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Tag: Public Funds

  • ICPC recovers N13bn diverted public funds in September

    ICPC recovers N13bn diverted public funds in September

    Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced the recovery of N13 billion diverted public funds in September.

    ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu, SAN, who made the announcement in his address of welcome at the launch of ICPC Strategic Action Plan 2024-2028 on Wednesday in Abuja, described the feat as a remarkable achievement.

    According to him, the impressive haul is a testament to the commission’s relentless efforts at combating corruption and ensuring accountability in Nigeria.

    ”Over the past years, the ICPC has made significant progress in discharging its mandate; for example, we recovered over N13 billion diverted public funds in September 2024 alone.

    ”This is just one of the many ways we have worked tirelessly to fulfill our mandate.

    ”We are also embarking on ICT reforms that will digitalise our operations and enable more efficient investigations, case management, and internal processes.

    ”This transformation will position the commission as a leader in leveraging technology to combat corruption, keeping us one step ahead of criminal activities in the digital age,” he said.

    Aliyu said that the commission was also developing a specialised curriculum aimed at enhancing the enforcement capacity of our personnel.

    ”This initiative equips our officers with the skills and expertise needed to address the complexities of corruption cases with the highest standards of professionalism and efficiency.

    ”We are decentralising the anti-corruption efforts by empowering state governments through the mobilisation of state attorneys-general.

    ”This approach ensures that state governments are equipped with the tools, knowledge, and resources necessary to effectively combat corruption at the local level,” he said.

    The ICPC chairman recalled that the commission successfully held a conference with state attorneys-general in September, adding that more than 30 state chief law officers attended.

    He said that in response to the findings from the Third National Corruption Survey, the commission had intensified efforts to broaden the reach of the anti-corruption campaign by actively engaging citizens, civil society and the media.

    ”A key part of this initiative is our upcoming EthicsPod digital community, designed to foster a culture of transparency and accountability across both public offices and everyday life nationwide.

    ”These efforts are part of a comprehensive strategy, forming the backbone of our Strategic Action Plan 2024-2028, which builds on our past achievements and charts a clear path for the future,” he said.

    “SAP, in line with our ‘CARE for Impact’ initiative (Culture, Accountability, Responsibility, and Efficiency), provided a comprehensive roadmap for achieving our goals over the next five years.

    ”It aligns with key national policies such as the Nigeria Agenda 2050, the National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2022-2026, and the National Ethics and Integrity Policy, among others.

    ”As part of this strategy, we will continue to strengthen our institutional integrity and deepen collaborations with other stakeholders,” he said.

    The ICPC boss stressed the need to intensify efforts on prevention of corruption and corrupt practices.

    ”As we know, prevention is better than cure, and the ICPC has intensified efforts to identify institutional and administrative vulnerabilities through System Studies and Corruption Risk Assessments.

    ”We have also continued to engage with the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTUs) in ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), reinforcing our grassroots monitoring mechanisms.

    ”As we look ahead, the success of this strategic plan will rely heavily on synergy, collaboration, and strategic partnerships, and I want to reaffirm the ICPC’s commitment to a multi-agency approach in tackling corruption,” he said.

    According to him, the journey required collective sacrifice, discipline, and integrity from all stakeholders.

    “Together, we can institutionalise integrity in our systems and mobilise our citizenry to embrace the anti-corruption war,” Aliyu said.

  • I didn’t acquire my latest property in US with public funds – Keyamo

    I didn’t acquire my latest property in US with public funds – Keyamo

    The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has finally spoken about his latest acquisition in the United States of America, saying that he didn’t buy the house with public funds.

    Recall that  Keyamo was dragged on social media after he appeared before a building worth over $300,000 in the US.

    According to Keyamo, the house belongs to him but claims it was acquired with money he made from legal practice.

    Keyamo said on Twitter that he had decided to bait the horde of those he called sore losers at the last elections with a video of his vacation in “one of my properties abroad” as he did a light workout.

    Expectedly, he said they fell so terribly for the bait, saying they seem to view everyone from their depraved universe and assuming everyone will wallow in the same moral squalor as them.

    Continuing, the legal luminary added that, on March 6, 2019, he wrote to the relevant government agencies, informing them of the closure of his foreign account(s) and the repatriation of the funds to the country, “being some savings I had made as a private legal practitioner and a property investor over decades.”

    Keyamo said the foreign funds were lying in his accounts until he was appointed Minister in 2019.

    “In 2021, I again wrote to the relevant agencies (by letters dated January 22, 2021), informing them of the movement of those funds out of the country to purchase a property as a better investment decision, instead of the funds lying idly in the account whilst I am in public office,” he said.

    The Minister said he laughed when he saw the trending issues regarding “just one of my properties in the US.”

    He described as very laughable the fact that some think that he could not afford such a property after his 30 years of active, high-profile practice of law.

    He said some people seemed to underrate him because he had chosen to live a simple and modest life and not given to the ostentatious display of wealth.

    He said the building is “about the cheapest of my several properties.”

    Keyamo added that his flourishing and manned law chambers and his real estate investments are still far more financially profitable than serving Nigeria, saying, “ours is a labour of love to my country.”

    He boasted that “Some of us don’t need Government funds or patronage to get by.”

  • How Prof. Ojerinde used me to embezzle public funds – ex-JAMB director

    How Prof. Ojerinde used me to embezzle public funds – ex-JAMB director

    Mr. JImoh Olabisi, former Deputy Director, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), on Wednesday, alleged that Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, ex-JAMB Registrar, instructed him to open a bank account through which the Federal Government’s money was diverted.

    Olabisi, who stood as a witness of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), told Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court, Abuja.

    The ex-JAMB staff told the court during cross-examination by Ojerinde’s lawyer, Ibrahim Ishyaku, SAN, that he was in charge of opening accounts for the agency.

    He admitted opening an account in the name of JAMB/J.O. Olabisi in a commercial bank on the instruction of Ojerinde through which funds were moved out from government’s coffer.

    “The authority to open the account; the letter to the bank was jointly signed by Prof. Dibu Ojerinde and the then, Director of Finance and Account (DFA), Mallam Umar Yakubu, with specific mandate that I should be the operator of that account.

    “I explained in one of my appearances here that the account was opened following an agreement between the defendant (Ojerinde) and myself as a way of deviating from what we were using in NECO (National Examinations Council) to divert public funds.

    “So the defendant subsequently discussed the issue with the DFA, hence the letter,” he revealed.

    Olabisi also told the court that the account was opened without approval from the then Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr Jonah Otunla.

    “The defendant knew the essence of such an account and there was no official statement from the Office of the Accountant General for the opening of that account.

    “However, the registrar convinced the then DFA, he told him that he had gotten approval of the Accountant-General of Federation, Mr J. Otunla, who happens to come from the same zone with the defendant,” he said.

    When Ishyaku asked the witness if there was any request preceding the opening of the account, he said: “He (Ojerinde) directed the then DFA to write the letter to the bank for him to sign.”

    He said though he was not there when Ojerinde instructed Mallam Yakubu, he said the DFA told him that he wrote the letter on the ex-registrar’s directive.

    He further said though the account name was JAMB/J.O. Olabisi, it was a public account.

    He, however, said that though it was a public account, the approval of the account-general of the federation was a prerequisite before a bank could open such account.

    Olabisi also disclosed that Ojerinde owned a microfinance bank, Osanta Micro Finance Bank Ltd, while serving in government.

    According to him, Ojerinde had over 80 per cent of the shares.

    He also admitted being a director In the bank.

    “Yes, I was a director and I was put there to ease the movement of government money to the bank.

    “The defendant is the Chairman and Board of Directors of the bank,” he said.

    The witness, who stated that Ojerinde’s companies were not registered with government funds, said the ex-JAMB registrar used his position to award contracts to his private companies through the Zenith Bank account number: 1012411301 of JAMB.

    Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter until Thursday for trial continuation after ICPC lawyer, Ebenezer Shogunle, prayed for an adjournment.

    The ICPC had, on July 8, 2021, arraigned the former JAMB registrar on an 18-count charge bordering on diversion of public funds to the tune of N5 billion.

    He was said to have committed the offence during his tenure as registrar of NECO and JAMB.

    Ojerinde, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges and was later admitted to bail in the sum of N200 million.

    NAN reports that Ojerinde was also a registrar of NECO before his appointment as JAMB boss following his expiration of tenure.

  • ICPC raises alarm over diversion of public funds

    ICPC raises alarm over diversion of public funds

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) raised the alarm on Thursday in Abuja about the diversion of public funds.

    ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasannoye, raised the alarm at a two-day capacity-building workshop for members of the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption.

    He frowned at the diversion of public funds, both in revenue receipts and expenditure, while condemning illicit financial flow, misapplication of funds and budget padding.

    He said it was time corruption was confronted headlong, adding that Nigerians were yet to recognise the death knell that corruption meant.

    He warned that if citizens did not deal with the ethical issues of corruption, it would further impact negatively on the country.

    Owasannoye noted that Nigerian was never in short supply of anti-corruption legislation but in short supply of integrity.

    He noted also that this had been worsened by high level hypocrisy.

    According to him, the CBN, the Bureau of Public Procurement and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, are all anti-corruption gate keepers.

    He stated that most regulatory agencies also played anti-corruption roles.

    Owasannoye observed that corruption accentuated political patronage and encouraged sabotage of governance, stressing that funds appropriated on paper, were never used for the purpose for which they were meant.

    In his remarks, Rep. Shehu Garba, Chairman of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption, noted that the challenge and the fight against corruption had remained a topical issue.

    He said that the ills of corruption had been well documented, adding that Nigerians did not need to be reminded of the consequences.

    Garba added that corruption denied citizens a promising future and development, adding that it was heart-warming when the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration made the fight against corruption one of its tasks.

    He said that the fight against corruption remained multi-dimensional; involving all institutions, adding that there would be no success without collaboration.

    The lawmaker added that information sharing and capacity building workshops were crucial in the fight against corruption.

    In his contribution, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, Director-General, National Institute for Legislative Studies commended the National Assembly for the continuous building of staff capacity.

    This, he said, had reflected in the 9th assembly, especially in the way it took the issue of the fight against corruption seriously.

    He added that the workshop was important as the current Federal Government administration winds down.

    Suleiman stressed that corruption also fuelled instability and conflicts.

    He noted that there had been allegations of non-payment of allowances of security operatives, which according to him, undermines the fight against insecurity.

    “Corruption undermines security and human capacity development,’’ he stressed.

    Marija Peran, the Resident Representative, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, a German political foundation, decried the complex security challenges and corruption in the security sector.

    She said that corruption in the security sector had a detrimental impact, both on security apparatuses and on wider peace and security.

    Peran said the German foundation’s core mandate was to strengthen good democratic governance and the rule of law, adding that the fight against corruption was an integral part of its mandate.

  • Uzodinma to Imolites: Expose me if I ever steal public funds

    Uzodinma to Imolites: Expose me if I ever steal public funds

    Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, on Saturday challenged any Imolite to expose him if he had stolen any public money since he assumed office as governor in the state.

    Addressing a mammoth crowd at Imo stakeholders meeting in Owerri to assess the progress of his administration in the last one year, Uzodinma said that he was ready to subject himself to public probity to show that he has not spent any public money since the past one year.

    “As I recover Imo properties converted to personal ownership by those who have political power, back to Imo people, the same awaits me when I leave office. This is why I want to reiterate before you that I did not become governor to become richer than the state after my tenure, but to serve you in truth and with fear of God. This being so, I will leave no stone unturned in my efforts to recover all Imo people’s stolen wealth.”

    “Among the recovered was the former Eastern Palm University now K. O. Mbadiwe University.

    “You will also recall that insecurity was heightened in the state immediately when we opened the White Paper reports on lands.”

    He disclosed also that his administration has spent over N6 billion on youth empowerment to ensure that youths do not take to crime.

    Uzodimma who disclosed that over 46 roads had been constructed with several roundabouts, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his immeasurable support to restore peace in Imo State and all the security agencies for their sacrifices to ensure a secured Imo.

    In their reactions, Iwuanyanwu, Ohakim, Prof Iwu, Mike Okiro, Senator Osita Izunaso, Frank Mbata, former Imo Speaker, Acho Ihim commended the governor’s courage in tackling issues of security and infrastructural development.

    The lawmakers led by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Paul Emeziem and other lawmakers present passed a vote of confidence on the governor.

    The Chairman of traditional rulers, Eze Emmanuel Okeke, also commended the governor saying that the governor has made the traditional rulers in the state proud and pledged royal support for the governor.

    Among the personalities that attended the event include: former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim; former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro; PG, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Prof. George Obiozor; Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; former INEC Chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu; Chika Okafor, Jerry Chukwueke and Senator Frank Ibezim.

  • How 32 entities stole N1.3trn public funds under Jonathan’s government – Magu

    How 32 entities stole N1.3trn public funds under Jonathan’s government – Magu

    Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu has said a whooping sume of N1.3 trillion public funds were stolen by 32 entities (human and corporate) between 2011 and 2015.

    Recall that former President Goodluck Jonathan held sway as the president from 2011 – 2015.

    Magu made the revelation Monday in his keynote remarks at the opening of the 2019 First Batch Conversion Training Programme to Procurement Cadre for Federal Parastatal and Agencies.

    The event was organised by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) in Lagos.

    The EFCC chair, whose paper was delivered by the Commission’s Secretary, Ola Olukoyede, decried the impact of the huge financial loss on the country.

    He said: “One third of this money, using World Bank rates and cost, could have comfortably been used to construct well over 500km of roads; build close to 200 schools; educate about 4000 children from primary to tertiary levels at N25 million per child; build 20,000 units of two-bedroom houses across the country and do even more.

    “The cost of this grand theft, therefore, is that these roads, schools and houses will never be built and these children will never have access to quality education because a few rapacious individuals had cornered for themselves what would have helped secure the lives of the future generations, thereby depriving them of quality education and healthcare, among others.”

    He identified the poor state of procurement process as one of the major reasons corruption continued to thrive in government agencies and parastatals.

    Magus listed some of the fraudulent practices in procurement process in Nigeria to include: kickbacks, conflict of interests, fraud in the bidding process, bid suppression, collusive bidding, bid rotation and market division.

    Others, according to him are: co-mingling of contracts, change order abuse, cost mischarging, defective pricing, false statement and claim, phantom vendors, product substitution, unnecessary purchases and purchases for personal use or resale.

    The EFCC chair noted that the training was aimed at giving the participants the tools, knowledge and understanding they would need to carry out their duties in their respective places of primary assignments in an efficient and transparent manner.

    “I sincerely hope that at the end of this training, we will see a few cases of financial propriety in our procurement processes in government agencies and parastatal. Indeed, corruption could kill Nigeria, if we do not scale up our proficiency in contract and procurement management process,” Magu said.

    Giving insights into what necessitated the establishment of the EFCC in 2003, he said: “The establishment of the EFCC in 2003 was because of the determination of the Federal Government to combat fraudulent activities of some Nigerians and foreigners, mismanagement in the economic sector, corruption by public officials and lack of accountability and transparency in government dealings.”

    Magu expressed confidence that Nigeria still has patriotic and credible individuals who would do all within their abilities to uphold the credibility and honesty required for leadership in public offices.

  • 2019: I wont divert public funds to run APC campaigns, Buhari assures Nigerians

    2019: I wont divert public funds to run APC campaigns, Buhari assures Nigerians

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday reiterated his commitment to the elimination of corruption in campaign financing, saying he will not authorise the use of funds from the public treasury for his re-election campaign.

    Buhari spoke after of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

    The President directed Council members to take advantage of technology to reach out to voters on the need to return the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration in the forthcoming general elections.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said: “As political parties spread their ideologies and views to every nook and cranny of the country, the issue of cash payment to voters and its corrupting influence in electioneering has once again become a topical issue.

    “Try and use text and multi-media messages to seek votes for the party and government. There is no money from the treasury for use in the campaigns. I will not authorise that,” he said.

    President Buhari declared that the APC-led administration has a clear development agenda best suited to take Nigeria forward and sustain economic development.

    He was quoted as saying: “This message needs to be taken to all Nigerians but we cannot use money from the treasury to share out to prospective voters.

    “Nigerians want change and we alone can deliver that change. Our people can no longer be swayed by money politics.”

    The President also used the occasion, which was a valedictory session for the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Hajiya Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, to wish her success in her electoral contest.

    The minister had signified her desire to leave the cabinet, in line with existing regulations, to run for a legislative seat in her native Yobe State.

     

  • Kenyan investigators summon 40 people over ‘massive theft of public funds’

    Kenyan investigators summon 40 people over ‘massive theft of public funds’

    Kenyan investigators have summoned 40 people for questioning after a
    “massive theft of public funds” at the country’s National Youth Service (NYS), the head of the directorate
    of criminal investigations has said.

     

    Domestic media reports said 10 billion shillings (100 million dollars) had been stolen through fictitious
    invoices, and multiple payments on one supplier invoice, at the NYS.

    The reports have dismayed many Kenyans, particularly as it follows another scam at the agency, which is supposed
    to equip the young with key skills and help create jobs, back in 2015.

    George Kinoti, the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), told Reuters his organisation had summoned
    government officials and business people who had been paid by the agency for supplying various goods and
    services, calling the issue a “scam” and a “fraud”.

    “It is massive theft of public funds,” he said, without giving an exact figure for the lost funds.

    “Our aim is to have anybody who is involved in theft of public funds to answer and if possible to return
    what they have stolen from the public.”

    The head of the NYS, Richard Ndubai, and a top official at the ministry of public service, youth and gender
    services, Lillian Mbogo-Omollo, stepped aside from their jobs temporarily on Friday to give space to
    investigators, the presidency said.

    The investigation by the DCI was expected to be concluded soon.

    “Within three, four, five days, you will see us in court,” Kinoti said.

    Ndubai and Mbogo-Omollo were not immediately available for comment.

    In spite of pledges when he was first elected in 2013 to crack down on corruption, critics say President Uhuru Kenyatta
    has been slow to pursue top officials, adding that only big-name convictions will break what they call a
    culture of impunity.

    Kenyatta has blamed lethargy on the part of some government agencies tasked with fighting corruption for the
    slow progress.

    There have not been any significant convictions of the people involved in the theft of funds at the NYS in
    2015 in spite of several prosecutions taking place in court.

  • Nigerian youths should question leaders on what they are doing with public funds – Amaechi

    …says youths now openly celebrate corrupt officials

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, says Nigeria youth are copying the wrong model of leadership, an act, he notes, may jeopardise their future.

    Mr. Amaechi made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the Future Awards Africa held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos last Saturday.

    He said the youth were not ready yet to embrace a corrupt-free society because they were wrongly orientated by those who were using them for their interest.

    “The problem with Nigerian youths is that they just want to take over from the elite but they are not ready to embrace change, they don’t want reform.

    “They say that the roles being played by the elite are not satisfactory, but they must be ready to upset the leaders of this country through their ingenuity.

    “For example, during our days of activism, we engage government over unfavourable policies and we get headlong even during the military administration.

    “Now, student union presidents want a vehicle and a driver to be driving him about to attend meetings; during our time, who dares have a car, we all struggle on the street, Mr. Amaechi told NAN.

    He advised youth to rise up to the fight against corruption instead of a tacit support to those that they feel are their benefactor.

    “I will advise the youth to fight against corruption with all their energy instead of giving tacit support to those they think are their benefactors.

    “During our time in the student union struggles, we rose against impunity and organised protests; but what happens today, the government of the day announces the money siphoned but the youth keep quiet.

    “Such astronomic stolen amount government announced wouldn’t have happened during our time, all the street would have been filled with youths protesting and seeing that the culprits were punished.

    “Today, we have some of our youths dancing behind the corrupt politicians for a pot of meal that will not last long thereby mortgaging their future,’’ he said.

    Mr. Amaechi said Nigerian youth should stand up to the reality of life by asking questions from leaders on how they manage the economy and the Commonwealth of Nigeria.

    “Nigerian youths should start asking questions from leaders, including me about what we are doing with our resources. It’s time to reject those that put us in this.

    “We should all desist from pulling our country down through corruption. But unfortunately, the youth are not interested in that, all what they want is how to look good.

    “Maybe they looked at me wearing designer shoes, what they will notice is that designer and how they can get it. That is not supposed to be.

    “During my time as a student union leader, I had only two pairs of clothes. But now the value system is wrong and the youth are copying wrong leadership model,’’ he said.

    (NAN)

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

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

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

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

    Mr. Obiang denied the charges.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

     

    Reuters/NAN