₦airaland Forum

Clakyvip:
Naija ll not change... We r just shouting change... The only change we gonna get is from the Agberos. We all want change but we not changing. It won't happen over night. We all need to work together, support the administration, let's stop partisan politics, lets chase corruption away. Let all this politicians face the wrath of the law...

A non governmental organization, Movement for Genuine Change on the state of affairs in Kwara State has declared their support for the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The group, which staged a peaceful rally at the Flower Garden, Ilorin yesterday urged federal government to repatriate all the alleged stolen money from the former governor to Kwara State for the payment of civil servants, pensioners and workers in the state.

They displayed different placards such as:” Buhari, No compromised on Corruption; Nigeria is bigger than anybody; Saraki killed Trade Bank; Return all stolen money to Kwara to pay pensioners, workers; Saraki resign now; No more hiding place for the thieves, among others.

While addressing journalists, the group spokesman, Alhaji Tunde Muhammed said Senator Saraki has brought shame to the people by all his actions and with his current trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

“He has turned Kwarans to a laughing stock. However we, the People of Kwara are happy that he is now being prosecuted even though, we expected that long before now, he should have been made to face all corruption related matters that he is alleged to have committed.

“While we support Senator Saraki’ ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, we warn that nobody should attempt to erect any barrier against justice by trying to shield Saraki’s prosecution.

“While we support President Buhari’s anti-corruption war, we noted with sadness that it is only in this country that when the poor and the week transgress the law, the full weight of the law through its punitive mechanism is crushingly brought to bear on them but when the ‘powerful, the mighty, and the rich” offend the law, they do so with relish without the mildest punitive reaction”

Muhammed added that before the emergence of Senator Saraki’s in Kwara state politics, the people of the state and their leaders have no history of “this type of indecent behaviours”.

“Senator Saraki’s case is that of shameless leadership that has always been jumping fence in the face of legitimate prosecution process.”

He said the people of Kwara State are grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari and law enforcement agencies for having the courage to take Saraki to court.

Meanwhile, the group alleged that the Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),Kwara State, Chief Iyiola Akogun was invited by the police for questions over their protest on Senator Saraki.

Muhammed who confirmed his arrest after the group protest said he received a phone call by OC Operation of the Kwara State Police to come and he honoured the invitation.

He told journalists that when he got there, he was asked whether the PDP is holding rally today and he said no but he was not released and was still in custody till the time of the rally was over.

When contacted, the Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Kwara State Command, ASP Ajayi Okasanmi denied the arrest of Chief Iyiola Akogun. He said “there was nothing like that”.

ElCapone:
am gud. Keh imi wo jin noh?

ElCapone:
lok. Sentiment shared. Its been a while ma oga.

The presidency has dissociated itself from the #iStandWithBuhari organisation, a political group who is planning a 9 million man march to further acquaint Nigerians with the policies of the Buhari government and drum support for the president.

This was contained in a series of tweet by @NGRPresident, the official twitter handle from the office of the president on Friday.

The group has recently been hit with credibility issues following the resignation of two of its National Coordinators within a spcae of one month.

It has also faced criticism from the Nigerian public who feel that a march at a time Nigerians are passing through hardship is a needless venture.

According to the @NGRPresident twitter account, “President Muhammadu Buhari  does not believe in premature and ostentatious celebration of his government’s successes.”

“The government believes it is too early to be celebrating; it will legitimately do so when the time is ripe.”

It called on the #iStandWithBuhari group to stop stop dropping the name of the President’s wife, Aisha, to promote its activities.

Lalasticlala

nkemjacob2:
My co staff cautioned me, that if i am living this work, i should take my money first before living without giving the managment notice ahead. I work in a school. I have two thoughts in my mind lingering. "if i leave d students just that way, they might be affected cos of their exam, and other staffs who left earlier had d problem of not been paid, or force a struggle before been paid with salary slashed.. And i needed to liv @ end of the month. I told d mangement in particular am leaving notifying them month ahead. Behold i was not paid.... "Unitl they find my replacement nd consider to pay. My salary went on a journey of no return. D question is, is it good to collect ur salary without informing ur boss b4 leaving or notify them ahead which is better?

hinwazaka:
This is the only reason, i like the indefatigable Saraki: his unquestionable bravery. Those phoolish CCT buffoons will pay dearly, for their double standards and political dishonesty. At the end of the day, Saraki, will truimph and Tinubu and Baba dullard0 will pay the price. Danladi Usman, your deceit, will not go unpunished. APC, bring it on.

omenka:
The mumu don run tire??

HungerBAD:
Sai buhari

temitemi1:
So, saraki is now a problem to ur party

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday took stock of his performance for the past 10 months at the helm and concluded that he has effectively charted the course to tackle the myriad of problems bedevilling the nation.

Addressing members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, he cited the significant progress recorded in ensuring the security of lives and property particularly in the troubled North-East geo-political zone as a milestone recorded during the period.

Saying more need to be done to tackle the menace of oil theft and pipeline vandalisation in the oil-rich Niger Delta, he enjoined those behind such dastard act to bury their hatchet and join hands with his administration to build a virile and prosperous Nigeria.

President Buhari, who particularly singled out his resolve to implement the Treasury Single Account (TSA) which has put N3 trillion in government kitty as a key dividend of his drive to block leakages in the polity, stated that the N3 trillion would surely come handy in the implementation of this year’s N6.07 trillion worth budget.

Citing the controversies that trailed the re-run elections in Rivers, Bayelsa and Kogi states as indications of the inadequacies of the electoral system, he remarked that all hands must be on deck to ensure credibility of the electoral system.
The President further reiterated his commitment to ensure that the anti-graft campaign was in line with the dictates of the rule of law.

President Buhari also pointed out that his administration gave a blanket order, “which we had to rescind when we said all boards are suspended or dissolved. We had to go back and lick our vomit in terms of university boards because we found out that according to their laws, they cannot choose Vice Chancellors unless the Boards sit down, interview prospective candidates who want to be VCs. So, there is nothing wrong in saying sorry and going back on your decision. So, we said sorry and allow all the universities to continue with their boards. But for the rest, eventually, we will make it. So, please, try to bear with us as we reflect on where we found ourselves.”

Meanwhile, resolutions at the end of the NEC meetings attended by governors of APC-controlled states and party executives and principal officers of the National Assembly led by the Senate President Bukola Saraki include the need to diversify the economy, establish a budget for the cash-strapped APC, reduction of the size of Board of Trustees (BOT) in line with the party constitution and conduct of congresses to fill vacant positions in the party across the states of the federation.

Justifying his series of diplomatic shuttle across the globe, he enjoined chieftains of the party to bear with his administration as there are three more years to fulfill the party’s manifesto, which revolves around employment generation, power generation and revitalisation of the economy.
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Said he: “On security, we have made progress. It was a very courageous decision that the party took and executed by the Executive by removing most of the military hierarchy and appointing those to take over from them, acquiring some new hard and software and raising the moral of the military to go secure the rest of the country which was then 14 out of 774 local government. I have said it often that as far as I know and the service chiefs who are on ground, they are not holding any local government. But they still have some capability especially on soft target by using technology.

“On the economy, the fall of oil prices after Nigeria has made itself a mono-economy is a disaster. I wonder why people could not believe that in Nigeria, about 27 of 36 states have difficulty in paying basic salaries of their workers. If from 1999 to at least 2003, oil is above $100 per barrel and an export of about two million barrels per day, how come Nigeria failed to make some arrangement to cushion the effect of a probably volatile oil market?”
Earlier in his welcome address, the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, noted that the APC-led administration has recorded giant strides that are worth celebrating.

Said he; “The fight against corruption: the gains are clear, the era of impunity is beginning to disappear from our land. Even from reading the papers, social media, critical as they may be, virtually every Nigerian today now accepts that corruption was perhaps, the worst affliction that this nation has ever suffered from. And of course, finally, the cost of governance is down. So, even with the lean resources, it is clear that all over the nation, from the federal level to the state level, we will be able to do more with less.”

Stressing that the leadership of INEC has been changed, President Buhari appealed to the leadership of the military, security agents and INEC thus: “ What I want Nigerians to remember me for, even if I have to leave the Presidency tomorrow is that I respect them. I want all Nigerians to believe and hold their PVC as personal entitlement as Nigerians and use it the way they like, and vote for whoever they like at whichever election. If they voluntarily sold it, it is part of their right and so, let them sell it and remain at home and not participate in any election. But let the law enforcement agencies give them the confidence that nobody will come out who has money to hire thugs, give them drugs and stop them from exercising their fundamental right.”

“I am afraid I did not succeed in the election in Kogi, Bayelsa, Rivers. I think that more Nigerians are killed or killed themselves in Rivers than in any particular state. At this stage of our political development, to remain brutal is shameful and as a government, I promise we will do something by the next general election.”

temitemi1:
Saraki, they are abt bother abt how much u looted kwara resources, they are only bothered because u beat them hand down by becoming the Senate President Of Federal Republic Of Nigeria.

Faced by the insistence of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) sitting in Abuja that it has jurisdiction to try him for alleged falsification of assets charges brought against him by the Federal Government, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, said on
Thursday that he was ready to take the opportunity of the trial to clear his name.

The tribunal for the second time yesterday held that it has jurisdiction to try Saraki for the alleged falsification of assets.

The tribunal’s Chairman, Mr. Danladi Yakubu Umar, while ruling on the preliminary objections filed by Saraki challenging his trial, dismissed the application by Saraki who is querying the legality of the charges proffered against him.

He held that the failure of the Code of Conduct Bureau to meet certain conditions precedents before putting Saraki on trial was not weighty enough to discharge him and strike out the trial.

He said section 3(b) of the Code of Conduct Tribunal Act, which made it a requirement for any defendant to be invited for confirmation or denial of discrepancies in the Assets form had been overtaken by the proviso of section 3 (e) of the 1999 Constitution, which according to him, was the supreme law.

He said that section 3(e) of the 1999 constitution had rendered the condition precedent contained in the CCB Act unconstitutional, null and void because the CCB Act provisions were inconsistent with the constitution.

The tribunal further said that the failure of the CCB to invite the defendant in the instant case had not ousted the jurisdiction of the tribunal.

However, on the failure of the CCB to obtain a written admission of Saraki on the alleged discrepancies in his assets form, the tribunal chairman said that the issue was crucial but could be raised in the substantive matter, adding that it was premature at the preliminary stage because the charge against the defendant bothered on alleged corruption.

“On this issue of failure of the CCB to obtain a written admission of discrepancies in the address forms of the defendant before referring him to this tribunal, we hold that this is crucial but can be raised in the substantive matter as doing so now at the preliminary stage is premature, more so, when the charge bothers on alleged corruption. For us therefore, it will be out of place to give legal weight to that failure for now without hearing the substantive matter.

“On the discharge of the former Lagos State governor by the Tribunal some years ago, simply because the CCB failed to fulfil the condition precedent, we had since realised that we acted in error in discharging him on that ground and we have since departed from that error.

“In essence, the provision of section 3 (a) of the Third Schedule to the 1999 constitution which has no provision for fulfilment of any condition precedent by the CCB is now the guiding force for the tribunal.”

On the filing of the charges 13 years after Saraki had left office, the CCT boss said that there was no statute of limitation on criminal matters and that it was not out of place for government to charge him the way it did, even though he left office a long time ago.

Meanwhile, the commencement of the trial has been fixed for April 5, 2016.

But reacting to the ruling through his lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi, who was also a former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Saraki said that he was ready for trial to prove his innocence.

Saraki said although he would have wished that due process of law was followed by government before putting him on trial, nonetheless, he said that he was ready to engage his accuser at the tribunal.

“We are the one being suspected of wrong doing and we are ready to establish the fact that we are innocent of the charges even though we are convinced that the right thing has not been done as far as the charges is concerned,” Agabi said.

The Senate President had challenged the competence of the false assets declaration criminal charges brought against him by the federal government, insisting that the charge was politically motivated and in bad faith.

In his objection filed by Agabi, Saraki said that the charges could not be sustained in law since due process of law was not observed before it was initiated.

He asked the tribunal to quash or strike out the charges contained in Charge No. CCT/ABJ/01/2015 filed last September against him.
He also asked the tribunal to discharge him from the charges on the ground that the charges were not competent and lawful in the eyes of the law.

His grounds of objection to the trial were among others, that the tribunal headed by Mr. Danladi Yakubu Umar had no jurisdiction to entertain the charge because a condition precedent to the exercise of jurisdiction had not been fulfilled.

Besides, he also anchored his objection on the fact that the charge was brought in bad faith, brought not in the interest of the public and justice and that the charge constituted a gross abuse of legal process.

The charge, having been allegedly brought in violation of due process and in violation of his right to fair hearing, Saraki said, cannot lie at the instance of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

Incorrect1:
Are you serious?

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday responded to talks that his administration has not done anything since coming to office last May, promising to deliver on his election promises in the next three years.

Speaking at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, the President sought Nigerians’ understanding to enable his administration meet their expectations.

He said with the National Assembly’s passage of the budget and savings of over N3 trillion in the Treasury Single Account (TSA), things would begin to move fast.

Turning to his party leaders, the President said: “I will like you to continue to make sacrifice. I know you are being harassed since the election, with people saying that they have not seen anything on the ground. Well if you have any explanation that could be accepted, it is that you have three more years to go.”

The President added: “When we came in after 16 years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), there were 42 ministries. We reduced them to 24; removed 21 Permanent Secretaries.
“So, imagine the volume of work …So, you have to appreciate the position we are in”.

The agencies, Buhari said, had to be pruned and their boards reconstructed following the reduction of ministries.

His administration, the President said went back on it decision to reconstitute the boards of some universities after discovering that the law was breached.

“There is nothing wrong in saying sorry and going back on your decision. So,we said sorry and allowed all the universities to continue with their boards. So, please, try to bear with us as we reflect on where we found ourselves”, he said.

Presided over by APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the NEC meeting – the second by the party since it took power– was attended by its leaders at all levels.

Noting that only nine out of the 36 states are able to meet their obligations to pay workers’ wages, Buhari said: “The fall of oil prices is a disaster. If from 1999, oil sold above $100 per barrel with an export of about two million barrels per day, how come Nigeria failed to make some arrangement to cushion the effect of a probably volatile oil market? Again, it shows failure of the last administration.

“But we are now to pick the pieces as an APC government and so, there is no need complaining, but let us concentrate and see how much we can do with whatever remains of the economy.

“We realised that agriculture and solid minerals are two areas that can help us to recover economically, at least in terms of employment and feeding ourselves and more importantly, saving the hard currency to ensure that our industries continue to employ Nigerians and produce.

“The policy we are trying to implement is the TSA. We insist that we have to know what comes in and what goes out, for us to make a comprehensive amendment to the economy.

“If you go and see the Central Bank Governor, he will tell you that in the TSA, we have more than N3 trillion. Where would this money have been if TSA was not in vogue? I was made to understand that vouchers would have quickly been raised towards the end of the financial year and cheques made. Whether they are going into projects or private pockets, nobody can prove it to you.

“But that money is there, it is identified, it is quantified and when the budget comes back eventually, the ministry of finance will see how to allocate it to the rest of the country.

“We have tried to make sure that the NNPC is reorganised, so that we know how much of our crude is taken, how much of it is sold and to which account the money is going.

“But I tell you that up till the time we came, if anybody told you that he knew how crude is exchanged either on the high seas or reaching their destination and the accounts the money went into, that person is not telling you the truth.”
On the Rivers State legislative rerun, the President described as shameful, the killings that marred the election.

Buhari urged security agents to give Nigerians the confidence to go out and perform their constitutional responsibility without molestation.

He said: “Of course, the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been changed, I appeal to the leadership of the military, security agents and INEC that what I want Nigerians to remember me for, even if I have to leave the Presidency tomorrow, is that I respect them.

“I want all Nigerians to believe and hold their PVC as personal entitlement as Nigerians and use it the way they like and vote for whoever they like during election.

“If they voluntarily sold it, it is part of their right and so, let them sell it and remain at home and not participate in any election.

“But let the law enforcement agencies must give them the confidence that nobody will come out to hire thugs, give them drugs and stop people from exercising their fundamental right.

“I am afraid I did not succeed in the (rerun) elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, Rivers. I think that more Nigerians are killed or killed themselves in Rivers than in any particular state. At this stage of our political development, to remain brutal is shameful and as a government, I promise we will do something by the next general election”.

Speaking further, the President said: “On Niger Delta, the militants are sending some conflicting messages. Some have said they are ready to drop their arms and join the rest of the nation to build it. But others are still sabotaging installations, thereby making investments in that lucrative area of Nigeria difficult because nobody will submit his riches to financial institution; get money only to suffer huge losses.

“So, the environment for investment is being sabotaged by Nigerians. We are doing our best to persuade them to join the rest of the country because in unity lies our strength.
On his foreign trips, he said: “Sometimes, you need to present your case on personal basis to your economic colleagues and neighbours. Nothing is better than personal touch and I believe that we are learning a lot and eventually, the nation will realize so.”

Odigie-Oyegun said it would have been a time to celebrate, but for the prevailing hardship, he said: “we are very well aware of the hardship in the land and for that reason, it should be a period of introspection, a period for memories and a period for reminiscences.

“The problems we have are well known, of course originating from two well known factors, our squandered patrimony of course, the unfortunate coincidence of the collapse of the price of crude. Nevertheless, in spite of these, our government has recorded strides that are worth mentioning, that are worth celebrating and that are worth noting.

“No question at all, that the vigorous and focused leadership provided in the fight against insurgency has yielded results that we all, as a nation, must be proud of. The insurgents have been deprived of the possibility of ever again, holding Nigerian territory and hoisting any of their dastardly flags.

“It is true, these are hard times, but hard times create challenges. Challenges call for men and women to agree in leadership, united, focused, passionate in the policies that they stand for, which means that this party must rediscover itself, which means that this party must stand as one behind the success of our president and of the policies that we stand for and of the promises he has made to the Nigerian people.

“This also means that this is a time to stand together, which means that this is a time to rededicate ourselves and the party to the vision to which the people of this nation voted. We must leave this arena once more as a strong, united fighting force dedicated to delivering on the promises made by Mr president to the Nigerian people”.

TippyTop:
It was OK for Tinubu to fight the bull abi?

This is why you should never support evil, your type supported Tinubu for this same offense Saraki is charged with.

Lalasticlala

hinwazaka:
So you are no more interested in meddling in the affairs of Rivers state. You are now opening mindless, irrelevant threads. Don't worry, Amaechi will soon pay you your monthly upkeep

OZAOEKPE:
my bro, long time no chat

yaki84:
zombie u don forget timipre sylva, murtala nyarko?

Angelberry:
Why is that of Fayose in red

Since the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) in 2003, high profile cases have been piling up, with many as old as the agency itself. Daily Trust dusted some of them off and took a look.
 
When former President Olusegun Obasanjo set up the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), many Nigerians were excited that the days of corruption were numbered. But thirteen years down the road, the anti-graft agency is still battling with many inconclusive cases. However, following the take-over of affairs of the EFCC on November 11, 2015, the new sheriff, Ibrahim Lamorde, promised a tougher fight.

Recently, national buzz has it that the high-profile cases which the EFCC has pursued in the past are ‘forgotten’, causing some to dismiss even the current ones as having a limited shelf life. Some also say with the current government’s major emphasis on fighting corruption, some old cases could easily fall through the cracks, so Daily Trust dusted off a number of files, and the following were discovered.

Peter Odili


Former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, had a rough time with the EFCC even before the end of his two-term tenure in 2007. His travails started when the anti-graft agency investigated the finances of Rivers State, and he was alleged to have diverted over N100 billion of the state’s funds. Following the indicting report, on February 22, 2007, the then Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Rivers State filed a suit challenging the powers of the EFCC to probe the affairs of the state. He claimed that the activities of the EFCC were prejudicial to the smooth running of the government of Rivers State.

However, the case was stalled when presiding judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba heeded to Odili’s request and granted a perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC from probing the former governor. But recently, EFCC boss Ibrahim Magu confirmed to the media of the perpetual injunction issued on Odili’s case and said the commission’s quest to appeal the matter was being frustrated by the Court of Appeal since 2008. According to the EFCC, the case of Odili will be re-opened.

Adamu Mu’azu


Apart from the crisis that rocked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leading to his sudden “disappearance” after the party lost the 2015 general elections, its former National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, has a pending case with the EFCC. His case borders on the alleged mismanagement of N19.8 billion when he was governor of Bauchi State between 1999 and 2007.

The accusation followed a petition to the EFCC, which prompted the agency to invite the former governor to appear before it in July 2008. But rather than honour the invitation, Mu’azu travelled to Britain on the premise that he was attending the graduation of his daughter, returning to the country two years later, after Goodluck Jonathan became president. Even then, the EFCC reaffirmed that Mu’azu still has a case to answer.


Joshua Dariye


Former governor of Plateau State, Chief Joshua Dariye, has a running battle with the EFCC after he was alleged to have siphoned about N1.2 billion of the state’s ecological fund. He was being prosecuted on a 23-count charge on diversion of funds into private accounts and money laundering. In an EFCC document obtained by Daily Trust, in addition, he is also alleged to have diverted about N204 million meant for the state treasury, to Ebenezer Retnan Ventures, ERV - a company linked to him. The EFCC in 2004 received a petition from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation regarding a request by the UK Metropolitan Police for the investigation of some companies linked to Mr. Dariye. He was still the governor of the state. The anti-graft agency investigated some banks mentioned in the petition and they also quizzed some companies and individuals mentioned.

The EFCC discovered that the account mandate had no passport photo but was operated by Dariye, who requested for a waiver. The investigation revealed that Dariye, who now represents Plateau Central in the Senate, further directed the bank to disburse the money into private companies. However, Dariye had denied any involvement in the fraud since he first appeared before a Federal High Court, Abuja in July 13, 2007. Later, Dariye filed a motion praying the court to quash the charges against him but his request was turned down on December 10, 2007. He proceeded on appeal, which also suffered the same fate on June 17, 2010 as well as at the Supreme Court on February 27, 2015. Reports from the EFCC explained that Dariye is currently facing trial.


Saminu Turaki


Alhaji Saminu Turaki, according to the EFCC, is alleged to have misappropriated N36 billion involving a case of criminal conspiracy, stealing, money laundering and misappropriation of public funds. Turaki was Jigawa State governor between May 29, 1999 and May 29, 2007. He was initially arraigned before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in 2007 but the case was later transferred to the Federal High Court, Dutse, after he challenged the jurisdiction of the FCT court.

However, in the case of Turaki, he has been declared wanted by the EFCC on since December 2, 2014. According to the wanted poster signed by EFCC Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, Turaki was declared wanted after “the former governor has continuously evaded appearance in court. At the last sitting on November 13, 2014, he was absent, despite a subsisting warrant for his arrest.”


Stella Oduah


Stella Oduah was a key member in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan as Minister of Aviation. She is being prosecuted by the EFCC over two, now-infamous armoured BMW cars allegedly purchased for N255million by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) under her watch. On August 26, 2015, she obtained an interim injunction stopping the EFCC from prosecuting her on the matter, a position the anti-graft agency challenged.

Justice Mohammed Yunusa of a Federal High Court, Lagos, also granted that the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Inspector-General of Police from prosecuting the ex-minister.


Adebayo Alao-Akala


The former governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala was prosecuted alongside his former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Hosea Agboola, and a businessman, Mr. Femi Babalola of a N11.5 billion fraud.

Justice Akintunde Boade of the Oyo State High Court, on December 12, 2012, ruled that the former governor, and the two others who are charged by the EFCC of N11.5 billion fraud, have a case to answer. They had earlier demanded that the charges be quashed. The anti-graft agency alleged that the former governor and the two others awarded contracts without budgetary provisions and by obtaining falsely.

According to the EFCC’s preliminary report into a petition by one Mr. Kunle Jimoh and Mr. Julius Dada, it said that Alao-Akala routinely inflated contracts with a view to enriching himself. However, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), counsel to the defendants filed a preliminary objection to the charges, praying the court to quash them on grounds that the EFCC lacked evidence to back the allegations. They also questioned the jurisdiction of the court, pointing out that it was abuse of power to put anybody on trial for an offence not proven.


AYO FAYOSE


The EFCC has been on the heels of the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, for an alleged mismanagement of N1.2billion poultry project when he was governor between 2003 and 2006. At a point, he wanted the charges quashed through a court order pointing out that the offences were committed in Ekiti State and not Lagos. The EFCC, on November 22, 2012 re-arraigned the former governor on a 27-count amended charge over an N416 million scam. Presently, the trial of Fayose has been suspended because of an immunity clause. He was elected governor in 2014.


Orji Uzor Kalu


The EFCC accused the former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, of diverting the state’s N5.6 billion while in office from 1999 to 2007. He was arraigned in July 2007 on a 107-count charge on money laundering, official corruption and criminal diversion of public funds. Kalu was charged alongside his company, Slok Nigeria. He had urged the trial court to quash the charges because he claimed no evidence was established against him. But when he took the matter before the appeal court, it ruled that he has a case to answer. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court yesterday upheld the ruling of the appeal court and ordered that Kalu submits himself for the EFCC trial.


Boni Haruna


Former Governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Boni Haruna, is facing a 28-count charge of fraud and embezzlement preferred against him and three others by the EFCC. A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and presided by Justice Adamu Bello on November 15, 2012, dismissed the application of the former governor of Adamawa State and three others to quash the charges of fraud and embezzlement of public fund preferred against them. Others charged with the ex-governor are: Mohammed Inuwa Bassi, a former Minority Leader in the Adamawa State House of Assembly, John Babani Elias, an aide to the ex-governor and Al-Akim Investment Nigeria Limited.

According to the EFCC, Haruna was said to have fraudulently altered a cheque dated 13/11/2002 in the sum of N10,000,000.00 operated by him in the name of Mohammed Inuwa Bassi, with intent that said cheque may be acted as genuine and thereby committed an offence. Similarly, he was alleged to have on or about March, 12, 2003 while as governor, fraudulently altered a cheque in the sum of N16,125,000.00 operated by him, in the name of Mohammed Inuwa Bassi with intent that the said cheque may be acted upon as genuine and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3 (2) (a) of Miscellaneous offences Act, Cap 410 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 as amended by the Tribunals (certain Consequential Amendments, etc), Decree no. 62 of 1999 and punishable under Section 3 (2) of the same Act.

The matter dragged on until written addresses were adopted in November, 2011 and the matter was adjourned to January 31, 2012 for ruling. This did not hold and further adjourned to March 7. Again, the ruling was not ready and the matter was adjourned sine-die.


Gbenga Daniel

A former governor of Ogun State, Chief Gbenga Daniel has also been accused of corruption by the EFCC. The former governor is being prosecuted for alleged mismanagement of state funds between 2003 and 2011. He is facing trial on a 38-count charge of stealing and fraudulent conversion of public property as well as false declaration of assets to the tune of N211.3million.

Contacted on cases that had dragged on for so long, the EFCC head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren told Daily Trust that: “There is no such thing as ‘forgotten’ cases in the EFCC.” He also said all cases charged to court by the commission are at different stages of prosecution.

Lalasticlala

www.nairaland.com/attachments/3510015_apcoffload383x336_jpeg61ae823a478027c2ed25b5a649d23bc9
PDP said: The private jet that brought N5billion naira rigging money from the Presidency to Port Harcourt tonight.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday described the photos posted by the Peoples Democratic Party to indict APC of allegedly offloading N5billion at the Port Harcourt Airport to rig Saturday’s rerun election in the state as fraudulent and fake.

The party asked Nigerians to disregard the pictures and video being circulated, adding that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi were nowhere near the Port Harcourt Airport on Saturday, as claimed by the PDP.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/3510016_apcoffload1473x336_jpege235c7eef95d29953f315b86ea15fafc
Another photo provided by PDP

Following were some of the tweets posted from their Twitter handle @APCNigeria:

“1. FRAUD ALERT: @PdpNigeria posts fake photos of ‘money being offloaded at Port Harcourt airport for @APCNigeria to use for #RiversRerun’”

“2. Posted photos aren’t of PHC airport tonight. All who used the airport confirmed the tarmac wasn’t wet as seen on @PdpNigeria’ fake pics.”

“3. @ChibuikeAmaechi, the SGF were nowhere near PHC airport today. We enjoin our supporters to remain focused amidst their call for violence.”

“We’ll continue to call on our supporters to adhere strictly to all electoral guidelines ahead of tomorrow’s rerun elections in River State.”
Below are some of the posts by PDP on Twitter.

http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2016/03/19/riversrerun-pdp-posts-fake-photos-of-apc-transporting-money/

[quote]Lalasticlala

Senate President Bukola Saraki maintained yesterday that the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) must discharge and acquit him the way it did to former Lagos State Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) should have invited him to clarify issues on his asset declaration form before charging him to the tribunal for alleged false asset declaration, a ground for which, he said, the CCT struck out a similar case against Tinubu.

According to him, the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was accused of false declaration of assets, was set free by the tribunal because of the failure of the CCB to fulfill necessary conditions of inviting him first to make statement on the alleged discrepancies before referring him for trial.

Saraki, through his lawyer, Mr. Kanu Agabi (SAN) told the tribunal chairman, Mr. Danladi Umar, that Saraki should have been invited to clarify issues before charging him before the tribunal.

After hearing on the motion by Saraki challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to try him, the CCT yesterday fixed March 24, 2016 to rule on the motion.

During yesterday’s trial, counsel to Saraki, Agabi argued that ten other former governors who had the opportunity of being invited to defend their asset declaration before CCB and where not referred to the tribunal after taking explanations on their declared assets.

He urged the tribunal to dismiss the charges against Saraki for being incompetent, baseless and having been filed without observing the due process of the law, even as he also appealed to the tribunal to quash the charges against his client on the ground that the charges were not competent in law.
Agabi premised his argument on preliminary objection to the charge on the ground that the conditions precedent for arraignment of Saraki by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) were not fulfilled.

Among others, Agabi claimed that Saraki was not invited by the Code of Conduct Bureau as required by law to deny or admit the alleged discrepancies in the asset declaration form submitted to the Bureau.
Agabi told the tribunal that up till now, Saraki as a defendant has not made any statement to the Bureau upon which he can be effectively put to trial.

Agabi contended that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) was wrong in law in initiating the charge against Saraki because the Code of Conduct Bureau Act vested power to accept asset declaration form, investigating assets form and prosecuting the offender on the Bureau and not on any external force like the AGF, ICPC or EFCC.

He said the failure of the CCB to fulfill the conditions precedent of summoning Saraki to first make statement on discrepancies in his declared assets was fatal to the charge before tribunal and cannot operate to the detriment of the defendant.

“CCB is a peculiar institution; it has the duty to accept, to examine, to keep custody of assets declaration forms submitted to it and also has power to accept complaints from the public on the discrepancies that may arise from any form submitted to it.

“In the instant case, there is no petition or complain before the CCB and that the power of the CCB to refer any offender to the CCT for trial cannot be delegated to the AGF”.

According to him, such measure should also apply to Saraki because he was not first invited by CCB to make statement of denial or confirmation of discrepancies in his assets declaration form.
In opposing the motion, counsel to the Federal Government, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), accused the defendant of engaging in abuse of court process and that what Saraki was asking for had been determined by various courts.

On the issue of Tinubu that was set free by the tribunal on the failure of the CCB to fulfill the conditions precedent, Jacobs opined that the tribunal was in error in arriving at that decision in setting Tinubu free.