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Tag: EFCC

  • Court halts EFCC’s probe of Abuja land sale

    Court halts EFCC’s probe of Abuja land sale

    A Federal High Court has restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from carrying out a fresh probe into a dispute arising from a 2005 land transaction in Abuja.

    The land dispute involves former Information Minister Emeka Chikelu, Bedding Holdings Limited and a businessman, Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal.

    Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Abuja court gave the restraining order against the EFCC last Tuesday at the hearing of the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Bedding Holdings’ Chief Executive Officer, Chief Sylvester Odigie.

    By the court’s order, the EFCC was restrained from proceeding to invite or arrest the plaintiff pending the determination of his suit. A copy of the enrolled order was sighted by The Nation yesterday.

    The order was informed by the refusal of EFCC’s lawyer, Salisu Majidadi, to give an undertaking, assuring the court and parties that his client would abide by the doctrine of lis pendens and refrain from taking any further steps likely to affect the res (subject matter of the case) before the case’s conclusion.

    Applicant’s lawyer, John Okoriko, had complained to the court that despite his client was ill and was due for surgery in a German hospital in few days, there were threats of arrest from the EFCC.

    Odigie was aided to court by a medical expert from the Garki Hospital, Abuja,

    After hearing the applicant’s lawyer’s complaint, the judge asked EFCC’s lawyer to give an undertaking that his client would not arrest the plaintiff while his case is pending. But Majidadi declined the request

    The EFFC’s lawyer said he was not instructed by his client to give any undertaking.

    The judge, after issuing the restraining order, adjourned further proceedings to September 25, before which other defendants in the suit, Mangal and his company –  D. B. Mangal Nigeria Limited – are expected to file their defence.

  • Court halts probe of Abuja land sale

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from launching a fresh probe into the dispute arising from the 2005 land transaction in Abuja involving a former Minister of Information, Emeka Chikelu, a firm – Bedding Holdings Limited and a businessman, Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal.

    Justice Adeniyi Ademola gave the restraining order against the EFCC on Tuesday at the hearing of the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Bedding Holdings’ Chief Executive Officer, Chief Sylvester Odigie.

    The EFCC, by the court’s order, has been restrained from proceeding to invite or arrest the plaintiff pending the determination of his suit.

    A copy of the enrolled order was sighted by The Nation on Wednesday.

    The order was informed by the refusal of EFCC’s lawyer, Salisu Majidadi, to give an undertaking, assuring the court and parties that his client would abide by the doctrine of lis pendens, and refrain from taking any further steps likely to affect the res (subject matter of the case) before the case’s conclusion.

    The applicant’s lawyer, John Okoriko, had complained to the court that despite that his client, who was aided to court by a medical expert from the Garki Hospital, Abuja, is ill and was due for surgery in a German hospital in few days time, there were threats of arrest from the EFCC.

    Upon hearing the lawyer’s complaint, the judge asked EFCC’s lawyer to give an undertaking that his client will not arrest the plaintiff while his case is pending, a request Majidadi (lawyer to the EFCC) declined, saying he was not instructed by his client to give any undertaking.

     

  • APC leaders mount pressure as Ribadu concludes plans to defect

    APC leaders mount pressure as Ribadu concludes plans to defect

    There were strong indications yesterday that former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has concluded plans to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in spite of pressure to shelve such move.

    A source in his campaign organisation said Ribadu might announce his final decision on or before Friday to lay all speculations to rest.

    It was learnt that the initial plan was for Ribadu to defect on Thursday at a mini-rally in Yola, but he decided to hold more consultations following protests from some stakeholders in Adamawa PDP.

    Ribadu was also said to be hurt by alleged blackmail by some of his rivals in PDP, who have drawn a battle line.

    But some leaders of the state’s All Progressives Congress (APC) have held last minutes meeting with Ribadu to plead with him to shelve the plan.

    Another  reliable source said: “Barring any last minute hitch, Ribadu has concluded arrangements to defect to the ruling PDP on or before Friday to settle the controversy trailing his defection once and for all. Meetings to this effect were concluded last weekend.

    “All I can tell you is that Ribadu will make his decision known to Nigerians. He is almost finalising last segment of consultations.

    “The only thing disturbing Ribadu and his team is the increasing mudslinging and attacks on his person.”

    Another source gave insights into the final stage of plans to bring Ribadu on board by some PDP leaders.

    The source said: “In one of the meetings in Abuja, a PDP stakeholder from Adamawa Southern Senatorial District invited a couple of APC chairmen from Adamawa State, together with a handful of former members of the state Assembly during the tenure of former Governor Boni Haruna in the company of three members of the current PDP State Executive Council to a meeting with Ribadu himself in attendance.

    “The stakeholder, who happens to come from the same local government with a top aide to Mr. President, informed the meeting that he was personally directed by Mr. President to invite them to the meeting and inform them that the defection of Ribadu to PDP had the full support of Mr. President.

    “He said what they needed to do was to mobilise the ward delegates in readiness for the party primaries that would soon take place, especially given the fact that apart from those three members of the state PDP Executive Council that were at the meeting, all the others cannot be relied upon.

    “He further told the meeting that Ribadu would be granted a waiver to contest the governorship whether the state chapter of the party liked it or not.”

     

     

    Another source said: “A cabal is behind the coming of Ribadu and the way it is going about it, it cannot impose Ribadu on PDP in Adamawa. We know their game plan.

    “From Kaduna, a very close ally and former minister in the early 80s brokered a meeting between Ribadu, who is his godson with Awwal Tukur, his nephew and son-in law on how to prosecute the Nuhu ticket.

    “From all these and in spite of the stiff opposition from all other major stakeholders of PDP Adamawa, we wait to see how Ribadu can scale through and pick a ticket to run under PDP, a party he had a few months ago called assembly of rogues and a Federal Government  he had run down naked before the nation and international community in his report on the oil sector.”

     

     

  • EFCC seeks assistance in battling graft

    EFCC seeks assistance in battling graft

    Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Lamorde has sought the assistance the media in the battle against corruption in the country.

    He said the commission needs the media to expose graft and draw attention to challenges to the anti-corruption campaign in Nigeria.

    Lamorde spoke in Kano yesterday, while addressing journalists in the Northwest zone at a workshop on ‘Reporting Economic and Financial Crimes’, organised by the agency.

    The EFCC chairman, who was represented by the Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Osita Nwajah, said the commission got 117 convictions on various financial crimes in 2013.

    He said “as a commission, we have stepped up financial intelligence and tracking of illicit transactions across the borders.

    “The policing of major entry and exit points in the last two years recorded the seizure of large amounts of money, at the three major airports in Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt. Some suspects have been prosecuted and convicted,” he said.

    Lamorde also said the commission is pursuing cases of alleged corruption in the justice delivery process, adding that “EFCC has decided to help sanitise the system by investigating some alleged cases of graft. Some cases are ongoing, although one of them has sued the commission in a bid to forestall further action.”

     

    But he assured that the commission would prosecute culprits in the judiciary and in other sectors, such as pension.

    In his paper, Kano State Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information Alhaji Mohammed Danyaro said the media no longer reports objectively, adding that this should be the core value of the profession.

    He noted that the media should promote unity in diversity.

    Danyaro  said: “The issue of control of the media has become part of the struggle for the control of power, hence it is worrisome that a large assessment of media content suggests that the media now leads a sharp deviation from the projection of national interest and integration. Nigerian media emphasises North/South division; everything is about region, religion or sensationalism rather than promoting oneness”.

     

     

     

  • Court urged to restrain EFCC in land sale dispute involving ex-Minister

    Court urged to restrain EFCC in land sale dispute involving ex-Minister

    Can the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) validly reopen a case five years after a court held it lacked the powers to investigate civil transactions devoid of criminal elements? Can a party a completed transaction return to demand a refund having been adequately compensated?

    These form part of issues a Federal High Court in Abuja has been invited to determine as it opens hearing today in a suit seeking to, among others, restrain the EFCC from reopening investigation into a civil contractual dispute involving former Information Minister, Emeka Chikelu, a firm – Bedding Holdings Limited and a businessman, Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal.

    The applicant in the suit – a fundamental rights enforcement application – the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bedding Holdings, Sylvester Odigie is contending that EFCC’s move to reinvestigate the transaction, which was completed in 2005 and over which a court had given judgment, amounted to flouting a subsisting court order restraining it (EFCC) from dabbling into a private contractual dispute.

    He contends that since there were no new developments in the case and the EFCC having failed to appeal the restraining order made against it in 2009 by Justice Ishaq Bello of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in suit: FCT/HC/M/4949 the commission could not validly reopen the case upon a b fresh petition by Alhaji Mangal and his company – D. B. Mangal Nigeria Limited.

    Odigie argued that it was unlawful for Alhaji Mangal and his company to prompt the EFCC to re-arrest and detain him about six years after a court had pronounced on the dispute between them, penalized the commission for its unlawful involvement in the case, and issued a perpetual restraining order against the EFCC and its agents, stopping them from further harassing or inviting him over the issue

    The applicant, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/534/2014, with EFCC, Alhaji Mangal and his company as respondents, is claiming N100million damages against the respondents for subjecting him to emotional, psychological and bodily trauma; social humiliation and embarrassment following the EFCC’s threat to re-arrest him.

    Odigie, who was earlier arrested and detained by the EFCC for 57 days in 2006 over the same issue, wants the court to declare as illegal and a violation of his rights plans by the EFCC to re-arrest and detain him the second time over his company’s sale of its land known as plot 527 within the Cadastral Zone A7, Wuse District, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to Alhaji Mangal and his company.

    He equally seeks an order of perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC and its agents from further taking steps to re-arrest and detain him in respect of the transaction or inviting him on the instigation of Alhaji Mangal and his company as such actions amount to a violation of his fundamental rights and the subsisting restraining order issued against the commission in a January 15, 2009 judgment by Bello.

    The applicant stated that his company – Bedding Holdings – had in 2005 sold the plot of land to Alhaji Mangal and his company through their solicitors, Messrs Shehu Wada and Co at N125million. He added the buyers only made payment having been convinced by the outcome of the searches it conducted at the relevant government agencies including Department of Land Administration and Resettlement of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

    He added that some months after the transaction was complete and when Alhaji Mangal and his company were about to commence development, they learnt that the FCDA has reallocated the plot to then Minister of Information, Emeka Chikelu and his company, Jimec Company Limited, prompting Alhaji Mangal and his company to demand refund from Bedding Holdings.

    Odigie averred that his company consequently sued the FCT Minister, FCDA, Alhaji Mangal and two companies owned by Chikelu – Jimec Company Limited and Matterson Properties Limited – in its bid to recover the land for Alhaji Mangal and his company.

    He added that despite the pendency of the suit marked: FCT/HC/CV/1074/2006 filed by his company before the High Court of the FCT, the EFCC, upon a petition by Alhaji Mangal and his company, arrested and detained him for 57 days (from May 22 to July 12, 2006) and was arraigned before Justice Abubakar Umar of the FCT High Court on allegation of obtaining money under false pretence.

    Justice Umar struck out the case on January 27, 2009 for want of diligent prosecution by the EFCC. Justice Ishaq Bello (also of the FCT High Court) upheld Odigie’s fundamental rights enforcement suit, with which he challenged his detention by the EFCC for 57 days.

    The judged, in the January 15, 2009 judgment, declared EFCC’s conduct illegal, awarded N3million damages in the applicant’s favour, and ordered the commission to tender public apology to him and restrained the EFCC from further harassing, inviting or arresting him over the land sale issue.

    Justice Bello, in the judgment, a copy of which is included in the bundle of documents filed in the fresh fundamental rights enforcement suit, deprecated the conduct of the EFCC and held that “it is regrettable to observe that it is now fashionable to dress civil cause with criminal regalia in order to satisfy the yarning of some powerful beings.

    “It is outrageous and indeed, a demonstration of abuse of power. The powers of the EFCC operative are circumscribed by law and do not in my view possess the power to enforce private contract between the applicant’s company and Alhaji Mangal. The EFCC is a creation of law and must be seen to operate within and under the laws. It is not a matter of choice.”

    The applicant stated that while he was in custody, the FCT Minister, upon the intervention of the Information Minister (Chikelu), reallocated another land at plot 1405 Zambezi Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi, Zone A05, Maitama to Alhaji Mangal and his company as compensation for the plot his (Odigie’s) company sold to them and which was wrongly revoked.

    He averred that Chikelu, who claimed to have expended about N300 million in the development of the Wuse 2l and, approached him last year and appealed to him to withdraw the suit filed by his (Odigie’s) company challenging the purported revocation of its right over the Wuse 2 land.

    Odigie stated that on realising that Alhaji Mangal and his company had been compensated with “a bigger” land, Bedding Holdings acceded to Chikelu’s request and withdrew its case in April this year after Chikelu paid it (his company) N150m to cover the cost of the suit, lawyers’ fees among others in line with the agreement signed by parties signed an agreement as condition for to discontinue the suit.

    The applicant said he was however taken aback when, in June this year, he got a letter from the EFCC, written by Head, Economic Governance, Olufunke Adetayo-Ogunbode, directing him to report to Usman Imam for questioning on the same 2005 land transaction between his company and Alhaji  Mangal and his company.

    He stated that the fresh invitation by EFCC is based on a fresh petition by Alhaji Magal’s lawyers, who are again seeking the refund of the N125m he paid for the 2005 transaction even when Alhaji Mangal and his company have fully developed the new plot with which they were compensated for the wrongly revoked Wuse 2 land.

    The applicant, who has also filed a fresh suit to among others, compel Alhaji Mangal and his company to accept the N125 million, which Bedding Holdings was willing to refund on the condition that they (Alhaji Mangal and his company) give up ownership of the plot on Zambezi Crescent, Maitama, which was reallocated to them as compensation for the Wuse 2 plot, which was wrongly revoked.

    Alhaji Mangal, in the fresh petition by his solicitors and, on which basis the EFCC seeks to reinvestigate the transaction, is seeking the refund of what he paid for the Wuse 2 plot on the ground that, Bedding Holdings having allegedly been paid Chikelu’s companies – Jimec Company Limited and Matterson Properties Limited – to withdraw its suit, he (Mangal) was entitled to a refund.

    In a letter written by his lawyers dated May 26, this year, Alhaji Mangal said he was aware that Odigie and his company had been paid by   Chikelu’s companies to discontinue the suit against the purported revocation of the their right over the Wuse 2 land and requested that the N125 million he paid in 2005 be refunded.

    In their response to the suit by Bedding Holdings, Chikelu’s companies, sued as fourth and fifth defendants, denied any wrong doing. They argued that the plaintiff lacked the locus standi and urged the court to dismiss the suit.

    They claimed to have been duly allocated the land and argued that, even if the plaintiff had any interest in the Wuse 2 land, it could no longer sustain the suit because the party to which it sold the land (Alhaji Mangal) had been duly compensated with the land on Zambezi Crescent, Maitama.

    Respondents in the suit were yet to file their response as at last Friday. When the case came up last Thursday, Justice Adeniyi Ademola ordered the applicant to serve the motion on notice on the respondents and fixed hearing for today.

  • When will rural electrification dream come true?

    When will rural electrification dream come true?

    Nine years after it was initiated, the rural electrification project is yet to take off. Reason: it is being bogged down by shoddy implementation and corruption, reports AKINOLA AJIBADE

    When the Federal Government initiated the rural electrification scheme in 2005, its aim was to get over 2,000 communities connected to the national grid. Expectations were high that the project would stimulate growth by providing electricity to residents of rural and semi-urban areas nationwide. It was also envisaged that by riding on the back of the project to bring electricity to the doorsteps of rural dwellers, their living standards would significantly improve, thus allowing them contribute their quota to economic growth. But, nine years down the line, the project is yet to deliver on its promises, leaving the intended beneficiaries in the lurch, unable to access power from the national grid.

    At present, most of the rural dwellers do not have hopes of accessing power from the grid, nor exploring opportunities provided by renewable energy like solar, coal, and biomass, among others. This, The Nation learnt, is because the grid and off-grid projects launched to improve electricity supply not working despite gulping huge sums of tax payers’ money. The Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the body set up to promote and coordinate the rural electrification projects, appears hamstrung, unable to achieved much, if any. It was learnt that the agency, whose other responsibilities include inviting, screening, approving, and monitoring of contractors hired to handle the projects is fraught with issues around funding and corruption, which is why most of the sites are littered by abandoned projects.

    For instance, Kenneth Achugbu, an Engineer and head of the agency, disclosed that of the total of 1, 946 projects inherited from the Ministry of Power, 1,994 projects were abandoned across the country. About 48 of the projects were initiated by the agency, which explains the difference in the number of abandoned projects.

    The Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun blames this on the failure of successive administrations to give the rural electrification project the desired attention. He lamented that this is inhibiting socio-economic growth. According to him, many of the projects were left uncompleted by governments, and this exerts undue pressure on their successors.

    Amosun, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Energy, Taiwo Fagbemi, at the ground breaking ceremony of a power plant in Magboro, Mowe area of the state, said negligence on the part of leaders hinders the implementation of rural electricity projects. He said the wide gap in electricity infrastructure was caused by lack of cooperation among the stakeholders in the energy value chain.

    He said: “There has not been co-operation among stakeholders in the rural and urban areas, especially in the areas of conceiving, developing, and financing electricity projects. This has affected rural electrification, as well as socio-economic activities in Nigeria. This informed the government’s decision to open up rural areas in the state by providing electricity for them.. Twelve companies  in the state have demonstrated the need to improve  electricity supply to the grid. The government would provide an enabling environment for them to operate.’’

    He said the government, in line with its growth agenda, would galvanise economic activities by providing electricity for rural dwellers.

    Amosun said the rural electrification project became necessary because rural dwellers are poor and could not access electricity on their own unless the government assist them. “The lull in business activities in rural areas was caused by poverty. This permeates every aspect of the lives of rural dwellers.  How can they provide electricity, in the face of poverty?” he asked.

    The World Bank, in its poverty index on emerging countries, underscored Amosun’s assertion when it said that 75 per cent of the rural population in Nigeria live below the poverty line. The Bank said the cost of supplying electricity to rural communities is relatively high and unaffordable. It said Nigeria is  one of the countries with the lowest per capital income, adding that its citizens live under $2 per day. “High poverty ratio has made rural electrification impossible in Nigeria. Poverty and the high cost of supplying electricity is by far the most important problem facing rural electrification in Nigeria,,” World Bank said.

    However, poverty is not the only hurdle before rural electrification. A combination of political, economic, technical, social and geographical problems are also said to have conspired to slow down the pace of the project. At the center of the problem is the failure of the political elites to see rural electrification as key to  development. Also, successive governments failed to provide effective framework for power projects and  design an electrical distribution system for the population.

    Apart from bad economic climate and high cost of providing of electricity, inability of power companies to access the communities for installation of facilities, as well as resistance from the villagers, especially farmers that perpetually demand for right of way before they can allow construction and maintenance of electricity facilities take place in their domains, also contributed in stalling the projects.

    Perhaps, most importantly, the rural electrification scheme has been mired in allegations of corruption and fraud. Recall, for instance, the alleged N6 billion fraud involving senior officials of REA, Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Power, Ndudi Elumelu, Senator Nicholas Yahaya Ugbana, and one other member, which caused ripples in the sector. The money, which was part of the N16 billion allocated for the National Independent Power Projects (NIPPs), seriously affected the implementation of the projects. The suspects were however, slammed a 156-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    According to Dagogo-Wilcox, a Port Harcourt-based Public Affairs analyst, “the trial of some high profile members of the last House of Representatives and senior officials of the REA for corruption in 2009 remained one of the greatest paradoxes of our time. Elumelu and his colleagues in the committee exposed the underbelly of the graft-infested power sector, providing some insights as to why the nation remains in perpetual darkness.”

    A report on tenders for power projects  issued by the REA and  obtained by The Nation, said the projects are sited in 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the country.  The report said each local council boasts at least two to three projects in line with the policy on rural electrification. Unfortunately, most of the projects have long been abandoned despite the huge amount of money being sunk into them.

    For instance, this year alone, government would spend N16 billion on rural electrification projects, according to Minister of State for Power, Mrs Zainab Kuchi.

    Speaking during the inauguration of an 11-man board for REA in Abuja, Kuchi said a large percentage of the sum would be used to revive the numerous abandoned electricity projects scattered across various rural communities. She said: “The funding for the REA is N16 billion this year and that will go squarely for the development of the abandoned projects in our rural areas. The abandoned projects have been identified and we advise proper funding for these projects.”

    Kuchi said the government’s target is to achieve 75 per cent rural electrification access by 2020. This is your (REA) charge. Your key indicators will include the number of rural communities that have access to electricity and the number of investors who we are able to attract to the rural electrification sub-sector. Others are the extent to which we are able to garner information on local technology and work towards their application in the rural electrification agency; and how many jobs we are able to create in the rural economy and the impact to which we are able to have on socio-economic development in the rural areas.” She said, electricity, under the law, falls within the concurrent, adding that the Federal, state and local governments could participate in its provision.

    The Minister’s charge was part of an attempt by government to revive the agency and position to deliver on government’s promises to give the rural communities access to electricity. For this to happen, the Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo said more investments need to be channelled to the rural electrification projects if meaningful results must be achieved. Nebo, who spoke in Lagos, recommended Private-Public Partnership (PPP), which he said, would lead to the growth of the sector. He said the issue of financing rural electrification projects, among others, is too much to be left in the hands of the government, urging private sector operators to collaborate with the government.

    “A synergy between the government and the private sector operators is necessary to solve the problems facing rural electrification project. This would help in attracting funds for project.Thereafter, industrial activities in rural communities would take place,” he said.

    He said the cost of providing and maintaining power infrastructure is high, urging companies to invest  in it.

    If and when government succeeds in getting the buy in of private sector operators in the rural electrification project, the President, Liquidfeild Petroleum Gas Association of Nigeria (LPGAN), Femi Adesina said the country has gas that can power the whole of Africa if well utilised. Adesina said greater investments in gas production would help generation, distribution and transmission of electricity in the country. He said the problem arising from implementation of rural electrification projects would reduce once the power firms are able to generate enough electricity for the country.

    As he put it, “Rural electricity projects can only connect people to the national grid when there is no interruption in the services of the power firms. The bulk of the electricity that goes to the grid comes from the gas-powered firms. The need to encourage even distribution of natural gas to domestic users is imperative for the growth of the sector. Nigeria boasts of a proven gas reserve of  187 trillion cubit feet, and 600 trillion gas projection. This has put the country in a position to meet its domestic and export needs without stress. To ensure that power firms which use about 80 per cent of the gas produced, private investment in gas needs to be improved.’’

    He said private and public partnerhip would help in solving infrastructural problems facing the sector, advsing the government to provide a framework to make it happen.

    The consensus of stakeholders is that more investments are required from the government and private sector operators for rural electrification to work.

  • Ribadu: Beautiful bride courted by all

    Ribadu: Beautiful bride courted by all

    An African proverb says that when a woman is exceptionally beautiful, she attracts the eyes of several suitors, and it is that suitor who possesses the most panache and material disposition that might win her heart. There comes a time in the life of a man when his ability and pedigree present scintillating attributes too good to resist by all and sundry.

    This appears to be presently true of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who is currently being eyed by the two dominant political parties in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC), both trying to draft him to their sides as the race to occupy the seat of the Government House in Yola, Adamawa State, becomes more intense.

    Ribadu, the former presidential candidate on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), would certainly be the man to beat if he enters into the race under whatever platform to clinch the Adamawa governor’s seat vacated by the sacked governor Murtala Nyako for obvious reasons.

    Among the deluge of attributes that make Ribadu tick, as the most sought after politician in the state at the moment, are his courage and drive. It is also the misfortune of Adamawa of not being lucky with good administration that makes the yearning for Ribadu even more deepening. To most people, he represents the needed new lease of life the state needs at this time.

    He gained prominence during his heydays as the anti- corruption czar during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The fear of Ribadu was palpable as he bestrode the length and breadth of the nation catching corrupt politicians, businessmen, internet scammers, advance fee fraudsters and a wide range of financial fraudsters and sending them to face prosecution.

    During Ribadu’s time at the EFCC, the haven of fraudsters was methodically dismantled, the politicians who stuck their filthy fingers on the treasury, were hammered into submission. He was effective as he was consistent.

    Despite the calculated attempt to slant his war against corruption as a witch-hunt by some disgraced elements in the country, the distinguished lawyer proved to all who cared that the war was logical and anchored on transparency, with enormous empirical validity.

    His ability helped to launder the image of Nigeria then heavily trapped in the opprobrium of corruption among the comity of nations. The international community recognized his unprecedented efforts in fighting corruption in Nigeria such that he became a household name. He also bagged several domestic and international awards.

    Even though his efforts were fraught with risks as most of the thieves in the country are known to be very dangerous elements, who could easily connive to take him out, he yet continued the dogged fight. The amount of money he saved for the country ran into billions of naira and Ribadu, despite having an opportunity to enrich himself, chose transparency and left office without any trail of corruption till this day.

    It is not surprising that Ribadu had to enjoy these impressive credentials because if he had enriched himself with illicit funds, those who he brought down during his reign as the anti-corruption chief, would have mobilized their strength and financial power to hunt him. But he left no one in doubts with his honesty, integrity and a shining example of excellence.

    It is these startling qualities of the man that are now his greatest assets as he joins the bid for Adamawa governorship. For a state that suffered corruption hemorrhage for a very long time, the people are no longer trapped in the blind following of political parties, but rather their concern now is on individuals who can clean the malfeasance of yester-years and re-direct the country unto a fresh path of progress. This is what the people see in Nuhu Ribadu.

    For the APC, the ultimate choice, if they were to provide a credible person that can give the dominant PDP run for its money, it would have to be Ribadu. The APC is on the verge of being silenced in the state and they recognize the strategic political asset Ribadu would be for the APC in their quest to bounce back from the brink.

    The ousted governor, Nyako, tried to transpose the political fortunes of the state to the lap of the APC, yet lacked the tact and prudence to pursue such initiatives. His shortsightedness and some proportion of arrogance cost the party what may have been an opportunity. Now they are desperate to snatch power back from the PDP hawks, who have taken over.

    The top rank of the APC hierarchy led by its chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, are said to be working to convince Ribadu, who was presidential candidate of the  ACN, one of the components that formed the APC.

    For the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, they are struggling to have Ribadu as their flag bearer in the forthcoming governorship election in Adamawa state because of the aforementioned qualities. For the PDP Ribadu’s popularity, integrity and his influence will be a big asset to the party. He therefore stands a great chance to pick the PDP ticket once he makes up his mind to run under the platform.

    Apart from his high moral disposition, Ribadu is also a powerful force in terms of articulation of ideas; he is equally gifted in recruiting the best brains to drive such ideas. As a politician, Ribadu is a smooth operator who is not disposed to the flamboyance and unnecessary aimless public statements.

    At the moment the sad situation which led to the impeachment and removal from office of the former governor, Nyako, caused some ripples in the political equation of the state.  But it presents yet immense opportunities to restore the requisite values to the state and move it forward.

    Ribadu’s emergence in the state as the PDP candidate will further strengthen the hands of the party as they strategize for the 2015 elections. Already the PDP enjoys the majority in the state assembly as well as other facets.

    It is only Ribadu that can give the PDP the edge they are looking for to neutralize the threat of the APC, which now has possible sympathy votes from Adamawa voters. It is not surprising therefore, that the Presidency is reportedly in the forefront of those clamouring for him to pick the PDP ticket with some lofty promises of support in all ramifications.

    Although this situation of two platforms cajoling him presents Ribadu with some awkward scenario, the challenges notwithstanding, Ribadu is man who knows how to pick the best in any given situation.

    The astute politician can distinguish the pretenders from real politicians adept at transformation, which the state indigenes desperately need. He is passionate about his quest to reorder the state, reprioritize and refocus the state on the path of peace and development.

    • Umar wrote from Karewa GRA, Jimeta, Yola

     

  • MTN sacked me for reporting ‘fraud’ to EFCC, ex-manager tells court

    MTN sacked me for reporting ‘fraud’ to EFCC, ex-manager tells court

    A former General Manager for Internal Audit at MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, Thuli Mashanda, has told the National Industrial Court of Nigeria that the company sacked her because she reported an alleged act of fraud to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Testifying for a former Network Group Operations Manager, Mr Paul Odunewu, who sued MTN, Mashanda said her employers were not happy when she made a report to the anti-graft agency.

    Odunewu accused the company of withholding his entitlements, including a long-term incentive scheme (share option) worth over $13.14 million (about N2.1 billion). He is also demanding N100 million damages, among others.

    The embattled manager said despite being responsible for MTN’s initial growth in Nigeria – having been persuaded to return home from the United Kingdom (UK) to develop telecommunication in Nigeria – he became a victim of racism in the company and his contract subsequently terminated.

    “I built the engine of the defendant’s business in Nigeria, including people and process technology,” Odunewu said.

    Corroborating Odunewu’s testimony that some MTN’s workers were allegedly victimised, Mashanda, a South African, said she was improperly queried for doing what she thought was right, and was eventually fired.

    She said: “The query was improper because I reported fraud to the EFCC when they stole money. MTN did not want that to happen because the whites were transferring money illegally out of MTN Nigeria abroad. Hence, they terminated my employment.”

    Mashanda said she became a victim of her professionalism, adding: “I don’t recall that I parted in good terms with the company because I was doing the work that I was paid to do.”.

    Defendants in the suit are: MTN Group Limited, South Africa; MTN Nigeria and MTN International, Mauritius.

    Odunewu said prior to the “malicious” termination of his appointment, his impeccable record and achievements at MTN came under serious attacks in 2006 from “a group of white South African racists posted to Nigeria to oversee Network Group Management”.

    He said a particular white South African expatriate was “perturbed and astonished by the wealth of experience displayed by the claimant and set out on a collision course with him”.

    Matters got to a head when Odunewu said he received a letter, dated February 28, 2006, purportedly terminating his appointment. His access to MTN network was revoked.

  • Adamawa: PDP woos Ribadu

    Adamawa: PDP woos Ribadu

    There is pressure on former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Nuhu Ribadu to join the Adamawa governorship race on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The pressure on Ribadu is coming from PDP Muazu and party chief.

    Besides some presidential aides, including a top official close to President Goodluck Jonathan, and some businessmen who have the President’s ears, have been pleading with Ribadu to accept PDP’s ticket.

    A peaceful march has been fixed for tomorrow in Yola by some PDP leaders and stakeholders to demand Ribadu as the party’s next governorship candidate.

    But the ex-EFCC chairman, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has not accepted the PDP’s overtures.

    The PDP is desperate to give him a waiver and make him its candidate.

    It was gathered that the PDP is after Ribadu to “pull the carpet off the feet of APC” which may benefit from sympathy votes to compensate for Nyako’s impeachment.

    Ribadu “credibility” is said to have attracted the PDP.

    It was learnt that one of the permutations of the PDP is to use the “snatching of Ribadu” to checkmate the influence of a former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who is still keen on contesting the presidential race in 2015.

    In line with the agenda to whittle down the influence of APC in Adamawa State, the Acting Governor, Umaru Fintiri, has forced all local government chairmen to rejoin PDP and all APC chairmen and secretaries in most local governments are being lured back to the ruling party.

    Muazu, some principal aides to the President, some businessmen, who are friends of the President, and some respected stakeholders from Adamawa have met with Ribadu in the last two weeks.

    A source in the PDP said: “Muazu, some presidential aides and some businessmen close to the seat of power have had audience with Ribadu in Abuja on the need to join PDP.

    “We are begging Ribadu to join us to be our governorship candidate to prove to the people of Adamawa State that the removal of Nyako was well-intended and not directed at APC per se.

    “Security reports confirmed the need to re-fix the state and we decided to use our majority in the House of Assembly to remove Nyako.

    “Having tried many candidates in Adamawa State, PDP leaders and stakeholders within and outside the state have concluded that only Ribadu has the integrity to save the state.

    “If Nyako is gone and another APC chieftain is coming under the cloak of PDP, the people will not see anything wrong.”

    Asked if the PDP move was not a way of decimating APC, the source replied: “That is part of the game. After all some PDP governors have also defected to APC.

    “Adamawa is strategic to the PDP as far as its plans for 2015 poll is concerned. It is one of the targeted states by this party.

    “The way the PDP is zeroing in on Ribadu has local content. We want the best for Adamawa State.

    “Even some forces in the presidency have agreed on the need to redirect the state.”

    But some stakeholders have kicked against plans by PDP to “give Ribadu a waiver and readmit him into the party”.

    Another source said: “There is no way PDP members can accept Ribadu as their candidate; he cannot come and reap where he did not sow.

    “They are making some of us to regret Nyako’s removal. Are they saying the Acting Governor, Umaru Fintiri is not good enough to lead PDP to victory? What of ex-Governor Buba Marwa, ex-Minister Aliyu Idi Hong, Principal Secretary Hassan Tukur, ex-UBEC Executive Secretary Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo, Dr. Umar Ardo and many others?”

    “So, what will be the outcome of ex-PDP National Chairman’s investment in the ouster of Nyako? Are they saying they are not giving Bamanga Tukur’s son also the ticket.

    “Some of us will resist the granting of waiver to Ribadu. In fact, the waiver cannot work because it cannot be backdated. Ribadu is expected to spend at least one year in the PDP as a returnee before he can contest for any post,” the source added.

    Ribadu, The Nation learnt, is said to be scared of joining PDP. But we want to hold a peaceful march on Thursday to prove to him that we are serious this time around in poaching him.

    “Already Ribadu’s posters have flooded Yola without any party symbol. Some stakeholders were behind these,” another source said.

    A top source in Ribadu’s camp said: “Since the day Nyako was removed, there have been overtures from PDP leaders and some bigwigs but he has not given them any response.

    “They are just begging him to come and save the state but he has not make any commitment at all.

    “You know Ribadu is not the ambitious type at all. He believes whatever is going to be will be. He is also a man of the people and he will allow their will to prevail.”

     

  • Group to EFCC: probe Delta PDP chair

    Group to EFCC: probe Delta PDP chair

    A group, Delta Patriotic Network (DPN), has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman in Delta State, Peter Nwaoboshi, for alleged corruption.

    The group alleged that Nwaoboshi used his office to amass illegal wealth.

    The petition by DPN’s National President Ojein Samuel; National Vice President Okotete Tony and National Secretary Oromoni Zuokumor, alleged that Nwaoboshi collected money from government agencies and received payments for contracts badly executed.

    The group also alleged that Nwaoboshi built two mansions in Asaba and Ibusa for over N1billion.

    The PDP Chairman said the petitioners were chasing dead issues, alleging “they are being used by some disgruntled politicians”.

    He said he welcomed investigation by any anti-graft agency, adding that he had nothing to hide as a politician and businessman.

    “All the issues they raised were investigated over three years ago by EFCC and I have been given a clean bill of health. I don’t have anything to hide and I’m ready for a fresh investigation.

    “I have been involved in genuine business and I am available for investigation.

    “But nobody should take them serious because they are idle and ready tools in the hands of some disgruntled politicians.”