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Tag: probes

  • Senate probes over $3b loss to 10 power projects’ sale

    Senate probes over $3b loss to 10 power projects’ sale

    The Senate yesterday asked its joint committee on Power and Privatisation to investigate the sale of 10 National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) by the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE). The Federal Government lost $3billion in the transaction.

    This followed a motion by Senator Mohammed Hassan (Yobbe South) and five others over alleged “unwholesome practices by Manitoba Hydro International Nigeria Limited under the direction and control of the BPE.”

    In his lead debate, Hassan criticised the activities of Hydro International ((Manitoba), a Canadian company contracted to manage the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

    The lawmaker said though the firm was incorporated under the laws of Nigeria, it has insisted to be paid in dollars instead of naira.

    He said: “It is a criminal offence stipulated in Section20(5) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, 2007 for any person or body corporate to refuse the acceptance of naira as legal tender.

    “We are worried that the TCN is imposed with this burden, under the management Services Contract, of paying all taxes for the management contractors while Manitoba does not pay taxes on monies paid under the contract.

    “Section 9(2) of the Companies Income Tax Act(CITA) Cap 21, 2004 provides that tax shall be assessed and payable upon the profit of any company accruing in Nigeria.

    “The Management Service Contract prepared by BPE for the management of TCN is fraught with apparent illegalities and total violation of the laws of Nigeria.”

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje in his contribution lamented that the entire privatisation exercise seemed to be a failure.

    He noted that the idea of the exercise was to empower the private sector to make power more stable in the country.

    He said there seemed to be no difference between the pre-privatisation and post-privatisation era.

    He said: “Unfortunately, those who got the Discos and the Gencos are all crying. The consumers are also crying; so every thing seems to be wrong with the companies.

    “Even if government is not going to revoke contracts, there is need to look at the entire process. Why were the Gencos sold? Were they sold on merit or man-know-man?

     

  • EFCC probes fresh N3bn arms scandal

    EFCC probes fresh N3bn arms scandal

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) is  extending its investigation  of arms deals  during the Jonathan administration to a $3 billion contract said to have been awarded by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) under the late General Andrew Owoye.

    Several arms dealers , a military chief  and some other officials who served under Azazi have already been invited by the EFCC for interaction on the matter, The Nation gathered yesterday.

    The  arms  dealers are being quizzed over the alleged inflation of N3billion contract for the supply of 20 units of K-38 patrol boats to the Nigerian Army by the disbanded  Presidential Implementation Committee on Marine Safety (PICOMMS).

    The agency is  also understood to have made a breakthrough  in tracking how some of the $2billion arms  votes and extra-budgetary funds were  withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) based on orders from above.

    Similarly, the  commission has  quizzed  a former Chairman of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Marine Safety (PICOMMS), Air Vice Marshal, Salihu Atawodi(rtd), for a N600m arms scam.

    A  top-level  source familiar with the development  said the arms dealers  were  invited  “for interaction on the contracts given to them.”

    “We noticed some discrepancies like the short supply of equipment,  non-delivery and outright refusal to execute contracts.

    “One of the areas we are looking into is how PICOMMS was allegedly mismanaged under AVM Atawodi. We have allegations of inflation of N3billion contract for the supply of 20 units of K-38 patrol boats to the Nigerian Army.

    “There are issues about lack of due process in the award of the contract and non-delivery of the 20 units of K-38 patrol boats to the Nigerian Army.

    “From records so far, the nation might have been short-changed to the tune of over N2billion out of the contract sum.

    “In an instance, N620million was withdrawn from the contract sum,  changed to dollars and shared by some officials of PICOMMS in one day. We will fish out the culprits.”

    A top source in EFCC said: “Atawodi was arrested for alleged case of conspiracy, abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds.

    “He allegedly abused his position as chairman of presidential implementation committee on marine safety to defraud the Nigerian government to the tune of over N600m through dubious contract to procure military boats.

    “He awarded the contract to one Hypertech Nigeria Limited. The contractor was fully paid, but the boats were never supplied. The contract award process violated the Procurement Act.

    “AVM Atawodi, who has been on the radar of the anti- graft agency since 2013, was quizzed for several hours on Wednesday after he responded to the invitation extended to him.”

    The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the grilling of  Atawodi by the  commission.

    “He is assisting ongoing investigation,” he added.

    About two years ago, a businessman blew the lid open on N3billion contract for the supply of six units of K-38 patrol boats to the disbanded Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Security (PICOMSS).

    The businessman alleged that one of the officials of PICOMSS converted N620million down payment for the contract into personal use.

    The same PICOMSS was enmeshed in the theft of over 200m Euros.

    On the alleged  massive withdrawal from the CBN,sources  said  that although the apex bank  was hamstrung, it was careful in obtaining a written directive from ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

    It was unclear  at press time whether   the EFCC would  interact with  CBN officials.

    But some vital documents have  been retrieved from the apex bank to aid ongoing investigation.

    One of the curious aspects of the investigation was the withdrawal of N620m from the contract sum in cash and the sharing of the loot in a day.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that apart from probing spurious transactions in commercial banks, the EFCC has started looking at alleged “compelling and forceful” withdrawals from the CBN for security matters.

    The actual figures in question were not disclosed last night, but a highly-placed source said some part of the $2billion was sourced from the apex bank.

    The source said: “Investigation has shown some requests for funds or intervention funds from the CBN for security reasons. We are tracking all these requests, approvals and remittances.

    “We are already retrieving some relevant documents from the apex bank in order to ascertain what such funds were actually meant for.

    “One of the key things we discovered was that the CBN management was,  however, careful because it made sure it got presidential approval of such requests.

    “We will confront some of the suspects with these documents we have retrieved. They have the opportunity to give the details of how they spent such funds and the arms procured.”

    It  was learnt  last night that the Acting Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu,  had a meeting   with the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), on how to fast-track the trial of some key suspects in custody for the $2b arms scandal.

    A source said: “The EFCC under Magu  is doing its best to apply international best practices in managing the suspects arrested with $2b arms deals.

    “The EFCC chairman has met with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice on how to fast-track the trial of the suspects. What the anti-graft agency did was only to approach a Chief Magistrate’s Court for an order to remand the suspects.

    “But these suspects can go to a High Court to vacate such order. We are trying to tidy up to arraign the suspects in court for an order to keep them in prison custody. In fact, the EFCC cell is becoming overstretched.”

  • $2b arms: EFCC probes Bode George, Odili, Bello

    $2b arms: EFCC probes Bode George, Odili, Bello

    •Ex-NSA’s finance chief’s accounts frozen    •I don’t know Dasuki, says George

    •Agency gets court’s nod to keep Dasuki, Bafarawa, Yuguda, Dokpesi, others 

    •Ex-NSA denies naming who got what           •AIT chief to produce N2.1b contract

    How many Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains got a slice of the “phoney” $2billion arms contracts cake?

    This is the riddle the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is battling to resolve. Its detectives are probing the role (if any) of Chief Olabode George, former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili and a former General Officer  Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Maj.-Gen. Sarkin-Yaki Bello.

    Although the three were under EFCC’s watch yesterday, none of them had been arrested as at press time. In fact, George denied knowing former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki. Odili and Bello could not be reached for comments.

    The clues on them were said to be preliminary, based on references by some suspects.

    Three bank accounts belonging to the embattled former Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) finance director Mr. Shaibu Salisu have been frozen.

    The EFCC shut down the accounts as part of the ongoing probe of the $2billion arms contracts.

    Also, the agency has invoked the Interim Assets Forfeiture clause in its Establishment Act to seize three duplexes, worth N810million in Lake View Estate in Abuja, which were allegedly traced to Salisu.

    Dasuki yesterday denied implicating anyone in his statement at the EFCC, which secured a court order to remand in custody some suspects, including the former NSA. The others are former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa, former Minister Bashir Yuguda, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi and 18 unnamed persons.

    The EFCC is said to have discovered that Salisu allegedly “diverted government funds and made illegal payments to his companies from ONSA’s accounts”.

    The Nation stumbled on a document which indicates that four slush companies – Fanskan Equisite Travel Tours, Starr Concrete Blocks PPTYS, Famskan Exquisite Limited and Musim Ventures – were traced to Salisu.

    The document shows that the EFCC found that three duplexes (at N270 million each) in Lake View Jabi allegedly belong to Salisu, in spite of the fact that the name on the receipt is Yusuf Salisu.

    These duplexes were apart from a “mansion” in U Bur Dubai and a big farm in Zaria, Damwanzam Farms Limited (bearing the email address of the ex-director).

    It was also learnt that the EFCC was still looking at the business relationship between Salisu and Halal Hotel and Rekiya Hospital in Kaduna.

    A top EFCC source said: “We have frozen three key accounts of a former Director of Finance of ONSA. By the time the figures are collated, we will tell you the actual amount. But out of N600million deposited in one of the accounts on October 2, 2014, about N100million was  given to one Alh. Bashir.

    “All the three banks involved have been asked to put PNB on the accounts.

    “As I am talking to you, we have invoked the Interim Assets Forfeiture Clause to seize three duplexes(at N270million each) at Lake View Estate, Jabi which were traced to Salisu.”

    Some suspects have reportedly named George, Odili and Bello as some of the beneficiaries of the “arms cash bazaar”.

    “We are putting them under watch until there is sufficient ground to either invite or arrest them,” an EFCC source said.

    “Certainly, there are some allegations but none of them has been fully implicated or arrested. And we have not invited any of them for questioning.”

    Asked when some high-profile suspects will be granted bail, the source said: “Well, we have secured a court order to remand in custody some suspects, including  Dasuki, Bafarawa, Yuguda, Dokpesi and 18 others.

    “We don’t want to release them in a manner that will jeopardise the ongoing investigation. Some of them have mentioned a few individuals and corporate organisations and we need to conduct due diligence.

    “For instance, Dokpesi admitted collecting N2.1billion for publicity. We have asked him to produce evidence of award of the contract, the terms of the contract, the schedule of execution and how the contract was related to arms purchase.

    “The media owner also gave some evidence and we have to get in touch with those concerned and organisations to verify his claims.

    “For a while, the suspects will be with us and we will treat them well – in line with international best practices.”

    It was learnt that the EFCC has written some media owners to clarify what  Dokpesi meant by being “embedded in various organizations.”

    “In making up his defence, Dokpesi told interrogators that he was embedded in some media organisations.

    “We don’t know what he meant and we have written the affected media to explain if they were given any share of the N2.1billion for publicity .”

    Dasuki yesterday denied ever making statement, implicating anyone or group in  his statement to the EFCC.

    Dasuki, who spoke through his lawyer, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), said he never named anyone to EFCC and wondered ýwhere the authors got their information from.

    Raji said: “I was with Dasuki yesterday and wish to make categorical statement that my client never made any statement of such nature or named anybody or group in any statement.

    ”Quote me anywhere, Dasuki has not done anything like that. It is absolutely untrue. It is the figment of the imagination of the authors aimed at creating falsehood for reasons best known to them and Nigerians should disregard them.

    ”They are just out to scandalise the man, bring his image and character into disrepute so that his friends and well-wishers can run away from him. They want him deserted and that will fail.”

    A source close to ONSA said  not all funds being probed were related to arms procurement as being alleged.

    The ONSA manages several funds for national security and other special interventions, which are not related to Boko Haram or arms procurement.

    They include recurrent expenditures and miscellaneous expenses under Special Service Office (SSO) to fund special projects and programmes including capacity building, refreshments, travelling, office maintenance, crisis communication and support to special causes and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

    “Most of the figures being bandied were taken from the special funds meant for the purposes that they were spent and not on the so-called arms deal.”

    “All over the world, there are lots of expenditures of national security and sensitive matters that are not ridiculed in the press,” the source told PRNigeria, a covert media machinery of the military.

     

  • Edo probes Igbinedion for $31m, others

    The Edo State government has begun moves to recover $31 million allegedly stolen from its coffers under the Lucky Igbinedion administration.

    The decision to pobe the missing money was  reached yesterday at the Executive Council (Exco) meeting in Benin, the state capital.

    Addressing reporters, Information Commissioner Louis Odion said: “There is the issue of a fraud that was discovered while turning our books. We found that $31 million was fraudulently taken from the state’s coffers under the administration of Chief Lucky Igbinedion. The Comrade Governor (Adams Oshiomhole) has directed the Attorney-General to begin a legal action in that direction.

    “So, in the coming days, the state government will take legal action to ensure that what was stolen from Edo State government is recovered. When you convert $31 million to naira, it fetches you N7 billion. You can imagine what N7 billion will do in improving the human condition in Edo State.”

    Throwing light on the $31m fraud, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Abdul Oroh said: “The $31 million, which was stolen from the people of Edo State for the transaction, was designed clearly for criminal purposes. This project was called Avrant Cement Company, situated at Ekpe, near Ikpeshi in Akoko Edo Local Government Area.

    “The company was supposed to produce cement to take advantage of the large scale deposit of limestone in that part of the state. The company was registered as Abat Cement Company Limited. This company had three shareholders: Abat Cement Company had 75 per cent shares; the Edo State government had 15 per cent shares and 10 per cent shares were reserved for ‘other Nigerians’.

    “Although the Edo State government was given only 15 per cent share, 100 per cent of the revenue invested in the company, $31 million, was taken from the account of the state government. This money was withdrawn from the account of the state government under Afribank. As the money was withdrawn, the construction of the company started and all the major structures were in place: 90 per cent completed, machines were installed, but there was no other contribution from any other source for the construction and procurement of the equipment. So, everything invested in that company came from the Edo State government.

  • Kebbi House of Assembly probes N28b airport contract under ex-governor

    The Kebbi State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Samaila  Abdulmumin Kamba, yesterday passed a resolution to investigate the N28 billion airport contract executed by immediate past governor of the state, Saidu Nasamu Dakingari.

    The motion to launch an investigation into the matter followed an embarrassing situation at the airport on Tuesday when the maiden airlift of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia was almost stalled by a lack of firefighting equipment in the airport, but for the timely intervention of Governor Bagudu to release millions of naira to hire the firefighting equipment.

    The motion to investigate, in particular, a N443 million contract for firefighting equipment was raised by Hon. Mohammad Buhari Alierio who is the Deputy Speaker of the House from Aliero constituency. “In view of complaints from various angles and the embarrassing situation which almost stalled airlift of pilgrims from the airport, and in view of N28 billion spent on upgrade of the airport by the immediate government  as well as lack of firefighting equipment which was awarded at the cost of N443 million, I move a motion to investigate the contract.”

    The motion was seconded by Abdul Wasiu Andarai representing Maiyama and supported by Umar Sarkin Shanu representing Birnin Kebbi North.

    The House members argued that all those responsible or involved must appear before a special investigation committee set up by the House. The members described as alarming why all the facilities of the airport could not be provided in a contract that gulps N28 billion of the state resources.

    The immediate governor of the state, Saidu Nasamu Dakingari, had upgraded the airstrip to a full-fledged international airport at a cost of N28 billion queried by the present government and people of the state.

  • The impending probes

    SIR: President Muhammadu  Buhari  told Nigerians: “If we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us”. This, no doubt, highlights the obviously endemic nature of corruption in Nigeria. There is, perhaps, no other social ill that has made a mess of our nation than corruption. The several policies and programmes of previous administrations in the country have not achieved desired results due to the deep-rooted nature of corruption among the various classes and groups in the country. Almost every sector in the country has been destroyed by corruption. We have spent billions of dollars on the power and oil sectors with little noticeable improvement. Every direction one faces in the country, one is bound to see the evil hand of corruption.

    Over the years, funds meant for the development of public infrastructure have been diverted by public officials and their cohorts for private use. The result is that a greater percentage of Nigerians has been consigned to a miserable life of incredible poverty while very few who are entrusted with the commonwealth have continued to live in inconceivable opulence and affluence.

    With the monumental havoc that corruption has done to our nation and its people, it doesn’t, therefore, sound rational for anyone to affirm that fighting this evil would distract President Buhari from governance. If the issue of corruption is one of the major issues that President Buhari and his government are able to confront frontally, our county would, undoubtedly, be the better for it. Presently, considering the President’s body language in respect of corruption, many public institutions and government officials are beginning to sense the signal and are already falling in line. This is what we need at this point in time. Enough of the rot of the past!

    One major way through which corruption could be tackled in the country is to sanction corrupt officials and individuals as prescribed by the law of the land. The only thing that evil requires to triumph in any society is for evil to constantly go unpunished. It is morally wrong to allow corrupt public officials to enjoy and flaunt their loot while many Nigerians continue to bear the pains of their acts. This is not how to build a sane society where fairness, probity and equity reign.  Enough of the distractions- Let the probes begin!

     

    • Tayo Ogunbiyi,

    Ministry of Information & Strategy,

    Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

  • Senate probes Customs, FIRS over ‘illegal’ N567b tax cost

    The Senate yesterday started the investigation of alleged unauthorised expenditure of N567billion by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

    The N567billion is said to be part of tax collected by the NCS and the FIRS from January 2005 to July this year.

    This is contained in a petition by a non-governmental organisation, Legislative Watch, to the Senate.

    Legislative Watch forwarded its petition to Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki who referred it to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

    Part of the documents from the Federal Ministry of Finance presented to the committee by Legislative Watch alleged that the average monthly collection cost of the NCS is N2.5 billion.

    The petitioner alleged that the total amount not remitted by NCS to the Federal Government for 126 months (January 2005 to July 2015) is N315billion.

    The same document indicated that the average monthly cost of collection of the FIRS was put at N2billion which puts the total amount not remitted by FIRS over the same period at N252billion.

    The two amounted ro N567 billion as the cost of collection for both agencies.

    Its Executive Secretar, Ngozi Ihuoma, who defended the petition before the Senate Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition Committee claimed that the amount represented the seven per cent cost of tax collection paid to the NCS and the four per cent paid to the FIRS during the period.

    The petitioner claimed that the two agencies deducted the money from the amounted collected on behalf of the Federal Government without appropriation by the National Assembly contrary to the provisions of the constitution.

    Ihuoma claimed that the action of the agencies’ management contravened Sections 162 (3) and 165 of the constitution.

  • EFCC probes how BPE paid N1.45b to PDP’s lawyer, others

    EFCC probes how BPE paid N1.45b to PDP’s lawyer, others

    Anti-graft agency to quiz BPE chiefs over legal, consultancy fees

    Anti-graft detectives are probing the alleged N1.45 billion legal and consultancy fees scandal at the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

    The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) called in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Of the cash, N950 million was paid to one of the lawyers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the liquidation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) when the company had ceased to exist. A N500 million consultancy fee went to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

    The fees were paid contrary to the advice of the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), and BPP.

    The BPP requested the EFCC to investigate the payment scandal in a June 27 letter to the anti-graft agency.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We have submitted a letter to the EFCC to look into the circumstances behind the payment of legal and consultancy fees. It is left to the anti-graft agency to interact with those involved.

    “We had in a September 22, 2014 letter, told the BPE that Due Process Certificate of ‘No Objection’ cannot be granted to the Bureau of Public Enterprises for the appointment of the legal firm.

    ”We also drew the attention of the Director-General of BPE to Section 12.30 of the revised Review Report for consideration and necessary action.

    “In another letter on December 24, 2014, the BPP advised the BPE against going ahead with the procurement of the legal service for the winding up of PHCN.

    “The Legal Advisory Services for the winding up of PHCN was no longer required, based on the advice of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice vides September 11, 2014 letter.

    “It was surprising to the BPP that the BPE went ahead to pay about N1billion to a lawyer without following Due Process.”

    As at press time, it was gathered that some top officials of the BPE might be invited for interrogation on the curious legal fee.

    An EFCC source said the agency has launched an investigation.

    “We are going to interact with some officials of the BPE after preliminary investigation has been concluded,” the source said.

    The Director-General, Mr. Emeka M. Ezeh, said in a letter that no instruction was received from the AGF nullifying the earlier directive.

    The letter said: “The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) having examined the request, wishes to draw the attention of the BPE to Paragraph 14 of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation (HAGF)’s letter to the BPP referenced that “item 1,3,5,6 and 8 of the scope of work for the Legal Advisor unnecessary for the liquidation of the PHCN.

    “Similarly, any of the remaining items 2,4,7 and 9, which is not contemplated by the procedure described in Sections 457 -468 (and there is hardly any contemplated) would equally be unnecessary to accomplish the liquidation”.

    “ It can be deduced from the above citation that the HAGF’s position on this procurement clearly indicates that Legal Advisory Service is not needed as all constituent items (1-9) under unnecessary as listed by the HAGF constitute all items under the Legal Advisory Service, as such; no item is left for BPP’s consideration for a further review.”

     

  • Cecilia Ibru: Senate probes N150b forfeited assets

    The Senate will today begin investigation into how the over N150billion assets forfeited by the former Managing Director of  the defunct Oceanic Bank Plc, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru, are being managed.

    Mrs. Ibru was convicted and jailed for six months over bank and securities fraud by a Federal High Court presided over by Justice Dan Abutu, in Ikoyi, Lagos on October 8, 2010.

    She was made to forfeit two aircraft worth $100 million, properties in Dubai, South Africa, London and abridged shares in listed Nigerian companies.

    Also, the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption has summoned the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to appear before it today to respond to a petition alleging that certain irregularities were perpetrated in the execution of the forfeited assists  and the failed bank consolidation, it was learnt.

    The committee is also interested in the recovery of assets from loan defaulters and convicted Managing Directors of the defunct Oceanic Bank Plc, Intercontinental Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc, Afri Bank Plc and Bank PHB.

    According to the letter from the committee, the petition alleged that the funds and properties recovered by the EFCC were not remitted to the banks and the properties and shares were never advertised for sale nor the proceeds remitted to either the banks nor AMCON

    The committee in the letter of invitation signed by its Chairman, Senator Victor Lar, noted that of particular interest to it were the assets of Mrs Ibru, forfeited under her plea bargain deal with the EFCC, which were allegedly not accounted for.

    The committee’s investigative hearing would take place at the hearing Senate Room 4.38 barring last minute changes.

    Also to appear before the Committee are the Managing Director of Ecobank Plc formerly Oceanic Bank, who has been directed to come along with statements of account from AMCON, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) or CBN under the bank consolidation exercise from 2009 till date.

    The MD of Ecobank is expected to also show proof of transfer of assets/shares/cash from AMCON to the bank.

    The Acting Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Munir Gwarzo, and the Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde are also expected at the heating.

    A member of the Committee who spoke in confidence with one of our correspondents confirmed the probe.

    He said: “It is true that we are investigating the case. We heard that the woman (Mrs, Ibru) has reacquired all her properties which include over 60 houses overseas.

    “AMCON was supposed to advertise before disposing off the assets, but we did not see any advertisement.”

  • DHQ probes report on Shekau’s condition

    DHQ probes report on Shekau’s condition

    The Defence Headquarters yesterday launched a probe into the alleged “killing ” of the Spiritual Leader of Boko Haram, Imam Abubakar Shekau in the encounters in Konduga with insurgents.

    Intelligence sources have been analyzing the features of a top commander of the sect who was mauled down  in the encounters on September 17.

    The fallen commander was said to have “the same character as someonewho has been posing as Shekau.”

    A few months ago, the Directorate of State Security had declared Shekau dead in a battle. It declared the person who appeared in a video as an impostor.

    The DHQ pledged to address the nation after ascertaining the truth or otherwise of the claim by troops.

    According to senior military and intelligence sources, “a commander sharing the features of Shekau was hit and fallen.”

    One of the sources said: “The DHQ has received reports of alleged fallen of Boko Haram leader, Imam Shekau by troops.

    The  Defence Headquarters will soon address the nation after full investigation of their latest discovery.

    The source gave background to the ongoing probe by the DHQ.

    He said:  “Nigerian troops might have scored a strategic victory in the current battle against terrorists operating in the Northeast on September 17.

    “During a desperate attempt to capture Konduga in their delusion to eventually marching on and capturing Maiduguri, the man who had been mimicking Late Abubakar Shekau in recent videos might have been killed.

    “It is getting more certain that the terrorists’ commander who has been mimicking Shekau in those videos was  the one killed in Konduga on September 17, 2014.”

    “The suspected demise of the Boko Haram leader is responsible for the scattering of the sect members in different independent locations in the neighbouring countries, especially in Cameroon noticed in recent days.

    Another military source said: “The process of confirming that the body we have is the same as that character who has been posing as Shekau is ongoing.

    “He is definitely a prominent terrorist commander. I don’t want to say anything about this yet please.”

    A third  high-ranking military source insisted that the “resemblance is too striking to be a coincidence.

    “The troops cited his facial marks, beards and teeth apart from the recovery by the Nigerian troops of some of the Armoured Vehicles and Hilux jeeps that had featured in previous videos of the prime suspect.”