Corruption massive under Jonathan – US
April 21, 2013 by OLALEKAN ADETAYO, ALLWELL OKPI AND TEMITAYO FAMUTIMI 87 Comments



President Goodluck Jonathan
The United States government on Friday indicted the President Goodluck Jonathan led Federal Government of massive and widespread corruption.

According to the United States Department of State, government officials and agencies frequently engage in corrupt practices with impunity.

This was contained in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012, which was released on Friday evening.

In the report, the judiciary and security agencies, especially the police, were said be lacking in transparency.

It read in part,“The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption; however, the government did not implement the law effectively, and officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. Massive, widespread, and pervasive corruption affected all levels of government and the security forces. The constitution provides immunity from civil and criminal prosecution for the president, vice president, governors, and deputy governors while in office.

“There was a widespread perception judges were easily bribed and litigants could not rely on the courts to render impartial judgments. Citizens encountered long delays and alleged requests from judicial officials for bribes to expedite cases or obtain favourable rulings.

“Police corruption remained rampant. Reports of checkpoint bribery and shooting incidents decreased in February after newly appointed Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar announced the closure of all police checkpoints across the country; however, illegal checkpoints remained common in some regions. Police routinely stopped drivers who did not commit traffic infractions, refusing to allow them to continue until they paid bribes,” it stated.

Highlighting events that occurred in the country in last year that portrayed lack of transparency and probity, the US government listed the escape of the suspected mastermind of the Boko Haram 2011 Christmas Day bombing from custody, noting how the police commissioner, who aided the suspect went unpunished; the conviction of former Delta State governor James Ibori in the Southwark Crown Court in London of charges of money laundering and other financial crimes totaling N12.4bn, after he was acquitted by a Nigerian court; and the N1.067trn fuel subsidy fund lost to “endemic corruption and entrenched inefficiency” as examples.

It stated that, “In July, the government released a list of those who had benefited illegally from the subsidy program, which included relatives and colleagues of key government officials. In late July, the EFCC began arraigning suspects, first with a group of 20 indictments, including six oil companies and 11 individuals. By year’s end, the EFCC initiated prosecutions of approximately 50 cases related to the subsidy scam. The majority of these cases involved companies and individuals who had fraudulently received subsidy revenue. Investigations and trials had not produced any convictions by year’s end.”

The US document also faulted the refusal of public officials to declare their assets as stipulated by law.

It stated that in June 2012, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and other groups demanded that President Jonathan should disclose his assets from 2007 to 2012 but that Jonathan refused.

The report also rated the anticorruption efforts of the Independent Corrupt Practises and other related offences Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as “largely ineffectual,” adding that despite ICPC’s wide mandate, it had only achieved 60 convictions since its inauguration in 2000.

It also listed a number of cases being handled by the EFCC that have remained inconclusive, including the case of alleged misappropriation of one N1bn against former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, and N40bn against his deputy Usman Nafada; and the cases against four former governors Gbenga Daniel, Adebayo Alao-Akala, Aliyu Akwe Doma, and Muhammed Danjuma Goje, for allegedly misappropriating N58bn, N25bn, N18bn, and N12.8bn, respectively.

Apart from corruption, the US accused the Federal Government of numerous unlawful killings.

It decried frequent abduction of civilians and lack of press freedom, highlighting cases, where journalists were harassed and beaten up.

It also noted widespread discrimination against persons with disability.

The Presidency, however, described the report as an incorrect assessment of the situation in the country.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, warned Nigerians to be wary of such assessments which he described as “parachute researches.”

He said contrary to the picture the report painted, the present administration has remained the most transparent government since the return of democracy to Nigeria.

He said it was in the spirit of transparency that the present administration exposed the scam in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry and passed the Freedom of Information Bill.

He said, “In 2012 that the report is talking about, the EFCC alone got more than 200 convictions. This is in public domain.

“This government did an audit to eliminate waste and leakages in the system.

“On the checkpoints they talked about, it is important that they identify the difference between checkpoints and stop-and-search operation which is required especially in tackling security challenges.

“Nigerians should be wary of these external assessors that jump into conclusion. What are the parameters used in arriving at their conclusion? How scientific are the analysis?

“They assess Nigeria based on the instinct of a parachuter who jumps put of an aircraft without a fair knowledge of where he is landing.”




http://www.punchng.com/news/corruption-massive-under-jonathan-us/

I still maintain that the U.S government sendsthe U.S seals and counter terrorism unit C.T.U to Nigeria with a view assist the down-trodden Nigerians who are at the mercy of this clueless and corruption prone administration of GEJ to be outsted. Until this is done, corruption and maladministration will continue unabated

I just dont believe the US government would use a Nigerian English term like "corruption massive" because in american such butchered english makes no sense for common thieves let alone the government.

Punch is just one irresponsible and deceitful paper. The US state Dept report does not rquire this kind of mischievous, misleading and sensational title. The issues raised in that report are not new:

Summary of the report:
1) Police are corrupt

2) Judiciary lack transparency. Some judges are bribed

3) There is perceived corrupt practices from Fed, State and LG levels and the report queries why some got officials (eg President, VP, gov) should be given immunity

4) EFCC and ICPC are ineffective in the fight against corruption specifically blaming the EFCC for the delay in prosecuting Dimeji Bankole.

5) Some public officials have not declared their assets

6) The report also talked about the fuel subsidy fraud.

Goddex: Punch is just one irresponsible and deceitful paper. The US state Dept report does not rquire this kind of mischievous, misleading and sensational title. The issues raised in that report are not new.

Will you shut up else face the message and not the messenger! Shameless human being accursed from the womb! If the wordings in that report is not damning enough to reach the same conclusion as Punch then you are worse of all human beings ...

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
@ omotier1, don't waste your verbal bullets on the e-vermin and Fresh Air defender

Vision2017: I still maintain that the U.S government sendsthe U.S seals and counter terrorism unit C.T.U to Nigeria with a view assist the down-trodden Nigerians who are at the mercy of this clueless and corruption prone administration of GEJ to be outsted. Until this is done, corruption and maladministration will continue unabated

Don't wait for America to do what Nigerian citizens should do
Spread the word,influence your circle of friends,rally them together
Vote the creek thief out of office
Simples

Who is surprised by this? Who, aside the clannish Nigerian defenders of GEJ, does not appreciate that this is one of the most corrupt President Nigeria has ever had? Beyond Nigeria, not many think GEJ is even an average President. He is generally regarded as woeful, very corrupt, highly mediocre, duplicitous and unfit.

Omo_Tier1:
Will you shut up else face the message and not the messenger! Shameless human being accursed from the womb! If the wordings in that report is not damning enough to reach the same conclusion as Punch then you are worse of all human beings ...

Go take a swim in the Atlantic if you do not like my comment. I have read the report from the State Dept website and it did not point out anything new. Nigerians already know that our police are corrupt and did not need the US state Dept to tell us that. Punch's aggressive attempt to paint the GEJ's Fed Govt. in bad is very obvious.

Goddex: Punch is just one irresponsible and deceitful paper. The US state Dept report does not rquire this kind of mischievous, misleading and sensational title. The issues raised in that report are not new:

Summary of the report:
1) Police are corrupt

2) Judiciary lack transparency. Some judges are bribed

3) There is perceived corrupt practices from Fed, State and LG levels and the report queries why some got officials (eg President, VP, gov) should be given immunity

4) EFCC and ICPC are ineffective in the fight against corruption specifically blaming the EFCC for the delay in prosecuting Dimeji Bankole.

5) Some public officials have not declared their assets

6) The report also talked about the fuel subsidy fraud.

What exactly is misleading about the headline?

US Report: There’s Massive Corruption in Nigeria



A new report submitted to the United States Congress by the Secretary of State John Kerry has alleged massive corruption at all levels of the Nigerian government.

The document titled: "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012" was prepared by the Department of State using information from US embassies and consulates abroad, foreign government officials, non-governmental and international organisations, and published reports.

Under the chapter on Nigeria in the latest report made available at the weekend, Section 4, which deals with "Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government," states: "Massive, widespread, and pervasive corruption affected all levels of government and the security forces."

Noting that though Nigerian law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, the report said, "government did not implement the law effectively, and officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity."

It also scored the judiciary low as its noted, "There was a widespread perception judges were easily bribed and litigants could not rely on the courts to render impartial judgements. Citizens encountered long delays and alleged requests from judicial officials for bribes to expedite cases or obtain favourable rulings".

Chronicling all major financial scandals within the period under review and how the issues were handled by government, the report said: "On April 18, a House of Representatives Committee led by Representative Farouk Lawan and charged with investigating the fuel subsidy programme from 2009 to 2011 released a report showing massive fraud, corruption, and inefficiencies in the operation of the program. The report alleged misappropriation of nearly half the subsidy funds, with poor or nonexistent oversight by government agencies.

"The report estimated government money lost to “endemic corruption and entrenched inefficiency” amounted to 1.067 trillion naira ($6.8 billion). The committee recommended reform of the oversight and enforcement mechanisms and further endorsed investigation and prosecution of culpable officials."

It further stated: 'In July the government released a list of those who had benefited illegally from the subsidy programme, which included relatives and colleagues of key government officials. In late July the EFCC began arraigning suspects, first with a group of 20 indictments, including six oil companies and 11 individuals.

"By year’s end the EFCC initiated prosecutions of approximately 50 cases related to the subsidy scam. The majority of these cases involved companies and individuals who had fraudulently received subsidy revenue. Investigations and trials had not produced any convictions by year’s end."

It also recalled the twists in the subsidy probe, noting that in June (2012) "allegations and a video surfaced, allegedly showing Lawan accepting a 94.2 million naira ($605,000) bribe from entrepreneur Femi Otedola, who had advised Lawan on the investigation but whose company had not received fuel subsidy payments."

The report said: "After Lawan solicited the bribe from Otedola, the latter approached the SSS to record the hand-off as part of a “sting” operation. The attorney-general referred the case to the police for further investigation. The allegations initially overshadowed the committee’s findings, but the EFCC continued with investigations at year’s end."

It also cited the stealing of 32.8 billion naira ($210 million) Police Pension Fund, which led to the arraignment of six suspects including a director at the Police Pension Office, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, who later rose to become permanent secretary in the Ministry of the Niger Delta, and the criminal charges against former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, for laundering close to five billion naira ($32 million) of funds belonging to state.

Noting that the charges were instituted on February 24, 2012, the report said the court adjourned the trial until January 2013.

[b]Other corruption cases cited in the reports were the arrest of former minister of Works and Housing, Hassan Lawal, for 24 counts of fraudulently awarding contracts, money laundering, and embezzlement of 75 billion naira ($480 million); arrest of Mr. Dimeji Bankole, former speaker of the House of Representatives, and Deputy Speaker Usman Nafada for the alleged misappropriation of one billion naira ($6.4 million) and 40 billion naira ($256 million) respectively; arrest of former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former Oyo State Governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, former Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, and former Gombe State Governor, Muhammed Danjuma Goje.

"The four (governors) allegedly misappropriated or stole 58 billion naira ($372 million), 25 billion naira ($160 million), 18 billion naira ($115 million), and 12.8 billion naira ($82 million), respectively. Their trials began in December 2011 and continued at year’s end", the report noted[/b].

It also cited the guilty plea entered by former Delta State Governor James Ibori in the Southwark Crown Court in London to charges of money laundering and other financial crimes totalling 12.4 billion naira ($79 million) he had committed during his eight years in office.

It, however, noted that, "Soon after the court announced Ibori’s conviction, the EFCC issued a statement it intended to pursue a case against Ibori in Nigerian courts."

On the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), signed into law in May 2011, which allows any person to request information from a government office, the report said "Civil society groups continued to introduce an increasing number of cases at the national and state level to test the FOIA during the year. Despite the number of cases introduced, there was only one reported successful prosecution during the year."

The report also contained the controversy over declaration of assets by Nigerian public officials noting statutory provisions that provide that, "Public officials, including the president, vice president, governors, deputy governors, cabinet ministers, and legislators (at both federal and state levels), must comply with financial disclosure laws, including the requirement to declare their assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) before assuming and after leaving office. Violators risked prosecution, but cases rarely came to conclusion."

According to the report: "In June the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and other groups demanded President Jonathan disclose his assets from 2007 to 2012. On June 24, the president refused the request.”

http://www.thisdayonline.com/

Nothing is new in this report.