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Tag: expose

  • I accepted Otedola’s $100,000 bribe to expose him, says Emenalo

    Former co-accused to Farouk Lawan, the ex-Chairman, House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy, Boniface Emenalo, yesterday told a High Court of the Federal Capital territory (FCT) in Lugbe, Abuja, why he accepted $100,000 from businessman Femi Otedola.

    He said he took the money offered members of the committee by the businessman with the intention of exposing his plot to influence the outcome of their investigation.

    Emenalo, who the prosecution later substituted as its witness, leaving only Lawan as the accused, spoke yesterday while testifying in Lawan’s trial before a High Court of the Federal Capital territory (FCT) in Lugbe, Abuja.

    Lawan is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) for allegedly “corruptly” collecting $500,000 out of the $3 million bribe he requested from Otedola.

    Lawan is accused of accepting the bribe in exchange for the removal of Otedola’s company’s name, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, from the list of firms indicted by the House committee for allegedly abusing the fuel subsidy regime in 2012.

    Emenalo, who on March 7,  gave details of how he collected the $100,000 from Otedola in $100 bills, denied yesterday, while being cross-examined  by Lawan’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), some of the allegations against Lawan by the prosecution.

    The witness said, on Otedola’s invitations, he met with him on April 22, 2012, and on Tuesday April 24, 2012, at his home in Aso Drive, Maitama, Abuja.

    He said at his first meeting with Otedola, they had discussions on issues, including those relating to the work of the committee and areas he (Otedola) could make suggestions. Emenalo denied receiving $20,000 bribe from Otedola during their first meeting.

    The witness confirmed that it was during the second meeting that Otedola gave him the $100,000, which he claimed to have handed to Lawan as exhibit.

    When asked to read part of the two statements he made to the police during the investigation, he insisted that Otedola gave the money to him as a bribe.

    The statements, one of which was dated June 14, 2012, and the other undated, were tendered by Ozekhome and admitted as exhibits without any objection from the prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).

    Emenalo confirmed that Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd belonging to Otedola was one of the companies indicted by the ad-hoc committee for obtaining foreign exchange for importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) under the fuel subsidy scheme, but diverted it.

    He said Zenon got $232,975,385.13 foreign exchange, but failed to use the money for fuel importation.

    The witness added that Otedola wrote a complaint letter to the secretariat of the committee on April 18, 2012, asking for his company’s name to be removed from the list of indicted firms. He said his committee could not do anything on his case, because by then, the report had been submitted on the floor of the House.

    Emenalo denied calling the then Managing Director of Zenon Petroleum, Kareem Otaru, to ask for direction to Otedola’s house.

    When told that Otaru had claimed in his statement that that he (the witness), was the one who called to ask for direction to Otedola’s house, Emenalo said: “Never; I did not call him. He was the one who called me. I will be very surprised if he said I called him, asking for Mr. Otedola’s house.”

    The witness also denied collecting Otedola’s phone number from Otaru.

    Emenalo concluded his evidence yesterday when defence lawyer, Ozekhome, told the court he was through with his cross-examination of the witness.

    The trial continues today.

  • Groups to expose atrocity perpetrators

    Two groups, the Attorcities  Watch (AW) and  Omidyar Network Leadership  Forum ( ONLF), have vowed to fight impunity in Africa by exposing its perpetrators.

    They signed a memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) in Abuja during the Pan African Lawyers (PALU) conference.

    AW was reprsented by its board member, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, while Ms. Agnes Ebo’o and Stanley Ibe signed as individual grantees under the auspices of ONLF, an alumni initiative of the Draper Hills Summer Fellows Programme of the Center for Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (CDDRL), Stanford University.

    Ebo’o and Ibe, alumni of the Draper Hills Summer Fellows Programme of the CDDRL are joint recipients of the first Collaborative Grants Initiative of the ONLF. The funded project will be implemented in close collaboration with Atrocities Watch and the two alumni grantees.

    Atrocities Watch is a non-profit, Pan African organisation founded and led by Ugandan journalist and former Chairperson of Darfur Consortium, Dismas Nkunda, who is known for his strong pursuit and desire to end mass atrocities and impunity in Africa.

    AW focuses on a number of strategic objectives including using new media and digital tracking of mass atrocities to inform continental early warning mechanisms and offer remedial and preventive actions against occurrence of mass atrocities.

    AW also encourages the inclusion of young Africans in the understanding of the commission of atrocities crimes and helps the young forge future interventions, using fast developing social media.

    “This is a perfect start for us. With this funding, we will certainly be able to unearth those who commit crimes against our people in the remote hope that they will go scot free,” said Dr. Odinkalu.

    Ms.Agnes Ebo’o, a Cameroon-ian, said: “ The project will provide a platform for young Africans to learn about past atrocities and hopefully learn on how to avoid them in the future”.

    Ibe, a Nigerian lawyer, said: “ The grant will support the development of a website that professionals can use to share their work on mass atrocities with a view to exposing those crimes, promote  justice and hopefully preventing future occurrence.”

    Mr. Nkunda said: “The beauty of this collaboration, initiated by a Cameroonian,  a Nigerian and an Ugandan, is that it will help us put our first step into the door of documenting what has hitherto, not been so much in the public domain,  but more importantly,  to make sure that new media can be a tool for combating mass atrocities on the African continent and elsewhere.”

    The six-month project is expected to develop information and a platform that individuals and institutions on the continent can use to build cases for either domestic or indeed, international accountability.

     

     

     

     

  • ACF urges military to expose Boko Haram backers

    ACF urges military to expose Boko Haram backers

    The Arewa Consultative Forum has condemned in strong terms those allegedly aiding and abetting the activities of Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeast and other parts of the  country, saying they are enemies of Nigeria.

    The northern socio-cultural group was reacting to comments from Army authorities that some prominent politicians, and groups from the Northeast had been meeting marabouts to reverse the gains already recorded in the fight against the insurgents by the military.

    The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman had said among others that “the Nigerian Army wishes to inform the public and send a very strong and serious final warning to some prominent individuals and political groups who hail from Borno state in particular and Northeast generally, that there is information of plans by some highly placed individuals and political groups to undermine and scuttle the fight against terrorism and insurgency in this country. The unscrupulous individuals and their cohorts are determined to reverse the gains made and scuttle our efforts at achieving the Presidential directive to defeat Boko Haram terrorists within three months”.

    Speaking against this background, the ACF demanded a thorough investigation into the allegation and asked the military to expose all those behind such acts.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Muhammad Ibrahim, in a statement ,yesterday in Kaduna, noted that the body considered those behind such devilish act as simply “wicked”.

    The ACF said the alarm raised by the Army was “grave, disturbing and worrisome, considering the efforts being put by the military and other security agencies to end the insurgency in the Northeast region.”

    The statement reads: “It is callous, wicked and unfortunate that some prominent individuals place their personal benefits above national interest, the daily killings of innocent lives and destruction of property as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency in the last six years.

    “ACF urges the military to thoroughly investigate the clandestine activities and other diabolical efforts of these politicians, expose and prosecute them to serve as a deterrent to others. Nigeria cannot afford to treat such unscrupulous groups or individuals with kid gloves at this material time that all hands are on deck to restore peace and order in the Northeast subregion and the country in general.

    “ACF will support and encourage the military to take any lawful action against the so called prominent elders and politicians undermining the effort of the Federal Government to combat terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria.”

  • I’ll expose corrupt monarchs after 2015 election, Akiolu insists

    I’ll expose corrupt monarchs after 2015 election, Akiolu insists

    The Oba of Lagos and the Chairman, the state Council of Obas, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has reiterated his promise to reveal the names of alleged corrupt traditional leaders in Yorubaland after the 2015 general elections.

    He said some of the traditional rulers were close friends of the late former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, adding that was why they were unable to promote Yoruba’s agenda.

    Oba Rilwan, who was among the entourage of the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, to the palace of  Awujale of Ijebuland yesterday, insisted that some traditional rulers collected money from the former head of state.

    He exempted the Awujale from the alleged corrupt monarchs, saying some of the former military officers described him as no-nonsense Oba who would not collect bribes.

    The Lagos oba said as a commissioner of police during the regime of the late Abacha, he was among the delegates who gave money to the monarchs.

    He said: “There are some qualities I appreciate in Awujale, which include his frankness, courage and straight-forward-to -he point. Even if you are a thief, Awujale will tell it to your face. Because of time, I don’t want to bore you with different occasions he had demonstrated that.

    “Few months ago, I made a statement that after 2015 general elections, I am going to disclose many things and I still mean it. I was a serving police officer for 32 years and I was privileged to be at a meeting where some contacts were made with some people.

    “Those I was referring to were friends to the late Gen. Sani Abacha. I was an obedient servant of Abacha because I was commissioner of police as at that time. I was at a meeting where it was said that all these missions you are going to embark upon, leave the name of Awujale completely because he is anti-Abacha.

    “The person, who now said myself and Awujale are friends, when the time comes, we shall reveal the amount he took. I, Rilwan Osuolale Akiolu, by the special grace of God, myself and my people gave the money to him and he took it. When the time comes, I will open-up and I am serious about it.

    “I am not afraid of anybody but I respect people. I have no regret of my friendship with Awujale.”

    Oba Akiolu, who encouraged the Emir of Kano to emulate the late emir, said Sanusi became a monarch as a result of efficacy of prayers, urging him to contribute to the development of his environment.

  • A most apt expose on Eha-Amufu roads

    The article published in your renowned newspaper about the plight of my people as a result of the deteriorating state of federal roads at Eha-Amufu  including broken bridges en route Eha-Amufu in Isi-Uzo Local Government of Enugu State to Nkalagu in Ebonyi State, could not have come at a more opportune time.

    For decades on end, we have gone through a most harrowing period, the experience of these sufferings and unfortunate neglect are better imagined and no one will wish his enemies such debasement. The rains are pounding the town and the surrounding villages continuously thus worsening the impassable roads.

    The Mainland Eha-Amufu is permanently cut off from their brothers and sisters who live on the farmlands because of the broken down bridges. Our people are painfully returning to the stone age of either ferrying their goods and human beings on their backs or risk the hazards by swimming across.

    It is disheartening that a people who had done no wrong would be allowed to continually face such punishment. Yearly, millions and billions are being read out during budgets. Is it not surprising, nay amazing, that such a very vital link road to the first major cement factory in the country East of the Niger, has been abandoned and does not qualify as a priority road?

    In those good old days, I grew up to learn of ‘Trunk A’ roads, which were federal roads, always well maintained and treasured and Obolloafor-Ikem-Eha-Amufu-Nkalagu roads prided as such ‘Trunk A’ roads. Alas! successive federal governments have left my people in the lurch.

    The story making the rounds in the villages at my home town, is that the abandoned road has been finally captured in the 2014 budget but that the money allocated can barely complete the construction of the roads let alone attempt rebuilding the three collapsed most important bridges.

    My appeal is that whichever ministries are responsible – Works and the Finance Ministry too – should release the money on time and that whoever is awarded the job must be competent enough to commence work immediately and of course do a credible work.

    We are all going to be on the watch, monitoring the progress of work when it commences and will cry foul if any shoddy job is contemplated or embarked upon. Haven’t our rights been trampled upon enough?

    James Agbonchikiri

     Eha-Amufu Town

     Enugu State.

  • Falana asks Fayemi, Police to expose killers of Ogundare

    Lagos lawyer Mr. Femi Falana has urged Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi to collaborate with the police to expose the killers of Mr. Foluso Ogundare.

    In a statement yesterday, titled: “Halt politically motivated killings in Ekiti State now”, Falana said: “In the atmosphere of, impunity which has gradually returned to Ekiti land, the state government cannot wash off its hands like Pontus Pilate. As the chief security officer of the state, it is Fayemi’s duty to guarantee the safety of the life and property of every person living in Ekiti State.”

    He suggested the formation of a Committee Against Impunity to ensure the arrest and prosecution of suspects indicted for murder and attempted murder in Ekiti State from 2003-2013, adding that it was only by prosecuting the suspects and their sponsors that politically motivated killings could stop in the state.

    Ogundare was attacked by thugs during a political meeting at Emure Ekiti on November 4. He was severely injured and was rushed to the hospital where he died. Falana said two days after the incident, he sent a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, demanding the arrest and prosecution of the culprits, but that nothing has happened since then.

    He said: “Since some people were on the scene where the dastardly act was executed in broad daylight, the police should quickly conclude investigation into the incident and charge the suspects to court for conspiracy and murder.

    “To stem political violence in Ekiti State, I urge the IGP to direct the Ekiti State Police Command to prosecute the suspects, as well as the criminals, who recently unleashed violence on law abiding citizens at a burial ceremony at Iyin-Ekiti and at a political meeting in Ado-Ekiti. The thugs and their masterminds should not be given the impression that they have immunity from prosecution, after unleashing violence on innocent people.”

    The activist remarked that since 2003 successive governments in Ekiti state have treated indicted murderers like sacred cows, lamenting that criminals whose hands are soaked in blood have held Ekiti people hostage.

    “From the information at my disposal all the suspects responsible for the politically motivated killings in Ekiti state for the past 10 years have been identified by the Police and the State Security Service. Indeed majority of the suspects were charged to the State High Court holden at Ado Ekiti. But the cases were deliberately programmed to fail leading to the release of the suspected murderers including those who had admitted their role and involvement in such heinous crimes.

    “A political chieftain of and his police orderly who were convicted and jailed for killing two students of the Ikere College of Education were granted pardon and set free in 2009. At about the same time, the suspects who were standing trial for the gruesome murder of Dr Ayo Daramola and Mr Tunde Omojola were granted bail in questionable circumstances. Since then the whereabout of some of the suspects has remained unknown and the cases may soon be struck out for want of diligent prosecution.

    “No government which allows murderers whose hands are soaked with the blood of innocent people to walk free can seriously stop the shedding of the blood of innocent people”, he said and urged the people of Ekiti State to be vigilant and continue to expose and shame the few murderers and other criminals who have recently exposed the State to odium, ridicule and embarrassment.”

  • INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY: Giant Killers Cape Verde expose Eagles’ defence

    INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY: Giant Killers Cape Verde expose Eagles’ defence

    Super Eagles chief coach, Stephen Keshi and his technical crew may have to battle with a wobbly defence during the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa judging from Nigeria’s poor performance in Wednesday’s international friendly against Cape Verde in Portugal. Cape Verde knocked out Cameroon during the qualifiers to secure its first ever Africa Nations Cup ticket.

    Defenders led by Captain Joseph Yobo, Efe Ambrose and Elderson Echiejile all received yellow cards for rough tackles.

    The bookings were done in the first half of play and should be a source of concern to keshi given the perceived problems of the defence.

    Interestingly, Chelsea of England forward, Victor Moses was lucky to escape with a yellow card after stamping a Cape Verde player in retaliation for a foul on him.

    At the start of the second half, the Eagles technical crew made three changes puling out Ambrose, Fegor Ogude and Moses while the trio of Nosa Igiebor, Kennedy Omeruo and Brown Ideye took their place on the pitch.

  • Okorocha promises to expose Ohakim’s activities

    Okorocha promises to expose Ohakim’s activities

    THOSE calling for the probe of former Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State have won the first leg of their battle.

    Governor Rochas Okorocha has agreed to expose and investigate fraud by the administration of his predecessor.

    The governor yesterday bowed to the sustained pressure from groups and some residents who have been demanding the probe of Ohakim administration.

    He told a group of tricycle operators, mechanics, transporters and artisans that his government would publicise the activities of the former governor within 14 days.

    The group, under the auspices of Joint Action Group (JAG) had earlier issued a 21-day ultimatum for Ohakim’s probe at the House of Assembly Complex, Owerri, the state capital.

    Okorocha said: “Let me inform you that the decision of the present administration is to bring justice to bear following your protest over the activities of the past administration.

    “Nobody has negotiated to cover the activities of ex-governor Ohakim within the four years he governed the state. Rather, it may interest you to know that the panel set up to look into the activities of the former governor has just presented its report.

    “Within the remaining 14 days of your ultimatum, we shall make Ohakim’s activities in Government House known to the public.”

    To Okorocha it is “worrisome that Ohakim implemented only three projects, which he alleged were uncompleted and 87 kilometer of roads which were also uncompleted in four years.

    He assured that his administration would ensure the recovery of the funds allegedly misappropriated by the former governor.

    His words: “I want to thank you for your patience so far. Honestly, I agree with you that it is worrisome that Ohakim did only three uncompleted projects in four years and 87 kilometres of uncompleted road projects. So, the money must be somewhere and if that money is recovered, it will help to make heathcare services free in addition to free education programme.”

    He urged members of the group to be law-abiding as the security agencies and other relevant authorities would not shy away from ensuring that the former governor faces the full wrath of the law.

    Speaking for the group, Mrs. Ngozi Amadi, expressed disappointed that the government has not taken a position on the former governor after it issued a 21-day ultimatum last week.

    She said: “Your Excellency, instead of arresting and trying Ohakim, we have his men still gallivanting and threatening fire and brimstone. Our leadership have been receiving threatening calls but never will that derail our call for justice.

    “If this is democracy, then we have every right to call our leaders and ask for what is reasonably attainable. It is true that we commend your revolutionary feat in transforming our state; we surely will not rest on our oars until those who looted our treasury are brought to book.”

    Mrs. Amadi accused the former governor of squandering public funds on non-existent Oak Refinery, Midwest Airline, Dredging of Nwaorie River and Oguta Lake Resort.

    She described as disturbing that Ohakim has not been arrested for prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) after claiming that he sunk N25.7 billion into the presidential election campaign of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.