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Tag: ex-minister

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Ex-minister Abdullahi: APC holds key to Nigeria’s political future

    Ex-minister Abdullahi: APC holds key to Nigeria’s political future

    A former Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) has the solution to Nigeria’s political development and stability.

    The former minister urged Nigerians to be careful about the party they will vote for in next year’s general elections.

    Abdullahi, who publicly declared his membership of the APC yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, said it is the only party that holds the key to Nigeria’s political future.

    The former minister told reporters that he had become a card-carrying member of the APC and was involved in partisan politics.

    He urged Nigerian professionals, who desire a positive change in the affairs of the nation, to join the party.

    Abdullahi noted that most decisions that affect the destiny of the people are taken at the political level.

    The former minister said he discovered when he was in office as a commissioner in Kwara State and a minister at the federal level that professionals, especially journalists with commitment, can make changes happen when they are called upon to serve.

    On the state of the nation, the ace journalist said: “The question you should ask yourself is whether or not you are better off today than you were six years ago; whether or not the education your children receive today is better than what they six years ago and whether or not the health services available to you today are better than what was obtainable six years ago.

    “So, if you conclude that they are better, then there is no need for you to change. But if, like many of us, you face the reality that they are not, then you will understand why we say that we need a change.

    “I have served at the state and national levels and I am convinced now that I should be more involved in contributing to solving problems, not just writing about them (problems). That is why I am now a full member of the APC.

    “Yes, I used to see myself as a technocrat. It was strategic because I needed to have an environment to perform the job I was given without necessarily becoming political or promoting myself. That’s because whether as a commissioner or minister, I was only there by the recommendation of my bosses. I needed to do the work assigned to me without failing.

    “However, I also discovered that much as that gave me the opportunity to perform, the truth is that it became a limitation in some ways. This is because when the decisions are to be made, which would affect the people, technocrats are not allowed to be in such gatherings. They are only called upon to implement the decisions and, even in doing that, they have to be careful because it may affect the fortunes of the politician.”

  • Ex-minister Lukman buried in Zaria

    Ex-minister Lukman buried in Zaria

    The remains of the late former Petroleum Minister, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman, were  laid to rest yesterday in Zaria, Kaduna State.

    The oil technocrat passed away on Monday in Vienna, Austria. He was 76.

    The funeral prayers were presided over by the Imam of Zaria Central Mosque, Mohammed Sani Aliyu.

    At the funeral were Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, Lamido of Adamawa, Mohammad Barkindo Mustapha, among others.

    Speaking shortly after the prayers, Governor Yero said the death of the late elder statesman has created a vacuum.

    He described him as a man “who dedicated himself to the service of the country”.

    The governor said the passage of the oil magnet was a loss to the people.

    Other dignitaries who paid their last respect to the former OPEC Secretary-General described him as a humble and detribalised man who gave his service to the country selflessly.

    The late Lukman is survived by his wife and three children.

  • Ex-minister died serving mankind, says Anenih

    Ex-minister died serving mankind, says Anenih

    The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, has expressed
    grief over the death of former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof Dora Akunyili.

    Anenih said the former Information Minister died serving her country and mankind, adding that she was a rare gem.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja, Anenih condoled with the Akunyili family, the people of Anambra State and the Federal Government on the tragic loss.

    The politician described the late Akunyili as “…an Amazon, a unique political breed, an incorruptible character and a woman of immense integrity who died serving her nation and mankind”.

    The statement added: “I received with shock and disbelief the news of the tragic and untimely death of our dear daughter, Prof Dora Akunyili, in an Indian hospital. Her death came to me as a surprise because the feedback I received a few days after she was flown out of Nigeria was that of optimism, predicated on an observed marked improvement in her health condition.

    “My hope that Dora would make it was also based on the love shown by Mr. President and other well-meaning Dora’s friends, whose timely intervention and response saw to her prompt evacuation to India for treatment at a very critical time in her battle for life.

    “I had the privilege, with other family members, of escorting her to the airport and spoke to her and her husband twice on telephone since her arrival in India during which she gave me reasons to be hopeful of her quick recovery and her return to Nigeria to continue her services to the nation…”

  • I worked as a bus conductor, says ex-minister

    I worked as a bus conductor, says ex-minister

    Former Minister of Sports Bolaji Abdullahi said yesterday that he had worked as a bus conductor.

    Abdullahi made the revelation in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the annual public lecture of the Association of Business and Social Science Students (ABSSS) of the University of Ilorin.

    He said he was conversant with poverty but overcame the challenge.

    The former minister advised the students to design a template for themselves by diversifying into vocational skills.

    According to him, vocational skills will help address unemployment.

    The former minister said 80 per cent of students are merely in schools, especially universities, because they consider it as the next stage after their secondary education.

    He berated parents who send their children to schools only to brag about it.

    Abdullahi challenged students to identify their unique selling points to overcome the problems caused by tunemployment.

    “I was a bus conductor in Ilorin because I didn’t have money to go to school and I know what poverty means because I grew up with it.

    “We must stop pretending about our problems,” he said.

    The former minister said the essence of sending students to school was for them to be economic agents and contribute to the growth and development of the society.

    Abdullahi advised them to know the direction they were going, if problems must be solved.

     He added that society requires thinking and skills to solve the multifarious problems.

    “I want to call on our youths to be skillful because you are winners,” he said.

    He urged the Federal Government to create a special fund for young people to tackle unemployment, saying they should also be trained on how to use the fund judiciously.

    Abdullahi blamed some elite in the society for their conspiracy against the masses in obtaining free education.

  • ‘Immortalise ex-minister’

    ‘Immortalise ex-minister’

    The former Chairman of the Ondo State Council of Obas, Oba Lawrence Omowole, has urged Governor Olusegun Mimiko to complete the abandoned projects started by his predecessor, the late Dr. Olusegun Agagu.

    He said it was the best way to immortalise the late Agagu.

    Agagu’s remains will arrive in the state tomorrow from Lagos and will be laid-in-state at the Democracy Park in Akure, the state capital, and the Civic Centre in Iju-Odo, Okitipupa Local Government.

    Oba Omowole, who is the Amapetu of Mahin Kingdom, described the late Agagu as a pragmatic leader, who would be missed by the people.

    Speaking with reporters yesterday in Akure, the monarch said the late Agagu was a great politician, whose impact was felt in all sectors during his tenures as a minister and governor.

    He urged the Mimiko administration to complete all road projects started by the late Agagu’s administration, particularly in the coastal areas.

    Oba Omowole said Mimiko’s visit to the late Agagu’s family in Lagos less than 24 hours after his (Agagu’s) death showed that the era of political bitterness was gone in the state.

     

  • Sambo challenges ex-minister to publish Kaduna debt profile

    Sambo challenges ex-minister to publish Kaduna debt profile

    Vice President Namadi Sambo last night challenged former minister of the Federal Capital Teritorry (FCT), Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, to publish the debt profile of Kaduna State when he (Sambo) was the governor.

    He said contrary to el-Rufai’s insinuations in a statement, he is incorruptible. Sambo, who made the clarifications in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Alhaji Umar Sani, accused el-Rufai of “pursuit of strategic political interest.”

    The statement said: “While it is not in the character of the Vice-President to trade words or join issues with anyone, the compelling need to set the records straight has necessitated that clarity of the issues raised be proffered for posterity.

  • Ex-minister’s request stalls trial of pension fraud suspects

    The plan by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to open trial in the case involving seven officials of the Police Pension Office was stalled yesterday.

    The planned opening trial was stalled by a request by former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Kanu Agabi (SAN), for time to study the case file.

    Agabi, a defence lawyer in the case, told an Abuja High Court, Maitama, presided over by Justice Hussain Baba, that he was recently briefed.

    He prayed the court to be allowed time to familiarise himself with the case to enable him prepare his client’s defence.

    The lead prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacob (SAN), who indicated his readiness to proceed with the trial, later conceded to an adjournment that Agabi sought on the matter.

    He noted that Agabi’s request was in line with the constitutional provision that an accused is entitled to proper representation – in line with the constitutionally guaranteed right to fair hearing.

    Jacob regretted that the accused waited until recently to brief a new lawyer rather than utilise the period between the last date and yesterday.

    He promised to resist the antics that might truncate the trial, adding that the nation awaits the speedy determination of the case. Other defence lawyers in the case also agreed to the adjournment.

    The accused are: Essai Dangabar, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, Mrs. Cyril Attange, Mrs. Veronica Uloma Onyegbula, Sani Habila Zira and Christian Madubuike.

    They were earlier arraigned with the convicted pension thief, John Yakubu Yusufu, before the now suspended Justice Mohammed Talba of the Abuja High Court. Upon Yakubu’s conviction on a negotiated charge, the others were re-arraigned before Justice Baba on an amended 20-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and conspiracy to alleged theft of N39.8 billion belonging to the Police Pension Office.

    One of the counts of the charge alleged that the seven conspired and agreed, “between January 2008 and June 2011, to do an illegal act, to wit: criminal breach of trust in respect of the sum of N20.155 billion, an offence punishable under section 97 of the Penal Code Act, Cap. 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria, 2007.”

    The trial is expected to begin on July 11.

     

  • Ex-minister lifts alma mater

    Ex-minister lifts alma mater

    Former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji has paid a visit to his alma mater St. Patrick’s College, Emene Enugu. He was accompanied on the visit by some members of the old students association of the school led by its National President, Chief Clement Okwor.

    It was a memorable visit during which they discovered that the school which shaped their destinies had remarkably dilapidated. The school was almost in ruins. Classrooms, laboratories and dormitories were deteriorated, a situation they blamed on government’s take-over of schools. The school lacked science laboratories.

    All equipment in the once-well equipped science laboratory had disappeared altogether.

    This particular scenario touched the former minister.

    Nnaji wondered how such a dilapidated school could produce quality students.

    Right there, the former minister promised to undertake the renovation of the buildings housing the science laboratories. Not only the renovation of the building; he also promised to equip the laboratories with the most modern science equipment.

    That promise was fulfilled as the science laboratories consisting of physics, chemistry, biology and agricultural science were unveiled and inaugurated.

    During the occasion, the school which was recently returned to the original owners, the Catholic Church, was in festive mood. The students were in their best while the Catholic Diocese of Enugu ensured that the event was a memorable one by providing the necessary logistics.

    While inspecting the laboratories, the representative of the Catholic Bishop of Enugu, Monsignor Luke Adike was full of gratitude so much so that he exclaimed: “These are above secondary schools laboratories. It’s the first of its kind in this part of the country.”

    In addition to the science laboratories, there was a computer laboratory with 100 laptop computers unveiled and inaugurated by Prof. Nnaji.  Nnaji said to the students: “I felt bad when I visited the school last year and saw the appalling condition of the science laboratories in the school. When I was here as a student, there was a functional library equipped with books and the laboratories were well equipped.

    “It was here that I was molded and that was why I became an engineer today. I did practical experiences of almost all subjects during my secondary school period.

    “Whatever you take here will make you what you will be tomorrow. Your tomorrow is being shaped today. The world today is a world of science. Aeroplanes, computers, televisions, medicines and so on are all as a result of science.

    “If you have these laboratories, you are going to be good in science. Learning science will help students know much; even those who are not science-inclined will benefit a lot by having some knowledge of science.”

    Nnaji thanked Governor Sullivan Chime for his wisdom in handing the schools over to their original owners.

    President of St. Patrick’s College, Emene Old Boys’ Association Chief Clement Okwor thanked Prof. Nnaji for fulfilling all his promises to the school which included provision of transformer, science and ITC laboratories.

    Okwor, who was the former Head of Service in Enugu State, described the new laboratories as the best school laboratories in Enugu State.

    During the High Mass which preceded the inauguration, Monsignor Luke Adike who represented Bishop Callistus Onaga lamented the gross decay in infrastructure and equipment in secondary schools since the government forcible took over f schools from their original owners.

    He recalled the efforts of the missionaries who built the schools for us to become professionals in our different endeavours; only for the government to seize the schools and neglect them.

    He praised the good nature of Prof. Nnaji in single-handedly providing the learning equipment for the school, even as he said it was for the benefit of the leaders and citizens of tomorrow.

    He prayed that God would continue to bless Prof. Nnaji in his selfless service to the society. He called on other well-to-do old students of the school to emulate Prof. Nnaji and do more for the school.

    The Principal of the school, Rev. Fr. Chijioke Eze who expressed his joy also blessed and thanked Prof. Nnaji for his kind gesture. He promised that he would do everything within his ability to ensure that the students put the laboratories to good use.

     

  • Ex- Greece minister faces tax probe

    Ex- Greece minister faces tax probe

    Greek members of parliament have voted to launch a criminal investigation into ex-Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou.

    He is accused of tampering with a list of suspected tax evaders with Swiss bank accounts.

    Three of Mr. Papaconstantinou’s relatives were removed from the list.

    BBC says he has denied involvement.

    But MPS voted against extending the probe to another ex-finance minister, Evangelos Venizelos, and former PMs Lucas Papademos and George Papandreou.

    The scandal centres on a list of names, provided in 2010 to the Greek government by then French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, who is now head of the International Monetary Fund.

    The “Lagarde list”, as it has become known, contained the names of over 2,000 Greeks who held Swiss bank accounts, and who may not have paid tax on all their income.

    But the Pasok (Socialist Party) government of the time took no action and later claimed to have lost the list.

    It later re-emerged, after a journalist published it, but the later version did not include Mr. Papaconstantinou’s relatives, reports say.

    He has said the case against him has been fabricated.

    The opposition leftist Syriza party had also wanted Pasok leader Mr. Venizelos, who succeeded Mr. Papaconstantinou as finance minister, to be investigated for failing to pursue the case.