The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ekweremadu

  • EFCC grills Ekweremadu

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detectives yesterday grilled Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu for eight hours over 22 allegedly undeclared   assets.

    The assets, suspected to have been acquired with illicit funds, are located in Abuja, the United States, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    There were indications last night that Ekweremadu might be granted an administrative bail because his interrogation will take a while.

    According to a source in EFCC, the Deputy Senate President got to EFCC at about 9am and, shortly after, was moved to a room to interact with detectives.

    As at 6.27pm, Ekweremadu was still with the EFCC.

    A source in the commission said: “Our detectives have been interacting with Ekweremadu in the last eight hours on some assets traced to him.

    “So far, he has cooperated with our team. But he has more allegations to clarify. We will still be interacting intermittently with him.”

    Asked if Ekweremadu will be detained, the source added: “Not at all; we are likely to release him later after the first stage of interaction has been completed.”

    “We may however seek a court order to place some of these assets under Interim Forfeiture.”

    In a suit, the Federal Government, through the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, has claimed that about 22 assets were undeclared by Ekweremadu

    The properties are at No. 11, Evans Enwerem Street, Apo Legislative Quarters, Apo, Abuja;   Plot 2633 Kyami, Abuja; Housing Estate (Plot 1106 CRD, Cadastral Zone 07-07, Lugbe, Abuja; Plot 2782 Asokoro Extension, Abuja, and     Houses at Citi Park Estate, Gwagwalada, Abuja.

    Others are: Plot 1474 Cadastral Zone BD6, Mabushi, Abuja;   Congress Court, Abuja; Flat 1, Block D25, Athletics Street, (24th Street) Games Village, Abuja;  Plot 66, 64 Crescent, Gwarimpa Estate, Abuja.

    In the United State are:   4507 Stella Street, Bellavida Estate Kissime, Florida, USA; 2747 Club Cortile Circle, Kissime, Florida, and 2763 Club Cortile Circle, Kissime, Florida.

    The properties in London include Flat 4 Varsity Court, Harmer Street, WIH 4NW, London; and 52 Ayleston Avenue, NW6 7AB, London.

    Those in Dubai are: Room 1903, The Address Hotel, Downtown Dubai; The Address Boulevard, 3901, Dubai; two Flats of Burij Side Boulevard (The Signature), Dubai; Emirate Gardens Apartment No. EGG1/1/114, Dubai; Emirate Gardens Apartment No. EGG1/115, Dubai;  Apartment No. DFB/12/B 1204, Park Towers, Dubai; Flat 3604, MAG214, Dubai; and Villa No 148, Maeen 1, The Lakes Emirates Hills, Dubai.

     

    UAE ’ll assist Nigeria to fight corruption, envoy tells Magu

     

    The new envoy of the United Arab Emirates to Nigeria Fahad Al Taffat yesterday assured that his country will assist the EFCC to fight corruption

    Al Taffat gave the pledge during a visit to the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu.

    A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren said the envoy claimed that he was at the EFCC to acquaint himself with the work of the agency.

    He said he had been “fully apprised of the tremendous work of the Mohammadu Buhari administration in fighting corruption and violent extremism before he arrived in Nigeria.

    The statement said: “Ambassador Al Taffat promised everything possible to assist the EFCC. “Whatever you need, just put it in writing, I will press for it. The UAE can assist you in the areas of capacity building, technical support and intelligence sharing”, he said.

    He assured that his country already had a robust anti- money laundering framework, with an anti- money laundering unit domiciled at the Central Bank.

    Magu thanked the envoy for the visit and assured him that he would return the gesture in two weeks.

    He also briefed the envoy on recent engagements between the EFCC and the UAE that culminated in the signing of a number of bilateral agreements that have increased the tempo of cooperation between Nigeria and the UAE on corruption, money laundering and organized crime.

  • Asset declaration discrepancy: Anglican Church defends Ekweremadu

    The Enugu Diocese of Anglican Church has defended Deputy Senate President Ike Ekeweremadu over the threat by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to question him on the discrepancy in his asset declaration.

    Led by the Archbishop of Enugu Province and Bishop of Enugu Diocese (Anglican Communion), Dr. E. O. Chukwuma, archdeacons and canons of the province spoke during a solidarity visit to Ekweremadu at his Enugu home.

    After the delegation offered prayers, Chukwuma said what Ekweremadu was going through “is a vindictive act; a jealous spirit against the leadership of Igbo politicians and against us as Christians”.

    He said: “We are here to tell the world that you are a true child of God who nobody should rubbish. As far as we are concerned with your credibility and integrity, we have not heard, since you started your journey as a local government chairman, moving up to become the Chief of Staff, Secretary to the Government (SSG) of Enugu State, to what you are now, that you stole money anywhere.

    “When we had the list of those published, those who stole money in the 2015 general elections, we didn’t find your name there. So, we are embarrassed when they said it was looking for you. EFCC should, please, leave Ekweremadu alone because his name was never mentioned anywhere.

  • EFCC: Anglican Church defends Ekweremadu over threat

    The Anglican Church, Enugu Diocese on Monday came in defence of the deputy senate president, Ike Ekeweremadu over the threat by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to question him on discrepancy in his asset declaration.

    Led by  the Archbishop of Enugu Province and Bishop of Enugu Diocese (Anglican Communion) Dr. E O Chukwuma, Archdeacons and Canons of  the Province paid a solidarity visit to Ekweremadu at his Enugu residence.

    After the delegation offered prayers, Archbishop Chukwuma who spoke on their behalf said what the deputy senate president was  going through “is a vindictive act; a jealous spirit against the leadership of the Igbo politicians and against us as Christians.”

    Said Chukwuma:“We are here to tell the world that you are a true child of God who nobody should find a way to rubbish.  As far as we are
    concerned with your credibility and integrity, we have not heard since you started your journey as the local government chairman, moving to becoming Chief of Staff, Secretary to the Government of Enugu State to what you are now, there is no record, and nobody has ever heard that
    you stole money anywhere.

    “When we had the list of those, up till now, published of those who ate money in the 2015 election, we didn’t find your name there and so we are embarrassed when they say EFCC. What is EFCC looking for? EFCC should please leave Ekweremadu alone because his name was never
    mentioned anywhere.

    “We feel that this is a vindictive act; a jealous spirit against the leadership of the Igbo politicians and against us as Christians. EFCC should stop intimidating people if we are going to have a good democracy in this country. They should stop this idea of witch-hunting.

    “You have been a stakeholder in PDP and you have remained firmness; you have not cross-carpeted and you will never cross-carpet and so they should leave you alone.

    “As far as we are concerned as the Anglican Church, we stand behind you. We call on the Federal Government to leave Senator Ike Ekweremadu alone and stop witch-hunting him for nothing. This is witch-hunting and we have no apology for the Federal Government. But what we say is that they leave us alone. All we want is peace in Nigeria, and you cannot continue to stand firm in fighting for the unity of Nigeria and somebody is trying to intimidate you.

    “You are a Senator that has done very well in his senatorial zone and is in constant touch with his constituency. Other senators should emulate you. We will very much support you in prayers and we are proud of you.

    “If anybody touches you, they are touching the eyes of God; they are touching the eyes of Ndi’Igbo and we shall not take it for granted.
    They should allow peace to reign and Mr. President should please warn the security people. The security people should please know where to go. Benue and Plateau have been burning and nobody has gone there to lay siege.

    Read Also: EFCC invites Ekweremadu again over assets

    “All the defections are a result of people saying they are tired of this government. It is a negative report. Jonathan withdrew and exited
    for peace to reign.

    “There is no peace, there is no security, the economy is bad, there is no employment, and the appointments in this government are all
    northern and northern. We are being marginalised and we cannot stop saying it. South East is being marginalized and now it is victimising our own very best person, we will not take it.

    “We pray that God Almighty will touch their hearts because if care is not taken, the way things are going now will result into a serious,  not only religious war, but a serious war that will never make Nigeria to be united. So, to save Nigeria, we must renegotiate it and restructuring must come. That is where we stand for peace to reign.

    “We appeal to Mr. President, the security agencies and EFCC to leave Senator Ekweremadu alone; they should leave our people alone. South
    East is being marginalised and we are crying and saying please, give us our due reward, Nigeria belongs to all of us. If not, then let us go back to our places and let us stay on our own”.

    Ekweremadu thanked the clergymen for their visit and informed them of his resolve alongside his colleagues to ensure that the nascent democracy we are enjoying today is not truncated.

    He assured them that he would continue to ensure that the fundamental
    human rights of the masses of Nigeria was constitutionallyprotected.

  • EFCC invites Ekweremadu again over assets

    Detectives are to quiz Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu tomorrow on some  assets linked with him.

    He is expected at 10a.m. at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abuja.

    This is the second time in a week that the EFCC has invited Ekweremadu.

    According to a source, who spoke in confidence, the invitation followed Ekweremadu’s request that he should be given another day.

    The source said: “We have delivered a fresh letter of invitation to Ekweremadu and he has confirmed the receipt.

    “Our detectives are expected to interrogate Ekweremadu on some assets linked with him. The EFCC is suspecting that the assets were acquired with suspicious funds.

    “Some of these assets have been located in the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

    Ekweremadu is said to have omitted some of these properties  in his assets declaration form. EFCC detectives are believed to have been on this case in the last nine months.

    Some of the apartments, allegedly being probed in the UAE,  are e proper EGG1/1/114 and EGG1/1/115 Emirates Garden, Apartment DFB/12/B 1204 Park Towers, Flat 3604, MAG214 and Villa No.148, MAEEN1 The Lakes, Emirate Hills.

    The others are Boulevard 3901, two flats of Burij Side Boulevard, The Signature; and Room 1903, Hotel Downtown.

    Those in the UK include Flat 4 Varsity Court, Homer Street, WIH 4NW London and 52 Ayleston Avenue, NW6, London.

    In the United States, the properties are located in  4507 Stella Street, Bellavida Estate, Kissimmee, Florida; 2747 Club Cortile Circle, Kissimmee, Florida and 2763 Club Cortile Circle, Kissimmee, Florida.

    The Federal Government had in an ex parte application through Festus Keyamo (SAN) on behalf of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIPRPP), listed the affected assets.

    In the application before a Federal High Court, the government said the Deputy Senate President failed to declare the assets.

    But Ekweremadu, in a statement by his Media Office, said the the allegations were part of the 2019 election agenda.

    “The attention of the Office of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has been drawn to a motion ex-parte filed by Festus Kenyamo on behalf of the so-called Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property for an order to temporarily forfeit assets it claimed the Senator did not declare with the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB.

    “Senator Ekweremadu, however, wishes to state unequivocally that he declared all his assets with the Code of Conduct Bureau as required by law.

    “The so-called panel sought and obtained his Assets Declaration Form but could not look at them since it is clearly out on a vendetta and smear campaign.

    “This is clearly part of the politics of 2019, and is further exposing those who colluded with the dismissed former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezulike and his cronies to steal and doctor his will.

    “The Senator has, nevertheless, briefed his lawyers and will meet the panel in court. Again, Senator Ekweremadu wishes to assure all his supporters and well-wishes that there is nothing to worry about. Like others, this will pass away.”

  • Ekweremadu condemns incessant killings

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday expressed dismay over the incessant killings going on in  Nigeria, saying “I want a peaceful country where people can go about their businesses without molestation”.

    Ekweremadu, a former Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, spoke yesterday when thousands of his supporters trooped out to receive him in Enugu yesterday evening after the alleged siege of his residence by some security operatives in Abuja.

    He condemned disobedience to court orders and the rule of of law in the country, insisting “that dialogue remains a part of democracy”.

    Ekweremadu, who represents the Enugu West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, said it was unfortunate that those of them who wanted the right things to be done were being molested.

    He vowed that he would continue to struggle for the right things to be done despite his persecution and expressed hope that at the end, they would emerge victorious.

    The lawmaker thanked his people, especially members of the apex Igbo social organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, for their solidarity.

    The Enugu State Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Alex Ogbonna  had, while addressing newsmen, appealed to government to allow opposition to function.

  • I was not invited by police, EFCC – Ekweremadu

    Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, on Tuesday faulted the siege on his home by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu, the deputy Senate president said neither police nor DSS invited him.

    Ekweremadu said he was expected to preside over Tuesday’s plenary in the absence of Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

    The statement read: “The Apo Legislative Quarters residence of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, is currently under the siege of men of the Nigeria Police Force and the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    “With the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, expected to report to the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police Force in Guzappe, Abuja, this Tuesday morning, Senator Ekweremadu is expected to preside over plenary.

    “They took over the entire vicinity before 6:00 a.m. There is no going in or coming out.

    “Meanwhile, there was no prior invitation to the senator by any of the security agencies or the EFCC.”

  • Senators protest Buhari’s ‘lopsided’ appointments

    There was uproar in the Senate on Thursday over alleged lopsided appointments by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Proceedings were held up for over 30 minutes as senators mostly of the South East extraction, took to the floor to convince their colleagues that “a grave injustice had been done to the zone in the spread and headship of federal agencies and parastatals.”

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, spearheaded the protest when he drew attention to “unacceptable nominations for leadership of some federal agencies.”

    Ekweremadu was particularly angry when Senate President, Bukola Saraki, read a communication by President Buhari on the nomination for appointment of Chairman and members of the Governing Board of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

    The nominees include a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Governor, Mr. Tunde Lemo, who was listed as Chairman of the Board.

    Other nominees were – Engr. Nurudeen Abdulrahman Rafindadi (Managing Director), Buba Silas Abdullahi, Babangana, Mohammed Aji, Engr. Shehu Usman Abdullahi, Loratta Ngozichukwu Aniagolu, Mujaidu Stanley Dako and Vincent Oladapo Kolawale.

    Ekweremadu said the Senate should not continue to allow skewed appointments to escape its scrutiny and sanction.

  • Senate moves to unbundle police

    The Senate on Thursday took steps to unbundle the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

    A Bill aimed at amending Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution, (as amended), which deals with the Establishment of the police, scaled first reading in the Senate.

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who is also chairman of Senate Ad-hoc Committee on review of the Constitution, as sponsor of the bill.

    The proposed constitutional amendment is titled: “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill, 2018 (SB.694) First Reading.”

    Ekweremadu said after the adoption of the first reading of the Bill that “the Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution has fulfilled its mandate.

    “Now the Bill has been taken for the first time. I am sure that as soon as possible we will take the Second Reading and probably send it to public hearing through the Committee so that we fast-track it as directed by the Senate.”

    The plan to amend the Section 214 of the Constitution to accommodate the creation of State Police and Community policing was proposed last week by Ekweremandu.

    Its amendment is essentially aimed at creating State and Community Police to complement the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force.

     

  • Okorocha, Anyaoku, Ekweremadu seek police reform

    •My achievements, by IG Idris

    IMO State Governor Rochas Okorocha, former Commonwealth Secretary General Emeka Anyaoku, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremmadu and other stakeholders in the Southeast have called for a reform in the management of the Police to cope with security challenges.

    The Imo governor particularly urged the police to engage in crime prevention rather than combating.

    Okorocha, in his speech at the Southeast Security Summit organised by the Inspector General Ibrahim Idris, noted that one of the major problems bedeviling the Force was indiscriminate promotions that did not take into cognisance of qualifications and competences.

    According to him, “this promotion by quota has not helped the Police, a situation where a police officer is promoted based on his region of origin instead of his capabilities cannot inspire commitment and hard-working.”

    Ekweremadu, who was represented by Senator Andy Uba, expressed concerns over the proliferation of small arms, saying over 60 per cent of arms manufactured in the country emanated from the Southeast zone.

    He urged the police to formulate tangible response to security challenges from the summit.

    Anyaoku said the security challenges could be defeated if patriotic actions were taken.

    Anyaoku, who was represented by the Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Samuel Ohiri, advocated for strong synergy among security agencies.

    President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Nnia Nwodo flayed the Federal Government for proscribing Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation when it didn’t kill anybody.

    Nwodo said the Fulani herdsmen had unleashed enough mayhem on the people that was justifiable to proscribe them as a terrorist organisation.

    Idris, in his speech, said President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered him to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of killings in Jos, Plateau State .He said: “The recent killings in Jos, Plateau State, where over 200 persons were said to have been killed, is a sad commentary in the history of our nation.”

    According to Idris, “myself in company of the President and the Minister of Interior have visited Plateau State and the President was categorical that the perpetrators of this dastardly act will be brought to book.

    “In line with the directive of Mr. President, the police have launched a high-powered investigation into the incident and I can with confidence inform you that no stone will be left unturned in getting to the root of the killings.”

    He said despite funding challenges confronting the police, under his watch, “the police had been effective and combated crimes, especially kidnappings and armed robberies”.

    He said community policing was crucial in tackling effectively the security challenges.

     

     

     

     

  • Ekweremadu to lawyers: help sustain democracy

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu has urged lawyers to help foster development, integration and sustainable democracy.

    He spoke while delivering a keynote address at the yearly law week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abuja branch.

    Its theme was: The legal profession as a catalyst for national development, integration and sustainable democracy.

    Ekweremadu recalled that Chile, a South American country, once found herself in similar circumstances as Nigeria.

    He said lawyers, led by the likes of Gabriel Valdes, rose to the occasion in the 1980s to reunite the country.

    “They rallied good men and women from various political divides and came up with a new code of political conduct, instituting a permanent government of national unity,” he said.

    Ekweremadu also recalled that at the end of the World War II in 1945, West Germany was torn apart by sectarian disagreements between the Catholics and Protestants, especially over alleged roles played by each under Hitler’s Third Reich.

    “The lawyers and other like minds also rose to the occasion by bringing the two religious communities together to form one political party, the Christian Democratic Union. They firmly stabilised not only West Germany, but also the Republic of Germany,” he said.

    He noted that lawyers were the only set of professionals that refer to themselves as friends.

    “Importantly, this appellation comes with responsibilities- knowledge, integrity, research, patriotism, hard work, commitment, and indeed, an all round excellence. It comes with obligations to the society, court, and client.

    “The lawyers deploy their learnedness to the full advantage of the client to ensure he or she obtains justice and to the court to do justice by laying bare the facts and putting the other party on notice. Lawyers are torchbearers of rule of law and fortresses of democracy and democratic values,” Ekweremadu said.

    He said the NBA had shown capacity to resolve internal crisis to ensure fairness and justice, which he described as very critical to national integration.

    Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami (SAN), who was represented by Mr. Pius Imoistikeme Oteh, believed lawyers were leaders by virtue of their training.

    Malami said lawyers were privileged to live in an era of Nigeria’s political evolution where old assumptions of untouchable privileges as well as immunity from the law and due process were increasingly being challenged “as we take steps to gradually cleanse our country and steer it away from the old ways of doing things”.

    “The implication is that legal practitioners must equally elevate their individual and collective standards of discipline and accountability in order to rise above the new standards of societal scrutiny,” he said.

    According to him,  a disciplined and properly regulated Bar ensures greater prosperity for all through better remuneration and increased patronage by clients who seek not only quality work, but also high ethical standards.

    “As we gradually inch towards the 2019 general elections, let me use this opportunity to remind us all that our individual and collective actions as professionals, either in the advice we give to our clients; in the manner in which we pursue our matters before the courts and the tribunals as well as our public comments on topical issues of the day, will have significant bearing on the growth and sustenance of our democracy,” Malami said.

    The branch chair, Princess Franchesca Frank-Chukwuani, said the law week was an annual tradition of every NBA branch.

    “It is time when branch members come together to interact and proffer possible solutions to national issues,” she said.

    She thanked NBA President Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) for his support and commitment to the Branch and for accepting their invitation to chair the event.

    The showcase session with the theme: Achieving best practices within the confines of the law was chaired by  Chris Uche (SAN), with Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) Director-General Prof. Adedeji Adekunle (SAN) as lead speaker.

    Justice Chima Nweze of the Supreme Court chaired the session in honour of the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Ishaq Bello. Its topic was: Emerging issues and challenges in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

    The law week ended with a dinner at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.