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NIS Recruitment Scam: Witness reveals how ex-minister Moro abused office

Nneoma BENSON
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NIS Recruitment Scam: Witness reveals how ex-minister Moro abused office

ADENIYI Adebayo, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has testified against the former minister of Interior, Abba Moro in his ongoing trial over allegation of the Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS) recruitment scam.

Adebayo who is the 12th prosecution witness told the court that Moro, alongside three others, created an e-recruitment portal to fraudulently collect funds from job applicants.

His accomplices include the former permanent secretary in the ministry, Anastasia Daniel-Nwobi; an ex-director in the ministry, Felix Alayebami, and Drexel Tech Nigeria Ltd.

Moro and others were been prosecuted for laundering and procurement fraud, thus, using his office to unilaterally contrive a policy that would short change Nigerians while enriching a private company ── Drexel Tech Nigeria Ltd.

Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited is the firm that was given the recruitment contract into the NIS, held on March 17, 2013, when Moro (the first defendant in the suit) was interior minister.

The EFCC, in a statement released on Thursday, noted that Adebayo in cross-examination by counsel of the first defendant, Paul Erokoro, (SAN) said Moro and Drexel Tech Nig. Ltd did not follow the rules of the Procurement Act.

Adebayo testified that the “contract agreement was done with Drexel Tech Global Ltd but that Drexel Tech Nig. Ltd was used to execute the contract which it did not bid for”.

According to the paper, the witness said the board of Immigrations, Fire Service, Civil Defence and Prisons were not carried along in the contract award process.

“This act, according to Adeniyi, constituted an abuse of office on the part of Moro,” the EFCC said.

The trial was adjourned by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba until November 25, for the continuation of the cross-examination of the witness.

The accused had intermittently been faced with trials bordering on an 11-count charge of procurement fraud and money laundering.

They were alleged to have defrauded a total of 675,675 Nigerian job seekers who were made to pay N1,000 each as application fee through an e-payment platform for recruitment into the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, on March 17, 2013.

The exercise, which was shoddily handled, led to overcrowding of venues and death of not less than 20 applicants in various centres across the country.

In September 2016, a retired director and secretary of the board of the NIS, Tabugn Sylvanus had testified against Moro, telling the court the sum of N45 million was released to conduct the tragic recruitment exercise, out of about N1 billion generated from the sale of forms at N1000 each.

He also revealed that the initial number of expected participants at the Abuja exam venue was 6,800, but increased to over 66,000 due to a last-minute decision.

Moro, however, under the immediate past administration of Goodluck Jonathan in April 2014 took responsibility for the botched exercise.

Meanwhile, in January 2018, the EFCC requested that the court ordered the interim forfeiture of properties linked to Drexel Tech Nig. Ltd, which were purchased with proceeds from the recruitment exercise into the NIS that left some applicants dead.

The EFCC requested “an order stopping the disposal, conveyance, mortgage, lease, sale or alienation or otherwise tampering with the properties/assets’ which are located at No 1, Lahn Crescent, Maitama, Abuja and No. 2, Sigure Close, Off Monrovia Street, Wuse II, Abuja”.

However, S. I. Ameh, SAN, representing Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited, opposed the motion describing it as “overwhelming and prejudicial”.

Court to hear N950m Odinkalu suit against El-Rufai, 4 others

Lukman ABOLADE
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Court to hear N950m Odinkalu suit against El-Rufai, 4 others

FORMER Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu has filed a suit demanding N950 million damages from the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai and four others.

The suit listed the Kaduna State Attorney-General, Kaduna State Director of Public Prosecution, State Commissioner of Police and the Inspector-General of the Police as defendants in the case.

A Federal High Court in Abuja is set to commence hearing on Thursday before the sitting judge of the case, F.O Giwa-Ogunbanjo.

In a suit filed by Odinkalu’s counsel, Mabiem Gloria Ballason, the plaintiff alleged violations of the provision of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and multiple violations of his fundamental human right.

He alleged that the state’s action is a violation of his fundamental human rights including free speech, due process, fair hearing and human dignity as provided by the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Odinkalu alleged that El-Rufai lied when he said 66 people were killed in Maro, Kajuru local government of the state.

During a live programme on Channels Television on 16 February, 2019, he said the causalities in the incident were not more than 11 but El-Rufai was playing politics with lives when he reported through his media aide that about 66 people were killed at the incident.

“That story, if you noticed, that story was broken by the Kaduna State governor with his publicist, Muyiwa Adekeye standing by his shoulder. No police officer, no SSS officer, no security person in the vicinity and he was throwing out words that were calculated to be very incendiary on the eve of very difficult elections about a location that is very difficult and has had historical problems of violence across communities,” Odinkalu said.

“And he was dropping this bromide like he was on some substance, with all due respect. I spent all of last night from all the sources in Kajuru and nobody can verify or substantiate that there has been a killing of 66 people in Kajuru over the past few days.”

In reaction to Odinkalu’s statement, Kaduna State Government filed a suit dated March 18, 2019, accused the human rights lawyer of inciting disturbance and furnishing false information which is punishable under the state’s penal codes.

The government  asked that criminal summons be issued against Odinkalu for “inciting disturbance, injurious falsehood, public nuisance, and furnishing false information punishable under section 77, 373, 104, and 150 respectively of the Penal Code Law of Kaduna state, 2017”.

Nigerian judiciary undermined, sabotaged by dictatorial cabal ― Atiku

Lukman ABOLADE
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Nigerian judiciary undermined, sabotaged by dictatorial cabal ― Atiku

FLAG-BEARER of the People’s Democratic Party in the 2019 Presidential Election, Atiku Abubakar said the Nigerian judiciary has been undermined and sabotaged by an overreaching dictatorial cabal, following the Supreme Court verdict on his tribunal appeal on Wednesday.

The panel dismissed the PDP and its candidate 66-ground appeal against the judgment of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal on September 11.

Atiku in a statement on his official Twitter handle said the dictatorial cabal has undone almost all the democratic progress PDP administrations nurtured for sixteen years before 2015.

He noted that while democracy has rolled back, the economy, society, and judiciary will not be far behind.

“While I believe that only God is infallible everywhere, and only Nigerians are infallible in our democracy, I must accept that the judicial route I chose to take, as a democrat, has come to a conclusion.”

“Whether justice was done, is left to the Nigerian people to decide. As a democrat, I fought a good fight for the Nigerian people. I will keep on fighting for Nigeria and for democracy, and also for justice,” he wrote.

Atiku said those who think they have broken him, that his spirit is not broken because he’s too focused on Nigeria to think about himself.

“I gave up that luxury twenty years ago. The question is not if I am broken. The question is if Nigeria is whole?”

“One man, one woman, one youth, one vote, should be the only way to make gains in a democracy. And when that is thwarted, the clock starts to tick,” he said.

Thanking all Nigerians who have stayed on course with him, he said the judgment is part of democratic challenges Nigerians must face as a nation.

“The judgment is part of democratic challenges we must face as a nation. Can Nigeria continue like this?”

Recently, former United States Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, averred that Nigeria had rolled back the democratic gains she made in 2015.

He said in a democracy, a strong judiciary, a free press and an impartial electoral umpire are needed and Nigeria has none of the three elements.

“Today, the nail has been put on the coffin and the gains we collectively made since 1999 are evaporating, and a requiem is at hand.”

Quoting Sophocles, Atiku said: “If we are to keep our democracy, there must be one commandment: “Thou shalt not ration justice”.

He said Nigeria is an independent nation and the citizens are the architects of their fate.

“I was a democrat, I am a democrat, and I will always continue to be a democrat, May God bless Nigeria,” he said.

FUOYE resumes 11 Nov, announces new Deputy VC

Editorial
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FUOYE resumes 11 Nov, announces new Deputy VC
By Vincent UFUOMA (Student  reporter)
THE Federal University of Oye-Ekiti(FUOYE), Ekiti State is resuming academic activities on November 11 after several weeks of being shut down over a protest on irregular power supply in the school.

The decision to reopen the school was reached on Wednesday during the Senate meeting of the institution that looked into a report based on the readjustment of academic calendar submitted by the committee of Deans of the University chaired by Professor Oladele.

Godfrey Bakji, Public Relations Officer of the university confirmed the resumption date to journalists on Wednesday evening.

He also announced appointments of the two deputy vice-chancellors.

Professor Sola Ojo of the Department of Geology was appointed the new Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) while Professor Abayomi Fasina still remained the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), said Bakji.

A member of the senate and head of a department who spoke to this reporter under the condition of anonymity said the committee had proposed three alternative dates for resumption- November 4, 11 and 18.

The November 4 was dropped because it was a few days away while November 18th was said to be far considering the academic calendar, he said.
So the 11th day was picked after some amendments to the calendar to avoid writing examinations during the yuletide season.

 

The school was closed down on September 11 because of the violence that trailed the protest conducted by students of the institution over irregular electricity supply.
It was reported that the protest went deadly when a conflict occurred between some officers from the Counter-Terrorism Unit of the Nigerian Police attached to the wife of the Ekiti State governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, and the Students of the university.
Two students were reportedly shot dead and several injured from gunshots.

S’Court Verdict: Secondus says victory comes from God

Lukman ABOLADE
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S’Court Verdict: Secondus says victory comes from God

NATIONAL Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP), Uche Secondus has reacted to the judgement of the Supreme Court on Wednesday which ruled against the Party’s appeal on lack of merit.

In a statement signed by the SA on Media to the National Chairman, Ike Abonyi, Secondus said the apex court has given its judgement but the final judgement comes from God.

Secondus said Nigerians know they voted PDP, even All Progressive Party, APC knows that Nigerians rejected them in the February 23 elections and the International community knows Nigerian voted PDP.

“If Supreme Court of seven justices says otherwise, leave it to God the ultimate Judge,” the statement read.

He saluted Nigerians for their commitment and support for the party, most especially their commitment to democracy and its tenets despite inhibiting factors.

He also commended the press their commitment to democracy and good governance in Nigeria, urging them not to relent in their roles of holding politicians accountable to the people.

The party Chairman said the people should remain resolute in their prayers since the country is in such an untidy state, and that only God could bail her out.

A seven-man panel led by the Chief Justice of the Nation, Ibraheem Tanko Mohammed has upheld the decision of the Presidential Electoral Petition Panel that ruled that the PDP and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar could not prove their case beyond reasonable doubt that APC candidate, Muhammadu Buhari won the February 23 Presidential Election.

ICPC arrests sports administrator Akawu over alleged $130, 000 fraud

Nneoma BENSON
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ICPC arrests sports administrator Akawu over alleged $130, 000 fraud

THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has arrested the Secretary-General of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Amaechi Akawu over allegations of misappropriation of $130, 000 belonging to the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF).

The Commission made this known in a statement published on its official website on Tuesday.

According to the statement,  Akawu was detained in October 22, following his arrest and was subsequently released on administrative bail the next day, to enable him submit some vital documents that were requested by investigators handling the case.

The ICPC stated that it had received a petition alleging that he had failed to account for $130, 000 mistakenly paid into the account of AFN in 2017 by IAAF.

It said the IAAF had in a letter to AFN in March 2017, volunteered to grant $20, 000 to the federation towards the successful hosting of the CAA Grand Prix Competition in Delta State, popularly known as 2017 Warri Relay Competition.   

The ICPC noted that the international body for athletics while fulfilling the pledge, mistakenly paid $150, 000 to AFN in May 2017, a sum which was far in excess of the $20, 000 grants it had earlier pledged. 

“IAAF quickly wrote to its Nigerian counterpart two months after the payment admitting the mistake and promptly requested that the $130, 000 excess be returned forthwith. 

“AFN is yet to refund the excess fund with Akawu as the Secretary-General, claiming that the entire $130, 000 was spent on hosting the competition that held in July 2017,” the paper said.

The ICPC said details available to them, revealed several transactions on the account were originated by the Secretary-General moments after the payment of the money.

According to the statement, the ICPC found out that Akawu, acting without AFN Board, got several approvals for the release of the money through a series of letters to the then Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung. 

“On different occasions, he requested for and got approval for the release of N30.4 million, N4.9 million and $20, 000 all in the month of July 2017 as expenses for the competition. He also requested for N9.5 million in the same period, but N5 million was approved by the then Permanent Secretary.

“Akawu is yet to furnish the Commission with the evidence of the expenditures, telling investigators that he had submitted all the documents relating to how the $130, 000 was spent by AFN to the registry in the office of the Minister,” the ICPC said.

Court adjourns Maina’s bail hearing until November 6

Nneoma BENSON
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Court adjourns Maina’s bail hearing until November 6

JUSTICE Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has adjourned for hearing, the bail application filed by the former Chairman of defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina until November 6.

Justice Abang had fixed Wednesday, October 30 for trial after listening to the submission of both the prosecution and defence counsels.

The defence counsel Ahmed Raji had prayed during the hearing on October 25 that the court allowed Maina extra time to prepare for his defence, while the prosecution counsel M.S Abubakar in opposition said that the court, deny the consideration of the application filed by the defence.

Upon the arguments from both counsels, Justice Abang ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison asking that he should be granted access to his lawyers.

Maina was arraigned by the Economic Crimes and Financial Commission (EFCC) on a 12-count charge, bothering on money laundering, operating fictitious bank accounts and fraud but he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

His son, Faisal, a final year Telecommunications Engineering student at a Dubai University was also arraigned on October 25 by the EFCC with fresh charges yet to be read, but some reports said Faisal was charged for allegedly shooting at security operatives in a bid to evade arrest.

The ICIR had reported about how Faisal attempted to escape at an Abuja hotel when operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) came to arrest his father.

Meanwhile, Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered the temporary forfeiture of 23 properties linked to Maina.

The order was based on an exparte application by the EFCC, which argued in sworn affidavits, that the properties are believed to be proceeds of the illicit activities of the defendant.

 

Court stops Lagos Assembly probe of Ambode

Lukman ABOLADE
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Court stops Lagos Assembly probe of Ambode

PROBE of the former Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has been halted by the Lagos High Court Ikeja on Wednesday till the determination of the court following a suit filed by Ambode.

Ambode filed a suit against the Speaker of the Lagos State Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, Clerk of the House and members of the probe committee over illegitimate procurement of 820 buses worth over N7 billion without budgetary approval.

The matter was adjourned pending the time the defendants of the suit will respond to the application filed by the former governor.

Lead counsels to the defendants, Adenike Oshinowo seek the court to give them time to respond to the application owing to the lateness in receiving it.

“We were served the notice very late yesterday and we shall be opposing the application and we are asking for a date,” she said.

The sitting judge on the case Y.A. Adesanya adjourned till 20th of November, 2019 for the respondents in the matter to respond to the plaintiff’s application.

Ambode alleged that the Lagos State House of Assembly of deliberately misrepresenting facts on the procurement of the 820 buses, saying was captured and approved by the Assembly in the 2018 Appropriation Law.

“In section 1 of the Bill, the 1st Defendant (House of Assembly) authorized the total Budget for the year 2018 to be One Trillion, Forty Six Billion, One Hundred and Twenty One Million, One Hundred and Eighty-One Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty Naira (N1,046,121,181,680.00) comprising the sum of Three Hundred and Forty Seven Billion, Thirty-Eighty Million, Nine Hundred and Thirty-Eight Thousand, Eight-Hundred and Seventy-Two Naira (N347,038,938,872.00) only and Six Hundred and Ninety-Nine Billion, Eighty-Two Million, Two Hundred and Forty-Two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty Naira (N699,082,242,808.00) only as the Recurrent and Capital Expenditures respectively.

“Part of the items authorized by the Bill under Capital Expenditure was: “LAGBUS Public Transport Infrastructure (MEPB); Part financing of 820 buses” which was item 8 under schedule 1- Part C of the Bill,” the suit stated.

Adesanya however after suspended of the probe, ordered that status quo remain till the determination of the court.

Ambode is scheduled to appaear before the Lagos state Assembly ad-hoc committee on 820 buses probe after the speaker of the assembly had threatened to issue a warrant of arrest on the Ambode if he continues to ignore invites by the assembly.

Supreme Court dismisses Atiku’s petition, upholds Tribunal judgement

Lukman ABOLADE
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Supreme Court dismisses Atiku’s petition, upholds Tribunal judgement

SEVEN men panel led by the  Chief Justice of the Nation (CJN), Tanko Mohammed has dismissed the appeal of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential Candidate in the 2019 Elections, Atiku Abubakar at the Supreme Court.

Atiku filed an appeal on 66 grounds to the Supreme Court against the judgment of Mohammed Garba-led Presidential Electoral Petition Panel which upheld All Progressive Congress candidate, Muhammadu Buhari as winner of the February 23 Presidential Election.

Tanko Mohammed with Bode Rhodes-Vivour, Olukayode Ariwoola, John Okoro, Aminu Sanusi, Ejembi Eko and Uwani Abba-ji who are members of the Supreme Court panel dismissed the appeal on lack of merit.

Mohammed said the reasons for the decision of the panel would be made known on a later date.

He said the panel had read all the documents and exhibits filed in the case for two weeks and found the appeal to be lacking in merit.

The five-member panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court on September 11 held that Atiku and PDP failed to prove, beyond reasonable doubt, allegations of corruption and non-compliance with the Electoral Act against Buhari and the APC.

Atiku and PDP alleged that security agencies and agents of the APC committed acts of violence, vote-buying, manipulation of ballot papers, stuffing of ballot boxes, massive thumb-print of ballot papers, deflation and inflation of votes, among others in states such as Borno, Yobe, Niger, Katsina, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Gombe and Kebbi.

 

Ambode approaches court over House probe

Lukman ABOLADE
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Ambode approaches court over House probe

FORMER Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has approached the court to stop the probe by the House of Assembly concerning the 820 buses purchased before his exit as the governor.

Lagos State House of Assembly said it issued summons to Ambode concerning the alleged purchase of 850 buses worth over N7 billion without budgetary approval of the House.

Ambode is scheduled to appear before the House Committee on the probe on Wednesday after the Assembly reported that he has failed to honour their invite on two occasions.

The Assembly is reported to have threatened to issue a warrant of arrest on Ambode if he fails to appear before the committee on Wednesday.

In a counter move to stop the probe, Ambode on Tuesday approached the court to stop the probe scheduled to hold today.

His legal counsel, Tayo Oyetibo, filed an ex parte application to the Lagos High Court, asking the court to compel the assembly to stop the probe.

Ambode in his suit claimed that the Assembly is deliberately misrepresenting, noting that the 820 buses were included in the 2018 Appropriation bill that was approved by the House.

The suit listed the Speaker of the Lagos Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, Clerk of the House, A.A. Sanni as well as the members of the ad hoc committee set up for the purchase as defendants in the suit.

The sitting judge, Adesanya ordered the originating processes and all the accompanying processes filed by the claimant (Ambode) to be served on the defendants and subsequently fixed Wednesday, October 30, 2019, for a hearing of the motion for interlocutory injunction.

Adesanya ordered the defendants to appear before the court on Wednesday by 9 am after hearing the ex-parte moved by Ambode’s counsel.

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