₦airaland Forum

It’s time to play by a different (ethical) set of rules (Part Nigeria 2

___As citizens, we have a duty to speak out to stop the rot

Nigeria has an agency known as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). After we had to leave the country, a few noble people at the company tipped off not only me but the EFCC about the payment of the bribes, which had by this time risen from $9m to $13,5m.

I had never actually heard about this agency myself until I got a call from the Nigerian Embassy in South Africa to say they wanted to come and see me to interview me as a witness.

A team of very senior EFCC officers came to see us in South Africa. They were solid and professional in their enquiry. It was clear they wanted to do something about it.

However, when these officers returned home to Nigeria, they got into very serious trouble. Their investigations into the irregular payments had been brought to the attention of James Ibori (Governor of Delta State)…

Soon thereafter, the most senior officer leading the investigation was demoted and sent to a remote part of the country as an ordinary policeman!

Agencies like EFCC in Nigeria sometimes have brave and gallant law enforcement officers. Unfortunately, as I observed, they’re often let down by their political bosses, and sometimes even by the courts. This can change if activism from the citizenry emerges to support their work.

___We should not only support official efforts to stop corruption but also help these agencies and organisations in their investigations. If you have relevant information about illegal activities, passing it on could make all the difference between impunity and imprisonment.

In my letter to the US Justice Department, I detailed the full history of the demands for a bribe. I had dates, times, records. I then reminded them that since the big international operator had a listing on the New York Stock Exchange, they were duty-bound to launch an enquiry. Why did I go to them?

The United States government has a law called the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The United Kingdom has a similar one called the British Anti-Bribery Act. Whatever you do, make sure you never fall foul of those laws because, if they ever use them to come after you, you’re a “gonner” my friends.

A few weeks later, US officials wrote back advising me that an enquiry had been launched. They contacted the big international company seeking answers to my allegations. My contacts at the company called to tell me, “All hell has broken loose at the company.”

The parent company of the South African-based multinational sent external auditors and lawyers from London to Nigeria. They immediately dismissed all the senior executives sent to Nigeria to run the company, and they left in a hurry!

Although they fled the scene of the crime and returned to their country — after admitting even to both the US Justice Department and the EFCC that the money had been paid out – the stolen funds were never returned to the Nigerian people, even to this day.

Meanwhile, the departure of the other mobile operator did not mean we could return to Nigeria. The shareholders found another operator, this time from the Middle East.

They sold this new operator the control of the company even though Econet Wireless Nigeria had the “right of first refusal” over any sale. They simply ignored that provision in our agreement. This was illegal, both according to our shareholders agreement and Nigerian Company Law. It was left for us to take up the fight in another forum, the Nigerian courts.

To be continued…

Strive Masiyiwa
It’s time to play by a different (ethical) set of rules (Part 9) Nigeria 3

__ Beware the company you keep

The state government of Akwa Ibom held 15% of the equity in Econet Wireless Nigeria. This state was not one of the original investors but joined us later.

After five years, the governor of the state of Akwa Ibom decided to sell its stake. It had more than doubled in value in dollar terms, which meant it had been a good investment.

The state governor, an elderly gentleman called Victor Attah, sent a message through a friend that he wanted to see me in London to find out if I was interested in exercising Econet’s right to buy its shares. I agreed to meet him in London.

"I want to sell the shares to build an airport before I leave office," the governor explained.

The governor was accompanied to the meeting by a British lawyer who sat quietly taking notes. His name was Bhadresh Gohil.

With a wave of his hand, the governor said, "Mr Gohil is our legal advisor here in London. I have instructed him to handle all our negotiations with you."

The meeting did not last more than 30 minutes, as the governor was on his way to catch a flight to the U.S.

We agreed with Mr Gohil that we would meet with my own advisors a few days later to start the process.

A few days later, I went to his office with a professional banker who advised me on such transactions. We met in the lawyer's plush London offices. He was confident and smooth-spoken as he explained how much we were expected to pay. Then he explained that our money was to go to a "Special Purpose Vehicle" (SPV) before it was transferred to Nigeria. It was a sophisticated structure and he showed me a drawing of how it would work. I wrote it all down very carefully into my notebook.

___Such corporate entities as SPVs can definitely have legitimate purposes, but this one did not!

As I quizzed him about why such an unusual structure was necessary, Mr Gohil changed tact and tried to entice me with an offer I could not refuse (or so he hoped): "I'm also the advisor to the governor of Delta State, Mr James Ibori, and if you agree to pay for these shares using this structure, we will offer you shares belonging to all the state governments. In total, you can have more than 30% additional shares. It will be enough to take control of the company. My clients just want out, and they are willing to give you what you have always wanted."

I listened to him, quietly taking notes in my small notebook. I did not give away anything, but inside I was very angry. From the design of the structure, I knew immediately that it was meant to siphon off money before it reached the state governments. It was clear there was a conspiracy to steal a lot of money.

___Having already pocketed $13.5m, now the government officials could easily pocket probably another $100m through the sale process that they had developed with the help of Mr Gohil and other clever advisors in London!

When I left the meeting I immediately contacted the mutual friend who'd set up the governor's meeting. The friend was so embarrassed as I explained the corrupt structure clearly designed to steal money from the state governments. He promised to raise the issue with Governor Victor Attah. A few days later he came back and said Governor Attah had claimed ignorance about the proposal put to me by Mr Gohil. He said he would speak to Mr Gohil and tell him it had to be done properly without the structures.

We never heard from them again. Mr Gohil simply vanished. A few months later we were told that the shares had been offered to a company from the Middle East who subsequently bought them. I was not privy to how they did it except that they had violated my right to buy the shares... That is another chapter in the saga, but not for now.

Fast-forward three years, long after the sale. Our lawyers in London called me one day and asked if I could come urgently to a meeting with the Proceeds of Corruption Unit of the London Metropolitan Police: "You are not in any trouble, but I think you will find what they have to say very interesting!"

This special unit was launched by the British to investigate corruption by foreign government officials who try to launder stolen money to the U.S. and the UK.

The officers asked me to explain everything I knew about the sale of V-Mobile shares to Celtel (later Zain).

I explained the history of the entire transaction and the shareholders disputes that had led to our departure. After awhile, they asked me to focus on specific events, and, in particular, my meetings in London with the governor of Akwa Ibom, and also the meetings with Mr Gohil. It became clear to me that they had a lot of information!

"What can you tell us about this structure, using a Special Purpose Vehicle?"

I explained my understanding of it. Later on, I gave them my diary in which I had recorded the details of my meeting that day with Mr Gohil.

Below my drawing of the structure, I had written in bold letters:

"This is corrupt!!!"

Not long after my meeting with the Proceeds of Corruption Unit, Mr Gohil was arrested together with one of his partners and several others. I later learned that when the Middle Eastern company bought the shares, some of the proceeds had been diverted using the Gohil structure. Some of the money was sent to a bank in London. This large amount of money was enough to alert the British authorities that money was being laundered through their banking system.

Their investigations led them to Gohil and his associates. They raided his offices and found stashes of documents, including details of the structures. Now they were looking for witnesses to help prosecute them for corruption and money laundering.

The British authorities tried without success to get other parties, including the governor of Akwa Ibom, to come out and clear their names but they refused. Officials of President Umaru Musa Yar'Aduah's government successfully thwarted all extradition requests.

I was asked to be a witness in the trial of those who had been arrested in London. I willingly accepted. Next I will tell you about my role as a 'Witness to the Crown" on behalf of the people of Nigeria whose money had been stolen. It would be the first time that someone big went to jail (in a foreign country) for stealing money from Africans.

Wow

Strive Masiyiwa
It’s time to play by a different (ethical) set of rules (Part 9) Nigeria 3

__ Beware the company you keep

The state government of Akwa Ibom held 15% of the equity in Econet Wireless Nigeria. This state was not one of the original investors but joined us later.

After five years, the governor of the state of Akwa Ibom decided to sell its stake. It had more than doubled in value in dollar terms, which meant it had been a good investment.

The state governor, an elderly gentleman called Victor Attah, sent a message through a friend that he wanted to see me in London to find out if I was interested in exercising Econet’s right to buy its shares. I agreed to meet him in London.

"I want to sell the shares to build an airport before I leave office," the governor explained.

The governor was accompanied to the meeting by a British lawyer who sat quietly taking notes. His name was Bhadresh Gohil.

With a wave of his hand, the governor said, "Mr Gohil is our legal advisor here in London. I have instructed him to handle all our negotiations with you."

The meeting did not last more than 30 minutes, as the governor was on his way to catch a flight to the U.S.

We agreed with Mr Gohil that we would meet with my own advisors a few days later to start the process.

A few days later, I went to his office with a professional banker who advised me on such transactions. We met in the lawyer's plush London offices. He was confident and smooth-spoken as he explained how much we were expected to pay. Then he explained that our money was to go to a "Special Purpose Vehicle" (SPV) before it was transferred to Nigeria. It was a sophisticated structure and he showed me a drawing of how it would work. I wrote it all down very carefully into my notebook.

___Such corporate entities as SPVs can definitely have legitimate purposes, but this one did not!

As I quizzed him about why such an unusual structure was necessary, Mr Gohil changed tact and tried to entice me with an offer I could not refuse (or so he hoped): "I'm also the advisor to the governor of Delta State, Mr James Ibori, and if you agree to pay for these shares using this structure, we will offer you shares belonging to all the state governments. In total, you can have more than 30% additional shares. It will be enough to take control of the company. My clients just want out, and they are willing to give you what you have always wanted."

I listened to him, quietly taking notes in my small notebook. I did not give away anything, but inside I was very angry. From the design of the structure, I knew immediately that it was meant to siphon off money before it reached the state governments. It was clear there was a conspiracy to steal a lot of money.

___Having already pocketed $13.5m, now the government officials could easily pocket probably another $100m through the sale process that they had developed with the help of Mr Gohil and other clever advisors in London!

When I left the meeting I immediately contacted the mutual friend who'd set up the governor's meeting. The friend was so embarrassed as I explained the corrupt structure clearly designed to steal money from the state governments. He promised to raise the issue with Governor Victor Attah. A few days later he came back and said Governor Attah had claimed ignorance about the proposal put to me by Mr Gohil. He said he would speak to Mr Gohil and tell him it had to be done properly without the structures.

We never heard from them again. Mr Gohil simply vanished. A few months later we were told that the shares had been offered to a company from the Middle East who subsequently bought them. I was not privy to how they did it except that they had violated my right to buy the shares... That is another chapter in the saga, but not for now.

Fast-forward three years, long after the sale. Our lawyers in London called me one day and asked if I could come urgently to a meeting with the Proceeds of Corruption Unit of the London Metropolitan Police: "You are not in any trouble, but I think you will find what they have to say very interesting!"

This special unit was launched by the British to investigate corruption by foreign government officials who try to launder stolen money to the U.S. and the UK.

The officers asked me to explain everything I knew about the sale of V-Mobile shares to Celtel (later Zain).

I explained the history of the entire transaction and the shareholders disputes that had led to our departure. After awhile, they asked me to focus on specific events, and, in particular, my meetings in London with the governor of Akwa Ibom, and also the meetings with Mr Gohil. It became clear to me that they had a lot of information!

"What can you tell us about this structure, using a Special Purpose Vehicle?"

I explained my understanding of it. Later on, I gave them my diary in which I had recorded the details of my meeting that day with Mr Gohil.

Below my drawing of the structure, I had written in bold letters:

"This is corrupt!!!"

Not long after my meeting with the Proceeds of Corruption Unit, Mr Gohil was arrested together with one of his partners and several others. I later learned that when the Middle Eastern company bought the shares, some of the proceeds had been diverted using the Gohil structure. Some of the money was sent to a bank in London. This large amount of money was enough to alert the British authorities that money was being laundered through their banking system.

Their investigations led them to Gohil and his associates. They raided his offices and found stashes of documents, including details of the structures. Now they were looking for witnesses to help prosecute them for corruption and money laundering.

The British authorities tried without success to get other parties, including the governor of Akwa Ibom, to come out and clear their names but they refused. Officials of President Umaru Musa Yar'Aduah's government successfully thwarted all extradition requests.

I was asked to be a witness in the trial of those who had been arrested in London. I willingly accepted. Next I will tell you about my role as a 'Witness to the Crown" on behalf of the people of Nigeria whose money had been stolen. It would be the first time that someone big went to jail (in a foreign country) for stealing money from Africans.

To be continued . . .
Timeline Photos · Yesterday at 11:03 ·
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kolajoo:
Thank God you read it well and understand my message. Yes! Cooper is ready but might be inexperience and that's why i will keep him till his 15 months. Cheers

Change the the title of the post then and show when you know it will really be available. As it is it is misleading.

kolajoo:
Whatever, I have my opinion.

Indeed you have yours. Mine too. Not whatever.
On another note your compromise that it's not immediately available is not in sync with your post. If I didn't know about Cooper before now it's a no brainer that what you mean is its availability NOW.

The disclaimer seems too good to be true.... In a manner of speaking and the manner the geoscience students are all coming on nl at most same time... As they when it seems too good to be true... It's most likely so

Modified : I noticed the OP and disclaimer in chief liked and shared my post. Let clear my throat first. I actually mean the disclaimer and the way it was ambushed by new accounts to authenticate it is too good to be true. I don't think the disclaimer is true. The original post is actually nearer to the truth if you ask me.

Cooper is already a stud
Now what do I call this pedophilia or harassment.

You've dropped a challenge. I'm gonna go out of my way to try it out within one week. I will also put out my service experience here as it is.

In addition to what you've put forward OP some have made the mistake of putting out a value offering that is way out of proportion to what is available all in an effort to woo unsuspecting customers. As the saying goes if it's too good to be true it probably is just that way. You hit the nail on the head though that I or any one is actually paying for value which in turn the business owner with good Management can turn to profit. Most people however see the profit or are shown the profit without an inkling to the importance of a very good value proposition. The horse is always before the cart so it can draw it. The cart... The profit... The wealth.

Dyt:
Chelshit nko

It's Chelsea.

Most dog breeds are territorial. They would not allow anything not part of the pack to just come in without proper intro. It also depends on how socialized they are...I mean the dog(s). Mine will watch suspiciously any new dog brought in by me. They will not attack but you will see that slight head away look watching every move. But they dare not attack while I'm there. But I must introduce the newbie and let them know it's part of us now.
Like I said the problem might be that the older one sees the pup as a threat and secondly it might not have been socialized properly. Then you have not also taken time to introduce them... Gradually too. Maybe by sequesting the older one and allow gradual contact from partially to full under your supervision. It must also be made to understand that in no circumstances will you allow it to attack the pup.

I don't think it's gtb making the bottled water. It's possible that they have done their analytics and believe this is a way to keep their brand in public view. It's just like when I was much younger I used to wonder why coca Cola was still using available opportunities to keep their brand actively visual. I've learnt over the years that this is important. If you think the competition is not looking for ways to upstage you you gotta think again. They are doing so this very minute.
Let me use an analogy it's like when your partner, gf or wife, notice you're using her pic as screen saver or dp. She feels elated cos her brand is in view and fully engaged.

@hyper007....i told you how to get the rating thing going.

@tonyebarcanista....i have not only tried to be fair to myself but to even the issues. I don't know where you're operating from but I dare say that attempts by people to stampede leadership into actions that the it has not yet thought through only to be blamed later is not the best. In my private discussions I have maintained that the one thing missing from the administration is that after telling Nigerians what value tenets it upholds it is yet to unveil a vision and mission which gives direction and general purpose. I for one having taken up a role of this magnitude will not fly into the loop just to fulfill all righteousness. If I get his approach right I'm believing he wants to have a good view of what is really happening before leaping. I am willing to forgive any time spent to get the fundamentals in order to chat a way forward. Do not forget that this is former military head of state and things have changed. Like I mentioned earlier I am not a PMB apologist neither can I stomach neck deep political nose in air political gingoists who see no good in anything from the other side. My commitment is to the Nigerian course. I'm not interested in the political blocks and their argie bargie as the end, for them, justifies the means.

I have been careful not to jump into any conclusions on the current PMB administration until a bit after six months. I have looked through his speech and can not see any fault in his report and explanations. For one I can say the president is a realist. This may be due to his military back ground. However I find it amazing that some people having dug their political feet in trenches can not see beyond the grain. I'm amazed the respectable tonyebarcanista could make statements I've read on this thread. PMB's explanation that a delayed hand over note was partly responsible for the composition of the cabinet is not only believable but also real. In the small firm where I receive my pay your intention to go on a holiday takes a one week process involving several meetings, tonnes of information exchanges, visits to various projects and customers key points to ensure the transition is so smooth it is even unnoticeable. A country of Nigeria's magnitude deserves more than a hand over note four days to leaving power. I am not a PMB apologist. I am a lover of Nigeria cos I know it has the ability to be great if things are done properly. I've been to countries with fewer resources that have excelled mainly due to their resolve to do things correctly. We too can.
I will say my mind if I sence PMB do things that are less than leadership at his level. So far what I have seen is a man trying, all be it in a perceived slow manner, his best to chat a durable course forward. This speech should be a masterclass study. Classic clauses that shows that we hold the key to determine our fate. I agree with him. At least for now.

The approach of fumigation aka spraying of dangerous chemicals for pest control is old and obsolete. Integrated pest Management which uses a combined approach to investigate infestations and proffer a management plan is the new and sustainable approach. Fumigation is purely chemical based and should actually be last resort taking into consideration sustainability and green issues.
Do consider.

He may have the best you've seen as you claim but the snout of this particular one is way out of proportion for a gsd.

You're making this request too difficult for our raters to do a rating. Just boldly claim that these are 100% pure bred champion bloodline specs and they will come crashing on your thread with the rating you're looking for.
Reverse psychology.

@OP....university happened to me

That got me really cracking.

@blackswede. There are various factors that come into play when making FDI decisions. Host country specific advantages are one of them. If you can ride on government patronage that's a plus but risks of the way business is done in that country though part of the deal are not too good when you consider that this v bring a lot of uncertainties. I agree with you that one of their motivation for the FDI venture was profit - who else doesn't make that consideration. You also have a point on a phased market entry style the promises must have been too good not to consider a plunge.
However, if their story is as true as stated we need to reconsider the issues they raised seriously as they will impact on FDI possibility consideration by other companies. It could be a reference for a NO INTERNATIONALISATION in Nigeria decision for some companies which is not in our best interest.
Bottom line is that we must seriously consider our country specific advantages and seek ways and means to improve them make them more attractive. A firms motivation for FDI take seriously a country's CSF. Various government agencies must be seen to be law abiding and doing things by the books not constantly having palms under the table to be greased.

You need to help the dog understand that you will only show attention when it's calm. I've had a very playful dog before but I also learnt not to reward it with a hug pat or even eye contact which it's seeking until it's calm. I even reward it with a treat when it finally gets it that I want her to sit and wait for my instructions. In time it got the message and when it comes along tail wagging like a flag in full sail it takes a sit position in no time to know what's up.
Like mentioned above it takes consistency and repeats to align with the expected. That's where you as leader come in. You must show you know what and how in a consistent firm manner. I remember when I tried to teach it that it goes for its food on my command. It sat at other end of room and I moved over about 10...12 feet away. Initially it would come at the food in no time. Then it would wait longer and take a step or two after a few minutes each. But I would return it to the starting position each time to start the exercise all over. In a few weeks of constantly reinforce the expected behaviour it would sit at the designated position and wait for an hour or more until it got the command to finally come. Two things it finally got. Come to the food when I want you to. Secondly I'm entitled to my space. Mutual respect.
So I can have me time in front of the TV or over a pile of papers and it is content to sit quietly a few feet away until told to do something else. Mind you it is up to listen to any strange sound around and about in an alert manner.

Good looking pups you got there.

Welldone arcbay. I had suggested this topic to prodeegee a while back. Your intro was quite on point. Although I must confess that at my first time of owning a beautiful gsd while I stayed in an apartment along with 9 others I was not so meticulous with my plans as you laid it out. One thing is clear though most neighbors fall into one or more of the categories you mentioned. I recall a particular neighbor of mine who was the nicest of people I've ever known but was uncompromising, due to his religious inclinations, in his hatred for my dog if for any reason they came to close proximity.
On the other hand one or two who wouldn't dare stay near whenever I took a walk with her would ask why she wasn't released for night duty along with our security guard. Dogo, our guard, would even come and tap on my door that I forgot to let her out at night. This might not be unconnected with a robbery incident in which the idiots went through the flats from one till flat seven. They left. I was in flat 9. My dog stood her ground on the front porch while they operated barking and growling for the one hour+ that the incident lasted.
Potty trained dogs are a must in these type of closed quarters. Like it was also mentioned a disciplined dog is also a no Brainer. It should be a dog that knows it's not allowed to run amock outside it's boundaries. It must not be bolting away at the clanging of the gate locks. This requires a disciplined owner too to ensure it gets its walks regularly and with enough intensity.

Wow

I wonder if this a general policy in the brand or this was a one off at this particular location.