sign the document. After the torture and treatment metted out on me, at that point, I had to sign in protest”.

    Answering questions from the prosecution counsel, Thompson Olatigbe, the accused said he has been with the SSS since 2003 till 2006, when he was charged to court.

    Ashafa admitted before the court that he wrote two statements in Hausa language on two occasions he was questioned by the SSS in relation to the statement he was opposed to.

    More so, he maintained that, “This document shown to me in court today is not my statement”.

    Justice Adamu Bello granted Ashafa’s counsel 10 days to file a written address in trial within trial just as he gave the prosecuting counsel, two days to reply the said address.

    The matter was adjourned till March 25, when both parties are required to adopt their written addresses.

  • Ojora denies ordering demolition of property

    The Ojora of Ijora, Lagos, Oba Abdulfatai Oyeyinka Aremu Aromire, has denied media reports that he ordered the demolition of a building on Alhaja Adebowale Street, in Orile-Iganmu area of Lagos, belonging to Chief Fasasi Olorunlogbon.

    Oba Ojora, in a statement stated that all claims contained in the reports “are wild lies without any basis of truth in them in any way material. Contrary to the allegations, there is no subsisting suit between me and Chief Olorunlogbon over any property in Iganmu or any other place.”

    He said even though Ojora family possesses court orders for demolition, he has refrained from pulling down any building.

    He argued that the alleged property or piece of land in question belonged to Ogunyaya Family of Aloko Compound, Orile-Iganmu, which, according to documentary evidence, has been assigned to Mr. Ganiyu Agbo-Ola since April 30, 2006 with necessary legal documentation of the transaction as indicated on a Deed of Assignment.

    “I do have any contest over the Alhaja Adebowale Street, Orile-Iganmu property with him or any group or individual. Therefore, I could not have sponsored a demolition where I do not have any interest or proterty; whether in contest or not,” Oba Ojora said.

    “It is, therefore, surprising that anyone would associate me with a demolition that I do not know anything about. So, for the purpose of emphasis, I did not authorise the demolition of any property belonging to Chief Olorunlogbon.”