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Tag: ICPC

  • Refer corruption in the privatisation process to EFCC, ICPC – SERAP tells Buhari

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) has sent an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari requesting him to use his “good offices and leadership position to revisit and refer the allegations of corruption and abuse of process in the privatisation of public enterprises in Nigeria between 1999—2011 to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for further investigation, and if there is relevant and sufficient admissible evidence, for anyone suspected to be involved to face prosecution.”

    The organization urged Buhari to “reform the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) to remove opportunities for corruption in privatisation process, and to instruct the EFCC and ICPC to ensure the recovery of proceeds of corruption. We request that you take the steps within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter, failing which SERAP will institute legal proceedings to compel your government to act in the public interest.”

    In the letter dated 1 December 2017 and signed by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni the organization said: “SERAP has obtained and carefully read the full report of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Investigation of the Privatisation and Commercialisation Activities of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) from 1999 to 2011, which contains damaging allegations of corruption, presidential interference, and abuse of due process in the selection of core investor, valuation of public enterprises, pricing of shares/assets, determination of workers terminal benefits, and use of proceeds of privatisation.”

    According to the organization, “Many cases of presidential directives/interference during the period under review (1999-2011) affected the process of core investor selection. The BPE was negligent and ineffective in monitoring of privatised companies. In some cases, BPE never monitored the companies for the entire lock-in period and in other cases their reports were complete opposite of what was on the ground.”

    The letter copied to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who is also the chair of the National Council on Privatization (NCP), read in part: “It is in the public interest that any sales of public assets will get the best value but the Senate report shows exactly the opposite. By revisiting the privatisation process and referring the allegations of corruption documented in the report to the EFCC and ICPC, your government would be demonstrating that it’s willing and able to fight impunity of perpetrators of corruption, which is responsible for legacy of grand corruption and abuse of office in the country.”

    “Specifically, the committee among others found that: A total sum of N301bn was realised as proceeds of privatisation from 1999 to 2011. N900m of that was used as loan to Nigeria Re-insurance Plc for recapitalization, in violation of section 19(2) of the Public Enterprises (Privatisation and Commercialisation) Act 1999. Folio Communications Limited pledged the assets of Daily Times Nigeria Plc to obtain loan from bank(s) and utilized the loan to pay for the share of the company.”

    “Core investor converted the premises of Volkswagen Nigeria Limited into bonded warehouses for storage of contrabands mainly rice, vegetable oils, fertilizer, but was not reported by the BPE. Former Director-General of BPE, Mrs Irene Nkechi Chigbue sought and received direct approvals of former President Olusegun Obasanjo for many privatisation transactions, in violation of Section 11 of the Public Enterprise Act and the Bureau Procedure Manual.”

    “Aluminium Smelter Compny of Nigeria (ALSCON)—BFIG Corporation of the USA was declared preferred bidder and winner with a bid of $410 million after going through the bidding process but was denied its legal right to negotiate terms, sign Share Purchase Agreement and pay 10% initial payment. However, BPE approved a Willing Seller Willing Buyer to Rusal/Dayson for $250m and cancelled BFIG Corporation $410m offer. Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria was grossly undervalued, having being built for $3.2bn and was privatized by BPE for $130m excluding $120m Imo River Channel Dredging cost from the purchase consideration.”

    “Michelle Nigeria Limited emerged as the preferred bidder of the Apapa Port Complex Terminal “C” but it was given to ENL Consortium Limited which already had one, in breach of Ground Rule 7, which states: “No single bidder/concessionaire would be allowed to have more than one concession in Apapa Port Complex.” BPE reversed the process instead and gave Terminal “C” to ENL Consortium Ltd without cancelling the Michelle Nigeria Limited offer, in breach of the core investor selection process.”

    “Former Director General of BPE Ms Bolanle Onagoruwa abused the approval process in the sale of 5% Federal Government’s residual shares in EPCL to Indorama Group, in contravention of the First Schedule of the Public Enterprises (Privatisation and Commercialisation) Act 1999. Indorama Group has already acquired the maximum 75% shares reserved for core investor in EPCL as provided in the First Schedule Section 1(1) no. 6 of the Act.”

    “The share purchase agreement created an escrow account into which all the monies shall be paid. However, the escrow account was not opened. The enterprise was handed over to the purchaser without payment of the purchase consideration. Former president Olusegun Obasanjo approved the addendum, in violation of the Privatisation Act and the share purchase agreement.”

    “All former Directors-General of BPE (Mallam Nasir el-Rufai-1999-2003; Dr Julius Baba-2003-2004; Mrs Irene Chigbue-2004-2009; Dr Chris Anyanwu-2009-2010; and Ms Bolanle Onagoruwa-2010-2012) established several accounts with various commercial banks, in violation of Section 19(1) of the Public Enterprises (Privatisation and Commercialisation) Act 1999.”

    “All former Directors-General used privatisation proceeds to pay transaction expenses, consultancy fees and staff terminal benefits without appropriation by the National Assembly, in violation of Section 19(2) of the Public Enterprises Act. Former Director-General of BPE Mrs Irene Chigbue used privatisation proceeds to execute capital projects (Office extension) in 2007 in violation of this provision.”

    “The process of privatisation of public enterprises was totally set aside in the concession to Global Infrastructure Holdings Limited and Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited by the then Federal Ministry of Power and Steel Development in breach of Section 11(c) of thee Public Enterprises Act. BPE later converted the Concession Agreement to a core investor agreement, in breach of the transaction process.”

    “The N1.9bn Privatisation Proceeds loaned for recapitalisation of Nigeria Re-insurance Plc and Nicon Insurance Plc was not used for that purpose and the BPE is yet to recover the money. Contract for dredging Imo River Channel was overvalued at $120m by BPE. This would cost less than $100 today (2011). 43 enterprises of 122 privatised companies are not performing.”

    “The core investor of Transcorp Hilton Hotel agreed among others to within 3 years construct a shopping mall within the Hotel grounds; and construct short/long stay serviced apartments on the available land within the hotel premises. However, to date the core investor has failed to deliver in breach of clause 8.4 of the share purchase agreement and BPE also failed to apply sanctions as provided in clause 10.”

    “The core investor of Abuja International Hotels Limited (Nicon Luxury Hotel) agreed to invest at least additional N2bn to complete the furnishing of the hotel and provision of ancillary services to a 5-year deluxe status within 9 months. However, the core investor has failed to comply, in violation of clause 7.3 of the share purchase agreement and BPE has failed to apply sanctions as provided in clause 9. Also, the core investor of Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja has failed to comply with the share purchase agreement, in violation of clause 8.6 and the BPE has failed to apply sanctions as provided in clause 9.”

    “The core investor in Nigerian Cement Company Plc (Nigercem) has woefully failed to fulfil its technical and financial obligations several years after privatisation. The core investor in Delta Steel Company agreed to invest $100.65m within 15 months but no evidence of such investment. The Delta Steel Township 1 Housing Estate is comprised of 4,500 housing units; 1,109 unauthorised plots were illegally sold/allocated by the BPE.”

    “Dr Julius Bala should be investigated by anti-graft agencies for giving approval to Folio Communication Limited for the illegal sale of assets of Daily Times Nigeria Plc. Ms Bolanle Onagoruwa showed gross incompetence in the management of the BPE and she illegally and fraudulently sold 5% Federal Government residual shares in Eleme Petrochemicals Company Limited (EPCL).”

    “Poor privatisation monitoring, skewed share purchase agreements in favour of investors in many instances and abuse of process in utilizing privatisation proceeds further marred the privatisation programme. Some of the share purchase agreements were skewed in favour of private investors against public interests. In the Nicon Insurance Plc share purchase agreement, the BPE deliberately removed the protective clause on sales of assets without BPE’s written consent within the first 5 years.”

    “Bid bonds are usually refunded to bidders after closure of bidding. In the case of crystallized bid bonds transaction expenses are deducted before refunds. BPE abused this process in the sense that National Council on Privatization (NCP) approvals for funds are kept for years without payment.” “Terminal benefits of workers of companies slated for privatisation are usually computed by management or by an appointed BPE Actuarial Consultant before payment. The processes are often abused by BPE. In NITEL, workers were forced to accept less than 5 years pension buy-out where it was agreed earlier for 5 years. BPE owed workers in Delta Steel Company (N5.2bn); and ALSCON (N2.7bn). In Federal Superphosphate Fertilizer Company the Actuarist computed and recommended full payment of N457m but BPE paid only N383m leaving a difference of N73m.”

    “Workers of National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency, Kaduna are owed gratuities of N150m by Nicon Insurance Plc. Workers often benefit from allotments of shares in companies undergoing privatisation on request. The reserve shares are however not granted on free carriage in compliance with provisions of the First Schedule Section 1(1) in line with Nigeria Individuals Participation as Percentage Post Privatisation. Out of the 122 privatised public enterprises only 14 enterprises had shares reserved for workers. 11,000 jobs were lost in Nitel/M-Tel; 2000 jobs were in Daily Times; and 1000 jobs were lost in ALSCON.”

     

     

  • Corruption: Handover Lawal, Oke to EFCC, ICPC – SERAP tells Buhari

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has welcomed the decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the suspended Secretary to Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mr Ayodele Oke.

    The organization also called on Buhari to “urgently handover Lawal and Oke to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for further investigation, and if there is relevant and sufficient admissible evidence, for them to face prosecution.”

    In a statement today by SERAP deputy director Timothy Adewale the organization said that, “This is a positive development in the fight against grand corruption, although this decision is coming rather late. Buhari now has to go a step further by making sure that both Lawal and Oke are promptly brought to justice in fair trials.”

    The statement read in part: “Buhari also has to move swiftly to publish report of investigation into the secret reinstatement of fugitive former civil servant, Abdulrasheed Maina, and without delay identify and bring to justice anyone suspected to be involved.”

    “This government now has a real opportunity to reassure a lot of Nigerians who may be worried about the direction of travel of the president’s anti-corruption agenda that there will be no sacred cow as far as the fight against corruption is concerned.”

    “What the government needs at this time is a revolutionary approach to the fight against corruption if Buhari is to show his commitment to ‘kill’ corruption before corruption ‘kills’ Nigeria.”

    “Without effective prosecution of high-ranking public officials charged with corruption, this government’s fight against corruption may sadly turn out to be all motion and no movement, and this will eventually undermine the legitimacy of the anticorruption efforts.”

    In a brief statement today the presidency said that President Muhammadu Buhari has studied the report of the panel headed by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), which investigated allegations against the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke.

    The statement noted that the president accepted the recommendation of the panel to terminate the appointment of Mr. Lawal, and has appointed Boss Mustapha as the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

  • EFCC, ICPC politicised, weakened by my successors – Obasanjo

    EFCC, ICPC politicised, weakened by my successors – Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday accused his successors from 2007 of politicising the two anti-corruption agencies created by his administration.

    His said his successors politicised, weakened the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC).

    Obasanjo spoke delivering the annual public lecture of the Dorcas Oke Hope Alive Initiative (DOHA).

    Dorcas is the late daughter of the founder of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Bishop Wale Oke, who died through fake drugs.

    Delivering the lecture entitled Corruption and the challenge of the African child, Obasanjo recalled his administration created the two anti-graft agencies based on his commitment to fighting corruption.

    But he expressed regret they became politicised after his tenure which weakened their ability to battle corruption.

    To successfully tackle corruption, Obasanjo said the law enforcement and justice departments should be made to complement each other.

    According to him: “When I was elected president in 1999, my administration took the issue of corruption very seriously and we established anti- corruption agencies like the EFCC and ICPC.

    “They were provided with political support needed to fight corruption and they did their best.

    “But after we left office, they became politicised and weakened to a level that they were unable to provide their services.

    “In fact, one of the governors jailed for corruption was supposed to find replacement for EFCC boss then Nuhu Ribadu. You know the type of replacement he would bring.”

    The former President added: “We must strengthen these institutions especially in carrying out prosecution because government alone cannot fight corruption.

    “It is very disheartening when the law enforcement agency carefully investigates a case and the culprit finds his way around the judiciary to escape.

    “Corrupt people and accomplices must be punished. We cannot afford to have sacred cows in the fight against corruption.”

    He lamented the youths believe that the easiest way to get rich is to get government job.

    His words: “The evils of men in authority have made living in the world very challenging for all but particularly for young people.

    “Young people are the worst victims of social ills such as corruption and bad leadership which seem to characterise our world today.

    “A former American president once said that when older men declare war, it is the youths that must fight and die.

    “The youths substantially bear the brunt of the misconduct and misbehaviour of the elders.

    “They pay for the sins they do not commit. While I am not saying that older men commit all the evil deeds of the world, it is important to stress that young people, because of their vulnerability and dependence on the decisions of older people, are always the majority to bear the brunt of bad leadership, bad decisions, bad families, bad society, bad politics, policies and governance.”

    He added: “The young Dorcas Oke, bore the brunt of the bad leadership of our society.

    “She was full of life and aspiration but they were cut short by deliberate actions or inaction of the people in health system riddled with corruption.

    “She died because some corrupt persons in the sector succeeded in selling adulterated drugs which killed her.

    “Someone whose job it was to monitor and maintain standards failed to stop the adulterated drugs from entering our markets.

    “The story of Dorcas is just one among many others that buttress the claim that corruption kills.”

  • EXCLUSIVE: Former ICPC board nominee, Maimuna Aliyu in multi billion naira Dubai, Abuja properties scam

    *Interpol, EFCC set to uncover more properties
    A recent investigation has revealed how controversial ex-banker and former nominee to the board of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission [ICPC], board, Maimuna Aliyu allegedly acquired a Dubai property worth $3.05m, over N1.2 billion at an exchange rate of N360 to $1.
    TheNewsGuru.com findings show that the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, claim the money may have come from long years of misappropriation, contract scams and diversion of public funds.
    Some sources who claim close knowledge to her inner dealings confided that Aliyu may have served as front for some top politicians, who are not unconnected with the attempt to appoint her into ICPC allegedly to defend their selfish course.

    Contained in a letter personally written and signed by Aliyu on 2nd of October, 2015, which she addressed to the Minister, Ministry of foreign Affairs, in a bid to state her legitimate acquisition of the asset estimated at $3.05m, are details surrounding the transaction.
    The billion naira investment, the letter which was exclusively sourced, stated, was sold to the ex-banker between 2011 and 2012 by Dubai Lifestyle City.
    A section of the letter reads:
    “I gave.. an initial deposit of $250,000 and by 16th of May 2011, I gave additional $300000 bringing the total to $550000.
    “By 5/10/2011, I gave him additional $1.1m … In 2012, I paid additional $600000 bringing the total to $2.25m. By April of 2013 I paid additional $805000. Bringing the total to $3.05m to Dubai lifestyle city through their representative all in cash except for the last $800000 that was transferred from SunTrust Bank in America (Atlanta).
    The transfer was done by April 18, 2013, the money had hit their account in Dubai and confirmed by Elias as received.”
    High level security sources confided in TheNewsGuru.com, that investigations by the EFCC in collaboration with the Dubai authorities may have traced more properties in that country to the former Executive Director and some of her friends who are top officials of the immediate past government.
    Aliyu’s role in Bala’s fraud case
    In one of the affidavits tendered by EFCC, on the fraud case with the former minister, Bala, a four bedroom fully detached duplex with boys quarters at 103 Cadastral Zone A05, Maitama and House No. 2A No, 7 Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja, “properties that were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities” were registered under Maimuna Aliyu’s name.
    In a new application filed by EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Ben Ikani, against former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, and his son, Shamsuddeen, Aliyu was alleged to have served as proxy to the former minister in unlawful property dealings in and around Abuja, while he was in office.
    The commission said the properties were held in the names of different companies and Maimuna Aliyu, was described as Mohammed’s proxy, who was allegedly, used to acquire the houses at 1A and 2A of No. 7 Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja.
    In his ruling last week, Justice Dimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the temporary forfeiture of the said assets.
    A three-count charge of abuse of office, misappropriation of public funds and criminal breach of trust was slammed against her on August 15 by the ICPC.
    The letter:
  • Nta bows out as ICPC chairman, hands over to Bako

    Nta bows out as ICPC chairman, hands over to Bako

    Mr. Ekpo Nta on Tuesday bowed out as chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission after six years at the helm.

    He handed over to Abdullahi Bako, a board member, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, Mrs. Rasheedat Okoduwa, spokesperson of the ICPC, said in a statement.

    Okoduwa said Bako would head the commission in acting capacity pending the assumption of duty by the chairman designate, Prof. Bola Owasanoye, who is awaiting Senate confirmation.

    In his valedictory speech, the out-gone chairman stated that he came into the ICPC at a time the commission was suffering an “identity a crisis” as to whether it was a law enforcement or civil service organisation.

    He was quoted as adding that he inherited a dilapidated physical structure housing the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.ADVERTISING

    Nta said the situation initially dampened his enthusiasm, but later spurred him into re-positioning the commission.

    According to Okoduwa, he said his first task was to work with the board members to place the ICPC in its rightful place based on its enabling law.

    He highlighted some of his achievements to include a high rate of investigation and prosecution of corruption cases and the introduction of preventive measures to check corruption in the civil and public service.

    Nta thanked the members of staff and management of the commission for their cooperation and support, describing them as highly dedicated and talented workers.

    Responding, Bako acknowledged Nta’s sterling performance and achievements at the commission.

    He solicited the support of management and staff within the period he would act, and urged them to remain disciplined and committed to duty.

    Nta was appointed acting Chairman of the ICPC by former President Goodluck Jonathan in November 2011, before his confirmation as the substantive chairman in 2012 for a five-year term.

    He now moves over to the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission as a full-time commissioner.
    NAN

  • Osinbajo orders PenCom, CCB, ICPC heads to resume pending Senate confirmation

    Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has directed the newly appointed chairmen of the National Pension Commission, Code of Conduct Bureau, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission to resume duty.

    The Permanent Secretary and Director Press Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Bolaji Adebiyi, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said the appointees are directed to resume duties in acting capacities pending their confirmation by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    He said that the appointment was to ensure that there was no vacuum in certain important Federal Institutions.

    The appointees are as follows: in the National Pension Commission, we have Alhaji Ali Usman Ahmed – Acting Chairman, Mr. Funso Doherty – Acting Director-General, Mr. Manasseh T. Denga – Acting Executive Commissioner.

    Others are Abubakar Z. Magawata – Acting Executive Commissioner, Ben Oviosun – Acting Executive Commissioner, Nyerere Anyim – Acting Executive Commissioner

  • Osinbajo drops two ICPC board members under probe

    Osinbajo drops two ICPC board members under probe

    Acting President, Yemi, Osinbajo, has dropped the two new members nominated to be on the board of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission who are said to be undergoing investigations by the same commission.

    Osinbajo had last week named a new chairman and board members of the commission.

    Recall TheNewsGuru.com had earlier published a report on Friday, in which two of the board members are currently being investigated by the ICPC.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, disclosed on his Twitter handle on Sunday that the nomination of the affected persons was being stepped down.

    Akande said it had been confirmed that the two nominees were being investigated by the agency they were nominated to serve.

    He said the situation presented a conflict of interest.

    Akande wrote, “We are stepping down two of the new ICPC board nominees who have ongoing investigation issues with the commission as this presents a conflict.

    “While the existence of allegations or petitions against someone shouldn’t necessarily disqualify them (six) from considerations for appointments, this case presents a peculiarity as we have confirmed that the agency in which they are to serve is indeed investigating the two of them.

    “A basic check showed no court convictions against them. But when weighty petitions come up, this administration will always do the right thing.”

  • 2 Osinbajo’s ICPC board appointees under investigation for fraud

    Two of the newly appointed board members of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) being investigated by the anti-corruption agency for alleged fraud.

    The revelation was contained in an investigative report carried out by the ICIR [a non-profit news agency] which stated that Maimuna Aliyu and Sa’ad Alanamu are being probed for alleged fraud in the region of N1billion.

    The two proposed members of the board, headed by Bolaji Owasanoye, a Professor of Law and current Secretary of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), are Maimuna Aliyu and Sa’ad Alanamu.

    Recall TheNewsGuru published a statement on the appointments following an approval by Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice President.

    According to the ICIR reports, Alanamu is being investigated on corruption charges allegedly committed while he headed several institutions in Kwara State, Aliyu has a longstanding case of abuse of office, misappropriation and diversion of public funds against her.

    But ICIR said charges were already being prepared against Aliyu in preparation to taking her to court when her new appointment was made public.

    “Aliyu is said to be highly connected in the corridors of power and might have used her clout to get nominated to the ICPC board to stop her prosecution by the commission,” the website said in its report.

    “Apart from the ICPC investigation, our investigations also show that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Police have investigated several corruption cases against Aliyu, a former executive director of the Aso Savings and Loans.”

    The report added that in May, a police investigative report indicted her and recommended her for prosecution.

    The investigative report dated May 31, 2017, and signed by Taiwo Oyewale, a superintendent of police, for the deputy commissioner of police, IGP monitoring unit, said that Aliyu illegally converted to personal use a total of N58 million being proceeds of three plots of land belonging to her employers, Aso Savings and Loans.

    As executive director, marketing, Aliyu was said to have got approval to sell three of the bank’s landed property in Abuja at the rate of N19 million each. Aliyu is said to have sold the lands for N58 million but refused to hand over the money to the bank.

    The police investigations commenced after Aso Savings and Loans wrote a petition in November 2016 alleging that Aliyu, who had by then retired from the bank for three years, had refused to hand over the proceeds of the land sale.

    The same month, the bank also wrote a petition against her to the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the EFCC and the ICPC

    In one of the investigations, it was discovered that Aliyu actually sold the three plots of land entrusted to her by the bank at N40 million each (instead of N19 million) totaling N120 million and held on to every penny.

    Apart from the N120 million allegedly misappropriated by her, the bank also lodged several complaints of abuse of office and conversion or diversion of its funds, totaling nearly N1 billion.

    The bank alleged that in 2012, Aliyu sought and got a mortgage facility of N40 million to purchase five houses – four-bedroom detached mansionettes. However, after she resigned her appointment in September 2013, the former executive director said she could no longer bear the burden of the payments and requested the bank to cancel the mortgage on four units and take them over. She said she would continue to maintain the mortgage contract on just one unit.

    She was also said to have abused her office by illegally allocating a house at Aso Groove estate to her son, Sand Aliyu. According to the bank, Aliyu had showed interest in buying the house for her son in the name of a company in which he is a director.

    However, because she had all the keys of the houses put up for sale by the bank since she was in charge of marketing and sales, Aliyu handed over the key to the house to her son without paying a dime for the house worth N210 million.

    ICIR said it attempted to reach Aliyu for comments, but her telephone line was switched off.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Osinbajo appoints Bolaji Owosanoye as ICPC chair, redeploys Ekpo Nta

    …announces other key appointments

    The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has appointed a new chairman and members for the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, the Investment and Security Tribunal and Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission.

    The changes were contained in a statement signed by the Director of Press, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi, on Tuesday.

    Adebiyi said that the Acting President appointed the Executive Secretary, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Bolaji Owosanoye, as the new Chairman of the ICPC while the Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Mr. Ekpo Nta, was deployed as a Commissioner to the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission.

    Others appointed to serve in the ICPC as members are Grace Chinda, Okolo Titus, Obiora Igwedebia, Mrs. Olubukola Balogun, Group Captain Sam Ewang (retd.), Justice Adamu Bello, Hannatu Mohammed, Abdullahi Maikano Said, Dr. Sa’ad Alanamu, Yahaya Umar Dauda,Khamis Ahmed Mailantarki,Maimuna Aliyu and Prof. Musa Usman Abubakar (Secretary).

    Adebiyi, who said the appointments were subject to Senate confirmation, noted that while the appointment of the chairman was for five years, the commissioners would serve a tenure of four years each.

    According to him, Osinbajo retained the Chairman of the of the NSIWC, Chief Richard Egbule, who was appointed in 2014.

    Apart from Nta, other members of the NSIWC are Alhaji Dauda Yahaya, Mr. Garba Musa Gulma, (all full-time commissioners; Mrs. Victoria Nnenna Chukwuani, Mr. Geoffery Yeilong, Prof. Ropo Shekoni, and Ahmed Mahmud Gumel-(all part-time Commissioner,)

    He added that the Permanent Secretary, (Establishment) OHCSF, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Productivity, Mr Isa Aremu of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Mr. Chuma Nwankwo of NECA are members.

    The Acting President appointed Siaka Idoko as Chairman/CEO of the Investment And Security Tribunal.

    Other appointees are Jude Udunni, Nosa Osemwengie, Abubakar A. Ahmad-and Albert L. Otesile as full-time members.

    Others appointees include Emeka Madubuike, Kasumi Garba Kurfi,Edward O. Ajayi, Onyemaechi E. M. Elujekor and Mamman Bukar Zargana as part-time members.

    Osibanjo appointed Chidi K. C. Izuwah as the Director General Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission.

  • ICPC arraigns whistleblower for raising false alarm on ex-VP Sambo

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Abubakar Sani for providing false information to the commission.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Sani’s information had led to the raid on the residence of former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, on June 28, in Kaduna by ICPC and Directorate of State Services (DSS) operatives.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that since the raid on the property, the ICPC had not said if anything incriminating was found.

    The whistleblower, who was arraigned on Thursday before Justice Aliyu Tukur of the Kaduna State High Court, is facing a two-count charge of providing false information and misleading a public officer while on lawful duty.

    Counsel to the commission, Elijah Akaakohol, said the accused had provided the false information to an official of the commission on June 21, 2017.

    Akaakohol told the court that Sani had claimed to have transported boxes of money in local and foreign currencies from Abuja airport to the house at Ungwan Rimi GRA, Kaduna in 2013, which he suspected to be ill-gotten wealth and still at the house.

    The counsel added that it was based on the claim that the accused “made officers of the commission to carry out a sting operation that turned out to be false”.

    Sani, who appeared at the court without legal representation, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The judge directed that the accused be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case till Thursday, November 2, for hearing.

    Before the adjournment, Justice Tukur advised the accused to get a counsel to stand for him at the next adjourned date.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that some heavily armed security operatives recently raided Sambo’s the residence in Kaduna.

    The operatives are believed to have come from the State Security Service, SSS, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC.