Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku has declared today a public holiday in honour of the late former Governor Danbaba Suntai.
Suntai died on June 28.
A statement by Ishaku’s Chief Press Secretary, Hassan Mijinyawa, said: “The public holiday is to enable civil servants and the public prepare for the former governor’s burial. The governor urges them to continually pray for the repose of Suntai’s soul.
“The governor has also requested for fervent prayers for members of the committee handling the burial arrangements, to perform their responsibilities well, to accord the late governor a befitting burial.”
Preparation for the burial began on Wednesday, with three valedictory sessions – by lawmakers at the House of Assembly; State Executive Members in the Government House, and Suntai’s tennis teammates at the Jolly Nyame Stadium.
Funeral service will hold today at the Jolly Nyame Stadium in Jalingo, while the body will be interred at his residence in Suntai, Bali Local Government, in the evening.
The body was received yesterday by the governor and top government officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Service of Songs held yesterday at the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Secretariat in Jalingo, while a “special Juma’at prayers at the Muslim Council Secretariat and a wake will hold at the LCCN Mayo-Gwoi.
Governor Ishaku described the late ex-governor as a visionary and pragmatic leader, who created the framework for him to build on.
Two days to his 56th birthday, a former Taraba State Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai died yesterday in Orlando, Florida, United States.
He had been in and out of hospital in Europe and the U.S. in the last five years, after surviving a plane crash at the Yola airport.
Then the sitting governor of his state, he flew the aircraft that crashed on October 25, 2012 but managed to complete his tenure in 2015 after being treated for the injuries he sustained.
The former governor was born in Suntai, Bali Local Government Area on June 30, 1961
The Aide-de-Camp to Suntai, Mr. Dasat Iliya; his Chief Security Officer Timo Dangana and the Chief Detail, Joel Dangana, were also aboard the private Cessna plane that crashed.
Following the crash the ex-governor was initially treated at Adamawa Standard German Hospital in Yola, the National Hospital in Abuja on October 26, 2012 and at a hospital in Germany.
On his discharge from the german hospital, he was moved to a rehabilitation centre in the United States.
Suntai in 2009 survived food poisoning. He took a medical leave to detoxify his system in a German hospital.
Suntai’s former Commissioner for Information, Emmanuel Bello, a senior special assistant to Governor Darius Ishaku, said Suntai died in the early hours of yesterday. But he could not give the detail.
Bello said: “Former Governor Suntai is dead. It is two days to his birthday. Life. And death. And politics.”
A source said: “The plane crash affected his brain, hearing and speech. He could barely communicate or audible. It has been harrowing with his wife, ex-First Lady Hauwa bearing the burden.
“He also suffered problem in his spinal cord because he was on specialized wheelchair in the past fiveyears.
“I think he got the best medical care from his family and he virtually lost everything to huge hospital bills. He was a good man.”
Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, representing Taraba southern zone, has described the death of the former Governor of Taraba State Danbaba Danfulani Suntai as the “will of God.”
He was undergoing rehabilitation from the injuries he sustained in a plane crash near Yola –the Adamawa State capital on October 2012 in Orlando, Florida USA.
Senator Bwacha said he received the news of his death with a “rude shock.”
“But I give glory to God.
“The death of former Governor Danbaba Suntai is according to His (God’s) will,” Bwacha said.
A former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi described Suntai’s death as painful and prayed to God to grant him eternal rest, and to grant to his family and the people of Taraba state the fortitude to accept His will.
Taraba State House of Assembly Speaker Peter Abel Diah said: “His demise is shocking. The last time, I learnt he wasn’t doing fine. It’s really sad.”
The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Ekiti State Governor Segun Oni is expected to officially declare next month for next year’s governorship race.
The Director-General of Segun Oni Campaign, Dr. Ife Arowosoge, spoke yesterday at the maiden meeting of APC leaders and members from the 16 local government areas working for the 2018 aspiration of the former governor.
To make the July declaration a reality, Arowosoge, a former House of Representatives member, said Oni had written letters to the party’s executives at ward, local government and state levels on his ambition.
On the day of his declaration, Arowosoge said, Oni will also inaugurate the headquarters of his governorship campaign secretariat at Opopogbooro, on Iworoko Road, and visit APC state secretariat before visiting the party’s senatorial offices.
The campaign chief said Oni had been receiving what he called “clarion calls” from interest groups, like teachers, civil servants, local government workers, retirees, youths and women, to take another shot at the governorship race on the strength of his performance between 2007 and 2010.
Youths in Benue State have protested the visit of former Governor Benue Suswam to the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse.
The placard-carrying youths matched on major streets of Gboko to register their displeasure with the visit.
Suswam was in detention when the monarch was sworn in but after his release, he visited the town, and was welcomed by his supporters and admirers. He also visited the palace to pay homage to the Tor Tiv.
The Tor Tiv promised to continue being a father to all Tiv people, irrespective of political affiliations.
The trial of former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido before Justice Babatunde Quadri of the Federal High Court, Abuja was stalled yesterday due to his detention in Dutse.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in September 2015, arraigned Lamido, Aminu Lamido, Mustapha Lamido, Wada Abubakar, Bamaina Holdings Limited, Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited, Bamaina Aluminum Limited, Speeds International Limited and Darlington Agoha on a 27-count charge of abuse of office and money laundering before Justice Adeniyi Ademola, before he was suspended.
When the matter came up for hearing yesterday, counsel representing the defendant, Mr. Joe Agi (SAN), brought to the notice of the court, an application seeking for an order that the case file be returned back to Justice Ademola, on the grounds that the re-assignment of the matter by the chief judge was contrary to law.
In the motion on notice brought pursuant to Section 98(2), 396(3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), the defendants argued that “the prosecution is against the continuation of the trial before Justice Ademola, in spite of the number of witnesses so far called and the length of time already exhausted during the trial”.
A letter dated April 11, signed by one Chile Okoroma from the EFCC to the chief judge averred that even though about 18 witnesses had been called by the prosecution before the trial of Justice Ademola and it would not be in the interest of justice for the case to be transferred back to Justice Ademola’s court for continuation of trial.
“This is because of the negative impressions the public may have about the outcome of the trial, whether the defendants are acquitted or convicted. In addition, the few of this public perception may put the judge under intense pressure, which may affect his judgement,” the letter stated.
However, Agi, in his application, argued that the trial de novo in the circumstances of this case would be prejudicial to the rights of the defendants, who are entitled to have their case heard and determined within a reasonable time.
Agi told the court about the predicament of the first defendant, having been in detention pending his bail.
Detectives are to question a former governor and some high-profile owners of apartments in Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos where $43.4million was recovered last Wednesday.
Besides, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has identified how the controversial apartment 7B, where the $43.4m was kept, was acquired. Also recovered were £27,000 and N23m cash.
The EFCC has intensified investigation into the roles played by some apartment owners and tenants on how the cash was brought into the Towers, The Nation has learnt.
The anti-graft agency is said to be suspecting that some owners or tenants may have been complicit in the matter.
A source said: “The more we investigate this $43.4m haul, the more we get fresh facts. It has become imperative to interact with some owners or tenants of apartments in the Towers.
“We have invited a former governor and other high-profile owners and tenants for interaction. It is just to ask a few questions on whether or not they were aware of such movement of cash.
“We have clues linking some occupants of the Towers to the cash haul. And in line with sections 16 and 17 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004, we are inviting these landlords or tenants.
“Unless we get to the root of this case, Nigerians may not know the truth or otherwise about the cash.
“We are not saying that those invited are guilty of any infraction or having link with the $43.4million but we need to hear from them – in line with the ongoing profiling of those in the Towers.”
Sections 16 and 17 of the EFCC Act reads: “A person when – (a) whether by concealment. removal from jurisdiction, transfer to nominees or otherwise retains the control of the proceeds of a criminal conduct or an illegal act on behalf of another person knowing that the proceeds is as a result of criminal conduct by the principal, or (b) knowing that any property is in whole, or in part, directly or indirectly represent another person’s proceeds of a criminal conduct, acquires or uses that property or has possession of it, commits an office and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not less than five years or to a fine equivalent 105 times the value of the proceeds of the criminal conduct or to both such imprisonment and fine.
“(1) A person who, without lawful authority (a) engages in the acquisition, possession or use of property knowing at the time of its acquisition, possession or use that such property was derived from any offence referred to in this section, or
(b) engages in the management, organisation of financing of any of the offences under this Act; or(c) engages in the conversion or transfer of property knowing that such property is derived from any offence under this Act; or
(d) engages in the concealment or disguise of the true nature, source, location, disposition, movement, rights with respect to or ownership of property knowing that such property is derived from any offence referred to in this section, commits an offence under this Act and is liable on conviction to the penalties provided in Subsection (2) of this section.
”The penalties for offences under subsection (I) of this section shall be imprisonment for a term not less than 15 years and not exceeding 25 years.”
Meanwhile, there were indications yesterday that the EFCC had been able to trace how the controversial 7B apartment, where the $43.4m was kept, was acquired.
Another source said detectives discovered that the 7B Apartment was bought in the name of a company allegedly owned by the wife of a senior government official.
“Since investigation is still ongoing, we will not release the identity of the owner of the company. Doing so might jeopardise investigation,” the source said, adding that the EFCC had interacted with “some people from the company.”
A National Intelligence Agency (NIA) source said of the apartment: “What happened was that because of the nature of the covert operations which the apartment will be used for, it was necessary to manage the process well.”
Only the Deed of Assignment was acquired by Thabis Ventures Limited on behalf of NIA. “And immediately the process for the purchase of the apartment was completed, the ownership was clearly stated in the name of NIA. All the papers are reflecting NIA too, he said, adding: “The title document is available for anyone to verify.”
Former Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime has said he has no case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as insinuated in some quarters.
Speaking with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu, Chime said he was invited once by the agency in respect of party funds spent during the 2015 general elections.
Chime was governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between 2007 and 2015.
The former governor, who recently left the PDP, described the insinuations as ‘misplaced and emanating from detractors”.
“In two months, it will be two years since I left office. I am not aware of any case I have with the EFCC. They invited me once in respect of party funds.
“They wanted to know what happened to the money sent to Enugu PDP by the party headquarters and I went and told them what happened,” he said.
Chime said prior to the 2015 elections, his former party raised funds and part of the funds was given to state chapters.
He explained that the funds were deployed for the purposes they were meant for.
“I will be glad to see the day I will be prosecuted as a party leader for accepting or receiving money from the same PDP, our parent body, to fund elections.
“We were told the PDP raised about N21 billion for the elections and we got part of it. Would I have funded the elections with state funds?
“If the government is saying the money you got is not from the fundraising of the party but stolen we do not know. Nobody is in a position to verify that,” Chime said.
The former governor said if the government had established that the money was stolen “let it catch the people that stole it as that was not the first time we were given money to fund elections”.
“The American elections have come and gone and we saw how they raised and used money.
“I do not see how you can punish anybody for using party money for the purpose it was meant for,” he said.
The former governor said his decision to quit the PDP was not connected to the alleged case with the commission.
He admitted being aware of rumours of petitions against him but insisted this was not from the EFCC.
“I have been accused of being the owner of The Polo Malls; I have been accused of being the owner of Park and Shop. I have been accused of being the owner of Golden Royale Hotel.
“I have been accused of being the owner of The Dome and anything good in Enugu but the EFCC has not written me in respect of those other allegations,” Chime said.
A Former governor’s political career crashed on Monday at a prison gate.
Former Adamawa State Governor Bala James Ngilariwas jailed five years for a N167.8m contract scam.
[quote]Ngilari, who was governor between October 1, 2014, and May 2015, was found guilty of violating the state’s procurement laws.[/quote]
Justice Nathan Musa of the Adamawa High Court did not give Ngilari an option of fine. He vowed to appeal the verdict.
He was convicted for awarding a N167.8 million contract for the supply of 25 units of Toyota Camry 2.8 to a contractor known only to the ex-governor. No other government official knows about the transaction.
The ex-governor is free to choose Yola Main Prison or any prison yard in the country to serve his term.
The judge acquitted the former Secretary to the State Government, Andrew Welye; and former Commissioner for Finance Sanda Lamurde, who stood trial with the former governor on same charges.
Ibrahim Magu
EFCC Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu investigated Ngilari and established a prima facie case against him.
Justice Musa delivered a 75-minute judgment in Yola, which sealed Ngilari’s fate.
Relying on Section 58 sub-section (5) of the Adamawa Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) law, the judge said any public officer who “violates the law is liable to a minimum of five years imprisonment without an option of fine”.
He said: “Court cases are decided based on the evidence before the court and not on the opinion of the counsel.
“Your (Ngilari) defence counsel has failed to prove before the court that the permanent secretary, Adamawa State Ministry of Finance, was the officer to be held responsible as the accounting officer of the ministry for the contract scam.
“From the evidence before the court and oral confessions of the second accused person (Secretary to the State Government Mr. Ibrahim Welye) to the EFCC proved before the court that the tender board headed by the permanent secretary was sidelined in the award of the contract.
”The court’s hands are tied by this law; so, I cannot do otherwise. The only thing is to give you the minimum sentence of five years, which you will serve in Yola Main Prison.”
Justice Musa read the SSG statement which was one of the exhibits: “The governor summoned me and directed me to write a memo for the purchase of vehicles for commissioners.
“When I raised the issue of due process by contacting BPP, the governor told me he was under pressure. After I raised the memo, some few days after, the governor called me that the contractor failed to supply eight vehicles out of 25.
“She supplied only 17 units of the vehicles and that I should call her. I could not call her because I did not have her phone number.”
The judge dismissed the argument of the counsel to Ngilari that the purchase was borne out of “emergency so that the prices of the vehicles will not go up”.
The judge said Ngilari “failed to prove that he carried out a market survey on the prices of the vehicles and that the prices were increasing fast.
“Since the vehicles were not security vehicles, hiding under emergency cannot be covered by law. This defence lacks legal protection and merit.
“The former governor unlawfully awarded a contract to a contractor known to him alone. His action amounted to executive rascality and lawlessness,” he said.
Justice Musa said the prosecuting counsel, Ahmad Muttaka, proved his case beyond reasonable doubt against the first accused.
He discharged and acquitted the former SSG and ex-Commissioner for Finance because they were not part of the contract.
He said the verdict was a “warning to other political office holders that the law will not respect anyone that abuses it using the powers of his office”.
“It is my hope that this conviction and sentence will serve as a deterrent to serving governors.”
Although the judge said Ngilari could serve the sentence in the prison of his choice in the country, “but for now he should start with Yola Main Prison”.
The Adamawa State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General Mr. James Silas Sanda, who was once a key member of the EFCC staff, praised Justice Musa’s courage.
He said it was unfortunate that a former governor will be sentenced to prison and advised all political office holders to learn some lessons from the judgment.
The counsel to the convict, Mr. Samuel Toni (SAN) pleaded for leniency “in view of his (Ngilari’s) invaluable contribution while he was governor during the trying moment of insurgency.”
Before he was taken to prison, Ngilari said: “I will file an appeal against the judgement.” The EFCC arraigned Ngilari on September 21, 2016 for violation of procurement laws in the award of contract of N167.8million to El-Yadi Motors Limited for supply of 25 units of operational vehicles (Toyota Corolla).
The EFCC had instituted a 17 count charge against Ngilari, his former secretary to the government, Ibrahim Andrew Welye and his former Commissioner for Finance and Budget, Sanda Jonathan Lamurde.
EFCC accused them of conspiracy, lack of “No objection Certificate, No competitive bidding” and others in procurement.
There was, however, excitement in EFCC on the judgment of the court.
Magu and the staff were happy that the judge gave the case a speedy trial.
A source said: “It is interesting that Magu investigated the case and it is during his tenure that a conviction has been secured. This gives him and all of us a sense of personal fulfilment. It was not easy establishing the facts against Ngilari. There was pressure but Magu resisted the lure to get to the roots of the fraud.
“If you know how these politically exposed persons used to take advantage of the law to delay cases, you will share this victorious moment with us.
“For Ngilari, this is just the first case. He has an outstanding case with us on the N450million poll bribery funds allocated to the state by ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
“We had interrogated and detained Ngilari at the commission’s zonal office in Gombe. When we are ready for his trial, we will arraign him.”
The Department of State Services (DSS) is to interrogate former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam over the recovery of some guns, ammunition, and 45 keys of exotic cars from two vehicles linked to him. He is being detained.
Besides, said the DSS, 21 Certificates of Occupancy and 23 designer watches were found in the vehicles – a Mercedes Benz S550 (BWR 135AH) and a Masarati 4.7 (BWR 207 AJ).
The vehicles have been confiscated.
A statement by the spokesman of the service, Tony Opuiyo said Suswam was helping its investigation.
The statement said: “The Department of State Services (DSS) wishes to inform the public that on 24th February, 2017, between 2100 hours and 0242 hours, the Service executed a search warrant, at the property of Dunes Investment and Global Properties Ltd, located at No 44 Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Maitama-Abuja.
“The operation was informed by intelligence that some incriminating items were stashed in the boots of cars parked at the property, particularly a Mercedes Benz S550 (BWR 135AH), and Masarati 4.7 (BWR 207 AJ), which were subsequently confiscated.
“Consequently, on 25th February, 2017, about 1000hours, in the presence of two (2) private security officers employed by Dunes Investment, the cars were searched and the following items were recovered:
“ Weapons: (i) Glock pistol with two (2) magazines and a total of twenty-nine (29) rounds of ammunition; (ii) Mini-Uzi with two (2) magazines containing 10 rounds and 4 rounds respectively; (iii) forty-two (42) extra rounds of ammunition contained in a pack; and
(iv) one (1) AK-47.
“ Other items recovered include: i. twenty-one (21) Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) and one (1) Offer of Statutory Right of Occupancy; ii. twenty-three (23) luxury designer watches; and iii. Forty-five (45) keys to various exotic cars.
“Following this discovery, the Service launched further investigation which revealed that the cars and the recovered items belong to the former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, who has already been invited by the Service and presently helping in the investigations.
“It is in the light of this latest development that the Service wishes to sound a note of warning to persons and groups that it will no longer tolerate any acts of lawlessness by those who ought to be law abiding and responsible citizens.
“The Service has also observed with total dismay the inciting utterances of some political actors whose activities heat up the polity. It also wishes to express its disappointment with these politicians who, in their desperation, are engaged in hate speeches and even sponsorship of radio campaign jingles when the electoral umpire has not authorised such campaigns in line with the Electoral Act.
“More worrisome is the unpatriotic involvement of some media outfits in these divisive tendencies which negate their constitutional role as the fourth estate of the realm.
“In line with its statutory mandate of maintaining the peace and internal security of the country, the Service hereby restates its commitment to go after anyone, no matter how highly placed, who engages in acts capable of causing the breach of peace in the country.”
Oghara, the home town of former Delta State Governor James Ibori, yesterday hosted top politicians, monarchs and clerics for the community’s special thanksgiving service for the former governor.
The church service, which was held at the town’s First Baptist Church, was organised by the community to thank God for Ibori’s release from a United Kingdom (UK) prison, after serving a jail term for almost five years for money laundering.
Top political associates and followers of the former governor attended the service.
They included former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Festus Ovie-Agas, Senators Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Patrick Osakwe and Ighoyota Amori.
Others were members of the State Executive Cuncil (Exco) and lawmakers, including House of Assembly Speaker Monday Igbuya and Ibori’s daughter, who is a member of the Assembly, Erhiateake Ibori.
Traditional rulers at the event included the Ovie of Oghara Kingdom, Noble Eshemitan and Pere of Akegbene-Mein Kingdom, Pere Kalanama VII.
Artistes at the church service were Ras Kimono, Orits Wiliki and Ras Father.
