The Nation Newspaper

Tag: embezzlement

  • Campaign funds: Group commends EFCC for investigating Ochekpe, others

    Campaign funds: Group commends EFCC for investigating Ochekpe, others

    The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has been commended for investigation the embezzlement of government money by previous administration to fund the 2015 elections.

    The group, Coalition of Youths Congress of Nigeria said what EFCC is doing is instructive as another election year approaches and expressed the hope that those involved in diverting public fund to finance elections must be punished to deter others in future.

    The group, which addressed journalists  Monday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos was reacting to the arraignment of a former Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, former Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party in Plateau State, Mr. Raymond Dabo and the Coordinator of Jonathan/Sambo re-election campaign in Plateau State, Evangelist Lyons Sunday Jatau who were dragged to court over allegation of embezzlement of N450 million belonging to the federal government.

    The leader of the group, Mr. John Pam said the anti-corruption stance of the present administration would ensure that such perfidy and use of money meant for the development of the country by politicians at the corridor of power would not happen again.

    The trio would be arraigned on February 13, 2018 at a Federal High Court sitting in Jos, the Plateau state capital on charges of receiving the money from the former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke, to finance the re-election of former President Goodluck Jonathan and his deputy.

    At the first hearing of the suit, Ochekpe had told trial Justice Justice Musa Haruna Kurya that she gave the money to the late PDP governorship candidate in the 2015 gubernatorial election in Plateau G.N.S Pwajok.

    The group therefore urged EFCC to leave no stone unturned to make sure that money politics in Nigeria is discouraged and also to ensure that those in the custody of public fund do not deep their hands into the till to serve themselves.

    “We are commending EFCC for taking these people to court so that when found guilty justice will take its cause, which will sound as a warning to others who may want to so corrupt themselves by diverting public funds meant for the provision of social amenities for our citizens. The interest of our group is to ensure corrupt free society and for the first time we have seen a government that is determined to rid this scourge from the country,” Pam said.

  • Buhari vows to check recovered assets’ diversion 

    Buhari vows to check recovered assets’ diversion 

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday vowed to put in place measures to check embezzlement and diversion of recovered assets to private pockets.

    He gave the assurance while inaugurating the Audit Committee on the Recovery and Management of Stolen Assets within and outside Nigeria at the First Lady Conference room in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Stressing that all recovered assets must be accounted for, he directed all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies and corporate bodies to give the committee all the necessary support.

    The committee, which has three members including Mr. Olufemi Lijadu, Mrs. Gloria Chinyere Bibigha and Mr. Mohammed Nami, was given four weeks to carry out the assignment.

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting started, immediately after the inauguration ended, with one-minute silence observed for the late former Vice President, Alex Elwueme.

    Inaugurating the committee, Buhari said:  “Members of the committee may recall that pursuant to the resolve of this administration since its inception to pursue a strong and effective anti-corruption regime, and in view of the multiple cases of mis-managed and  misappropriated national assets identified by this administration upon our assumption of office, the Federal Government embarked on tracing and recovery of all such stolen assets within and outside Nigeria using all legal and diplomatic resources at our disposal.

    “The gains of our initiatives over the past two and a half years have been very obvious to all Nigerians. This is clear from the level of investigation, prosecution and forfeitures involving both public and private sector officials in the country.

    “The message has therefore been passed loud and clear that never again as a nation are we going to allow the wanton diversion and embezzlement of public funds to private pockets.

    “Nigerians will further recall that pursuant to requisite directives, recovered assets are progressively being returned to designated accounts by the anti-graft agencies and other agencies of Government involved with the process.

    “In the course of implementing this exercise and given the number of agencies who are concurrently pursuing specialized initiatives and making recoveries for Government, it has become obvious that fundamental gaps still exist in ensuring that the recovered assets are accounted for, and managed in an accurate, transparent and logical manner.” he said

    The President added: “It was in realization of this and due to our determination to ensure that in pursuing the anti-graft war, we do not create new room for dishonorable conduct by any individual or agency that I directed, earlier in the year, that all agencies should send in detailed reports of all their recovered assets as at March, 2017.

    “The decision to inaugurate this Audit Committee on the Recovery and Management of Stolen Assets within and outside Nigeria today is therefore the next step in ensuring that all returns filed by the various agencies are accurate and consistent with actual recoveries made,” he said.

    He said that the Committee is expected to judiciously undertake an audit of all recovery accounts established by government agencies from the date of opening such accounts up to 10th April, 2017.

    “The details of the Committee’s functions are as set out in your Terms of Reference. I congratulate all Members of the Committee on your appointment which is another opportunity for you all to serve your country. I therefore urge you to perform your duties diligently in the best interests of Nigeria,” he said.

    He directed all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Banks, and Companies to give the Committee full cooperation as the assignment was not only crucial to the harvesting of needed resources for national development but towards setting out a fresh template of public accountability.

    He said “Where it becomes necessary, the Committee will of course rely on existing laws to compel the production of information and will also have the benefit of necessary interventions by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice in obtaining such information through legal processes, where so required.

    “The Committee is hereby given a time frame of four weeks to finish this assignment and submit its Report to my office. I look forward to receiving your report and recommendations in due course and I wish you the best of luck in this assignment,” he said.

     

    Read Also:  Buhari to bring in more ministers in FEC shake-up

  • 11 Saudi princes accused of bribery, embezzlement -official

    11 Saudi princes accused of bribery, embezzlement -official

    An official has said that bribery, embezzlement, money laundering and abuse of power are among accusations leveled against 11 Saudi princes.

    The official said that the 11 princes, four ministers and tens of former ministers were detained late on Saturday after King Salman decreed the creation of an anti-corruption committee chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

    The new body was given broad powers to investigate cases, issue arrest warrants and travel restrictions, and seize assets.

    The official said billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a nephew of the king and owner of investment firm
    Kingdom Holding , faces allegations of money laundering, bribery and extorting officials.

    Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, who was removed as head of the powerful National Guard, is accused of
    embezzlement, hiring ghost employees and awarding contracts to his own companies, including a 10 billion dollars deal for walkie-talkies and bulletproof military gear worth billions of Saudi royals.

    Former Riyadh Governor Prince Turki bin Abdullah is accused of corruption in the Riyadh Metro project and of taking advantage of his influence to award contracts to his own companies, the official said.

    The official said former Finance Minister Ibrahim al- Assaf, a board member of national oil giant Saudi Aramco, is accused of embezzlement related to the expansion of Mecca’s Grand Mosque.

    The official added that Al-Assaf was also accused of allegedly taking advantage of his position and inside information to benefit from land deals.

    The accusations could not be independently verified.

    Read Also: Businessman charged with forgery

  • Niger Assembly suspends LG chairman over embezzlement

    Niger Assembly suspends LG chairman over embezzlement

    The Niger state House of Assembly has suspended the Chairman of Katcha Local Government Area, Alhaji Mohammed Dogo, for allegedly embezzling over N23.7 million meant for teachers, cooperative deduction and staff salaries.
    The allegations against Dogo include abuse of office, fraud and mismanagement of public fund.
    The suspension was based on the findings of a panel on financial misappropriation by the House Committee on Local government during its oversight functions to local government councils.
    The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Abdulmalik Muhammad Kabir, said investigations revealed that Dogo had directed the Education Department to release N20.7 million believed to be teachers salaries for personal use.
    He added that the chairman also directed the Director of Finance to release N6.5 million to him, but N3 million was deducted, adding that there was evidence that the chairman affirmed to have received the money.
    “The letter presented to the Committee signed by the Chairman and accompained with photocopies of Cheques in the name of Alhaji Baba Wusa and Ladan Audu who confessed before the Committee that they have cashed these cheques and gave the money to the Chairman.
    “The Director of Finance and Supply and Director of Administration in Katcha local government have testified before the committee and in the presence of the Council Chairman to have offered their Financial and administrative advice but the Chairman insisted and went ahead to use the funds in question.
    “The Committee recommends that Katcha local government Chairman be suspended and a Committee be set up to investigate the matter. On the issue of Katcha local government Chairman and from available records and documents, the action of the Chairman is an outright abuse of office, gross misconduct and maladministration. The committee considers this as an act of sheer wickedness meted on the teachers who were denied their legitimate rights.”
    The House of Assembly have also called on the state government to ensure that the sum of N23.7 million meant for NUT Cooperative Katcha local government branch is refunded by the Chairman.
    The House Committee on Local Government has also directed that all monies belonging to NUT Cooperatives and teachers in Paikoro and katcha local government with the state Ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs be released.
    “The Ministry for local government and chieftaincy affairs is holding N16.6 million belonging to teachers in paikoro local government while the sum of N20.7 belonging to teachers is being held in Katcha by the Ministry.”
    The Committee further lamented that most of the local government councils in the state are violating several sections of the local government law.

  • Edo Commissioner denies embezzling N1bn

    Edo Commissioner denies embezzling N1bn

    Edo State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon Abdul Oroh, has denied allegations that he embezzled the sum of one billion naira when he was the Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

    The money was reportedly meant for financial support to Association of Libya Returnees who were trained by the Edo Agriculture Development Programme.

    Head of the group, Solomon Okoduwa, had alleged in a television programme that the money was released after the training programme but that it was shared among top government functionaries under Oroh.

    Oroh in a press statement issued to journalists Friday said no money was approved by the state government for such project.

    He stated that the state government decided to rehabilitate and reintegrate the Libya returnees into the society by training them on modern farming skills to enable the, become self reliant.

    According to him, “The allegations that the State Government released one billion naira, which never happened, is not only callous, mischievous, senseless and a calculated attempt to smear my hard earned reputation.”

    “Okoduwa and his cohorts have been inundating me with series of requests and frivolous demands. I have refused to join issues with these street urchins, whose stock in trade is to act the script of their paymaster.”

     

     

  • Kaduna Utd board dissolution not about embezzlement — Babayaro

    Kaduna Utd board dissolution not about embezzlement — Babayaro

    Sabo Babayaro has opened up for the first time on the dissolution of the Kaduna United FC board – but says the board was dissolved because of the expiration of its tenure and not because of allegations of financial mismanagement by its members.

    SportingLife had exclusively reported last Thursday that the Babayaro-led board was dissolved by the state government.

    Babayaro assumed the mantle of leadership in 2004 when the northern club was still in the lower division and he helped the club gain promotion to the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) in the same year.

    In the eight years he was in charge of the team, the board was dissolved on four occasions, but he was re-appointed by the various governments.

    “I want to first of all thank the state government for the opportunity giving to me to serve as Kaduna United chairman. This is not the first time the board will be dissolved; at least the board has been dissolved four times since I took over the club and I had the privilege to be re-appointed again. This is the fifth time and every appointment always has its expiration date. In our own case, our board’s term of service has expired and the board was dissolved.

    “And, in my 35 years as a football administrator, I have never been found wanting in any financial matter and my achievements speak for me,” Babayaro, who guided the club to its first trophy (Federation Cup) in 2010 said.

    On the 150 million naira (N150m) alleged to have been given to the club to prosecute their CAF Confederation Cup in 2011, the seasoned administrator said any money released to the board was judiciously spent.

    “As I said, our board was not dissolved based on financial grounds. But, to set the records straight, assuming that 150 million naira was given to us, the team played 12 matches during continental games, six matches in the preliminary and six at the group stages. And if you divide 150 million naira by12 games that means we used N12.5 million to prosecute each match. And we, on average, travel with about 40 people any time we are going for an away match at the rate of 150 thousand naira per person to and fro for the flight ticket. And sixty thousand naira for flight tickets to and fro, from Kaduna to Lagos. And when we played in Tunisia and Algeria, it was during the lesser Hajj, and the flight ticket was very high. And even if we don’t include accommodation, add the players and technical crew’s allowances and other expenses and see whether the money was judiciously spent or not,” he countered.

    Under Babayaro, Kaduna United has maintained its NPL status since 2004, except in 2007 when the club was relegated to the lower division. It however bounced back to the top flight the following year.