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Tag: Ex-aide

  • How former governor blew N5.7b on politics, by ex-aide

    Money withdrawn in cash, witness tells court

    A witness told yesterday of how about N5.7 billion Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) funds went down the drain.

    Mr Nasiru Ingawa, Special Adviser to former Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema on SURE-P, said at the Federal High Court in Katsina that Shema directed him to spend the cash on politics.

    The former special adviser testified at the resumed hearing of a fraud case against Shema.

    Shema is standing trial before the court on a 26- count charge bordering on fraud, in contravention of Section 15(2d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011, as amended.

    The offences are punishable under Section 15 (3) of the Act.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) preferred the charges.

    Ingawa told the court that he was the Special Adviser to Shema on SURE-P  from June, 2014 to May, 2015.

    “I remember him (Shema) telling me that we were going to use the funds for politics and that we would extract our savings from there,’’ he said.

    He said that the duo wrote memos for certain programmes and used half of the money; the remaining half went into savings.

    Ingawa also said that the department made direct purchases from which a certain percentage would go into savings.

    He added that sometimes, they wrote memos for programmes not implemented at all.

    ‘’The tradition is that I had to sit down and discuss with him on any programme; if he agreed, he would instruct me on exactly how much the savings should be from that programme,’’ he said.

    The witness testified that, sometimes, he gave the funds to Shema directly; other times, he (Shema) instructed him who to give.

    ‘’All money from SURE-P account were withdrawn in cash, with the exception of few programmes which the withdrawal was done with cheques,’’ Ingawa said.

    After the evidence, the prosecution counsel, Mr O. I. Uket, applied for adjournment, which the defence counsel did not object to.

    Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari adjourned the hearing till January 14, next year when the trial will continue.

    The former governor was arraigned on a 26-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering of N5.7 billion SURE-P funds on July 17.

    The trial started de novo (afresh) following the transfer of the trial judge Justice Babagana Ashigar. He was replaced by Justice Shagari.

    When the charges were read to him, Shema pleaded not guilty to all the 26 counts.

    Defense counsel Mr A.T Kehinde, (SAN), moved an application for his client to continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted to him. Prosecution counsel Jibrin Okutepa, (SAN) did not object to the bail application of the defendant. He informed the court that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act provided that an accused already granted bail could continue to enjoy the terms of the previous bail conditions. The previous bail conditions, the court directed the defendant to deposit his international passport in the court registry. Justice Shagari granted the former governor bail on the conditions previously provided by the court and adjourned the case till yesterday for trial.

    The Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) was established by the Goodluck Jonathan administration to re-invest the savings from fuel subsidy removal on critical infrastructure and social safety net programmes with direct impact on citizens.

    The scheme was established in January 2012 when the government announced the removal of subsidy on Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS).

    Its core objectives being to provide employments for unemployed graduates through internship programmes and create a database of unemployed youths and reduce social vulnerability through the mechanism of the policy.

    Shema is also standing trial before Katsina State High Court for alleged diversion of about N11 billion state funds during his tenure following a petition by the state government to the EFCC.

    Shema is being tried in the second case alongside three others – former Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Sani Makana, ex- Katsina ALGON Chairman Lawal Dankaba and former Permanent Secretary Ministry for Local Governments Lawal Rufai.

    They are facing 24 count charges of alleged misappropriation of about N11bn of local government funds.

  • Saraki, ex-aide in ambition crisis

    The differences between Senate President Bukola Saraki and a former member of the House of Representatives, Moshood Mustapha, took a turn at the weekend.

    Mustapha, who was special adviser on Inter-Parliamentary Matters, Protocols and Special Duties to Saraki, has not hidden his ambition to become governor in 2019 on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).

    But the APC has suspended him for alleged anti-party activities.

    A statement by the party’s chairman at Mustapha’s Alanamu ward AbdulRahman Jimoh, and Secretary Abdulwasiu Kehinde, said Mustapha was suspended for disregarding invitations to defend himself against allegations of anti-party activities levelled against him.

    The statement noted that Mustapha failed to honour  invitations and refused to communicate with the party.

    The motion for Mustapha’s suspension was moved by Kayode Omotose, former Majority leader in the House of Assembly, and seconded by AbdulWasiu Tetengi, at a meeting in Isale-Aluko, Ilorin.

    But some loyalists of Mustapha, led by former Vice Chairman of the ward, Hajia Lawal, said her group is solidly behind “our own.”

    According to her, Mustapha’s suspension has polarised the party.

    She said: “People don’t believe we are determined to produce the next governor in the person of Moshood Mustapha.

    ‘’We thank you for answering us. What we have done today is not borne out of conspiracy. At Alanamu ward, we are behind Mustapha as the ward has never produced the governor.”

  • EFCC closes case in trial of Jonathan’s ex-aide

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday closed its case in the prosecution former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Dr Waripamo-Owei Dudafa.

    EFCC arraigned Dudafa and Iwejuo Joseph Nna before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos on 23 counts of conspiracy to conceal proceeds of crime amounting to over N1.6billion on June 11, 2013.

    Prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, after tendering some documents, said he had no more witnesses to call.

    He added that he intended to file an amended charge without re-opening his case.

    Defence counsel, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN) and Ige Asemudara, said they would make a no-case submission.

    The defendants allegedly concealed the sum through a company, Seagate Property Development and Investment Ltd, an  offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable  under Section 17(a).

    They were also accused of knowingly concealing proceeds of crime through Avalon Global Property Development Company Ltd in the sum of N 399, 470,000.00, among others.

    EFCC said Dudafa “procured” Nna and Ebiwise Resources to conceal N150million being proceeds of crime.

    Other companies allegedly used in laundering the money include Pluto Property And Investment Company Ltd, Rotato Inter Link Services Ltd and De Jakes Fast Food and Restaurant Nigerian Ltd.

    EFCC said Dudafa failed to furnish any information in relation to N616,526,506.70 allegedly held on his behalf by Seagate Property’s account: 7400046952 domiciled in Heritage Bank Ltd as required on Page 20 of the Declaration of Assets Form.

    The prosecution said he also failed to disclose N305,176,922.99 allegedly held on his behalf by Ebiwise Resource in a Heritage Bank account 1907938635; N64,319,555.66 held on his behalf by Avalon Global in a Heritage Bank account 6001984078;  N560,000,000.00 held for him by De Jakes Fast Food in Guaranty Trust Bank account 0042308722 and N10,253,246.85 held for him by Ibejige Services Ltd in an account numbered 6001983026 domiciled in Heritage Bank.

    The court had rejected Dudafa’s claim that he was “tormented” by EFCC officials while in detention.

    Dudafa had claimed that he was  “tormented” by EFCC officials in a bid to get him to implicate the former president.

    He said the statements were dictated to him, and that he was induced to sign in exchange for his freedom.

    Justice Idris dismissed the claim and admitted Dudafa’s  statements in evidence on the basis that their contents did not indicate that the defendants “confessed” to any crime.

    He was, however, silent on Dudafa’s claims that he was “tormented” and induced to make the statements.

    Justice Idris adjourned until April 25.

  • Jonathan’s ex-aide to be arraigned for N1.6b ‘fraud’

    Jonathan’s ex-aide to be arraigned for N1.6b ‘fraud’

    Former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Gooluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs Waripamo-Owei Dudafa will be arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos today.

    He and Iwejuo Joseph Nna (alias Taiwo A. Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah) were charged with 23-counts of conspiracy and concealment of crime proceeds.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said the accused conspired to conceal proceeds of crime amounting to over N1.6billion on June 11, 2013.

    The alleged offence is contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 17(a).

    The accused persons allegedly concealed the sum through a company, Seagate Property Development and Investment Ltd.

    They were also accused of knowingly concealing proceeds of crime through Avalon Global Property Development Company Ltd in the sum of N 399, 470,000.00, among others.

    Dudafa, between last June 1 and June 4, “procured” Nna and Ebiwise Resources to conceal N150million, being proceeds of crime.

    Other companies allegedly used in committing the offence include Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd, Rotato Inter Link Services Ltd and De Jakes Fast Food and Restaurant Nigerian Ltd.

    EFCC said Dudafa, on April 27, failed to furnish any information in relation to N616,526,506.70 allegedly held on his behalf by Seagate Property’s account: 7400046952 domiciled in Heritage Bank Ltd as required on page 20 of EFCC’s Declaration of Assets Form.

    EFCC listed 21 witnesses to testify against the accused, including representatives of banks.

    United Bank for Africa Plc, First Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc and Diamond Bank Plc.

    sion (Establishment) Act 2004.

    The commission said Dudafa also failed to disclose N305,176,922.99 allegedly held on his behalf by Ebiwise Resource in a Heritage Bank account 1907938635; N64,319,555.66 held on his behalf by Avalon Global in a Heritage Bank account 6001984078; N560,000,000.00 held for him by De Jakes Fast Food in Guaranty Trust Bank account 0042308722, and N10,253,246.85 held for him by Ibejige Services Ltd in an account numbered 6001983026 also domiciled in Heritage Bank.

     

  • Jonathan’s ex-aide Kuku loses bid to stop arrest

    Jonathan’s ex-aide Kuku loses bid to stop arrest

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday dismissed an application by a Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku, to stop his arrest.

    Kuku asked the court to restrain anti-corruption agencies from arresting and prosecuting him over allegations of corruption.

    But, Justice Okon Abang held that the application lacked merit.  “This application lacks merit and is hereby dismissed. I so hold,” he said.

    Justice Abang refused Kuku’s prayer to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) from arresting and probing him. He, however, said should Kuku be arrested, he should not be detained beyond 48 hours because that would contravene Section 35(4) (5) of the 1999 Constitution.

    He said EFCC has a statutory obligation to investigate Kuku over alleged financial impropriety and arrest him if he refuses to honour its invitation but disagreed with the submission that any move to invite Kuku was politically motivated.

    After assuming jurisdiction in the case, Justice Abang held: ”It is in my view that the invitation sent to the applicant is lawful and constitutional.

    “The court cannot stop a statutory institution from performing it constitutional duty.”

    The court, however, said his arrest must follow due process.

    Kuku sued the Attorney-General of the Federation, EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the DSS and the Nigeria Immigration Service, alleging of “plots by the respondents to concoct, fabricate or falsify evidence in order to provide a basis for his arrest, detention, persecution and/or prosecution for political reasons”.

    According to him, it was “in furtherance of the unconscionable use of the otherwise laudable war against corruption to repress the political opposition constituted by the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including the applicant.”

    Kuku sought a declaration that any such invitation, arrest, harassment or prosecution on the basis of allegations of corruption in respect to his tenure as Chairman of the Amnesty Programme between 2011 and 2015 is a breach of his right to fair hearing and freedom of movement.

    Similarly, he sought an order prohibiting the respondents from arresting or prosecuting him on the basis of the allegations.

    The Auditor-General of the Federation had raised questions over alleged mismanagement of funds in reports of audit monitoring and evaluation of the amnesty programme.

    Kuku’s lawyer Mr. Ajibola Oluyede said the respondents were about to abuse the criminal process by seeking to arrest his client.

    “There is an illegal and unjustifiable instigation of the criminal process against the applicant in a manner that infringes upon his fundamental rights as enshrined in Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution,” he said.

    But the AGF’s and IGP’s counsel, Mr. Tijani Gazali, urged the court to dismiss Kuku’s application.

    He said Kuku was only invited to clear allegations of corruption against him, adding that there was no plot to violate his rights.

    “We only invited him to ensure his right to fair hearing. It was only an invitation. Instead, he has run to the court to be conferred with immunity so as not to be investigated. He was invited so as to tell his own side of the story,” Gazali said.

  • Dickson lambasts ex-aide over unpaid salaries complaint

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson yesterday denied owing his former Senior Special Assistant on Non-Indigenes, Chief Chinedu Mbah, one-year salary arrears and allowances.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Treasury and Accounts, Mr Timipre Seipulou, the governor said Mbah was ungrateful, urging the public to ignore him.

    Mbah recently resigned his appointment, citing, among other things, non-payment of salaries and allowances; daily intimidation and harassment from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and confiscation of his official car.

    But Seipolou described the claims as false, malicious and meant to impugn on the reputation of the Dickson-led Restoration Government.

    According to him, the government has always lived up to its financial obligations to workers and was “not owing any of his aides, including Mbah”.

    The statement said: “Available financial records reveal that Mbah was paid his remunerations to date, just like any other political appointee in the state, before his purported claim of resignation.

    “Mbah is only acting the script of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and particularly for his master and former Chief of Staff to Governor Dickson and now an APC governorship aspirant …who recommended him for appointment. Going by the facts on ground, it is clear that it is only a desperate and ungrateful man that can make such malicious claims.”

    Seipolou said the claims were politically motivated, adding that it was a deliberate attempt to smear the government’s image.

    The governor’s aide said the Dickson administration was not perturbed by Mbah’s resignation.

    According to him, the former aide has defected to the APC with his master and benefactor.

    Seipolou said: “Ordinarily, I would not have reacted to the spurious and false claims made by Mbah. But to put the records straight and save the unsuspecting public from being misinformed, I want to unequivocally state here that the Bayelsa State Government is not owing its workers and appointees.

    “It is public knowledge that this is one of the few states in Nigeria that have not failed in meeting their financial obligations, especially in terms of payment of salaries. Mr Mbah is only acting true to type. He is doing the bidding of his master and the opposition party, which his master now belongs to.

    “But I can assure you that our government is not losing sleep over his purported ‘resignation’ because he was more of a liability to our government, seeing that his exit was widely celebrated by majority of the non-indigenes. My advice is that people should learn how to play politics and not pay good with evil because of their inordinate political ambitions.”

     

  • Ex-aide accuses Dickson of disappointing Bayelsa

    Ex-aide accuses Dickson of disappointing Bayelsa

    An “honorary” Special Adviser and member of the Board of Directors of Bayelsa Oil Company Limited, Chief Alex Ekiotenne, yesterday resigned from Governor Seriake Dickson’s administration ahead of the 2016 governorship election.

    Ekiotenne, an elder statesman and one of the brains behind the Bayelsa Peoples Consultative Assembly (BPCA), said he quit the government because Dickson had disappointed the people.

    The chief was a rallying point for Dickson at the inception of his administration.

    He issued monthly statements and mobilised elders of Bayelsa to support the government.

    But Ekiotenne fell out with the governor and joined his opponents to form the BPCA, which is planning to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He told reporters yesterday in Yenagoa, the state capital, that Dickson derailed from the consultative approach to the development programmes and transparency objectives of his government.

    The former aide alleged that the governor embarked on many projects in one fell swoop without considering priority, strategic needs and funding prospects.

    Ekiotenne said: “The age-long adage that one finger cannot remove lice from the hair is very instructive. Thus, a lack of strategic planning, prioritisation and a result-oriented advisory system gave productivity and sustained performance serious impairment.

    “Productivity was expected to rise but there was a steady decline in productivity and good performance of government in almost all sectors. This has inexorably led us to the present state of gloom.”

    The former aide said successive governments in the state, including Dickson’s administration, were carried away by the fat federal allocations and failed to develop the industrial, agricultural and commercial sectors of the economy to promote Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    He said: “Bayelsans believe that if consultations and strategic planning, including prioritisation had been sustained, we would not have found ourselves where we are today.”

    The chief said the sorry state of affairs in Bayelsa and the need to find a solution to what he called “the quagmire” compelled elders and eminent stakeholders to form the BPCA.

    Ekiotenne, who is also the group’s spokesman, said its members had identified the APC as the only platform where the state’s political destiny could be fulfilled.

    The former aide said the group was formed to address the political and social-economic issues.

    He added that the group consulted widely with APC leader in the state and former Governor Timipre Sylva and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, led by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Obi’s ex-aide donates materials to flood victims

    A former Anambra State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Cordelia Ego Uzoezie, has urged the people to cooperate with Governor Peter Obi to rehabilitate flood disaster victims.

    Dr. Uzoezie addressed reporters at the office of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in Awka, the state capital, when she presented materials with her family to the flood victims.

    She donated are 10 cartons of Indomie Noodles, five cartons of biscuits, five cartons of Premier soap, five cartons of bar soap and assorted toiletries.

    Dr Uzoezie said: “My family is here to console the victims and make them understand that what happened to them can only last for some time. It is temporary; I am sure it will not continue that way.”

    The former commissioner hailed Obi for showing that “he is the Okwute Ndigbo by providing succour to the victims and attracting the Federal Government, philanthropists and donor agencies to commiserate with the victims.

     

     

     

  • Why I left Dickson’s cabinet, by ex aide

    Kemasuode Wodu, who recently resigned as Special Adviser to Governor Seriake Dickson on Legal Matters and Chief Legal Officer, has said his leaving the cabinet was not out of any ill will.

    He told journalists in Yenagoa at the weekend that his exit from the Dickson-led administration with the proper understanding of the governor who is a personal friend, adding that the move was to enhance his professional growth.

    He said, “In the last six months we have started receiving hearing notices from the appellate courts. If I develop myself properly in the legal profession it will be of greater service to the state.” He denied that his resignation had anything to do with any ill feelings, saying “absolutely there is no problem, the relationship between myself and the governor is smooth. I enjoyed the working relationship.”

    He added that to show that his exit is with the understanding of the governor, he was made a member of the Constitution Review Committee “even after my resignation, we worked for about a week before I went to Calabar to present the position of the state. I am still willing to work for the state.”

     

  • Mimiko grossly incompetent – Ex-aide

    Mimiko grossly incompetent – Ex-aide

    A former aide of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has described the Labour Party (LP) gubernatorial hopeful as a grossly incompetent administrator who should not be in the race for a second term.

    Mr. Tunde Imolehin, leader of the Sunshine Mandate Forum and now a chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria, was until recently a very close associate of the Ondo governor.

    While explaining why he dumped the governor to pitch his tent with the opposition ahead of the October 20 governorship election, Imolehin said Mimiko as an incompetent administrator has only succeeded in wasting the time and resources of Ondo people in the last three and a half years.

    “There is no way anybody who is aware of Mimiko’s administrative style will pray for him to govern Ondo State again. Here is a man who lacks the ability to recognise competence and encourage competent people.

    “He would rather promote incompetence as long as he stands to benefit from such action politicaly. All his actions and inactions are determined by politics. He gives very little thoughts to competent people.

    “His crafty nature is one other reason why he cannot work with competent and patriotic people. He is too unreliable to work with. Given the calibre of people in the state, he will always find it difficult politically with his style,” he said.

    Imolehin, who said he is highly optimistic that Rotimi Akeredolu, the ACN candidate, will win the governorship election, described the three and a half years of Mimiko’s reign as a waste.

    “We expected him to achieve so much given the support and acceptance he got when he came in. With the resources of the state and the people’s readiness for change, much was expected from  him but he failed.

    His approach to governance is bad. He sees himself as the superior one leading many inferior people. He must always be right. His opinions are the only good ones. Others carry no weight. These were the problems with him,” he added.

    Imolehin then urged the people of the state to reject Mimiko and cast their votes for Akeredolu and the ACN on October 20. He called on the people to support the party’s agenda aimed at uniting the entire Southwest socio-political zone.

    The frontline envoronmentalist said he is woring tirelessly with others to spread the manifestoes of the party across the state because of his belief that with such good programmes spelt out, ACN is the party of the people.

    “All we need to do is take the good message to the people and they will gladly accept to vote for the ACN. The plans of the party for Ondo State and the Southwest as a whole is the best you can find anywhere,” he said.