₦airaland Forum

There are indications that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, may summon the immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan, to explain what he knows about the ongoing probe into the scandalous arms procurement deal.

The ant-graft agency is said to be contemplating writing the former President because his name has consistently been mentioned during the interrogation of some suspects, The Punch reports.

Former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), is currently being prosecuted by the EFCC for illegally disbursing to top politicians funds meant for the procurement of arms for the military’s fight against Boko Haram insurgents in the North-east. This, Daskui had alleged was in line with the directive of Jonathan, who was the then President.

Also, former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had recently claimed that she transferred funds to the former NSA as a result of a decision reached at a meeting presided over by Jonathan.

Speaking with the newspaper, a source from the EFCC said, “Although the commission will not invite the former President, we may write him to tell us his own side of the story because his name has been coming up in our investigations?”

The source continued that the commission has resolved not to seek “clearance” from President Muhammadu Buhari before such letter could be sent to Jonathan.

omenka:
Cc: Modath, Beremx, FastShipping, Demdem, Midolian, Caseless, HungerBad, Keneking, DaBullIT, Egift, et al.

Abeg make una come see make sense cartoon- but dem for put another face inside dat car naw.

joseph1832:
Midolian, passingshot, omenka, tolexander, isn't it funny that sometime ago, some monikers here were busy defending GEJ and Dasuki that he bought aims and ammunition? They even posted pictures of the so called arms and ammunition bought.

Now, its even funnier seeing these monikers cuss Dasuki and even GEJ for not buying any arms and ammunition.

Now how can any sane mind take this set of monikers seriously, or even believe them to be compos mentis, or, even believe them to even know what emanate from their vocal cavity.

Sometimes I marvel the way some people think/behave.

drss:
...and the propaganda media trial continue. another distraction for d gullible ones to take away attention from:
-fuel scarcity.
-no light.
-small gen for small businesses banned.
-falling naira.
-ongoing massacre and genocide in d north.
-media blackout of ongoing boko haram sacking of villages.
But wetin concern me with d zoo No single person will be convicted by buari dullaard so call anti kwarrupshun fight. Dasuki will be discharged and aquitted of all media kworrupshun charges. Quote me any where.
Even if dem show GEJ on video robbing CBN and World bank, he still remain my Hero!!!!!!!!!!!

okiezman:
Mr man go and rest chill till 2019

joseph1832:
Do the Nigerian elite have any regard for laid down law? Not at all. The law is only meant for the non elite. People like Dasuki are at the receiving end of the law because they're not in power, and they've so far, messed with those who are in power.

If its me and you on the other hand, hmm. Even me ef dey fear to talk. Lol.

According to section 91 of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended, the maximum expenses to be incurred by a candidate at a presidential election shall be N1bn; for governorship it is N200m.

In this report, Chibuzo Ukaibe, looks at the unfolding corruption cases against the former national security adviser and the question of tracking election campaign spendings in the country.

The ongoing prosecution of persons for corruption has reopened the issue of campaign funding in the country. In a system where government is the only business, the debate rages over where to draw the line between the use of public funds and personal funds for campaign purposes, a line so thin it barely exists, some analysts opine.

The prosecution of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, has, among others, revealed that bulk of those monies ended up being used for electoral purposes.

The details of huge funds disbursed by Dasuki indicate that it was channeled towards campaigns for the election, particularly that of then ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

So far, PDP chieftains, including former Board of Trustee (BoT) chairman, Tony Anenih, former governors, Jim Nwobodo, Peter Odili, as well as Bode George, are alleged to have partook from the monies.

They have however denied taking money directly from Dasuki, noting that they only got funds from the former chairman of PDP, Adamu Mu’azu, for campaign purposes in their political zones.

In their defense they said it would have been absurd for them to have questioned their chairman on the source of the funds.

Also, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the charge signed by its Deputy Director, Legal and Prosecution, Mr. Aliyu Yusuf, alleged that media mogul, Raymond Dokpesi, received about N2.1billion from the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, for PDP’s presidential media campaign.

Feeling the heat of the revelations, PDP has also called for an investigation into funding of campaigns funding of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The party’s national publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh, who faulted the what he believes is the “lopsidedness” of the anti-corruption war, demanded the establishment of National Truth Commission, just as it called for a probe of the presidential security vote since 1984.

The opposition spokesman specifically said an investigation should be opened into “the contributions from APC controlled state governors for their Presidential campaign” as well as “allegations that some serving ministers were appointed to cover up the slush fund that they provided to finance the APC presidential campaign.”

He however noted that until top officials of the former government open up on the exact source of the funding, it remains premature to be accusing their party members of corrupt practices.

However, a report has emerged that APC governorship candidates allegedly paid N1.7billion for campaign adverts.

It was also alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari and APC, one media outfit over N800 million for APC Presidential Campaign live coverage and Presidential Campaign jingles.

The Investigations further revealed that the said amount also covered campaign adverts, documentaries and special television appearances by APC officials.

On live coverage of Presidential Campaign in 36 States alone, the party was to pay N432million at N12million per live coverage. They however, paid N360m after they received discount it was alleged.

It was further alleged that about N150m was paid for live coverage of zonal town hall meetings and separate engagements for the then presidential candidate.

However while these figures remain an allegation, it has yet again caused the revisit of regulation and tracking of campaign funds.



At the height of the election campaigns last year, a civic group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) filed a law suit against the PDP and APC for failing to disclose their planned expenditure and sources of funding.

The suit came over one month after both parties received a Freedom of Information, FOI, request, but declined to disclose their finances.

The group said it dispatched the FOI request to the the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, and that of the All Progressives Congress, APC, John Odigie-Oyegun on November 18, last year.

Dissatisfied that both parties refused to honour its request, SERAP charged them to court. Between them, the APC and PDP govern 34 of Nigeria’s 36 states.

According to SERAP’s Senior Staff Attorney, Olukayode Majekodunmi, they sought “Information about the spending and sources of income derived from federal, state and other institutions, agencies or persons for the campaigns and other operations of the Defendants related to the February 2015 elections.

“The total amounts that have been spent and the anticipated spending and the sources of any such spending related to the February 2015 general elections.

“Total contributions received by the Defendants for or on behalf of their Presidential candidate and candidates for the governorship elections and the sources of any such contributions.

Earlier in its FOI requests, the plaintiff had expressed “serious concerns about the risks of corruption during electoral campaigns for the February 2015 general elections, especially the role of money in politics and the persistent failure generally to comply with national and international law on political party finance.”

The group said releasing the information will help to address the perception among the citizens that the major political parties in the countries are less transparent and accountable adding that the lack of transparency and accountability in political finance is seriously undermining the legitimacy and credibility of the democratic and electoral processes, and invariably contributing to denying the citizens the right to effective participation in their own government.”

SERAP’s position was quite instructive at the time considering that third party campaigns and rallies especially by the two major political parties- PDP and the APC had set the stage for massive campaigns.

With the flag off of presidential and national assembly elections, it was almost inevitable that laws on campaign funding would be flouted. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) empowered by the Electoral Act, to track election campaign spending was helpless.

According to section 91 of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended, the maximum expenses to be incurred by a candidate at a presidential election shall be N1bn; for governorship it is N200m.

The Electoral Act also placed a campaign ceiling of N40m and N20m for senatorial and House of representative candidates. N10m is the fixed amount for election expenses in the state assembly and chairmanship election for an area council.

Accordingly, sanctions for candidates who knowingly flout these campaign spending limits are as follows: for presidential election it’s N1m or 12 months imprisonment or both. For a governor it’s N800,000 or nine months or both. N600,000 or imprisonment for six months would be slammed on a senatorial candidate, while N500,000 or five months imprisonment will be slammed on a House of Representative candidate who defaults on campaign spending.

But since 1999, there has been little or no record of the electoral commission tracking such campaign spendings, let alone seeing to the prosecution of political parties or candidates that flout that section of the electoral act.

Election campaigns don’t come cheap. Campaign spendings form a huge chunk of monies spent during elections, arguably next to logistics, including transportation, hotel lodgings and so on. As far as elections go in Nigeria, most political parties raise campaign committees to fund their candidates, even though candidates are at liberty to also do their bit.

From heavy jingles on television and radio to huge billboards splattered all over the country, there was little or no check on the campaign spending spree as far as legal restrictions provide.

As such political parties that do not have as much clout (by virtue of states they control) as the two major political parties, have clamoured for the electoral body to reverse its action on giving funds to the political parties. They argue that they stand at a disadvantage going into major elections.

Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim, said “a governor seeking reelection will use the tools and the resources in his office to re-contest. If there is any challenge in court, public funds are used to defend himself. So the value of the vote and capacity of the ordinary person to change the government becomes diminished. Now this is not good and healthy for our democracy, it is one area we want to pay attention to.

He further advocated some measure of funding from INEC to political parties to check such abuse.

He said “I think it is time for us to level the political playing field. We have to make sure that every political party in or out of government or every credible Nigerian with and without money, can aspire to present themselves to the electorate to be voted for, not on account of how much money they have but on how much integrity and competence they can bring to the job. So I want us as IPAC to bring this reform whereby the overwhelming influence of money in politics is curtailed.

“The last general elections we had was the most expensive election that this country has ever had. By some estimate, it was more expensive than the election in the US. Now this money did not come from private businesses or enterprise. Most of it came from public funds.”

Attempt by INEC under Prof. Attahiru Jega, to make a difference ahead of the 2015 general election, didn’t amount to much. For the first time, the commission, had set up a department to tackle this issue, a first since the emergence of INEC.

Jega’s chief press secretary, Kayode Idowu, who stated that the commission had structures in place to ensure that they track such campaign spendings as directed by the law.

He noted that unlike the 2011 general elections a specific unit has been created by the commission to monitor spending of candidates in the 2015 election.

But indeed it could not go far. The commission was in a dilemma of tracking and slamming candidates who exceed the stipulated amount fixed for campaign spending, as it could only act after the act has been committed.

More so, for a commission that had often complained of being over burdened, it is doubtful that it could handle so much in this regard.

Idowu had said “the situation now is that we can only know whether a person has over spent until he or she has spent it. you cannot stop people from spending until the person has spent. What the law anticipates is that we have put ceiling on spending and we will now monitor to know whether we can make a case about it.”

He continued, “INEC can only work within the framework of the law. You are absolutely right that INEC does not have the capacity to handle the magnitude of electoral offenses. That is given and we have said over and again. That is why we have always called for election tribunal. But if the law says INEC should do something even within the constraints, INEC will do what is possible within those constraints.

“INEC will do what it has to do within the framework of the law as it exists at the present. For instance the law says we should publish the audited yearly accounts of the political parties and that is what we have always done. We audit and publish that is what the law says we should do. So after we publish what next. There are places where you have offenses and you don’t have sanctions stated.”

At another forum, in the build up to the polls, the former INEC boss, underscored that going into the last election, nothing could be done. He however added that sanctions would be imposed on the candidate or party if they discovered that they defaulted after the polls.

Jega said: “Nigerians are in a hurry, they wants now make judgment about candidates that have either made donation or spent more But then if you look at the law clearly, it states that until the end of the elections then you make a final judgment on what has been spent or if the law is breached. Regrettably again is the constraint of legal provisions.”

Jega also explained that it would be unrealistic for INEC to say that the issue of money in politics is not there, adding that this has been a challenge to conducting elections in the country.

He said: “It is a major challenge together with the attitude of the politicians, particularly because of impunity; people will do things and get away with it. This is something that must be tackled incrementally and as that is our focus now we cannot say that this will be eliminated in 2015.”

But nothing has been done, until he left office.

His Immediate successor, albeit in acting capacity, Amina Zakari, had expressed the readiness of the commission to put measures in place to effectively track campaign funding.

“The commission had begun putting measures in place to effectively track campaign funding” she said.

But like her predecessor, little was done before the new chairman Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, was appointed. It is yet to be seen what measures he would take to ensure campaign funding laws are not flouted.

Lalasticlala

https://leadership.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sen-Nnaji-11111111111111111-214x300.jpg
Sen Achonu Athanasius Nnaji represents Imo North Senatorial Zone in the Senate. In this interview with Ruth Choji, he predicts the implosion of All Progressives Congress (APC), and return of all former members of the PDP. He also called for a holistic approach to the anticorruption war, saying all former governors in Nigeria are corrupt.

As the vice chairman of Senate’s committee on banking, what is your take on the CBN governor’s assertion that the Nigerian economy is likely to crash if something is not done to salvage it soon?

Nigeria’s economy is very resilient, it is a case of management. I think Emefiele is doing a good job, let us watch and see all the policies he is putting in place. Some many pundit have said this type of thing but Nigerian economy has been growing steadily. Nigeria is one of the countries in the world that is blessed, Nigeria can create over 500 industries within 36 months and employ millions of Nigerians. We have the resources, the money is everywhere to borrow. How much is America owing? Yet, they produce, they have industries. Nigeria has no business exporting mineral resources without processing them. We should export finished protects. Everybody who is interested in our mineral resources should come and build industries to process it to a certain level before taking it out. This will add value to our economy.

 

As vice chairman, committee on economy and climate change, what is your committee doing concerning funds given to states to tackle ecological problems and yet have nothing to show for it?

I can’t say anything on that because I became a senator some months ago and President Buhari did not appoint ministers until few months ago. So, we didn’t have who to meet for oversight function. As a member of the ad hoc committee on works, we went round the country to look at erosion sites and dilapidated road network. Just recently, we came back from Paris for the climate change conference. When we resume from recess, we will call all these people to come and account for the monies that were released to them to dispense on erosion site.

 

Are you worried at the way the Naira is falling against the dollar?

I am very worried especially when you have the kind of issues we have on ground. We have to get experts who will advise us on the way out.

 

Are you surprised with some of the revelations that the former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki, has been making on how funds meant for security were diverted to private pockets?

Nobody is surprised that there are so many corrupt persons in government. The problem is the way the government of Buhari is handling the issue because all the former governors, minister from both parties and whichever state were corrupt. So if there should be investigation, it should be holistic. It should not single out some people. Buhari came with his change policy and Nigerians believed him but this is not change, it is vendetta. Look at how they are targeting all the PDP states, they had a secret meeting, we have the document where they said they will take all the oil states. Look at what is happening in Rivers State. Look at for example, my senatorial zone, they said there was exclusion, but immediately after my judgment, they moved the judges. So they sent them there to come and upturn the judgement of a lower court. INEC showed the ballot paper that was used, it was admitted in evidence and they had five votes, and INEC used Imo east ballot paper instead of Imo north because our court was not in Imo court, then they now came and said it was not the customized ballot paper. There is nothing like customized ballot paper in the electoral act. INEC has the right to use those ballot papers in case of any problems. There is a law that says that INEC can exhibit the papers so that other parties can see and confirm whether their logo is there or not. Those parties never complained, the court didn’t take notice of that and then that woman contested PDP primaries with me. So she was not a candidate, they just made an arrangement with INEC and her name was inserted there. When did the congress take place for her to emerged as candidate. The court decides all these things, they didn’t allow the PDP to testify and you said you are bringing change. The whole of Nigeria is worried, look at the way they are handling the Biafra issue. These government is vying towards dictatorship and we will not let it happen.

 

The PDP has said it is rebranding, but some skeptics believe that the PDP has nothing to rebrand, what is your take on this?

PDP will go back to its former glory because it is the biggest party in Africa, half of the people in APC are PDP. We are just waiting for APC to implode. One quarter of APC is owned by former governor, Bola Tinubu, the other quarter is owned by Buhari and the other half is PDP and others are marginalising the PDP in the party right now. Look at the way they are treating Atiku Abubakar and Senate President Bukola Saraki. Very soon the APC will implode and our members will come back to us.

 

Are you worried with the dimension that MASSOB and IPOB agitation is taking?

It is the fault of the federal government, these people have a right to what they want, and it is a free society. If you say you don’t want to be a Nigeria, then you properly agitated for it the way MASSOB is doing. This IPOB came out as well and started doing the same thing, they have never used force, why will the Federal Government used live bullets on unarmed protesting Nigerians when they could have used teargas at defenseless Nigerians? It is worrisome when we all know that, they have a war in the North-east they should be fighting. Why will they use the Igbos as cannon fodder every time? We have a right in this nation and we have equal right in this country. Why would they use one law for us and another for others? Look at the Niger-delta, when they were kidnapping people and breaking pipe, aside Obasanjo who destroy Odi, who else ever attacked them? When OPC were attacking people and places, did they use live bullets to kill them? But immediately the Igbos started, they used live bullets.

 

But are you in support of the agitation?

As a matter of fact, we are better off as one country because it makes more economic sense. We have a large market place and whatever we produce, we can make money here and it will energize the economy. If the Igbos break away, the Yoruba’s will also break away, the north will break into piece because there are so many tribes and religious difference there. That is why I was surprised with what Muhammad Junaid said in an interview recently. Emir Sanusi is a sensible man and he said the truth. There is no community in Nigeria where you will not find an Igbo man. They will settle in a place and build houses with factory, but in Igbo land, there is no northern who has gone there and invest. How many Yoruba people or Fulani people have investment in Igbo land? We are the ones maintaining the economy of this country and yet, Junaid Muhammed could say what he said.

 

What is the way out or how will you advice the government on how to solve the Biafra and IPOB problem?

This government is vied towards dictatorship and it is something we will resist. It can never succeed in Nigeria. Kanu should be released on bail or he should be tried and jailed, that is what the law said. Look at Dasuki, he has not been found guilty, yet they have been detaining him. They won’t even allow him to go to hospital. A man is innocent until proven guilty, what is going on is witch-hunting and Nigerians will not accept it.

 

Some are of the opinion that the south/east is being marginalised

Yes Igbos are the most marginalized in this country now, Buhari came and removed all our permanent secretaries, and they didn’t even follow due process in selecting new ones. The ones that are of Igbo extraction, they piled them up in the office of the secretary to the federal government where they will breeding newspaper for the next four years. Look at the minister from Imo state, a professor, deputizing under a journalist in the ministry of education, tomorrow, Rochas will come and tell Igbo people to join the APC. The marginalization is total, each zone has six to seven states, and it is only the South-east that has five states. They just want to make sure that we don’t get what is rightfully ours. We have seen the civil war and some of us don’t want to experience it again. I am a permanent reminder of that war. I lost my hand two days to the end of the war through a grenade explosions. That is why I don’t wear artificial limbs so that I will be a permanent reminder to people. There is no need for violence but people must be given equal opportunity and rule of law must be followed.

ishiamu:
Your mentioning cos the dullard wants to shield a corrupt judge same way amaechi and fashola was shielded.?? You apc fellas are a disgrace... ode people

modath:
Where have you been ?? Howdy!


Concerning this matter, what on earth is no evidence exactly,

Is the AGF ok ,

Saraki will be cursing Malami & peeing on himself when he gets this info though...

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, on Tuesday, said there was no “material fact” to prosecute the Chairman of the Conduct of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, over corruption allegations by the Anti Corruption Network.

Mr. Malami made the disclosure when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, investigating the allegations of corruption against Mr. Umar in a petition to the House by the ACN.

A member of the House, Riwa Shawalum, had on November 12, laid before the House the petition signed by the group’s Executive Secretary, Ajulo Ajulo.

The group was headed by Dino Melaye, who is currently a senator.
Among the allegations contained in the petition was the withdrawal of N1 million in July 2011 from the coffers of the CCT by Mr. Umar to sponsor his own wedding.

He was also accused of spending N15.2 million to purchase a Toyota Prado sport utility vehicle “without following due process”.

Mr. Umar was further accused of awarding contracts for the supply of office furniture and fittings at N11.3 million in March 2011.
The contracts were reportedly executed by a
“supposedly engineering company and not a furniture or supply company”.
He also allegedly paid N4.2million for “purchase of welfare items” in a contract executed by a private individual.

Another N4.2 million for the “procurement of external light bulbs” was described by the petitioners as “entirely fictitious contract”.
As part of the investigation, the Committee had sought submissions from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Attorney General of the Federation.

But Mr. Malami said that based on the presentation by Mr. Umar, the petition by ACN and the submission by the EFCC, it would be difficult to initiate prosecution against the CCT Chairman.
“Deriving from the conclusions, it became difficult for any prosecution to be initiated on the basis of facts as they were presented,” the AGF said.

“The position of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation is that in the absence of further material fact in the allegations, we find it very difficult to prosecute Alhaji Umar in the circumstances against the background of his presentation and further conclusion arrived at by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“I’m happy to bring to the notice of the committee that EFCC has provided opinion on the basis of which we acted, a copy of that letter I believe has been made available to the committee. It is dated 5th March 2015.

“Of particular interest is the second to the last paragraph which is paragraph five of the letter of the letter, with the permission of the chairman of the committee I quote; facts as they are now against Justice Umar raised a mere suspicion and will therefore not be sufficient to successfully prosecute for the offence”.

The letter cited by the AGF was an “Investigation Report” referenced EFCC/EC/SGF/03/56, responding to the directive by a former Secretary General of the Federation, Pius Anyim, that that the anti-graft agency investigate allegation of bribery against Mr. Umar.

A retired Deputy Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs Service, Rasheed Taiwo, who was standing trial at the CCT, had accused Mr. Umar of demanding N10 million bribe from him.

In the report, the EFCC said, “There are indications that the Tribunal Chairman (Mr. Umar) might have demanded and collected money from the complainant through his said Personal Assistant. However, efforts to recover the telephone handset used by Justice Umar proved abortive as he claimed he lost the phone in 2012.

“This has made it impossible to subject it to independent analysis with a view to corroborating the allegation. In the same vein, the complainant could not also make available his telephone set on the grounds that he had lost it.

“Justice Umar also admitted that he met privately severally with the complainant in his chamber at the Tribunal. This is a most unethical and suspicious conduct on his part.

“There is a prima facie evidence to however prosecute the Personal Assistant, Abdullahi, who could offer no coherent excuse for receiving N1.8 million naira into his salary account from Taiwo who is an accused person standing trial at the Tribunal,” he said.

Mr. Ajufo said he wanted the House Committee headed by Nkem Uzoma – Abonta, to use its petition to verify all accusations

“We are whistleblowers we have fought corruption both locally and globally, we have fought corruption in primary school and in the Federal executive. We have done this over.

“We are here to adopt our petition with this honourable committee, we are also to say that the committee should use our petition to investigate and verify all the accusations, our organisation is not into blackmail, it is not sectional and selective in our fight against corruption.

“One of the major issues we have here in our petition and as stated we cannot understand why directive by the AGF is only focusing on the personal assistant on the chairman of CCT, one Ali Gambo and not the chairman himself.

“Mr Chairman, we urge this committee to please ask the Chairman of CCT to produce the original of the following documents which are; one advanced payment vouchers and other voucher, from 2011 to 2014, I will beg to stop here for now,” he said.
A director of the CCT, Abdulaziz Badisha, asked the committee to request the ACN to produce its document of registration.

Mr. Nkem- Abonta, while ruling on the matter, said all presentations would be looked into accordingly and asked the ACN to produce its registration document within the next 48 hours.

A MAN TOOK HIS GOAT TO THE MARKET, AFTER NEGOTIATION, ANOTHER MAN AGREED TO BUY. THE BUYER BROUGHT OUT THE MONEY TO PAY, BUT BOTH THE SELLER AND BUYER WERE DISTRACTED BY AN ACTIVITY IN THE MARKET.

WHILE THEY CONCENTRATED ON THIS DISTRACTION THE GOAT CHEWED ALL THE MONEY IN THE BUYERS HAND. THEREBY RAISING SEVERAL QUESTIONS, ONE OF SUCH IS, WHO OWNS THE GOAT, THE BUYER OR THE SELLER?

I live in a conflict prone area of Nigeria, so the sight of various security task forces are common place, while many have become accustomed to the situation, nothing beats me, when I see these men in the evening taking delivery of their “Agege bread” from the camo-painted Hilux van every evening.
The sight of one of such prompted my admonition this week on the armsgate saga currently of national space. In my intervention, I would take excerpts from_ A SERIES OF INVESTIGATIVE REPORT TITLED “THE COST OF WAR” CARRIED OUT BY PRINCE CHARLES DICKSON AS A PART OF A FORD FOUNDATION FUNDED NIGERIAN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING PROJECT COORDINATED BY THE ICIR IN 2013.

“Samson Dati is a sergeant of the Nigerian Army, he pulls off his boots to show a sore foot, as he tells _ME_ “Do you know we are supposed to be given powder to ease sore feet, but I cannot recall ever seeing that, but trust me it is in one budget subhead.”

It is not only powder, but _MY_ investigation reveal that a soldier on the frontline is entitled to three liters of water per day, but they hardly get water, and when they do is, at the mercy of the community that they are securing.

A source at the Military High Command, insists, “we want to provide most of these things, but none of them is reflected in the budget, we are at war, you cannot be using a routine budget to prosecute a war.”

The poor state of army gear is a tip of the problems, as this _MY _investigation reveals, the Nigerian Army is bedeviled with corruption in recruitment, budgets, criminal defense contractors amongst many other problems.

BUDGETARY FRAUD

In the last four years, the Military received the highest budgetary estimate, but investigation revealed little or none goes to equipment and other necessary kitting.

Airforce personnel Michael Choji, revealed that it was all media glitz, “we are worried about campaigns in the media that we are well funded or equipped.

BREAKDOWN

In the 2013 budget, the allocation for the Ministry of Defence, it got a total recurrent (Personnel and overhead) of N20,044,809,028 and total capital budget of N2,902,547,929.

Defence Headquarters got a total recurrent of N845,859,208 and total capital of N1,322,060,000.
For Nigerian Army, total recurrent of N121,246,789,959 and a total capital budget of N8,763,468,000.

The Nigerian Navy had N58,312,400,621 for total recurrent and N15,035,919,070 for capital budget.
The Nigerian Airforce was given N63,921,863,341 for recurrent expenditure and N14,235,430,050 for capital budget.

A further breakdown and analysis simply show that out of a total budget of N364,415,146,885 for 2013, N300,402,146,886 was for recurrent, while barely N64,013,000,000 was for capital project.

CORRUPTION


What it shows is that the entire armed forces that is fighting a well-oiled insurgent group like Boko Haram, got only N39, 356,877,120.

Interestingly, the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, which houses the department for State Security DSS, National Intelligence Agency NIA, Presidential Air Fleet and State House got a total of N82.255billion, a whooping N50billion for capital projects.
_
MY_ investigation revealed that apart from the bemusing figures, according to civilian personnel of the Defence Headquaters *Kolade Abe, “Even the money allocated for the capital projects are not left for the end-users, immediately the budget is signed, it is sharing galore.”

“Presidency officials, members of the National Assembly all besiege the ministry and with complimentary cards and orders from above, they share contracts amongst themselves,” he revealed.

The greed of the politicians and civil servants come into play, as they act as middlemen, arms are not supplied in many cases it was revealed…”

CURRENTLY


It is only the naïve in Nigerian Stealing Affairs, which incidentally abbreviated is NSA also) that would sound alarmed, at the current naked dance. Sadly it’s not only Dasukigate or armsgate, but virtually all sorts of open gates of corruption perpetuated in “Naijasphers”_._

The security vote pickpockets, the super permanent thieves called secretary in the civil service, the judges, the providers of spiritual cleansing, local bribe taker for admission…it’s an endless list of corruption,

The Ex-NSA Dasuki and Kusa transferred ONLY N1.45 billion to Acacia Holdings Limited account for “special prayers” and off course Bafarawa: Ex-gov reportedly received ONLY N4.6bn from Dasuki for “special prayers”. Talking about “special prayers” Dasuki paid ONLY N750 million into the bank account of Reliance Referral Hospital Limited for “special prayers”.

While all these is simply distasteful, one looks on bemusedly as Nigerians debate, whether Dasuki and his sharing crew are guilty or not, whether they are being persecuted or not, or how much APC spent on it’s own campaign, as it is “evident” to a certain level that the NSA’s office was a slush fund center.

Who really owns the goat, the debate continues, I only feel sad, that Nigerians like me, the real soldiers like you, the “us” that suffer the configuration called Nigeria, did not get our share OF ONLY a few good roads, healthcare via a few hospitals, quality education through good number of affordable schools, infrastructure, secured society, I ONLY get scared because if we will ever get anything, it is—Only time will tell.

Lalasticlala

Unknown gunmen have killed the Returning Officer in the March 28 House of Representatives election for Obio Akpor federal constituency in Rivers State, Dr Ebirien Fubara.

Fabura was killed alongside his son at their residence in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Vanguard reports.

It was gathered that the sad incident occurred weekend.

The assassins, who stormed his Odili Road residence in Port Harcourt, first killed his son with a rod and then went for the father, clubbing him till he fell unconscious.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Muhammad when contacted, said, the police was not aware of the ugly development.

Until his demise, the late Fubara was appointed a Commissioner in the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, by Governor Nyesom Wike.

Dr Fubara according to reports gave up the ghost on Sunday at a hospital in Port Harcourt and his remains deposited in a morgue.

He was a senior lecturer at the Ignatius Ajuru University, Rivers State

Lalasticlala

Despite pleading not guilty to N13 billion fraud allegations on Monday, embattled former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki will still have to worry over a fresh probe believed to have been launched into his tenure by the Federal Government.

This time, it is all contractors who made supplies or rendered services to the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, that have been asked, in a newspaper advert published on Monday, to appear before a Contracts Verification Committee.

Directors of the affected companies were requested to come forward with at least eight documents: certificate of incorporation, particulars of directors, tax clearance certificates from 2011 till date, letter of award of contract, invoice for supplies and services, evidence of payment so far/outstanding balance, personal income tax clearance certificates of the directors and any other documents to the contracts.

Though the period to be covered by this fresh probe was not expressly stated, it may stretch from 2011 to 2015 owing to the demand for the presentation of tax clearance certificates covering the period. This is as Dasuki was appointed NSA in June 2012 and left in July 2015.

The print advert, which was signed by the Principal General Staff Officer in the Office of the NSA, revealed that the committee will sit at the premises of the office from December 15 to 23, 2015.

Lalasticlala

The $2 billion arms deal saga continues to engulf public office holders from the past administration and the focus has now shifted to Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the former finance minister and coordinating minister for the economy. She has vehemently denied any involvement in the arms deal saga and has accused some of distorting the facts but there is one question that cuts across all layers of distortion -

Why was the Nigerian constitution on disbursing government funds not applied in the case of the recovered Abacha loot?


Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the $2billion arms deal

In a letter from Dr. Okonjo-Iweala to President Dr Goodluck Jonathan on 20 January 2015, it was clear that there was a committee set up to specifically address the issue of recovered funds. It was collectively agreed by the former President and members of the committee how the funds should be disbursed; if this is true then why is the former finance minister Dr. Okonjo-Iweala being accused in some quarters of illegally transferring the $300 million and £5.5 to an ONSA operated account; the reason for this accusation is simple, by law any money spent or accrued outside the appropriation law usually comes as supplementary budget which must be approved by the National Assembly.

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala needs to explain why she allowed herself to become part of a group of public office holders that bypassed the Nigerian constitution in favour of an 'adhoc committee' when deciding how to disburse Abacha's recovered loot. It is unlikely to be true the fomer finance minister was unaware the committee may possibly be an illegal way of disbursing the recovered funds; the other viable option would have been to resign in protest if members of the 'committee' refused to go through the constitutional channel. In her response to the on-going arms deal probe, Okonjo-Iweala stated "I acted in Nigeria's interest", some might argue that acting outside the remit of the Nigerian constitution is acting against the interest of Nigeria and its people.

If the process by which the recovered Abacha loot was disbursed is determined to be illegal then the memo on which Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala bases her arguments is at best 'weak'. In my view the memo only serves one purpose - the possible implication of the former Nigerian President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and herself in a process that may turn out to be illegal.

Lalasticlala

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja, has ordered the Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Solomon Arase, to appear before it on Feb. 8, 2016 to show cause why he should not be committed to prison for contempt. Justice Peter Lifu gave the order in a ruling he delivered on Monday in a post-judgment case on wrongful dismissal of Sgt. Atabo Okpanashi.
 
“The I-G thinks that he is a big fish and has refused to obey the order of the court and has not even sent a representative or any apologies all through the case. “He feels he can do anything with impunity.
“With this new era of change, one would have thought that the I-G, being a number one law enforcer, would have known that he is not above the law and must comply with court orders.

“By the rules of the court, my oath of office and regulations of the National Judicial Council, I order that the I-G be present in court on Feb. 8 to show reason why an order for committal to prison should not be made against him. “It is not good that the Nigerian Police Force, a public institution, and the court, another public institution, should be on a collision course, it would create a state of anarchy.
“On Dec. 2, this court granted a short adjournment till today for the Police institution to purge itself of contempt by registering appearance. “The refusal of the I-G to appear before the court after several notices were served on him is the height of impunity,’’ he said.

Recall that Okpanashi had sued the Police before the court over his wrongful dismissal and had demanded payment of all his entitlements and emoluments. On May 13, 2014, the court had in a judgment ordered the reinstatement of the sergeant and the payment of all his entitlements and emoluments.

The court had held that Okpanashi was wrongfully dismissed in July 2009 on the purported allegations of discreditable conduct, breach of contract and corrupt practices leveled against him by the Police.
More than one and half year after the judgment, the Police Service Commission had complied with the court by reinstating Okpanashi on Dec. 8. The I-G had, however, failed to effect the payments of Okpanashi’s entitlements thereby resulting in the post judgment case.

OZAOEKPE:
BABA, YOU THEY LAFF ME

OZAOEKPE:
BABA DON MISS YARN THIS TIME OOO, I DONT HAVE WAT TO SAY TO SUPPORT HIM

OZAOEKPE:
MIDOLIAN IS IN TROUBLE, MAY GOD ALMIGHTY PUT HIM THROUGH, I DON HNDS OFF YOUR MATTER.