The Kaduna Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday embarked on a walk against corruption.
Tag: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
-
Governor builds hotel with $3m Paris Club refund cash
Cash lodged in Rep’s account through proxy
EFCC places restriction on NGF’s N8b, $80m
Detectives have traced $3million of the controversial London-Paris Club loan refund to a governor, The Nation learnt on Thursday.
The cash is believed to be part of the N19billion illegally deducted from the refund by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), according to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) sources.
The cash has been found in the account of a member of the House of Representatives who got it through a proxy, the lawmaker’s brother. Both were not available for comments. The $3million is being spent on building a 100-room hotel in Lagos, which the governor may forfeit to the Federal Government.
Also, the EFCC has placed a restriction on N8billion and $80million in the naira and dollar accounts of the NGF.
The Presidency has released N1. 266.44trillion to the 36 states in the past one year. The cash includes N713.70billion special intervention funds to states.
Following protests by states against over deduction for external debt service between 1995 and 2002, President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the release of N522.74 billion (first tranche) to states as refund pending reconciliation of records.
Each state was entitled to a cap of N14.5 billion being 25% of the amounts claimed.
Finance Minister Mrs. Kemi Adeosun said the payment would enable states to offset outstanding salaries and pension which had been “causing considerable hardship”.
The governors sought for the refund to states and local governments at a meeting with President Buhari on May 24, last year.
A source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: “The EFCC is still investigating the N19billion allegedly diverted from the loan refund. The commission has so far interrogated 15 companies, more than 10 individuals and over eight bureaux de change used to divert the cash.
“The latest bend of the investigation is the discovery of $3million linked with another governor who benefited from the illegal deduction. The governor had engaged a member of the House of Representatives(who was also a former commissioner) to launder his share.
The lawmaker was said to have wired the $3million into his brother’s account before moving it into his own. Upon interrogation, one of the suspects admitted that the cash was for the ongoing construction of a 100-room hotel for the governor.
“About $500,000 of the $3million has been recovered by the EFCC. It is a scam in which many people benefited and a sizeable number of proxies used to launder the funds,” the source said.
The $3million was transferred to the lawmaker for the governor from the $86million in the NGF’s domiciliary account.
“We will do our best to recover the already diverted part of the $3million. We may also apply for the forfeiture of the hotel to the Federal Government,” the source said, pleading not to be named so as not to jeopardise the investigation.
The $86million is said to be for the payment of consultants who worked for the refund for the 35 states. But none of the consultants has been paid. Some of them have already gone to court.
The source added: “The EFCC has placed a Post No Debit restriction on the NGF’s account with N8billion and domiciliary account with $80million.
“Out of the $86million, $3million was wired to the governor through a proxy and another $2million shared out.
“The EFCC is ready to lift the restriction on the two accounts of the NGF on a condition that the consultants and legal advisers who deserve to be paid will be given what they are entitled to in line with the agreement signed with the NGF.
“We want the NGF to involve the EFCC in the disbursement to avoid another diversion of the cash. As it is now, consultants and legal advisers are complaining that they are being shortchanged by the governors.”
The EFCC had earlier traced about N500million, which was meant for a consultant, to the account of a governor.
The cash has been retrieved.
-
Judges who brought shame to the judiciary must be punished – Sagay
Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, Professor Itse Sagay has said that Judges who brought shame to the judiciary must be punished for authority, power and dignity of the judiciary to be restored.
Also to be punished, according to Prof. Sagay, are public servants n politicians who conspired to bribe and corrupt the judges.
Prof. Sagay said Senior Advocates of Nigeria ‘who shamelessly approach judges and introduce them to culture of corruption deserve harsh punishment.
Speaking in Benin City on Monday at the 2017 Annual Law Week of the Nigeria Bar Association, Edo State Branch, Prof. Sagay urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, to investigate, arrest, and jail lawyers who receive loots as fee from corrupt public servants and politicians.
In his paper titled: “Corruption in the judiciary; the disciplinary role of the NJC vis-à-vis law enforcement agencies”, Prof Sagay said Judges must be perfect and remain the repository of honour, integrity and high moral authority.
He said when the law court across the country failed to interpret, apply and enforce the law, the existence of the any civilized society will be endangered adding that loss of confidence in the judiciary will amount to chaos and disintegration.
“No one ever expected judges to throw caution, rectitude, honour, justice and the credibility of the judiciary to the winds by selling his judgment. This is the destructive culture brought about by election petitions which has spread like epidemic through our formerly hallowed judicial system.
“The disciplinary procedures of the NJC were not set up for such crime. That is why tragically we are now experiencing judges being tried in court like common criminals. That is why the anti-corruption and security agencies have taken it upon themselves to continue from where the NJC’s authority ends.
“The bottom line is that judges enjoy no immunity from investigation, arrest, trial and conviction.
“In order to restore the authority, power and dignity of the judiciary, we must go through extra ordinary painful process of punishing those who have brought same and obliging to that sacred institution.
“Lawyers should be treated like accomplice after the fact because they share in the proceeds of the crimes of politically exposed persons and once paid from that stained loot, it becomes their life’s struggle to protect and shield the primary criminals from the consequences of their crime.”
In his keynote paper, Prof. Lawrence Atsegbua, stated that the law has failed as a tool of fighting corruption ‘because in spite of laws prescribing stiff penalties for corruption, more money than ever has been stolen from the public coffer by corrupt means.’
Atsegbua noted that all the laws against corruption would fail if disequilibrium in the social status of citizens were not met.
He said Nigerian leaders lack the political will to fight corruption a situation which has hindered socio-economic development.
Atsegbua said, “Corruption has become institutionalized in Nigeria. Despite several efforts by successive governments to curb corruption by the passage of several anti-corruption legislation, it is now clear that corruption can’t be fought solely by legal prescription.
“Fighting corruption within the rule of law in a Democratic society will fail because, the laws divergence from society environment, social and economic inequality in society, lack of implementation capacity and the gain of law breaking exceeds the loss of punishment.
“No matter the number of laws therefore passed by the National Assembly, corruption will still remain a landmark in Nigeria.
“Unless the state start living up to its responsibilities in providing functioning health services, education, electricity, payment of salaries and gratuity as and when due, the law will fail in its quest to fight corruption in Nigeria.
“The fight against corruption in Nigeria ought to be structural leading to attitudinal change in order to make citizen aversion to corruption a matter of more conviction rather than one legal coercion”.
Chairman of the occasion and Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Esther Ikponmwen, said corruption if not tackled may continue to hamper the growth and development of the country.
Justice Ikponmwen regretted that the judiciary has been affected by the sting of corruption noting that any act that deviates from acceptable standard of the law profession is corruption.
She said successive governments have sought to fight corrupt practices without much result unlike the ongoing corruption fight which has yielded positive outcome.
Justice Daniel Okungbowa in his paper said corruption would stop in Nigeria with the removal of immunity clause and ability to recall lawmakers.
He also prescribed the death penalty for corrupt officials.
-
Customs paid N12m into Ofili-Ajumogobia’s account – witness
Mr Musa Omale, a witness in the ongoing trial of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia for corruption, on Friday, said that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) paid N12 million into a bank account owned by the judge.
Omale, an Assistant Comptroller of Customs, made the assertion while giving testimony in the ongoing trial of the judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia before an Ikeja High Court.
Led in evidence by Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the witness said that the NCS paid the amount into the account of a company, Nigel and Colive Ltd.
Omale, who is the fifth witness for the anti-graft agency, said that the account was run by the judge.
He said that the transaction occurred on July 11, 2014, under the instructions of the then Comptroller General of the NCS, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko.
“In the course of my duty in 2014, the Deputy Comptroller General who I was directly working with, Mr Musa Tahir, came down from the office of Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Mr Abdullahi Dikko.
“He gave me the account number of Nigel and Colive Ltd, telling me that the CGC said that we should liase with the 12 commands of the customs service and that each command should pay N1million each into my bank account.
“Tahir told me that when I receive the money, I should transfer the whole sum into the account of Nigel and Colive.
“The instructions were carried out as directed and on July 11, 2014, the N12 million was paid in three trenches of N3million, N4million and N5million into the account of Nigel and Colive Ltd.
“No services were rendered to our command to warrant the payments of the funds into the account,” Musa said.
The witness, in his evidence, said that when he was invited by the EFCC, he was initially tempted to give a false statement to the anti-graft agency.
“I was invited to the EFCC office, I was told to explain the reason behind the transaction and I remember volunteering to give my statements.
“I was initially trying to protect myself stating that I did not know anything about the money but at a point, something was telling me ‘when did you become a liar, do you not know your upbringing?
“At that point, I retracted my statement and I revealed all that transpired during the course of that transaction,” Musa said.
However, while being cross – examined by the lead defence counsel to Ofili-Ajumogobia, Mr Robert Clarke (SAN), Musa said he did not know the purpose of the N12 million he transferred.
Clarke said, “In the face of the statement of account that you’re holding, does it show any reason for transferring the money?
“You work with the NCS which is a para – military organisation, I believe you are trained to obey to the last instructions without asking questions.
“The spirit that told you to tell the truth at the EFCC, was it an acquired spirit or when you were receiving instructions and transferring the money did the spirit tell you anything?’’
Responding to Clarke’s questions, Musa said “The statement of account in my hands does not reveal any reason for the transaction.
“I was instructed by my bosses to do the transaction and I’m not trained to ask questions, it was my conscience that told me to tell the truth.
“I was not harassed, coerced or intimidated by the EFCC to give my statements.”
NAN reports that on March 17, a fourth prosecution witness, Mr Uchenna Okaranwolu, a former banker, had revealed to the court that the Delta State Government had paid N15 million into the judge’s Access bank account.
Ofili-Ajumogobia, is standing trial alongside Mr Godwin Obla, SAN, a former prosecutor of the EFCC.
The duo is jointly charged on two-counts of perverting the course of justice while Obla is facing an additional two counts of offering gratification in the sum of N5 million to Ofili-Ajumogobia, a public official, while serving as a judge.
Ofili-Ajumogobia faces a 26-count charge bordering on unlawful enrichment, taking property by a public officer, corruption by a public officer, forgery and giving false information to an official of the EFCC.
Both denied all the charges.
Another prosecution witness, Mr Robertson Emafidon, revealed during proceedings details of the N5 million which was transferred from Obla’s United Bank of Africa (UBA) bank into the judge’s account.
Emafidon, the Head of Regulatory Liason at the Head Office of the UBA, said “Sometime in November 2016, we received a letter from the EFCC asking us to avail them of the account opening documents and statement of account regarding the subject customer.
“I made copies of the documents, certified them as true copied, signed and forwarded them as a letter back to the EFCC.
“There was a debit of N5million on May 21, 2015 from the account of Obla and Co into the bank account of Nigel and Colive Ltd.
“On May 18, 2015 there was a credit of N16.5million from the account of D.S.J Integrated Services into the bank account of Obla and Co.”
However, while being cross – examined by Clarke and Chief Ferdinard Orbih (SAN), defence counsel to Obla, Emafidon denied any knowledge of the purpose of the bank transfers.
“I don’t know the purpose of the transfers, I was not personally involved in any of these transactions and I was not in any of the branches where the transactions occurred,” Emafidon said.
After the witnesses had given their evidence, Oyedepo, the EFCC counsel, made an oral application to the court seeking for some witness summons to compel additional witnesses to testify for the EFCC in the trial.
“My Lord, I want to apply for a witness summons to be issued on Mr Charles Musa, a proposed eleventh witness on the proof of evidence, Mr Frank Ezenwe and Mr Danladi Haliyu the fifth and sixth witnesses in the additional list of witnesses.
“We will also request for a subpoena to the Registrar of Titles of the Bureau of Lands, Lagos, to produce a deed of assignment,” Oyedepo said.
Justice Hakeem Oshodi adjourned the case until May 26 for the continuation of trial.
-
Reps refer Buhari to interpretation of law on Magu’s confirmation
The House of Representatives has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to approach the court for the interpretation of the laws surrounding the appointment of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Despite being told that being the aggrieved party, the House ought to be the body to approach the court for the position of law on the issue, the lawmakers insisted that the Executive should head to the court for clarity on the issue.
The lawmakers said their decision became imperative for the preservation of doctrine of separation of power going by the remarks by Vice President (VP) Yemi Osinbajo, who backed his position with Section 171 of the Constitution that the appointment of EFCC Chairman does not require the confirmation of the Senate.
The Senate had to reject President Muhammadu Buhari’s nominee, Ibrahim Magu twice.
Following the adoption of a motion on the need to prevent the erosion of the doctrine of the separation of powers in the nation’s democratic practice by Minority Leader Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta), the lawmakers roundly condemned the Vice President for attempting to ridicule the nation’s parliament with his remarks on the issue.
Ogor said rather than make utterances that point to a negation of the doctrine contained in Sections 4(2), 5 and 6 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the Executive should approach the court for the interpretation of the law.
He said: ” I brought this motion clearly in defence of our democracy and in defence of the doctrine of the separation of power. Our democracy stands on a tripod which must be protected”, he said.
“By the clear provision of Section 2 (3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, the Chairman of the anti-corruption agency shall be nominated by the President subject to the confirmation of the Senate;
“I am convinced that the EFCC Act is an Act of the National Assembly that can only be set aside by a Court of competent jurisdiction, and until that happens, the law remains in force and binding on all persons and authorities in the country;
“Furthermore, I’m aware that the Executive Arm of Government has not filed any proceeding in any court to challenge the provision of Section 2 (3) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act of 2004.
“Under the Doctrine of Separation of Powers, the interpretation of the Constitution and Acts of Parliament is the sole responsibility of the Judiciary and not that of any person or official of the other Arms of Government;
“It should be of concern that the statement credited to the Vice President is capable of eroding the Doctrine of Separation of Powers in our democracy, with its obvious implication of instituting a dictatorship in the country.”
Supporting the motion, among several other lawmakers, Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) said Osinbajo should know that he is not the best despite being a professor.
He said utterances of the government officials like the VP should be discouraged from being turned into the government policies.
Sunday Karimi (PDP, Kogi) said the VP should be summoned to explain to the House why he has to ridicule the nation’s parliament with his remarks.
On the other hand, Sani Zoro (APC, Jigawa) urged his colleagues to exercise caution by confirming the authenticity of the remarks credited to the VP before taking a decision.
On his part, Abiodun Balogun (APC, Lagos) said since it was the House that was the aggrieved party, in this case, it should be the one to approach the court for the interpretation of the law.
“It is not advisable to ask the Federal Government to approach the court over its own position in this matter.”
The contributions of the two were rejected.
The motion was unanimously adopted after it was put to a voice vote by Speaker Yakubu Dogara.
Committee on Legislative Compliance was mandated to ensure the implementation of the resolution.
-
Alleged $1m fraud: Ajudua’s lawyers stall arraignment
The defense team of a one-time Lagos socialite and businessman, Fred Ajudua, on Thursday stalled his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly defrauding a German company of 1 million dollars at an Ikeja High Court.
The lawyers lead by Mr Norrison Quakers (SAN), argued against Ajudua’s arraignment after Justice Josephine Oyefeso had ordered him into the dock for his plea.
“My Lord, the business of the day as listed in your cause list is a ruling and not arraignment, the case of NDDC V Ecobank backs this argument.
“Trial starts when the defendant is arraigned, we have not been served with the charge and other processes, I have also spoken to the defendant and he told me that he did not see the charge.
“I will have to seek for a short adjournment to properly study the charge.
“My client is in poor health and he has only one functional kidney which is deteriorating fast, he also needs time to seek medical attention,” Quakers told the court.
Mr S. A. Atteh, Counsel to the EFCC, after hearing Quakers’ complaints of not seeing the charge, immediately served Quakers and his team with copies of the charge in the courtroom.
“My Lord, it is only when the plea of the defendant is taken that he is properly before the court.”
Quakers, upon receiving the charge, noted some irregularities which were in the charge which was that Ajudua was charged under the Penal Code and not the Criminal Law of Lagos State of 2011 which is currently used for criminal cases.
Justice Oyefeso, acceding to Quakers’ request for an adjournment, fixed May 16 for the EFCC to file a formal application for arraignment.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC had on Feb. 13 re-opened a charge filed against Ajudua in 2005.
In the charge, the EFCC had claimed that Ajudua, an alleged serial fraudster, and one Joseph Ochunor, an accomplice, had sometime in 1993 defrauded one Ziad Abu Zalaf of Technical International Ltd., a company based in Germany of 1 million dollars.
The fraud case had earlier been struck out by Justice Morenikeji Obadina in 2009 for want of diligent prosecution after Ajudua failed to make an appearance in court on 24 occasions.
On March 13, Justice Josephine Oyefeso had adjourned for a ruling to determine if the case should be added to the court’s cause list for trial.
Earlier during Thursday’s proceedings, Justice Oyefeso had in her ruling ordered that Ajudua should be arraigned by the anti-graft agency.
“This case was assigned to this court in November 2016 when the defendant became available within the jurisdiction.
“The prosecution applied that the matter be put on the cause list as the applicants were willing to prosecute the case diligently as witnesses are available to testify.
“On Feb. 9 the defence had raised a preliminary objection challenging the powers of the court to try a case that is struck out since 2009, stating the application of the EFCC was an abuse of court processes.
“When a case is struck out, it remains alive though in a comatose state, and it comes alive through the appropriate application to relist the case,” she said.
Justice Oyefeso noted that there was a lacuna in the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of Lagos regarding what happens to a case when it is struck out.
“Section 262 of the ACJL has come to the rescue in this instance by stating that the court shall adopt a procedure which will provide substantive justice.
“The days of technicalities are long gone and the preliminary objection is unmeritorious and has failed and it is hereby dismissed.
“The defendant should please go into the dock and his plea should be taken,” she ruled.
-
Court orders forfeiture of Patience Jonathan’s $5.8m
The Federal High Court Lagos on Wednesday granted a fresh exparte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for an order forfeiting the sum of $5.8 million belonging to former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan.
EFCC wants the sum forfeited to the Federal Government pending the determination of the motion on notice.
Justice Mojisola Olatoregun held: “Order is granted as prayed”
The new order was granted 24 hours after the EFCC withdrew a pending application for stay of the court’s judgment which had earlier unfrozen Jonathan’s account.Details soon……….
-
‘N6bn discovered by EFCC belongs to Niger State’
Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger on Friday said that the N6 billion discovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as proceeds of crime were stolen from Niger State Government account.
The governor made this known to newsmen after joining President Muhammadu Buhari and hundreds of other Muslim faithful to perform the 2-raka’at Juma’at prayer, at the Aso Rock Mosque, Abuja.
The EFCC uncovered two bank accounts containing N2 billion suspected to be the proceeds of crime.
Mr Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman, said the money which belonged to a former deputy governorship candidate in Niger State, was discovered following a tip-off by a whistle-blower.
The governor, however, disclosed that an additional N2 billion had been uncovered by the EFCC from the same source, bringing the total amount of the discovery funds to N6 billion.
According to Bello, the funds are believed to have been siphoned by the suspects through inflated Hajj subsidies offered by the state government to Pilgrims within the periods he (suspect) served as the Chairman of the Niger State Pilgrims’ Agency.
The governor, who commended the EFCC for its efforts in recovering stolen funds, expressed the hope that the recovered N6 billion would be transferred to the state’s accounts to enable his administration embark on developmental projects.
He also acknowledged the efforts of the EFCC towards the recovery of the misappropriated ecological funds by the previous administration in the state.
“I’m aware that the EFCC is investigating the ecological funds. At the inception of this administration we realised that the ecological funds disappeared.
“I did not have any evidence that it was utilised to address any ecological issues and we are faced with major ecological problems especially in Mokwa, Agaie, Bida, part of Minna, Rafin Gora and Mariga.
“We are doing our best to address the ecological problems. We need funds and unfortunately the N2 billion that was given to the state was not judiciously used to address the ecological challenges.
“If it had been used properly maybe our burden might have been reduced by now, but we are having sleepless nights over ecological issues and we are still approaching the Federal Government to assist us,’’ he added.
On the discovery of some deposit of Hydro-Carbon and other solid minerals in the state, the governor called for a speedy presidential intervention to hasten their exploration and exploitation.
Bello expressed delight over the state of the health conditions of President Buhari, saying that:“I’m in the State House to check and we prayed together and he is doing very well.
“I’m happy that I saw him today.’’
-
Lawmaker wants special courts for corruption cases to enable spending recovered loots
A Lagos State lawmaker, Mr Segun Olulade, on Wednesday urged urgent establishment of special courts for speedy trial of corruption cases.
Olulade, the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Health Services, made the call in a statement he issued in Lagos.
The legislator, who represents Epe Constituency II, said that cases of corruption were experiencing delay in the regular courts.
According to him, the delay has hampered spending of recovered loots by the Federal Government.
He was reacting to the recent recovery of a huge amount of money by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos.
“The delay being experienced in the trial of corruption cases has been hindering the Federal Government from accessing and utilising money seized from persons standing trial for corruption.
“The fight against corruption may not yield any good result until special courts are established.
“Some court cases on corruption have been pending for years. Some have lasted for 10 years, some for eight years.
“These court cases can drag on for a long time which means that money recovered by this government cannot be utilised.
“Once special courts are established, they should have a time limit for trashing out cases,” he said.
According to him, the special courts should complete corruption cases within a period of three months to one year.
He suggested that recovered funds should go back into Nigeria’s treasury as soon as the cases would be concluded.
-
Lawyers to EFCC: Name owner of seized money
Lawyers on Friday urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to name the owner of the huge sums of money found in an Ikoyi apartment.
Constitutional lawyer and rights activist Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) said the claim that the money belongs to the NIA was “facical”.
He said there was no way a reasonable person would agree that an intelligence agency would hide money in an apartment.
The SAN urged EFCC to name and shame the owners, saying someone must own the apartment.
Ozekhome said: “We seem now fixated to name, shame and humiliate Nigerians with the paint brush of shame, odium, obloquy and denigration.“How can about N15billion be found in highbrow Osborne Road, Ikoyi, by no means a back squalid street? How can the equivalent of CIA, keep such hard currency in cash at an unguarded apartment, tucked away with many other apartments in a block of flats, not in a separate heavily fortified and fiercely guarded stand -alone building that has “keep off” carefully imprinted on it?
“What was it meant for and who approved it and in which budget? Who was the whistleblower that could identify that such money was ‘hidden’ in the bedroom in flat 7A, leaving out flat 7B, yet not knowing who kept the money there or its ownership?
“Why was EFCC not pictured or recorded on video going into the apartment, before we suddenly saw an arranged ‘counting’ of money? Are there no CCTV in such a highbrow? Can we see the footages, please?
“Only last week, N49m orphaned sum was ‘arrested’ at Kaduna Airport! Then, suddenly another sum of orphaned N448m was ‘discovered’ in an ownerless shop in Victoria Island. Who owned the plaza? Who sold there? Are there no CCTV there? Can we see them, please?“The truth is that all these simulated, ‘arranged’ ‘discoveries’ can only temporarily divert attention from the hunger, squalor, fear, disease, non-performance and cluelessness of this government.
“But, unfortunately, even lies have their expiry date. Truth is inexorable, immutable and eternal.The chicken will finally come home to roost,” Ozekhome said.
To him, the report that the money belongs to the NIA was “farcical, heretic, total hogwash, bunkum and balderdash”.
“Let this government and its minions credit Nigerians with some modicum of sense and capacity to reason, even with their valiant attempts to cow, browbeat and intimidate all opposition elements and critical voices in their so called corruption war.“At least, not even the terror halo cast on our individual and collective psyche has dulled our analytical minds.
“The entire theatricality and Baba Sala’s Alawada Kerikeri buffoonery ought to be reserved for some circus show at the National theatre or Traffagal Square, where comedians and humour merchants entertain. The emergent facts do not show NIA’s ownership of the money, but the grand cover-up of a serving minister’s ownership of the money.
“It is so, so sad that all these national diversions are simply geared towards highlighting and emphasising the omnipotence and indispensability of just one man, Ibrahim Magu, as Executive Chairman of the EFCC.
“We should build strong institutions, not strong individuals. Before Ibrahim Magu, there was a Nuhu Ribadu; there was a Mrs Waziri, and there was an Ibrahim Lamorde.
“After Magu, there would still be another EFCC Executive Chairman. All these so-called humongous recoveries of orphaned monies are simply geared towards showcasing ineffable efficiency, effectiveness and matchless proficiency. It simply doesn’t work that war.
“In the USA, wherefrom we borrowed our presidentialism, the equivalent agency works silently behind the scene, only seen, but never heard, except where it becomes absolutely necessary.
“But, here in Nigeria, the EFCC engages in grotesque media trial, hifalutin and shocking disclosures of orphaned monies whose destinations after the media hype is never known.
“Where are all the alleged recoveries of vast sums, attached properties, etc, made by the EFCC kept, and how much are they? When asked this question by the Senate during screening, Magu told a shocked and bewildered Nation he did not know!”
Another SAN, Seyi Sowemimo, said if the money truly belongs to the NIA, the agency should come forward to explain the purpose.
“I find it strange that a public agency like the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA) would come forward and admit that it kept the money there. What could be the reason for keeping such money there? Is it in any way tied to its official duties? What was the purpose?
“It is only when the NIA discloses this that one can know if it is concerned with its functions and I don’t know if this is something that they should do without disclosing it to maybe an institution like the Central Bank.
“The position as I have always understood it is that you cannot keep such monies in a private residence. But I am even going beyond that in order to come to a view of the matter. It isn’t enough for the NIA to say ‘it is our money’.
“They need to go beyond that and say whether it is in any way connected with their statutory duties and how they came about the money. Why should a minor institution like that not have the money in a bank? To me, it does not add up.
National President, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Malachy Ugwummadu, said the true owner of the money must be exposed.
“It raises questions of the legality of warehousing those kinds of sums. If the NIA claims it owns the money, to what extent has it also explained the need for such humongous sums kept outside the banking system?
“Was it for an operational purpose? What purpose requires those kinds of amounts and needed to be done only by the disbursement of the money in the manner that they were found?“When were they kept there? For how long have they been there? Who authorised them to be kept there? For what purpose? These are questions that must be answered by anyone who shows up claiming to be the owner of that kind of money.
“Otherwise, it would raise suspicion that we are looking at a system that encourages even official financial transgressions and that supports the kind of temerity we are seeing,” Ugwummadu said.