₦airaland Forum

And he claims to be a Mr Integrity

clapbest:
Forget it CCB will never release those forms on the guess that it's private therefore giving them more time to withdraw the old forms and refill new ones, but I trust Nigeria's to dig out their lil dirty secrate .

Buy if former CJN's form made its way to the public domain then I see no reason why CCB will not release the forms of the above men
It shall never be well with their supporters

This invariably means onnoghen’s trial is just a farce

The hypocrisy of anything APC is very nauseating.

From all these grammar, the most important message I take home is that they did not mention Buhari and Osinbajo asset declaration because they know these are incorruptible leaders. This is most important message because where a leader has integrity he will do the right thing most times. Atiku and Obj have no integrity and they should exhume their own declaration forms too. It's a can of worms. Let this exposure continue until Nigeria is completely ridden of corrupt politicians. As for me, Buhari is the man to beat among all politicians presently alive in Nigeria when it comes to integrity.

This clearly shows why Nigeria is even more corrupt than before. The government made promises to fight corruption, we never knew it was to fight the opposition party. Now we know. Not releasing the declaration forms of the said ministers goes to show that this government is totally corrupt and has a lot to hide. It also reinforce what APC national chairman has said. If you defect to APC all your sins are forgiven. I can only imagine the huge rot that we will find when we vote then out

jaxxy:
This invariably means onnoghen’s trial is just a farce

Did he not commit crime? Why is it a farce? Just because others have not been caught does not make a crime or criminal prosecution to be a farce. Examine your head before talking nonsense.

The damage is done already, no remedy... Hopefully, I learn from this mistake after four years. I supposed to delete all the news channel on my phone since 2017 when nobody has picked the form from their various political party. I hope I survive another four years of Buhari in office. Nobody should blame me for my nagative comment, I know what am talking about.

drlateef:
Did he not commit crime? Why is it a farce? Just because others have not been caught does not make a crime or criminal prosecution to be a farce. Examine your head before talking nonsense.

It is a big farce because the men attacking and prosecuting him are guilty of exact same crimes. They are not only corrupt bt have neither declared their assets according to law of which onnoghen is been judged.

Until we see this trial as been fair it can not go on. Buahris men must realease their assets forms or explain why not and why onnoghen own was.

The trial against onnoghen is still corruption in itself rather than fighting corruption.

Use ur brain

That CCB chairman is shielding corrupt APC officials. He is biased and will be probed when his daura lord is kicked out.

Buharimustgo16F:
if me that stay in Germany have trouble soul what we happen to You that is Zombie in a shit hole

No be Germany u dey....
U forgot naa Somalia u dey...
See d way a fully grown up human being splitting poos online.....
U need mental therapy

topstone4:
I'm not surprised that you are defending this wickedness and obvious failure. I mean, even Satan and Adolf Hitler has/had followers.

U need mental therapy

MChaze25:
If you take Nigeria serious these days, you go drink Panadol 4 times a day.
It's no longer a country. It's a ring box of weed men dishing out rubbish and claiming government

I dont believe in God, but may He bless you.

Simple and short!

aolawale025:
Since the CJN forms can be released. Same should apply to all.

Presently on a break at the marathon. You just confused me now

If I don't win, na you cause am o!

AreaFada2:
He's currently campaigning for his senatorial election under APC banner in Edo State. But I have this short statement from him:

Requesting for FoI release of contemporary political herculean homo-sapiens gladiators-in-cabinet's Assets Declaration Forms is a gargantuan pokolomesi and abracadabra inimical to the stratospheric elevation of pax nigerianensis.

It all available today . very massive . just DM or WhatsAPP.

That's APC for you na...bunch of criminals pretending to be saints...

How can the CCB release that of the CJN toDennis(a close associate of Buhari) but will refuse others??
We all know this whole CJN thing was planned. Cos this man was thoroughly investigated by the FG before he was appointed...are they saying they missed out on all these then?? But suddenly found out now.

The only platform APC campaigned on was INTEGRITY and FIGHTING CORRUPTION.

INTEGRITY they don't have....They lie and try to manipulate Nigerians. The fight against CORRUPTION is one-sided. They only pick on the opposition. If u don't want to be harassed join APC. Even the party chairman said it on National TV, "immediately u join APC ur sins are forgiven"

Buhari was asked about Gandollar, he said, "he does not know the technology used"

How can Nigeria that is made up of intellectuals allow someone so clueless, tribalistic, and with a very very low IQ be at the helm of affairs?? You can only find such in Africa....That's why we are where we are. Look at Rwanda, see the massive change going on there, would that be the case if after the crises they elected a dullard??

In all honesty we all knew buhari is empty upstairs...the only reason most people voted for him was the lie of INTEGRITY AND FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION but even at that he has failed...so why should he still be there??

Anyone that votes for buhari or supports him is just wicked and does not want what's best for Nigeria.

We should also know that its not enough to scream and rally behind a better candidate for a better Nigeria online...we must all go out and vote, becos don't be deceived, this APC blind followers will go out and vote and our great country will for another 4 years have someone so clueless as our president.

aishapmbtoto:
Don't be deceived. They will get it and doctor it. PMB is notorious for protecting his corrupt cronies .

Was just thinking about this too...very true

The delay is becos they are checking it and trying to doctor it now. They will come up later and say, they did not get it request on time; and then show Nigerians the doctored forms.

CuteMaro:
It is all becoming very obvious now.

Thanks to Kadaria Ahmed for making me realize how intelligent and prepared the Atiku/Obi combo is compared to PMB/PYO.

I used to be among the misguided shouting '16 years of pdp corruption got us where we are' but alas, those were just empty claims. Even the issue on Atiku's corruption case.

Honestly, Mr. Integrity and the acclaimed anti corruption war has been one sided. I still wonder how I was ever of the thought that the Apc was a better option.

Thank God I am more informed and Atikulated while there's still time. You too can, there is no shame in porting in a bid to getting Nigeria working again.

I just hope that Atiku will stick to his plans when elected. If he doesn't, he'll be booted out too after 4 yrs.

Correct!

Nigeria's condition is now very similar to ANIMAL FARM by George Orwell.

Where, it was explicitly stated that all "Animals are equal, but some are more equal, than others"

Sirjamo:
Its just one day past the deadline for the release of the forms upon request, Punch is doing PDP's bidding by going public with this just because of one day delay, they should have at least give the CCB one week more to respond after which all of us must descend on them to release the forms.

In this fight against corruption, there must be no sacred cow.

One day? They have 7 days to respond not even release? Did you read where it was reported that it is on the chairman's table and they can't force him to release?

aolawale025:
Since the CJN forms can be released. Same should apply to all.

exactly.

that has always been my stance concerning the way this administration claims to fight corruption

have a standard that is applicable to all who have committed the same crime.

I might not like the way assets of the accused are unilaterally seized or the media trials & subterfuges, but if it is applied to all & sundry regardless of political affiliations, no problem.

it's either PMB becomes a democrat for all or a dictator for all.

Never to disappoint with harebrained riposte.Pease try to go to a sane country or even that Nigeria and drive with a license that has expired by a day.How do you really sleep at night,defending anything APC for a piece of morsel.

Sirjamo:
Its just one day past the deadline for the release of the forms upon request, Punch is doing PDP's bidding by going public with this just because of one day delay, they should have at least give the CCB one week more to respond after which all of us must descend on them to release the forms.

In this fight against corruption, there must be no sacred cow.

Fighting Corruption Indeed

That book by Orwell is almost a bible in this Nigeria context.The Kadara girl's attack on PDP's candidates is the most bias event I have witnessed in this lifetime.Not a single personal question was asked from Buhari.No mention of PTF days where the lead consultant eventually committed suicide in the course of probe,his acclaimed nepotism and lopsided appointments,overseas treatment and his failing health that left the country in limbo for half of 2017,his being poor and took a loan of N30m to buy his APC form when his kids were schooling abroad(with a follow up of who approved a facility that never had a definite prepayment plan and of that isn't corruption),how come an unemployed son of a frugal man crashed and expensive bike of close to N50m value etc.Tell me what could be bias again as the impudent and ill mannered lady kept interjecting them when they were making valid points and even had the effrontery to tell Obi to get serious.

YeshuaBeloved:
Nigeria's condition is now very similar to ANIMAL FARM by George Orwell.

Where, it was explicitly stated that all "Animals are equal, but some are more equal, than others"

Hypocrisy 101=A
Economy= Poor
Government= Cabal/Criminal
APC.

Olajah81:
No be Germany u dey....
U forgot naa Somalia u dey...
See d way a fully grown up human being splitting poos online.....
U need mental therapy

You no get shame atow. If u want to know let me just give u only one pics ok mugu. U think I be una Mumusident that lie every time idiot. Did here look like ur Zoo?

litdutchboy:
The Code of Conduct Bureau has refused to release copies of asset declaration forms of some prominent Nigerians more than seven days after Saturday Punch sent a letter of request to the bureau.

Relying on the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, Saturday Punch had on January 24 written to the CCB asking for copies of asset declaration forms of the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige; Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Babatunde Fashola (SAN); Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu; and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

Other office holders Saturday Punch sought for their declaration forms from the CCB were Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed; Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh; Minister of State for Transportation(Aviation), Hadi Sirika; Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Director-General, DSS, Yusuf Bichi; and Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed.

In the letter signed by the Punch Head of Abuja Bureau, Olusola Fabiyi, the bureau was also asked to provide the list of defaulters.

The letter read in part, “Beyond the listed political office holders’ asset declaration forms, kindly furnish us with the number and names of political office holders who have yet to fill and submit their asset declaration forms for whatever reasons.

“We will also want to know the number of names of political office holders the Code of Conduct Bureau is investigating over issues relating to asset declaration forms.”

The newspaper also urged the CCB to furnish it with the names of political office holders, who had yet to comply with the bureau’s directive to visit it for verification.

“Based on the provision of the FOI Act, we hope that our request will be granted within seven days of your receipt of this letter,” the letter also read.

But despite a number of reminders during the seven-day period stipulated by the FoI Act, the CCB failed to respond to the letter. As of close of work on Friday, February 1, 2019, the CCB had yet to respond.

When Saturday PUNCH sought to know the reason for the agency’s action, a top official in CCB simply told one of our correspondents, “The letter is on the chairman’s table. Can he be forced to respond?”

The FoI letter, which was addressed to the chairman of the CCB, was received by the bureau with a copy acknowledged by the office of the chairman on January 24, 2019.

The FoI Act provides that public institutions must make the information requested available within seven days of receiving the request.

The Act also said failure to give access to the information requested for within the time limit provided by the Act is deemed as a refusal of access.

Specifically, Section 7 (4) of the Act states, “Where the government or public institution fails to give access to information or record applied for under this Act or part thereof within the time limit set out in this Act, the institution shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to have refused to give access.”

And on the issue of time limit, Section 4 of the Act states, “Where information is applied for under this Act, the public institution to which the application is made shall, subject to Sections 6, 7, and 8 of this Act, within seven days after the application is received – (a) make the information available to the applicant, (b) Where the public institution considers that the application should be denied, the institution shall give written notice to the applicant that access to all or part of the information will not be granted, stating reasons for the denial and the section of this Act under which the denial is made.”

But eight days after the application was filed and acknowledged by the bureau, the information requested was not made available to Saturday PUNCH, neither was there any written notice to state the reasons for the denial.

Agbakoba, other SANs slam FG

Reacting to the development, popular lawyers, especially Senior Advocates of Nigeria, on Friday kicked against the CCB’s action, saying the agency had no legal basis not to respond to the letter even if the request would not be granted.

They said the agency’s decision to keep mum had reinforced rumours and belief that the anti-corruption war was one-sided.

A former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, said the information in the asset declaration forms of public officials should be released immediately upon request because they were in the public interest.

He explained that the purpose of the asset declaration form was to enhance probity and public accountability and the information could not be deemed personal.

He said the idea of the CCB releasing the information to an applicant and denying another applicant could not have been done in good faith.

He added, “Generally, the FoI overturns the Official Secret Act and it is to make public information accessible upon request. But there is a proviso that says they (public institutions) can withhold it for good public reasons or in the national interest. But the CCB must state that in its response to the applicant.”

Recall that the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, was suspended based on a petition filed by a civil society group, Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative. Led by Mr Dennis Aghanya, the group accused the CJN of false asset declaration and other sundry allegations.

Aghanya had said that the ARDI had written a petition against Onnoghen and commenced investigation against the senior judicial officer about a year ago.

But there had been questions over how the organisation got access to Onnoghen’s asset declaration forms if they were not issued to him by the CCB.

Agbakoba said, “Clearly, it shows that the CCB is not acting in good faith. If on one hand, it (CCB) would decline but on the other hand releases information in respect of a very senior government official, like the CJN, it has to justify why it is refusing the request. Clearly, it puts into doubt its intentions.

“Asset declaration form cannot be personal information and if the CCB sees it as one, it is part of the error. The purpose of asset declaration is for probity and public accountability; so, asset declaration is not personal.”

Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Babatunde Fashanu, said the CCB had no legal basis not to honour Saturday PUNCH’s request.

He said, “There is absolutely no legal basis for the CCB not to honour that request.

“In the first place, the CCB and the CCT are performing an open public function and the people who are filling in their information in these forms are public officers. So, since everything is for the public, what would be their reason not to make it available? I think it should be tested because I see no reason why the CCB should not make the forms public.

“Why are they filling the forms before taking office and upon leaving? Is it not for the public to know that they didn’t steal and that they are not corrupt? If they don’t comply, somebody should go to court.”

Also, a former vice-president of the NBA, Mr Monday Ubani, said it was worrisome the public could not have access to the information domiciled with the bureau despite the FoI Act, noting that the purpose of the asset declaration form was to ensure transparency and accountability in governance.

He said, “There have been several instances where people have applied and they were never given. That is why people are surprised how a private NGO was able to get that of the CJN and that is why people are saying if the NGO has that access, the CCB should also be ready to release the information to people who have requested for information. That again shows some level of uncertainty and duplicity in the application of our laws.”

Another SAN, Chief Mike Ozekhome, said there was no legal basis for the CCB not to provide Saturday Punch with the requested information.

He said, “There is no legal basis. You can go to court. It reinforces what we have been saying that the anti-corruption fight is selective.

“If the dossier of even just one, out of the more than 36 ministers close to Buhari, is exposed, the whole country will be shocked by the haemorrhage that members of the council of executive have subjected Nigerians to.

“Corruption is deeper and more cancerous today than ever before, especially within the executive. One minister’s assets alone, if shown to Nigerians, will make Onnoghen’s $10,000 deposit in local domiciliary account look like child’s play.

“I dare the government and the CCB to throw open to Nigerians the asset declaration forms of the President, the Vice-President and all the ministers so that Nigerians can scrutinise and determine who exactly are the corrupt Nigerians that we have today. You will discover that the first 11 most corrupt Nigerians, to the second 11, up to the third 11 all reside within the executive arm of government in Nigeria today, led by the Presidency. So, I dare them to do that, to show that the anti-corruption fight is not selective.”

Another lawyer, Chief Ferdinand Orbih, SAN, faulted the refusal of the bureau to release the official documents, saying, “Even without the Freedom of Information Act, they (asset declaration forms) should be available on demand, provided you are ready to pay the fee and the officer in possession of the documents must certify them and hand over the copies to you.”

The Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda, Mr Edetaen Ojo, said, “I do not believe the Chief Justice of Nigeria can be characterised as an “opposition” member but it is clear that the CCB is selective in its enforcement of the assets declaration requirements and uses it as a political weapon. If it is open to making such a public show of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and his assets declaration, whether the allegations against him are true or false, then there can be no basis for the CCB to claim that it is concerned about any public officer’s privacy or is interested in protecting the privacy of those who have submitted their assets declaration forms to the bureau.”

Buhari’s government playing to the gallery –PDP, CUPP

Similarly, the Coalition of United Political Parties has described the CCB refusal to grant access to asset forms of office holders in line with the FoI Act as an indication that the present administration is not committed to the anti-corruption war as being claimed.

The coalition’s first national spokesperson, Imo Ugochinyere, said this in an interview with one of our correspondents on Friday.

Ugochinyere said, “It shows the President is only playing to the gallery when he talks about his administration’s fight against corruption. They should know that making these documents available will go a long way to help the fight against corruption, if indeed they are committed to the fight.”

Also reacting, the Peoples Democratic Party said the CCB’s refusal to grant access to certain political office holders’ asset declaration forms in line with the provisions of the FoI Act was unconstitutional.

The PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr Diran Odeyemi, in an interview with one of our correspondents, said it was evidence of bias by the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government.

Also, the National President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Mr Malachy Ugwummadu, said the CCB had no legal basis to deny Saturday Punch the information requested.

Efforts to speak with the Head of Information of the CCB, Mrs Florence Dibiaezue-Eke, were not successful. She did not take her call and did not respond to a text message sent to her by one of our correspondents on the failure of the bureau to respond to the letter.

-CCB’s refusal to release Buhari’s appointees’ forms shows lack of accountability – Secondus

In his reaction, the PDP said the action of the CCB was a confirmation that the Presidency was not ready to listen to Nigerians.

It also said that it was a sign that the President Buhari-led Federal Government was not bothered about the public perception of the government.

The National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, who spoke with one of our correspondents, called on Nigerians to impress it on the government to give account to them on its activities.

He said if the request had been for the release of forms by the opposition, the CCB would have released it without pressure.

He said, “Those who expect the APC-led Federal Government to change its style may be living in the past.

“Recall that the Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole recently said that the party forgives sinners? Maybe they are looking for ways of either cleaning the forms of the affected officers or outright withdrawal of the forms to enable then refill.

“You also recall that they said all those who have looted money and are undergoing trial become saints as soon as they join or identify with the ruling party?

“You therefore don’t expect such a party or its government agency to willingly expose its sinful workers.”
https://punchng.com/assets-ccb-refuses-access-to-kyari-amaechi-fasholas-declaration-forms/

APC Change

Olajah81:
May God rest ur trouble souls

go and check it out mugu like u.