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Tag: probe

  • Adamawa to probe alleged kidney removal

    The Adamawa State government has raised a six-man panel to probe the alleged removal of a man’s kidney in a private clinic in Yola, the state capital.

    Information Officer of the Ministry of Information Abubakar Muhammad confirmed this to reporters yesterday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the patient, Malam Isah Hamma, who is in a critical condition at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, alleged that his only kidney was removed at the Jimeta Clinic by Dr Hassan Yakubu, who operated on him.

    Hamma, who spoke through his uncle, Malam Umaru Hammaseyo, said he underwent operation on July 8 for abdominal pain. He paid N50,000 for the operation.

    After the operation, his condition worsened leading to his referral to the Federal Medical Centre in Gombe where it was discovered that his kidney had been removed.

    He is on dialysis, and needs N48,000 weekly for treatment.

    Hamma called for justice and support from relevant authorities and the public to save him.

    The management of Jimeta clinic was yet to react to the development, and nurses on duty said they were not competent to speak on the matter.

  • Probe begins as police get three versions of budget

    Probe begins as police get three versions of budget

    Jibrin, panel in two-hour session

    The police yesterday retrieved three versions of the budget from ousted House of Representatives Appropriations Committee chairman Abdulmumin Jibrin as probe of his allegation of padding began.

    The Special Investigation Panel (SIP) has started sieving the documents to isolate the padded areas, it was learnt.

    Jibrin petitioned the police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies, alleging the padding of Budget 2016 by Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Speaker Yusuff Lasun, Chief Whip Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Minority Leader Leo Ogor and nine others.

    He claimed that they inserted about 2000 projects worth N284 billion into the budget.

    Jibrin had a two-hour session with the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Amodu Ali-led SIP.

    Jibrin, who submitted more documents on the matter to the investigators, may appear before the panel again either today or tomorrow.

    Based on documents at its disposal, the panel may interact with other members of the appropriations committee, sources said.

    A source said: “The search for padded areas by the panel has started. As at Monday (yesterday), the panel was in receipt of three versions of the 2016 Budget.

    “These versions are the original copy laid before the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari, the version  passed by the National Assembly but rejected by the President due to omission of some key projects, such as the N60billion Calabar-Lagos rail project; and the harmonised copy.

    “With the retrieval of these budget versions, detectives have started identifying padded areas by the House members.

    “After locating these padded areas, the SIP will be able to determine the focus of interrogation and the list of those to be questioned alongside the 13 already implicated by Jibrin.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “The SIP may interact with all members of the House Committee on Appropriations and some chairmen of committees.

    “We are also monitoring every claim by members in the media to guide our investigation.”

    For the session with the SIP yesterday, Jibrin arrived at about noon and left around 2pm.

    “Jibrin brought additional documents to support his allegations. What he did was to support every allegation with proof and the sources where he got all the documents. He is trying to prove his case that the padding was criminal.

    “We have requested him for additional facts. So, Jibrin could be with us tomorrow (today) or Wednesday. We have told him additional things to bring as part of our preliminary investigation.

    “We will invite Dogara and the others after we are done with Jibrin, a source said

    he added: “As the investigation progresses, we will inform the public. This is an investigation that will stand the test of time.

    “ The nation should at the end of the day put an end to the culture of padding.  We will be fair to all who will appear before the SIP.”

     

    Last Friday during a visit to the Presidential Villa, Dogara said budget padding was not an offence.

    He said as a lawyer who has been in the legislature for years, he had never heard of where lawmakers were accused of padding the budget.

    His position drew the ire of many on social media who criticised him for his “insensitivity in these hard times”.

    Jibrin also took  him to the cleaners, arguing that “budget padding is an offence”.

     

  • Buhari to probe budget padding, constituency projects

    Buhari to probe budget padding, constituency projects

    •Jibrin alleges plot to assassinate him

    The Federal Government reacted yesterday to the budget padding row in the House of Representatives, promising to probe the allegation and other related cases over the years.

    Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN) said the government would “take action” based on the probe outcome.

    This indicates that the probe may be extended to the administrations of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Malami also said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari would probe executive and legislative conspiracy on constituency projects.

    But former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations Abdulmumin Jibrin yesterday lashed out at Speaker Yakubu Dogara for saying that padding is not an offence.

    Malami, who spoke with our correspondent, said the government’s action on padding would lead to the blocking of fraudulent leakages.

    He said: “We will investigate the executive and legislative conspiracy as it relates to constituency projects with a view to measuring the art of execution of the padded projects over the years

    “In so doing, we will learn our lessons in the budget and its implementation as a law with the aim to prosecute infractions and block leakages inherent in the padding process.

    “Action must naturally be taken in the interest of the nation for efficient utilisation of our commonwealth and blocking of fraudulent leakages.”

    There were also indications yesterday that the government may resist pressure to dump the investigation of Jibrin’s petition against Dogara, Deputy Speaker Yusuff Lasun, Chief Whip Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Minority Leader Leo Ogor others for the alleged padding.

    It was gathered that some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are pushing for a political solution to the matter but a government source said: “We are not aware of any political solution to the ongoing investigation of the padding of the 2016 Budget by the police.

    “Some people no doubt are seeking political solution to the padding palaver but I think the government will want the law to take its course.

    “The way the Speaker spoke at the Presidential Villa on Friday suggested that a  political compromise was in the offing . But President Buhari made no commitment at all.”

    The Special Investigation Panel (SIP) of the Police will today interact with Jibrin.

    The lawmaker is expected to present more documents to the panel and begin his interaction with the five-man team.

    A source said: “The panel has linked up with Jibrin, we are hopeful of a robust session with him on Monday (today).”

    But Jibrin on his Tweeter handle last night said only 13 members of the House are on trial for padding, not all the 360 members.

    He said: “It has once again become necessary for me to make some statements, clarifications and further revelations.

    “As you are aware, my party(APC) has intervened in the current crisis following allegations of corruption, embezzlement and abuse of office leveled against Speaker Yakubu Dogara, three principal officers and nine other members of which none had responded to any.

    “As I said earlier, it is only the 13 members of the House that are on trial, not the House of Representatives as an institution.

    “Surprisingly, they have resorted to using every tactics to narrow the allegations to only issue of padding, which in itself is a grievous offence, ignoring tens of other criminal allegations in my petition to the anti-corruption agencies.

    “In doing so, they mischievously expanded the scope of the culpability to give an impression that the entire House, the Senate and even the Executive arm of government and some individuals outside the National Assembly are on trial.

    “This is a wicked attempt to drag many institutions and individuals into the matter to neutralise the issue, spread fear and sell dummy that the entire country will go down if this matter is dealt with decisively, the biggest blackmail on the entire country I have ever seen.

    “Nigerians should know that the whole agenda of this blackmail is  being coordinated by  two serving governors and three former members. I will give their names in due course. They have been running from pillar to post and I keep wondering what really are they afraid of.

    “The meeting with the party went very well and in all honesty, they were very objective and showed understanding.

    “I told the party that I will be part of any peaceful resolution except the criminal allegations I have raised against Dogara and 12 others.

    “On that, I told the party there is no going back and further informed them that more revelations will be made once investigation commences.”

    Alleging that there is a plan to assassinate him, Jibrin said: “I believe Speaker Dogara, the 12 others and some vested interest within and outside the House want to kill me. I no longer feel safe. I have carefully followed their desperation to suppress what will go down in history as the biggest corruption case in Nigeria.

    “I have prepared myself for any eventuality. I have spoken to my mum and dad extensively during the weekend. I have prepared my family. I have handed over a handwritten note and documents to a popular Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), a man of integrity and other persons that I believe will lay it bare even if they succeed in killing me.

    After three days of careful observation and receiving information from very patriotic Nigerians, I discovered a grand plan by the group of two governors and three former (House) members designed to provide soft-landing for Dogara and 12 others, give them time to clean up the mess on their desk, destroy whatever evidence in their possession and reach, spread money across members to buy signature of vote of confidence.

    “So the Speaker is saying the nine roads he inserted into the budget which he fraudulently sandwiched into four roads and inserted billions into that without any design or costing is not an offence? Or the water project he hijacked from the budget and took to his farm is not an offence? Or moving 10 solar boreholes to a place that probably requires just two is not an offence?”

    Dogara’s spokesman Hassan Turaki declined comment when contacted last night.

  • Ex-Enugu Governor Chime for probe over IGR

    Ex-Enugu Governor Chime for probe over IGR

    Former Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime may be probed by the House of Assembly for allegedly diverting the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) collected during his tenure.

    To be probed with him is former Chairman of the state’s Board of Internal Revenue, Mr. Felix Chime.

    The probe period, it was learnt, covers between 2008 and June, this year.

    Some principal officers of the board are said to be under scrutiny to ascertain their culpability in the alleged revenue scam.

    Such officers are said to be privy to the alleged pilfering of the treasury.

    The decision to beam a searchlight on the IGR within the period under review sprung from petitions received from the public, indicating alleged shady deals during the period.

    The House of Assembly has set up a seven-man committee to investigate the alleged diversion of the IGR by the chairman of the board of internal revenue within the period.

    In a petition presented on the floor of the Assembly, the member representing Enugu South Urban Constituency, Obinna Okenwa, said the House received petitions accusing Felix Chime and other principal officers of the board of diverting the IGR between 2008 and June, this year, into their pockets.

    Okenwa regretted that the alleged diversion had worsened the state’s financial condition.

    The lawmaker urged the Assembly to investigate the activities of the board within the period in order to recover the allegedly stolen funds.

    To ascertain the veracity of the allegation, Speaker Uchenna Ubosi set up the seven-man committee, headed by Ozo Sunday Ude Okoye, the member representing Awgu North.

    The committee was given 30 days to investigate the matter and report back to the Assembly.

    Other members of the committee are: Philip Nnamani, Christian Nwamba, Obinna Okenwa, Nkechi Omeje-Ogbu, Ezenta Ezeani and John Ukuta.

     

  • SERAP seeks probe of alleged N40b budget padding

    SERAP seeks probe of alleged N40b budget padding

    The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called for an independent probe into the alleged N40 billion 2016 budget padding by the National Assembly.

    SERAP’s Executive Director Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni yesterday, in a statement, urged Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara to allow the anti-graft agencies probe allegations of budget padding by its leadership.

    He advised the Speaker to allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the allegation.

    The executive director said the leadership of the House was alleged to have padded the 2016 budget by N40 billion.

    “SERAP’s call follows allegations by the last Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmunin Jibrin, that the Speaker and three other principal officers attempted to approve N40 billion of N100 billion approved for constituency projects.

    “Jibrin said he has also been victimised for refusing to support immunity for officers.

    “Given the seriousness and gravity of the allegations against the House leadership, any investigation by the House would not be enough to meet the threshold of an effective, transparent and independent investigation.

    “Nigerians will not have confidence in the House investigating itself.

    “The Speaker must move swiftly to refer the allegations to EFCC and ICPC to allow for a swift, transparent, effective and independent investigation to contain the damage.

    “There must be full accountability for any leader or member found to be responsible.

    “These allegations raise questions about the need for a greater level of transparency and accountability in the National Assembly, such as telling Nigerians salaries and allowances of senators and members of the House.

    “Public auditing of spending by the National Assembly and several reports on allegations of corruption that have been investigated by the National Assembly remain shrouded in secrecy and skewed to favour suspected corrupt officers,” Mumuni said.

    Besides, he enjoined the House leadership to publicly commit that it would not promote constitutional amendments on immunity for its principal officers.

    According to him, no public interest would be served  if it sought to grant its principal officers immunity not contemplated by framers of the 1999 Constitution.

    “It is important the National Assembly conducts itself in the knowledge that its role is a public one.

    “Appearances of propriety can be as important as actual conflicts of interest in establishing what is acceptable behaviour,” he emphasised.

    Mumuni urged Dogara to propose a bill on members’ integrity, saying this will restore public confidence in the National Assembly, check corruption and protect the leadership from criticism.

  • COREN to probe flyover project

    council for the Regulation of Engineering Practice in Nigeria (COREN) plans to investigate the flyover project in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

    The probe will include the Ama Wire Okigwe road and Akwakuma Orlu road flyovers under construction by the Imo State government

    This is coming after the alarm raised by the social justice group, Imo Bilie Initiative of Nigeria (IBIN) over the poor quality projects being carried out in the state by the government saying the projects do not meet international standard

    Meanwhile, the Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM) Owerri Inspectorate has been directed to visit the sites and report back to the council for appropriate action.

    COREN’s Registrar, Mathias Adoyi who spoke in a telephone interview at the weekend, said the council would remain committed to safety and value for money in engineering projects, among other things, adding that the regulatory body would do its best to retain its valued integrity

    The group through its Convener and National Coordinator, Obidinma Aku had written the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), COREN and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to investigate the work saying the flyovers are death traps.

    The Secretary to the Imo State Government, Ezenna Eche, denied any wrongdoing, insisting that the flyovers, including the one at the Okigwe road, met the required standard.

    He said though the foundation was laid by the previous administration of Governor Ikedi Ohakim, the government of Rochas Okorocha has been able to redesign and make them even stronger.

    Eche said: “In fact, I didn’t know that this present government would be able to work on that project, but it has been able to complete it. It seemed as if he was not going to complete the project because it was started by a government that would commission a project and would not complete it. They said he would abandon it but it didn’t happen that way.’’

    Eche said contractors do many of the jobs, and that it is the government is committed to the local content programme.

    He added that there was no need for contractors and technicians to come from countries, such as Korea, Japan and Lebanon, to work in Nigeria when there are competent Nigerians to execute the jobs.

    He, however, regretted that in most cases, people are not living up to standard.

    “We keep doing things the old way, some people when they are mobilised run away with it while others do shoddy jobs, nevertheless, the projects are up to standard, where there are errors we make amends he maintained,” he said.

    But, according to Aku, heavy duty trailers and tankers ply the road very often, a development, he said, would bring about the sudden collapse of the bridge if quality materials were not used.

  • Probe TCN, group urges Fed Govt

    Probe TCN, group urges Fed Govt

    The Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) has urged the Federal Government to probe the poor management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) under Manitoba Hydro International Nigeria Limited (MHINL).

    SSAEAC President Chris Okonkwo said there has not been any improvement in power since MHINL took charge four years ago, stating that corruption and politicisation of the power sector have compounded the operational processes of TCN.

    “A look at the calibre and number of staff of MHINL evokes crass disdain for the quality of Nigerian professionals in TCN, who are subjected to  men and women who are mediocre in the core business of TCN and who use Nigerians to do the little that is recorded as success of the contract, with outrageously high fees paid to the MHINL for little or no work done,” he said.

    Describing the contract as political, Okonkwo alleged that from inception till date, Manitoba exploited the weakness in the system.

    “They (Manitoba) are morally and ethically bankrupt and should be investigated if the current war against corruption will have a meaning,” he alleged.

    He warned the Federal Government against another extension being pushed for by MHINL, saying it would lead to industrial action by workers.

    He said it was necessary for the government to look inwards by sourcing local contractors and professionals in the sector.

    Okonkwo also lamented that most of the firms who made a bid for stakes in the sector were insincere about their ability to inject funds into the sector.

    “When will the government open its eyes to see that the investors today are not real investors?” he asked.

    He argued that the investors, who should have brought in investment and engaged technical partners, turned out to be hiring them temporarily for the bidding purpose. This, he said, was why the so-called investors are left to do a business they knew nothing about.

  • N700b bailout: Reps to probe states

    The House of Representatives has expressed disappointment over the utilisation of over the N700 billion bailout fund given to 28 states to offset arrears of salaries owed workers.

    Consequently, a yet-to-be constituted ad hoc Committee is to investigate the terms and conditions for the disbursement and utilisation of the bailout funds, the level of compliance and ascertain the necessity for further disbursement as being mooted by the Federal Government.

    The decision of the lawmakers followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Sunday Karimi (PDP, Kogi,) who recalled that a report by a private sector data company revealed that 27 states that were unable to meet their salary obligations to their workers were given N689billion bailout funds by the government in July last year.

    Also that four months ago, Kogi State was given N20billion as bailout fund to solve the problems of its salary arrears.

    Despite that, several states including Abia, Benue, Ekiti, Kwara, Osun, Delta, Niger, Ogun, Nasarawa and Plateau  are reported to be owing  their workers between one and seven months salary, he noted.

    According to him, states  such as Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi,  Borno and Cross Rivers were however up-to-date with their salary obligations.

    Karimi said the reasons the bailout funds failed to serve it’s purpose should be of concern to the House.

    “Many states were reported to have stocked the bailout funds meant for staff salaries in interest-bearing accounts while their employees continue to wallow in hunger, poverty and lack.

    “Some of these workers had even lost their lives because of their inability to meet their daily needs.

    “It is equally burdensome that the Public Enlightenment Department of Independent Corrupt Practices Commission  (ICPC), in its recent report, indicted several states governments on the utilisation of the released funds.

    “There has been criticisms and counter-criticism on the usefulness of bailout funds as critics opined that the genuine intention of the Federal Government is being frustrated by the state governments since the bailout fund is not being utilised for the desired purpose by the beneficiary States.

    “Cognisance should also be taken of the fact that the National Assembly is the representative of the people and is empowered by the constitution to oversee the administration and disbursement of public finance.”

  • Police probe killing of officer in Bayelsa

    Police probe killing of officer in Bayelsa

    The brutal killing of Mathew Akpos, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) attached to the Bayelsa State command by a “special police squad” has embarrassed the Nigerian Police.

    It was gathered, Tuesday, that the Force Headquarters, has mandated the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 5 to investigate the circumstances that led to the killing of Akpos in Yenagoa.

    Following the directive, the police were said to have constituted a team to probe the unfortunate incident and to unmask persons behind the killing.

    It was learnt that three policemen suspected to have been involved in the operation were arrested and were being investigated over the incident.

    A security source, who spoke in confidence, said the incident was embarrassing, describing it as a case of mistaken identity.

    “The killing of the officer is embarrassing and shocking to the police. Some persons have been arrested and investigations are ongoing,” he said.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Butswat Asinim, could not be reached for his comment.

    Akpos was gunned down on Monday last week by gunmen believed to have come from an unknown division of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    He was killed close to the OMPADEC school field in Amarata suburb of the state capital.

    The victim, who was said to have once worked at Ologbobiri, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, was prior to his death, working at the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) in the state command in Yenagoa.

    Stray bullets from the gunshots fired at the scene of the incident hit an elderly woman, who is a trader in the area, on the leg and stomach.

    The woman, however, cheated death following multiple surgeries she received at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC).

    Residents in the area identified the gunmen as a “special police squad” and said they wore SARS’ vests.

    A source from the community said the gunmen trailed the victim to the area and wanted to force him into their vehicle.

    He said while Akpos was being dragged into the car, he resisted his assailants and in the process pulled out his pistol from its holster.

    He said the deceased police officer shot at the gunmen left him temporarily and staggered to safety.

    “One of the gunmen who was standing close to the Hilux van immediately pulled out his gun and shot the victim who fell to the ground. They later packed his body into their vehicle and zoomed off,” he said.

  • House probe stalls talks on MTN’s N1.04tr fine, says minister

    The Federal Government asked telecoms service provider,  MTN Nigeria to pay N50billion not as part payment of the N1.04trillion fine but as a demonstration of the telcos commitment to its out-of-court settlement of the matter, Communications Technology Minister, Adebayo Shittu has said.

    He said the telco was sanctioned for violating the  Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card registration laws.

    MTN was fined N1.04 trillion by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for having improperly registered active SIM cards running millions on its network.

    The downward review of the fine by 25 per cent as well as payment of N50billion by the telco later led to the investigation of the issue by the House of Representatives.

    Making presentation on the floor of the House on diversification of the Nigerian economy, Shitu said the Ministry asked the telco to pay N50billion in respect of the fine, adding however that the money was not part of the fine.

    According to him,  MTN took the matter to court but later offered to settle it out of court which was why it was asked to pay N50billion as a sign of commitment to the new deal.

    He also told the lawmakers that negotiation for review of the fine has been stalled due to ongoing  investigation of the matter by the House.

    Shitu however assured the House that, as soon as it concludes its investigation, negotiation of the fine would commence.

    Chairman, House Committee on Communications, Saheed Fijabi (APC, Oyo) took on the minister that his comment on the floor was contrary to what he told the Investigative Committee.

    According to Fijabi, the minister denied being involved in the downward review of the fine as well as the payment of N50billion.

    Further on his presentation, the minister, who said the government is set to turn the Information Communications Technology (ICT) sector into a cash cow for the country disclosed that plans are at advanced stage to reposition the Nigerian Postal Services  (NIPOST).

    He said with over 2,500 locations around the country, the government is set to go into public private partnership  (PPP) whereby post offices can perform financial services, especially in the rural areas.

    He also said the PPP model would turn most post offices into skyscrapers that would generate income for the government.

    According to Shittu, governments is considering sourcing the Chief Executive of the organisation, Post Master General from outside the system through open advertisement.

    He said that was a better option to ensure that the required expertise is got for the new NIPOST.

    He also regrtteed non patronage of indigenous ICT companies which has resulted in 70 per cent of the personal computer market going to foreign manufacturers.

    He however assured that given an enabling environment which the ministry is set to provide, the sector can drive the national economy