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Tag: Probe

  • Soldiers’ Killings: Reps to probe Service Chiefs utilization of $1bn, other funds

    From Jonas Ezieke Abuja

    The House of Representatives has resolved to set up an Ad-hoc Committee to probe the utilization of $1bn approved for the Federal Government to fight insurgency in the North-East region of the country by Service Chiefs saying that someone must be held accountable for the recent killing of 118 soldiers at Army base Metele in Borno State.

    The House further said that the Army authorities must after due consultations immediately release the names of the fallen soldiers who were attacked an killed in the onslaught by Boko Haram insurgents.

    These resolutions were taken after a motion on the killing of 118 soldiers by Boko Haram insurgents sponsored by Hon. Chukwuka Onyema (Anambra,PDP) on the floor of the House.

    Debating the motion, Onyema noted that there was a recent attack on Army base in Borno State leading to the killing of 118 soldiers and a commanding officer some Boko Haram insurgents.

    He further hinted that no less than 600 soldiers had lost the lives in various insurgency attacks on military bases and formations in the North Eastern part of the country

    The lawmaker that there were countless number of attacks on military officers and men by insurgents which in some cases had resulted in fatalities.

    He condemned the studied silence of President Muhammad Buhari and the Army authorities kept over the unwarranted assault on the soldiers saying that they were not pardonable.

    While calling for investigation into the matter especially utilization of funds on personnel emoluments and procurement of equipments by the Service Chiefs he further informed the House that the Senate had adjourned plenary for a week over the sad incident.

    Speaking in support of the motion. Hon. Aminu Shagari said the foremost responsiblity of a governnent is security of lives of its citizens.

    While decrying the security situation in most northern states he added that present federal government of Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari had failed to secure the citizens adding he is that he expecting nothing less than total decimation of the insurgents.

    Also in their individual contributions Hon. Nnenna Ukeje (Abia, PDP), Hon. Sani Abdu (Bauchi, PDP) and Hon. Gabriel Onyewife (Anambra, APGA) said that the the country cannot afford to be loosing its able bodied citizens for insurgency.

    Onyewife had insisted that there would be any free and fair election in Nigeria in the next year’s general elections if the insurgents are still controlling some parts of the country and are hacking down soldiers and civil populace in such huge numbers.

    Other lawmakers who also supported the motion notably Hon. EJ Agbonayinma (Edo, APC), Hon Beni Lar (Plateau, PDP) and Aminu Jaji (Zamfara, APC) also said that the utilization of appropriated funds by the security agencies should be called to question.

    Consequently, the Speaker Hon. Yakubu Dogara put the motion to a voice vote and the matter was overwhelmingly voted for.

    Dogara said that it is disheartening that the insurgency had persisted adding that it is more worrisome because he comes from North-East.

    He added that that the House Ad-hoc Committee asked to probe the matter should raise some fundamental questions with a view to finding solution to the challenge.

    He said that Nigeria that that is endowed with vast resources ought to ‘ve defeated insurgency long ago as other African countries as Chad, Niger and Cameron.


  • Bribery video: Kano Assembly ‘not equipped’ to probe Ganduje – Sagay

    The Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), says the Kano State House of Assembly is not equipped to investigate Governor Abdullahi Ganduje who was allegedly caught on camera collecting bribes from contractors.

    A video had gone viral on the Internet purportedly showing Ganduje collecting dollars as kickbacks from contractors, a development which prompted an investigation by the state assembly which invited the governor to testify.

    However, a Kano State High Court ruled on Monday that the Assembly should stop the probe immediately.

    Speaking with our correspondent during an interview on Tuesday, Sagay said that an investigation of such a video would require forensic analysis which the legislative arm of government was not competent to carry out.

    He said, “The fact that somebody on social media which is full of lies and hate attacks against people says so does not prove that such has happened.

    “Personally I would like to see the contractor come out and say ‘yes I am the one and I gave him so and so amount’. I would like to see that but that has not yet happened. In any case, when it comes to the investigation of the governor, I think we have institutions that have been established for that. We have the EFCC particularly for that.

    “I don’t really understand what role the House of Assembly wanted to place on itself. It is not equipped to do investigations of the sort because it could be forensic. So, in other words, there is still a cloud over the whole thing and I am not ready to jump to any conclusion until I am confident that some wrong has been done.”

    When asked if the legislative arm of government could not investigate the governor as part of its oversight functions, Sagay said the job of the Assembly was to carry out oversight functions and not to investigate state executives.

    The senior advocate said, “Oversight functions don’t include that sort of thing. Oversight functions only involve monies that have been approved in their budget and then oversight is done on how such monies that were approved which have gone through the budget system are being expended.

    “That is where their oversight functions are limited to. This allegation is about somebody from outside giving the governor some money. It is not part of the House of Assembly’s responsibilities.”

    When asked if the failure to probe Ganduje would not portray the anti-graft war of the current government as selective in the light of the fact that Ayodele Fayose was probed despite having immunity, Sagay said both scenarios were different.

    The PACAC chairman said, “When there are clear cases it is easy to act. In the case of Fayose, Musiliu Obanikoro confessed that he ferried billions of naira to him through a private jet and everything was well recorded. Everything was very clear. The man who brought the money was very clear.

    “The money was paid into bank accounts that were established. So, it is not the same thing. This one seems to me to be very vague and cloudy and I have yet to be satisfied that it is not a political conspiracy of some sort by the enemies of the governor. So, we need to see something more concrete.”

  • Reject suit seeking to probe me for corruption, Oshiomhole tells court

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to strike out a suit seeking an order compelling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate allegations of corruption against him.
     
    Justice Anwuli Chikere, on Tuesday, fixed November 19 for the hearing of the notice of preliminary objection filed by Oshiomhole, a former Governor of Edo State.
     
    The plaintiff, Bishop Osadolor Ochei, had, on October 28, 2016, petitioned the EFCC asking the commission to investigate some corruption allegations against Oshiomhole as governor of Edo State.
     
    Dissatisfied with EFCC’s alleged refusal to look into the case, Ochei filed the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/628/2018 before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order of mandamus to compel the EFCC to arrest and commence criminal proceedings against Oshiomhole over alleged financial fraud while he was governor of Edo State.
     
    The plaintiff attached to his suit 86 exhibits.
     
    His lawyer, West Idahosa, had told the court that there were documents and electronic pictures of palatial houses credited to the former governor, whose earnings throughout his lifetime, according to the plaintiff, could not have been able to afford.
     
    Idahosa added, among other allegations, that there was evidence of diversion of Edo State funds by Oshiomhole.
     
    He said there were also vouchers of exorbitant air fares that the former governor allegedly incurred. But Oshiomhole, via a notice of preliminary objection filed before the court through his lawyer, Damien Dodo (SAN), contended that the plaintiff lacked the locus standi to institute the legal action.
     
    He also specifically asked the court to strike out the plaintiff’s first prayer for being premature and incompetent.
     
    In the notice of preliminary objection hinged on 10 grounds, the former governor contended that the applicant, having failed to file the suit for judicial review within three months of occurrence of the subject of the suit, the suit had become academic.
     
    He added that the action or inaction of the EFCC being subjected to review by the proceedings occurred on December 13, 2016, while the plaintiff only instituted the action for judicial review on June 13, 2018.
     
    He noted that this came about 18 months after the occurrence of the alleged failure being complained about.
     
    Arguing that the plaintiff’s right of action had become unenforceable, Oshiomhole said the plaintiff had not disclosed that he had legal right to file and maintain the action for judicial review, “having not shown how the actions of the second respondent/applicant affected him over and above other residents and indigenes of Edo State.”
     
    He further argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit for failure of the plaintiff to commence the action within the time provided by extant rules of the court and for failure to disclose locus standi to file the action.
     
    The presiding judge, Justice Chikere, had, on October 8, 2018, granted leave, as required by law, to the plaintiff to commence the suit of “judicial review”.
     
    The judge had granted the leave following the ex parte application moved on behalf of the plaintiff by his lawyer, West Idahosa.
     
    Granting the application, the judge ordered that Oshiomhole and the EFCC be served with all the processes filed in the suit.
     
    She also ordered that the EFCC be served with the same court process, stressing that the service be done within five days from October 9, 2018 when the order was made.
     
    Although EFCC was not represented by any lawyer during the Tuesday’s proceedings, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Idahosa, said the anti-graft commission was duly served.
     
    Justice Chikere on Tuesday adjourned the matter till November 19 for hearing of the preliminary objection.

  • Alleged N2.1bn fraud: Direct your probe at Jonathan, Dasuki – Dokpesi tells EFCC

    Alleged N2.1bn fraud: Direct your probe at Jonathan, Dasuki – Dokpesi tells EFCC

    …Queries EFCC’s failure to question ex-President
    …Court to rule Nov 12
    Businessman, Raymond Dokpesi has faulted the money laundering charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
    Dokpesi queried the exclusion of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan from EFCC’s probe of the allegation that he (Dokpesi) and his firm, Daar Investment and Holdings Company Limited were involved in the laundering of N2.1billion.
    The businessman, who is being tried with his firm, before the Federal High Court, Abuja also wondered why they were being prosecuted instead of the ex-National Security Adviser (NSA), Mohammed Dasuki, who is alleged to have laundered the money.
    Dokpesi’s argument is contained in a no-case submission adopted on Friday by his lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN).
    The case against Dokpesi and his firm, includes that they allegedly received N2.1b from the office of the National Security Adviser, under Sambo Dasuki, as payment for a “purported contract on presidential media initiative”.
    They are also accused of receiving the N2.1b from ONSA to prosecute the 2015 presidential media campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
    Adopting the no-case submission on Friday, Agabi, an ex-Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), argued that the prosecution’s case against his clients and evidence led so far are replete with contradictions and inconsistencies.
    Agabi argued that the prosecution failed to call vital witnesses such as Dasuki or former President Goodluck Jonathan whom he said his Dokpesi implicated in his statement.
    The ex-AGF said, “The money was paid by Col. Dasuki. His name is mentioned in the four counts of money laundering as the one who made the payment.
    “Therefore he is the one alleged to be laundering the funds. The money in counts one to four is not being laundered by the defendant. The launderer is Col. Dasuki.
    “So, if the launderer is Col. Dasuki, are we going to convict him behind him? We cannot convict him behind him.
    “Why is he not charged? His name is mentioned again and again in the charges.
    “Even if they are not going to charge him, they should have called him as a witness because it is his action that is in question here,” Agabi said
    ‎He equally noted that despite that Dokpesi implicated former President Jonathan, the anti-graft agency failed to interview him or call him as a witness.
    He said, “The 1st defendant (Dokpesi) in his statement implicated the former President. Witnesses testified that they did not interview the former President
    “The rules of the court is that once the statement of the defendant (Dokpesi’s statement) is tendered by the prosecution it becomes the case of the prosecution,” Agabi said.
    He argued that the prosecution failed to disclose ingredients of money laundering in count one to four.
    He contended that, for a transaction to constitute a money laundering offence, the money involved must be proceeds of crime.
    Agabi noted that, in the instant case, the money in the ONSA’s account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, from which his clients were paid, could not have been proceeds of crime.
    He argued that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against his clients to warrant their being called upon to enter defence.
    He argued that the charges were defective as they allegedly failed to disclose the ingredients of money laundering against his clients and were “riddled with inconsistencies from the head to the toes.”
    Agabi urged the court to dismiss the charge and discharge and acquit his clients.
    Responding, prosecuting lawyer, Oluwaleke Atolagbe urged the court to dismiss the no-case submission and order the defendants to enter their defence to the prosecution’s case.
    Atolagbe contended that the defendants’ submission, to the effect that Dokpesi should be held to account for any money laundering charge, was an admission that they committed the alleged crimes.
    He argued that all the ingredients of the alleged offences were proved by the prosecution and all the necessary witnesses needed to prove the case were called.
    Atolagbe said the defence’s line of argument involving Dasuki’s roles was an admission that they committed the alleged crimes.
    He said for instance, the former Director of Finance and Administration of ONSA, Salisu Shuaibu, was called as the second prosecution witness.
    He noted that even though the charges before the case were not against Dasuki, the allegations of breach of trust, misappropriation and corruption leveled against the former NSA had been proved with the various witnesses called in the case.
    ‎Atolagbe added: “They said prosecution must prove breach of trust against Col. Dasuki. Even if that must be an element of the offence of money laundering, the evidence is enough to prove it
    “PW2 (Shuaibu) gave a very elaborate evidence of how he was instructed to just make payments without contract or any relationship.
    “Dasuki is not standing trial here. We don’t need to prove charge against Col. Dasuki here. He is being tried in another court. Even if that is what is required, we have proven it.
    “This is also an admission on their part that there is money laundering, so they should enter their defence.”
    Atolagbe faulted Agabi’s claim that the prosecution’s evidence was riddled with contradictions and inconsistencies in the charges.
    He said: “That cannot also stand, because money obtained in violation of Public Procurement Act, as admitted by the defendant, certainly cannot be legitimate.”
    Atolagbe asked the court “to direct the defendants to enter their defence” or enable them call witnesses, such as Dasuki and Jonathan, that they argued the prosecution failed to call.
    Trial judge, Justice John Tsoho adjourned to November 12 for ruling.

  • Fayemi describes Fayose’s administration an 'error', vows to probe ex-gov

    Fayemi describes Fayose’s administration an 'error', vows to probe ex-gov

    …names SSG, CoS, CPS
     
    The Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress, has said the arrival of his government marks the end of the past administration which he described as an “error”.
     
    The state Chief Judge, Ayodeji Daramola, administered the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office on Fayemi at about 12:20 pm. Fayemi’s deputy, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, had earlier taken his oath at about 12:07 pm.
     
    The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Fayemi as the winner of the July 14 governorship election.
     
    The results indicated that Fayemi polled 197,459 votes while his closest rival and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, got 178,121 votes.
     
    Fayemi noted that his government would review the financial status of the state with a rising debt, which he put at N170bn under the PDP-led government of Governor Ayodele Fayose.
     
    Fayose had repeatedly denied borrowing money claiming the state’s debt was incurred by the previous government of Fayemi during his first term.
     
    The governor said, “As much as today marks the beginning of a new phase in our history as a people, it also signals the end of an era, or more appropriately, the end of an error. Without a doubt, Ekiti has been through a terrible wilderness experience within the last four years,” he said.
     
    “Our reputation as a people has been soiled and we have become the pot of jokes due to the ineptitude, loquacious ignorance and ravenous corruption masquerading as governance in our state during the last administration.
     
    “As we assume office, it is our duty, and we will live up to it, to ensure we thoroughly review, document, and widely disseminate the present state of affairs so that all and sundry can know what has become of our commonwealth.
     
    “Independently verifiable preliminary findings indicate that we have been plunged into a debt abyss of over N170bn, with commitments to innumerable white elephants, an average of eight months’ salaries owed across government entities, and many state assets unaccounted for.”
     
    “We will ensure that within 100 days from today, Ekiti Kete will know the true position of things, in keeping with our ethos of transparency and accountability in governance. We are not interested in trials by media, witch hunt or playing to the gallery. We will seek out the truth and lay it before our people.”
     
    The former Minister stated that Ekiti under him won’t degenerate to the level of allowing schoolchildren to pay various taxes in their quests to receive a formal education.
     
    He promised that his government would reinstate the N5,000 social security to the elderly and make tremendous positive impacts in the areas of agriculture, social investment and economy.
     
    “In the last four years, Ekiti was governed by a rudderless, inept and egregiously corrupt government, which was led by those who deceived our people through the instrument of stomach infrastructure.
     
    “In this context, never again will Ekiti slip into the hands of those who knew nothing about governance, never again shall we allow our schoolchildren to pay taxes, never again shall we abandon the burgeoning resources at Ikogosi Warm Spring to waste, never again shall we allow our judiciary to be debased by draconian government and never again shall the most educated State like Ekiti be the apostle of stomach infrastructure that has made us a laughing stock .
     
    “In our quests for economic rejuvenation, our government shall invest heavily in youths in commercial agriculture, because Ekiti is basically agrarian, reactivate community-based projects, tap into our tourist potential and ensure the security of local and foreign investors.
     
    “As of today, the debt profile and other financial commitment hanging on the state look challenging, but with your support, we shall overcome. The light shall shine again. We shall celebrate our core values of scholarship, knowledge, hard work, unity and strong characters bequeathed to us by our founding fathers.
     
    “We appreciate our fathers who fought for the creation of this state in 1996 and I want to assure them that we shall keep the flag flying and make sure we don’t disappoint them by fulfilling their dreams and aspirations within the next four years.
     
    “We shall network with the Federal Government and other local and international bodies to bring dividends of democracy Ekiti people deserve to their doorsteps,” Fayemi assured.
     
    Speaking at the event, President Muhammadu Buhari expressed confidence that Fayemi would bring the desired change in the state.
     
    He said, “I know Dr Fayemi very well, he has always cherished anything that has to do with the development of this state. As Ekiti Governor between 2010 and 2014, he instituted some laudable projects that impacted positively on the lives of the people and this pavilion was one of them.
     
    “I know that he will do what is right to justify this mandate. I charge him not to relent in his efforts to serve Ekiti with passion, commitment and candour.”
     
    Buhari, who was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, revealed that Fayemi as a former member of the Federal Executive Council had persistently been disturbing him about the development of the state.
     
    He added that his administration would continue with its support to Ekiti.
     
    Buhari said, “The Federal Government has given support to states in the areas of bailouts, budget support, ecological funds and Paris Club Refund, of which Ekiti was a beneficiary.
     
    “We have extended the standard rail project to Ekiti and the construction of the Federal Secretariat will soon be completed. The Federal Government is also planning to dualise Ado-Akure Road and reconstruct Ado-Ikare Road for the use of our people. We have also built another 133kva power source in Ekiti that will be opened soon.
     
    “As of today, 11,000 Ekiti indigenes are benefiting from the N-power programme of this administration.
     
    “We are confident that Dr Fayemi will help cover the lost grounds brought by the past administration. From today, you will begin to have a new breath in Ekiti under the present government.”
     
    Meanwhile, the governor shortly after his swearing in ceremony announced his first set of appointments.
     
    In a statement released Tuesday evening, the governor named Mr Abiodun Oyebanji as Secretary to the State Government.
     
    The governor also appointed Mr Biodun Omoleye as the Chief of Staff and Mr Yinka Oyebode as Chief Press Secretary.
     
    Oyebanji, a former university lecturer, had previously served as Chief of Staff during the administration of Otunba Niyi Adebayo, and was Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning during Fayemi’s first term.
     
    Omoleye, a former university administrator and former Chairman of Ijero Local Government Area, had also served as Special Adviser in the Governor’s Office.
     
    Oyebode, a seasoned journalist, served as CPS to the governor in his first term.
     
    He later served as Special Adviser on Media to him when he was Minister of Mines and Steel Development.
     
    “The appointments are with immediate effect,” the statement said.
    Recall that Fayemi was sworn-in on Tuesday after the expiration of the former, Ayodele Fayose.

  • California man who sold stolen identities to be sentenced in Russia probe

    A California man who was accused by Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s office of operating an online auction service that trafficked in stolen identities will be sentenced on Wednesday in a federal district court.
     
    Richard Pinedo, who pleaded guilty to one count of identity fraud in February, could face between 12 to 18 months in prison and a fine of 5,500 to 55,000 dollars, according to U.S. sentencing guidelines.
     
    The indictment against the Russians makes no mention of Pinedo by name.
     
    However, a source familiar with the case told the Media he is referred in the charging documents as the person who helped the Russian conspirators launder money.
     
    He as well as purchase Facebook ads and pay for rally supplies, through PayPal Holdings Inc.
     
    The criminal charge against Pinedo was announced in February by Mueller’s office at the same time it unveiled an indictment against 13 Russians and three Russian companies.
     
    These accused were on charges that they adopted fake online personas to push divisive messages, traveled to the United States to collect intelligence and staged political rallies.
     
    Mueller’s investigation has issued several indictments and accepted guilty pleas as it investigates Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
     
    Pinedo’s attorney, Jeremy Lessem, has said his client had no knowledge of the identities or the motivations of those who purchased the information he sold.
     
    According to the indictment against the 13 Russians, the defendants in 2016 used Social Security numbers and birth dates of real U.S. people to open PayPal accounts .
     
    He created fake drivers licenses and open social media accounts.
     
    The United States does not have an extradition treaty with Russia.
     
    However, one of the Russian companies charged in the indictment – Concord Management and Consulting LLC – has hired American attorneys to fight the charges.

  • Ambode's allegation: PDP asks Buhari to probe Sanwo-Olu

    Ambode's allegation: PDP asks Buhari to probe Sanwo-Olu

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stated that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has validated its position that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a party of fraudsters and election riggers. The former ruling party was on Sunday reacting to a world press conference held by the embattled Lagos state governor.
    Ambode had while briefing newsmen stated that his opponent in the race, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was arrested for spending fake dollars in the United States of America.
    The governor further alleged that Sanwo-Olu was not mentally fit to be the flagbearer of the party in the 2019 elections.
    Reacting in a statement, the spokesperson of the PDP, Kola Ologbondinyan said that by “this, the whole world can see that the APC is nothing but a den of fraudsters and corrupt persons who not only cheated their way to power through lies and propaganda in 2015 but have also continued to bleed and defraud our nation with humongous sleazes and massive corruption in very high places.
    “That is why the APC will have no scruples to project persons of questionable character and those with allegations of corruption hanging on the necks as their National Chairman and governorship aspirants.
    “We challenge President Muhammadu Buhari to show his claimed integrity by ordering an open investigation into this huge allegation against his party’s governorship aspirant.”

  • EFCC commences probe of Saraki, Kwara gov, others over alleged misappropriation of N17b bond

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is probing Senate President Bukola Saraki, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State and the Accountant-General of the state over how a N17billion bond secured by the State Government was spent.

    The anti-graft agency suspects that part of the funds may have been diverted into private use.

    The bond was intended to cover 13 projects and loan refinancing package during the tenures of Saraki as governor and Ahmed,his successor.

    According to a report by The Nation, the investigation is digging into what has become of the N2billion Asa Dam Mixed Use Development Project and the Ilorin Water Distribution Project which has gulped N3.736billion but without water to drink by residents.

    The EFCC has already interrogated the Secretary to the State Government, two Permanent Secretaries, the Accountant-General of the state, and about three contractors.

    All those invited were said to have made “voluntary statements.”

    Two ex-commissioners and two members of the House of Representatives may be arrested by the anti-graft agency in connection with the affected projects.

    But a source in government in Kwara State claimed that EFCC is on a “wild goose chase because the bond has been fully repaid since 2014 without any outstanding liability for the people of Kwara State.

    “We suspect sheer politics and a plot to intimidate Saraki and Ahmed because 2019 polls are around the corner.”

    The fact-sheet sighted by our correspondent listed the affected projects as Aviation College –(N1.5b budgeted, N2.448, 663, 386.56b spent); Asa Dam Mixed Use Development Project (N2b); Kwara State University (N1b); Ilorin Water Distribution Project (N2b allocated, N3.736b spent); Shonga Irrigation Project (N2.9b allocated, N882.9 million paid to contractor); Kwara Advanced Diagnostic Centre( N750m allocated, N1.861b spent); Urban roads (N1.5b allocated but N1.609b spent); Rural and Feeder roads(N200m); Ilorin Metropolitan Street Lights Project(N250m); Kwara Vocational Centre (N650m); Loan refinancing (No evidence of payment of N2.4b to AFDB); Ilorin Township Stadium Project—N1b allocated but N1, 117 430, 700.54 spent; Electrification Project—N462, 144, 291.10; Kwara Mall Project—N500m allocated, $2m deposit in another account

    The fact-sheet said: “We are investigating a petition forwarded by the Code of Conduct Bureau, Abuja. It was alleged that the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and the incumbent Accountant-General of Kwara State allegedly conspired and misappropriated N17billion raised through bond in 2009.

    “Letters of invitation were sent to the Secretary to the State Government, the Accountant-General of the state as well as Permanent Secretaries for ministries that handled the projects.

    Some snippets of the investigation include the following:

    “Asa Dam Mixed Use Development project: The project had N2billion allocated from the bond. However the sum of N83.688 431.68 was spent on consultancy by ECAD Designs Limited and nothing else was done.

    “Ilorin Water Distribution Project was allocated N2, 000,000,000. However, N3, 736,505,126.49 was spent on the project. The only contractor for the project was C.G.C Nigeria Limited. An analysis of the Kwara state Government’s First Bank of Nigeria Plc account revealed that the sum of N1billion was paid to C.G.C apparently for the project. Investigation is still ongoing.

    “Another project which benefitted from the bond was Kwara State University with a N1billion vote. But a total of N1, 675 607.905 23 was spent. The project had the following contractors: Charvet Nigeria Limited, Akit technology Limited, Integrated Concept Limited, Golden Consult and the University Itself.

    “The project was handled by the Ministry of Works and the Commissioner as at the time was one Kolawole Abdulrauf Shitttu. Investigation revealed that Mr. Shittu and one Engr. Akintola Taiwo are both directors and the accounts signatories to a company called PTL Consult Limited. “Shittu is also a signatory to another company called Strudev Consultancy Services. Analysis of the companies’ accounts and the Mr. Shittu’s personal account revealed that transfers were made by Charvet Nigeria Limited and Archon Nigeria Limited; the two companies were among the contractors of the University Project.

    “The Managing Director at Archon was invited and he stated that he was the project manager for the construction of the Kwara State University and that he was informed by the State Government that PTL Consult is the consultant on the project and that he worked with Engr. Taiwo during the period which was why they made payments to PTL Consults’ account. Efforts are being made to arrest Mr. Shittu.”

    Concerning Kwara Mall, the fact-sheet claimed that the project was allocated N500million and the entire sum was utilized by the Ministry of Commerce.

    It added: “The Permanent Secretary was unable to provide us with details of how the money was spent but did state that they were in partnership with a private company; Persians Investments Limited and that the Kwara Mall was constructed and is being fully utilized. A search of the company showed that they were into real estate and property management; parts of their properties included Kwara Mall, Viva cinema, Polo Park Enugu among others. Analysis of the company bank statement showed N500million paid to the company by the Kwara State Government on the 10th of June 2010. While the investigation is ongoing, the sum of two million USD $2,000,000 deposit was traced to one of the company’s account. The depositor is being tracked by detectives and all relevant agencies.”

    Regarding the irrigation project, the EFCC detectives alleged that the “document recovered from the Accountant-General did not show this project but the Permanent Secretary stated that the project also known as Shonga Irrigation Project was handled by the Ministry and the contract was awarded to C.G.C Nigeria Limited for N2,998,966,827. However, only N882, 944,215 was paid to the company. He further stated that the project was later taken over by the Federal Government.

    On the International Aviation College, whose licence was suspended recently, the detectives in their report said it was allocated N1.5billion from the bond but N2,448.663.386.56 was spent in on the construction and purchase of equipment.

    “Contractors that handled the project were: Godab Nigeria Limited. Henry George Nigeria Limited, ECAD Design (Consultants) and the college itself. The College is alleged to be fully owned by the Kwara State Government and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) R C; 746511. Its board included the current State Governor, Ministry of Finance, Mr. Razak Atunwa (a former commissioner in the state) Popoola Captain Shadrack Taiwo and Yusuf Tunde. The registrar of the college was invited for an interview and questioned on the finances of the college as well as aspects in which the college handled during the construction of the college. He stated that the bursar of the school died recently but most contracts were handled by one Harlequin Aviation Information Service Limited (HAIS).

    “A search at the company found that one Yusuf Tunde is a Director as well as signatory to the accounts of the company: he is also a Board member of the Aviation College. Based on this the accounts of HAIS were placed on caution and the company’s representative is to report for an interview on the 30th of August 2018.

    The report clarified the status of loan refinancing by the state government.

    It said: “The prospectus of the bond stated that Kwara state had indebtedness of N4, 980,000 in external loans out of which N3.3billion amounted to legacy obligations preceding the then administration They proposed utilizing N2, 400,000,000 from the bond proceeds of the bond to service part of the legacy obligations which were (a) African Development Bank(AFDB)- construction of four specialist hospitals in Jebba, Offa, Oke-Ode and Sobi at a cost of N1,440, 828, 000; (b) AFDB-equipment procurements to the four specialist hospitals; ( C) World Bank Essential Drug Projects.

    “The total debt was N3, 301, 162, 42. Only Documents obtained from the Accountant-General of the State did not show any indication that monies were paid to AfDB or the World Bank instead another list with heading ‘OTHER PAYMENT’ showed the names of Government Agencies and private companies being paid a total of N974, 896,343.47.

    “The companies were invited. One of the companies, Lolada Investment Limited reported and stated that they were awarded a contract valued at N285, 652, 200 by the Kwara state Government to install CCTV system for Ilorin metropolitan.

  • October is too far, start probing me now, Fayose tells Fayemi

    October is too far, start probing me now, Fayose tells Fayemi

    Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State on Thursday challenged the governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi to begin probe of his government now instead of waiting till October 16 that he will be sworn in.

    The governor advised the governor-elect to seek legitimacy for his election first rather than embarking on a vendetta mission that would consume him.

    Fayose through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New‎ Media, Lere Olayinka, said this in his reaction to Fayemi’s threat.

    “It is obvious that he will be consumed in his vendetta mission and rather than grandstanding, Fayemi should first seek legitimacy for his stolen mandate,” he said.

    “He (Fayemi) should stop living in the world where threat of probe scares people because we in the government of Fayose are not afraid of victimisation and vendetta that Fayemi is obviously coming with.”

    Fayose described Fayemi as a beneficiary of a stolen mandate who is afraid to even come to the open to celebrate his false victory.

    “Even yesterday (Wednesday) when he went to collect the certificate of the mandate that was snatched and handed to him by the powers that be in Abuja, he had to be protected by police helicopter and hundreds of armed policemen. One wonders how he is going to rule the people they forced him on.”

    “If Fayemi is on vendetta mission, which is obvious that he is, he will first destroy himself because like Ekiti and its people survived him during his first tenure, the people will outlive him this time too.”

    Recall that the governor elect had on Thursday during a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari hinted during his interview with state house correspondents that he will probe what transpired in the Fayose administration when he is sworn in as governor on October 16.

     

  • Why I’ll probe Fayose, Eleka’s administration – Fayemi

    Why I’ll probe Fayose, Eleka’s administration – Fayemi

    Ekiti State Governor-elect, Kayode Fayemi has declared that he will probe the administration of the outgoing Governor Ayodele Fayose.

    Fielding questions from State House Correspondents after he was formally presented to President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, Fayemi who stated that there was need to remove this election from personalities, noted that the election that we fought on issues.

    “ It will be irresponsible on my part to come here and say that we will not examine what transpired in the last four years, what was received in Ekiti State and the expenditures in that period”

    He said his administration will want to know “ why we were we not able to pay salaries in the state, adding that “ these issues should be examined in the interest of good governance.

    “It is not about probing Fayose, probing Eleka etc, it is about not repeating the mistakes of the past and giving our people good government and how to do so will also involve looking at what transpired in the last four years.” he said

    Fayemi who disclosed that he has started the process of putting the government together, said transition committee has already began “to look into the record of the state, its assets and liabilities adding that he expect the outgoing government to extend its hands of cooperation to the committee

    “ We will engage also all of our professionals to ensure that we deliver good governance to Ekiti people. That is what they voted for and that is what we intend to give. So, basically, this three months will be used for this purpose”

    “What sold us to the people is really the track records of our commitments to social investment, good government, transparency in government, extensive infrastructure and community involvement. These were the things.

    “Everywhere we went during the campaign, we were able to show what we did for each community. All of our 132 communities were are projecting all of them and they knew that our government was regular in payment of salaries, support to a range of the weak and vulnerable in the society and that was really what sold us.

    Fayemi denied allegations of voted buying, challenging anyone with evidence to make such evidence public.

    “I haven’t any substantive evidence of allegations of vote buying and intimidation. In the place where l voted there was no vote buying anywhere.

    “As far as our party is concerned, we did not engage in that, it is not our style.

    He disclosed that his party the All Progressive Congress ( APC) won the election fair and square” adding that “it was an election that we fought on issues and not on the basis of any vote buying. So, whoever has any evidence of that should present it to an independently verifiable audience”

    Speaking on his program for the state, Fayemi declared that “ We always been interested that out people lived a decent life, a life without hunger, with social support and that is why we were paying social security benefits to the elderly, we provided the youth graduate scheme fir the recent graduates, provided support for the communities”

    “For us, we never saw stomach infrastructure from any pedestrian manner that the current administration has lived it up to. For us, it is about total development of our people, human capital development in education, health care, in social services and infrastructure development. It is the services we focused in.

    “We increased salaries three times so that people could put food on their table in four years. That was why we provided range of allowances fo4 the workers . There was a huge difference between what we did and the present administration with lack of salaries , heartless , despair and despondency. We are restoring the values and reclaiming our mandate.

    The chairman of the APC Ekiti election committee Governor Atiku Bagudu commended the party leaders, including President Muhamamdu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo , the National leaders, stakeholders and Ekiti people for the success of the eclectic not

    “We had a vey successful election, it was quite peaceful and Ekiti on the day the election results were declared, there was jubilation and we congratulate them. We thank INEC and the security despite the misconstrued reports, provided their best. I have seen many who said this is the most peaceful election we have had.”

    “Let people campaign on issues and here we have a candidate who was humble and despite what happened before, he was humble to say in 2014 that if that was the wishes of Ekiti people, I will not go to court. Ekiti people have once again delivered their wishes and anyone who loves Ekiti should respect their wishes “ he said