The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lamido

  • Lamido ‘to run for president in 2019’

    Lamido ‘to run for president in 2019’

    Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido said yesterday he would  run for presidency on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019.

    Lamido spoke to reporters in his village, Bamaina in Birnin-kudu Local Government.

    He, however, said a party’s ticket was not given to anybody on a platter of gold, adding that a candidate must earn it.

    “If my party finds me worthy of the party’s presidential ticket to serve Nigeria, I will thank God and oblige.

    “Although there are issues in the party that we are working to resolve, we hope to have success soon and come out united.

    “As I’m talking to you now, we are working silently to resolve our differences and bring back to our fold those that left the party for APC.”

    The former governor held that the internal crisis in PDP was the reason for its defeat in 2015 general election.

    He added that the party had the capacity to rule the country again but the members must work hard to achieve that.

    Lamido denied any rift between him and his successor, Governor Muhammad Badaru of APC.

    He said both of them had mutual respect for each other and that he had no differences with him other than political ideologies.

     

     

  • Witness tells court how Lamido, sons diverted Jigawa funds

    Witness tells court how Lamido, sons diverted Jigawa funds

    A Federal High Court in Abuja heard yesterday how former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido,  his two sons and three others allegedly diverted funds belonging to the state.

    Lamido, his sons – Aminu and Mustapha, and his former aides are being tried before Justice Adeniyi Ademola, on a 27-count of abuse of office and money laundering.

    They are being prosecuted by the Economic an Financail Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    A prosecution witness Michael Wetkas told the court how Lamido, his sons, and cohorts allegedly received kickbacks.

    Wetkas, the 18th prosecution witness and an operative with EFCC, said investigation into the alleged fraud started in 2007 through to 2015.

    Wetkas said: “We discovered that Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company, which executed over 21 contracts totalling almost N30 billion, continuously paid over N1 billion into the accounts of Speeds International Limited and Bamaina Holding Company – both accounts, whose sole signatory is Alhaji Sule Lamido,” he said.

    Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company, according to Wetkas, was one of the contractors to the state.

    He said, “Investigation also shiowed that about N100 million of third party cheques were cleared into the Access Bank Account of Speeds International Limited, where the 3rd defendant (Mustapha Sule Lamido) is a signatory.

    “These resulted in the invitation of the Managing Director of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company, Mr Udo, to the commission, where Udo claimed that the money was for sub-contracts awarded by Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company to the defendants’ companies for supplies of Bitumen, Diesel and Steel Iron Wrought – construction consumables used by the company.

    “A close inspection of Dantata and Sawoe’s electronic records, physical books, financial statements, consumable journals, and waybills  by the investigators and the forensic team showed discrepancies which could not be explained.

    “In one of such cases, a forensic report showed that entries dating back to between 2007 and 2013 were only entered into records in 2014-2015, long after EFCC investigation had commenced.

    “Upon further questioning, the 9th defendant, Mr Bartholomew could not provide any evidence that the company procured any items to execute the sub-contract.

    “As part of the investigation, the team of operatives discovered another company, A.G. Ferrero and Co. Limited, which was also a contractor to the state between 2007 and 2013, when the 1st defendant was governor of Jigawa State. A.G. Ferrero was awarded contracts by the Jigawa State government, one of which was the construction of the Jigawa State Secretariat, Dutse. The contract for the project was initially awarded for N6 billion but later reviewed to over N9 billion,” he said.

    Wetkas added that Interior Woodwork Limited was awarded contracts by the Jigawa State government for interior furnishings, and paid N65.5 million and N48 million into accounts of the 3rd and 6th defendants’ accounts.

    He further said the 4th defendant, Aminu Wada Abubakar, introduced Alhaji Suraju Ahmadu, MD/CEO of Rauda Integrated Services Limited, who previously testified as PW12, to the 3rd defendant, Mustapha Sule Lamido, under the guise that he (Aminu) was going to assist Ahmadu to secure contracts from the state goverment. Alhaji Ahmadu thereafter handed over his company profile documents for that purpose.

    “Alhaji Ahmadu got and executed two  contracts, valued at N62 million. During the investigation, however, other contracts were discovered to have been executed by the duo of Mustapha Sule Lamido and Aminu Wada Abubakar, totally over N150 million.

    “We discovered an account in Access Bank in the name of Rauda Integrated Services Limited, which had the 3rd and 4th defendants as signatories, into which part of the payments for these contracts, which had been executed without the knowledge of the owner of the company, had been paid,” the witness said.

    Earlier, the prosecution’s 17th witness, Rasaq Adetuyi, a Compliance officer with Access Bank Plc, tendered certified account statements of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company, which were admitted in evidence.

    Also tendered were: letters written to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to confirm the existence of the companies, which were admitted in evidence as Exhibit EFCC 59a, b, EFCC 60 and EFCC 61;  as well as the letter from CAC, which stated that the company,  Gada Construction Ltd, was non-existent.

    Further hearing resumes on April 12, 2016.

  • Badaru, Lamido and Jigawa’s health sector

    One of the beauties of democracy is the freedom of speech only that we do not allow justice and truth to be killed on the table of egotism, envy, hatred and ingratitude. I have been thinking what Jigawa government under Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar Talamis wants to achieve by always attacking and discrediting Sule Lamido’s visible and pragmatic achievements in Jigawa.

    Instead of recognizing and appreciating what he did and continuing from where he stopped, they keep belittling him by using people to mislead the general public particularly those who have not visited Jigawa or heard of what Lamido did in the state.  A first time and even a wayfarer through Jigawa can attest to the work Lamido did in the state. Records and legacies don’t lie.

    Before the coming of the Lamido administration in 2007, the health budget of the state was never above five percent. From 2007 there was a gradual increase in the size of the budget reaching 15% in 2013 making the state the only one in the federation to attain the Abuja Declaration.

    In 2007 when Lamido took over as the governor, he introduced a decentralized and integrated district health system known as Gunduma Health System to improve access to healthcare and reach out to the rural dwellers within the limit of available resources and he succeeded.

    Lamido’s vision in the initiating Gunduma Health System, was to have a healthy and productive population in Jigawa State and to promote the health status of the people through improved integrated health care service, awareness on health and health related matters, to ensure good resource mobilization and practices with increased public – private partnership and effective participation and ownership to ensure that basic health services are made available, accessible, affordable and acceptable to the people of Jigawa State.

    This came with a number of gains including:  the revamping of the infrastructure, improvement in health care financing, strengthening of the human resource, improving health services delivery, sustaining drugs supply and equipment provision and promoting community participation and ownership. Gunduma Health System was created to focus on improving health service delivery while the state Ministry of Health maintained its stewardship role for policy direction.  Before Lamido became the governor in 2007, Jigawa State had the highest maternal and infant mortality rate in the country; the health sector then, was a sham. The Gunduma Healthcare System he initiated was messiah for entire health sector in the state.

    When Lamido took over in 2007, his administration inherited only 21 doctors, six pharmacists and less than 200 nurses/midwives in what undoubtedly showed and proved a decaying health sector. Because workers are the engine of any institution, before Lamido handed over power in May 29, 2015, there were 160 doctors, 685 nurses/midwives, 34 pharmacists – in a healthcare system having 6,136 staff strength in different cadres. What a passionate, brilliant and a caring leader!

    The health sector has witnessed improved financing options from the government since 2008. The percentage of state budgets allocated to the health sector has witnessed a sustained increase in budgetary allocation to the health sector from nine percent in 2009, 11 % in 2010, 14% in 2011 to 14% in 2012. This upward trend is due to implementation of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) and Consolidated Medical Salary structure (CONMESS).

    The only School of Nursing in the state was operating in a local government council secretariat for almost 19 years, but because of Lamido’s prudence, and the value he placed on the health sector, built a new brand one in Birnin-Kudu which is one of the best in the country. Lamido built General and Cottage Hospitals, Primary Health Centres, Dispensaries and Health Posts, Basic Health Centres, Psychiatric Hospital, Tuberculosis and Leprosy etc. He also renovated and expanded the Rasheed Shekoni Specialist Hospital and School of Health Technology Jahun among others. At the time of handing over in May last year, Lamido’s administration left behind a total of 676 functional health facilities (Hospitals) in the state.  And there were provision of high quality free and affordable drugs in all the hospitals (medical buildings) in the state.

    The Haihuwa Lafiya programme introduced in 2008 ensured that there was 5.5 million hospital attendance in 2014, against 1.2 million in 2008; 3.3 million children seen, against 0.5 million in 2008; 35 percent pregnant women delivering in Jigawa hospitals, against only seven percent in 2007. By May last year, the rate of women attending ante-natal rose to the all-time high of 89 percent.

    Apparently, the assertion about the so-called neglect of the health sector started since the advent of the present administration in the state, especially with the retrenchment of all health casual workers in the state, stoppage of allocation to all Jigawa health institution (including free drugs to the masses) and Haifuwa Lafiya scheme, the present plan to reduce the health workers salary and other entitlements (welfare), and also the outbreak of cholera in Hara and Kafijiba villages of Dutse LGA of the state recently. As the record reads, about 40 people, most of them children, are reported to have died as a result of the outbreak of a disease suspected to be cholera. Also, the outbreak was linked to lack of good drinking water because their well in the village which served as the source of drinking water is not functioning now and there was a suspicion whether the disease was a result of contamination of drinking water.

    Today, one cannot write complete history of Primary Health Care under one roof without recourse to newly structured health system in the state which has enviably provided impetus to the general re-structuring of the health system across the nation. In fact, during Sule Lamido administration, several states visited Jigawa to study the health system or some components of the system towards adopting or adapting according to their individual peculiarities. Among the states that visited Jigawa are Bauchi, Enugu, NasarawaYobe, Bayelsa, Zamfara and Kano.

    What Sule Lamido did to Jigawa and humanity in general is a true sign of good leadership and no question about the obvious. The entire populace are convinced that the political gladiators in the state, region if not in the country cannot produce a match to Lamido in terms of political participation, his ideologies, credentials, principles and achievements.

    Jigawa before Lamido was at the peak of political, social and economic degeneration but within a short time, Lamido restored a new social order for the people. Because of the facilities provided by Sule Lamido, the socio-economic landscape of the state has changed for good. Jigawa has not only improved positively, it that can compete with many states in the country most especially in the health sector. Governor Badaru is advised to take counsel from former U.S President, Harry S. Truman (1884-1972) who said –  “Do your duty, and history will do you justice”.

    • Adamu wrote in from Kafin-Hausa, Jigawa State
  • Abubakar drops planned probe of Lamido

    Abubakar drops planned probe of Lamido

    The planned probe of ex-Governor Sule Lamido by his successor, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar may have been put in abeyance, sources have disclosed. Shortly on assumption of office in May, Abubakar had vowed to probe his predecessor’s tenure, but six months down the line, indications have emerged that the governor has jettisoned the plan owing to the distractions the probe may constitute for his administration in delivering on its promises.

     

  • Lamido, sons for trial Oct 21

    Lamido, sons for trial Oct 21

    Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, two of his sons and some companies were re-arraigned yesterday before the Federal High Court, Abuja, on amended charges of corruption and money laundering.

    The ex-governor, his sons; Aminu and Mustapha, and an aide, Aminu Wada Abubakar and the companies were arraigned on July 9 before the Federal High Court sitting in Kano.

    Yesterday, the prosecuting agency, brought a new charge, and a new person; Batholomew Darlington Agoha, and increased the counts to 27.

    The affected companies are Bamaina Holdings Limited, Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited, Bamaina Aluminium Limited and Speeds International Limited.

    Yesterday, they were arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Ademola. They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    One of the counts read: “That you Alhaji Sule Lamido (while being governor of Jigawa State), Aminu Sule Lamido, Mustapha Sule Lamido, Bamaina Holdings Limited, Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited and Speeds International Limited between October 15 and December 18, 2008, within the jurisdiction of this court converted an aggregate sum of N124,649,915 paid by Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Nigeria Limited into the account of Speeds International Limited.”

    Justice Ademola granted them bail on the conditions earlier granted them by Justice Gabriel Kolawole (also of the Federal High Court, Abuja).

    Justice Kolawole said one of the sureties must be a Level 16 civil servant in either a federal or state establishment. The other, the judge said, must be an entrepreneur, who must own a property worth N75 in Abuja, Kano or Jigawa.

    He ordered the accused persons to deposit their travel documents with the court, which they could retrieve whenever they wish to travel.

    Justice Ademola adjourned to October 21 for trial.

     

  • Lamido: I bear no grudge against anyone

    Lamido: I bear no grudge against anyone

    Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido said yesterday in Kano that he bore no grudges against anybody following his travails and those of his sons.

    Lamido, addressing reporters in his home after returning from Abuja where they were released on bail, said every human being had his or her shortcomings, “but this is an experience, which you cannot share  with another person.”

    He said: “It is disheartening that a situation where your family is dragged into an issue in order to humiliate and destroy what you must have built for many years, is uncalled for, which should be discouraged.

    “If you are dealing with human institutions, you don’t look for perfection, because human institutions are never perfect, whether media, cultural, labour or political. In human institutions, there can be perfection or some imperfection. In the process to improve democracy, there must be some mistakes.

    “Now, there is this scenario where they now bring your own family into it. The purpose is to humiliate, to reconstruct and to destroy. This is part of the hazard, this must be discouraged. I am a human being, I have my own shortcomings. What I’m saying is that if you want to serve your own people, or you want to serve your own country, you might face some consequences.

    “They know I am Sule and they know who Sule is. They know Sule in the outside world, they know in the whole country who Sule is. This new revolution that who is Sule is very fascinating. Wherever you are of this divide, whether you are for or against, whether you believe I am  innocent or you believe I am corrupt. Where you fulfil your own political interest in your own interpretation.

    “This is not the first time I’ve been persecuted and imprisoned. More ex-governors should expect to pass through these travails because they can be framed up.

    “In my own case, in the last 30 years, I have been very loud. It can be offensive, it can be too irritating. I bear no grudge against anybody. Those who see me as a thief, they have their own opinion. Those who see me as innocent, they have their own opinion. This is part of the hazards. To me, the bail is more important. The bail was based on my personal recognition.”

  • Alleged N1.351b bribery: Lamido, sons moved to Kuje

    Alleged N1.351b bribery: Lamido, sons moved to Kuje

    •May get bail soon

    Former Jigawa State Governor Lamido and his two sons (Aminu and Mustapha) were yesterday relocated from Kano to Kuje Prisons in Abuja ahead of the hearing of their application for bail by a vacation judge.

    They were allegedly kept in the same building block with some Boko Haram suspects.

    But their relocation was greeted with excitement as inmates jubilated in anticipation of free Ramadan meals.

    The three suspects are standing trial with Wada Abubakar for a 208-count charge of abuse of public trust and N1.351billion bribery by contractors.

    Although they pleaded not guilty last Thursday, they were remanded in prison custody by Justice Evelyn Anyadike.

    Investigation showed that Lamido and his sons were brought to Kuje Prisons at  1pm yesterday, after spending a few days in Kano Prisons.

    It was gathered that although the suspects would have been moved to a separate detention facility, the order of Justice Anyadike had to be complied with.

    It was learnt that the order was explicit that they should be remanded in a prison custody.

    A reliable source said: “Upon arrival, they were formally registered as inmates, even though they are high-profile suspects.

    “There was however security scares when the suspects were taken to the same block, where some Boko Haram members were detained. But unlike the Central Prisons in Kano, the suspects were kept in neat cells.

    “The fear was, however, temporary as inmates became excited in anticipation that the former governor would assist them to solve some problems.

    “Some of the inmates asked the governor and his sons to provide them better meals to break their Ramadan fast yesterday.

    “The governor and his children were later seen making arrangements for their own feeding outside the prison rations.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “Were it not for the order of the court that the suspects be kept in prison, they would have been relocated to another facility.

    “This is why they will be in Kuje Prisons until their application for bail is granted. I think the EFCC wants them to observe Sallah at home.”

    Findings, however, confirmed that the ex-governor and his children were relocated to Abuja ahead of their arraignment before a vacation judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja for bail.

    A source in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said: “A vacation judge is expected to hear the bail application of the suspects any time this week.

    “So, they have to relocate to Abuja to enable a judge to consider their request for bail. I know that they have been moved to Abuja, but I cannot tell you their whereabouts.”

  • Lamido, two sons remanded in prison

    Lamido, two sons remanded in prison

    Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, two of his sons, Aminu and Mustapha, and Wada Abubakar were remanded in prison custody yesterday after they were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a Federal High Court in Kano.

    They were arraigned on 28-count charge of money laundering, abuse of public trust and bribery by contractors amounting to N1.351 billion.

    The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them and their counsel, Offiong Offiong (SAN), prayed the court to be allowed to move a motion for their bail.

    The prosecution, led by Chile Okoroma, objected to the request, arguing that they were served with the motion “by 5p.m. on Wednesday”. He said the prosecutions ought to be given ample time to respond to the motion.

    Okoroma then applied for Lamido, two of his sons and Wada Abubakar to be remanded in prison custody.

    But Lamido’s counsel pleaded that the accused should be remanded in EFCC custody.

    The prosecution counsel objected, saying: “Our facilities are overstretched in Abuja and Kano. We appeal for them to be remanded in prison custody”.

     In her ruling, Justice Evelyn Anyadike ordered that the four accused persons be remanded in Kano prison custody because the EFCC said they lacked enough facilities to accommodate them.

    Lamido, the sons and Abubakar were arrested on July 7 by EFCC operatives.

    But thousands of Lamido’s supporters protested outside the court premises for what they described as “politically motivated trial”. They were chanting “Sai Lamido”, “Why Lamido, there are bigger thieves than Lamido” and “Why this selective justice”.

     Ahead of the arraignment, fierce looking security agents were drafted to the court to strengthen security.

    Lamido, who wore white dress and black slippers, arrived in the court with others about 8:47a.m.

    The accused persons were conveyed to court in a white Nissan Urvan bus belonging to the Nigerian prisons with registration number PS 548 AO1 at 1:35 pm.

    They were later driven back in the same vehicle to the Kano Central Prisons.

    Their trial is fixed for September 28.

  • Lamido, two sons remanded in prison

    Lamido, two sons remanded in prison

    Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, two of his sons, Aminu and Mustapha, and Wada Abubakar were remanded in prison custody yesterday after they were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a Federal High Court in Kano.

    They were arraigned on 28-count charge of money laundering, abuse of public trust and bribery by contractors amounting to N1.351 billion.

    The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them and their counsel, Offiong Offiong (SAN), prayed the court to be allowed to move a motion for their bail.

    The prosecution, led by Chile Okoroma, objected to the request, arguing that they were served with the motion “by 5p.m. on Wednesday”. He said the prosecutions ought to be given ample time to respond to the motion.

    Okoroma then applied for Lamido, two of his sons and Wada Abubakar to be remanded in prison custody.

    But Lamido’s counsel pleaded that the accused should be remanded in EFCC custody.

    The prosecution counsel objected, saying: “Our facilities are overstretched in Abuja and Kano. We appeal for them to be remanded in prison custody”.

     In her ruling, Justice Evelyn Anyadike ordered that the four accused persons be remanded in Kano prison custody because the EFCC said they lacked enough facilities to accommodate them.

    Lamido, the sons and Abubakar were arrested on July 7 by EFCC operatives.

    But thousands of Lamido’s supporters protested outside the court premises for what they described as “politically motivated trial”. They were chanting “Sai Lamido”, “Why Lamido, there are bigger thieves than Lamido” and “Why this selective justice”.

     Ahead of the arraignment, fierce looking security agents were drafted to the court to strengthen security.

    Lamido, who wore white dress and black slippers, arrived in the court with others about 8:47a.m.

    The accused persons were conveyed to court in a white Nissan Urvan bus belonging to the Nigerian prisons with registration number PS 548 AO1 at 1:35 pm.

    They were later driven back in the same vehicle to the Kano Central Prisons.

    Their trial is fixed for September 28.

  • N1.3b: EFCC detains Lamido, sons

    N1.3b: EFCC detains Lamido, sons

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday detained a former Governor of Jigawa State, Alh. Sule Lamido and two sons ahead of their arraignment before a court in Kano today.

    The three detainees have also been flown to Kano in preparation for their trial in connection with an alleged N1.3billon worth of contracts.

    They are being charged on a 24-count  relating to alleged mismanagement of over N1.3billion.

    Also, the EFCC has arraigned a staff of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Abuja, Ali Gambo Abdullahi, before Justice C. N Orji of the FCT High Court, for an alleged N1.8 million bribery scam.

    The suspect faces a two-count on conspiracy, bribery and abuse of office.

    Investigation by our correspondent showed that Lamido and his two sons were detained after reporting for further investigation.

    But they were informed that they would be flown to Kano for trial on Wednesday.

    A source said: “The investigation of Lamido and his two sons has reached an appreciable level for their arraignment in a court in Kano.

    “We have been interrogating the former governor on alleged award of contracts to some companies owned by his children. The value of the contracts was in the region of about N1.3b.

    “We are also looking into allegation of money laundering against the ex-governor and some of his children. You know one of the sons of Lamido had been convicted for a similar offence.

    “The allegations against Lamido have to do with alleged mismanagement of funds, money laundering and abuse of office.”

    A top official of the EFCC confirmed the relocation of Lamido from Abuja to Kano.

    “The three people have been flown to Kano but our immediate challenge is that the case has not been assigned to any Federal High Court judge as I speak with you.

    “But we are hopeful that they may be arraigned on Wednesday or Thursday. They are facing a 24-count charge bordering on alleged mismanagement of over N1billion.”

    Also, the EFCC has arraigned an employee of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Ali Gambo Abdullahi, before Justice C.N. Orji of the Federal High Court, Apo, Abuja.

    The suspect is facing a two-count charge on conspiracy, bribery and abuse of office.

    According to a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, the suspect’s arrest and subsequent arraignment followed “a petition from one Rasheed O. Taiwo, who claimed that he paid a bribe of N1.8million to the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja, Mr. Danladi Umar, through the accused.

    But the chairman of CCT, Umar, had consistently denied demanding or receiving any bribe sum through the suspect or anybody.

    The EFCC however said the petitioner, Taiwo, alleged that, “Umar who claimed to be presiding over a case in which he was involved, demanded a N10m (ten million naira) bribe as “settlement”, to give him a clean bill of health.

    ”The petitioner further alleged that, after several negotiations, he paid N1.8m as initial deposit, into the account of Ali Gambo Abdulllahi, in one of the new generation banks.”

    The case has been adjourned to October 21 and 22 for commencement of trial.