ICPC Dismisses Allegations Against Aregbesola as Baseless, Unsubstantiated.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence?s Commission (ICPC) has described the petition of the Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State against Governor Rauf Aregbesola as baseless and unsubstantiated.

ICPC, in a letter with reference number ICPC/INV/NGB/T.E2/003, addressed to the petitioner, Chairman, Civil Society Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State, which was copied to the Osun Secretary to the State Government stated that it’s investigations have not established an act contrary to the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000 as none of the allegations were substantiated.

The commission stated that having diligently investigated the allegations and finding nothing against Governor Aregbesola, the allegations have been dismissed.

The Government, through the Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, reminded Nigerians that the ICPC’s final decision was a vindication of the repeated claims by the government that the group was one of individuals hired for the purpose of tarnishing its name.

ICPC, in the letter titled, Re: Petition against Osun State Governor- Mr. Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, for criminal and reckless mismanagement of Osun State funds since November 2010 to August 2015 held that all of the allegations brought forward have been looked into conclusively with no infraction substantiated.

According to ICPC, “The above case bordering on fraudulent diversion of N11.4 billion obtained through Osun SUKUK bond to private foreign account, money meant for building of schools regardless of the N13.9 billion intervention funds from. The Federal Government through UBEC for the purpose of building classrooms has been investigated conclusively with no infraction substantiated.

“An investigation of? the above allegations confirmed that Osun State government raised N11.344 billion from the issue of the SUKUK bond through Nigerian commercial banks. Investigation also revealed that after the issue of the bond, Osun State Government sought and got approvals from the Securities and Exchange Commission and Shariah Board of Lotus Capital Ltd. To amend the schedule of schools to be constructed from 27 mixed schools to 11 high schools and to furnish the schools. The approval of SUKUK holders is still pending.

“Also contrary to the allegation that the SUKUK proceed was diverted to private foreign account, it was disbursed from Osun SUKUK company accounts with 13 Collecting Nigerian Commercial banks and used for payments of contractors awarded the contracts of construction and furnishing of 11 senior Secondary Schools in various part of Osun State.

“Furthermore, contrary to the allegation that N13.9 billion was disbursed by UBEC to Osun State, the total of N7,192,585,041.64 has been disbursed to Osun SUBEB for the period 2011-2015. This amount consists of Universal Basic Education matching grants, Special Education Funds, Teachers Professional Development Fund and state’s counterpart funds lodgement in line with UBE Act 2004.

“In view of the above paragraphs, investigations have not established an act contrary to the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 as none of the allegations were substantiated. Therefore the matter is hereby laid to rest”. The Commission said.

The Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, stating the Government’s position over the outcome of the ICPC’s investigations, said the Aregbesola government was never in doubt that the group was an illegal one which was only being used by traducers of the administration to diminish its many achievements.

“When the so-called group was everywhere making its highly irresponsible and frivolous allegations, we never minced words on the fact that it was an unregistered group of few disgruntled, hired individuals to tarnish the image of the government and seek to diminish the massive good governance initiatives that are the hallmarks of our interventions here.

“The ICPC’s dismissal of the frivolous allegations is a vindication of our earlier position on the group and other collaborators in their ignoble campaigns of calumny.

“The Aregbesola administration has instituted the most transparent, people friendly government in its six years and more and we do not intend to depart from this path. This is because we are convinced in this lies the brighter future of our dear state,” Okanlawon added.

Investigate bribery allegation against Amaechi, Umana – CSNAC begs ICPC.

Following Justice Inyang Okoro’s bribery allegation against the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and the then All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom state, Umana Umana, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption, CSNAC, has urged the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, to probe the allegation.

Justice Okoro, one of the judges recently arrested by the Department of State Services, DSS,  had accused Amaechi and Umana of approaching him with the aim of influencing court decisions on election cases in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Abia states.

CSNAC, in a petition by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, said, “If Justice Okoro’s allegation is anything to go by, then he definitely has a case to answer with the Commission.

“By virtue of Section 23 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act of 2000, Public Officers are duty bound to report bribery transactions.

“By virtue of the above stated section [Section 23], Justice Okoro had a duty to report the attempt to bribe him by Messrs. Amaechi and Umana. His failure to do same and only resorting to use the information as a first line of defense against the raid by the State Security Service will not exonerate him from the offense committed under the Act.

“In view of this, CSNAC is therefore by this petition calling on the Commission to commence an immediate thorough investigation into the allegations made by Justice Okoro and also ensure that prosecution and proper punishment is meted out in line with the established laws, rules, and regulations.”

Orubebe In Serious Trouble!! Accused Of Diverting N1.9bn Compensation Money

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed new charges against former Minister of Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe, before an Abuja High Court, alleging that he diverted close to N2 billion naira meant for the dualisation of Section IV of the East-West Road.

He is charged alongside Oludare Lawrence Alaba, Ephraim Towelde Zaki and Gitto Construction Limited on a five-count charge bordering on alleged corruption, diversion of funds and perjury.

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ORUBEBE

He was accused of circumventing a Federal Executive Council, (FEC) approval for the dualisation of the Eket – Oron Road, part of the East-West Road which runs from Edo to Bayelsa states, by allegedly instructing the contractor, Gitto Construction, to rehabilitate it instead.

Orubebe and the co-accused ?persons are also charged with conferring undue advantage on the construction firm when they caused the money meant for compensating residents whose properties were marked for demolition paid to Gitto.

Court papers stated that the sum of N2,320,686,826.00 approved for payment of compensation to owners of properties that were to be demolished to make way for the dualisation of the road was paid to the contractor instead of the beneficiaries.

ICPC Arraigns Surgeon For Demanding N320k Bribe Before Carrying Out A Surgery In Enugu

A former Consultant Cardio-thoracic Surgeon in the Department of Surgery, University Of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, Professor Martin Aghaji, has been arraigned before Justice R. O. Odugu of a Federal High Court sitting in Enugu by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a 4-count charge of allegedly demanding and receiving bribe in the course of his official duties.

The charges bordered on administrative corruption, extortion and conferring corrupt advantages on himself, which violate Sections 8 and 19 and are punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. Professor Aghaji, had sometime in 2003, while being a public officer used his position as a Consultant Cardio-thoracic Surgeon at UNTH Enugu, demanded for N320, 000 and received N70, 000, before he could carry out a surgical operation on one late Francis Ebeogbodi, which he never did before the patient passed on.

Investigations have shown that although it is unethical for doctors in public service to demand and accept money before performing their official duties, the accused had allegedly done so. Professor Aghaji pleaded not guilty and was granted bail on self-recognition.

Budget Padding: Why I Revealed The Secret Late – Jibrin

Erstwhile chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, yesterday admitted that his revelations over the alleged padding of the 2016 budget were late.

 

Jibrin explained that he could not expose the budget padding in good time, as it was difficult for him to stand against the institutionalised corruption in the House of Representatives.

 

He also said that allegation of corruption levied against the National Assembly by former president Olusegun Obasanjo could not be totally.

 

Jibrin, while speaking on the controversial insertions into the 2016 budget, on a Channels Television weekly programme, ‘Sunday Politics’ said although this revelations were coming late late, but as the chairman of the committee, he was made to believe that certain information were not to be disclosed.

 

“I fought the battle of my life, I didn’t help myself, I started speaking late,” he said.

 

He added that; “I am a product of the establishment, and now my mentors will now realize that I have gone out of the cycle. I am so glad that I am breaking away from the cycle.”

 

He however explained that the insertions did not affect the size of the budget, noting that the harmonisations committee chaired by the deputy speaker Yusuf Lasun took advantage of the committee to insert more items for personal aggrandizement.

 

Abdulmumini stated further that just 10 standing committees out of the 96 standing committees posted 200 projects which amounted to N284 billion were inserted into the budget.

 

“After collecting the reports of the various committees, we did the statistics and shockingly, I discovered that just about 10 standing committees out of the 96 standing committees of the House posted about 2000 projects, totaling about N284 billion,” he stated.

 

Although, he admitted that the insertions were constitutional that the insertions into the budget by the principal officers of the House were constitutional, and it is a usual practice in the national assembly, he maintained that the insertions were outrageous and above the limit.

“There is that unanimity in the national assembly, we all do not agree with the word padding, of course as I have explained that there are so many insertions from the angle of the National Assembly, even though the law allows it, internally, I raised an observation, of course, I discussed the matter with the speaker, that personally I believe that the insertions were too much. And it is also very important that the constitution gave us the power to appropriate, but the intention is what I question, those were the issues I fought until eventually I left,” he said.

 

He stated further that; There have been insertions in past budgets; I saw the insertions in budgets of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. The only difference is that in 2016, the insertions went completely above the board.”

 

Abdulmumini maintained that there is Institutionalised corruption in the House, but members are quick to deny the fact.

 

“There is institutionalised corruption in the House, but we keep living in denial, it is my fifth year in the National Assembly, I have never been involved in corruption, I have never shared money.”

 

According to Abdulmumini, the size and quantity of insertions would always cause a rift between the executive and legislative arm of government. If the insertion into the budget is done from the executive arm of government, members of the national assembly refer to such insertion as padding, and when it is done by the National Assembly members, the executive arm of government also refer to it as padding.

 

When pointedly asked to explain the role of ministries, departments and agencies in the conspiracy, Jibrin said; “I don’t want to involve the executive arm of government in this, because the matter is already controversial, of course a lot transpired between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Budget office on one hand and the Ministry of Budget and the Budget Office on the other hand.”

 

He noted that his mission was to force a revolution in the House of Representatives and a lot of issues ranging from corruption and conduct of members will be raised.

We Will Not Intervene In The Budget Padding Scandal – APC Governors

The governors of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have said they would not intervene in the current budget-padding scandal rocking the House of Representatives.

 

The governors had last week met President Muhammadu Buhari and obtained permission from the president to mediate in the crisis.

 

Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State stated this during a chat with journalists in Abuja.

 

“I assure you that we are not going to delve into cases that are before the courts or tribunal. We are not going to delve into the current issue of the moment. We are only going to touch on the political issues pertaining to the National Assembly.

 

“What is before the court, those of us who are lawyers, know that it is subjudice and the current issue is just coming up and it is not politics.

 

“As far as I am concerned, if any proof is found to any of the allegations, these are criminal offences. So, there is no way any committee of governors can delve into that, I assure you,” he stated.

Bomb Shell: Dogara Gave Appropriation Committee Members $20,000 Bribe Each To Lie At Press Conference – Jibrin

MY RESPONSE TO THE PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY 9 MEMBERS OF THE 40-MEMBER APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 
All the accusations they leveled against me are not in any way different from the bunch of lies contained in the shameless statement released by Speaker Dogara and the 3 other principal officers through Hon Namdas which I have fully provided response to. But to prove my innocence, I have resolved that I will respond to any accusation or allegation leveled against me, unlike the corrupt Speaker Dogara, who rather than respond to the 25 allegations I leveled against him and others, has resorted to use legal gimmicks to stall the allegations. Mr Speaker, you cannot sweep such hefty allegations under the carpet. You think Nigerians are not watching?
 
First, only 9 out of the 40 appropriation committee members agreed to participate in such a dishonorable press conference after shamelessly collecting $20,000 each distributed to them two days ago at the Speaker’s residence by his Deputy Chief of staff Hon CID Maduabum. My same Deputy Hon Chris Azubogu (you will remember his history with Hon Hembe in the 7th Assembly) who was used to organize the press conference was clearly on camera almost crying at the press conference where I announced my resignation. It took a couple of minutes before I could calm him down, get him seated for me to commence the event. See attached documents showing his greedy demands for insertions 111 projects into the budget which I turned down. You can imagine the pressure I went through. The 9 of them are a disgrace to their constituents.
 
On the lies that I never conferred with committee members or excluded them, here is the fact. The members of appropriation committee were fully carried along except those periods that the Quartet of Speaker Dogara and others took away the entire secretariat from me. When the appropriation bill passes second reading and is referred to the appropriation committee, a meeting with standing committee chairmen, their deputies and principal officers is usually held to discuss the guidelines for the committee work. We held that meeting on Wednesday January 27th 2016 With Mr Speaker in attendance. (see attached for document showing agenda of meeting and guide lines provided to standing committees).
 
The 40 members of the appropriation committee are grouped into sub-committees and allocated a number of standing committees to supervise. Their role is so important such that they must first agree with the report of the various standing committees they supervised before the report of such committees are considered, deliberated and adopted by the appropriation committee. The implication of that process is that every member participated and endorsed the reports. God so kind, the entire session was recorded publicly. I will release the videos so that my Hon colleagues and the general public will see videos of appropriation members in action. And the 9 members of the appropriation committee with short memory will be reminded.
 
No report of a standing committee of the house was received without the approval of members of appropriation committee. See attached for document showing full list of members of appropriation committee, distribution into sub committees, secretary of each subcommittee, contacts and meeting rooms. Interestingly, the distribution and allocations was done by this same Deputy chairman of mine! Where is his honour?
 
Again they tried to drag the entire house and body of principal officers into this matter. I have stated categorically clear several times that my allegations are not against the House as an institution or the entire body of principal officers but specifically on Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun, Whip Alhassan Doguwa and Minority Leader Leo Ogor and few other members.
 
It is also a blatant lie that I disappeared. I was always at home since we were on a short break. Even more shocking is the fact that my Deputy Hon Chris Azubogu who was regularly at my home during that period can go on national TV for a price of $20,000 to tell such shameful lies. Well, CCTV don’t tell lies. The period that my colleagues didn’t see me was the two occasions that Speaker Dogara and the others took away my secretariat. At least, now you know that your budget was with Mr Speaker not me.
 
On the issue of pressure by members against me, I have explained that countless times. Who can blame them when they do not have the facts of the matter. All they know and hear is Hon Jibrin. This is in addition to a well-orchestrated blackmail by Speaker Dogara and his cohorts to spread false hood and effectively block me from briefing members. The conspiracy of silence by the few committee chairmen who are culprits didn’t help my case. Well, now the whole members are getting to know what transpired.
 
The contradictions in all your statements are too much. Here you are talking about sack. What do we believe after the Speaker first admitted that I resigned? Again, on one hand you say Hon Jibrin padded the budget, on the other hand you say nothing like padding in the entire budget. Which do you want us to believe? Yes we have complete powers of appropriation but the intention of the constitution is not to say you should exercise that power in a senseless manner, okay?
 
 
The mother of all contradiction, is when you said no breach was committed so there must not be any external probe but internal. So if there has been no breach what so ever in the budget process, why are you accusing me of committing so many offence in that regard? And what do you intend to probe internally?
 
My dear colleagues, you all know me very well and my bluntness and anti-corruption stance in the House. We will all die and meet our God. Feel free to play politics but remember posterity will judge.
 
I urge you all to join hands and do the Honourable thing by asking Speaker Yakubu Dogara and the 3 other principal officers to reconvene the House and step down with immediate effect to face prosecution. They have all lost the moral grounds to call themselves presiding and principal officers of the House. The more they cling on to power, the further the image of the House will be battered.
 
I wish to inform you that I have officially approached the EFFC and the ICPC to come in and decisively deal with this matter and other corruption cases in the House. Kindly note that the allegations must be externally investigated.
 
This is a defining moment for the House of Representatives. It will never be business as usual.
 
Thank you
 
Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin PhD MBA
Kiru-Bebeji Federal Constituency
Kano (APC)

Budget Padding: EFCC, ICPC Must Investigate Allegations Against Dogara, Others – Jibrin

Former chairman of the House of Representative Committee on Appropriation, Honourable Jibrin on Friday insisted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) must probe the allegation of budget padding he levelled against the Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara and three other principal officers.

 

He said that, “This is a defining moment for the House of Representatives. It will never be business as usual”.

 

To this end, he urged members “to join hands and do the honourable thing by asking Speaker Yakubu Dogara and the three other principal officers to reconvene the House and step down with immediate effect to face prosecution.

 

According to him, “They have all lost the moral grounds to call themselves presiding and principal officers of the House. The more they cling on to power, the further the image of the House will be battered.”

 

The statement reads in part: “I wish to inform you that I have officially approached the EFFC and the ICPC to come in and decisively deal with this matter and other corruption cases in the House. Kindly note that the allegations must be externally investigated.

 

He also questioned the rationale behind his former deputy, Honourable Chris Azibogu and few others’ decosopm to address a press conference where they claimed there was no budget padding.

 

He wondered why “only 9 out of the 40 appropriation committee members agreed to participate in such a dishonorable press conference after  shamelessly collecting $20,000 each distributed to them yesterday at the Speaker’s residence by his Deputy Chief of staff, Hon CID Maduabum.

 

“My same Deputy Hon Chris Azubogu ( you will remember his history with Hon Hembe in the 7th Assembly) who was used to organize the press conference was clearly on camera almost crying at the press conference where I announced my resignation.”

Saraki, Akpabio, Daniel, Odili, Ladoja Included In AGF’s List For Fresh Probe, Trial

Senate President Bukola Saraki, factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ali Modu Sheriff; and Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, are among 31 former governors whose alleged corruption cases investigated by the anti-graft agencies are likely to be reopened soon.

The PUNCH had exclusively reported on Tuesday that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, had written to the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission, directing the reopening of the cases of the ex-governors.

It was learnt on Wednesday that the AGF had called for the case files of the former state governors.

 

The PUNCH obtained the list of the former governors, who were named in the AGF’s letter, on Wednesday.

The list contains the names of Saraki, a former Governor of Kwara State; Akpabio (a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, and Sheriff (an ex-Governor of Borno State).

Other former governors include Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia); Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu); Saminu Turaki (Jigawa); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Joshua Dariye (Plateau); Ahmed Yerima (Zamfara); Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Martin Elechi (Ebonyi); Danjuma Goje (Gombe) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa).

 

They also include Ikedi Ohakim (Imo); Obong Victor Attah (Akwa Ibom); Achike Udenwa (Imo); Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa); Gbenga Daniel (Ogun); Jolly Nyame (Taraba); Boni Haruna (Adamawa); George Akume (Benue); Rashidi Ladoja (Oyo); Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto) and Adebayo Alao-Akala.

Others are Usman Dakingari (Kebbi); Adamu Mu’azu (Bauchi); Peter Odili (Rivers), and Lucky Igbindedion (Edo).

Part of the AGF’s letter to the ICPC, sighted by our correspondent on Monday, indicated that the cases against some of the former governors were investigated some years ago, but charges were never filed against them.

 

The letter partly read, “It is clear that some of these governors and other politically-exposed persons have not been charged to court despite the fact that the ICPC has concluded their investigations, concerning allegations levelled against them, for one reason or the other.

“It is the position of the present administration that all ex-governors, who the ICPC had long concluded investigations into the various allegations levelled against them, should be immediately prosecuted.”

The letter also gave the Chairman of the ICPC a 14-day ultimatum to “remit the duplicate case files concerning the politically-exposed persons investigated by the ICPC over the years” to the office of the AGF.

Our correspondent confirmed on Wednesday that the AGF had sent a similar request to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with the same list of former governors annexed to his letter.

 

The PUNCH had reported that some of the ex-governors, according to one of the sources, include some, who had been convicted on charges preferred against them by the EFCC.

Some of them also had their cases terminated before full-blown trial could begin.

Others are currently undergoing trial on charges initiated against them by the EFCC at either the various divisions of the Federal High Court or the High Courts of their home states.

 

There are about five of the former governors, who are now said to be serving senators.

The affected personalities, it was learnt, served as governors for either one or two terms between 1999 and 2015, and are from all the six geopolitical zones of the country.

It was also confirmed that the majority of those on the list belonged to the two dominant political parties, the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.

Another source also confirmed that a former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, who was convicted in the United Kingdom for fraud-related charges and still serving his prison terms, was on the list.

Apart from Ibori, two former governors from the South-South, are said to be on the list.

Five of the former governors are from the South-East, and three from the South-West.

 

The PUNCH was informed that the ex-governors, whose cases would be reopened, included six from the North-West; six from the North-East, and eight from the North-Central.

The AGF letter defines high-profile cases as cases “involving alleged misconduct amounting to economic sabotage; involving complex financial transactions or property movement; involving any of the suspects, who is a politician, a public officer or judicial officer; and where the subject matter involves government or corruption of its official or involves the abuse of office.”

Such judiciary officers, it was learnt, would include judges allegedly involved in economic sabotage, including financial transactions.

 

The AGF’s letter to both the ICPC and EFCC indicated that AGF’s request for the case files was in the exercise of his powers vested in the AGF by Section 174(1) of the Constitution as well as sections 105 (3) and 106 (a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

Our correspondent’s findings showed on Wednesday that ICPC and EFCC had yet to respond to the AGF’s request.

Reps Ask EFCC, ICPC To Probe Bala, Others Over Land Swap

The House of Representatives yesterday asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the former FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, to examine the likely abuse of financial regulations in the land swap policy he introduced while in office.
Also to be probed alongside Bala are the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr Adamu Ismaila and the coordinator, Abuja Infrastructure Investment Center (AIIC), Mr Faruk Sani, to ascertain their culpability or otherwise in the abuse of financial regulations, due process and other regulations regarding the land swap program.

The House took the decision after adopting the report of its committee on the FCT chaired by Rep Herman Hembe (APC, Benue).
The committee, which investigated the matter earlier this month, laid its report on Tuesday, containing 10 recommendations.
The House also asked relevant security and law enforcement agencies to investigate and track all monies expended outside the laid down financial guidelines for the program, particularly, monies paid to the FCTA Land Swap Programme Account with the FCMB Plc, and the private personal account of Mustafa Usman Kaoje, the Accountant of AIIC and any other official of FCTA and AIIC.
Credit: Dailytrust

Yarima Arraigned Over N1bn Fraud

Former Zamfara state governor Ahmad Sani, otherwise known as Yarima, was charged to court yesterday on a 19-count-charge of corruption. He was charged before Justice Bello Shinkafi of High Court 4, in Gusau, the Zamfara state capital, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The commission accused him of diverting part of N1 billion project funds for other purposes. The fund was meant for the repair of the collapsed Gusau Dam and the resettlement of the victims displaced by flood waters. The money was obtained through a bank loan after it was approved by the State House of Assembly as additional budgetary allocation. Yarima, now a senator, was, among others, charged with embarking on N385.5 million extra budgetary spending. The offences were committed in 2006 and mainly in October and November of that year. The former governor was said to have spent the sum of N20 million purportedly on assistance to INEC; N10 million purportedly on donations; N43 million on surveillance of guest; N21 million on settlements. Others are N64 million on sponsorship of government officials on Hajj; N32 million on settlement of accommodation; N15 million on furniture allowance; N29 million on purchase of 2000 Nanfang motorcycles; sum of N23 million on payment to automobile company; N14 million on payment of auditing of account and N14 million on Ramadan Feeding. It said that the offence contravenes Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000. Yarima on or about May 2007 used his position as governor  to confer corrupt advantage upon himself  by  awarding consultancy services to his company, Development Management  System Ltd,  for the supply of 50, 000 metric tons (200,000 bags) of grains by Zamfara State Government to the Federal Government. The contract included an  agreement to pay 10 % i.e. N161million of the total cost of N1.6 billion to Development Management Ltd as consultancy fee but for which only 9,181.89 metric tons (91, 818 bags) were supplied. It said the former governor paid Development Management Ltd N91, 840,000 whereas it was entitled only to N29, 565,685.80. It added that the company was overpaid by N62, 274,315 and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. Earlier, Yarima’s counsel, Mahmud Abubakar Magaji (SAN) had applied for bail arguing that the offences are bail-able. He said Yarima being a two term governor and a sitting senator would never jump bail. He added that the accused would be available throughout the trial. He said nowhere in the charge sheet was Yarima accused on suspected of diverting the said amount of money to his own personal use. All what is alleged is that he used the money to sponsor the citizens of the state to Hajj or feed them during Ramadan fasting and, therefore, he was entitled to bail according to the ICPC Act. The accused was granted bail in the sum of N100 million and two sureties each of whom must have property worth N150 million in Gusau and one of them must be a resident within Gusau town. The case has been adjourned to February 29 for hearing.

Credit: dailytrust

ICPC Cautions VIOs Against Extortion, Bribery

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission has advised Vehicle Inspection Officers in Kaduna State to avoid extortion and other forms of corrupt practices.

The ICPC North-West Zonal Commissioner, Mr. Olusegun Adigun, gave the advice on Thursday at a two-day workshop for VIOs in the state to enlighten them on the need for integrity and transparency.

The workshop with the theme, “Combating Corruption in Vehicle Inspection System: The Role of ICPC”, was organised by the ICPC in collaboration with the Kaduna State Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport.

Adigun said the level of extortion and bribery by VIOs had continued to deny the state government huge revenue, adding that such practices must be stopped.

He said, “Corruption simply occurs when a person in a position of trust and responsibility suppresses the rules in order to advance his or her personal interest at the expense of the public.

Credit: NAN

ICPC Uncovers Over N23bn Pension Funds ‘Lost’ In 40 Bank Accounts

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has uncovered over N23billion pension funds ‘lost’ in 40 bank accounts in the country.

Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Ekpo Nta who made the disclosure yesterday, at the maiden town hall meeting of the ICPC in Makurdi, the Benue capital, said the Commission consolidated the accounts into four and was also able to recovered N496million in accrued interests on one of the accounts.


“With the intervention of ICPC the sum of N34.5 billion has been remitted to 97, 842 employees’ RSAs’’.
Represented by Member of the ICPC, Alhaji Isa Salami, he said “the Commission discovered that the National Pension Commission, PENCOM, was not remitting deductions from employees’ salaries to their respective Retirement Savings Accounts, RSAs, owing to inaccurate information.

Nta further revealed that while conducting systems review of personnel cost expenditure profile across Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, over a period of four years, ICPC compelled the return of over N6 billion unspent balances into government treasury.

The ICPC Chairman urged Nigerians to “support the renewed onslaught against the monster called corruption because it is by so doing that we can drive down the menace and eventually eliminate it from our country.”

In his speech, Govenor Samuel Ortom who was represented by his Deputy, Mr. Benson Abounu, urged all political office holders in the country to strive to ensure that they never became guests of the ICPC after office.

Ortom regretted that the state was facing the most difficult times due to corruption and the squander of the state resources by the past government.

In their separate speeches, the Tor Tiv, Chief Alfred Torkuka and Ochi Idoma, Elias Obekpa pledged the support of the traditional rulers in the state in the fight against corruption in the country. uncovers over N23billion pension funds ‘lost’ in 40 bank accounts

NBTE Partners EFCC, ICPC To stem Corruption In Polytechnics

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has partnered with the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences (ICPC) to eradicate corruption in the country’s Polytechnics.

 

The Executive Secretary, NBTE, Dr Masa’udu Kazaure, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Kaduna during an interactive session with the EFCC on Anti-Corruption for Principals and Trade Unions in Polytechnics and Specialised institutions.

“NBTE has partnered with EFCC and the ICPC to ensure that the fight against corruption is firmly rooted in polytechnics.

“Through such partnerships, the board, EFCC and ICPC have conducted compliance monitoring activities of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTU) in Polytechnics.

“We have also organised interactive session for different categories of staff in NBTE and polytechnics, facilitated workshops on entrenching integrity in academics and procurement processes in polytechnics.

“All these efforts are geared toward ensuring that loopholes for corruption in our institutions are plugged so that together, we can build a better polytechnic system that we can all be proud of,’’ he said.

He urged government officials to lead by example if the fight against corruption would be effectively tackled.

Kazaure explained that the number of petitions to the EFCC and ICPC in the past two years which bordered on academic and financial corruption from the polytechnics were alarming.

He said the petitions generated negative impact on the sector and had been a cause of concern for the board and the Federal Ministry of Education.

“This interactive session is aimed at sensitising the principal officers and union members of the activities of the EFFCC and ICPC and how to avoid being a victim of financial crimes and other similar offences.

“Such fora provided very useful information that will ensure probity and accountability in both academics and administration of the institutions as well as reduce petitions emanating from the institutions.

“This sensitisation would not have come at a better time than now when the country has an administration that is intolerant to corruption,’’ he added.

Also, the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, represented by the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Mr Osita Nwajah, pointed out that the partnership was already yielding the desired result.

Magu said that NBTE and all institutions under its purview were becoming more aware of issues relating to corruption and had been cooperating to reduce its prevalence in the system.

“However, I must sound a note of warning that acts of fraud, corruption and other forms of economic and financial crimes, whether committed by individuals or group will not be overlooked by the EFCC.

“The full weight of the law will be brought to bear on anyone caught in line with the determined anti-corruption war of the present administration. EFCC will get you anywhere, anytime,’’ he said.

In his remark, the ICPC’s North-West Zonal Commissioner, Mr Olusegun Adigun, commended NBTE for taking a firm stand against corruption.

Adigun urged government officials and Nigerians to join the anti-corruption crusade to rescue the country from collapse due to corrupt activities.

 

(NAN)

ICPC Recovers N80bn Loot

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recovered over N80 billion loot including N23 billion stashed in 40 banks in the country.

A member of the commission, Mallam Ozi Salami, stated this yesterday during the maiden interactive session of the North Central zonal advisory/ consultative committee held at the Confluence Beach Hotel, Lokoja, Kogi State.

He said the commission has so far received over 4,497 petitions with 899 cases con- cluded while 470 are still in court.

He said contrary to claims that the anti-graft agency has not performed well in securing convictions in the court, he said it has done so much that it has helped in shaping the society.

Salami said, for example, the commission on receiving a petition investigated and uncovered 63 illegal degree- awarding institutions and in conjuction with the National Universities Commission (NUC) ordered their closure.

Credit: SunOnline

Five Ex-Permanent Secs To Face Trial For Alleged Corruption, N292m Found In One Account

Five of the affected 17 federal Permanent Secretaries that were sacked by President Buhari on Tuesday November 10th may face trial for alleged corruption. Information from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) indicates that N292 million was found in an account operated by one of the retired Permanent Secretaries account.

ICPC officials had commenced investigations into the personal accounts operated by the permanent secretaries immediately Buhari submitted the ministerial list to the Senate and it was discovered that the account had swollen to N292 million in just five months.

A source at ICP headquarters who spoke with Punch said:

“It is true that the ICPC is probing the activities of the permanent secretaries. About N292m was traced to the account of one of the recently retired permanent secretaries. The commission has concluded investigating some of the permanent secretaries while others are still being investigated. For those that we have concluded investigations on them, we have sent their files to relevant places for action. It is not exactly true that those who were not sacked by the President in the recent exercise are innocent. They are also being investigated.”he said The retired Perm Secs include Aliyu Ismaila; Godknows Igali; Alhaji Baba Farouk; Abdulkadir Musa; Linus Awute; Fatima Bamidele; Obinna John Chukwu; Ezekiel Oyemomi; Anasthesia Nwaobia; Tunji Olaopa; George A. Ossi ; Mike John Nwabiala; Mohammed Bashar and Abdullahi Yola.

Senate may involve EFCC, ICPC in ministerial screening

The Senate leadership will adopt the formal procedure for the screening of ministerial nominees behind closed doors on Tuesday. It may also involve anti-graft agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission in the screening of those nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari to become ministers under the present administration.

A principal officer, who craved anonymity, disclosed this during an interview in Abuja on Monday.

He said the Senate at the close-door meeting would discuss whether to give special considerations for former senators and other members of the National Assembly nominated as ministerial candidates by Buhari.

The principal officer, explained that the meeting became necessary in view of the fact that the leadership of the Eighth Senate had vowed to do a thorough job to ensure that persons with questionable characters were not confirmed as ministers.

He said, “As far as we are concerned, everybody should be equal but at the same time, we have a convention that gives special considerations to former and serving senators or members of the House of Representatives, yet we say there won’t be the usual take a bow approach.

“We also have another convention that says two senators from a state must approve confirmation of the nominee from their state, what happens if the senators are in the opposition party with the nominee?”

Speaking with some journalists in his office, the Peoples Democratic Party member representing Abia North Senatorial District, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, said President Buhari must appear before the Senate if he wants to be Petroleum minister.

Ohuabunwa said, “The constitution is clear and we will follow the constitution and the laid down rule. I don’t think the President’s name will be on the list and I also don’t think that the President will say he is a minister.

“If you are a minister one of the conditions is that you must be subjected to screening and approval of the Senate. He, as the chief minister, can be there to supervise any ministry but he cannot be a minister. Whoever is advising him to be a minister is not advising him rightly.”

But the Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, disagreed with Ohuabunwa on the appearance of the President in the Senate for screening before he could function as a minister.

Na’Allah, in a telephone interview explained that the President and his vice, had been given constitutional powers to carry out all the functions in the executive arms of government without necessarily asking for the permission of the legislature.

He said, “The President does not have to appear before the Senate before he could perform as a minister or oversee any ministry. He has the executive powers to carry out necessary functions alongside the vice president. “

Ohuabunwa, however, added that the Senate might reject the presentation of the ministerial list in batches because “it is unconstitutional.”

He said, “I expect that the list will be complete for us to move on because the constitution never said in batches and the constitution has said one minister from every state, so if you are screening and the other states are not been represented how can you explain that because nothing says that the President must submit list in batches.

The senator assured Nigerians that the Senate would be guided by the constitution and the rules of the Senate in screening the nominees.

He added that it would be against the Senate and indeed against the President and Nigerians for the upper chamber to see a very strong allegation of petition on corruption and throw it away.

He said, “Definitely we will not ignore allegation of corruption against any nominee. If we see a strong petition, definitely we will look into it and follow it to a logical conclusion.

“If it requires writing to the anti-graft agencies such as the ICPC or EFCC to give us a report on such a person, we will do that because that is what screening is all about. Screening is not a tea party.

“Integrity is very important. If you have in one way or the other soiled your hands, it will be unfortunate because the Senate will not just say carry go.”

On whether the Senate would waive the painstaking process in order to curry favour from the Presidency, Ohuabunwa said the Senate would not be cowed because of any consideration.

Here is the copy of the Ministerial nominees’ list as unveiled by the Senate President today, October 6, 2015.

Screenshot_2015-10-06-18-56-26-1 Screenshot_2015-10-06-18-57-26-1

Punch

Ministerial Screening: Senate May Involve EFCC, ICPC

The Senate leadership will adopt the formal procedure for the screening of ministerial nominees behind closed doors on Tuesday (today). It may also involve anti-graft agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission in the screening of those nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari to become ministers under the present administration.

A principal officer, who craved anonymity, disclosed this during an interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Monday.

He said the Senate at the close-door meeting would discuss whether to give special considerations for former senators and other members of the National Assembly nominated as ministerial candidates by Buhari.

The principal officer, explained that the meeting became necessary in view of the fact that the leadership of the Eighth Senate had vowed to do a thorough job to ensure that persons with questionable characters were not confirmed as ministers.

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Anti-Corruption Panel In Secret Meeting With ICPC

The Itse Sagay-led Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption has met with top officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC.

A source at the ICPC, who pleaded not to be named, said Mr. Sagay and other members of the presidential panel arrived the commission at about 12 noon Tuesday.

The panel immediately went into a closed-door meeting with the ICPC team led by the chairman, Ekpo Nta.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on August 10 constituted the panel to advise his administration on how to successfully tackle corruption and reform the criminal justice system.

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ICPC Probes Amaechi, Kwankwaso, Chime, Shema

The independent Corrupt Practices and other offences Commission (ICPC) has commenced investigations of four former governors following petition against them.

The four governors are former governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, Sullivan Chime of Enugu, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina and Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano.

Already four teams have been raised to visit the states to check the books of the states to establish the allegations against the governors.

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ICPC Nabs 2 Top Government Officials

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) yesterday arrested two top government officials over allegations of corruption.

A grey Toyota camry car was sighted conveying the arrested officials driving into the premises of the ICPC headquarters yesterday, and the ICPC officers quickly moved the men, who were both handcuffed together, into the cell.

All efforts to find out who the arrested officials were proved abortive as the two men, who were wearing black and grey suits, were shaded from security operatives at the gate and at the reception, while the men shaded their faces with their other hands.

Upon inquiry, the ICPC officers refused to comment on the identities of the arrested men and the nature of their crime.

However, one of the officers, who pleaded anonymity, said that they were among some top government officials, who had fraudulently converted public funds to their personal use.

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Onyeka Onwenu Finally Reports At ICPC, Granted Bail

The director-general of the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), Onyeka Onwenu, has finally honoured the invitation of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the alleged N17million contract bribe and was granted administrative bail.

According to a reliable source at the ICPC office, the NCWD DG appeared before the anti-graft agency on Monday and after answering some questions, she was allowed to go home on recognition, while investigation into the alleged bribe continues.

The source, however, would not confirm the outcome of the investigation on whether the renowned songstress was indicted or not but promised to make the matter public when the need arises.

The NCWD boss had declined to appear to before the anti-corruption agency when invited last week, claiming that she had to attend to her health first.

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N1.2billion Unspent Funds: ICPC To Arraign Former NSCDC “Ogas At The Top”

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, said it would soon arraign three officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, over N1.2 billion unspent funds.

A resident consultant with the ICPC, Folu Olamiti, made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja. The three officials will be arraigned before Justice Husseini Baba, of the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Tuesday.

According to Mr. Olamiti, the NSCDC officials to be arraigned include a former Assistant Commandant General, Mohammed Umar and Amobi Chidozie and Ojuolape Oyemomi, whose ranks were not specified.

He said the action followed an alleged conspiracy to offer gratification to some public officers in the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, AGF.

Mr. Olamiti explained that the alleged bribes were offered in December 2004 to the AGF staff to induce them to extend the time of remittance of the N1.2 billion unspent funds belonging to NSCDC.

He, however, attributed the delay in the case to the death of one of the suspects whose name was struck off the charge sheet and the health challenge of Mr. Umar. “The accused were alleged to have conspired and also used their public offices to offer gratification to some public officers of the office of the AGF in the sum of N1.5million as inducement,” said Mr. Olamiti.

“The trio will also be facing trial for the transfer of the sum of N8.2 million meant for overhead vote to personnel vote – an offence contrary and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

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How To End Corruption In Nigeria – Ex-ICPC Chief

A former Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanuel Ayoola (rtd), on Thursday listed ways to end corruption in Nigeria.

He said the factors which encourage graft must first be addressed, namely lack of political will and commitment, whittling of the capacity of anti-corruption agencies through denial of resources, inadequate legal framework and citizens’ indifference.

The legal framework, he said, needs reform, adding that the general culture of lawlessness must end for corruption not to thrive.

He spoke in Lagos at the annual lecture of Punuka Attorneys and Solicitors, with the theme: “Anti-Corruption and Bribery Laws: Extra-Territorial Applications and Lessons for Businesses and Government Agencies.”

According to Ayoola, who chaired the event, it is misconceived to think that the only method of bringing corruption to its knees is through the criminal justice option.

He said: “Nigeria must be ready to revise and reform the totality of the legal framework in relation to the fight against corruption to facilitate result-oriented fight and engender inclusive and popular fight.”

The former Supreme Court justice said the government must realise that the modalities of criminality do not remain static.

“As the strategies of criminality become more sophisticated, agencies set up to fight such must keep up with whatever becomes a developing trend,” he said.

To Justice Ayoola, the fight against corruption needs a more holistic and deeply thought-out strategic approach.

He said it must also remain a “running battle” backed by urgent commitment of resources to the fight and steadfastness in the course of the campaign.

He said rather than citizens remaining weak and indifferent to corruption, they must enthusiastically participate in efforts to end graft.

“Nigeria’s perception of the fight against corruption is strong in sentiment and emotion but abysmally weak in action and commitment.

“As long as we, at all levels of society, pay lip service to the fight against corruption, it will take longer to rout it in our nation,” he said.

Justice Ayoola, who is opposed to the merger of ICPC with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (ICPC), said there is nothing wrong with having a “multiplicity” of anti-graft agencies.

The guest speaker, a professor of law at the University of Toronto, Mariana Prado, said having multiple anti-graft agencies, if sustainable, would create competition, lead to collaboration and result in complementarity.

ICPC Rescues Female Student Who had Spent 12 Years On Campus For Refusing Sexual Advances

Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Mr Ekpo Nta, revealed at the weekend that the commission had rescued a female undergraduate of the Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, who had spent 12 years on campus for refusing sexual advances, adding that they were working on prosecuting all the officials involved.

He said the commission had focused its torchlight on the universities, where it has closed down over 26 illegal degree-awarding institutions and rescued a number of students being victimized. “There is also a student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, who had spent eight years in the institution without graduating, as he was being victimised. We got involved and through us, he graduated.”

Credit: uniabujafacts

Nyako Wants EFCC To Probe Fintiri Over N18BN Fraud Allegation

Former Adamawa State governor, Murtala Nyako, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission(ICPC) to probe the administration of Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri  over N18 billion allegation levelled against it.

A statement by Nyako’s spokesperson, Ahmad Sajoh, said the Nyako Group will not relent until the matter is fully investigated and culprits brought to justice.

 “We wish to call on the anti-corruption agencies (ICPC and EFCC) to investigate the matter thoroughly, because as they say, there is no smoke without fire,” he said.

He added that the impeachment of Nyako and removal of Ngilari by the Assembly were predicated on false allegations of corruption in order to “pave way for the legislators to have access to state funds for self enrichment.”

He added: “Fintiri should come clean and embrace the truth so that it can set him free. On our part, we shall make sure that the matter is not swept under the carpet (since we hold the broom) or hidden in the folded umbrella of the PDP.”
Press Secretary to the Speaker, Solomon Kumangar, could not be reached for comments as his phone was switched off.