TheNewsGuru

Tag: Investigation

  • EFCC Dismisses Governor Matawalle’s Allegations as Corruption Fighting Back

    EFCC Dismisses Governor Matawalle’s Allegations as Corruption Fighting Back

    In response to the recent accusations made by Governor Bello Muhammed Matawalle of Zamfara State, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has strongly denied the allegations and labeled them as a desperate attempt by politically exposed persons under investigation to discredit the agency.

    The EFCC, through its Director of Public Affairs, Osita Nwajah, addressed journalists at its headquarters in Abuja on Friday to refute the claims made by Governor Matawalle.

    Nwajah dismissed Matawalle’s remarks as a product of paranoia and corruption fighting back against the EFCC’s lawful activities.

    “What is at play here is a pure case of corruption fighting back. Matawalle’s outburst is a product of paranoia- an uncomfortable exertion arising from the heat of EFCC’s lawful activities.

    “The Commission would like to put the nation on notice to expect more of the kind of wild allegations made by Matawalle as those at the receiving end of EFCC’s investigations, fight viciously back,” the EFCC spokesperson said.

    Nwajah emphasized that Matawalle’s criticism of the transparency of the agency’s asset disposal and plea bargain procedures lacked credibility, asserting that the EFCC had overseen an asset disposal exercise recognized as the most transparent in Nigeria’s history, with the proceeds duly remitted to the federal government for infrastructure development.

    The EFCC warned that more wild allegations could be expected from those facing investigations by the Commission, citing previous instances where former EFCC chairmen had been similarly accused of embezzling recovered assets.

    It would be recalled that Governor Matawalle had accused the Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, of demanding a $2 million bribe from him, sparking a heated controversy.

    This development comes amid ongoing claims by the EFCC that it is investigating Matawalle for alleged monumental corruption, involving the embezzlement of approximately N70 billion.

    Matawalle has asserted that he possesses evidence of Bawa’s bribery attempt, challenging him to vacate his position, claiming that if Bawa were to leave office, numerous individuals would come forward with evidence of the bribes they had allegedly paid.

    “If he exits office, people will surely know he is not an honest person. I have evidence against him. Let him vacate office.

    “I am telling you, within 10 seconds, probably more than 200 people will bring evidence of the bribe he collected from them. He knows what he requested from me, but I declined.

    “He requested a bribe of $2 million from me, and I have evidence of this. He knows the house we met, he invited me and told me the conditions. He told me governors were going to his office, but I did not. If I don’t have evidence, I won’t say this,” the Governor stated.

    Matawalle emphasized his refusal to comply with the bribe request and revealed details of the encounter, including the location where the demand was made.

    During an interview with BBC Hausa on Friday, Bawa challenged Matawalle to provide concrete evidence to support his allegations, emphasising that if Matawalle possessed evidence of his alleged misconduct, it should be presented through official channels such as the police, ICPC, and the Code of Conduct for proper investigation.

    The explosive accusations have triggered a wave of calls for Bawa’s resignation. Civil society organizations led by Debo Adeniran, representing over 150 groups, accused the EFCC of corruption and inefficiency.

    They stressed that the EFCC’s role should be focused on combating corruption rather than being used as a tool for settling political scores.

    Adeniran demanded a thorough investigation into the actions of the EFCC under Bawa’s leadership and raised concerns about the agency’s low conviction rates and alleged misconduct by its officials.

    Amidst the escalating controversy, the Commission said that the governor’s outburst was an attempt to divert attention from the real issue at hand, which is Matawalle’s ongoing investigation for alleged corruption involving contract fraud and diversion of funds amounting to N70 billion meant for local government projects.

    It stated that it had uncovered over 100 companies that received payments from these funds without providing any evidence of service to the state.

    The EFCC said shocking admissions from contractors have also emerged, alleging that the governor coerced them into returning the money they received from the state in US dollars.

  • Police investigate death of Bolt passenger in Lagos

    Police investigate death of Bolt passenger in Lagos

    Police in Lagos State have begun an investigation into circumstances that led to the death of a passenger in a Bolt car in Lagos.

    The spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, told NAN about the investigation on Wednesday in Lagos.

    He said a Bolt car driver (name not mentioned), reported the death of a passenger in his car at Ilasan Police Division on Monday.

    The driver claimed that he received an order from the customer to take him from Osapa London, Lekki to Ikate area of Lekki.

    “While in transit, the customer screamed and shouted `my heart’. Instantly, his mood changed.

    “The customer was rushed to a hospital at Jakande 1st Gate, Lekki and later to another hospital also in Lekki, where he was pronounced dead,’’ Hundeyin quoted the Bolt driver as stating at the police station.

    Hundeyin said police visited the hospital, photographed the deceased, contacted members of his family and deposited the corpse at the Infectious Diseases Hospital mortuary at Marina for preservation and autopsy.

  • PSC investigates bribe for promotion allegations

    PSC investigates bribe for promotion allegations

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) has set up a committee to investigate a report published by an online medium that police officers pay up to 10,000 dollars bribe to get promotion.

    The Head, Press and Public Relations of PSC, Mr Ikechukwu Ani, said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

    Ani said the report had claimed that some police officers gave $10,000 bribe to get special promotion from the PSC.

    According to him, the report quoted one Chijioke Okonkwo, as making the claim in a petition on behalf of some aggrieved senior police officers.

    The PSC spokesman said even though the said Chijoike Okonkwo, did not indicate his rank, the commission would welcome further details on the allegations.

    Ani said the commission had not formally received the petition or similar complaint on the allegations.

    He however said “anyone with evidence on these allegations should, as a matter of urgency, forward same to the commission”.

    Ani assured that anyone found culpable will be dealt with in line with the laws of the land.

    “The commission has also set up a panel of investigation, comprising both members of the commission and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate these allegations.

    “Aggrieved officers should avail themselves of the existence of this investigative panel and come forward with substantiated proof that could aid the investigation.

    “The commission insists that those found wanting in the course of investigation will face the full wrath of the law,” he said.

    The PSC spokesman however warned that the commission would not tolerate frivolous and fictitious media claims.

    He said officers and men of the police should always follow approved lines of communication.

    Ani added that the commission had directed the police to unravel the identity of the said Chijioke Okonkwo for appropriate interrogation.

    He assured that the new PSC Chairman, Solomon Arase, has been working to harmonise and improve the services of both the commission and the Police.

    “The Commission cannot afford this kind of distraction,” he said, adding that Arase’s desire to bring sanity, peace and unity in the police sub-sector is already receiving desired results.

    He assured Nigerians that the new PSC chairman was determined to sanitize the system and had warned staff of the commission to live above board in the discharge of their responsibilities.

    “Bribery and corruption of any kind will not be tolerated under his watch,” Ani added.

  • “We are investigating incitement by governors over naira scarcity” – IGP

    “We are investigating incitement by governors over naira scarcity” – IGP

    Police are investigating some governors and individuals whose utterances are considered to have incited riots over the naira redesign policy of the CBN.

    Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Usman Alkali, made this known in Abuja on Wednesday while fielding questions from State House correspondents.

    He was accompanied to the news conference by the Attorney-General of Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, at the end of Wednesday’s National Security Council meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Alkali said those found guilty would definitely be prosecuted.

    He maintained that the police were not in position to prosecute culpable governors because they enjoyed immunity.

    Govs. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun and Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, had openly condemned and denigrated the implementation of the naira swap policy.

    They asked people in their states to continue to spend the old N500 and N1000 as legal tenders.

    “We all know why the governors have not been cautioned. We are investigating. Whoever does anything can be investigated.

    “However, there are some people who have immunity. I think that is one of the reasons why they have not been cautioned.

    “The immunity will not stop us from cautioning them; from warning them; from advising them; and we are doing so,’’ he said.

    According to the IGP, the police have done what is required to calm the situation and stabilise the polity, assuring that there won’t be security issues on Election Day.

    Speaking on the outcome of the security meeting, Malami said the Council resolved that there was no going back on the Feb. 25 and March 11 elections.

    He said the conclusion was reached after security chiefs briefed the Council on their level of preparedness for the elections.

    He noted that INEC had also expressed its preparedness to conduct the elections.

    “The summary and conclusion of all submissions was to the effect that the system is wholeheartedly ready for the conduct of the elections.

    “Arising there from, the position of government and the position of the president are to the effect that the elections are holding on Feb 25 and on March 11.

    “Mr President and the National Security Council are happy with the preparations on ground and wholehearted arrangements are put in place in that direction,’’ Malami stressed.

  • Govt investigates killing of 41 by terrorists in Katsina

    Govt investigates killing of 41 by terrorists in Katsina

    Katsina State Government says it will investigate the killing of 41 people by terrorists at Yargoje forest, Kankara Local Government Area of the state.

    Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim-Katsina, the Special Adviser to Gov. Aminu Masari on Security Matters made the disclosure on Saturday in Katsina after a review of the incident.

    According to him, the incident that also left two people injured jolted everybody, including Gov. Masari.

    “The governor is very sad and has directed immediate reinforcement of security in the area.

    “He has also directed that a commission of inquiry be instituted on the incident.

    “We want to unravel the full circumstances surrounding the incident apart from what the preliminary investigation has revealed,” the adviser said.

    He added that Masari also directed that relief materials be immediately despatched to the families of the victims.

    “The government is already on top of the situation in the area and we want to assure residents of the state that the government places high priority on their security and safety.

    “From the strategies that we are adopting, we strongly believe that this incident will be the last in the state.” Ibrahim-Katsina said.

    The security adviser said preliminary investigation had shown that the 41 victims who died in the ambush included some of the terrorists.

    “The outcome of the commission of inquiry would assist us in taking far-reaching decisions in preventing future occurrence of such ugly incident,” Ibrahim-Katsina said.

    The victims, who were members of local security groups,  run into an ambush on Thursday when they went after some terrorists who rustled some livestock.

  • Atiku not afraid of investigation, he’ll come out clean – Melaye

    Atiku not afraid of investigation, he’ll come out clean – Melaye

    A spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council, Dino Melaye has said its party presidential candidate for the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar is not afraid of investigation.

    Melaye disclosed this while featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday.

    He e said Atiku has always been available for investigation.

    “Atiku Abubakar is a democrat; he’s a Nigerian. He has always been available for investigation. He has been investigated time and time again and come out very clean with clean status.

    “So, you do not need the permission of Atiku to investigate him. We are not afraid of an investigation, because he’s the most investigated Nigerian and if you investigate him again he will come out clean,” he said.

    Melaye stressed that Atiku’s counterpart in the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu should be investigated and prosecuted.

    “He is the one that has been indicted already in a certified court indictment. He is the man that has faced the Code of Conduct before,” he said.

  • Air Peace incident: NAHCO begins investigation, suspends personnel

    Air Peace incident: NAHCO begins investigation, suspends personnel

    The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc, on Thursday, said that an investigation had commenced into circumstances that surrounded its equipment that damaged an Air Peace Airbus A320 Aircraft at Murtala Muhammed Airport on Wednesday.

    The company’s Group Executive Director, Business and Corporate Services, Dr. Sola Obabori, stated this in a statement in Lagos on Thursday.

    The incident led to the disruption of scheduled flight operations after one of the ground handling company’s equipment rammed into an aircraft.

    The Spokesman of Air Peace, Mr. Stanley Olisa, said the incident would be the third in one month.

    Obabori said that the management had invited relevant regulatory and security agencies to commence an investigation into the incident.

    He said: “The management expresses sadness over the incident because Air Peace is one of the biggest privately-owned airlines in Africa and it is proud to have them as one of its prime.

    “We share a very cordial relationship with the airline and we have been together all these years serving them diligently and professionally since inception.

    “Therefore, we have invited relevant regulatory and security agencies to swing into action and especially investigate the subject of sabotage and take an independent look at the incident.”

    Obabori said to enable proper and unhindered investigation, some senior operations officials had been suspended, while others were being investigated.

  • Air Peace demands investigation into aircraft damage by ground equipment

    Air Peace demands investigation into aircraft damage by ground equipment

    Air Peace Airline has urged the aviation authorities to look into the ground handling equipment that collided and damaged its aircraft elevator at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos

    Spokesman of Air Peace, Mr. Stanley Olisa, who confirmed the incident in Lagos on Wednesday, said the aircraft was scheduled to transport passengers to Owerri from Lagos.

    Olisa explained that the aircraft was an Airbus A320 aircraft belonging to Air Peace with the registration number: A320 ES-SAZ.

    He said that the incident had led to disruption of scheduled flight operations after one of the ground handling company’s equipment rammed into one of its aircraft.

    Olisa said before the incident occurred, the aircraft was scheduled to transport passengers from Lagos to Owerri for a 7.00 a.m flight.

    He said: “This same aircraft was positioned for about 10 flights on the same day, however, the incident changed all that causing a ripple that affected the airlines schedule.

    “This is the third time in one month that the aircraft is grounded and we don’t know when it will be up again.

    “The NAHCO staff had no reason to be where he was and he was not assigned to the aircraft and how he rammed into our aircraft is still shocking.

    “This is going to cause revenue loss for us as an airline because the aircraft was scheduled to operate several flights today (Wednesday), but could not do so.

    “This has caused flight disruptions and delays hence, the authorities should investigate the incident and take necessary actions.”

    Olisa said the airline had made a formal complaint to NAHCO management on the incident.

    Reacting, the Group Executive Director, Business and Corporate Services (GED), NAHCO, Dr Sola Obabori, also confirmed the incident.

    Obabori said it was not possible for its staff to deliberately and maliciously damage one of its major customer’s aircraft.

    The official said the handling company had filed a report on the incident, adding that the company had commenced an engagement with the airline on the incident.

    “We have a very cordial relationship with the airline and we have been together all these years, we serve them diligently and professionally.

    “Our staff are well-trained, accidents do happen. You will agree with me that aircraft do crash due to human error.

    “In this particular case, the staff was driving on the runway to attend to another flight that arrived before Air Peace.

    “He was driving towards that direction and wanted to support that operation, but he committed an error in terms of processes he was supposed to follow, which he didn’t follow.”

    The official said that was what caused the incident, adding that the staff might had a blind spot, which prevented him from seeing well.

    He, however assured that the company would review what had happened so that such incident would not reoccur.

  • Ogun: Police begin investigation into couple’s death on New Year’s Day

    Ogun: Police begin investigation into couple’s death on New Year’s Day

    The police command in Ogun has begun an investigation into the death of a couple, Mr. Kehinde and Mrs. Bukola Fatinoye, at Ibara GRA in Abẹokuta, on New Year’s Day.

    SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, the state Police Public Relations Officer, made the disclosure in an interview with NAN on Monday in Abeokuta.

    Kehinde and Bukola were burnt to death when suspected arsonists set their house ablaze on Jan. 1.

    One of their children and their housekeeper were also alleged to have been kidnapped by those behind the suspected arson.

    According to Oyeyemi, the police will do all within their powers to reveal those behind the dastardly act.

    It was gathered that the incident happened shortly after the couple returned from ‘Cross Over Service’ to usher in the new year.

    Kehinde and Bukola were employees of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta,  respectively.

  • Police launch manhunt for killers of NECO official inside UI

    Police launch manhunt for killers of NECO official inside UI

    The police in Ibadan, Oyo state capital says it has launched an investigation into the attack and subsequent killing of the National Examination Council, (NECO) official,  Vincent Odinko who was  living in the staff quarters of the University of Ibadan.

    Report says that some dare armed robbers stormed the apartment of the deceased in the institutions’ staff quarters and shot him dead whilst he was working on his laptop.

    The deceased’s wife is said to be an employee of the institution and the husband was awake when the hoodlums stormed the apartment and shot him dead before carting away his laptop.

    Contacted to react to the development, the state police spokesperson, Adewale Osifeso, confirmed that the police had started investigating the murder case.

    Osifeso assured the public that the command would get to the root of the matter and apprehend masterminds of the act.

    According to him investigations into the matter has begun in earnest and updates shall be provided.

    “Investigation is in progress. Updates would be provided accordingly.” He said.