Why Fayose’s Account Cannot Be Unfrozen – By Johnson Adebayo

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Staff Reporter

One Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the federal high court sitting at Ado Ekiti State is reported to have ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to defreeze and return to Mr. Ayo Fayose, the governor of Ekiti State the sum of N300 million traced to the Zenith bank. Mr. Fayose had claimed that the money was part of the campaign fund donated to him by the management of Zenith bank. The cock and bull story of Mr. Fayose was vehemently denied by Zenith Bank. To corroborate the denial of the bank, the EFCC has revealed how the sum of N1.2 billion was taken to the Ado Ekiti branch of the zenith bank from the office of the National Security Adviser under the retired Col. Sambo Dasuki.

Since another federal high court presided over by Justice Mohammed Idris sitting in Lagos had authorized the freezing of the same account the order of Justice Taiwo Taiwo is illegal and ought to be ignored by the EFCC. In the course of the proceedings before him, it was disclosed to Justice Taiwo Taiwo that the N300 million was part of the N1.2 billion traced to Mr. Fayose from the Dasukigate. Apart from Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro who has admitted that he handed over, he said the sum of N1.2 billion to Mr. Fayose the criminal trial has commenced in respect of the stolen fund. Since Mr. Fayose currently enjoys immunity and cannot be arrested his agent, Mr. Abiodun Agbaje is now standing trial for keeping part of the loot. Why then was Justice Taiwo Taiwo in a hurry to transfer the proceed of crime to Mr. Fayose? Did he establish the legitimate ownership of the money?

With the facts of the Dasukigate which are within public knowledge, what was the basis of the order of Justice Taiwo Taiwo to the effect that part of the loot be returned to Mr. Fayose? Was it meant to destroy the evidence of the proceed of crime so as to exonerate Mr. Fayosr? Since Justice Taiwo Taiwo is not unaware of the illegality of his order, he has set out to destroy the evidence of Mr. Fayose’s criminality so that upon leaving office he cannot be tried. Unfortunately for Justice Taiwo Taiwo all the agents of Mr. Fayose including Abiodun Agbaje have implicated him. Mr. Obanikoro has also nailed him. In fact, the former minister has refunded part of his own share of the loot. Mr. Iyiola Omisore has equally made a refund of part of the N1.3 billion traced to him from the same illicit transaction.

Some human rights organizations have challenged Justice Taiwo Taiwo for converting his Court to a Court of Appeal over another federal high court which had ordered that the disputed account be frozen. Once again, the federal high court presided by two judges have given conflicting orders on the Fayose loot. Justice Idris had earlier ordered the freezing of the account. Justice Taiwo has now ordered that the same account be defrozen! Since the order of Justice Idris was tendered before Justice Taiwo Taiwo it is clear that he deliberately set out to ridicule the Nigerian judiciary which is currently enmeshed in corruption. The National Judicial Council should investigate the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the order of Justice Taiwo Taiwo .

Furthermore, Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN, the lawyer of Mr. Fayose should be asked to explain why he engaged in forum shopping by filing a fresh suit before Justice Taiwo Taiwo instead of taking steps to set aside the order of Justice Idris or appeal against it to the Court of Appeal. This lawyer should be disciplined for setting the two courts of coordinate jurisdiction against each order. The disgraceful conduct of Justice Taiwo Taiwo and Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN should be not be allowed to go unchallenged. We just cannot continue to expose the country’s judiciary to avoidable embarrassment for pecuniary interests.

Court Freezes all Imo State Government Accounts

Posted on September 27, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, has ordered the freezing of all the accounts of Imo State Government and the confiscation of all monies domiciled in them. The court gave the order while delivering judgement on an appeal filed by the Governor of the state Rochas Okorocha, the Attorney General of Imo State, the Environmental Transformation Committee and the Ministry of Petroleum and Environment, Imo State.

The state government had approached the court to upturn earlier judgments delivered by Hon. Justice

Maryann Anenih of Maitama High Court, Abuja, and Hon. Justice Ijeoma Agugua, in suit numbers FCT/HC/M/9257/2016 and HU/538/2011, filed by one of its contractors, E. F. Network Nigeria Limited and Mr. Gideon Egbuchulam who the state owed N1 billion.

The Abuja courts had delivered judgments in favor of one of the state contractors. The Court of Appeal in its ruling yesterday ordered that the confiscated funds of the state be used to offset the N1 billion debt owed E. F. Network Nigeria Limited and Gideon Egbuchulam.

Facebook ‘Blocks Accounts’ Of Palestinian Journalists

Posted on September 26, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Editors from two Palestinian news publications based in the occupied West Bank say their Facebook accounts were suspended last week and that no reason was provided, alleging their pages may have been censored because of a recent agreement between the US social media giant and the Israeli government aimed at tackling “incitement”.

Last week, four editors from the Shehab News Agency, which has more than 6.3 million likes on Facebook, and three executives from the Quds News Network, with about 5.1 million likes, reported that they could not access their personal accounts.

Both agencies cover daily news in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Nisreen al-Khatib, a translator and journalist at the Quds News Network, told Al Jazeera that the publication believes the account suspensions were triggered by an agreement between Facebook and Israel earlier this month, in which they agreed to jointly combat what Israeli claims is “incitement” by Palestinians on social media.

“Defreeze my accounts in 14 days”, Patience Jonathan warns EFCC

Posted on September 19, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Former first lady of Nigeria, Mrs. Patience Ibifaka Goodluck Jonathan, has given the Economic and Financial Commission, EFCC, 14 days with effect from September 18 to defreeze her accounts and tender a public apology to her or face a legal action.

Mrs. Jonathan gave this ultimatum through an open letter to the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu by her solicitor and Senior Partner, First Law Associates, Timipa Okponipere Esq.

In the letter, Okponipere urged the anti-graft agency to leave Mrs. Jonathan alone, adding that if the Commission fails to adhere to this warning then: “We shall file an action at the African Commission on Human Rights at the Gambia demanding N5 billion in exemplary and punitive damages.”

The letter reads: “There is no established legal or political precedent for what the EFCC is currently doing to our client. How many former First Ladies in Nigeria have received the Patience Goodluck Jonathan Treatment (PGJT) to have warranted the EFCC to engage in the effrontery to freeze our client’s accounts and subject her to public opprobrium, ridicule and disgrace? This nonsense must stop forthwith.

“Our client is a respected senior citizen of international repute, a retired Permanent Secretary and the immediate past First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Our Client is a law-abiding citizen who has never or at all been the subject of any criminal and/or financial investigation, whether at home or abroad. Accordingly, she has not been found guilty of any criminal conduct throughout a sparkling public service career spanning over 35 years.”

“During the 5 years our client served as First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between May, 2010 and May, 2015; she was the Initiator/Founder of the A. ARUERA WOMEN FOUNDATION as well as the WOMEN FOR CHANGE INITIATIVE; both of which Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) substantially contributed to the 35 per cent affirmative action for women in the country. Our Client is the recipient of numerous local and international awards in recognition of her untiring commitment towards uplifting the living standard of women, children and the aged in Nigeria.

“Sir, it is against this sterling and meritorious background of our client that we most respectfully, write to draw your attention to the numerous breaches of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act 2004 committed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in cause of the Commission’s illegal and unlawful investigation of our client for alleged money laundering. These investigations have reportedly led to the freeze of our client’s accounts and led to untold consequences to our client’s health and wellbeing.

“The EFCC must realize that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 is inferior in content and quality to both the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, 2004.” The solicitor asserted.

Twitter Suspends Niger Delta Avengers, Boko Haram Accounts Over Terrorism Acts

Posted on August 20, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Twitter has suspended the accounts of Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), Boko Haram, as well hundreds of thousands others for violating policies related to violent threats and promotion of terrorism, the company said on Thursday.

The online social media has suspended additional 235,000 accounts since February.

Total suspensions related to violence and terror is now around 360,000 since the middle of last year.

Meanwhile, up to 80 per cent are being suspended daily since last year, Twitter said, due largely to proprietary “spam-fighting” tools.

The company said it has made progress in shortening the amount of time that violators are on Twitter; reducing their followers and disrupting the ability of offenders to immediately return to Twitter.

It said it has bolstered its team to review complaints of extremism and buoyed collaborations with law enforcement, other social platforms and international nongovernmental agencies.

http://guardian.ng/news/twitter-suspends-niger-delta-avengers-boko-haram-accounts-over-terrorism-acts/

Nigeria Accounts For Over 70% Of 500 Million Illicit Weapons In West Africa- UN

Posted on August 2, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The United Nations has raised alarm over the illicit proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in Nigeria with over 350 million or 70 per cent of an estimated 500 million of such weapons said to be circulating in West Africa be in the country.

The director of United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC), Olatokunbo Ige, gave this statistics at the ongoing National Consultation on Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM) in Abuja, organised by the Agency and Presidential Committee on Smalls Arms and Light Weapons (PRESCOM).

Ms. Ige said the country is awash with illicit weapons, which have found its way into unauthorised hands on non-state actors that are threatening the existence of the country, as well lives and properties of the people.

“The illicit proliferation of SALW has had a dramatic impact on peace and security in Africa, threatening not only the existence of the state, but also the livelihoods of millions of people across the continent,” she said.

“Nigeria is one of the countries that is experiencing some of the most devastating effects of the proliferation of SALW as a result of spillover effect of the recent crises in Libya, and Mali as well as unresolved internal conflicts in different parts of the country especially in the North East, Niger Delta and Southern regions.”

“While reliable data on the numbers of these weapons circulating freely in the country is unavailable, analysts have in recent times estimated that of the about 500 million weapons that may be circulating in West Africa in 2010, some 70 per cent of these could be found in Nigeria,” she added.

She warned that “as alarming as these figures seem, it is very clear that if left unchecked, this scourge will not only jeopardise the developmental gains achieved over the last 50 years, but will also impede the nation’s capacity to achieve its developmental targets and therefore, negatively impact on the future generations”.

According to Ms. Ige, this has highlighted, more than ever before the critical need not only to control the flow of arms in the non-state sector, but also the state owned actors through the effective management of the armoury and weapon stockpiles.

Credit: PremiumTimes

South African Bank Closes Accounts Held By Zuma Friends

Posted on April 6, 2016 by Staff Reporter

A South African company owned by friends of Jacob Zuma said on Wednesday First National Bank has closed its accounts due to a scandal over its relationship with the president.

“Oakbay has received no reason whatsoever justifying FNB’s actions.

“We are already in the process of moving our accounts to a more enlightened institution,” Oakbay Investments said in a statement.
FNB is a unit of FirstRand

Three other South African companies, including KPMG and Barclays Africa, have severed ties with a firm owned by the Guptas, a family of Indian-born businessmen close to Zuma.

Credit: NAN

FG Freezes INEC’s Accounts Over Non-Compliance To TSA

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has frozen all bank accounts operated by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, following the commission’s failure to comply with Federal Government’s directive that all ministries, agencies and departments must operate Treasury Single Account, TSA.

The commission is now cash strapped and is unable to discharge most of its responsibilities.

Informed sources at the commission had revealed that INEC had failed to comply with the government’s directives on the TSA, due largely to the peculiar activities of the body as the nation’s electoral umpire which should qualify it for exemption from the new directive.

It was further gathered that the decision of the governments to freeze all accounts operated by INEC has thrown the body in a serious dilemma because even the staff salary for September is yet to be paid just as many contractors whose outstanding fees were yet to be paid on a daily basis throng the commission for their payments.

Read More: vanguardngr

FG Exempts NNPC, PHCN, BoI, FMBN, 10 Others From Treasury Single Account

Posted on September 22, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation has exempted 13 Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) from the Treasury Single Account (TSA). In a circular released yesterday September 21st, the accountant general said they were exempted because they are entities classified as profit oriented government businesses, pay dividends to the Federal Government.

The exempted MDAs are the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Bank of Industry (BoI), Nigeria Railway Corporation, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Bank of Agriculture, Niger Delta Power Holding Company/National Integrated Power Project, National Communication Satellite Limited, Galaxy Backbone Limited, Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, Urban Development Bank, Nigerian Export-Import Bank NEXIM) and Transcorp Hilton Hotel.

A circular entitled, “Approval to Exempt Some MDAs In line With the e-Collection Mop-Up Exercise,” from the AGF’s office to The Director, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Banking and Payments System Department, referenced FD/LP2015/C/ADC/20/1/ /DF dated September 14, 2015 and signed by M. K, Dikwa, for the AGF, Federal Ministry of Finance, Funds Department, Abuja, reads in part: “Approval is hereby granted to your bank to exempt the accounts of thirteen (13) MDAs (Category 6) as listed below the mop-up in line with the e-Collection Circular No. HCFSF/428/S.1/120 dated 7th August 2015 as these are Profit-Oriented Government Business entities that are to pay their dividends into the Treasury Single Accounts whenever they are declared.

Please note that in line with the Presidential approval, the following as it relates to Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation NNPC as listed above (S/No.9) under Category 4 should also apply: That NAPIMS remains classified as an MDA that is funded from the Federation Account under Category 4 of the Circular, being the NNPC Business Unit responsible for the management of the Federation’s investment in the upstream activities and funded from direct proceeds of oil and gas revenue.

That NNPC will continue to preserve the status with respect to NAPIMS Operations Account as well as Escrow Account for Third Party Financing in view of the Joint Venture (JV) Cash funding currently being experienced. That all other NNPC’s commercial/Business Entities as re-classified as ‘Profit-Oriented Public Corporations /Business Enterprises’ under Category 6 of the Circular which requires that only dividends from these entities be paid into the TSA.”.

Jonathan’s Former Aide Cries Out From Hospital Bed, Don’t Touch My Bank Account

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The immediate past Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku has asked anti-corruption agencies not to tamper with the account of his charity organisation, Keketobou Care Foundation, which he has been using to help the poor in the society.

Kuku, who made the call in a telephone interview with Vanguard from his hospital in the United States on Sunday, said there was no public fund in the charity account, which has helped to render succour to indigent students, women and men over time.

Kuku was reacting to reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has frozen the accounts of close allies of former president Jonathan, including the Keketobou Care Foundation, run
by Kuku.

The former Presidential Amnesty Programme Chairman, who is recuperation in an American hospital after a knee surgery, told Vanguard that there were no government funds in the said account, which had a total deposit of N720, 484.00 as at the end of July this year.

According to Kuku, the amount found in the account was the proceeds of his book: “Remaking the Niger Delta: Challenges and Opportunities”, which he presented to the public in Lagos last year.

He said before now, he had used his personal earnings and other donations by well-wishers to fund the account so as to provide enough funds for buying JAMB forms for poor indigenes of Ondo State and provide support to poor widows, women and traders in the state.

Akpabio Disowns Twitter, Facebook Accounts

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Senate Minority Leader, Godwsill Akpabio, yesterday disowned Twitter and Facebook accounts credited to him, warning members of the public to desist from setting up social media accounts on his behalf.

The former Akwa Ibom State governor insisted that he neither owns the Twitter accounts nor did he send out messages already in the public domain.

Akpabio’s media assistant, Deacon Jackson Udom reiterated in a statement yesterday that, “Senator Akpabio has disowned Twitter and Facebook accounts opened on his behalf and has advising those who are doing so to desist from such, as he has not authorised or cause to be opened, any Facebook or Twitter account on his behalf…”

Read More: sunnewsonline

Buhari Sets Deadline For Treasury Single Account Compliance

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Staff Reporter

President Muhammadu Buhari has set a deadline of Tuesday, September 15, 2015, for full compliance with his directive that all revenue due to the Federal Government or any of its agencies must be paid into the Treasury Single Account or designated accounts maintained and operated in the Central Bank of Nigeria, except otherwise expressly approved.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying failure to comply would attract sanctions.

According to him, a circular issued to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, urged the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure strict compliance with the deadline to avoid sanctions.

The circular – HCSF/428/S.1/125 of September 4, 2015 – noted that a number of MDAs were yet to comply with Circular Ref. No. HCSF/428/S.1/120 of August 7, 2015 which conveyed President Buhari’s original directive on the payment of all Federal Government revenue into a Treasury Single Account.

“In this regard, His Excellency, Mr. President, has directed that all MDAs are to comply with the instructions on the Treasury Single Account unfailingly by Tuesday, September 15, 2015.

“Heads of MDAs and other arms of Government are enjoined to give this circular the widest circulation and ensure strict compliance to avoid sanctions,” Mr. Kifasi wrote.

Forensic Auditors To Probe ECA, Federation, NNPC Accounts

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The National Economic Council’s ad hoc committee on the management of the Excess Crude Account proceeds and accruals into the Federation Account on Thursday agreed to engage two international accounting firms to carry out a forensic audit of the accounts and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

The committee is made up of the governors of Edo State, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole; Gombe, Ibrahim Dankwaabo; Akwa Ibom, Emmanuel Udom; Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode; and Kaduna, Nasir el-Rufai.

The committee at its inaugural meeting on Thursday met with representatives of revenue generating agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service, Securities and Exchange Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria, as well as the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

Other agencies whose representatives appeared before the committee were the Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, Federal Ministry of Finance, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

Read More: punchng

Breaking !!! CBN Extends BVN Registration Exercise

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Central Bank of Nigeria has extended the deadline for the ongoing registration for the Bank Verification number to 31st of October, 2015.

Buhari Appoints Accountant-General Of The Federation

Posted on June 13, 2015 by Staff Reporter

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Mohammed Dikwa as acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF).

A statement by the Office of the AGF, yesterday stated that the appointment took effect from effect from June 12, 2015. Until his appointment Dikwa was the Director, Funds Department in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. He is expected to hold the office until a substantive Accountant-General is appointed.

Mr. Dikwa, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy and a Masters in Business Administration and Finance, attended the Senior Executive Course 34, 2014 at the National Institute of for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.

He was awarded Certificates in Public Finance Management Reforms, Leadership and Governance, High Performance Leadership Programme and Treasury Management at the Harvard University, USA; University of Cambridge, Oxford University in the UK, and Thames Valley University UK respectively.

Court Freezes Plateau, Benue Accounts Over Unpaid Salaries

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the freezing of accounts belonging to Benue and Plateau states in Skye Bank, Zenith Bank, First Bank of Nigeria and First City Monument Bank Plc over their alleged refusal to pay state workers.

Reports provide that Justice Ademola Adeniyi gave the order on Monday while ruling on two ex-parte applications filed by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN). Both states are owing workers several months wages.

Credit: nigerianbulletin

NNPC Top Bosses To Replace & Accounts To Probe- Report

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Incoming Muhammadu Buhari administration will replace the top management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Reuters news agency reported yesterday.

It will also review the accounts of the oil company to restore credibility, Reuters said, quoting sources within Buhari’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). It said the new government will submit a bill to break the NNPC into four entities, as already prescribed in the latest PIB draft. One APC source told Reuters that the Bill “will also, crucially, remove the oil minister from the NNPC’s board of directors to curb political interference.”

Others said more generally that the minister’s current powers would be heavily trimmed. Oil and gas will have separate companies for upstream, with a third covering pipelines and refining, while a fourth will be an inspectorate. The proposal could be submitted to parliament in the first quarter of next year, one parliamentary APC source said. The NNPC Management is made up of Group Managing Director Dr. Joseph T. Dawha; Group Executive Director, Finance & Accounts Mr. Bernard O.N. Otti; Group Executive Director, Corporate Services Dr. Dan Efebo, and Member, Alhaji Abdullahi Bukar, who make up the Board.

The Board is chaired by petroleum minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and members are Mr. Danladi Wadzani, Prof. Olusegun Okunnu; Mr. Danladi Kifasi, Mr. Steven Oronsaye, and Mr. Ikechukwu Oguine, Coordinator, Legal Services/Secretary to the Corporation. Reuters said oil firms keen to know how the new government plans to tax them could be waiting for a long time as the President-elect makes ending corruption and reforming the opaque national oil company his most urgent sector priority. Four party sources in the APC told Reuters the issue of fiscal terms, seen as crucial by the industry, will have to wait on current thinking about oil and gas policies in Nigeria.

Crude output has stagnated close to 2 million barrels per day over the past few years, owing partly to underinvestment. “We need to address the structural issues and leave the fiscal for now,” Senator Bukola Saraki, told Reuters. “A more transparent NNPC) is needed with reasonable accounting,” he said. Buhari owes his March 28 victory against incumbent Goodluck Jonathan partly to a perception that Jonathan allowed corruption to get out of control — especially in the oil sector.

A string of multibillion dollar oil corruption scandals tainted the NNPC and other bodies that handle energy.
By contrast, Buhari was seen as one of the few Nigerian leaders to have cracked down on corruption during his military rule in 1983-1985. Many Nigerians hope he will again, Reuters said. APC leader Bola Tinubu, whose support was instrumental in Buhari’s victory and wields huge influence, told Reuters a transitional committee would be set up. “No way will we discuss that now,” he said.

Read More: dailytrust

EFCC Denies Freezing Father Mbaka’s Accounts

Posted on March 27, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has denied reports that they froze the accounts of Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka.

There were media reports yesterday that Fr Mbaka had claimed during his sermon on Wednesday March 25th that the EFCC had frozen his bank accounts and that he was invited to their Port Harcourt office for questioning. He supposedly said he went to the bank on Tuesday March 24th to cash some money to buy foodstuff for the poor who had just returned to Enugu from the North and the cheque he presented was rejected.

EFCC Spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren released a statement late yesterday denying that the agency froze his account. See the statement below…

“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC has been drawn to reports in a section of the media claiming that the Commission had frozen the accounts of Enugu-based Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Mass fame. The commission wishes to state that there is no truth in the report and should be discountenanced.” the statement read.

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