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Tag: EFCC

  • EFCC drags lawmaker to court for certificate forgery

    EFCC drags lawmaker to court for certificate forgery

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned a serving member of the House of Representatives, Nse Bassey Ekpenyong before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on a 9-count charge of forgery and uttering of documents.

    Ekpenyong, member representing Oron Federal Constituency of Akwa- Ibom State in the National Assembly, was alleged to have forged an Abia State Polytechnic Ordinary National Diploma Certificate and uttered a December 1999 West African Examination School Certificate, WASSCE, and thereby committed perjury before an Electoral Tribunal where he claimed that the certificates were genuine.Hon Nse Bassey

    The first count reads: “That you Nse Bassey Ekpeyong on or about the 22nd November 2012 at Uyo within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did make a document to wit: Abia State Polytechnic National Diploma Certificate in Business Administration with Certificate No. 001181 dated 22nd November, 2012 with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M 17 of the Revised Edition (Laws Of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (2) of the same Act”

    [quote font_size=”18″ color=”#000000″ bgcolor=”#ddb06c” bcolor=”#dd3333″ arrow=”yes”]Related Post: Melaye appears before Senate committee for certificate forgery[/quote]

    [quote font_size=”18″ color=”#000000″ bgcolor=”#ddab5f” bcolor=”#dd3333″ arrow=”yes”]Another count read: “That you Nse Bassey Ekpeyong on or about the 18th December 2014 at INEC Headquarters, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did Utter a document to wit: West African Senior Certificate No. NGWASSCP 557610 with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M 17 of the Revised Edition (Laws Of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (2) of the same Act”.[/quote]

    The defendant pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges when they were read to him.

    In view of his plea, prosecution counsel Ahmed I. Arogha and S. Hussaini, asked for a trial date and accelerated hearing of the matter. However, counsel for the defendant, Emmanuel Isangidoho, told the court that he had filed an application for bail for his client and urged the court to admit him to bail.

    Justice Ojukwu granted the defendant bail in the sum of ten million Naira, with one surety in like sum. The surety must depose to an affidavit of means, provide 2 recent passports photograph and 3 years tax clearance certificate. The surety should write an undertaken to produce the defendant throughout the trial and all the documents of the surety must be verified by the Registrar.

    Justice Ojukwu also ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail.

    The case has been adjourned to April 12 and 26 and May 3 and 4, 2017 for trial.

  • EFCC prosecutor’s absence stalls Justice Ajumogobia’s trial

    EFCC prosecutor’s absence stalls Justice Ajumogobia’s trial

    The absence of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, on Thursday stalled the ongoing trial of a Federal High Court judge, Justice Rita Ofili -Ajumogobia and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Godwin Obla, at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja.

    Oyedepo was said to be handling another case at the Court of Appeal, Lagos division.

    Consequently, the trial judge, Justice Hakeem Oshodi, adjourned the matter till April 10 at the instance of the defense counsels.

    Counsel to Obla, Ifedayo Adedipe( SAN),  expressed disappointment  at the absence of the EFCC prosecutor.

    He noted that Oyedepo failed to serve the defence with any letter explaining his absence.

    “My Lord, we came here this morning to be confronted with a letter from the prosecution, stating that he could not be present in court because he is presently handling a case at the Court of Appeal. I am surprised that the prosecution did not deem it fit to serve the defense with a copy of the letter.

    “There are things I would like to say, but I would reserve my comments until the prosecution is present in court at the next adjourned date,”Adedipe said.

    He, however, informed the court that they have two urgent and pending applications that are ripe for hearing.

    Ajumogobia’s Counsel, Olawale Akoni, also aligned himself with the 2nd defendant’s counsel and asked for a short adjournment.

     

     

  • EFCC finds $86m Paris Club refund in NGF’s account

    EFCC finds $86m Paris Club refund in NGF’s account

    MORE cash believed to be part of the London-Paris Club loan refund has been found by  the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The US$86,546,526.65 was remitted into the account of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF).

    The account is said to have been depleted to about $17million as at the time the probe started.

    The EFCC is probing how the cash got into the account, who remitted it and for what purpose.

    “The cash was paid into the forum’s domiciliary account in GTB tagged: 0023577047 with sort code 058083215,” the source said, adding that the payment followed a November 21, 2016 memo on the remittance into the NGF’s account which was titled “Consultants fee”.

    The cash was described as consultancy and legal fees as the case with the N19 billion which was allegedly diverted from the refund.

    “This development has justified the earlier peg of our investigation that the part of the London-Paris Club loan refunds was paid into two accounts of the NGF” the source said, pleading not to be named because he has no authority to talk to the media.

    “Operatives are tracking how the $86.5m was used and for what purpose. We want to know whether the affected financial and legal consultants exist or not.”

    The Nation had exclusively reported that the Presidency was uncomfortable with how some governors managed the refund.

    The Federal Government released N522.74 billion to 35 states as refund of over-deductions on London-Paris Club loans.

    President Muhammadu Buhari directed the release of the refund to enable states to pay salaries and pensions.

    But more than N19billion of the refund has been enmeshed in controversy over payment of consultancy fees. Some consultants were yet to be paid as at press time.

    Some of the infractions noticeable in the management of the first tranche of the London-Paris Club loan refund are:

    • computation of state records done at a private home in Maitama, Abuja;
    • accounts initially opened in the names of two lead consultants but the details of who to be paid were later changed;
    • N19b remitted into two NGF accounts;
    • commission to consultants cut from 10% to 2% but 5% was on paper as paid;
    • the CBN paid directly to each state without the knowledge of the Accountant-General of the Federation; and
    • part of the N19b commission was traced to a governor’s account and some individuals, including some members of the National Assembly.

    It was also discovered that besides the central consultants, governors hired other consultants, with some conceding about 10-20% commission to them.

    In some states, governors served as consultants through proxies.

    Some consultants are yet to be paid because the NGF changed the commission formula as soon as the first tranche was remitted, The Nation learnt.

    Besides, some governors deviated from using 25 per cent  to 50 per cent for payment of outstanding salaries and pension as agreed with President Buhari.

  • How Director defrauded company of N45bn – MD

    How Director defrauded company of N45bn – MD

    The Managing Director of an outdoor advertising firm — Afromedia Plc., Mr Akinola Olopade, on Wednesday told an Ikeja High Court how one of the company’s directors defrauded it of N45 billion in a business transaction.

    Olopade made the disclosure at the ongoing trial of Alhaji Mohammed Gobir for a 17-count charge of stealing, forgery and obtaining money by false pretences slammed on him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Gobir, however, denied the charges.

    While being led in evidence by Mrs Zainab Etu, the prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, Olopade said:“My Lord, after about three years of promises, it was discovered that the promises were a bunch of lies.

    “At the Afromedia Board meeting held on Dec. 20, 2013, he promised that we will be in London for Christmas and the monies will be released.

    “It was all a lie, his phone was switched off and I later got to know that he had traveled to Dubai.

    “When I later found out that he had returned to Lagos, I visited him and I decided to start recording all our conversations as I needed evidence of his deceit and I did not want to confront him with the conversations I had in my memory.”

    NAN reports that the audio recording of Gobir evading questions from Olopade regarding the funds was played in the courtroom.

    The conversations between the men were in English and Yoruba languages and Gobir could be heard telling Olopade that the 250 million dollars (about N45 billion) at N160 to a dollar in 2013.

    In a February 11, 2013, audio recording, Gobir could be heard saying “the 250 million dollars is in town, we are trying to clear it with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    “The CBN needed papers to clear the money and we are trying to clear it as the CBN has sent me an alert.”

    “Gobir said on Feb. 15, 2013, monies were to be released from the N45 billion allegedly transferred to him from the CBN.

    “The dollar rate at the time was N160 to a dollar, all these stories changed till March of that year and until now I do not know what happened to the money as he has been coming up with different stories,” he said.

    According to the EFCC, Gobir defrauded the company through a phoney investment deal he allegedly introduced to Afromedia Plc through their private placement consultants — Synergy Energy Advisory Ltd — as a high net worth investor willing to inject N1 billion into the company.

    He was allegedly appointed as the Head of Business Development Committee in the Board of Directors of the company, a position of trust in which he allegedly used to defraud the company.

    Gobir allegedly demanded huge sums of money including the  250 million dollars from the company as business expenses for a United Kingdom-based Investment consultants — the Royal Exchange Bureau — in order to secure investments from a bank in UK.

    The investment deal was never secured and Gobir also failed to refund the monies to Afromedia Plc.

    Justice Raliatu Adebiyi adjourned the case until April 7 and April 10 for the continuation of trial.

  • Dokpesi received N2.1bn from ONSA – Witness

    Dokpesi received N2.1bn from ONSA – Witness

    A prosecution witness, Mrs Zainab Kokobili, on Wednesday told a Federal High Court, Abuja, that Raymond Dokpesi, received N2.1billion from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
    Kokobili, the third prosecution witness to testify in Dokpesi’s trial, confirmed that the money was paid in four different occasions from the ONSA.
    Dokpesi, Chairman of Daar Holdings Investment Company Ltd., was arraigned on a six-count charge of money laundering and procurement-related offences.
    Kokobili, a banker with First Bank, was led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Olaleke Atoglabe.
    She said that as a relationship manager, she manages the account of Daar Holdings Investment Company and other accounts in the bank.
    She said on Feb. 6, 2016 she was invited to EFCC office through their Fraud and Investigation Unit to make statements on the case.
    Kokobili read from the company’s statement of account, saying that N2.12 billion was paid into the account in four tranches of N500 million, N500 million, N620 million and N500 million between January and March 2015.
    She said the balance on the company’s account was N113, 885.28 before the first tranche of N500 million was paid into the account on Jan. 22, 2015.
    “On Jan. 22, 2015 – RTGS, being payment by ONSA: N500 million, it was a credit. Before the payment of N500 million the balance on the account was N113,885.28.
    “On Feb. 4, 2015 – RTGS, being payment by ONSA: N500 million.
    “On Feb. 9, 2015 – RTGS, being payment by ONSA: N620 million only. It was also a credit.
    “On March 19, 2015 – the narration is RTGS being payment by ONSA: N500 million,” the witness said.
    She also said that N2.12 billion was disbursed from Daar Investments and Holdings Limited after receiving instructions from Dokpesi.
    “The customer sent instructions to the bank for payments. Money was paid after getting confirmation from the customer.
    “High Chief Raymond Anthony Alegho Dokpesi was the signatory who sent instructions for the payments,” she added.
    Justice John Tsoho admitted in evidence the witness statement made at the EFCC’s office and bundles of documents submitted to the chairman of EFCC.
    Under cross examination by the defence counsel, Mr Kanu Agabi, the witness said that Daar Investment was a customer of the bank not Raymond Alegho Dokpesi.
    The case was adjourned till May 24 and May 25 for continuation of trial.

  • Court strikes out ex-NNPC boss Yakubu’s N1b suit against EFCC, AGF

    Court strikes out ex-NNPC boss Yakubu’s N1b suit against EFCC, AGF

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a N1billlion fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu.

    Yakubu had sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) over his detention by the former in relation to the about N3 billion cash allegedly recovered in his Kaduna home.

    The ex-NNPC boss has since been arraigned on a charge filed by the EFCC and has been granted bail.

    Yakubu’s lawyer, Adeola Adedipe, told the court that in view of intervening circumstances from when the case was filed and now, his client has decided to discontinue with the case.

    Adedipe noted that since his client has been properly charged to court and bail granted to him, “we considered it necessary to discontinue this action”.

    “With a view to securing an order of striking out, we have filed a motion this morning, seeking the court’s leave to discontinue the case. We have served on parties,” Adedipe said.

    Lawyers to EFCC and AGF, Mrs. Rita Ogar and T. D. Agbe, confirmed being served with Yakubu’s motion. They did not oppose it.

    Ruling, Justice Ahmed Mohammed struck out the case in view of the non-opposition by the respondents.

     

  • Court dismisses Yakubu’s suit against EFCC, AGF

    Court dismisses Yakubu’s suit against EFCC, AGF

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu.

    Yakubu had sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) over his detention in relation to the N3 billion cash allegedly recovered from his Kaduna home.

    The ex-NNPC GMD has since been arraigned by the EFCC.

    Yakubu’s lawyer, Adeola Adedipe, told the court on Tuesday that due to the intervening circumstances, from when the case was filed and now, his client has decided to discontinue the case.

    Adedipe noted that since his client has been properly charged to court and granted bail, they considered it necessary to discontinue  the case.

    “With a view to securing an order striking out the case, we have filed a motion this morning, seeking the court’s leave to discontinue  the case. We have served on the parties,” the counsel said.

    Lawyers to EFCC and AGF, Mrs. Rita Ogar and T. D. Agbe, confirmed being served with Yakubu’s motion.

     

  • EFCC probes Saraki’s aides over N3.5b Paris Club cash

    EFCC probes Saraki’s aides over N3.5b Paris Club cash

    Cash traced to Dubai jeweller

    Senate President: it’s mudslinging

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC) has frozen 15 accounts of some individuals and companies for the alleged diversion of N19billion from the London-Paris loan refund.

    Besides, about $183,000 (N71, 370,000) of  the loan refund has been traced to a jeweller’s account in Dubai.

    The anti-graft agency is probing a former  Heritage Bank Executive Director Mr. Robert Mbonu, three aides of Senate President Bukola Saraki and three others on how N3.5billion was wired into some accounts. The cash is said to be part of the  N19billion allegedly diverted from the N522.74 billion initial refund to states.

    The others are Melrose General Services Limited, the Relationship Manager to the Senate President, Kathleen Erhimu, Obiora Amobi, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Hon. Gbenga Peter Makanjuola, Mr. Kolawole Shittu and Oladapo Joseph Idowu.

    Mbonu is said to be one of the consultants engaged by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

    These highlights are contained in a March 10, 2016 report, which has been submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The report got to the Presidency about five days before the Senate’s rejection of Acting EFCC Chairman  Ibrahim Magu’s second nomination.

    The report may have fuelled Magu’s rejection by the Senate because some of Saraki’s aides were implicated, a source close to the investigation said.

    An EFCC source said: “This agency has frozen more than 15 accounts used to divert the N19billion remitted into the account of the Nigerian Governors Forum(NGF).

    “Some of these accounts include those of Bureau De Change, companies, mortgage firms, and personal types.

    “We have been able to recover some money from these frozen accounts. Also, some bankers have made useful statements to this commission.”

    In a report to the presidency, the EFCC confirmed that it had traced $183,000 into the account of a Dubai jeweler.

    The EFCC report said in part: “Mr. Robert Mbonu is alleged to have received N3.5billion  into his company’s (Melrose General Services Limited’s) account from the NGF through Account 0005892453 domiciled in Access Bank.

    “Investigation revealed that one Kathleen Erhimu is the Relationship Manager to Dr. Bukola Saraki’s account with Access Bank.

    “That Saraki at a meeting introduced one Joseph Oladapo Idowu and Gbenga Peter Makanjuola to her and Hon. Makanjuola thereafter introduced Mr. Robert Mbonu to Ms Kathleen Erhimu.

    “That Mbonu operates an account , Melrose General Services with Access Bank Plc 0005892453 and 0005653500 which was up till 13th December a business account.

    “That Halima Kyari , the Head of Private Banking Group stated in a letter dated 13th December , 2016 , Mr. Robert Mbonu requested a transfer of Melrose General Services Company account from Business Account to a Private Banking Group Platform as he was expecting huge funds into the account.

    “Subsequently, on the 14th December , the sum of N3.5billion was lodged into Melrose General Services Company account number 0005892453 domiciled in Access Bank from the Nigerian Governors Forum(NGF).

    “That thereafter Mr. Obiora Amobi and Hon. Gbenga Makanjuola were introduced to Access Bank as representatives of Melrose General Services Limited by Robert Mbonu to enable them cash withdrawals from the account.

    “That one Oluyemi Braithwaite, the MD/ CEO of Reinex Bureau de Change, Caddington Capital Limited and Westgate Limited also manages a BDC stated to have known Mbonu as a client and he requested for dollars in exchange for the Naira equivalent which were to be handed over to one Mr. Gbenga in Abuja.

    “That Ms Oluyemi Braithwaite contacted one Hassan Dantani Abubakar, the owner of Hamma Procurement Limited, Ashrab Nigeria Limited and Insoire Solar Application to make available  the dollars based on the Naira equivalent  as transferred from Robert Mbonu who she had introduced via phone to Hassan Dantani.

    “That on 16th December 2016, Melrose General Services transferred the sum of N246million to Hamma Procurement First Bank Accouny No. 2030756168 in exchange for the sum of $500,000 which was handed to one Mr. Gbenga in Abuja who acknowledged receipt of the same amount.

    “That on the 21st Dec 2016, Ms Oluyemi Braithwaite contacted Hassan Dantani Abubakar, requesting for another transaction of $370,000. Melrose General Services Company transferred the sum of N181m to Inspire Solar Application. The $370,000 was handed over to one Mr. Dapo in Abuja.

    “That on the 4th of January 2017, Mbonu through Melrose General Services Company transferred the sum of N248, 500,000 to Caddington Capital Limited belonging to Ms Oluyemi Braithwaite who transferred same to Hassan Dantani Abubakar’s FCMB account, Ashrab Nigeria Limited for the sum of $500,000. The dollar equivalent was handed over to Mr. Kolawole Shittu in Abuja

    “That on the 10th of January 2017, Mr. Robert Mbonu through Melrose General Services Company transferred the sum of N99,820,000 to Caddington Capital Limited belonging to Ms. Oluyemi Braithwaite who transferred same to Hassan Dantani Abubakar’s FCMB Ashrab Nigeria Limited  for the sum of $200,000. The dollar equivalent was handed over to one Mr. Peter in Abuja.

    “That on the 19th December, there was a cash withdrawal of the sum of N50million from Melrose General Services account via cheque by Hon. Gbenga Peter Makanjuola.

    “Also, the sum of $1,570,000 was received by the trio of Mr. Gbenga Peter Makanjuola, Mr. Kolawole Shittu and Mr. Oladapo Joseph Idowu at various times and locations at Abuja FCT.

    “That on the 29th December, 2016, Mr. Robert Mbonu called Mrs. Kathleen Erhimu of Access Bank requesting her to source for a customer that would have the sum of $500,000 in exchange for the Naira equivalent. She introduced Mr. Robert Mbonu to Acarast Commercial Limited and Capital Field Investment to help him source for dollars.

    “That on the 21st December 2016, GCA Energy Limited paid the sum of $25,000 to Asterio Energy Services Limited which subsequently transferred the sum of $23,200 to Cactus Communication Limited account with Access Bank.

    “The MD of Sought-After  International Synergy Limited, Julius Okedele stated that Mr. Kelechi Edomobi of Acarast Commercial Enterprises contacted him and requested to purchase dollars after the transfer of N73,950,000 to Sought-After  International Synergy Limited. Mr. Edomobi gave him the account number of Cactus Communication Limited Access Bank as the nominated account to receive the dollar equivalent of the sum of $149,000.

    “Investigation further confirmed that Cactus Communication Limited  is owned and operated by Joseph Oladapo Idowu, an aide to Bukola Saraki.

    “That Mr. Kelechi Edomobi also transferred the sum of N1m on the 15th of January, 2017, to Joseph Oladapo Idowu’s personal account number 0001679877 with Access Bank Plc.

    “That Asterio Energy Services Limited on 21st and 22nd December, 2016, transferred $100,000 and $85,000 to Bhaskar Devji Jewellers LLC  in Dubai respectively the same company that Dr. Bukola Saraki repeatedly made transfer to from his Black Card Account.

    “That Cactus Communication Limited on 30th December, 2016, paid the sum of $59,,660.67 to Bhaskar Devji Jewellers LLC  in Dubai.

    “That Asterio Energy Services Limited on 20/1/2917, 30/1/2017 and 31/1/2017 transferred $46,000, $39,000 and $37,620 to Cactus Communication Limited.”

    “That Mr. Obiora Amobi and Gbenga Makanjuola made cash withdrawals of various tranches of N5 million and N10 million.

    “Based on the foregoing findings, it is clear that Robert Mbonu, the Managing Director of Melrose General Services Company and his company were used to help divert proceeds of unlawful activities under the guise of payment for contractual obligations with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum ( NGF).

    “Suffice to apprise that all payments received by Melrose General Services Company from the NGF have hitherto been diverted directly via cash withdrawals and indirectly through transfers by Hon. Gbenga Peter Makanjuola, Kolawole Shittu and Oladapo Joseph Idowu who are principal aides of the Senate President.

    “Furthermore, other payments from Melrose General Services Company has also been linked to companies that Dr. Bukola Saraki has interest in and carry out transactions with.

    “This includes the sum of $183,000 which was transferred to Bhaska Devji Jewellers, Dubai, a company Dr. Bukola Saraki had repeatedly made payments to.

    “Also, the sum of N200 million was transferred to Wasp Networks Limited that subsequently transferred the sum of N170 million to Xtract Energy Services Limited, a company that routinely made deposits into Dr. Bukola ‘s Access Bank United States Domicilliary Account.

    “A prima facie case of conspiracy to retain the proceeds of unlawful activities  and money laundering contrary to Sections 15(3) and 18(9) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2004 can be established against the aforementioned suspects.

    “Additionally, investigation into their personal accounts is ongoing.”

    From the initial tranche of ofN522.74 billion, about N19 billion was remitted by states into two accounts of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) as commission to consultants.

    But the commission was found out to have ended up in the accounts of some of the seven governors, some public officers and some individuals who had no business with the refunds.

    It was also learnt that some consultants engaged by the NGF and some states have not been paid by the governors.

    Besides locating the two accounts where the N19 billion was allegedly remitted into, the EFCC has interrogated more than four people involved in hiring of consultants and payment.

    Some states remitted as much as N600 million into NGF’s emergency accounts for the commission.

    It was learnt that the two NGF accounts were hurriedly opened in defiance of the agreement.

    According to findings, reports made available to presidency by the EFCC and other security agencies showed that the governors did not keep to the terms for the refund.

  • Abia accountant-general, Onyendilefu I was never arrested by EFCC

    Abia accountant-general, Onyendilefu I was never arrested by EFCC

    The Accountant-General (AG) of Abia state, Sir Gabriel Onyendilafu has denied the story making the rounds that he has been arrested and detained by a team of officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The Abia State AG said that he was never invited nor was he ever arrested and detained by men of the anti corruption commission as he has been busy attending to the the financial problems of the state.

    Speaking with The Nation during a meeting of political stakeholders of Isiala Ngwa South at the country home of the speaker, Onyendilafu said that he was surprised to read from the social media and a local radio station that he has been arrested by EFCC.

    Onyendilafu said that he has never been invited by the anti corruption team nor was he detained by them for any reason, stressing that people are determined to tarnish his hard earned reputation for no reason.

    He said, “On Monday last week I boarded a plane to Abuja via Kaduna on an official assignment and held a meeting with the minister of finance which started and ended late because the minister came late for the meeting”.

    “The meeting continued the next day after which I took a flight back to Owerri airport from where I arrived Umuahia to continue with my work and as you can see I am not under any arrest which is the reason I am here for this meeting”.

    “If I was under arrest by the EFCC would I be here for this stakeholders meeting being held in the house of the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chikwendu Kalu at Umuikaa and moving freely the way I am doing”.

    Onyendilafu was responding to the story that was aired by one of the ration stations in the state capital and some social media that he has been arrested at one of hotels located in the state capital and detained by the EFCC.

    It could be recalled that the radio station and some social media went to town saying that the Abia AG had been arrested and detained by the EFCC for financial crime related offenses and would soon appear in court.

    The Nation saw Onyendilafu moving freely among his people during the meeting and was laughing while answering questions from our correspondent and urged journalists to always confirm their facts before publishing to avoid unnecessary problems.

  • Varsity workers task EFCC on corrupt vice chancellors

    Varsity workers task EFCC on corrupt vice chancellors

    The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) wants Vice Chancellors of Universities accused of corruption arrested and prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a way of justifying that the current fight against corruption was not a one sided affairs.

    The union also said it does not make sense to allow such Vice Chancellors to remain in office while being prosecuted, pointing out that if judges accused of corruption can be asked to step down there was no reason to allow the Vice Chancellors to remain in office.

    In a communiqué by the National President, Samson Chijioke Ugwoke and the National Publicity Secretary, Salaam Abdussobur, the union said that its members who expose alleged corrupt practices of some Vice Chancellors were being harassed and suspended while the government kept mute without taking appropriate actions.

    The union “observed with great worry, the increasing corruption and the consequent intimidation, harassment and victimization of whistle-blowers who expose the rot and decadence in our Universities.

    “NEC wondered why Vice-Chancellors who are facing criminal prosecutions in competent courts, sit-tight in office as in the cases of the Federal University of Technology, Akure and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, where the Vice-Chancellors of both Universities continue to superintend over the affairs and budgets of the Universities, with the active connivance of their Governing Councils.

    “The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja has convened an illegal meeting of Council outside his power, since he is not a Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council. NEC concludes that the Federal Government appears to be encouraging the same corruption it proclaims to fight, with the continued stay in office of these Vice-Chancellors, who host convocation ceremonies, hold Council meetings and take actions that put a moral question on the anticorruption stance of the federal government.”

    The union expressed concern over the delay in reconstituting governing councils of federal universities whose tenure has expired, pointing out the performance of many of the governing councils left much to be desired.

    It stressed that “Except for a few, many of the outgoing Councils have been corruption ridden and displayed outright incompetence,” and “advises the Federal Government to ensure that persons appointed into Governing Councils are incorruptible, of proven integrity, with proven record or history of participation in the educational system.

    “Appointment into the governing councils of Universities should not be for political patronage or settlement and government should avail itself of the use of seasoned university administrators (Registrars and Bursars), whose experience and knowledge of the University system would serve the Universities in better stead.

    “NEC in session, urges the federal government to speedily reconstitute the governing councils in the interest of the stability of the University system.”

    They also decried the increasing problem of short falls in the payments of salaries and allowances of workers in many universities, adding, this development especially in the face of the harsh economic realities, have increased the suffering and hardships of University staff.

    The union argued that “workers having fulfilled the terms and conditions of their employment, are entitled to their full salaries, and that this development appears to be an attempt at reducing the salaries of University staff through the back door.

    “Government must therefore act urgently to ensure that this obnoxious disposition of short payment of salaries of University workers is stopped with effect from March 2017 salaries, to avoid crisis in the University system.”

    They also frowned at the refusal of government to implement the judgement of the National Industrial Court saying “This delay in implementation is causing untold hardship and pains to the University Staff School workers, whose means of livelihood were cut short on account of the illegal decision of some overzealous Government officials/Vice-Chancellors. NEC in session, demands that the NIC judgment must be enforced by both the federal and state governments (who are proprietors of Universities) in order to avert industrial crisis.”

    It demanded that “both the Federal and State Governments must pay the debts owed its members in the interest of peace and industrial harmony in our Universities.”