The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

  • Jonathan’s ex-aide, senator linked to Iwu’s N1.2b cash

    DETECTIVES are probing how a former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Maurice Iwu, got the N1.230 billion he allegedly disbursed to influence the 2015 general election.

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigators have discovered that the cash was paid through an aide of former President Goodluck Jonathan, and an oil magnate, into an account traced to Iwu’s firm.

    One of them gave N758 million while the other paid N445 million into the firm’s account whose only signatory is the former INEC chief.

    Six other suspects are under EFCC probe in connection with the poll bribery cash.

    A former senator from the Southwest, who played a role in the constitutional conference organised by former President Goodluck Jonathan, received about N170 million but denied that it was a bribe. He told investigators that he executed a job for Iwu who paid him for his services.

    The EFCC has launched a probe into the deal between them.

    It was learnt that Iwu allegedly created a group in 2014 made up of past directors of INEC who served in the Southwest.

    The co-opted directors served in Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Lagos states with the mandate to monitor the 2015 elections.

    Members of the group were found to have benefited from the N1.230 billion largesse which was allegedly shared by the former INEC chair.

    A brief on the plot by Iwu and others reads in part: “Iwu transferred funds to the retired INEC directors as well as others who were involved in the election from his account to which he is the sole signatory.

    “Analysis of the account showed that several suspicious deposits were made by Buraeu De Change firms into the account.

    Read Also: APC chieftain slams Jonathan’s comment

    “The total sum of N1, 230,000,000 was deposited into the account by BDC operators between between 29/10/2014 and 31/3/ 2015.”

    A highly-placed source said: “To cover up their tracks, $5 million cash was made available for Iwu’s project but routed through Bureau De Change operators.

    The source added: “Iwu has denied having any knowledge of the naira equivalent of the $5 million deposited into his firm’s Account by the BDC operators.

    “He said he cannot recall the source of the N1.230 billion deposited into his account.”

    Besides EFCC’s investigation, an INEC in-house committee, headed by a National Commissioner, Baba Arfo Shettima, came up with the following findings:

    • an NGO, West African Network of Electoral Observers, was used to share the bribe to INEC;
    • a former chairman of INEC (names withheld) coordinated the large-scale bribery scandal;
    • many former Resident Electoral Commissioners(RECs) and retired administrative secretaries were used to penetrate INEC in all the 36 states for the bribery to alter poll results;
    • some serving RECs and directors benefited from the bribery scandal as confirmed by EFCC’s investigations
    • a REC collected between N107 million and N140 million bribe;
    • while some RECs and INEC officials collected as much as over N100m, others were given as low as N150,000 to compromise the electoral system;

    About 205 INEC officials were implicated in the 2015 poll bribery scandal to the tune of  N23.9 billion.

    More than N3.4 billion cash has been recovered from INEC officials by the EFCC.

    The former INEC boss was arraigned before Justice Chuka Obiozor of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on August 8 for allegedly laundering N1.2 billion. He pleaded not guilty to a four count-charge. He was admitted to bail in the sum of N1 billion with two sureties in like sum after his bail application was heard on August 10.

     

  • S/West group insists on probe of Obasanjo, others over $16bn power projects

    The federal government has been urged to call upon the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and or other relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate the $16 billion and other funds spent on the power sector under successive administrations since the return to democratic governance in 1999.

    Making the call in Lagos on Friday during a press conference addressed by its chairman, Oseni Owolabi Ajimomuya and Secretary,

    Ismael Lanre Oguntoyinbo, the South West Peoples Assembly (SWEPA) said if this is not done upon the conclusion of the probe into the spendings in the power sector embarked upon by the 9th House of Representatives, Nigerians may finally lose faith in the current democratic experiment.

    The House of Representatives had, before proceeding on its annual break, put in place a committee to look into the spendings in the power sector since 1999 to date.

    Following a motion by one of its members, the Lower Chamber lamented many power problems confronting the country, saying it is worrisome that the huge resources allegedly spent on getting it right in the sector did not yield any fruit.

    SWEPA claimed that in spite of promises by successive administrations to reposition the nation’s troubled power sector, monumental and obvious scandals perpetrated by past administrations, including the ones headed by former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, have not been properly investigated and the culprits prosecuted and duly punished.

    “This conference has become necessary due to the conversation on probing the power sector started by the Young Nigerian Professionals who delivered a Press Conference on Sunday last week in the nation’s capital, Abuja, about the decision of the House of Representatives to probe the power sector spending in the country. The group had called for unrelenting efforts by the House in that probe, while noting the necessity of accountability as a nation if we were to make any progress,” the group said.

    SWEPA, at the press conference held at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos added that, “we agree wholeheartedly with the House of Representatives and the body of young professionals on this issue. But we will like to take the discussion further by demanding for specific interrogation of key individuals in the whole power mismanagement saga. It’s our belief that there are known actors that were responsible for overseeing the sleaze that took place in the power sector spending since 1999.

    “The most prominent, as every Nigerian possibly knows, is former President Olusegun Obasanjo – who is reported to have spent a whopping sum of about 16 Billion Dollars on power, with nothing worthy or credible to show for it. This is one major reason behind our decision to commend the House of Representatives for its decision to again re-investigate the power sector spending and join other well meaning Nigerians in demanding for nothing short of a thorough inquest.

    Read Also: Power Probe: APC, PDP Reps may clash over Obasanjo

    “It is our belief that what the House is set to do represents justice for the people of Nigeria who have had to bear the burden and pain associated with the poor power situation in the country. Until this investigation and other related efforts that ensure transparency and openness are undertaken, Nigeria cannot really move forward or record any significant progress. The unearthing of the sleaze that took place in the power sector is key if we want to start a new footing that ensures proper accountability going forward.

    “While we are confident that the investigation by the House of Representatives would unmask the fraud that was committed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his cronies in the power sector; we demand that the House should, upon the completion of its investigation, endeavor to submit the name of the former President and his conspirators to the country’s anti-corruption agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), for full prosecution.

    “The ultimate goal is not to undertake a futile ‘name and shame exercise’, rather we want to see a situation where all those involved would face punishment for their crimes against the country.

    While he and his co-travelers must be made to return all stolen monies, we demand that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo live up to his avowed commitment to transparency by coming forward to explain his role in the alleged mismanagement of power funds; without directing all those who seek to hold him to account to a self-serving and delusional book whose account has not exonerated him of active involvement in the sleaze.

    “No doubt, only a comprehensive prosecution that is in tandem with justice will send a strong message to all those who have either managed or still managing our resources that Nigerians will no longer tolerate any corrupt act by anyone, no matter how highly placed. This is the only way we can sanitize the power sector and begin to reset the country.”

     

  • EFCC begins probe of Obasanjo govt’s $16bn power project

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun the probe of the $16 billion power project of the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    There had been conflicting figures on the exact cost of the project as some people put it at $16 billion while others say it is $13.8 billion.

    It was gathered last night that the anti-graft agency may arrest key contractors involved in the power project scam which extended beyond the Obasanjo administration into those of former Presidents Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan.

    It was also learnt that about 18 top former and serving public officers, including two ex-ministers, may be questioned.

    Also likely to be interrogated by the EFCC are some top officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    Preliminary investigation revealed that Rockson Engineering Limited got a chunk of the contracts worth about $2 billion.

    The findings revealed that the transactions involving the firms implicated in the power contracts were characterised by absence of due diligence.

    A reliable source in the anti-graft commission said a team of crack detectives had been put in place to interrogate the people involved in the scam.

    The source said: “The operatives of the EFCC have launched a massive investigation into the alleged $16 billion power scam between 2006 and 2011 just as concerted efforts are being made to recover the humongous funds allegedly diverted into private pockets by different firms involved in the power project.

    “The whole power project is $16 billion and anchored on generation, transmission and distribution.

    “The project is being handled by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC).

    “It is instructive to note that the NDPHC belongs to the three tiers of government, namely the Federal Government, state and local governments.

    “Investigators also discovered that most of the firms that secured contracts under the power project collected huge sums in naira and dollars but did not perform up to 30 per cent before abandoning the project.

    “Incidentally, most of the payments took place during the regimes of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan.

    “The first amount released from the Excess Crude Account was about $8.3 billion.”

    Another source claimed that some of the contractors will soon be invited by the EFCC for interrogation.

    The source said: “A team of crack detectives has been raised by the commission to get to the roots of the power deal. Some of the key contractors will soon be quizzed.

    “One of the major contractors – Rockson Engineering Ltd- is being allegedly taken over by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria.

    “From documents available to the commission, Rockson got four contracts and it received over $2 billion in the following tranches: $180 million; $220 million; $240 million and $480 million.

    “Rockson also received questionable $11 million and another N150 million.These payments are now under investigation.

    “These huge funds were released to Rockson for power generation alone.

    “Investigation further revealed that despite the release of the above to Rockson, the firm was only able to execute 30 per cent of the construction.

    “The firm also claimed that it imported certain materials since 2013 and lying in Onne Port without clearing.”

    It was also gathered last night that the EFCC will look into alleged lapses by some top officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    The source added: “Lack of due diligence pervaded the transaction while certain officials of the CBN are under probe over certain regulatory flaws.

    “Instead of opening Letter of Credit (LOC) in the name of the manufacturers of the equipment for the power project, operatives discovered that the LOC was opened in the name of Rockson.

    “Investigation also revealed that instead of the LOC being put in place in Form M (tangibles and specific), the LOC was opened in Form A (intangibles like school fees, medical bills, etc).

    An official in the media unit of the EFCC only said: “We will do everything to recover the huge funds and prosecute indicted officials accordingly.”

    Investigation revealed that the EFCC might also review issues in the report of the House of Representatives Committee.

    The House actually recommended 18 top former and public officers, including two ex-ministers, for investigation by anti-graft agencies, especially EFCC and ICPC.

    Read Also: Court okays EFCC request to freeze Bauchi govt. account

    Many salient issues were raised for investigation by the House Committee, which was headed by Hon. Ndudi Elumelu.

    The issues raised by the Elumelu Committee were as follows:

    All NIPP payments were made without following Due Process

    No meaningful progress was made in the execution of power contracts

    Officials rushed to pay contractors in full even before engineering design for the projects had been completed and approved

    NIPP contracts were not only overpriced in comparison with PHCN contracts, they were also wide off the mark

    Widespread evidence of systematic over-scoping of projects in order to inflate costs both in PHCN and NIPP

    NIPP Distribution EPC contracts were awarded at costs averaging about 10 times the norm when compared to PHCN contracts

    The Ndudi Elumelu Committee was put in place by the House on January 31, 2008 to look into how much was spent on power projects.

    In its report, the committee said that about $13.278 billion was spent on power projects between 1999 and 2007.

    The committee recommended termination of 13 contracts and review of 10 projects.

    About 15 contracting and consulting companies were asked to be investigated by the appropriate agencies.

    The report reads in part: “From the oral and documentary evidence, it was clearly established that the total expenditure in the power sector during the period 1999-2007 was US$13, 278,937,409.94billion.

    “Indeed, had the supplementary budget of the power sector in 2007 been implemented, the expenditure could then have been over $16billion reported by the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    “There are also unfunded commitments to the tune of US$7.265billion for NIPP projects as at May 29, 2007.

    “There is another US $1billion for PHCN capital projects awarded between 2000 and 2007, which have been captured in the 2008 Appropriation Act.

    “Additionally, the total commitment of the NNPC and its Joint Venture partners(of which the Federal Government, through the NNPC has an average of 51% interest) towards  IPP power plants, gas sources development, gas transmission and metering of JV IPPs, PHCN power plants and NIPP power plants, according to the submission of the acting GMD of the NNPC is US$7billion, out of which about US$1.62billion has been expensed, leaving outstanding commitments of over US$5.5billion out of which the Federal Government will provide about US$3billion.

    “Recognition of these unfunded commitments would bring the total (funded and unfunded) FGN expenditure commitments in the power sector to over US$24.5billion between 1999 and 2007.

    “From the assessment done during the Committee’s tour of the project sites, it is safe to conclude that no meaningful progress was made in the execution of power contracts.

    “It is curious and quite strange that officials rush to pay contractors in full even before engineering design for the projects have been completed and approved.

    “NIPP contracts were not only overpriced in comparison with PHCN contracts, they are also wide off the mark when viewed against comparable power stations in several parts of the world.

    “A comparable review of the cost of power installations in varied regions of the world such as South Korea, Saudi Arabia, U.S.A, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mexico and Chile showed that $10billion could have built plants to produce between 5,000 to 6,000 MW of electricity. But this amount failed to do so in Nigeria.

    “Unfortunately, all NIPP payments were made without following Due Process. In its place, a process called ‘Waiver of Due Process Certification for Payment’ was adopted in flagrant disregard of Due Process Policy, thus paving the way for dubious and highly risky payments to contractors and consultants by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    “The committee found hard and widespread evidence of systematic over scoping of projects in order to inflate costs both in PHCN and NIPP.

    “At least 15 transmission lines and substation projects have been identified. For example, the New Haven-Ikot-Ekpene 2x330kv Double Circuit Line was over-scoped by 49% whilst the Afam-Ikot Ekpene 330kv line was over-scoped by more than 100%.

    “The estimated aggregate cost inflation identified so far for transmission projects is over N20billion and this is recoverable from contractors.

    “A clear example of project cost inflation is the proposed supply of 9No GE frame 9 gas turbines and auxiliaries at the cost of N185billion($1.55billion) awarded to Rockson International.

    “In comparison, it is noteworthy that GE supplied 18No turbines of similar specification previously at about $404million, including cost of Technical Assistance (TA) services and Long-Term Service agreements (LTSA). The implicit cost inflation on the additional turbines and associated services exceeds $1.145billion.

    “Another example is the costing of the so-called change-order provisions for Alaoji Power Plant (Phase I) at a highly-questionable amount of US$123million.

    “NIPP Distribution EPC contracts were awarded at costs averaging about 10 times the norm when compared to PHCN contracts costs for similar projects in the past five years. This 1,000% cost inflation of the NIPP Distribution EPC work scopes translates to an aggregate overpricing of over N50billion.”

    Regarding the funding of NIPP projects, the panel says: “The contracts were not funded from any Appropriation Act. What this means is that the National Assembly had no knowledge of the source of the funds of the NIPP projects. All the government functionaries who testified referred to what they termed Excess Crude Account as the source of funding.

    “The Committee was not able to determine the level of involvement of the National Assembly in the decision to set up the Excess Crude account. What the committee established is that it was illegal and unconstitutional for such a fund to be established without legislative authorization. Sections 80(3 and 4) of the 1999 Constitution which states clearly.

    On the role of the CBN, the panel’s report added: “The committee is perturbed by the failure of the CBN Governor to provide information in respect of Letters of Credit opened and where the money involving over $1billion has been kept all these years

    “It is necessary to note that the Central Bank of Nigeria refused to provide the Committee with schedule of utilization and draw-downs on Letters of Credit as well as interest accrued on unutilized balances.

    “The committee strongly believes that these monies might be on fixed deposit accounts with some banks.

    “In view of the apparent unwillingness of the CBN to cooperate with the Committee in this matter or provide the Committee with a proper account of withdrawals from Excess Crude account, the balance on the account, where the monies in respect of the unutilized Letters of Credit are kept and interest that have accrued thereto, we recommend that the EFCC be invited to investigate the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria in respect of the above issues relating to Letters of Credit opened.

  • AbdulRazaq to partner EFCC in recovery of looted funds

    Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said on Tuesday that his administration will partner with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to combat graft, including recovering funds looted from the state’s treasury.

    AbdulRazaq said corruption had almost crippled Kwara State when he took over on May 29, lamenting how the N2 billion the state accessed to boost small-scale businesses was diverted and shared by some persons.

    According to the governor, this meant that the state government would now have N35 million deducted from its account every month.

    “I got a letter (last week) from the Federal Ministry of Finance, saying they will now deduct N35 million every month from our account because the state government, a few years ago, took N2 billion for small and medium scale businesses,” AbdulRazaq said at a stakeholders’ forum on value reorientation and the fight against corruption in Ilorin, the state capital.

    The event was organised by the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

    Read Also: Kwara to partner AfDB on infrastructure development, others

    The governor said he contemplated asking the ministry to compile the names of individuals, who siphoned the money so they could be made to refund it. He, however, added that he was glad that the EFCC has taken proactive steps to recover the money.

    AbdulRazaq said he would not tolerate diversion of public funds under his watch, recalling how corruption had led to the collapse of basic amenities in the hospitals, schools and other sectors of the economy.

    The governor lamented that the state has missed out on several development initiatives because of corruption, citing the example of the diversion of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds, the resultant blacklisting of the state on account of that, and the effect on the state of basic education in Kwara.

    He added that the state under him has normalised relations with UBEC and would soon, on paying its own counterpart funds, access money that would help reposition the sector.

    The EFCC Zonal Head in Kwara State, Isyaku Sharu, called for a reorientation of the populace on the menace of corruption.

    “Can we over-emphasise the role of our parents/guardians in these regards? I state no. In fact, a critical aspect of the need for value reorientation rests heavily on parental/guardian roles. The home, being the first point of contact of a child, is the factory house for building positive values in a child,” he said.

    “Sadly, however, most parents/guardians are now being found wanting in this all-important responsibility wherein they usually concentrate more efforts on their jobs or businesses or the struggle to make ends meet.”

  • Court okays EFCC request to freeze Bauchi govt. account

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court Abuja, on Monday, granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s prayer to freeze the First City Monument Bank (FCMB)’s Operational Account number: 0998552074 of the Bauchi State government.

    The EFCC, through his Counsel, Mr Abubakar Aliyu, in an Exparte Order with file number: FHC/ABJ/CS/858/2019, sought the order of the court to freeze the account pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation by the commission.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government presently has about N11 billion (N11,500,000 000 00) in the bank account.

    The judge ordered the EFCC to, within 21 days, notify the respondents; the Bauchi State government and the FCMB about the court’s decision.

    The judge, however, adjourned further hearing until Sept. 3.

    Earlier, counsel to the EFCC told the judge that the commission was investigating a money laundering case in which the account featured prominently.

    He said many non-existent companies were used to transfer funds from the account.

    ”My Lord, about N19.8 billion cheques were raised on the eve of transferring power to the new government for purportedly non-existent contracts and other grants,” he said.

    He told Justice Taiwo that the amount was beyond the N11 billion in the account

    According to him, the Accountant General is still a signatory to the account and they are still trying to access the money.

    When the judge asked if freezing the FCMB account would not affect the operation of the state government, Aliyu said the action would not affect the government’s operation because the account was not the one linked to Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

    ”They have other accounts and we have tagged this as exhibit 22 and 23,” he said.

    Responding to the judge’s question on how long the investigation would take, the counsel said: ”My Lord, investigation is like a pregnant activity. If My Lord will give us 21 days, we will be grateful.”

    ”I have patiently listened to the counsel’s prayer. I therefore grant the order sought by the applicant as prayed.

    ”Meanwhile, the parties concern must be put on notice within 21 days of the order of this court,” Justice Taiwo held.

    In the suit filed, the EFCC had claimed that the immediate-past government in the state was involved in money laundering for which it deployed the account.

    Read Also: EFCC arrests 15 ‘yahoo boys’ in Ibadan

    The EFCC stated that it needed to have the account frozen to preserve the funds being held in it.

    An official of the EFCC, Yakubu Sani stated in a supporting affidavit that “it is a fact that between the 24th and 28th day of May 2019, the applicant received an intelligence that the then outgoing government in Bauchi State initiated a process at overdrawing to launder the sum of N19,897,809,334.08 property at Bauchi State Government.

    ”The bank account subject matter of the intelligence is the Bauchi State Government Operational Account number: 0998552074 domiciled at First City Monument Bunk.

    ”The actual amount in the sand bank account is N11,500,000 000 00 which was paid to the Bauchi State Government by the Federal Government of Nigeria via the the Central Bank.

    ”The process of laundering employed by the suspects includes the issuance of mandates and cheques rose to the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) for the payments at non-executed contracts and fictitious claims to individuals and contractors.

    “The Bauchi State Accountant General is one at the signatory that clears the said cheques and mandate for said suspicious payments and still remains a signatory to the said account under investigation.

    ”Based on the intelligence received, attempts were being made to activate the withdrawal of such funds while still under investigation by the current Government of Bauchi State
    “The investigation has since commenced and the applicant deems it necessary to cause the said bank account and funds to be frozen pending the determination of the investigation therein.

    ”Freezing the said bank account and funds will greatly assist the applicant to get to the root of the matter and conclude its investigation timeously.

    ”Deflating the said funds by way at withdrawal will greatly obstruct the applicant from getting to the root of the matter and conclusion of the investigation timeously.

    ”The applicant needs to obtain the order of this court to cause the freezing of the said bank account and the funds therein.

    “This honourable court has the jurisdiction to grant this order and it is in the best interest at justice to grant this application.”

    NAN

  • Adoke to EFCC: I didn’t abscond from trial

    Former Attorney-General of the Federation Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) on Sunday said he did not abscond from trial as claimed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    He said he was not on the run, and that the charge against him was filed after he had travelled overseas for further studies.

    Adoke said he would soon return to defend himself.

    Besides, he said “damning revelations” from the ongoing trial of Shell and ENI in Italy shows that the commission has no case against him.

    In a statement, he said the commission should the honourably withdraw the charge.

    Adoke said: “How can EFCC say I absconded to Europe? I was already out of the country studying at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands when the persecution started, so how can they say I ran away? Was there any pending case against me?

    “I left Nigeria in June 2015 for further studies. Mr. Ibrahim Magu, who is being manipulated to fight me, assumed office in November 2015. How then could I have run away from him and his collaborators five months ahead? Did I foreknow that my traducers would put their stooge as EFCC Chairman?

    “The most ridiculous aspect of this joke is that the EFCC case of money laundering filed against me over a mortgage account I never operated was not about Malabu.

    “Nigerians have been given the impression by the EFCC spin masters that I was charged to court for money laundering over OPL 245 and Malabu. In the real sense, nowhere did EFCC mention Malabu or OPL 245 in the court papers. It was ‘wuruwuru’ to the answer.

    “Their case has crumbled and they know it but they have become so reckless that they are not ready to stop wasting tax payers’ money on frivolous court cases. I will come home to defend myself after attending to my health. There are no questions about that.”

    Read Also: EFCC arrests 15 ‘yahoo boys’ in Ibadan

    Adoke faulted EFCC’s claim that it had established a prima facie case bothering on corruption against him on the OPL 245 transaction.

    According to him, there is clearly no shred of evidence to convict him of wrongdoing.

    Adoke said: “The ongoing trial of Shell and ENI officials in Italy has exposed the lies that EFCC has been cooking up against me.

    “Mr. Ednan Tofik ogly Agaev, a former Russian ambassador, said in court that he mentioned my name as one of those who benefited from the OPL 245 deal because of pressure from the FBI.

    “He said the FBI interview cannot be used against him in court. That is an eye-opener for those who are interested in justice.

    “A few days later, Mr. Vincenzo Armanna, former ENI manager, told the same court that I confronted ENI officials that if any one gave bribe, they would be arrested and prosecuted.

    “These statements were made in the open court and reported by the media globally. Yet the same EFCC, in a strange press release on Thursday, said the statements in the Italian court are of no relevance to the criminal charge against me in Nigeria.

    “Ironically, the EFCC had used the same case in Italy as evidence that my trial in Nigeria should continue contrary to the advice of the Office of the AGF.

    “Suddenly, the trial in Italy is of no relevance again because it does not fit into their predetermined agenda against me.”

    EFCC, through its spokesman Tony Oriade, reportedly said Adoke abused his office in granting OPL 245 to Shell and ENI in 2011.

    But, the former minister has described the claim as “ridiculous, ill-informed and full of ignorance” which Nigerians should treat with disdain.

    “OPL 245 was not even awarded to Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd by President Goodluck Jonathan, under whose administration I served as Attorney-General. It was awarded by Gen. Sani Abacha in 1998.

    “It was revoked by former President Olusegun Obasanjo who later decided to return the oil block to Malabu after an out-of-court settlement.

    “The only thing I did as AGF was to advise President Jonathan that legally speaking, the Consent Judgment reached by Obasanjo was valid and subsisting and should be respected,” Adoke r said.

    According to him, at that time, Shell was making an arbitral claim of $2 billion against Nigeria over President Obasanjo’s decision to return the oil block to Malabu in 2006.

    He said he should be commended for helping Nigeria avoid such a huge fine.

    Adoke said: “Nevertheless, it is nothing but unadulterated mischief by the EFCC to say I am being tried for granting an oil block to Malabu. Even a primary school pupil knows that the Attorney-General does not award oil blocks.

    “All oil blocks are awarded by the President on the advice of the Ministry of Petroleum. It is part of the evil agenda and vendetta against me that I would be accused of awarding an oil block, as the EFCC shamelessly claimed in their bizarre press release.

    “JP Morgan, which made the payments to Malabu, did not mention by name in court as one of those who authorised the payment. These are now public documents. I was not a signatory to the account. I had no powers to order payments.

    “All I gave was legal advice on the letters of the Resolution Agreement, but EFCC’s puppet masters were so desperate to come after me that they painted me as corrupt and attributed all the powers I didn’t have to me.

    “The Federal High Court under the Hon. Justice Binta Nyako ruled that I was not liable for carrying out lawful presidential orders, but the EFCC has now assumed the role of interpreting the court judgment as it suits their whims and caprices, even openly showing absolute disrespect for the office of the AGF.”

    Adoke said it was “shameful that vultures have taken over the system and are now lording it over the constitution” in a democracy that thrives on law and order.

     

  • Help recover our stolen funds, Magu begs UK

    For the second time in two weeks, the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, appealed to the British Government to help Nigeria retrieve its stolen money stashed in banks in the United Kingdom.

    He said it was worrisome the wealth of the country had for a very long time, remained trapped in foreign countries.

    He said the delay in repatriating stolen funds was hindering infrastructural development of Nigeria and creating paucity of funds to run the country.

    He said Nigeria would have been better if the stolen monies have been returned.

    Magu said: “Our worry is that our money has been held for a very long time in foreign countries and if our money is returned, there will be improved infrastructural development in many sectors of the economy.

    “If all the repatriated funds are pumped into the country, it will significantly enhance our abilities and capabilities.”

    He faulted the rate at which illicit funds are being moved away to Britain and other European countries.

    He said the EFCC has carried out a lot of activities in local and foreign airports in trying to stop and apprehend looters exiting or entering the country with illicit funds.

    Read Also: How corruption fuels insecurity, by Magu

    He disclosed that some unscrupulous elements were smuggling out raw gold, especially from Zamfara State to foreign countries.

    A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Tony Orilade, quoted Magu as saying the smuggling was being used to launder money outside the shores of the country.

    He said the smugglers were denying the country of the precious natural endowment that would have been processed locally and value gained from it.

    He said Nigeria, especially the EFCC, has a good working relationship with the British Government, and has also received lots of support from the UK Government.

    The leader of the SOCJA delegation from the UK’s National Crime Agency, Paddy Kerr, disclosed that the visit to the EFCC followed the instruction from the British Government that each team under the Serious Organized Crime Joint Analysts, SOCJA, should go to every region in the world and try to get the picture of its peculiar organized crimes.

    Kerr said: “We need to understand from the EFCC’s perspective, what is driving crimes and corruption in Nigeria. What are the key things EFCC is doing that British can assist?”

    Aside Nigeria in West Africa, the assignment he said, will take the team to Ghana, Guinea and Senegal, in order to identify the threats and challenges, facing the countries of this region from organized crimes.

    Kerr added: “Our job is not to be the experts, but to try to understand what are the underlying causes and driving forces of serious organized crimes, so that we can have better programmes in the future and better direct our resources.”

    He disclosed that they were looking at areas of illicit financial flows, bribery, embezzlement and contract negotiation, adding that “we are looking at collaboration that will enhance EFCC’s abilities, intelligence gathering and sharing.”

    He called for synergy between the EFCC and SOCJA, noting that “criminals are constantly thinking of new ways to get away with their criminal activities.”

    Kerr said Nigerian government needed political will to win the fight against corruption.

    He praised President Muhammadu Buhari for the renewed momentum in Nigeria’s anti-corruption fight.

    Other members of the delegation are Jim Connelly Webster and Kathryn Lockett.

  • Court orders forfeiture of Kwara civil servant’s N150m property

    A Kwara State High Court, sitting in Ilorin, the state capital, on Thursday ordered the forfeiture of N150 million plaza belonging to a civil servant, Rasaq Momonu.

    It followed a plea by the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that the court should give an order of final forfeiture of Asmau Plaza on University of Ilorin road, Tanke area of the metropolis.

    EFCC argued that the said property was acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity.

    In the affidavit deposed to by an investigating officer with the EFCC, Musa Gidado, urged the court to order the final forfeiture of the plaza.

    Gidado said: “Investigations revealed that the owner of the property, Momonu, used his influence as accountant with Kwara State Government to inflate and award contracts for the construction of two classrooms at Ogbondoroko and Obanisuwa communities, Asa Local Government area of the state.

    “Investigations further revealed that the respondent who is a civil servant that earns less than N100,000 in a Month, cannot afford to build the house known as Asmau Plaza between 2010 and 2012.

    “That I know as a fact that the respondent was confronted with the above findings by the applicant which he did not dispute and has agreed to forfeit the property known as Asmau Plaza to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

    EFCC counsel Nnaemeka Omewa urged the court to grant the order based on the provisions of Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.

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    Omewa said: “My lord, we have a motion on notice dated July 19, 2019 and filed on the same day, the motion is brought pursuant to section 17 of the Advance Fee fraud and other fraud related offences.  I urged the court to grant the motion.”

    Delivering his judgment, Justice Sikiru Oyinloye held that the EFCC had fulfilled all the requirements in the suit and thereby ordered that the said property should be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    “I have gone through the application brought by the EFCC,  I also sighted the hearing notice issued to the respondent in the suit, Rasaq Momonu.

    “This court is persuaded that he had been served with the court processes.”

    The judge said the application brought by the EFCC is meritorious and the court, therefore, orders the final forfeiture of the landed property.

    Justice Oyinloye resolved all the issues raised in favour of the EFCC. He also said the order for final forfeiture should be published in two national newspapers.

     

  • ALGON faction urges EFCC, others to probe Ogun local govt funds since 2016

    A FACTION of suspended members of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Ogun State chapter, has called on the anti-graft agencies – Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) –  to look into the how councils funds were expended  from October 2016 till date.

    This followed the weighty allegations levelled against the councils’ chairmen by the state House of Assembly.

    The chairmen of the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) were suspended last May by the 8th state legislative Assembly under the leadership of Speaker Suraj Adekunle and were also asked to appeared before the Assembly for questioning in respect of the council finances.

    But addressing reporters at the Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), Ogun State Council Secretariat, Abeokuta, the ALGON faction said they had no access or knowledge of what was being released to the LGAs from the Federal Allocations, hence the call for a probe into it.

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    Speaking on behalf of his 20 other colleagues, the ALGON Chairman, Semi Bola Lawal, said the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs collected N14 million each in seven staggered tranches spreading  over 31 months.

    Each of the chairmen, he added, collected N229,000 as monthly salary devoid of additional allowances within the same period.

    Lawal lamented that they did not have official cars, no impress and were subjected to ridicule by the administration of Ibikunle Amosun as the LGAs and LCDAs were left in “comatose and rendered impotent.”

     

  • Jonathan seeks deployment of modern technology in terrorism fight

    FORMER President Goodluck Jonathan has called for deployment of new technology to confront the insecurity in the country.

    He called for the establishment of a special unit similar to that of anti-graft agencies – Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) – to manage kidnapping and terrorism-related issues.

    Dr Jonathan spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital, where he condoled with elder statesmen Chief Reuben Fasoranti on the death of his daughter, Mrs. Funke Olakunri.

    The former president described Mrs. Olakunri’s death as “painful”.

    Dr. Jonathan said: “We know we will all die and it does not respect age. But the circumstances of death matters so much. Particularly in this particular case, it is quite a painful incident.

    “Every generation of human beings faces problems and that generation must find ways of solving that problem. Every government faces some unique problems.

    “Insecurity has been with us immediately after the civil war. That was the first time we experienced armed robbery in Lagos. From armed robbery it graduated to kidnapping.

    “The first major kidnapping I describe as commercial kidnapping because some money exchanged hands which happened in 2006 when I was also a governor of Bayelsa State.

    “From commercial kidnapping, it moved to terrorism in the North and now, some kind of terrorist attacks all over the country, when people just jump into the road and spray bullets on innocent people; that is terror attack. You have no reason to attack somebody you don’t even know; that is terrorism.

    “It is now a major problem to the country and my belief is that the Federal Government working with the state government must design a different approach.

    “I was there as a president for some time; security challenges were there with me. I also inherited some. But it is getting worse every day. And we cannot continue to use the same old method.

    “As security operatives, the police, the SSS, the armed forces, we must deploy technology and I believe if the Federal Government will need to set up a special unit, just like we set up EFCC and ICPC to handle specific issues of corruption, they will know that their total responsibility is to manage this issue of kidnapping and terrorist attacks on people going on the road or going to the farm.

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    “We can’t continue that way, it is not just possible, because we can’t talk about managing the economy of this country if people are not safe. Economy is for the people, they must be alive to enjoy infrastructure. Even if you tar all the roads in the country and people cannot move around, then the roads become meaningless.”

    Dr. Jonathan’s view, security must be approached from a different dimension. “We cannot continue the old way because it is getting out of hand. We hope the federal and state governments will do something about it,” he said.

    The former president recalled that a National Conference where some issues were discussed, especially on security, state and regional police was held in 2014 when he was president.

    He said: “A lot of things were discussed during the national conference organised during my time as president. The issue of security, state and community policing were discussed. I always believe that government should look at that report, it was not written by me.

    “We should not play politics with serious national issues. If we look at that report, there are recommendations that bother on security and if there is an area that needs to be expanded because I believe everyday new idea comes, it should be updated.

    “There is nothing wrong holding a specific meeting to look at the issue of security. I believe the federal and state government having a new approach, deploying technology and having more money to protect our people.”