Temidayo Akinsuyi, Lagos

The last may not have been heard about the failed $16 billion National Integrated Power Project as Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), has said his committee may meet the anti-corruption agencies in the country over the facts and figures behind the project carried out in former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

The issue has generated brickbats between Obasanjo and President Muhammadu Buhari, with the former president saying he was ready for a probe.

President Buhari said Nigerians deserved to know why there was no corresponding power supply in homes and business premises after the administration of Obasanjo allegedly expended a whopping $16 billion on the power projects.

The power project budget has been a subject of controversy since the end of Obasanjo’s tenure on May 29, 2007.

In 2008, the House of Representatives described the $16 billion spent on power projects between 1999 and 2007 as “a colossal waste.”

Speaking in an exclusive interview with DAILY INDEPENDENT, Sagay said his committee had not looked into the allegations of the project because it didn’t have the mandate to do so as investigation and prosecution were the responsibilities of anti-corruption agencies.

When asked whether his committee would like to meet President Muhammadu Buhari and advise him on the way forward, Sagay answered in the affirmative.

He said: “Yes, when the time comes, we will definitely do that. It is an issue that we were not seriously thinking about in my committee.

“As I said, the anti-corruption agencies are the ones who have all the facts and figures.

“So, we will meet them and give them the initiatives, but if this thing becomes a political issue, it may be necessary to dig in, get the facts and take the appropriate action.

“If anybody wants to make capital of politics by running down the government – which is the most upright government we have had since Murtala Mohammed government – then, this government may have to show that it is a government of principle and a government that has a will to suppress corruption, and those who challenge it will face the music.”

When asked if his committee had not made mention of the failed power projects because it involved Obasanjo, Sagay said it was because it was not within the jurisdiction of his committee to look into the issue.

“No, it is not that we don’t want to look into the issue of the $16 billion power project, but the truth is that my committee doesn’t have that power.

“We don’t do investigation or prosecution. Our work is mainly that of a think-tank. In other words, we do activities to give the anti-corruption agencies greater capacity to make them more effective.

“We make proposals to government to help the fight against corruption. For example, we have been engaged in training of judges and prosecutors both at the federal and state levels.

“We have been engaged in preparing manuals for prosecutors to use, preparing sentencing guidelines for judges to use.

“We also draft the bill on proceeds of crime which will give the agencies power to seize assets that they suspect have been acquired by crime or illegitimately, putting anyone claiming it under the obligation of establishing how he got it.

“We have a draft of that; it is with the National Assembly. We have a special crimes court which would have done more effectively what the Chief Justice has done by saying that certain courts should be set aside for crimes, particularly corruption.

“Of course, we also write regular advice to the president over issues that we think are pertinent towards the fight against corruption,” he said.

He also described Ibrahim Magu, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as an “exceptionally dedicated man in the fight against corruption in the country.”

According to him, his committee would continue to support Magu in his job till the end, saying anyone scheming to get him out of office was either a potential or existing looter.

He also faulted the claim by some elite that the presidency could not insist on Magu alone since there were thousands of him out there.

According to Sagay, “Since his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari, Magu have been doing a fantastic job and it was absurd that some people would be planning to get rid of him as the anti-corruption boss.

According to the senior advocate of Nigeria, “We have a very close rapport with Magu in PACAC; extremely close rapport. He is an exceptionally dedicated man in the fight against corruption.

“He is indefatigable and totally committed to the anti-corruption war. That is the mission of his life.

“He has given up everything else to ensure that this fight succeeds.

“He has sacrificed everything he has for this struggle. So, we in the committee find him an extremely valuable partner in the fight against corruption and we will support him till the very end. He is a great man.

“We regard anyone who wants him out of that office as either an existing looter or a potential looter. These are people who are uncomfortable with him because they have been stopped in their tracks.

“I laugh when the very corrupt elite say there are thousands of Magu out there. It is a lie.

“There are no thousands anywhere. Let them go and produce those thousands. Magu is unique and special and we will stand by him until he completes his job.”



Read more https://independent.ng/sagays-committee-may-meet-efcc-icpc-over-objs-16bn-power-project/

Like play like play,OBJ is going

last last fish go swim.

Baawaa:
Like play like play,OBJ is going

You seriously believe he ll be nailed?

The Battle of the Titans loading.....!!

Make we dey Watch DSTV-free Royal Rumble....

Fear, fear OBJ. Little wonder the old goon cried out last week that Buhari wants to jail him for life. I only hope Afenifere can save his ass

Let the witch-hunting begin

this is all election gimmick...buhari knows he cant do nada

this is all election gimmick...buhari knows he cant do nada

nairavsdollars:
Fear, fear OBJ. Little wonder the old goon cried out last week that Buhari wants to jail him for life. I only hope Afenifere can save his ass

this is all election gimmick...buhari knows he cant do nada

O

Greyworld:

You seriously believe he ll be nailed?

The man deserve to be jailed

Baawaa:

The man deserve to be jailed

Yea I agree with you, so many of them should be jailed but "This is Nigeria"

May?

Wake me when it reads "will".

Meanwhile a Benin pastor is begging EFCC to collect his petition of fraud against Oshiomhole, and they are dodging the man.

It will be a dream to see OBJ in the Dock

Ha ha...you want make them pour sand sand for Oshio baba garri

Omeokachie:
May?

Wake me when it reads "will".

Meanwhile a Benin pastor is begging EFCC to collect his petition of fraud against Oshiomhole, and they are dodging the man.

[s]

Paperwhite:
Yet the AGF & Obono-Obla(enmeshed in WAEC certificate controversy) were defending Maina-gate then.
Now Prof.Sagay have proven himself times with number to have a soft spot for all the executive corruption of the APC government.
Imagine Sagay backing the same Magu implicated by the DSS in being housed by the proceeds of corruption by Air.Comm.Umar-a corrupt member of the arms probe panel.
So much moral burden for a government of change.

[/s]

Suddenly they believe in media trial when people they hate are involved. Magu has explained himself well. Magu and the said Umar were serving in the same committee, hence they traveled once or twice together, outside that you have got only IPoB juwus lies to go on with.

You pained and pained you are.

[s]

Wiseandtrue:
Itsay Sagay don't forget to take others like Yahaya Bello, Tinubu etc along else Nigerians will think it's witch hunting as usual

[/s]

EFCC won't act on your uninformed sentiments, it is guided by well founded reasoning.