₦airaland Forum

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Saraki’s corrupt hand
Abdulrazaq O Hamzat
It is an understatement to say that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki represents the face of corruption in Nigeria, if not in Africa. He is the highest ranking government official in Nigeria to be prosecuted for massive criminality and ushered into the accused box due to corruption.
In recent time, for every theft, criminality and corruption perpetrated in Nigeria, there is only one name that is constant in all of them. Bukola Saraki. He is the symbol of corruption.
However, the most disturbing part of this development is that, Saraki doesn’t seem to have had enough of the public loot; his taste for more and more corrupt embezzlement is unrivaled. Enu ko kin sin lara alabahun re. This is a perfect example that fits into a Yoruba saying ‘’Bi asen ge lowo, ni onbo oruka’’, meaning that the more corruption busted involving this man, the more the new corruption he is involved.
Since his arraignment for false assets declaration over a year ago, Saraki’s corrupt hand, more like the long spoon, being used to eat with the devil, has been caught in several other corruption scandals, both old and new. From false assets declaration, embezzlement of state funds, falsification of National Assembly standing order, panama papers criminality, budget padding scandal, Paris club loan diverting, FG bailout fund and theft at FCDA over imaginary accommodation. Just mention any worthy corruption scandal and the name Saraki shall surface. Does he thinks they spend money in heaven?
I find it difficult to understand why only one man would become so greedy, so selfish and so fixated on the theft of public resources, to an extent that every single corruption scandal in Nigeria has his hand in it. Saraki’s taste for blood money is unquenchable and it seems he has established himself as a grand master in corruption that every other corrupt person finds as a perfect partner to jointly perpetrates their criminality.
To imagine that this same corrupt individual is heading our legislative arm of government for over a year now is an aberration. It kills public morality, no matter how we explain it. With Saraki, we need not tell the younger ones that stealing is a good thing, they are seeing how those who stole public funds are being treated as dignitaries and rewarded with more juicy positions.
Some days ago, one of the largest financial scandals in recent times was reported, and the 36 states governors, plus Bukola Saraki were reported to have pocked large slices of funds approved by Federal Government to reimburse states for the excessive deductions charged to them on account of the Paris Club and other international loans. Investigators discovered that some governors got as much as N400million, while Mr Saraki carted away N2.5 billion out of the first batch of payments made to states. Consultants who act as cover, once paid, forwarded a part of their payment to the individual accounts of the state governors. Saraki was reportedly paid 2.5billion through a finance consultancy run by one Mr. Okey Mbonu, a former managing director of Society General Bank, a family bank robbed and run down by Saraki.
Two weeks before that report, Citizens Action To Take Back Nigeria (CATBAN) had uncovered a grand theft of over N630 million at the FCDA traced to the four (4) principal officers of National Assembly led by Saraki. The 4 principal officers, Bukola Saraki (Senate President), Yakubu Dogara (Speaker), Ike Okwerenmadu ( Deputy Senate President) and Yusuf Lasun (Deputy Speaker) all conspire to steal over N630 million with false accommodation claim. Saraki alone got a whopping sum of N200million from this theft.
The budget padding scandal from National Assembly is still fresh in our memory, in which billions of naira was fraudulently inserted into the budget for selfish reasons by leadership of the National Assembly. The role played by the leadership of National Assembly led by Saraki is known to all.
This is not to forget the panama papers scandal, in which several hidden assets of Mr Saraki and his family were exposed in the tax heaven. Internal data of the panama-based offshore-provider, Mossack Fonseca exposed that at least 4 assets of the family of Mr Saraki tucked away in secret offshore territories. However, Saraki didn’t mention these assets in his declaration as required by law because it was acquired with stolen resources from his tenure as Kwara State governor.
Additionally, in 2016 July, Bukola Saraki reportedly diverted N3billion received by Kwara State as bailout from the Federal Government to pay workers salaries. Till this moment, workers are yet to be paid their salaries in Kwara State.
Do not also forget that the same Saraki was the principal beneficiary of forgery of senate standing order which produced the current leadership of the senate. He is also standing trial for false assets declaration.
How can we explain that the senate president of Nigeria is a man that literally represents corruption in its entirety? Does that mean the National Assembly should rightly be christened as the Corruption Assembly? How members of the National Assembly sleep at night with this kind of character leading them beats my imagination. The damage done by this fellow to the legislative institution will last for eternity.
I am yet to understand how a single man will be so corrupt that every major fraud, theft and corruption must have is imprint in it. The name Saraki is now synonymous with fraud and corruption. This is why most people are of the opinion that, until Saraki is convicted, there is no war against corruption going on in the country. Because, should Saraki go Scot free despite all his atrocities, it will mean that Corruption is officially legalized for those who knows their ways.
We must never allow this to happen.

While it is true that hajj and polygamy are not comparable, neither am I comparing them. I am only trying to point you to something of note

Hajj is also optional, not for everyone. Is it? The fact that something is optional doesn’t mean it's not encouraged.

tbaba1234:
Islam allows polygamy, It does not encourage Polygamy.. This distinction should be clear.

It is an option for muslims if they can fulfill the condition of justice.

My dear, true, Islam allows polygamy, but it not only allows it, it also encourages it for those that have the means and can do justice. This is the reality. Most things in Islam are mandatory, yet optional, except the believe in Allah, his prophet and salat. Fasting is compulsory, but if you can't due to certain illness, you can avoid it. Hajj is only mandatory for those who have the means. Having more than one wife is encouraged only for those who have the means and can do justice. Peace

olasaad:
I married a man when he was poor. We live in a small house. We have four kids all born to poverty. You struggle and I do so with you.

After the long hardship Allah later accept our prayers and bless our home.

The next thing my husband did is marry another wife. Do you think I will be happy? NO.

Time goes on as I have accept my faith by respecting the will of Allah.

Then now my husband new wife is pregnant for the first time. My husband buy me a car and now he wants to make it equal and bought a car for his new wife too and that is how everything now go on after.

Tell me any woman that we be happy with this.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us using your own example. While I truly understand your concerns, there are certain things that must be put in perspective. Before Islam ever came, polygamy was the order. You know this, I know it too. Truly, you might have married your husband when he was poor,but I do not think you are rich either. And even if you are rich, you didn't marry him because of his poor status. You married him because you wanted to marry him, poor or not. While still poor, he might have married another wife still. I want to believe that, even with his poor status, he gave you according to his means, which you appreciated. The fact that he his poor doesn't mean you are not aware he could marry more than one wife. Every woman is aware their husband could toe this path, legitimately or illegitimately. It might make you uncomfortable, but it is the reality. What I think is that, you shouldn't be unhappy because your husband do something for the other person, when he didn't deny you yours. If he does his duty to you, you shouldn't be unhappy, if he does his duty to the other person. There are many husbands who does more for younger wife than the first. But yours isn't like that. It means your husband is trying to be just. Kindly make yourself happy and take your mind off what he does for the other person and Allah will bless you and your children abundantly.

8 good reasons why Islam encourages polygamy. The ruling on plural marriage in Islam

The shar’i text which permits plural marriage is:

Allaah says in His Holy Book (interpretation of the meaning):

“And if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan girls then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three, or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one or (slaves) that your right hands possess. That is nearer to prevent you from doing injustice”

[al-Nisa’ 4:3]

This is a Qur’aanic text which shows that plural marriage is allowed. According to Islamic sharee’ah, a man is permitted to marry one, two, three or four wives, in the sense that he may have this number of wives at one time. It is not permissible for him to have more than four. This was stated by the mufassireen (commentators on the Qur’aan) and fuqaha’ (jurists), and there is consensus among the Muslims on this point, with no differing opinions.

It should be noted that there are conditions attached to plural marriage:

1 – Justice or fairness.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one”

[al-Nisa’ 4:3]

This aayah is indicates that just treatment is a condition for plural marriage to be permitted. If a man is afraid that he will not be able to treat his wives justly if he marries more than one, then it is forbidden for him to marry more than one. What is meant by the justice that is required in order for a man to be permitted to have more than one wife is that he should treat his wives equally in terms of spending, clothing, spending the night with them and other material things that are under his control.

With regard to justice or fairness in terms of love, he is not held accountable for that, and that is not required of him because he has no control over that. This is what is meant by the verse,

“You will never be able to do perfect justice between wives even if it is your ardent desire”

[al-Nisa’ 4:129 – interpretation of the meaning].

2 – The ability to spend on one’s wives:

The evidence for this condition is the verse:

“And let those who find not the financial means for marriage keep themselves chaste, until Allaah enriches them of His Bounty”

[al-Noor 24:33 – interpretation of the meaning]

In this verse Allaah commands those who are able to get married but cannot find the financial means, to remain chaste. One such example is not having enough money to pay the mahr (dowry) and not being able to spend on one’s wife. (al-Mufassal fi Ahkaam al-Mar’ah, part 6, p. 286).

2 – The wisdom behind permitting plural marriage

1 – Plural marriage helps to increase the numbers of the ummah (nation, Muslim community). It is known that the numbers can only be increased through marriage, and the number of offspring gained through plural marriage will be greater than that achieved through marriage to one wife.

Wise people know that increasing the number of offspring will strengthen the ummah and increase the number of workers in it, which will raise its economic standard – if the leaders run the affairs of state well and make use of its resources in a proper manner. Ignore the claims of those who say that increasing the numbers of human beings poses a danger to the earth’s resources which are insufficient, for Allaah the Most Wise Who has prescribed plural marriage has guaranteed to provide provision for His slaves and has created on earth what is more than sufficient for them. Whatever shortfall exists is due to the injustice of administrations, governments and individuals, and due to bad management. Look at China, for example, the greatest nation on earth as far as number of inhabitants is concerned, and it is regarded as one of the strongest nations in the world, and other nations would think twice before upsetting China; it is also one of the great industrialized nations. Who would dare think of attacking China, I wonder? And why?

2 – Statistics show that the number of women is greater than the number of men; if each man were to marry just one woman, this would mean that some women would be left without a husband, which would have a harmful effect on her and on society:

The harmful effect is that she would never find a husband to take care of her interests, to give her a place to live, to spend on her, to protect her from haraam desires, and to give her children to bring her joy. This may lead to deviance and going astray, except for those on whom Allaah has mercy.

With regard to the harmful effects on society, it is well known that this woman who is left without a husband may deviate from the straight path and follow the ways of promiscuity, so she may fall into the swamp of adultery and prostitution – may Allaah keep us safe and sound – which leads to the spread of immorality and the emergence of fatal diseases such as AIDS and other contagious diseases for which there is no cure. It also leads to family breakdown and the birth of children whose identity is unknown, and who do not know who their fathers are.

Those children do not find anyone to show compassion towards them or any mature man to raise them properly. When they go out into the world and find out the truth, that they are illegitimate, that is reflected in their behaviour, and they become exposed to deviance and going astray. They may even bear grudges against society, and who knows? They may become the means of their country’s destruction, leaders of deviant gangs, as is the case in many nations in the world.

3 – Men are exposed to incidents that may end their lives, for they work in dangerous professions. They are the soldiers who fight in battle, and more men may die than women. This is one of the things that raise the percentage of husbandless women, and the only solution to this problem is plural marriage.

4 – There are some men who may have strong physical desires, for whom one wife is not enough. If the door is closed to such a man and he is told, you are not allowed more than one wife, this will cause great hardship to him, and his desire may find outlets in forbidden ways.

In addition to that, a woman menstruates each month, and when she gives birth, she bleeds for forty days (this post-partum bleeding is called nifaas in Arabic), at which time a man cannot have intercourse with his wife, because intercourse at the time of menstruation or nifaas is forbidden, and the harm that it causes has been proven medically. So plural marriage is permitted when one is able to be fair and just.

5 – Plural marriage does not exist only in the Islamic religion, rather it was known among the previous nations. Some of the Prophets were married to more than one woman. The Prophet of Allaah Sulaymaan (Solomon) had ninety wives. At the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), there were some men who became Muslims who had eight or five wives. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told them to keep four wives and to divorce the rest.

6 – A wife may be barren, or she may not meet her husband’s needs, or he may be unable to have intercourse with her because she is sick. A husband may long to have children, which is a legitimate desire, and he may want to have a sex life within marriage, which is something permissible, and the only way is to marry another wife. It is only fair for the wife to agree to remain his wife and to allow him to marry another.

7 – A woman may be one of the man’s relatives and have no one to look after her, and she is unmarried or a widow whose husband has died, and the man may think that the best thing to do for her is to include her in his household as a wife along with his first wife, so that he will both keep her chaste and spend on her. This is better for her than leaving her alone and being content only to spend on her.

8 – There are other shar’i interests that call for plural marriages, such as strengthening the bonds between families, or strengthening the bonds between a leader and some of his people or group, and he may think that one of the ways of achieving this aim is to become related to them through marriage, even if that is through plural marriage.

Objection:

Some people may object and say that plural marriage means having co-wives in one house, and that the disputes and enmity that may arise between co-wives will have an effect on the husband, children and others, and this is harmful and should be avoided, and the only way to prevent that is to ban plural marriage.

Response to the objection:

The response to that is that family arguments may occur even when there is only one wife, and they may not even happen when there is more than one wife, as we see in real life. Even if we assume that there may be more arguments than in a marriage to one wife, even if we accept that they may be harmful and bad, the harm is outweighed by the many good things in a plural marriage. Life is not entirely bad or entirely good, but what everyone hopes is that the good will outweigh the bad, and this principle is what applies in the permission for plural marriage.

Moreover, each wife has the right to her own, separate accommodation as prescribed in Islam. It is not permissible for the husband to force his wives to live together in one house.

Another objection:

If we allow men to have plural wives, why are women not allowed to have multiple husbands, why does a woman not have the right to marry more than one man?

Response to this objection:

There is no point in giving a woman the right to marry multiple husbands, rather that is beneath her dignity and she would not know the lineage of her children, because she is the one who bears the offspring, and it is not permissible for the offspring to be formed from the sperm of a number of men lest the lineage of the child be lost and no one will know who is responsible for bringing up the child; this will lead to breakdown of families, loss of ties between fathers and children, which is not permitted in Islam as it is not in the interests of the woman or of the child or of society as a whole.

Al-Mufassal fi Ahkaam al-Mar’ah, part 6, p. 290

But he would cry out and point accusing finger when others do the same

Corruption loot,shouldn't go back to where it was looted.
We must understand the reality of today. That a war against corruption is a lost war. It has never been won by any nation. Even in China, where death is penalty for culprits, corruptions still strives, though not flourish.
Going by definition, corruption is defined as a dishonest or illegal behavior, especially of people in authority. However, I see it more as the bad habit of every individual. For example, if a political office holder deceitfully inflates the award of a contract, or he or she gives undue privileges to his or her friends and family to secure government contracts, that is corruption. If a market woman systematically reduced the congo of garri to make more gains at the detriment of her customers, or a fraudulent banker deduct funds from customers account without their consent, that is another corruption. Or may be a motor mechanic deceives his clients to take money for a vehicle spare part he claimed to have bought, without actually buying it, all of them are corruption and we must first understand it from that perspective.
‘’Corruption is not just about the actions of leaders or those in government, it is those bad habits exhibited by people of different strata in their everyday life activities.’’ And if law had been the strongest method of curbing evil practices such as corruption and other heinous crimes, they would have been eradicated long ago.
In the case of corruption, it is a self inflicted vice and bad human traits are the causes. This cannot be rectified by mere pressure or punishment, positive appeal and diplomacy must play critical role. In the case of pressure or punishment, one offender may be caught while the other may not, then the evil practice goes on. Provided one offender may escape justice, no judgment body can ever eradicate this evil practice entirely. However, corruption doesn’t just occur, many factors aid its root. Every now and then, there is a rise in prices of commodities, but the question is how many times in a year have salaries increased? There is a huge gap between income and living index. It should be at par. Life has become miserable with the current inflation. Due to the need of money, many people fall prey to the cheap means of earning such as bribe. Government lacks the basic compassionate understanding towards its own people. The government does not control the fee hike of the private schools which is enormous. Same is with the private hospitals. Treatment is very expensive and government is not bothered to put a control over it. They simply travel abroad for medication. It seems life and quality educations are only meant for the rich. Even state owned institutions are not affordable for state workers. This happens in a country which struggle to pay its workers N18, 000 minimum wages. And now, many states government cannot even pay salaries at all. If state workers can’t afford to send their children to state owned University due to fee hike, where can such children acquire their education? It is tough to afford, but people strive for it by indulging in corruption. Who is mainly responsible?
From Wikipedia, it is said that, corruption is in philosophical, theological, or moral perversion. Governmental corruption of judiciary is broadly acknowledged in many transitional and developing countries because the budget is almost completely controlled by the executive. The latter undermines the separation of powers, as it creates a critical financial dependence of the judiciary. But irrespective of judicial independence, judiciary is corrupt. Judges sell judgment to the powerful. How million of dollars got to the homes of judges become a misery. A mere registrar in Supreme Court was caught with billions of naira. The proper national wealth distribution including government spending on the judiciary is subject of the constitutional economics. By the above submissions, it is crystal clear to every individual that corruption is not healthy or desirable in a progressive or aspiring progressive society. However, despite this clarity, many across the world are today corrupt in one way or the other due to the above submission. And if we truly want to prevent corruption as it is being widely said, we must take necessary steps to correct all identifiable anomalies. Limiting our discussion to political corruption which has been described as the abuse of public power, office, or resources by elected government officials for personal gains, e.g. by extortion, soliciting or offering bribes, etc.
Corruption they say destroys a nation, but I say if properly understood, can be used for transformation, at least as a temporal measure. Evidences had shown that, government’s effort to arrest the menace of corruption in our society have proven not functional, especially in a world were democracy is regarded as the most acceptable form of government. The same democracy has proven in most cases, as being responsible for the increasing corrupt practices across the world, because the more the politicians, the more the corruption. Corruption and democracy are said to be inseparable. Unlike in military government, where the head have power to order certain and immediate actions against any culprit and to a larger extent hinder his juniors officers from massive corruption, a democratic head have no such power.
Additionally, democracy by itself cannot be blamed for the increasing act of corruption, as it had clearly defined mode of engagement which when applied properly will prevent any act of corruption, but failure to abide by those rules and principles such as separation of power, rule of law and many others have been a major source of concern. Again, corruption has always been there before the advent of democratic governance.
Thank God the current administration is recovering some corrupt loot.
So, what should we do with our recovered loot?
1. Keep the loot in the country: Never allow looters launder our resources out of the economy
2. Heavily tax unoccupied properties: The numerous unoccupied mansions owned by people will suddenly be filled up by those needing decent accommodation
3. Keep the money circulating: People with certain account balance should be encouraged to own physical businesses that employ workers. The money should be productive
4. Support entrepreneur: Recovered loot shouldn’t go back to where it was looted, it can be re-looted. it should be used for funding growing SME’s

See

Until today, I never knew former President @GEJonathan special assistant on social media @renoomkri had blocked me on Twitter. I can't even remember what disagreement we ever had. I guess that was before the 2015 election when he was still drunk on power.

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Our people are being killed by Abdulrazaq O Hamzat. Many have been killed based on fabricated stories. Many died based on false rumor. In Kano, brigade to be precise, I have seen people that died while running from hehe, while we, living in the area the said hehe came from didn't even hear anything about it. It's rumor. Later on, we only heard about her death through accident on her way running. Fight between two people, have been broadcasted online as, our people are being attacked in certain places. I don't know what people benefits from falsehood. Pastor Chinedu, a business man once told me about a scenario that occurred at Dei Dei Market in Abuja. He narrates: An Hausa trader and his Igbo counterpart had a disagreement in the market over money. Pastor Chinedu was witness to the beginning of the issue, but he wasn't around when the issue eventually degenerated into big conflict between Hausa and Igbo community in the market. How can mere money issue between two traders in the market lead to Hausa VS Igbo crisis? Both groups are already up in arms before pastor Chinedu was returning to the market. Somebody sighted pastor from afar and he said he thinks pastor was there at the beginning. The elderly Hausa man that has been mediating to solve the problem appeal to his people to calm down and allow pastor explain what truly happened and what ever pastor said would guide them. According to pastor, as soon as he approached the crowd, some of his Igbo brothers that knew the truth about the incident, but refused to say it were already giving him eyes to change the story, but he refused to take side. He simply narrated what happened and told them in plain terms that is Igbo brother was at fault. This is what has almost led to Hausa VS Igbo cause in the market. This simple truth by pastor Chinedu resolved the matter. The Hausa people simply thank pastor for telling the truth and one wealthy Alhaji promised to pay the Hausa man to avoid any trouble. After the incident, some Igbo people went to meet pastor to tongue lash him for not standing by his brother, but pastor said he can't lie to defend anyone. Some even called him names such as bastard etc, but what is wrong with being truthful? What I learned from the story is that, some of those who share bad stories about attack against their tribal or religious people know it is false. Majority others doesn't care about its authenticity. They just want to defend and spread bad news about the other people. The second thing I learned from the story is that, there are good people every where, in every tribe and religion. You can choose where to belong. Going back to my earlier point, the conflict between the two people were eventually resolved, but another two innocent people were killed in retaliation elsewhere. Fabricated stories has killed more people than real conflict. Rumor have caused more death than violence. It's easy to say, Muslims are being killed in Jos, Christians are being murdered in Kaduna. But what is the truth, behind what led to death of Muslims in Jos and what led to the death of Christians in Kaduna? Nobody cares to know. All that mattered to the bigots among Muslims and Christians is, our people are being killed. The irony of it all is that, they do not care about those being killed in the real sense, all they cared about is using the story to advance their attack on the others and cause further divide. Don't be surprised, if somebody accuse of being in support of murderers because of this post.

True

CATBAN DRAG UNILORIN TO MINISTER OF EDUCATION, EFCC AND OTHERS OVER ADMISSION FRAUD AND NONE CLEARANCE OF STUDENTS

Citizens Action to Take Back Nigeria (CATBAN) has officially submitted petitions to relevant authorities to look into the systemic fraud and admission racket at University of Ilorin that led to protest few weeks ago. The Anti-Corruption Coalition submitted petitions to the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu and Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC) Prof Abdulrasheed Abubakar.

Additionally, CATBAN also submitted separate petitions to Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC).

The group said its petition provide ample opportunity for relevant authorities to promptly intervene in other to prevent break down of law and order in the University, as CATBAN is determined to defend the rights and legitimate interest of the affected students.

CATBAN’s investigative team had gathered that the University of Ilorin often deliberately issues admission to students in excess of their admission capacity and quota, hoping to drain the additional students of their hard earned resources before sending them back home empty handed with unreasonable explanations. After they must have paid all the necessary fees, rented accommodation and attended lectures for months, victims will eventually be told that they had fake admissions
or that they have unacceptable results.

CATBAN’s investigations also reveals that since the appointment & subsequent resumption of duties by the current Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali, University of Ilorin has
fraudulently admitted thousands of students more than they can officially cater for, who have been victims of this properly articulated scam. This fraudulent practice, we learned, has been consistent since 2013.

Recall that on 31st January 2017, CATBAN released a press statement concerning the systemic fraud and admission scam that has eaten deep into the fabric of University of Ilorin, leading to the sending home of over 2000 new intakes after they had paid in over N40million as directed by the University.

In the statement, CATBAN demanded an immediate reversal of the ‘’go home’’ order given to the students, adding that no admitted student should be sent back home without concrete evidence of any wrong doing on the part of the student. It also maintained that no admitted student should be sent back home based on system error or negligence by the University, leading to hacking of it’s portal.

In response to CATBAN’s 7 days ultimatum, Unilorin through its SU Dean of Student Affairs promptly invited the students to a meeting in which they were further threatened and ordered to denounce CATBAN’s intervention. In a recorded clip now in CATBAN’s possession, the Dean also asked the affected students to write apology letter to the University.

Similarly, the University also released a statement that left little to be desired through its Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun under the headline, ‘’UNILORIN STUDENTS PROTEST AGAINST NON-CLEARANCE OF OVER 2,000 NEWLY ADMITTED STUDENTS’’

While we do not intend to exchange words with the University, to imagine that in 2017, University of Ilorin, an institution which once prided itself as prestigious have stoop so low, to the extent of
appointing a person who lack basic understanding of issues as its Head of Corporate Affairs, goes to show how bad thing have deteriorated in the self acclaimed better by far University.

It is very sad, that the Unilorin we now have is a perfect example of better by fraud, better by lies, better by scam, better by impunity and better by corruption. This has brought down the image of the
University both home and abroad and CATBAN is very concerned. When one simply type Unilorin on Google, what comes out is monumental corruption baggage's hanged on the neck of the University, and how it handle this current issue will go a long way in telling the world what the University truly stands for.

For the purpose of emphasis, contrary to the ignorant outburst of Unilorin head of Corporate Affairs, an admission seeker, who has been duly offered admission, accepted the offer and paid the prescribed fee as directed by the University, has become a bonafide student. With offer and acceptance, he or she has duly entered into a contract with the University. The University should approach its legal department for proper enlightment on the law of contract. What made acceptance fee none refundable, is the irrevocability of the admission itself and should the University revoke the admission, the acceptance fee or any other fee paid for that purpose has become refundable.

CATBAN is also aware that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) recently sanctioned University of Ilorin over its persistent fraudulently behavior and lawlessness, but CATBAN is not ASUU, which merely sanction verbally without further action. Should the aforementioned authorities fail to call Unilorin to order and adequately punish those found guilty, CATBAN shall be forced to
proceed with its occupation of Unilorin.

Let it be known that what CATBAN seeks to achieve is appropriate sanction for fraud and extortion of innocent students. We seek nothing, other than withdrawal of the go home order to the students
and the peaceful continuation of their studies. We are not a parallel administration of Unilorin, but an investigative anti corruption Coalition of CSO in Nigeria, which shall never watch any institution
act with impunity.

Ibrahim Garba Wala
FOR: CATBAN Coalition
Www. Catban.org.ng

See

9th February 2017

Our Ref: CATBAN/NUC-PT-UNILORIN-001

The Honorable Minister of Education
Mallam Adamu Adamu
Federal Minister of Education
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,

Dear Sir,

PETITION FOR INVESTIGATION INTO THE SYSTEMIC FRAUD, MASSIVE ADMISSION SCAM, ENDEMIC CORRUPTION & EXTORTION OF OVER N40 MILLION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Citizens Action To Take Back Nigeria (CATBAN) writes to call for immediate investigation into the systemic fraud, massive and consistent admission scam, endemic corruption and extortion of over N40million from newly admitted students at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.

CATBAN’s investigative team gathered that the University of Ilorin often deliberately issues admission to students in excess of their admission capacity and quota, hoping to drain the additional students of their hard earned resources before sending them back home empty handed with unreasonable explanations. After they must have paid all the necessary fees, rented accommodation and attended lectures for months, victims will eventually be told that they had fake admissions or that they have unacceptable results.

CATBAN’s investigations also reveals that since the appointment & subsequent resumption of duties by the current Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali, University of Ilorin has fraudulently admitted thousands of students more than they can officially cater for, who have been victims of this properly articulated scam. This fraudulent practice, we learned, has been consistent since 2013.

In the current 2016/2017 academic session, CATBAN was reliably informed that over 2000 new students that paid the N20,000 acceptance fee have been asked to go home by the University. They were sent home after the University had received over N40 million as acceptance fee from them. According to the victims, no reasonable explanation was provided by the University, other than claims of ‘’unacceptable results’’, whatever that means. Our investigations have revealed that this is not the first time such is happening in the University. For the past 3 to 4 years, the University has consistently extorted thousands of students through this wicked practice and unduly claimed millions of naira fraudulently for the University.

CONTEXUALIZING THE FRAUD
In 2013/2014 academic session, over 300 new intakes were sent back home after paying all fees. Some of these students actually came in through direct entry and were admitted into 200 levels. However, after paying all fees as demanded by the University, they were told to go home over what they described as unjustifiable admission, whatever that means.

In 2014/2015 academic session, another 400 students were sent back home with various excuses, one of which was placement in wrong course of study. What that meant was that the students were given admission into the wrong courses and instead of transferring them to the appropriate courses of studies; they were asked to go home without refunding all the fees they paid.

In 2015/2016 session, over 1000 students were sent back home after paying acceptance fees. Another 150 new intakes were sent back home 2 weeks to their examination, over what the University described as getting admission through fraudulent means. Those students were earlier cleared by the University and they had paid all required fees, bought all books, wrote all tests and were preparing for their examinations before the University concocted the false allegation to achieve its fraudulent practice of reducing the number of intakes. The fraudulent management in University of Ilorin alleged that these student got admission through fraudulent means. The University claimed that mercenaries (referring to their staff) helped the students gain admission through shortcut, but no staff was handed over to the police for prosecution, yet students who are unaware of any fraud were sent back home without their fees returned.

In our determined quest to establish the truth in this matter, we solicited attention with some of the past victims and they spoke with us about what happened last year. Those we spoke with vehemently denied ever getting admission through any fraudulent means or staff of the University as the management claimed. As a matter of fact, they insisted that they knew no one from the University prior to their admission. They applied like every other student from far and near and got admission based on merit, proceeded to pay all fees and resumed studies, only to be told 2 weeks to their examinations that they should go back home. They revealed that after their ordeal, they were threatened and silenced by the University authorities.

In the current academic session, over 2000 new intakes have been asked to go home after paying over N40 million as acceptance fee. Unlike the past victims that couldn’t withstand the threats, the affected students marched in their numbers to protest the injustice. They called on all well-meaning Nigerians to come to their rescue, hence CATBAN’s intervention in the matter.
In its response to CATBAN’s claims that over 2000 new students were affected, the University, through its Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun claimed that only 861 were affected. But in its usual style of threat and blackmail, it also accused the affected students of committing malpractice and fraud, just like it accused the previous victims.

In order to ensure the affected students didn’t commit any wrong doing, we investigated the claims of the University and found it to be spurious, baseless and unfounded. Contrary to the claims by the University that the affected students supplied false information and results, we are confidently stating that the students didn’t supply any false results; neither did they supply wrong details. The error that occurred was due to hacking of the University’s portal and such cannot be blamed on the students.

For the University to claim that over 2000 students supplied what it described as “unacceptable results” is strange and questionable. And these are questions for the University to answer:

1. How and why will over 2000 innocent admission seekers supply false results only to University of Ilorin?
2. How did the University come to that conclusion, when the students original results doesn’t contradict what was supplied to the University?
3. How come the University receives millions from students every year, only to ask them to go home just before examination with flimsy excuses?
4. Even when the University is aware that they are the source of the error, how come no refunds were ever made to the students in previous occasions?
5. How come the same situation continues to repeat itself every year only at University of Ilorin?

CATBAN believes that the consistently sending home of thousands of students, after initially giving them admission year after year, without refunding fees paid by them is questionable and strange. We have cause to believe this is a deliberate scam designed to fraudulently extort innocent students by those in privileged positions.

We are therefore calling for an immediate investigation into the matter and demand that all those found wanting should be adequately punished.

We also demand that no student should be punished for the University’s error. No admitted student should be sent back home without concrete evidence of wrong doing on the part of the student. And finally, No admitted student should be sent back home without adequate refund of their fees and expenses during their stay in the University, should that be the case.

This petition is to provide ample opportunity for your office to promptly intervene in other to prevent break down of law and order in the University as CATBAN is determined to defend the rights of the affected students.

Thanking you for your kind attention & prompt action

Yours in National Service,
Ibrahim Garba Wala FOR: CATBAN Coalition
www.catban.org.ng

CATBAN GIVES IG OF POLICE 7 DAYS ULTIMATUM TO ARREST AND PROSECUTE SARAKI, DOGARA, EKWEREMADU AND LASUN OVER CRIMINAL THEFT OF N630MILLION FROM FCDA

This is to inform Nigerians & indeed the international community at large that based on available verifiable evidence & a follow up to the theft of N630 million by Sen. Bukola Saraki, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu. Hon. Yakubu Dogara & Hon. Larsun from FCDA in connivance with elements from the National Assembly & the FCDA, under the guise of payment for residential accommodation, Citizens Action to Take Back Nigeria (CATBAN) has today officially submitted a petition to the Inspector General of Police & subsequently copied the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) for immediate action.

We have also among other demands, given the IGP an ultimatum of seven (7) days to effect the arrest and subsequent prosecution of the aforementioned culprits and their accomplices, failure to which CATBAN will have no other option than to assist the police in effecting the arrest accordingly.

We are therefore calling on all Nigerians and indeed the media to please remain vigilant as the process has commenced to which there will be no going back. The people demand justice and no press statement from hired goons within the National Assembly to dilute the facts will deter us or terminate this process. All we are saying is that justice must be served, taxpayers’ money must be returned to the treasury, and everyone involved in this financial crime must be brought to book.

IF AFTER SEVEN (7) DAYS THE NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE REFUSES TO DO THE NEEDFUL, CATBAN HAS MOBILIZED NIGERIANS IN THEIR THOUSANDS (& WHO ARE ON STANDBY) TO PROCEED TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY COMPLEX WHERE WE WILL SHUT DOWN PROCEEDINGS & PHYSICALLY ARREST THESE INDIVIDUALS, NO MATTER THE NUMBER OF SECURITY PERSONNEL THEY MAY SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH. NIGERIANS WILL THEN KNOW IF THE INDIVIDUALS ARE SERVING THEMSELVES IN ISOLATION OR IF IT IS THE SWEAT & TAXES PAID BY NIGERIANS LIKE US THAT SUSTAINS THEM & THOSE WHO SECURE THEM!

The Countdown Has Commenced!!!

#TakeBackNigeria

CATBAN GIVES IG OF POLICE 7 DAYS ULTIMATUM TO ARREST AND PROSECUTE SARAKI, DOGARA, EKWEREMADU AND LASUN OVER CRIMINAL THEFT OF N630MILLION FROM FCDA

This is to inform Nigerians & indeed the international community at large that based on available verifiable evidence & a follow up to the theft of N630 million by Sen. Bukola Saraki, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu. Hon. Yakubu Dogara & Hon. Larsun from FCDA in connivance with elements from the National Assembly & the FCDA, under the guise of payment for residential accommodation, Citizens Action to Take Back Nigeria (CATBAN) has today officially submitted a petition to the Inspector General of Police & subsequently copied the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) for immediate action.

We have also among other demands, given the IGP an ultimatum of seven (7) days to effect the arrest and subsequent prosecution of the aforementioned culprits and their accomplices, failure to which CATBAN will have no other option than to assist the police in effecting the arrest accordingly.

We are therefore calling on all Nigerians and indeed the media to please remain vigilant as the process has commenced to which there will be no going back. The people demand justice and no press statement from hired goons within the National Assembly to dilute the facts will deter us or terminate this process. All we are saying is that justice must be served, taxpayers’ money must be returned to the treasury, and everyone involved in this financial crime must be brought to book.

IF AFTER SEVEN (7) DAYS THE NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE REFUSES TO DO THE NEEDFUL, CATBAN HAS MOBILIZED NIGERIANS IN THEIR THOUSANDS (& WHO ARE ON STANDBY) TO PROCEED TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY COMPLEX WHERE WE WILL SHUT DOWN PROCEEDINGS & PHYSICALLY ARREST THESE INDIVIDUALS, NO MATTER THE NUMBER OF SECURITY PERSONNEL THEY MAY SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH. NIGERIANS WILL THEN KNOW IF THE INDIVIDUALS ARE SERVING THEMSELVES IN ISOLATION OR IF IT IS THE SWEAT & TAXES PAID BY NIGERIANS LIKE US THAT SUSTAINS THEM & THOSE WHO SECURE THEM!

The Countdown Has Commenced!!!

#TakeBackNigeria

An Open Letter To Justice C.M.A Olatoregun of The Federal High Court

By Thomas Orim



With respect to your Lordship,

I shall begin this letter with this apt quotation from Justice Mustapha Dahiru, the 13th Chief Justice of Nigeria, who once remarked thus:

“Metaphorically, an unjust judge is more harmful to the society than a man who runs amok with a dagger in a crowded street. The latter as you know can be restrained physically, but the former deliberately destroys the moral foundation of the society and causes incalculable distress to individuals, while still answering HONOURABLE”.

My Lord, I am not without the knowledge that you are the grandmaster in the courtroom, and as such your decisions are welcome with “as the court pleases”, however unjust or just such decisions maybe.

My Lord, I was in your court on Thursday, 26th day of January, 2017 and I was privileged to see you presiding over the fundamental human rights suit between the National Open University and some students activists, expelled for forming an association and for exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and the press. I consequently listened to your strange ruling on the application to “arrest” judgement filed by the University after the matter had been heard and reserved for judgement.

My Lord, I was utterly frozen with shock when you ruled that an application to arrest the judgement of a court is a proper application. I struggled to dispel the sound of your voice in the firm belief that it was one of the most terrible nightmares I was having in broad daylight. Alas, I was not asleep! It was a strange reality staring into my ancient face without a blink. Not only did you give life to such an application, you also decided that the matter starts afresh after 11 (eleven) adjournments in a fundamental rights case!

My Lord, allow me to prove you wrong, for I know that I have the freedom to do so only outside of the courtroom. An application to “arrest” judgement does not exist in the Nigerian legal system. It is not a recognised application and therefore has no place in Nigeria’s jurisprudence. An application not brought in line with the rules of court faces only one destiny – to be dismissed and struck out, sometimes with substantial costs. I refer My Lord to the case of IKOLI LTD VS S.P.D.C.N. LTD (2008)12 NWLR [PT1101]425, where it was held as follows:

“The court has an inherent jurisdiction to ensure compliance by litigants with the rules of court and would strike out any process not filed in compliance with the relevant rules.”

Is your Lordship aware of the fact that the Appeal and Supreme Courts have consistently held that arresting a judgement about to be delivered by a court is an unknown procedure in Nigeria’s jurisprudence? Your Lordship may wish to research the case of: S.I.E.C. EKITI STATE VS N.C.P. (2008)12 NWLR [PT1102]733 where it was held as follows:

“The rules of court do not make provisions for an application for an arrest of judgment which is about to be delivered by a court. An application not recognized by the rules of court cannot be described as a proper application.”

My Lord may wish to make further research to the Supreme Court case between NEWSWATCH COMMUNICATIONS LTD vs ALHAJI ALIYU ATTA.

My Lord, as consistently established by the Supreme Court, you were without the jurisdiction or competence to entertain an application aimed to “arrest” a judgement about to be delivered. Also, My Lord, by the doctrine of stare decisis in Law, you were duty bound to follow the steps already established by the Supreme Court. May I, for the last time, refer My Lord to the case of REGISTERED TRUSTEES OF MISSION VS ALL STATES TRUST BANK (2003) F.W.L.R. (PT. 172) 1809, where the apex court stated thus:

“Where facts of a case decided by a higher court are similar or same with those in a case before a trial court, the trial court ought to and indeed MUST follow the decision of the higher court. It is not for the lower court to perambulate or create artificial distinction in order not to follow or apply the decision of the higher court to solve a similar case before it”

With respect My Lord, your decision to grant the “arrest” of judgement was an injustice to the other party in the suit. You owe the expelled Applicants an unreserved apology.

My Lord, corruption, oppression and dictatorship continue to grow bolder in Nigeria without the slightest challenge because our judicial system itself stinks of utter corruption and needs urgent reform. This is why I have consistently insisted that a complete overhaul of our judiciary is needed if we are indeed serious about building a society wherein justice will reign supreme among all things.

My Lord, I seriously look forward to a day when the Nigerian judiciary, the most important arm of government in any serious nation, will realise that justice is not only for powerful in our society but that it is also the birthright of the most wretched citizens of this nation.

I rest my case, Sir.



Yours faithfully,



Thomas Orim

Hum

; do

Lol