Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State ( L ) and former President Olusegun Obasanjo when the South-West Peoples Democratic Party ( P D P ) honored former President Olusegun Obasanjo as an outstanding Nigerian Statesman at Abeokuta, at the weekend.
DELTA State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has described former President Olusegun Obasanjo as a nationalist who believes in one Nigeria.
Dr Uduaghan gave the description at the weekend when he visited former President at his residence at Abeokuta, Ogun State during a grand reception organized by the South-West Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in honour of the former Nigerian leader and immediate past chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP.
According to Dr Uduaghan, the former President is an international figure who believes so much in Nigeria and has worked for Nigeria’s development and its unity.
At the grand reception held at the Alake Palace, Dr Uduaghan disclosed that the former President has also, ensured that Delta State was empowered to provide food not only for the people of the state but for Nigerians through the Obasanjo Farms which he partnered with the Delta State government to establish at Ogwashi-Uku.
“Because of our Delta beyond oil programme, we have a farm which is one of the biggest in West Africa and through the farm, President Obasanjo has ensured food security in West Africa,” the Governor said, reiterating that the Poultry at Ogwashi-Uku will be one of the biggest poultry farms in West Africa when fully operational.
He described Chief Obasanjo as a man who stands by what he believes in and does not waver no matter the situation, stating that once the former Nigerian leader believes in a course, he pursues it to a logical end.
Also speaking at the occasion, President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented by his Vice, Alhaji Namadi Sambo stated that Nigerian history cannot be complete without mentioning roles the former President Obasanjo played in ensuring the development and unity of the country.
“You have a special place in the history of Nigeria,” the President said, adding that Chief Obasanjo “spent greater part of his life in public life and laid a solid foundation which we are building on.”
Those who spoke at the occasion included the Governors of Imo, Akwa Ibom, among others and notable leaders like the Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamaga Tukur who poured encomiums on the former President for believing and working for the progress of Nigeria.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said it was important for Nigerians to appreciate their leaders when they are alive, observing that such would encourage such leaders to do more for the society and also, encourage others to emulate such leaders in working for the people rather than self.
He thanked those who organized the reception for celebrating him while alive and urged them to always work for the unity of the country.
Job seekers on queue for the application form at the palace of the Olojudo of Ido-Ekiti, headquater of Ido-Osi Local Government
Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) has commenced the distribution of forms to interested applicants in the Community Services, Youths and Women Employment Scheme under which 15,000 youths are to be employed this year with 3,000 beneficiaries to be recruited in the first instance, while another 2,000 will be recruited in February.
Thousands of applicants besieged palaces of traditional rulers in the headquarter towns of the 16 local councils in the State on Friday to obtain the form and register for the scheme.
Addressing the youths at the palace of the Oore of Otun-Ekiti, headquater of Moba Local Government, Oba Adedapo Popoola, Chairman of the State Implimentation Committee (SIC), Rt. Hon. Femi Akinyemi disclosed that by the end of February, the first 3,000 beneficiaries of the scheme would receive their first salary.
He said the scheme, when fully implemented would reduce poverty and crime in Ekiti State.
On why Oba palaces were used for the recruitment exercise, Akinyemi said; “We choose to use the palaces of our traditional rulers so as to show to the whole world that the programme is not designed for members of any political party.”
Akinyemi, who monitored the forms distribution with the three senatorial coordinators of the programme, Mrs. Tosin Aluko (Central), Hon. Kayode Ogunsakin (South) and Hon. Dare Olaosebikan (North) and the State Director, National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Dr Jumoke Oni, noted that the programme was not designed for any political party.
Akinyemi said; “From what is happening today, it can be seen that this programme is for all Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliation.
“The president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan promised then that funds generated from the subsidy removal will be spent on developmental and empowerment programmes.
“We thank God today that what the President promised Nigerians about a year ago is coming into fruition.
“What we are doing today is the registration of would be beneficiaries and as soon as that is concluded, the first 3,000 beneficiaries will be selected and their names made public.
“We are going to employ 15,000 this year and I can assure that even crime rate in Ekiti will be reduced and problems of unemployment solved considerably by the time this programme is fully implemented.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West has described claim by the Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN) that its National Chairman,Chief Bisi Akande was a political prisoner as ridiculous and laughable, saying; “It is hypocrisy taken too far for someone who was convicted and jailed for fraud by a duly constituted Tribunal to be regarded as a political prisoner.”
The party said; “as far as the law is concerned, Chief Bisi Akande is an ex-convict, having been duly convicted and was only released from prison and not granted state pardon.”
National Publicity Secretary of the ACN, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had said in a statement in Abuja on Thursday that “any attempt to label Chief Akande an ex-convict in a pejorative sense will be an exercise in futility, because he was neither convicted for abuse of office nor for any corruption-related offence by a duly constituted court.’’
Curiously, the party (ACN) was silent on the PDP’s claim that the House of Representatives Minority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila was also an ex-convict, having been convicted for professional misconduct by the Supreme Court of Georgia, United States of America in 2006 for making away with his client’s $25,000 in 2003.
In a statement issued today, PDP Zonal Publicity Secretary, Hon. Kayode Babade said; “Instead of trying to play with words, the ACN should tell Nigerians why the same Special Military Tribunal set up by the General Mohammadu Buhari regime that jailed Chief Bisi Akande for fraud freed people like late Chief Adekunle Ajasin and Alhaji Lateef Jakande?”
It also berated the ACN Spokesperson, Lai Mohammed for comparing Akande’s conviction and imprisonment with that of the global icon, Nelson Mandela, saying; “Even a deranged mind knows what Mandela was jailed for and it was not for using public money to fund political party.
“It is therefore an insult for anyone to compare the imprisonment of someone that was convicted for fraud with that of Mandela, who was jailed for his struggle to free South-Africa from slavery.”
Speaking further, Babade said; “It is a fact that the military government of Buhari, the same man the ACN people are working an alliance with, tried some public office holders in 1984 for misappropriation of public funds. Many of those tried were freed because they were not found guilty while those that were found guilty were jailed.
“Among those that were found guilty of fraud and jailed was Chief Bisi Akande and he was only released from prison by the General Ibrahim Babangida regime. He was not granted state pardon. The records are there!
“So what do you call such a person other than ex-convict?”
The PDP, which also maintained that ACN is a party of wolves who go about in sheep’s clothing, added that; “Nigerians know who has acquired almost all Lagos State landed properties, including a Local Government Secretariat and can no longer be fooled by the ACN holier than the Pope posture.”
Iran hanged two men in public, after a video posted on YouTube last month showed them assaulting a man in a Tehran street with a machete, the ISNA news agency reported.
The sentence, issued by the Revolutionary Court and confirmed by Iran’s Supreme Court, was carried out in Tehran at 6:30 am (0300 GMT) on Sunday and before “a crowd of nearly three hundred people”, ISNA said.
It said the two, identified as Alireza Mafiha and Mohammad Ali Sorouri, both aged under 24, were convicted of Moharebeh (waging war against God) and corruption on earth.
Under Iran’s interpretation of Islamic sharia law using firearms or knives and clubs in a crime are considered as Moharebeh, whose punishment is death sentence.
The men were arrested along with two other accomplices last month after the YouTube video footage showed them assaulting a man, and robbing him of his money, bag and coat.
Posted on December 6, the video was also shown on state television.
The footage shows the four men arriving on motorbikes and then two attacking the victim with one leading the assault with a machete, before riding off.
ISNA said the two other accomplices involved in the attack were “sentenced to 10 years in prison, 74 lashes and five years in exile.”
Following the attack, Iran’s judiciary promised to take a harsher stance on thugs, saying the incident had “caused insecurity.”
Iran, where murder, rape, armed robbery, drug trafficking and adultery are also punishable by death, is among countries with the highest annual record of executions in the world, along with China, Saudi Arabia and the United States.
Human rights watchdog Amnesty International has condemned the executions, but Tehran says the death penalty is essential to maintain law and order and that it is enforced only after exhaustive judicial proceedings.
Anambra State has been described as one of the best governed State in Nigeria going by all the indices of measuring good governance. This was declared by Chief Emeka Anyaoku on Friday night during the gathering of parliamentarians, diplomats and captains of industry to honour him as he turned 80 at the Marlborough House, London, the Headquarters of the Commonwealth where he worked for 34 years rising to become the Secretary General for 10 years, 1990-2000.
Speaking, he said that Anambra under Governor Obi had changed for good and that Gov. Peter Obi must be granted credit for that epochal change and revolution going on in the State. His words: “Peter Obi is the Governor of My State, Anambra, which is one among the 36 federating states. In the most recent rating, Obi is acclaimed as one of the best performing Governors in Nigeria. This is not hear say. Even recently, Bunmi and I were in the State to celebrate the Christmas and can attest to the transformational activities taking place in the State under Peter Obi. At 80, this gives me special joy.”
Earlier, the Governor who thanked everybody that had come to pay reverence to Anayaoku, said that as the Governor of Anambra State, that he is the CEO of a global and wonderful brand (referring to Chief Emeka Anyaoku). He said that his one fear as Anyaoku was celebrated was how the State would get vanishing brands like him. He said that the real celebration would be in Anambra, where he would take the opportunity to present Anayaoku to the people of the State as the type of character to be looked upon as role models for the health of the State.
While proposing the toast, Rt. Hon. Lord Boateng described Anyaoku as a bridge between Africa and the world. He said that his life had been a source of inspiration to many.
The event was graced by members of parliaments, diplomats and captains of industry from different .
In what sounds like a movie tale, A woman in Obuno Umuochefu, Igbo-Ukwu in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra state has snuffed life out of four children of her boyfriend by strangling them. Not done with her bestial mission, the suspect sat back at the scene of the crime until her victims’ parents returned, and attacked their mother.
For Mr and Mrs Nwanneka Ogechukwu Okonkwo, both natives of Ekwulumili in Nnewi South Local Government Area but resident in Igbo-Ukwu, January 15, 2013, came like any other day. But the young couple who are each 28 years old, never knew that it was the day their four children, Chukwuebuka, (13), Chukwumelum (6) Obumneme (3) and 15-month-old Chinenyenwa would breathe their last.
The young couple had no premonition of the tragedy that shocked everybody in the community. Their three sons and a daughter were allegedly killed by a lady simply identified as Blessing, from Abakiliki in Ebonyi State. Narrating the tragic incident, the mother of the dead children who spoke with Sunday Sun at Ekwulumili Health Centre where she was recuperating from the shock, said that she was also attacked by the suspect. Mrs Okonkwo said that the eldest of her children, Chukwuebuka, was the first casualty.
According to her, the suspect allegedly hit him on his forehead with a hard object and dumped the lifeless body inside an underground tank in the compound before strangling his siblings one after the other. “I was to go for a burial ceremony with my husband at Ukpor on that fateful day and the children went to school. We initially left with the youngest one, Chinenyenwa but the vehicle we boarded was jam-packed with passengers and the baby started crying. Consequently, my husband said we should disembark and use our motorcycle but people around said the road was too dusty to ride with a baby on a bike.
I decided to go home and wait for our other children who went to school so that they would take care of the baby and enable my husband and I to make the trip with our motorcycle. “But long after school hours, the children didn’t come home. We went to the school and other pupils told us that our children had gone home. I looked for them along the roads they usually take to the house but I did not see them.
Thereafter, I urged my husband to go on his own and look for them, but he returned soon after, saying he had seen them coming home. Before my husband and I left for the burial, I gave them food and told them to go and stay with an old woman in the neighbourhood because we are the only occupants of that building, and I don’t like them staying alone in the compound. “We had stayed barely one hour at the burial ceremony when my husband said we should go home.
But before we left, my husband’s phone rang and I heard him say, ‘I’m in a burial’. So, as we got close to our home, his phone rang again and he told the caller that we were not back yet. I didn’t ask him who the caller was as we rode straight to the house.
“When we got to the elderly neighbour’s house, we were told that she had gone for prayers and that my children were not seen there. We got to the house and I opened the gate from behind believing that the children were inside the house. As we parked our motorcycle inside the compound, my husband pointed to the underground tank that was open. I became apprehensive because we don’t keep it open. But I said maybe the eldest might have drawn water from the well and had forgotten to close it.
I called Ebuka but there was no response. I ran into the sitting room and saw the three younger ones lying on the floor as if they were asleep. I ran out again believing that those three were sleeping. I continued to call Ebuka and looked into the tank and I didn’t see anything. “Later, I decided to wake up Ebuka’s immediate younger brother to ascertain the whereabouts of his brother. I called him but he didn’t wake up; I tried to rouse him but he was motionless and so were the other two. I cried to my husband that the children were dead and I concluded that since the three were dead, Ebuka might be inside the well.
There were marks of human nails on their necks that showed that they were strangled. One of them had faeces in his anus. “It was when my husband started crying and moved towards our bedroom, that the lady (suspect) emerged from the bedroom and asked him why he was shouting. Then, I advanced towards her and demanded from her, where she kept Ebuka’s body because I had seen the others she killed. I held her and she gripped me. When I freed myself from her grip, I rushed to lock one of the two gates and raised the alarm until neighbours came.
“Later, somebody rushed out and called the youths of the community before the local vigilante and policemen arrived. She was arrested along with my husband.” Sources told Sunday Sun that the timely arrival of the police and the local vigilante saved the suspect from being lynched. It was also gathered that Mr Okonkwo, a furniture maker, had been dating the suspect, a relationship his wife confirmed, and had been battling to stop.
When contacted, the couple’s landlord, Mr Sunday, who lives outside the community, described the alleged killing of the innocent children as unfortunate and declined further comment. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Anambra State, Mr Emeka Chukwuemeka, confirmed the incident and said the matter was being handled by the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka, the state capital.
Report on N62billion, suspected fraud as identified in The Interim Review of Imo State Accounts from June 2007 to May 2011 under the Ikedi Ohakim Administration. We wish to present to you this Report containing the first part of the findings of the EXCO committee on account reconciliation June 2007 – May 20II. It identifies financial transactions where we observed irregularities from government officials, private companies and even banks and which funds are considered recoverable by the State. The total amount of suspected transactions identified as such in this first part amount to about N62,000,000,000.00 (Sixty-two billion Naira). The second part of the reconciliation report will be published in the next report.
Contents Summary of income and expenditure Loans, Bond proceeds Standing overdraft Suspicious contracts / payments Suspicious banking practices Money laundering
REPORT FROM THE ACCOUNTS RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE Background Since the administration of His Excellency, Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha, there have been calls by Imo Citizens and well-wishers for an account of what this administration inherited from the past administration of Chief Ikedi Ohakim. These calls have been predicated on the widespread disenchantment of the people with the past administration particularly it’s handling of the State’s finances. Over the past Eighteen (18) months, this administration has been focused on the provision of the dividends of democracy to Imo Citizens and has paid very little attention to the strident call by the people for an account of the previous administration’s stewardship. In the past few months, the people have been wondering if in fact any misdeeds were committed by the Ikedi Ohakim’s administration, to the extent that there is growing feeling of frustration with this administration as far as bringing the past administration to account is concerned. In some instances, there has been the ridiculous allegation that, perhaps, this administration was covering up the last administration As a responsible administration, this government decided to bring to the public domain our initial findings in the financial transactions of the Ikedi Ohakim’s administration. On behalf of the citizen of this State, this administration pledges to pursue the infractions revealed in the financial transactions with the appropriate authorities to their conclusion. In order to put things in perspective, we shall begin this report with a summary of the revenues that accrued to Imo State during the four (4) years of the past administration and details of the projects we met on ground when this Government came to office: This would enable the citizens of this state reach their own conclusion on the utilization of their commonwealth by the Ohakim administration.
SUMMARY OF REVENUE RECEIPT Based on available records, the Ikedi Ohakim’s administration and the local governments received a total of N 420,215,108,265.00 during the four (4) years of the administration. In addition, N18.5 billion of bond proceeds were received by the administration (out of which N 5.1 billion was utilized). Cumulatively, a total of N438.7 billion of the financial resources were available to the state during this period. Besides paying workers salaries and overheads some of which were outstanding when this administration came to office, the only identifiable capital projects that could be credited to the administration are as follows: The New Governor’s office building – N690, 000,000.00 Governor’s Lodge Abuja – N426, 885,315.00 Uncompleted Ahiajoku Convention Centre N2, 310,581,763.50 Uncompleted Traditional Rulers Parliament N277, 000,000.00 We noted that the original contract sum for the Governor’s lodge Abuja was N276, 640,510.00 only while about Nl billion naira of the Ahiajoku Convention Center contract had not been paid out. BORROWINGS A total loan collected by the administration was N63.9 billion of which N33.3 billion was not repaid and thus the Owelle administration inherited this N 33.3 billion as debts fro unpaid loans alone. Significantly, during the gubernatorial election, Ohakim’s administration yet again borrowed more funds especially N6.2 billon mostly spent as security vote, from UBA. It is strange that this occurred in spite of the well-publicized CBN warnings to all banks to desist from such loans within that election period knowing that such monies would be used to finance elections. This committee also found that some of The loans taken by the previous administration were done without fulfilling the legal requirements designed to protect the state from certain undue exposures, fraudulent utilizations, excess bank charges and failing or no repayments. The result was that Imo State Government we inherited was paying about N2 billion per year in interest and indeed this situation largely necessitated this account examination because we had to act fast to save the situation. QUESTIONED FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS In the course of our review, we identified a number of suspicious transactions some of which are listed below. 1)Borrowing of N6 billion from UBA without authorisation and spending it as security vote DATE: March 2011. This was 2 months to the end of the Ohakim administration, during the governorship elections without the necessary authorization from the Imo State House of Assembly. Painfully, N3.6 billion naira of the amount was withdrawn in cash and spent as security vote via the accounts of the SSG and Principal Secretary to the governor during the months of March and April 2011 alone curiously coinciding with the very expensive re-election bid of Ohakim witnessed by Imo people and indeed the whole nation.
For instance, as soon as that administration secured the loan, they turned around and withdrew N977, 582, 000 in cash through the Principal Secretary and Nl,738, 000 through the SSG during the 2011 elections. A single cashier alone cashed the sum of N650million from Mbari branch of UBA on the 20th of April alone proceedings the April 26th election. This type of security vote spending gave rise to the Ohakim administration spending N14 billion as security vote against the N9.2 billion budgeted for the entire period under review. The amount of N4.8 billion found to be overspent is therefore believed to be recoverable.
Payment of N1.746 billion to Cypress Consult DATE: Feb.-July 2010 Purpose: Renovation of 27 New Face Health Centres Comment/Observation: We found no evidence of such job done especially to justify such expenditure. In the statutory audit carried out by the Auditor General for Local Government Areas; he noted that the project was overvalued, and that “there is no evidence of a contract agreement, certificates and payment vouchers or receipts acknowledging payments” the auditor general further revealed that there were no approval for the project. Surely, at an average cost of N65 million cannot be justified to renovate a 5 room bungalow, many of which centres are even still uncompleted. This amount is therefore believed to be recoverable.
3) Payment of N49,612,500.00 to Engr. Victor Konyeha Managing Consultant Cypress Consult Ld. DATE: 18 Feb. 2011 The same Eng. Victor Konyeha of Cypress Consults was paid the sum N4 49,612,500.00 for the design of Cottage Industries in the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State. Unfortunately, these industries were neither designed nor built and therefore no evidence of Job done. Yet again the statutory audit for Local Governments revealed that there is neither evidence of a contract, contract agreement, scope, certificates, receipts nor prepayment audit. The Payment was made from LG Funds for no jobs done and without approval and we therefore believe this amount is recoverable.
4) Payment of N3, 385729,888 (N3.4bn) to Brickred Consult Ltd/MD Chief Dan Okehi DATE: 28/05/2010 Purpose claimed: payment to past political office holders Comments/observations: In the first place Brickred, a private company promoted by one Chief Dan Okehi (former MD of Bank PHB Insurance) was paid directly from JAAC which itself is an offence since a private company cannot be a line charge let alone a first line charge. Further investigations revealed that out of at least N3.383 billion (so far tracked) paid out of Imo State Local Government fund to Brickred Ltd., N2.6 billion was directly used to purchase foreign exchange in 3 transactions, occurring on the 2nd and 6th October 2008 using Spring Wealth bureau de change and Candour bureau de change both paid by bank transfer through Intercontinental bank. We clearly do not believe Imo State Local Government councilors were paid in dollars and thus we deem this amount to be recoverable. 5) Payment of N126, 000, 000 to FM&T Consulting (MD: Chief Chris Asoluka) Date of transaction: 20TH OCT. 2010 Purpose: Infrastructural development plan for oil producing Areas. Comments/observation: On the 20/10/2010, in a memo with Ref. No. GH/PL/S.662/11/16 signed by Okey Anyanwu (PS to governor Ohakim) authorizing the then Commissioner for Finance to release N126 million to Chief Chris Asoluka, of F.M.&T Consulting for the infrastructural development of oil producing areas without any contract from the company. There was no process at all and there was no Job done. ISOPADEC confirmed that ISOPADEC awarded no such contract and no such job was delivered to ISOPADEC.
6) N87, 850,000.00 Payment to Chief Chris Asoluka Date: March/April 2011 Purpose: Printing of Local Economic Empowerment Document. Comment: One wonders how such a value was reached. Interestingly this transaction was done towards the Governorship elections when Governor Ohakim was taking loans. Payment was made without approval of LGAs and there was no evidence of Jobs done.
7) Payment of N55,702,354.00 to Chief Chris Asoluka Date: 17/8/2010 TO 14/1/2011 Purpose: Payment for retreat at Enugu Comment/observation: The amount spent on retreat considered to be highly inflated, irregular. It is also observed that the various local government councils also posted huge amounts for this same retreat leading to a suspicion of double payment and therefore according to the statutory audit report it is deemed “recoverable”.
8) Withdrawal of N2.1 billion from Imo Freeway Account at Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank) claimed to have been paid to MCC. Purpose: No evidence of job done. Observation: On the 2nd and 3rd of June 2009, funds totaling N2.1 billion were instructed by Ohakim to be moved from Imo Freeway Account in Bank PHB to MCC. Specifically, these funds were narrated in our Bank Statement as having been transferred to MCC Ltd, Investigation, revealed that these funds were rather moved to a special clearing suspense account no. NGN 1402800010006 in Bank PHB. Our investigation furtherrevealed that the suspense account was created for the purpose of fraudulently diverting state funds. Investigations also revealed that Bank PHB pulled out the entire N2.I billion through the following beneficiaries Nelson Jaja Omala Oko Pius Uduno
9) Payment of N420 million to E.F Network Corporation Purpose claimed: Not known/unspecified. Comments/observation: This company was over paid by N35mil!ion which was purportedly returned through Bank PHB (now Keystone bank) but never entered back into the account of Imo State. We are still investigating over a billion Naira funneled through the account of E.F Networks with Keystone bank for which no clear explanation has been received.
10) Payment of N 119 million to Champion Newspapers Date: MAY – JUNE 2010 : Purpose: Production of special edition to mark Chief Ohakim’s 3rd year in office. Comment: One Mr, Ken Ogaziechi claimed to have paid a newspaper the sum of N119.5 million for the production of a SINGLE EDITION for the commemoration of Third year in office of the Ohakim Government. We found no evidence that such money was paid to Champion newspapers and therefore believe the amount is recoverable.
11) Payment of N1.1 billion to Boliv Ltd The sum of N1.1 billion was paid to Deliv Limited between March 2009 and May 2011, being payment for Road construction. Comment/observation: No evidence of award of contract. No evidence of work done to justify such payment. Investigation revealed that the entire fund to the kobo was transferred to United Arab Emirate via swift no. FBN GB 4L (of 30th March 2009 and through Hameed Idoko Bureau De Change in Port Harcourt.
12) Discrepancy of N1.594 billion in JAAC proceeds to Local Government Areas. Date: Various Purpose: Funding of Local Governments Councils Comment: Although N12.24 billion was approved for transfer to Local Government Councils, only N10.64 billion got to them. The sub-committee on Local government investigations of the Imo House of Assembly on it’s report observed that there is monthly differences between cheque values meant for local government councils and what the Local Governments actually received from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. Between August 2010 and May 2011, the differences amounted toN1.6 billion (10 months).
13) Payment of N1.1 Billion to DDB under various vouchers. Date: Various Purpose: For billboards, re-election campaign jingles. Comment: N1.1 billion was paid to DDB (Nig) Ltd via various payment vouchers mostly for the billboards that the Ohakim administration littered all over the State such as Let’s Do More campaign. The total budgetary provision for media and publicity for the entire 4 yrs of Ohakim’sadministration was N308m and just one company was paid nearly 4 times that amount totalling N1.1billion. So much for extra budgetary spending. So much for the governor’s picture.
14) Payment of N110mill1on to DDB. N110 million was paid to Mr. Obiajulu Okwuosa, the Lagos Divisional Managing Director, DDB (Nig) Ltd. No. 6, Adeola Hopewell Street, Victoria Island Lagos in April 2010. Being payments for rebranding and restructuring of IRROMA, Operational publicity and erecting of two (2) Nos. of Clean and Green Bill Boards in the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State. Comment: Payment vouchers revealed that there is no evidence of ALGON and Tender Board Resolutions, no contract, no agreement and no receipts acknowledging the payments attached to the vouchers and none was produced for audit verification.
15) Payment of N414,555,608.55 to DDB (Nig) Ltd.: N44million was paid to DDB in July 2010 and N370 million in May 2010. These payments were purportedly paid to the principal secretary to theGovernor and DDB (Nig) Ltd. as an advance, I Owe YOU (IOU) and payments in connection to His Excellency’s third Year Anniversary in office. Comments: In the statutory audit carried out by the Auditor-General for Local Governments, he noted that “The payment vouchers had no resolution attached authorizing the payments. The amounts advanced were yet to be retired or refunded. Also the payment vouchers were not presented tor prepayment audit.”
16) Payment of N50,000,000.00 to the Lagos Divisional MD, DDB (Nig) Ltd. from JAAC for Ohakim’s election jingle Date: 21/3/2011 Purpose: Payment for Governor Ohakim’s Re-election Radio campaign. Comment: The payment voucher (MLGCA/JPA/61/11 of 21/3/2011) revealed that there were no evidence of approval and ALGON resolution authorizing the expenditure. Also there were no receipts attached to the voucher acknowledging the payment. The financing of the former governor’s re-election campaign is the responsibility of the governor and his political party and not the JAAC. The payment is therefore considered irregular.
17) Nl .3 billion payment made to Arab Contractors. PURPOSE: Construction of Ahiajoku convention centre. COMMENT: The Ahiajoku convention hall was awarded to Arab contractors at the cost of N2,310,581,763.50 with immediate advance payment to the contractor of N690m. So far, about NI .3 billion had been paid to the contractor. Our administration met the Job mostly unfinished; no doors, no windows, no external walls, no fittings, no electrical, no air-conditioning, no plumbing, no landscaping etc. Although this project has not been completed, it was commissioned as completed by Ohakim – a clear instance of deception. 18) Payment of N604 million to T.K. Engineering Date: Purpose: Payment for Road construction Comment/observation: Questionable Contract price. The state of construction cannot justify the amount paid.
19) Payment of N61,250,000.00 to Mr. Anthony I. Unaegbu, Chairman/CEO, Syndo-Glamour Communications Ltd. Date: 23/2/2011 TO 20/4/2011 Purpose: Payment for consultancy work on Imo Youth Empowerment Programme (IYEP). Comment: The payment is irregular. The Auditor-General for Local Governments In the statutory audit noted that “examination of the vouchers revealed that Due Process was not observed in the award of the contract. There were no evidence of approval, ALGON and Tender Board Resolution, contract agreement or jobbing Order and none was produced for audit verification. Also no receipts from the contractor acknowledging the payments.
20) Payment of the total sum of N29,800,000.00 Date: 28/3/2011 This amount was paid to The Honourable Commissioner of MLG&CA Owerri. Being payment for the Launching of Imo Youth Empowerment Programme and distribution of equipment and materials. Comment: According to the report of the Auditor General in the statutory Local Government audit, the payment vouchers revealed that there were no evidence of approval and ALGON resolution, authorizing the payment. There were no receipts or invoices, sub-receipts and store receive vouchers (SRV) attached to the voucher confirming payments, purchase and receipts of materials bought for distribution. Please note that this was during the elections. In view of the above, the report found it “doubtful that the total sum was actually spent on launching of the programme”.
21) Fictitious payments of N 152,223,000.00 to sundry Ministry officials and contractors Date: Between Dec. 2009 and Aug. 2011 Purpose: Not stated/unclear Comment: No detailed evidence to show that services for which the payments were meant were actually performed for such a large sum. The payment voucher were not audited and signed by thepayees to authenticate there payments. 22) Payments made from the Joint State and Local Govt. project account to the tune of N666,216,313.14 Date: Purpose: Not identified Comments/observation: According to the statutory audit report of the auditor general, The total sum of J4 666,216,313.14 in various vouchers listed was paid out from the joint state and local government project account without following due process of the Governor’s approval, ALGON Resolution, Invitation for tenders from contractors, Tender Board Resolution, prepayment audit etc. These sums have already been requested to be returned by the auditor general.
23) Transfer of N6.514,550,000.00 from Skye Bank to Zenith Bank Plc (IN 4 TRANSACTIONS) Date: Various Purpose: Not specified The Auditor-General of Local Government Areas queried their movements, He painfully observed that Payments were made withoutrecords/vouchers or explanation for transfers by Ohakim.
24) Payment of N204m to Linas International Ltd. Date: 28/05/2010 Purpose claimed: Consultancy for the recovery of money owned the Local Governments by the Federal Government : Comment: No evidence of funds recovered. No mandate letter. Direct payment from JAAC account without approval.
25) Withdrawal of N1.3 billion in cash by one Mrs. Augustina Ezeala from State/LG Joint A/C DATE : Various. A total of N1.3 billion was withdrawn in cash through a cashier one Mrs. Augustina Ezeala, from the JAAC account an account specifically dedicated to projects owned by the State and Local Government. Out of that amount, N791 million was “cashed over the counter” in April 2012 alone during the Gubernatorial Election. PURPOSE: Unspecified/Not disclosed. COMMENT/OBSERVATION: Wealso found out that These withdrawals coincided with election dates in 2010 (LGA) and 2011 (Governorship).
26) Donation of N8m ISOPADEC funds To P.D.P. by Chief Emma Nnani Date of transaction: 24/01/2011 Purpose: Donation toward P.D.P. primaries. Comments: At the height of Gubernatorial Campaigns, the Commission’s Chairman Chief Emma Nani, authorized a donation to the PDP from ISOPADEC fund to fund a political party.
27) N5m ISOPADEC funds for election of PDP Orlu Zone Apex leader, Chief Goodluck Opia. Date: Feb 2011 Purpose: To finance election of apex leader. Comment: The chairman collected money from ISOPADEC as out of pocket expenses for the re-election of the PDP apex leader in Orlu zone, Mr. Goodluck Opia. This is one more case of financing political party and candidates for elections from government purse.
28) Withdrawal of N10, 676,891,730.00 from the Joint State & Local Govt. project A/C Date: 1/8/2008 TO 30/9/2009 Purpose: Unspecified/Not disclosed. Comment: In a report by the Auditor General of Local Government Areas, it was stated that there were no corresponding payment vouchers raised to authenticate the purported withdrawals of such a huge sum of more than ten billon Naira.
29) Movement of N23,309,973,192.76 from the JAAC account Between 10th October 2008 and 19th of May 2011, a total of N23.3billion was transferred directly out of Imo State JAAC Account. The only narration supplied in the bank statement from Bank PHB was NEFT (Nigeria Electronic Fund Transfer). Out of the 18 digit NEFT number quoted against each transaction, 12 digits were observed to be date repetitions numbers leaving only 6 digits. The numbers were not generated by NEFT and cannot be used to trace that transaction. Bank PHB is being required to explain each of the transactions.
30) N13.5 billion transferred out from UBA Between Nov. 2009 and June 2010, UBA transferred out from two (2) Imo State Government Accounts the total sum of N13.5 billion using the unconventional banking label DDCC during the Ohakim’s government. There was no explanation for this transfer. The UBA has been requested to provide the details for the transfer. These amounts totaling about N62 billion are the first tranche of our investigation. Several more investigations are well underway and Imo people will be briefed on their outcomes.
There is palpable fear and panic in Bayelsa including the immediate family of the State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson and other Political Office Holders in the State following anonymous text messages threatening to kidnap their family members.
The fear was further deepened yesterday following the reported abduction of one of the Sisters to the State Governor in his hometown Toruo-Rua in Sagbama Local Government area by unidentified gunmen and the deployment of armed Policemen around the country home of the governor in Yenagoa and Sagbama.
But the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Mr. Daniel Markson-Iworiso, dismissed the reported abduction as a rumor and a deliberate act of falsehood by enemies of the Present administration.
It was gathered that the intelligence unit of the Nigerian Police and the State Security Service had weekend stumbled on a report that there was a ploy by some armed gunmen to embark on terror attack on the state and mass abduction of family members of the political appointees in the state including the Governor and his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah.
A check by our correspondent showed a new pattern of kidnap in the last two months involving the abduction of expatriates and Nigerians for ransom, as over 15 persons including the workers of the Italians, Korean and Dutch oil workers have been kidnapped. The Mother of the Bayelsa Speaker, Hon. Kombowei Benson was also kidnapped on Monday and her whereabouts yet unknown.
In his reaction to the development, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Daniel Markson-Iworiso, dismissed the reported abduction of the Governor’s sister as a rumor, “It is not true that any of the Governor’s sister or any member of his family for that matter was kidnapped. It is all rumors and our people must be careful the way they go about spreading false information. We are not ruling out the fact, this again is the handiwork of our detractors and their plot once again has failed.”
Contacted on the development, the Spokesman of the State Police Command, Mr. Fidelis Odunna said though the reported abduction of the sister to the Governor was not true, the command have deployed police men to the home community of the Governor to forestall any such plans.
President Umaru Musa Yaradua (his blessed memory) obviously saw the level of Environmental degradation and protracted infrastructural decay in the Niger Delta region and poised to make a difference in that region that lays the golden egg as 97% of the Nation’s earnings emanates from this long abandoned region, decided in his wisdom to create the Ministry of Niger Delta Affaires (MNDA). This is clearly aimed at fast tracking the development of this region which past administrations have neglected over time.
Now the decision on who is competent to man this ministry as a pioneer determined to stir the affairs of the ministry for the ultimate goal of a result oriented and actualized mission of the late President came up. Umaru Musa Yaradua has a Masters degree in Chemistry and as a Chemist with an analytical mind and convinced that he will make the desired difference, came up with the choice of Elder Godsday Orubebe based on his pedigree and profile of achievements.
Elder Orubebe never wasted time either, he landed running. He pioneered the re-design and dualization of the East-West Road to accommodate bridges etc. because of the peculiar terrain and soil texture of the Niger Delta region, resuscitation of ailing and moribund firms in the region among other innovations aimed at opening the region to other commercial and social activities, he created the skill acquisition centres, initiated the Canalization/River Training at Foupolo Bulou Ndoro Creek, Canalization at Odoubou Ogbabagbene which is expected to open up the region connecting to the lake to boost tourist attraction with its biannual fishing festival synonymous to the Arugungu festival among others. Following the land degradation as a result of oil exploration and exploitation, Elder Orubebe also commenced the Land Reclamation/Shoreline Protection Project at Ogbobagbene in Burutu LGA of Delta State.
Literarily, one would hail the acumen of ideas from this vibrant young man, determined to make a difference in the lives of Niger Delta people by creating and embarking on projects that have direct bearings in the lives and aspirations of his people. But there is a lacuna and this lacuna is in the realities on ground as it affects budgetary allocation even among competing ministries yearning for attention in all sectors of the Nation. Apart from the individuals in the National Assembly who deliberately stave the Ministry of proper funding, there is this challenge of fund release by the Ministry of Finance even after budgetary allocation has been made. In other words, the fund of any particular Ministry could be withheld even after proper budgetary allocation has been made by the National Assembly.
The people of Niger Delta do not understand any of this power play, all they need is result. The need for rapid development having suffered neglected for too long is paramount. Elder Orubebe on his part has cried out openly in a Federal Executive Council Meeting (FEC) that the Ministry needs proper funding to actualize its goals of quality service delivery to his people. This cry as true as it is has obviously opened up a new page on the realities and facts on ground. There is a deliberate calculation by some individuals to frustrate the actualization of these laudable projects pioneered by Elder Orubebe in the Niger Delta region.
The earnest and genuine intensions of the Minister are strangulated. The Minister is held in the crossfire. Niger Delta people have a legitimate and genuine quest for an accelerated development and the deliberate determination by some cabal in the National Assembly to truncate the Minister’s ideas and effort to actualize this for rapid development by starving the Ministry of fund. In the other dimension, some disgruntled element who play the role of undertakers, take due advantage of the situation, determined to discredit the Minister, orchestrate and sponsor all manner of cheap and unfounded blackmail targeted at mutilating the image of Elder Orubebe, portray him in bad light, subject him to ridicule and heap the blame of lack of fund on him. Sadly enough, Elder Orubebe is not responsible for budgetary allocation.
These undertakers would stop at nothing to ill inform and misinform the people of the region as well as Nigerians on the true situation as obtainable in the power play in the National Assembly as it affects the MNDA. But in all these, the Minister, humble as a lamb has remained focussed and undaunted. Although it’s not yet UHURU, he is determined to deliver his well articulated programmes to his people most expediently and in a most dogged manner as the case may be. It is therefore pertinent to bring this issue in its true and proper perspective. Elder Godsday Orubebe: the sacrificial lamb…
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