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Tag: ICPC

  • ICPC arraigns ex-SMEDAN DG for alleged N184.5m fraud

    THE Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a former Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) Director-General, Bature Umar Masari, on a 27-count charge of money laundering and embezzlement before a high court in Apo, Abuja.

    Masari was alleged to have fraudulently awarded constituency project contracts to the tune of N184.5 million.

    He was also accused of allegedly receiving N50 million on November 27, 2014 from one of the contractors and distributed part of the money to some other persons.

    This act contravene the provisions of Section 10(a) (1) punishable under Section10 (a) (11) of the Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act 2000.

    Part of the counts read: “That you Bature Umar Masari on or about November 13, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court while being the Director General of Small and Medium Enterprise Development  of Nigeria received for yourself N2 million from Hamshakin Venture Limited, which was paid into your Guaranty Trust Bank Account  0022506116 on account of the constituency project contract awarded to the Hamshakin Ventures Limited and thereby committed an offence contrary to section (10) (a) (1) and punishable under section10(a) (11) of the Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act 2000.

    “That you Bature Umar Masari on or about 13th November 13, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court while being the Director General of Small and Medium Enterprise Development  of Nigeria received for yourself N2 million from Hamshakin Venture Limited which money was paid into your Guaranty Trust Bank Account  0022506116 on a company that was awarded constituency project contracts by SWEDAN and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act 2000.”

    After the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges read to him, his lawyer, Mamadu Magaji (SAN) urged the court to grant the defendant bail.

    Prosecuting counsel Mr. Henry Emore did not oppose to the application for bail.

    “My lord it’s a bailable offence,” he said.

    After listening to both parties, Justice O. A. Adeniyi granted the defendant bail for N50 million with two sureties.

    He added that the two sureties must be in the civil service and at the level of director.

    Justice Adeniyi adjourned till November 26 and 29 for trial.

  • ICPC arraigns former DG SMEDAN over N184.5M fraud

    The Independent Corrupt Practices other related Offences Commission  ( ICPC )has arraigned Bature Umar Masari, former director of Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria on a 27 count charge bothering on money laundering and embezzlement.

    Masari fraudulently awarded constituency project contracts to the tune of N184.5 million, the commission said.

    He was also accused of receiving the sum of N50m in November 27th 2014 from one of the contractors and distributed part of the sum to some other persons.

    This act contravene the provisions of section 10(a) (1) punishable under section10(a) (11) of the Corrupt Practices and Other related Offences Act 2000

    Part of the counts read:That you Bature Umar Masari on or about 13th November in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court while being the Director General of Small and Medium Enterprise Development of Nigeria received for your self the sum of N2m from Hamshakin venture limited which money was paid into your gurantee trust bank account 0022506116 on account of the constituency project contract awarded to the Hamshakin ventures limited and thereby committed an offence contrary to section (10) (a) (1) and punshable under section10(a) (11) of the Corrupt Practices and Other related Offences Act 2000.

    Count 3:That you Bature Umar Masari on or about 13th November in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court while being the Director General of Small and Medium Enterprise Development of Nigeria received for your self the sum of N2M from Hamshakin venture limited which money was paid into your gurantee trust bank account 0022506116 on a company that was awarded constituency project contracts by SWEDAN and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000

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    After the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges read to him, his lawyer Mamadu Magaji(SAN) urged the part to grant the defendant bail.

    Prosecuting counsel Mr Henry Emore did not oppose to the application for bail addicted that it’s a bailable offence.

    “My lord it’s a bailable offence”. he said

    After listening to both parties Justice O. A. Adeniyi granted the defendant bail to the sum of N50m with two sureties.

    He added that the two sureties must be in the civil service and level of director.

    Justice Adeniyi therefore adjourned till 26th-29th of November for trial.

  • ICPC to partner INEC to curb vote-buying

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has expressed readiness to partner Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to tackle the menace of vote-buying in the electoral system.

    Acting Chairman of ICPC, Mr Musa Abubakar, made this known when he visited INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday in Abuja.

    Abubakar said that ICPC identified with INEC and Nigerians on the issue of vote-buying and was willing to work with the election management body to curb the ugly trend.

    He said that the commission was empowered to deal with all cases of corruption, including those committed during elections.

    “The ICPC is empowered to investigate and prosecute any person involved in any act of bribery and corruption under any laws that prohibit corruption.

    “I believe the Electoral Act also has provisions that deal with corruption and all forms of malpractices during election.

    “So, vote-buying is one of the corrupt practices under both our law and Electoral Act.

    “The main reason for this visit is to identify with the commission and the general public on the issue of vote-buying.

    “We assure you that the ICPC is ever ready to partner INEC to ensure that this trend is totally eliminated or reduced to the barest minimum,’’ he said.

    Responding, Yakubu commended ICPC for its commitment to partner INEC to tackle “this new brand of electoral crime’’.

    He said that the commission was prepared to ensure that vote-buying did not determine the outcome of 2019 general elections.

    “The votes cast by citizens will continue to determine who wins in our elections. We are focusing more on the processes leading to that outcome.

    “The outcome of any election is in the hand of the voter, but we are responsible for ensuring that the process is free and credible,’’ he said.

    Yakubu also said that in addition to partnering with ICPC and EFCC, INEC was taking measures at ensuring that votes were not bought particularly on election days.

    He said that the commission intended to ban the use of mobile phone at the voting centres.

    “We will restructure our polling units in such a way that it will be difficult for a voter to expose the marked ballot papers before dropping them into ballot boxes.

    “In doing so, the commission will need the collaboration of the citizens to report any cases of electoral violation through the commission’s Situation Room and free toll line – INEC Citizens Contact Centre (ICCC).

    “I will like to speak to the citizens that whenever they see violations of Electoral Act to quickly report to these, using our toll free number under our ICCC platform so that we can quickly respond.’’

    On Osun governorship election, Yakubu said that INEC was setting up an inter-agency collaborative framework against vote-buying and spending above what the Electoral Act stipulated for campaign.

    “As you are aware, under the law there is spending limits for party and candidate to participate in an election.

    “This inter-agency framework will include the cooperation and active participation of EFCC, ICPC and the security agencies, particularly the police and Department of State Services and the National Intelligent Agency.

    “Soon after Osun election, the commission will unveil that framework for the collaboration aimed at further sanitising our election

  • ICPC to partner INEC to curb vote-buying

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has expressed readiness to partner Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to tackle the menace of vote-buying in the electoral system.

    Acting Chairman of ICPC, Mr Musa Abubakar, made this known when he visited INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Monday in Abuja.

    Abubakar said that ICPC identified with INEC and Nigerians on the issue of vote-buying and was willing to work with the election management body to curb the ugly trend.

    He said that the commission was empowered to deal with all cases of corruption, including those committed during elections.

    “The ICPC is empowered to investigate and prosecute any person involved in any act of bribery and corruption under any laws that prohibit corruption.

    “I believe the Electoral Act also has provisions that deal with corruption and all forms of malpractices during election.

    “So, vote-buying is one of the corrupt practices under both our law and Electoral Act.

    “The main reason for this visit is to identify with the commission and the general public on the issue of vote-buying.

    “We assure you that the ICPC is ever ready to partner INEC to ensure that this trend is totally eliminated or reduced to the barest minimum,’’ he said.

    Responding, Yakubu commended ICPC for its commitment to partner INEC to tackle “this new brand of electoral crime’’.

    He said that the commission was prepared to ensure that vote-buying did not determine the outcome of 2019 general elections.

    “The votes cast by citizens will continue to determine who wins in our elections. We are focusing more on the processes leading to that outcome.

    “The outcome of any election is in the hand of the voter, but we are responsible for ensuring that the process is free and credible,’’ he said.

    Yakubu also said that in addition to partnering with ICPC and EFCC, INEC was taking measures at ensuring that votes were not bought particularly on election days.

    He said that the commission intended to ban the use of mobile phone at the voting centres.

    “We will restructure our polling units in such a way that it will be difficult for a voter to expose the marked ballot papers before dropping them into ballot boxes.

    “In doing so, the commission will need the collaboration of the citizens to report any cases of electoral violation through the commission’s Situation Room and free toll line – INEC Citizens Contact Centre (ICCC).

    “I will like to speak to the citizens that whenever they see violations of Electoral Act to quickly report to these, using our toll free number under our ICCC platform so that we can quickly respond.’’

    On Osun governorship election, Yakubu said that INEC was setting up an inter-agency collaborative framework against vote-buying and spending above what the Electoral Act stipulated for campaign.

    “As you are aware, under the law there is spending limits for party and candidate to participate in an election.

    “This inter-agency framework will include the cooperation and active participation of EFCC, ICPC and the security agencies, particularly the police and Department of State Services and the National Intelligent Agency.

    “Soon after Osun election, the commission will unveil that framework for the collaboration aimed at further sanitising our election processes.’’ (NAN)

  • Alleged N5.5m bribe: ICPC arrests ex-Budget Office worker

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) yesterday confirmed the arrest of a former employee of the Budget Office of the Federation, Mr. Henry Ilemona Oyibo.

    The suspect, who is now with the Ministry of Niger Delta, was nabbed for allegedly receiving gratification to carry out his official duties.

    A statement by the spokesperson for the commission, Mrs. Rasheedat Okoduwa, said investigation showed that the suspect had assets valued far beyond his legitimate.

    The statement said: “Acting on a petition submitted, the commission’s operatives in their preliminary investigation, discovered that between 2014 and 2015, Oyibo received gratification to the tune of N5, 547,600.00 of funds of the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja from the Director, Finance and Accounts, Mr. Sule Otu, and three other workers, for him as a liaison officer to facilitate the release of the centre’s budgeted funds by the Budget Office.

     

     

  • Aides threaten to drag Saraki, Sani-Omolori to EFCC, ICPC over ‘N4b debt’

    Aides to federal lawmakers are threatening to take Senate President Bukola Saraki and Clerk to National Assembly (CNA) Mohammed Sani-Omolori to anti-corruption agencies.

    This followed alleged non-payment of their allowances and other entitlements for the past three years.

    The workers, under the aegis of National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum (NASSLAF), are protesting the confusion trailing the alleged non-payment of the entitlements totalling more than N4billion, which include Duty Tour Allowance (DTA), 28 per cent salary increment, among others.

    The aides also threatened to shut the National Assembly.

    They protested yesterday at the lobby of the White House before a meeting of the executive members and the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly.

    The protesters sang war songs. They carried placards. One of them read: “We are aides, not slaves”

    The Chairman of the aides’ forum, Sam Melaye, said: “The protest is about our allowances and entitlements. It has become clear to us that they are now passing the buck. The Senate president, who is the chairman of the National Assembly, said the CNA is responsible for our plight, and the CNA is now in turn accusing the Senate president of being responsible for the situation we have been subjected to.

    “But at this point, it doesn’t really matter who is responsible, all we are saying is pay us our entitlements.

    “Our DTA has not been paid for 10 quarters and that’s over N2billion. We are supposed to be trained twice in a year. This has not happened in the last three years and that is supposed to gulp over N2billion and training allowances, which is based on calculation of N1billion per year, is N3billion now.

    “By laid down procedures and yearly budgetary provisions of N250million on a quarterly basis, each of the legislatives aides is expected to go for training on the template of capacity building, the totality of which is N1billion per year, but for the past three years, no category of the aides has been sent on any training, let alone paid the required allowances.

    “All we are saying is that the National Assembly should do the needful

    Read also: Saraki visits Gov. Emmanuel

    “We are going to meet the Acting CNA, since the CNA is not around, but I want to believe that the outcome of the meeting will be favorable to us. But if it is not favourable, we will take on the next step of writing anti-graft agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in order for them to pay us our entitlements.

    “If our demands are not met, we will shut down the National Assembly.

    “Although there had been protests over this same issue in the past, this is the first time I’m leading protest as the chairman of Legislative Aides Forum and I can assure you, there will be no retreat, no surrender.”

    After its meeting with the Acting CNA, who is also the Clerk to the Senate, Nelson Ayewoh, the group gave an ultimatum of September 14 after which if its demands were not met, it would begin next plan of action.

    National Assembly spokesman Rawlings Agada, who spoke with The Nation on the phone, said the issue will be resolved as soon as the CNA returns from his official assignment outside the country.

    Agada, who said he was not around the complex when the protest took place, however believed that the problem could be as a result of administrative or fund release challenge.

  • SGF to induct Board chairmen, members on Corporate Governance

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha will on Thursday 26th July, 2018 open an induction programme for recently appointed Board Chairmen and Members, on Corporate Governance in their agencies.

    A statement by Lawrence Ojabo, Director Press in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said that it aims at establishing and promoting good board governance culture rooted in the Federal Public Service Precepts, Policies, Procedures, Protocols and Organisational values.

    Read Also:SGF denies composition of Buhari 2019 presidential support committee

    “The Heads of EFFC, ICPC, BPP and a retired Head of the Civil Service of the Federation will facilitate the programme, which ends on Saturday 28th July, 2018”

    Agencies invited to the programme are Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF).

    Others are Galaxy Backbone, National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRIMI) and Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA).

  • FAAN gets 17 vehicles recovered by ICPC from ex-officials

    THE Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has taken possession of 17 vehicles recovered from its former officials by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

    The vehicles were retrieved from officials of FAAN, who were removed from office in the last few years, but failed to hand them over to the authority.

    At a handing over ceremony held at the authority’s headquarters in Lagos, the Director of Engineering Services, Salisu Daura, an engineer, who represented the FAAN managing director, expressed  delight at the partnership between the authority and the ICPC.

    Daura used the opportunity to thank the ICPC for its efforts at ensuring that the vehicles were recovered and handed over to the authority.

    He implored the anti-graft agency to keep on with the recovery exercise until all vehicles belonging to the authority are handed over.

    A Zonal Commissioner, who represented the Chairman of ICPC at the event, Mr. Shintema Binga, handed over the keys of the vehicles to FAAN.

  • Alleged N16.4m: Absence of Judge stalls trial of former IG

    The absence of an Abuja Federal High Court judge, Justice Silvanus Oriji, on Tuesday, staled the trial of former Inspector-General of Police Sunday Ehindero, and a former police commissioner, John Obaniyi.

    The Independent Corruption Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), arraigned the duo before the Judge on a five-count charge bordering on fraud and conspiracy.

    The prosecutor, Mr O.G. Iwuagwu, had told the court that the duo are being tried for alleged N16.4 million fraud.

    Iwuagwu told the court that the defendants committed the alleged offence between May 2006 and November 2006, when they allegedly conspired and used their positions to place N500 million in two fixed deposit accounts.

    Read Also: Court remands two businessmen in prison for extortion

    He told the court that the money was part of the N557,995,065 donated by the Bayelsa Government to the Nigeria Police Force for the purchase of arms and ammunition.

    The prosecutor alleged that the said N500 million placed in fixed deposits yielded N16.4 million interest.

    The defendants had denied the charges.

    At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the matter could not be heard due to the absence of the Judge and the case was adjourned to June 26, for continuation of hearing.

     

    NAN

  • ICPC charges NDDC boss, Ekere for allegedly frustrating investigation

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has filed a charge against the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Nsima Ekere for allegedly frustrating its investigation.
    The charge marked: CR/187/18 was filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and signed by a senior prosecuting officer with ICPC, Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha.
    The ICPC, in the two-count charge with, NDDC and Ekere listed as defendants, accused Ekere of frustrating its investigation into some projects executed by the NDDC.
    Particularly, ICPC accused Ekere of refusing to honour invitation/ request for documents on the construction of Umuihe-Odo-Umuanya Road, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State.
    The Nation learnt yesterday, that although the charge has been assigned to a judge of the court, a date is yet to be fixed for arraignment.
    The charge reads:  That you Mr. Nsima U. Ekere Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), sometime in the month of March 2017 or thereabout, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court wilfully refused to honour a lawful invitation/request for document through a letter reference lCPC/ CH/ CSU.MS/170/ 2017, dated March 9. 2017 and received on March 16. 2017 by the independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in respect of investigation activities on the project file(s) on the construction of Umuihe-Odo-Umuanya Road, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State and you thereby commuted an offence contrary to and punishable under section 28(10) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act. 2000.
    “That you Mr Nsima U. Ekere Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Niger Delta Development Commission, sometime in the month of March 2017 or thereabout, within the Jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired to frustrate investigation  activities of the Commission (ICPC) by wilfully refusing to honour lawful invitation/request for document through a letter reference ICPC/CH//CSU, MS/170/2017 dated March 9, 2017 and received on March 16, 2017 by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) in respect of investigation activities on the project file(s) on Umuihe-Odo-Umuanya Road, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State and you thereby commuted an offence contrary to Section 20(c) and punishable under Section 15(c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act. 2000.