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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / Why Not To Vote For Senator Atiku Bagudu For Kebbi State Governor 2015 (5302 Views)
Wasted Tricycles Bought By Atiku Bagudu As Constituency Project Contribution / People Kneel Down For Senator Rafiu (Photos) / Students 'Dab' For Kebbi Governor Bagudu During Parade. Photos (2) (3) (4)
Why Not To Vote For Senator Atiku Bagudu For Kebbi State Governor 2015 by gabng(m): 2:25am On Apr 05, 2015 |
In a few days time the electorate MAY Mistakenly vote in one of the most corrupt politicians in as the Governor of Kebbi State in the person of Senator Atiku Bagudu of the All Peoples Congress. Bellow is evidence already in public domain. Aziri Okoro: This is great, he has finally seen the night, he is dumping the sinking ship at last. Babatunde Oduwa: This is the calibre of people we need in APC, a man of the people Hassan Keita: Let all the remaining people in PDP know that Change is here to stay, Hurray!!! But, do they know who ATIKU BAGUDU is? Bagudu became a close friend of Ibrahim and Mohammed Abacha, sons of military ruler Sani Abacha. He and Ibrahim Abacha were involved in a scheme to buy vaccines and resell them to the government at a steep mark-up, earning $66.6 million profit. Later, he helped divert much larger sums of money that had been earmarked for security spending into foreign accounts. security spending into foreign accounts. After Abacha died in 1998, the interim military government that followed started an investigation into misuse of state funds. Mohammed Abacha and Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, his business manager, returned $750 million. There was no criminal prosecution. Bagudu moved to the USA in 2000, and in 2003 was detained there for six months on charges of financial misdeeds during the Abacha era. He was released in November 2003 on condition that he repaid about $300 million to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo apparently made a deal to recover part of the money in return for dropping prosecution and leaving the remainder with the family. Bagudu was Chairman of Phil Nugent Nigeria Ltd. from 2004 until December 2005. He was Abacha’s conduit through whom passed most of the $4-5 billion Abacha was reputed to have stolen. Considering how much money Bagudu made from that administration, he had lots of cash to spend and win the senatorial election. He won overwhelmingly, polling 285,578 votes out of the 310,800 total votes cast. The Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, candidate, Alhaji Sambo Aliyu, who scored 8,377, emerged a very distant second, while 16 other candidates got inconsequential votes. The ANPP boycotted that election. Let’s share some more details of Bagudu’s role in the Abacha government. According to a report by a news magazine, The News: He had set up Morgan Procurement Corporation and Mecosta Securities which, as the press put it, “were involved in the illegal transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars from the Nigerian state to the Abacha family.” According to other reports, Mohammed Abacha and Bagudu siphoned $66m from the $111m purchase of vaccines from the French firm Pasteur Merieux. Senator Bagudu is also the Chairman of the committee that was set up to investigate the NIS recruitment scandal which killed tens of youths across Nigeria. With such a character placed in charge of the NIS recruitment investigation, does anyone have any hope that a thorough job will ever be be done? Does Bagudu have any moral right to stand among decent members of the society to perform such a function not to talk of contesting an election? Nigerian voters in Kebbi State shine your eyes. Long Live Nigeria Long Live Kebbi State |
Re: Why Not To Vote For Senator Atiku Bagudu For Kebbi State Governor 2015 by gabng(m): 2:36am On Apr 05, 2015 |
Abacha's Loot & Mohammed's Deal The the Verdict By Olusegun Adeniyi Email: olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com Apparently taken aback by what it considered a crooked deal by the Federal Government, Transparency International (TI) has described the withdrawal of charges against Mr. Mohammed Abacha as an act of encouraging impunity. A statement by its Regional Director for sub-Saharan Africa, Chantal Uwimana, said: “Allowing the theft of public funds to go unpunished sends the wrong message that those with powerful connections can act with impunity. The case should have been fully prosecuted and the government has not given adequate reasons for dropping the charges. Corruption is widespread in Nigeria and despite claims by the government to make tackling corruption a priority too few people have been held to account for a series of high profile scandals.” Given the way this administration has treated (with levity) the challenge of corruption in our country, it is very easy to understand the basis of the damaging statement by TI. However, having followed the Abacha loot recovery story for almost 15 years, I support all efforts to bring a closure to the sordid affair. Nevertheless, I am also aware that there had been at least four previous agreements with the Abacha family that did not stand so I keep my fingers crossed about this deal. For those who may not be fully acquainted with the dirty details, a recap may be necessary here. Following General Sani Abacha’s death on June 8, 1998, General Abdulsalami Abubakar assumed power. A month later on July 13, 1998, apparently having seen evidence of monumental looting of the treasury by his late predecessor, then Head of State instituted the Special Investigation Panel to establish “cases of swindled public funds and recover same back to the federal government coffers”. The panel was also to identify the culprits and recover all properties or assets illegally acquired by the culprits. Within a matter of days, the panel had secured records from the apex back which revealed that between November 1994 when he took over and June 1998 when he died, Abacha had taken from the CBN funds totaling $2,263,520,497 in cash withdrawals, travelers cheques and telegraphic transfers, in the name of “security vote”. However, the job of the panel was made easy by the fact that one of the Abacha family associates, Alhaji Abubakar Bagudu (currently a senator representing Kebbi Central) was ready to cooperate by returning some of the loot. The first yield came just a few weeks after Abacha’s death when the CBN Director of Foreign Operations, Mr. M. R. Rasheed, on 21 September 1998 acknowledged receiving from Bagudu the sum of US$604,743,187.19 and GB £60,090,984.93. There was an additional GB £ 5.25 million from Bagudu a few days later to complete what was considered full and final settlement with the Federal Government. And with that, on May 26, 1999, just three days before handing over power, General Abubakar promulgated Decree 53 of 1999 on forfeiture of assets by certain persons which listed the monies returned by the Abachas. The import of the decree was that the family of Abacha and some of their conduits like Bagudu, Gilbert Chagoury, Mark Risser et al would not face any civil or criminal prosecution on account of the forfeitures. But a few months after President Olusegun Obasanjo assumed power on May 29, 1999, it became evident that Abacha and his cronies had actually fleeced Nigeria to the tune of about $ 4 billion in several deals that included inflation of (or unexecuted) contracts, the Ajaokuta debt-buy—back scam, shady oil transactions etc. That began another round of tricky negotiations with the family with then Attorney General and Justice Minister, Mr. Kanu Agabi, SAN, acting on behalf of the federal government. The yields from those negotiations were: $110 Million from Uri David; $50 million from Abdulkadir Abacha (younger brother to the late Head of State); $170 million from Doraville Properties and various sums totaling hundreds of millions of US Dollars from Switzerland. Since then, the Abacha family, even while instituting several legal actions of its own against the Federal Government, has been seeking a closure to the civil and criminal proceedings in Switzerland, United Kingdom, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Spain, New Jersey (USA) etc. as well as at home. That was what the Jonathan administration recently obliged and interestingly, part of the deal is that “the Abacha family would wish to bring assets back to Nigeria so that these could be invested in the Nigerian economy.” The Federal Government received the sum of $227 million from the Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein as part of the looted funds from the Abachas and another $380 million is expected from Luxembourg within the next two weeks. And quite typically, a committee has been set up by the Jonathan administration, this time on how to spend Abacha loot! Yet for me, since these monies are coming in because of a deal that grants reprieve to the Abacha family, the Federal Government needs to come out clearly to tell us how much has been recovered from 1999 to date, how much has been spent(and on what and when) and what remains (if any). Aside the issue of transparency, the fact also remains that Abacha loot really does not belong to the Federal Government alone but indeed the Federation which means the 36 states and the 774 Local Governments ought also to be beneficiaries. However, the jury is still out as to whether the deal between the Federal Government and the Abacha family will stand. For instance, Decree 53 promulgated by General Abubakar was premised on the assumption that the Abacha family had “vomited” enough of the loot. Under Obasanjo, there were also three of such agreements that never worked. The first one was in 1999 but the most interesting was that of March 2002. Acting on behalf of the Obasanjo government, Agabi had signed the “Global Settlement Agreement” which also stipulated a complete resolution of all civil and criminal issues worldwide between the government and the Abacha family as well as associates. The seven-page document also did not stand. So, I am waiting to see how this one too will work out and if it does, whether another government will not in future discover reasons why the Abacha family should “cough out” more money. I know many people have wondered how Abacha was able to take as much money from the Nigerian treasury but the manner in which he did it would make for a bestseller novel because the details are actually stranger than any fiction: His National Security Adviser, Allhaji Ismaila Gwarzo, would make a request, Abacha would endorse and the CBN would release the cash. And it all started less than two weeks after he took over power from Chief Ernest Shonekan. In a letter dated 30th November 1994, Gwarzo requested for US $100 million to combat “an economy that was deflected and distorted through the black market”. By the arrangement, the dollar was to be sold through Bureau De Change dealers at the then prevailing exchange rate, with a view to mopping up the naira, and beefing up its value. Having apparently been briefed by Abacha, then CBN Governor, Dr. Paul Ogwuma released the cash in the following sums: US $95 million and GB £ 3.2 million. Abacha’s son, the late Ibrahim was to sell the dollars in the black market and remit the naira equivalent to the CBN through Gwarzo. The transaction was indeed carried out even though the money eventually returned to the CBN was not up to what was received. However, the import of that first transaction was that Abacha had realized just how easy it was to directly take money out of the CBN and that became a perfect scam for him. All that was then needed was a letter from Gwarzo seeking approval for any sum of money in the guise of “security” and the CBN would release such demand in cash. So primitive was the whole arrangement that the principal job of some security officials was to be bagging and re-bagging millions of Dollars and Pound Sterling. The following are a few of the documented transactions: On February 13and 15, 1995 Gwarzo collected US$200,000 and US$600,000 respectively (totaling $800,000) from the CBN. This was sequel to Abacha’s approval of his letter dated 15th February, 1995 in which he requested for US dollars $4 million and GB£ 2million “to take care of some developments in a number of areas…” The $800,000 was part payment for the approved sum of US $4 million while the balance was paid in Travellers’ Cheques. On 29th December 1995, Gwarzo collected from the CBN the sum of US $5 million based on Abacha’s approval of his letter to deal with “situation at hand”! The reasons given in many of the letters seeking approval to take money out of the CBN beggar belief but having “started small”, Abacha apparently became more emboldened with time. On 23rd August, 1996, Gwarzo collected US $30 million from the CBN following Abacha’s approval of his letter dated 20th August 1996, requesting for the said money to “assist our immediate neighbors and others within this sub-region”. On 18th December, 1996, Gwarzo collected US $ 66.5 million and GB £20 million following Abacha’s approval of his letter to meet “some requests from Heads of State of some Francophone countries, and to cultivate African solidarity.” A month later on 30 th September, 1996, Gwarzo collected US $ 50 million and GB £20 million from the CBN sequel to his letter dated 24th September 1996, requesting for the money to “prop some African and other Third World countries” to assist in Nigeria’s “democratization and economic recovery”. On 28th April, 1997, Gwarzo collected US $60 million GB £30 million sequel to Abacha’s approval of his letter dated 22nd April 1997, in which he requested for the said sums for “public relations to international communities and organizations”. On 9th July, 1997, Gwarzo collected US $ 5 million from the CBN following Abacha’s approval of his letter dated 23 rd May, 1997 to meet all “demands and commitments as directed”. A month later on 8th December, 1997, Gwarzo collected US $120 million and GB £50 million sequel to Abacha’s approval of his letter dated 26th November 1997. And on 19th January, 1998, Gwarzo collected from the CBN the sums of US $100 million and GB£ 50 million to “counter insinuations that (Lt. General Oladipo) Diya’s coup was not real, and the government framed them to remove and replace the coupists with stooges.” The interesting thing about this particular transaction was that while re-bagging the money, “four cartons containing a total of about US$ 8 million were set aside” in Gwarzo’s own residence, while the balance of US $57 million and GB£ 30 million were delivered to the late Head of State through Mohammed Abacha. On 25th October, 1997, Gwarzo collected US$ 80 million and GB £40 million “to sponsor military intervention in Sierra Leone, and garner support for same in the West African Sub-region.” On 30 th April, 1998, a few weeks before Abacha died, Gwarzo collected US $ 80 million, GB £50 million and N250 million based on his letter dated 29 th April 1998 for the conduct of an enlightenment campaign on the “virtues” of an “Abacha Presidency”. |
Re: Why Not To Vote For Senator Atiku Bagudu For Kebbi State Governor 2015 by gabng(m): 2:51am On Apr 05, 2015 |
Re: Why Not To Vote For Senator Atiku Bagudu For Kebbi State Governor 2015 by gabng(m): 3:16am On Apr 05, 2015 |
Re: Why Not To Vote For Senator Atiku Bagudu For Kebbi State Governor 2015 by Generalkorex(m): 6:36am On Apr 05, 2015 |
Ha!!! I dnt even knw what to say |
Re: Why Not To Vote For Senator Atiku Bagudu For Kebbi State Governor 2015 by modath(f): 6:51am On Apr 05, 2015 |
@OP, Did you guys just learn of this now, cos i'm seeing this story all over politics forum, were you guys dead or sleeping when the primaries were being held?.. i hate corruption and sharp practices as much if not more than the average Nigerian (My reason for wasting my vote on GMB in '11 while he was still in cpc )but no one will take this seriously cos we know this is coming out now just for electioneering purposes and not for love of country. Apc has already taken over NW&NE, April 11th is just the rubber stamp day. Even Olisa Metuh in his interview didn't count any of the core HF states as PDP's. Too late OP.. |
Re: Why Not To Vote For Senator Atiku Bagudu For Kebbi State Governor 2015 by Nobody: 6:57am On Apr 05, 2015 |
The Senator is the person that was used by Thief Obasanjo to dishonestly and unfairly accuse Abacha of looting. Abacha was no looter Whether Bagudu is truly a looter or not is not clear, but is known is that he is dishonest and corruptible. He has links with the World Bank, who were upset that Abacha rejected all the loans offered to him. It surprised me when he won the primaries to be adopted as a candidate for governorship for APC indicating that there is some corrupt possibly neocolonialist forces manipulating the affairs of APC |
Re: Why Not To Vote For Senator Atiku Bagudu For Kebbi State Governor 2015 by thoth: 11:04am On Apr 05, 2015 |
GenBuhari:There will always be conflict in your Mind on how someone supposedly pristine as Buhari found himself among the ranks and files of APC neocolonialist puppets. The answer will come to you sooner than you think. all you need is patience. |
Re: Why Not To Vote For Senator Atiku Bagudu For Kebbi State Governor 2015 by Nobody: 12:09pm On Apr 05, 2015 |
No conflict in my mind whatsoever. Buhari had to make some compromises in order form APC defeat the ruling party thoth: |
Re: Why Not To Vote For Senator Atiku Bagudu For Kebbi State Governor 2015 by gabng(m): 11:44am On Apr 06, 2015 |
Generalkorex: modath: GenBuhari: GenBuhari: ''PROFILE: MAN WHO LAUNDERED $700M CASH FOR THE ABACHAS'' From: Bob Minton <bob@minton.org> Date: Wed, 10 May 2000 11:33:56 -0400 Organization: The Lisa McPherson Trust, 33 N. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater, Florida 33755 Telephone (727) 467-9335, Fax (727) 467-9345 Message-ID: <j40jhskie9lufrlne0njq30am2s1v703dt@4ax.com> NIGERIA TODAY ONLINE Daily briefing on key political & economic events affecting Nigeria Available by fax and e-mail subscription Monday- Friday (Except public holidays) Provided by Phone News International, 18 Hyrstdene, South Croydon, Surrey CR2 6NR Tel: +44(0)208 406 7730 or +44(0)208 279 2078 Mobile: +44(0)795 626 3710 or +44(0)795 626 3704 Fax: +44(0)870 131 6046 E-Mail: Phonenews@aol.com PROFILE: ABUBAKAR ATIKU BAGUDU & WHAT HE TOLD A SWISS COURT ''My family is one of the rich families of Nigeria. I cannot state the exact figures of my family fortune. I can state that no member of my family needs to work to earn a living'' .... Between February 1994 and today, my fortune has considerably increased and a big portion of it comes from funds deposited by the Central Bank of Nigeria in favour of Mecosta Securities, in the book of Goldmann Sachs, Zurich, in April 1997'' Abubakar Atiku Bagudu The man who features prominently in Mohammed Abacha�s testimony in the laundering of $700 million cash is Abubakar Atiku Bagudu. He is a business associate of the Abachas who is also being investigated by a Swiss court. Already, Mohammed Abacha has admitted to lawyers that his late father once gave him $700 million cash for safe keeping at his Abuja residence. He also admitted that it was Bagudu that later arranged for the transfer of this money into various accounts owned by the Abachas in foreign banks. ............................................................ Abubakar Bagudu appeared before a judge in Geneva for three days, last year. Here is what he told the court on 30 September, 1999. ''I am Abubakar Bagudu, a Nigerian citizen, born in Gwandu, in the northern part of the country in 1961. I belong to the Hausa tribe, one of the three major ethnic groups in the country. I first had compulsory primary education in Gwandu, then I studied economics in the University of Sokoto from 1979 to 1983. I then went to another university in Jos from 1988 to 1989, where I obtained my degree in economics. I was an assistant lecturer in the University of Sokoto between 1985 and 1989. Between 1983 and 1984, I did my NYSC for one year. From 1989 to 1991, I worked for Nigeria International Bank in Lagos. I then went to Columbia University in New York from 1992 to 1993 where I obtained a master's degree in International Business. In 1993 after my master's degree, I worked for six months in the World Bank in Washington. I wish to state that my master's degree was sponsored by the World Bank. In 1993, I came back to Nigeria. I engaged myself in consulting and international trade with my partner Mr. Ibrahim Turaki. We registered a company under the name EPCEL Ltd., Lagos. We represented the French company Pasteur Merieux Connaught. We were importing machinery. Up till now, we are still in business and I maintain a home in Lagos, even though I now spend most of my time in London. Mr. Ibrahim Turaki and I have stopped working for EPCEL Ltd., which we sold in 1995. In February 1994, Mr. Ibrahim Sani Abacha, eldest son of former head of state, General Sani Abacha, joined my partner and I to form the company, Morgan Procurement Corporation, Lagos, among others. We were mostly importing vaccines. One of the companies we established is Mecosta Securities Ltd., BVI, in October 1995. We intended to engage in debt recovery and arbitration between creditors and debtors. At the inception of Mecosta Securities Ltd., three of us namely Mr. Ibrahim Abacha, Mr. Mohammed Sani Abacha and myself had equal shares. Mr. Ibrahim Sani Abacha died in a plane crash in January 1996. On that occasion, Mr. Mohammed Sani Abacha, his brother, the next in line, took up the late brother's share in Morgan Procurement Corporation. He also took over the shares in Mecosta Securities Ltd. In fact, Mr. Mohammed Sani Abacha and I became equal shareholders in the company (50% - 50%). I have never held political office in Nigeria. However, my family has always been close to power. Members of my family have never held political or public office, with the exception of my father who was a Director of Primary Education in his state, Kebbi State, my state of origin. May I remind you that Nigeria is a federation of 36 states. Kebbi State shares a border with Benin Republic. Commercially speaking, the state is highly developed because a large quantity of goods transit through it. My elder brother, Bello Bagudu, was elected a member of the federal parliament in February 1999. He is one of the six representing Kebbi State. Neither myself nor any other member of the extended family has occupied public or political office. As for my business partners, Mr. Ibrahim Turaki was elected governor of Jigawa State in February 1999. Mr. Mohammed Sani Abacha has never held political or public office. However, as I said earlier, he is one of the sons of the former head of state, who died in June 1998. Talking about money, my family is one of the rich families of Nigeria. I cannot state the exact figures of my family fortune. I can state that no member of my family needs to work to earn a living. Each member of the family is engaged in managing the family assets. As for me, I do not need to work because I have a personal fortune worth tens of millions of US Dollars, though I cannot quote an exact figure. Moreover, my only wife also has a personal fortune, which comes from her family or gifts. My wife is not a member of the Abacha family, nor does she belong to any of the families that once ruled Nigeria. If I am not mistaking, members of my wife's family occupy no public or political post. I am aware that the judge will ask me about relationship with a few individuals. General Sani Abacha He was head of state of Nigeria between November, 1993 and June 1998, up till his death at age 57. General Abacha took power under the following circumstances: Following June 1993 elections organised by former head of state, General Babangida, a civilian president was elected namely Mr. Abiola. The elections were annulled by General Babangida, officially due to electoral malpractices; as a result of the annulment, there were riots and disturbance of public peace in the country; as a remedy, General Babangida decided to establish a transitional government and appointed Ernest Shonekan head of state. He was overthrown by General Sani Abacha. Before being appointed head of state, General Sani Abacha was a career military officer. He was one of the five most powerful military men in the country. I met General Sani Abacha for the first time in 1979 in his house in Kano, his native town. I was introduced to him at home, by his son, Ibrahim Sani Abacha, but anytime I met him at home, I used to greet him. He knew I was one of the friends of his son and he knew my name. I do not think he knew any other member of my family. After he assumed power, I continued to meet him in the same manner as before. At no time did I have commercial or business links with General Sani Abacha. Our discussions were strictly limited to political exchanges. After the death of Mr. Ibrahim Sani Abacha, I continued visiting the home of the general as in the past, but this time in company of Mr. Mohammed Sani Abacha. At this juncture, the general became aware of my training, asked me a few questions on the economy, but we never had any business relationship. Mr. Ibrahim Sani Abacha As I said earlier, he was my childhood friend. I knew him when we were very young. It is possible for him to bear Alhaji instead of Mister, which, according to Islamic culture, means that Mr. Ibrahim Sani Abacha has gone on pilgrimage to Mecca. Therefore his name can also be Alhaji Ibrahim Sani Abacha. It was Mr. Ibrahim Sani Abacha who was my friend. Mr.Mohammed Sani Abacha only came in after the death of Mr. Ibrahim Sani Abacha. Ibrahim and Mohammed Sani Abacha brothers had an international sugar company. Therefore as early as 1985, we had business links without being business partners. As far back as February 1994, Mr. Ibrahim Sani Abacha and myself became business partners and Morgan Procurement Corporation was established thereafter. Our partnership began under the following circumstances: For several years, even before I went on course to Washington, Mr. Ibrahim Sani Abacha, had proposed that we work together; I had been refusing because before 1993, I did not want to work and, in 1993, my job in Washington took most of my interest and time; I agreed to work with Mr. Ibrahim Sani Abacha in 1994 because the latter had a huge fortune and I had a lot of ideas about how to invest or manage the fortune. At that time, my fortune was much smaller than now. Even then, I did not need to work for a living. Between February 1994 and today, my fortune has considerably increased and a big portion of it comes from funds deposited by the Central Bank of Nigeria in favour of Mecosta Securities, in the book of Goldmann Sachs, Zurich, in April 1997. In reply to a question from the investigating judge, I explained that there is no direct link between the rise to power of General Sani Abacha in November 1993 and the fact that I accepted in February 1994 to become the business partner of his eldest son, Mr. Ibrahim Sani Abacha. It was only coincidental. However, it is probable that the fact that my new trading partner is the son of the head of state contributed to a large extent to the expansion of our business. I am aware that my hearing will last at least a whole day, but I am prepared to go through it. I already have appointments tomorrow, but I can easily come back to Geneva. Meanwhile, I am leaving a copy of a diagram showing the itinerary of funds, the third agreement dated 16 August 1999 signed with Nigeria, as well as the draft law negotiated between the parties and which was to be deposited with High Court of London for authentication''. |
Re: Why Not To Vote For Senator Atiku Bagudu For Kebbi State Governor 2015 by gabng(m): 11:59am On Apr 06, 2015 |
US Government Takes Control Of $480M Abacha Loot. - Yahoo News WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has taken control of more than $480 million looted by former Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha and his associates after a court ruling, the Justice Department said on Thursday. The money stolen during Abacha's 1993-1998 de facto presidency of the oil-rich African nation and stashed in banks around the world will be returned to the Nigerian government, the department said in a statement. “Rather than serve his county, General Abacha used his public office in Nigeria to loot millions of dollars, engaging in brazen acts of kleptocracy,” Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell said in the statement. U.S. District Judge John Bates in Washington ordered on Wednesday that the funds, frozen by the Justice Department in March, be forfeited to U.S. control. The judgment includes about $303 million in two bank accounts in the British offshore center of Jersey and $144 million in two bank accounts in France. Three accounts in the United Kingdom and Ireland hold at least $27 million, the statement said. Claims to another $148 million in four investment portfolios in the United Kingdom are pending. Abacha, who took took power in a coup, died in 1998. Nigeria has been fighting for years to recover his money, but companies linked to the Abacha family have gone to court to prevent repatriation. Between $3 billion and $5 billion of public money was looted during Abacha's regime, according to Transparency International. The Justice Department suit filed in November 2013 saying that Abacha, his son Mohammed Sani Abacha, their associate Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and others embezzled, misappropriated and extorted money from the Nigerian government. They laundered funds by buying bonds backed by the United States using U.S. financial institutions, prosecutors said. The assets were held in banks that included Deutsche Bank AG, HSBC Holdings Plc and Banque SBA, according to the lawsuit. In June, after a 16-year legal battle, Nigeria recovered from Liechtenstein $228 million stolen by Abacha and his associates. As of last year, Nigeria had recovered about $1.3 billion of Abacha's money from various European jurisdictions. |
Re: Why Not To Vote For Senator Atiku Bagudu For Kebbi State Governor 2015 by gabng(m): 12:18pm On Apr 06, 2015 |
Firstly, congratulations Mr. President-elect on your historic victory in the March 28, 2015 presidential election. In your widely circulated "Covenant With Nigerians," war against corruption featured prominently. In my view there is no better way to bring your national anti-corruption strategy to life than by focusing on ending the culture of impunity, vis-a-vis corruption. A classic example of impunity comes to mind in the recent infamous forfeiture of more than $480 million in corruption proceeds (originating from Nigeria) hidden in bank accounts around the world by one of the gubernatorial candidates, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu , running in the coming guber contest in Kebbi State, April 11, 2015. As a patriotic Kebbian and Nigerian, just like you are sir, I cannot just fold my arms and look the other way when kleptocracy is involved; officials stealing from their own government treasuries at the expense of their citizens. As recently as August 6, 2014, a judgment was entered by a U.S. District Court Judge John D. Bates of the District of Columbia against the companies of the said gubernatorial candidate (Senator Bagudu), in the largest kleptocracy case ever in the history of the U.S. Department of Justice. Evidently, rather than serve his country, Senator Bagudu took undue advantage of association with the Abachas and looted millions of dollars, engaging in brazen acts of kleptocracy. With the August 6, 2014 judgment, the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, denies a kleptocrat Bagudu the fruits of his crimes, and protects the U.S. financial system from money laundering. Now, it's your turn, sir, to complement the U.S. efforts by helping to extradite this criminal (hiding behind your shadow) to Washington DC to face justice, when the Interpol comes knocking soon. Kebbians, Nigerians, and indeed the world will be watching to see if your actions (this time around) are going to match your speeches about fighting impunity in high profiled corruption cases like this one. To put this case in perspective sir, the complaint against Sen. Bagudu (and others) alleged that he was the mastermind of systematically embezzling billions of dollars in public funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria on the false pretense that funds were necessary for national security. In another development, Sen. Bagudu's company also allegedly sold Nigerian government bonds at vastly inflated prices, using a criminal scheme, generating an illegal windfall of more than $282 million. Equally, extorted more than $11 million from a French company in connection with payments on government contracts. Funds involved in these schemes were allegedly laundered through the U.S. Sir, I have heard that the vice-president - elect promised to not go after those who have perpetrated corruption before your election. I pray that's not true. Nigerians expect you to go after those who stole the future of their children. Though, you should not allow this to distract you from fighting the cronic insecurity, as a priority. However, we cannot afford to let high profile looters like Sen. Bagudu to go Scot- free. They must pay if only to serve as deterrence to future thieves. Sir, as you already know, perception is very important; and first impression carries a lot of weight. At this crucial moment, please avoid making your predecessor's error. Both President Obasanjo and Jonathan were unable or unwilling to help extradite an alleged drug kingpin, Senator - elect Buriji Kashamu , to the U.S. (where he is declared wanted) to face justice. For 17 years, Senator - elect Kashamu has been wanted in the U.S. for allegedly acting as the kingpin of a drug smuggling and money laundering ring. There has been talk at times in Nigeria about extraditing him to the U.S. to face justice. But being a strong supporter of the PDP, the move always seemed unlikely. Now, Kashamu is going to be sworn in as a senator, making the possibility even more remote, unless you, sir, step up to impunity, as you promised Nigerians to do. Accordingly, Senator Bagudu (APC - Kebbi State) and Senator - elect Kashamu (PDP - Ogun State) cases ought to be your first test case to ascertain your determination to put a stop to the culture of impunity, vis-a-vis corruption in Nigeria. Sir, please make this one of your 100- days-in-office potential mission accomplishments. This will send a strong, practical and unmistakable signal to the national and international community as to where you stand today on corruption; leave no one in doubt about your zero tolerance for both corruption and impunity. Serendipity! Luckily for you sir, strong, new partners in the war against corruption. March 30, 2015, precisely two days after your historic election victory, the FBI announced the establishment of international corruption squads targeting foreign bribery and kleptocracy crimes. Special Agent, George McFachern, who heads up the international corruption unit at FBI Headquarters, explains that the squads were created to address the national and international implications of corruption. That these squads will help keep the Bureau at the forefront of U.S. and global law enforcement efforts to battle international corruption and kleptocracy. Sir, in the short term, one of my motivations for writing this open letter to you is to help inform the Kebbi State electorate to not waste its votes April 11, 2015 on Senator Bagudu in the gubernatorial contest. But, in the long term, if by accident he got the advantage of your momentum and scale through, then, you yourself will have the opportunity to prove to Nigerians that impunity has no hiding place with you, from any quarter, by helping to get him extradited to the U.S. to face justice. Sir, what better demonstration of zero tolerance for corruption can there be? I for one sir, as a Kebbian (and a U.S. citizen), in collaboration with our organization, Kebbians In The Diaspora Association (KITDA) of which I happened to be the president, am more than ready to work with you on the two cases cited in this letter, to fight impunity by finishing the work U.S. Justice Department started. I will be contacting your office in due course, as a follow up to this letter, as soon as KITDA procure the necessary documents at hand requesting for the cooperation of the Nigerian government to extradite these alleged criminals to face justice in the United States. Thank you sir. And God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria! (Prince Kabir Abubakar wrote from Maryland, USA. +14439457478) |
Re: Why Not To Vote For Senator Atiku Bagudu For Kebbi State Governor 2015 by gabng(m): 12:24pm On Apr 06, 2015 |
Kebbi 2015: Dakingari’s legacy and friendly enemies within By Max Gbanite maxgbanite@yahoo.com There are image-damagers who very often masquerade as the voice of concerned party foot soldiers or defenders of party discipline and virtues, which in their bid to score cheap political points bring their leaders to ridicule; and, this is exactly the manner-of-missiles directed at His Excellency, Alhaji Saidu Dakingari, the Executive Governor of kebbi State, by friendly- enemies within his party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The same enemies are clawing on straws in a futile attempt to foil the consolidation of the positive legacy the governor has bequeathed to the state. In circumstances like this, men endowed with sense of impartiality cannot stand aloof and watch the destruction of one hard working individual. The bone of contention is the PDP’s 2015 gubernatorial ticket in the state; and the apparent popularity of Gen. S Y Bello (Rtd.), which is scarring the living day light out of his opponents in the race. Instead of engaging in a genuine campaign to strategize and position their preferred candidates for possible victory, they resort to name callings and character assassination to win the sympathy of kebbi State PDP members; unfortunately for them, Peoples Democratic Party in Kebbi is known for carrying-out unhindered scrutiny of potential aspirants for any position. In a bid to disorganize the party in the state and hand over the structures to the opposition All progressive Congress (APC), one Ibrahim D Usman has assumed the mouthpiece of the internal opposition to Gov. Dakingari. Instead of resolving minor disagreements within the available party structures, he preferred the pages of the newspaper to damage the party; damage the governor; and damage Gen. S.Y. Bello; this, indeed, is a misadventure taken too far. In a widely publicized piece on the DailyTrust newspaper, September 14, 2014, Ibrahim D Usman exhibited the huge jitters that have cascaded the internal opposition within the party. He derogatorily made reference to the gubernatorial ambition of Gen. Bello without recourse to the unalloyed-nation-building credentials the same Bell has under his belt. Instead of supporting Gov. Dakingari to ensure the election of this exemplary son of kebbi State, the likes of Usman are busy pressing the destruct button to drag the state backwards. This is a case of wrecking the system if one is unable to have their way. However, they will have to contend with the determination of the performing governor and the progress consolidation agenda, and prepare to contest with Gen. Bello in the battle ahead. Again, if they are self-deluded into thinking that the duo of Bello and the governor, will chicken out and hand the party structures over to them in their bid to draw the state backward; they must be consulting with political neophytes. At this point, it is noteworthy to state that they did not even spare former Governor Muhammed Adamu Aliero in their misguided vituperation. This is not the way to move their great party forward in the state. The people of kebbi State are blessed to have Gen. Sarki Yaki Bello, as their son. This is a man of distinguished accomplishments; a Prince who dropped his princely-babanriga and all the privileges of that title to become a soldier-warrior; a true soldiers- soldier and, a first class intelligence-infantry-officer. A trained lawyer with Nigeria Bar accreditations; at the rank of captaincy, made his mark at the office of army provost, prompting his boss then, the Army provost Marshall, Major Gen. Sani Sami (now retired), to refer to him as the ‘most brilliant officer in my command”, at the time Sani Sami made that comment, he did not even know that Bello was his kinsman from Kebbi State. Today, the same Gen. Sani Sami (rtd.) is the emir of Zuru, and he cannot be one of the emir’s that is not happy with the governor’s radar-sighting of Gen. Bello as his successor. Bello went on to become a Military Attache’ to our embassy in Washington DC, while there, he delivered a paper at the Institute of World Policy, that earned him the respect and admiration of Americans, and British experts attending lectures with him; he went on to become the Military Assistant to the then Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Bamaiyi Rtd. (a fearless-soldier); the same Bamaiyi likes the idea of a Bello as the next governor of Kebbi, his state. Gen. Bello went on to command the Military Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta during the height of militancy- insurrection; his swift actions led many to surrender and embrace the amnesty offered by the late president, Umaru Yar’Adua; and his fair play and manner of approach in tackling the turbulences earned him the admiration of both traditional ruler’s, and the pseudo-generals commanding the various militant- terrorists during that era; and they still discuss him with awe till date. He later became the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 division. While at that division, his handling of the ‘Osisikanku’ kidnapping menace in Abia State was one of the best efforts made at subjugating kidnapping in any part of Nigeria. He did not only destroy the ‘Osisikanku’ criminal- clan but exorcised Abia State of kidnapping and other insurgency- inducing-crimes. During his tenure as commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and GOC of 82 nd Division of the Nigerian Army, he combined intellectualism, prudence and professionalism in ensuring that innocent Nigerians were never harmed in the course of duty, and within his area of command. The real situation in Kebbi State is that the current governor has looked around and within Kebbi State and, decided that for the good people and the state to move to the next level of transformation and industrializations, that his successor must be someone who has demonstrated enough clout within the country, and international community; and has the ability to take the developmental-foundations of his (Gov. Dakingari) to the next level. The governor knows that Kebbi state needs a person that can attract the much needed foreign investment for the farmers, a person the international community knows and trusts; and as a result, he searched thoroughly within his party; and came to the conclusion that amongst those qualified for the position, that Gen Sarki Yaki Bello best fits this calculus. The governor’s political opponents and friendly-enemies are scared that Gen. Bello will never compromise on merit if he is eventually elected by the good people of the state; but they can count on him to be a team player who will carry everybody along. For a Governor that achieved so much in the agricultural sector and a leading light of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda, ensuring the election of a successor with capacity to sustain his great landmarks will not be a misplaced priority. Is this what the detractors of the Governor referred to as “his anointing a successor?” It will be unpatriotic for the sitting Governor to overlook capable citizens of the state in his quest to entrench his positive legacy. I urge His Excellency to remain steadfast in his great mission in Kebbi State and implore the citizens to continue to extend their unalloyed support to his administration. The coach of any football team understands the abilities of his players both collectively and individually. He is in a better position to determine who to play at any position and when it is necessary for substitutions to be made. It will help the PDP team in the state to keep trusting in the wisdom of the coach and his ability to make the right decisions in the overall interest of the party. The umbrella is big enough to accommodate all discerning members of the party. One thing the party followers must appreciate is that Gen. S Y Bello is a team player, and a systems- man who will never allow any structure or power base in the party to be marginalized. His experience and training has automatically prepared him for the task ahead. The contending factions should bury the hatchet and support this illustrious son of Kebbi State. He will never betray their confidence; he is a man we respect, and Kebbi State should be commended for giving a prince like him to our military to serve our country. Submitted by: A.U. Max Gbanite; Strategic Security Expert, Defence & Security Analyst; maxgbanite@yahoo.com |
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