₦airaland Forum

Former Political Adviser to former Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Mr. Abba Dabo said he has returned the N25 million he received from spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to help launder the image of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014 using the media.

Dabo, a former presidential spokesperson, said he returned the money to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) when he discovered that it was part of the funds meant for the purchase of arms by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) which the EFCC is currently investigating.

Read more: http://www.thinkersnewsng.com/2016/02/abba-dabo-returns-n25m-arms-funds-metuh-gave-him-to-efcc/

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said on Monday that the drop in global oil prices is not enough to destroy Nigeria’s economy.

Speaking during a meeting with a group of international investors looking to invest in the country in the light of the new administration, Osinbajo said Nigeria has everything it needs to build and sustain a vibrant economy.

“This country has practically what it takes to run a solid economy that is not dependent on oil, but on business and commerce,” he said.

Read more: http://www.thinkersnewsng.com/2016/02/nigeria-does-not-need-oil-to-survive-osinbajo/

More shocking revelations have emerged about how former President Goodluck Jonathan and some of his ministers and security chiefs allegedly spent about N5 billion public money to rig incumbent governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose into office.

Former Secretary of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti state, Dr Temitope Aluko who spoke to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, said the money was effectively used to defeat the then Governor of the State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the June 2014 election.

Read more: http://www.thinkersnewsng.com/2016/01/breaking-news-jonathan-gave-us-n5bn-to-fix-ekiti-guber-poll-pdp-chieftain/

More shocking revelations have emerged about how former President Goodluck Jonathan and some of his ministers allegedly spent about N5 billion public money to rig incumbent governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose into office.

Aluko who spoke to journalists in Abuja on Sunday said the money was effectively used to defeat the then Governor of the State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the June 2014 election.

Read more: http://www.thinkersnewsng.com/2016/01/31/breaking-news-jonathan-gave-us-n5bn-to-fix-ekiti-guber-poll-pdp-chieftain/

The Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Professor Ibrahim Garba, said on Saturday that the varsity has produced 305 Ph.D. holders and 98 First Class degree holders for the 2013/2014 academic session.

In a speech at the 38th convocation ceremony of the varsity held at the main campus, Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna State, Professor Garba said:

“The Chancellor, Egwe, Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu will in today’s convocation ceremony, confer a total of 13,149 First Degrees and 4,598 Higher Degrees and Diplomas to deserving graduates for the 2013/2014 academic session.”

Read more: http://www.thinkersnewsng.com/2016/01/30/abu-produces-89-first-class-305-ph-d-holders-vc/

The embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has asked that the lawyer who served as his lead counsel in previous sittings, M. U. Udechukwu, step down for Chucks Muoma.

Mr. Kanu wrote to the court, ahead of Friday’s sitting, asking that there should be a change in his representation.

Read more: http://www.thinkersnewsng.com/2016/01/29/drama-as-kanu-embarrasses-own-lawyer-in-court/

The embattled spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Olisa Metuh, has finally met his bail conditions and regained his freedom.

Metuh is facing trial for allegedly collecting N400 million illegally from the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Metuh was arrested by four operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from his Abuja home on January 5 and has since remained in detention.

Read more: http://www.thinkersnewsng.com/2016/01/28/finally-metuh-regains-freedom/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained former Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Adesola Amosu in connection with the ongoing probe of the N29 billion arms procurement funds.
Amosu who was arrested on Wednesday, is among the retired officers whom President ordered their probe recently for alleged corruption in arms procurement.

Among those to be investigated include the embattled former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, former Chief of Defence Staff, Marshal Alex Badeh and another former Chief of Air Staff, Mohammed Umar.

Dasuki is already in court over alleged $2.1 billion arms procurement deal. A panel investigating arms procurement during the Goodluck Jonathan administration had submitted an interim report to Buhari alleging that equipment procurement in the air force during Mr. Amosu’s reign was characterised by fraud.

Read more http://www.thinkersnewsng.com/2016/01/28/amosu-lands-in-efcc-net-over-n29bn-arms-scandal/

Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello has continued his absence from Lugard House, Lokoja which started a few hours after he took oath of office on Wednesday.

The state has therefore been without a known leader for nearly 20 hours.

Bello is among the state governors attending the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting taking place right now at the State House Council Chambers.

Read more http://www.thinkersnewsng.com/2016/01/28/update-kogi-still-on-auto-pilot-as-gov-bello-attends-nec-meeting-in-abuja/

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said he is not yet ready to respond to allegations that his administration diverted about $2.1 billion dollar meant for arms procurement into other purposes.

Former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and some officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are presently standing trial in connection with their alleged involvement in the scandal.

Though the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu had said the commission had no evidence yet to warrant the arrest of the former President, there had been rumours and suggestions in certain quarters that Dr Jonathan needed to be questioned.

But in series of messages on his Twitter handle, Jonathan, who is in Geneva, Switzerland, where he is holding a press conference, said he would react to the issue when the time is right

“My voice will certainly be heard at the appropriate time regarding the alleged arms funds mismanagement. I would not want to interfere with the proceeding by the judicial system that my administration worked tirelessly to strengthen.

“My post presidential focus is advancing democracy and good governance in Africa. If we do not spend billions to educate Africa’s youths today, we will spend it fighting insecurity tomorrow," the President said.

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The government of Eritrea has threatened its adult males with life imprisonment if they don’t embrace polygamy.

A statement from the country’s Department of Religious Affairs reportedly released on Monday said men must marry two wives or more or risk spending the rest of their lives behind bars.

The Department, in the statement, rationalized this new law by making reference to the scarcity of men to marry the huge population of women without husbands.

Read more http://www.thinkersnewsng.com/2016/01/26/eritrean-government-imposes-polygamy-on-men/

One of the witnesses called by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prove its corruption- related allegation against spokesman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh has revealed how the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) paid a company owned by Metuh for "security services."

The PDP spokesman is standing trial at a Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly taking N400 million from the $2.1 billion arms procurement funds which former National National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) allegedly diverted.
The claim about “security services” payment to Mr. Metuh’s Dextra Investment Limited, was made by Bali Ndam, a legal adviser in the office of the NSA, responsible for drafting memos, vetting contracts, among others.

Mr. Ndam appeared as the third prosecution witness. He however didn't details of the security services were not clear.

Mr. Ndam said the NSA’s office, had in January, transmitted a letter to the EFCC giving names of companies it awarded contracts to.

He said the letter included 78 companies and individuals, amongst them, Dextra Investment Limited.There were however arguments over the communications between the EFCC and the NSA’s office.

Mr. Ndam told the court that the EFCC requested for the payment mandate to the companies, in a letter dated January 13, 2016, signed by Ibrahim M. Musa.

He said a list of e-payment mandate was sent to the EFCC on January 14, and the letter was signed by M. Abdulrahim, a Group Captain.

Mr. Ndam said another letter was written to the EFCC, and was signed by Lieutenant Colonel AA Ibrahim, the special adviser to the NSA.

In his response, Metuh's counsel, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, told the court that the witness could not present as evidence, a document authored by another person.

Mr. Ikpeazu also said documents attached to the letter dated January 14, 2016, which were computer-generated, did not meet the provisions of section 84 of the Evidence Act.

He told the court that according to sections 84, sub sections (2) and sub section (4), ‘a’, ‘b’ and ‘c,’ any such document must be certified as true copy.

Ikpeazu also argued that the title of the document was different from what Mr. Ndam claimed.

He said the name of the document in his possession was “Payment companies with no contract”, while that mentioned by Mr. Ndam was “Payment of contracts without award”

He therefore urged the court to reject the document.

In his response to Ikpeazu's argument, EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, said the documents tendered were all public documents, which are all relevant to their arguments.

He added that the duplicate documents which needed certification had all been certified, while the original documents did not need certification.

The Judge, Okon Abang, overruled Mr. Ikpeazu’s argument, saying the documents before the court were correspondents whose nature did not require certification.

He also said the fact that the witness misread the name of the document, did not affect its content.
He ruled that the documents be tagged, exhibits ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’.

The case will continue on Wednesday.

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The Founding General Overseer of the Household of God Church, Pastor Chris Okotie, has described the 16-year rule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the government of the corrupt, by the corrupt and for the corrupt.

The famous preacher cum politician, in a terse statement, called on Nigerians to continue to support President Muhammadu Buhari's administration in its efforts to clean the mess left by the PDP.

Okotie, a three-time Presidential candidate, said Buhari was the epitome of transparency and discipline, adding that his attitude and body language had rubbed off on the armed forces which had become more effective in the fight against insurgency.

“More than at any time in our history, we need discipline in the armed forces. And, thank God we have an ex-general, who is an epitome of discipline and transparency, in power. I urge Nigerians to support his anti-corruption campaign which aims to rid this country of PDP’s legacy of a government of the corrupt, by the corrupt, and for the corrupt," Okotie stated.

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Former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has hit back at human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) for linking her with the arms procurement scandal involving the Office of the National Security Officer (ONSA).

In a reaction to a call by Falana for her prosecution for crimes against humanity, Okonjo-Iweala described the senior lawyer as an Integrity Challenged Charlatan who embarked on a smear campaign against her for hurting the corrupt interest of his friends and sponsors.

Click here http://www.thinkersnewsng.com/2016/01/25/falana-an-integrity-challenged-charlatan-okonjo-iweala/ for more

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has opened its case with two witnesses against the spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh who is standing trial for allegedly collecting N400 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The trial commenced before a Federal High Court in Abuja after the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, overruled objection by Metuh’s lead counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) to adjourn the trial.

Ikpeazu also informed the judge on Monday that since Metuh had been unable to meet the bail conditions granted him on January 16, the defence had filed an application for variation of the terms.

He urged the court to adjourn the proceedings as the inability of his client to meet the bail conditions had adverse effect on his preparation for the defence.
The prosecution led by Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, opposed the application for adjournment and his objection was upheld by the judge.

Tahir then proceeded to open the prosecution’s case on Monday with the testimony of an employee of Asset and Resource Management Company Limited, Nneka Ararume, who narrated how he collected a total sum of $2m cash from Metuh at his house in Prince and Princess Estate, Abuja.

Ararume who described her position with the company as Wealth Manager, said the instruction given to her by Metuh was that the money should be invested.

She explained further that she went ahead to change the money to its naira equivalent through two bureau de change operators she engaged.

“He gave me the sum of $2m in $100 bills. It was taken to bureau de change operators who would then transfer the money to ARM. From there (Metuh’s house) I proceeded to Mr. Sie Iyenome’s office at Wuse 2 where I gave him the sum of $1m.

“I also invited Mr. Kabir Mohammed and I also gave him the sum of $1m to transfer the naira equivalent in favour of Destra Investment Limited. Later on the same day, December 2, 2014, Mr. Kabir and Mr. Sie Iyenome confirmed the receipt.”

The prosecution also called Iyenome as its second prosecution witness, who also narrated how he changed the $1m to its naira equivalent and paid it to ARM.

Both witnesses were cross-examined by the defence counsel.

Trial has been adjourned till Tuesday for the prosecution to call more witnesses.

The prosecuting counsel said he had 16 more witnesses to call.

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Fellow Nigerians, I’m surprised that no one has asked about the wellbeing, welfare and whereabouts of our dear former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan. Are we so wicked and uncaring that we have forgotten the gentleman who brought us fresh air so soon? Do we truly suffer from “collective amnesia” (apologies Wole Soyinka) that no one is coming up in defence of the man who brought FaceBook to Africa’s biggest nation? Where are all those acolytes who were falling all over themselves this time last year during the Presidential campaigns? Where are the royal fathers from different parts of Nigeria who were decorating our President with all kinds of esoteric Chieftaincy titles?

Where are the experts who were churning out endless statistics about how God had blessed us with the greatest President Nigeria ever knew? What happened to all the economic magicians who claimed that former President Jonathan had propelled us to the pinnacle of the temple and proclaimed that in consequence we were Africa’s numero uno economy? Where are the priests, pastors, alfas, Imams, marabouts, traditional worshippers, and all manner of religious personages who trumpeted that Ebele Goodluck Jonathan was the anointed of God at the 2015 Presidential elections?

Where are the 14 million farmers who were connected by mobile phones in our season of unprecedented Agricultural Revolution? Where are the plentiful loaves of cassava bread and the myriad of rice pyramids that we were told littered everywhere? Where are the ultra-modern air-conditioned trains that we were told travelled from Lagos to Kafanchan, to Kano and Enugu? Where is the second Niger Bridge; and the strategic East-West road?

I have too many questions begging for answers but I will limit myself to only that relating to former President Goodluck Jonathan. I’m just trying to imagine the state of his mind at this terrible moment. I’m not a psychologist but I can attempt to play the role of one by doing some psychoanalysis of the man who left power under one year ago only to witness that things have literally fallen apart with his legacy completely obliterated in the twinkle of an eye.

In case you think I’m mucking around and mocking our former President, please perish the thought. I’m more of a sympathiser who would wish to draw sumptuous lessons from the tragedy that befell our former leader. From what I can see so far, President Jonathan as a person is a good man who was fortunate to have been able to effortlessly navigate and meander his way through the murky waters of Nigerian politics to arrive at the topmost position in Nigeria. He was obviously ill-prepared for power and governance and when it landed on his laps he hardly knew what to do with it. He was like a student who was too favoured and over-pampered by his lecturers until he had to write external exams and get exposed to the real world.

I’m certain, President Jonathan could not have bargained for the hurricane that has hit him. When he conceded and congratulated the then President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, he must have looked forward to a life of bliss in retirement. But what is happening now is the worst nightmare for a man who had been compared to Mahatma Ghandi, Lee Kuan Yew and Nelson Mandela.

I don’t know how this cacophony of allegations and babel of counter-allegations would end or subside but I am convinced President Goodluck Jonathan would have to speak up sooner than later. The reason is simple.

I expect his embattled foot-soldiers to put all the blame on him as the one who authorised the disbursement of our common wealth by the most generous government in human history. As to the sharing of the bazaar, let’s be fair, how many people are there who would have been paid those stupendous sums and would reject the money or ask where it was coming from.

At the end of the day, the former President would have to bear his own cross and come out clean and accept the blame. As the saying goes the buck stops at number one! I’m not sure apologies would suffice at the stage things have reached especially if the Buhari government is determined and ready to take its pound of flesh. In my view, it would be difficult to jail the messengers and let the master who sent them on irrational errands go scot free.

That is the dilemma President Buhari would have to grapple with in the not too distant future. Would Buhari in good conscience be able to jail a former Nigerian President if indeed there was an agreement not to probe and punish the man? Will he be able to ignore the fact that this was a man who, uncharacteristically, voluntarily relinquished power after losing an election and was heralded by the whole world as an apostle of peaceful and democratic change in Africa? It is a tough question that only President Buhari can answer.

The other poser is, how much of the wasted or looted funds can be recovered? I think from the experience of the past, it may not amount to much after all. The litigations are going to go on ad infinitum and some of the alleged culprits may actually escape punishment on technical and other grounds. The EFCC under the energetic and passionate Mallam Nuhu Ribadu was faced with such frustration. There is no other way to punish anyone under the law without going to court.

That is the democratic way. It is the democratic way that former President Jonathan embraced, leading him to loosen his hold on power. And it is the democratic way that brought this our new President Buhari to power. There is thus no other way but to follow the judicial process and the principles of natural justice that flow therefrom. Those campaigning for extra-judicial prosecution and conviction may soon reach a cul-de-sac. You can keep the guys indefinitely in detention but how will that bring back the money.

The truth is that the worst form of corruption is abuse of office and the impunity that it begets. That was the basis of the unbridled corruption that enveloped the Jonathan administration. If it remains unchecked, it will not be long before this present government also succumbs and becomes engulfed by the corruption it is professing to fight. Then we would have come full circle without anything to show for it, not even a wee part of our plundered wealth.

I think the biggest mistake of this government was the policy of saying people should not pay foreign currencies into their accounts. This has deprived the government of springing a surprise on those who would have kept their loot in Nigeria. It is now too late to expect those people to pay these foreign currencies into their accounts because of the policy reversal apparently foisted upon us by the visit of the IMF team.

I am certain most of those monies have escaped our shores and no matter the anti- money laundering agreements we sign, those foreign countries are not likely to repatriate the funds at a time the world economy is almost comatose. This is another example of the need by all spheres of government to think through policies before they are announced. There have been too many policy somersaults by our apex financial regulatory bodies in recent time to augur well for our ailing economy. Negative signals have been sent by government to investors and citizens both at home and abroad and this has further increased the pain and burden of Nigerians.

My personal advice is for government to work harder at getting back most of the money that has been stolen or misappropriated, as a matter of top priority. President Buhari may have to enter into unpleasant compromises to achieve this, but such is life. There is no point wasting the little resources now available to us on prosecuting and jailing criminals without getting something substantial out of the exercise.

I pray and wish that President Goodluck Jonathan can redeem his erstwhile government a bit by appealing to his men and women and convincing them to return the atrocious sums of money which they stole without the fear of God. He should save Nigeria from this unnecessary ordeal of trying to compel refund of the filthy lucre and allow this government to settle down and concentrate on the serious business of governance.

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Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has dragged former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala and other serving and retired officers as well as civilians who participated in the alleged diversion and sharing of monies meant for arms procurement, to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for prosecution.

In a petition he sent to the ICC Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, Falana urged the court to investigate allegations of crimes against humanity committed against the Nigerian people by Dasuki and others who engaged in the criminal diversion of $8 billion earmarked to procure equipment for the armed forces to fight insurgency.”

Dasuki, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman, Olisa Metuh, former governor of Sokoto, Attahiru Bafarawa, former Minister of State for Works, Bashir Yuguda, former acting chairman of the PDP, Haliru Bello Mohammed, former Military Administrator of Kaduna, Brig-Gen Lawal Jafaru Isa (rtd) and many others have had recent encounters with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over their involvement in the arms procurement scandal while some of them are already standing trial.

Click for more http://www.thinkersnewsng.com/2016/01/24/arms-scandal-falana-drags-dasuki-okonjo-iweala-others-to-icc/

Last week I requested that a family member of the late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa should reach out to me to set the records straight on their patriarch’s ethnic identity. The son of the late Prime Minister’s oldest surviving daughter, Alhaji Ahmad Yakubu Wanka (who holds the traditional title of Sarkin Dawaki Mai Tutan Bauchi), graciously contacted me a day after my column was published.

But before I share what he told me, it’s good to recapitulate the context of my interest in the ethnic heritage of Nigeria’s first and only Prime Minister. In my January 9, 2016 article titled, “Is There Such a Thing as Hausa-Fulani?” I pointed out that “the late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was and still is often called a ‘Hausa-Fulani’ by the southern press even though he was born of a Shuwa Arab father and a Fulani mother.”

Click for more http://www.thinkersnewsng.com/2016/01/23/gere-sir-abubakar-tafawa-balewas-real-ethnic-group/

The 2016 Budget proposal presented to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari on December 22, 302015 is NOT missing.

The Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume had earlier on Tuesday told senators in a closed-door session that both the hard and soft copies of the 2016 Budget proposal were missing from the National Assembly.

Nigerians have been wondering why and how even the soft copy would be missing from all the systems in the National Assembly.

After a thorough and painstaking investigation, Thinkers Newspaper can authoritatively report that the document is NOT missing from the National Assembly.

Our team of investigative reporters also found out that the hard copies of the document are in virtually every office in the National Assembly complex.

Read more: http://www.thinkersnewsng.com/2016/01/12/investigation-2016-budget-not-missing-in-nass/

Three weeks after its presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari, the hard and soft copies of the 2016 budget proposal has been declared missing in the National Assembly.

President Muhammad Buhari had on December 22,2015 presented a N6.08 trillion budget for the fiscal year 2016 to a joint session of the National Assembly.

Lawmakers were not however given copies before they went on Christmas holidays.

The document was found missing on Tuesday when Senators were about to commence deliberations on it.

Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume broke the news to his colleagues on Tuesday afternoon in a close door meeting.

Ndume therefore said the deliberations will not continue until the Executive arm send another copy.

The Chairman, Senate Committee of Appropriation, Danjuma Goje, was soda mandated to lead a search for the documents and liaise with the Presidency to get another copy of the budget proposal.

Thinkers Newspaper recalls that there were rumours of the withdrawal of the budget by the Presidency about a fortnight ago.

The Presidency was said to have made the withdrawal to correct some mistakes and inconsistencies in the budget figures.

Speaking to State House correspondents on the issue, Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun denied the withdrawal, saying the budget was going through the normal legislative process.

“You know the budget is presented to the NASS and then there is what we call an interactive budget approval process and you know the agencies will still go and defend their budget at the National Assembly. So, ordinarily in budget processes, anywhere in the world, there can be amendments to the budgets arising from that interactive process, which is normal.

“But let me make it very clear. The budget is not being withdrawn or replaced. The budget has been presented and will go through normal process whereby MDAs defend their budgets. It is possible in the process of that, because as you know the legislature is not a rubber stamp, their job is to scrutinize the budget and to approve that budget. So there may be some changes that occur as a result of that interactive process, but that process is normal everywhere in the world where a budget is presented. So I think it is important to make that clarification,” the minister had said.

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The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu on Monday said the commission had no evidence yet linking former President Goodluck Jonathan to the alleged diversion of $2.1 billion arms procurement funds.

Magu who spoke in an interactive session with online media owners in Lagos said no document had been traced to Jonathan giving any approval for the disbursement of the money for any other purpose than arms purchase.

He further noted that all those questioned so far in connection with the money were people who disbursed or collected it for reasons other than the purchase of arms for Nigerian soldiers fighting terrorists in the northeast.

“All approvals by former president Jonathan did not mention that it was for political purposes.

“All the memos approved by him was for the purchase of arms,” he said.

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Former Military Administrator of Kaduna State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Brig-Gen. Lawal Jafaru Isa (rtd) has refunded N100 million of the N170 million he allegedly collected from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

Isa, a long term associate of President Muhammadu Buhari, was picked up last week by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly taking part in the sharing of $2.1 billion meant for arms purchase when Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) was National Security Adviser.

He was however released after eight hours of interrogation, a development which the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) frowned at because it’s spokesman, Olisah Metuh was still in EFCC custody at the time of filing this report.

A source in the anti-graft body however confirmed to Thinkers Newspaper on Monday that Isa was made to refund about 60 percent of his loot before he was released

“He admitted collecting money from ONSA and he has refunded 60 per cent of the sum credited to him. I think it should be about N100 million.

“Isa is the only person who has so far refunded money among the political figures who collected funds from ONSA. We have granted him bail to allow him time to source for the balance,” the source said.

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Senior Lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has added his voice to the call on President Muhammadu Buhari to obey court orders and release former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and Biafra crusader, Nnamdi Kanu on bail.

Dasuki and many others are presently standing trial over the alleged diversion of $2.1 billion meant for arms procurement while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is also investigating many high profile Nigerians who allegedly took part in sharing the loot.

Kanu is facing a treason charge for allegedly using an illegal radio to preach hate and division in the country.

Falana, a known supporter of President Buhari’s efforts to rid the nation of corruption, argued that holding on to the two men despite existing court orders was a violation of the rule of law that President Buhari swore to uphold.

In a statement he personally signed on Sunday , Falana said: “Upon winning the election, President Buhari further pledged to abide by the Rule of Law. To that extent, he has a duty to ensure that all organs and officials of the Government operate within the ambit of the law.”

Mr. Falana said that despite the huge mismanagement of funds for which the former is being tried, the fact that two separate courts granted him bail and the government is yet to appeal the bail rulings, means he should be released.

“The decision of the SSS to ignore the order admitting Col. Dasuki to bail coupled with the failure to re-arraign him on fresh charges is tantamount to impunity in every material respect,” Mr. Falana said.

“If the federal government were aggrieved by the order admitting Col. Dasuki to bail it should have challenged it in the Court of Appeal.

“Much as the Nigerian people are fully behind the Buhari Administration in the patriotic move to recover the looted wealth of the nation, the federal government should be advised to ensure that the procedure for the loot recovery meets the tenets of the rule of law.”

On the Biafran agitator, Kanu, Falana said “the order admitting the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, to bail should also be complied with.

“If the federal government has other charges against both suspects (Messrs. Kanu and Dasuki) it should file them in the court,” Mr. Falana said. “There is no provision for keeping criminal suspects at the pleasure of security officials. Meanwhile, all valid and subsisting orders made by courts in favour of criminal suspects should be obeyed without further delay.”

President Muhammadu Buhari had during his maiden media chat given a reason why his government had not released both men despite the court orders.

“If you see the atrocities these people committed against this country, we can’t allow them to jump bail,” the President said.

Falana’s full statement

For 16 years that the Peoples Democratic Party was in power, the federal government exhibited total contempt for the Rule of Law. The Constitution and other laws were breached with impunity while court orders were disobeyed on a regular basis. In the famous case of Attorney-General of Lagos State v Attorney-General of the Federation (2005) 2 WRN 1 at 150 the Supreme Court held that “In our democracy all the Governments of this country as well as organizations and individuals must kowtow to the due process and this they can vindicate by resorting to the courts for redress in the event of any grievance.”

One of the reasons why Nigerians voted for the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) during the last general election was his promise to fight corruption and end impunity in the country. Upon winning the election, President Buhari further pledged to abide by the Rule of Law. To that extent, he has a duty to ensure that all organs and officials of the Government operate within the ambit of the law. In particular, he should not allow overzealous security personnel to engage in any form of impunity and thereby expose the Government to unwarranted embarrassment.

In July last year, the State Security Service (SSS) searched the private residence of former NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) at Abuja. When Col Dasuki alleged that his house was illegally searched, I pointed out that the action of the SSS was justified as there was a search warrant validly issued by a magistrate court in the federal capital territory that authorised the search. He was eventually charged with money laundering and criminal diversion of huge sums of public fund before the Federal High Court and the Federal Capital Territory High Court at Abuja. Notwithstanding the gravity of the offences, both courts have admitted him to bail. But after he had met the bail conditions the SSS decided to rearrest him at the gate of Kuje prisons on the ground that investigations have not been concluded in respect of other criminal allegations.

The decision of the SSS to ignore the order admitting Col Dasuki to bail coupled with the failure to re-arraign him on fresh charges is tantamount to impunity in every material respect. If the federal government were aggrieved by the order admitting Col. Dasuki to bail it should have challenged it in the Court of Appeal. Much as the Nigerian people are fully behind the Buhari Administration in the patriotic move to recover the looted wealth of the nation, the federal government should be advised to ensure that the procedure for the loot recovery meets the tenets of the rule of law. The SSS and other security agencies should therefore refrain from allowing corruption to fight back by playing into the hands of the criminal suspects who have committed crimes against humanity by diverting money earmarked for the procurement of arms and armament to fight the terrorists.

In the same vein, the order admitting the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, to bail should also be complied with. If the federal government has other charges against both suspects it should file them in the court. There is no provision for keeping criminal suspects at the pleasure of security officials. Meanwhile, all valid and subsisting orders made by courts in favour of criminal suspects should be obeyed without further delay.

To ensure that suspects are no longer held in custody in any part of Nigeria without any legal justification section 34 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act has imposed a duty on each the Chief Judges to designate a Chief Magistrate and a Judge of the High Court to visit all police stations and other detention centres within their jurisdiction, at least once a month. During such visits, appropriate directives shall be given while any officer who detains any person illegally will be sanctioned.”

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The General Overseer of Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare has accused the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of contributing negatively to the Nigerian economy in many ways.

In his state-of-the nation address titled ‘Roadmap to successful change’, the pastor posited that CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele was culpable in the alleged diversion of public funds for which former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) is facing trial.

He insisted that in saner climes, there is no way Dasuki will be custody while Emefiele will still be in office.

He outlined eight major steps that Nigeria must take to execute the change the nation voted for.

The summary of our assessment of the entire framework of governance and public policy is that without restructuring, this administration may achieve little or no significant and sustainable success,” he said. “The government must examine carefully, the argument of economists that sound monetary policy including proper management of the exchange rate regime by the CBN would eliminate the need for subsidies.

“The intricate connection between monetary policy on the one hand and the fuel subsidy debate on the other, makes the management of the CBN a major concern. “To the discerning, the CBN currently contributes negatively to the Nigerian state in more ways than one. Firstly, the CBN has become a conduit for politicians to drain the nation. “Otherwise, how can a letter of barely two paragraphs addressed to the current CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, by the then National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), become the Authority to Incur Expenditure (AIE) leading to cash flow of $47 million (US dollars) and several millions of euros? “In decent climes, the CBN Governor cannot continue in office while the NSA is accounting for his alleged misdeeds.”

He alleged that the CBN is promoting corruption by removing a section that controls currency minting by the CBN decree of 1991. “Secondly, another negative contribution by the CBN is the needless obscurity it has created regarding currency in circulation. It was not so in the past.

“For instance, S. 43 (2) of the CBN Decree (now Act) No. 24 of 1991 stipulates: Without prejudice to the provision of S1 of this section, the President may direct the Auditor General of the Federation to conduct an examination of the Bank, and submit a report thereon relating to the issue, re-issue, exchange and withdrawal of currency notes and coins by the Bank and the Bank shall provide all necessary facilities for the purpose of the examination.

“This vital sub-section was completely removed in the current CBN Act 2007, thereby making it possible for the CBN to decide the printing of the Nigerian currency, amounts to be printed, currencies to be destroyed (of which the CBN staff can take as much of such dirty notes as they like and inject back into the system while keeping all of us in the dark) without any check and balances stipulated in S. 43 (2) of the previous CBN Act No. 24 of 1991.

“The CBN is not a privately controlled banking agency…the wealth of the Central Bank of Nigeria belongs to the people of Nigeria, not the governor or the staff of the CBN. Our foreign reserves could be used to drive infrastructural development with a view to building a strong local industrial base. “It is important to add, that rather than mere devaluation of the naira, a strong local productive base, that widens Nigeria’s foreign exchange window is a lasting solution to the lingering currency crisis,” Bakare said.

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The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday passed 46 bills into law within 10 minutes, thereby making a place for themselves in the Guinness book of record.

The bills were earlier passed by the House of Representatives in the outgoing Seventh Assembly.

The bills were introduced by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang.

The development generated arguments and side talk but the Senate President, David Mark, had his way when he called for a voice vote, and ruled in favour of those in support of the passage.

Mark asked those who were not satisfied with the passage of the bills to raise objections in writing at plenary on Thursday.

The Senate had earlier suspended Order 79 (1) of the Senate Standing Orders, creating the impression that all the Bills had passed first, second and third readings on the floor of the Senate and concur to same.

Meanwhile, Mark has said the Senate will continue further deliberations on the controversial Fourth Alteration Bill, which seeks to further amend the 1999 Constitution, on Thursday.

He also added that the valedictory session to formally close the Seventh Senate would also be held on Thursday.

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The newly elected President Mohammadu Buhari, on Friday embarrassed world leaders at his first official function, when he abandoned world leaders and country representatives midway, at his inaugural lunch, at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, for a special prayers at the National Mosque.

Mr Buhari, who arrived from the inauguration grounds, at about 1.45pm to attend the lunch for the world leaders, who attended his inauguration, left the guests halfway at the lunch to attend the 'special prayers" with some top All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts.

Some personalities who accompanied the president for the special prayers at the National Mosque, were former Vice President Atiku Abubkar, former chief of army staff Gen. Bello Dambazzau, some top government functionaries as well as Muslim leaders.

Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who was drafted in to stand in for the president midway apologised to the guests for the president's actions, which obviously unsettled the visiting world leaders.

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Mr. Buhari didn't return to the lunch for the visiting leaders when the ceremony ended at about 3.15pm.

"This is a huge embarrassment to the country," a senior diplomat told our correspondent, at the venue of the lunch.

... Jonathan, Sambo, non-returning federal lawmakers, ministers, SA are beneficiaries




President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, non-returning federal lawmakers, ministers and presidential aides will collect N3.24bn as severance allowances.

The severance allowances are contained in the Remuneration Package put together by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

According to the package, Jonathan, who will hand over to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, on May 29, is entitled to 300 per cent of his annual basic salary.

The President’s annual basic salary is put at N3, 514,705 and therefore his severance allowance will be N10, 544,115 after May 29.

The severance allowance is without prejudice to his other constitutional entitlements as a former head of government.

Similarly, Vice-President Sambo, who leaves office the same day as Jonathan, is also entitled to 300 per cent of his annual basic salary put at N3, 031,572.50. This means that his severance allowance after May 29 is N9, 094,717.50.

For having held the office of vice- president, Sambo also has some constitutional entitlements and perks.

About 76 senators are not returning to the National Assembly either because they did not stand for election or because they lost their bids to return. They are however entitled to N462,019,200 at the expiration of their tenure on June 5.

Like Jonathan and Sambo, they are entitled to 300 per cent of their annual basic salaries as severance allowances. This amounts to N6, 079,200 per senator.

In the House of Representatives, about 290 members are not returning to the 8th National Assembly to be proclaimed into existence by Buhari on June 5.

Each of the members is entitled to N5, 955,637.50 as severance allowance. This means that the 290 members will be paid N1, 727,134,875.

The ministers, on the other hand, will be collecting a total of N253, 967,212.5. There are 42 ministers in Jonathan’s cabinet. Thirty one of them are senior ministers and 11 are ministers of state.

Each of the senior ministers is entitled to N6, 079,200 severance allowance while each of the ministers of state will receive N5, 872,740.

This means that collectively, the senior ministers will get N188, 455,200 at the expiration of their tenure on May 29 while collectively, the ministers of state will be collecting N65, 512,012.5 .

The aides to the President comprising special advisers, senior special assistants and special assistants will get N775, 207,125.

There are 23 of them who work with the president as special advisers. Apart from this number, however, there are several others estimated at 110 who work with the vice-president, the First Lady(Patience Jonathan) and special advisers that are designated either as senior special assistants or special assistants to the President.

This means that there are about 133 aides to the president and each of them is entitled to 300 per cent of their annual basic salary which amounts to N5, 828,625.

The Nigerian democracy has been identified as one of the costliest in the world as a result of a large number of political office holders.

Some experts, for instance, think that a cabinet made up of 42 ministers is too large. However, constitutionally, each of the 36 states is expected to be represented in the Federal Executive Council.

Bicameralism is another source of worry for many observers who believe that Nigeria can do with one chamber of the National Assembly. Some Nigerians have called for part-time legislature as a means of saving cost.

However, the worry of many Nigerians is not what the lawmakers earn monthly but what accrues to them through self-appropriation and constituency projects.

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President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday declared that his administration had nothing to hide on the alleged missing $20 billion oil money.

Jonathan made the declaration while reacting to reports attributed to President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, that he (Buhari) would re-visit the alleged missing $20 billion after the inauguration of his administration.

The President has consequently ordered the relevant agencies of government to release the report of the forensic audit that was conducted following the allegation by a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and now Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

The said audit report by PriceWaterHouse Cooper had indicted the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and recommended that the corporation refunds $1.48 billion to the Federation Account.

Jonathan spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, while addressing State House correspondents on various issues in Abuja.

According to him: “President Jonathan is deeply concerned by the continuing suggestions that his administration still has anything to hide about the unproven allegation that about $20 Billion is unaccounted for by the NNPC during his tenure.

“To lay the matter to rest, President Jonathan in line with Section 7(2) of the NNPC Act, has directed that the full report of the PWC Forensic Audit of the NNPC accounts be released immediately to the public so that all Nigerians will be properly informed on the matter.”

The President similarly carpeted the All Progressives Congress over allegations that his administration was engaging in last minute looting of the public treasury, rushed privatization and hurried recruitment into the federal civil service.

The President described the statement credited to APC spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, as unfair and combative.

He said the incoming administration of Buhari had the liberty to review all the actions of his government as it may deem fit, adding that the incumbent government would continue to discharge its duties of governance until the handover date.

According to Abati: “We have noted with concern, the allegation by the spokesman of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, that officials of the Federal Government are engaged in “last minute looting of the nation’s resources, rushed privatization of key institutions and hurried recruitment into the public service.

“We also consider as most unfortunate and uncharitable, the suggestion by Alhaji Mohammed that the Jonathan Administration is trying to tie the hands of the incoming government merely by continuing to discharge its constitutional responsibilities until the end of its tenure.

“The Jonathan Administration which continues to do its best to ensure a smooth and peaceful handover over of power to the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, deeply regrets the unfairness and combative frame of mind reflected in Alhaji Mohammed’s statement.

“President Jonathan has done his best in the past five years to discharge his constitutional responsibilities for good governance and effective leadership of the nation.

Without any prejudice whatsoever to the freedom of the incoming administration to do as it pleases, within the confines of extant laws when it assumes office, the Jonathan Administration will continue to discharge its responsibility to govern until May 29, 2015.

In continuing to fulfil the obligations of his office however, President Jonathan has not, and will never condone any form of unscrupulous conduct on the part of state officials.

“President Jonathan will also never authorise any attempt to create any problems for the incoming administration as the APC spokesperson, who ought to know that the outcome of the March 28 presidential elections does not imply a cessation of governance, unjustly alleges.

“As Alhaji Mohammed threatened in his statement, the incoming administration will be perfectly within its rights to review all actions of the present government as it may deem fit.

“We see nothing wrong with that. After all, the present Administration reviewed the actions of previous governments on assumption of office with resultant benefits for policy and project implementation.”

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Security advisers of the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday barred the television crew of the African Independent Television (AIT) from covering the activities of their principal until further notice.

It was gathered that the security team cited adverse security reports and ethical issues as reasons for their action.
Members of the AIT crew, who were at the Defence House, venue of a meeting between the President-elect and a visiting Cuban delegation, led by its Ambassador to Nigeria, were asked to leave the vicinity until further notice.

The crew, who did not speak on record, insisted they would remain and continue to do their jobs because they had yet to be “formally informed”.

“Yes, we were told but we cannot just leave; we have a job to do. In any case, we have not been officially informed about what we have done wrong,” one of them said.

The Director of Press of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu, confirmed the development.

Shehu said concerns over security and the need to sort out some ethical issues were responsible for the action.

Shehu said: “AIT has been asked to stay aside based on security and family concerns. In addition, General Buhari has decided that they will have to resolve some issues relating to issues of standard and ethics.

“We will be talking with them to try and resolve the matter but for now, the station has been asked to stay aside because, like I said, there are some family and security concerns.

“They have been asked to step down their coverage until we resolve the matter with them on ethics and standards.”

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Exclusive: Amaechi To Head Buhari’s Cabinet As SGF, Ngige, Fashola, David West, Oby Ezekwesili Make Ministers’ List

Baring any change of tactics and political manoeuvreing, the Director General of Buhari Campaign Organisation and Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuke Rotimi Amaechi from the South South geo political zone would head the incoming APC administration’s cabinet as Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

FrontiersNews gathered that the season technocrat and former presidential candidate also from South South, Prof. Pat Utomi has been pencilled down as the head of the economic team. He is to serve as Minister of Economic Planning/ Adviser to President on Economic matters.

Our correspondent learnt that other names that have been sent for security clearance included: AGF/Min. of Justice – Bar. B. R Fashola – SW; Min. of Abuja. – Dr. Hussein Dikko – NW; Min. of Agric – Prof. S. A Garki – NW; Min. of Works – Dr. Chris Ingige – SE; and Min. of Education- Prof. O. K. Ezekwesili -SE

Others include – Min. of Aviation – Sadiya Farouk – NW; Min. of Culture/Tourism – James Ocholi – NC; Min. of Labour & Prod. – Bisi Akande – SW; Min. of Defence – Gen. Lawal Jafaru Isa – NW; Min. of Petroleum – Prof. David T- West – SS; Min. of Finance – Dr. Umar Mutallib – NW; Min. of Foreign Affairs – Gen. A. Aboki – NC and Min. of Internal Affairs – Y. M Tuggar – NE
Other distinguished Nigerian who would make the cabinet are Lagos vibrant Pastor Tunde Bakare as Minister for Special Duties; Min. of Industries – PST. BD Lawal; Min. of Solid Min.- Bar. Solomon Dalung – NC; Min for Science & T – Engr. Segun Oni – SW; Min. of Health – Prof. Hamid Ahmad – NW; Min. of Women – Sharon Ikeazor – SE; Min. for Youth – Umana Umana -SS
The chairman of Leadership Newspapers and former presidential aspirant, Sam Nda Isaiah is pencilled down as Minister of Information; Min. of Transport- Timpire Silver – SS; Min. of Water Res. – Alh. Inuwa Yahaya – NE; Min. of Commerce- Dr. Fayemi K – SW; Min. of Sports – Kabir Mustapha- NE while APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Dakuku Peterside would be Minister of Niger Delta.

Other appointments according to our sources include EFCC chairman – Col. Hameed Ali rtd – NE; Nat. Sec. Adviser – Gen. A. Dambazau -NW; Presidential Adviser on Agric – Prof. Ango Abdullahi – NW while President Spokesman would be Alhaji- Lai Muhammed from the NC.

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The Department of State Security Service, (DSS), on Tuesday morning, arrested an ex-militant leader, Sobomabo Jackrich aka Egberipapa, in an Abuja Hotel, for a planned assassination plot of President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President David Mark and some unnamed top government functionaries.

Our correspondent gathered that officers of the DSS, acting on intelligence report arrested Egberipapa, who according to a source was masquerading under a false name at the time of the arrest, after months of nationwide manhunt.

Sources said that the suspect, who is a key ally of jailed factional leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Nigeria Delta (MEND), secretly entered Abuja last weekend evading the watchful eyes of security operatives.

The plot hatched by the ex-militant leader was to kill President Jonathan, Senate President in Abuja at a public function before the end of the Jonathan's government on May 29.

"We have the ex-militant leader in our custody," a top DSS operative said‎.

Okah, who is presently serving jail term in a South African prison, was also accused of plotting the assassination of President Jonathan‎.

Our correspondent's investigations revealed that the DSS operatives uncovered the assassination plot via intelligence gathering and have been trailing the suspect in the last few months before he was eventually picked on Tuesday in Abuja.

Investigations revealed that the DSS has also arrested several other individuals in different parts of the country in connection to the assassination plot.

It was gathered that attempts by several influential Niger Delta leaders to intervene in the case have been rebuffed by the security agency.

It could however not be confirmed when the suspects would be taken to court for the crime.


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