The Nation Newspaper

Tag: National Security Adviser (ONSA)

  • Exercise Swift Response: No border is closed

    The National Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and spokesman for the joint operations at the borders code named Exercise Swift Response, Deputy Comptroller Joseph Attah, in this encounter with MUYIWA LUCAS, explains efforts to address insecurity at the border.

    You said the objective of the Exercise Swift Response is not  to close the borders, yet goods cannot transit from neighbouring borders into the country. How do you react to this?

    Closure is not the right word to use here. There is, indeed, intensive patrol by the joint security forces of the borders and unapproved routes, which smugglers use. The exercise is also to prevent the proliferation of weapons and check the movements of illegal migrants who come in to the disadvantage of our national security and economy. The exercise is being coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    How long will it last?

    It will go on for some days. By the time we have got our acts together and the objective of the exercise is achieved, it will be called off. Anyone who lives in Nigeria or follows our affairs will know that, in recent times, there have been cases of insurgency, increase in kidnapping, increase in use and abuse of controlled drugs, smuggling of weapons, which contributes to general insecurity. Every responsible government will put its muscles together to address these issues for  citizens’ benefits and ensure that the safety and economic well-being of the country are preserved

    How many agencies and men are part of the operation?

    The Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service, in collaboration with the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), intelligence agencies and the Nigeria Police pulled their human and material resources together for the exercise. We recorded some success barely one week into the exercise. I can confirm to you that 33 illegal migrants have been arrested, 59 bags of NPK fertiliser intercepted (NPK fertiliser are used to make improvised explosive devices), over 3000 bags of rice, petroleum products and other items have been stopped from coming into the country and seized. It has been largely successful and we will keep ensuring that those whose acts and movements are unlawful around our borders are brought to their knees.

    There are complaints that there was no prior information before the exercise started and that it is affecting perishable goods. If this is true, why?

    We cannot be talking about perishable goods when national security is at stake. We did alert the public. It may not be as long as those traders would have wanted. We issued a statement announcing the commencement of the exercise. Criminals and anyone involved in unlawful activities would have loved to have a long notice and go into hiding before the operation. The idea behind our short notice is to catch them unawares.

    Do you have the manpower and technology to man the illegal routes?

    The fact that managers of national security thought it necessary to pull manpower and resources together for this exercise should tell you about the importance the government attaches to the country’s security and citizens’ well-being. Beyond the patrol, there are efforts to acquire non-intrusive equipment. Every action to achieve improved security is being taken.

    Benin Republic, for example, is reportedly lamenting the ripple effect of the exercise on its economy. What are you doing about this?

    For some reasons, it appears that some people are making too much reference to a particular country. For the avoidance of doubt, this exercise is not targeted at any country. The target is on those who take advantage of our ‘porous’ borders to perpetuate illegal acts. As we speak, the exercise is not only in the Southwest. It is going on in the Southsouth, Northwest and Northcentral geo-political regions of the country. These zones have borders with other countries. It is not solely about Seme or Benin Republic. It is about anything that will negatively affect the security and safety of Nigerians.Any country that transacts business with Nigeria and keeps to the rules should have nothing to worry about.

    How sincere are your men deployed in this operation to keep to the rules?

    I have discovered that the escapist tendency of any critic is to talk about corruption. Who is corrupt? Who is corrupting who and for what reasons? If you are an international trader and you are importing legitimate things through the approved channels and paying appropriate duties to the government, why should you worry? If any law enforcement officer attempts to take you beyond the lawful aspects of trans-border transactions, you have a right to raise the alarm. If for instance, you import 100 units of an item and declares 30, trying not to pay for 70 units, that is an illegality on its own.

    As a Service, I can tell you that Customs, under our Controller-General, Col. Hammed Alli (retd), will never spare any officer found compromising. I am sure you are aware that some officers have been dismissed for compromising their positions or conniving with economic saboteurs against national interest. Some of them might not be directly involved in the act of smuggling but maybe in the course of carrying out examination on import or export cargoes, they did not do due diligence. I think the important message being passed is that the security forces of this country see themselves as one fighting a common cause. Our differences in uniform do not inhibit our togetherness in fighting criminals and criminality. We are working jointly as a team and in the interest of the country.

    What we hope to achieve in the long run from the exercise?

    It is the desire of the Federal Government and Mr. President that we achieve self-sufficiency in food production with local industries adequately protected to grow. Nigeria is blessed with arable land and vast human resources to grow the food we need. This operation supports that drive. We should do less, and if possible, none of food importation into this country. If we continue to rely on foreign rice that we don’t even know how long its been harvested and kept in silos before shipping, what are we saying to rice farmers? Are we saying they should pack and go away? Our local rice are more nutritious. The more we patronise them, the more we support that aspect of our local industry to grow and provide job opportunities for our teeming youth population.

  • Joint security team arrests 33 illegal migrants

    THE recently-constituted joint security team in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has arrested 33 illegal migrants, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) spokesman Joseph Attah said in a statement on Tuesday.

    The arrest was the product of the security agencies’ resolve to secure Nigeria’s territorial integrity, especially the land and maritime borders against trans-border security concerns, Attah said.

    The joint border security team is code-named Exercise Swift Response.

    The exercise, which began about a week ago, has received appreciable support from the public, such as border community dwellers and other well-meaning Nigerians.

    ONSA said the team had made large numbers of seizures and arrests from the four sectors, comprising the Northwest, Northcentral, Southwest and Southsouth zones.

    Read Also: Customs seizes elephant tusks, buffalo horns, others

    Attah said: “As at August 26, 33 illegal migrants have been arrested while seizures include 3,560-50 kilogrammes (kg) bags of parboiled foreign rice, 59 bags of NPK fertiliser, 15 vehicles, 12 drums filled with PMS, three engine boats, 65 drums of groundnut oil, four truck, 75 gallons of PMS, 29 motorcycles, 68 gallons of vegetable oil and 70 jerry cans of PMS, among other items.

    “The exercise, led by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), in collaboration with the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) as well as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other security and intelligence agencies, have continued to patrol and secure our border areas.

    “While an exercise of this nature is likely to create some inconveniences to members of the public, the overriding interest is to prevent the country against transnational security concerns such as smuggling, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, irregular migration, terrorism, armed banditry, among a host of other concerns.

    “This is consistent with the constitutional responsibility of any well-meaning government. We, therefore, continue to seek the support of all and sundry, to ensure that the desired objectives of Exercise Swift Response are achieved to promote a secured, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.”

     

  • NCC, ONSA go tough on fraudulent mobile devices

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) have resolved to go after unscrupulous elements who use mobile devices to defraud unsuspecting telecoms subscribers.

    To achieve this, the two agencies, working in collaboration with others, yesterday in Abuja, set up two joint committees. The committees are the Project Steering Committee (PSC), comprising the Infrastructure Concession & Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the Federal Ministry of Communications and the NCC; and the Project Delivery Team (PDT) which draws representation from the Federal Ministry of Communications, the ICRC, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the NCC.

    The committees, with specific terms of references, are to work together to ensure the implementation of Mobile Devices Management Systems (DMS), a Public-Private Partnership project, aimed at combatting the proliferation of fake, counterfeit, substandard and cloned mobile communications devices in the telecommunication industry.

    While inaugurating the committees in Abuja, CEO of NCC,  Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said the move was in line with the mandate of the Commission, as enshrined in the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), 2003, to type-approve all devices used in the telecommunications industry and to ensure that all devices used in the telecommunications industry are in line with agreed standards and specifications.

  • Alleged N2.1bn fraud: Prosecution closes case in Dokpesi’s trial

    …Defence plans no case submission

     

    The prosecution in the alleged N2.1billion fraud trial involving businessman, Raymond Dokpesi, and his firm, Daar Investment and Holdings Company Limited, announced the closure of its case Monday after calling 14 witnesses.

    Lead prosecution lawyer, Oluwaleke Atolagbe made the announcement after his 14th witness; Usman Aliyu concluded his testimony before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

    An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Aliyu gave details of his “analysis” of the N2.1bn allegedly paid unlawfully to Dokpesi and Daar by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in 2015.

    Aliyu said his findings revealed that Dokpesi allegedly spent the money to acquire personal assets. He said there was no basis for the payment of the N2.1bn to the defendants.

    Aliyu said, “My investigation bordered on the N2.1bn received by Daar Investment and Holdings from the Office of the National Security Adviser, without any due process followed and without carrying out any contract for the Office of the National Security Adviser.”

    The witness was made to read from a document the various transactions relating to the transfers of various sums of money to beneficiary companies from the N2.1bn allegedly paid by ONSA into Daar’s accounts.

    According to Aliyu, “all the money paid to Archisynthensis Limited was for renovation and construction work at the home of Dr. Raymond Dokpesi at Agenebode in Edo State and Daar’s office in Asokoro, Abuja.”

    Under cross-examination by lead defence lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN), the witness accepted the defence’s suggestion that funds in ONSA’s account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) were not proceeds of crime.

    He also said, “There is no reason for the defendants to have received any funds from the National Security Adviser.

    “The payment was made without any process being followed and without any contract executed.”

    Aliyu agreed with the defence that the defendants had “no control” over the procedure of payments by the NSA office.

    Read Also:Dokpesi to Lai Mohammed: Retract calling me looter or face N5b lawsuit

    At the conclusion of Aliyu’s evidence, after he was cross-examined by Agabi, Atolagbe told the court that the prosecution would close its case.

    Agabi said the defence intends to make a no-case submission, in which it would argue among others, that the prosecution has not led sufficient evidence linking it to the offences charged and warrant it being called to enter a defence.

    The defence will then pray the court to dismiss the charge and set the defendants free.

    The trial judge, Justice John Tsoho directed the defence to file its no-case submission within 21 days.

    Justice Tsoho equally asked the prosecution to file it’s response within 21 days from the day it is served with the defendants’ no-case submission.

    He also directed that the defendants would have 14 days to further reply from the day they are served with the prosecution’s response to the no-case submission.

    The judge adjourned to October 4 for parties to adopt their written submissions for and against the no-case submission.

    Dokpesi and Daar arraigned by the EFCC on charges of money laundering and procurement fraud to the tune of N2.1bn, which they allegedly received from ONSA between January and March 2015.

    They were accused of receiving the N2.1bn from ONSA, when Sambo Dasuki was in the National SecurityAdviser, as payment for a “purported contract on presidential media initiative”.

    The prosecution also alleged that Dokpesi and Daar received the N2.1bn from ONSA to prosecute the 2015 presidential media campaign for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    It claimed that the payment was in breach of the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act and the EFCC (Establishment) Act.

  • $2.1b arms cash: I never collected money from anywhere – Secondus

    …Challenges FG to publish voucher, says we will meet in court

    The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus Tuesday denied collecting N250million out of the $2.1billion arms cash allegedly squandered by the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    He challenged the Federal Government to publish the voucher(s) which he allegedly signed to collect the purported arms cash.

    He said it was unfortunate that Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which was founded and nurtured by PDP administration to tackle the issue of corruption in the system, had to turn itself into a pawn in the hand of APC.

    But he was silent on alleged 54 vehicles purportedly bought for him from the proceeds of Strategic Alliance Agreement between Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Nigeria Limited and the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

    Secondus, who bared his mind in a statement through his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Ike Abonyi, said the Federal Government and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were desperate to frame him up.

    The statement said: “The attention of the media office of the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has been drawn to the desperation of the Federal Government and its ruling, All Progressives Congress (APC) to frame him up with some blatant fabrications ostensibly to distract him from carrying out his responsibility of rebuilding his party.

    “The National Chairman would ordinarily not want to join issues with the government on a matter already in court but noted regrettably that the administration has great contempt for the court and the rule of law and has instead chosen to use blackmail and media persecution to defame and discredit their enemies. A gimmick Prince Secondus said has failed because Nigerians have come to know the antics of the drowning government.

    “The Federal Government and its agency in their desperation to forge documents and defame him, forgot to reconcile their lies; the Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji. Lai Mohammad and the EFCC couldn’t agree on the date of the purported money collection and whether it was collected by him Secondus or by a faceless fictional Chukwura that has no surname.

    “While they may have embarked on a wide search since 2015 for the surname of the so called aide of the National Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed claimed in his press conference on Good Friday March 29th, 2018 that Secondus collected the money on 19th of February, 2015, EFCC on their part on April 16th, 2018, eighteen days after said the money was collected on February 9th, 2015 and in another version still quoting the same EFCC claimed February 2, 2015.

    Secondus said he will not succumb to blackmail and intimidation on his mission to reform the PDP.

    He said it was sad that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which was founded and nurtured by PDP administration to tackle the issue of corruption in the system, had to turn itself into a pawn in the hand of APC.

    The statement added: “Secondus restated his earlier declaration that nothing, not even the blackmail and intimidation lined up against the opposition by the Federal Government would be enough to stop him from carrying out the reform of his party, the PDP, as the programme is aimed at repositioning the party with a view to rescuing Nigeria from the disaster called APC administration.

    “Prince Secondus described as unfortunate and tragic the fact that anti-corruption agency like EFCC founded and nurtured by PDP administration to tackle the issue of corruption in the system had to turn itself into a pawn in the hand of APC administration to witch hunt and harass perceived enemies of government just to impress and keep job.

    He challenged the government and any agency that have anything against him that just cropped up because he is trying to rebrand his party to bring such evidence to the court and stop character assassination in the media.

    The statement said: “There’s no need to be talking about a case pending in court in the newspapers.  If the government has anything to say, they should file it before the court as demanded.”

    “The National Chairman’s office is aware of a grand design by the government to stop at anything to tarnish his image. But he said that the move would fail.”

    Secondus asked the Federal Government to release any evidence linking him with the purported collection of N250million from the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    The statement said: “He (Secondus) challenged the government to come out with the vouchers with which he was said to have signed, adding that such signature would also be subjected to forensic analysis.

    “I never collected any money from anywhere. I didn’t ask anyone to collect money for me as well and I didn’t sign any voucher to collect any money.

    “It is pure blackmail which will never work. If they are cooking up anything, with the aim of blackmailing me, it will fail. I know that the task of uprooting this non-performing government would be horrendous. But God is always on the side of the people.

    “I can understand the frustration of a party that enjoyed enormous goodwill from Nigerians three years ago but got it squandered with its ‘nepotic’ and insensitive administration.

    “No amount of cheap blackmail and treachery will return the APC from the exit gate where Nigerians already pushed them to, awaiting 2019.

    “The departure date for the APC has already been announced and the flight schedule would not be cancelled, because Nigerians cannot wait to see them off.

    “Finally, the media office of the National chairman said that they are not oblivious of the fact that this government does not believe in court because they see rule of law as antithetical to their own agenda and understanding of democracy but noted emphatically, that truth must prevail over lies and propaganda especially as the populace have cried out to God for a rescue.”

    Read Also: Secondus gives Lai Mohammad 48 hours to retract statement

  • FG defends provisions of 2018 budget

    FG defends provisions of 2018 budget

    Mr Ben Akabueze, the Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation (BOF), has defended some provisions of the 2018 budget considered frivolous.

    Akabueze defended the provisions of the budget at a dialogue session with the media and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Abuja on Wednesday.

    The session was organised to enhance the understanding of stakeholders on issues and reform efforts regarding the 2018 budget.

    On the N308 million voted for the procurement of riot control equipment for 37 state police commands, including the FCT,  Akabueze said “this provision works out as less than N10 million per state command, I am not sure what is suspicious here’’.

    “Is it that there are no riots that need to be controlled or that an average of under N10 million per state police command is excessive expenditure on these items?’’

    He said that there were generalisations of items on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) platform which made it impossible to really specify what the items were.

    He added that henceforth, such clarifications would be made to avoid labeling of such items as frivolous.

    “There is N1.1 billion for cleaning and fumigation services for the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    “We are not shy to admit that for ONSA because all over the world, matters of national security are treated with some degree of confidentiality,” explained Akabueze.

    He also defended the N2.2 billion for Social Media Mining Suite.

    “The Department of State Service (DSS) may have plans to implement some security protocols to curtail the spread of fake news which may threaten national security.

    “But the DSS has assured us that the intention is not to hinder freedom of speech or information,’’ said Akabueze.

    Regarding the N4.9 billion billed for annual maintenance of mechanical/electrical equipment in the Presidential Villa, Akabueze said the villa was quite an expansive complex, which comprised several offices, residences and other relevant support facilities.

    He, however, said that since the budget was still in the appropriation stage, amendments could be made to items that are not national priorities.

    “We, however, still welcome public evaluations of the items in the budget because ultimately, the budget must be toward what people deem as national priorities.

    “If there are any items in the budget that you think ought not to be there or be a priority at this time, they should be flagged and identified to us and we would engage.

    “The budget is still in progress and it is still possible to make amendments where there is superior logic.’’

    The 2018 budget which was put at N8.612 trillion and presented to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari on Nov. 7, 2017 was tagged “Budget of Consolidation.’’

     

  • Why we can’t release Omisore now – EFCC

    Why we can’t release Omisore now – EFCC

    …Gives details of how ex-Osun D/Gov got funds from Dasuki

     

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has justified its continued detention of former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Iyiola Omisore.

    The EFCC gave details of its findings as regard how state’s funds were allegedly transferred to Omisore from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    It said its investigation of Omisore’s alleged involvement in the diversion of state’s funds through the ONSA was still on-going and that it would need to hold on to the ex-Deputy Governor to prevent him from absconding.

    An EFCC’s investigator, Kassim Yusuf, said these in a counter-affidavit the commission filed against an application for bail filed by Omisore before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    Yusuf, who stated that Omisore’s arrest and detention were backed by court orders, said the commission was planning to invite a number of the ex-Deputy Governor’s associates, who he named during interrogation.

    He said the EFCC is ” investigating cases of alleged payments $ade by the office of immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd) to individuals and companies, with nothing to show for it.

    “In one of the alleged cases which the 1st respondent (EFCC) is investigating, the name of the applicant (Omisore) featured prominently as a sole signatory to Firmex Gilt Ltd’s bank account domiciled at United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.

    “A copy of a letter to UBA, forwarding signatory mandate card and statement of account of Firmex Gilt Ltd is hereby attached.

    “Several payments were also made by the office of the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki Trtd) into the bank account of Sylvan Menamara Ltd domiciled at Diamond Bank, with nothing to show for for it.

    “Copies of e-payment schedules from ONSA and statement of accounts of Sylvan Menamara Ltd are hereby attached.

    “From Sylvan Menamara Ltd’s Diamondaccount, the sum of N160,000,000 was deposited into the said account on 4th August, 2014 by the then NSA. Thus sum was subsequently transferred into Firmex Gilt Ltd’s bank account domiciled at UBA Plc on 8th August 2014.

    “Investigation so far carried out, reveals that the applicant received hundreds of millions of naira from the office of the National Security Adviser, with nothing to show for it.

    “In the course of interviewing the applicant, he has mentioned names of persons and companies through which monies from the office of the National Security Adviser got to him.

    “There is need to those persons and companies mentioned by the applicant to make some clarification. If the applicant is granted bail, he will interfere with witnesses and he will also prejudice and frustrate our on-going investigation,” Yusuf said.

    Arguing the counter-affiadvit yesterday, EFCC’s lawyer, Takon Ndifon argued that Omisore’s detention was not unlawful and did not amount to an abuse of his rights.

    He contended that the fundamental rights enforcement suit initially filed before the court by Omisore, was merely intended to frustrate his investigation.

    Ndifon stated that Omisore was invited by the EFCC on April 11, in relation to the investigation, but promised to honour the invitation on April 14.

    “Instead of honouring the invitation in line with his rescheduled date of 14th April, 2016, he came and misled this court by obtaining an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st respondent (EFCC) from unlawfully arresting and detaining him without following the due process of law,” Ndifon said.

    He stated that his agency, in compliance with the law, obtained a warrant of arrest and remand warrant “to keep the applicant in its custody for 14 days pending the conclusion of its investigation and the arraignment of the applicant in court.

    Ndifon faulted Omisore’s claim to ill health, noting that he did not mention his ailment in his motion and that he also failed to establish that his purported ailment cannot be treated in the country.

    “We further submit that, based on the applicant’s antecedent, if he is granted bail, he will abscond and he will never willingly present himself to the 1ts respondent for arraignment before any court of law.”

    Omisore’s lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN) urged the court to grant his client bail. He faulted Omisore’s continued detention and argued that the court, having restrained the EFCC from arresting him, his current detention was illegal.

    Uche also referred to his cleint’s ill health, which he said required that he be released from custody and allowed to attend to seek medical attention outside the country.

    Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, after listening to parties, fixed ruling for Friday.

  • $2.1b arms cash: EFCC detains APC chief Isa

    $2.1b arms cash: EFCC detains APC chief Isa

    Detectives are questioning former Kaduna State Military Administrator, Gen. Lawal Jafaru Isa, who is also a close ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, over the $2.1billion arms deals.

    Gen. Isa, who was a Military Administrator from December 1993 to August 1996, is also a respected chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC).

    He has been undergoing interrogation in the last 18 hours at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.

    Jafaru was picked up on Wednesday night at his Ajayi Crowther Street home in Asokoro District, Abuja.

    A source said: “Sometime last week, we invited Gen. Isa for interaction in connection with the ongoing investigation of the $2.1billion arms deals but he wrote us for more time.

    “We waited for him to honour the invitation but he appeared to be foot-dragging.Yet, we cannot delay investigation till he has time for us.

    “We effected his arrest on Wednesday night and he has been making a statement to our investigators. At the appropriate time, we will release the details.”

    There were conflicting figure on exact amount for which Isa is  being probed over.

    A source claimed that the cash in question might be about N100million. Another said it was about N80million.

    But it was gathered that Gen. Isa was grilled over some funds allegedly paid to him by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    Gen. Isa is also a close friend of the embattled former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki.