N250m Scam: Assembly Clears Obi

Anambra State House of Assembly has cleared the State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi of complicity in alleged money laundering in a N250 Million state fund intercepted by the police in Lagos state recently.
THISDAY recalled that the report of the N250 million found in possession of one of the governor’s aide had thrown up a lot of controversy in society, especially given the governor’s avowed stance in transparency.
However, in adopting the report of the three man committee set up by the Assembly June 2, 2009, to look into the matter and find out what actually transpired, the legislative body noted that the adoption was to enable the recommendation be accepted by the legislature as a working document by the House, pending the time other reports by other relevant government agencies investigating the matter would be out.
Although the adoption of the committee’s report was successful at the end of the day, it was observed that it created a near divided House as some of the members opposed the adoption, while others abstained from the voting exerecise.
According to the report, "the committee found out from the office of the Secretary to the State Government that Ejike Onwusogbulu is the owner of Glitz Introserve Ltd which is a registered company with the State Government".
Part of the report submitted to the House read, “Mr. Speaker, the committee found out from the office of the Accountant General of the State that the State Government have not paid any amount of money whatsoever to either Ejike Onwusogbulu personally or to Glitz Introserve Ltd or Autozone Motors Global Ltd. (See attached a copy of the reply from the office of the Accountant General p. 35). The Accountant General appeared personally before the committee”.“The committee on reply from the Heads of Local Government Administrations of the State and after conducting oral interview with them one after the other discovered that all the Heads of Local Government Administration, through their secretariat in the office of the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, agreed to purchase 21 units of Kia Optima Cars for their respective offices in the 21 LGA’s of Anambra state and 21 units of Ford Ranger 4x4 Pick Up Van for the police in the 21 Local Government Areas of the state to beef up security in the state.
“The Heads of Local Government Administration in all the Local Governments agreed through selective tender to award the contract to Autozone Motors Global Ltd and Glitz Introserve Ltd.
“The committee discovered that the contract sum for the purchase and supply of the aforementioned vehicles were N4,850,000 per unit for the FORD Ranger 4x4 Pick Up Van and N3,700,000 per unit for the Kia Optima Cars (See attached copies of the Contract Agreement executed jointly by the Heads of LGA’s and the Contracts for Tender P. 43-66). The total contract sum is N179,550,000. There is an Advance payment Guarantee from Fidelity Bank in respect of the contract (See attached copies). There is also a letter of Domiciliation of the above amount from one Stephaine Keri Uzo JP of office of the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, to the Branch Manager Fidelity Bank Plc, N0 7 Zik Avenue Awka. (A copy is attached).
“The committee found out that all the Local Governments raised payment vouchers and subsequently issued cheques in respect of the above contracts. The cheques are yet to be paid to the contractor though deposited with the Bank where the total sum of contract is Domiciled i.e Fidelity Bank PLC of N0. 7 Ziks Avenue , Awka.
“It was also discovered by the committee from Ejike Onwusogbulu that the amount that intercepted by the police in Lagos was N255,000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Five Million Naira) and not N250,000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Million). The money from investigation ws an overdraft facility withdrawn by Ejike Onwusogbulu from Fidelity Bank Plc, N0 7 Ziks Avenue Awka on Thursday 28 May 2009. (see document of the overdraft facility attached P. 70-74).
“The committee found out from Ejike Onwusogbulu that he withdrew the money for the purposes of Direct Purchase of the contracted vehicles from Dealers in Lagos who are more inclined to cash and carry transaction.
“The committee discovered that the said money withdrawn by Ejike Onwusogbulu ie N255,000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Five Million Naira) was the money intercepted by the Police in Lagos . The Governor corroborated the fact that Ejike Onwusogbulu was the owner of the money and that the said vehicles intercepted with the money were his going for routine servicing in Lagos and that he was aware that the contractor gave the money to his driver.
“It is the recommendation of the committee that as the police and the EFCC are yet to come out with any report, this report should be accepted as a working document pending when investigation report of the police and EFCC are sent to the committee for the committee to fully report to the House”, the report added.

So who are we to believe?

Good question @Asha80

roflmao!!!

Emperoh:

This story to me looks plausible. I have been looking for a loophole but haven't found one yet
Also, this assemble is 99% PDP and would do anything to hurt or oust the governor, so i think they just couldn't nail him.

So who was responsible for the 250m palaver?

How can it look plausible?  

Why would be a car going for 'routine servicing' in Lagos be carrying 255m withdrawn from Awka?   For a contractor able to withdraw 255m, why would he give Peter Obi's DRIVER such an amount of money to carry to Lagos in cars going to be serviced? Is Obi's DRIVER now a money transporter for a CONTRACTOR?  

Why would the contractor withdraw cash from Fidelity in Awka and DRIVE the money to Lagos? Are there no Fidelity bank branches in Lagos?  

The contract amount was allegedly 179m, so why would he need 250m (a difference of 71m) to buy the cars on 'cash and carry' basis?   I know sometimes you need to use your money before you get confirmation and get paid by the government, but why was there such a large amount of money withdrawn compared to the contract sum?  

All we can say is that the money for the vehicle contract has not been withdrawn, since Fidelity can attest to the money being present.

Unless this 'overdraft facility' covered the sum of 255m, there are still unanswered questions here.

@ Emperoh

Do you have links to the overdraft facility from Fidelity? that might help clear things up.

Emperoh:

Asha80

Whoever did it has a motive which i think is politically motivated. . . . . its not out of place for the Police to raise alarm bt i had thought that before such is done, investigations should have been concluded and Governor a serious suspect before anything wolf cry.

Its even a personal money to be used to execute a contract for Anambra State Govt. which he is yet to be paid!!!
So U see?

Are you saying Naira 250 Million is personal money? Na wa oo!! Where do people find this kind "Personal Money"

I don't know why you're taking paracetamol on another man's headache. Where the contractor got his overdraft is none of your business. How he chose to carry it is his own problem. What he does with his money is his palaver. Afterall,Ndi Anambra's money is not missing or lost. Tell me apart from Anambra state, which state in Nigeria would give a contract for a 4x4 Ford Ranger at below 5million per unit. We should give honor to whom honour is due. A whole PDP assembly to clear Obi of any wrong doing is a message that you should all leave the man alone to continue his good works in Anambra state. Pls go and enquire from your various states how your governors are spending your money and leave Ndi Anambra alone

Someone sang of "Government magic"

Yes oo!! A Whole National Court Clearing Yar adua of Election Fraud is a message that you should all leave the man alone to continue his goods works in Nigeria!!!

up Yar Adua!! 2011 that your own !!! roflmao!!!!!!!!!!

Nigeria is about to colapse with fraudulent leader.but we the youth are ready 4 them.
Nigeria must be great.

Bump

Seun:
Bump

interesting.......

Paid urchins are going the extra miles to dig up dirt on obi. They are indirectly admitting that their principal is a cesspool of corruption and so must fine anything possible to make obi be in the same level as their kleptomaniac boss.

At poster above, what you said is obviously the truth. What is 250m ? To a man like obi? If obi wants to steal money won't it be an insult to steal a paltry 250m that is not even up to the security vote of a typical Nigerian Governor

Seun:
Bump

Intergrity through obscurity

Any real counter information? Not they say, we say kinda information? This is from a HoA committee report after investigation, the counter should have to be from the authority involved in the case, not just opinion piece.

With all the 24/7 searchlight on Obi, the grasping for straws, if there's real case in this matter it could have been blown above scale. I want a real corruption case of stealing public funds on this man so we can all call him thief thief like Tinubu and co.

They will ask you why should a business man carry such an amount but still defend Tinubu two bullion vans.

Seun:
Bump

This was a joke. Obi had the state assembly in his pocket.

JavaScript90:
At poster above, what you said is obviously the truth. What is 250m ? To a man like obi? If obi wants to steal money won't it be an insult to steal a paltry 250m that is not even up to the security vote of a typical Nigerian Governor

Are you satisfied lying to yourself?

mycar:
They will ask you why should a business man carry such an amount but still defend Tinubu two bullion vans.

Niggar, Tinubu was no longer in public office as at 2007. He has been a private citizen ever since. Obi was a Governor of Anambra when his official convoy was found with 250million cash in Lagos. Obi is a complete fraud.

Pakute:

This was a joke. Obi had the state assembly in his pocket.

Did he also have the Nigerian Poilce and EFCC in his pocket?

Is anybody here doubting that Peter Obi is a thief and also murdered unharmed Biafrans


Mazi Simon Ekpa

JavaScript90:
At poster above, what you said is obviously the truth. What is 250m ? To a man like obi? If obi wants to steal money won't it be an insult to steal a paltry 250m that is not even up to the security vote of a typical Nigerian Governor

250m is alot of money them . I will continue to say Peter Obi murder Biafrans and dumped their bodies inside river


Mazi Simon Ekpa

Seun:
Bump

Go and verify

Pakute:

This was a joke. Obi had the state assembly in his pocket.

Not even his party members, a different party, the ruling party... you sef check am


Obi no be Saint O, but na better alternative him be, but unfortunately the guy no dey win shi shi... Make he just retire

Emperoh:


N250m Scam: Assembly Clears Obi

Anambra State House of Assembly has cleared the State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi of complicity in alleged money laundering in a N250 Million state fund intercepted by the police in Lagos state recently.
THISDAY recalled that the report of the N250 million found in possession of one of the governor’s aide had thrown up a lot of controversy in society, especially given the governor’s avowed stance in transparency.
However, in adopting the report of the three man committee set up by the Assembly June 2, 2009, to look into the matter and find out what actually transpired, the legislative body noted that the adoption was to enable the recommendation be accepted by the legislature as a working document by the House, pending the time other reports by other relevant government agencies investigating the matter would be out.
Although the adoption of the committee’s report was successful at the end of the day, it was observed that it created a near divided House as some of the members opposed the adoption, while others abstained from the voting exerecise.
According to the report, "the committee found out from the office of the Secretary to the State Government that Ejike Onwusogbulu is the owner of Glitz Introserve Ltd which is a registered company with the State Government".
Part of the report submitted to the House read, “Mr. Speaker, the committee found out from the office of the Accountant General of the State that the State Government have not paid any amount of money whatsoever to either Ejike Onwusogbulu personally or to Glitz Introserve Ltd or Autozone Motors Global Ltd. (See attached a copy of the reply from the office of the Accountant General p. 35). The Accountant General appeared personally before the committee”.“The committee on reply from the Heads of Local Government Administrations of the State and after conducting oral interview with them one after the other discovered that all the Heads of Local Government Administration, through their secretariat in the office of the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, agreed to purchase 21 units of Kia Optima Cars for their respective offices in the 21 LGA’s of Anambra state and 21 units of Ford Ranger 4x4 Pick Up Van for the police in the 21 Local Government Areas of the state to beef up security in the state.
“The Heads of Local Government Administration in all the Local Governments agreed through selective tender to award the contract to Autozone Motors Global Ltd and Glitz Introserve Ltd.
“The committee discovered that the contract sum for the purchase and supply of the aforementioned vehicles were N4,850,000 per unit for the FORD Ranger 4x4 Pick Up Van and N3,700,000 per unit for the Kia Optima Cars (See attached copies of the Contract Agreement executed jointly by the Heads of LGA’s and the Contracts for Tender P. 43-66). The total contract sum is N179,550,000. There is an Advance payment Guarantee from Fidelity Bank in respect of the contract (See attached copies). There is also a letter of Domiciliation of the above amount from one Stephaine Keri Uzo JP of office of the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, to the Branch Manager Fidelity Bank Plc, N0 7 Zik Avenue Awka. (A copy is attached).
“The committee found out that all the Local Governments raised payment vouchers and subsequently issued cheques in respect of the above contracts. The cheques are yet to be paid to the contractor though deposited with the Bank where the total sum of contract is Domiciled i.e Fidelity Bank PLC of N0. 7 Ziks Avenue , Awka.
“It was also discovered by the committee from Ejike Onwusogbulu that the amount that intercepted by the police in Lagos was N255,000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Five Million Naira) and not N250,000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Million). The money from investigation ws an overdraft facility withdrawn by Ejike Onwusogbulu from Fidelity Bank Plc, N0 7 Ziks Avenue Awka on Thursday 28 May 2009. (see document of the overdraft facility attached P. 70-74).
“The committee found out from Ejike Onwusogbulu that he withdrew the money for the purposes of Direct Purchase of the contracted vehicles from Dealers in Lagos who are more inclined to cash and carry transaction.
“The committee discovered that the said money withdrawn by Ejike Onwusogbulu ie N255,000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Five Million Naira) was the money intercepted by the Police in Lagos . The Governor corroborated the fact that Ejike Onwusogbulu was the owner of the money and that the said vehicles intercepted with the money were his going for routine servicing in Lagos and that he was aware that the contractor gave the money to his driver.
“It is the recommendation of the committee that as the police and the EFCC are yet to come out with any report, this report should be accepted as a working document pending when investigation report of the police and EFCC are sent to the committee for the committee to fully report to the House”, the report added.

House of Assembly? Are they the EFCC or the police? Politicians absolving themselves of corruption, is that not laughable?

BMC try all you can, you will continue to fail. The more you try the more you make him competent!

In yesterday's interview he asked Rufai to tell the people shouting family business to mention just one family business.

BMC with their usual low IQ will sit down in their huts and be typing rubbish upandan!

Mazisimonekpa:
250m is alot of money them . I will continue to say Peter Obi murder Biafrans and dumped their bodies inside river


Mazi Simon Ekpa

Peter Obi killed Biafrans, and on the other hand, you people accused him of being an IPOB member.

Tinubu urchins should pick a story and stick to it.