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Tag: EFCC

  • ‘N284b budget padding’: EFCC uncovers Rep’s Bureau De change

    ‘N284b budget padding’: EFCC uncovers Rep’s Bureau De change

    As part of the ongoing probe of about N284billion injected into the 2016 budget, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has traced a Bureau De Change (BDC) to a principal officer of the House of Representatives.

    The BDC has been placed under surveillance following the suspicion that it was being used for slush funds.

    The EFCC has shortlisted four principal officers, the former Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, and 45 others for investigation.

    Thirteen members, including four principal officers, have been listed as the first set of people to be quizzed.

    The anti-graft agency has written the Code of Conduct Bureau on some issues in the Asset Declaration Forms of some of the 13 lawmakers in the first batch.

    It was learnt that the EFCC had concluded preliminary investigation on the 2016 budget padding which has set the stage for interaction with those implicated.

    The probe followed a petition against the House by Jibrin who detectives have discovered also has a case to answer.

    Jibrin’s petition to EFCC, dated July 29, 2016 was sent through Hammart and Company, Doka Chambers, and Law Bond Solicitors.

    The signatories  are Mohammed Abdulhamid( Hammart and Company); A.B. Bako

    ( Doka Chambers)  and C. Nwachukwu (Law Bond Solicitors).

    A source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: “In the course of preliminary investigation of the padding of 2016 budget and constituency projects, we  traced a Bureau De Change to a principal officer of the House. The company is named Libra Bureau De Change.

    “We are suspecting that the BDC might have been used for slush funds. Our detectives have placed this BDC on surveillance.

    “We will not release the name of the Representative linked with the BDC until a prima facie case has been established.”

    Giving an update on the probe, the source said: “So far, 50 members of the House have been shortlisted for interrogation in connection with 2016 Budget padding.

    “But we will only accommodate 13 representatives in the first batch to avoid any act capable of affecting the activities of the House because we are only looking into allegations.

    “The EFCC has also written the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) on the Asset Declaration Forms of some of the affected 13 members. We have specifically requested from CCB on whether these lawmakers declared some accounts in their names.

    “We are only investigating the allegations in Jibrin’s petition; it is too early to pronounce any of the lawmakers guilty.

    “ To ensure fairness, the EFCC is also probing some issues against Jibrin. While the petitioner might not like it, we cannot gloss over counter allegations against Jibrin.”

  • AGF, EFCC get court’s nod to prosecute Ubah, Capital Oil

    AGF, EFCC get court’s nod to prosecute Ubah, Capital Oil

    •Appeal Court voids purported clearance by AGF, House of Reps, others

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja which among others, prohibited  investigation and prosecution of businessman Ifeanyi Ubah and his firm, Capital Oil and Gas Limited over their alleged complicity in the massive petroleum subsidy scam recorded under the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

    The court, in a unanimous judgment by a three-man panel, voided the purported clearance jointly issued Ubah and his firm via separate letters written by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and a report by the ad-hoc Committee of the House of Representatives (that probed the oil subsidy scam).

    The judgment was on an appeal  initiated by the Chairman of the EFCC and AGF against the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja delivered on July 25, 2013 in a fundamental rights enforcement suit  filed by Ubah and his firm. It was prosecuted by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), with Ajibola Oluyede and Babs Akinwumi representing Ubah and Capital Oil.

    Court documents revealed that trouble started for Ubah and his firm when the Presidential Committee on the Verification and Reconciliation of subsidy payments to petroleum marketers queried the payment of about N43.291billion subsidy payment to them on the ground that the process leading to the payment was suspicious.

    The case was referred to the Police’s Special Fraud Unit, ‘D’ Department, Force CID, Lagos for investigation. It issued two interim reports dated November 2, 2012 and November 3, 2012, claiming that the transactions involving Ubah and his firm were suspicious.

    Ubah and Capital Oil, who queried the composition of the Presidential Committee on the ground that it was headed by former Access Bank Managing Director, Aigboje Aig-Imokhuede, with another board member, Cosmas Maduka, as member (a bank with which they had financial dispute), had the two police interim reports set aside by a judgment of the Federal High Court on February 18, 2013.

    For unexplained reasons, the police, on February 28, 2013 issued a third report exonerating Ubah and his firm. The House of Reps’ ad-hoc committee gave a similar verdict in its report of April 18, 2012. The AGF, in a legal advice to the EFCC Chairman and the IGP, dated October 2014 exonerated Ubah and his company from criminal liability.

    Based on the AGF’s advice, the EFCC Chairman issued a report dated February 25, 2015 confirming that there was no criminal liability established against Ubah and his firm.

    The AGF followed up with three letters dated March 12, 2015, addressed to the Ministry of Finance, the Debt Management Office and the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), notifying them that the EFCC has discontinued any investigation into the case and has issued Ubah and his firm clearance letter.

    But, in the Court of Appeal judgment, delivered on May 12, a copy of which The Nation obtained last Friday, Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, who read the lead judgment, said those letters were mere opinions of the authors, not sufficient to confer a status of innocence on a criminal suspect, who has not been tried in court.

    Justice Agim said such letters can also not deter relevant investigative agencies from reopening investigation on the case, because a legal advice by the office of the AGF on a case file sent to it by the police after investigation, was not the same as the exercise of the AGF’s power to take over or discontinue criminal proceedings under Section 174(1)(a) and (c) of the Constitution.

    The judge said Ubah and his firm’s reliance on the letters “and two recent judgments of the Federal High Court, they quickly procured upon obtaining those documents (the letters by AGF, IGP and EFCC Chairman), are all aimed at circumventing and defeating the decisions of this court in IGP v. Ubah, Aig-Imoghuede v. Ubah and Maduka v. Ubah (three decisions of the court’s Lagos division which set aside the February 18, 2013 judgment given by the Federal High Court, Lagos.

    Justice Agim noted that the fact that the office of the AGF and the Chairman of the EFCC have continued to prosecute the appeal despite the letters purportedly written by them in favour of Ubah and his firm, was an indication that “the current holders of those offices have refused to ratify or adopt the letters written by their predecessors.”

    The judge added: “I have held herein that the said report of the ad-hoc committee of the House of Representatives is of no legal effect and that in any case, it did not absolve the 1st and 2nd respondents (Ubah and his firm) from complicity in the massive fraud in the petroleum subsidy payments.

    “I have also held herein that the investigation report in exhibit CAPOIL 4 (the 3rd police investigation report) exonerating the 1st and 2nd respondents from complicity in the commission of the said crimes conflicts with the elaborate findings of facts showing their commission of the offences in exhibits CAPOIL 1 and 2 (the 1st and 2nd police investigation reports) and that this justifies the further investigation of the matters by the appellants.

    Justice Agim noted that one of the allegations raised by then Chairman of Access Bank, Dr. Cosmas Maduka against Ubah and his firm before the Presidential Committee that investigated the subsidy fraud was that they “fraudulently obtained clearance of imported petroleum products when the original copy of the bill of lading for the products was still in the possession of the consignee, Access Bank that financed the letters of credit for the importation.”

    He also noted that the second police investigation report on the case, marked: exhibit CAPOIL 2 contains findings of facts of Ubah and his firm’s involvement in petroleum subsidy payment fraud.

    “Exhibit CAPOIL 4 (third police investigation report) and exhibit PA3 (the report of the ad-hoc committee of the House of Reps) relied on by the 1st and 2nd respondents all agree that there was massive fraud in petroleum subsidy payments involving petroleum marketing companies, tank farm owners and Federal Government officials.

    “There was therefore, a reasonable basis for the suspicion of the 1st and 2nd respondents of committing the said offences.

    “The fuel subsidy fraud involved corruption and fraud on a very massive scale, involving many oil marketing companies and officials of government regulatory agencies, resulting in the looting and stealing of trillions of naira from the Federal Government of Nigeria and threatening the security and economy of Nigeria.

    “This fact is common knowledge and is not open to question. The petroleum subsidy fraud is a serious and very complicated fraud that has dealt a devastating blow on the security and well-being of the people. “

    Justice Agim, who likened the massive fraud that was perpetrated in the name of petroleum subsidy to terrorism and treason, castigated trial court judges, who chose to yield their platforms to suspects being investigated for complicity in such grave offences.

    “Yet, the trial court and other courts have determined applications for the enforcement of fundamental human rights of persons being investigated for committing this and similar type of offences in such a manner as to prevent or frustrate such investigation by issuing injunctions to stop ongoing process and prevent even future processes without regard to the very serious nature of the crime alleged to have been committed and its far reaching destructive effect on society.

    “Such legal processes initiated by suspects to pre-empt the due investigation of the allegations against them amount to gross abuses of the legal process and court processes.

    These pre-emptive legal processes initiated by persons suspected of committing very serious offences such as petroleum subsidy fraud, theft of public funds and properties, terrorism, treason, etc to prevent the initiation or continuation of the due criminal processes of investigation of the allegation against them is not a legitimate or genuine use of the court process.

    Justice Agim frowned at the conflicting roles played in the case by relevant government agencies including the police, the office of the AGF and the EFCC, who at different points, issued letters of clearance to Ubah and his firm.

    Justices Peter Olabisi Ige and Tani Yusuf Hassan, who were members of the three-man panel, agreed with Justice Agim’s views in the judgment.

  • $1.89b arms deals: EFCC summons ex-Army Chief of Staff Minima

    $1.89b arms deals: EFCC summons ex-Army Chief of Staff Minima

    •For questioniang on June 12

    Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Tobiah Jacob Minimah has some questions to answer from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on how more than $1,891,809,299.1billion allocated for arms procurement for the Army during his tenure was spent.

    The commission has already invited him for an interrogative session, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    The EFCC, it was gathered, is interested in knowing how a company that was registered on November 17, 2014 came to be awarded contracts worth $125,179,299.10million in one day and from the $1.8b fund.

    Also to face EFCC inquisition on the arms procurement are 53 others including another former Chief of Army Staff, 16  retired and serving Army officers, 12 serving and retired public officers and 24 Chief Executive Officers of companies involved in the procurement of equipment.

    Minimah was appointed by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan as Chief of Army Staff on January 16, 2014.

    He was disengaged in the same capacity by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 13, 2015.

    The Presidential Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment, headed by AVM Jon Ode, had uncovered alleged irregularities and fraud in the purchase of arms and ammunition for the Army.

    Based on the report of the panel which was referred to EFCC by the presidency, the anti-graft agency has summoned Minimah for interaction on June 12(Monday).

    The EFCC, in its June 8, 2017 letter to Minimah, asked the ex-Army Chief to report at its headquarters in Abuja.

    The letter said in part: “This commission is investigating a case of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and money laundering in which your name featured.

    “In view of the above, you are requested to attend an interview with EFCC on Monday, 12th June 2017 by 10am prompt.

    “This request is made pursuant to Section 38(1) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(Establishment) Act, 2004 and Section 21 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended. “Accept the assurances of the Acting Executive Chairman’s highest regards, please.”

    A top source in the commission said: “Our team will be interrogating the ex-Chief of Army Staff as a follow up to the report of the Presidential Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment which has been forwarded to us for action.

    “We have about 54 retired and serving military officers, companies and businessmen that we are going to interact with. The procurement cash involved was over $1.89billion.

    “We have been interviewing some of those implicated and it is the turn of Gen. Minimah. It is too early to assume that he has committed any fraud. The onus is on him to come and respond to the allegations against him while in office.

    “Being a sensitive beat, we have spent many months screening the report of AVM Ode’s panel, retrieving vital documents and tracking alleged slush funds.

    “If there are no infractions committed by the ex-Chief of Army Staff, we will make our findings known to the public accordingly.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “Our approach is the same with 53 others and companies invited. We work on a template that none of them has committed any fraud until after our investigation.”

    Some of the findings of the AVM Ode committee were sighted by The Nation last night.

    The panel observed that award of contracts in the Nigerian Army was fraught with irregularities.

    It said a company was registered on November 17, 2014 and awarded $125,179,299.10 on the same day.

    It said: “The Nigerian Army, between April and August 2014, entered into 4 contract agreements with Societe D’Equipmenteux Internationale (SEI Nig Ltd) for procurement of Cobra Armoured Personnel Carriers, Shilka Self-Propelled Artillery Guns, Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) as well as various ammunition and spares funded by the ONSA.

    “The contracts for the Cobra APCs and Shilka Guns were not executed as they were not funded. However, the costs for procurement of the AFVs; ammunition and spares were $398,550,000.00 and $484,765,000.00 respectively totaling $883,315,000.00.

    “In November 2014, the ONSA awarded contract to Conella Services Limited for procurement of 72 various arms and ammunition that included MRAP vehicles, Mi-17 helicopter at the cost of $125,179,299.10.

    “The Committee observed that SEI and its 2 associated companies, APC Axial Ltd and HK-Sawki Nig Ltd, were incorporated in May 2014 with 2 Nigerien brothers, Hima Aboubakar and Ousmane Hima Massy as the only directors.

    “ Between May 2014 and March 2015, the ONSA mandated CBN to release various sums totaling $386,954,000.00 to SEI and the 2 associated companies for ‘procurement of technical equipment’, without tying the money to particular items of procurement. “Thus, the allotment of the fund was left at the discretion of the vendor without input or consultation with ONSA or the Nigerian Army.

    “Furthermore, some of the funds transferred preceded the formalization of SEI contracts with the Nigerian Army. There was also no evidence of any contract to justify the payments made by ONSA to the SEI associate companies. Consequently, it had been difficult for the ONSA, the Nigerian Army and SEI to reconcile the accounts vis-a-vis the equipment delivered.”

    The panel also uncovered that 42 units of Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) which were rejected by Iraq were later sold to Nigeria to fight Boko Haram insurgents.

    It claimed that some of the APCs were either expired or unsuitable leading to loss of lives.

    It added:  “The Committee observed that one of the new equipment SEI procured for the Nigerian Army from Ukraine was BTR-4E APC. However, according to the Ukraine’s State Enterprise Lviv Armour Repair Plant, the designers of the equipment, “some of the products sold to Nigeria in 2014 were actually among 42 units designed for Iraq which subsequently rejected them due to poor performance rating”.

    “Additionally, the 2 weeks training availed the technicians and operators was inadequate for them to comprehend the technical workings of the newly introduced equipment.

    “The Committee’s interactions with the field operators revealed that although the platforms and ammunition procured by SEI were deployed for the NE operations, some of them were aged or expired, lacked spares and prone to breakdown without immediate recovery equipment.

    “Therefore, failure to carry out pre-shipment inspection and inadequate training resulted in procurement of some unreliable equipment that reduced the capacity of the Nigerian Army in the North East Operations and resulted in the loss of lives and equipment.”

    On some payments to SEI on T-72 Tanks, the panel said the company made about $93,000,000.00 profit without paying the mandatory 5 per cent Withholding Tax(WHT).

    It said: “SEI submitted a document to the Committee reconciling the items it delivered to the Nigerian Army vis-a-vis the payments made to it by ONSA. According to SEI, the total value of the contracts it executed amounted to $909,065,824.00 and not the  $883,315,000.00 reflected in the 2 contract agreements it signed with Nigerian Army.

    “Furthermore, SEI claimed that it delivered goods worth $697,718,168.00 whereas only $198,289,672.00 was paid to it by ONSA.

  • Alleged N10b assets: EFCC clears investigator Madaki

    Alleged N10b assets: EFCC clears investigator Madaki

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has cleared one of its top investigators, Alhaji Abubakar Madaki, of allegations of acquiring assets worth N10billion.

    The agency dismissed the allegations against Madaki as unfounded and a cheap blackmail.

    It said its findings showed that Madaki has only three plots of land in some villages which are worth only N1.5million

    The Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr.  Wilson Uwujaren, made the clarifications against the backdrop of reports by an online newspaper.

    The paper had claimed that the investigator, who has handled many high-profile cases, acquired 474 hectares of land and two houses in highbrow Wuse 2 of Abuja, including a N200million for a girlfriend.

    But Uwujaren said the EFCC findings showed that the smear campaign against Madaki was hatched by a suspect

    He said:  “For those who don’t know, Madaki is a native of Keffi and his family has land assets.  Part of the land he is alleged to have acquired belongs to the family. The ones that are not owned by the family, he legitimately acquired with evidence.”

    “What he paid to acquire the land he has in remote parts of Keffi was not anywhere near the figures being bandied by his detractors. Even if you put the whole of Keffi up for sale, it is unlikely to fetch N10 billion!”

    “There is evidence that the campaign of calumny is being bankrolled by a suspect who believes that Madaki instigated his investigation by the commission.”

    The EFCC spokesman also clarified that Madaki does not have two houses in Wuse 2 contrary to insinuations.

    Uwujaren added: “The allegation that he owns two houses in Wuse 2 is ridiculous. Where are the houses located and when were they bought? From whom did he buy the houses? Who is the girlfriend that got a N200m house from him?”

    “These are questions that any serious journalist should investigate. But I can tell you, for free, that there is nothing to the allegations.”

    Documents indicated the three plots of land credited to the investigator in Keffi amounted to N1.45 million instead of the N10 billion allegedly reported by an online newspaper.

    Findings confirmed that in 2010, the investigator acquired a plot of land at Angwan Kyero, along Madubi Road for N150,000 from one Gaskiya Auta.

    Also, between 2011 and 2012, Madaki bought a plot of land at Angwan Chediya from one late Alhaji Zakari Jibirin, for N600,000 and payment was made in installments.

    Another plot of land at Anwan Sarkin Mada was sold to Madaki by his cousin, Muazu Ishaq, a retired permanent secretary, for N700,000 with payment made in three tranches.

  • EFCC detains Niger PDP chairman

    The Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested and detained Niger state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Tanko Beji.

    The reasons for his arrest remain unknown but sources said he was invited to the Abuja office of the commission last Thursday where he was detained after undergoing interrogations.

    He has been refused access to his family, friends and party members.

    It was learnt the PDP helmsman has been charged on a one- count charge of aiding and abetting Ex-Governor Mu’azu Aliyu who appointed him as Director General of his campaign organisation during the quest for second term.

    It was gathered Beji would be required to explain how N97million advanced to the campaign organisation was expended.

    Our correspondent observed during visit to the PDP Secretariat that members had gloomy expressions, grumbling the ruling All People Congress (APC) was intimidating opposition figures.

  • Ex-bank Manager,  others docked for alleged N55.8Million fraud, forgery 

    Ex-bank Manager,  others docked for alleged N55.8Million fraud, forgery 

    A former bank manager with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), Ms Florence Onome Odior, has been docked before an Edo State High Court for allegedly stealing over N55m belonging to a customer identified as  Moses Obozohae.

    Ms Odior and three others are facing a 16-count charge of stealing, fraud and forgery and conspiracy to convert the said amount to their personal use.

    Others that were docked were Odior Sunday, Patricia Jegede and Joseph Alexander Esiso.

    The offence, according to the charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, was committed between 2011 and 2012 while she was the manager in a branch of the bank in Benin City.

    Counsel to the EFCC, Aliu Mustaph, moved for accelerated hearing of the case and kicked against extension of administrative bail granted to the accused persons as canvased by their counsels.

    Counsel to the accused persons prayed the court to extend the administrative bail to enable them peruse the proof attached to the charge sheet and make appropriate reply.

    In his rulings, the presiding judge, Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele adjourned case for June 16th for arraignment and hearing of bail application.

    Justice Ovbiagele also struck out the names of the 5th and 6th accused persons from the charges because they were companies that could not jailed.

  • Money laundering: Supreme Court orders Justice Abang to continue Metuh’s trial

    Money laundering: Supreme Court orders Justice Abang to continue Metuh’s trial

    The Supreme Court on Friday ordered Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to continue with the trial of a former spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh.

    Metuh is standing trial on a two-count charge of money laundering and fraud.

    A five-man panel of the apex court dismissed the ex- PDP spokesman’s application for stay of proceedings of his trial before the Federal High Court.

    In the application, Metuh urged the Supreme Court to halt his trial at the Federal High Court pending the determination of his no-case submission by the apex court.

    The trial resumes on June 19.

     

  • EFCC blocks firms’ N116m

    EFCC blocks firms’ N116m

    Armed with a court order, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has  blocked over N116million belonging to the  House of Representatives Minority Leader   Leo Ogor.

    The cash is the outstanding sum in the accounts of five of the six companies owned by Ogor with which he secured contracts from some agencies as constituency projects.

    Apart from the freeze order, the EFCC is looking into a “curious” payment  of over N318million  to two of the  companies  by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    The  anti-graft agency is probing Ogor based on a petition against the House leadership by the suspended Appropriation Committee Chairman Abdulmumin Jibrin on alleged padding of 2016 Budget and insertion of bogus constituency projects.

    As part of the first stage of the investigation, EFCC detectives discovered that Ogor has 30 accounts, including six belonging to his companies, two dormant savings accounts  and the rest personal.

    The huge inflows into six of the  30 accounts attracted the EFCC.

    The said accounts belong to six companies traceable to Ogor because he is the sole signatory to the accounts.

    Most of the constituency projects facilitated by Ogor were awarded to the six companies.

    The companies are: Laurelton Global Services Limited; Zanny Concern Limited; Racen Integrated Global Nigeria Limited; Simplified Concept Limited ; Fergio Ventures Nigeria Limited; and Peanard Nigeria Limited.

    Of the six companies, two, Simplified Concept Limited and Laurelton, have Ogor as a serving director.

    According to a document The Nation stumbled on, the anti-graft agency is investigating Ogor for the following allegations:

    • abuse of office;
    • awarding constituency projects to his companies;
    • contract splitting;
    • being sole signatory to six accounts, which were not declared in his Asset Declaration Form;
    • curious payment  of over N318million into two of the accounts by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for undisclosed projects; and
    • Other allegations in Jibrin’s petition.

    Based on the allegations, the EFCC approached a Federal High Court presided over  by Justice Binta Nyako for the blockage of the accounts of the six companies.

    The Certified True Copy of the order was obtained by the EFCC on May 25, 2017.

    The judge said: “After hearing I. Audu, counsel for the applicant, it is hereby ordered as follows:

    “Leave is granted to the Chairman of the commission or any officer authorised by him to instruct a Bank Examiner to issue an order,  as specified in Form B of the schedule to the EFCC Act 2004 to managers of bank or any person having control of the banks where the accounts are, to freeze the accounts shown in the schedule attached to this application for 90 days.

    “That an order is hereby made granting power to the chairman of the commission or any officer authorised by him to direct the banks shown in the schedule hereby attached to supply any information and to produce the opening documents to the accounts and the statements of accounts and to stop all outward payments, operations or transactions.”

    About N116m was frozen in the accounts of five out of the six companies.

    The breakdown is as follows: Laurelton Global Services Limited(N101, 149, 293.96); Racen Integrated Global Nigeria Limited(N5, 088, 293.50); Peanard (N2, 370,901.44); Zanny Concern Limited (N8,374,173.28) and  Simplified Concept Limited (N7,000).

    The EFCC opted to freeze the accounts following alleged suspicious payments, a source said.

    The commission allegedly discovered that in 2014, the NDDC remitted N148, 342,641.65 into the account of Laurelton without any explanation in the bank’s records.

    The same NDDC also paid N170, 555, 325.44 into the account of Racen Integrated Global Nigeria Limited for an “undisclosed” purpose.

    A source close to the investigation, said: “We have obtained the Certified True Copies of the assets declared by Ogor and none of the accounts of the six companies is included. In his asset declaration form  which he filed on May 27, 2015, he declared that he has the following amounts: N16.4million; N1.8million; and N3.8million.

    “We have also written to NDDC to clarify the transfers into the accounts of two of the six companies but the agency is yet to respond.

    “Our detectives also discovered that Ogor is a director in two out of the six companies but he is a sole signatory to the accounts.

    “On May 7, 2013,  the board of Racen Integrated Global Nigeria Limited passed a resolution to make him the sole signatory of the company’s account without being a director. On June 27, 2014, Zanny Concern Limited also appointed Ogor the sole signatory of its account  but there is no evidence that he is a director.

    “The same thing applied to Laurelton Global Services Limited on August 28, 2014  when its board passed a resolution making Ogor a sole signatory to its account. He  is also not a director or management staff of the company.”

    Detectives have been sent to evaluate more than 20 constituency projects  awarded to some of these companies by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC)  and The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons.

    The projects in Refugees Commission include supply of three buses;  three Toyota 18-seater buses; 68 tricycles, 220 generators; 220 motorcycles and others.

    The projects  in UBEC and the companies are  as follows: Zanny(19/11/2014) –one block of three classrooms at Eru Primary School, Igbide at  N9,180,835.45;  Laurelton (19/11/2014) one block of three classrooms at Ivori priamry school, Isoko at N9,887,778;  Racen(19/11/2014)-construction of three classrooms at Egburie Primary School, Ozoro; Simplified Concept:  and construction of six classrooms on January 21, 2016  at Olordo Primary School, Ozoro at N9, 300,000.

    The others are Laurelton(23/11/ 2015): supply of customised library equipment to selected schools iin Isoko North LGA at N16,050,000; Supply of instructional materials in Isoko North /South Federal Constituency(N14, 650,000);  supply of customized equipment to selected schools in Isoko Federal Constituency(N15, 950,000);   award of N9,200,928,90 to Simplified Concept in January 2016 for the rehabilitation of six  classrooms at Egware Primary School, Orozo; and  Racen:  Construction of six classrooms, toilets and furniture at Itebighe Primary School(21/1/ 2016) at N12, 988.099.23.

     

    It’s a non-issue, says Ogor

    House Minority Leader Leo Ogor yesterday said the allegations bordering on constituency projects  amounted to non-issue.

    He said: “If it is about Jibrin’s petition, is it not about passing budget padding? If they are investigating  budget padding, what is the correlation between budget padding and  constituency projects?

    “Secondly, I’m not aware of anything but the fact remains that these constituency projects are awarded by these agencies and they go through public procurement process and the essential thing is to go to the constituency and see whether those projects are on ground or not. For me, that is non-issue.”

    When told that specific constituency projects for classrooms construction and equipment of library from UBEC were traced to his company, Ogor asked one of our correspondents not to make an issue out of nothing.

    He said: “What is wrong? Is there any law that says honourable members should not do a job? The most important thing is to see whether those jobs were done; I think that is the issue. If the contract was awarded to a company that has relationship with me, is the job done or not done? That is the issue. You don’t make an issue out of nothing.

    “The fact is that a company is a separate entity; you must understand that in our law. So if the company has a relationship with me and the job was done, what is the problem with it?

    “If the job is not done, you can make an issue of it, but if the job was done and met the business standards as attested to by the agency, then I don’t know what anybody is trying to talk about.

    “Anyway whatever it is, if there is an issue, I will probably look at the issue and address it, but as far as I’m concerned, if a contract was awarded to anybody by an agency and the job is done to the satisfaction of the agency and the jobs are still on ground, except somebody is trying to give a dog a bad name for one specific reason or the other; if the job has been done and completed to the standards and it is still there for anybody to go and  inspect and somebody wants to make an issue out of it, then let him or her go ahead and let’s hear whatever the issues are.

    “To me, it’s a totally non-issue”.

  • EFCC re-opens case against ex-President Jonathan’s chief physician

    EFCC re-opens case against ex-President Jonathan’s chief physician

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday in an FCT High Court, Maitama, opened its case against Dr Fortune Fiberesima, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s chief physician.

    Fiberesima was alleged to have abused his position as the chief physician to the former president in 2012 in awarding contracts valued at N258.9 million and N36.9 million to companies where he had interests.
    He was arraigned on a six- count charge bordering on abuse of office by influencing the award of contracts to companies where he had interest.

    EFCC said the offences were contrary and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

    The contracts are the reclamation of land at the State House Medical Centre and supply of medical consumables.

    He was granted bail on April 25 on the same condition by EFCC administrative bail, of two directors in government service with landed property in Abuja.

    In addition, he was ordered to deposit to the court registrar his international passport.

    At the resumed sitting, EFCC brought two witnesses out of nine billed to testify in the matter
    The first witness, Mr Aminu Abubakar, retired director, Maintenance, State House, was led in evidence by Hussaina Gambo (Mrs) EFCC counsel.

    He told the court that the contract for the reclamation was awarded in February. 2013 to a company named TE and C Ltd at N358.5 million to be completed within 16 weeks.

    Abubakar said that at the completion of the contract, certificate of practical completion was issued to the contractor.

    The witness also told the court that he was invited to EFCC and DSS in 2015 and 2016 respectively to answer questions in relation to the project.

     

     

    When cross- examined by Mr Granville Alibo (SAN) counsel for the defendant, the witness said that the defendant was never a member of the Tenders Board.

    “Even in the award of the contract, the defendant never sat as a member of Tenders Board which reports to the Permanent Secretary of the State House,” the witness said.

    He also told the court that he did not know if the payment of the contract was completed but that the process for payment was completed before he left service.

    Another witness, Rukiyat Odekunle, told the court that the contract to supply medical consumables was awarded to one Mr Ibomaedomi and Global Services Ltd at N36 million.

    Odekunle said she was the director of procurement at the State House when the contract was awarded.

    When cross examined by Alibo, she also said that the defendant was never a member of the Tenders Board, adding that the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) did not object to the contract.

    The judge, Justice Peter Affen, adjourned the matter until July 13 for continuation of hearing.

  • EFCC traces multi-billion Abuja asset to ex-First Lady

    EFCC traces multi-billion Abuja asset to ex-First Lady

    Another multi-billion naira property has been traced to a former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is to mark the property as “being under investigation” and may place it under Interim Asset Forfeiture, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    The relationship between Mrs. Jonathan and two companies was being probed by detectives as at press time.

    Also, three accounts and three more properties have been put under surveillance by the anti-graft commission in connection with the ongoing investigation of the ex-First Lady.

    The three accounts belong to Aribawa Aruera Research Foundation; Finchley Top Homes Limited and AM-PM Network Limited.

    The accounts were uncovered in the course of investigating the ex-First Lady and Aribawa Aruera Research Foundation, The Nation learnt from sources close to the investigation..

    EFCC investigators have however only established a link between Mrs. Jonathan and Aribawa Aruera Research Foundation.

    The anti-graft commission is suspecting a business relationship between Mrs. Jonathan and Finchley Top Homes Limited and AM-PM Network Limited.

    Preliminary investigation revealed that huge slush funds might have been laundered through the foundation and the two firms.

    A report indicated that Aruera Foundation is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) with RC No 22805.

    It said: “Huge funds were suspected to have been laundered into the accounts of the above mentioned companies and properties worth billions of naira were allegedly acquired by ex-First Lady Patience Jonathan through the aforementioned companies.

    “Detectives were able to track transactions through open source information from interbank settlement

    “The ex-First Lady and five others are trustees of Aribawa Foundation. Intelligence from Abuja Geographical Information Service (AGIS) revealed that a multi-billion naira property, Plot No. 1758B06 in Mabushi Area, belongs to the foundation.

    “The said property is not such that a state Permanent Secretary in person of Mrs. Patience Jonathan can afford.

    “The property should be marked as under investigation and interim forfeiture order be secured.”

    The ex-First Lady is being probed in connection with three  other assets –  Plot 96(DO5) in Karsana ;  Plot 7109  (E18) in Wasa; and Plot 30 (DO3) in Idogwari.

    Besides, EFCC detectives have turned their searchlight on the ex-First Lady’s relationship with Finchley Top Homes Limited and AM-PM Network Limited.

    Another source added: “We have conducted searches at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on the two companies whose accounts were earlier frozen alongside that of the ex-First Lady over $5.8 million which was reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.

    “They were among the five companies and one Esther Oba said to be having a total sum of N7.4 billion in six banks.

    “But their counsel Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) succeeded in unfreezing the account on April 6 at the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Mojisola Olatoregun.

    “This is a new investigation. It is too early to return any verdict on the two companies because our detectives are looking into their books.”

    The source cited Section 7 of the EFCC (Establishment) Act to justify the investigation.

    Section 7 of the EFCC Act says: “The commission has power to (a) cause any investigations to be conducted as to whether any person, corporate body or organization has committed any offence under this Act or other law relating to economic and financial crimes.

    “(b) Cause investigations to be conducted into the properties of any person if it appears to the commission that the person’s lifestyle and extent of the properties are not justified by his source of income.”

    The latest probe of Mrs. Jonathan has raised the number of properties linked to her to 17.

    About 13 properties were initially associated with the ex-First Lady in Port Harcourt and Yenagoa.

    The assets in Port Harcourt  are former Customs Service Officers Mess; two duplexes at 2/3 Bauchi Street; landed property with blocks at Ambowei Street; three luxury apartments of four-bedroom each at Ambowei Street;  and Grand View Hotel on Airport Road.

    The rest suspected assets in Yenagoa include two marble duplexes at Otioko GRA by Isaac Boro Expressway; Glass House on Sani Abacha Expressway, which is housing the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board; Akemfa Etie Plaza by AP filling Station, Melford Okilo Road; and Aridolf Resort, Wellness and Spa on Sani Abacha Expressway.