The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Hembe

  • Reps fail to inaugurate Hembe’s replacement 

    Allegations are rife that there is a plot in the House of Representatives not to swear in Mrs. Dorothy Mato, who is replacing Herman Hembe, the sacked APC Benue lawmaker.

    The Supreme Court sacked Hembe (Vandeikya/Konshisha) and ordered that Dorothy Mato be sworn in.

    The court also asked Hembe, who chaired the House committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to return salaries and allowances collected since June 2015.

    Mato who came with her supporters yesterday, was told there were still processes she has to undergo before being sworn in.

    Mati Maureen Acka, a member of the Benue State House of Assembly, said there seemed to be more than meets the eye.

    Her words: “We all came in anticipation of this and they kept us waiting and dilly-dallying…wait, we are coming….at the end, they said wait, we are in plenary.

    “We waited patiently, only for them to come out and nothing happened and we are wondering.

    “She has done everything required; I just pray and hope this is not some kind of game because it will not be right. I’m APC, I was ACN before APC, I’m a politician, she’s been a politician, she’s a right honourable, we know the law, we are hopeful that women will be carried along.”

    “We have come to the right quarters where victory is to be sealed, but we are trusting that the Speaker and every other person will do the right thing. What is the problem here today?

    But spokesman of the House Abdulrasak Namdas described the gender inequality allegation as false.

    “It’s is not true she wasn’t sworn in because of her gender, or that the speaker refused her in.

    “I know there are processes you have to undergo in the House before you can be sworn in despite court orders. I’m not aware that has been done. But I assure you that if all the right things have been done, there is no reason for her not to be sworn in,” Namdas said.

    On June 23, the Supreme Court declared Hembe’s election null and void and declared  Mrs. Dorothy Mato winner.

  • Padding: Jibrin, Hembe trade words over return of senator

    Padding: Jibrin, Hembe trade words over return of senator

    Former Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC, Kano) has said his return to Nigeria a few days ago was to prove his determination to stand as state witness against some members of the House in court.
    Jibrin petitioned Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Departments of State Services (DSS) and other anti-graft agencies, accusing the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara; Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun; Minority Leader Leo Ogor; Whip Alhassan Doguwa; and nine committee chairmen, of padding the 2016 budget with fictitious projects, totalling over N280 billion.
    He alleged some members diverted N10 millon monthly running cost allowance to personal use.
    Following an investigation by Nicholas Ossai-led Ethics and Privileges Committee, Jibrin was suspended for 180 legislative days.
    Jibrin, while responding to allegations of being on the run by Herman Hembe (APC, Benue), yesterday in a statement said one anti-corruption agency invited him to provide more evidence and stand as state withness.
    Hembe, in a statement yesterday said Jibrin fled back to Nigeria after report of his ownership of five foreign accounts in Backlays Bank and property at No. 81, Cotswold Gardens, London, NW2, 1PE in London was published.
    “I wish to remind Jibrin that there is no longer hiding place for criminals. He fled to United Kingdom after getting hint that anti-graft agencies in Nigeria were investigating him in order to avoid arrest and prosecution.
    “Now, having realised that even in the UK, the National Crime Agency and the Financial Intelligence Unit have already profiled him and may soon open a case against him; he quietly sneaked back to Nigeria,” Hembe said.
    However, Jibrin said: “I returned to the country on the invitation of one of the anti graft agencies, which need additional information from me as they are finalising investigation and ready to arraign Hembe and a few others.
    “I visited the agency and provided what they required and sign to stand witness.
    “Hembe is obviously aware of this fact and has been panicking and running helter-skelter, including trying to get the Speaker to intervene and save him.
    “I travelled peacefully from the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja and landed at Heathrow Airport and same on my way back. I also enjoyed my stay in London and other parts of Europe, catching up with my vast international network, delivering lectures and granting interviews.
    “I have responded to the lame allegations and my response are in the public glare,” Jibrin said.

  • Court frees ex-House panel chair on Capital Market Hembe

    Court frees ex-House panel chair on Capital Market Hembe

    Repreive yesterday came the way of former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Capital Market, Herman Hembe.

    The Court of Appeal, Abuja discharged and acquitted of charges of fraud and illegal conversion made against him and one other by the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC).

    The EFCC had accused him of converting about N600,000 estacode given to him in October 2011 by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a training programme in the Dominican Republic.

    Yesterday, the Court of Appeal, in a unanimous judgment, upheld Hembe’s argument that the EFCC failed to establish a prima facie case against him to warrant him being subjected to trial based on the charges preferred by the commission.

    Justice Joseph Tine-Tur who delivered the lead judgment particularly held that what the EFCC did was not prosecution but persecution.

    The judge held that the proof of evidence and the evidence given by the witnesses called by the EFCC did not establish a prima facie case against Hembe.

    Justice Tine-Tur further held that the Abuja High Court, which granted leave to the EFCC to prosecute Hembe based on the charges preferred, erred and should not have granted such leave.

    He described Hembe’s trial as a waste of precious judicial time.

    The judge held that the appellant did not comit any offence known to law, but that at best, what transpired was an administrative oversight for which Hembe could have been asked to make a refund.

    He consequently quashed the charges and discharged and acquitted him.

    Hembe and his deputy, Chris Azubogu, were charged with alleged conversion of the estacodes given to them by the SEC to travel abroad for a conference.

    They challenged their trial and made a no-case submission which the trial court refused, prompting Hembe to appeal to the Court of Appeal.

  • Court permits Hembe’s counsel to serve court processes

    Court permits Hembe’s counsel to serve court processes

    An Abuja High court on Monday granted leave to the counsel to Herman Hembe, Mr. Jubril Okutepa (SAN), for the extension of time within which to file and serve the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with court processes.

    At the resumed hearing of the case before Justice Abubakar Umar, Okutepa apologised to the court for his inability to file the final written address in the no case submission in the trial of Hembe.

    “It is not in my character to file or serve any court papers late. I travelled and returned around 4 a.m. I am pleading with my Lord to grant this leave so that I can duly serve the second accused and EFCC counsel,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that EFCC arraigned Hembe, former Chairman, House Committee on Capital Market and Other Institutions, and his deputy, Emeka Azubuogu, for alleged diversion of funds.

    The EFCC said that the duo dishonestly converted to personal use, the sum of 4,095 dollars (about N600,000) given to them by the Securities and Exchange Commission as travelling allowance to the Dominican Republic to attend a conference in October 2011.

    They are facing a two-count charge of misappropriation and conversion of public funds following an allegation by the Director-General of SEC, Ms. Arunma Oteh.

    The allegation led to their suspension from the House.

    The anti-graft agency said the offence contravened Section 308 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and if found guilty, they could serve a jail term of not less than seven years.

    In granting the leave to Okutepa, Umar also ordered the counsel to Azubuogu (second accused), Ms Linda Chuba-Ikpeazu, to file and duly serve the EFCC with their court process.

    Umar then adjourned to November 26 for the adoption of written addresses on a no-case-submission filed by Hembe and Azubogu.

    Earlier, the lawmakers declined to enter the dock.

    Counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Ojuefu Obe, had, while announcing his appearance, drawn the judge’s attention to the fact that the two accused were standing outside the dock and not inside, as they should.

    But the judge, overruled him and ordered him not to “over sensationalise’’ issues.