The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sani Abacha

  • Goodnight, Aturu, defender of the masses

    Goodnight, Aturu, defender of the masses

    I recall the glowing narrative of a junior officer in our office on an errand to Bamidele Aturu. The young man came back with adoring first-time impression of Bamidele. In excitement, he told the story of how the famous lawyer and human rights activist welcomed him. First, Bamidele called him by first name, as if they had known before. Two, he quickly offered him a seat. Three, he personally served him refreshments % when he could have sent the house help to do that. Four, he said Bamidele was so warm and friendly that you would want to be around such a person all the time.

    The young man was perplexed, but I was not. What he was describing was just the typical Bamidele: humble and friendly, no matter the age or class of the people he was dealing with. He did not hesitate to greet you first even if he was meeting you for the first time. But above his down-to-earth attributes, he was a man of character. He was not a man who would say yes when he meant no. He was not a man who would laugh with you and then stab you in the back.

    I have known him for decades and I am in a good position to speak about him. He practised what he preached, and I am not even talking about his religious commitments as a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God. I remember when he contested for the governorship of Lagos State in 2007. We thought it was a hard nut for him to crack, but he told me that he wanted to show that politics can be played on the basis of principles. He wanted to prove that it is possible to practise politics of principles. He did not just want to be a philosopher; he also wanted to be a king.

    Bamidele was a defender of the masses. He devoted a greater part of his legal practice to defending the downtrodden and the disadvantaged without charging a kobo. He did not see his profession as a meal ticket. Rather, he saw it as a God-given opportunity to help the helpless, to solve problems of inequality in the society. He defended a lot of people without charging them fees, because he knew they could not pay. If only the rich had access to legal defence, how can the poor get justice?

    Bamidele was a crusader for democracy, rule of law and accountability. In the days of General SaniAbacha when it was like a capital offence to campaign for democracy, Bamidele was in the thick of the action. We were all members of the Democratic Alternative, a pro-democracy group that fought for the enthronement of government of the people, by the people and for the people. In those days when some youths were being mobilised to march for Abacha and deny Nigerians the right to choose their leaders through an open, free and fair electoral system, Bamidele lent his voice to the demand for true democracy.

    Bamidele is a family man in the true sense of family. He devoted precious time to our sister, Bimpe and their wonderful children. When ChimaUbani travelled very suddenly to heaven, Bamidele devoted time to Mrs. ChimaUbani and their amazing children. He took time to go on holidays to Obudu and other parts of the world. He worked very hard but never forgot to leisure. He cares for all. He is a man of community and constituency.

    Let me conclude that BamideleAturu is an original. Very original! He is an authentic! Nigeria and all of humanity will miss this great soul even as he travels to heaven at this time.

    *Douglas is Special Adviser on Research, Documentation and Strategy to President Goodluck Jonathan

     

  • COMMENTS

    COMMENTS

    For Olatunji Dare

    Re-MAY 29, Not yet “Democracy Day”. I have been a constant fanatical reader of your weekly “At home abroad” series. You are a Prophet because majority of views has come to pass. I will refer you to the wise saying of Sir Winston Churchill “It is no use saying, ‘We are doing our best, ‘You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary”. Ride on sir, God is your strength. From Comrade Esan Ajibola, Ayedun Ekiti.

    The English essayist,Thomas Hardy,posited in his book ‘Under The Greenwood Tree’ that, “You do not blame others for singing a   song you wrote about yourself”. The President Jonathan kleptocratic Junta have sang it’s own sonorous nunc demitis by using the facade of a Gestapo Police (Mr Mbu,CP-FCT) to ban rallies in Abuja over the  CHIBOK GIRLS.lt is now clear that they need some tutorials on the rudiments of Democracy before they resort to more outrageously weird Idi Amin, Sani Abacha and Hastings Kamuzu Banda-like strategies in checkmating freedom of speech and liberty in Nigeria. From Chief Bobson Gbinije,Mandate Against Poverty(MAP), Warri.

    Re-May 29: Not yet “Democracy Day”.  No matter the deficiencies, we have been able to trudge and move on, democratically. Journalists could and have been bashing the governments and some Individuals without arrest and molestation! What all of us should do is to shun ethnicism, politicisation of write-up albeit against their non-favourites, make merits in all ramifications, Nigeria’s logo. MAY 29  or Democracy day, it is clear that we are no longer in a Military rule. Almighty God will help to ‘panelbeat’ our wobbles, ameen. From Lanre Oseni.

    Re- ‘May 29: Not yet “Democracy Day”‘

    It is politically idiotic to ritualize the observance of “Democracy Day”… In my view, it is hot air that has gone cold, and vaporised!  The Nigerian genre of democracy beggars belief, as a huge fraud! Anonymous

    Democracy at l5, we progressed in corruption that is our setback in development, despite the resource at our disposal.it is very unfortunate. From Chika Nnorom      

    You have carefully itemised the ills of Nigeria’s democracy. June 12, to me, is the Democracy Day of Nigeria. From David-West b david, Yenagoua.

    May 29, Democracy Day is in the imagination of those who are mis-ruling us. The real Peoples’ Democracy Day is June 12 and one day it will manifest. From Ola Michael, Egan Lagos

    No, Mooyiwa; Fani-Kayode can’t possibly be broke. Rather, he is worried about the terrible dimension of the EFCC case against him, especially regarding the strong rumour that the meeting at the Villa convinced him that he might be jailed soon. How else do you explain, after saying such horrible things about Jonathan and his govt, that Fani-Kayode  will suddenly make a U- turn?- Anonymous

     

    For Segun Gbadegesin

    John Kayode Fayemi (JKF) is a leader others will wish to be there own. The ball is on the court of the citizens of the Fountain of Knowledge to choose light or darkness. JKF is the man come June 21. From John Anya, Enugu Nigeria.

    If democracy, as you were even able to observe, is like a plant that needs to be cultivated, tended and nurtured first, to be of effect for the growth of the society, then it is wrong to assert, as you did, that May 29 isn’t yet Democracy Day. The date in question is observed as the day power changed hands from khaki to civilian government, after so many years of military rule. It is not celebrated as the day Nigeria attained perfection or her destiny in democratic govanance. Which is why we still have the large army of unemployed youths, epleptic power supply, bad roads and so on in the land. And these I believe will still be phased out with time as we join hands to make the democracy what it should be, for the common good of us all. That we can freely express our opinions about the goverment today and still sleep in our homes, or even take the governmet to court and obtain justice are good indications that democracy is already in place. From Emmanuel Egwu  

    It would have been very wrong and quite unacceptable for anybody to have attempted to stop the protest inspired by the criminal abduction of the Chibok girls, which has atracted demonstrations from virtualy all sections of the country and beyond. The protest which, of course, should have some logic is aimed at arousing the government to action for the release of the innocent girls. And having achieved just that by swooping on the government to work, a continuous protest unabated in the circumstances, one should be right to think, not only will make it lose steam somewhat, but tends to constitute a big distraction to the government in its action plan. Beyond that, the situation on ground is one that some hoodlums and Boko Haram might equally cash in on to cause more harm to the people. Misleading though the goverment name-calling might be,further protest in this direction,all considerd,may not be producing the desired result if allowed to continue unrestricted –From Emmanuel Egwu.   

    Sir, about Ekiti elections. It would be a tragedy and a misclassification of massive proportion should for any reason Governor Fayemi should lose. It would be a great blunder by Ekiti electorate. It is unthinkable to have Ekiti return to the era of ignorance, ineptitude, chaos,thuggery, killings and misdirection. Anonymous.

    We are Ondo Based-Ekiti Students across the institution in the state, we all registerd in our different Local Government in Ekiti, our Hope Still on John Kayode Fayemi. Anonymous

    Just because the president came to Ekiti yesterday there is mayhem in Ado Ekiti as a result of state sponsored attacks I hope your correspondents will visit the scenes where two people has been killed already, this is food for thought. Anonymous

    In normal climes,going by the many beautiful things said and written about Governor Fayemi and his unprecedented transformational administration of Ekiti State for the past 3years now,even the hottest contender of his job in the state forthcoming election would have simply backed down,knowing how it would only amount to chasing an illusion going to compete with a man of such uncomon records for transfomational democracy.But then, here is Nigeria. Of course, if Jega were to live up to the man of integrity we use to know of him and his officers inspired by his examples in the conduct of the election,Fayemi winning landslide no doubt would have been a forgone conclusion.For there is no way the learned,noble and appreciative people of Ekiti State would have voted otherwise especially knowing the unimpressive antecedents of Fayose,the former governor  of the state – From Emmanuel Egwu

    For Adegboyega

    It is a pity that our leaders are frustrating young Nigerians seeking knowledge. There is nowhere in the world where knowledge seekers are frustrated and you expect development. The earlier we know our stand the better for us. From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos.

    RE: Hungry for knowledge. Lack of solutions to increase in fees in the universities, leading to student unrest and ASUU/NASU strikes, stem from the university authorities, government and the students. The FG, states provide less funds due to corruption tendencies, unreduced personal enjoyment; the university authorities have no option than to jack up the amount to make life more comfortable for students. Rather than see reason in that, students believe that protests are common commodity as resolution. The resultant effect of fee reversal is graduates’ low quality and un-employability. From Lanre Oseni.

    Only God knows where our education sector is going, in spite of the resources at our disposal to make education affordable for the citizenry;, it is very unfortunate that governments are not living up to their billing to make education available for the less- privileged. Nigeria is blessed with resources but bad leadership is our major problem. We don’t know the rationale behind Wike still being in charge of the education ministry, with constant strikes in the institutions without his finding a solution to the problems. I appeal to the Lagos State governor to reduce the school fees of LASU in the interest of the parents. From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State.

    Your article in The Nation newspaper of Sunday June 8, Nigeria’s tertiary education crisis in perspective didn’t capture the ASUP strike that has been going on for about 10 months. Sir, is it a form of discrimination? From Fabiyi Ademola, Ebonyi (ASUP FPE, Chapter).  

     

  • Why Abacha sacked me, by ex-IG

    Why Abacha sacked me, by ex-IG

    A former Inspector General of Police,Mohammed Gambo-Jimeta, said yesterday that he was given the boot by the late Head of State, Gen Sani Abacha, because he advised him to release some high profile political detainees.

    Gambo-Jimeta, who is the National Conference Chairman Committee on National Security, spoke at the inaugural meeting of the committee at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja.

    The former IG said he advised Abacha in the interest of the country due to the tension raised by the detention.

    He noted that Abacha did not take kindly to his advice, hence he was booted out unceremoniously.

    The former police boss said his removal and the witch-hunt that followed forced him to go on exile for nine months, leaving his family behind.

    He said: “As the IG then, I advised Gen Sani Abacha to release political detainees such as Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen. Musa Yar’Adua and four others but the former Head of State refused to do so and instead removed me.

    “Never again shall we put another yoke on our neck and end up with another dictatorship. Never! Sani Abacha sacked me.

    “I went on exile simply because I told him it was wrong that the country was being turned into Uganda.”

    Gambo-Jimeta said there was nothing wrong with the country’s constitution.

    He said what was required was amendments of relevant sections to adequately address the security challenges in the country.

    The former IG said: “I decided to take up this appointment to change the situation and to help salvage the country.

    “The country is sick; otherwise how can you explain why people organise themselves and kill pupils? How can people gather together to rob? How can people gather and vandalise pipelines? It means the central system is sick.

    He assured that his committee would bring to bear the expertise and experiences earned over the years by members to proffer solution to the myriads of security problems confronting the country.

  • From YEAA to GIFT

    From YEAA to GIFT — it is the distinctly Nigerian penchant to reward failure with huge benefits.

    Remember the apocryphal tale of the inimitable Esama of Benin, who reportedly admonished the people of Edo State to reward his son, Lucky, with four more years, with his curious logic that when a student flunks his exams, he is entitled to a re-sit?

    Before the Edo apocrypha was the notorious reality of YEAA — Youths Earnestly Yearn for Abacha.

    The best forgotten Goggled One, Sani Abacha, was at his murdering and stealing best. He had run all opposition either out of town or into exile. He had tossed into gaol and tossed away the key, MKO Abiola, the elected president whose mandate he brutally usurped.

    He had suborned the Nigerian economy for his sole pleasure, ironically (as later facts would emerge), using the MKO scarecrow to steal his country blind, via bogus security votes. The cash he so cynically salted away in foreign banks would later be known as the Abacha loot.

    At the height of that infamy, a certain Daniel Kanu and his band of racketeers emerged. Eagle Square, Abuja, was their satanic stage. Their no less satanic mission was to rally and rally and rally, until the Goggled One took a break from his humongous evil and answer to their plea that he would succeed himself.

    In their self-given tasks and rogue-funded gambit, they drew into the gravy the cream of Nigerian artistes, who sang away, wriggled their hips and tore their vocal chords, summoning the Goggled One to transmute. He probably would have — until what the media promptly termed “divine intervention”.

    Sixteen years after the iron dictator exited on the laps of debauchery and three elected civilian administrations after, YEAA has promptly morphed into GIFT — Goodluck Initiative For Transformation. But the abiding philosophy remains: power without responsibility.

    GIFT, in a newspaper advert, threatened to rally and rally and rally and rally (ala YEAA) until President Goodluck Jonathan hearkens its patriotic plea to run for second term.

    Now, if Abacha could cook up rogue elements to champion his transmutation simply because even a military dictator realised it was sheer legal brigandage, how do you explain such of an elected president who, under the law, has a right to second term? That he is convinced, by the sheer disaster of his tenure, that he has forfeited his right to a second term?

    Yeah right, President Jonathan, hero of GIFT, has during his first term, brought much transformation to his country — transformation into anomie, bordering on full-scale anarchy; politicised the National Security Council meeting, turning a strictly constitutional injunction, a right of governors of every partisan hue into a monopoly of his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and satellite governors; wined and made merry at political hustings, even as innocent citizens were mass bombed in his capital and school girls were captured by terrorists; beggared the states to the tune of 40 per cent, even if oil prices have not dipped and oil sales have not come down!

    So, why would GIFT not rally and gift Jonathan a second term?

     

  • Looted funds

    Looted funds

    •Countries where they are stashed should not hide under legal niceties to keep the money

    The United States and other countries should remit monies seized from businesses linked with the late General Sani Abacha now.

    The recent action by the United States government to make companies linked to funds looted from Nigeria by the late military Head of State forfeit such assets is welcome. In an action filed before a district court in Washington, the American government asked that the said fund, about $500 billion, be forfeited and served notice that the Nigerian justice ministry should file necessary papers to assist in repatriating same to the country. We hope the United States would not hide behind legal niceties to continue holding on to the stolen assets.

    While we welcome the moves, we note that neither the American government, nor the Federal Ministry of Justice has done enough to ensure that the money is recovered and duly used for promoting the growth and development of the Nigerian economy. It is 16 years since General Abaca died, and almost 15 since civilians took over from the military, yet, not much has been done to retrieve the funds to reflate the Nigerian economy; rather it is being expended since then to further stabilise other countries.

    Countries that are noted to be repositories of the Abacha loot include Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, France, United Kingdom, United States, France and Switzerland. The only one known to have cooperated in recovering the money stashed away in its banks is Switzerland.

    It does no good to the image of a country that pontificates on corruption and transparency but encourages corrupt leaders to bleed their countries’ treasuries, thus depriving them use of their resource endowments and keeping such countries perpetually poor. Of the 10 most corrupt leaders ever, Nigeria’s Abacha was number four and the Nigerian funds he looted has been put at two to five billion dollars. This is about N800 billion, which is more than the annual budget of seven of the country’s poorest states.

    It is unfortunate that the Federal Ministry of Finance has failed to satisfactorily account for recoveries so far and the use to which they have been committed. This is however no excuse for the United States, United Kingdom, France and other economic powers to sit on the looted funds.

    We restate our consistent call on the federal and state governments to be more transparent and prudent in financial management. The people deserve to have the full details of looted funds, the countries to which they have been traced, efforts being made at recovery, the level of cooperation by the beneficiaries of the loot and what has been done with what has been repatriated so far.

    In all other facets of life, government should deliberately promote openness as a means of growing local and international confidence in its activities. This would also help in mobilising the citizenry for development, and the international community in respecting Nigeria and Nigerians. The task before the Federal Government at this point is to improve the image and economic rating of the country. It is obvious that we missed previous marks because of the insincerity of successive governments. As the national planning ministry has said, the 20-20-20 Plan has failed again. What it did not say was that this government contributed largely to the failure.

  • Still on Abacha children and Soyinka

    SIR: I do not know whether the writer was right or wrong when he said “say nothing but good of the dead”. But I do know that the likes of such writers will stop at nothing to eulogize one of Nigeria’s most vicious rulers, late Gen. Sani Abacha.

    Sincerely, I have nothing against the late General but his children who like parrots with unquenchable appetite for loquacity rose against Prof. Wole Soyinka on pages on newspapers and other social media. These children who can not distinguish between earned and unearned wealth deliberately failed to comprehend Professor Soyinka’s reasons for rejecting the recent centenary award. Like children of Sodom and Gomorrah, they saw morality in immorality. They forgot that their father suddenly became one of the richest leaders on earth shortly after he assumed office.

    To those boys, Aso Rock was like a farmland, industry and goldmine. That’s why they had the audacity to lash out at Professor Soyinka. Truth be told, these boys deserve our pity, because they were somewhere far away from home when their father introduced kleptomania- locracy ‘. Perhaps they were in school abroad. So why will they ever understand the laureate’s point of view?

    I call on well meaning Nigerians to urge the Abacha children to run a quick check on their history books and if they do, the only option they will have is to apologise to the Professor and walk the street with their heads covered with shame. If they have no books, they should google the life and time of their father.

    Somebody should please let them know that the money left behind by their dad in places far and near belongs to Nigeria. It is oil money.

    • Godfrey Ogbaisi,

    Benin City

  • Abacha loot: U.S. serves govt $550m forfeiture notice

    Abacha loot: U.S. serves govt $550m forfeiture notice

    United States has written the Federal Government for assistance to serve forfeiture notice on the late Gen. Sani Abacha’s son, Mohammed, an associate of the dictator, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and Dumez Nigeria Plc.

    The defendants are to forfeit over $550million and £95,910, 222.84(million) in 10 accounts and six investment portfolios linked to the Abachas in France, the Britain, British Virgin Islands and the United States.

    Abacha has up till today(March 25, 2014) to file an application before the U.S District Court for the District of Columbia to either set aside the forfeiture order or vary it.

    Failure to file a counter-application or ask for a stay will lead to the automatic forfeiture of the cash and other assets today.

    The letter contains a breakdown of some of the accounts and investment firms/ banks where the looted funds were stashed abroad.

    The highlights are as follows: Doraville Properties Corporation – $287 million in Account Number 80020796 located at Deutsche Bank International Limited in the Bailiwick of Jersey; HSBC Fund Administration (Jersey) – $12 million in account number S-104460 in the Bailiwick of Jersey; and Rayville International, S. A – $1 million in account number 223405880IUSD at Banque SBA in Paris, France.

    Others are: Standard Alliance Financial Services Limited – $144 million in account 223406510PUSD at Banque SBA in Paris; Mecosta Securities – $21.7 million in accounts 10030688 and 100138409 at Standard Bank in the United Kingdom; and HSBC Bank Plc – $1.6 million in account number 38175076.

    Also listed are Blue Holding (1) Pte Ltd/ Ridley Group Limited – £6,806,900; Blue Holding (2) Pte. Ltd/ Ridley Group Limited – £21,846,983; Blue Holding (1) Pte. Ltd/ Ridley Group Limited – £10,293,343.58; Blue Holding (2) Pte. Ltd/Ridley Group Limited – £56,962,996.26

    In the letter to the Federal Government by the Associate Director, Criminal Division of the Office of International Affairs of the US Department of Justice, Jeffrey M. Olson, the US government said it sought the help of Nigeria in line with January 14, 2003 Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between the two nations.

    The letter, which was obtained by our correspondent, reads in part: “The United States Central Authority respectfully requests the assistance of the Central Authority of the Federal Republic of Nigeria pursuant to the Treaty between the Government of the United States of America and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters (the Treaty).

    “The United States’ request for assistance stems from forfeiture proceedings by the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section (the prosecutor) against property related to the corrupt conduct of Sani Abacha, the former head of state of Nigeria, and the subsequent laundering of corruption proceeds.

    “ The United States is required by law to provide notice to natural or legal persons who may have an interest in property that is the subject of forfeiture proceedings, in order to give them an opportunity to file a claim.

    “Therefore, the prosecutor requests that the Federal Republic of Nigeria provide notice of the pending forfeiture action to Mohammed Sani Abacha, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, and Dumez Nigeria Plc

    “ The prosecutor also requests that the Federal Republic of Nigeria serve Mohammed Sani Abacha and Abubakar Atiku Bagudu with the record of proceedings under the United Kingdom Civil Jurisdiction and Judgement Act, which is needed in order to enforce the warrant of arrest in rem issued by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.”

    In separate letters to Mohammed Abacha and Abubakar Atiku Bagudu by a counsel, Herbert Smith Freehills(LLP), the defendants were told that they have up till March 25 (today) to “set aside or vary the court order”.

    The counsel warned that a breach of the forfeiture order might be punished with a fine or a term of imprisonment.

    The letters said: “We act for the United States of America which, on 25 February 2014, obtained a freezing order from Mr. Justice Teare (the “Order”) in relation to assets held in the names of Mohammed Sani Abacha, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Mecosta Securities Inc (“Mecosta”), Ridley Group Limited, Blue Holding (1) Pte Limited and Blue Holding (2) Pte Limited (together, the “Primary Respondents”)

    “We enclose, by way of service upon you, a copy of the Order. The Order grants a freezing injunction over specified assets in the names of the Primary Respondents. These include the following assets (the Assets”) believed to be held in your name or in the name of Mecosta (see paragraph 5(1) to (3) of the Order)

    “Any money (or other assets) in accounts in the name of Mecosta at Standard Bank Plc, including or traceable to account numbers 100130688 and 100138409.

    “Any money (or other assets) in account at HSBC Bank Plc in your name, including traceable to account number 38175076 and

    “Any money (or other assets) in accounts in your name at HSBC Life (Europe) Limited including or traceable to account number 37060762.

    “You should read the Order carefully and also urgently take legal advice. Under the terms of the Order, you are prohibited from removing from England and Wales or in any way disposing of, dealing with or diminishing the value of the Assets, save with the consent of our client or the permission of the Court.

    “We draw your attention to the Penal Notice on page one of the Order, the implication of which you may wish to discuss with your legal representatives. You should understand that breach of the Order may be contempt of court, which may be punished with a fine or a term of imprisonment.

    “The Order lasts until 25th March 2014 (the Return Date), although you do have the right to apply to set aside or vary the Order in the meantime (see paragraph 7 of the Order). On the Return Date the applicant will apply for the Order to be continued. However, you must obey the order in its current terms until it has been set aside or its terms varied.

    “The Order was made as part of legal proceedings in which you were named as a defendant. We therefore enclose, by way of service upon you, a sealed copy of the Claim Form and a Response Pack, a sealed copy of the Application Notice, the evidence in support at the hearing at which the Order was obtained, and the skeleton argument used at that hearing. A note of the hearing at which the Order was granted is also enclosed.

    “We have not included the Bundle of Authorities referred to in the Skeleton Argument. However, please let us know if you require a copy of this.

    “We also enclose a sealed copy of the Application Notice for the Return Date hearing in respect of the Order.”

  • ‘Nigeria needs restructuring’

    ‘Nigeria needs restructuring’

    Former Secretary to the Lagos State Government Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun counsels the delegates to the national conference to take a cue from the recommendation of the 2005 National Political Reforms Dialogue. He spoke with WALE AJETUNMOBI .

    Do you think something meaningful would come out of the na-tional conference? We just have to be hopeful. As someone said, Nigeria has a history of throwing recommendations into the bin. The late General Sani Abacha did it in 1994; former President Olusegun Obasanjo did his own in 2005 and we did not get anything out of the dialogue. And now, we are being asked to come for another round of discussion. I am hopeful that something good would come out of it because, if you look at the list of the delegates, with all due respect, at least, about 60 per cent of them are those, who would make meaningful recommendations that will make the country better. There are some who are not supposed to be there. They are there without having anything to contribute, except to just be there. So, I am not going to say nothing good would come out of it. But, let us be hopeful, provided that President Goodluck Jonathan is not going to throw the recommendations of the confab into the dustbin. He should either ask the people of Nigeria, which is the best thing, to consider and approve whatever they decide there or he, on his own, would sit down with his own cabinet and implement the recommendations.

    But, critics have pointed out that the delegates are too old to make decisions on the future of the country. What is your opinion on this?

    Old people constitute the encyclopaedia of knowledge. I am one of the old people, but not a member of the confab. Although, I admit that there some there, who are not only old, but are also dead woods. They shouldn’t have been there. I am not going to mention names. But, old people have more experience. There are things you will ask younger people; they would still have to go to the library. There are things you can ask me now and I will start telling you. I can tell you the history of Abacha, Shehu Shagari and Tafawa Balewa regimes off hand. These are the things delegates must know before they discuss and make recommendations for the country’s future. So, they cannot wish away old people being part of the conference. I went through the list of the delegates and I found out that there are not too many old people there. I particularly saw the names of some elder statesmen and I found those who have not participated in anything in this country in the past 10 years, perhaps due to health issues or age. Why should they be there?

    Do you believe that the restructuring of Nigeria should be discussed at the confab?

    Yes. Restructuring is necessary. It is a condition for the devolution of power from the Federal Government to the federating states. There is too much power at the centre and that is what is making whoever occupies the Presidency to be power-drunk and act with impunity. If you take the police out of the central government’s responsibility; we take housing, we take health and education, and the Federal Government is allowed to do policy only, states would have more funds to carry out is functions and naturally, the allocation to the Federal Government would be reduced. As you are reducing power at the centre, you will also reduce the allocation. The allocation for the Federal Government is presently at 52 per cent. It should be brought down and give more money to the states and local governments. You would get better service delivery in the country. So, the case of the police we are talking about; any state government that does not spend on the police now would not have good service. Why should we not give state governors full autonomy to control the police? Like I said, I believe we can achieve a lot with this confab, provided the President acts on the recommendation of the confab, either through the referendum or he sits down and take the recommendations one-by-one. He should say ‘this one, we will do; and this one, we will not do’. And, he should give reasons for rejecting the recommendations.

    The confab is taking place at a time the nation is preparing for elections. Do you think the President is guided by altruism?

    The President has given three months time frame for the confab. It means they will finish in June. We still have a lot of time before the general election.

    Do you think that three months would be enough to discuss the fundamental issues militating against the progress of the country?

    In three months? What are they discussing? They should go back to the archive and check the recommendations of previous confabs. For instance, I was at the 2005 conference and we decided that local governments should be ceded to the states. That is not new. They should look at our reasons for the decision that power should be devolved to the states. Everything is stated there. We recommended that there should be state police to implement states’ laws and the federal police to implement federal laws. They are not new. It is only those who want this country dissolved that will be playing with these recommendations. I am opposed to power being concentrated at the centre.

     

  • How Abacha looted $2b, by U.S. report

    How Abacha looted $2b, by U.S. report

    The United States has opened up on how the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha , his son, Mohammed, a friend of the family, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and others looted about $2.2 billion through security votes fraud.

    Money was also stolen through the Ajaokuta Steel debt-buy back and extortion of Dumez Group, a company operating in Nigeria.

    Mohammed Abacha and Bagudu might be imprisoned if they disobey the order freezing their assets.

    The highlights of how the late Gen. Abacha and others looted the treasury were contained in a March 10, 2014 note to the Federal Government by the U.S. Department of Justice.

    The document, which was sourced from the United States,  urged the Federal Government to “serve Mohammed Sani Abacha and Abubakar Atiku Bagudu with the record of proceedings under the United Kingdom Civil Jurisdictions and Judgments Act, which is needed to enforce the warrants of arrest in rem issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia”.

    According to the document, Abacha and others laundered the looted funds through the United States.

    Sixteen accounts and investment chains were traced to the Abachas in France, the United Kingdom, British Virgin Islands and the U.S.

    Although the Abachas allegedly asked a former National Security Adviser, Aliyu Ismaila Gwarzo, to request for funds from the government to address “unidentified emergencies” to stabilise the then military administration, the ex-NSA was not indicted for money laundering.

    There was nothing in the report suggesting that Gwarzo benefited from the loot.

    Also, the report exposed how a former Minister of Finance, Chief Anthony Ani, was ordered by Gen. Abacha to repurchase some debt instruments worth 973 million Deutche Macs (the defunct German currency).

    The US Department of Justice said: “General Sani Abacha was the President of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998. During his time in office, General Abacha, Mohammed Sani Abacha, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Bagudu) and others embezzled and extorted hundreds of millions of dollars from the Government of Nigeria. Abacha and his associates then transported and laundered the proceeds of those crimes through the United States.

    “The prosecutor believes Abacha and his associates conducted three fraudulent schemes during his time in office: (1) the “security votes” fraud, through which more than $2 billion was embezzled from the Central Bank of Nigeria; (2) the Ajaokuta Steel debt buy-back fraud, which defrauded the Nigerian government of more than $200million through overpayment of non-performing debt; and (3) extortion of Dumez Group, a company operating in Nigeria, which was used to invest in Nigerian Par Bonds that were managed and traded in the United States.

    “Between January 1994 and June 1998, General Abacha, Aliyu Ismaila Gwarzo (Gwarzo) and others prepared letters requesting funds from the Government of Nigeria, based on the false pretence that they were needed to ensure national security and the stability of General Abacha’s regime.

    “In order to execute this scheme, Gwarzo submitted letters to General Abacha in his capacity as National Security Advisor, requesting millions of U.S. dollars, British pounds sterling, and/or Nigerian naira, to address unidentified ‘emergencies’ that threatened Nigeria’s national interest. General Abacha approved these request and disbursed the requested funds.

    “These funds, however, were not used to ensure national security or stability of the regime. Instead, these funds were diverted to shell companies and personal accounts created by Mohammed Sani Abacha or Bagudu.

    “In 1979, the Nigerian Steel Development Authority, an entity owned by the Government of Nigeria, entered into an agreement with TPF, a Russian company, to construct a steel plant in Nigeria for five billion German Deutschmarks (DM).

    “Under this agreement, the Nigerian steel authority gave TPF promissory notes guaranteeing payment to the company. The Nigerian government later suspended payment on this debt because of a dispute that arose with TPF. As a result, TPF sought to sell off these instruments to recover some of the debt owed to the company.”

     

    “In October 1995, Bagudu orchestrated a series of transactions whereby the debt instruments were sold at inflated process to a Liberian company, Parnar Shipping Corporation (Parnar) for 350 million DM. In turn, Parnar sold these bills for 481 million DM to Mecosta Securities (Mecosta), which resold them to the Nigerian government for 973 million DM. General Abacha’s Finance Minister, Chief Anthony Ani, personally approved the Nigerian government’s repurchase of these bills of exchange at the order of General Abacha.

    “The Nigerian government purchase of the debt through Mecosta cost the government approximately 500 million DM more than if they bought the debt back directly from Parnar. Abacha and his associates subsequently acquired this money as another form of illicit profit.

    “A French civil engineering company, Dumez Group, and its Nigerian affiliate, Dumez Nigerian Plc, had been involved in various civil engineering projects in Nigeria since the 1960’s.

    “After General Abacha became President of Nigeria in 1993, he stopped payment on contracts between Nigerian government and foreign-based companies, including Dumez Group. As a result, Dumez Group was left with over $400 million in unpaid bills from the Nigerian government.

    “An Abacha associate approached the company after payment ceased and informed the company that he could arrange for the government to resume payment if Dumez Group agreed to “kick back” twenty-five percent of what it received. Dumez Group agreed to these terms, and received over $389 million.

    “In return, the company “kicked back” over $97 million, or twenty-five per cent, of that amount to General Abacha and his associates through a Swiss bank account controlled by Mohammed Sani Abacha.”

    The document listed 16 accounts and assets to be forfeited by Gen. Abacha and his associates.

    The Department of Justice added: “On November 18, 2013, the prosecutor filed a forfeiture action in the U.S District Court for the District of Columbia seeking to forfeit the proceeds of money laundering and corruption offences related to the investigation of General Abacha and his associates.

    “The property sought to be forfeited by U.S. authorities include the following assets (collectively, the Defendant Properties):

    •All assets held in account number 80020796, in the name of Doraville Properties Corporation, located at Deutsche Bank International Limited in the Bailwick of Jersey, and all interest, benefits, or asset traceable thereto;

    •All assets held in account number S-104460, in the name of Mohammed Sani, at HSBC Fund Administration (Jersey) Limited in the Bailwick of Jersey, and all interest, benefits, or assets traceable thereto;

    •All assets held in account number 223405880IUSD, in the name of Rayville International, S.A, at Banque SBA in Paris, France, and all interest, benefits or assets traceable thereto;

    •All assets held in account number 223406510PUSD, in the name of Standard Alliance Financial Services Limited located at Banque SBA in Paris, France, and all interest, benefits, or assets traceable thereto;

    •All assets held in account numbers 10030688 and 100138409, in the name of Mecosta Securities, at Standard Bank in the United Kingdom, and all interest, benefits or assets traceable thereto;

    •All assets held in HSBC Life (Europe) formerly held in account number 37060762 in the name of Mohammed Sani at Midland Life International Limited, and all interest, benefit or asset traceable thereto;

    •All assets in account number 38175076, in the name of Mohammed Sani, at HSBC Bank Plc, and all interest, benefits, or asset traceable thereto;

    •All assets held in the name of Blue Holding (1) Pte. Ltd., on behalf of or traceable to Ridley Group Limited and/or the Ridley Trust, at J.O Hambro Investment Management Limited in the United Kingdom, and all interest, benefits, or assets traceable thereto;

    •All assets held in the name of Blue Holding (2) Pte. Ltd., on behalf of or traceable to Ridley Group Limited and/or the Ridley Trust, at J.O Hambro Investment Management Limited in the United Kingdom, and all interest, benefits, or assets traceable thereto;

    •All assets held in the name of Blue Holding (1) Pte. Ltd., on behalf of or traceable to Ridley Group Limited and/or the Ridley Trust, at James Hambro and Partners LLP, in the United Kingdom, and all interest, benefits, or assets traceable thereto;

    •All assets held in the name of Blue Holding (2) Pte. Ltd., on behalf of or traceable to Ridley Group Limited and/or the Ridley Trust, at James Hambro and Partners LLP, in the United Kingdom, and all interest, benefits, or assets traceable thereto;

    •Doraville Properties Corporation, a corporate entity registered in the British Virgin Islands, together with all its assets and all property traceable thereto;

    •Mecosta Securities, Inc., a corporate entity registered in the British Virgin Islands, together with all its assets and all property traceable thereto;

    •Rayville International, S.A, a corporate entity registered in the British Virgin Islands, together with all its assets and all property traceable thereto;

    •Ridley Group Limited, a corporate entity registered in the British Virgin Islands, together with all its assets and all property traceable thereto; and

    •Standard Alliance Financial Services Limited, a corporate entity registered in the British Virgin Islands, together with all its assets and all property traceable thereto;

    “Following the filing of the Verified Complaints, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued sixteen warrants of arrest in rem, ordering the restraint of each of the Defendant Properties.

    “The prosecutor has sought the enforcement of the warrants of arrest in rem in France, Jersey, British Virgin Islands, and the United Kingdom.

    “The prosecutor is now required to provide notice of the U.S. forfeiture proceedings to Mohammed Sani Abacha, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, and Dumez Nigeria Plc. Additionally, in order to enforce the warrants of arrest in rem for property located in the United Kingdom, the prosecutor must provide record of the U.K proceeding to Mohammed Sani Abacha and Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.”

     

  • Abacha: History is our witness

    SIR: I have followed with a keen interest the controversies and debates that followed Professor Wole Soyinka’s piece titled; I regret my share of this National insult after President Jonathan honoured the late General Abacha during the Centenary celebration few days back. I have read the ripostes from Gumsu and Sadiq Abacha, the late dictators two children. I have also followed reactions from commentators and those who witnessed the days of the locusts. Regrettably, I ran away with the tragic conclusion that history has shown that men never learnt anything from history.

    One clear answer as to why a President of Nigeria in the 21st century will include the name of Nigeria’s dictators, particularly the ruthless General Sani Abacha as one of the honorees at the Centenary celebration is that President Jonathan may not have known what Nigeria suffered in the hands of Abacha from 1993 to 1998. The conclusion is that those who did not know how we got the democracy we are rubbishing today have been the ones ruling Nigeria since 1999. This is the simple reason why Nigerians have been suffering for almost 16 years now. Men and women put lives on the line, walked a long road, scaled many walls, drilled the deepest wells, faced many challenges and chewed bullets to chase away the military dictators but lily-livered and impostors seized our hard-earned victory and have continued since 1999 to make a mess of our country. I regret to admit that there may be no hope in sight until we clear the Augean stable in Abuja.

    For the avoidance of doubt and for record purposes, it is a taboo in Igboland to cast aspersions to the dead because the person is no longer alive to defend himself. There is no need to fight a man who is down and not alive to respond to anything. When Abacha died in 1998 I broke that tradition. This is because the late Abacha committed abominations.

    Here below is what I wrote about the late General Abacha in my book: Heroes of Democracy published in 1999. “Much has been written about this error of history in Nigeria and many more are still going to be written by historians. I am yet to see how General Abacha’s legendary bad records can be beaten by any other leader in Nigeria dead or alive. Such a wicked dictator like General Abacha can never be left alone in Nigeria. Never in the history of Nigeria has one man so hijacked and traumatized the national psyche for his own selfish purposes. General Abacha jailed General Obasanjo who narrowly escaped death in prison. His former deputy, General Shehu Yar’Adua jailed with General Obasanjo could not survive as he died in Abakiliki prison, the worst gulag in Nigeria. General Abacha dethroned the much revered Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki and banished him from Sokoto. General Abacha murdered an International writer and environmentalist, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other prominent Ogoni sons. General Abacha attempted to blow up the presidential jet of his deputy, General Oladipo Diya and when that attempt failed, after the bomb had exploded and killed those who were detailed to carry out the operation, General Abacha arrested his deputy and other top officers, paraded them before the national television in handcuffs and leg irons, charged them for plotting coup and sentenced them to death… Abacha ordered killings of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, chief Alfred Rewane, Rear Admiral Olu Omotehinwa, Dr. Omatshola, Alhaja Suliat Adedeji, Toyin Onagoruwa and others….”

    Gumsu and Sadiq Abacha know nothing about Nigeria’s chequered history and the colossal damage their father inflicted on Nigeria. I feel sorry for this burden of history they have to carry for the rest of their lives. Actions carry consequences. Deploying unwarranted anger on a well respected person of Professor Wole Soyinka will not help Abacha family. Silence would have been golden for them.

     

    • Joe Igbokwe

    Lagos