The Nation Newspaper

Tag: National Security Adviser

Why herdsmen/farmers clash, by minister

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met with security chiefs on the herdsmen/farmers clashes in the country.

Minister of Defence Monsur Dan-Ali told State House correspondents at the end of the meeting that it dwell on the general security challenges.

He blamed the blockage of grazing routes for the series of herdsmen, farmers clashes.

The minister said Nigeria was finalising plans to buy jets from the United States.

He said the ministry and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) had set up a committee to work out the modalities to transform the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons to a National Commission.

Asked if the solutions to the clashes were discussed, Dan-Ali said: “Yes we did. First I mentioned about this commission on proliferation of arms into the country. You see, whatever crisis that happens at any time, there is remote and immediate causes.

“Look at this issue (killings in Benue and Taraba), what is the remote causes of this farmers crisis. Since the nation’s Independence, we know there used to be a route whereby the cattle rearers take because they are all over the nation. You go to Bayelsa, Ogun, you will see them. If those routes are blocked, what do you expect will happen?

“These people are Nigerians. It’s just like one going to block shoreline; does that make sense to you? These are the remote causes of the crisis.

“But the immediate cause is the grazing law. These people are Nigerians and we must learn to live together with each other. Communities and other people must learn how to accept foreigners within their enclave. Finish!”

Asked if he was justifying the killings because of the blocking of the routes, the minister said: “You are going away from what I came here to do. However, this is internal security, I can provide some answers. I have told you that the remote cause is part of the grazing law. Since independence, there are clear routes where these people pass.”

On arms, Dan-Ali said: “They are all over. In that killings you are talking about, they are also militias that also did the killings. Some people were caught with arms and they call themselves Forest Guards or whatever with AK47. There is nowhere in this country where arms are allowed to be carried apart of legitimate security forces.

“So, anybody carrying any arm is doing so illegally. Militias were caught in the same land doing the same killings; so, the killings are not done by any particular group, its a communal issue.”

Asked what Nigerians should believe; that the killings were done by foreign terrorists or militias, Dan-Ali said, “Of course that is why I said they are militias. Militias are part of illegal immigrants. They are the people”.

According to him, the members of the National Commission are drawn from all security services with Office of the National Security Adviser, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Interior. It will be headed by a retired general.

He said that $494 million will be used to acquire the Super Tucano A29 jets from the US as well as training and continuous servicing.

He said: “Some of the stringent measures include that we will start having them from 2020, which is two years from now. They are also thinking of not allowing our technicians to be part of the production inspection. But this is what we normally do in all the defence contracts we send our personnel to go and understudy especially when it comes to specialised contracts like in Russia, our personnel are permanently based in where the production is being done for this MI35 helicopters,” he added

Reading the statement on the National Security Council meeting, he thanked the President, Commander-in Chief of the Armed Forces for his continuous funding of the Armed forces to perform their constitutional role, especially as it is now fighting multiple security challenges.

According to him, he informed the Council that in line with the decision of the government to increase the strength of the Armed Forces to address manpower, the three services have in the last two years enlisted and recruited qualified Nigerians.

The Ministry of Defence, Dan-Ali said, is also building befitting accommodation for members of the Armed Forces in the six geopolitical zones.

“Similar accommodation was built by Defence Headquarters and commissioned by the HMOD in Abuja last month. This has gone a long way to solving accommodation problem and boosting the morale of personnel serving in Abuja,” he said

He added: “In compliance with the presidential directive for the establishment of National Commission on the Control of small Arms and Light Weapons in the country, the Ministry of Defence in conjunction with the office of the National Security Adviser, has set up a committee to work out modalities to transform the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PRESCOM) to a National Commission.”

January 26, 2018
Obaseki to meet NSA over violent crimes in Edo

…As Army deploys personnel to security flash-points

The Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, is to meet and discuss with the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Mongonu, on ways of tackling the upsurge in criminal activities in parts of the state.
Obaseki disclosed this in Government House, Benin City, on Wednesday, while fielding questions from journalists on the measures his administration has put in place to check the violent crimes in parts of the state.
He said the meeting with the National Security Adviser will provide the opportunity for him to discuss areas of security collaboration, and raise the bar in intelligence gathering and proactive surveillance in the state.
The governor called on residents of the state to go about their normal businesses without panic, and assured that adequate arrangements have been made to effectively tackle the recent upsurge in security challenges experienced in the state.

He said that the Nigerian Army has since deployed its personnel to the areas where the crimes were committed, as well as, other flashpoints in the city, to forestall reoccurrence.

“We have useful information about those who we suspect, were involved in the incidents of last few weeks. I want to assure Edo people that normalcy has been restored and they will not likely see the occurrence of such incident again,” he said.
He added that all arms of government will need to collaborate in sharing of intelligence and trust to ensure efficient security arrangement in Nigeria.
Recall that security concerns arose in Edo following the killing of three police officers attached to the Chief Executive Officer of Ogba Zoological Garden, Mr. Andy Ehanire and his subsequent kidnap and the kidnap of prominent musician, Osayomore Joseph.
The incidents led to protest in Abuja by Edo indigenes calling for the redeployment of the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, Haliru Gwandu Abukar.

October 11, 2017
Osinbajo’s panel meets in Aso Rock

The Presidential Investigative panel headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday night met behind closed doors at the State House, Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari last week Wednesday had set up a three man committee with membership including the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

It was mandated to investigate allegations of violations of law and due process made against the suspended Secretary to the Government of Federation, Babachir David Lawal, in the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE).

The panel is also investigating the money linked to the suspended Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke concerning the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The committee had grilled Oke on Monday for about 10 hours while Lawal appeared before the committee for about 2 hours on Tuesday.

The Wednesday meeting, which started around 6.45p.m., only have members of the committee in attendance.

It was not clear if Oke or Lawal will appear later before the Wednesday meeting comes to an end.

It was also not certain if any private or other public officials have been linked to the investigation as it had vowed to invite anyone uncovered.

A reliable source, who does not want his name in prints, however disclosed that the Wednesday meeting was to review what the panel has gathered from the investigation so far.

The committee is expected to submit its report by next week.

The meeting was still ongoing at the time of filing this report.

April 26, 2017
FG Panel raises alarm over loss of 90 billion naira to cyber crimes

A Federal Government Panel on National Cyber Security has raised the alarm over persistent cyber security threats and internet hackings across the country, saying that the country has been losing 90 billion naira every year to cyber crimes since 2014.

At its inauguaral meeting in Abuja, the panel which comprises of representatives from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Nigeria Postal Service, NIPOST, NigComSat, Nigeria Computer Society, and CS2 called for concerted efforts to arrest the situation.

The panel also known as the inter-ministerial Technical Committee on the implementation of the National Cyber security Strategy insisted that pro-active measures should be taken to address the problem.

A statement endorsed by the Head of Corporate Affairs of NITDA, Mrs Hadiza Umar noted that the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami urged the panel to urgently address the misuse and abuse of access to the tools of Information Technology,

Pantami stated that, “these Information Technological tools that have become vital in our critical activities are also avenues adopted by individuals and groups to carry out a range of malicious activities” adding that these threats could be targeted at national critical infrastructures, government/private institutions or individuals.

“Today, information assets are very valuable and various sectors of the Nigerian government have come to rely on technological tools to carry out their processes both critical and non-critical. Financial services, Telecommunications, Navigation systems, Manufacturing Sector, Oil and Gas, Power and Energy, Food and Agriculture, Emergency Services, Public Healthcare, Water and Waste Management Systems amongst others now strongly rely on digital systems networks”, he said.

The NITDA boss further disclosed that research findings indicate that “out of about 97 million internet users in Nigeria, 14% suffer cyber-attacks. In 2013, global payment giant, paypal.com disclosed that Nigerians lost about 159 billion naira to cyber security threats and more worrisome is the fact that since 2014, the country has been losing approximately 90 billion naira to cybercrime and in December 2015.”

” Nigeria was the 17th most attached nation in the world based on threat intelligence drawn from Check Point Software Technologies. Office of the National Security adviser (ONSA) recently disclosed that of the 2,175 Nigerian websites hacked in 2015, 585 were government owned”, he added.

The scale and dimension of these threats according to Dr Pantami has compelled the Agency to develop and implement a new cyber security strategy for the Federal Civil and Public Service Sector with the approval of the Minister of Communications.

He called for continuous collaborative efforts as information security is not a one – off programme, as according to him the threat landscape keeps changing.

February 2, 2017
N400m fraud: Metuh tells court to subpoena Dasuki as witness

A former National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, has asked the Federal High Court, Abuja, to subpoena former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, to testify in his trial.

At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Counsel to Metuh, Mr Emeka Etiaba (SAN), reminded the judge, Justice Okon Abang, of a pending subpoena before the court to invite Dasuki as the next witness.

Abang, however, advised that both the defence and prosecuting counsel liaise with the authority holding Dasuki to release him to appear in court.

He said that it was only after the defence and prosecution had approached the relevant authority and the authority refused to release Dasuki to them that they should come back to him.

Counsel to the second defendant Tochukwukwu Onwugbufor (SAN) however said it was the duty of the court to issue a subpoena to anyone to appear in court.

The defence team filed the subpoena on Dec. 2, 2016.

It was premised on the grounds that since the allegation against Metuh revolved around Dasuki, it was important for Dasuki to be a witness in the matter.

Meanwhile, following the stalling of the case on Tuesday due to the ill-health of Metuh, the defence, at today’s sitting presented a medical report from the National Hospital with details of his health condition.

The defence team told the court that Metuh was unable to appear in court because he was admitted at the National Hospital for complications arising from spinal cord injuries.

Etiaba said that the medical experts handling the defendant’s ailment were unable to give the specific date for his full recovery due to the nature of the ailment.

He asked the court for a three-week adjournment for the defendant to recuperate and also seek further medical attention.

Onwugbufor, for his part, told the court that he had seen the medical report and that he was suffering the same ailment as the defendant.

He said he was able to get the right medical care only in London, and urged the court to look at the defendant’s case with compassion since his condition was even more critical than his.

According to him, what Metuh is suffering is excruciating and requires expert attention to ensure full recovery.

Prosecuting counsel, Mr Sylvanus Tahir, said that he was not opposed to an adjournment, adding that the prosecution sympathised with the defence and wished the defendant quick recovery.

“We have been served with the medical report of the defendant and we have little or nothing to say since the record speaks for itself. All we can say is that we extend our sympathy to the defence.

“With regards to the request for a three-week adjournment, we are taking them by their word since the medical report did not give an indication about how soon the defendant will be discharged.

“It only says his management will continue until he gets well and I am not opposed to the adjournment,’’ Tahir said.

Abang adjourned continuation of hearing in the matter till Feb. 21 and Feb. 24.

January 11, 2017
EFCC arraigns Dasuki’s aide, others for N36bn fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned Col. Nicholas Ashinze, a former Special Assistant to the embattled ex-National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, for money laundering.

Ashinze was docked along with an Austrian, Wolfgang Reinl, and two others, Edidiong Idiong and Sagir Mohammed, in a Federal High Court, Abuja.

A statement by EFCC’s spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said the accused were arraigned on a 13-count charge of corruption and money laundering to the tune of N36.8 billion.

The defendants are standing trial alongside five companies accused of diverting huge sums from the office of the NSA under Dasuki.

“The companies are Geonel Integrated Services Limited, Unity Continental Nigeria Limited, Helpline Organization, Vibrant Resource Limited and Sologic Integrated Services Limited.

“In one of the charges, the EFCC alleges that Ashinze and Reinl, who is the Managing Director of Geonel Integrated Services Limited, transferred N550 million to Edidiong Idiong, a lawyer.

“The transfer was made on April 22, 2014 in violation of Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.”

The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them, the statement said.

Counsel to EFCC, I. O. Uket, expressed the commission’s readiness to immediately begin prosecution of the accused, saying that he had the witnesses present in court.

“If the court is ready, we are also ready to produce our first witness as we have our witnesses in court,’’ he reportedly told the court.

But Ashinze’s counsel, Ernest Nwoye, told the court that he had a pending application for the bail of his client.

He urged the court to grant the defendant bail on self recognition having earlier been admitted to bail by an FCT High Court.

Afam Osigwe, counsel representing the second and fifth defendants, also prayed the court to admit Reinl to bail.

He stated that Reinl had been enjoying administrative bail from the EFCC since February, adding that his travel documents were with the commission.

Counsel to Idiong, Paul Erokoro SAN said his client being a legal practitioner knew what it meant to jump bail.

Erokoro stated that besides being granted bail earlier by an FCT High Court, his client had always made himself available to the EFCC.

Similarly, counsel to Mohammed, N. Jimoh, prayed the court to grant his client bail, saying he had a health challenge which he had been managing for close to 40 years.

Responding, Uket argued that the defendants lost their administrative bail the moment their matter was charged to court.

Ruling on the applications, Justice Gabriel Kolawole held that the charges were all “bailable’’.

The judge said that the case would be granted accelerated hearing and urged the prosecution to pick five days in the New Year for trial.

Consequently, the case was adjourned till Jan. 23, Feb. 1 and Feb.14, March 7 and March 21,Uwujaren quoted the statement as saying. (NAN)

November 23, 2016
Fani-Kayode arraigned again in Abuja for money laundering

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode was Thursday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a five-count of money laundering.

The charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/140/2016, which has Femi Fani Kayode as the sole defendant, was filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Fani-Kayode was alleged to have received through his police aid, one Victor Ehiabhi, the cash sum of N26million paid to him by the former Director of Finance and Administration (DFA) of the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, Shuaibu Salisu on the instruction of the former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

Ehiabhi and Salisu had through written statements, admitted paying the money to Fani-Kayode in cash.

The prosecution said Fani-Kayode handled the cash without going through financial institution as required under the Money Laundering Act.

Fani-Kayode, who was the Director of Media and Publicity in the campaign organisation of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, is already standing trial on a 17-count charge of money laundering before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

He is being tried in Lagos with a former Finance Minister, Nenadi Usman, Danjuma Yusuf and a firm, Joint Trust Dimension Nig. Ltd.

They are charged with unlawful retention, unlawful use and unlawful payment of money to the tune of N4.9 billion on the defendants.

When the five-count charge was read to Fani-Kayode yesterday before the Federal High Court, Abuja, he pleaded not guilty.

Following his not guilty plea, prosecution lawyer, Johnson Ojogbane, asked the court for a date to commence trial.

Defence lawyer, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) informed the court about the bail application he filed for his client.

Upon the court’s permission, Adedipe moved the application and urged the court to grant his client bail.

He said by the fact the offence for which the defendant is charged, it is bailable. He said Fani-Kayode has been in EFCC’s custody for 21 days.

“My Lord, I will also like to draw your attention to the fact that the defendant is facing trial before Justice M. S. Hassan in Lagos and he has granted him bail.

“We hereby urge the court to grant the accused bail on self-recognition as he has twice served as a Minister to the Federal Republic of Nigeria or in the alternative, grant him bail on liberal terms that will enable him attend his trial”, he prayed.

Ojogbane, while responding, relied on Section 35 (1)(c) and 35 (4)(a) of the Constitution in arguing that “although the defendant has been in custody for 21 days, we are still within the ambits of the law as the arrest and detention was done for the sole purpose of bringing the defendant to court.

“I therefore urge the court to excise its discretion judiciously and judicially in granting the accused bail,” Ojogbane said.

Trial judge, Justice John Tsoho, in his ruling, admitted the defendant to bail at N50million and one surety in like sum.

The judge said the surety must be a resident of the FCT and must have a landed property within the FCT.

He ordered that Fani-Kayode be remanded in prison custody pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.

Justice Tsoho adjourned to December 14, 2016 for trial.

The charge reads:

Court one

That you Chief Femi Fani-Kayode on or about the day of 24 November, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court directly took possession or control of the sum of N26,000,000.00 (twenty six million) paid through one Victor Ehiabhi by one Salisu Shuaibu, who was then the Director of Finance and Administration on the instruction of Col. Mohammed Dasuki Former National Security Adviser purporting the money to be payment for contract when you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed of the proceeds of an part unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki and Shuaibu Salisu (to wit: criminal breach of trust and corrupt and thereby committed an offence to Section 15(2), (d) of the contrary Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under section 158 of the same Act.

Count two

That you chief Femi Fani-Kayode or about the 24th day of on November, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court directly converted the sum of N26,000,000:00 (twenty six million naira only which was paid to you in cash sum from the office of the National security Adviser(ONSA) purporting same to be payment for media campaign for the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Office of the President when reasonably ought to have known that the said funds you formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity (To wit: Criminal breach of trust and corruption) of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd) the then National Security Adviser and salisu Shuaibu the then Director of Finance and Administration and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under section 159 of the same Act.

Count three

That you Chief Femi Fam-Kayode on or about the 24th day of November, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable count did retain the of N26,000,000.00 (twenty sum six million naira purporting same to be payment for media campaign on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the office of the President when you reasonable ought to have known that such fund directly represented the proceeds of unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd) the then National Security Adviser and Shuaibu Salisu the then Director of Finance and Administration office of the National security Adviser (to wit: Criminal breach of trust and corruption and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 17 (b) of the Money Laundering Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under section (17) (b) of the same Act

Count four

That you Chief Femi Fani-Kayode on or about the 24th day of you November, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court having reason to know that the sum of N26,000,000.00 (twenty six million naira directly represented the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd) the then National Security Adviser and Shuaibu Salisu the then Director of Finance and Administration (to wit: Criminal breach of trust and corruption) in respect of the said amount used the said fund for media campaign activities and other personal purposes and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under section 15(3) and 9 of the same Act.

Count five

That you Chief Femi Fam-Kayode on or about the 24th day of November, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did accept cash payment valued at N26,000,000.00 (twenty six million Naira from the office of the National Security Adviser through one Victor Ehiabhi your security detail which sum was over and above the required threshold for cash payments and thereby committed an you offence contrary to section la of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 amended in 2012 and punishable under as 16(1)(a) of the same Act.

November 10, 2016
Fertilizer manufacturers illegally exporting products – NSA

The National Security Adviser, (NSA) Major General Mohammed Babagana Monguno rtd, on Thursday accused two major fertilizer manufacturing companies in Nigeria of illegally exporting 71 percent of their total production thereby starving Nigerian farmers and endangering both food and national security.

A  visibly angry Monguno said  the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) will not hesitate to close down any company engaged in acts of illegality in the manufacture and distribution of fertilizers in the country.

The NSA also revealed that 9000kg of high explosives and 16,420 pieces of detonators have been diverted for illegal use in the Niger Delta.

The explosives have been used in the incessant bombings of oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta.

Two companies, Notore Chemical Industry limited and Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemicals were granted the exclusive rights to manufacture fertilizer for local consumption after the Federal Government banned the importation of fertilizers following discovery that certain grades of fertilizers were being used to manufacture the Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) employed by terrorists in the country.

Monguno said the ONSA and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also facilitated necessary importation of raw materials and ensured secured distribution networks with the aim of solving a national security problem and boosting local production of the product thereby boosting the economy.

He said the cumulative annual production of the two companies is estimated at 2.05 million metric tons while the estimated national consumption rate is 1.1 million metric tons leaving the companies with a cumulative export value of about 47 percent.

Monguno: “However, the Office of the National Security Adviser has observed with total dismay, some unpatriotic act and abuse of the goodwill of the government, reports of these companies have indicated that about 71 percent of the 2.05 million metric tons cumulative annual production is being exported to the detriment of our national economy. This has resulted in a spike in the price of urea-based fertilizers in Nigeria with obvious implications on food security in the country.

“In view of the foregoing, I wish to categorically state that the government will continue to adhere to the rule of law, however, it must be noted that the rule of law is not akin to anarchy. Accordingly, this office will not hesitate to close and withdraw the operating license of any company that exports products without first meeting local consumption.  This office and the Ministry will work to put in place measures to access production and determine exportable quantity by the respective companies.”

Monguno who was flanked by the Hon. Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and other top officials of the ONSA noted that due to the unpatriotic acts of the companies local farmers are suffering due to lack of fertilizers.

“I must state that the goodwill shown by the government of this country will not be taken for granted, the fact that we are in a difficult complicated situation  in terms of economy and security does not mean that companies and anybody with vested interest should take the government for granted.  The president came to power with specific mandates which is clear to all Nigerians and the international communities, we will view with very serious consequences, whatever any company does to fall out of line and behave in a manner that will ruin the economy and security of this country,” he said.

The NSA said investigations into the incessant bombings of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region have revealed that commercial explosives and accessories were used for the attacks. In view of that, audit of the records  of explosive magazines and quarries in the region were carried out which revealed a diversion of 9000 kg of high explosives and 16,420 pieces of detonators for illegal use.

Monguno said the actors including the store man of a major explosives distribution company in Nigeria and five security operatives have been arrested and handed over to appropriate authorities.

He said: “Right now investigations have been conducted and I can assure you they are deeply culpable and appropriate actions will be taken. Let me once again reiterate that  any individual or company that operates outside the confines of legitimacy and legality will find itself to blame,  I also want to add the government  of the day will not listen to any influence peddler  in society on behalf of any company that decides to sabotage national security.”

In a reaction, the Head of Sales, Notore Chemicals Industry, Mr. Oscar Okpe who refused to comment on the allegations however said the company is committed to equitable distribution of fertilizers in Nigeria.  In a telephone interview, Oscar said the company is putting fertilizers in the market and farmers will soon begin to access the products.

However, Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemicals said a release would be issued on the matter at other dates.

August 4, 2016
Buhari’s anti-graft battle not one-sided, says Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday declared that the fight against corruption under the current administration is not one-sided.

A statement issued on Tuesday night by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said that the Vice President made the remark while speaking with journalists at the end of the 27th Ordinary session of the African Union (AU) in Kigali, Rwanda.

According to Osinbajo, corruption in the country is being looked at from all possible facets.

He said: “I think it’s entirely absurd, I think that view is absurd and without foundation or basis whatsoever. We look at corruption from all possible facets.

“If you look at for example, corruption on the military, from military procurement, obviously the only individuals responsible for that could be persons who had held office within the period in question and that has been done and clearly the opposition was not in the office at that time.

“Those who were in the office were not necessarily opposition individuals. These were Service Chiefs and other personnel who had served for a while.

“The other issues for example is the fraud and the corruption that is associated with large sums of money given out by the past National Security Adviser which went to several political figures and again these were large huge sums of money, over 2 billion US Dollars and the sheet size and the enormity of what we are talking about, must not be diminished in anyway or trivialised in anyway by any suggestion that it is partisan. How? in what way?” he queried.

He said that those who made the suggestion that the anti-corruption fight is one-sided only want to trivialise a very important programme of the government.

The allegation, he said, is aimed at working against the strong effort of the government to recover huge sums of money that have been stolen from Nigeria.

July 20, 2016
Dasukigate: Court grants bail to businessman allegedly paid N2.4bn

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to a businessman, Olugbenga Obadina, the Managing Director, Almond Projects Limited who was allegedly paid about N2.4billion by the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, under Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), without evidence of services rendered.

Obadina was arraigned with his company last Friday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an eight-count charge for allegedly collecting N2, 417, 000,000.00 paid into his company’s account in tranches, between 2013 and 2015 from the account of the ONSA under Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) without contract award.

The offence is contrary to Section 15(2), (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

Ruling on Monday, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba admitted Obadina at N500million with two sureties who must each endorse a bond of N250m.

The judge said the sureties can be a private businessman, professional or civil servant of the rank of a director.

“The sureties must have landed properties either in Asokoro, Maitama, Apo Legislative quarters, Wuse II area of Abuja, or Victoria Island, Lagos State. The sureties are to provide evidence of income tax payment for three years,” the judge said.

He directed Obadina to deposit his international passports with the registrar of the court, and must go to the EFCC to comply with Section 15 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which entails submitting himself for biodata collection, fingerprinting, snapshot and necessary profiling.

Obadina is to be remanded in prison custody pending satisfaction of his bail conditions.

The judge adjourned to September 30 and October 4, 2016 for trial.

July 18, 2016