At her office in the National Assembly Complex on 27 March, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, Chairman, Senate Committe on Health, left a stern instruction: “Senate security, nobody should come into my office,” she told the security officers. The instruction was issued to roll back journalists, who were sniffing for updates on the N300million Christmas bonus scandal in the Ministry of Health.
The order may have kept journalists away from her office, but it has failed to keep Iyabo out of the headlines, especially those announcing scandals.

Commission has informed a Federal High Court in Lagos how a former Edo State Governor, Lucky Igbinedion, embezzled over N19bn of the state funds through his aides.



In a counter-affidavit filed before Justice Mohammed Idris, the EFCC gave details of how Igbinedion allegedly used his fronts, including his younger brother, Michael, and his aides – Patrick Eboigbodin, Amadin Eriyo and Harrison Aigbedion – in laundering the state’s funds.



According to the EFCC, Amadin worked with Igbinedion as a messenger and personal assistant, while Eboigbodin served as his senior special assistant.



The EFCC disclosed this in a counter-affidavit deposed to by a police officer attached to the agency, Mr. Lawal Abdullahi. The application was in response to a motion by Igbinedion, asking the court to vacate an order of interim attachment of assets made against him.



Igbinedion had claimed that the EFCC had misled Justice Idris to obtain the order, saying that the EFCC kept the information relating to his past conviction on the same offence where he entered a plea bargaining with the commission.



But the EFCC had filed the counter-affidavit against the application of Igbinedion.



The anti-graft agency further claimed that there was no similarity of facts in the case in which Igbinedion was earlier convicted on a plea bargaining and the new charge filed against him and some others.



The EFCC added that the fresh charge pending against Igbinedion and some of his aides before a Federal High Court in Benin relates to how the ex-governor diverted over N19bn through his fronts.



The agency also urged the court to decline the ex-governor’s application on the grounds that the order was justly made.



The EFCC had claimed that it received various petitions against Igbinedion, saying that its investigation of the ex-governor’s activities while in office revealed that all the assets attached were those he allegedly acquired with stolen funds.



The EFCC’s police officer, Abdullahi, further claimed in the counter-affidavit that Amadin and Eboigbodin were earlier charged with Igbinedion in the 2008 case, saying, however, that their names were removed from the charge, following their escape from the country. He also accused the ex-governor of aiding their escape.



The EFCC further denied that it entered into any agreement with Igbinedion in relation to all funds illegally withdrawn from Edo State’s accounts and accused the ex-governor of illegally withdrawing funds from the state’s Local Government Joint Allocation Account under false pretence.



At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, lawyer to the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, told Justice Idris that his client had filed a counter-affidavit against Igbinedion’s application, seeking to set aside the court’s interim order on his properties.



But the lawyer to Igbinedion, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN), told the court that he needed time to respond to the EFCC’s allegations.



The case has been adjourned till Friday.

A civil society group, Coalition Against Impunity and Illegality (CAGIL) says it will continue with its suit against the EFCC for refusing to and bring to justice, the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, over allegation of money laundering to the tune of $12.5 million (about N1.9 billion).

The suit, which was filed at a Federal High Court in Lagos is praying for an order of Mandamus, compelling the EFCC to either prosecute the First Lady or make an official clarification on the allegation. Filed by the law firm of Rhaman Senge, under Order 34 Rules 1 and 3 of the Federal High Court Procedure Rule 209, the suit wants the court to declare that refusal or failure of the EFCC to act by prosecuting the First Lady is abdication of its public duty, imposed on it by Sections 6 & 7 of EFCC Act of 2004. According to CAGIL, the anti-graft agency had publicly declared on September 11, 2006, via its then spokesman, Osita Nwajah, that Mrs. Jonathan, who was then the First Lady of Bayelsa State, was nabbed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while attempting to smuggle out a whopping $12.5million.


The EFCC then claimed that it immediately impounded the money, while adding that another sum of N104 million was traced to her foreign account, which the commission believed was far beyond her legitimate earnings as at the time. CAGIL wondered why the story was ended just like that, regretting that Nigerians who eagerly expected justice in the case had waited in vain for more than four years. "It is not on record that the EFCC took further actions on those startling revelations. At least, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, to public knowledge, was never subjected to any legal actions. Are we in a country where some are more equal than others?," CAGIL asked. The group went further to state that: "The First Lady has no constitutional immunity. She should be given the opportunity to defend herself. We seek a comprehensive legal action on this matter and call on the EFCC to take necessary steps to recover the money traced to her foreign account to the coffers of the Federal Government or Bayelsa State, if that is where it belongs without delay and make the First Lady face justice, if found culpable," the body insisted.

The group's General Secretary, Comrade Mark Adebayo, said CAGIL deliberately allowed the April General elections to be successfully completed before taking up the First Lady's case because the body does not want to be misconstrued and labeled as working for the opposition. He explained that since President Goodluck Jonathan has not shown that he is influencing the anti-graft bodies in the performance of their duties, it behooves the EFCC not to leave any room for suspicion. The civil society group had earlier on June 27 petitioned the EFCC not only on the First Lady's case but also on the commission's foot-dragging in recovering from prominent Nigerians the N40billion looted funds of the defunct national carrier, the Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL). "The Nigeria Airways was the safest national carrier in Africa in the 1970s-80s but a combination of mindless corruption mal-administration and policy misdirection led to its collapse prompting the former President Olusegun Obasanjo to institute in 2000 a seven members probe panel led by retired Justice Obiora Nwazota to look into its demise and recommend appropriate sanction. Findings of the Justice Nwazota panel which were accepted by the government was scandalously shocking as its revealed that a whopping total of $254,257,529.65 million; £1,792,796.72 million and N548,380,248,38 million (totaling N39,045,569,039,88 billion ) was looted from the NAL through tax fraud, contract inflation, ticketing scam, fake projects, commissions scam, fake premiums, bonds and loans; misappropriation and outright stealing. The panel also recommended the swift recovery of all the stolen money of NAL and criminal prosecution of those indicted.
Originally published by Nigeria Today Online

Former Chairman of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) board of directors, Chief Bode George, and former Managing Director of the same authority, Alhaji Aminu Dabo, have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

LEADERSHIP gathered that George, who was arrested in his Maitama, Abuja, residence, was taken to Lagos last night and is being detained at the commission's cell on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, while Dabo is being detained in Abuja.th June 2001 and Ref No. TRY A&B4/2002 dated 5th of July 2002, issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance and Office of the Accountant General of the Federation respectively, all contracts above N50 million should be refered to the Federal Executive Council while those between N20 million and N50 million are to be referred to Ministerial Tenders Board, contracts worth between N1 million and N20 million are to be approved by board of directors, N1 million contracts by permanent secretaries and contracts worth N700,000 and below are to be approved by chief executive of parastatals.

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/omoyele-sowore/james-ibori-money-laundering-case-in-london-accomplices-are-charged-up.html

CHARGES:

(A) Adebimpe Folayinmi Pogoson [23/10/68 – 39 ys] of Barons Court, Church Lane, The Hyde, NW9 and

(B) Christine Omatie Ibori-Ibie [4/7/58 - 49 ys] of Woodhill Cres, Kenton, Harrow, Middx,

were both charged on 19.12.07 with:



Count 1)

Between the 1st day of June 1999 and the 29th day of May 2007 they conspired together and with James Onanefe Ibori, Udoamaka Onuigbo (also known as Okoronkwo) and others to defraud the Delta State Government by dishonestly, among other matters:

(i) being a party to an inflated price fraud in respect of the contract for the building of a sports track for the Delta State Government at the

(ii) being a party to the provision of an inflated invoice fraud in respect of the supply of vehicles to the Delta State Government

(iii) being a party to working for the private interests of James Onanefe Ibori whilst the Governor of Delta State whilst being paid by the Delta State Government.

Contrary to common law.



Count 2)

Between the 1st day of May 1999 and the 24th day of March 2003 they conspired together and with James Onanefe Ibori, Udoamaka Onuigbo (also known as Okoronkwo) and others to enter into or were otherwise concerned in an arrangement whereby the proceeds of the criminal conduct of James Onanafe Ibori were used:

(i) to secure that funds were placed at the disposal of James Onanefe Ibori; or

(ii) for the benefit of James Onanefe Ibori to acquire property by way of investment,

they knowing or suspecting that James Onanefe Ibori was or had been engaged in criminal conduct or had benefited from criminal conduct.

Contrary to section 93A of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.



Count 3)

Between the 23rd day of March 2003 and the 30th day of May 2007 conspired together and with James Onanefe Ibori, Udoamaka Onuigbo (also known as Okoronkwo) and others to conceal, disguise, convert, transfer, or remove criminal property, knowing or suspecting that the property constituted a person’s benefit from criminal conduct, or it represented such a benefit in whole or in part and whether directly or indirectly.

Contrary to section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.



Count 4

4 That Christine Omatie Ibori-Ibie on or about the 2nd day of November 2001 dishonestly obtained for herself or another a money transfer from GMAC –RFC Limited in the sum of £356,250.00 being a loan by way of mortgage in respect of the property known as 76 Woodhill Crescent, Kenton, Harrow, Middlesex HA3 0LZ by deception, namely by making false representations, among others, that



(i) her income was £130,238.00;

(ii) her business was C Ibie International and was an export and import agent;

(iii) the business had been established since 1996

(iv) she had been self employed in it for 5 years as the owner.

Contrary to section 15A of the Theft Act 1968.

Christine Omatie Ibori-Ibie was charged with xx additional charges of:



Count 5)

On or about the 20th day of April 2006 she dishonestly obtained for herself of another a money transfer from Abbey National PLC in the sum of £374,000.00 being a loan by way of mortgage in respect of the property known as 76 Woodhill Crescent, Kenton, Harrow, Middlesex HA3 0LZ by deception, namely by making false representations, among others, that:

(i) she was a self employed interior decorator working form her home address;

(ii) her net profit/income for the year to 5th April 2005 was £89,820.00;

(iii) her net profit/income for the year to 5th April 2004 was £85,448.00;

(iv) her net profit /income for the year to 5th April 2003 was £79,105.00

Contrary to section 15A of the Theft Act 1968.



Count 6)

On or about the 3rd day of July 2001 she dishonestly obtained for herself or another a money transfer from GE Money Home Lending Limited (part of I Group Limited) in the sum of £50,500.00 being a loan by way of mortgage in respect of the property known as 139 Kingfisher Way, London NW10, by deception, namely by making false representations, among others, that

(i) she operated a wholesale childrens’ wear business under the name of Mareli from 78 Victoria Road, London NW6 6QA;

(ii) she had been self employed for six years;

(iii) her income was £200,000.00 before tax.

Contrary to section 15A of the Theft Act 1968.



Count 7)

On or about the 23rd day of December 2003 she attempted dishonestly to obtain for herself or another a money transfer from the Kensington Mortgage Company Limited in the sum of £157,895.00 being a loan by way of mortgage in respect of the property known as Flat 47, Geneva Court, Rookery Way, Colindale, London NW9 6GA, be deception, namely by making false representations , among others, that:

(i) her business was in Oil and Gas services – management and maintenance;

(ii) the business was Winburg Oil and Gas and its address was 78 Victoria Road, Kilburn, London NW6 6QA.

(iii) the business had been trading for 5 years and her shareholding was 100 per cent;

(iv) her share of the net profits for the year 2002 to 2003 was £112,000.00

(v) her share of the net profits for the year 2001 to 2002 was £110,000.00;

(vi) her share of the net profits for the year 2000 to 2001 was £105,000.00.

Contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981.



Count

On or about the 27th day of August 2004 she dishonestly obtained for herself or another a money transfer from the Kensington Mortgages Limited in the sum of £137,245.00 being a loan by way of mortgage in respect of the property known as 58 Uphill Drive, London NW9 0BX by deception , by making false representations, among others, that

(i) her business was in Oil and Gas services – management and maintenance;

(ii) the business was Winburg Oil and Gas and its address was 78 Victoria Road, Kilburn, London NW6 6QA;

(iii) the business had been trading for 5 years and her shareholding was 100 per cent;

(iv) her share of the net profits for the year 2002 to 2003 was £112,000.00;

(v) her share of the net profits for the year 2001 to 2002 was £110,000;

(vi) her share of the net profits for the year 2000 to 2001 was £105,000.00.

Contrary to section 15A of the Theft Act 1968.

Both women were bailed to appear at City of Westminster Magistrates Court on 8.1.08.





James Ibori money Laundering case in London:Bimpe Pogoson and Christie Ibie Ibori to be charged on January 8 2008

Saharareporters, New York

Dateline: London, December 19, 2007

Several female accomplices of former Governor James Ibori who allegedly helped him launder funds through several London banks will be charged to court in January 2008.

Only two of the accomplices, Bimpe Pogoson, Ibori's former personal assistant on confidential matters, and Christie Ibie Ibori, the former governor’s sister, presented themselves at the Belgravia Police Station today. The Crown Prosecution (CPS) decided to permit them to go home on bail with five conditions attached; Saharareporters could not ascertain the nature of the conditions as at press time.

However, UK Police sources told Saharareporters that the conditions were stringent enough to prevent the suspects’ escape from the UK before January 8, 2008 when they will be charged before the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court in London. Their indictments stem from offences relating to former Governor Ibori's money laundering activities. The ex-governor’s worldwide assets worth $35 million remain frozen on the orders of a London High court.

Ibori and Udoamaka Okoronkwo are currently in Kaduna prison after a Federal High Court judge denied them bail on Monday, December 17 when they were charged on multiple counts of corruption, money laundering and abuse of office.

The Metropolitan Police have extended Udoamaka Okoronkwo's bail till the end of January 2008 as her lawyers pleaded for time to produce her to the police. Her lawyers had earlier reported her arrest and arraignment in Nigeria.

Though Ibori will not be charged with his female accomplices on January 8, 2008 in London, Saharareporters has been informed that the charges against his accomplices would be worded to reflect his atrocities as revealed by various documents and exhibits

THE Supreme Court on Friday unanimously held that former governor of Taraba State, Reverend Jolly Nyame, must face criminal trial over alleged stealing of N2.4 billion while in office.

The apex court in making the order dismissed an appeal brought by the former governor seeking to quash the 41-count charge of stealing and money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Nyame was a three-time governor in the state, starting from 1992 to1993 and 1999 to 2007.

Following his arraignment by the anti-graft commission in 2007 after his exit from office, Nyame had asked the Abuja High Court to hold that the charge against him was incompetent which robbed the court of the jurisdiction to try him.

He also contended that the alleged crime was committed in Taraba State and could not be tried in the Federal Capital Territory.

The trial judge, Justice Abimbola Banjoko, however, assumed jurisdiction in the matter, holding that the charge was correctly placed before the court.

Attempts by Nyame to upturn the ruling at the Court of Appeal, Abuja division, also failed as the court upheld the decision of the lower court, with Nyame heading for the apex court.

Delivering judgment in his appeal on Friday, Justice Olufunmilayo Adekeye in her lead judgment held that the charge slammed on the former governor before the Abuja High Court by the anti-corruption commission was competent.

She further upheld the decisions of the lower courts, adding that since a part of the alleged criminal acts was perpetrated within the FCT, the Abuja High Court had the jurisdiction to try the former governor.

Justice Adekeye added that the allegedly stolen money did not belong to Taraba State alone as claimed by the accused. adding that the Federal Government also had a stake in it.

She noted that the alleged offence for which the accused was facing trial was a federal offence and its trial could only be initiated in the name of the Federal Government, as done in the charge, adding that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as an agency charged with the responsibility of prosecuting persons found culpable in issue of money laundering, counterfeiting and other financial crimes, was the appropriate body to prosecute the charge.

Adekeye subsequently directed that Nyame’s trial which had been adjourned sine dine by the lower court pending the outcome of the appeal on jurisdiction, should resume with immediate effect.

It would be recalled that, while arguing his motion to quash the charges at the FCT High Court in Abuja , Nyame through his counsel Emmanuel Toro[SAN] among other things challenged the territorial jurisdiction of the court.

The court however insisted that the documents before it pointed to the fact that part of the offence was committed within the territorial jurisdiction of the court, adding that a prima facie case had been established against the accused by the prosecution.

Against this backdrop the court assumed jurisdiction and adjourned to the 6th of December 2007 for hearing, with Nyame stalling the hearing with his appeal.

It would be recalled that the former chief executive of the state was accused of diverting about N2.4 billion naira belonging to the state when he was the governor.

« on: February 17, 2006, 04:54 PM »

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dariye's days are numbered. Its a matter of time before we know the whole story.

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) intensified its efforts to bring the Plateau State Governor, Chief Joshua Chibi Dariye, to book over alleged financial impropriety as it yesterday charged him (Dariye) and six others to an Abuja High Court for allegedly embezzling the sum of N700 million state fund.

But Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria was Governor Dariye's saving grace as it foreclosed his arraignment, whereas six others, including the State Finance Commissioner and the Permanent Secretary in the Finance Ministry of the state were arraigned.

They were arraigned on a seven-count charge.

According to the charge sheet, they were alleged to have diverted various sums of money belonging to the state into the private account of an unregistered company.

Those arraigned at the court before Justice Abimbola Banjoko yesterday include: Nuhu Ali Madaki, the Accountant-General of the state; Shem Yemte Damisa, former Accountant-General of the state and Emmanuel Agati, the state's Commissioner for Finance.

Others are: Joseph Magaji Azi, Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Finance; Silas Vongbut, Director of Finance in the ministry and Semshak Semlek, a deputy director.

All the accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Counsel to EFCC, Mr. Ben Ubi, told the court immediately after the charges were read to the accused persons and their plea taken, that Governor Dariye was not arraigned with other accused persons because of the constitutional immunity he enjoys as a governor.

He asked the court to fix a date for trial. He also urged the court to make an order that all the accused persons should be remanded in prison.

He said it is in the interest of the people of Plateau State that justice is done in the case.

Counsel to all the accused persons, Mr. Garbi Puul, did not object to the submission of EFCC counsel that all the accused persons should be tried.

He, however, made an oral application to the court that all the accused persons be granted bail.

Puul said: "I have no objection to the trial of the accused persons. We were served with the charges yesterday (Wednesday).

"The accused have been in EFCC custody and were not allowed to see their counsel.

"The Plateau State government will ensure that they are present in court for trial. I urge the court to grant them bail".

He said it was not mentioned in the charge that any of the accused benefited from the money.

But Justice Banjoko directed the counsel to file a formal application for bail and remanded all accused persons in prison custody.

The seven-count charge preferred against the accused persons, read thus:

Count 1: That you Shem Yemte Damisa, Nuhu Ali Madaki, Emmanuel Agati, Silas Vongbut, Joseph Madaki Azi, Semshak Semlek and Chief Joshua Dariye (now under immunity) on or about 3rd May, 2001 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory being public officers of Plateau State and in such capacities entrusted with certain properties to wit: Plateau State Government statutory allocation committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said properties by lodging N204,000,000.00 (Two hundred and four million naira) into the private account of an unregistered company known as Ebenezer Retnan Venture whose alter ego is Chief Joshua Dariye from the said properties and thereby committed an offence punishable under S.315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 523 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 1990.

Count 2: That you Nuhu Ali Madaki and Chief Joshua Dariye (now under immunity) on or about 14th April, 2003 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory being public officers and in such capacities entrusted with certain properties to wit: Funds of Plateau State Government committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said properties by lodging the sum of N6,000,000.00 (Six million naira) into the private account of an unregistered company known as Ebenezer Retnan Venture whose alter ego is Chief Joshua Dariye from the said properties and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap Laws of Federation of Nigeria 1990.

Count 3: That you Nuhu Ali Madaki and Chief Joshua Dariye (now under immunity) on or about 25th January 2001 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory being public officers and in such capacities entrusted with certain properties to wit: Funds of Plateau State Government committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said properties by lodging the sum of N6,000,000.00 (Six million naira) into the private account of an unregistered company known as Ebenezer Retnan Venture whose alter ego is Chief Joshua Dariye from the said properties and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 523 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 1990.

Count 4: That you Shem Yemte Damisa, Nuhu Ali Madaki, Emmanuel Agati, Silas Vongbut, Joseph Madaki Azi, Semshak Semlek and Chief Joshua Dariye (now under immunity) on or about 19th July, 2001 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory being public officers of Plateau State) and in such capacities entrusted with certain properties to wit: Plateau State Government Ecological Funds committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said properties by lodging the sum of N176,000,000.00 (One hundred and seventy-six million naira) into the private account of an unregistered company known as Ebenezer Retnan Venture whose alter ego is Chief Joshua Dariye from the said properties and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 523 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 1990.

Count 5: That you Shem Yemte Damisa, Nuhu Ali Madaki, Emmanuel Agati, Silas Vongbut, Joseph Madaki Azi, Semshak Semlek and Chief Joshua Dariye (now under immunity) on or about 25th March, 2003 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory being public officers and in such capacities entrusted with certain properties to wit: Funds of Plateau State Government committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said properties by lodging the sum of N10,000,000.00 (Ten million naira) into the private account of an unregistered company known as Ebenezer Retnan Venture whose alter ego is Chief Joshua Dariye from the said properties and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 523 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 1990.

Count 6: That you Shem Yemte Damisa, Nuhu Ali Madaki, Emmanuel Agati, Silas Vongbut, Joseph Madaki Azi, Semshak Semlek and Chief Joshua Dariye (now under immunity) on or about 14th April, 2003 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory being public officers and in such capacities entrusted with certain properties to wit: funds of Plateau State Government committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said properties by lodging the sum of N25,000,000.00 (Twenty Five Million Naira) into the private account of an unregistered company known as Ebenezer Retnan Venture whose alter ego is Chief Joshua Dariye from the said properties and thereby committed an offence punishable under S.315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 523 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 1990.

Count 7

That you Shem Yemte Damisa, and Chief Joshua Dariye (Now under immunity) on or about 6th April, 2001 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory dishonestly converted to your own use certain properties to wit: N273,000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Seventy Three Million) belonging to the Plateau State Government and thereby committed an offence punishable under S.309 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 1990.

However, Dariye yesterday told the management and participants of Senior Executive Course 28 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, that his administration will not surrender to blackmail or intimidation but remain focused and visionary.

Dariye stated this when the participants visited at the Government House, Rayfiled, Jos. He pointed out that in politics, people attack policies and not personalities.

He renewed the determination of his administration to take people of the State to the promised land, saying that the philosophy of the administration's re-engineering agenda is to leave the state better than it met it.

He used the occasion to advise against the use of religion and ethnicity by politicians to divide the people, stressing that such acts negate national unity.

Director-General of NIPSS, Prof. Akin Akindoyeni, who was represented by the study group Director, James Kolawole, commended the governor and the state government for their continued assistance to the institute and participants over the years.








http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/news/article01

[Abuja — John Babani Elias, aide to former governor of Adamawa state, Boni Haruna, was yesterday, granted bail in an amended criminal charge involving about N100 million.

The former governor's aide was accused, alongside his boss by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for embezzling the said sum through series of bank cheques while Haruna's eight years administration lasted.

The trial judge, Justice Adamu Bello, on freeing him on bail, observed that he cannot hold the view that the bail application was void and defective as canvassed by the EFCC since they did not cite any authority to support their claims.

He said the 3rd accused would be released on the same bail terms as the earlier granted to 1st and 2nd accused persons.

In view of the above, the court granted each of the two accused persons bail in the sum of N100 million and one surety in like manner.

Similarly, the court ordered that each of the surety must have landed property in Abuja worth N100 and the land certificates should be deposited in court.

It also ordered them not to travel outside the country without the leave of the court and that their international passport must be deposited in court as well.

It would be recalled that the court had earlier admitted Boni Haruna and Inuwa Bassi to bail, hence it held that it would amount to double standard to refuse to free the 3rd accused, John Babani Elias, on bail, more so when he has been attending court in Lagos where he is standing trial for another criminal charge.

/quote]

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday declared former Delta State governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, wanted over a N44 billion fraud and other corruption charges. Ibori had allegedly gone into hiding since March 27 for fear of arrest by the EFCC, while the anti-graft agency had since March 22 detailed operatives in search of the former Delta governor across cities like Lagos and Abuja.

The EFCC in a statement yesterday signed by Mr. Femi Babafemi explained that the decision to declare Ibori wanted followed persistent public enquiries over the status of the case involving the former governor.

“We will like the public to know that Chief James Ibori is wanted by the commission for interrogation. In this regard, letters of invitation have been sent to his known addresses in Lagos and Abuja while a court warrant has equally been obtained for his arrest,” the statement said.

Apart from weaving 24-hour surveillance around Ibori’s houses on Justice Mohammed Bello Street, Asokoro, Abuja and 21 Idejo Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, the EFCC is also said to have detailed its operatives around major hotels in these two cities in the last three weeks in search of Ibori.

A top source in the agency who confirmed the moves said the commission had, apart from sending letters of invitation to Ibori’s homes in Abuja and Lagos, equally obtained a warrant of arrest from a court as part of efforts to neutralise any perpetual court injunction the former governor may be processing to stall his arrest while his private jet at the Abuja airport is being closely watched by EFCC operatives detailed to keep eagle eyes on it.

According to a source, “Ibori got wind of his imminent arrest about three weeks ago when his security aides must have alerted him about suspected strange movements around his house in Lagos. In fact, one of the EFCC boys on surveillance around his house in Victoria Island, Lagos had a brush with Ibori’s security aides when they mistook him for a miscreant loitering around their area. That incident must have raised his curiousity and since then he has fled into hiding in Delta where he is heavily protected by militants because he moves between his hometown, Oghara and the dangerous creeks of Delta.”

The EFCC Chairman, Mrs Farida Waziri, sources said, must have gone for the option of declaring Ibori wanted when the cat and mouse game seems far from coming to an end after over three weeks of day and night search for him because Ibori would just not swallow all the baits thrown at him to draw him out of his hiding. Ibori had played a prank on the commission last week when he made a camouflage appearance at a wedding in Warri to create an impression that he was moving around freely.
It was gathered that two of Ibori’s associates linked to some of the deals over which he is being wanted have been arrested by the EFCC and are now being detained at the commission’s facility in Abuja.
A source said the decision to declare Ibori wanted was to formally get other security agencies and members of the public involved in the search for him.

filed by former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, seeking to quash a 107-count charge of official corruption and money-laundering brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The same fate befell Jones Udeogu and Slok Nigeria Limited, who are also standing trial alongside the former governor. In their separate applications, the party had prayed the court to quash the charges filed against them on sundry grounds.

Their grounds were summarily predicated on the argument that they were charged to court by EFCC under laws, which were either dead or not legislated by the National Assembly.

They also argued that the proof of evidence accompanying the charges against them did not disclose prima facie case against them and that the 107-count charge was inelegantly drafted.

Kalu further argued that his trial was commenced without regard to the ruling of an Abia State High Court, which restrained the EFCC from arresting or prosecuting him until the determination of the case before it.

After considering the submissions of the applicants/accused persons and those canvassed by EFCC, the trial judge, Adamu Bello, in a two-hour ruling, said the charge as filed was "proper and competent." He declared that the proof of evidence being complained against was a superfluous document, accompanying the charge.

According to him, in a summary trial like the instant case, the prosecution was not under any obligation to make the proof of evidence available, stressing that the charge was okay and that the trial should begin without delay.

The court, which refused all the grounds of the preliminary objection filed by Kalu and his co-accused persons, was described by counsel to both parties as thorough, sound and erudite.

But Kalu, who spoke with reporters outside the courtroom, declared that he was not guilty of the charges preferred against him and was not afraid to face his trial.

The former governor, however, said he was not satisfied with the verdict of the trial court on the competence of the charges preferred against him. He said although he is not a lawyer, he was convinced that the charge was a nullity.

Kalu said as much as he had the constitutional right and liberty to test the validity of the ruling delivered yesterday, he would not sleep on his right.

He assured that he would instruct his team of lawyers to file an appeal challenging the ruling of the trial court at the Court of Appeal.

The former governor also said that even if the Court of Appeal ruled against him, he would explore his rights of appeal on the issue of competence of the charge to the Supreme Court.

"I have told you from the beginning of this case that there are three courts in Nigeria based on hierarchy. Only the trial court has pronounced on this issue of competence of the charges against me. I will go to the Court of Appeal and perhaps the Supreme Court on this issue if need be," he said.

He added that he would never negotiate his trial with the government of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. According to him, he is prepared to face the trial squarely but would never go for any political solution on the matter.

Although EFCC had suggested that the trial be commenced in two or three weeks' time, Kalu's counsel, Prof. Awa Kalu (SAN) asked for a five-month adjournment to enable his client prepare for the case.

The judge agreed with Kalu on the issue of long adjournment but compelled the parties to agree on a date in July.

The matter was eventually adjourned till July 29, this year for further hearing

The former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Solomon Peters Alamieyeseigha who had been under EFCC custody for close to two years, earlier today pleaded guilty to charges of corruption and money laundering brought against him by the EFCC.


A judge of the Federal High Court,Justice Mohammed Shuaibu sentenced the former governor to 2-years in prison. According to the prison calendar, it's expected that DSP Alamieyeseigha will be free from detention having spent two years in Federal custody. He is expected to face his health problems described as "terrible" by a source.

His sentencing ends series of behind the scenes negotiations between his lawyer, Mr. Okpoko (SAN), EFCC and his successor Goodluck Jonathan.
It is not clear if the British authorities will commence extradition requests over DSP's pending criminal proceedings in London from which he jumped bail two years ago.


Also, in Lagos, former governor of Enugu State Chimaroke Nnamani was formerly charged before Justice Peter Olayiwola today on charges of corruption and money laundering, the ex-governor was indicted by the EFCC for stealing close to N6 billion from the treasury of Enugu state, proceeds with which he bought 172 houses and invested in several businesses that are now confiscated by the EFCC through a court order.

In Abuja today, the former governor of Taraba state was granted bail with tough conditionality. that may see him go back to jail. He is required to produce three sureties with deposits of N100 million



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Abeokuta-- Law enforcement authorities believe that Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel is a liar and thief, and would like to prosecute him as soon as his term ends in two years and he no longer enjoys constitutional
immunity as a sitting governor.

We can reveal today that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has concluded investigations into the activities of the governor, which show that he defrauded taxpayers of billions of naira in his six years in office. Investigators also assert that he failed to declare his assets in full as demanded by law.
In one particular case, Mr. Daniel bought a London residence in December 2004 for £1.75 million, or about N435 million, at Bishops Walk, Croydon, Surrey, according to records from the UK Land Registry obtained by NEXT on Sunday.

Mr. Daniel did not mention this in his first term asset declaration as required under our laws, thus committing a criminal act, according to the EFCC. Mr. Daniel also misappropriated "over one billion naira from Government accounts with Guaranty Trust Bank and Intercontinental Bank under the pretence of reimbursement of his trips made within the State," according to EFCC investigations.

And he purchased "vehicles worth over one billion naira which never existed," the agency found. The EFCC investigation and indictment, in 2005, also alleges that Mr. Daniel engaged in widespread private business that created conflicts of interest. Although the EFCC in the past had found ways to indict sitting governors, including after engineering impeachments by their state assemblies, today Mr. Daniel and other sitting governors cannot be prosecuted until they leave office, said an EFCC spokesman.

2.30pmNigerian vice-president faces corruption charges
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guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 28 February 2007 15.51 GMT 
Nigerian vice-president Atiku Abubakar. Photograph: Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP/Getty Images
Nigerian senators have accused the country's vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, of diverting more than $100m (£51m) in public funds to private interests.
A Senate inquiry recommended that Mr Abubakar should be prosecuted for siphoning off money to companies he was connected to.

The Senate launched the investigation last year after the president, Olusegun Obasanjo, forwarded charges made by Nigeria's anti-corruptions body against Mr Abubakar - a one-time political ally.

In a report presented to the full Senate yesterday, the investigating panel said it agreed with the findings that Mr Abubakar helped divert $145m from Nigeria government accounts to banks.

Some of the money was then "fraudulently converted as loans" for three companies connected to the vice-president.

The report called for Mr Abubakar's prosecution, from which he is protected while in office. However, a Senate impeachment would strip him of his protection and disqualify him from April's presidential elections. He could also then face criminal charges.

Mr Abubakar's campaign strongly rejected the findings, saying "the legislative body should not allow its name to be dragged into the mud by a few members who may be pursuing their own hidden agenda".

It said in a statement that his actions were proper, with the money originating in a fund specifically designed for investments in the private sector.

The campaign said a senior government accountant had ruled that the banks were investment grade and that Mr Abubakar had delivered double-digit returns on the government's money.

"We therefore call on the entire Senate to look at the report of the committee objectively and reject it if found to be shoddy, as a way of redeeming the image of the upper legislative chamber," it said.

The Senate president, Ken Nnamani, said the report would be debated by politicians later today.

Mr Abubakar fell out with Mr Obasanjo last year after helping stop an attempt by the president's supporters to amend Nigeria's constitution and allow him another term.

In the past, Mr Abubakar has dismissed the allegations as part of a plot to keep him from running for Nigeria's top post. His office could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Senate upheld the anti-corruption group's findings that $6m of the diverted funds allegedly went to iGate, a Kentucky-based communications firm that tried to do business in Nigeria in 2004.

William Jefferson, a Louisiana Democrat, has been under investigation in the US since March 2005 for allegedly using his position to help iGate - which sought contracts with Nigeria and other African nations - and taking bribes in return. The FBI said it found $90,000 stashed in a freezer in his home.

Oil-rich Nigeria is regularly ranked among the most corrupt countries in the world by the Berlin-based corruption watchdog Transparency International.

April elections, which would allow for Nigeria's first-ever transfer of power from one elected leader to another, are meant to cement civilian rule in the country, which has been vulnerable to coups.

It is not a small matter that lawmakers mandated by the people to reclaim the image of their country from deep-rooted corruption and steer the fate of the country to sociopolitical and economic development went about demanding a bribe to confirm a political nominee. Mallam Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai, minister for the Federal Capital Territory, publicly announced that two high level senators, namely, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu and Dr. Jonathan Zwingina demanded a bribe of 54 million Naira in order to confirm him, as reported Don Bassey in the Daily Independent (2003). The Senate President Adolphus Nwabara and members of the lawmaking body quickly cleared the two senators of the charges. However, the people want to know the truth and to prosecute the accused to the full extent of the law if investigation reveals that they did. It is expected that under the administration of a president who describes himself as "a born-again Christian" and vowed to tackle down bribery and corruption, the good guys—innocent citizens—should begin to be winners, instead of losers or victims all the time in Nigeria. As a result, justice should prevail upon every Nigerian accused of violating the law, including lawmakers.

Close aides of the former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Saminu Turaki, have alleged that the N33 billion for which he is being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was spent on the failed third term agenda of the Obasanjo administration.

Turaki, now a senator, was arrested along with two of his former colleagues, Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State, and Joshua Dariye of Plateau State, by operatives of the EFCC last Wednesday and has been in detention ever since. He was accused of misappropriating and laundering public funds to the tune of N33 billion.

However, aides of the former governor told Daily Sun at the weekend that Turaki was a mere victim of some vested political interests as the amount in question was invested in the failed tenure extension bid at the instance of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He said the money was taken from the Central Bank and parceled through the Inland Bank, according to the directive of those directly responsible for prosecuting the tenure extension plot.
According to him, some of the actors in the present administration, including senators and particularly the former president, were aware of how the money was spent.

“Turaki could not have stolen N33 billion. What for?” the sources queried, adding: “If he is pushed to the wall, he will be forced to open up, and everybody will know what transpired.”
The source, however, absolved President Umar Yar’Adua from having a hand in the ex-governor’s ordeal, pointing out that Turaki and Yar’Adua have had a cordial personal relationship spanning more than 30 years.

According to the aides, Turaki had met with the president shortly after the latter assumed office and both discussed for more than one hour.
“He is like a younger brother to the president,” the aide said.
Hinting that Nigerians would be shocked if the detained ex-governor was compelled to open up, the aide alleged that some of the companies being bandied by the EFCC in its case against Turaki are linked to some well-known political top shots, some of whom are major players in the current dispensation.
However, a source at the EFCC declined to comment on the matter, saying that since Turaki’s case is in the court, the ex-governor would have the opportunity to defend himself.

Meanwhile, lawyers to Turaki have condemned, in strong terms, the deliberate refusal of the EFCC to recognise and respect the existence of a subsisting order of a Federal High Court in Kano restraining it from arresting their client.
This is coming just as there were evidences of the presence of officers of the EFCC, who were said to have invaded the state, at the weekend, with a view to making further arrests of some of the aides who may be relevant to the case preferred against the erstwhile governor.

Speaking to the press in Kano, Barrister Jimoh Nureni, a senior lawyer with the firm, Ayodele ‘Gafar and Company, declared that a Federal High Court, presided by Justice Adeniyi F. A Ademola, had on July 4, 2007, in suit number FHC/K/CS/47/2007, made an interim order of injunction, directing the EFCC, its officers and agents to stay all actions relating to the case in question and to desist from harassing, interrogating and arresting the former governor, pending the hearing of the substantive motion on notice scheduled for July 25, 2007.

He regretted that despite this order and having been duly notified in a letter dated July 9, 2007, the officials of the EFCC, in the early hours of Wednesday, July 11, 2007, besieged the residence of their client, with several gun totting officers and arrested him.
He further pointed out that even at that point their client had showed the EFCC team the subsisting order of the court, but they ignored it.

He noted that already, the Chairman of the EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, may be committed for contempt of court over his violation of an order of a Federal High Court restraining him from arresting Turaki, adding that the EFCC chairman had been served in Abuja on Thursday, with the form 48, which is the notice of the consequences of a disobedience of court order

Groups suspected to be allies of former military dictator, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, IBB, have called for the probe of former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on the alleged $16 billion power scam.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, recently, the IBB allies faulted civil society groups’ call that IBB should be probed on the alleged misappropriation of $12.4 billion oil windfall during the military dictator’s years in government.

The IBB allies queried the propriety of the white paper of the Okigbo report attached to the civil society’s statement with a question: “It is strange that the Federal Government is receiving documents from civil society when same document was declared missing by the Obasanjo administration. Couldn’t it be that the civil society stole the document?”

In a full page newspaper advertisement in a national daily today, where the IBB loyalties published the full text of their press conference, they also queried the rationale behind the civil groups’ call for the probe of IBB’s alleged $12.4 billion oil windfall when nothing was said of Obasanjo’s $16 billion power scam.

“It beats our imagination why this group which we are part of are using this particular time and moment to petition the Federal Government. It was unanimously resolved that we should point our searchlight on all corrupt governments in Nigeria. We only read on the pages of newspapers that the government should probe IBB on the so-called oil windfall,” the loyalties wrote in the advertorial.

They dissociated themselves from the call for the probe of IBB, describing it as having a selfish, ethnic and sentimental motive.

The IBB allies were represented by Barrister Salisu Mohammed of Civil Society Movement for Justice and Freedom; Comrade Chukwu Nwabueze of Movement for Freedom and Equal Rights and Barrister Abiodun Akanbi of Human Rights Action Network.

Other groups include: Social Rights Advancement Projects led by Comrade Nasiru Dalti; Transparency Network of Nigeria led by Alhaji Saleh Mamman and Good Governance Coalition under Engr. Umar Farouk Al Hassan. All the leaders of the six groups signed the press statement.

What easily exposed the groups as IBB’s loyalties was their call on the government to jettison any plan to probe IBB, saying: “We view this as a national distraction considering the state of our country today.”

Instead of probing IBB, the former military president’s allies said, “President Jonathan should concentrate on consolidating democracy rather than witch-hunting or probing past leaders of the nation.”

jmaine:

How come Tinubu and Ikuforiji is not on that list    . . . And you want us to take you serious . . . .

Nchara:

Why are names such as Tinubu, Fasola and the Lagos House Speaker missing on your list?

Rhino.5dm:

why dont you help us with the articles? . . .or are you on read-only-mode?

jmaine:

It's pertinent you do a balanced job . . . so the onus is on you to balance up your thread, lest you want to create a divide in a thread that should be a fair reflection of both sentiments and facts . .

jmaine:

It's pertinent you do a balanced job . . . so the onus is on you to balance up your thread, lest you want to create a divide in a thread that should be a fair reflection of both sentiments and facts . .

jmaine:

It's pertinent you do a balanced job . . . so the onus is on you to balance up your thread, lest you want to create a divide in a thread that should be a fair reflection of both sentiments and facts . .

jmaine:

It's pertinent you do a balanced job . . . so the onus is on you to balance up your thread, lest you want to create a divide in a thread that should be a fair reflection of both sentiments and facts . .