David Mark stops Ex-DIG from naming ‘419’ lawmakers

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Security and Intelligence, Senator Nuhu Aliyu, caused a stir on the floor of the Senate yesterday when he threatened to name members of the National Assembly whom he investigated for Advance Fee Fraud (otherwise known as 419) when he was Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Criminal Investiga-tions Department (CID).


He issued the threat while contributing to a debate on a motion on the direction and tempo of the war on corruption by the Federal Government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Senate President, Senator David Mark, however, stopped him from going further, saying the matter had been referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

But on the motion on EFCC and anti-graft war, the Senate resolved to invite the acting Chairman of the commission, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ibrahim Lamorde, to brief it on the state of the commission’s activities.

Also, the upper legislative chamber agreed to urge the Federal Government to remain steadfast in its commitment to the crusade.

President Umaru Musa Yar ‘Adua recently approved that the EFCC chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, should proceed on course at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru while Lamorde moves in as acting chairman.

The Senate President had anchored his decision to refer the ex-DIG’s threat to the Ethics committee on the point of order on breach of privileges raised by Senator Ayogu Eze.

Senator Eze had said that Aliyu was impugning the character of the entire National Assembly and by implication breaching his personal privilege as a member of the Senate by suggesting that the National Assembly was a den of fraudsters.

He had urged the Senate to compel Senator Aliyu to mention names, a challenge that Aliyu accepted.

Aliyu said he was going to mention names of legislators involved in Advance Fee fraud, but the Senate President sought the indulgence of the Senate to refer the matter of breach of privilege to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

Senator Aliyu had while contributing to debate on the motion said he totally agreed with the content of the motion.

According to him, “I totally agree with the motion. I want to say that both Nuhu Ribadu and Ibrahim Lamorde served under me in the Police Force. A tree cannot make a forest. So far, so good for Mr. President for doing a fantastic job and everybody is proud to be called a senator under your leadership.”

Aliyu said Ribadu made a world of difference at EFCC, but added: “I want to say with regrets that in the National Assembly, we still have 419ners. I was in charge of Force CID where the person now replacing Ribadu served.”

He said the Police was in a very hopeless situation, stressing that without the EFCC law the 419ners would have had a field day.

A heated argument then ensued on the issue, but it took the intervention of the Senate President to douse the tension.

Mark directed the Senate Committee on Ethics to look into the breach of personal privilege that Senator Eze complained of and gave the committee two weeks to report back to the Senate.

The Senate’s decision to summon Lamorde was sequel to a motion co-sponsored by Senators Sola Akinyede, Anthony Manzo, Ayogu Eze, Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), Olorunnimbe Mamora, Ayo Arise, Dahiru Kuta and eight others.

Senator Akinyede, Chairman Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption, moved the motion.

Akinyede said the motion was to address the concern of many Nigerians, pointing out that he had not taken the floor to praise Ribadu.

He said having raised the anti-corruption war to a very high level, the tempo should be sustained.

The motion entitled, “Direction and Tempo of the War on Corruption,” reads: “Senate notes that the war on corruption is one of the seven-point agenda of the present administration.

“Senate is concerned that there is a growing concern by Nigerian public and international community about the signals emanating from the recent developments at the EFCC.

“It observes that virtually all our major partners in the international community, including Transparency International and the United Nations have expressed their concern.

“It observes that recently the United Nations Office on Drug and Crimes stated that it required re-assurance before it would continue with $30 million anti-corruption facility which it had planned for Nigeria.

“Senate observes that the increase in Direct Foreign Investment in Nigeria and the de-listing of Nigeria from the list of Non-Cooperating Nations and Territories by Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is a direct result of the action of EFCC against the perpetrators of Advance Fee Fraud (419) and related offences, and a direct benefit of the gains Nigeria has made in the fight against corruption and economic and financial crimes.”

The Senate further observed that it was imperative that the Nigerian public and the nation’s international partners were reassured about the tempo and direction of the war against corruption.

Seconding the motion, Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, said the motion was not about an individual.

He stated that the perception was that the tempo of anti-corruption war had gone down, pointing out that that perception was not correct.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing, Senator Ikechukwu Obiorah, said the motion was about the institution of the EFCC, stressing that he would support the move that the Senate give the Executive branch latitude to explain its actions.

Senator Uche Chukwumerije said the Senate should do everything that would strengthen the vitality of EFCC.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights, Senator Umaru Dahiru, drew the attention of the Senate to the fact that since Ribadu’s tenure allegedly expired since May last year, “nobody cared to bring his name here to the Senate for the purpose of confirming his re-appointment.”

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Senator Ehigie Uzamere, said there was need to strengthen EFCC operations and ensure that it was not manipulated by the incumbent Executive head for political reasons.

Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Information, Senator Anthony Manzo, said the President had the power to hire and fire the EFCC Chairman, adding that if the President must hire another person for the job, he (President) must forward his or her name to the Senate for confirmation.

Vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Gas, Senator Patrick Osakwe, said the fight against corruption was a collective task by Nigerians and admonished EFCC against being selective if it must earn the confidence of Nigerians as an anti-corruption agency.

Vice Chairman of the Committee on Communi-cations, Senator Joseph Akargerger, said he supported the motion, stressing that “anybody who believes in the Nigeria project will support the anti-corruption war.”

Senator Kola Bajomo told the Senate that Lamorde was stepping into a big shoe that Ribadu was leaving behind at EFCC.

But Chairman of the Senate Committee on Water Resources, Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw, said nobody was indispensable even as he insisted that there were undercurrents that led to the approval of the NIPSS course for Ribadu.

Chairman, Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Senator Lee Maeba, decried corruption, saying “it is weapon of mass destruction.”

While ruling on the prayers contained in the motion, the Senate President, Senator Mark, said the Senate had failed in its duty by not inviting EFCC as constitutionally prescribed to brief it on its activities.


http://odili.net/news/source/2008/jan/24/209.html

If the "419" lawmakers are legally being protected, what hope do we have left in Nigeria?

All "419" lawmakers should be immediately fired and prosecuted

I just don't get it.

Big B1:

All "419" lawmakers should be immediately fired and prosecuted

I just don't get it.

What about the biggest 419er,Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida? Don't you think they should also prosecute him?

Dude,
he lives in Minna, please feel free to go get am.

it's not the job of I_man to prosecute IBB, it's the job of the EFCC and a "functioning" judiciary to do that.

Ha ha ha ha , tory don reach home, @BIGB1

This story is interesting, What motive does Mark has for curtailing the EX DIG?

Who was he trying to protect?

Who wouldnt he try to protect?

David Mark was at the vanguard of those politicised army officers under Babangida.

Protecting dubious characters like himself comes naturally.

May be he is protecting himself or some personal interest

or

He is afraid of the UNKNOWN as nobody knows whose name(s) are on Aliyu's list

I hope Aliyu will not succumb to political pressure and remove some name(s) from that list if he is called upon to present it

We need more bold and outspoken men like this in the national assembly

They have rules in the senate and if Mark asked that the ethics committee meet, deliberate and issue a report on this matter then we cannot say that he stopped anyone as you don't just stand up and call people names in the senate as if you are in the market.

It wud have been an abuse of aliyu's office (former) to mention names on the floor of the senate!

Mark stopping him was the correct political thing to do, it only shows true leardership on his part!

but it's necesarily not the morally correct thing to do, but we cant have any action leading to chaos in the chamber!

We can only wait and see where the ethics committe goes with this.

But surely, someday soon, the likes of IBB and OBJ will pay for their deeds!!

Submit what to what Ethics committee?
Trust me dt list ain't seeing the light of day.

. . . . . . at least not without being properly doctored.

ALIYU'S LIST WILL SOON BE POLITICIZED LIKE THE EFCC'S LIST OF THOSE ROTTEN ELECTION DAYS. POLITICIANS WILL SOON BEGIN PILGRIMAGE TO HIS HOUSE, THAT'S IF THEY HAVEN'T STARTED.

@ Afam and Kaycrystal

Thank you.

People shout for rule of law meanwhile they don't know what the rule of law is and when the rule of law is being put to practice. Abeg make una go siddon somewhere.

If the list was read on the floor with everyone at each other's throat what will be the positive outcome of it.
All they will do is point blame and cause another shameful fight in the chambers.
It should be given to the proper people to handle it properly. Legislation is not for everyone and a lot of us are clearly still acting BUSH!!!

This is the beginning of another political game to compromise our intelligence and also an indirect introduction of selective justice with different cover.
It is time to stop all this business as usual process in Nigeria; this country will remain stationary for many years to come if we do not immediately revisit and restructure the way we think.

Sometimes you have to take unique steps to be successful.
I think the names of these thieves should never be protected under every circumstance. Their punishment should be severe and they should be immediately released from their various positions.

This is totally unacceptable and purely senseless; how could you have criminals in a position to design our constitution?