₦airaland Forum

AustineE1:
....and after which we now have a sedated president who seems to have been asleep for the past one and half yrs. In which case it seems like whenever he wakes up,he makes one economic blunder and goes back to his sedated mood. God please save Nigeria from bad leaders.

Chicent:
SecondedSeconded

Seun:
Apologies for this problem.

HungerBAD:
This man should shut it.

Did you just realize this?you ruled for 8 years,and instead of you to concentrate on good governance,you instead gave us a sick Yaradua,who in turn gave us the Grand Patron of cluelessness.

kiddkash:
what is skiibii

A former president of the country, Olusegun Obasanjo has warned Nigeria and and African countries on the hazards of the lingering and increasing youth unemployment.

Olusegun Obasanjo made this call while receiving the newly appointed President of ECOWAS Commission, Marcel Alain de Souza at his Abeokuta residence.

Obasanjo during the visit said: “On the issue of unemployment, particularly youth unemployment, I have maintained that all of us in West Africa, in our different countries and indeed in Africa, we are sitting on a keg of gun powder for as long as we do not pay adequate attention to youth unemployment.”

He further added: “A situation where more than 50 per cent of our youths are unemployed is extremely dangerous. We now have a situation in part of West Africa where people now are dying of starvation.


“Is it that we are not producing enough food or if we are producing what we produced evenly, whatever it is it is shameful, it has led us to be begging international community for supply of food to any part of West Africa, it is not right‎?”

Obasanjo who is also a special envoy of ECOWAS to Guinea-Bissau while playing host to Souza and other delegates noted that the sub-regional body was yet to meet the goals for which it was constituted 41 years ago.

He said: “So the attention that we should have paid to the original objectives which is economic integration, economic development, socio economic, economic progress, we have been diverted.

“Of course peace and security is the foundation of any socio-economic development and growth. Of necessity we have to pay attention to base on security.”

ABUJA—The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, docked oil mogul and ally to former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, Mr. Jide Omokore, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Omokore was arraigned alongside the former Managing Director of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, Victor Briggs; former Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production of NNPC, Abiye Membere; and former Manager, Planning and Commercial of the NNPC, David Mbanefo. Also charged by the anti-graft agency were two corporate entities, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited.

The accused persons took turns and pleaded not guilty to a nine-count charge EFCC entered against them, even as trial Justice Binta Nyako granted them N50 million bail each. Earlier, Omokore’s counsel, Mr. Rafiu Lawal Rabana (SAN), contended that the charges were not ripe for hearing on the premise that not all the accused persons listed in the charge were present in court for arraignment. He specifically noted that the anti-graft agency listed one Kolawole Akanni Aluko, who it said was at large, as one of the defendants in the matter.

Rabana, who was supported by counsel to the other defendants, argued that under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, all the defendants ought to be served with the charge to enable them to be physically present in court before arraignment could take place. However, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), argued that Aluko could be arraigned in absentia, saying “any time we get him, the charges could be amended.”

According to him, “Aluko is in Europe. We could not even take his statement, yet they want us to serve him along with others so that they could create a lacuna. The plea of those present in court should be taken.”

However, EFCC lawyer subsequently applied for Aluko’s name to be struck out from the charge, a request that was accordingly granted by the court EFCC did not also oppose the defendants’ bail applications. Bail conditions Aside ordering the defendants to deposit N50 million each, the court said each of them must produce a surety, who must either be a senior civil servant or must have a landed property.

Justice Nyako said the sureties must depose to an affidavit of means, adding that the defendants must deposit their international passports and other travelling documents with the court.

One of the charge against the defendants read: “That you, Olajide Jones Omokore, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Ltd, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Ltd and Kolawole Akanni Aluko (now at large) between May and October, 2013, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, induced the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Federal Government of Nigeria to deliver to you 5, 652, 227 barrels of crude oil (Brass blend) valued at the sum of US $ 616, 013, 615.27, through the medium of contact (Strategic Alliance Agreement) which delivery was induced by false pretence to wit: the representation that you have technical competence, professional skills and funds (both local and foreign) necessary to support NPDC in petroleum operation for the OML 60, 62, 62 and 63 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud related offences Act CAP A6 2010 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

midolian:
lool..

One thing I know for sure is "that creature is not human". I repeat, importexpert is not human.

midolian:
Importexpert, congratulate the op at least. Don't just view and leave as usual

OP, I think I like your style. You are unlike those that won't win an award at home but will come here to tell us they've won it abroad. More power to your elbow.

In just a few years, Nigeria’s foreign reserve was depleted, Excess Crude Account expended and official looting fully entrenched. The Nigerian economy quivered, while elites occupying top government positions pilfered. That was the case of Nigeria under former President Goodluck Jonathan, making current president, Muhammadu Buhari. insist that things must ‘change’.  

“All frauds must stop. If they don’t believe us, they should go and see those we caught red-handed with public funds.  This exercise will continue as long as this leadership is here. Whoever takes anything that does not belong to him or that he’s not entitled to, it’ll be documented and the person will be taken to court. This is the only way I think we can bail ourselves out,” these were the exact words of President Buhari recently, while addressing State House workers in Abuja.

Before the President’s latest remark, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on June 4, partially fulfilled a promise the President made in London on May 14 to publicize names and details of those involved in massive looting of public funds. Mohammed released what seem to be an interim report, indicating that government has so far, successfully retrieved cash amounting to N78,325,354,631.82; $185,119,584.61; £3,508,355.46 and €11, 250 between May 29, 2015 and May 25, 2016.

Also released were recoveries under interim forfeiture, which were a combination of cash and assets, during the same period: N126,563,481,095.43; $9,090,243,920.15; £2,484,447.55 and €303,399.17.
Anticipated repatriation from foreign countries totalled: $321,316,726.1; £6,900,000 and €11,826.11.

The ministry also announced that 239 non-cash recoveries were made during the one-year period including farmlands, plots of land, uncompleted buildings, completed buildings, vehicles and maritime vessels.
Majority of the cases were being handled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS). The nation currently battles with economic downturn with 29 of the 36 states of the federation unable to pay salaries. This was partly blamed on the monumental level of pilfering of public funds that occurred in the past few years.  

Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd): Dasukigate’ is perhaps the biggest scam ever unravelled in the history of Nigeria. The Buhari administration opened a can of worms when it decided to probe spending of funds meant for procurement of arms and ammunition under the immediate-past regime of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
A former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and four others are presently standing trial for allegedly laundering and diverting $2.1 billion (over N550 billion) arms fund. This is enough to fund the 2016 proposed budgets of Ebonyi, Kebbi, Sokoto, Edo, Yobe and Ekiti states altogether. Other top politicians and former public officials are also being probed over the scam.
In spite of confessions by many of those arrested, Dasuki insists he has done no wrong.

Bashir Yuguda: A former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda is also being prosecuted by the EFCC. He was first arrested in Abuja and taken into custody in November 2015, was linked with other suspects over the controversial Dasukigate arms procurement scandal.
The former minister allegedly received suspicious payments from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), including N1.5billion through an unnamed company, for unstated purpose. He also allegedly received N1.275billion from Stallion Group during campaign for the last general election and another N775million was also allegedly paid to him from the office of the Accountant General of the Federation for unstated reason.

Attahiru Bafarawa: A former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, was also nabbed in 2015 after he lost his hide-and-seek game with the EFCC. His son Sagir was also arrested. Bafarawa was arrested for allegedly receiving N4.6 billion meant for “spiritual purposes”.

Chief Raymond Dokpesi: The Chairman emeritus of Daar Communications Plc. High Chief Raymond Dokpesi is currently standing trial for his involvement in the Dasukigate scandal. He was linked with receiving N2.1billion mostly for ‘publicity and media political campaign during the 2015 general elections’.
The alleged funds were said to have been transferred to the accused by the former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) through a First Bank account operated by DAAR Investment and Holding Company Limited. He was remanded in prison custody but later granted bail.

Alhaji Aminu Babakusa: Babakusa was a former General Executive Director at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). He allegedly received N2.2billion, which he said during one of his appearances in court that he shared out ‘as instructed’. He also promised to refund part of the monies by selling some of his choice properties.

Waripamowei Dudafa: A former Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Matters, Waripamowei Dudafa is also on trial for his alleged involvement in the $2.1 billion arms deal fraud. He was arrested April while attempting to board a flight at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA Lagos.
According to media reports, Dudafa was involved in the sharing of N10billion taken from the office of the former NSA and shared to PDP delegates for the Presidential primary election during the 2015 general elections.

Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi: In another widely-reported scam, a former Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi and five other staff of the agency, are currently standing trial on a 22-count charge for allegedly stealing the sum of N2.6 billion belonging to NIMASA.

Chief Olisa Metuh: A former National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Metuh is also standing trial for receiving N1.4billion from the $2.1 billion arms funds diverted to several politicians in the Dasukigate scandal.

Emeka Mba: Mr. Mba is a former Director-General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC). He is, alongside three others, standing trial over an alleged N17 billion fraud. The EFCC has reportedly recovered N10 billion being part of the fund and which is from an alleged inflation of collateral funds meant for Digital Set-Top Boxes.

Bala James Ngillari: Mr. Ngillari was the immediate past governor of Adamawa State and is being interrogated by the EFCC for allegedly receiving N450 million from the Dasukigate bazaar. He has however denied any wrongdoing, denying claims by a former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Hassan Adamu and the PDP chairman in Adamawa State, Joel Madaki, that they collected the money from Fidelity Bank, Yola branch, and deposited it at the accounts department of Adamawa Government House on the instruction of the governor.

Mrs. Esther Nenadi Usman: A former Minister of State Finance and Director of Finance of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Senator Nenadi Usman reportedly returned N23million to the coffers of the Federal Government after her arrest.
She is currently under trial after her arrest in April for receiving N2.5billion out of the over N4 billion which was transferred out of CBN into various individuals and company’s accounts; with N140m cash allegedly paid into her Zenith Bank Account in January 2015.
She allegedly paid the Director of Publicity of the campaign, Femi Fani-Kayode N840million, Chief Olu Falae, and Rashidi Ladoja allegedly received N100million each, Prof. Rufai Alkali, who was the Coordinator of the Goodluck Support Group (GSG), allegedly collected N320million on behalf of the group among others.

Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (rtd): The EFCC has filed 21 charges against a former Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosu. He is currently under trial alongside a former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting in NAF, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun (rtd); and a former Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo (rtd.) Amosu has reportedly returned N2.3billion to the Federal Government through two bank drafts. One draft was for N2billion, while the second was N300million. His wife was also arrested by the EFCC over the scandal totalling N22.8billion.
Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (rtd):
A former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh was also arrested by the EFCC over his role in the $2.1bn Dasukigate arms purchase scam. According to reports, contracts totalling $930,500,690.00 were awarded by the military under the leadership of Badeh in questionable circumstances.

Diezani Alison-Madueke: The disbursement of $115m (N23bn) by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke for the 2015 elections is one of the troubling revelations in the ongoing anti-graft war. Each state of the federation was said to have received N450million from the fund. The monies were said to have been handled by ministers or governors of the then ruling PDP. There were also alleged payments to some Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) top officials, purportedly to rig the 2015 elections through Fidelity Bank. The EFCC in connection with the scam arrested a former managing director of Fidelity Bank, who was forced to resign in the wake of the scandal.
The EFCC arrested Alhaji Saidu Dakingari, immediate past governor of Kebbi State over the N450 million he allegedly received from Alison-Madueke during the build-up to the 2015 presidential election. Other elites that have been quizzed by anti-corruption agencies for their roles in the scandal, dubbed ‘Diezani-gate’, and they include former governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, former education minister, Ibrahim Shekarau; ex-governor Ali Modu Sheriff of Borno State, former governor of Kaduna State, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero and former governor of Zamfara State, Mamuda Shinkafi.

Ahmadu Fintiri: Mr. Ahmadu Fintiri acted as governor of Adamawa State in 2014, after a former governor, Murtala Nyako was impeached by the state’s House of Assembly.
Fintiri, who is under trial and has been remanded in Kuje Prison pending the determination of his bail application, was arraigned by the EFCC on a five-count charge bordering on money laundering.
He was said to have defrauded the Adamawa government to the tune of N970 million and $4.8 million, when he was the governor of the state for three months. He however pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Flexherbal:
. No, sir.

vivaciousvivi:
BeeBeeOoh please do you personally know this boy? How do I get in touch with him directly, I would like to help? Thanks