Abacha Loot: Nigerian Activists Demand Prosecution Of Ex-Minister, Okonjo-Iweala

One of Nigeria’s most prominent anti-corruption coalitions, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), has urged the chairman, Code of Conduct Bureau to immediately prosecute the immediate past Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for “abuse of office and contravention of institutionalised procedures for public office holders while in office”.

Okonjo Iweala

In a petition to the Bureau, signed by its chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the coalition criticised the illegal manner the former coordinating minister of the economy allegedly disbursed funds recovered from late Sanni Abacha.

The group also accused the former minister of having misled Nigerians with false information on the utilization of the said fund.

“In the past weeks, Nigerians have been inundated with revelations of how the former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki misappropriated the sum of $300million and £5.5 million which was meant for the purchase of arms and ammunition to enable the military combat the insurgency orchestrated by Boko Haram,” Mr. Suraju said.

“Further revelation and reports have also shown that the said funds from the recovered Abacha fund was illegally transferred to the Office of the National Security Adviser by the immediate past Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.”

Arguing that since the said funds were not appropriated by the National Assembly before the transfers were made, the disbursement was illegal and unlawful.

The group continued, “In a letter dated the 20th of January, 2015, which was addressed to former president Goodluck Jonathan, the former finance Minister had sought his approval for the funds to be disbursed to the ONSA for procurement of arms to fight the Boko Haram insurgency.

“However, as the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, it behoves her to ensure that transfer of the said funds was carried out according to established laws and to also ensure that they were properly utilized. She therefore abdicated her responsibility to Dr. Jonathan to demand accounts of the funds from Mr. Dasuki,

“Furthermore at several fora, Dr. Iweala had misled Nigerians with false information on the utilization of proceeds of the recovered Abacha funds by the previous administration.

“She had on several occasions stated that the funds had been spent on road constructions, power generation, schools and other developmental projects across the country.”

CSNAC described Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala’s action as a clear case of abuse of powers and breach of provisions of Code of Conduct for public officers.

It quoted Paragraph 9, Part 1 of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers under the 5th Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provides as saying:

“A public officer shall not do or direct to be done, in abuse of his office, any arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of any other person knowing that such act is unlawful or contrary to any government policy.”

Mr. Suraju continued, “By transferring funds in clear violation of constitutional provisions, Dr. Iweala has clearly done an act contrary to government policy, thereby breaching the provisions of the Code of Conduct for public officers.

“If she had followed due process in the transfer of the funds by seeking the approval of the National Assembly, the country would have been saved from this huge mess. Thousands of Nigerians have and are still losing their lives and have become displaced in their own country due to the terrorist activities.

“Our gallant soldiers have been made to fight the war without adequate equipments and have been court martial for daring to complain. Yet, all of these happened due to the activities of unpatriotic and corrupt officials who were encouraged by the laxity and abuse of office on the part of the former finance minister.

“CSNAC is therefore by this petition demanding the prosecution of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala for abusing her office as finance minister by illegally transferring the said funds to the Office of the National SecurityAdviser.

“You will agree with us that public officers need to be made to realize that the powers conferred on them by their offices are not arbitrary and are subject to scrutiny and control at all times. The prosecution of Dr. Iweala will contribute immensely in conveying that message to all public officers.”

It is not clear at the time of this report whether the Code of Conduct Bureau had responded to the group.

Source: Premium Times

Bayelsa polls: Dickson insists he‘ll win rerun election.

Governor of Bay­elsa State, Hon Henry Seriake Dickson, has insisted that he should be declared the winner of the December 5 governorship election, having won six out of seven LGs declared by the Independent Na­tional Electoral Commis­sion (INEC) with a wide margin.

He stated this position while featuring on a live in­terview programme, ‘Focus Nigeria’ aired on Africa In­dependent Television (AIT). The governor expressed con­fidence that he would win the Southern Ijaw rerun election scheduled to hold in January.

His words: “I have been engaging with various stake­holders, chiefs, women and youth groups from the area. Again, over 5,000 mem­bers of the APC recently decamped to the PDP. With this development and assur­ance that, this time around, there will be no reign of ter­ror and materials will get to their communities, I am hop­ing that the percentage of the voters’ turn out will be higher than the 40 percent that we have already seen as the av­erage.”

He, therefore, stressed the need to strengthen the critical institutions of governance to enable them function effec­tively.

Via: SunNewsOnline

Customs Boss Rejects Cow Gift From Adamawa Businessmen!

The Controller-General of Customs, Colonel Hameed Ali (rtd), has rejected a cow presented to him as gift by representatives of the Adamawa business community.

The drama started when Ali, who was in Yola for a two-day working visit, finished addressing members of the business community on his mission to Adamawa when the spokesman of the community, Alhaji Dauda Saidu, after responding and demonstrating how their businesses were affected by insurgency declared the gift of a bull to Ali.

“It is our tradition in Adamawa to present a bull to our August visitors,” Saidu said, a development that prompted Ali to respond immediately querying “why should people who are struggling to look for food make such a big offer?”

Saidu quickly replied by saying that it is the culture and tradition of Adamawa people who are known for livestock production to present either a calabash of milk known as “nono” or cow to important visitors as a mark of respect and a sign for him to always remember his visit to the state.

“You are a special visitor and that is why we feel you deserve a cow instead of a calabash of milk (nono). Please honour us and accept it”, Saidu said.

“But I would have preferred milk”, Ali responded attracting general laughter from the crowd present at the occasion.

Ali, who didn’t drag the discussion further, simply thanked the business community who he described as “strategic partners” and urged them to avail themselves of the new policies being introduced by Customs to boost revenue.

He said the service was taking revenue generation very serious in view of the dwindling revenue from oil and would want all stakeholders such as strategic partners to shun corruption by paying the correct custom duties in their business transactions.

Source: http://www.theheraldng.com/customs-boss-rejects-cow-gift-from-adamawa-businessmen/#ec4O3T1Y7cz4HQuG.99

Guus Hiddink is the new Chelsea Manager!

Chelsea Football Club can confirm Guus Hiddink has been appointed first-team manager until the end of the season.

The owner and the Board welcome back a coach with a wealth of top-level experience and success, including his previous spell with the club in 2009 when we lifted the FA Cup.

Mr Abramovich and the Board believe that Guus has what it takes to get the best out of our talented squad.

Guus said: 'I am excited to return to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in the world but is not where it should be at the moment. However, I am sure we can all turn this season around.

‘I am looking forward to working with the players and staff at this great club and especially renewing my wonderful relationship with the Chelsea fans.'

The Dutchman will be at Stamford Bridge for today’s match but Steve Holland will take control of team matters for the game alongside Eddie Newton, who will now take on the role of assistant first-team coach.

Steve has been an important and influential member of the coaching staff since 2009, while Eddie is Chelsea through and through, having served us as a player and a coach, re-joining the club in 2012 and helping us win the Champions League.

Guus took temporary charge of Chelsea in February 2009, losing just one league game as we recovered from a poor first half of the season to finish third in the Premier League, guaranteeing Champions League football for the next campaign and signing off in style thanks to a 2-1 FA Cup win over Everton at Wembley.

That role was combined with being coach of Russia, one of six international posts he has held during a coaching career which has spanned three decades.

Guus’s first managerial job was in his homeland with PSV, a club he had represented during a 15-year playing career. As coach, he lifted three league titles and the European Cup in 1988. Three more followed during a second stint there between 2002 and 2006, with the intervening years seeing him coach in Turkey and Spain as well as lead the Dutch, South Korean and Australian national teams.

As South Korea coach, he led them to a stunning third place at the 2002 World Cup on home soil, one place better than with the Netherlands four years earlier.

Having taken the Russian job in 2006, Guus led them to the semi-finals of Euro 2008 before taking the reins at Chelsea on a temporary basis in early 2009. A 2-1 win at Aston Villa in his first game set the tone for the remainder of the season, and it took a last-minute Andres Iniesta strike on a controversial night to deny the Blues a place in the Champions League final.

Guus’s first stay in west London ended well, however, with the whole of Stamford Bridge singing his name following our final home game of the season and the fans unveiling a huge ‘thank you’ banner at Wembley prior to the FA Cup final, in which we came from behind to win.

Since then, Guus has coached Turkey and the Netherlands, as well as spending 18 months at Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia, where he signed Willian from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Source: ChelseaFC.com

Ex-Nigerian Oil Minister Plotted To Flee To The Commonwealth of Dominica Before UK Arrest?

Embattled ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, is on the verge of leaving her present abode in the United Kingdom for the Commonwealth of Dominica where she has reportedly acquired the citizenship.

Nigeria's Minister of Petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-MaduekeSweet Crude Reports

Mrs.Alison-Madueke  is currently  under investigation  in Britain for alleged corruption while in office.

Investigators in the UK and  Nigeria were shocked by the discovery that she had secretly  acquired the citizenship of the small Caribbean country  of only 72,000 people.

But sources in the UK said  the National Crime Agency (NCA) was already  keeping monitoring   her movement.

It was learnt that the lid was blown open by some anti-corruption and civil society groups in the UK.

Alison-Madueke’s  new  citizenship was confirmed in a May 29, 2015 approval letter by the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit,according to a document obtained by one of the groups.

The  letter also claimed that the ex-Minister has been  appointed  that country’s  Trade and Investment Commissioner for the Republic.

Although the letter indicated that the appointment was without salary package, she is expected to help in promoting and marketing Dominica as a trade and investment domicile.

In the diplomatic passport, DP0000445, the Dominican Government said Diezani should be allowed to “pass freely without let or hindrance and afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary.”

Issued on May 21, 2015, the diplomatic passport is expected to expire on May 20, 2020.

The granting of citizenship to the ex-Minister, whose passport indicated was born on 6th of December, 1960,  has attracted diplomatic concerns.

“I think the NCA is suspecting that she acquired the citizenship of the Commonwealth of Dominica with the intent to relocate to this country. This has opened a fresh bend into our investigation,” a source said last night.

“It is not impossible that she had planned to escape to Dominica ahead  of the inauguration of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari because her appointment ought to be effective from June 1, 2016 for an initial period of three years.

“She has been placed under stricter surveillance in the light of the latest development.

“While the diplomatic aspect is being handled by the appropriate quarters, I can tell you that the NCA is collaborating with many agencies to bring her to account for any allegation against her.

“The NCA  is conducting extensive investigation into the oil deals during the tenure of Diezani, irrespective of her ongoing treatment for cancer.”

The International Corruption Unit (ICU) of NCA on October 2 arrested Diezani and four others.

All the suspects are being investigated  for alleged bribery and money laundering.

“On Friday, October 2, the National Crime Agency’s recently formed International Corruption Unit arrested five people across London as part of an investigation into suspected bribery and money laundering offences.

“All five people arrested were released on conditional police bail later that evening, pending further investigation both in the UK and overseas.

The investigation commenced in 2013 under the Proceeds of Corruption Unit and transferred to the NCA earlier this year.”

The Press and Public Relations Officer of the British High Commission in Nigeria, Mr. Joe Abuku, had said: “Five people between the age range of 21 and 60 years were arrested by the NCA for bribery and corruption, but they have not given us the details of those involved.”

The EFCC also raided the posh Asokoro residence of  the ex-minister  and retrieved some documents and expensive jewellery.

One of the clues on the ex-Minister which the EFCC is looking into is the alleged spending of $6.9 million to buy three 40-feet mobile stages for use during mass public speaking events.

The cost of the  stages was  allegedly inflated and  there is no evidence  yet  that any stage was purchased at all.

It was learnt that the process of procurement of the three mobile stages was neither known to extant Nigerian laws and due process regulations, nor were the offices of the Auditor-General and the Accountant-General of the Federation in the know.

Also read: http://dejiabiri.blogspot.com.ng/2015/12/petroleum-minister-alison-madueke.html

Source: Sahara Reporters

Petroleum Minister, Alison-Madueke, denies seeking asylum; says she’s going nowhere

April 22, 2015Ibanga Isine

Nigeria's Former Minister of Petroleum Diezani Allison-Madueke

Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has denied planning to flee the country to escape alleged corruption charges under the incoming Buhari government.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke struck a defiant tone Wednesday, dismissing allegations that six countries had denied her requests for asylum. The minister said she had no plan to escape as she was not indicted for any offence.

Following her recent meeting with former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, the minister said speculations have been rife that she is looking for a “soft landing” from the in-coming administration.

“I have not sought such assistance because I am not aware that I have been indicted of any crime that I will need a soft landing,” Mrs. Alison-Madueke told journalists at the presidential villa in Abuja Wednesday.

“Over the last four years, I have been severally and unfortunately accused and labeled in so many malicious and vindictive ways.

“I have explained these things and pushed back robustly on these accusations and I have even gone to court on many of them. Yet they keep being regurgitated.

“I think it is unfortunate, particularly when we are moving into a transition period and looking forward to an incoming government which is coming to take over where we have ended,” she said.

While noting that everything that has a beginning must have an end, Mrs. Alison-Madueke said she was surprised at the scale of “malicious libel” directed at her person.

The minister said she has done the best for Nigeria in her present job and has attained many firsts in the history of oil and gas especially in the reforms she has initiated.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke said she was targeted because of her work, and suggested attacks on her were the results of her boldness to bruise powerful interests in the oil and gas industry.

“In this period of time, I have stepped on many big toes, particularly the toes of the cabals that were in the industry when we came in.

“I have said severally said that we will open up the industry to all Nigerians, and we have, but that is not to the pleasure of certain cabals. And I have been continuously maligned because of this.”

According to her, the ministry has taken billions of dollars from multinationals and their subcontractors and put them in the hands of Nigerians through the Nigerian content law.

With the reforms initiated under her watch, she said hundreds of thousands of Nigerians are now playing major roles the oil and gas industry, a situation she said has irked many people.

She lamented that even after the Petroleum Industry Bill was completely revised and reformed, the National Assembly has failed to pass it into law two years after it was presented.

She also said that the refund of the missing $1.48 billion from the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has commenced.

The embattled minister debunked claims that the money was missing from the accounts of the NNPC, saying that the funds were transferred to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), an NNPC subsidiary.

A forensic audit conducted by the PriceWaterHouseCoopers on behalf of the Federal Government on the operations of the NNPC had shown that the management of the corporation engaged in many questionable deals.

The audit was carried out following allegations by the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, that over $20 billion was missing from the NNPC accounts.

“PriceWaterHouseCooper’s forensic audit that was done a few weeks ago in its recommendation mentioned that $1.48 billion was owed by NDPC for a bloc that has hitherto been assigned from the NNPC to NDPC which is its subsidiary and they felt that the right process would be that the NPDC will refund that money to the Federation Account,” Mrs. Alison-Madueke said.

“NPDC has apparently started making the refunds and it is also in discussion with NNPC and DPR on same. So the refund has actually begun.”

Source: Premium Times

(PHOTOS): Rev. Father Mbaka meets President Buhari & V.P. Osinbajo at the Villa.

Reverend Fr. Mbaka meets President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at the State House Abuja.