Senator, Ex-Militant Leader Abscond With N2.2bn

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  • Money For Pipeline Surveillance Contract
  • FG Impounds Fugitives’ 13-Seater Private Jet

Fresh tension has gripped the Niger Delta following the revelation that a former senator from Bayelsa State and ex-militant leader have absconded with N2.2bn meant for pipeline surveillance contract.

The money released by the Presidency was to pay some ex-fighters in Rivers State for oil pipeline security services.

Findings by National Mirror revealed that the ex-senator and the former militant leader (names withheld) fled the country shortly after the Presidency released the fund.

The duo allegedly took possession of the money in collaboration with some officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and a second generation bank where the money was lodged.

The Presidency, which was said to be rattled by the development, had paid the money to the bank account of a company controlled by ex-militant fighters in the bank through the NNPC ostensibly to stem the escalating tempo of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the region.

Just recently, the Anglo- Dutch energy giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, threatened to suspend operations in the region due to unabated activities of the oil thieves.

National Mirror gathered that the controversial N2.2bn was a part payment to the ex-fighters to monitor oil pipelines in Rivers State. The Presidency has also released varying sums amounting to billions of naira to ex-fighters in Bayelsa, Delta and other oil producing states to safeguard oil pipelines in the areas.

National Mirror learnt yesterday that the former federal lawmaker had fled to Accra, Ghana, where his mother hails from while the whereabouts of the former militant commander could not be ascertained by his colleagues, who have initiated a manhunt for him.

The fugitive senator was expected at the burial of his late father in Bayelsa State on February 7 but he refused to turn up for the event for fear of dire consequences from his aggrieved colleagues.

This prompted members of his family to return the remains of his father to the morgue and rescheduled the event. Findings by our correspondent showed that the beneficiaries of the fund include ex-militant commander in Rivers State, Chief Tom Ateke, the Leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, NDPVF, Alhaji Mujarhedeen Asari- Dokubo, Mr. Farah Dagogo and Egberi Papa.

Ateke, who was supposed to benefit to the tune of N500m from the missing money was said to be bemoaning his fate and threatening “fire and brimstone.” National Mirror investigations revealed that the development had sparked off frequent violent confrontations between Tom’s lieutenants and those of fleeing ex-militant leader in the creeks of Rivers State, which have resulted in an unspecified number of deaths.

It was gathered that the former senator and the exmilitant commander as well as their collaborators in NNPC and the bank manipulated relevant bank records and circumvented banking procedures to move the money out of the account National Mirror investigations showed that the money was paid into the account of Adef Energy Resources Limited, a company registered in 2010 which has Tom, Asari-Dokubo, Dagogo and Papa, as directors.The company was registered with initial share capital of N40m with Tom, Asari-Dokubo and Dagogo owning nine million shares each while Papa was allotted five million shares. The balance of eight million shares was allotted to those described as “critical beneficiaries and stakeholders.” Tom emerged as chairman while Dagogo was made the managing director/ chief executive officer of the company.

 

The exlawmaker was appointed “management consultant” with a monthly package of N110m, including a N40m consultancy fee and N70m exigency allowance.

The company had secured surveillance and monitoring contracts for oil pipelines running through Rivers State for an undisclosed sum and the stolen money was meant for wages of staff.

The board of the company resolved and decided that the salaries and allowances of the workers be paid as and when due on a monthly basis while the remaining money be kept for payment of dividends of the directors at the end of each financial year in line with their shareholding.

National Mirror, however, gathered that trouble started when the management of the company in collaboration with the exsenator claimed that the Presidency was not honouring its obligation to the firm. One of our sources said Papa was the first to smell a rat.

The source said Papa was emphatic that the consultant and the management of the company were lying.

Consequently, it was learnt that an infuriated Tom, Asari-Dokubo and Papa personally investigated the claim and discovered that another account was secretly opened in the name of the company where N2.2bn was lodged by NNPC and evacuated by the former senator and the ex-militant leader who are involved in the management of the company.

At this point, the ex-lawmaker and the ex-militant disappeared as the directors of the company embarked on their manhunt. The matter was later reported to the National Security Officer, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), by the aggrieved ex-militants, who intimated President Goodluck Jonathan. Jonathan was said to have expressed concern over the development.

Findings further revealed that Jonathan, who was greatly embarrassed pleaded with Tom, Asari- Dokubo and others to remain calm.

 

He assured them that he would facilitate the arrest of the senator and the exfighter by the International Police, Interpol. However, further enquiries showed that the senator and his collaborator used the money to acquire a 13-seater private jet, Embraer Legacy 600, which reliable sources revealed has been impounded and parked at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, on the orders of the Presidency.

It was revealed that the senator and his co-traveller had made an initial deposit of N2bn for the plane valued at about N4bn before the lid was blown on the illicit deal.

One of the aggrieved ex-militants narrated the ordeal: “We signed the contract to safeguard the oil pipelines in Rivers State and signed relevant documents and opened an account in the name of the company, Adef Energy Resources Limited.

“All the directors agreed that we should settle the boys as and when due but we should leave the balance in the account for the payment of our dividends at the end of every financial year. But we continue to wait as dividends were not being sent to us.

“We continued to mount pressure on the management consultant (ex-senator) and our colleague, who are representing the company in NNPC, who continued to claim that the Federal Government was not paying the money.

They continued to lie to us that NNPC has not paid the money. “The directors, especially Tom, Egberi Papa and Asari-Dokubo met again and resolved to get to the root of the matter. That was when we knew we have been paid.

Consequently, it was discovered that the consultant and the ex-militant leader, who managed the company and liaised with the Presidency and NNPC had opened a secret account in a bank, where they diverted and stole N2.21bn in collaboration with the bank and NNPC officials. “The consultant thereafter fled to Accra, Ghana, where his mother hails from and where he has substantial business interests.

 

The ex-militant leader has also gone underground but we don’t know his whereabouts. We have gone to Accra but we could not trace the former senator. We also laid an ambush for him in his village in Bayelsa State on February 7, when we got information that his father was to be buried on that date but he did not show up. “We eventually stumbled on the information that they used the stolen money as part payment for the plane they acquired.

They paid N2bn, which is half of the value of the aircraft, which is about N4bn. It is a 13-seater private jet, Legacy 600. They thought they could meet up with the payment of the balance but it did not work according to their plan. “The plane is one of the biggest and one of the most beautiful aircraft. We learnt they intended to hire it to one of the oil companies if the plan had worked.

“We thereafter reported the matter to the NSA, who drew the attention of President Jonathan to it. It was Mr. President who advised that the story was messy and embarrassing and that we should not take it to the press. Mr. President pleaded with us to be patient and assured us that he would get him (ex-senator) with the help of the Interpol.

“But let me be frank with you that we have exhausted our patience and Mr. President has failed to act in our interest as he promised. We may be forced to take our destiny in our own hands in due course,” added the source, who craved anonymity.

Tom and Asari-Dokubo, could not be reached for their reaction. They ignored calls and text messages to their cell phones on the matter.

Source: National Mirror

Breaking News: Prince Eze Madumere Now New Imo Deputy Gov

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Information reaching 247ureports.com indicates that following the Impeachment of  former Deputy governor of the state, Sir Jude Agbaso by the state House of Assembly, the present Chief of Staff Prince Eze Madumere has been appointed as the new Deputy Governor.

Details later

Looking Beyond The N458m Contract Scam: Who Replaces Jude Agbaso/By John Mgbe

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I have scaled down my participation in discussing Imo politics for the reason that I was shell shocked and disorientated as a result of the signals emanating from the Executive and Legislative arms of Imo State political bureaucracy in the past weeks. I want to presume that whoever is reading this topic is fully aware of the N458m contract scam which has pitted the Deputy Governor, Sir Jude Agbaso and  Mr.Dina, the Managing Director of J-PROS International Nig. Ltd., a company that is supposed to be handling contract works on some major roads in Imo State on one hand and the Imo State legislature on the other hand. Since I am yet to recover from the shock of the contract scam, I do not intend to delve into it here and now.

No matter how the episode is resolved, it is a classic case of a misplaced confidence and a betrayal of trust by those who are directly or remotely involved in that show of shame. It rankles; it is massively provocative that in spite of the fact that yours sincerely who was in the forefront in the “Struggle for Regime Change” has yet to receive a bottle of soft drink or even an executive handshake, some of our leaders are busy paying off billions to some foreign contractors who were in their comfort zones while we were struggling in the valley of Gethsemane and Golgotha to sack Chief Ohakim and entrench a new regime. We paraded ourselves as volunteers who were fighting to liberate our people from the shackles of Ohakimocracy but little did we know that at the end of the day we would be the monkey that would work while some others would be the baboons that must eat. It is sad that after all our efforts, it appears that we have simply entrenched a new face of George Orwell’s Republic (Republic of Animalism) where some animals are more equal than others. I will discuss the contract scam when I fully gather energy to so do but today my topic is targeted on the ongoing search for a replacement to Sir Jude Agbaso, the outgoing Deputy Governor.

In spite of how this matter is resolved in the long run, I don’t know how many people that will be ready to still see Sir Jude Agbaso as Deputy Governor of IMO State. In his usual unpredictable disposition, Governor Okorocha may wake up one morning and swiftly give orders that the impeachment move should screech to a halt and Jude Agbaso should take back his job. If that happens tomorrow, I will not be surprised because Imo State is a place where nothing shocks; we are a people with a seared and convoluted conscience.

 

In this viewpoint, I want to do a sort of rejoinder on the issue that has been raised in respect of those who have been shortlisted as possible substitutes for Jude Agbaso. Some of the names that have been circulated include:

1.     Nick Opara Ndudu, the incumbent Commissioner for Works

2.     Uche Onyeagocha

3.     Prince Eze Madumere

4.     Sir. Jude Ejiogu

5.     Barrister Soronnadi Njoku

6.     Chief P. C. Onuoha

7.     Mrs. Dan Dozie

 

Nick Oparandudu

He is the incumbent Commissioner for Works. He is a pretender to the throne. I don’t think he has gathered enough clout to be appointed to the job of a Deputy Governor. He is eminently qualified for the job but I feel that he will not make it.

 

Uche Onyeagocha

He is a staunch member of All Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and one of the hardcore opponents of Owelle Rochas Okorocha’s 2011 Governorship initiative. He is anti-Governor Okorocha and the two cannot bond well. He is independent minded and is not likely to be loyal to Governor Okorocha in the long run. In fact, they are two parallel lines that cannot meet.Again, it is impolitic and provocative for Governor Okorocha to go outside the mainstream APGA to pick a deputy Governor from ACN, a political party that dragged him to the Supreme Court in a bid to truncate his governorship victory. There will be reprisal attacks from the APGA politicians who are waiting for the job.

 

Governor Okorocha’s romance with All Progressive Congress (APC) is not enough reason to consider Onyeagocha for the job. If the ACN people are sincere in the APC merger with Okorocha’s faction of APGA, the party should withdraw their petition against Okorocha’s victory in the Governorship election of 2011. If the ACN does not apply to the courts that they have settled out of court with Okorocha, it will be a big joke to be appointing ACN politicians to political offices. Governor Okorocha is incurring the wrath of those who made him Governor if he continues to appoint ACN members to appointive positions. In the long run, there may be a backlash.

I am vehement that until the ACN withdraws their suits against Governor Okorocha in the Court of Appeal Owerri and the Supreme Court, their members should not be considered for any political jobs in this administration. So, the bottom-line of my thesis is that Barr. Uche Onyeagocha should not be considered for the deputy Governor’s job. As a person, he is fully qualified to be governor or even President of Nigeria but this is Imo politics.

 

Prince Eze Mmadumere

He is the incumbent Chief of Staff (CoS) to the Governor. He was also the CoS to the Rochas Foundation Business Empire. I don’t think that he is a fit and proper person to be Deputy Governor. Imo State government cannot be run like Rochas Foundation Business Empire. Even now he sees himself as Chief of Staff of Rochas Foundation. Those who have condemned Martin Agbaso for presenting his younger brother Jude Agbaso, as Deputy Governor must also condemn any move to make Prince Eze Madumere the Deputy Governor. He is too close to Governor Okorocha to be effective as Deputy Governor.

During the 2011 electioneering, Comrade Keneth Emelu, the incumbent Commissioner for Youths and Sports called me one day and said that he would want to introduce me to the Chief of Staff of Rochas Foundation i.e. Prince Madumere. I said Ok, fine. He took me to the office and explained to him how I had made great efforts in supporting Governor Okorocha’s 2011 governorship project. In fact we met him at the verandah, not in the office. After all the talk by Comrade Emelu, Prince Madumere simply said Ok. I then asked for his phone number. He said it was not necessary; continue to talk with your friend, Emelu. There was no sign of elation on his face. He did not even take us into his office. This was a time when journalists had shunned Owelle Okorocha for sundry reasons. If Eze Madumere could treat me with such indifference and disdain at the electioneering period, what will he do if he becomes Deputy Governor? This is why I have kept away from his office since he became Chief of Staff. In fact, by my own assessment, he is proud. However, I have read many texts praising him as a humble and kind person. It would appear that mine was a case of hatred at first sight.I wish him well.

In fact when his people organized a reception for him recently, Governor Okorocha said “Ndi Mbieri, I did not make him Chief of Staff because I love you. I made it for myself.”. So, the difference between Governor Okorocha and Prince Madumere is the difference between six and one-half of a dozen. So, I don’t endorse him for the job.

 

Chief P.C. Onuoha:

He does not fit into the template at all. The people of Mbaise nation have made up their mind on 2015. So, it is not advisable to give the job to an Mbaise person. Governor Okorocha should forget the three Local Government Areas in Mbaise clan. Above all, Chief P. C. Onuoha is not capable of winning votes. Both the man and his younger brother are all top shots in Okorocha’s administration. What did they do for Okorocha that some of us did not do in 2011? I wrote several viewpoints in support of Dr. Ada Okwuonu who was then under persecution by the Government House. I advised Ohakim not to run as Governor but to use his incumbency to make Ada Okwuonu Governor. I received several hostile text messages from those who wondered why I was recommending an Mbaise for Governorship. In fact some asked whether I was a genuine Igbo man. I was shocked. Today, I don’t know if the mood has changed. I was told by several callers that Mbaise could be good for Deputy Governor’s duty if so, the governor can make him deputy governor. I was shocked that a genuine comment I made in favour of Mbaise nation could attract such hostility on me.

 

So in the case of Chief P.C. Onuoha, I don’t support his nomination for Deputy Governorship. Since both him and his younger brother are already eating from the Governor, He should look for another Mbaise person for the job if it is now zoned to Mbaise nation. I am not aware of any special feats they performed in the 2011 election that qualifies them for such special considerations in Okorocha’s Administration. In fact, I still see him as a hard-core PDP man.

 

Mr. Dan Dozie:

I don’t know much about this fellow; so I have no opinion on him.

 

Sir Jude Ejiogu:

He is the incumbent Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC) Imo State. I feel reluctant to say that my dossier on him since his name was mentioned as a likely successor to Sir Jude Agbaso shows that he may not be the best candidate for the job of a Deputy Governor. My investigation shows that Sir Jude Ejiogu has been exhibiting the traits of clannishness since he assumed office as Chairman of Local Government Service Commission. A profile of the promotions made since his tenure shows that he is a clannish bigot who favours only Owerri zone. This is not the forum to discuss this issue extensively, it will be discussed elsewhere. But I urge him to do an introspection of his activities as they affect Staff promotion and related activities and grade himself. Can he in conscience vouch that he has been evenhanded and fair in his approach to staff promotions? As far as he is concerned, the only zone that matters is Owerri zone I will give him the benefit of doubt and appeal to him to stop thinking that other zones are blind or fools. I am watching his activities on staff affairs with keen interest and I am thoroughly dissatisfied with my observations. I do not think he is a fit and proper person to be appointed Deputy Governor. Although I do not wish to go in details now, suffice it to ask whether it is fair that in a State with 27 Local Government areas, Owerri zone is producing a majority of the Directors of Administration and General Duties (DAGS). Can he tell us how many of these DAGS come from each of the three zones of Imo State? How many of the Heads of Personnel Management come from each of the three zones? Can the promotions made since he became chairman stand the test of seniority in the workplace as well as compliance with federal character requirements? I ask him to give a breakdown of the promotions made since his tenure. In order to give him the benefit of fair hearing, we are waiting. If he fails to defend his action then one may state one’s side of the story. In summary, I am of the opinion that he does not seem to be the best candidate for the job of a Deputy Governor.

Barrister Soronnadi Njoku

This is the man for the job. No matter from which angle you look at it, Barrister Soronnadi Njoku is eminently qualified to wear the crown. Those who know the role he played in the heady days of the contentious supplementary election, have been wondering why anybody should stand in his way to the office of a Deputy Governor. As far as this job of a Deputy Governor is concerned, he will simply bow and take his seat. He hails from Ngor Okpala Local Government Area. On account of his role in the May 6 2011 supplementary election, the only way to show gratefulness to him is to give him the crown of the Deputy Governor. He has won all the cases against the Governor’s victory in the 2011 elections. He won in the Tribunal, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. He is a man of uncommon simplicity and humility. He is perhaps the only Commissioner in Okorocha’s Administration that has picked all my phone calls to enquire about critical issues of State as they affect his ministry. Often, he even calls back to know who called. He is a Chip of the old block having served as Commissioner in Chief Udenwa’s Administration (May 29th 1999 – May 29th 2007). Barrister Soronnadi is an asset to Okorocha’s Administration. Although he does not know me, I am in a position to State that he has exhibited immense charm, candour and perspicacity as Commissioner for about nine years. He is a round peg in a round hole. Gentlemen, let’s toast the appointment of Barrister Soronnadi (SAN in waiting) as Deputy Governor – Designate to replace Sir Jude Agbaso.

Recommendation: All the names considered so far are already on the payroll of Imo State Government. I want to advise Governor Okorocha to also think of giving the job to an outsider who can act as a bridge between the Administration and the larger society. In this wise, I nominate Chief Paddy Obinna as a fit and proper person to replace Sir Jude Agbaso. He is a man of impeccable and unimpeachable antecedents. Above all, he hails from the same Emekuku with the Agbasos. His appointment will reassure the Owerri North/Emekuku and the Agbaso political dignity that the Administration is not set to humiliate or dehumanize them. In the area of culture, paddy has powerful antecedents. It is a case of by one and take two – as Deputy Governor, he will also double as commissioner for culture. This will also make for political peace and calm in the political arena since Owerri North will still occupy the office.

Some people have even favoured Speaker Ben Uwajimogu as a likely successor to Sir Jude Agbaso. This choice is legally right but morally wrong. It was the Owerri zone that facilitated Governor Okorochas victory in that election. The Okigwe zone contributed nothing to it. So, the office of Deputy Governor must reside in Owerri zone. Okorocha should learn from the mistakes of Chief Ohakim. The Iwu’s appointed him Governor and he could not even give the Iwu’s the senatorial slot hence he failed woefully in the election. Somebody appointed you a Governor and you gave him the secretary to the Government and later abandoned the family. Too bad! The 2007 Governorship election in IMO State was won by Chief Martin Agbaso,the elder brother to the outgoing Deputy Governor of Imo State,Sir Jude Agbaso. But some people in the corridors of power shoved him aside and appointed Chief Ohakim as governor.

It is unfortunate that there was nobody to give Jude Agbaso any useful advice on the futility of chasing the wind.The best option for him was to resign like former U.S President, Richard Nixon during the WaterGate Scandal .He could have emulated Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State who in spite of all his political challenges, remained silent, stoic and taciturn. The examples of Governor Peter Obi and President Richard Nixon of U.S will be discussed elsewhere. Even if he is left off the hook now, he has dragged the name of the Agbaso political dynasty to the mud and I feel sad about this turn of events. We are watching events unfold.

 

 

Oluwole’s Death Painful, Says Oshiomhole

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Governor Adams Oshiomhole says the death of Publisher of the Tribune Newspapers, Chief Oluwole Awolowo is painful.

In a condolence message to the matriarch of Awolowo family, Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Peter Okhiria, Oshiomhole said: “I learnt with rude shock and grief news of the death of your son and scion of the Awolowo family, Chief Oluwole Awolowo. On behalf of the people and Government of Edo State,  I offer my heartfelt condolences.

“We share in the grief and pain of the Awolowo family at this very difficult period, knowing how closely knit the family is.

“Oluwole upheld the Awolowo name till the end and kept the dream of the sage alive through his prudent management of the Tribune newspapers. He will always be remembered for his forthrightness.

“Much as his death is painful to bear, we urge you to take heart and trust that the Lord whom he served faithfully cannot be wrong in His judgment. Be consoled by the fact that he devoted his life to the service of God and mankind and has gone to rest with the Lord.

“While we commiserate with his immediate family, we pray God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.”

 

 

 

 

 

Orji Cautions Against Playing Politics With Skill Acquisation Programmes

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Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji has called for an end to the era of playing politics with technical and vocational skill acquisition programmes in Nigeria.

He stated this in Aba during the graduation ceremony of 1000 Abia youths who were trained by the Industrial Training Fund Institute (ITF) and National Industrial Skill Development Programme (NISP) on garment manufacturing and Information Communication Technology (ICT).

Orji who was represented by his Commissioner for Youth Development, Barr. Akujuobi Oscar Nkoro said that as a largely agrarian economy, which depends on crude oil production for its survival, it will be perilous if Nigeria continues to play politics with technical and vocational skill acquisition programmes.

The governor noted that the Asians tigers like Japan and India made their marks in the world today because acquisition of skills was the most important item on their National Development Plans.

He appealed to all the stakeholders to join hands in ensuring that the graduates of the National Industrial skills Development Programme (NISDP) were gainfully employed or assisted to set up their own businesses through the granting of loan facilities.

Keynote speaker at the event, Prof. Longmas Wampmuk, said that the programme highlights the commitment by the Federal Government to empower the youths through provision of technical and vocational skills training.

” The course would be a guarantee for the speedy attainment of Nigeria’s quest to become one of the twenty most industrialized countries by the year 2020.”

Wampmuk who was  represented by the chairman South-East, South-South Area Managers Forum of ITF, Ben Ngwu added that the NISDP and some other Youth Empowerment Programmes such as You Win and SURE-P  demonstrate Government’s commitment to transforming the Nigerian economy to a Technology-driven and production-based economy.

“Other similar programmes being initiated by respective State Governments are also aimed at complimenting the Federal government’s efforts,” he said.

He expressed hope that by 2015, the rate of youth unemployment would drastically drop from the present 20million as was reported by the National Bureau of Statistics to 1million.

The Abia Area Manager of ITF, Mr. Gabriel Olatunji in his address stated that the Training Institute after a research on the needs assessment of the people of the State, discovered that garment manufacturing and ICT were the most pressing need of the people, which prompted them to commence the training of 500 unemployed youths on the two areas.

Olatunji added that the training of the youths on the two skills was geared towards reducing poverty and unemployment rate in the state as the trained youths were expected to become employers of labour upon graduation.

 

 

Niger-Deltans Are Not Troublesome, Says Uduaghan

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Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, yesterday in Warri said that the people of the Niger Delta are not trouble makers. Defending the people of the region, when the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe paid him a courtesy visit at Governor’s Office Annex, Warri, the Governor stated that Niger Deltans are not trouble makers but only agitating for a fair deal from the Nigerian state.

He then solicited for the understanding of other regions for the legitimate agitation for the cause of the Niger Delta.

He said; “We must plan so that we can succeed in whatever we want to do. I want to sincerely thank President Goodluck Jonathan for his commitment to the completion of the East West Road and as a Minister, I want to urge you to put more efforts on the East West Road.”

While advising the Minister to always let people know what he is doing on the road, the Governor added that “I want our brothers and sisters from other part of the country to know that we are not trouble makers in Niger Delta region, but only asking for a better treatment.”

Governor Uduaghan promised the Minister full co-operation and security support  in all its working sites within the region and to participate in the forthcoming summit in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Earlier in his presentation, the Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry, Elder Godsday Orubebe intimated the Governor on the Niger Delta Action Plan, which is a developmental programme for the Niger Delta region.

Elder Orubebe stated that the aim behind the initiation of the programme was to organize a summit within the Niger Delta region to discuss the issues as it affects the Niger Delta.

According to the Minister; “As a ministry we have worked out a document called the Niger Delta Action Plan where a summit would be held once in a year to discuss issues of yesterday and today as it affects Niger Delta, I am glad to inform you too that the Federal Government has approved the constitution of a National Council in this regard, for which the first summit meeting comes up April this year at Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

The Minister further said that, of the 42 bridges earmarked for the construction of the East West Road, 37 had been completed while 750 of the 786 culverts had also been built.

He assured that the East West Road will be completed by December 2014, saying that “we need inputs from all the governors in the Niger Delta region. The East West Road will completed in December 2014. We now have funds that will complete the road. President Jonathan is committed to the completion of the East West Road. We need to work together to move the Niger Delta forward. We cannot do it alone.”

In addition, he disclosed that he was determined to construct the East West rail way as well as the Coastal road leading to Lagos

 

Oshiomhole Pleads With FG On East-West Railway

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Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has appealed to the Federal Government to introduce the East-West railway line to grow the economy of the South-South region.

He made the plea even as the Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry, Elder Godsday Orubebe promised Nigerians that East-West road would be delivered by December 2014.

Speaking while receiving the Minister at the Government House yesterday, Oshiomhole said only a good and dependable transportation system can facilitate economic development of a country.

According to him, “the only appeal I want to make is on the issue of the East-West rail. This economy can’t be competitive and our region cannot attain the desired level of development without rail. The assumption that road can solve and service our economy efficiently is not grounded in any logic.  Around the world, even nations with a smaller land mass embrace rail system”

Oshiomhole noted “we are an oil-producing nation and we are told that it is not going to be there forever, we have seen that when we put everybody on the road no matter what we  spend building the East-West road, if it becomes the only road, obviously there will be the challenge of maintenance, congestion and even accidents.

“All of us who are in government should assist you to persuade the National Assembly to support the President to find the resources to invest in the rail.  I think rail is the ultimate. It is cheaper, it is more reliable and usually much more safer. Even in terms of maintenance, it might be easier to manage.  When we have that on and we have the road completed, you would have made a lot of progress. The region would not have become a heaven, but the foundation for sustainable development would have been set”, he added.

On the East-West road, Oshiomhole said “I believe the East-West road is a huge project. There are various sectors that are crying for every dollar that is available.  I am sure you will be quite happy if the project is completed”.

On his part, the Minister of Niger Delta, Elder Orubebe said the East-West road will be completed and delivered by December, 2014.

He disclosed that the road was earlier awarded in 2006 at the cost of N239 billion without detailed designs.

Imo Deputy Governor Impeached

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Barely hours after the High Court dismissed the suit by the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Mr. Jude Agbaso, asking it to stop his impeachment by the state Assembly, the embattled deputy governor has been removed from office.

Twenty-five out of the 26 members of the Imo State House of Assembly approved the impeachment.

His impeachment is coming after a prolonged battle over the allegation that he demanded the sum of N417 million from a contractor in the state. Mr. Agbaso has consistently denied the allegation.

Mr. Agbaso had earlier approached the court praying it to restrain the state lawmakers from proceeding with the impeachment process which began three weeks ago.

He also prayed the court to restrain the Nigerian Police from harassing him or acting upon the recommendations of the House of Assembly against him.

Source: Channels Television

Minister, Perm Sec, Exposed In Plot To Loot N15 Billion Pension Fund

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ABBA-MORO

The lid has been blown off a plan by very senior officials of the federal government to loot about N15 billion meant for the payment pension of retirees in paramilitary agencies in 2012.

Fingered in the secret plan are a minister, permanent secretary and director in a ministry which our highly placed presidency source refused to name.

A presidency source told the icirnigeria.org yesterday that the plan was exposed by the managing director of a second generation bank in which part of the funds are domiciled.

The N15 billion is the unspent fund from the 2012 budget of the Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Office, CIPPO, which by government regulation should have been returned to the treasury by December last year.

The funds are in eight banks – Unity Bank (N2.8 b); Fidelity Bank (N3.8 b); Sky Bank (N3.1b); Eco Bank (N2.6b); Access Bank N300m); Diamond Bank N260m); Fin Bank (N90m) and Zenith Bank (N2.4 b)

In 2008, the Umaru Yar A’dua administration introduced a policy which ordered government ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, to return to the national treasury funds from their budgets which were not spent during the year.

That policy has been maintained by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

However, the N15 billion unspent funds at CIPPO was not returned to government coffers because the director of the pension office, Abdulrasheed Maina, sought and got approval to defer the refund for a while.

In the letter to the President, Maina explained that the office was still saddled with sorting out the payment of the severance packages of personnel of paramilitary agencies disengaged from service during the Obasanjo regime.

The pension office boss explained further that many of those retired were shortchanged and CIPPO wanted to finish paying the balance due to them by the end of 2012.

In view of this, he requested and got the President’s approval to defer the return of the unspent funds till the new year when the planned payment exercise was expected to end.

But by January when the exercise ended and the unspent funds were to be returned to the Central Bank of Nigeria, Maina had run into trouble with the Senate which ordered the inspector general of police, Mohammed Abubakar, to arrest him for failing to appear it.

The Senate accused Maina of failing to appear before its committee probing pension administration in Nigeria to answer questions over an alleged N195 billion fraud.

While he was facing his problem with the Senate, however, Maina wrote another letter to the President early March in which he informed him that the payment of shortchanged retirees had been completed and requested that the N15 billion be mopped up by the Ministry of Finance.

“We are in a new budget year and there is enough in the budget to pay for the remaining arrears,” wrote Maina in his memo to the President.

As if to forestall any attempt to access the unspent funds from 2012, Maina said that “the remaining liabilities will be settled and all requests for more funds may be forwarded if need be to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy for consideration.

Presidency sources told the icirnigeria.org that one of the two ministers supervising the paramilitary agencies under CIPPO, along with the permanent secretary and a director in the ministry, had laid out plans to withdraw some of the funds.

Sources said that the bank manager who blew the whistle on the planned withdrawal said he did not want to be involved, having been made to “go through hell during the investigation of previous pension scams”.

It was gathered that the manager’s bank was fingered as one of the collaborators in the multi –billion naira pension scandal at the Police Pension Office and he was arrested and detained for a while by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Having been once bitten, this time, when he was approached, he sang to officials of the presidency, seeking to expose the plan.

According to our sources, the bank manager said the minister and his team employed the same tactic used by those who plundered funds of pension offices in the past by first engaging in exploratory talks about how to withdraw money from the pension accounts, how much and the manner of withdrawal.

The plan put forward by the rogue team was to compile a new list of persons they would claim had either been shortchanged or not paid pension at all. Based on this fictitious list, mandates would be sent to the banks to release billions from the pension funds.

Still smarting from his previous experience, the manager was so scared that he did not even wait for a formal letter granting approval before exposing the plot.

Although no action has been taken so far on the disclosure, our sources said that the President is likely to order an investigation into the matter.

The agencies under CIPPO, the customs, prisons and immigration services, are supervised by two different ministers. While customs is under the finance minister, prisons and immigration are supervised by the minister of interior.

In the past, several billions have been stolen from pension funds by public officers using ghost and fake pensioners’ names.

Even now several former officials of the pension offices of the office of the head of service of the federation and Police Pension Office are being tried in the courts for looting amounts totaling more than N60 billion.

At the pension office of the head of service, Sani Teidi Shuaibu, former director; Phina Ukamaka Chidi, his former deputy, and 30 others are battling charges of conspiracy, fraud and corruption before Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

They are accused of stealing more than N30 billion from the pension funds meant for the payment of retired civil servants.

In the same vein, Abubakar Kigo, former director, police pension office, and former permanent secretary, ministry of Niger Delta; Esias Dangabar a retired director, PPO; Ahmed Wada, former deputy director, PPO, and others are also being tried by an Abuja court for stealing over N40 billion pension funds.

Source: icirnigeria

Yuguda preaches peace at Easter

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People of Bauchi State have been called upon to bury their ethnic, religious or political differences and live in peace and harmony with one another just as they were also called to imbibe the spirit of love for one another, forgiveness and mutual respect as well as see themselves as one and the same people irrespective of the ethno-religious and political differences.
The call was contained in goodwill message by Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda on the occasion of the celebration of the 2013 Easter Celebration copies of which was made available to news men by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ishola Michael Adeyemi.
Isa Yuguda declared that, “it is only by so doing that peace will continue to reign in our State and the country in general. I would also like to appeal for continued prayers to God to bring to an end the current security challenges being faced in different parts of the country.”
The Governor who congratulated the Christian community in the state for witnessing another Easter celebration said that the period is observed to show solidarity and sympathy to Jesus Christ who paid the supreme price in order to save lives of his disciples and followers having used his life time to preach peace, honesty, love for one another and above all the fear of God also called on all Christians in the state emulate Jesus Christ by imbibing the virtues he portrayed while alive.
He also called on Christians to use the Easter celebrations for sober reflection and self-evaluation with a view to knowing how well to relate with their creator and fellow human beings during the last one year and make amends where necessary because according to him, “Bauchi state and our country as a whole needs peace now more than ever before. We cannot therefore afford to allow ourselves to be divided along religious or ethnic lines. We must allow peace to reign in order to make progress”.
Isa Yuguda then used the medium to reiterate the irrevocable commitment of the State Government to the maintenance of law and order as according to him, “the government has taken all measures to ensure the safety of lives and property of the people of the state. I therefore appeal for your continued support and cooperation.”
He however warned that, “Government will not condone any act that is capable of causing disorder and confusion. Any person or group of persons found to be involved in such acts under any guise will be dealt with according to the laws of the land.”
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