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Tag: probe

  • Reps committee alleges pressure over $43m Osborne loot’s probe

    External pressure is allegedly being mounted on the House of Representatives over its investigation of the $43 million discovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos, it was gathered at the weekend.

    Though money inducement has not taken place, threats and persuasion through text messages and physical contacts have been employed to sway the course and outcome of the investigation.

    The Committee on National Security and Intelligence handling the matter has, however, assured that the investigation was in the interest of preserving the integrity of the nation’s institutions.

    Its chairman, Sani Jaji, after his committee meeting with EFCC Acting Chairman Idris Magu on Friday said Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele is next to appear before the committee.

    Jaji said a lot of ground has been covered but pressure on the committee has been immense.

    He, however, said the committee would not be intimidated.

    He said: “There have been attempts on me as the chairman of the committee and members of the committee on what direction the investigation should take and the possible outcome of our report.

    “There has been a lot of frustration but this has not in any way affected us because we remain committed to our cause.

    “There is no monetary inducement though, but these pressures are in form of text messages and physical contacts about what we should do, what we should not do, that we should dwell on this and not on that.

    “They said this or that agency has a reputation that should not be put on the line, and so we should not go beyond certain extent. But we tell them that our determination is to safeguard the name and integrity of our institutions.”

  • Probe unmasks Evans police allies

    Probe unmasks Evans police allies

    The woman accused  of aiding suspected kidnap kingpin Chukwudumeje George Onwuamadike (alias Evans) to escape justice in 2006 is still in the police, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    It was gathered that the woman, simply identified as Tina, is now a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP). She was unmasked by a Special Investigation Panel  (SIP) constituted by  Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris to probe Evans’ 2006 arrest, transfer from Lagos State to Imo State and  eventual release.

    After the suspect’s arrest last month, a senior police officer told reporters that his team apprehended Evans in 2006 after a bank robbery.

    The officer had claimed that Evans and his gang members had a gun duel at the National Theatre in Surulere, Lagos Mainland after a disagreement in sharing their loot, adding that the kingpin was shot and left to die.

    According to the officer, Tina, who was a Superintendent of Police (SP) at the time, mounted pressure on them to release Evans and two of his members but when her request was not met, she went through Imo State Command, where a signal was sent for the transfer of the suspects.

    As a result of the revelations, IGP Idris constituted a panel to investigate the 2006 arrest, transfer and eventual release of Evans and his members.

    The panel was to identify all officers who had a hand in the matter, whether serving or retired.

    According to a source, the panel has made “reasonable progress” in its investigation because almost all the officers that took part in the “rape of justice” have been identified.

    He said the police might soon release statement on the issue.

    The source said: “I can tell you that Tina is not the woman’s real name but I won’t give you her name. I can also tell you she’s now a CSP and still in service. So many officers took part in that 2006/2007 release of Evans and they are being investigated. The panel has made progress and almost all of them have been identified. An official statement might be release by the authorities soon.”

    The fundamental rights suit filed by Evans has been assigned to Justice Babs Kuewumi of the Federal High Court in Lagos for adjudication.

    The case, a source said, has been returned to the registry for temporary assignment to another judge who will sit during the court’s long vacation.

    The vacation judge handles only urgent motions and cases bordering on human rights violations before they are re-assigned permanently to other judges.

    The source said: “The case was assigned to Justice Kuewumi. But due to its nature, the judge felt it would be better handled by a vacation judge.

    “He felt it would not be ideal to adjourn it for hearing until after the long vacation in September.

    “So, it was the judge who gave parties the July 13 date to appear before the vacation judge after studying the file.”

    The court will begin its nine-week annual vacation on Monday. It will resume on September 8.

    A statement by Chief Registrar Emmanuel Gakko reads: “The Federal High Court of Nigeria hereby wishes to notify the general public, lawyers and litigants that the court’s annual vacation for the year 2017 shall commence from Monday, 10th July 2017 and would end onFriday, 8th September 2017.

    “The court would therefore resume on Monday, the 11th day of September 2017.”

    Two judges – Justice Abdulazeez Anka and Justice Chuka Obiozor – will take turns to sit during the vacation in the Lagos division.

    It was not immediately clear who will sit first during the vacation.

    Evans sued the Inspector-General of Police for alleged violation of his fundamental rights.

    He is praying the court to compel the police to charge him rather than detaining him indefinitely since June 10.

    Evans is also demanding N300million damages and an apology for the alleged violation of his rights.

    In the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed on his behalf by a Lagos lawyer, OlukoyaOgungbeje,  the suspected kidnapper said his continued detention without trial was illegal.

    The police, Lagos Commissioner of Police, Special Anti-Robbery Squad and the Lagos State Police Command are the other respondents.

    Alternatively, Evans is seeking an order compelling the respondents to immediately release him unconditionally.

    Evans argued that the respondents ought to have charged him to court in line with Sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution.

    In a 27-paragraph affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by Evan’s father, Stephen Onwuamadike, it was averred that the applicant had been subjected to media trial without any court’s order.

    The father said since his son’s arrest, all his family members has been denied access to him while reporters were granted unfettered access to him.

    An Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, said Evans’ detention was to allow for thorough investigation.

    “All those who want Evans released did not know that the police had obtained a 90-day warrant to detain him,” said Kyari, who led a special squad that smashed Evans’ gang.

    Evans had also reportedly denied instructing any lawyer to file a suit on his behalf.

    “I have no hand in any case filed against the police and I did not speak with any lawyer or my father to file a case on my behalf,” he was quoted as saying in a television interview.

    Ogungbeje, however, told our correspondent that he was instructed by Evans’ family to file the action.

    The lawyer said Evans’ father was personally in court to depose to an affidavit in support of the case.

  • Sultan to govt: probe sources of herdsmen’s weapons

    Sultan to govt: probe sources of herdsmen’s weapons

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar, has advised the Federal Government to probe the sources of weapons used by herdsmen accused of attacking Nigerian communities.

    Sultan Abubakar’s advice is contained in his Eid-el Fitr message delivered yesterday in Sokoto.

    “Real herdsmen do not carry guns; they only move with their cows and sticks.

    “There could be bad eggs among the Fulani, but those carrying arms and perpetrating heinous killings are not herdsmen.

    “Those carrying arms are criminals and should be treated as such.

    “Government should probe the sources of these weapons and take appropriate action so as to minimise these attacks,” he said.

    The Sultan praised the government’s measures aimed at combating insurgency in the North-east, and cautioned against complacency as the problem was not over.

    He urged Nigerians to complement the efforts of the security agencies toward securing the country, pointing out that security is a collective responsibility.

    He praised efforts by the Federal and Sokoto State governments to restore the glory of the educational and agricultural sectors, and called on Nigerians to support such efforts.

    The Sultan urged Muslims to reflect on, and uphold the virtues of the Ramadan fast, including patience, perseverance and brotherliness

    Emir of Kano Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II called on Nigerians to live in peace with one another.

    Sanusi spoke after he led the Eid prayers at the Kofar Mata Central Eid Ground in Kano.

    He said that there was the need for Nigerians to ensure peaceful co-existence so as to ensure economic growth.

    According to him, no society or country can achieve any development or greatness in an atmosphere of chaos and mistrust.

    Sanusi called on ‘well-to-do’ Muslims to support the less-privileged to alleviate their suffering.

    “I want to use this occasion to call on wealthy individuals to continue to support the poor so as to alleviate their suffering in the society,’’ he said.

    The monarch also urged Muslims to have the fear of God in all their activities, adding that “we all have to give account of our deeds one day to our creator”.

    The prayer was attended by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and Deputy Governor Hafiz Abubakar, among other dignitaries.

  • Conduct tribunal chair may face fresh EFCC probe

    Conduct tribunal chair may face fresh EFCC probe

    Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Chairman Justice Danladi Umar may face a fresh probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over some allegations, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    The CCT acquitted Senate President Bukola Saraki of a false assets declaration charge on Wednesday.

    The allegations against Umar include  a N10million bribe said to have been collected by him by his Personal Assistant, Ali Gambo Abdullahi.

    The discovery of fresh clues on Umar’s conduct is said to have sparked the planned probe.

    But, a top CCT official said the EFCC had on February 23, 2015 and April 20, 2016 cleared Umar of the alleged N10million bribe.

    A source, who hinted of the planned probe, said Umar may soon be invited for questioning.

    The highly-placed source said: “The anti-graft agency is already probing some allegations against the CCT chairman, including the alleged collection of a N10million bribe and award of contracts. Some of these allegations were actually tabled before the Senate and the House of Representatives.

    “The initial plan was to conduct the investigation during the trial of the Senate President. But the EFCC decided to stay action  in order not to disrupt the judicial process.

    “With the trial over, we are going to interview Justice Umar on these allegations. The details include the payment of N1million in July 2011 from the coffers of the CCT to sponsor his wedding; alleged spending of N15.2million to purchase a Toyota Prado Jeep ‘without following due process; award of contracts for supply of office furniture and fittings in the sum of N11.3million.

    “The contracts were reportedly executed by a ‘supposedly engineering company and not a furniture or supply company.’

    “Other allegations are alleged payment of N4. 2million for the “purchase of welfare items” in a contract executed by a private individual and another N4.2 million for the procurement of external light bulbs”.

    On the allegation against the judge by an online medium, the source said: “We will look at all clues to ascertain whether they are true or not.”

    But the planned investigation generating heat at the tribunal because the EFCC cleared of the alleged N10million bribe.

    A source at the tribunal said: “We suspect foul play because the EFCC cleared Justice Umar in 2015 and 2016  of any wrongdoing. This latest probe may be the aftermath of the judgment of the tribunal which discharged and acquitted the Senate President.

    “I think the EFCC is after a proxy war. The judge is a fair-minded person who has defied pressure to do his job.

    “While the trial of Saraki lasted, he has persistently said he will discharge his duties without fear or favour because he will account to God one day. The EFCC should leave this judge alone. Even until the judgement was delivered, Saraki and his legal team were kept on the edge. This is to show you the level of his fairness.

    “The CCT chairman is not the accounting officer of the tribunal contrary to insinuations. He does not award contracts.  Both the Senate and the House of Representatives investigated the CCT chairman on all these allegations and nothing came out of the probe.”

    The EFCC, in a letter to the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim absolved Umar of bribery allegation.

    The letter signed by its ex-chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde said: “We refer to your letter ref. No. SGF.19./S.24/11/451 dated 23rd February 2015 on the above mentioned case reported by one Mr. Rasheed Taiwo (DCG rtd) of 6AB Milverton Road, Lagos against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar and his Personal Assistant, one Gambo Abdullahi.

    “The complainant who is facing charges at the Code of Conduct Tribunal alleged that Justice Umar made direct demand for the sum of N10 million to quash the charges sometimes in 2012. “He disclosed that he was compelled to pay the sum of N1.8 million after persistent inundation with phone calls from Justice Umar, who received the bribe through the Zenith Bank account of one Ali Gambo Abdullahi, his personal Assistant in December, 2012.

    “Investigation was extended to one Hon. Justice G.A Oguntade (Rtd) who confirmed that the complainant informed him in 2012 of the issues he had at the Tribunal and the demand being made by Justice Umar. He disclosed that Justice Umar denied the allegation when he called him.

    “There are indications that the Tribunal Chairman might have demanded and collected money from the complainant through his said Personal Assistant.

    “However, efforts made to recover the telephone handset used by Justice Umar proved abortive, as he claimed that he had lost the telephone in 2012. This has made it impossible to subject it to independent scientific analysis with a view to corroborating the allegation.

    “In the same vein, the complainant could also not make available his telephone set for analysis on the grounds that he had lost it. Justice Umar also admitted that he met privately with the complainant in his chamber at the Tribunal. This is a most unethical and highly suspicious conduct on his part.

    ”There is a prima facie evidence to however prosecute  the Personal  Assistant, Abdullahi, who could offer no coherent excuse for receiving N1.8million into his salary account from Taiwo, who is  an accused person standing trial at the tribunal.

    “The full money has been recovered from him in May 2014 and aptly registered as exhibit. The fact that he made two contradictory statements on the reason he was paid the money, is clearly an attempt to cover up on the  reason the money was paid to him. He has  accordingly been charged to court in charge no. CR/137/2015 pending  at the High Court of FCT, Abuja.

    “However the facts as they are now against Justice Umar raised a mere suspicion and will therefore not be sufficient to successfully prosecute him for the offence.

    “Above is submitted for the information of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, please.”

    Also, the Secretary to EFCC, Mr. Emamnuel Adegboyega Aremo, in another letter to the SGF on April 20, 2016 exonerated Justice Danladi of corrupt practices.

    The letter said: “We will like to reiterate the Commission’s position in regard to this matter as earlier communicated to you and state that the allegations leveled against Justice Umar were mere suspicions and consequently insufficient to successfully prosecute the offence.”

  • Publish N/Delta ministry probe findings

    SIR: The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, urges the federal government to publish the findings of the technical committee set up by the Ministry of the Niger Delta Affairs that revealed the misappropriation of public funds up to the tune of N700billion, and which has culminated in a probe of the MNDA.

    The Ministry of the Niger Delta Affairs must not be seen to be a judge in the case of malfeasance already discovered from the report it sent to the Federal Executive Council, FEC. Because it is the nature of probes in Nigeria not to be thorough, inclusive and conclusive, Nigerians, and indeed Niger Deltans should be interested in knowing who the contractors who have abandoned the projects are and how much they were awarded to carry out the said abandoned projects. We believe that this would strengthen considerations and activities around the bill on whistleblowing in Nigeria.

    We recommend that the probe panel be chaired by a retired Chief Justice who would bring the full weight of his integrity and acumen to bear on the conduct of the probe of such monumental heists of public funds.

    In addition, ANEEJ calls for the inclusion of key stakeholders and relevant activists in the Niger Delta in the probe panel to ensure that their involvement adds value and credibility to the exercise.

    Apart from the prosecution of the perpetrators of those unaccounted-for funds, we implore the FEC investigation/probe to make the tracing, tracking and recovery of the stolen as a cardinal thrust of the probe so that recovered funds be deployed in the completion of either ongoing or abandoned projects in the Niger Delta. Most CSOs and NGOs working in the Niger Delta on corruption issues have networks of investigations which the government can leverage on to track perpetrators.

    ANEEJ verily believes that if the federal government involves CSOs in the tracing, tracking and prosecution of individuals and organizations involved in the heists of funds for development in the Niger Delta, the narrative around abandoned projects in the Niger Delta would change.

     

    • Rev David Ugolor,

    ANEEJ, Benin City.

  • Probe of Senate Leader’ complaint stalled 

    THE investigative hearing on media reports of alleged youths’ attack on Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, in his constituency, was yesterday stalled by absence ofrepresentatives of Newspapers.

    The two newspapers were expected to appear at the probe being conducted on the incident by the Senate Joint Committee on Ethics and Privileges and Media and Public Affairs.

    The Senate Leader had on a Point-of-Order on May 23, drawn attention to a report by ThisDay Newspaper entitled: “Senate Majority Leader prevented by angry youths from entering his constituency”.

    He had also cited a similar headline by Punch Online of the same day entitled: “Youths accuse Senate Leader of neglect, bar him from working”.

    Chairman of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges Senator Sam Anyanwu, who decried the alleged report by the two media organisations, said “this has to stop”.

    “This has to do with somebody’s integrity; the man has built his political career for 18 years. If we find evidence that it was fake news, we will not be happy about it.

    “We and the press are partners in this project, Nigeria.

    “ThisDay and Punch are not here; we are not concluding. We had invited them, we have evidence that they were duly served and acknowledged receipt of the letter.

    “We will give them time to appear before the committee,” Anyanwu said.

    On his part, Chairman, Committee on Media and Public Affairs Senator Sabi Abdullahi, said it was unfortunate that the two media outfits were absent at the hearing.

    In his submission, the complainant, Lawan, said what he was asking from the two organisations was immediate retraction, which had not been done.

    “I also demanded for an unreserved public apology to me and my constituents. That did not happen as far as I know.

    “The point is, I want a relationship that is cordial, devoid of fake information, poor reportage and unethical conduct.

    The committee, thereafter, ordered that the media organisations should appear before it tomorrow.

  • Kogi West poll: Senator demands probe of judge, Melaye

    Kogi West poll: Senator demands probe of judge, Melaye

    Senator Smart Adeyemi, who represented Kogi West for two terms, yesterday demanded a probe of the alleged telephone conversation between Justice Akon Ikpeme and Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) – his successor.

    Adeyemi said he sensed a foul play in the way his election petition was struck out by Justice Ikpeme-led Election Petition Tribunal.

    Adeyemi, who made the demands at a briefing in Abuja, pleaded with the Chief Justice of the Federation and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to probe the alleged audio tape of the conversation.

    He said: “I hereby call for a thorough investigation by the appropriate authorities – that is, the Chief Justice of the Federation, the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, the National Judicial Council( NJC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Commission( ICPC) and the Directorate for State Security Service( DSS).

    “Like I mentioned earlier, I am of the opinion that we have people of high integrity in the Judiciary. However, just like there is a Judas in every 12, some people of questionable character may want to infiltrate the ranks of our incorruptible judges and ministers in the hallowed temple of Justice.

    “I hold the view that members of the Justice Akon Ikpeme-led panel have the burden to come out and prove their innocence to the world, especially as touching on the recent leaked telephone conversation between Justice Ikpeme and a litigant in her tribunal in the person of Dino Melaye. Nigerians are watching and waiting.”

    He added: “I am not in doubt that money and other extraneous unethical considerations played an active role in the various rulings of the Justice Ikpeme-led panel in favour of Dino Melaye. If my brother Dino denies the audio clip, let him look at the mirror before him, the person will appear. For two years, I kept praying to God to make a show of shame of all conspirators against me at the tribunal. By the power of God, more revelations will still come!”

    Adeyemi said he was demanding for the probe to avert a recurrence of abuse of the judicial process in the future.

    He added: “Whether the audio recording was genuine or not.  Let the communication firms be involved to track this conversation. We need forensic experts to get to the roots of this alleged bribe saga.

    “For two years, I kept mute because I had no evidence to prove but I know God will intervene and expose those behind the electoral fraud in Kogi West Senatorial District. The release of the audio clip has shown that a lot went wrong.

    “The redress is to make sure that tomorrow nobody will be thinking of bribing a judge. It is not about winning this case; it is about helping Nigerian judiciary. If this thing can happen to me as a senator, what is the hope for the common man.”

    Asked if the judiciary decided not to probe the audio tape, Adeyemi said: “I have the assurance of God that we have not heard the last word. I know there will be more revelations.

    “You don’t have to be a judge to know that the results have been tampered. Can any judge accept mutilated results? I swallowed the bitter.

    “Though, we know that there is an end to litigation and this particular petition has been decided one way or the other yet, the following are pertinent factual and moral records of what transpired at the tribunal, which are now questions for Justice Ikpeme and her team to answer, in order to erase the misconception (if any) of corruption, which hovers around them and to save the image and integrity of the judiciary.

    “The tribunal ordered a recount of the ballot papers and it was discovered that 2500 void votes were counted for Dino Melaye to be declared winner of the election. Why was no action taken on this finding?

    “That there were mutilation /cancellation on the faces of all the results sheets delivered by INEC.

    “That there are many wards of the senatorial district, whose results the INEC officials deliberately refused to collate and enter on the final result sheet. These wards are spread across the four local government areas of Kabba-Bunu Local Government, Ijumu Local Government, Kogi Local Government and Lokoja Local Government.

    “That the Justice Ikpeme-led panel accepted a sheet of paper, as report of primaries in the face of an authentic report of primaries brought and tendered during the hearing of the petition by INEC officials.

    “That Justice Ikpeme gave probative value to a sheet of paper as reports of primaries tendered by a youth corps member allegedly coming from INEC office Abuja without an identity card.”

    But Melaye had also said he won his election in a free and fair manner and will defeat Adeyemi any day.

    He said: “This is not a matter of boast, I have defeated him and I will also defeat him, even if election is conducted 100 times, provided the election is free and fair.”

    One of Melaye’s ardent supporters said Adeyemi was chasing shadows.

    He said: “Adeyemi lost to Melaye because he failed to follow due process in pursuing his petition.

    “Justice Ikpeme said Adeyemi ran foul of the Electoral Act in filing reply to the 1st respondent’s response out of time

    “Ikpeme also held that for failing to apply for Form TF001 for pre-hearing session within the stipulated seven days, the tribunal was of the view that the petitioner had failed to apply for the issuance of the form.

    “She said pursuance of other issues relating to Adeyemi’s  petition could only amount to ‘mere academic exercise’.”

  • Air Force pleads for more time to probe IDP camp bombing  

    Air Force pleads for more time to probe IDP camp bombing  

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) at the weekend pleaded for more time to enable it adequately probe the accidental bombings at an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Rann, Borno State.

    NAF Spokesperson Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, urged Nigerians to be patient with the Panel of Enquiry, saying the matter would not be swept under the carpet.

    He said: “We are aware of the interest the matter generated within and outside the country. A Board of Enquiry was set up to determine what happened, who are those involved, what led to the accident and how do we prevent a recurrence.

    “We are pleading with Nigerians to be patient with NAF so that the Board of Enquiry will do its assignment diligently. And don’t forget that some of the people involved, victims or their relatives, maybe people who could not speak English. So a thorough job has to be done.

    “And again, remember the NAF for the past seven years has been involved in the campaign against the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast without any accident of such magnitude.

    “So that is why we are saying that at this period, it will do us more good to be encouraged by our many victories and successes in the past seven years, than judging us by our mistakes or shortcomings. Remember there is no human institution that is perfect, therefore the NAF cannot be an exception.”

    Air Commodore Adesanya said the NAF had acquired more aircraft fitted with latest technology to undertake various clearance operations against Boko Haram .

    According to him for now Boko Haram has been so decimated that they could not move freely as before or hoist their flags on any territory belonging to Nigeria, adding the NAF is committed to the on-going clearance operations and flushing out remnants of the insurgent group.

    He added that while a number of security dogs were acquired by NAF to detect explosive and drugs, the NAF had carried out medical treatment of various categories free of charge at different IDPs Camps across the country supported with relief materials worth millions of naira.

    He said besides counter insurgency operations in the Northeast, the NAF Is also involved in Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) operations in the South-south and parts of South-west on oil installations and facilities, and against cattle rustling in the Northwest.

  • Akinyemi advises Fed Govt on cash haul probe

    Akinyemi advises Fed Govt on cash haul probe

    A former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi yesterday asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to spare anyone involved in the $43.4 million recovered from a private apartment at Osborne Towers in Ikoyi.

    He, however, cautioned against putting a foreign intelligence officer on trial in an open court as doing so could hurt external national security.

    He also urged the President to include an expert in external intelligence in the membership of the Prof. Yemi Osinbajo-headed Presidential Investigative Committee.

    According to him, it was not too late to appoint a retired Head of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) as a consultant to the panel.

    Sharing his thoughts in a statement, Akinyemi said that under no circumstances should the National Assembly be allowed to conduct hearings into the activities of the NIA.

    The statement reads: “When the news broke that some millions of dollars had been found hidden in a flat in Osborne Rd, Ikoyi, Lagos, I was, quite frankly, indifferent as it has become a recurrent decimal. I was not even bothered when nobody initially stepped forward to claim it.

    “But when Ambassador Ayo Oke stepped forward to claim it on the part of the NIA, alarm bells started to ring in my ears. It is one of the sacred traditions of the external intelligence trade to admit nothing and to deny nothing.

    “A saving grace emerged when the President set up the Osinbajo Panel to untangle the web over the millions of dollars. But the President inadvertently made a mistake.  He did not appoint anyone with a history of external intelligence experience unto the panel.”

    Akinyemi, who asked the government to apply caution in managing the activities involving NIA, called for the appointment of an external intelligence officer as a consultant to Osinbajo panel.

    He said: “External intelligence operations do not belong into the same security genre as domestic security forces such as the SSS, EFCC and the police.

    “External inteligence officers, otherwise called spies, do not operate under the same operational penalties as domestic intelligence officers.

    “The ultimate penalty for a foreign spy in most countries is death. Countries go to incredible lengths to hide the identities of their agents both domestic and foreign and their operations.

    “No receipts get issued. Budgets are called black budgets because they are never publicly acknowledged. It would have been reassuring if the President had appointed a former head of or a former very senior member of NIA to be a member of the panel.

    “Even at this stage, let me remind the vice president that a lawyer with a specialty in constitutional law will not appreciate the niceties of international law. It is not too late to appoint a retired Head of NIA as a consultant to the panel.”

    On the planned probe of the cash haul, he said: “What has motivated me at this late stage to issue this release is the news that the House of Representatives has now decided to institute its own inquiry to this peculiar mess.

    “This is a dangerous move. In my knowledge in this field, I know of only one occasion when a government, in this case, the United States (U.S.) Government, set up a Congressional Committee, the Church Committee, named after the Chairman, Senator Frank Churchill, to look into ‘governmental operations with respect to intelligence activities’.

    “In fact the main issue which was its concern was “Did the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) ever indulge in carrying out assassinations of foreign Presidents?

    “Normally, foreign intelligence activities are shrouded in secrecy, and not in the glare of publicity.

    “Now the whole saga has made us a laughing stock in the world. Nigerian agents strewn all across Africa are now in dread of being exposed. Recruiting agents in future in Africa is going to be difficult out of fear of future exposure.

    “The following recommendations are to secure damage limitation:

    “It is not too late to call in a former director of NIA to serve as a Consultant to the Osinbajo panel.

    “No more leaks from the panel.

    “Under no circumstances should the report of the panel in as far as it relates to the activities of the NIA be made public.

    “Under no circumstances should the National Assembly be allowed to conduct hearings into the NIA affair. The Osinbajo panel report could be shared secretly with the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House.

    “Should any NIA officer be found culpable, he or she should be quietly eased out. Putting a foreign intelligence officer on trial in an open court is going to be disastrous to external national security interests.

    “If there is no provision to put an intelligence officer on trial in a secret and special court, an executive bill should be sent to the National Assembly to make provision for such.

    “Under no circumstances should one security agency be allowed to move against another security agency especially one dealing with foreign intelligence, without the express permission of the President or in his absence the Acting President. This should be without any publicity or fanfare.”

  • NLC seeks probe of N388bn first tranche of London-Paris Club cash to govs

    NLC seeks probe of N388bn first tranche of London-Paris Club cash to govs

    The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Ayuba Wabba, has called on the Federal Government to beam its searchlight on corruption on state governors to ascertain whether the first tranche of N388 billion London-Paris Club fund released to them in December last year was spent for what it was meant for.

    He made this call yesterday during the 4th quadrennial national delegates’ conference of Maritime Workers Union in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

    According to him, with the second tranche of the money about to be released, the government at the centre should muster the will to audit states to ensure that the first release was judiciously spent for the settlement of outstanding salaries, pension and gratuity.

    He threatened that labour was waiting on the wings to start aggressive agitation to draw Federal Government’s attention to the fact that corruption must be fought at all levels, including the states.

    The NLC boss called on employers of labour at all levels to see workers as partners in progress, a people that create wealth, not as liability.

    His words: “What we are saying is that let the government also muster the will to make sure that the first tranch that was released is accounted for, because there were controversies that N19 billion was diverted by the Governor’s Forum.

    “Outside the goodwill to make this funds available, the issue of transparency and accountability in governance, which is lacking in some states, must be pursued.

    “Government must be proactive to ensure that government at the centre is able to be on top of this situation and demand accountability.

    “We are going to start our agitation very seriously and rigorously to the fact that if you are fighting corruption, it must be at all levels.

    “It must scale down to the states. They must continue to see workers as partners in progress; as people that create wealth and notliabilities.

    “Therefore, workers’ right must be given priority. If not, we won’t have social stability, cohesion and we will not go out of recession.”

    On the economic recession in the country, he described it as man made, saying that it would take a focused leader to put things right as, according to him, the country’s economy was mismanaged by past government.

    He said: “If the economy was mismanaged by people, it will take the act of people to put the economy back on track. You will not expect God in heaven to come to correct what we have done.

    “It will take good leaders with focus, transparency and accountability to be able to address the situation.”