Senate President, Bukola Saraki has denied allegation of importing any SUV Range Rover jeep.
Saraki spoke on Monday when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges on allegation of non-payment of duty for the alleged imported jeep.
“I am not an importer and I know nothing about the agent or any clearing company. It is important that I clear my name. The documents are there and none of the documents are in my name,” Saraki stated.
More details soon .
Cash traced to Dubai jeweller
Senate President: it’s mudslinging
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC) has frozen 15 accounts of some individuals and companies for the alleged diversion of N19billion from the London-Paris loan refund.
Besides, about $183,000 (N71, 370,000) of the loan refund has been traced to a jeweller’s account in Dubai.
The anti-graft agency is probing a former Heritage Bank Executive Director Mr. Robert Mbonu, three aides of Senate President Bukola Saraki and three others on how N3.5billion was wired into some accounts. The cash is said to be part of the N19billion allegedly diverted from the N522.74 billion initial refund to states.
The others are Melrose General Services Limited, the Relationship Manager to the Senate President, Kathleen Erhimu, Obiora Amobi, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Hon. Gbenga Peter Makanjuola, Mr. Kolawole Shittu and Oladapo Joseph Idowu.
Mbonu is said to be one of the consultants engaged by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).
These highlights are contained in a March 10, 2016 report, which has been submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The report got to the Presidency about five days before the Senate’s rejection of Acting EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu’s second nomination.
The report may have fuelled Magu’s rejection by the Senate because some of Saraki’s aides were implicated, a source close to the investigation said.
An EFCC source said: “This agency has frozen more than 15 accounts used to divert the N19billion remitted into the account of the Nigerian Governors Forum(NGF).
“Some of these accounts include those of Bureau De Change, companies, mortgage firms, and personal types.
“We have been able to recover some money from these frozen accounts. Also, some bankers have made useful statements to this commission.”
In a report to the presidency, the EFCC confirmed that it had traced $183,000 into the account of a Dubai jeweler.
The EFCC report said in part: “Mr. Robert Mbonu is alleged to have received N3.5billion into his company’s (Melrose General Services Limited’s) account from the NGF through Account 0005892453 domiciled in Access Bank.
“Investigation revealed that one Kathleen Erhimu is the Relationship Manager to Dr. Bukola Saraki’s account with Access Bank.
“That Saraki at a meeting introduced one Joseph Oladapo Idowu and Gbenga Peter Makanjuola to her and Hon. Makanjuola thereafter introduced Mr. Robert Mbonu to Ms Kathleen Erhimu.
“That Mbonu operates an account , Melrose General Services with Access Bank Plc 0005892453 and 0005653500 which was up till 13th December a business account.
“That Halima Kyari , the Head of Private Banking Group stated in a letter dated 13th December , 2016 , Mr. Robert Mbonu requested a transfer of Melrose General Services Company account from Business Account to a Private Banking Group Platform as he was expecting huge funds into the account.
“Subsequently, on the 14th December , the sum of N3.5billion was lodged into Melrose General Services Company account number 0005892453 domiciled in Access Bank from the Nigerian Governors Forum(NGF).
“That thereafter Mr. Obiora Amobi and Hon. Gbenga Makanjuola were introduced to Access Bank as representatives of Melrose General Services Limited by Robert Mbonu to enable them cash withdrawals from the account.
“That one Oluyemi Braithwaite, the MD/ CEO of Reinex Bureau de Change, Caddington Capital Limited and Westgate Limited also manages a BDC stated to have known Mbonu as a client and he requested for dollars in exchange for the Naira equivalent which were to be handed over to one Mr. Gbenga in Abuja.
“That Ms Oluyemi Braithwaite contacted one Hassan Dantani Abubakar, the owner of Hamma Procurement Limited, Ashrab Nigeria Limited and Insoire Solar Application to make available the dollars based on the Naira equivalent as transferred from Robert Mbonu who she had introduced via phone to Hassan Dantani.
“That on 16th December 2016, Melrose General Services transferred the sum of N246million to Hamma Procurement First Bank Accouny No. 2030756168 in exchange for the sum of $500,000 which was handed to one Mr. Gbenga in Abuja who acknowledged receipt of the same amount.
“That on the 21st Dec 2016, Ms Oluyemi Braithwaite contacted Hassan Dantani Abubakar, requesting for another transaction of $370,000. Melrose General Services Company transferred the sum of N181m to Inspire Solar Application. The $370,000 was handed over to one Mr. Dapo in Abuja.
“That on the 4th of January 2017, Mbonu through Melrose General Services Company transferred the sum of N248, 500,000 to Caddington Capital Limited belonging to Ms Oluyemi Braithwaite who transferred same to Hassan Dantani Abubakar’s FCMB account, Ashrab Nigeria Limited for the sum of $500,000. The dollar equivalent was handed over to Mr. Kolawole Shittu in Abuja
“That on the 10th of January 2017, Mr. Robert Mbonu through Melrose General Services Company transferred the sum of N99,820,000 to Caddington Capital Limited belonging to Ms. Oluyemi Braithwaite who transferred same to Hassan Dantani Abubakar’s FCMB Ashrab Nigeria Limited for the sum of $200,000. The dollar equivalent was handed over to one Mr. Peter in Abuja.
“That on the 19th December, there was a cash withdrawal of the sum of N50million from Melrose General Services account via cheque by Hon. Gbenga Peter Makanjuola.
“Also, the sum of $1,570,000 was received by the trio of Mr. Gbenga Peter Makanjuola, Mr. Kolawole Shittu and Mr. Oladapo Joseph Idowu at various times and locations at Abuja FCT.
“That on the 29th December, 2016, Mr. Robert Mbonu called Mrs. Kathleen Erhimu of Access Bank requesting her to source for a customer that would have the sum of $500,000 in exchange for the Naira equivalent. She introduced Mr. Robert Mbonu to Acarast Commercial Limited and Capital Field Investment to help him source for dollars.
“That on the 21st December 2016, GCA Energy Limited paid the sum of $25,000 to Asterio Energy Services Limited which subsequently transferred the sum of $23,200 to Cactus Communication Limited account with Access Bank.
“The MD of Sought-After International Synergy Limited, Julius Okedele stated that Mr. Kelechi Edomobi of Acarast Commercial Enterprises contacted him and requested to purchase dollars after the transfer of N73,950,000 to Sought-After International Synergy Limited. Mr. Edomobi gave him the account number of Cactus Communication Limited Access Bank as the nominated account to receive the dollar equivalent of the sum of $149,000.
“Investigation further confirmed that Cactus Communication Limited is owned and operated by Joseph Oladapo Idowu, an aide to Bukola Saraki.
“That Mr. Kelechi Edomobi also transferred the sum of N1m on the 15th of January, 2017, to Joseph Oladapo Idowu’s personal account number 0001679877 with Access Bank Plc.
“That Asterio Energy Services Limited on 21st and 22nd December, 2016, transferred $100,000 and $85,000 to Bhaskar Devji Jewellers LLC in Dubai respectively the same company that Dr. Bukola Saraki repeatedly made transfer to from his Black Card Account.
“That Cactus Communication Limited on 30th December, 2016, paid the sum of $59,,660.67 to Bhaskar Devji Jewellers LLC in Dubai.
“That Asterio Energy Services Limited on 20/1/2917, 30/1/2017 and 31/1/2017 transferred $46,000, $39,000 and $37,620 to Cactus Communication Limited.”
“That Mr. Obiora Amobi and Gbenga Makanjuola made cash withdrawals of various tranches of N5 million and N10 million.
“Based on the foregoing findings, it is clear that Robert Mbonu, the Managing Director of Melrose General Services Company and his company were used to help divert proceeds of unlawful activities under the guise of payment for contractual obligations with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum ( NGF).
“Suffice to apprise that all payments received by Melrose General Services Company from the NGF have hitherto been diverted directly via cash withdrawals and indirectly through transfers by Hon. Gbenga Peter Makanjuola, Kolawole Shittu and Oladapo Joseph Idowu who are principal aides of the Senate President.
“Furthermore, other payments from Melrose General Services Company has also been linked to companies that Dr. Bukola Saraki has interest in and carry out transactions with.
“This includes the sum of $183,000 which was transferred to Bhaska Devji Jewellers, Dubai, a company Dr. Bukola Saraki had repeatedly made payments to.
“Also, the sum of N200 million was transferred to Wasp Networks Limited that subsequently transferred the sum of N170 million to Xtract Energy Services Limited, a company that routinely made deposits into Dr. Bukola ‘s Access Bank United States Domicilliary Account.
“A prima facie case of conspiracy to retain the proceeds of unlawful activities and money laundering contrary to Sections 15(3) and 18(9) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2004 can be established against the aforementioned suspects.
“Additionally, investigation into their personal accounts is ongoing.”
From the initial tranche of ofN522.74 billion, about N19 billion was remitted by states into two accounts of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) as commission to consultants.
But the commission was found out to have ended up in the accounts of some of the seven governors, some public officers and some individuals who had no business with the refunds.
It was also learnt that some consultants engaged by the NGF and some states have not been paid by the governors.
Besides locating the two accounts where the N19 billion was allegedly remitted into, the EFCC has interrogated more than four people involved in hiring of consultants and payment.
Some states remitted as much as N600 million into NGF’s emergency accounts for the commission.
It was learnt that the two NGF accounts were hurriedly opened in defiance of the agreement.
According to findings, reports made available to presidency by the EFCC and other security agencies showed that the governors did not keep to the terms for the refund.
‘Senate President has nothing to do with importation of vehicle’
Special Adviser to the Senate president on Media and Publicity Yusuph Olaniyonu has stated that the allegation raised by Senator Ali Ndume linking Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki to the importation of vehicle lacked basis as it was outright falsehood.
Olaniyonu, in a statement, said from the facts and documents about the seized vehicle, it was obvious the Senate President had nothing to do with the importation of any vehicle.
“A supplier was engaged by the Senate to supply a vehicle. While transferring the vehicle between Lagos and Abuja, it was impounded by the Customs. We believe that it is an issue between the supplier and the Customs because the Senate has not taken delivery. So, why is somebody trying to drag the name of Saraki into the issue?
“The documents on the vehicle are there for the general public to view and make their conclusions. Now that the matter has been referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, all the facts will be out,” Olaniyonu stated.
THE Senate has asked its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate its President Bukola Saraki for alleged importation of bullet-proof car with fake Customs duty certificate.
It also mandated the committee to probe the allegation of certificate forgery levelled against Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West).
The resolution to launch the investigation followed a motion of privilege by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South).
Ndume drew the attention of his colleagues to a publication that Saraki sanctioned the invitation of the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) to appear in uniform to throw light on the controversial import duty payment on old vehicles because the Service impounded his (Saraki’s) bullet-proof Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle on the orders of Ali.
On Melaye, Ndume referred the Senate to a publication by a national newspaper that Melaye did not graduate from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Ndume told the Senate that an online platform claimed Melaye did not obtain a degree in Geography from ABU, Zaria.
The Borno South lawmaker, who prayed the Senate to investigate the issues, noted that there was nothing untoward about investigating the Senate President.
He said a former Speaker of the House of Representatives Salisu Buhari was accused of certificate forgery and investigated to clear his name.
Ndume added that a former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, was also accused of corruption and investigated.
He noted that Wabara was also given opportunity to clear his name.
Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari, he said, was also accused of certificate forgery and given opportunity to clear his name.
He said another presiding officer of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, was also accused and investigated to clear his name.
Ndume said: “This matter borders on our privileges. One has to do with Senator Bukola Saraki, the Senate President and it was reported in a paper; I have it here. The newspaper said the Senate is on vengeance after Nigeria Customs Service seized Senator Saraki’s bullet-proof Range Rover over fake documents.
“My colleagues that are following events, particularly online, have seen or heard or read the rain of abuses on this Senate and the misconception of the fact that we invited the Customs boss based on a very unpopular policy that affects the people we represent, but now we are faced with this.
“During the 4th Assembly, Salisu Buhari was accused of certificate forgery. He was investigated and determined after that. In the 5th Assembly, Bello Masari was accused of certificate forgery (secondary school). He was investigated and was cleared.
“In the 6th Senate, Dimeji Bankole was accused of not having NYSC certificate, it was investigated and he showed his NYSC certificate.
“Now, that brings me to the second matter in the National Assembly. In the 4th Assembly, Senate President Adolphus Wabara was accused of collecting a bribe and it was investigated and determined. So, a lot of precedence has been set.
“Now, the second matter of privileges affects my colleague Dino Melaye and it is in the paper today? Therefore, accordingly, I will appeal we refer the matter to Ethics and Privileges to investigate so that our colleagues would be cleared and this Senate will stand as it supposed to.”
After the plenary, Melaye described the issue Ndume raised about him as a welcome development.
The Kogi West senator noted that democracy is about investigation, where no senator is above investigation.
He said those bandying the report that he did not graduate from ABU were obsessed with him.
He said Nigerians would not be surprised that one day the same people would say he is not a Nigerian.
Melaye, however, assured he would submit himself to investigation as a law-abiding citizen of the country.
He added that as a member of the committee saddled with the responsibility to investigate him, he would excuse himself from the committee, unless invited.
Melaye, who said he would not be deterred by negative reports about him, noted that he has seven degrees already pursuing the eight one.
He said ABU would not allow him to do higher degrees, if he did not have a degree certificate.
Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary, asked Ndume to lay the documents he has.
Ndume submitted some newspaper publications.
Ekweremadu referred the two matters to the Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
He gave the committee four weeks to report back.
The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) on Tuesday clarified its handling of a case involving former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, saying it is different from that of the Senate president, Bukola Saraki.
A senior official of the CCB, Samuel Madojemu, told the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), that while the Bureau invited Orubebe after discovering discrepancies in his assets declaration form, it did not find it necessary to invite Saraki because of the magnitude of the infraction noticed in the Senate president’s case.
Madojemu spoke while being cross-examined by Saraki’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi, at the resumption of proceedings in Saraki’s trial for false assets declaration on Tuesday.
Asked by Agabi if it was not remarkable that Saraki was never invited to make written statement before charges were filed against him, Madojemu said it was immaterial.
He said, “Your lordship, I have handled many cases. And among the many cases, there were instances that we invited the subjects and they refused to honour our invitation.
“During the trial of Godsday Orubebe we said that he was invited severally and he refused to honour the invitations. We thereafter charged him and he was convicted.
“I will refer you back to what I said earlier which was that it was beyond my competence to decide who to invite and who not to invite.”
Madojemu also said t it was not mandatory for the CCB to invite a declarant before filing charges against him or her.
He added: “When there is observed infraction of this magnitude, the Bureau reserves the right whether or not to invite the declarant.”
When asked why Orubebe was invited and Saraki was not invited by the CCB, the witness said, “Your lordship, the decision to invite and not to invite is beyond my capacity and competence. It is a decision made by the management of the Bureau.”
Madojemu explained that the CCB did not obtain statement from Saraki, saying, “the asset declaration of asset which is made on oath serves as the statement.”
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Monday urged the management of the National Assembly to make accountability and transparency its watchword.
He said such adherence to accountability and transparency would enable the legislature achieve its goal of a sustainable and fully diversified economy.
Saraki, according to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, gave this charge in his speech at the opening session of a retreat for the management staff of the National Assembly in Lokoja, Kogi State.
He added that the National Assembly leadership must come up with solutions that would positively enhance the work of lawmakers at all times.
The Senate president said it has become critical for the management to up its game as the 8th National Assembly strives to support the executive in realizing a well-developed and inclusive economy.
Saraki said, “As we all know, this is a critical time for us as a nation. We are going through difficult times, recession, security issues, widespread hunger, unemployment, incessant rises in inflation and dwindling opportunities.”
“The nation looks up to the National Assembly for direction and to provide opportunities for our people. It has become quite apparent to us that it is no longer business as usual.”
•’We’ll pass budget this month’
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met behind closed doors with Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara on many issues that transpired in the country while he was on medical vacation.
Issues discussed at the about 40 minutes meeting included budget, ambassadorial nominees, Niger Delta, Eurobond and the issue of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen, who was confirmed in the President’s absence.
Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Saraki said: “After being away for a while, it’s good for us to meet and generally review things that were done in his absence. So, it’s normal consultation.”
Asked to assess the President’s health, being a medical doctor, Saraki said: “I came here to discuss the issues regarding the activities in the National Assembly in his absence. The president met with us and I think we were there for over 40 minutes. I was not talking to myself. So, you know he was responding and we were engaging and he engaged us very well.
“We discussed issues of national interests so we are happy to see him back and he is back at the office and he is doing his work.”
On what Nigerians should expect since the President has sent letter of his resumption, he said: “Well, the budget is ongoing, things that we passed in his absence, the issue of the CJN, the Eurobond, just general issues that are pending, the issue of the ambassadorial nominees that is due and the stability in the Niger Delta; a whole range of issues were covered in the short period of time.”
Saraki said the National Assembly is still working hard to pass the 2017 Budget this month.
“We are working on it and our target is still this month and we are working very hard to ensure we meet that deadline,” he said.
Dogara, on his part, said he was not in the Villa to assess the President.
On what should be expected now with the relationship between the executive and the legislature, he said: “I have always said this even before Mr. President that in the other climes, it is us always the province of the legislature to fight the executive. We fight on issues bothering on national interests but we expect to cooperate more than we fight in the interest of our people to ensure that there is progress, one government no division.
“So, it is in the realisation of this that we will always extend the needed support to ensure that he succeeds so that our government will be rated as a successful one.”
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed doors with the Senate president, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on many issues that transpired in the country while he was on medical vacation.
Issues discussed at the about 40 minutes meeting included budget, ambassadorial nominees, Niger Delta, Eurobond, and the issue concerning the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, who was confirmed in his absence.
Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Saraki said “after being away for a while it’s good for us to meet and generally review things that were done in his absence, so it was a normal consultation.
Asked to assess the President’s health being a medical doctor, the Senate president added: “I came here to discuss the activities in the National Assembly in his absence, the President met with us and I think we were there for over 40 minutes. I was not talking to myself, so you know he was responding and we were engaging and he engaged us very well.
“We discussed issues of national interests. So we are happy to see him back and he is back at the office working.”
On what Nigerians should expect since the President has sent letter of his resumption, he said “well, the budget is ongoing, things that we passed in his absence, the issue of the CJN, the Eurobond, just general issues that are pending, the issue of the ambassadorial nominees that is due and the stability in the Niger Delta. These are some of the issues we covered in the short period of time.
He said the National Assembly is still working hard to pass the 2017 Budget this month.
“We are working on it and our target is still this month and we are working very hard to ensure we meet that deadline,” Saraki added.
Dogara, on his part, said he was not in the Villa to assess the President.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed doors with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on many issues that transpired in the country while he was on medical vacation.
Issues discussed at the about 40 minutes meeting included budget, ambassadorial nominees, Niger Delta, Eurobond, and appointment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, who was confirmed in his absence.
Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Saraki said “After being away for a while it’s good for us to meet and generally review things that were done in his absence, so it’s normal consultation.”
Asked to assess the President’s health being a medical doctor, Saraki said “I came here to discuss the issues regarding the activities in the National Assembly in his absence, the president met with us and I think we were there for over 40 minutes. I was not talking to myself, so you know he was responding and we were engaging and he engaged us very well.”
“We discussed issues of national interests so we are happy to see him back and he is back at the office and he is doing his work.”
On what Nigerians should expect since the President has sent letter of his resumption, he said “Well, the budget is ongoing, things that we passed in his absence, the issue of the CJN, the Eurobond, just general issues that are pending, the issue of the ambassadorial nominees that is due, the stability in the Niger Delta a whole range of issues were covered in the short period of time.”
He said that the National Assembly is still working hard to pass the 2017 Budget this month.
“We are working on it and our target is still this month and we are working every hard to ensure we meet that deadline,” he said
Dogara, on his part, said that he was not in the Villa to assess the President.
On what should be expected now with the relationship between the executive and the legislature, he said “I have always said this even before Mr. President that in the other climes it is us always the province of the legislature to fight the executive, we fight on issues bothering on national interests but we expect to cooperate more than we fight in the interest of our people to ensure that there is progress, one government no division.”
“So it is in the realization of this that we will always extend the needed support to ensure that he succeeds so that our government will be rated as a successful one,” he added
THE Executive Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and the Hon Minister of youths and Sports Solomon Dalong will lead a host of other personalities to the first phase of the Dinner launch of the Stephen Keshi Football and Vocational Training Centre (SKFVTC) holding on Thursday at the Conference Hall of Prestige Hotel Benin.
The dinner launch is one of activities put in place by the National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers, NANPF raise funds for training center.
The SKFVTC is one of the six Nigeria football villages planned by the Players Union in the six Geo-political Zones of Nigeria to amongst other objectives provide massive job opportunities for former Nigeria Professional Footballers and youths in Nigeria through its “Football in the Community Project “, and serve as a focal point of developing young talented Nigerian football players both technically as well as academically to build their career paths after retirement. The dinner will be preceded by the meeting of the players union NANPF National Administrative Council (NAC) in the evening of 15th March 2017.