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Tag: Ogbulafor

  • Restructuring: Okogie knocks IBB as Adebanjo, Ogbulafor back ex-military leader

    Restructuring: Okogie knocks IBB as Adebanjo, Ogbulafor back ex-military leader

    Former military leader, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, got more knocks yesterday over his call, earlier this week, for the restructuring of the country.

    Retired Catholic Archbishop of Lagos State, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, and Second Republic House of Representatives member, Dr. Mohammed Junaid, flayed  Babangida  for passing off the opportunity to restructure the country when he held sway as military dictator.

    The duo joined the immediate past governor of Edo Sate, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who, on Thursday, said the former military president owes Nigerians an apology for helping to bring it to its present level.

    But it is not all knocks for the former military president as Afenifere frontliner, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, believe that his views were in order.

    Contacted on the phone, Okogie said: “Of course, he had every power, just like President Buhari, to restructure the country.

    “I don’t know what is wrong with this nation. The people who are there to guide us are not doing so. It is as if they are even praying for the fall of this country.

    “We have been crying about this restructuring for many years and it became strong about three years ago, but nobody said a word.

    “Where was Babaginda at that time? Is it now that he is opening his eyes to reality? That is my question for him.

    “You see, there are certain people who, when they are very comfortable, do not care to know what is happening in the country.”

    More damning is the reaction of Dr. Mohammed to Babangida’s call for restructuring.

    He said: “I heard the statement credited to the former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, and I consider it mystifying, to say the least.

    “I said this because there is no individual alive today in this country who carries a major responsibility for the mess Nigeria is in today than Ibrahim Babangida.

    “The 200 million people of Nigeria are very educated. We are very talented and we know our history very well; and we do much better than to listen to any soldier on what their future is going to be.

    “If Ibrahim Babangida were to have decency, he should be working hard on trying to reconcile his conscience in the evils that befell this country, of which he is directly responsible.

    “The constitutional crisis which trailed the June 12 election, which he annulled, and the near genocide on a certain section of this country for attempting and insisting on actualising Chief MKO Abiola’s mandate are the primary issues which Ibrahim Babangida should explain.

    “Since he is so keen about restructuring Nigeria now, he should tell us which part of the structure he wants to undo: from the amalgamation of 1914 by Lord Lugard to the latest state and local government creation done by him (Babangida) and his late friend, Gen. Sani Abacha.

    “Ibrahim Bababngida should further explain to Nigerians what he did with government finances plus the reckless corruption of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan that led to the recession Nigeria is in today.

    “From the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) and the mess in Niger-Delta derived directly from the reckless and irresponsible policies of one man who was never elected into any office whatsoever, he will now want to decide for Nigerians how the country is supposed to look like.

    “I don’t think somebody like Ibrahim Babangida is worth to listening to. In future, the media should help us by simply treating what he (Babangida) said with the contemptuous disregard it deserves. To me, his call is belated.”

    A lecturer at the Bayero University Kano (BUK), Prof. Kamilu Sani Fagge, is also  opposed to any attempt to restructure Nigeria.

    He said restructuring the country will cause more harm than  good, considering the massive number of ethnic groups in the country.

    He said  those yearning for it are doing so on selfish grounds.

    He also argued  that the move will achieve nothing,  rather than take the country back to its earlier regional system of three main regions that will solely rely on their natural resources, while the minorities will still be deprived of their right, politically and economically.

    Fagge maintained that for the country to actualise its potential, the government should adopt a system whereby irrespective of tribe or ethnic differences, all citizens should have a sense of belonging in the affairs of government.

    However, former PDP Chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, said Babangida should not be blamed for what he did or did not do when he was in power.

    He said: “I totally support IBB’s call. Restructuring is long overdue and without that there will be no peace in this country.

    “Those of us from the South East  feel terribly bad. Here in the South East, we have only five states while others have six and seven. This creates an imbalance in the National Assembly.

    “While others are producing more senators, we have less. While others are producing more House of Representatives members, we have fewer. The same applies to the number of local governments.

    “We don’t benefit as much  in the revenue sharing and the resources are from this zone. That is why there is gross agitation for Biafra.

    “We feel that if there is restructuring, it will address those issues. An additional state in the South East, at least to bring us  at par with others will be okay. So, how can Kano State have 44 local governments when Bayelsa has eight local governments, Abia  has 17 and Imo  21?

    “All these put together are not equal to Kano. So, there is total imbalance and that is why our people are shouting and calling for restructuring.”

    The ex-PPD chair added: “How do you think there will be peace in this country with such imbalance? It is not proper at all. So, I totally support the cal for restricting. I support IBB.

    “They should not blame IBB for things he did not do or what he did when he was Head of State. Things crop up at its own time. This is the time people are calling for restructuring.

    “If the call for restructuring had been on the table as it is now, the IBB that I know very well would have done it. So, they should not be blaming IBB for things he did and things he didn’t do. Now, there is a clamour for restructuring and IBB is supporting  it and so,  I support and call for it.”

    Ogbulafor’s view was also supported by a chieftain of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, who said Nigerians should not crucify IBB because of his past.

    He said: “I accept the call for restructuring. We should  not look at the past. Everybody makes mistake and when one corrects his  mistake, there is no harm in that. “

    Babangida had, in a statement he personally signed on Monday canvassed among other things, devolution of power to states, adoption of state police and doing away with federal roads.

  • Ogbulafor tasks Makarfi on PDP crisis

    Ogbulafor tasks Makarfi on PDP crisis

    Former Peoples Democratic Party Chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, has advised the  Caretaker Committee Chairman, Ahmed Makarfi, to call for a meeting of his faction, if the Supreme Court does not rule in his favour.

    Ogbulafor said the meeting would be necessary to determine the way forward for the faction.

    His words:  “We are all waiting for the Supreme Court decision to know which direction to go. Some of us may not want to work with Sheriff. Our own line is Makarfi, and if we lose in the Supreme Court, then we can find where to go.

    “If Makarfi loses at the Supreme Court, I will suggest that he calls we who belong to his faction to a meeting so that we can take a collective decision on where to go instead of this person going this way and that person going that way. He should call us and the Board of Trustees Chairman to a meeting.”

    Explaining why he and his colleagues would not work with the court-backed National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, Ogbulafor said: “We cannot work with Sheriff because he is not our line up. Our line up is Makarfi, and if he says we should go this way, we would go.”

    In a separate telephone interview, former governorship candidate of the party in Lagos State, Chief Jimi Agbaje, sought quick solution to the dispute, saying: “My own attitude to the whole thing is that we should look for a quick resolution so that we don’t further find ourselves in further mess. The earlier we find solution to the problem, the better. That is my own way of responding to the back and forth that has been taking place.”

  • Ogbulafor tells PDP NWC members to quit

    Ogbulafor tells PDP NWC members to quit

    A former Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, has called on the members of its National Working Committee (NWC) to resign voluntarily.

    Ogbulafor, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia yesterday, said the members should take the path of honour by bowing out of the committee.

    He added that the members should resign in the interest of the party and pave the way for fresh hands to pull the party out of the woods and reposition it ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    He described the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, and the Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, as a welcome development.

    ‘’I feel happy about their resignation because I feel they did so in the interest of the party.

    ‘’So, I feel it is better for all the committee members to voluntarily resign if they love the party and want it to survive,’’ he said.

    Ogbulafor urged the committee to accept responsibility for the party’s woeful performance in the 2015 general elections and the failure to deliver President Goodluck Jonathan for a second tenure.

    ‘’The party played the politics of hate and exclusion,’’ he said, adding that ‘’past national chairmen were completely excluded and were never invited to offer our own ideas on how to deliver Jonathan.

    ‘’When I was the chairman, I controlled 28 states and a majority in the National Assembly and also won additional four states for the party.

    ‘’Some of us performed better and have good ideas on how to keep PDP in power for as long as I predicted,’’ he said.

    Ogbulafor, who predicted that the party would rule Nigeria for uninterrupted 60 years, said that the feat was possible had the party sustained the line-up.

    ‘’I made the prediction in clear conscience and realisation that it was achievable, given that PDP controlled 28 states, majority in the National Assembly and local government administration.

    ‘’So, there is nothing that could have stopped PDP, if we were able to control the line-up.’’

    Ogbulafor blamed the woes befalling the party on the emergence of a ‘’reform group,’’ saying that the group created factions within it.

  • Court clears Ogbulafor of fraud charges

    Court clears Ogbulafor of fraud charges

    A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, discharged and acquitted yesterday a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor, of fraud charges.

    His co-accused, Emeka Ebila, who was Secretary of the National Economic Intelligence Committee (NEIC), was found guilty and jailed five years for the offences.

    Ogbulafor and Ebila were prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a 17-count charge involving N170 million fraud.

    Justice Ishaq Bello held that the prosecution, represented by Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), failed to prove its case against Ogbulafor.

    The judge said the sentence against Ebila would run concurrently.

    He held that from the prosecution’s evidence, there was no nexus between Ogbulafor and the alleged crimes.

    But he held that Ebila’s confessional statement, which was tendered before the court without objection from his lawyer, Awa Kalu (SAN), corroborated the allegations levelled against him.

    Justice Bello said Ebila, during the trial, confessed to being the owner of the companies with which the fraud was allegedly committed, adding that there was no evidence that part of the proceeds of the crime accrued to Ogbulafor.

    Although Ogbulafor admitted in the course of trial that he nominated Ebila for the appointment as NEIC Secretary, he denied receiving money from him, except the N2 million he (Ebila) donated to his campaign after he resigned as the Minister for Special Duties. The former PDP chairman also denied knowing any of the alleged proxies through who he allegedly received the money.

    Justice Bello said: “It is clear from the evidence of the defence, vis-a-vis the prosecution witnesses’ evidence that the first accused (Ogbulafor) was not given any money. Indeed, the PW1 (first prosecution witness), being the IPO (Investigative Police Officer) said that the money was given to Chris Nwoke as an alleged proxy of the first accused. He was only told about it by the second accused. This I have earlier discountenanced as a non-legal evidence.

    “In fact, even the second accused, in his evidence before the court – under cross-examination by the first accused person counsel and the prosecution – clearly stated that he never gave the first accused any money. He reiterated the fact h never gave the first accused any money.

    “The prosecution has not tendered any bank account showing the lodgements of any money to the credit or advantage of the first accused.

    “Consequently and conclusively, it is my considered judgment that the prosecution has proved reasonable doubt the charge against the second accused, who is hereby pronounced guilty and convicted as charged. The testimony in his defence attracts less than any belief or credibility. Indeed, I have watched the second accused generally, from his demeanour, he does not appear to me as a witness of truth.

    “On the other hand, the prosecution has failed to prove any of the count charges against the first accused, who is hereby discharged and acquitted.”

    Ebila, whose absence from court on three occasions stalled the judgment, was wheeled into the courtroom with a neck brace.

    The judge refused the plea by Mrs A. A Nwogu (Ebila’s lawyer) for mercy and for the suspension of the sentence on the account of her client’s ill-health.

    Justice Bello held that although the accused could see Ebila on the wheelchair (on which he sat), there was no medical report before the court showing his true state of health.

    Ogbulafor was the Minister of Special Duties supervising the activities of the NEIC, which was set up in 2001 for the verification and payment of debts owed to local contractors by the Federal Government.

    The ICPC accused both men, among others, of conferring corrupt advantage on themselves by using the Contract Desk Verification Panel of the NEIC to fraudulently approve payments of over N176 million to fictitious contractors and non-existing contracts.

    Ogbulafor, as the supervising minister over NEIC, allegedly received money from Ebila through proxies, knowing that the money was part of the proceeds of a fraudulent payment for contracts that were not executed.

    The ICPC also accused both men of contravening, among others, Sections 19 and 26(1)(c) of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000.

  • Strike stalls judgment in Ogbulafor’s trial

    Strike stalls judgment in Ogbulafor’s trial

    Court workers’ strike stalled yesterday the scheduled judgment in the trial former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Vincent Ogbulafor, and another accused person.

    Justice Ishaq Bello of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on June 24, scheduled judgment for yesterday after entertaining the final arguments of the parties.

    When our correspondent visited the court yesterday, its gate was locked. The security personnel on duty said the court would remain locked until the strike is called off by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

    Ogbulafor and former Secretary of the National Economic Intelligence Committee, Emeka Ebila, are being tried by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a 16-count of money laundering and fraud involving about N170 million.

    The ICPC arraigned the duo on May 10, 2010, alleging that Ogbulafor, while serving as Minister of State for Special Duties in 2001, conspired with the others to float three fictitious companies with which they perpetrated the fraud.

    The accused were alleged to have used Henrichiko Nigeria Limited, DHL Consultants and Chekwas Industries to fraudulently obtain N82.6 million, N11.5 million and N6.2 million in 2001.

    Ogbulafor was also accused of using his position as the head of the National Economic Intelligence Committee, set up to verify debts owed local contractors, to okay as genuine, several forged documents.

    He was alleged to have relied on the forged documents to certify that the three fake companies successfully executed jobs worth N104 million.

    The former PDP chairman was also alleged to have collected N2 million and N28 million kickbacks from Ebilah.

    The offences contravene Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000.

    Ogbulafor’s lawyer, John Egwuonwu, while adopting his final written address on June 24, urged the court to discharge and acquit his client on all the counts.

    He averred that the prosecution’s case failed to link his client to the crime.

    Egwuonwu urged the court to jettison the allegation in Ebila’s “confessional statement” that the sum of N28 million was paid to Ogbulafor with two bank drafts.

  • Ogbulafor’s trial suffers another adjournment

    Ogbulafor’s trial suffers another adjournment

    The trial of Vincent Ogbulafor and two others at FCT High Court has again suffered another adjournment on Tuesday due to the absence of the judge, Justice Ishaq Bello.

    Ogbulafor is standing trial alongside Jude Nwokolo and Emeka Ebilah.

    They are being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences  Commission (ICPC) on a 17-count charge bordering on fraud involving N107 million.

    It will be recalled that Ogbulafor’s trial had suffered several adjournments due to the absence of the trial judge.

    The case was adjourned for counsel to address the court, but could not go on as earlier scheduled due to the judge’s national assignment, therefore, gave his consent for an adjournment.

    At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, Mr Salisu Idache, the Court Clerk, informed counsel to the ICPC, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), and the defence team that Bello “is still away on his national assignment’’.

    Bello was appointed recently as the Chairman of the Anambra Election Petition Tribunal.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that April 29 has been given as a new date to the counsel to address the court.

    The ICPC had alleged that while in office as the Minister of State for Special Duties in 2001, Ogbulafor connived with the others to float three fictitious companies with which they perpetrated the alleged fraud.

    They were said to have used Henrichiko Nig. Ltd., DHL Consultants and Chekwas Industries to obtain N82.6 million, N11.5 million and N6.2 million, respectively in 2001, among others.

    Ogbulafor was alleged to have used his position as the head of the National Economic Intelligence Committee to pass several forged documents as genuine.

    The ICPC alleged that he relied on the forged documents to certify that the three fake companies successfully executed jobs worth N104 million.

    The offence contravened the provisions of Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000.

    If convicted, they face five years in prison without an option of fine.

    However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

  • Absence of judge stalls Ogbulafor’s trial

    The absence of Justice Ishaq Bello of an Abuja High Court, on Thursday stalled the trial of a former Peoples Democratic Party chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor.
    Ogbulafor is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alongside Jude Nwokolo and Emeka Ebilah.
    The accused persons are facing a 17-count charge bordering on fraud to the tune of N170 million.
    At the resumed hearing of the case, the court clerk informed the counsel to the ICPC, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), and the defence team that Bello was on a national assignment.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judge was recently appointed as the Chairman of the Anambra Election Tribunal.
    A new date, February 20, was thereafter given to the counsel to address the court.
    The ICPC had in the charge alleged that Ogbulafor, while serving as Minister of State for Special Duties in 2001 conspired with the others to float three fictitious companies, with which they perpetrated the fraud.
    They were alleged to have used Henrichiko Nigeria Limited, DHL Consultants and Chekwas Industries, to fraudulently obtain N82.6 million, N11.5 million and N6.2 million, respectively, in 2001.
    Ogbulafor was specifically alleged to have used his position as the head of the National Economic Intelligence Committee (NEIC), set up to verify debts owed local contractors, to okay as genuine, several forged documents.
    He was alleged to have relied on the forged documents to certify that the three fake companies successfully executed jobs worth N104 million.
    The former PDP chairman was also alleged to have collected kickbacks of N2 million and N28 million from Ebilah.
    According to the ICPC, the offences committed contravened Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000

  • Absence of counsel stalls Ogbulafor’s trial

    Absence of counsel stalls Ogbulafor’s trial

    The absence of defence counsel, Chief Awa Kalu (SAN), on Tuesday stalled hearing in a suit filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission against former Peoples Democratic Party’s National Chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor, and two others.

    At the resumed hearing of the suit at the FCT High Court, Counsel to the ICPC, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), had told the court that Kalu, the counsel to Emeka Ebilah, an accused, was not in court.

    Justice Ishaq Bello, then read out a letter from Kalu, praying for an adjournment.

    In the letter, Kalu pleaded that he would be leading a delegation from the Nigerian Bar Association to appear before the National Assembly, in respect of the public hearing on legal practitioners’ amendment bill.

    Justice Bello, then, considered his application for an adjournment and adjourned case to November 11 for continuation of hearing of defence.

    Ogbulafor, Jude Nwokolo and Ebilah were being prosecuted by the ICPC on a 17-count criminal charge of alleged involvement in N170 million fraud.

    The ICPC alleged that Ogbulafor, while in office as the Minister of State for Special Duties in 2001, connived with the others to float three fictitious companies, with which they perpetrated the fraud.

    They were alleged to have used Henrichiko Nigeria Limited, DHL Consultants and Chekwas Industries, to syphon N82.6 million, N11.5 million and N6.2 million, respectively, in 2001.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Ogbulafor was specifically alleged to have used his position as the head of the National Economic Intelligence Committee (NEIC), set up to verify debts owed local contractors, to okay as genuine, several forged documents.

    He was alleged to have relied on the forged documents to certify that the three fake companies successfully executed jobs worth N104 million.

    He was also alleged to have collected kickbacks of N2 million and N28 million from Ebilah.

    The accused persons had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

     

  • Ogbulafor’s defence stalled

    Ogbulafor’s defence stalled

    The trial of former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, could not go on yesterday due to the absence of lawyer representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).

    Ogbulafor was to open his defence following the conclusion of the prosecution’s case before an Abuja High Court. Awomolo sent a letter seeking an adjournment. This prompted Justice Ishaq Bello to adjourn the trial to May 13.

    Ogbulafor is being tried with Emeka Ebila and Jude Nwokorie on a 17- count charge of conspiracy and award of fictitious contracts to the tune of N107 million.

    The offence, according to the EFCC, is contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act 2000.

    The court, had in an earlier ruling, refused Ogbulafor’s prayer that the charge be quashed. His no-case submission was also refused by the court.

     

     

     

  • Court dismisses Ogbulafor’s submission on ‘fictitious’ contracts

    An Abuja High Court yesterday thwarted an attempt by former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, to stop his ongoing trial by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

    The court dismissed the politician’s “No Case” submission which he filed against his arraignment for alleged fictitious contracts.

    A “No Case” submission is filed by an accused to prove that the prosecution has not established a prima facie case against him, or that there is a lack sufficient legal ground against him at the close of prosecution.

    If the submission succeeds in the court, the trial will be terminated and the accused would be freed.

    The PDP former chairman alongside Emeka Ebilah and Jude Nwokorie are standing trial on a 17-count charge of conspiracy and award of fictitious N107 million contracts.

    Their offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act 2000.

    In his ruling on the politician’s submission, the trial judge, Justice Ishaq Bello, held that the evidence of the prosecution witnesses showed that there is a prima facie case against the accused.

    He averred that the “No Case” submission cannot stand.

    According to him, to grant a “No Case” submission, the court must ensure that none of the evidence given had connected the accused with the alleged crime.

    Justice Bello said: “The court is not concerned with the credibility of the witness but with whether the evidence given linked the accused with the crime that is alleged to have been committed. The issue of whether the court believes in the evidence given by the witness does not arise at this point.

    “The court is under due obligation to discharge the accused, if the prosecution fails to establish a prima facie case against him. But in this instant case, the prosecution has, through its witnesses, established a prima facie case against the accused, hence the need for the accused to enter his defence.

    “It is in my view, based on the totality of evidence brought by the prosecution, that a prima facie case has been established against the accused. The ‘No Case’ submission hereby fails.”

    J. K. Gadzama (SAN), the counsel to Ogbulafor, had maintained that the prosecution did not in any way link his client with the alleged crime.

    Opposing the “No Case” application, prosecuting counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), averrd that the court, in the spirit of justice, allowed the accused to present his defence so that the court could consider the weight of the two sides.