TheNewsGuru

Tag: Probe

  • Alleged N2.2bn land scam: Court approves probe of deposed Emir Sanusi

    Alleged N2.2bn land scam: Court approves probe of deposed Emir Sanusi

    A Federal High Court has approved the investigation of deposed Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II over an alleged N2.2 billion land scam.

    Justice Lewis Allagoa on Tuesday dismissed the fundamental human right suit filed by the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor against Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, its chairman as well as the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice.

    Sanusi will face fresh anti-corruption charges three months after his deposition after he resigned for about six years.

    He asked the court to restrict the four defendants from investigating him on the alleged land racketeering, arguing the planned investigation was against his fundamental human right.

    But the judge held that the anti-graft commission and its chairman had the jurisdiction and powers to probe Sanusi on the matter.

    Justice Lewis had in March granted an ex parte order filed by Sanusi to restrict the commission from inviting and investigating him on the land matter pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons.

    The anti-graft agency had invested on the embattled Sanusi a Right of Occupancy CON-RES-2016-503, which was reportedly sold illegally by the Kano emirate council to Family Home Fund Limited at the instance of Sanusi as the Emir.

    The commission claimed all the alleged illegal transactions for the sale of the landed properties at Darmanawa, Hotoro and Bubbugaje belonging to the emirate was done by the trio of Shehu Dankadai (Sarkin Shanu), Sarki Ibrahim (Makanan Kano) and Mustapha Yahaya (Dan Isan Lapai) based on the alleged instruction of Sanusi.

    The issue of the land racketeering suit came up again after the same High Court dismissed allegation of misappropriation of about N4.5 billion against the deposed emir.

  • Kwara Assembly orders probe of ex-governor, director over failed power project

    The Kwara State House of Assembly has asked the state government to probe the immediate past governor o the state, AbdulFatah Ahmed and the Director General, KP3, Yomi Ogunsola over their alleged handling of the “Light Up Kwara project.

    The house accordingly urged the executive to hand them over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.

    The House also directed the state government to hand over Investment One that handled the Infrastructure Fund Kwara (IFK), Reccofortezza-A Steven and Rubitec, contractors that handled the Light-Up Kwara Project over the same reason.

    These were part of the resolutions of the House plenary on the report of an Ad-hoc Committee on the investigation into the Light-Kwara project executed by the last administration in the state.

    Reading the resolutions of the House, the Speaker Yakubu Danladi Salihu , said the state government should review the terms and conditions of contract for the project and direct the contractors to complete all outstanding work on the project.

    Hon Salihu further urged the government to transfer all the activities of Light-Up Kwara project to the supervision and monitoring of the State Ministry of Energy in the interest of accountability and transparency.

    The state legislature also resolved that the state government should repeal the Kwara State Bureau of Public, Private Partnership (KP3) Law to allow respective ministries to take charge of statutory responsibilities handled by KP3.

    The speaker added that the state government should order the then Director General of KP3 to return to Nigeria to shed light on the grey areas of the project.

    The legislature had 3rd October , 2019 plenary set up the Ad-hoc committee to probe the activities of the Light- Up Kwara roject of the immediate past administration in the state.

  • Reps set to unravel alleged massive fraud ongoing in NIGCOMSAT

    Reps set to unravel alleged massive fraud ongoing in NIGCOMSAT

    While the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami was holding a virtual meeting with Chief Executive Officers under his Ministry, including with Dr. Abimbola Alale, the Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT, members of the House of Representatives were setting in motion forensic probe of activities of the operators of the Nigerian Communications Satellite systems.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the House of Representatives on Tuesday mandated the Committees on Information Technology (ICT) and Finance to carry out a forensic audit of the activities of the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited from inception to date and report back within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.

    The mandate followed a motion moved by Rep. Ndudi Elumelu on the need to investigate the alleged sleaze, misappropriation and non-profitability of the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited, which was voted on and adopted, after it was seconded by Rep. Idem Unyime.

    It could be recalled that in 2006 the federal government incorporated the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited with the aim of revolutionizing the information and communications technology system in Nigeria as well as to improve national security, broadcasting, internet access, e-governance, health and the educational sectors of the country.

    Because the vision of NIGCOMSAT was for it to be the leading satellite operator and service provider in Africa, the company in 2007 launched the first geostationary Communications Satellite in Sub-Saharan Africa to exploit the commercial viability of the country’s communications satellite for its socio-economic benefits.

    According to the House, it took the Nigerian government the sum of $340 million of tax payers money to build the NIGCOMSAT-l and a further N43 billion from the federal allocation as running cost and another $127 million as debt servicing to the Chinese Government, but that there is little or nothing to show for these huge investments.

    The House raised concern that while the fixed-satellite service business has proven lucrative in so many countries with a worth estimate of the global space as high as N160.26 trillion and 75% of this coming from commercial revenues, NIGCOMSAT is yet to get a slice of the pie and has generated zero revenue.

    Members of the House were disturbed that even though the company has not been able to make contributions to the nation’s revenue, it has been riddled with series of allegations ranging from contract scam to the tune of N8 billion, to bribery of government agents and withholding of vital documents to ensure the cover-up of the massive irregularities against the management of the company.

    The House was also disturbed that, at a time, a Managing Director of the Company was alleged to have wrongfully declared her assets and signed off the company’s Direct-to-Home (DTH) facility to NIGUS International Investment Ltd (a company owned by the father in law of the Head of DTH) after she acquired shares in NIGUS through proxies.

    The House was worried by the allegations that the management of the company breached government policy on procurement by ensuring that procurement matters are handled strictly between the offices of the Managing Director and that of the Legal Adviser, which is a breach of the country’s financial regulations.

    The House also expressed worry that between September and December 2011, the management of NIGCOMSAT paid Fasaha Intercontinental Insurance Brokers Ltd the sum of N5 billion for insurance premium of the lunch of NIGCOMSAT-1R Satellite which is a non-consultant job that requires the approval of the Federal Executive Council, and according to the House, such unguarded expenditures have made the company unable to meet the financial obligations owed to the nation and if left unchecked, will result in further loss of the nation’s scarce revenue.

    Meanwhile, the House has mandated the Committees on Information Technology (ICT) and Finance to carry out a forensic audit of the activities of the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited from inception to date and report back within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.

    However, while the House was setting the mechanism for the probe in motion, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy was holding a virtual meeting with Chief Executive Officers under his Ministry, including with Dr. Abimbola Alale, the Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT.

    The meeting discussed the successes recorded so far, which Pantami said have been vindicated by unprecedented contribution of ICT to GDP of 14.07% in the 1st Quarter of 2020; securing telecommunications infrastructure; resolving the challenges of right of way in certain States; free access to certain websites on COVID-19 update; providing digital platforms for MDAs; free text messages on COVID-19 updates to Nigerians.

    Meanwhile, the House Committees on Information Technology (ICT) and Finance were yet to fix a date for the questioning of those involved in the alleged sleaze, misappropriation and non-profitability of the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited.

  • Alleged corruption at AfDB: U.S. rejects Adesina’s exoneration, demands fresh probe

    Alleged corruption at AfDB: U.S. rejects Adesina’s exoneration, demands fresh probe

    The United States has rejected the clean bill given Dr. Akinwumi Adesina by the African Development Bank ethics committee, over corruption allegations.

    Instead, the U.S. has called for an independent probe, thus upending AfDB’s board decision to end an investigation against Adesina.

    In a letter dated May 22 and addressed to Niale Kaba, chairwoman of the bank’s board of governors, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the Treasury disagreed with findings by the bank’s ethics committee that “totally exonerated” Adesina.

    Kaba confirmed receipt of the document and declined further comment, according to Bloomberg.

    The intervention by the Treasury, the AfDB’s biggest non-African shareholder, comes two weeks after the ethics committee found no evidence to support allegations of favouritism by Adesina.

    The 60-year-old bank chief, who has repeatedly refuted the allegations, is the only candidate up for election as president at an annual general meeting scheduled for August.

    “We have deep reservations about the integrity of the committee’s process,” Mnuchin said.

    “Instead, we urge you to initiate an in-depth investigation of the allegations using the services of an independent outside investigator of high professional standing.”

    The U.S. Treasury didn’t immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

    Clear Mandate

    Adesina was accused by a group of unidentified whistleblowers of handing contracts to acquaintances and appointing relatives to strategic positions at the Abidjan-based lender.

    “Considering the scope, seriousness, and detail of these allegations against the sole candidate for bank leadership over the next five years, we believe that further inquiry is necessary to ensure that the AfDB’s president has broad support, confidence, and a clear mandate from shareholders,” Mnuchin said.

    U.S. criticism of the bank’s internal processes follows comments by World Bank President David Malpass in February that multilateral lenders including the AfDB tend to provide loans too quickly and, in the process, add to African nations’ debt problems.

    The bank rebutted the statements as “inaccurate and not fact-based.”

    The AfDB is Africa’s biggest multilateral lender and has an AAA rating from Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings.

    Its shareholders are Africa’s 54 nations and 27 countries in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia.

    In March, the lender issued a $3 billion social bond to help African countries deal with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

    Bids for the securities on the London money market exceeded $4.6 billion.

    The bank also launched a $10 billion crisis-response facility for African nations

  • Ex-Rivers Governor Odili under investigation for N100b ‘fraud’

    Ex-Rivers Governor Odili under investigation for N100b ‘fraud’

    A probe into how a former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, allegedly diverted N100 billion for personal use, has commenced.

    Odili, who was governor between 1999 and 2007, was alleged to have moved about N4 billion in cash to a bank between 2004 and 2006, in favour of his Aide-De-Camp, Isaac Onyesom, and Emmanuel Nkata who worked in the Rivers State liaison office in Abuja.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in a fact sheet on the probe also alleged that N1.5 billion out of the amount was used by the ex-governor to obtain a doctorate degree and naming of a Hall after him in Lincoln University, USA.

    It alleged that about N100 million was doled out to a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party on November 28, 2005.

    But while still under probe, the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike was alleged to have transferred suspicious N2billion (public funds) to some firms belonging to Odili between 2016 and 2018.

    There were signs that Odili might be put on trial by the EFCC.

    But Odili in a suit FHC/ PHC/C3/26/2020 dated March 12, 2020, asked a Federal High Court to restrain the EFCC from investigating him.

    He said the EFCC was bound by the 2007 judgments of the Federal High Court on the perpetual injunction against his arrest and prosecution.

    He said the EFCC had been threatening to arrest, detain and prosecute him.

    According to document on the status of investigation on Odili, the EFCC claimed that the ex-governor allegedly laundered the N100billion under the guise of pursuing a Power Project in Rivers State.

    The document reads in part: “The Commission wishes to once again explain the case being investigated for which some restraining orders were obtained by both the representative of Rivers State Government and Dr. Peter Odili and also the new intelligence that were got against the third party which had link with some group of companies belonging to Odili.

    “For the purpose of clarity, the commission wishes to put more light on the ongoing investigation in 2006 before it was aborted by some high court, based on a suit instituted by the former Governor of River State and some officials of the State govt.

    “The petitioner had alleged that Dr. Peter Odili, then a governor of Rivers State had conspired with officials of his government and the chairman, Rocksons Engineering Group of Companies to divert over N100billion from the account of Rivers State, alleging that he used same for Power Project in Rivers.

    “The petitioner also went further to say that part of the state fund was moved to the Government House account, from where it was distributed to the then governor and his relatives and investigation commence.

    “The said account of the Government House was immediately obtained and details of the account revealed that about N4 billion between 2004 and 2006 was moved in cash in favour Odili’s ADC, Isaac Onyesom and one Emmanuel Nkata of the Rivers State liaison office, Abuja.

    “These funds were withdrawn in cash for the former governor of Rivers State. Emmanuel Nkatah was arrested and he confirmed that the funds were withdrawn for the former governor through his ADC.

    “ Investigation was on when the ADC, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), suddenly retired from the Police and disappeared into thin air.

    “ Among those who also benefited from the funds from Rivers State was a former National Chairman of PDP who received a manager’s cheque of N100 million from the same account on November 28, 2005.

    “ Between 2005 and 2006, the former governor Odili paid about N1.5billion which was used to obtain a doctorate degree and naming of a Hall after him in Lincoln University, USA and so many others.

    “ From the same account, he moved N3 billion to an oil company for shares, N1.4 billion to a bottle water company, and about N1.8billion to a communication company which as of 2006, had no share as it was not a quoted company.

    “ When the investigation commenced, he quickly involved the State Govt to take over the shares but the State Govt was not comfortable and requested that the companies return their money.

    The EFCC averred that despite being under investigation, about N10billion questionable deposits were found in some accounts traced to Odili and a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police.

    It said N2billion out of the suspicious N10billion was lodged in some companies belonging to Odili by the Rivers State Government between 2016 and 2017.

    The document added: “Sometimes in 2018, information was received that some Companies belonging to a retired ASP: NUMAC Project Company Ltd and NUMAC Global Resources Ltd, had between 2004 and 2018 received over N5 billion into the account and the funds came in tranches of N500, N300 millions etc, which is suspicious.

    ”These Companies and their accounts were thoroughly investigated. It was discovered that the inflow into these accounts are mostly cash.

    “ On few occasions, about N2billion came in from Rivers State Government account between 2016 and 2017.

    “These funds were traced to the following Companies: Pamo Group of companies Ltd, Pamo Clinic and Hospital and Pamo Educational Foundation. The above companies were found to have belonged to Dr. Peter Odili and his family.

    “Based on the above, and in view that the above companies were not part of restraining order of the Federal High Court, the EFCC commenced further investigation.

    “ It was further established that the funds were moved from the banks in Abuja contrary to the claims that the money formed part of the security .

    “The ADC, the principal suspect in the alleged fraud has been in hiding, he has refused to honour the invitation of the Commission. The commission reliably gathered that it was because of the case that he prematurely retired from the police voluntarily.”

    The former governor is however fighting back by approaching a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt seeking a fresh injunction against EFCC.

  • PDP, CAN demand special probe of Lagos explosion

    Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called for an investigation into the pipeline explosion at Abule-Ado in Amuwo Odofin Local government Area of Lagos State to forestall a future occurrence.

    The CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, who made this known in a statement yesterday in Abuja, condemned the transportation of explosive devices without adequate preventive measures.

    This came as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called on President Muhammadu Buhari to visit the scene of the explosion for an on-the-sport assessment of the disaster.

    Ayokunle said: “It is high time all the agencies of the government were alive to their responsibilities.”

    The statement which was made available to newsmen by the Special Assistant Media and Communications to the CAN President, Rev. Bayo Oladeji, advised all road users to be careful and ensure strict adherence to all traffic rules so as not to put the lives of other road users in danger.

    The statement reads in part: “CAN asks both the Federal and the Lagos State governments to investigate the disaster with a view to discovering the remote and immediate causes of the incident in order to prevent a future reoccurrence of the disaster anywhere in the country.

    “The outcome of the investigation will as well allow disciplinary action to be taken against any act of negligence or criminality that caused the avoidable disaster. Human lives are too precious to be wasted in this way.”

    Meanwhile, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, described it as “embarrassing lethargic approach to governance and the welfare of Nigerians”.

    Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State yesterday presented the President with the photographs of the incident at Aso Rock.

    But Ologbondiyan said with such a national calamity and attendant loss of lives and property, it was strange that Buhari did not deem it fit to personally identify with the victims through a visit, but preferred to be presented with photographs of the ugly incident.

    The party spokesman said it was unfortunate that President Buhari would always wait to be reminded before taking action whenever Nigeria was confronted with critical issues that directly affected the wellbeing and security of the people.

    He said: “Nigerians had expected Mr. President to always lead from the front on serious national issues, as he promised, but this had not been the case, resulting in leadership failure and myriads of security, economic, environmental and political problems that had bedevilled our nation in the last five years.”

    Ologbondiyan advised the President’s handlers to immediately schedule a visit to Abule-Ado, Lagos, so that Buhari could have an on-the-spot assessment of the horrific incident in order to take corresponding action to avert a future recurrence.

    He also called for a forensic investigation into the spate of explosions, particularly the Abule-Ado disaster, given the conflicting reports on the cause of the incident.

  • Imo: I never said I’ll probe Okorocha, others – Uzodinma

    Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has debunked rumours making rounds in the state that he planned to probe his predecessors.

    Governor Uzodinma disclosed this after inspecting some structures at the government house in Owerri.

    The Governor said even though the business of governance includes probing and accountability, his directive to the Accountant-General of the state and the officials of the civil service to furnish him with the financial statement of the state may have been misconstrued.

    “When I asked for a status report from all the ministries, many people misunderstood it or assumed that the purpose of calling for that information is because I want to probe; I never said that I was going to probe anybody.

    “The business of governance involves probing if need be; so I needed that information because there is no official handover from anybody, and for me to start the work, I need to know what is on the ground.”

     

    He said since there’s been no proper handover from the immediate past government, if during an investigation and for proper accountability there’s need to call on anyone for Questioning as it deems fit, the Government will not hesitate to do so, but he hasn’t made any pronouncement of probing anyone. He urges the media to get accurate facts and statements before publishing.

    “We will start and in the course of doing our business, if there are things that require investigation, we will subject them to an investigation. My business here is to govern the people, and in the process, if there is any need for any particular issue to be investigated or probed I will do that, but let nobody begin to speak for me because I have not said that yet.”

    On the state of infrastructure in the government house, he said the government will begin renovation as soon as possible to enable the business of governance kick start in earnest.

  • ‘I’m not against being probed’ — Okorocha replies Uzodinma

    ‘I’m not against being probed’ — Okorocha replies Uzodinma

    Ex-governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, on Thursday said he has no reservations to being probed.

    Okorocha was reacting to the order by Hope Uzodinma, his successor, that the financial status of the state from May 2010 be sent to him.

    Uzodinma, who gave the order on Wednesday while delivering his inaugural speech, gave the accountant-general of the state a four-day deadline to submit the report to him.

    He also ordered all the permanent secretaries of all the ministries in the state to forward to him the status of all the contracts awarded, while halting the payment for all ongoing contracts.

    The former governors who ruled the state within the time span are Ikedi Ohakim (2007-2011), Okorocha (2011-2019) and Emeka Ihedioha (May 2019-Jan 2020).

    “My government shall be anchored on reconstruction, rehabilitation and recovery. Every Imo person shall have a say in my government,” Uzodinma had said.

    “My doors are wide open. I forgive those who conspired to rob me of my hard-earned mandate. Let us work hard to make Imo the pride of Nigeria.

    “I hereby direct the Accountant General of the State to within four days forward to me the comprehensive financial status of the State from May 2010 till date.

    “I also direct the Permanent Secretaries of all the Ministries to within the same period forward the status of the contracts awarded within the time frame. Payment of all ongoing contracts is hereby stopped.”

    But Okorocha, in a tweet on Thursday, said he is okay with being probed.

    He added that however, what he does not agree with it is abuse of power.

    “Let me reiterate that I have nothing against being probed,” Okorocha said.

    “What I did not agree with was the attempt to misuse power to harass and intimidate me or any of my supporters.”

  • Uzodinma orders probe of Ex-govs Ohakim, Okorocha, Ihedioha

    Uzodinma orders probe of Ex-govs Ohakim, Okorocha, Ihedioha

    Senator Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who was on Tuesday declared Imo State governor-elect by the Supreme Court, took the oath of office during a simple ceremony at the Heroes Square in Owerri, the state capital.

    He arrived at the venue from Abuja with his wife, children and his running mate, Prof. Placidius Njoku, at 7.15 pm

    Four minutes after, he mounted the podium where Chief Judge Justice Paschal Nnadi, administered the oaths of office and allegiance on him.

    The apex court, in its judgment directed Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, who was declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, to vacate office immediately.

    In his maiden address, Uzodinma announced his intention to look into the accounts and contracts awarded from May 29, 2010 till date.

    The period covers the tenures of Chief Ikedi Ohakim, Senator Rochas Okorocha and the short-lived tenure of the immediate governor, Emeka Ihedioha

    Uzodinma directed the Accountant-General to forward to his office all financial transactions between May 29, 2010 till date within four working days.

    The governor also asked permanent secretaries to forward to his office, all contracts awarded and their statuses within the same period.

    Ohakim, who was the Accord Party candidate in the same election, served as governor between 2007 and 2011.

    Although Okorocha did not vie in the election, having served out his two tenures, he openly supported his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu,of the Action Alliance.

    Nwosu’s case was one of the Imo cases listed for hearing by the Supreme Court before he made a U-turn by withdrawing it a few hours before the judgment.

    Uzodinma has also directed the suspension of all payments and treasury transactions by financial institutions managing the state’s accounts.

    Before the new governor arrived from Abuja where he was issued Certificate of Return by INEC, he, through his Campaign Organisation, asked the financial institutions to place a lid on the accounts.

    Uzodinma said at the ceremony that he felt highly fulfilled that justice had at last been served,. He described his Supreme Court victory as divine.

    The governor commended the judiciary for standing up for the truth in spite of the technicalities employed by the lower courts to deny him victory.

    Uzodinma, who said he had forgiven those who conspired to deny him victory, promised to create an environment of prosperity in the state. He also urged his opponents to join him in rebuilding the state.

    The personalities present at the event included APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Rochas Okorocha and Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka.

    Mbaka, a Catholic priest and founder of the Adoration Ministry in Enugu, rightly predicted that Uzodinma would displace Ihedioha as governor.

  • Sowore: FG orders probe of DSS Abuja Court invasion

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, said the Federal Government has ordered a probe into the invasion of a Federal High Court last Friday by operatives of the Department of State Service.

    Malami spoke to reporters at the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, after visiting the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho. He also visited the President, National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benedict Kanyip.

    DSS operatives committed sacrilege by invading the court room, to re-arrest Sowore on Dec. 6.

    Fielding questions from reporters, he said he did not visit the Chief Judge over Sowore’s case but to congratulate him on his confirmation by the Senate as the substantive Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.

    Asked if he was not appalled by the DSS’ conduct, Malami said, “Whatever affects the integrity of the court is a worrisome issue for us.

    “I can never be preemptive of an incident over which I was not a live witness to.”

    “But one thing I am certain of is that the government has put in place mechanism for investigation of the reported incident.

    “So, I would not like to be preemptive in terms of a conclusion, one way or the other, without allowing the consummation and conclusion of the investigation process.”

    The minister also paid a courtesy visit to the President, National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benedict Kanyip, on his confirmation as substantive head of the court.

    Malami pledged the Federal Government’s support to Kanyip towards achieving his mandate.

    According to him, the Federal Government is committed to the independence of the judiciary and we are looking at the possibility of coming up with an Executive Order to strengthen the judiciary independence.

    Kanyip, who thanked the minister for the visit, said the major challenge facing the court was how to reduce the trial time because justice delay is justice denied.

    He assured the minister that the court would continue to live up to its expectation on labour and employers’ related matters.