TheNewsGuru

Tag: bribery

  • Photos: Ex-lawmaker, Farouk Lawal being led to prison after bagging seven-year jail term

    Photos: Ex-lawmaker, Farouk Lawal being led to prison after bagging seven-year jail term

    It was an unexpected end for Farouk Lawan on Tuesday when he appeared before Justice Angela Otaluka of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    Lawan, a former chairman of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on fuel subsidy, was accused of soliciting a $3 million bribe from Femi Otedola while probing the multi-billion naira fuel subsidy fraud in 2012.

    The bribe was to remove Otedola’s then company Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited from the list of oil companies allegedly involved in the scam.

    Although the former lawmaker had been walking freely while awaiting the court to determine his fate in the bribery charges filed against him, he is expected to spend the night in jail after he was found guilty of the counts.

    In the first count, he was said to have corruptly asked Otedola for a bribe of $3 million as an inducement to remove the name of his company from the report of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Monitoring of fuel subsidy regime.

    Count two also stated that Lawn collected the sum of $500,000 as a bribe to exonerate Zelon Petroleum and Gas from the fuel subsidy probe report.

    Following a long journey to justice for Lawan who has been standing trial since 2013, Justice Otaluka finally sentenced him to seven years in prison.

    He was found guilty of counts one, two, and three which bothered on corruptly asking for bribe and obtaining same from Otedola.

    The presiding judge stated that the evidence listed and submitted before the court by the prosecution counsel remained unshaken during cross-examination.

    She added that the conduct, responses, and submissions of the defendant and witnesses established the charge in the first count, while the defendant demanded a balance after receiving the first and second tranche of the payment.

  • BREAKING: Court sentences Farouk Lawan to seven years in prison over $500,000 bribe

    BREAKING: Court sentences Farouk Lawan to seven years in prison over $500,000 bribe

    A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has sentenced the former Chairman of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on Petroleum Subsidy, Farouk Lawan to seven years in prison.

    Lawan during trial on Tuesday was found guilty of count one, two, and three bothering on corruptly asking for and obtaining same from Femi Otedola, in order to exonerate Zelon Petroleum and Gas Limited from the list of companies in the fuel subsidy scam.

    For count one and two the court sentenced him to seven years while for count three he was sentenced to five years.

    The sentences are to run concurrently.

    The court also ordered that the defendant return the sum of $500,000 to the Federal Government.

    While evaluating evidence in her judgement on Tuesday, the trial judge, Ms Otaluka, noted that from the pool of evidence before the court, the prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo, had established a case of corrupt practices against the defendant in Count One of the charge that borders on corruptly requesting a bribe of three million dollars.

    “Count One of the charges is not based on suspicion but on credible evidence. The defendant (Mr Lawan) corruptly asked for $3million and received a $500,000 bribe in two tranches from Femi Otedola,” the judge said.

    The judge also dismissed Mr Lawan’s claim that he received the $500,000 to obtain proof of moves by Mr Otedola to induce him and members of his committee.

  • Former Japanese minister admits giving bribes during election

    Former Japanese minister admits giving bribes during election

    Former justice minister Katsuyuki Kawai pleaded guilty at a Japanese court on Tuesday to a bribery scandal and said he would step down as a lower house lawmaker, local media reported.

    At the Tokyo District Court, Kawai, a right-hand man to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, admitted that he had paid bribes.

    He said the bribe was paid to local politicians and supporters in the western prefecture of Hiroshima in return for securing votes for his wife Anri Kawai in the 2019 upper house elections, Kyodo News reported.

    Tsutomu Sato, Chairperson of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), told a news conference that Kawai, who was currently still a member of parliament, should quit.

    Kawai and his wife Anri, who won the race to become an upper house lawmaker, were indicted in July on charges of violating the nation’s election law by buying votes in the 2019 campaign.

    According to the indictment, Kawai, who once served as Abe’s special adviser for foreign affairs, handed out a total of about 29 million yen (267,000 dollars) to 100 local politicians and supporters in return for their efforts to secure votes for his wife.

    Most of the 100 people questioned by prosecutors have admitted to receiving the cash.

    The LDP injected an unusually large amount of 150 million yen into Kawai’s camp during the campaign.

    Anri Kawai was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for five years, for conspiring with her husband. She quit as a lawmaker in February.

  • Akeredolu masterminding my impeachment through bribery – Deputy Gov cries out

    Akeredolu masterminding my impeachment through bribery – Deputy Gov cries out

    Ondo Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi has raised the alarm over moves by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to impeach him.

    Ajayi resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he hopes to contest the governorship election.

    Ajayi who insisted on no resigning his position said Governor Akeredolu planned to impeach him through illegal and unconstitutional means.

    He said the ‘illegal’ impeachment would be carried out through financial inducement of members of Ondo Assembly to the tune of N10m each.

    Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Babatope Okeowo, Ajayi alleged the Assembly complex has been besieged by men of the Nigeria Police while lawmakers that do not comply were prevented from entering the complex.

    According to the statement: “We wish to state that the deputy governor is a tested politician of note, who is not unprepared for this type of kangaroo and infamous move from the desperate and drowning governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu and his group.

    “By joining People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Agboola Ajayi has not committed any impeachable offence. He has only exercised his constitutional right of freedom of association. Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) provides as follows:

    “Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular, he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any association for the protection of his interests.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, we state unequivocally that the Governor and his allies do not have and cannot muster the requisite majority in the House of Assembly for the removal of the Deputy Governor under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 in any free, fair and transparent process.

    “We remain undaunted in the move to throw off the combined weight of those kneeling on the neck of Ondo State. Our state shall not be allowed to suffocate. At the appropriate time, the people of Ondo State shall decide the right person, who will serve as the arrowhead of the bid to save the state from the nepotistic clique kneeling on her neck.”

    Reacting, Ondo Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo described the allegation as the height of perfidy and another pernicious warp from an intellectually challenged and treacherous personality.

    “Knowledge cannot be procured, but only be acquired. For anyone to aver that lawmakers have been financially induced is a gross display of emptiness.

    “It becomes more laughable when such comes from someone who had boasted about having majority members in the Assembly. Clearly, while the Executive led by Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN does not believe in inducement, it is left for our very reputable Legislative Arm to either confirm or debunk this spurious allegation,” he said.

  • Bribery: Gov. Matawalle extols EFCC, pleads for return of money

    Bribery: Gov. Matawalle extols EFCC, pleads for return of money

    Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for exposing Chinese nationals who tried to block investigations against their alleged shoddy contract in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that officials of the anti-graft agency at its Sokoto zonal office are currently investigating a multi-billion naira contract by a Chinese company, which was awarded by the immediate past administration in the state.

    Two of the Chinese nationals, representing the company allegedly approached the EFCC zonal officer with a bribe of N100 million.

    Consequently, the officer asked the culprits to bring the money and on bringing half of it (N50 million), the Chinese men were arrested with the amount as exhibit.

    Reacting to the development Matawalle in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, Mr Zailani Bappa, in Gusau on Thursday, said the attempted bribery further confirmed his earlier accusation that the company only collected the contract sum without executing the project.

    He was quoted as saying: “I want to specifically commend the leadership of Ibrahim Magu and his able Zonal Head in Sokoto, Alhaji Lawal Abdullahi, for moving this case to a significant stage by this arrest and further proving to the world our cries against the atrocities perpetrated by the immediate past administration in the state.’’

    He said the arrest by the EFCC of Messrs Meng Wei Kun and Xu Koi of China Zhanghao for an attempt to bribe the Head of its Sokoto Zonal Office in order to quash investigation into the multi-billion naira contract fraud in Zamfara cannot simply pass unnoticed.

    “Sometimes back, I cancelled the unexecuted multi-billion naira contract awarded to this same Chinese company and called for the refund of the money.

    “I still call on Mr President to assist the state government to fast track the retrieval of this money and repatriate it to the state so that we can actually provide the water and electricity to the rural areas,” Matawalle appealed.

    “It is pertinent here to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to further endorse his confidence on Mr Ibrahim Magu and his team as it is becoming obvious by the day that those calling for his removal actually have skeletons hiding in their wardrobes,” the governor said.

  • BREAKING: Shehu Sani pleads not guilty to bribery charge

    A former member of the Senate, Shehu Sani was on Monday arraigned on a two-count charge of bribery brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial district in the 8th National Assembly, pleaded not guilty when the counts were read to him.

    According to the charges, Sani allegedly collected $15,000 from a businessman, Sani Dauda under false pretence on November 20, 2019, promising to give the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Mohammed, in other to influence some pending cases in court.

    He also allegedly collected $10,000 from Mr Dauda to bribe the acting chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.
    Justice Inyang Ekwo, before who Sani was arraigned court is currently hearing the defendant’s bail application.

    Details shortly.

  • FIFA bans ex-federation president for life

    FIFA bans ex-federation president for life

    World football ruling body FIFA banned the former president of Panamanian football federation Ariel Alvarado for life on Thursday after finding him guilty of bribery.

    FIFA also and fined him 500,000 Swiss francs (390,821.19 pounds).

    Alvarado was investigated in relation to matches organised by the Panamanian Football Association.

    The investigation was also related to contracts for Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) media and marketing rights between 2009 and 2011.

    The adjudicatory chamber of FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee said it had imposed the ban on Alvarado with immediate effect.

    He was a former FIFA standing committee member.

  • [BREAKING] Alleged bribery: Court dismisses case against Ganduje

    A Federal High Court sitting in Kano on Monday dismissed a suit filed by a Kano based lawyer Bulama Bukarti seeking an order of the court compelling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Governor Abdullahii Umar Ganduje for allegedly receiving kickback from a contractor.

    The Judge dismissed the case for lack of evidence.

    Bulama had approached the court seeking for an order compelling the EFCC to provide report of its forensic investigation analysis of the said video allegedly showing Ganduje receiving kickback from an unknown contractor.

    However, Justice Egwuatu ruled that even though where the affidavit deposed to, is not countered, it is deemed admitted,the evidence therein must be cogent and verifiable.

    The judge averred that the provisions of Freedom of Information Act 2011, required that information requested must be a public record and in the custody of the instruction of organization so requested from.

    Justice Egwuatu dismissed the case on the grounds that the evidence before the court has not shown that the EFCC has the record of the forensic analysis of the bribery video allegations, noting that the report ought to be given to the Kano state House of Assembly ad-hoc committee set up to investigate the matter.

  • Passport Issuance: Immigration CG decries bribery, corruption amongst officials

    Passport Issuance: Immigration CG decries bribery, corruption amongst officials

    The Comptroller General (CG), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, on Friday raised the alarm that some officers are still collecting bribes on passport issuance.

    Babandede, who disclosed this in Abuja during the official decoration of 48 senior officers promoted to the rank of Comptrollers of Immigration, warned officers to shun corrupt practices, adding that anyone caught in the act would be sanctioned.

    He warned against officers using their uniforms and arms to molest anybody.

    Babandede congratulated the promoted officers and urged them to exhibit a high sense of professionalism and commitment to duty in line with the mandate of the service, especially in furtherance of the Federal Government’s policy on ease of doing business.

    The immigration boss, who expressed sadness over the development, said: “I will not promote an officer who has been found collecting bribe? It is not a right for everybody to be promoted.

    “We still have challenges. Officers are still taking bribes on passport issuance. If an officer collects money to get a job for someone, we will dismiss the officer.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari has always insisted that we must do our work very well and shun corruption. We must respect human rights. Do not use the uniforms and guns given to you by the government to molest anybody.

    “The elevation of all of you to the rank of Comptroller of Immigration Service is a mark of your dedication and loyalty to the service. It equally comes with a lot of responsibility. Therefore, I want to task you to redouble your efforts to ensure that the statutory responsibilities of the service are achieved and geared towards securing Nigeria against the current myriad of security challenges. We are putting everything in place to ensure that the service makes a very positive impact on the security matrix of the country as well as providing enabling environment for trade and tourism”.

    On the ongoing technology building, Babandede said: “Julius Berger has done well for the technology building. When completed next year June, we shall effectively monitor mobility of our borders. Our responsibility is to ensure that Nigeria is safer.”

    3,413 senior officers of the service between the ranks of Comptroller and Senior Inspector of Immigration were promoted.

     

  • I tried to stop release of Ganduje’s bribery videos – Kwankwaso

    The senator representing Kano Central, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, said, yesterday, he was aware of the video which showed Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State allegedly receiving money from some contractors, but did everything possible to stop the release to the public to no avail.

    Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, stated this on a live programme on Aminchi FM in Kano. Kwankwaso Senator Kwankwaso said he pleaded with the Publisher of the online newspaper, Daily Nigerian, which released the video, but noted that they refused to heed his plea.

    His words: “I was aware of the video clips before they were released to the public and I pleaded that they should not be released, but they didn’t listen to me.

    NAICOM restructures, creates 20 state branches “I am not happy that the video clips were made public because it is an embarrassment to the state and its people, including myself.”
    News of release of the video, which was recorded in 2017, broke last October after the governor was accused of collecting $5 million described as bribe from some contractors operating in the state, who were said to have recorded the development.

    The governor reacted immediately, denying collecting money from any contractor, even as he said it was a calculated attempt to impugn his person.

    However, the state House of Assembly summoned the Publisher of the online newspaper, Jaafar Jaafar, to appear before an ad hoc committee set up to investigate the incident and submit clips of the video, which he did. The governor was, thereafter, invited by the committee, after he had threatened to sue the online newspaper.

    Instead of appearing before the committee in person, Governor Ganduje sent his Information Commissioner, Mohammed Garba, to stand in for him. He later sued the online newspaper for N3 billion, despite earlier intervention by the House of Assembly that he should not do so.