₦airaland Forum

As Kalu, Nnamani and Dariye's trial begins: EFCC to arraign more ex-Govs today

Kalu defiant, says I'm ready for trial
Nnamani restricted to hospital bed
Dariye, Kalu, Nnamani face 192-count charge
ABUJA — THE immediate past governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Kalu, yesterday dismissed as laughable the multiple charges of corruption slammed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) even as there were indications last night that more ex-Governors mightl be arraigned today by the anti-graft commission.
Kalu who spoke through his lead counsel, Prof Awa Kalu (SAN), challenged the EFCC to prove its case against him if it had any. He said he was not only ready to face trial but also vowed not to employ any delay tactic to frustrate the trial.

His Enugu State counterpart, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani, has however denied that he was arrested by the EFCC in an Abuja hospital.


Also, immediate past governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Boni Haruna, has vowed to fight the allegation of corruption against him by the EFCC with the same doggedness he and others fought the failed third term project.


“We will fight this one too with the doggedness we fought third term and my instigated impeachment," he said in a 15-page statement, yesterday on his recent encounter with the commission.


The trial of Chief Kalu; former governor of Plateau State, Chief Joshua Dariye; and former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Saminu Turaki, is commencing today in Abuja.


“We are not filing any objection to the charges against my client. We are not interested in delaying the trial. We will take our pleas tomorrow (today) and of course, we are ready for trial,” Prof. Kalu, Kalu’s counsel told Vanguard yesterday.


The EFCC’s proof of evidence contains the list of witnesses to testify against the governors; statements of each of the governors on the allegations during their chat with the commission; statements of witnesses of the prosecution, petitions written against the governors which prompted their probe and other relevant documentary evidence attached as exhibits.


It attached a list of 21 witnesses to testify against Kalu. The prosecution witnesses include: Romanus K Madu, Michael A Udo, Uche Abba, Nnedinna Onyegbula, Umoh Asuquo, Romanus Eke, Vincent Ofolebe, Okeey Okoye and Felix Igbinosa.


Others are Nneka Okenwa, Tony Achebe, Onoval Oghenovo, Boye Ogunmolade, Christiana Ohiri, Cyprian Agwa, Ibrahim Magu (CSP) and Adetayo Funke (SP).

Adamu Habeeb, Dongoyaro Isah, Muhammad Lawal and Chidi Chukwuka are also on the list.


The last four witnesses are to give evidence of their investigations and tender necessary exhibits.

According to the criminal information filed at the registry of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court by EFCC last Friday, Kalu is facing a 107-count charge. In the information, Kalu was said to have diverted state monies under his control worth N2.7 billion into his private business.

Ex-Governor Kalu is to be tried alongside Emeka Uzor Kalu (now at large) and Eunice Agwu (also at large).


He allegedly conspired with the two others to divert the N2.7 billion Abia State monies to finance his private business, Slok Nigeria Limited.

The EFCC had approached Justice Binta Murtala Nyarko via an ex parte application for an order arresting Kalu over criminal allegations touching on money laundering running into billions of naira. That was after entreaties to the governor by the commission to appear before it for a brief chat failed.


The trial judge granted the ex parte application but the warrant of arrest issued could not be executed because the governor was not readily available.

Kalu was arrested last Wednesday and brought to court last Friday to face the multiple count charge of money-laundering drawn up against him. But he could not be arraigned because he was brought to court late Friday.


Nnamani denies arrest


Also yesterday, the immediate past Governor of Enugu State, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, dismissed as untrue, media reports that he had been arrested by operatives of the EFCC, saying it was unfortunate that a section of the media had continued to “isolate” him as a trophy and “demonize” him over the current anti-graft investigations.


His Media Adviser, Mr. Igbonekwu Ogazimorah, in a statement wondered why the media had lately engaged in baseless speculations about his whereabouts even when it was clear that he had been appearing at the sitting of the Senate and actively performing his legislative functions.


Insisting that Senator Nnamani was not under any form of arrest or detention or even in a hideout, Mr Ogazimorah said Nnamani's whereabouts were known to the anti-graft agency and could be reached whenever the need arose.


The statement: “It has come to our attention that some persons, or even a group, appear to lose so much sleep about the freedom of Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, former Governor of Enugu State. “Lately, there is this particular upsurge in baseless speculations about his whereabouts, with much glee being given to the wish that he had either been apprehended or arraigned, or even fled the country. Predictably, news media organisations compete on the latest news on Nnamani, each stating only the wish of its sources, not the fact of the matter.


“Again, as well stated over time, Chimaroke Nnamani is in Nigeria, free, attending his duties as Senator of the Federal Republic in the Federal Capital, Abuja and not under any form of arrest.


“Nnamani, we must understand, returned to Nigeria, after his holidays abroad, to perform these Senate functions. It was also on his volition that he responded to the request of the EFCC to report for some investigations. Till date, he has kept his dates with this agency and has not at anytime entertained any kind of thought of doing otherwise.


“It is surprising to us, as we believe it would be to others, that rather than aspire to investigate according to the rule of law, what appears to appeal to these news sources is the proposal for an abridgement of the freedom of other persons.


“It is equally curious that each time EFCC is mentioned, there is this spirited effort to have Nnamani on the front burner and as the demon to be demolished. Indeed, by these frenzied attempts to isolate Nnamani, it is clear to us that there is a well coordinated attempt to make the ex-governor”s name appear synonymous with EFCC much as it looks like these promoters would wish all the other cases of EFCC to disappear so as to pile all the other smearing campaigns on the person of Senator Chimaroke Nnamani."

The ex-Governors expected to be arraigned today, according to Vanguard' s sources in Abuja last night, are Dr Chimaroke Nnamani and the Rev Jolly Nyame.

http://odili.net/news/source/2007/jul/16/399.html

If you have evidence, go ahead and prosecute him. Just don't waste our time and money.

How much is your yearly salary as a governor?

Gist!!
where in this world have all corrupt people been brought to book at the same time? Even if it is only 1 person that can be made to pay for his sins, let him be used as an exampl/scape goat.

If you think it will work, that is fine; but what will happen to some folks who had just 20, 000 Naira left in their account just few years ago and now they are walking around with BILLIONS smiling and still hanging around like a saint sent from heaven?

Posted by colonial

And watch this!!! who even has the right to initiate such arrests when everybody na Thief!!!!!

Thank you my brother.
We are so deaf and blind, We are too easy to be taken for a ride and most of us are too quick to settle for rubbish.
I'm sure that the new governors are already started the implementation of their own corruption strategies.
I wonder why corruption continues to be the most lucrative career in Nigeria?

Answer: Short cut, half job, magomago and lack of perfection.

We have a long way to go.

Posted by Denex

But people remember that Turaki has not said this himself. This information is coming from another tabloid wannabe newspaper and their all-knowing "SOURCES" which at one point they referred to as "He

".

This is very true; lately you just never know what to believe, but let's wait and see.

@Colonial

I truly believe that if you can not arrest all don't arrest any; It is crystal clear that everyone of these folks (all politicians) are corrupt and they all know this fact; and believe it or not, this is also one of the reasons why the government are very hesitant to proceed with the arrest.

Posted by Denex

He used the money to fund 3rd term abi? Does that mean he should be set free?

No, it means this is the beginning of the drama.
It means the money was taken to support the illegal third term project.
It means the commander in chief himself (OBJ) knew all along where the money was coming from and where the money was going.
It means I did not steal the money alone.
It means that the hidden agenda of the third term will be brought to the light.

This is why I think if OBJ could just step aside, the complexity of arresting and prosecuting these governors will be reduced drastically.

Stay cool folks; this is going to be a long bumpy ride, but let's hope for the best.

EFCC fresh offensive against ex-governors: Nnamani, Turaki on their own!—Kuta, Mamora, other senators

SENATORS have told former governors in the Senate currently being hounded by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, that they are on their own.
Of the six former governors turned senators, four have questions to answer on alleged corrupt practices while in office, according to the EFCC.

One of the indicted erstwhile governors, Senator Saminu Turaki (Jigawa), was arraigned in court on Friday. Another of the former governors, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, who would have been arraigned with him, failed to report to the EFCC, fuelling speculations that he was on the run. Nnamani's spokesperson, however, told Sunday Vanguard yesterday, that his boss was prepared to report to the commission tomorrow. Turaki, alongside the former governor of Abia state, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, was arrested by the EFCC last Thursday, preparatory to his arraignment.

The erstwhile Jigawa governor, with fourteen other former governors, including Nnamani, Senators George Akume and Ahmed Yarima Sani, had been summoned by the EFCC last month to respond to the allegations against them but Turaki, Kalu and a few others ignored the summon, prompting the Thursday arrest.

Prior to the arrest and arraignment, there had been speculation that President Umar Musa Yar’Adua had intervened on the former governors cases and that they had entered into plea bargain to let them off the hook. Senators, weekend, distanced themselves from the ordeal of the former governors turned lawmakers, saying the Senate would not intervene in the EFCC fresh offensive against them.

The senators – Dahiru Awaisu Kuta (PDP, Niger), Chris Anyanwu (PDP, Imo), Manzo Anthony (PDP, Taraba North), Olorunnimbe Mamora (AC, Lagos East), Nimi Barigha-Amange, and Heineken Lokpobiri (PDP, Bayelsa) – who spoke against the backdrop of the arraignment of Turaki in court, argued that since the alleged offences predated their assumption of office as senators, it would be improper for the Senate to intervene in the cases against them. The senators were nevertheless unanimous in calling for the application of the rule of law in the treatment of the former governors.

While Kuta saw the development as a reason for further improving the screening process before elections, Anyanwu pleaded that the dignity of the former governors must not be devalued on account of the allegations raised against them. The arraignment of Turaki further clouded the political uncertainty surrounding the former governors in the Senate who at the commencement of the Senate session bestrode the chamber with awesome political influence.

The tightening of the EFCC noose on them last week led to some attitudinal changes among some of them in the Senate. One of the former governors in the Senate known for his periodic strolling in the Senate chamber was forced to sit through last Thursday’s nine-hour ministerial screening exercise without moving an inch or raising his hand to speak. The one time chief executive of a northern state was reportedly caged in the Senate as a result of reports of EFCC operatives waiting outside to pick him.

The whereabouts of another former governor in the Senate were at the weekend unknown as he was said to be in hiding following the incarceration and arraignment in court of Turaki. There were also unconfirmed reports that the EFCC had sought the written request of the Senate President, Senator David Mark, to pick a former governor in the parliament for questioning.

The distress of the former governors was provoking little empathy among their colleagues in the Senate with many senators affirming that the rule of law must be obeyed. In his response, Anthony said: “I believe that we are guided by the rule of law which means that people that break laws should face the consequences provided that due process is followed. Under our Constitution, every man and woman is innocent until proved guilty. Provided these guarantees are secured by the people whose jobs it is, I will have no problem with that."

Lokpobori, echoing Anthony’s sentiment, said: “So long as the EFCC has an arrest warrant, anybody linked with any allegations based on the suspicion that some crime has been committed must answer to them. The Senate rules have nothing to do with a criminal issue, no member of the Senate or House of Representatives has immunity from prosecution. But what the Constitution says is that anybody arrested should be presumed innocent until a court of competent jurisdiction rules otherwise.

“The arrest is legal, but they shouldn’t be detained beyond reasonable period, if you say that they have a case to answer, they shouldn’t be detained beyond reasonable time. It is the court that has the right to pronounce whether anybody is guilty or not." While he confessed to a spirit of camaraderie with his troubled colleagues he, however, pointed out that everyman would have to bear his own burden.

Lokpobori went on: “As a senator, I will ordinarily under the ambit of the law support my colleagues, but I am not going to support or be part of any crime. So what I am saying is that we have a moral duty to support our brother in the Senate. Yes, the arrest is legal, but you can’t detain them beyond what the Constitution says. Any arrest and detention beyond twenty-four hours is unconstitutional, but that is not to say that the EFCC does not have the right to arrest, they have the right to arrest.” The senator, a former speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, could not remember any of his former members in the state legislature facing a similar indictment.

Anyanwu, in her seemingly pained response, said: “I can’t tell you that I am happy that senators are being arrested, I can’t tell you that. They are senators, I am not happy about senators being arrested, but people will say that they, EFCC, are doing their jobs and I hope that they, former governors, will be given proper opportunity to explain themselves and answer the questions that they have and that everything follows due process. I also hope that the senators are handled with respect and dignity because once any Nigerian is debased, all of us are debased."

Anyanwu, a former broadcast journalist who covered the activities of the Second Republic National Assembly, could not remember a similar situation in the ill fated republic when a senator was picked up for alleged criminal offences. The nearest was the case of Alhaji Sidi Ali, a member of the House of Representatives, who caused a stir in the sitting of that House in the early eighties. “Sidi Ali’s incidence was different in that he pulled a dagger while having an altercation with some of his colleagues. But this is a totally different thing, this is something that people allegedly did in their last assignments not as a result of their activities within the Senate itself," she said.

Mamora, in his reaction, spoke thus:

“Under the rule of law, we allow the law to take its course, I don’t think that there is any problem about that, what is just important is that they are given a fair trial and then uphold the Constitutional provision that any accused is innocent until otherwise determined by the court." Kuta, while reviewing the development, called for a review of the screening process for elections in order to stop possible embarrassment from rupturing the dignity of the Senate. “It is unfortunate, these are my colleagues, but the law is not a respecter of anybody.

“I want to advise seriously that anybody contesting election has to be thoroughly investigated and cleared. I think it is humiliating for somebody who has gone to Senate to be humiliated the way it is being done. I think we should resort to what we used to do before where there was thorough screening of candidates before they are cleared," he stated.

Barigha-Amange, in his response, said as the offences were traceable to the last assignments of the former governors, the Senate would not be bothered. “The offences were committed while they were not senators. I think it is what happened while they were governing the states and, for now, I have only heard of Turaki, he was arrested as a result of his alleged activities as governor of Jigawa State," he said.

**‘We won’t confront EFCC over Kalu’

Meanwhile, the Peoples Progressive Alliance, PPA, says it will not confront the EFCC on account of the arrest and arraignment in court of Kalu, its presidential candidate in the April polls, over alleged corrupt practices while in office as governor. Hon. Stanley Ohajuruka, a stalwart of the party and member of the House of Representatives from Abia State, told Sunday Vanguard in Abuja on Friday that PPA was involved in consultation with key players on how best to resolve the problem.

He said that they were encouraged by the positive disposition of Yar’Adua towards matters like this unlike the previous dispensation in which, according to him, things were done with impunity. “We are confident that due process will be followed and very soon this matter will be resolved. The president is an understanding president unlike what we saw in the previous administration,” Ohajuruka said.

He expressed the confidence that the former governor would soon be left off the hook, as, according to him, Kalu had not committed any offence to warrant his being clamped in detention.

The Abia lawmaker also asserted that the failure of the former governor to appear before the EFCC at the time other ex-governors appeared was not meant to spite the commission. “You are aware that Gov. Orji Kalu was abroad for medical treatment. That was why he was unable to honour the invitation (of the EFCC),” he added.

Last Friday, Kalu, Turaki and Joshua Dariye, former governor of Plateau State, were arraigned at a Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly diverting N40billion belonging to their states while in office


http://www.ngex.com/cgi-bin/frame/frameit2.plx?link="http://www.vanguardngr.com"

I think by sending OBJ back to OTA will clear things up a little bit. If OBJ is not involved or part of this new admin, it wouldn't matter if they want to use third term as an excuse.
As we all know, majority of these corrupt governors are directly linked to OBJ; it will be less drama if baba could just go sit down somewhere.

It will be nice if OBJ could just please step aside and allow this administration to do their job. If he stays around the corrupt governors will continue to use the third term as an excuse and this will only make things more complicated for the new administration.

Please, send this man back to OTA, it is clear that his assistance is not needed anymore.

Ex-gov Turaki’s N30b used to finance third term project

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.




http://www.ngex.com/cgi-bin/frame/frameit2.plx?link="http://www.sunnewsonline.com/"

posted by Denex

Do you know that as the new card meters are being fixed right now, some Nigerians are bribing PHCN contractors to manipulate the wiring connection in order to bypass all heavy electricity consumption appliances such as Air conditioners, water heaters and fridges.

So when the IPPs become fully functional, the records of the electricity consumed will be at par with what is produced, but real consumption will be 2 times more than that so the system will still fail

Exactly, and these are the same folks that we cry and cry that the leaders are destroying the country. It is sad and a shame that we find it very difficult to see part of the problems inside our homes or back yard.

Yes, the leaders are bastards, but we also need to get it together as the citizens of Nigeria.

Country like United States maintains a great status (better standard of living) mostly because of the citizens' commitment and dedication to doing what is right.

Posted by Colonial

I am sure they do , but oops they forgot!!! because its been a while since they experienced it. Any leader that can lead by example will see quick turn around of things. If you sit in Abuja eating money, contracts etc what do you think common Nepa man will do? This leader need to know that they are not fooling anybody. example, you get into a position all of a sudden you have more cars, marry more wives, send all you kids abroad. Do they think commom market woman needs a recommended glasses to know whats up. Please gimme a break.

Preach  on brother; That is what I say, GIMME A BREAK!

We are all busy chasing the governors; who is going to chase an ordinary NEPA technician. Believe me, those are the invisible corrupt to the teeth individuals, that no one is paying any attention to. Chasing only the big fish will not solve the problems, there are some little rats in our society that are capitalized in stealing little money here and there for many many years to come. Who is going to go after these parasites. (e.g airport associates, port authority associates, passport office associates, license office associates, transportation authority associates, Universities officials, police officers, NAFDA associates and so on). Believe it or not these invisible folks are also responsible for the disfunctional state in Nigeria today.

Let us all stop fooling one another, we are all responsible for one or two things that are currently degenerating the nation today.
It is sad that the corrupt leaders have set a solid foundation for all; even most of us would do the same as soon as we become leaders one of these days.
It is not the country, it is the people; old school and the new generation. We need to get hold of ourselves and find a better way to become better citizens.

My point, the system is corrupt and the culture is very dirty. We must clean up these 2 factors before we can go anywhere.

Yes, electricity in Nigeria is a major problem, a major failure of many and a major set back; My questions:

1. What does it take to implement a stable electricity in a country like Nigeria?
2. How much money do we need to complete this project?
3. Who can we count on to start and complete this project without taking us for another long ride?
4. At this point in time in Nigeria, what kind of strategy could be effective and efficient to successfully implement this project?
5. Will it be smart for us to subcontract this project to an established foreign organization?
6. How long will it take to complete this project?

MAMAJAMA: what's going on with ehindero, has he stated to chop beans yet?

Posted by MAMAJAMA

If you recalled the mess was already there before Yar Adua got there. so it will be unfair to crucify him for the mistakes the legislation and the judicial process in Nigeria. OBJ and the senate has a huge portion of the blame by been impartial in some cases. The EFCC need to be autonomous and an independent department. The should not be compelled to carry out their duties.

OK, Mamajama is drinking again. You lost track as usual, what the hell are you talking about? who is blaming Yar'Adua?

@Colonial: Please, waste no time coaching MAMAJAMA, it is obvious that he hasn't taken his medication for the day.

@McKren: My post doesn't mean that I've stopped supporting this new administration. It only means that "what you see is what you get"
Just because I fully support Yar'Adua doesn't mean I should stop sharing and communicating the fact with my people.

It is obvious that we don't share the same ideas and we see most things differently; I don't kiss ass and I don't settle for less. Do you?

The obstacles that may turn this new development into a smoke screen:

1. OBJ is as corrupt as these folks and he's still hanging around this new administration like a saint sent from heaven.

2. It is clearly obvious and confirmed that unlawfulness and corruption got Yar'Adua the presidential position; sadly, he also admitted to it.

3. Many Corrupt folks are still hiding underneath OBJ's umbrella.

4. Many of the corrupt governors are directly linked to OBJ.

Please be ready, it will be a very long bumpy ride; while I hope for the best, I also predict "Pure Made in Nigeria Drama". Lawyers, judges, senators and more politicians will get richer during this period. At the end of the day, many of these governors will be sent back to their mansions.

I may be wrong, but let's chill and watch what happens.

I've posted many stories from the newspaper only to share and communicate with the rest. I have absolutely nothing to gain or to lose if the corrupt governors are arrested or left free.
My only goal is to share, communicate and see Nigeria as a country to rise up again.
And all I ask for is for our government to be fair, professional, respect our constitution and embrace perfection during their operations.

Mr McKren, is that too much to ask?

McKren: everytime  I read your ball-less comments, you make me laugh till I fall on the ground. It is amusing and laughable that you keep on throwing stone at the wrong guy.
Dude, if you only know!

My support for Yar'Adua is incompressible. Absolutely no reason for me to flipflop.
A man's belief is as strong as his identity, I stay very firm to my belief.
Instead of kissing ass, you should do the same.

Baba wants to stick around to mix things together and make things more difficult for this admin.
It is true that former leaders never want to see their successor succeed so quick. The quick success of the new admin will clearly make OBJ a joke. It is simple, things will not go smoothly with war against corruption in Nigeria as long as OBJ is involved.

Too many man made obstacles.

Pretty soon you guys will realize the root of the failure (OBJ and Ribadu). This could have been done differently and correctly very very long time ago.

Let's chill and watch what happens!

EFCC trails Adamu, as Nnamani escapes detention

Former governor of Enugu State, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, may have beaten eagle-eyed operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] in a game of hide and seek, as he allegedly disappeared late Thursday from the commission’s operational base in Abuja.

Dependable sources said Nnamani had indeed, voluntarily honoured an invitation to the EFCC office on Thursday, but left the premises un-noticed and without trace when he suspected that two former governors who were appearing before the commission for the second time may not regain their freedom on the same day.

Although it could not be confirmed if he had been quizzed before allegedly sneaking out of the premises, authoritative sources told Saturday Sun at the weekend, that EFCC operatives have begun a manhunt for the ex- governor, amidst conflicting reports that he may have gone outside the shores of the country.

“It is amazing that the man just disappeared when he noticed that two other colleagues of hissx who also reported to the office on their own may be detained. As at now, we don’t know his whereabouts. So, we are seriously looking for him,” said a source close to the commission. Besides Nnamani, the EFCC is also said to be on the trail of former governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Abdulahi Adamu, over an Independent Power Station project for which almost half of the cost amounting to N250million was allegedly paid to the contractor without evidence of performance, and sundry other allegations of financial misappropriation.

Adamu is, however, believed to have jetted out to London, a few days after the EFCC started inviting some of his former key officials and contractors for questioning. It was further gathered that concerted efforts by a crack team of EFCC operatives to track him down in the past one week had not yielded positive result. EFCC spokesman, Osita Nwaja, could not be reached for comments on the issue, but a top official who pleaded anonymity confirmed the development.




http://www.ngex.com/cgi-bin/frame/frameit2.plx?link=%22http://www.sunnewsonline.com/%22

At the end of the day most of these governors will be sent back to their mansions.

EXPOSED
How US, P DP rigged April polls
From News desk
Saturday, July 14, 2007

The furore over the fraud that hallmarked the last general elections in Nigeria may have since been overtaken, on the local scene, by schemings for appointment in the proposed Government of National Unity, but the audacity of that unmitigated rape of democracy has continued to engage US intellectuals who have openly accused Washington of backing former president Olusegun Obasanjo over the flawed elections.

Writing in the current edition of the highly influential FOREIGN AFFAIRS, an authoritative US publication on America’s roles in the politics of other lands, Jean Herskovits, a Research Professor of History at the State University of New York, Purchase, made an expose into the ominous silence of Washington as Obasanjo rode roughshod over Nigeria and summed up that it was an indirect encouragement informed by an over-riding selfish interest. That interest, he argued, was informed by the thirst for Nigeria’s oil.

Giving a detailed account of how President George W. Bush condoned the unimaginable excesses of the then Nigerian leader as the latter orchestrated the monumental rigging, Herskovits posited: “Nigeria's elections last April were among the most seriously flawed in the country's history, thanks largely to the manipulations of the U.S.-backed ruling party. With Nigerians increasingly clamoring for accountability, Washington's continuing support could generate more unrest -- and could pose a risk both to oil supplies coming out of Nigeria and to the stability of West Africa”.

The professor of History noted that an electoral fraud of an even smaller magnitude perpetrated by the second republic National Party of Nigeria in 1983 had ultimately led to the collapse of democracy in the same Nigeria, adding that the only reason the reactions to the April polls have not gone to that extreme is that Nigerians of all persuasions are in agreement that military coups and any such unconstitutional removal of governments are no longer acceptable and must be resisted at all costs.

In the article, written shortly before President Obasanjo stepped down, the professor said that the oil supply from Nigeria (totalling about 11% of US’s total import) which the Bush government hoped to secure by bedding with Obasanjo is now more threatened than ever before as a result of the outcome of that very election.

He said neither the NDDC, the deployment of troops to the Niger Delta region nor the appointment of Goodluck Jonathan, a son of the troubled region, as vice president has guaranteed a cessation of the agitation and the tension in the area, noting that this is against the backdrop of the credibility problem that the Obasanjo-midwifed Yar’Adua administration has continued to be faced with.

The report which x-rayed the excesses of the Obasanjo rule from the failed third term bid and the corruption that went with it, to the PDP re-registration exercise, the curious amendment of the ruling party’s constitution to give Obasanjo more far-reaching powers, queer voter registration exercise and the control of both the electoral commission and the security agencies, also noted that the registration of more political parties – to bring the number to about 50 – was intentionally done to cause confusion for both the electorate and the opposition.

It noted: “Obasanjo has never favoured multiparty system for African countries. Twenty years ago, he pointed out that in his native tongue, Yoruba, the word ‘opposition’ also means ‘enemy’ and advocated single-party systems for African countries. During his tenure as president, distinctions between party and government disappeared; looking forward to one-party rule, he, and many other politicians, flouted the constitution.”

It said that the US kept quiet, even as it was aware of all these excesses, including the fact that Obasanjo had literally hand-picked the party’s candidates for all the major offices at the primaries
“The elections themselves proved to be… a charade. They were not just flawed; they followed the downward trajectory of Nigeria’s sad electoral history, in which millions of people who want democracy are betrayed by their leaders. It is a tribute to the commitment of Nigerians that they keep trying and sometimes succeed in imposing their will, as they did in Kano in 2003, in the senate in 2006 and in a few states, such as Bauchi (where voters overcame rigging by the PDP and elected a governor from the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), in 2007.

On why Washington refused to do anything to stop Obasanjo, even when it was obvious that the Nigerian leader was going over the edge, the report said it was in deference to the big brother role Nigeria has played and continued to play on the African continent – from Guinea Bissau to Sao Tome and Principe, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Sudan to Zimbabwe and many others as well as Obasanjo’s pivotal role in transforming the ineffectual Organisation of African Unity to a more promising African Union (AU).

“Because of Washington’s ongoing praise of these efforts and for Obasanjo’s macroeconomic reforms, Nigerians believed that Washington could influence Obasanjo in ways they could not. But when they looked for signs that Washington would try to affect Obasanjo’s political agenda, they only say unquestioning approval”, the report stated.

It continued: “In 2003, the Bush administration ignored reports from the European Union, Human Rights Watch, the International Republican Institute, and the Nigerian civil-society groups that the elections fell below international standards. President George W. Bush’s visit to Abuja just weeks after Obasanjo’s inauguration reinforced Nigerians’ view that their president had unwavering U.S support – and when it comes to African elections, Washington applies a double standard.

“In the lead-up to the elections this year, the US embassy in Abuja issued a few warnings against election fraud, but the White House and the State Department were mostly silent. It was only after the voting that they issued critical statements”.
According to the report, although the US government had in the past promoted democracy in Nigeria, it was only as far as doing so served its immediate purpose. That immediate purpose, it said, is apart from helping to ensure stability in the African region, “mostly because multiplying political uncertainties in the Middle East make Nigeria’s oil increasingly important to Washington”.

However, the report noted that the said oil (US gets about 1.1 million barrels of crude oil per day from Nigeria) is now more threatened than before largely as a result of disaffections arising from the manipulated elections which the US refused to check.
Even as the deed of the election rigging may have been done, the report insist: “If only to protect its own interest, the US government needs to state more clearly that what transpired during the April elections violated democratic standards, and it should publicly place blame where it belongs.

Washington must make it clear that it does not approve of strong-arm practices such as crackdowns on protesters by security agencies. If Washington wants to see real democracy in Nigeria, it must urge the creation of strong, alternative parties. Yar’Adua’s initial statements about bringing opponents into a government of national unity sounded like an offer to draw them into PDP’s one-party rule”.
Although the report had lavishly commended President Obasanjo’s achievements on the macroeconomic level, it however lamented that the corruption level in the government (in spite of the anti-graft crusade) had seen the record $223 billion oil revenue earned in the eight years of the administration still unable to lift the large majority of the citizenry out of their current below-poverty existence, even as public utilities and social infrastructure had literally collapsed.

http://www.ngex.com/cgi-bin/frame/frameit2.plx?link=%22http://www.sunnewsonline.com/%22

Drama!

KALU’S ARREST
EFCC fail to arraign ex-Abia gov
…Obtain court order to detain him till Monday
•Dariye Turaki arraigned, get Monday date
•Judge blasts EFCC


•The Economic and Financial Commission [EFCC] yesterday, inadvertently confirmed widespread suspicion that there might indeed be more to the arrest, Wednesday, of former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, than just any claim of fighting corruption and his failure to freely report to the commission for questioning.

The commission in Abuja yesterday failed to properly arraign Kalu to answer to the said charges of corruption, when it brought him to the court premises but declined to take him into the court for proper arraignment.

Rather, the anti-graft commission’s lawyers were said to have quietly obtained an order of the court empowering them to keep the PPA leader in EFCC custody until Monday – in a seeming throw-back to the Obasanjo days when some perceived enemies of the government were picked up on the orders of the EFCC and clamped into detention without proper investigation or their being charged to court immediately.

Even as the nation awaited the arraignment of Kalu on the alleged over 100-count charge case – which competent EFCC sources had confirmed severally that they were yet to conclude investigations on, the commission arraigned former Plateau State governor, Chief Joshua Dariye, preferring to keep Kalu for a while longer and hopefully, forestall any effort to give him bail before Monday when it promised to properly arraign the ex-Abia governor and his Jigawa State counterpart, Alhaji Saminu Turaki who was also shoddily arraigned Friday.

Attempts by the Economic and Financial Commission [EFCC] to arraign four former governors on allegations of money laundering took a dramatic twist as three of the Federal High Court judges before whom the accused persons where brought declined to proceed with the proceedings.

Specifically, Justice Binta Nyako before whom the former Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Saminu Turaki, was to be arraigned castigated the EFCC over poor preparations of the charges against him.
Justice Nyako who said she would not tolerate such shoddy preparation ordered the Commission to go and come back with a compressed and precise copy of the charge sheet on Monday next week.
Justice Babs Kwuemi on the other hand noted that, time was too short for him to adequately digest the voluminous copy of the charge sheet preferred against former Governor of Plateau State, Chief Joshua Dariye, who was brought before his court.

On a general note, the judges noted that time was too short for them to read through the charge sheets, adding that it was in the best interest of justice and fair hearing that sufficient time be given to them and the accused persons to study and understand the charges against them.
While two former governors, Chief Joshua Dariye and Saminu Turaki were brought and taken to the respective court rooms, the former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu who was driven into the court premises at 2.45 pm, was kept waiting in the vehicle for about 20 minutes before he was eventually driven away.

Journalists, lawyers and supporters of the accused persons had a long wait at the Federal High Court before they were driven into the court premises in droves amidst tight security.
But an indication that the arraignment would take place came at 11.07am, when two lawyers from the EFCC drove into the court premises in a black Peugeot 406 with two armed mobile policemen.
The two lawyers alighted from the vehicle with two-red Ghana-must-go bags containing the charge sheets against the former governors and headed straight to the office of the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court where the charges were filed.

At 12.30 pm, the former Plateau State governor, Dariye was driven into the court premises in an ash-colour Peugeot Expert bus with registration No.CW 599 ABJ.
A battery of photojournalists who were on ground had a field day as they fell on each other to capture the former governor on their camera.
Dariye who looked calm with a clean hair cut waved to his supporters before he was ushered into the courtroom by the EFCC security personnel.

After a while, precisely at about 2.30 pm when the Power Holding Company of Nigeria [PHCN] had thrown the court premises into darkness, Senator Uche Chukwumerije arrived in a black SUV with registration No. DJ 805ABJ. He was in court to show solidarity with his former governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.

At about 2.40pm, the former Jigawa State governor, Saminu Turaki was brought to court in Peugeot Expert with registration No. AU 328 YAB. He stepped out of the vehicle and was ushered into the courtroom clutching copies of the charge sheet and his prayer bead to his chest with his right hand while acknowledging cheers from his supporters.
Five minutes after his arrival [2.45pm], Kalu was driven into the court premises in a green coloured Peugeot Export Bus with Kaduna State registration No. BD 523 DKA.
As soon as the vehicle conveying him stopped, a horde of journalists and supporters who had waited patiently for him at the court besieged it.

But their joy of capturing his face in their camera lenses was denied as he was kept in the vehicle.
Senator Chukwumerije who had approached the vehicle to receive him with other supporters waited in vain as he was not allowed to come out of the vehicle.
However, one of his lawyers, Chief Mike Ozekhome, was allowed into the vehicle to have a chat with him.
While Dariye is facing a 72-count charge bordering on money laundering, his counterpart in Jigawa, Saminu Turaki is charged on a 32-count charge of money laundering to the tune of about N36 billion.
Turaki is charged along with three companies; IMC Natural Resources, World Cat Construction Company, Akel Construction Nigeria Limited and Ahmed Ibrahim Mohammed who is said to be at large.

The former Abia State governor, Dr. Kalu on the other hand is facing 107-count charges of money laundering along with Emeka Kalu and Eunice Agwu.
Speaking to journalists on the chances of the accused persons getting bail, Kalu’s counsel and former Attorney General of Abia State, Chief Awa Kalu, together with Chief Mike Ozekhome noted that the offences of money laundering are bailable offences, adding that section 36 of the 1999 constitution presumes an accused person innocent until proved guilty by a court of law.

He said as a former governor and presidential candidate whose party has produced two state governors, his client is entitled to bail as he will not run away from justice.
His words, “He is an ex-governor and a presidential candidate. If he had wanted to run away from justice, he could have done so but he went to the EFCC on his own after returning from his medical check up. This is to show that his hands are clean. It is one thing to take somebody to court and a different thing to get him convicted. He is willing and ready to stand trial.”
The matter is expected to resume by Monday next week.

POLITICS OF ARREST, TRIAL
Meanwhile, highly placed sources within both the Presidency and the former governor’s camp insisted during the week that the real reason for the arrest of Kalu, the presidential candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance in the last presidential election, may not be unconnected with the proposed government of national unity which president Umar Yar’Adua is trying to put together.

According to the sources, the arrest is aother manifestation of the desperation of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to ensure that Kalu, unarguably his most vocal critic among public officers in the last eight years, does not suddenly become a irresistible bride, as the Yar’Adua government shops for prominent opposition figures to join the proposed unity government and give his administration the much needed credibility.

Kalu is believed to be in communication with President Yar’Adua’s government over the unity government project and the president is said to have not only offered him a specific cabinet position, considered by many as ‘very very strategic’, but has also given him assurance that he would hold the portfolio for a minimum four years.

Kalu, on his part, was said to have agreed to co-operate with Yar’Adua, but emphatically refused to take up cabinet position – preferring instead, to nominate someone for the job.
However, when Kalu’s party, the PPA, agreed to work with Yar’Adua in the proposed GNU, many members favoured Kalu to be nominated for a cabinet job. It eventually agreed to put forward Kalu’s name. Although the president was said to be favourably disposed to Kalu, he still insisted that the PPA should give him options by sending two names.

The party had insisted that if Yar’Adua just wanted to appoint a PPA member into his government, he was free to pick anybody, but that if it was to be an alliance as the president had tended to suggest with the proposed GNU, then the PPA would nominate whomever it thinks can best represent its in the GNU. These positions had stalled negotiations for a long while until the party eventually agreed to meet in Abuja this Wednesday to iron out the issues once and for all.

The PPA governors, gubernatorial candidates and all the party bigwigs were already in Abuja for the Wednesday meeting. Kalu was supposed to fly in direct from his trip overseas to join them. But the former governor who has a subsisting court order stopping the EFCC from arresting him until a subsisting case has been disposed of was arrested on arrival by operatives of the commission in disregard of that court order.

But OBJ is said not to be comfortable with the Yar’Adua/Kalu romance and is believed to be using his men in government who control key institutions of state to bypass the current president and get at Kalu. The idea, many believe, is to make a possible Kalu nomination a hard-sell at the Senate by hanging a corruption court case on his neck.

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Pure made in Nigeria Drama!

Arrest of ex-govs: Parties vow to get justice against EFCC

LAGOS — THE arrests of former governors by the EFCC is eliciting reactions from their parties and lawyers, with the former vowing to seek redress in the law courts over their travails.
Last Wednesday, former Abia State governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu was arrested by EFCC operatives in Abuja on arrival from London to keep an appointment with President Yar’Adua for a parley on the unity government project.

Other ex-governors who have to contend with the EFCC include Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State, Boni Haruna of Adamawa and Nyame of Taraba state. The recent visit of former governor Joshua Dariye of Plateau State to the EFCC offices has also been eliciting reactions.


Media adviser to former governor Orji Kalu, Mr. Iyke Ekeoma in a statement condemned the manner of arrest of ex-governor Kalu as an affront to judicial proceedings. Ekeoma said:
“This is in view of the fact that there is a subsisting court order restraining the EFCC or any of its agents from harassing, intimidating or arresting the ex-governor. Since the EFCC cannot operate outside the law, this latest development should be considered as a flagrant disobedience to court order and ex-governor Kalu’s lawyers have filed a notice of consequence after which contempt proceedings will be taken against the EFCC if they fail to respect the rule of law.”

Sources told Saturday

Vanguard that Chief Kalu returned to the country Wednesday in a bid to keep an appointment with the President. The President and Chief Kalu, the source added, were to parley on the much touted unity government, but the talks were yet to hold as Chief Kalu was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on his arrival. A source at a party in London attended by Chief Kalu earlier in the week said he spoke of returning to Nigeria for an appointment with the President on the unity government.

The National Publicity Secretary of Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Kalu’s party, Mr. Imo Igboko expressed confidence that justice would come from the courts.
“Since the EFCC law says the commission cannot detain but only interrogate, we are hopeful that the matter will be charged to court. After 48 hours which is stipulated in the EFCC Act for interrogation, the party can now be in a position to do something.”

Nze Ozichukwu, the national vice-chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in his reaction said the party has not been formally informed of the arrest of the former governors.
“I saw Nnamani speaking at the Senate screening of ministerial nominees. How could he be with the EFCC at the same time? I didn’t even know Orji Kalu or Saminu Turaki were arrested because I haven’t read the papers. I’ve been very busy.

“I think you should also know that the national chairman of the party, Senator Ahmadu Ali is out of the country and the national secretary Chief Ojo Madueke has been busy with ministerial screening. So, the party did not hold its scheduled meeting. All the same, let me say that I have confidence in the judiciary. Whatever it is could be sorted out. If it’s not a criminal offence, it’s bailable. The EFCC can interrogate them and charge them but I cannot say for now why the former governors were arrested because I don’t have the details.”

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The obstacles that may turn this new development into a smoke screen:

1. OBJ is as corrupt as these folks and he's still hanging around this new administration like a saint sent from heaven.

2. It is clearly obvious and confirmed that unlawfulness and corruption got Yar'Adua the presidential position; sadly, he also admitted to it.

3. Many Corrupt folks are still hiding underneath OBJ's umbrella.

4. Many of the corrupt governors are directly linked to OBJ.

Please be ready, it will be a very long bumpy ride; while I hope for the best, I also predict "Pure Made in Nigeria Drama". Lawyers, judges, senators and more politicians will get richer during this period. At the end of the day, many of these governors will be sent back to their mansions.

I may be wrong, but let's chill and watch what happens.

Angel101:

I've given you nothing, but love and respect; I hate not to be nice to a lady and I'll like this to stay this way.

Why do you continue to pull my leg like that? Believe me, it's not cool at-all.

NO Bragging , but if you get to know me, you wouldn't have any other choice, but to submit and give me pure love.
Hence, simmer down for a moment and give a brother a break!

I guess, you're having trouble making yourself clear, because I truly do not know where you're going with this rubbish.

Yes, it is true, many may be against me or what I stand for; but the truth is that the bright ones clearly know the real fact.
I stand for progressiveness, effectiveness, efficiency, honesty, integrity, fairness, perfection and for the ordinary Nigerian citizens.

That is the fact, my man.

I'm very proud of my state of mind or unique mentality.

Mr McKren, the question is "what do you stand for, if there is anything"
Could it be Kissing ASS? or following others?