The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ICPC

  • Alleged bribery: NAF officer’s trial adjourned to November 2

    An FCT High Court has fixed November 2 for definite hearing in the trial of a former Air Officer Training Command, Nigerian Air Force, AVM Alkali Mamu, for alleged bribery.

    Mamu, who was also an ex- member of the Committee for Procurement in the Ministry of Defence, was arraigned on a three-count charge of bribery on June 21.

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had alleged that the NAF officer collected a cash gift N5.9 million for the purchase of a Range Rover Evoque and another $300, 000 (N147 million), the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    He also collected two vehicles – Ford Expedition SUV and Jaguar XF Saloon – valued N15 million and N12 million, respectively from Societe D’ Equipments Internationaux Nigeria Limited, a contractor with the NAF.

    These allegations contravened Sections 17 (a) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

    He was granted bail in the sum of N50 million, with a surety in like sum, on July 1.

    The surety must have property within Abuja.

     

  • ICPC investigates N1.8b pension fraud

    ICPC investigates N1.8b pension fraud

    About 800 fraudulent pension accounts have been closed following the introduction of the Bank Verification Number (BVN).

    Besides, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is investigating the mismanagement of close to N2biillion pension cash.

    Acting Director General of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Department (PTAD) Mr. Murtala Oluwatoyin said at the weekend that the 800 accounts were spread across all the Deposit Money Banks. The case has been transferred to the ICPC for further investigation.

    The PTAD boss said: “in one particular week, we closed about 800 different accounts in one day from various banks which we passed to ICPC for investigation. We have signed a memorandum of understanding with ICPC on pension fraud and they have promised to assist us unravel those behind the illegal accounts. It is an ongoing process however and there may be more discoveries. We have been using BVN to track multiple accounts. Many of such accounts are hurriedly being closed now because they realise we are after them.”

    He said PTAD engaged ICPC because “the agency has no powers to ask the banks to provide the details of those operating the closed accounts, it decided to refer the matter to the ICPC for further investigation and because the ICPC has the powers to demand for the transaction details from the banks.”

    Oluwatoyin also said the agency had successfully recovered about N2.4 billion belonging to PTAD from 18 agencies which had been transferred to the PTAD Treasury Single Account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    Since he assumed office as the PTAD acting DG, a total of N1.58 billion he said, had been paid as death benefits to 891 beneficiaries and the agency has also completed the quality assurance exercise on 17,974 verified pensioners’ files.

    When asked to speak on the alleged scandal that led to the suspension of his predecessor, Oluwatoyin said “we have already documented what happened and forwarded them to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). I told you that we had issues with data and record keeping and those are some of the things that she is being accused of. And these are issues for which contracts were awarded and never executed.

    “These are some of the things we sent to EFCC. The question she should answer is whether those contracts were executed. Those are the issues but I do not want to dwell on them since we have handed them over to EFCC. We should just draw a line and move forward. That is why we have been quiet on our end. It is left for EFCC and herself to clear themselves” he said.

    Oluwatoyin said he was “mindful of the image of PTAD as an organisation and do not want to run it down. We are trying to make the agency responsive and dignified and I should not be seen to be running down an organisation that I am heading. “We have already documented what happened and forwarded them to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    “I have been working with Department of State Security Service (DSS) and all the phone numbers that people give me I forward to DSS to track, but up till now, they have not been able to apprehend anybody. It is not easy to track people. “

    On the activities of the agency so far, the PTAD Director General said “we pay about N16 billion pension monthly. It is a lot of money. The ongoing database clean up and payroll analysis has resulted in the removal of 5,700 names from the payroll, with regular and prompt monthly pension payments of 12 months of the outstanding 42 months of the 33 per cent pension arrears to all categories of pensioners except for the paramilitary pensioner who have received their full payment.”

    He added that the agency “had to harvest from the savings made from others to be able to pay the three months. We explained this to Police Pension Union. Right now, we have requested for additional funds and once we get this, or by December if we are able to make more savings from the paramilitary, who we are not owing any arears, we will be able to divert that to pay police.

    “When PTAD was established, we did not have records. We just took over the pay rolls that Mr. Abdurasheed Maina and others were using. It is now that we are cleaning the process with the records we have been able to generate. It is a tedious process trying to establish an authentic payroll.”

  • Job scam: Court remands civil servants in prison

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Wednesday said a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has remanded two civil servants in Suleja Prison for allegedly defrauding job-seekers of N14.8 million.

    The commission said it filed action against the suspects, who were staff of the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).

    A statement signed by the spokesperson of ICPC named the suspects as Mrs. Grace Nkoyo Nwauzor and Mr. Okorie Tobias Otubaku.

    The statement said: “Nwauzor, a Level 12 officer under Career Management Section in OHCSF, who had been on the run from ICPC for several months before she was arrested by the Navy while allegedly trying to defraud some of their personnel and Otubaku, were both arraigned by the Commission before Justice Salisu Garba.

    “The duo, who are facing a 10- count-charge allegedly defrauded job-seekers of their monies by offering them non-existent jobs in government ministries, department and agencies in 2012 and 2013.

    “ICPC, while arraigning them, told Justice Garba, that Nwauzor collected N2,250,000 in 2013 from one Matthias Billy Ibrahim, who was an intermediary between her and many job-seekers in contravention of Section 322 of the Penal Code Law, Cap 89 and punishable under the same section.

    “She was alleged to have received N700, 000 from Onyeziligbo Ngozi in 2012 for the purpose of getting employment in a government ministry or department, thereby committing an offence that contravenes Section 10(a) (ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same section.

    Otubaku, according to ICPC, fraudulently collected N5, 800, 000 in 2013 from Mathias Billy Ibrahim for the purpose of helping him to secure jobs for ‘his candidates’ in some departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

    The statement added: “The said money was paid into his Ecobank account, making him to commit an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code Law, Cap 89 and Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

  • Alleged fraud: ICPC arraigns Orubebe, two others

    Alleged fraud: ICPC arraigns Orubebe, two others

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Thursday said it has arraigned a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, in Maitama District, Abuja, over alleged N1.97billlion fraud.

    The commission accused Orubebe of allegedly diverting the votes meant for the compensation of owners of properties on Eket Urban section of the East-West Road in Eket, Akwa Ibom State.

    Orubebe, who had failed to appear in court on two previous occasions, is facing a six-count charge before Justice Olukayode Adeniyi.

    He is standing trial alongside an Assistant Director in the Ministry of Niger-Delta Affairs, Mr. Oludare Davis Alaba, and the Director of Contracts, Gitto Costruzioni Generali Nig. Ltd., Mr. Ephraim Towede Zari.

    A statement issued by the spokesperson of ICPC, Mrs. Rasheedat Okoduwa, quoted counsel to ICPC, Mr. Ekoi Akpos, as saying that  the offences contravened Sections 25 (i), (b); 19, 22(5); of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and Sections 96, 312 and 323 of the Penal Code laws of FCT 2006.

  • Funds diversion: Orubebe’s arraignment stalled again

    Funds diversion: Orubebe’s arraignment stalled again

    The absence of former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, stalled his arraignment for alleged involvement in the diversion of about N2.3 billion public funds on Tuesday.

    Orubebe, Oludare Lawrence Alaba (an Assistant Director, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs), Ephraim Tewolde Zeri (Director of Contracts in Gitto Costruzioni Generali Nigeria Limited and the company are listed in the six-count charge marked: CR/265/2016, filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

    They are accused of diverting the N2.3 billion meant for the compensation of property owners to be affected by the Federal Government’s dualization project of Section IV of the East West Road.

    This is the second time Orubebe and others’ arraignment will be shifted to a later date.

    They were initially scheduled to be arraigned before Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on August 18.

    It was shifted to August 30 when prosecution lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha told the court that the ICPC was yet to effect service of the charge on all defendants.

    Akponimisingha told the court again on Tuesday that two of the defendants – Alaba and Zeri – were in court.

    He noted that Orubebe was not in court despite the fact he had been properly served with the necessary court documents.

    Orubebe’s lawyer, F. Zimuan, told the court that his client was absent in court because he is indisposed.

    “His (Orubebe’s) absence is not deliberate. He suddenly took ill. He had domestic accident, which affected his ankle and wrist,” Zimuan said.

    He said the development had cumulative effect on his hypertensive client, who had since been rushed to the hospital.

  • Court rejects Fayose’s bid to stop EFCC probe

    An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti on Thursday declined to grant an ex parte order sought by Governor Ayodele Fayose to restrain the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from investigating the financial records of the state government.

    Justice Cornelius Akintayo refused to grant the order on grounds that the 17th-19th defendants – EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Department of State Services (DSS) – should be put on notice to prepare for their defence at the court.
    The judge consequently adjourned the suit to August 23 and ordered all parties in the matter to appear before him when the motion notice would be heard.
    The suit was filed by Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Owoseni Ajayi, to stop the impending investigation of the state government’s accounts by the EFCC.
    Another relief sought by the plaintiffs was an order stopping the arrest of the Commissioner for Finance, Accountant General and the managers of the affected banks.
  • Hajj 2016: Civil society group partners ICPC

    Hajj 2016: Civil society group partners ICPC

    A CIVIL society group, Independent Hajj Reporters (INH), has entered into partnership with the Independent Corrupt Practices and related Offences Commission (ICPC) to enlighten pilgrims on their rights, and the need to shun acts that can tarnish the country’s image during the holy pilgramage.

    This was contained in statement signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammed and Publicity Secretary Abubakar Mahmoud.

    The statement reads: “Independent Hajj Reporters is partnering ICPC to produce ‘Know Your Right’ pilgrims’ enlightenment pamphlets to be distributed to pilgrims going for hajj in Saudi Arabia. Towards this end, ICPC and IHR are to facilitate production and distribution of the enlightenment materials to pilgrims before their departure to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

    The group also hailed the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) “on the establishment of national media team for this year’s hajj”.

    “The unification of media team in hajj operation is long overdue. Reporting hajj activities entails the dissemination of correct, accurate and balanced information.

    “The hajj beats is different from business, crime, politics or Information and Communication Technology (ICT).When you are assigned with the responsibility of reporting hajj operations, alas, you have been assigned to a duty by Almighty Allah. You are to reports about his guests; you are to cover the activities of those who embark on a journey to heed his call.”

    “Blending ethical requirements of journalism and religious obligation of adhering to facts and objectives is an enormous task that needs central coordination. Other countries like India, Ghana, and Indonesia have only central media team that covers all its pilgrims’ activities in the holy land.

    “We are also happy that the head of states media team and their spokesman are part of the national media team which will guarantee unison and lack of contradiction in information dissemination during hajj operations.”

    However, the group urges members of the national media team to always uphold the cherished ethical value of journalism by ensuring that their reports is a true reflection of what transpired in the interests of pilgrims and Islam.

    They should dedicate themselves to the service of pilgrims and the nation, it said.

     

  •  ICPC arraigns ex-consultant for N.3m bribe

     ICPC arraigns ex-consultant for N.3m bribe

    •Commission secures jail term for two railway staff

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a former Consultant Cardio-thoracic Surgeon in the Department of Surgery, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, Professor Martin Aghaji, at a Federal High Court in Enugu, for N320, 000 bribe.

    The commission also secured a one-year prison term each for two workers of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Augustine Chukwuemeka and Agnes K. Ikeme, for abuse of public office.

    These disclosures are contained in a statement by the spokesperson of ICPC, Mrs. Rasheedat A. Okoduwa.

    The statement said: “A former Consultant Cardio-thoracic Surgeon in the Department of Surgery, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, Professor Martin Aghaji, has been arraigned before Justice R. O. Odugu of a Federal High Court sitting in Enugu, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a four-count charge of allegedly demanding and receiving gratification in the course of his official duties.

    “The charges bordered on administrative corruption, extortion and conferring corrupt advantages on himself, which violate sections 8 and 19 and are punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

    “Professor Aghaji, sometime in 2003, while being a public officer, used his position as a consultant cardio-thoracic surgeon at UNTH Enugu, demanded N320,000 and received N70,000, before he could carry out a surgical operation on the late Francis Ebeogbodi, which he never did before the patient died.

    “Investigations have shown that although it is unethical for doctors in public service to demand and accept money before performing their official duties, the accused had allegedly done so.

    “The accused pleaded not guilty and was granted bail on self-recognisance.

     

  • How we shared N468.7m project fund: Suspect tells ICPC

    How we shared N468.7m project fund: Suspect tells ICPC

    •N924m already returned to ministry

    A principal suspect in the alleged stealing of  N468, 794,613.79  earmarked for the Great Green Wall, a federal government initiative to check desert encroachment through tree planting, has revealed how a cartel planned  the fraud and how the beneficiaries helped themselves to the loot.

    Adeolu Olugbenga Adeyanju told Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) interrogators that the cartel hijacked the account from the Federal Ministry of Environment and stole the sum before luck ran against them in the process of exhausting the entire allocation of over N1.392billion originally meant for the project.

    ICPC foiled moves to withdraw the balance of about N924million in the account and recovered it for the ministry.

    Adeyanju said the N468, 794,613.79  was first converted to dollars – about $2million based on the exchange rate in 2014 – and was then shared at a popular cinema house in Abuja.

    He claimed to have received $57,000 for making his company, Detwinx Global Service Limited available for the fraud.

    Adeyanju has already been charged to the High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory while the ICPC is on the trail of top civil servants who connived with him to loot the account.

    In a statement on oath by Adeyanju, which was attached to the charge sheet and obtained from the court, he explained how the fraud was perpetrated in November 2014.

    He implicated a Director of Finance and Account, Mr. Edet Akpan in the deal.

    Akpan has denied ever knowing Adeyanju or having anything to do with him.

    Adeyanju said: “Sometime in April 2014, I went in search of contract. I visited the Ministry of Environment in my quest to get a contract.

    “I walked up to Mr. Edet Akpan at the Ministry, Mabushi where I pleaded seriously if I can be awarded any contract at all, even if it is supply or any available contract.

    “He told me that he was alone on ground as at the time I was in his office. We exchanged telephone numbers in case I may be favourably considered any other time. He gave me one Airtel number 080233246….

    “Sometime in July-August, he called me to meet him at Silverbird Galleria, Central Area. I rushed to meet him with the hope that I will get contract or I have been considered by Edet Akpan.

    “Meanwhile, he called me with one Glo line on that day-08085…He came with his Honda Accord ash colour with Abuja number plate. He was with a driver but he excused the driver from us.

    “On getting there, he told me that he wanted to use my company for a contract he will execute and the money will be paid into my account but am I sure I will not run away with the money and I answered that never, I can never run away with his money.

    “Then he said he will test me to see if he can trust me. Then a sum of N5million was paid to me which I collected and gave him. And he gave me N150,000 after he showed me a document of the list of expenses on the execution of the contract that showed a gain of N450,000.

    “Then he called me sometime November 2014 to meet him in his house in Wuse 2. He said that there is another contract he wanted to use my company if only I can abide by the rules. He stated categorically that he will give me a phone that we shall use in communicating only till the contract is finally executed and paid.

    “He said I should not call him on any other number except from the line he gave to me. Also, I should call his Glo line alone and I should make sure I get the money out of the bank on the same day.

    “I said if that was his rule, I will abide with it. As we were rounding up, a woman drove in a KIA SPORTAGE, brown colour with Abuja number plate and he greeted the woman as “honey” and he immediately dismissed me that we shall see the following day.

    “This meeting was at about 8-8.30pm that day. He gave me a small Nokia phone with a Glo line of 0807…and his Glo line 0805… was saved on it.

    Throwing light on how the N468, 794,613.79 was wired into his account, he said: “at about 11am on the 28th of November, 2014, Mr. Akpan called me that money had been paid into my account.

    “I asked him how much was paid and he said over N450million. I moved to the bank and confirmed same.

    “Immediately, I told my account officer to arranged for a Bureau De Change that I could transfer to. When he got the BDC, I returned and wrote cheques for transfer to the Bureau De Change (BDC) account and Williams delivered the dollar value of the same figure to me. I dashed him $500 and the fellow that helped him in bringing the money into the car was also dashed $500.

    “Then I drove to Silverbird Galleria to wait for Mr. Akpan. He kept me waiting for close to two hours and I became uncomfortable staying in public with the huge sum and I didn’t know what was in the mind of the bankers.

    “I decided to move to ASD Motors to collect the car I bought from them the same day through transfer.

    “On the 28th of November, 2014, I gave over $2milliom to Mr. Edet Akpan and he gave me $57,000 only.  Mr. Williams Echechi of Zenith Bank can recall the actual amount he collected from the Bureau De Change. Mr. Edet Akpan made me to understand that he had executed contract with the Ministry of Environment.

    “I returned to Silverbird Galleria where I waited for a while as well before Mr. Akpan arrived with Honda Accord car alone and showed me the list of expenses as usual and made me to understand that he shall give me $57,000 only which he did.

    “He collected the Nokia phone from me and said we shall have something doing in March and he will get to me then.

    “I have not heard from him. I did not know that the money was stolen or from fraud.”

    But Akpan in a statement to ICPC said: “I do not know the person by name Adeolu Adeyanju neither the owner of Detwinx Global Service Limited. I do not know Adeolu Adeyanju. It is in the course of the investigation being carried out by ICPC that I got to know or hear of this name Adeolu Adeyanju and the company.

    “I have never transacted any business with him. Nobody with this name has ever come to my office for any transaction.”

    As at press time, it was gathered that ICPC was still on the trail of the syndicate behind the fraud.

    Records indicated that the anti-graft agency had on September 15, 2015 returned N924million intercepted to the Federal

    The ICPC chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta, had explained how the commission burst the fraud.

    He said: “On the 1st of December, 2014, we received a petition from this Ministry in respect of a fraudulent electronic funds transfer from its accounts. A forged payment mandate in the sum of N924million was presented to the First City Monument Bank Plc. Where the Ministry’s account was domiciled, the funds were diverted to different company accounts.

    “The funds were meant for the Great Wall Programme of the federal government meant to check desert encroachment through tree planting.”

  • Land swap: Reps order EFCC, ICPC to probe Ex- Minister, others

    Land swap: Reps order EFCC, ICPC to probe Ex- Minister, others

    The House of Representatives Thursdays ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission, ICPC to investigate the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Muhammed over the FCT Land Swap Programme.

    According to the House, others to be investigated by the anti- graft agencies are Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr Adamu Ismaila and the Coordinator, Abuja Infrastructure Investment Center (AIIC), Mr Faruk Sani.

    The investigation is to “ascertain their culpability or otherwise in the abuse of Financial Regulations, Due Process Procedures, and ICRC regulations with regard to the Land Swap Program.”

    The position of the House was sequel to the consideration and adoption of the recommendations of the report of the Herman Hembe- headed House Committee on FCT on the Investigation of the Abandoned Capital Projects and Alleged Malpractices Associated with the Land Swap Deals in the Federal Capital Territory.

    The previous FCT administration awarded and allocated over 7,600 hectares of land to companies and individuals under the Land Swap programme.

    “The EFCC/ICPC should as a matter of urgency, recover the said lands from the investors who are in breach of the terms of the land swap agreement entered into with the FCT,” the House said.

    The green Chamber also resolved that “relevant Security/Law Enforcement Agencies should investigate and track all monies expended outside the laid down Financial Guidelines for the Program, particularly, monies paid to the FCTA Land Swap Programme Account with the FCMB Plc, and the private personal account of Mustafa Usman Kaoje, the Accountant of AIIC and any other official of FCTA and AIIC.

    “That appropriate sanctions, as contained in Part V of the Financial Regulations, 2009 of the  Federal Republic of Nigeria be meted out by the relevant authorities on any officer found to have paid/collected money in cash/cheque without proof of exemption from the Federal Government E- Payment Policy;

    “That relevant security/law enforcement agencies should recover, for the FCT, all vehicles purchased with the Land Swap Project Funds for any official of FCTA, FCDA and AIIC;

    “That relevant security and other financial regulatory agencies should investigate the role of Aso Savings and Loans Plc, in conniving with some investors to misrepresent to the AIIC as to the financial standing of those investors with accounts in the said bank.”

    The House also recommended the termination of any Investor, who failed to meet the Basic Condition for participation/eligibility in the land swap program “particularly, the provision specifying that the Investor/Developer was to make available (in a dedicated project account) the sum of ₦350,000,000.00 (Three Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) as a Commitment fee on presentation of its Business plan.”

    The lawmakers advised that should the FCT Administration wish to continue the program, it

    “Should follow due process, adhere to relevant laws and ensure that only the most qualified investors are chosen to participate in the programme on a phase by phase basis.”

    Meanwhile, the House commenced a two-week Id-El- Fitri break to resume on the 12th of July.