₦airaland Forum

Lets go there!

I, Festus Keyamo, issue this Press Statement as the Lead Prosecutor in this case and on my behalf. The Commission may also issue its statement later.

The FCT High Court, sitting at Apo presided over by Justice S. B. Belgore today, Tuesday January 31, 2012, upheld the no-case submission made by the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and his Deputy, Nafada and discharged the two Accused persons.
This charge is only in relation to the allegations of obtaining illegal loans and the indiscriminate increase of the “allowances” and “running costs” from N27million to N42million per member, per quarter, under the leadership of the accused persons. The charge in relation to the contravention of the Public Procurement Act, to wit: inflation of prices of goods purchased for members of the House of Representatives is still pending before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

However, we disagree with the reasoning and conclusion of His Lordship Justice S.B. Belgore in the decision reached today on the following grounds:

1. The Court held that though it is morally wrong, morally indefensible and morally insensitive for the members of the House of Representatives led by Bankole and Nafada to have increased their “running costs” from N27million per quarter, per member, to N42million, it did not amount to a criminal offence but a moral wrong. The court reasoned that the legislature, being a different arm of government, the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) cannot fix the “running costs” for members of the House of Representatives. They are at liberty to increase their “running costs” to whatever amount they so collectively wish.

Again the judge held that RMAFC can only fix “wages” and “allowances” and not “running costs” and that “running costs” do not qualify as “allowances”.

OUR DISAGREEMENT ON THIS POINT

Section 70 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) states as follows:

“70. Remuneration

A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall receive such salary and other allowances as the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission may determine.”

Consequently, in our opinion, it is wrong for a judge to allow a public officer to take money from the public till under any guise without reference to the RMAFC. Our respectful view is that “other allowances” as stated in the Constitution encompasses “running costs” as monies collected by public officers to offset expenses other than wages. The difference the judge tried to create is merely splitting of hairs.

2. The court held that Bankole and Nafada could not be held for criminal breach of trust because constitutionally, their powers do not include control of the Accounts of the House of Representatives, therefore they are not “entrusted” with those accounts. While the court agreed that Bankole was actually the approving authority regarding expenditure, in conjunction with the Clerk of the House of Representatives, the Court said this was only an illegal usurpation of the powers of the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

OUR DISAGREEMENT ON THIS POINT

Since the Court had arrived at a conclusion that Bankole usurped the powers of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, should he not be held accountable for misusing that power he usurped? We think he should.

3. The court held that the accused persons cannot be held guilty for theft because the funds in the accounts said to be the subject of theft were legitimately obtained as loans and disbursed to members.

OUR DISAGREEMENT ON THIS POINT

In our view, theft is committed when a property belonging to another is taken fraudulently without the consent of the other person. In this case, so long as monies were credited to the account of the House of Representatives which is an account of the Federal Government, they still needed to follow strict financial regulations in disbursing those amounts. To the extent that those financial regulations were not followed the “taking” is fraudulent and amounts to theft, in our view.

4. Lastly, the judge kept repeating that the loans have been fully paid back and so no crime has been committed.

OUR DISAGREEMENT ON THIS POINT

Apart from the fact that paying back of the loan does not repair the breach of the financial regulations by the accused persons, this is what PW 9 (Sefiya Musa, the Relations Manager of First Bank) said:
“PW9:- I have looked at A41. The bottom reading =N= 12 billion. That is the loan I am talking about. The loan has not been fully liquidated.”
Therefore, we do not know how the judge arrived at the conclusion that the loans have been fully paid back when the loan obtained from First Bank Plc remain unpaid as manifestly shown in the evidence of PW 9 above (as against that of UBA).

For these and other reasons, we are totally dissatisfied with the judgment and we are consulting with our client, EFCC on the possibility of an appeal.

Thank you.

FESTUS KEYAMO, ESQ.
Lead Prosecutor


http://dailypost.com.ng/2012/01/31/full-text-keyamos-response-to-bankole-nafada-acquittal/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=full-text-keyamos-response-to-bankole-nafada-acquittal

He has been released. He wasnt arrested but invited for questioning.

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/boko-haram-weve-released-former-gov-shekarau-after-interactive-session-sss

^
funny but sadly true.

9ja police. Smh

Naija .
No case to answer, so its nw legal to embezzel funds? No wonder he was always smiling.

El-rufai s not contesting come 2015.

http://mobile.twitter.com/elrufai/status/164277441458737152

Ppl wont vote hime either:

http://mobile.twitter.com/naggi_b/status/164282667641221120

Beaf:
Lol!
Imagine a thief and fork-tongued hypocrite like El Rufai organising 20 million youth for 2015?!
A thief can only organise thieves.

Wonders!

Bros, el-rufai will NEVER be allowed to hijack this group and if he really does, trust many youths to pull out. Ppl lyk me, i dnt blv el-rufai wotever.
Its a gr8 initiative if we must bring d ruling class to its knees but i have my fears too but i bliv in trying new things out.
Cheers

Acidosis:
20million youths for CPC. Nonsense

And where was CPC mentioned in that article?

The #occupynigeria initiative that brought d country's economy to its knees early in the year is going a step further, mobilizing 20million youths ahead of nxt general elections.

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/35201-occupy-nigeria-strategises-ahead-2015

ThnkGod nigeria did not qualify o, these bois not get respect o.

Scash:
Ah, she musnt o. Cos she trusts me terribly. She wont believe the lies was majorly to help prevent her developing heart attack

Hrt attack?

Dear, did u finally remove that baby?  

They have hijacked my thread?

Am angry wit kobo n co.

Mo gbe oooo.
Pls, i want d contract for twitter account, i will collect only 500k for everything, plus including discount and comissions.

Kai!

Abujabir24:
The bh members are just after security opertives. because during the kano attacks, when they meet civilians, they you want to join us, if the reply is yes then they join them but if its no, they will let you free and even give you transport fare to go back to your destination.

I have a video i would like to post here for everyone to watch. pls can anybody tell me how to post a video here? I would really appreciate it. thanks

Am begining to suspect u, u r always an eye witness where ever they strike. If U r not in Maiduguri, u r in Yobe and nw Kano.

Wc transport fare? Ppl that almost killed my frnd n his brother?

Warning! 'dnt smoke b4 opening a thread and if u smoke dnt open a thread'.

klas:
Small boy. It is you that is dreaming. Wake up and check check this

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5678614-146/story.csp



You may also read this

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-609722.0.html

Here u go again old man. We r talking of current figures and u r quoting last administration. Even @ that, that number comprises d aides to d president, Vp and d first lady.

klas:
As at February 2011, before his 're-election',GEJ had 133 aides comprising 25 Special Advisers, 42 Senior Special Assistants, 52 Special Assistants and 12 Personal Assistants.

Young man, where r u pulling those figures frm? Provide a link or source to back up a claim or shushhhh!
SR should have started a new song if ur dream comes tru.

Beaf:
Choi!
Dis thread make winsh get accident!

[img]http://www.gis.net/~bredesen/pics/witch.jpg[/img]

Abeg, i no wan laff

@iyk4.
I collect d handshake jor.
i don tire for these ppl n complain.

@kobo n shy-one.
Pls , can u stop dis wiki debate on this thread already?

NB: quote wiki in ur exams @ ur own risk.

alj harem:
Or even GEJ, it still does not change the message  

now u are playing back pass. So, u r asking me what ur president needs aides for?
Wc kingdom are u frm?

mpmp:
[size=16pt]If only Nigeria's present first-lady could spend as much on getting an English teacher to teach her how to speak correct English, her vocabularious thunderings won't be ringing louder than boko haram's bombs.[/size]

Free my pacence ooo, after all Michelle s American n they speak English while i have adviced our dear Damn to speak ijaw and get an interpreter aide

alj harem:
Dmainboss, wereperi ans funkymallam I don't still get your points. Lets state facts here

1. Are all the aids needed by her as the first lady of Nigeria ? Yes or No

2. If "Yes" for what and what is their jobs descriptions.

3. The government wants to cut funds by removing fuel subsidy which was a life line of the microeconomy. Food, transport etc has all gone up by 120% over night

4. The same leader is now doing double standards by not cutting his own expenses.

5. A LEADER CAN NEVER BE RESPECTED IF HE/SHE DOES NOT PRACTISE WHAT THEY PREACH. Fact !!!

You cannot reduce my expenses and you still be living large. Life does not work that way.

6. There is not comparison of Nigeria and america. They have a good government system that is transparent and honest with the people (to a reasonable standards) Nigeria has none.

7. It is taken 10 years for Nigeria to repair Benin-ore road that has killed over 200 people within those years, It took america less than 3 years to build the world trade center back and infact they built 2 of it.

8. The economy and democracy in America is Waaaayyyyyy better than that of Nigeria. Tribalism does not occur in America unlike likes of dmainboss and co calling others parasites. They are mature, we are not

9. Resources are shared regardless of region or ethnicity . Nigeria 13 % extra is given to the Niger-delta region and NDDC was formed to further enrich the elites of the region and the people are fine with it so long as he is for there region. No america demands accountability.

The comparison is a bit thick I must say

U r still dancing about here.
Who called Dame Patience here?

jmaine:
https://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff390/ShaneDawg021/th_skateboardp.pngThe cynics are helplessly tongue tied . . . This Funkymallam trap na correct one . . .guy na who design this trap for you na . . .na indians ? https://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff390/ShaneDawg021/th_smiletongue.png

Bros o, na frm Iran ooo.

And i tot they said it was d police dat killed civillians or is d guy in d nigerian police?

kizito96:
Michelle is a Lawyer who earns more than the husband, She can afford any luxury first lady or not. Some of her aids are those she had before the first lady issue. She pays most of them from her pocket. Our First Lady Patience ha been a house wife and never had any source of lively hood. She now has 3 vessels that transfer oil from the ship at sea to the deport

What are u ranting over there? Those aides were employed when she became d first lady and the amount they are being paid is also there. They are paid frm d tax money.

@dmainboss.
Pls, can u help me post the text frm this link, am presently on mobile. Thnx
http://www.ourchangingglobe.com/how-many-personal-assistants-does-michelle-obama-have/

@Moderators. Why change my topic?
Its GEj and not Dame

TRUTHTELA:
@OP, whats your POINT? Why can't you compare developing economies that have made tremedous progress in lifting its citizens from POVERTY and they did it out of NO OIL WEALTH e.g, China, Brazil, India S/A etc, China is the second largest economy in the world. Their PROGRESS & DEVELOPMENT is well known, but the Chinese leaders will humbly tell the Americans, that we're a DEVELOPING COUNTRY. What will give any SANE mind the confidence to compare US firstlady, & Banana Republics PRESIDENT? Can you go ahead & compare the amount of aides Jonathan, have,compare US president's budget for feeding with what Jonathan budgeted. No Govt Official in the US lives off public funds,some how,some how, the GOVT deducts it from your salary,Obama INCLUSIVE. In the US,govt is for the people, but in Nigeria, Govt. is for ROGUES,come and STEAL with IMPUNTIY. GEJ & his cohorts are busy stealing the treausry & ruining the nation. Michelle Obama, as a trained lawyer, can fix Nigeria as it is now, than anything Jonaduce will do in for years ( if he completes his tenure tough). City of BLIND people!!!

What do u mean by public office holders in d US does not live off public funds? I suppose u pay dem with ur personal money.
Did u care to go through frm d first page and see d links? I bliv u will find figures there, dnt b lazy.

werepeLeri:
Why you people involve in this kind of blind argument that no one beyond here reads, still baffles me.

Thnku bro, i v provided them relevant links and even Americans are complaining about their first lady and her aides plus their pay all stated in rhe links but most here have refused to read.

@Alj.
What is 24 aides of GEJ compared to 454 aides for B. Obama? Over times 100.

Nw everybody s claiming we should not compare Nigeria n d US nut u all keep comparing them when it suits ur target, if i compare Nigeria with African Countries, u will still say why comoare ourselves with failure.
For ur info, no African country gives u d number of d presidential aides but here we knw and just jump to criticize.

Even common SUG presidents in our universities have more than 10 aides.

^
Bros, would have love to do that but most african countries dnt make d number public, they just say bloated number of aides and some presidents keep aquiring aides like dress.

alj harem:
There is no slave mentality there, what is it is what is it

"Cut your coat according to your size" is what they say not "cut your coat according to others sizes"


Nigeria is most populous black nation in the world, and so what ? What have we achieved with that population other than terrorism and militancy, killer roads, primary school standard federal universities, fraud, tribalism , etc

Until we start telling ourselves the truth and acting appropriately then we are not going anywhere.

Take this analogy for example

As a father that has your children school fees pending, would you use the little saving you have for aids or would you invest in your children's future.

Again my friend there is no bases of comparison. Nigeria needs to get off the high horse and humble herself. Ghana, Niger are far better than Nigeria interms of standard of leaving with low population and without oil.

the american budget for defence alone is far out gun the Nigeria entire budget.

And ur point is that Nigeria is damn poor that we cant maintain common 24 aides for our president. Smh

here again, Barack Obama have 454 aides. . . .

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/07/obama-white-house-salaries-soar.html

Let the battle continue.

jmaine:
I can see the bosom trap laced in the thread caught some game . .and here they are struggling to escape . . . Funkymallam. . .see as you don catch bush meat plenty https://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff390/ShaneDawg021/th_cheesegrin.png

Bros hw far? These guys r just insincere, lets see hw they prove d more important role Michelle plays compares to a president. If not slavery mentality, worshipping d west.

GAR3TH:
Not really sure why you are Comparing Michelle obama to GEJ on this issue. Fact remains that the USA political system is more advance and has more pressure than Nigeria. Can you compare this to this. For god sake we are still promising and debating of the simple building of common road, while the Americans are debating about the real issues. Like I said, Nigeria's current political climate is not worthy of any aides at all, what so hard about building the basic foundations of a country. When we get pass introduction to government class 101 then we can start appointing aides to advise us.

alj harem:
Hmmm funkymallam, I see your comparison but these are things you need to consider

1. The average senator in Nigeria is collecting more money than Obama.

2. Mrs Obama is technically much more busy. Not to down grade Nigeria or anything but her presence in another country is more important and GEJ in that same country.

3. Also she is a role model not only to women in America but all over the world because America is one of the most diverse country in the world, America is a world power both economically and militarily.  

4. We need to be critical here, the money her country has is much more than Nigeria thus there is no bases of comparison.

5. The money spent in the USA government is well managed unlike the current admistration that spends money on 13 million dollar just on Gold. The period Clinton bought 4 tommy hilfiger suits, he was queried, can we as Nigerian even ask why GEJ has not told us why the money of the subsidy jumped up and why he removed it when we still are on 2011 budget without people criticizing us. Lets be honest with ourselves things are more transparent there than here and that is why even their senator can take 50 aids and there should be no problem because the life there is far better than the life in Nigeria when the minimum wage is 18,000 naira while in america is 185,000 naira.

There is no bases of comparison

Hmmm. So u guys mean the president of Nigeria ia a 'noboday'?
That a ceremonial first lady is more busy than d leader of d most populous black nation?
That a first lady deserves to have aides more than Our president?


Its terrible hw some of us think, u want to tell me that Chad, Niger, Ghana, Senegal and other dnt have aides for their president?
This is pure hate and very sentimental.

Again, read that link again and see hw many other first ladies in her post had. Most had just one aide, and does that mean they were never in office?
Pls, learn to criticize across boad and stop being sentimental.

Fhemmmy:
Obama is a target, no one cares about GEJ . . .

Care to explain that up there.
Mind u, read those link and see we r talking of aides n not security details. Even @ that Gej is a big target here, ask boko bois.
Also, we r talking about Michelle here and not Barak Obama.

^
U r irredeemable. Tot u were intelligent but with this ur mental slavery knws no bound.

So u r telling me a first lady(ceremonial as u put it) should have more aides, who r paid with d task payers money than an elected presiden?
Did u bother to read through d link i posted and see most b4 her had just one aide and u dnt condem her but once its GEJ ur blood gets hot. Gosh!
U xcus Nigeria is poor, and who told u we r poor or even dat poor? I assume d Chadien president that paid 26m dollars for a bride is richer than Nigeria.

Get a life!

^
U r irredeemable. Tot u were intelligent but with this, ur mental slavery knws no bound.

So u r telling me a first lady(ceremonial as u put it) should have more aides, who r paid with d tax payers money than an elected presiden?
Did u bother to read through d link i posted and see most b4 her had just one aide and u dnt condem her but once its GEJ ur blood gets hot. Gosh!
U xcus Nigeria is poor, and who told u we r poor or even dat poor? I assume d Chadien president that paid 26m dollars for a bride is richer than Nigeria.

Get a life!

Oh! Nigerian democracy is just 2mins old. Why do u complain then wen we r still toddlers learning frm d 200yr democracy country.
See urself!