[size=14pt]Nigerians to get new ID cards[/size]
By Elor Nkereuwem
December 6, 2010 01:58AM



After 10 years, Nigeria is set to launch a fresh set of national identity cards and as early as January next year, people may be required to line up for the new bio-data registration process. The National Identity Management Commission which is in charge of the scheme assured Nigerians that the new cards will be different from the ones issued between 2001 and 2006.

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Sources at the commission told NEXT that the project involves the creation of a new identity database and goes beyond merely providing citizens and legal residents with an identity document as was done in the previous 2001 SAGEM project.

“The National Identity Management System is a quantum leap from the SAGEM project which was initiated in 2001 to provide an integrated card production facility.

This 2001 technology did not offer a unique identification number or a secure platform to assert one’s identity without a card. SAGEM produced cards, but not an identity system. This database is one of the three components of the emerging national identity management system, the other two being a secure identity document and a system for authenticating and verifying identity,” a source within the commission, who asked not to be named, said.

Anthony Okwujafor, the spokesperson for the Commission, confirmed that new ID cards will soon be rolled out. “The new ID card will have a unique number for every person and would be usable anywhere in the world,” he said.

A more secure system

The National Identity Management Commission said one of the benefits of the new arrangement is that it will provide a common database from which other government agencies and the private sector can find an authentic identification process.

“At this pace, NIMC is driving the prompt achievement of the presidential directive on the fast-track harmonisation and consolidation of biometric projects in government agencies. When completed, the national identity management system will ensure that every registered person has unique national identification number that will enable that person to assert his or her identity even in the absence of a card. The system will also ensure that its database is linked to those of key agencies such as the FRSC, immigration, while a verification service will enable third-parties (banks, employers, schools) to verify the identities of the persons they are transacting business with. The fibre optic link between the national identity data centre and the relevant government agencies has been commissioned by NIMC,” our source said.

Officials also disclosed that the commission has already begun test running the project using some specific government agencies and ministries.

“NIMC and its private sector partners have already completed the biometric registration of civil servants on behalf of the office of the Head of Service. This civil service database is fully integrated with the national identity database. The biometric harmonisation for government agencies is going well. The commission has also worked with INEC on the standards and specifications for the voters’ register so that it can meet the harmonisation requirements for the databases held by various government agencies.”

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5650309-146/nigerians_to_get_new_id_cards.csp

another avenue to loot. what happened to the existing national ID card being used? one of our greatest problem in this country is sustainability.

RICHIE BOI:

another avenue to loot. what happened to the existing national ID card being used? one of our greatest problem in this country is sustainability.

It is not sophisticated and encrypted and cannot stop the PDP from forgey. We need a new one asap.

They have come again.
New wine in old wine skins.



http://allafrica.com/stories/200312310417.html


$214m Identity Card Scam: Court Grants Afolabi, Akwanga, Others Bail
Lemmy Ughegbe
31 December 2003

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ABUJA — AN Abuja High Court yesterday granted two former Ministers of Internal Affairs, Chief Sunday Afolabi and Dr Mohammed Shata, as well as sacked Labour Minister, Alhaji Hussaini Akwanga bail following their arraignment in connection with the alleged $214 million National Identity Card bribe scandal.

Also granted bail were the first National Secretary of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) and one time Governor of Enugu State, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo and the Permanent Secretary, Internal Affairs Ministry, Ms Turie Akerele.








http://www.nigerianmuse.com/nigeriawatch/officialfraud/?u=Afolabi_SAGEM_file.htm

THE AFOLABI/SAGEM File



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NigeriaFirst

ICPC detains minister over fraud
Dec 4, 2003, 16:48

A serving minister, two former ministers, a former state governor and two senior government officials were arrested on 3 December for involvement in an alleged National Identity Card Project scam.

Nabbed on the instruction of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) were current Minister of Labour and Productivity, Alhaji Hussaini Zannuwa Akwanga, former Internal Affairs Minister, Chief Sunday Michael Afolabi, a former Minister of State in that ministry, Dr Mohammed Shata and former Enugu State governor, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo who is also a former national secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Also arrested were Ms R. O. Akerele, present permanent secretary in the ministry of internal affairs, Christopher Orumgre Agidi, former director, Department of National Civic Registration and Niyi Adelagun, business representative of SAGEM S.A., the major contracting firm in the ID card project.

The ICPC in a statement signed by its Chief Information Officer, Mike Sowe, said the Commission had commenced investigations as the officials were �alleged to have collected colossal sums of money in local and foreign currencies� through a bribery scheme organised by SAGEM�s agents in Nigeria including the Regional Area Manager, Identification Systems, Mr Jean Pierre Delarue, and Niyi Adelagun.

Mr Sowe said all the arrested officials have made useful statements to the Commission, while their accounts in the United Kingdom are being investigated, adding that the suspects would appear in court soon.

He also disclosed that Christopher Agidi has been arrested in the United Kingdom and efforts are being made to repatriate him to Nigeria to assist in the investigations.



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NigeriaFirst

Obasanjo sacks labour minister over corruption
Dec 4, 2003, 17:56

President Olusegun Obasanjo on 4 December approved the termination of the appointment of Alhaji Hussaini Akwanga as minister of Labour and Productivity over his alleged involvement in fraud in the National ID card scheme while he was a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

In a letter to the minister, the President stated that the ongoing investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission into the National Identity Card project in which Alhaji Akwanga�s role as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of International Affairs has been called to question, is disheartening at a time efforts were being made to stamp out corruption in the public service.

The president said that as a member of the Federal Executive Council, the report of the former minister�s involvement in the ID card scam constitutes a serious embarrassment to government, and a dent on his image as minister. He added that in line with this administration�s commitment to transparency and to protect the integrity of the Federal Executive Council, it became imperative to terminate his appointment with immediate effect.

Alhaji Akwanga is to hand over the affairs of the Ministry of Labour and Productivity to the Permanent Secretary



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NigeriaFirst

Former Minister, others charged with ID Card fraud
Dec 30, 2003, 14:47

The former Minister of Internal Affairs, Chief Sunday Afolabi, and five others will each face a 16-count charge in connection with the National Identity Card scam estimated at $214 million.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) brought the indictment against the suspects who were arrested and detained by the State Security Service on 1 December.

Counsel to the ICPC, Mr. Sanussi Kado, filed the charges at the Abuja High Court on 29 December.

Justice Ibrahim Bukar, who granted the application, directed that all the suspects should be arraigned in his court today, 30 December.

Those charged along with Afolabi are:

The immediate past Minister of Labour and Productivity, Alhaji Husein Akwanga
�
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ms. Turi Akerele
�
The former National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo
�
The former Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Dr. Mohammed Shatta
�
SAGEM S.A. Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Niyi Adelagun
A breakdown of the charges shows that Afolabi is accused of receiving $330,000, while Akwanga is accused of allowing his daughters to collect $30,000 on his behalf. Adelagun, on the other hand, is the man identified as distributing the bribes while Nwodo is said to have conspired with him and facilitated the distribution. Meanwhile, Akerele is alleged to have collected $500,000.

Some of the lawyers working in defence of the accused are:

Chief Joseph Bodurin Daodu (SAN) for Afolabi
�
Chief Chris Uche (SAN) for Nwodo
�
Ricky Tafa (SAN) for Mohammed Shatta
�
Mr. Joe Kyari Gadzama (SAN) for Akwanga
�
Mr. Rotimi Jacobs for Akerele.
The National Identity Card scandal came into the limelight last September when President Olusegun Obasanjo summoned top officials of SAGEM. S.A. and the DNCR to a meeting over complaints of non-payment by some contractors.

Following investigations, the ICPC, by 3 December, subsequently alleged that the accused had received gratification worth $214 million from SAGEM of South Africa, which executed the National Identity Card project.



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Vanguard

�

$214m ideNtity card scam:Afolabi, Akwanga, others' trial begins in Abuja today

By Lemmy Ughegbe
Tuesday, December 30, 2003

�

ABUJA� FORMER Internal Affairs Minister, Chief Sunday Afolabi, and others currently in detention over the alleged $214 million National Identity Card scam are to face a 16-count charge when they are arraigned in court in Abuja today. The others are immediate past Internal Affairs Minister, Dr. Mohammed Shata; Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Ms. Turie Akerele; immediate past Labour Minister, Alhaji Hussain Akwanga; former National Secretary of the ruling PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, and Mr. Niyi Adelagun, partner of SAGEM S. A., the contractor for the National ID card project.
�

An Abuja High Court, presided over by Justice Ibrahim Bukar, yesterday, granted the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) leave to slam the 16-count charge against the suspects.
�

Of the six, only Dr. Nwodo was not specifically cited as having received or given part of the money, but he was said to have facilitated the link between Adelagun and other suspects.
�

Chief Afolabi is facing a two-count charge of receiving a $330,000 bribe, while Alhaji Akwanga is accused of allowing his daughter to receive his own share of $300,000. Dr. Shata�s alleged offence is receiving $415,000 while Akerele allegedly got $500,000. Adelagun is facing a four-count charge of distributing the bribes.
�

Granting ICPC leave to arraign the suspects, Justice Bukar held that: �on the face of the documents before this honourable court, I am convinced that the complainant has sufficient evidence for the arraignment of the accused persons. Accordingly, the motion for leave is hereby granted.�
�

Earlier, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Chief Akinlolu Olujimi (SAN), had told newsmen that the suspects would be arraigned very soon.
�

Speaking with newsmen after waiting for almost two hours� for the judge to commence hearing of the motion for the enforcement of the fundamental human rights filed by counsel to Nwodo, Chief Olujimi explained that the Federal Government was investigating further the scam, hence the delay in their being charged to court.
�

The ICPC had on December 3, this year announced the arrest of the suspects over their alleged complicity in receiving a colossal amount of money as bribe to influence the award of the ID card project to SAGEM.
�

However, on December 17, the commission, in reply to a letter written by Dr (Mrs) Dorothy Nwodo, wife to one of the accused persons (Nwodo) wrote her, denied custody of her husband.
�

The letter with serial no: ICPC/HC/003/11/110 entitled: �RE: REQUEST TO SEE MY HUSBAND, DR OKWESILIEZE NWODO� signed by one Popoola on behalf of the commission�s Chairman, Justice Mustapha Akanbi read thus:
�

�I am directed to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your letter dated 16th December, 2003 relating to the above subject matter. I am also to inform you that your husband is not in the custody of the ICPC and has in fact not reported at any time in the office of the commission. I am to add that at no time did any officer from the Investigation Department of the commission, visit your house on 1st December, 2003, let alone refusing him to take anything with him. You may, therefore, wish to look elsewhere for your husband.�



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Nigeria withdraws corruption charges against former Ministers

Abuja - 02/06/2004

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - The Nigerian government
Wednesday withdrew corruption charges against three
former Ministers and others in connection with the 214
million-dollar national Identity Card scheme.

Counsel to the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission
(ICPC), Makanjuola Esan, asked for the withdrawal of the
charges at the resumed hearing of the case before an
Abuja High Court.

He told the Court the ICPC was willing to stand down the
case and that the anti-graft Commission might likely file
fresh charges against the accused persons.

Presiding Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi struck out the case
and ordered that the seized international passports of
the accused persons be returned to them.

The Judge, however, rejected a motion by the defence
counsel to acquit the accused persons from subsequent
arrest and arraignment.

Shortly after the proceedings, the anti-graft panel
summoned the accused persons to its headquarters for
interrogation.

The Commission last December announced the arrest and
detention of two former Internal Affairs Ministers,
Sunday Afolabi and Mohammed Shata, and former Labour
Minister Hussaini Akwanga for allegedly collecting
various sums of money as bribe to influence the award
of the Identity Card project to French company SAGEM.

Also arrested were a former official of the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), Okwesilieze Nwodo, and the Permanent
Secretary in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Turie Akerele.

The accused, who all pleaded not guilty, were granted bail
following their arraignment 30 December 2003 at the Abuja
High Court.

Afolabi, however, died in a London hospital last month.

Obasanjo used the first ID scheme to settle his houseboys. That is why it is as useless as a piece of plastic.

^^^^

The End.

^^^

Nice Jamaican soup you got there!

this contract will be awarded to me, i will settle guys accordingly

We want to be giving away ID cards when we don't even know how many people live in Nigeria because our censuses suck that much!

MShittu:

We want to be giving away ID cards when we don't even know how many people live in Nigeria because our censuses suck that much!

You mean you don't know?

Is this a joke? who thinks of this stupid ideas? Hun?
What did we do with the first one we got a couple of years ago? how did that move the nation forward?
We need electricity, correct census, they are talking about Id cards?

Is it that these people don't have any new ideas? or what is their problem?.