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Tag: Embezzlement

  • Gov El-Rufai challenges predecessors over embezzlement

    Gov El-Rufai challenges predecessors over embezzlement

    The Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufa has challenged his predecessors to come out and swear with the Holy Quran to prove that they did not embezzle public funds while in office.

    Governor EL-Rufai, who spoke with the Hausa service of the Kaduna State Media Corporation claimed that most of the former governors tampered with the government’s coffers during their tenure.

    He gave the challenge while reacting to the opposition’s criticisms of some of his policies, insisting that he has never stolen government money.

    ”I didn’t build any mansion, I don’t need it. I didn’t steal anybody’s money and I am challenging everyone that has governed this state to come out and swear with the Qur’an that, when they were governing the state, they didn’t steal a kobo of Kaduna resources that is not their entitlement.

    “I swear to God, I will do that swearing. So, I am challenging all of them. Everyone should come out and face the people of Kaduna State and tell them he didn’t steal their money,” he said.

    El-rufai will be completing his eight years tenure next week.

  • DHQ dismisses allegation of embezzlement in the military

    The Defence Headquarters has dismissed the allegation of embezzlement in the military by a whistle blower claiming underpayment of soldiers as provided in the Manual of Financial Administration for the Armed Forces of Nigeria (MAFA) 2017.

    The Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Tuesday, said that the MAFA document had not been activated for implementation.

    According to him, the DHQ wishes to clarify that the insinuation that personnel of the Armed Forces are under remunerated as against the provisions of MAFA 2017 is unfounded and untrue.

    “Contrary to the claims made by the Twitter handle @ millisaint, the said document has not been activated and therefore yet to be implemented, since the appropriation 2020 was recently passed.

    “The provisions of the MAFA document are thus, billed to be operational in year 2020.

    “It is also essential to point out that MAFA allowances are not part of the Salary Structure of the Armed Forces, consequently, even when implemented the salary structure will remain unchanged.

    “The anticipated impactful change on the salary structure will only come as a result of the recently approved N30,000 minimum wage that will be paid by IPPIS,” he said.

    Nwachukwu, however, challenged the whistle blower to endeavour to verify his information from reliable and authourised sources to establish the veracity of his information in order to avoid causing disaffection within the ranks of the Armed Forces.

    “Members of the public are please enjoined to discountenance the misinformation as it is misguided and bereft of any iota of truth.

    “The DHQ wishes to reassure all personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and members of the public that personnel welfare is paramount in the vision and mission of the current leadership of the military.

    “Any form of short changing of personnel will be met with stiff penalties,” he said.

  • Alleged embezzlement: Osinbajo has consistent reputation for lying – Jonathan

    Immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday responded to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s claims that his (Jonathan) administration squandered public funds few weeks to the 2015 general elections.

    The former President’s reaction was contained in a statement by his former spokesperson, Reno Omokri. The former president also confirmed approving the statement.

    Recall that the Vice President had on Monday said N100 billion and a separate $289 million were embezzled by officials of the Goodluck Jonathan administration, a few weeks to the 2015 elections.

    The vice president, who made this revelation while speaking at the 7th Quarterly Business Forum (QBF) held at the State House, Abuja, said the economic woes being faced by Nigerians today were caused by the corruption of the former administration.

    He also alleged that the strategic alliance contracts signed by Jonathan’s government with the NNPC and NDPC were used to embezzle money by the promoters.

    However, in a swift response, Jonathan’s former spokesperson, Reno Omokri on Tuesday, challenged Osinbajo to publish evidence that the former president shared the alleged amount before the election.

    He also accused Osinbajo of repeatedly lying, saying the “vice-president has again surrendered his lips to Satan to be used to spread slander and lies”.

    “Nigerians may recall that lying is the most consistent achievement of Professor Osinbajo’s almost three years as vice-president,” he said.

    “On this most recent allegation by vice-president Osinbajo, let me state categorically that former President Jonathan did not share 150 billion two weeks to the 2015 election.

    “If professor Osinbajo has proof that former President Jonathan did so, then we challenge him to publish his proof. He is a professor of law and ought to know that he who alleges must prove.

    “Again, it is a lie from the pit of hell that the Jonathan administration spent only N14 billion on agriculture and N153 billion on infrastructure in three years as alleged by the fallacious Osinbajo.”

    On infrastructure, Omokri said the Jonathan government performed far better than the way it is assessed by the present administration, adding that in less than three years, the present government has borrowed more than PDP borrowed in 16 years.

    He said, “The Jonathan administration budgeted and spent over $10 billion on infrastructure in the 5 years between May 6, 2010 and May 29, 2015.

    “The Buhari administration, which in less than three years has borrowed more money than the PDP borrowed in 16 years cannot point to even one major project they have started and completed.

    “Both president Buhari and vice-president Osinbajo keep accusing the Jonathan administration of being corrupt and claim that they run an anti-corruption government,” Omokri said.

     

  • French court jails Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodorin Obiang for embezzlement

    A French court on Friday found the Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodorin Obiang guilty in absentia for using money plundered from his country to buy property and luxury cars in France.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Teodorin Obiang who is also the eldest son of President Teodoro Obiang was also handed a three-year suspended prison sentence and a suspended 30 million euros ($35 million) fine.

    The Paris court found Mr. Obiang, 48, guilty of embezzlement and ordered the confiscation of more than 100 million euros worth of his French assets.

    Mr. Obiang denied the charges.

    The case is the first of several to reach court in a broader judicial investigation into allegations of illicit acquisitions in France by long-time leaders and family relatives in several African countries including Gabon and Congo Republic.

    Mr. Obiang was first put on trial in January, but the case, 10 years in the works, was postponed after his lawyers argued they had not had enough time to prepare his defence.

    Mr. Obiang’s luxury residence on Paris’ Avenue Foch – a grand, sweeping road near the Arc de Triomphe often favoured by wealthy African expatriates and politicians, was among the assets scrutinised during the trial.

    The property, bought for 25 million euros in 2005, had a gym, hair-dressing studio and disco with cinema screen.

    Paris prosecutor, Jean-Yves Lourgouilloux, said Mr. Obiang’s “fraudulent spending” amounted to more than 150 million euros.

    His father, President Teodoro Mbasogo, has ruled Equatorial Guinea, a former Spanish colony, for more than three decades, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.

    The rights groups have labelled his administration as one of the world’s most corrupt regimes.

     

     

    Reuters/NAN