US Secretary Of State Report Massive Corruption In Nigeria

By Aliyu Kolo on April 21, 2013







The Secretary of State, United States of America, John Kerry, has alleged massive corruption at all levels of the Nigerian Government in the new report he submitted to the United States Congress.



The Report 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.

According to the report revealed over the weekend, the section 4 that featured Nigeria under “Corruption and Lack of Transparency in Government,” disclosed “Massive, widespread, and pervasive corruption affected all levels of government and the security forces.”

Although the Nigerian law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, the report stated that: “government did not implement the law effectively, and officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity.”

The judiciary was also analysed and the report stated; “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.”

Furthermore, all major financial scandals within the period under review and how the issues were handled by government reflected in the report. “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 N1.067 trillion ($6.8 billion). The committee recommended reform of the oversight and enforcement mechanisms and further endorsed investigation and prosecution of culpable officials.”

“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.”

Similarly, during the subsidy probe in June (2012), “allegations and a video surfaced, allegedly showing Lawan accepting a N94.2 million ($605,000) bribe from Entrepreneur Femi Otedola, who had advised Lawan on the investigation but whose company had not received fuel subsidy payments.

“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.

Other corruption cases reported were the arrest of the 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 disclosed.

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 declaration of assets by Nigerian public officials in pursuant to the constitution, “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.”

“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.

So truee... Bt i wuldnt admit t outsyd dx forum.

Why Cant America mind their businesses ? They have too many wars and terrorism to fight in their country. Inventing HIV and producing ARD is one of the biggest frauds. Starting a war and allocating 100s of billions on defense budget is heavenly corruption. Can they give us a break ?

Billyonaire: Why Cant America mind their businesses ? They have too many wars and terrorism to fight in their country. Inventing HIV and producing ARD is one of the biggest frauds. Starting a war and allocating 100s of billions on defense budget is heavenly corruption. Can they give us a break ?

Mad fraudster, you are in a global age. Deal with that notion instead of spreading silly conspiracy theories everywhere and attacking messengers. Have they lied about events under GEJ or is it that you cannot handle the truth? Loser.

So true, this is d norm of nigerians, after a case of high level corruption is brought up, the court delays d cases and b4 u know it, everybody has forgotten abt it. Especially the nigerian media. #smh for my country.

Yes, America is pokenosing into our affairs. But the bitter truth is that Nigeria is so sick at this time. The level of corruption is so high that it has made us vulnerable to all nation.
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Last Bullet: I feel sorry for Nigeria anytime I remember how the cases of Gbenga Daniel, Alao Akala & other looting governors were treated treated. These are real thieves!

This is what we scream about everyday. As long as PDP is in power, corruption will be the pastime of Nigerian govt officials. What makes this govt very bad is that it pretends and lies that it's fighting corruption, but in the real sense it is busy nurturing its seeds. People who feared to steal before are now rest assured that you can steal and get away with it. At worst, you get fined a tiny % of what you've stolen. And that's it.

skyfall: This is what we scream about everyday. As long as PDP is in power, corruption will be the pastime of Nigerian govt officials. What makes this govt very bad is that it pretends and lies that it's fighting corruption, but in the real sense it is busy nurturing its seeds. People who feared to steal before are now rest assured that you can steal and get away with it. At worst, you get fined a tiny % of what you've stolen.

Thieves now even bring the fines to court in their Babariga so they can pay the paltry amount on the spot and be done with the "nuisance" the whole charade represents to them. Do we not see how fuel subsidy scam suspects are always 'swaggering' and laughing wildly in Court as if it is Nigeria on trial and not them.

We corrupt!even if madam ngozi says otherwise

My 2015 return to power is guaranteed. That's all that matter. Why didn't the burger eating president of theirs do this to me before his sorting out his return for second term in white house?

Billyonaire: Why Cant America mind their businesses ? They have too many wars and terrorism to fight in their country. Inventing HIV and producing ARD is one of the biggest frauds. Starting a war and allocating 100s of billions on defense budget is heavenly corruption. Can they give us a break ?

Stupi.d iyanminrin... What is wrong in the US telling the world the obvious about Nigeria? How do we solve our many problems if we refuse to admit the truth? A problem well defined is half solved - so they say. Why do you prefer to live in deceit? The militancy and other criminal activities like kidnapping we are facing in Nigeria today are direct results of corrupt and deceptive leadership. We will all be consumed one day if we dont change the way we do things - if we prefer lies and deception, will we all pay for it and children yet on born will suffer as well.

You better think now and change your evil way.

As much as there's wide spread corruption in Nigeria, I shiit on all these foreign reports

Gbawe:

Thieves now even bring the fines to court in their Babariga so they can pay the paltry amount on the spot and be done with the "nuisance" the whole charade represents to them. Do we not see how fuel subsidy scam suspects are always 'swaggering' and laughing wildly in Court as if it is Nigeria on trial and not them.

Rotflmaa!

Gbawe:

Mad fraudster, you are in a global age. Deal with that notion instead of spreading silly conspiracy theories everywhere and attacking messengers. Have they lied about events under GEJ or is it that you cannot handle the truth? Loser.

Sure, slaveboy. When it comes to the crimes of your white masters, it's all "conspiracy theory". All that's left to complete your servitude is a padlock on you lips.

Mod, why is this not on the front page?U guys will gladly put Tonto Dike,PSquare,etc on front page but real issues affecting us are hidden here. May God forgive u. Pls front page.