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Tag: fraud

  • FIRS director, mother of four arraigned for alleged tax fraud

    FIRS director, mother of four arraigned for alleged tax fraud

    A Deputy Director, Regional Tax Office of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Abumere Joseph Osagie and a mother of four, Jamila Ojora, were arraigned yesterday before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama.

    They were, in a two-count charge filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), charged with criminal conspiracy and receipt of gratification.

    Osagie and  Ojora were said to have approached the Chancellor of Baze University, Abuja, Senator Ahmed Datti with  a tax assessment of N20,029,496.00  on January 27, 2016,  through a letter of intent, which he paid.

    Senator Datti was said to have later requested for the assessment certificate, which the two allegedly  refused to issue. The EFCC said rather than issue Datti with the assessment certificate, the defendants  allegedly demanded for N5million gratification.

    In a bid to establish the legitimacy of the defendants activities, EFCC’s marked N5million was delivered to Osagie through Ojora, in a sting operation, which led to her arrest. Ojora’s confession was said to have led to Osagie’s arrest.

    The offence contravenes Section 17(1)(a) and punishable under 17 (1) (c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. One of the counts, reads: “Abumere Joseph Osagie and Jamila Ojora on or about January 27, 2016 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, corruptly accepted the sum of N5,000,000.00 (five million naira) from one Senator Ahmed Datti as a gift for having done a tax assessment for Baze University.”

  • Fayose sacks Ekiti revenue boss over alleged fraud

    Fayose sacks Ekiti revenue boss over alleged fraud

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has sacked the Chairman of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Ropo Ogunjobi over multimillion Naira fraud allegedly uncovered in the agency.

    Although the amount involved could not be immediately ascertained Friday, the fraud angered Fayose which made him to relieve Ogunjobi who also doubled as his Special Adviser on Revenue Matters.

    A statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Modupe Alade said Ogunjobi was removed for “negligence.”

    Two other persons were apprehended by agents of the state government and immediately handed over the suspects to the police.

    Investigations reveal that perpetrators include some staff of the board who collaborate with outsiders to commit the crime.

    The two suspects handed over to the Police by Fayose are a revenue officer, Omotayo Ojo and a printer, Akinniyi Akinsola

    Fayose revealed that the duo colluded together to print fake revenue receipts as well as issuing fake tax clearance certificates to unsuspecting residents.

    The suspects were said to have printed and began putting to use a total of 10 packets of fake revenue receipts before nemesis caught up with them.

    Fayose warned the people of the state to stop paying money directly to any revenue officer but to pay through the designated banks.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Etop James, who confirmed the development, explained that the command has launched investigation into fraud.

  • Alleged fraud: Senate orders arrest of ex-EFCC boss

    Alleged fraud: Senate orders arrest of ex-EFCC boss

    The stage may be set for the arrest of immediate past Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde over alleged financial crime and corruption.

    The Senate Thursday asked its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to comply with relevant Sections of the Constitution that empowered it to issue a warrant of arrest on Lamorde for refusing to appear before it when invited.

    The 11-man committee investigated allegations of financial crimes and corruption brought against Lamorde by Dr. George Uboh, a human rights activist.

    Chairman of the investigative Committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, presented the report of his committee to Senate in plenary Thursday.

    Anyanwu told the Senate that after a series inviting Lamorde to appear before the committee to tell his own side of the story on allegations of financial crime and corruption leveled against him by Dr. Uboh, the former EFCC boss failed to honour the invitation.

    The committee chairman specifically referred to three letters of invitation written to invite Lamorde to appear before the committee dated 19th August 2015, 3rd November 2015 and 11 November, 2015 which he said did not convince Lamorde to appear before the Ethics and Privileges Committee.

    He noted that on receiving the letter of invitation dated 19th August, 2015 from the Committee, Lamorde wrote the Committee through his Special Assistant to claim (1) “That due to time constraint and the nature of their operations, the EFCC Chairman was unable to appear before the Committee, and suggested 31st September, 2015 as a more convenient date he would appear before the Committee;

    (2) That if what the Committee wanted was comprehensive information of all recoveries forfeited and/or restituted funds and property in defence of the said allegations, then the Committee must wait until September, 2015 when it (EFCC) would submit its annual report to the National Assembly.

    (3) That the petitioner, Dr. George Uboh was an accused person in a case instituted against him by EFCC (FRNV George Uboh, CR/21/09) before Hon. Justice A.J. Aledetoyinbo of High Court 3 of the Federal Capital Territory Judicial Division on charges bordering criminal breach of trust;

    (4) That the petitioner was once convicted by a US Court for engaging in credit card fraud.”

    Anyanwu told the Senate that after his committee digested the contents of Mr. Lamorde’s response, it again invited Mr. Lamorde to appear before it, advising him not to confuse the invitation of an investigative committee to appear before it to say his own side of the story as a public servant over a serious allegation against his person, with EFCC’s routine annual report responsibility to the National Assembly, or the Senate President’s previous invitation to a briefing.

    The Committee chairman said that Lamorde further responded through his Special Assistant “That he was at St. Petersbury, Russia, attending the 8th Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) and that he had been there since 29th October, 2015.”

    Anyanwu said that Lamorde again requested for a new date and time to enable him to honour the invitation.

    He noted that when the committee received Mr. Lamorde’s second letter of excuse, it decided to write a third letter of invitation dated 11 November, 2015; this time, threatening that it would no longer accept flimsy excuses for his non appearance.

    He said that after going through the facts available, the Committee observed “that having waited in vain for the appearance of Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde since 24th November, 2015 and not seeing or hearing from him, it was forced to conclude that Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde wants to evade investigation by the Committee.”

    Anyanwu noted that “Consequently, the Committee reasoned that the only way to get the former EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, to appear before it was to invoke the powers of the Senate in Section 89(1c&d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and compel his appearance.”

    He said that the Committee was “convinced that unless this line of action was taken, the National Assembly might be drawn into consequential disrepute in the future.”

    The Committee therefore recommended in its submission (1)“That to save the National Assembly, as the highest law-making body of the nation, from irreparable damage to its reputation and capacity to summon, the former EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, be compelled to appear before the Committee to answer for activities of his tenure.

    (2)That to effect recommendation ‘1’ above, a warrant of arrest be issued by the Senate for his arrest.”

    Anyanwu said the Senate may wish to consider and adopt the recommendations of the Committee as proposed.

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu intervened by raising a Point of Order.

    Ekweremadu referred the Senate to Sections 88(1) and 89 (1c&d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended.

    He said; “Subject to the provisions of this constitution, each house of the National Assembly shall have power by resolution, published in a journal or the official gazette of the federal government to direct or cause to be directed, an investigation into (a) any matter with respect to which it has powers to make laws. (b) the conduct of affairs of any person, authority ministry of government, department, charged with the responsibility of executing or administering laws enacted by National Assembly and disbursing or administering money appropriated or to be appropriated by the National Assembly.

    “So on the basis of this section that this enquiry is being conducted.

    Now the subject under investigation has refused to come; what do we do?

    “That is what is now covered by section 89 which says;”

    “For the purposes of any investigation under Section 88 of this Constitution and subject to the provisions thereof, the Senate or the House of Representatives or a committee appointed in accordance with section 62 of this constitution shall have powers to:

    (1)    Procure all evidence written or oral, direct or ask as it may deem necessary and examine all persons as witnesses whose evidence (2)may be relevant to the investigation

    (2) Require all evidence to be given on oath

    (3) Summon any person in Nigeria to give evidence at any place or produce evidence in his possession.

    (4) Issue a warrant to compel the attendance of any person who after having been summoned, fails, refuses or neglects to do so and does not excuse such failure, refusal or neglect to the satisfaction of the House or the Committee in question and order him to pay all cost due to have been occasioned in compelling his attendance by reason of his failure, refusal or neglect to obey the summons and also impose such fines that may be prescribed for any such failure  shall be recoverable in the same manner as a fine imposed by a court of law.

    (5) The warrant issued under this section may be served or executed by any member of the Nigerian Police Force or by any person authorized by the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives as the case may be.”

    Ekweremadu said that “what is required here is for the committee to issue a warrant of arrest and then the President of the Senate will direct the Police to effect the arrest.”

    He added, “It is not the business of the Senate in plenary to do so otherwise we will be offending this part of the constitution.

    “So the issue of warrant of arrest is not something that we will take a resolution on, the resolution has already been taken by the committee.

    “If there is any consequential order that needs to be made, the committee can deal with that and direct it through the Office of the President of the Senate who will direct the Police to effect the warrant.”

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki sustained Ekweremadu’s Point of Order

    Saraki said; “The issue has been well spelt out by the Deputy Senate President, he has clearly referred to the constitution.

    “Based on the Constitution this matter does not need to come to us at plenary.

    “It should be left at the level of the committee and in accordance with section 89 of the Constitution. So I will sustain the point of order of the DSP.”

    Anyanwu had, reeled out Uboh’s allegations against Lamorde to include:

    That EFCC operates accounts in banks to warehouse recovered funds which do not reflect in EFCC’s audited account;

    That EFCC doctors and manipulates bank accounts to conceal diversion of funds

    That EFCC releases recovered funds to unidentified persons and EFCC officials

    That EFCC moves fund from its recovery accounts to EFCC operations account from where it diverts same.

    That over 95 percent of EFCC recoveries in foreign currencies, other than those from multi-national companies, has been diverted.

    That EFCC trades with recovered funds through bank deposits and placements.

    That EFCC colludes with real estate companies in order to grossly under value seized assets before they are sold to their cronies.

    That EFCC has not accounted for offshore recoveries

    That over half of the assets seized from suspects were not reflected in EFCC exhibit records.

    Anyanwu said that Uboh prayed the Senate to stop from receiving further allocations from the Federal Government until it accounts for the huge remittable funds recovered which the Commission is still holding back, contrary to the EFCC Act, 2006 and financial regulations

    Ten out of 11 members of the committee endorsed the report presented by Anyanwu except Senate Deputy Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah (Kebbi South.)

     

  • Alleged N2.1b fraud: Dokpesi re-arraigned before new judge

    Alleged N2.1b fraud: Dokpesi re-arraigned before new judge

    The Federal Government yesterday re-arraigned the founder, African Independent Television (AIT), Raymond Dokpesi and his company, Daar Investment and Holdings Limited, before a new judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Dokpesi and his company were arraigned last December 9 before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the same court, on a six-count of alleged procurement fraud and breach of public trust to the tune of N2.1 billion.

    They were said to have received N2.1 billion from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), between October 2014 and March 2015, for the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential media campaign, an offence in breach of the Public Procurement Act, Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act and the EFCC Establishment Act.

    One of the counts reads: “That you Dr. Raymond Dokpesi and Daar Investment and Holding Company Limited, between October 2014 and March 19, 2015, in Abuja, conducted procurement fraud by means of fraudulent and corrupt act, to wit: receipt of payment into the account of Daar Investment and Holding Company Limited with First Bank of Nigeria Plc of public funds in the sum of N2,120,000,000 from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) with the Central Bank of Nigeria for the funding of media activities for the 2015 presidential election campaign for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 58 (4) (b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 58 (6) & (7) of the same Act”.

    Dokpesi, who answered to the charge for himself and his company, said they were both not guilty to the charge.

    Shortly after the arraignment, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who led four other Senior Advocates and others for the defence, prayed the court to allow his client remain on the bail granted him by Justice Kolawole.

    The new judge, Justice James Tsoho, agreed to Olanipekun’s request that the defendants remain on the bail granted them.

    He adjourned to March 2 for commencement of trial.

  • Banks lost N2.2b to fraud in 2015, says CBN

    Banks lost N2.2b to fraud in 2015, says CBN

    The value of funds lost by commercial banks to fraud last year  stood at N2.2 billion,  the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said. It however added that it is a massive drop from N6.6 billion recorded the previous year.

    Its Director, Banking and Electronic Payments, ‘Dipo Fatokun, who spoke yesterday said the reduction of fraud losses meant that fraud rate in Nigeria is less than that of Europe as a whole, and indeed that of Portugal which boasts the least fraud rate in Europe.

    Speaking at a conference titled: CBN Real Sector Financing: A Catalyst for Economic Growth and Development, in Ibadan, he said the new record of fraud rate was made possible by some policy shifts in the CBN especially the implementation of two factor authentication for internal banking processes which started January last year.

    He said the review of operations of the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) Instant Payment (NIP) System and Other e-Payment Options with Similar Features and establishment of industry fraud desk were responsible for the drop in fraud value.

    Fatokun also said the introduction of the Bank Verification (BVN) initiative, deployment of the Central Anti-Fraud Solution and collaboration of the banks’ fraud desk and coordination by   NIBSS also cut fraud statistics within the period.

    ‘’The policies/circulars issued by the CBN most times have direct impacts on the fraud levels in the industry; sometimes we see a direct decline in the fraud rates in the months the CBN circulars were released,’’ he said.

    Speaking on agent banking, Fatokun said the CBN Board of Governors will this month meet on the application of telecom companies for Super Agent.

    Part of CBN’s guidelines on agent banking stipulates that banks and agents should treat and resolve any customer-related issues in agent banking within 72 hours.

    The apex bank also said financial institutions shall be responsible for setting up dispute resolution mechanism for their agents to facilitate resolution of customers’ complaints.

    The CBN also pegged the minimum shareholder fund for Super Agents in Agent Banking at N50 million, a guideline released at the weekend stipulated.

  • Ekiti election ‘fraud’ debacle: What hope for even-handed justice?

    Ekiti election ‘fraud’ debacle: What hope for even-handed justice?

    The dust raised by the June 21, 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State will take more time to settle. In this article, Lagos-based public affairs analyst ADESEGUN OMOLEWA is urging the international community, especially the United States (U.S.), to review their judgment of the poll in view of the report and recommendation of the Army Panel that probed the role of military personnel drafted to monitor the elections and the recent revelation of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Dr Temitope Aluko on the integrity of the poll.

    No election crisis in the history of Nigeria’s political contest has lingered for so long and generated controversies and landmarks like the June 21, 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State between the then sitting Governor Kayode Fayemi, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Mr. Ayodele Fayose, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Cutting an image of June 12, 1993 presidential election in reverse order, June 21 election still looms large with the main protagonist of June 12 not able to live to fight for his victory while that of June 21 election is still alive with APC insisting that its resolution remains an essential element in the growth and sanitisation of democracy in Nigeria.

    In what has been described as a magic electoral contest between a man who was impeached over alleged sundry crimes, including alleged multiple murders and sleaze, involving N1.3 billion poultry project fraud, and a United Nations award-winning Governor Kayode Fayemi in administrative style and performance, electoral victory for the former was a new political paradigm in political contest anywhere in the world.

     

    Between organised campaign and shoddy preparation

    Besides coming from this baggage of moral deficit and shoddy campaign strategy, Fayose’s victory in that election caught political analysts napping, unable to come to terms with the political sociology that could have explained preference for a man earlier impeached over alleged crimes and with a tattered political camp that could not find its voice among the critical stakeholders during the processes leading to the electoral contest.

    While Fayemi had a comprehensive campaign itinerary, spanning the 177 wards in all the 16 local government areas of the state, Fayose adopted a guerrilla campaign strategy, in which case there was no campaign tour plan, but chose to visit some towns at random and skipped days before visiting other communities.

    At the end of the day, Fayose did not visit one quarter of the state. Neither did he have any manifesto to create election campaign appeal in the few towns he visited in contrast to Fayemi, who was armed with his election campaign manifesto, and flaunting his achievements in each of the community across the state. Fayose’s trump card was the assurance that he would win in all the 16 local government areas, insisting that belonging to the mainstream politics at the federal level would give him victory to enable Ekiti benefit from the Aso Rock largesse. He also called himself the friend of the poor, but what he would do for the poor, he did not tell them.

    With this background of a serious and performing governor and an opponent that had nothing to show to convince the electorate for victory, it was thought that the coast was clear for a landslide victory for Fayemi.

     

    Orchestrated compromise

    But, few days to the election, signs that Fayose had a trick under his sleeve began to manifest.

    In his campaign trail were armed policemen, led by MOPOL Commander Gabriel Selenkere. Selenkere was the officer who led the assault against Governor Fayemi on the streets of Ado-Ekiti a day after former Vice President Namadi Sambo, graced Fayose’s rally at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti. He commanded his men to tear-gas Governor Fayemi and even threatened to “waste” him.

    During Fayemi’s campaign grand finale, Governors Adams Oshiomhole and Rotimi Amaechi of Edo and Rivers states were prevented by security agents from entering Ado-Ekiti to attend the rally. Amaechi was barred from entering Ekiti State through Ondo State and Oshiohmole’s chattered flight was prevented from taking off at the Benin Airport.

    Prior to the campaign, Fayemi’s research team had conducted several opinion polls on the expected outcome of the election. Their results supported similar independent polls results conducted by research groups, giving victory to Fayemi in the final tally, thus creating optimism in Fayemi’s camp that the election was a walk-over for the sitting governor.

    As earlier hinted, this was not without basis: Fayose had his name in red ink in the hearts of Nigerians, including Ekiti people, over an unedifying past, laced with alleged crimes, including N1.3 billion poultry project fraud and the murder of Dr. Ayo Daramola. Kehinde Fasuba, Tunde Omojola, Ikere College of Education students, include Gbenga Jayeola and several others who lost their lives to the bullets of state-sponsored attackers.

    But, few days to June 21, 2014, signs that book-makers might be wrong in their assertions began to emerge. Precisely on June 19, 2014, around 10am, there was a red alert call from Akure Airport by a certain Fayemi’s sympathiser in PDP hinting of a comprehensive scheme to rig the election in Fayose’s favour.

    On phone, he told Fayemi’s media campaign team consisting of Dimeji Daniel, Wole Olujobi, Hakeem Jamiu, Wale Adeoye, Mojeed Jamiu, Segun Dipe, Ifedayo Sayo and Tunde Adeleke that two cargo planes, loaded with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) materials in crates were in Akure Airport. Inside the plane also were the then Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro; Police Affairs Minister Jelili Adesiyan; Senator Iyiola Omisore and Chris Ubah.

    The caller also confirmed the presence of a bullion van belonging to Zenith Bank and another truck packed close to the planes. The contents in the crates marked “INEC”, according to him, were being off-loaded into the truck and the bullion van. The media team ceaselessly took to the social media calling Nigerians’ attention to this suspicion of the evil plot.

    Late in the afternoon of same day, the same truck, sighted at the Akure Airport, was arrested along Efon-Alaye road by a team of soldiers on routine patrol. The military patrol team was led by Brig.-Gen. Aliyu Momoh, the officer now at the centre of the election fraud facing dismissal from the military over his roles in the poll that returned Fayose as Ekiti State governor.

    While Gen. Momoh told reporters about the arrest of a lorry loaded with 2014 election materials, another set of people were arrested by the Department of State Security (DSS) agents thumb-printing ballot papers at a hotel owned by Fayose’s ally, Dipo Anisulowo, at Are-Ekiti. Anisulowo, who, became Fayose’s Chief of Staff, admitted that he was surprised by the margin of difference between the APC and PDP tallies in the overall results.

    Both Momoh and the DSS promised to hand over the lorry and the men to the police. But, that was the end of the matter as INEC kept sealed lips, even as a more daring plot to rig the polls was in the offing by PDP and security agencies without Ekiti people knowing it.

    On the eve of the election, thousands of soldiers and DSS operatives were unleashed on APC leaders and supporters. Fayemi’s Campaign Manager, Bimbo Daramola, was harassed and forced to flee his Ire-Ekiti country home. But, this was not before his father was arrested in lieu of the son with the policemen pointing gun to his head asking him to disclose the whereabouts of his son.

    Hundreds of APC leaders and supporters arrested were not released until after the end of the election. Several others fled their homes for fear of arrest by soldiers while APC campaign officials were also arrested and party agents’ money on them confiscated by soldiers.

    Also on the eve of the election, armed soldiers were moving from polling unit to polling unit tampering with voting materials, scaring party agents that kept vigil at the centres where voting materials were kept.

    On election day, people went to vote without any incident, but the results that shocked not only APC members, but also PDP members alike, who marvelled at how a candidate that had been deserted by his own party leaders and members, and who scarcely campaigned in one quarter of the state could win election in all the 16 local government areas in the state against a performing governor, supported by his party leaders and supporters.

    Anger was boiling in the perplexed and evidently disoriented APC members. Sensing danger, Fayemi, who was already in possession of intelligence that Ekiti State was meant for forceful take-over by PDP with consequent flow of blood by the Federal Government deployment of the military, quickly made a conditional concession of defeat to avert bloodbath. He had said: “If indeed this is the will of the Ekiti people, I stand in deference to your will”.

    Soon, it emerged that it was not through Ekiti people’s wish that Fayose became the governor, as Capt. Sagir Koli released a secretly recorded audio tape of how President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration used the military to criminally remove a sitting governor from office through a means other than those prescribed by the constitution.

    In the tape were voices of Fayose, Obanikoro, Omisore, Gen. Momoh, Jelili and one Abulrahman, a member of the House of Representatives from Oyo State.

    In the tape, Fayose was heard speaking of how he collected INEC soft copies that he printed to win the election. He also spoke about the seized lorry loaded with INEC materials two days to the election. In the tape, he accused Gen. Momoh of arresting the lorry loaded with INEC material on its way to the collation centre at Efon-Alaye, meaning that the results of an election that had not been conducted were being collated two clear days to the day of election.

    In the tape, Obanikoro threatened Gen. Momoh, saying that he sat on the Army Council responsible for his promotion and so, the Army General must cooperate to enable him get promotion. Obanikoro had said: “General, you know that I sit on the Army Council that approves your promotion. If you make me happy tomorrow night, the sky is your limit….”

    Upon the exit of the man allegedly behind the electoral heist, President Jonathan, the Chief of Army Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Buratai, opened the books to probe the military complicity in the treasonable act of illegal toppling of a sitting governor in Ekiti. Findings at the probe panel confirmed Capt Koli’s allegations contained in his secretly recorded tape. The Army Panel raised to investigate the matter found several officers and soldiers guilty. According to the panel’s recommendations, some are to lose their commands; some will lose their jobs; some will face the EFCC and several others were recommended for further investigations.

    More shocking now are the revelations by the State Secretary of the PDP, Dr Tope Aluko, detailing with documents, how the election was rigged in Fayose’s favour.

    He provided documentary evidence, detailing the names and staff numbers of the officers and soldiers involved in the operation, including the army’s operational details that were clearly in Fayose’s support. He also revealed that state INEC was paid N1 billion to post FUTA lecturers, sympathetic to the PDP to work as, returning officers during the election.

    Though, Lere Olayinka (Fayose’s aide), who also appeared on the same Channels Television programme, sought to reduce the matter to personal issues, he cleverly dodged the questions on evidence of Army’s culpability in the entire election fraud saga.

    Now that some military officers will face sack and imprisonment, the question is: will a ‘small thief’ suffer for the crime committed jointly with a ‘bigger thief’ in the Ekiti epic election fraud that has set tongues wagging since last year? Will the course of justice be served if the prime suspect in a treasonable offence is allowed to enjoy the benefit of his crime while those who only assisted through official complicity of the Federal Government are to bear the consequences of this crime against the Nigerian Constitution?

    It is on this note that necessary actions must be taken by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice to ensure that no man, or a set of men, constitute themselves as a threat to the integrity of the constitution and democracy.

     

    Validity of US endorsement of Ekiti poll

    It is also a signal to the international community, notably the American State Department, to withdraw their approval of the election that was tainted with fraud and criminality as revealed in Ekitigate tape and PDP scribe’s testimony, as they will never accept such election under any circumstances in their countries.

    The urgent international community repudiation of their earlier vote praising the conduct of the election has become imperative in the face of Fayose flaunting international reports in the media houses and on the streets justifying his electoral fraud just because the international community approved the election in error.

    Failure to address the Ekiti election fraud squarely to ensure justice is a declaration that the constitution is open to abuses by desperate politicians, who consider themselves bigger than the law of the nation.

  • Report exposes fraud in constituency projects

    An audit report has exposed an alleged fraud of  over N100 billion in constituency projects in the last three years.

    The report was based on a survey conducted last year by the Media Support Centre and released in Abuja at the weekend.

    It exposed large-scale abuse of the execution of projects by the 469 federal lawmakers.

    Implementation of the projects was transferred to the Ministry of Special Duties by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure coordination.

    The report alleged that most lawmakers still go behind to hijack the constituency funds and execution of the projects.

    It said budgets for the projects were shrouded in secrecy and allegedly diverted by some lawmakers.

    Executive Director of Media Support Centre Wale Fatade told reporters in Abuja that the poll covered over N100 billion voted for constituency projects between 2013 and 2015.

    He noted: “It would appear that nobody but the lawmakers know which projects are being executed with these monies and how much each project cost.

    “Our survey shows that Nigerians are not aware of the these projects and are calling for a reform in the administration of constituency projects.”

    Most Nigerians, he said, “either wanted the thing cancelled or that the lawmakers should ensure more clarity and openness by publishing what each lawmaker get and for which project so that Nigerians could track these projects”.

    Fatade added that over 78 per cent of Nigerians voted for the scrapping of the constituency project to reduce corruption.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo last week accused the National Assembly of reckless spending and running a secret budget.

  • Court sends judge to prison for alleged fraud

    A Federal High Court sitting in Gombe State yesterday  remanded an area court judge, Umar Y. Gwani, for alleged fraud.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which filed the case, accused the judge of collecting money from the public through false pretence and conspiracy.

    The counsel to the EFCC, Zarami Mohammed, said the accused conspired with two others to sell plots of land belonging to Gombe State Government to the public through false pretence.

    He said the judge failed to contact the Ministry of Land and Survey and Local Government Area before selling the plots of land to the public.

    He also said the judge later had denied receiving payments for the eight or nine plots sold for N7 million.

    The accused judge appeared before the Federal High court on a four- count charge.

    Speaking to journalists after the hearing, his counsel, Mukaan Kingsley, said that he was surprised to see that the listed count charges were different from what transpired in court.

  • I refunded Metuh’s N25m to EFCC – Ex-VP Sambo’s aide

    An ex-aide to former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, Abba Dabo has confessed refunding N25m to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    He said the spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh gave him the money for the party’s media publicity activities.

    Dabo, who was Sambo’s Political Adviser, disclosed this Thursday while testifying before a Federal High Court, Abuja at the resumption of Metuh’s trial. Metuh is being tried with his company, Destra Investments Limited, on a-seven count charge in which they were accused of   fraudulently receiving N400m from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) on November 22, 2014 and laundering $2m.

    The witness said he returned the money in January 2016 on realisimg that the money formed part of the funds earmarked for the procurement of arms in the office of the National Security Adviser.

    Dabo, led in evidence by prosecution lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir, said the N25m was paid to him through an account belonging Metuh’s firm – Destra Investment Limited – on December 16, 2014, five days after former President Goodluck Jonathan and Sambo were selected as the party’s candidates for the office of president and vice-president in the last presidential election.

    The witness, who said he was a newspaper editor and one time Chief Press Secretary to former President Shehu Shagari, said he decided to return the money to the EFCC because he could not reach Metuh, who had then been arrested by the commission.

    Dabo, a chieftain of the PDP said, “Unfortunately, there were reports in the media, on this transaction with Chief Metuh linking it to controversial circumstances. I mean it was identified that Chief Metuh paid the N25m to my account through his company and that the source of the money was from the arms deal that was being discussed generally in the country.

    “As a result of that publication, we thought we needed to explain, and because it was paid to my personal account , in my name, I decided to make a refund, and  I paid it to EFCC, because I couldn’t reach Mr. Metuh that particular time.

    “The newspapers were awash with the story that linked the money given to me to the arms money that was said to have been diverted to other uses by the Office of the National Security Adviser. On my own volition, I decided that the the best way out of the rigmarole was to pay back the amount. I paid it back to EFCC.”

    Dabo said he was paid the N25m by Metuh before  the 2015 presidential election, to help the party “mitigate and counter negative media reports against the then Jonathan-led government and the PDP.”

    He added that the money to run the Media Support System which he had set up to boost the PDP’s media profile‎  in response to “vicious attacks” from Hausa radio stations and criticisms from the Nigerian media as well as the social media.

    The witness further said he also set up a team of facilitators and young Information Technology enthusiasts, who were active on the  Internet to run a website, ‘What’s Up Naija’.

    “From the money we received from Chief Metuh, we paid salaries and allowances of facilitators, bought equipment and computers for the young people working on what’s up Naija.

    “We even paid that year’s rent for our office at 12B Deb Street, Off Danube Street in Maitama, Abuja. We also used that office to monitor the election.”

    Describing Metuh as “a loyal party man, dedicated, strong and outspoken person”, Debo said he however, chose to refund the money to the EFCC following media reports linking the money to the botched purchase of arms.

    “I decided to refund the money not only because it was from the NSA Office, but also because it was linked to the botched arms purchase deal,” Dabo said‎.

    Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), Dabo confirmed that he considered the refund of the money “absolutely important”, and that he made the refund to EFCC through three bank drafts.

    “I wrote a letter to the EFCC attaching three bank drafts with a cover letter acknowledging that the Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, gave N25m to me on December 16, 2014 for the purposes of publicity campaign which was paid by WhatsApp naija and Media Support System,” he said.

    He said he did not mention the refund in his statement made to the EFCC on January 6, 2016 “because I needed to go to the bank the next day and make necessary arrangement”.

    Dabo said was at Metuh’s home in Gudu area of Abuja on the day he was arrested, while trying to find out the source of the campaign money from him.

    “Up till now I have not have the chance of meeting with him,” the witness said.

    He claimed that former President Jonathan, the Federal Government and the PDP benefited “immensely” from the media works Metuh engaged him for.”

     

  • ‘How BVN is curbing fraud within the system’

    ‘How BVN is curbing fraud within the system’

    Chibueze Oguagbu is the Managing Director of an engineering startup called Automated Access Technology. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, he speaks on the motivation for following his career path, challenges and prospect of running a startup. Excerpts:

    Why did you opt for engineering?

    In school, I was always a science student and initially, I wanted to study cardiology, a branch of medicine. I wanted to study that because my father died of heart failure. However, when I learnt what it took to become a cardiologist I changed my mind. I needed to first get my MBBS, travel abroad and specialise in that area, the process was just too long and I decided to study something else. Engineering was next and I also thought of pharmacy but I settled for engineering.

    I have a bachelor’s degree from Enugu State University where I graduated in the year 2000 and since that time I have been in practice. First I worked in a company where I was the Head of IT and operations which was a realisation of my dream and aspiration. I have many colleagues who are bankers; I have never worked in any sector apart from engineering, even when I was under paid. The first job that I ever had in my life was when I was a software developer for a software developing firm located in Anthony, Lagos.

    There I was a software developer but my salary was N25, 000, that was in 2006 and I had not married at that time. It was the most interesting job that I ever had. But unfortunately the money wasn’t good. My wife was earning four times my salary at that time. Even though I loved what I was doing I had to leave. I left and found myself in biometrics consulting and we did projects for Lagos civil service pensioner’s scheme.

    The biometric system there was implemented when I was the head of implementation for the consulting company. In year 2010, we handled the Oyo state biometric implementation. Interestingly, when I left software development, I found my way in biometrics and I thank God for that.  I went out for a better salary but I also discovered a better option, something that took me to the next level.

    Talking about biometrics, the banking sector made the BVN registration compulsory last year. What do you think this would bring to the economy?

    In year 2008, we implemented a project for Firstbank. It was the first ever biometric ATM in Nigeria. The reason for that was because of the high level of fraud in the banking sector. Everything boils down to identity and theft.

    Most fraud committed has to do with identity and this can be countered by things like social security number and things like biometrics. It helps you to pin point people, know each person one-on-one and so many other things.

    How can online fraud be checked?

    I would say that the Central Bank of Nigeria in conjunction with the banks are doing a lot at their own end. Prior to five years ago, Nigeria didn’t have anything in terms of data base. It is just now that we are trying to gather information about our people that is why we are doing BVN and everything.

    I remember that in 2008, Lagos state government was the first state government to embark on biometric verification for pensioners. The reason at that time was the same fraud, there were ghost pensioners everywhere. Introducing biometrics to the society from the government end would enable the society to sit up. You can trace who is who when people commit crime.

    Who are your targets?

    You know the challenges that startups are faced with in Nigeria, we want to take advantage of this. For the product and services that we cover, people need to know that there are people who can provide such products and services. For instance, the automated gates and doors are for anti-theft. You can control access to any location using our machines finger print. Since Ebola came up however, people are more interested in facial recognition. You stand in front of a terminal and you authenticate.

    Facial or fingerprint authentication applications, linked databases, interfaces to payment platforms through NIBSS, biometric enrollment and verification, field exercises, pensioners’ verification, staff audit, biometric administration systems, document capture are some of the things that we focus on.

    Apart from government who is using biometrics to check crime, manage identity better, private people can also make use of biometrics. In a showroom for instance, your staff enroll their fingerprints and anybody whose finger prints is not registered cannot have access to it. In addition, when you have an attendance record where people sign when they come in and go home, here there is usually a lot of fraud and they can record the wrong thing for you.

    We have a system that records access control, time and attendance. Those are the basic features and it is the same terminal that does the two functions. In year 2008, I travelled to South Africa and I didn’t see any maiguard anywhere. Most of the residences and industries that I went to all use automated gates.

    I realised that it was something that should be common in Nigeria because it works for other parts of the world. It took me five years to bring this dream to where it is today. We can fabricate a gate from scratch, do installation, configuration and maintenance. Our desire is to make automated gates affordable.