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Tag: former President (Goodluck) Jonathan

  • PDP crisis: Sheriff welcomes political solution

    PDP crisis: Sheriff welcomes political solution

    • As BoT chair warns against divisive tendencies

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff has welcomed the decision of key party stakeholders to find a political solution to the leadership crisis rocking the party.

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan and governors elected on the platform of the party had, after a meeting Tuesday night, resolved to adopt a political solution to the crisis.

    Sheriff is locked in supremacy battle with the Ahmed Makarfi’s Caretaker Committee, which commands more followership than the Sheriff camp.

    A statement on Wednesday by the Sheriff-backed National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, commended Jonathan and the governors for resolving to settle for a political solution.

    Oladipo’s statement said, “The NWC notes with satisfaction the stand of the body of PDP Governors on the need to adopt a political solution in bringing lasting peace to the party.

    “The NWC restates its readiness to fully participate in the peace process”.

    The statement called on workers at the party secretariat who have stayed away from their duty posts in solidarity with the Makarfi camp, to resume duties immediately.

    Meanwhile, the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin has called on members and supporters of the party to shun divisive tendencies.

    In an SMS message to newsmen on Wednesday, Jibrin urged members to stay away from party meetings with tribal, religious and sectional undertones.

    “Such meetings are suspicious and full of sinister motives aimed at dividing or killing the party. Right from its formation, the PDP has never been portrayed as a northern or southern party.

    “Therefore, nobody should unnecessarily bring in any disagreeable methodology in the handling of the party’s affairs.

    “The PDP is a national party that embraces every Nigerian regardless of tribe or religion. Any attempt to drag members into such divisive meetings will be resisted, considering especially that party leaders are busy trying to find a way forward. Everyone should remain calm refrain from taking any rash decision”, the BoT chair stated.

  • Jonathan, PDP Govs meet over crisis in party

    Jonathan, PDP Govs meet over crisis in party

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday met with governors elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over the leadership crisis rocking the party.

    Although agenda of the meeting was not made public, it was gathered that the festering leadership crisis in the party was top on the agenda.

    Governors that attended the meeting included Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe); Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Dave Umahi (Ebonyi); Benedict Ayade (Cross River); Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom); Darius Ishaku (Taraba); Ayo Fayose (Ekiti); and the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Ipalibo Banigo.

    The meeting, which was being held in Jonathan’s private office, located in Maitama, Abuja was said to have started about 6pm and was still in progress as at 8.45pm.

  • Corrupt politicians asking for Jonathan’s second coming – APC chieftain

    Corrupt politicians asking for Jonathan’s second coming – APC chieftain

    Former Interim Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa State, Chief Richard Kpodo, Monday, said that corrupt politicians were behind the call for former President Goodluck Jonathan to return for his second term in 2019.

    Kpodo slammed politicians clamouring for the second coming of Jonathan describing them as ignorant and paid sycophants.

    He said such persons were only on a mission to further institutionalise corruption and bad governance following their inability to have their way in President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

    Kpodo, who is a leader of the APC, also cleared Buhari of any blame in the nation’s current economic woes.

    He expressed confidence that the ongoing war against corruption and economic policies of the present administration would return Nigeria to the part of prosperity.

    Kpodoh, a former Security Adviser in the state, contended that despite a drastic fall in oil prices, the Buhari’s administration had made steady progress returning stolen funds belonging to states to assist in paying salaries of workers.

    He further said the current administration embarked on developmental projects, noting that a Buhari’s giant strides were strange to Jonathan’s government.

    Kpodo said: “Jonathan’s administration was corrupt and he has enjoyed cover up from political jobbers.The Obasanjo’s administration earned N17trn from crude oil sales within eight years and left behind $45bn external reserves and $3.348bn external debt.

    “Late President Umaru Y’Adua grew the reserves to $64bn within just one year and the administration was able to finance 15 months of imports despite the 2008/2009 world economic meltdown.

    “Hence, Nigeria survived the meltdown because of the political will of Yar’Adua’s administration to save. Despite the tough economic reality at that time, Yar’Adua left $47.7bn in reserves and an external debt of $3.94bn. Meanwhile, the administration earned only N9trn from crude oil sales within that short period.

    “The Goodluck Jonathan administration witnessed an oil boom when Brent crude sold for over $100 per barrel, with the regime earning N51trn within a period of five years. But because of corruption, the administration did not only squander the oil revenue but even depleted the reserves.

    “The same Brent crude sold for as low as $35 per barrel at a point shortly after Buhari took over power and had only managed to climb to about $48 just recently.That was how he left Bayelsa indebted before handing the state over to Chief Timipre Sylva.”

    Kpodo also described the poor handling of the 13 per cent derivation by the Niger Delta governors as criminal.

    Kpodo added: “The people should allow the present administration to investigate arrest and recover monies stolen from the 13 per cent derivation funds. Some of the governors immediately they collect the money, they head for outside the country”.

  • EFCC: Jonathan’s wife’s $15.5m ‘is a proceed of crime’

    EFCC: Jonathan’s wife’s $15.5m ‘is a proceed of crime’

    …Again, women storm court for ex-First Lady

     

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss a suit by wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience.

    In its counter-affidavit to the suit, the commission said the $15.5 million which Mrs Jonathan claims belongs to her is “a proceed of crime”.

    Mrs. Jonathan, in the civil suit before Justice Mohammed Idris, is claiming that EFCC froze four of her accounts with Skye Bank in the name of four companies.

    The accounts, she said, have a balance of $15,591,700 (about N5 billion) belonging to her.

    But, the companies, on September 15, pleaded guilty and were convicted for laundering the money when they were arraigned in a criminal charge before Justice Babs Kuewumi.

    The judge, however, refused to order the money’s forfeiture to the Federal Government until the trial of the others named in the charge was concluded.

    The companies are: Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd (represented by Friday Davis), Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd (represented by Agbor Baro), Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Ltd (represented by Dioghowori Frederick) and Avalon Global Property Development Ltd (represented by Taiwo Ebenezer).

    EFCC arraigned them with a former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to President Jonathan, Waripamo Dudafa, a lawyer, Amajuoyi Briggs and a banker, Adedamola Bolodeoku.

    Dudafa, Briggs and Bolodeoku pleaded not guilty to the 17-count charge.

    Mrs. Jonathan, in the suit before Justice Idris, is seeking an order to de-freeze the accounts and release her money.

    Wednesday, her lawyer Adedipe told Justice Idris that his client amended her processes. He said he also filed a motion to regularise them, which the court granted.

    EFCC’s lawyer, Oyedepo Rotimi, said he would also amend his response to the suit.

    Justice Idris said: “Leave will be granted to the respondent (EFCC) to file any amended process.”

    Rotimi accused the applicant of changing the companies’ address through which the suit was purportedly served on them. Mrs Jonathan joined the companies in her suit.

    The EFCC lawyer said: “We are of the opinion that if you want to change the address of a party, it should not the adversary who will change the address of another party.

    “What we saw was the applicant was changing the address of the other defendants and I don’t think that is tidy.”

    Women again stormed the court yesterday in solidarity with Mrs Jonathan. Some of them struggled to gain access to the already-packed courtroom, which became very congested.

    Justice Kuewumi had on November 2 refused order the forfeiture of $15.5million after convicting the companies in whose accounts the money is domiciled.

    The judge said he would hand down a sentence on the companies after the trial of the others who pleaded not guilty in the charge.

    While reviewing the facts, Rotimi said the money was stolen from the State House, Abuja.

    He said: “EFCC received an intelligence report showing vividly that the fourth to seventh defendants retained proceeds of crime.

    “Our investigations showed that Fetus Iyoha admitted receiving the fund from the first defendant (Dudafa). Iyoha is a domestic staff at the State House. He admitted that funds credited into the accounts were given to him from the State House.”

    Rotimi said Iyoha paid $3,096,377.38 into Pluto’s account; paid $3,410,534.71 into Seagate’s account, paid $3,765,711.87 into Trans Oceans’ account, and paid $250,000 into Avalon Global’s account.

    Mrs Jonathan claimed she operated the accounts even though they were opened in the companies’ names by Dudafa contrary to her instructions.

    She said the bank promised to rectify the issue by changing the names to hers’, but never did so.

    Justice Idris adjourned until January 18 for hearing.

    Trial in case before Justice Kuewumi will continue on December 14.

  • Court grants bail to former FCT minister

    Court grants bail to former FCT minister

    An FCT High Court on Tuesday granted bail to Sen. Bala Mohammed, former Minister of FCT.

    Mohammed, minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan, had been in the custody of the EFCC since Oct. 21 following public petitions against him.

    He filed a motion on Notice on Nov. 16 before Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf for enforcement of his fundamental right which he said EFCC had violated.

    Baba-Yusuf said the bail was granted according to the provisions of sections 165 and 158 (b) of the Administration of Justice Act 2015.

    The judge held that “the right to bail includes the right to fair hearing.

    The judge held that the applicant met the bail conditions given to him by the EFCC but EFCC failed to verify it.

    Baba-Yusuf granted the applicant bail in the same conditions as was given by EFCC without any amount.

    He is, however, to produce two sureties of the rank of directors in federal civil service who must have certified landed properties in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

    He also ordered that the applicant should deposit his international passport in the court.

    Baba-Yusuf fixed Dec. 14 to hear the substantive case. 

  • Jonathan’s ex-aide bought Abuja house with N650m – witness

    A Federal High Court in Abuja heard Friday how former Principal Secretary to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan facilitated the purchase of a property in Maitama, Abuja with N650million paid from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    Samuel Babatunji Adeniyi and Kabiru Yaro, who testified as 3rd and 4th prosecution witnesses in the trial of Jonathan’s cousin, Robert Azibaola, his wife, Stella and their company, One Plus Holdings Limited, gave details of how the property located at 15 Rio Negro Street was bought.

    Yaro and Adeniyi gave the name of the ex-Jonathan’s aide as Ambassador Hassan Tukur.

    They told the court that they did not know the defendants in person and have never related with them until they met them in court Friday. Both witnesses were led in evidence by prosecution lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir.

    Yaro , who described Tukur as his childhood friend, said the  property is located next to Jonathan’s house.

    “Sometime in October 2014, Nuuman Barau Dambatta, approached me that he had some debts in the bank and he wanted sell his two properties, one in Kano and one in Maitama, Abuja.

    “I told him I was not interested and he requested that the house in Maitama was a neighbour to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “He asked me if I could speak to Ambassador Tukur to see if he (Tukur) could buy the property. I called the ambassador and I told him that Barau was interested in selling the property and if he could assist.

    “I arranged, and Nuuman went to meet the ambassador (Tukur). Later Nuuman called me and asked for the Certificate of Occupancy and gave it to the ambassador.

    “Later Nuuman called me and said a valuation had been made on the property and that the valuation on the property was N650m, which the ambassador said he had got a buyer for, but he didn’t tell us who it was.

    “Later sometime in December 2014, the money was paid to Alhaji Nuuman Baraua’s estate agent.

    “Nuuman called me to say the payment he received came from the Central Bank of Nigeria, and I told him he sound call and ask the ambassador (Tukur) why the money came from there.

    “I said I didn’t know and that whatever name to he (Nuuman) saw was the one who had bought the property. After he signed the document, he gave them to me to take back to Ambassador Hassan Tukur.

    “That day he asked me to sign the original C of O. I collected it from him and signed it. From that time, the handing over is between him and the property buyers and I don’t know what else transpired until this matter came up,” Yaro said.

    Adeniyi, an estate surveyor and valuer, said he signed the sale documents, prepared in the name of One Plus Holdings, as a witness of the property seller.

    “Later our client (Nuuman) now told me that it’s like that and they (Tukur and his agents) are serious now. And he asked me to text our company’s account number to him.

    “Of course, I texted the account number details to him, I mean our account to him, I mean our account number at Wema Bank.

    “Suddenly on December 9, 2014, I got an alert of N650m from Wema Bank which tallied with the figure he had agreed with the prospective buyers.

    “Immediately I contacted him. I forwarded the text of the bank alert him that same night of December 9, 2014.

    “The details of the source of payment was ‘NEFT ONSA’ was the narration of the test that I got on the alert which I forwarded to our client.”

    He said the sale document was later prepared by a legal firm, M.B. Shehu & Co. which he said he signed as a witness.

    “The assignor is Alhaji Nuuman Barau Dambatta and the buyer was One Plus Holding.”

    Defence lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN), while cross-examining Adeniyi, tendered his (Adeniyi’s) statement which he made to the EFCC.

    Although Tahir objected to the admission of the statement, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba overruled his objection to admit the statement.

    Justice Dimgba later adjourned to January 30 for continuation of trial.

  • Nigerians must unite against terrorism, says group

    Nigerians must unite against terrorism, says group

    Nigerians must stand up and unite against the fight of terrorism in the country following the deaths of Lt. Col Abu-Ali and six other military officers, Human Rights Advocacy group, Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) has said.

    Executive Director of the group, Joyce Adamu, at a briefing on Wednesday in Abuja, said the reactions that followed the deaths of the gallant military officers bear witness that Nigerians must unit in the fight against terrorism.

    She described as unpatriotic and sacrilegious attempts by some individuals to politicize the death of the army officers.

    Adamu said: “No one should dance on the graves of these heroes. We are beginning to see that there are people manifesting their loss of humanity and see nothing wrong in attempting to cash in on these tragedies by making insinuations that have no place among right thinking people.

    “Most of this depravity is manifested in claims that the army suffered casualty in the Boko Haram attacks because present conditions are worse than what obtained under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “One would have expected that the army and the Ministry of Defence would be allowed to properly investigate what went wrong to account for such casualty instead of jumping to conclusion.

    “We observed that these claims are being attributed to people who are not bold enough to reveal their identities and their so called interviews are mostly reported by cloned sites that attempt to pass off as objective, hard-working and credible news organizations.

    “To say the least, this is the height of irresponsibility. The deaths of gallant soldiers who laid down their own lives to keep the rest of us safe should not be reduced into parodies and the subject of falsehood.”

    She said at a period where the nation is grieving over the death of the soldiers, patriotic citizens who are genuinely interested in the wellbeing and future of the country would be giving encouragement to our troops not to lose courage but to be buoyed by the fallen soldiers in defending their fatherland.

    According to her, those who are desperate to castigate President Muhammadu Buhari and COAS, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai for political reasons should at least allow the bereaved families mourn their loved ones with dignity without turning these late heroes into fodder for an ill- advised debate.

    “In the wake of these national losses and those before them we should rather as a people be asking for who are the people that are helping Boko Haram terrorists to regroup, re-arm and launch attacks on the scales on which they have done between late September and now.

    “We should be demanding for the exposure of those that feeds the cells of the terror group with information on troop’s movement and deployment to the extent that they know when to attack.

    Adamu urged soldiers to reinvigorate their fighting spirit and to continue to see their undertaking as service to God, nation and humanity, adding that the numerous tributes to the fallen heroes from Nigerians across all divides are testament that Nigerians appreciate the sacrifices of the military in the fight against terrorism.

     

  • Dasuki didn’t steal $2.2 billion, says Jonathan

    Dasuki didn’t steal $2.2 billion, says Jonathan

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has come to the defense of his former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

    Dasuki is presently facing trial for the embezzlement of funds meant for purchase of equipment and other logistics for the war against the insurgents, Boko Haram, in the North-East.

    Speaking at Oxford University in the United Kingdom, Jonathan maintained that Dasuki didn’t steal $2.2 billion.

    In a statement by his Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, the former President said that he worked for next the generation during his tenure and not next election.

    Defending his administration’s Transformation Agenda, he said that it was designed to engage the latent potential in the entire nation and stimulate higher productivity.

    He said: “While serving as President of Nigeria, I worked for the next generation and not for the next elections. Somebody must sacrifice and work for the next generation otherwise your children’s children will suffer the same predicaments as you have.

    Jonathan, who was speaking to students of Oxford University on youth entrepreneurship, also pointed out that quality education and youth empowerment were at the heart of Africa’s growth and development.

    “I am excited to be in the midst of some of the World’s future leaders to discuss issues relating to youth empowerment and entrepreneurship. The issue of youth entrepreneurship in Africa is very critical, as Africa is the only continent in which we will witness a population boom.

    “Most violent crises in Africa can be traced to a lack of education and opportunities among its teeming youth population. Studies have revealed that there is a symbiotic relationship between youth unemployment and youth restiveness.

    “As a leader, you can decide through your policies to educate the youths, or face the consequences of failing to do so. The Transformation Agenda was conceived to engage the latent potential in the entire nation, and to stimulate and enable higher productivity,” he added.

    He emphasized that his Administration came up with various programmes to encourage young entrepreneurs including the youth enterprise with innovation in Nigeria (YOUWIN). We reformed the institutions and introduced various mechanisms to stop the problems associated with in our country without much publicity.

    “We may not have been perfect, but we did our best, and our best yielded an era of unprecedented economic growth for Nigeria. A growth that proved the truism that a Nation’s wealth is not underneath the ground but between the ears of her people. Nigeria was rated as the
    largest economy in Africa and the 23rd in the world by the World Bank and the IMF, with a GDP above US$570 billion.”

    “We identified Nollywood as a sector that can employ many young people and provided a grant of $200 million to boost the industry. As a result, Nollywood became a major contributor to our GDP and in 2014, the industry contributed 1.4% to our GDP.

    Jonathan also recalled that as Governor of Bayelsa State and later the President of Nigeria, he asked himself some critical questions:

    “Why do individuals that grow up in similar circumstances end up differently, with some as successes and others as failures? Why are some nations rich and some poor? Is the wealth of nations a result of geography, weather, culture, destiny? What could a leader do to effectively lift a people out of the depths of poverty, and enable them to achieve prosperity?

    “After much soul searching, I concluded that: wealth is a creation of the human mind properly prepared by education. Any nation that does not spend its wealth and resources to develop the capacity of its youth will be forced to use them to fight insecurity”

    He challenged African leaders to see youth entrepreneurship as a collective project transcending national boundaries.

    Despite incredible challenges, he said that Nigerian youths are achieving great things and placing Nigeria positively in the world map.

  • Jonathan greets Ekwueme at 84

    Jonathan greets Ekwueme at 84

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated Second Republic Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme who clocks 84 on Friday.

    In a letter of felicitation to Ekwueme, Jonathan described the former Vice President as a foremost architect whose professional footprints are etched on many monuments across the nation.

    Jonathan also commended Ekwueme for what he described as his focused and broad-based disposition to governance in the Second Republic.

    In a statement issued by Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan’s media aide, the former President said: “Your Excellency, I wish to join your family and other well-wishers to congratulate you on your 84th birthday. Long life in good health is an abiding grace from God, and I am pleased that His kindness is upon you.

    “You deserve such favours because you are a national icon who have contributed so much to Nigerian’s development and the growth of democracy in our dear country. As a Vice President, your peaceful,
    focused and broad-based disposition to governance stood you out in the Second Republic.

    “It is gratifying to note that as a statesman, you played a crucial role in the successful return of our dear nation to democracy, after long years of military rule.

    “You also made key contributions to the effort towards forging the pillars for Nigeria’s geo-political stability.

    “As a foremost and distinguished architect you achieved international acclaim, but we are glad that your professional footprints are etched on many monuments across the nation,” he said

  • Jonathan greets Gowon at 82

    Jonathan greets Gowon at 82

    …Says ex-Head of State is a symbol of national unity

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated ex-Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) on his 82nd birthday, describing him as a symbol of national unity.

    In a letter of felicitation to Gowon, Jonathan thanked God for blessing the ex-military Head of State with long life in good health.

    According to a statement issued by Jonathan’s media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, the former President also praised Gowon for his exemplary leadership which ensured that Nigeria’s corporate existence remained unshaken at a difficult period in the nation’s history.

    The statement reads: “Your Excellency, I wish to, sincerely, congratulate you on your 82nd birthday.

    “It has pleased God Almighty to bless you with long life in good health, for which we will continue to give Him thanks.

    “You are a great nationalist and patriot who contributed so much to ensure that Nigeria remained one. You led the country at a difficult period in our history, when the unity of our dear country came under grave threat. There is no doubt that your exemplary leadership, strength of purpose and uncommon wisdom ensured that Nigeria’s corporate existence remained unshaken.

    “Even out of office, you have continued to be a symbol of national unity and strength. Many generations of Nigerians will continue to be grateful to you.  It is my sincere prayer that God Almighty blesses you with more productive years, and may He answer your relentless prayers for a more united, peaceful  and  prosperous Nigeria,” It stated.