EFCC to grill Jibrin again this week over N418m contracts

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is set to quiz a former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Mr. Abdulmumin Jibrin, again this week over a petition alleging “fraudulent award” of contracts worth N418m to firms linked to him.
The petition, dated July 26, 2016, was written by the Anti-corruption Unit of the National Youth Council of Nigeria.
The EFCC acknowledged receipt of the petition on July 29.
Jibrin was reported to have been interrogated on Tuesday over allegations relating to N17bn money laundering.

It was gathered that the EFCC had concluded arrangements to interrogate the former appropriation committee chairman again this week.
An officer, who confided in Sunday PUNCH, said, “Our operatives will before the end of the week, invite him to answer questions relating to the fresh petition.”
In the petition, the NYCN stated that in September 2014, the National Commission For Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons awarded 10 contracts to five companies in the combined sum of N418m in one day.
It noted that the contract documents merely directed the firms to make supplies to “Kano State”, but did not indicate the purpose of the contract, the location where the supplies would be delivered, nor the names of the recipients.
However, in each of the contract document, the agency copied Jibrin, who was at the time the Chairman, House Committee on Finance.
Part of the petition read, “All contacts were awarded in one day; all the contracts were awarded to Kano State.
“All the contract award letters were copied to Jibrin; three of the companies are located in the same EFAB Mall, Area 11, Abuja.
“Two of the companies, which got four of the contracts, used the same office address, Suite A47, EFAB Mall, Area 11, Abuja.”
Going through the contracts papers, Sunday PUNCH observed that one of the firms, M/S Eash Progressive Ventures, was awarded a contract to supply 140 units of computers for N47.6m.
Another firm, Eleku Construction Limited, was awarded a contract worth N44.1m to supply 2,452 bags of “maize and millet to Kano State.”
The council urged the EFCC to probe the contracts because of the “curious” nature of the deals, which did not include any other lawmaker or the Kano State Government other than Jibrin, who was copied.
It called on the commission to establish the “capability” or otherwise of Jibrin and the Federal Commissioner, who awarded the 10 contracts.
It added, “The unit cost of the supplies in the 10 contracts is outrageous.
“Efforts to trace evidence of completion of the contracts have proved abortive.
“The description of the companies is ambiguous, as they were all supplies to Kano State, without any specification to whom or what purpose the supplies would be deployed.”
The document to the EFCC was signed by the Council’s Coordinator, Mr. Ifeanyi Okonkwo.
The spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed to our correspondent on the telephone that the commission had received a petition against Jibrin.
Get ready for trial, Jibrin tells Dogara, others

But in his Twitter handle on Saturday, Jibrin said Dogara and others involved in budget padding should prepare to face prosecution.
He said that the principal officers could not harass him with media propaganda.
Jibrin said the All Progressives Congress should get rid of Dogara and other members of the party involved in budget padding.
He added that the Peoples Democratic Party should do the same thing to the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor.
He said, “No amount of media propaganda, blackmail or intimidation can stop me. They are very bitter because I have turned down a “family resolution.”
On the issue of cars contract, he said, “Maybe it’s easier for Dogara to explain his role in the fraudulent multibillion-naira cars contract by his fronts as Chair House Services. This same man we call Speaker l, ‘number 4 citizen’ is involved in all cases of fraudulent contracts and money laundering in the House since 2007.
“With the massive amount being moved from the House accounts on Dogara’s instruction, I hope he will be arrested before he steals everything. Speaker Dogara, Lasun and Doguwa are already a baggage that the APC should offload; same for Minority Leader, Leo Ogar to the PDP.”
Tambuwal peace moves fails

Meanwhile, a peace meeting under the auspices of the Transparency Group in the House, said to have been initiated by the Governor of Sokoto State, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, failed before it started, Sunday PUNCH has learnt.
Sources close to the group claimed that Tambuwal, a former Speaker of the House, had sought to meet with Dogara; and Jibrin.
However, the TG, which is also opposed to the Speaker in the ongoing budget padding crisis, reportedly backed out after Tambuwal failed to revert to the group on the conditions it set to attend the meeting.
The sources claimed the TG demanded the resignation of Dogara, in addition to reconvening the House so that external bodies could probe the budget padding allegations.
Truth will vindicate us — Dogara

Dogara’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, in a statement, appealed to the public to be patient as truth will vindicate him.
He said, “Our attention has been drawn to recent publications in some sections of the media in which the Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara has been grossly misrepresented in his statements to the press.
“The first was at the State House after his meeting with Mr President where he informed the press that “ padding” was unknown to the lexicon of the legislature and Nigerian law.
“By this, the Speaker clearly asserted that nothing undertaken by the legislature in the ordinary course of the budget process could be alluded to either as padding or an infraction of any law in Nigeria.
“Unfortunately, the media reported him as saying that ‘padding’ was not a crime. This tended to insinuate that the Hon Speaker admitted there was budget padding but that this did not constitute a crime.

World Bank delaying return of $321m Abacha loot — Switzerland

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The repatriation of the $321m looted by late Gen. Sani Abacha may not be done anytime soon as the Swiss government says the World Bank has to finalise the projects to be executed with the money by the Federal Government.
The Swiss government explained that a bilateral agreement for the restitution of the money would then be signed afterwards, which would form the basis for the transfer of the money.
The Deputy Head of Mission, Swiss embassy in Nigeria, Daniel Cavegn, said this in an email to inquiries from our correspondent about the time frame for the repatriation of the money.
Cavegn stated that the Swiss government was ready to start the transfer of the fund once all the necessary World Bank protocol and agreements had been taken care of.

He said, “Once the monitoring of the World Bank for the projects chosen by the Federal Government is finalised, we will proceed to a bilateral agreement for the restitution, which is the legal basis for the transfer of the money.
“The Swiss forfeiture order provides for a return of $321m to Nigeria and foresees a monitoring of the use of the funds by the World Bank.
“From the Swiss side, we are committed to begin the restitution of the money to Nigeria as soon as possible; we will proceed to a bilateral agreement for the restitution, which is the legal basis for the transfer of the money.
“It is difficult to currently give a time frame for the start of the restitution as the finalisation of the proceedings will still need time.”
On what is further expected of Nigeria, Cavegn said the FG had played its part, adding that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of Nigeria and the Swiss Foreign Minister signed on March 8, 2016 in Abuja, a letter of intent regarding the restitution of the fund.
This, he added, was to ensure that the process for the restitution was undertaken on the basis of international best practices of transparency and accountability.
“This letter of intent confirms that the use of the funds will be monitored by the World Bank as foreseen in the forfeiture order issued by the Public Prosecutor of the Canton of Geneva,” the Swiss official stated.
Cavegn noted that the FG had submitted a series of possible projects for which the money repatriated could be used, adding that his country was waiting for details of the proposed projects.
“We are awaiting more details regarding the proposed projects and, in particular, how the monitoring of the World Bank would be assured,” he said.
The envoy further said the mode of payment had not been worked out, noting that it had not been decided whether the money would be paid in instalments. He added that these issues had not been discussed by Switzerland and Nigeria.
The Swiss government said it had repatriated to Nigeria $700 million Abacha loot in several tranches since 2005, noting that the $321m being awaited by the Federal Governmet was not deposited in Switzerland, but frozen and finally repatriated from Luxembourg to Switzerland in the frame of a criminal case against Abba Abacha opened by the Public Prosecutor of the Republic and Canton of Geneva.

EFCC should probe Obasanjo’s third term bribery allegations — Shittu

A legal practitioner, Mr. Wahab Shittu, in this interview with TOBI AWORINDE, argues that former President Olusegun Obasanjo should be investigated for allegations of bribery levelled against him while trying to push his third-term agenda through at the N’Assembly
Do you think the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission should investigate the third-term bribery allegations against former President Olusegun Obasanjo?

I want to preface my comments by emphasising the need for us to maintain an open mind and to also recognise the presumption of innocence on the part of those who are to be investigated, particularly on the part of former President Obasanjo. The rationale is that he remains an elder statesman, a national and iconic figure who has made some significant contributions to nation-building and who was also very instrumental to the quelling of the Civil War.
He has consistently been praised for his crusade for unity and cohesiveness in the country. Although he remains controversial, he is perceived as a cat with nine lives. But that does not mean he is above the law. So, my take would be yes, the EFCC should reopen investigations into that allegations. But they should not be limited to the third-term allegation alone. It should cover other bribery allegations against that administration and subsequent administrations. For instance, it should cover the murders and other alleged atrocities of the Obasanjo era, including alleged atrocities of the (Goodluck) Jonathan years, like the allegations raised by (former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido) Sanusi on the money that was not remitted to the Federation Account, the Halliburton scandal, the Siemens scandal and other scandals of that nature, in order to put the past into proper perspective so that we can draw useful lessons. But beyond the allegations, what I would emphasise is that in undertaking such, a premium should be placed on effective and efficient investigation.
What should such an investigation entail?

A fair criminal justice system is an integral part of crime investigation. It is built on public confidence and encourages respect for law and order. In essence, crime investigation is the process by which the perpetrators of a crime are identified through the gathering of facts and evidences. It may involve an assessment of whether a crime has been committed in the first place. Investigations can be reactive, i.e. applies to crimes that have already taken place, or proactive, that is, targeting a particular criminal or forestalling a criminal atrocity. Whatever is the motive, what I would emphasise is that investigators, who are going to be involved in such investigations, are aware of the need to conduct an efficient and effective investigation; they must recognise the fact that the presumption of those involved must be guaranteed. The investigators need to be certain that their suspicions are based on an objective evaluation of facts and that they have not twisted the facts to suit their suspicions. If we can conduct these investigations effectively and efficiently, investigators will need to be given considerable powers.

So, what I am saying in essence is that I am in favour of reopening such an investigation, provided we deploy effective and efficient measures. But that should not be limited to the third-term agenda alone, because there are allegations of similar reports.
What is your response to those that think that a probe would be demeaning for the ex-President, given his contributions to nation-building?

We should acknowledge the fact that certain positive roles were carried out by certain individuals and for playing such roles, their respective names should be on the positive side of history. But without prejudice to such roles, it is also important for the state to ensure a crime-free society and to also make the point that when allegations are made, they are not swept under the carpet, no matter the persons involved. There is also the perspective in the public space; Obasanjo and those who believe in him would say that there was no third-term (agenda), whereas there are others who would say the third-term agenda was in place and that it was heavily funded. You will recall that Bala Na’Allah, a member of the Senate, came out recently (to say) he was offered N50m and that he rejected it. Someone like that should be summoned to establish the veracity of the allegation because reputation, character and credibility are involved here. Where such are involved, whatever positive achievements may be ascribed to these people may be rubbished on the pages of history, if these allegations are not cleared. It is even in the interest of those who are accused, no matter their standing. Let prior investigation be carried out and their names cleared, if necessary, so that whatever legacy they want to leave behind will not be rubbished.
I think what is important is for us to find out whether they are indeed innocent or guilty. Then it is also important to find out if such actions were actually carried out. Also, we need to know what the motivation is. Was it carried out in spite of the motivation? We have to find out why it (the third term agenda) was not successful and whether some people derived any benefit from those actions.
Why do you think Na’Allah should be quizzed over the issue?

For instance, if Na’Allah is saying he was offered N50m and, according to him, he rejected it, we need to find out whether some people benefited from the process and the identities of those involved. Former President (Obasanjo) has allegations against the National Assembly. We need to know what happened during the era. We need to know what proof the former President has by searching the archives. What is important in both processes is the quality of investigation. We must ensure that we have adequate information; we have to ensure that sufficient response is deployed in evidence and to identify those who are involved. We need to know if there are victims or witnesses who need to be interrogated to form his particulars.

Oba Akiolu To Buhari: You Are Not A Military Man Anymore

The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to change his leadership style, saying the president should recognise that he is not a military ruler.

The traditional ruler who said this while making a speech at the opening of SunTrust Bank Limited in Lagos MONday, also urged the president to always listen to advice on how best to govern the country.
Akiolu also faulted the measures being adopted by the federal government in tackling the decay caused by the immediate past government, stressing that all that happened in the past government were not caused by former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
“All of us just have to support the president and I advise him to know that he is no more a military man. I am not afraid to say that. On the measures they are taking to tackle the rot of the past, honestly, whether they like it or not, it was not totally the fault of Jonathan.
“I don’t hide the fact that he (Jonathan) is my personal friend. All that happened was not totally his fault. But it is not too late to make amend. With Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as head of economic team, with people like Mrs. Nike Akande as the President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and others, they (the federal government) should listen to advice from people in commercial sector of the economy,” he added.

Saudi Arabia arrests Nigerian pilgrim with kolanuts

A yet-to-be identified Nigerian pilgrim has landed in trouble in Saudi Arabia for taking kolanuts to the holy land.
The pilgrim, it was learnt, was caught with 10 kolanuts on Monday afternoon.
The pilgrim was said to have been fined 10,000 Saudi Riyals, amounting to 1000 Riyals per kolanut.
A source who spoke with the acting Ambassador of Nigeria in Saudi Arabia Monday afternoon confirmed the development, saying the Saudi authorities viewed the importation of kolanuts into the Kingdom as illegal.
As at the time of filing this report, officials of the Nigerian Consulate in Jeddah were still pleading for the pilgrim.
Our correspondent gathered that under Saudi law, anyone caught with narcotic drugs will face the death penalty.

Dalung sends two U-23 players, officials back to Nigeria

Sports minister Solomon Dalung has sent two players and three officials of the national U-23 team back to Nigeria from the ongoing 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.
It was learnt that the two alternate players Stanley Dimgba and goalkeeper Yusuf Mohammed alongside the team’s media officer, Timi Ebikagboro, curator and the team coordinator were sent packing from the games and flew out of Brazil to Nigeria on Monday night.
“We said they should send them back home if they could not take care of them (players and officials,” Nigeria Football Federation spokesman told The PUNCH.
Dalung had complained of the huge financial burden of taking care of the extra players and officials after the players were prevented from leaving the hotel over the unpaid bills of eight of their unaccredited players and officials.
Dalung said 84 players and four officials – unofficially accredited persons had been with the team since they left Atlanta for Brazil.
“The organisers of the Games, the International Olympic Committee, are only responsible for 25 accredited players and officials including feeding, flights and accommodation. We have been carrying the rest along. In Manaus, we were forced to pay camp allowances to the extra four players making 29,” Dalung added.

You won’t believe what the Olympic gold medal is worth …

An Olympic medal is worth glory and fame , just not very much cash.The 500-gram gold medals earned by Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps and Simone Biles are nearly 99 percent recycled silver. They contain just 1.2 percent gold, mostly used as plating,Daily Mail reports.
They are worth about $587 in current market prices.
Victor Hugo Berbert, head of medal-making at Brazil’s National Mint in Rio de Janeiro,said
It’s a great honor and a great responsibility,’ Each of the 5,130 Olympic and Paralympic medals took about 48 hours to make

Much of the silver is recycled from old mirrors and X-ray plates. The gold is free of mercury, which is often used to separate gold from ore and can poison local ecosystems if not carefully disposed of.
The last time athletes earned medals made of pure gold was at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden.

Edo APC Refutes Claims That Obaseki Has No Educational Certificates

The academic qualifications of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Edo state, Dr. Godwin Obaseki, has suddenly become subject of controversy.
This is as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the State, Monday, expressed concern over claims by Obaseki that he lost the original copies of all his credentials.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Benin, the State Chairman of PDP, Dan Orbih, said the claims deposed to by Obaseki in an affidavit were suspicious and that Obaseki should come clean on the matter instead of playing on the intelligence of Edo people.
He made reference to the affidavit sworn to at an Abuja High Court, wherein he alleged that Obaseki stated that he lost the originals of his primary, secondary, university and National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) certificates at a date that was not given.
According to Orbih, in the affidavit dated 7th June, 2016, Obaseki said, “that all originals of my above said certificates are kept in safe custody in my office but unfortunately during the process of relocating from one office to another, I misplaced the original of the above said original documents…That what I have with me now are photocopies of the secondary school leaving certificates, university leaving certificates and the NYSC discharge certificate.”
Accordingly, the PDP said; “The reasons he advanced are so flimsy and unconvincing. There are many question begging for answers. The affidavit does not contain the locations of where he was moving from and to or the state where he lost the certificates.
“Did he report to the police when he lost the certificates. If it was reported at the time they got missing, we want him to tell us. One will expect that he must have reported the matter to the police. If he did, why did he not attach a copy of the police extract.

Troops Rescue 88, Kill 3 Boko Haram Terrorists in Bama, Borno – Army

Troops on clearance operations in the North-East have rescued 88 people in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State and killed three during an encounter.
A statement signed by Col. Sani Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, in Abuja on Tuesday, said 28 people of those rescued, claimed they escaped from Bula Musa village.

The statement said the 28 people comprised two men, nine women and 17 children, adding that the troops killed three terrorists during separate encounter.
“They have been taken to Bama town for screening, profiling and possible handover to emergency management and humanitarian agencies”, Usman said.
He said that another 23, comprising a man, five women and 17 children were intercepted by troops deployed at Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Bama.
Usman said this was after they escaped from terrorists in Bula Musa general area on Sunday.
“In Dikwa, the troops also recorded influx of 37 IDPs, comprising two men, 12 women, 12 boys and 11 girls from Gulumba Gana village which is about 45km astride Gulumba-Kumshe Road axis, Bama Local Government Area.
“They were screened by the troops and the Civilian JTF who, later handed them over to the Dikwa IDPs camp management for further registration and rehabilitation”, Usman said.
He said those deployed at Nigeria-Cameroon border in conjunction with Civilian JTF also arrested two escaping Boko Haram terrorists named Mohammed Mundilga and Ahmed Ali.
“The terrorists, who hail from Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area on preliminary investigation confessed that they were Boko Haram fighters, and added that they sneaked into Gamboru from Abbaganaram village, Marte Local Government Area after being tired of staying in the bush.
“They, terrorists, attempted to disguise and pass on as IDPs but ran out of luck as they were found out. Both of them have been handed over to the Joint Investigation centre for further interrogation”, he said.
‪The army spokesman said troops also carried out clearance operation and fighting patrol at Wadama, Izakah, Gelemari and Kalizaram villages.
He said following information that terrorists were extorting residents of Zankari village, troops stationed in Monguno, responded and killed two of them, while one sustained gunshot wounds.
‪Usman said the troops recovered one AK-45 rifle and three rounds of 7.62mm ammunition from the insurgents.

US rapper Wale shares photo of his daughter, Oluwakemi

American rapper Olubowale Victor Akintimehin, popularly known by his stage name Wale, has shared the very first photo of his baby girl (Zyla Moon Oluwakemi) via his Instagram page with a caption, “Love.. Unconditional (Oluwakemi few days old)”.

Recall, the rapper was billed to perform alongside other African acts at last month’s One Africa Music Festival at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center in New York, but had to cancel at the last minute.
The 32-year-old D.C rapper cancelled his schedule performance to be at the hospital where his girlfriend, Chloe Alexis gave birth to their first child.

Shaunae Miller Dives To 400m Gold

How badly do you want to come in at first place?

Shaunae Miller ensured that we had a 400m women’s final at the Rio Olympics after she literally dived into first place to beat Felix, the defending champion.
Felix came in second and now becomes the most decorated female athlete in track and field history after securing her seventh medal. 22-year old Miller told reporters;

“This is the moment I have been waiting for, I just gave it my all, I am just so happy, so grateful, such emotions I just can’t say.

“I’ve been going through so much this year. Everyone at home will all be celebrating right now.”