Saturday, 23 June 2012
WE FEEL THE PAINS INFLICTED ON CHRISTIANS - MUSLIM LEADERS
Muslim leaders, who rose from a security forum organized by the Plateau State Police Command yesterday to deliberate on the Boko Haram threats to carry out fresh attacks in Plateau, said they are pained each time they hear of attacks on churches perceivably by members of the Boko Haram sect
“We are troubled each time there is an attack on any church and every mosque prays against Boko Haram because what they are doing is not Islamic as Islam views the killing of one person as the killing of humanity,” a representative of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) at the forum, Muazu Sani, said.
He said it was sad that although Muslims abhor violence and go out of their way to protect the Christians in their midst, Christians see Boko Haram as Islamic, a situation which, he said, needed to be corrected.
Muazu said: “We the entire Muslim community in Jos share the feeling of our Christian brothers in the state. We are also at pains over frequent attacks on churches, we weep anytime a church is attacked. We wish we had privileged information over any of the attacks; sincerely we will intimate our Christian brothers to take precautionary measures. Our Christian brothers should not think we Muslims in Jos are happy or are aware of planned attacks on churches.”
Stressing that Muslims had also been victims of Boko Haram attacks, Muazu said, “at the inception of the Bokko Haram activities, we Muslims were even afraid of commenting on their activities because if you do that negatively they will mark you for attack. But in spite of that, all Muslims in the country have condemned the activities of Bokko Haram, they don’t have religious backing because killing of human beings attracts severe punishment in Islamic religion”.
He told Christians not to associate all Muslims with Boko Haram, adding, “we are saying this because, each time there is an attack on any church in Jos, any Muslim becomes an enemy of the Christian youths and they turn their anger on any Muslim they could lay their hands on. Hence we are appealing to our Christian brothers in this state to see us as their friends and co-citizens. We are not killers and we are not Bokko Haram as we are being perceived to be, our religion is against killing of fellow humans.”
The Archbishop of the Anglican Diocess of Jos, Benjamin Kwashi, who addressed the unfortunate issue of reprisal killings following church bombings, expressed frustration with Christians who do not accept the preaching of their pastors against reprisal attacks.
Culled from Daily Trust online
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
FULL TEXT OF THE PETITION THAT COST ARUMAH OTEH HER JOB
The head of Nigeria's stock exchange regulator, Arunmah Oteh, has been suspended pending an investigation into allegations of malpractice. The decision of board of Security and Exchange Commission, SEC, comes after a committee of the House of Representatives recommended she be investigated. Below is the full text of the Petition that cost Arumah Oteh her job. Brought to you by Elombah.com investigators.
When Arunmah Oteh was appointed she promised to restore credibility in the stock exchange.
PETITION
The Securities and Commission is the Apex Regulator of the Nigeria Capital Market. It has the vision of becoming the leading capital market regulator in Africa. Its mission is to develop a capital market that is dynamic, fair, transparent and equitable to contribute to the nation’s economic development.
Broadly, the commissions mandate is to regulate and develop the Nigerian capital market in accordance with the provision of Investment and Securities Act.
In carrying out these functions, the commission is expected to enshrine, maintain and sustain investor confidence in the market. All stakeholders rely on the commission’s ability to formulate rules and regulations that will ensure fairness, accountability, transparency as well as good corporate governance in the market. It is important to state that the Securities and Exchange Commission is a vital agent for the Federal Governments macro-economic management and therefore its stability, consistency, functionality and astuteness in the performance of its regulatory mandate should never be compromised.
Recent development in the Nigeria Capital Market, which culminated in the removal of the leadership of the Nigeria Stock Exchange, requires an ardent and virile regulatory regime, for the desired investor confidence to be sustained.
However, following the appointment of Ms Arunma Oteh as the DG of the Commission, who formally was working with the African Development Bank in Tunisia, and whose appointment was received with cheers and enthusiasm by the Commission’s staff and other stakeholders in the market, there were high expectations upon her resumption in January 2012, as she promised to bring about positive changes and carry everybody along.
On the contrary, recent developments in the Commission clearly indicate that Ms. Arunma Oteh came with a different agenda, which from all indications is not in the best interest of the Commission in particular and the capital market in general.
The following catalogue of the issues will corroborate the above assertion:
*Gross incompetence, lack of Organisation and un-necessary delays in handling operations activities of the commission.
As you may be aware, the operation arm of the Commission does the core regulatory activities of the Commission that enable it to effectively carryout the regulation and development of the Nigerian Capital Market. Therefore, the speed with which operational issues are handled, determines how well the market operates. This is because the capital market is a market driven by time factor and therefore, any delay in delivery of issues will lead to multiplier effects on the investors, Capital Market operators and indeed the economy.
Every securities issue is time bound and any unnecessary delay in processing an issue may lead to a failure of such issue. The investors who may have been contacted and indicated their willingness to invest will change their positions if there is long delay. As there are competing investment opportunities, and they may put their funds somewhere outside the Capital Market.
Due to lack of cogent experience in Capital Market operations, the Director-General of the Commission does not value time as vital in granting approval for Capital issues and other operational activities.
Before her assumption of duty, applications for Security issues took an average of two days to be approved by the past Director Generals, today, some applications take minimum of two Months. This unfortunate situation constituted a great deal of pressure on the issuers and issuing houses, which leads to information adjustment by the issuers and issuing houses.
It is important to note that the Securities and Exchange Commission is one Parastatal in Nigeria that has highly trained and experienced Staff that are passionate in carrying out their duties. However, due to incompetence, intransigence, procrastination, arrogance and stubbornness, the Director General, has persistently refused to work in harmony with the Board, the Executive Commissioners and the entire Members of staff of the Commission. Rather, she depends largely on few inexperienced Staff she had illegally employed. This has grounded the Commission's operations.
Today, the morale of the staff has gone down drastically at all levels of the Commission's staff cadres. She operates the Commission as if she is the sole administrator. Most decisions were taken unilaterally and other members of the Executive were merely informed. Due to the fact that she incessantly and frivolous travels, there are many operations reports sent to her, which requires her urgent attention, but remain unattended to.
Some of the operations reports has been in the Director General's office for over six months and above. This has affected the image of the Commission, which is supposed to lead by example. As a matter of facts, the Commission has a rule which gives time threshold for capital market to submit their report and where they delay, they are charged appropriate penalty, if the office of the Director General of the Commission is committing same offence against the Operators and other stakeholders in the Capital Market.
To this end, it will not amount to an overstatement to say that since Ms. O. Oteh has been appointed as the Director General of the Commission in the last two years, there is no tangible or intangible value that she has added to the Commission to enhance its operational performance. The market kept on failing in volume and value. Notwithstanding, unprecedented number of Consultants appointed by the Commission, no improvement has been recorded in any form, except that millions of naira has been paid to the so called consultants.
*Investigation of failed Banks and the abrupt stoppage of APC hearing.
The Commission in August 2008 was involved in the investigation of the five failed Banks i.e Afribank Plc, Intercontinental Bank Plc, Finbank Plc, Oceanin Bank Plc and Union Bank Plc. The Commission carried out the investigation in collaboration with the EFCC, CBN and SSS.
The role of the Commission in that national assignment was to find out the role of the Capital market operators in the reckless lending by the Banks. The Commission played a key in the investigation and alot of findings were made. The essence was to determine how the recklessness of the banks contributed in making shareholders lose their investments and who the key culprits were.
At the end of the investigation, a comprehensive report was submitted to the then Director General of the Commission (Malam Musa Alfiki) and he gave a directive for an administrative proceedings on the matter, to take a civil decisions on those capital markets operators involved. While the APC processing was going on, Malam Musa Alfaki left the service of the Commission and Ms. Oteh was appointed.
When Ms. O. Oteh assumed duty, she was advised by one Mr. Simeon Obadiaro, who was appointed a Director by her, to revisit the investigation and some new set of staff were commissioned to carry out the same investigation. The second investigation did not bring out anything new, but the administrative proceeding was abruptly brought to an end on the day the decision was to be made on the matter.
The next thing that was heard was the transfer of the cases to investment and Securities Tribunal (IST). However, IST as an appeal agency does not have primary jurisdiction on the matter. It is only when a decision has been taken by the Commission and some parties are not satisfied, they can then appeal to the IST for a second hearing. The Commission does not on its own transfer a matter before it to the IST. It therefore, came as a surprise when the Commission took such a decision.
Since the matter was sent to the IST, nothing on it.
Today, the shareholders of these banks have lost their investments, as the banks have been taken over by NDIC and core investors were invited to buy into them. This development has a negative effect on investors' confidence, as people no longer their investment in those banks. What remains to be asked of the commission's Director General is; what informed her decision to stop the APC Proceeding and send the matter to IST.
What explanation can she provide on the fate of those investors who invested in those banks? Why would the Commission abdicate its responsivity of protecting the investors in these banks for no fault of theirs?
*Approval of payments beyond he approval limit/authority.
The Director General does no take into consideration the policy on approval limit and threshold issued by the Bureau of public procurement and thus, approved various expedition beyond her approval limit of N2.5million.
For example, she approved N7,384,006.25 in December, 2011 for media publicity support for the maiden Capital Market retreat in Uyo Akwa-Ibom State. (See anex 3A & 3B). She also approved N10,179,00 paid to Message Wise Limited without evidence of due process in awarding the contract for assisting the Security and Exchange Commission on a 3-day issuer/investor outreach programme in Port Harcourt, River State (see anex 4A & 4B).
The Director General also approved for herself a two rent of N66million for her Official residence at Maitaima District. The house for which the rent was approved was not known to anybody in the Commission and thus there was no prior inspection of the house before payment was made.
Subsequently, the Director General further directed that additional payment of 66million be made to make it four years rent for the unknown property. The attention of the Director General was drawn to the Federal Government Monetization policy urging her to return the initial payment of N66million to the Commission, but she did not take it kindly. This is a proof that the Director General whimsically take decisions that exposes the Commission to enormous financial implications without due process.
*Huge Hotel Accommodation Expenditure
Prior to the illegal approval of the N66million two years rent, the Director General spent a whooping sum of N30million at the Transcop Hilton Hotel, during her unnecessary long stay in the Hotel. There is no justification for such a use of Public funds when residential accommodation abounds in Abuja.
If the N66million she approved for her residential accommodation was not returned by the agent, the commission would have been made to incur a whooping sum of N92million on the accommodation of the Director General alone (see annex 5).
*Excessive Travel Expenditure.
The Director General habitually incures travel expenses for both personal and official trips on the account of the Commission. She had from time to time requested the Commission to deposit N1million each to two local airlines and with that pre-payment goes on frivolous trips without internal processes being followed on the travel expenses.
In line with internal Control Process in every government establishment, the travel by any officer at any level start with the request, approval and clearance by internal audit of the organisation to ensure that the trip is legitimate thereafter, it is forwarded to the account department for payment.
Therefore, the pre-payment made to Airlines is absolutely a violation of public service process. It is important to state that some time in the Director General travel abroad with NYSC members serving in her office. This is contrary to the policy of the Commission, which permit only Assistant Managers and above to travel abroad officially.
*Purchase of Director General's Motor Vehicles.
The Director General approved and purchased 2-Nos Toyota Land Cruisers at the cost of N37,555,555.56million and 1No Toyota Pick-up, Hilux Double Cabin Pick-Up used as a pilot car at the cost of N5million. This is despite the federal Government policy on Monetization of official Motor Vehicle for Public Officers.
Even though Tenders Board meeting were scheduled, but each time the Director General who is the Chairman was invited, she failed to attend. However, on Saturday December 18, 2010 an email from Mr. Adeleke Omotayo, a contract Director in the office of the director General, conveyed the directive of the Director General to the head of Administration of the Commission, asking him to buy 2Nos Black Toyota Land Cruiser Jeeps and 1No Toyota Hilux Double Cabin Pick-Up for the director General by December 31, 2010. (See annex 6A & 6B).
This expenditure was not approved by the Tenders Board of the Commission. It is important to point out that as at the time the Director General made the request for the 3-vehicles, the other members of the Executive management, the newly appointed Directors for the Commission as well as the existing Directors were equally supposed to be paid similar entitlements. Surprisingly, she refused and insisted on for her own.
Indeed, of recent, she made a request for two additional vehicles, but was turned by the Internal Control Department for lack of cogent justification (see annex 6).
*Irregularities In Staff Employment.
It is possible knowledge that the Director General had recruited thirty-one (31) staff ranging from Senior Supervisors to Directors without formal interviews and Board approval as applicable.
Contrary to the commission's staff manual provision in chapter (2) page (5) item (2) and I quote "Recruitment of Senior Staff is the responsibility of the Board and Junior Staff by the Executive management of the Commission". However, this policy was and is still being undermined by the current Director General of the Commission.
All categories of senior staff were illegally recruited unilaterally by the Director General, without recourse to staff manual and the Board of the Commission. For instance, two full substantive Directors, four Deputy Directors, and one Assistant Director, two Assistant Managers, (19) Senior Supervisors that were engaged.
However, some of the Senior Supervisors that were engaged on Contract were disengaged when their contracts expired in December, 2011.
The positions of Assistant Directors and above are by the policy of the commission and indeed that of the Public service supposed to be filled by the Staff within the Commission, who have been working for over a decade and enthusiastically looking forward being promoted to those positions. It is only after promoting those deserving staff and there existed additional vacancies, which will require giving opportunities to outsiders that the need for it may be considered. In all cases, the Board of the commission must review and approve such appointments before they are made (see annex 7A & 7B).
In a similar manner, the Director General engaged the services of Messrs KPMG professionals to recruit (10) additional Directors vide an award Letter dated October 22, 2010 at the cost of Eleven Million (11,000,000) naira only.
The process was abruptly aborted by the Director General after payment of more than half of the contract sum to KPMG and without recourse to the Tenders Board that approved the earlier recruitment contract, the Director General vide a memo dated January 17th, 2011 approved the engagement of two consultants i.e Executive surf and Phillips Consulting to conduct the same exercise, at a fee twice higher than the previous contract cost without recourse to due process (see annex 8).
It is therefore, the conclusion of the existing staff of the Commissioner that the Director General has the intention of frustrating them and pushing them to the brink to either resign or retire forcefully.
It is important to note that by the provision of section 3 (2a) of ISA 2007, which clearly states that "In the case of the Chairman or Director General, he/she should be a holder of a University Degree or its equivalent with not less than 15yrs cognate experience in Capital Market operations. By the provision of this section of ISA, the current Director General of the Commission is not fit to occupy that position. Therefore, what is going on in the Commission is a perpetuation of illegality in all its ramifications. It has also been noted that the Director General of the Commission issued a directive to the effect that only graduates from certain universities particularly private universities should be accepted for NYSC in the Commission. This is totally against the Federal Government Policy.
*Massive fraud in Financing of project 50 Celebration (50years of Capital Market Regulation).
Under the guise of celebrating 50th anniversary of the Nigerian Capital Market, the Director General Ms. Arunma Oteh forcibly sought and obtained donations from banks and Capital Market Operators amounting to N1billion, which was lodged in private accounts contrary to the provisions of Part 1V, section 19(1C) of the Investment and Securities Act (ISA) 2007, which requires all monetary gifts, donations, contributions and other funds received by the Commission to be paid to a fund or accounts established by the Commission.
In addition to the donations received, about N200million was spent on this one day event from SEC's account without proper accounting and due process. It is from this sum that over N42million was paid to Transcop Hilton Hotel for accommodation and other services.
The details of how the N42million was utilised had still not been made known to the Executive Commissioners and the Board, neither had the funds been retired despite the instance of the Commissioners and the Board that the funds be accounted for and duly retired. Is is important to put on record that the N42million spent on Hotel Accommodation and Services was queried by the Bureau of Public Procurement for not following due process. (See annex 1A & 1B).
From the information gathered, Zenith Bank donated the sum of N50million, Chapel Hill/Denham Stoke Brokers, N100million, Access Bank N100million while First Bank paid for the Services of QUOVADIS who was the Project-50 Consultant engage by the Commission, also without due process of competitive bidding as required by the Public Procurement Act. In addition, First Bank also gave an unspecific amount.
The Director General also obtained donations of N25million to produce a Nollywood Movie (Breeze) despite the advice of the Administrative Department that the cost was on the high side. The amount so donated did not hit the Commission's Account neither did the award of the contract pass through due process as required by law. (See annex 9).
There was a donation of N2.5million by Africa Financial Corporation. Invoices for predetermined amounts were forwarded to the donors to settle directly. (See annex 2). This is contrary to the provisions of Public Procurement Acts, which requires that all procurement by Public Agencies/MDAS must pass through due process of Advertising and selection of preferred bidder.
However, nobody can tell where the amounts so donated were donated, but it is strongly believed that the monies were paid into private accounts of the following who are cronies of the Director-general. Most of whom were illegally employed staff in the Commission:
1. Orisabiyi Titilope- Senior Manager DG's office who is less that 6months in the service of the Commission and seconded from Access Bank Plc. He is also made the chairman of Project 50 Committee, which comprised of AD's DD and Directors who are far his seniors, by strangulated to serve under him, by the Director General.
2. Tunde Kamal-- Senior Manager- DG's office.
3. Sanson Eyo--DG's office
4. Franca Chukwugor-- Deputy Director-DG's Office
5. Obi Adindu--Deputy Director- DG's. Office.
All approvals for the expenditures were unilaterally done by the Director General without recourse to other members of Executive Management nor the Board of the Commission.
*Interventions:
The scenario painted in this submission depicts the true situation of the Apex Regulatory house of the Nigerian Capital Market. It is a picture that is daily becoming gloomier. The leadership of the commission of the Commission is definitely not leaving up to expectation, particularly at this time when the Market is at its lowest ebb. As you know, only 2years ago, the Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange was removed for reasons of Corporate Governance. Incidentally, Ms. Arunma Oteh carried out that assignment. However, the current situation in the Securities and Exchange Commission is that of a hunter that need to be hunted.
As the custodian of Corporate Governance code, her actions and behaviour does not portray her as an exemplary Leader in the Nigerian Capital Market. Based on the issues raised in the body of this petition, we fervently appeal for immediate intervention in the following area:
1. That the Director General of the Commission be prevailed upon to disengage all the 31 staff she unilaterally employed, without recourse to the Executive Management Committee and the Board of the Commission.
2. That the Director General must be prevailed upon to shelve her intention to employ 9 Directors. This is because there exist suitably qualified and highly experienced personnel who can be promoted to those positions. In a nut shell, there is no vacancy in the Commission for these positions.
3. The Director General should be requested to stop unnecessary trips that have not brought any applicable be benefit to the Commission. She should be on her seat and understand the workings of the Commission as the Apex Regulator of the Nigerian Capital Market. A lot of the expenditures of the Commission did not follow due process. There were lots of illegal approvals which were above the approving powers of the Director General, but which she did with impunity.
This is the plight of the Staff in the Securities and Exchange Commission, who are passionate and diligent in carrying out their duties, but are held hostage by a gang of incompetent, inexperienced and greedy fellows made up of Ms. Arunma Oteh, Mr. Obi Adindu, Mr. Adeleke B. Omotayo, Miss Cynthia, Miss Franka Chukwugor, Mr. Tomi Oni and Charles Ughele who are the only trusted staff that are running the Commission.
Apart from these illegally engaged Staff, the Director General does not consider any other staff, from the Executive Commissioners to the Securities Personnel fit to work in the Commission.
The funny thing however is that since the coming of Ms. Arunma Oteh, one cannot point out anything new she initiated at improving the operational efficiency of the Commission, but she is busy telling anybody who cares to listen that the staff of the commission are not competent. We are therefore, asking for justice between the staff of the Commission and the Director General Ms. Arunma Oteh.
Leading Questions:
1. When hotel bills for accommodation and services were paid for from the Commission's account, what other expenditures attracted such huge sums as to require asking for donations of hundreds of millions from banks entities regulated by the Commission?
2. The advantage of asking the donor to pay to a third party is to avoid due process, raise fictitious invoices in which case no goods or services were received. Did the invoices pass through competitive bidding?
3. The list of donors and invoices settled should be provided so that the identity of the people behind these vendors can be traced at CAC.
4. What were the methods of selection of the vendors? Is it in line with Public Procurement Act or someone just handpicked them?
5. Did the award of contract for Nollywood Movie (Breeze) pass through due process before it was funded by the donor? How was the preferred bidder chosen and who were the bidders?
On Failed Banks:
6. What informed the decision of the Director Gener of the Commission to stop the Administration Proceeding Committee Hearing from taking the final decision on the failed banks investigation?
7. What is the rationale for transferring the hearing to the Investment and Security Tribunal (IST) knowing full well the agency has only an appeal jurisdiction and not primary jurisdiction on such matters?
8. Why would the Commission abdicate from its responsibility of protecting the investors in these banks by abruptly stopping hearing?
9. With the takeover of these banks by NDIC and the creation of bridge banks, which will eventually be taken over by core investors, what happened to the investment of existing shareholders?
Culled from Elombah.com
Monday, 11 June 2012
I TOOK OTEDOLA’S N96M BRIBE TO EXPOSE HIM –LAWAN
CONTRARY
to his insistence on Sunday that he did not meet with or receive any bribe from
anybody, documents in possession of The PUNCH showed that Chairman of
the House of Representatives probe panel on fuel subsidy mismanagement, Farouk
Lawal, indeed accepted $500,000 from billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola.
Clerk of
the committee, Boniface Emenalo, also received $100,000 from the businessman.
The sums
added up to the $600,000 bribery scandal rocking the House committee which
recently exposed how some subsidy thieves robbed the nation of whopping
N1.7trn.
Farouk
and Emenalo, as the documents, mostly correspondence, indicated, however let in
the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, into the “attempt”
by Otedola to bribe them.
Also,
there were indications in the correspondence that Lawan intimated the House
committee chairman on Drugs/Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Adams Jagaba.
SUNDRY
DOCUMENTS
In one of
the documents sourced by our correspondents in Abuja on Monday, Lawan, in a
letter to Jagaba, wrote, “Attached (to the letter) is the sum of five hundred
thousand dollars only offered to me with another promise of two million, five
hundred thousand dollars.”
Another
letter written by Emenalo to Lawan read, “I wish to inform you that I was on
his invitation, at the residence of their Chairman, Mr. Femi Otedola, in
Maitama (Aso Drive) this morning and he offered me the sum of one hundred
thousand US dollars in two bundles of $50,000 each. The money is herewith
forwarded as evidence.”
Another
letter, reference number, CR:3000/IGP.SEC/STF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL 2/309 indicated that
the IG directed “a discreet investigation into the matter.” The letter was
signed by Commissioner of Police, Special Task Force, Ali Amodu.
Both
Jagaba and the police on Monday declined comments on their involvement in the
matter. While Jagaba told our correspondent that he could not comment on the
matter on the telephone, spokesman for the police, Frank Mba, said he had yet
to get an update on the probe.
“I was
unable to reach CP Ali Amodu who is handling the investigation but I will get
back to you once I get an update on the matter,” he said on the telephone on
Monday.
Obasanjo,
Mark view video
The fresh
insight into the bribery scandal came as The PUNCH learnt on Monday how
the video recording of the transaction between Lawan and Otedola had been shown
to President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, former President
Olusegun Obasanjo, Senate President David Mark and House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal.
Otedola
had revealed in an interview with THIS DAY newspaper how he involved the
security agents to supervise Lawan’s persistent demand for a bribe from him. He
also narrated how he released a total sum of $620,000 to Lawan and Emenalo in
three tranches, all monitored and recorded by the security agents.
The ad
hoc committee chairman said in another letter that he did not raise the issue
of Otedola’s pressure on him on the floor of the House because it would
overshadow the essence of the fuel subsidy probe.
Lawan
stated in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by The PUNCH on
Monday that, “I had considered bringing this issue as a matter of privilege on
the floor of the House later today (April 24), but I am concerned that the
controversy it will generate will dwarf the contents of the report, which needs
public attention so that necessary reforms in the sector could be affected.”
The ad
hoc committee chairman added that Otedola issued veiled verbal threats against
him.
He said,
“Given the desperation of Mr. Otedola, handling this matter, in a firm but
diplomatic manner is necessary as he has also made some veiled threats which
put me and members of the committee in a delicate situation.”
The ad
hoc committee chairman also disclosed that the clerk of the committee, Emenalo,
had in a letter written to him on April 24, 2012, said Otedola offered him
$100,000.
THREAT
ALLEGATION
Lawan
also stated that the police were aware of the offer of a bribe as the Acting
Inspector-General in a letter dated, May 9, 2012, directed the task force on
investigation to meet him.
Lawan
explained that in a letter dated May 31, 2012, he told the IGP that the matter
(bribe offer) had been referred to the relevant committee of the House for
legislative action.
He said
that he promised that the House would inform him about the outcome of the
legislative action.
According
to him, the IGP in a letter to the Speaker of the House, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal,
dated June 4, 2012, stated that a detailed criminal investigation had been
ordered into the matter.
In the
letter titled, “Investigation activities: Letter of invitation in a case of
criminal conspiracy and attempt to pervert the course of justice by offering
gratification,” the office of the IGP stated that “the Inspector General of
Police has directed a detailed criminal investigation into the matter.”
CALLS FOR
INVESTIGATION
The
President of the Campaign for Democracy, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, has however
called on the EFCC to investigate the bribery allegation against Lawan.
Okei-Odumakin,
in an interview with one of our correspondents on Monday berated the EFCC for
not prosecuting those indicted by the committee.
She said
that while the anti-graft agency had found it convenient to prosecute the
Chairman of the House Committee on the Capital Market, it had found it
difficult to prosecute oil thieves.
The CD
president said, “The EFCC is prosecuting Hembe with N600,000 estacode, yet it
has not done anything to the subsidy thieves who stole the country
broke.
“If there
is any allegation, it should be investigated. The EFCC should work rather than
play media shield.”
Also, the
Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre on Monday called for probe of the
bribery scandal.
This is
contained in a statement issued in Abuja and signed by executive director of
CISLAC, Mallam Auwal Ibrahim.
The
statement called on the National Assembly and the executive arm of government
“not to let the current scandal serve as a straw to bury the probe report under
the carpet”.
It
advised the leadership of the House to urgently institute a thorough
investigation into the alleged bribery and involve anti-graft agencies to also
probe the circumstances and reality of all claims.
“Those
indicted by the report may go to their wits’ end in order to rubbish an exercise
that is widely applauded by Nigerians in view of the nasty dealings it
uncovered”, CISLAC said.
A lawyer,
Prof. Itse Sagay, also on Monday expressed shock over the bribery allegation
levelled against Lawan.
Sagay,
who spoke with one of our correspondents on Monday said the development was
saddening, describing it as a tragedy which spelled doom for the future of
Nigeria.
The Save
Nigeria Group asked security operatives to invite both Otedola and Lawan for
interrogation.
Spokesman
for the group, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said such an invitation was necessary to
clear the air about the allegation that Lawan collected $600,000 bribe from the
oil marketer.
Odumakin
said if it was ascertained that money actually changed hands, the giver and the
taker must be punished.
He,
however, advised Nigerians not to allow the issue to distract them from
demanding the prosecution of the subsidy thieves.
Odumakin
said, “Both Otedola and Lawan should be invited by security agencies to
ascertain the veracity of this allegation. If it is true that money changed
hands, the giver and the taker must be punished.
Nigerians
must not allow this to distract them from the demand for the prosecution of the
subsidy thieves which this latest video production by the Presidency
clearly wants to achieve.”
Meanwhile,
our correspondents learnt on Monday that the EFCC was planning to use Otedola
as a prosecution witness against Lawan.
Sources
within the commission said though Otedola had not been officially queried over
the role he played in the bribery saga, it was said that since he carried the
security agencies along, he might be used to nail the lawmakers.
“Yes, we may use Otedola as a prosecuting witness
in the case. But we are still carrying out our discreet investigation. When
that has been sufficiently done, then we will swing into action,” the source
added.
Culled from the Punch
GBENGA DANIEL DRAGS AMOSUN TO COURT...DEMANDS N500 MILLION FOR DEFAMATION
Former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has taken his successor, Governor Amosun and some of his commissioners to court for what his lawyer called ‘persistent character assassination’. Former Governor, Gbenga Daniel instructed his lawyer to file a N500 million defamation lawsuit at an Abeokuta High Court. Two different lawsuits have been filed by Otunba Gbenga Daniel and his commissioners by their Attorney, Dr. Ope Banwo, a human rights lawyer and public commentator at the Abeokuta High Court.
In the Suits, filed under Suit# AB/152/2012 and AB/154/2012, the former Governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel and six commissioners in his former cabinet are seeking N500million damages in a representative class action lawsuit against Governor Amosun for various defamatory statements credited to the governor and some commissioners in his government to the effect that members of his former cabinet were corrupt and fraudulent. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed by Barrister Ope Banwo on their behalf include Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Mr. Sina Kawonise (publisher of Compass Newspaper), Mrs Toni Soboyejo, Dr. Isiaq Kunle Salako, Mr. Raheem Ajayi, Mr. Ifekayode Akinbode and Mr. Deji Kalejaiye. The defendants in the suit also include Governor of Ogun State, Commissioner for Information, Yusuf Olaniyonu and Commissioner for Finance, Kemi Adeosun.
When Barrister Ope Banwo was contacted to give further details of the lawsuit, he declined to provide any details on the lawsuit and refused to comment on why his client was suing a sitting governor for libel. He simply referred us to file freedom of information request with the court if we needed further details. Calls to Otunba Gbenga Daniel and the office of the governor were not answered or returned.
However, a member of the Gbenga Daniel camp who agreed to speak to us under conditions of anonymity said “It is about time somebody challenges Governor Amosun over his careless and defamatory public comments about the past administration in the state. Rather than executing programs for the development of the state, he has spent the last one year rubbishing his predecessor without providing any proof. It is not right to persecute people in the newspapers. If the man is guilty of any fraud, then Amosun should provide the proof of it or otherwise focus on his assignment as current governor”.
Another observer of the politics in Ogun State, Mr. Biodun Gbadebo also opined that “the only defense to this kind of lawsuit is the truth. Now Gbenga Daniel has challenged Ibikunle Amosun to back up his public comments with proof in court and this will provide a very interesting dimension on how to deal with public accusations by a sitting governor against a predecessor. This should be an interesting fight”
It will be recalled that Governor Amosun and several of his commissioners have been making series of public statements since they assume power in Ogun State in which they consistently accused the Gbenga Daniel government of a series of being guilty of fraudulent practices and looting of the government treasury. Gbenga Daniel has warned them through his attorney to desist from making defamatory statements against him and his government or be made to face the wrath of the law. It appears the former governor has finally decided to put some bite into his bark against governor Amosun by suing him and his commissioners for N500 Million in damages for defamation.
The embattled former Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, was recently arraigned by EFCC on several counts of stealing over N43 Billion from the treasury of Ogun State only for the lawsuit to be dismissed by the court for lack of evidence and other procedural error. When the EFCC later refilled the lawsuit, all the allegations of billions of naira were dropped against Gbenga Daniel and he is now being charged with different offences amounting to just about N200million Naira. Gbenga Daniel has voiced his frustration about the persecution against him by the EFCC, and the attempts by the current government of Ogun state to destroy his legacy, through various false utterances and actions. Otunba Gbenga Daniel has consistently maintained his innocence and challenged his accusers to present any proof of wrongdoing.
Culled from Elombah.com
FUEL SUBSIDY PROBE: OTEDOLA CONFIRMS BRIBE TO LAWMAKERS
The full details of the $3 million bribery scandal involving members of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on the Fuel Subsidy probe were revealed yesterday, as one of the major actors in the scandal has opened up on what transpired.
In an exclusive interview with THISDAY, chairman, Zenon Petroleum & Gas Ltd, Mr. Femi Otedola, who hitherto was suspected of being behind the $3 million bribery scandal, blew the lid on what transpired and how chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Hon. Farouk Lawan, and the secretary of the committee, Mr. Boniface Emenalo, had collected $620,000 from him in a sting operation masterminded by the security agencies.
The amount was part payment for the $3 million, which he alleged Lawan had demanded from him to exonerate Zenon Oil from the ad-hoc committee’s report.
As the scandal unfolds, it was learnt that operatives of the State Security Services have sent a video recording of the incident to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further scrutiny and action.
Otedola, who was opening up on the issue for the first time, narrated how Lawan at the outset of the probe had approached him to get some insight into the workings of the downstream oil and gas sector.
Otedola said he obliged him and ensured that his managing directors of Forte Oil Plc and Zenon Oil appeared at the subsidy probe during its public hearing after both companies had been invited by the committee.
During the probe, he said the committee was informed in no uncertain terms that Zenon does not and has never made claims for subsidy payments from the federal government, as the company was engaged solely in the importation of diesel, a product that is not subsidised.
Zenon’s managing director, Mr. Kanmi Kareem Otaru, during the probe had denied that the company had anything to do with the subsidy regime. He told the committee, “For the avoidance of doubt Zenon never participated or benefited from the subsidy scheme or Petroleum Support Fund (PSF).”
According to him, going by the Act which established the PSF scheme, “Zenon couldn’t participate in it because we don’t have a network of PMS retail outlets which was one of the key criteria beneficiaries must meet and as such we are not qualified to participate to draw from subsidy payments on PMS. So we never collected as records will show.”
Irrespective of the clarification made at the hearing, Otedola said Lawan still approached him a few days before the report was to be tabled on April 18, 2012 before the House of Representatives, demanding money so that Zenon’s name will be kept out of the report.
“When this happened, I was very angry and reminded him that Zenon has never participated in the subsidy scheme and that it would be criminal to rope in the company for something it did not do.
“But Lawan responded, stating that several other marketers were playing ball and had offered the members of the committee large sums of money to ensure that their companies’ names were not published in the report,” he added.
Otedola, said initially he balked at Lawan’s attempt to extort money from him and told the legislator that he would not pay up, as Zenon had not committed any crime.
“Then a day before the report was to be submitted, Lawan called again, informing me that Zenon’s name had been included in the report.
“I, of course, was very angry and asked him to desist from his course of action, but Lawan insisted that I must pay up as other oil marketers had done before me.”
Otedola said he could not believe his eyes the next day when the report came out and Zenon’s name had been listed under the category of companies that had bought foreign exchange from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) but had not imported petrol.
The amount ascribed to Zenon in the report was $232,975,385.13. The report had recommended that Zenon and 14 other marketers that had bought the foreign exchange be referred to the anti-corruption agencies to determine what they used the monies for.
Otedola said at this point he again called Lawan demanding that Zenon’s name be removed from the list, as there was no way his company could have bought that volume of foreign exchange without importing products.
“I reminded him that the amount ascribed to Zenon was wrong as what the company bought was over $400 million for importation of products through the banks – Zenith, UBA and GTB – and that under Sanusi (CBN governor) there was no way anyone could have bought that quantity of foreign exchange and not imported the products having filled the Form M.
“Sanusi will simply clamp down on anyone who tries to pull that kind of stunt,” he said.
In spite of this, Otedola said Lawan still demanded that the members of the committee be given money in exchange for removing Zenon’s name from the report before it is considered in plenary by the entire House.
Otedola said he then asked how much would be required to make the committee happy, to which Lawan responded $3 million.
“I screamed at him, demanding to know why he was doing this to me. All he said was other marketers were paying up to keep their names out of the report so I should do likewise,” he said.
Otedola revealed that it was this point he decided to involve the security agencies to catch Lawan and his committee with their hands in the till.
According to him, “As a law-abiding citizen, I decided to involve the security agencies and they advised me to play along, which prompted me to offer to pay part of the money with the promise that I would pay the balance when my company’s name had been removed from the report."
The security agencies, he disclosed, gave him serialised dollar bills for the sting job and there are call logs, video and audio recordings in the possession of the agencies to confirm all that had transpired between himself and Lawan.
He said on April 21, the Saturday before the plenary, Lawan came in person to his residence and collected $250,000 in cash, as the first instalment, “then the next Monday night he came and collected another $250,000.
“On Tuesday, at 9am, just before the House commenced seating, Boniface came and collected another $120,000.”
Otedola confirmed that during the sting, Lawan and Boniface collected a total of $620,000 in three instalments as part of the $3 million demanded from him.
He added that with the $620,000 that had been extorted by Lawan and the committee, during the plenary, Zenon’s name was removed from the list of companies that had bought foreign exchange but did not import products.
Otedola continued: “He (Lawan) now asked for the balance of $2.5 million, but when I told him that I had no money now that the money was in Lagos, he suggested that I should charter a plane to fly the money from Lagos to Abuja.”
Otedola stressed that his decision to get the law enforcement and security agencies involved stemmed from the fact that he had not broken any law, maintaining that as a law-abiding citizen, he was saddened by the fact that he was being blackmailed by of all people, members of the legislature.
“If you have information that an armed robber is come to raid your home, won’t you notify the police? So, that was the purpose of the sting operation.
“Besides, my integrity is paramount to me. I started selling petroleum products 14 years ago in drums and somebody who has never run a petrol station is trying to blackmail and extort money from me.
“If others (marketers) have paid money, maybe they are guilty. But I did not do anything wrong, so why should they extort money from me? As a law-abiding citizen, I had to involve the security agencies. Indeed, I’m very disappointed because I have worked hard to build my business.”
Insisting that he had nothing to hide or fear over what had happened, Otedola maintained if he was in the wrong he would not have involved the security agencies in the first instance.
In a reference to the strong denials made by Lawan since the scandal became public, Otedola stated, “When he (Lawan) demanded the bribe, I called the agencies. That is because I had nothing to hide. When the bribe was paid, why did he not call and report it to the agencies if he had nothing to.”
Meanwhile, THISDAY gathered that the videotape of the illicit transaction had been sent to the EFCC to investigate the incident.
When contacted, the EFCC, however, said it had neither received the videotape nor had it commenced investigations into the bribery scandal.
EFCC Head of the Media Unit, Mr. Wilson Uwugiaren, said the allegation had not been brought to the knowledge of the commission.
According to him, the only related matter currently being handled by the EFCC was the report of the ad-hoc committee that the commission was studying to establish the facts and track down anyone found culpable for the alleged mismanagement of the PSF.
By Yemi Ajayi in Lagos, Ike Abonyi, Onwuka Nzeshi and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
Culled from Thisdayonline
Thursday, 7 June 2012
SOLAR PLANE FLIES TO MOROCCO, CONNECTS CONTINENT WITH POWER OF THE SUN
The Swiss solar-powered plane, Solar Impulse, touched down to a warm welcome in Rabat, Morocco last night, flying from Madrid and successfully completing the second leg of its record-breaking 2,500-kilometer intercontinental flight from Switzerland to Morocco.
Mustapha Bakkoury, President, Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy, (MASEN), joined in welcoming pilot Bertrand Piccard, who called the flight over the Strait of Gibraltar "a magical moment" and noted that Solar Impulse made the trip "without one drop of fossil fuel." In Morocco, the Solar Impulse team will join events highlighting the convergence and capacity of renewable energy technologies, particularly solar power, under the patronage of King Mohammed VI and at the invitation of MASEN, which oversees Morocco's solar energy development.
The solar-powered flight coincides with construction launch in southern Morocco of the world's largest solar thermal plant, a World Bank-financed project commencing in Ouarzazate that will harness the Sahara sun to produce 2,000 megawatts of renewable energy for North Africa and Europe and create jobs for many in the area. Ouarzazate is the solar plane's next destination, after a five-day stopover in Rabat.
MASEN's Bakkoury called the Solar Impulse flight important for raising awareness about solar energy's potential to reduce global dependence on oil. "We share a common message with Solar Impulse," he said. "Solar energy is no longer restricted to the scientific world but is becoming an integral part of our daily lives." He said Morocco will be producing solar-energy by 2014, when Solar Impulse plans its round-the-world tour.
For pilots, Piccard and Andre Borschberg, it was all about the flying. Borschberg piloted the first leg from Switzerland to Madrid on May 25th, flying the 207-ft wing-span plane with its 12,000 solar cells. In Rabat he said, "This flight marks a new stage in the history of the project." Landing with a full set of batteries was "extraordinary and represents an increase in confidence in new technologies."
Piccard said, "Solar Impulse symbolizes the pioneering and explorer spirit necessary to find new solutions, outside of old habits and certainties, to respond to today's challenges."
Culled from www.eturbonews.com
Jun 06, 2012
Tuesday, 5 June 2012
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRESS STATEMENT
The Honourable minister of Foreign Affairs – Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, MFR, the Honourable Minister of State II – Dr. Nurudeen Muhammed, the Permanent Secretary – Ambassador (Dr) Martin Ohumoibhi and the entire staff of the ministry of Foreign Affairs have conveyed their heartfelt condolences to the Honourable minister of State I – Professor Viola Adaku Onwuliri on the unfortunate death, on official duty, of her beloved husband – Professor Celestine Onwuliri – in the ill fated DANA Airlines flight 0992 from Abuja to Lagos that crashed on Sunday, June 3, 2012 as it approached the airport in Lagos.
2. The condolence message was conveyed to the Honourable Minister of State I by a special delegation led by the Honourable Minister of State II, comprising all Under Secretaries and Directors of the ministry of Foreign Affairs that visited her at her residence in Abuja yesterday, Monday, June 4, 2012.
3. The delegation also seized the opportunity to express deep sorrow at the loss of lives of other Nigerians in the tragic accident. It prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed, while beseeching the Almighty God to grant the bereaved families and the entire nation at large, the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses.
4. Ambassador Ashiru has accordingly conveyed to all Nigerian missions abroad Mr. President’s directives to observe the three days of national mourning and to fly the national flag at half mast, while also opening condolence registers both at headquarters and our missions abroad.
5. Once more, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the entire staff of the ministry commiserates with the nation on this national disaster.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Tafawa Balewa House,
Eagle Square.
Abuja - FCT
NIGERIA BANS DANA AIRLINES, WITHDRAWS THEIR LICENSE
The Federal Republic of Nigeria has withdrawn the operational license of Dana Airlines and banned them from further operations. This follows last Sunday's disaster where a Dana Air flight with 153 people on board plunged into a densely populated area of Lagos near the airport. The crash claimed the lives of all passengers on board and 69 people on the ground so far.
An official of Dana Airline, yesterday, made a startling revelation on the circumstances surrounding Sunday’s crash of the airline’s Lagos-bound plane in Iju-Ishaga, Lagos, saying the management of the airline knew the ill-fated aircraft was faulty before take-off but still went ahead to fly it.
This was corroborated by two officials of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, (NAMA),one of the regulatory agencies in the Aviation sector who argued that the airline should be charged with murder because “the particular aircraft McDonnell 83 with Registration Number 5N-RAM had history of technical problems which both the airline and regulatory agencies were aware of”.
According to the officials, “this particular aircraft had hydraulic problems three weeks ago and had to return to Lagos after take off, thereby aborting the flight.
The Nigerian Senate today ordered the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to ground all flights operated by Dana Air, until all their aircraft are certified to fly.
The lawmakers made the resolution following a motion by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Hope Uzondinma (PDP, Imo).
The senate also asked Harold Demuren the head of the NCAA to step aside pending investigations into the disaster.
The senators further ordered the aviation authority to conduct an audit of the airlines in the country to determine their airworthiness.
Culled from Elombah.com
EFCC DOCKS TIMIPRE SYLVA OVER N2BN SALARY SCAM
…………AS COURT REMANDS HIM IN EFCC CUSTODY.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, June 5th , 2012 arraigned a former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva before Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on a six count charge of fraud, criminal conversion, and conspiracy to commit crime to the tune of over N2billion when he held sway as governor of the state.
Prosecution counsel, Festus Keyamo had sought the leave of the court for the six count charges to be read to the accused person and his plea was granted. Sylva ,however, pleaded not guilty to all the count charges.
Lead defense counsel, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, leading another senior advocate of Nigeria along with 12 other lawyers, then moved a bail application on behalf of Sylva. He told the court that the defense team had filed a bail application dated May 22nd , 2012, supported by a twelve- paragraph affidavit, a written address and a reply to the counter affidavit filed by prosecution counsel, Festus Keyamo opposing the bail application.
Fagbemi informed the court that the offenses for which Sylva is standing trial are ordinarily bailable, and that the main purpose of bail is to ensure that an accused person faces trial . Citing authority of the Supreme Court in Saidu VS State (1982), the defense counsel urged the court to discharge its discretion for bail on lenient terms while taking judicial notice of the fact that the accused person came to court on his own volition to answer his charges.
In his response, prosecution counsel, Festus Keyamo informed the court that he had filed a sixteen- paragraph counter- affidavit accompanied with a written address in opposition to the bail being sought for the accused person. Keyamo told the court to take judicial notice of the several applications filed by prosecution for substituted service of Sylva who evaded service and even ran out of the country and deny him bail. He further urged the court to note that an accused person who had shown a propensity to bolt away should not be trusted to be around during his trial , if granted bail.
Furthermore, Keyamo asked the court to also note that there was a judicial pronouncement in a sister matter before Justice Okorowa with the same charge “that there is a very strong prima-facie case against the accused” but only that at that time, he enjoyed immunity as a sitting governor. Keyamo then prayed that the court in the exercise of its discretion of bail, should note the weighty evidence against the accused person and deny him bail while remanding him in prison custody.
Justice Adamu Bello reserved ruling on the bail application of the accused person till Thursday, June 7th , 2012 and directed that the accused person be remanded in EFCC custody.
Some of the charges against Sylva are:
COUNT 1:
That you, Timipre Sylva, as Governor of Bayelsa State, with others now at large, sometime between October, 2009 and February, 2010, at various places in Nigeria, including Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court did conspire to commit a crime to wit: conversion of properties and resources amounting to N2,000,000,000.00 (Two Billion Naira) belonging to Bayelsa State Government and derived from an illegal act, with the aim of concealing the illicit origin of the said amount and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act), 2004 and punishable under Section 14(1) of the same Act.
COUNT 2:
That you, Timipre Sylva, as Governor of Bayelsa State, with others now at large, on or about the 22nd of January, 2010, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, converted the sum of N380,000,000.00 (Three Hundred and Eighty Million Naira), property of the Bayelsa State Government, through the account of one Habibu Sani Maigidia, a Bureau De Change Operator with Account No. 221433478108, in Fin Bank, Plc, which sum you knew represented the proceeds of an illegal act with the aim of concealing the nature of the proceeds of the said illegal act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 14(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2004 and also punishable under section 14(1) of the same Act.
COUNT 3:
That you, Timipre Sylva, as Governor of Bayelsa State, with others now at large, on or about the 5th of February, 2010, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, converted the sum of N50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira), property of the Bayelsa State Government, through the account of one Enson Benmer Limited with Account No. 6152030001946, in First Bank, Plc, which sum you knew represented the proceeds of an illegal act with the aim of concealing the nature of the proceeds of the said illegal act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 14(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2004 and also punishable under section 14(1) of the same Act.
Wilson Uwujaren
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
5th June, 2012.
PRESS RELEASE.
CPC commiserate with the crash victims’ families.
The National Leader of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR and the entire leadership of the Party hereby commiserate with the families of the victims of the DANA air crash of Sunday, 3rd June, 2012. Our hearts truly go out to these Nigerians at this very difficult time of sudden bereavement.
Indeed, this latest aviation disaster coming a day after another Nigerian Air Plane crashed in Ghana is already causing concern among Nigerians that hoping this is not the signal for the return to the corruption-induced era of incessant air crashes under the PDP-led Administrations! This is coming when we seem to have heaved a sigh of relief from the air-crashes in the last six years.
Undoubtedly, the corruption in the Aviation sector is seen in the fact that two former Ministers of Aviation are undergoing prosecution for corruption. This pervasive corruption by the successive PDP-led Federal Governments as regards administration of the Aviation sector have corrupted this important sector of the Nation state that Industry best practices are often circumvented at will by the Airline operators. The result of these infractions is what we witness with Air disasters!
Though we may join concerned and patriotic Nigerians in calling for judicial probe of this latest intrusion of the hitherto tranquil atmosphere, we doubt the sincerity of the PDP-led Federal Government in unearthing the real causes of these disasters. The feeble handling of the probes shows in the way and manner the recommendations are never implemented! For example, on the 4th of May,2002, an EAS aircraft (with 77 on board) crashed in Kano. This crash occurred in the mad era of abridgment of International best practices and a probe was instituted. First, the Flight recorder (aka Black Box) was reported not seen. Eventually, a black box was dubiously brought that revealed more than two and a half hours of flight time. Indeed, no flight in Nigeria is that long. Suffice to say that, with the ruling PDP style of rewarding incompetence, unprofessionalism and corruption, the Chief Executive Officer of that Airline has bounced back as the PDP- governor of a North-central state!
The current problems besetting the Nation are daunting enough; hiccups in the Aviation sector would be too burdensome for the citizenry. This is why we call on the Federal Government to see stability in the Aviation sector as a sacred duty for ensuring a tranquil polity.
God bless Nigeria.
Rotimi Fashakin (Engr.)
National Publicity Secretary, CPC.
(Monday, 4th June, 2012).
CONGRESS FOR PROGRESSIVE CHANGE (CPC) PRESS RELEASE.
RE: STATEGIC MEETING OF MOBILIZING FOR 2015-NEED TO SEAL UP THE JUDICIAL ANGLE…… OUR REBUTTAL!
Our attention has been drawn to the Advertorials by a faceless group-COALITION FOR INTEGRITY- in Leadership Newspaper of Monday, 28th May, 2012 and This day Newspaper of Thursday, 31st May, 2012. Therein, a purported internal Memo from one Hon. Hakeem Bello to the Lagos Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN was published.
In the said Memo, it was reported that a political meeting was held between the National leadership of CPC and ACN with some eminent Nigerians in attendance. It was further alleged that at this meeting, the plan was hatched to influence the National Judicial Commission (NJC) on behalf of Justice Ayo Salami with a view to recalling him to his former position as President, Court of Appeal (PCA).
We deem it fitting and proper to rebut the tissues of lies contained in these publications. There was no time this meeting ever took place. Though as a Party, we have always believed that constitutional order was jettisoned in the suspension of Justice Ayo Salami was done, we have never, at any time, been involved in any subterranean action to corruptly influence the NJC. This is indeed a botched Propagandist scheme to delude the unsuspecting Nigerian public. This is another manifestation of the recklessness and degenerative extent this administration (at the Federal level) can get, in using deliberate mendacity, for hollow political end. This is iniquitous, ludicrous and truculent piece of hogwash!
It would be recalled that since the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muhammed Uwais, gave an informed opinion on the Constitutional powers of the NJC in suspension and recall of any Judicial Officer without Presidential approval, the ruling PDP had been seeking for ways to extirpate that position.
First, they justified their arbitrariness in this matter by latching on to this-matter-is-in-court straw of hope. With the matter thrown out, that explained this desperation in concocting an imaginary meeting to deviously create an unwholesome relationship between Justice Ayo Salami and notable opposition parties. However, we urge the members of the NJC to treat this despicable Memo with the ignominy that it deserves and do Justice as they see it without fear or favor!
Finally, we hereby use this medium to appeal to the media, as the sacred duty to the Nigerian state, in not allowing any of the numerous proxies of this administration, masquerading as patriotic groups, in sowing combustible and insidious materials for the ultimate end of causing mass disaffection in the polity.
God bless Nigeria.
Rotimi Fashakin (Engr.)
National Publicity Secretary, CPC.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)