Evils of Corruption. Courtesy-Imoonline.

As Expected, Obama Ignores Nigeria.

Looting At The Gate::A Feeding Frenzy....

A Feeding Frenzy Print
Written by Okey Ndibe
Saturday, 28 February 2009

A feeding frenzy

Okey Ndibe

There's a looting frenzy going on in Abuja, and Nigerians should be hopping mad about it.

Last week, NEXT's Musikilu Mojeed and Elor Nkereuwem gave an enlightening, if disturbing, account of the obscene sums of cash carted home by the looters who misbaptize themselves lawmakers. In reading their report, aptly titled "An Assembly for Looting," one realized the truth of what one always suspected:that Nigeria is a veritable demo-crazy.

What's a demo-crazy? It is quite simply a space run by criminals who mask themselves as devotees of democracy. Mojeed and Nkereuwem's report informed readers that Nigerian "politicians have turned themselves into instant millionaires just for being members of the National Assembly, paying themselves salaries and allowances that will make Bill Gates envious." My initial response was that the reporters were trading in hyperbole. But that's hardly the case.

Here are some of the miffing facts in their report. Four times this year, each of the 360 members of the House of Representatives will receive ₦35 million as "constituency allowance." In conservative terms, that's $300,000 per member per quarter. At the end of the year, then, each member of the House would have collected a cool $1.2 million.

If this figure has made you dizzy - or put you in a tizzy - hold on a minute until you hear this one. Each of the 109 senators collects ₦48 million per quarter. At the end of the year, each senator's haul will be in the neighborhood of $1.7 million. That's not a bad sum for doing - little to nothing.

In case you're wondering, these legislators gobble enough cash to give pocket money to President Barack Obama. Obama's salary is $400,000 per annum. That's less than what each Nigerian senator "eats" each quarter.

Mind; this gargantuan "constituency allowance" comes on top of salaries and other sundry allowances by the Abuja "lootocrats." As a former member of the National Assembly told me, there's no requirement that the legislators explain how they spend their so-called "constituency" funds.

"Throughout the four years I spent in the House," said this former representative, who asked for anonymity, "I don't know of one member who used the money to do anything serious in his or her constituency. The cash was pocketed." The two reporters took care to give readers some perspective. "If you are a civil servant, police officer or school teacher," they wrote, "and you earn ₦48, 000 a month, you will have to work for more than 83 years just to earn what your Senator is taking away." And that's just what the senator takes to his bank every three months.

This duo of enterprising reporters made the looting vivid. Considering that Nigeria's minimum wage stands at ₦5, 500 a month, each senator's quarterly allowance "will pay for 2,909 workers earning the minimum wage." The reporters offered other tantalizing projections. If Nigerians were to fire the entire membership of the National Assembly, the savings would be more than enough to "fund the N88.5billion" Mr. Umaru Yar'Adua budgeted this year for building power plants.

Alternatively, we could "fund hospitals and clinics" all over Nigeria, "fix the Benin-Ore Expressway, which has collapsed, or make a significant down payment on the Lagos-Kano railway line." Why wait? I personally can't find much sense in retaining legislators who guzzle such stupendous sums and render mediocre lawmaking. These legislators abdicate even the basic responsibility of screening candidates for cabinet positions. Where hard questions demand to be asked, our supine legislators invite many a candidate to "bow and go."

Nigeria's know that their legislature is dominated by riff raff who got smuggled into their seats by a ruling party that regards elections as do-or-die warfare. A good number of them hardly understand the rudiments of legislative business. Watch a televised legislative session and you conjecture that many of these "bow and go" impostors won't even make the effort to show up.

In close to ten years of a "nascent" freak show we call democracy, the National Assembly is yet to pass a law that even attempted to make a dent on the issues of deepening poverty or stubborn culture of corruption. They are not of the tribe of the poor, and most of them are fully embedded in the bog of corruption.

Yet, these men and women have the cheek - the shameless gut - to plaster themselves with inflated appellations like "Honorable" and "Distinguished Senator." If this is the cost of the strange beast called democracy, then Nigerians ought to refuse to pay it.

Ideally, legislators should be paid sitting allowances and hired on a part-time basis. It happens in several states in the U.S. If we remove the allure of easy cash, we're likely to see an improvement in the quality of lawmakers. The leeches who are in it for the cash will take their game elsewhere.

It's time to say to these parasites: "Take a bow and go - home!"

Article courtesy of author and NEXT

Reps summon DPR over missing $1.2bn signature bonus.

From JAMES OJO, Abuja
Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Photo: The Sun Publishing

Following claims and counter claims about the actual amount collected as signature bonus by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Office of the Auditor General of the Federation, as well as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the House of Representatives yesterday summoned the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to come and regularise the accounts.

The agencies have been rolling out different figures collected from 44 oil companies as signature bonus for government between 2005 to date and what was actually released to the PTDF as statutory as demanded by the House’s Public Accounts Committee.

In one breath, PTDF claimed that it was supposed to have drawn $1.2 billion from signature bonuses on oil blocs awarded in the 2005 bid round, while in another breath, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation claimed it was supposed to be $1.071 billion.

To add to the confusion, the Central Bank of Nigeria said a total of $450 million was released to the PTDF on the advice of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, while the latter claims that the amount that was released was $840 million.

Confused by the claims and counter claims, the Public Accounts Committee concluded that the only way out of the logjam was to invite the DPR and Friday, July 9, 2009 was fixed as the date for DPR to appear.
Executive Secretary of PTDF, Engineer Muttagha Rabe Darma, in his testimony admitted that the fund received stood at $533 million USD since 2005, which he said came in two installments, one in foreign denomination ($450 million USD) and N10 billion ($83 million) in local currency.

But the Deputy Director, (Revenue) in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Dikwa, disclosed that apart from the release of a hundred million dollars ($100 million USD) to PTDF and sundry bank charges, there has not been much transactions on the signature bonus account, particularly in the last one year.

Acting Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Labaran Dambatta, observed that the conflicting claims cannot be resolved, unless the Department of Petroleum Resources, which is the statutory organ for conducting oil bid rounds and allocation of oil blocs was invited to shed some light on the controversy.
“It appeared that some persons in positions of authority were not prepared to let the PTDF have access to its statutory funds, such persons might need to amend the law setting up the fund before such cut in its finances could be affected,” he stated.

The committee also asked the CBN to furnish it with the statement of account from JP Morgan who manages the dollar accounts of the DPR in New York, United States of America in order to ascertain the exact amount that has been received by the DPR.


http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2009/july/07/national-07-07-2009-03.htm

Vet People Too Dey Steal?? MULTI MILLION NAIRA SCAM ROCKS VETERINARY COUNCIL

Written by Onye Nkegi
Friday, 19 June 2009

Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) is currently immersed in a ragging controversy over the list of personnel contained in the Council’s year 2007 Consolidated Payroll. Sources within the organization informed elendureports.com that the management of the council had embarked on a fraudulent misrepresentation to the Council’s supervising Ministry; the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, on the staff strength of the council and had adopted the misrepresented staff strength to fleece the Federal Government of over 104 million Naira since January 2007 till date.

Staff of the organization who spoke to this medium on condition of anonymity claim that the Council Registrar; Dr Maddo in collaboration with the Accountant; Dr. Hilary Ibe foisted the inflated staff list on the Ministry of Agriculture wherein they claimed that the Council has 75 personnel majority of whom are senior staff. A list of the presently employed staff of the organization shows that the Council has only 23 personnel on its employ. Out of this figure, less than 10 % are in the senior staff category with the rest as Senior Secondary School Certificate holders and Ordinary National Degree holders are predominantly junior staff.

Our source stated that the Council Management had been frustrating all attempts made to invite the supervising ministry to conduct a proper head count to expose the ongoing fraud and had also used the illegally acquired funds to fatten their investments in real estate in the Federal Capital City .

Accusing fingers were also pointed at Dr. Maddo and Dr. Ibe over the colossal amount which the council had spent in the ongoing construction of the Council’s Headquarters. It was alleged that both principal officers had cornered every contract in the Council using companies run on their behalves by their agents. They are said to have awarded all contracts relating to the building to their companies.

Specifically, the staffs of the council are irked about the insatiable love for money that the duo expressed in the hijacking of cleaning services in the establishment. They allegedly pay themselves millions monthly on cleaning services at the headquarters which ordinarily would take less than 10% of the amount to maintain.

Some of the employees also accused the management of high handedness in their efforts to acquire the quarters which were allocated to them. They alleged that they were prevented by the duo from acquiring the Council’s quarters in the recent sales of Federal Government Houses in the Federal Capital Territory . They also alleged that the blocks meant for the expansion of the Council’s quarters at Kubwa; a satellite town in the Federal Capital Territory were criminally converted to private properties by the Council’s Accountant with the tacit support of the Registrar.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was reported to have commenced investigation of the allegations.

http://elendureports.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=845&Itemid=33

Exit of foreign companies from Nigeria.

By Sun News Publishing
Monday, July 6, 2009

Editorial Index

A number of multinational companies have relocated their businesses from Nigeria to other African countries, citing concerns like infrastructural decay, poor tariff structure, corruption, growing insecurity, among others.

According to the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), blue chip companies like Paterson Zochonis (PZ) and Unilever have already moved or are in the process of moving their operations out of Nigeria to neighbouring Ghana, even as several others are on their way out. Earlier, two giant tyre manufacturers, Dunlop and Michelin, had closed shop in the country, due to unfavourable business conditions.

For a number of years, the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) had raised strident alarms on the stifling and oppressive atmosphere in which business is done in Nigeria, but successive governments typically turned deaf ears.

Now, the loss of Nigeria has turned to gains for countries like Ghana, Sierra-Leone, and The Gambia, which have offered safe haven for the retreating companies. Ironically, while multinational manufacturing operations are moving out to smaller countries with more reliable infrastructure, Nigeria with our huge consumer population still remains the target for the finished goods. The tragic difference is that we will become a net importer of these consumer goods hitherto manufactured here.

It is sad and depressing that Nigeria is fast assuming the unenviable reputation of being a cemetery for big businesses, particularly those in the real sector. Three recent international reports bring this out quite vividly. In its latest ranking, the Global Competitiveness Index, places Nigeria 148 out of 196 countries in terms of conducive environment for business.

Another report, Doing Business in Africa, ranks Nigeria as the eighth worst country for investment in the continent, while Ease of Doing Business Report, rates Nigeria as the second most difficult country to do business, globally. All these are unedifying, distressing and lamentable.
A cocktail of factors coalesce into what is now an unwholesome business environment. Perhaps the most critical is the power supply situation.

The latest statistics on power shows that Nigeria now has about 1,800 megawatts. For a country that needs a minimum well over 30,000 megawatts at any given time, this is parlous and quite desperate. The alternative for business outfits is to run on generators almost round the clock, and at the end of the year, they come up with negative profit.

We are not unmindful of efforts to fix the power situation, and the promise of the Yar’Adua administration to generate 6,000 megawatts by December this year, and 10,000 megawatts by December 2010. Efforts are good, but results are better. For eight years, the Olusegun Obasanjo expended billion of dollars on the power sector. Yet what Nigerians got was more darkness, leading to the current asphyxiating business climate. The situation must be reversed if we will ever regain the confidence of investors, both local and foreign.

Infrastructure is another scourge of business in Nigeria. And the greatest affliction comes in the forms of roads. Inter-city and intra-city roads are in such sorry states as to make investors rue their venture into these climes. Yet it gets worse by the day, particularly now that the rains are here. And the government through the Federal Ministry of Works appears helpless.

What of insecurity? A land where armed robbers, kidnappers, militants, and the like, have free rein, would not inspire the confidence of multinationals. And when they add to this the cumbersome process of getting things done here, in which you have to virtually bribe your way through the officialdom, then relocating to more halcyon lands is a better option.

Again, multiple taxation is a disincentive. Federal, state, and local tax authorities are ever at the heels of businesses, so much so that they do not know what their tax liabilities are at any given time. A bill on streamlining our tax policy has been gathering dust at the National Assembly. Exhuming and giving it accelerated treatment will send a signal to investors that we are now a serious nation.

An unrestrained exit of multinationals from Nigeria has grave socio-economic implications. Since we are the largest market in the sub-region, products which they manufacture from other countries will now be sent back here, and we will purchase same at higher cost. Foreign investment flows out, we again deplete our foreign reserves to import essential goods. Our economy will also lack international confidence, and we will forever be deemed a non-competitive nation. Our dependence on foreign countries will be deepened, and what is national sovereignty without economic sovereignty?

There is nothing on the ground to demonstrate beyond sterile precepts that the governments at various levels appreciate the gravity of this situation and are embattled enough to stem the dangerous drift to economic penury with attendant social and political risk. Rather, we are left with the uncomfortable sense of an Emperor Nero fiddling while the nation burns.
What of the concomitant revenue losses to government, job losses and the attendant social cost? When companies relocate, their Nigerian staffers are thrown into the already saturated labor market. Inevitably, many will turn to crime and other anti-social acts.

The antidote to all these is good governance. Unless we have quality leadership, committed to development in all its ramifications, quality of life and investment will inexorably go downhill.
Only government can fix power, fix infrastructure, engender the right political, social and economic environment for businesses to thrive. Nigeria hemorrhages now. All the symptoms of a failed economy are evident. Only good governance can reverse the trend. It is time to wake up.

And It Don't Stop:::House probes $1.2bn oil bloc proceeds

House Probes $1.2bn Oil Bloc Proceeds
From Onwuka Nzeshi in Abuja, 07.03.2009

House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts yesterday raised an alarm that about $1.2 billion which accrued to the Federal Government in respect of the 2005 oil bloc bid round had not been remitted to the appropriate accounts and could not be traced.
It has therefore summoned the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Lamido Sanusi and Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Alhaji Mutaqah Darma, to appear before the committee next week to throw more light on the issue.
Chairman of the House Committee, Honourable Usman Adamu, who blew the whistle at the commencement of an investigative hearing, said the fund accrued from signature bonuses of oil bloc bid round was supposed to have been paid into a Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) reserve account but it was not.
Adamu alleged that the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo directed that the money should not be paid into PTDF account but that the money should be kept in a special account at the CBN.
There are however conflicting reports about the actual amount in the special account. Authorities at the CBN claimed yesterday that the amount was actually $1.07 billion and not $1.2 billion. Mr. Mohammed Nda, an official of the apex bank, disclosed that the shortfall occurred because some refunds were made to some firms that benefited from the oil bid round but later lost out when the awards were canceled and re-allocated to other investors.
Accountant General of the Federation, Ibrahim Dankwambo, also adopted the figure position of the CBN. Dankwambo represented by Mr. O.I. Osibote said that the office of the AGF raised a letter of credit in favour of Ministry of Finance to cover $231 million being a refund to one of the investors, the Korean National oil Company (KNOC) whose oil bloc allocation was later revoked.
He explained that there was no fraudulent deal but that it was only fair that KNOC be refunded the amount it paid since its allocation was cancelled. “We don’t know whether the letter of credit has been utilized. We don’t know the status of the credit. But $231 million was a letter of credit in favor of Ministry of Finance. We asked both the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Ministry of Finance what the amount was originally and what the status is now. We want to find out whether it has been utilized,” Osibote said.
http://odili.net/news/source/2009/jul/3/209.html

Govs Abandon States For Abuja, Lagos, Abroad

Idowu Samuel, Abuja - 04.07.2009

The style of governance in Nigeria, especially at the state level, has taken a new dimension as indications are rife now that most of the state governors run governments from outside the state capitals.

A survey conducted by Saturday Tribune across the country has revealed that about two-thirds of the governors in Nigeria are not always on their seats, travelling out for supposedly urgent reasons.

According to investigations, most of the governors have found abode in either Abuja or Lagos, while some preferred to travel out at will to countries like the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and France.

However, the unexplained reasons behind the frequent dissapearance of state governors from their respective states as discovered by Saturday Tribune hangs on the economic meltdown, which survey revealed has been causing the shrinking of resources of most states, such that the governors must be frugal in spending.

Against this background, the governors are said to have deviced the means of sneaking out of the states to avoid pressures from their hangers-on, contractors, friends and associates known for their demands for money on all manners of excuses.

An aide to a South South governor told Saturday Tribune that his boss sat down one day and calculated the amount of money he had spent on public relations in a month and discovered he had committed nothing less than N1.2 billion to such.

He stressed that since he made such a discovery, he had learnt the trick of sneaking out of the state.

National Assembly members, officials of the anti-corruption agencies, top party members from either the states or Abuja, journalists, presidential aides, according to the survey, constitute a huge drain pipe for the governors, most of whom are said to be desperate in cutting down their expenses drastically.

Unlike the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly members who have the number of days that they must sit in the plenary for legislative businesses specified in their rules, there is no rule compelling state governors to remain glued to their seats, a reason the governors have never nursed the fear of possible consequences of their frequent travel out of their states, a source pointed out.

According to findings, a governor from the core North makes frequent visits to Jos, Plateau State.

Another in a South-West state was said to have been used to travelling to Abuja, Lagos and more often outside Nigeria, from where he has reportedly been running the affair of his state.

Investigations also revealed that a governor is currently out of Nigeria on a medical trip to London enroute Germany while he is being expected back in the state next week.

While one of the northern governors who spent eight years in the National Assembly as a member of the House of Representatives has been described as an Abuja man by his aides who spoke with Saturday Tribune, his counterpart in an oil-rich state is said to have been fully engaged with more federal matters, and, hence could not afford to be too sedentary in his state.

Another governor from the oil-rich state is rated as one of the most restless based on his interst to lure international investors to his state, a reason he is said to have been embarking on fequent international travellings.

Further investigations revealed that one of the northern state governors travels frequently to Niger and Chad where he is said to be building large estates and mansions where he was planning to relocate after leaving the office.
http://www.tribune.com.ng/04072009/news/news1.html

Ex-NDDC boss paid me N715m to restore his manhood.

Kolawole Daniel, Abuja
Thursday, July 2, 2009

THE suspended chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ambassador Sam Edem, paid about a billion naira to regain his virility, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja was told on Wednesday.

It will be recalled that the herbalist, Matthew Sonoma, allegedly consulted by the former NDDC boss, had said he assisted Edem to restore his sexual potency after he complained about having problems with his manhood in a statement to the police.

The former NDDC chairman, however, denied the statement by Sonoma, saying that he had never at anytime lost his virility. Under cross-examination by Sonoma’s counsel, Chief Albert Akpomudje SAN, the court heard how the herbalist was introduced to Edem by a youth leader of one of the organisations in the Niger Delta.

The matter is before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. When asked if it was true that he paid money to have his virility restored by Akpomudje, the suspended NDDC boss denied the allegation.

According to him: “My manhood has never gone down and I have never asked anybody to assist me in restoring it. My manhood never failed at anytime. It has always been functioning.

“My manhood has never stopped working, I repeat, it has never stopped working,” Edem said. He was also accused of approaching the herbalist for medicines to get favour from the governor of Akwa Ibom State. Akpomudje said, according to the statement made to the police, “the name of the medicine is Dog no dey bite the owner. It was done to get favour from the former governor.”

Edem also told the court that threats made by the accused in the suit made him part with the sum of N715 million. He said after he realised that the accused was a fraud, he kept his distance but the accused kept threatening him through text messages and phone calls demanding for more money.

“At first I gave him money as a token, but he later came back and asked for a loan. Whenever I refused to give him more, my security aide would advise that I cooperate to avoid unnecessary bloodshed and I did. At various times, he threatened me, attacked my convoy and even threatened to bomb my wife’s school in Uyo. I was concerned, because there are over 3,000 students in that school. I was forced to part with more money,” he said.

Sonoma, who is facing a 15-count charge for, allegedly, fraudulently obtaining N715 million from Edem, pleaded not guilty. It will be recalled that the Federal Government had suspended Edem for, allegedly, spending N270 million on rituals. He and two other suspects, Perekambowe Ogah and Kakas Amgbari, still at large, are principal suspects in the alleged scam.

His suspension was contained in a two-paragraph statement from the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Ambassador Babagana Kingibe.

http://odili.net/news/source/2009/jul/2/606.html

The Voodoo Governor..Greed, Lawlessness, Blood And Calabash.

The embittered lawmaker disclosed that Daniel introduced oath taking to politics in Ogun State, admitting that he was one of those forced to take the oath in a toilet in his Ijebu-Ode mansion in order to fly the PDP flag for the House of Assembly election.

He revealed that all the commissioners, local government chairmen and other political appointees in the state took traditional oath of allegiance to Daniel before they were appointed into his administration.

“The issue of oath taking is a traditional way of pledging allegiance between two people. The Otunba Gbenga Daniel-led administration introduced traditional oath taking to politics in Ogun State.

“They have an existing structure for all of these. They have their own shrine. Before you get any political appointment, or contest any election, you must have sworn to an oath organised by Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

“It happened in several locations, it happened in Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, behind his house, it happened in Ososa.

“As I am talking to you now, the current wave of oath taking is the one they are doing in Ijebu-Ode. The one they are doing now, they will give you Mazda 626 or Toyota Camry 2002 Model, they will write OGD Omo ilu on top of it, it’s there all over the place in Ogun state.

“Most party chairmen at the ward level as we are speaking now have taken that oath and have collected these cars.

It’s a pity that this is the way he wants to use it against us.”

Alasua described Daniel further as a blackmailer who superimposed his photograph on a bush in order to realize his devilish agenda, adding that there can never be peace in Ogun State, until Daniel is checked.

But reacting to the lawmaker’s allegations, the Ogun State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Samuel, described Alausa’s vituperations as a series of lies, outright falsehood and brazen inconsistencies.

“It is clear that given the level of outright falsehood and inconsistencies of Hon. Alausa and his co-travelers, the people of Ogun State and Nigerians at large can now decipher the truth and appreciate what our state has gone through in the last 12 months – lies of the vilest kind told by dishonorable people who are supposed to be honorable members of the House.”

http://thepmnews.com/2009/07/01/gov-daniel-has-shrine-in-his-sagamu-mansion-%E2%80%94alausa?version=print

Obasanjo, Babangida, Abubakar and Yar’Adua beneficiaries of Julius Berger's influence, equipment; $6m Halliburton slush funds.

The German police as well as US authorities are undertaking the huge investigation, which has begun against Julius Berger’s parent company, Bilfiger Berger, in Germany, United Kingdom and the United States. It is large enough to consume the construction company that has at the center of its patronage policy the building of houses for Nigerian officials who awarded contracts to it or helped it “win” contracts. Saharareporters was first to alert the reading public in 2007 that Julius Berger, as its officials got wind of the investigations, was transporting its computers to a West African country believed to be Ivory Coast, with a view to getting rid of the damaging information they contained.

The investigations would also affect the current Nigerian "President" Umaru Yar'Adua, who has been connected with receiving huge amount of bribes from Julius Berger in terms of medical fees arranged by Julius Berger's VP, Hans Witman. It would be recalled that in early 2007, Obasanjo ordered Yar’Adua’s transportation to a German hospital in Wiesbaden when the presidential candidate suddenly collapsed in the heat of the general election campaigns. He was flown to Germany in a Julius Berger air Ambulance and all medical expenses were paid by Julius Berger.

Yesterday, Obasanjo was sighted at the Helmsley New York Hotel in Manhattan where he reportedly held meetings with his former business associates in the Sullivan Summit to discuss approaches to be taken to deal with the impending investigations. His private assistant, Bodunde Adeyanju has remained in detention for 16 days in Abuja where he reportedly confessed to receiving $6 million from Halliburton officials and passing them on to the former president as well as the People's Democratic Party officials led by Anthony Anenih. The then VP, Abubakar Atiku, reportedly received $2.4 million. Mr. Adeyanju, who featured prominently in the multi-million dollar Petroleum Trust Fund Development (PTDF) scandal in 2006, was Obasanjo's aide for several years before Obasanjo became president in 1999. The bribes funneled to Abdusalam Abubakar have been traced to real estate developments in the UK that are reportedly being managed by an as yet unidentified woman.

But if Yar'Adua hoped to wriggle out of the Halliburton scandal, he would be shocked by revelations coming from Obasanjo in New York. An Obasanjo aide who spoke to Saharareporters today disclosed authoritatively that the $6 million Bodunde received was for the People Democratic Party (PDP) elections in 2003. According to Obasanjo, Gauis Obaseki, who was the group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), was the recipient of the $6 million that he (Obasanjo) believed came from different sources which include Halliburton, through Jeffrey Tessler.

The aide said that Adeyanju collected $50,000 of the bribe money for himself without Obasanjo’s knowledge and passed the rest to Lawal Batagarawa and Anthony Anenih. Batagarawa, who was Obasanjo's Minister of State for Defence, was Umaru Yar’Adua's classmate at Barewa College. According to the story told from the Obasanjo side, Umaru Yar’Adua's election in Katsina in 2003 became very costly because he was grossly unpopular, and was losing the contest. Batagarawa therefore reportedly moved into Katsina with a large chunk of the $6 million that Bodunde got from Obaseki, to fund Yar'adua's re-election in 2003.



The aide further told Saharareporters today that Yar'Adua remains one of the major beneficiaries of the Gauis Obaseki's slush fund and challenged him to disprove it to Nigerians. Batagarawa, the source said, worked with Obasanjo to replace the police commissioner in Katsina State one week before the 2003 gubernatorial elections because the incumbent commissioner was loyal to Muhammad Buhari and his ANPP party

Obasanjo has reportedly denied any personal involvement in the Halliburton bribe scandal and has threatened to sue Dele Olojede's 234NEXT newspaper for libel as soon as he returns to Nigeria because the paper mentioned his name as a bribe recipient.

Other persons named in the ongoing investigations include former deputy senate president, Ibrahim Mantu; former Inspector General of police, MD Yusuf; Funso Kupolokun, former GMD of the NNPC; and Ibrahim Aliyu, who reportedly took $30 million on behalf of the former head of state Abdusalam Abubakar A part of the Halliburton money is said to be frozen in Switzerland

Unconscionable Looting And Extravaganza ::Babangida’s state stinks

Babangida’s state stinks
By HENRY UMAHI [umahi@sunnewsonline.come]
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Niger State, the self-acclaimed Power State made history recently. It became the first and only state that had three speakers in one week. First, was Hon Mohammed Alkali as speaker. Second, Hon Idris Ndako took over. Third, Hon Umar MarAli, who currently occupies the seat, was selected.

However, while members of the camp of the state governor, Alhaji Babangida Aliyu and the opposition, believed to be led by former governor, Abdulkadir Kure, are celebrating their victory and counting their loss, as the case may be, what many may not know is that the root of the matter is a struggle for survival.

Saturday Sun gathered that the occupation of the post of speaker in Niger State has become an issue because of a petition before the state House of Assembly against the governor. The petition made damning allegations against the governor and demands that the House investigates the matter and take appropriate action.

Indeed, in the petition dated January 18, 209, Engineer Yahaya Mohmood attached volumes of documentary exhibits to prove his case. He pointedly stated that the misuse of “state resources by the Chief Servant, the governor of Niger State, and some officials of his government had reached an alarming state and is already the source of concern to our people,” adding: “Unless the House acts swiftly, our state is in the imminent danger of collapsing. I, therefore, urge you to conduct full scale investigation into the allegations contained in the attached petition.”

Similarly, a group, Eagle Eye Coalition, had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on what it called “ abuse of office and looting of public treasury by the government of Niger State through the office of the Chief of Staff to the governor and other cronies.” Dated October 16, 2008, the petition was signed by Musa Muhammadu.

Also, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has been asked to look into the financial books of Governor Aliyu and some officials of his government. In a petition, Sheik Ibrahim Yusuf said that there is a “mass looting, abuse of office and flagrant disregard to public financial regulations” in the state. The petition is dated November 4, 2008.

Indeed, documentary evidence attached to the petition before the House is revealing. The governor, for instance, is alleged to have paid N500 million as rent for an official lodge. A memo from the office of the chief of staff to the governor to Governor Aliyu on this, which was dated January 18, 2008, reads: “Sequel to our discussion on the official residential accommodation of your humble self, you are requested to consider the release of N500m for the payment of rent for two years at N250m per fiscal year.”

The governor gave approval to this request the same day. The question many people in the state are asking is: What type of accommodation costs a whopping N250 million per year in Minna, Niger State?
Expenses made on security and other government activities also raise some eyebrows. In July 2008, for example, the total some of 400 million was requested and disbursed in eight days. Indeed, on July 2, a letter from the office of the chief of staff to the governor, requested the approval for the release of N100 million for “Government House activities and general security.” The memo to that effect read: “Mr. Governor, sir, kindly consider and approve the release of N100m for Government House .....Read More..activities and general security matter. Above is submitted for your kind approval. Read more.http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2009/june/27/national-27-06-2009-02.htm

Nigeria runs out of crude, refineries shut.

From Madu Onuorah, Terhemba Daka (Abuja), Kelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt), Willie Etim (Yenagoa), Taiwo Hassan and Blessing Eghagha (Lagos)

NOW the chicken has come to roost. The effects of the militancy in the Niger Delta and the Federal Government's clampdown on them have shaken the foundation of the oil and gas industry.

Consequently, the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries have been shut. The Kaduna Refinery, though functioning, has no crude to process because the Warri plant, which feeds it is shut due to a damage to major pipelines. The only stock, which was reserved, will be exhausted in the next 15 days, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said yesterday.

The corporation's Group Managing Director (GMD), Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo, who painted the pathetic picture of the industry, said in the next 15 days, it will run out of crude for domestic consumption.

The corporation attributed the development to the crisis in the Niger Delta, which has escalated since the government scaled up a military offensive against the militants in the region.

In retaliation, the militants have intensified their sabotage of the activities of oil firms in the zone. In the last three weeks, the militants have struck four times, destroying facilities belonging to Shell, Chevron and Agip, which are joint venture partners with the government.
http://odili.net/news/source/2009/jun/25/38.html

Nigeria lost N182.24bn in 3 months, -FG to audit FIRS, Customs, NNPC

Gbola Subair, Abuja - 22.06.2009

THE Nigerian economy lost N182.24 billion revenue in the first quarter of 2009, the Federal Government has disclosed As a result of this revenue loss, the government is commencing a process audit of revenue-generating agencies with a view to finding the source and cause of the revenue leakage.

According to the first quarter report on the economy released at the weekend by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Mansur Muhtar, aggregate actual Federal Government revenue underperformed by N182.24 billion (or 32.18 per cent) against the budgeted amount of N566.30 billion.

Also, the actual Federal Government oil revenue underperformed by N52.97 billion (or 21.86 per cent) against the projected N242.27 billion, while the non-oil tax revenue underperformed by N53.60 billion compared to the projected level of N144.20 billion.

Other revenues, according to the report, fell short by N75.67 billion compared to projected aggregate of N179.83 billion.

As a result of this revenue loss, the government said it was commencing a process audit of revenue-generating agencies, the outcome of which should help enhance non-oil revenue.

Expenditure wise, the sum of N200.37 billion was released, comprising N187.68 billion for ongoing capital projects and N12.69 billion by way of Authority to Incur Expenditures (AIEs).

Despite the early releases of the First Quarter Capital Warrants on 9 January, 2009, for ongoing projects, capital budget implementation averaged 20.68 per cent (i.e., N33.26 billion out of the N160.84 billion cash backed by the Office of the Accountant-General).

Notwithstanding the poor implementation of capital projects, the report, however, commended some MDAs, such as the Federal Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of Foreign and Inter-Governmental Affairs, which had high utilisation rates of 71.68 per cent and 64.19 per cent respectively.

In the period under review, the headline inflation on a year-on-year basis reached 14.6 per cent while interest rates remained high with the weighted average interbank call rate rising to 22.15 per cent.

The DAS/WDAS rate depreciated by 25.3 per cent year-on-year to N147.7/US$, the BDC rate also depreciated by 46.5 per cent to N174.32/US$ and external reserves fell to US$47.08 billion by the end of March 2009, reflecting adjustments to adverse terms-of-trade shocks.

The Federal Government attributed the poor state of the economy to the effects of the global current financial crisis and the Niger Delta crisis, which created negative impact on earnings from oil as a result of lower international price of crude oil, and disruptions of oil facilities.

The global crisis notwithstanding, the government said as oil output and prices recovered oil revenues would be expected to improve. Similarly, the Federal Government said non-oil revenue should improve in subsequent quarters with increased efficiency in the collection of some taxes, which were seasonal in nature.

In an attempt to improve budget implementation rates, the Federal Government said the Budget Office of the Federation organised a workshop in March 2009 to improve the MDAs’ executive capacity.

The workshop, according to the report, was already yielding fruits as the recent data from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation on MDAs’ utilisation of capital funds in April indicated an improvement from an average of 20.68 per cent in the first quarter to an average of 52.72 per cent as at end of April 2009.

“It is expected that overall budget implementation performance should further improve over the rest of the 2009 fiscal year,” the report added.

Fellow Nigerians, Fight For Your Country. Collective Apathy = Collective Failure.

Senators, Reps defy National Assembly management, share N1bn fund.

By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi and Sule Lazarus (Abuja)

Despite denials last week, it emerged on Tuesday that both Chambers of the federal legislature have shared, at N500 million each, the N1 billion ring-fenced in the 2009 budget for the review of the Constitution, now in limbo.

There are 88 members on the Joint Constitution Review Committee (JCCR), comprising 44 Senators and 44 House of Representatives members; but the JCCR has since split up, with each Chamber going solo on the exercise.

Senators and House members brushed aside opposition from the National Assembly (NASS) management and have started spending the money, which translates into N11.36 million for every one of the 88 reviewers.

A similar amount was allocated and shared in the 2008 budget, divided into N500 million for each Chamber.

It was learnt that the Senate has fixed July to begin its own review, after resumption of the third legislative session on June 23.

The money was accessed after the NASS management, custodians of the N1 billion, caved in under pressure from the JCCR.

Deputy Senate President and JCCR Chairman, Ike Ekweremadu, requested the fund on behalf of Senators; House Deputy Speaker and JCCR Vice-chairman, Usman Nafada, did on behalf of House members.

They routed the request to the Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA), Nasiru Arab, who demanded due process and all documents through proper administrative checks before the release.

A NASS source reiterated on Tuesday that "although the funds are being managed by the management of the National Assembly, there is nothing like joint exercise anymore.

"Legislators now make requests for the release of their share through (Arab) who is the accounting officer of the Assembly and head of its bureaucracy.

"(Arab) is in the twilight of his career, so he has asked his officers to scrutinise the applications properly."

The fund was originally meant to be accessed by the JCCR.

But, as it was learnt, the agitation by House members to do their own Constitution review, which led to the collapse of the JCCR, informed the decision of the NASS management to release the money separately to each Chamber.

Another source explained that "following the collapse of the joint review exercise, the legislators have now resolved to spend the N1 billion meant for the exercise on the passage of the seven Bills sent to the National Assembly by President Umaru Yar'Adua.

"It is no longer an intention, the money is now being spent by the separate Chambers."

Last week, Senate Spokesman, Ayogu Eze, distanced the Upper House from any plan to split the N1 billion in half and share it.

"There was no joint appropriation so there is no reason to ask for sharing of the N1 billion fund. The issue of somebody sharing doesn't arise. The request never happened," he stressed.

Also on Tuesday, lawmakers rejected the explanation of House Leader, Tunde Akogun, on how N270 million was spent on the recent retreat in Kano and Uyo.

House Information Committee Chairman, Dino Melaye, insisted on behalf of his colleagues from his hideout that there is no going back on the move to remove Akogun and Chief Whip, Emeka Ihedioha.

Melaye alleged in a telephone interview that the hands of Akogun are not clean as less than 300 members attended the retreat at both centres, and as the events were sponsored by the Kano and Akwa Ibom State Governments.

"For argument sake, lets assume 328 members attended the retreat as claimed by (Akogun) and each member was given N200,000 as honourarium, that means less than N66 million was spent, where is the balance?'', he queried.

Ihedioha is accused of misappropriating part of the N150 million meant for the celebration of 10 years of democracy.

http://odili.net/news/source/2009/jun/17/401.html#

Ogun govt to issue N60bn development bond.

Friday Ekeoba, Lagos - 16.06.2009
FOLLOWING its aspiration of becoming a cosmopolitan city, the Ogun State government, on Monday, formally approached the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to raise N60 billion for capital projects development.

Also, the state government has dismissed a resolution by the state House of Assembly barring it from sourcing for fund, describing the moves by the lawmakers as a mere games and political struggle which was of good for the health of the state.

Chief Gbenga Daniel, who led the state’s economic team, which was the brain behind the bond issue, to the floor of the exchange, said contrary to reports, the fund to be raised was aimed at developing every part of the state for the betterment of the people.

However, as at the time of filing this report, the NSE was yet to give its accent to the demands of the state government as it was still going through the five-year financial records of the state submitted to it, being one of the requirements for fund raising by any institution.

Although, Chief Daniel did not disclose the amount of money the state would be sourcing from the stock market, a close source in the government said the bond issue would be about N60 billion and whose tenor/maturity date would be in the interest of the investors.

Describing the bond issue as part of the futuristic master plan of the state government, Daniel informed financial stakeholders that investors have nothing to worry about as the the government led by him was a credible one with integrity.

According to Chief Daniel, the proceeds of the bond issue, which would be employed to transform the state into an economic hub, would be expended on proposed projects which include the Cargo Airport, Deep Seaport, tourism and further develop the education sector, as well as construction of more roads.

Yes We Can Not!!!

Daniel Gets Outstanding Gov Award From His Own Newspaper

June 15, 2009 15:00 (5 hours ago)
The declaration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel of Ogun state as the most outstanding governor in education in the country has been condemned by communication scholars and journalists alike.

The award, which is organised by the Nigerian Compass Newspaper, owned by governor Daniel, has been described as obscene, unethical and laughable. A cross-section of Nigerians who spoke to our correspondents this morning, on the award scheduled for Sunday, in Abuja, condemned it and called on media practitioners to reject it. Reacting to governor Daniel’s declaration as the most outstanding governor, the Dean, Faculty of Information and Communications Technology, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Dr. Femi Ademiluyi, described the award as obscene.

“I am surprised that in this 21st century, such manipulation can take place. It is not right and should be condemned by media practitioners. It is incredible that a national newspaper can go to the extent of boosting the ego of its proprietor by giving him an award that he does not deserve,” he stated. In his reaction, the coordinator of the International Press Centre, Ogba, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, who has been at the forefront of the campaign against media giving awards, described the Compass awards as unethical.

“In this instance, it is not right. It is unethical. You can’t be a judge in your own case. It is not right because the proprietorial interest of Daniel in Compass Newspaper is well known. They shouldn’t have included their proprietor in the list of those considered for the award. “I have always been opposed to newspapers giving awards to people. This is because it compromises their principles. How do you reconcile the interest of the newspaper to hold the government accountable to the people with the interest of the awardees, who, in this case, are state governors? The media is the watchdog and this role is compromised when it starts giving awards.
http://thepmnews.com/2009/06/15/daniel-gets-outstanding-gov-award-from-his-own-newspaper

NNPC failed to remit N368bn in 9 years; Oil lifting granted companies without due process - Monies paid to non-existent companies - NNPC paid self $50

Idowu Samuel, Abuja - 12.06.2009

THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) failed to remit N368 billion to the Federation Account between 1999 and 2008, a House of Representatives committee probing the corporation was told on Thursday.

An accounting firm, was, however, blamed by the ad hoc committee for allegedly colluding with top officials of the NNPC by failing to properly scrutinise the NNPC account to prevent the fraud.

The House, therefore, directed the accounting firm to appear before the probe panel at its next sitting to testify on the whereabouts of the sum said to be connected with deals with some oil companies which benefitted from oil importation during the years under review.

The committee equally frowned on the allocation of 1,500,000 metric tonnes of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) to four indigenous oil companies by the NNPC between September 2002 and February 2003 at hugely discounted prices, which it noted, would have fetched the Federal Government N17 billion.

The companies were said to have got the allocation to lift the LPFO, used mainly for industrial purposes, without due process while they were alleged to have defrauded the country to the tune of N17 billion by selling the product at the international market after buying the same from NNPC at subsidised rate.

The probe panel asked the NNPC to explain reasons behind its resolve to pay the $25.6 million to Texaco Oil as performance balance for the period of 1999 and 2005, whereas the oil company was never one of its joint venture partners.

It equally queried the NNPC for paying cash call totalling $5.7 million in 2000, and $11.2 million in 2002 to Palm Ocean Oil, whereas the oil company did not operate as its joint venture partner within the period.



The committee also asked the NNPC to explain reason it paid $31.6 million to a company known as NNPC Crude Oil and Gas, also as performance balance in 2002, contending that since no such company existed, the corporation, for no reason, deliberately paid itself the money.

The committee also accused NNPC of paying $50.2 million to itself in 2008 as performance balance for 2002 and 2005, a disclosure which it said was made by the Group Managing Director of the company, Abdullahi Barkindo, who had earlier given his testimony.

The NNPC in 2008, according to the committee, listed six oil companies as those it would want to work with, in a joint venture arrangement, but later came up with eight companies to which it eventually made scheduled payment of transaction, alleging that the extra two companies, NPDC and NAPIC, did not deserve to receive any payment from the corporation.

Akunyili grilled at Chicago Airport....

...............

Govs, ministers, MPs steal N285bn —EFCC

Govs, ministers, MPs steal N285bn —EFCC

ACHILLEUS-CHUD UCHEGBU (Abuja Bureau Chief) and ERASMUS ALANEME

Amidst rising poverty and failed infrastructure, former governors, ministers, senators and other categories of public servants allegedly swindled Nigerians of about N285.4 billion in 10 years of the return to civil rule.

Of the amount, reported loot by ex-governors, ministers and senators amounted to over N102 billion.

Other public officers including members of the House of Representatives, political party officials, board members, civil servants and others from the private sector allegedly looted public money amounting to over N183 billion.

However, of the amount only a paltry N50bn has been recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

These were the highlights of a media parley yesterday in Abuja to mark the first year in office of Mrs. Farida Waziri as Chairman of the commission.

Speaking at the event, Waziri revealed her frustration in prosecuting corruption cases while frowning at the slow pace of litigation in the country though she said the commission had achieved conviction in 65 corruption cases.

A breakdown of the looted funds indicated that former governors and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwarts formed the bulk of heavy looting.

According to EFCC, trial of the former governors was at different stages of prosecution but hampered by slow pace of the judicial process and alleged connivance between the accused and the judicial officers, especially, lawyers to frustrate trial.

A document entitled "On-going high profile cases’ gave details of the alleged looting indication that former Gov. Ayo Fayose is facing trial for allegedly looting N1.2 billion from the coffers of Ekiti state.

The document also indicated that former deputy National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Olabode George allegedly swindled government of N100 billion while serving as Chairmnan of the Board of Nigerian Ports authority (NPA).

Others include; Saminu Turaki (N36 billion); Orji Uzor Kalu (N5 billion); Chimaroke Nnamani (N5.3bn); Michael Botmang (N1.5 bn); Prof Babalola Borishade (N5.6bn); Boni haruna (N93million); Femi Fani-Kayode (N250million); Rasheed Ladoja (N6bn); Prof Adenike Grange (N300m); Sen. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello (N10m) and Jolly Nyame (N180m).

Also on the list are Sen. Nichola Ugbane, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu and others (N6.2billion); Four Managers of Zenith Bank Plc (N3.6billion); Molkat Mutfwang and others (N636m); Dr. Ransome Owan and others (N1.5billion); Tom Iseghoghi and others of Transcorp (N15 billion); Kenny Martins (N7.7billion); Patrick Fernandez, an Indian businessman (N32billion); Eider George, an Australian businessman (N5.6billion); Nyeson Wike, Chief of Staff to Governor Rotimi Amechi of Rivers State (N4.6 billion) and Roland Iyayi, a former Managing Director of FAAN (N5.6billion).

2011: EFCC Promises Hard Time for Politicians...

•Odili, Tinubu being investigated, says Waziri
From Ike Abonyi and Ali M. Ali in Abuja, 06.09.2009

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Farida Waziri has said the commission will be hard on politicians to thwart any attempt by any of them to engage in graft in the build-up to the 2011 elections.
Waziri, who spoke with newsmen yesterday in Abuja to mark her one year in office, said she had been told that 2010 would be crucial because campaigns for the 2011 elections would start and some politicians would want to steal funds to prosecute the elections.
But she said the commission was ready for the politicians ahead of the poll. She also said she was ready for whatever consequences that might come with the job.
“I have been told next year will be crucial and tough for EFCC as politicians will be campaigning for 2011 elections and some of them will want to amass wealth for that. We are ready and prepared for them,” she said.
Waziri also said investigation into the corruption allegations against former governors Peter Odili and Bola Tinubu of Rivers and Lagos States was still ongoing.
The EFCC chairman again, however, lamented that the judiciary was frustrating the commission’s effort at fighting the war against graft in the country.
She said: “EFCC is not responsible for everything that goes on in fighting corruption in this country. I investigate, draft charges, monitor the cases and that is where my actions stop. I ensure that exhibits are tendered and all that. It is really frustrating. If one arm of government is trying to forestall this work, you should not blame the EFCC, you should ask questions.”

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=145632&printer_friendly=1

EFCC arraigns 4 NAHCO officals, contractor over N195m scam

Four officials of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) and a female contractor have been arraigned before Justice Joseph Oyewole of a Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja over N195 million fraud.

The accused persons, Atiemora Agboneni, Emmanuel Anwuruoku, Jossy Akanusi and Obasi Chuks, were alleged to have committed the offence between January 2001 and December 2004.

They were charged with conspiracy to commit felony, to wit, stealing of money, which contravened Section 516 and 390(6) of the Criminal Code, Cap 17, Vol. II, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

The contractor, Kemi Ozenna, was alleged to have conspired with other accused to steal N55 million worth property of NAHCO through a fake contract for the supply of safety boots.

However, the contractor applied for bail on liberal terms through her counsel, Abiodun Omidare and it was granted by the judge while the other accused persons were remanded in prison custody pending the determination of their application bail.

Omidare had told the court that his client was ready to be a primary witness for the anti-graft commission but the EFCC counsel, Emmanuel Jackson, did not give any clue to the suggestion but told the court to wait until the trial commences.

Justice Oyewole granted the female contractor bail in the sum of N20 million with two sureties in like sum, who must be residening of Lagos State with landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court. The case was adjourned till July 22.

Millions of naira electrification project equipment rot away..

IN the wake of the alleged 6 billion naira rural electrification scam which involves some Nigerian federal legislators and their collaborators in the federal bureaucracy, facts have emerged that millions of naira worth of equipment meant for rural electrification project have been left to waste in an open field in the Rural Electrification yard of the Egbin Power Plant in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State.

While many rural communities in Nigeria are left in darkness due to the lack of equipment, items like transformers, cables, poles and other materials have been left at the mercy of the elements.

Experts are of the view that this sort of development will further hinder the attainment of the power generation target in the country.

Commenting on the issue, Minister of State for Power, Dr. Lanre Babalola, said that the matter would be properly looked into, and the equipment would be examined in order to know the ones that needed immediate repairs.

A member of staff of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), who requested anonymity, said that some pieces of equipment had been removed by thieves.

According to the allegations made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the fraud involved the sum of N6 billion voted for a solar rural electrification project in the 2008 budget.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/08062009/news/news3.html

N250m Scandal owner hitchhiked on Obi's convoy

From Chuks Collins, Awka

THE Anambra State government has again distanced itself from the intercepted N250 million allegedly found in one of the vehicles on the governor's convoy in Lagos by the Police on Sunday.

In a spirited explanation yesterday at a media briefing in Awka, Commissioner for Information and Culture, Maja Umeh, noted that contrary to some media reports Governor Peter Obi was attending to official businesses in Abuja on Monday and Tuesday when the news broke.

Umeh stressed that Obi was not in Lagos when the incident occurred.

He added that the contractor "was on a legal contract with the state government and paid for the contract following due process."

The commissioner surmised that the owner of the money hitchhiked the three-car convoy, which went to Lagos for routine maintenance servicing.

Umeh argued that joining the convoy was strictly the man's personal decision, which he could have worked out in private with the convoy's drivers.

His words: "All the necessary papers were demanded for and were quickly tendered by the contractor to police. The state government has no hands in it and there was no arms or ammunition found on him either."

Umeh, who fielded questions from reporters alongside Chief Press Secretary to the Governor. Mike Udah, thanked the reporters present at the event for first seeking official clarifications over the matter.

It would be recalled that the state Assembly had during the week set up an ad hoc panel to probe the development.

Obi has also written the Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, to investigate the matter so as to expose those he described as the "political jobbers" behind it.

Police Now Collect N100 At Checkpoints..

June 04, 2009 14:32
By Adetutu Audu

The men of the Nigeria Police no longer collect N20 at road blocks, but N100, P.M.NEWS’ checks have revealed.

Investigations at some police checkpoints in Lagos revealed that the unscrupulous police officers are now rejecting N20 bribe and demanding N100 from motorists, commuter bus drivers and commercial motorcyclists, a.k.a. okada riders. P.M.NEWS’ investigation further revealed that the ‘toll’ varies from one area to another. Drivers of commuter buses plying Obalende, Ikeja, PWD, Oshodi, Acme Road, Pen Cinema and other choice areas in the metropolis, said they paid N100 at checkpoints located along their routes. Okada riders also confirmed paying the same amount.

A commuter bus driver, Mr. Ameh Ijeh, told P.M.NEWS that: ” When you get to the checkpoints, what you hear is march am, which means step on your brake, with N100. Our reporter also witnessed a scene where a motorist gave a policeman N20 at a checkpoint at the Ikeja GRA. The police officer told the driver that he would not allow him to go if he did not pay N100. “Who go collect N20. Your money na N100. If you no get, park.” Those were the words of the policeman.

Commuter bus drivers plying routes like Fola Agoro in Somolu area of Lagos state, Ipaja-Ayobo, College Road, Ifako and other areas in the suburb, still give the routine N20 at checkpoints. It was observed that the policemen usually increase the toll to N100 at night, along these routes. Those who refused to pay the ‘toll’ are delayed and sometimes their vehicles are impounded and taken to the police station where they are charged with a different offence.

Many Nigerians have been killed and maimed just because they did not part with the N20 bribe. on 3 November, 2008, 23-year-old Gabriel Mordi, a presenter with the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Asaba, was murdered in cold blood at a police checkpoint on the Benin-Asaba Expressway, Agbor, for not stopping when he was asked to stop by policemen at the checkpoint. 19-year-old Bariu Ayoola Thanne, a student of the Lagos State University, Epe campus, also suffered the same fate on 25 November, 2008, at a police checkpoint along Lagos-Epe Expressway.

Modebayo Awosika, a relationship manager with First Bank Plc., was killed on 30 September, 2008, by a trigger-happy policeman at Lekki Expressway roundabout, Lagos. On 9 April, 2009, 3-year-old Kaosarat Saliu met her untimely death a day to her birthday, on her way home, after her parents took her to the salon to make her hair in preparation for the birthday. Their vehicle was shot around Ketu area of Lagos state and the bullet hit the young girl in the head.

Looters Bonanza::Govt okays N25b for power projects

From Madu Onuorah, Abuja

THE Federal Government yesterday continued its search for a lasting solution to the lingering power crisis in the country.

After a series of deliberation on the issue in Abuja, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved contracts worth N25.3 billion for the completion of some power projects to stabilise electricity supply in the country.

This included the ratification of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's anticipatory approval of a total of N15.4 billion, to be spent outside this year's budget, to fund new critical transmission projects. The money will be sourced from intervention funds.
http://odili.net/news/source/2009/jun/4/14.html

'Reps earn N20m every four months':: Over 80 per cent of Nigeria's income on the public service

'Reps earn N20m every four months'
From Adamu Abuh, Kano




A FORMER member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Farouk Adamu Aliyu, has queried the rationale for expending over 80 per cent of Nigeria's income on the public service.

Aliyu said if the expenditure is not curtailed, it would be difficult to address the problem of poor infrastructure in the country.

He disclosed that each serving member of the Lower House now collects over N20 million every quarterly as against the N9 million he earned within the same period during his tenure from 2003 to 2007.

This, he said, is a tip of what both elected and top officials of the government receive at the three tiers of the government in the country.

The former lawmaker, who spoke at a forum organised by Kano Youth Movement for Good Governance held at the weekend at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Kano, enjoined Nigerians to explore a viable means of checking the trend.

Agreeing that 10 years of uninterrupted civil rule was worth celebrating, Aliyu however said that it was unfortunate that the basic tenet of democracy to ensure free and fair election was yet to be adhered to by the leaders.

Aliyu, who aspired for the governorship of Jigawa State on the platform of the Action Congress (AC) in the last poll, enjoined the youth to show interest in politics and determine those who represent them at various levels of governance.

He further charged the youth to make leaders render account of their stewardship.

"I am very much aware of the fact that there are members of the House who do not know the difference between a bill and a motion but somehow they managed to get to the House due to undemocratic practices in the country. If a governor says he is constructing a road or borehole for you, don't make him feel he is doing you a favour because he is not doing it with his hard-earned money. Demand for the cost of the project, find out whether it is viable and whether it would be beneficial to you," he said.





That's Your Money Folks.............