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Showing posts with label Rotimi Amaechi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rotimi Amaechi. Show all posts

EXPOSED: The 2 SEIZED Imported Helicopters Bought By Buhari's Minister, A Former Governor

EXPOSED: The 2 SEIZED Imported Helicopters Bought By Buhari's Minister, A Former Governor

The 2 SEIZED Imported Helicopters Bought By Buhari's Minister, A Former Governor
The owner of the seized two helicopter seized by the Nigerian Custom Authority has been traced to the former Governor of Rivers State, who is now the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi.

According to the incumbent Rivers State Governor,  Nyesom Wike, the two reportedly seized helicopters belonged to the Rivers State Government and he had given his backing to the federal government in handing over the two Bell helicopters to the Air Force.

The Customs Service announced on Friday that the helicopters were smuggled into the country by an  unknown  person who failed to produce end user certificate from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in contravention of Section 36 ( 2) of the Customs and Excise Management Act.



The Customs Area Comptroller, Mr. Frank Allanah, put the import duty value of the two helicopters and their  accessories at N9,757,135,240.86k.

He proceeded to hand them over to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at a ceremony at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja.

However, Wike in a statement by his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, in Port Harcourt said he officially wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari asking that the two helicopters  which were bought by the immediate past administration in the state be handed over to the Air Force.

He explained that his decision was informed by the high import duty and the refusal of the federal authorities to grant the State a waiver to clear the choppers.

The governor said that it was unfortunate that security agencies would resort to political propaganda and outright lies, when the facts about the helicopters are in public domain.

His words: “These helicopters were imported by the immediate past administration. When I assumed office, we wrote to the Federal government that it was strictly for security use. What am I going to use armoured helicopters for?

”In any case, where will the Rivers State Government get money at this time to import armoured helicopters? The previous administration imported it because they had the money.

”I went to the federal government to give me a waiver for us to clear the helicopters but the federal government refused.

”I wrote a letter to the president and assured him that the helicopters were meant for security purposes, they should be handed over to the Nigerian Air Force.

”I am surprised that they have started propaganda and political falsehood on the said armoured helicopters.  What kind of country are they turning Nigeria into?

”We stated that we cannot pay the custom duties because the helicopters are not for commercial use. They are to be used to monitor the creeks and track criminals.

”I wrote to the president to give the helicopters to the airforce.  It is shocking that the Customs would turn around to claim that they impounded the helicopters.

“The Chief of Staff to the President admitted that I have done well when I wrote the letter to the President.”
The 2 SEIZED Imported Helicopters Bought By Buhari's Minister, A Former Governor
The owner of the seized two helicopter seized by the Nigerian Custom Authority has been traced to the former Governor of Rivers State, who is now the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi.

According to the incumbent Rivers State Governor,  Nyesom Wike, the two reportedly seized helicopters belonged to the Rivers State Government and he had given his backing to the federal government in handing over the two Bell helicopters to the Air Force.

The Customs Service announced on Friday that the helicopters were smuggled into the country by an  unknown  person who failed to produce end user certificate from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in contravention of Section 36 ( 2) of the Customs and Excise Management Act.



The Customs Area Comptroller, Mr. Frank Allanah, put the import duty value of the two helicopters and their  accessories at N9,757,135,240.86k.

He proceeded to hand them over to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at a ceremony at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja.

However, Wike in a statement by his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, in Port Harcourt said he officially wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari asking that the two helicopters  which were bought by the immediate past administration in the state be handed over to the Air Force.

He explained that his decision was informed by the high import duty and the refusal of the federal authorities to grant the State a waiver to clear the choppers.

The governor said that it was unfortunate that security agencies would resort to political propaganda and outright lies, when the facts about the helicopters are in public domain.

His words: “These helicopters were imported by the immediate past administration. When I assumed office, we wrote to the Federal government that it was strictly for security use. What am I going to use armoured helicopters for?

”In any case, where will the Rivers State Government get money at this time to import armoured helicopters? The previous administration imported it because they had the money.

”I went to the federal government to give me a waiver for us to clear the helicopters but the federal government refused.

”I wrote a letter to the president and assured him that the helicopters were meant for security purposes, they should be handed over to the Nigerian Air Force.

”I am surprised that they have started propaganda and political falsehood on the said armoured helicopters.  What kind of country are they turning Nigeria into?

”We stated that we cannot pay the custom duties because the helicopters are not for commercial use. They are to be used to monitor the creeks and track criminals.

”I wrote to the president to give the helicopters to the airforce.  It is shocking that the Customs would turn around to claim that they impounded the helicopters.

“The Chief of Staff to the President admitted that I have done well when I wrote the letter to the President.”

Court Orders Buhari To Sack 2 Of His Prominent Ministers Over Corruption Allegations

Court Orders Buhari To Sack 2 Of His Prominent Ministers Over Corruption Allegations

Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division has granted an order of mandamus seeking the arrest and immediate sack of Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and his Science and Technology counterpart, Ogbonnaya Onu, over recent allegations levelled against them by two justices of the Supreme Court.

The applicant, Human Rights Foundation International, sought the order in its substantive suit where it prayed the court to compel the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to “perform their statutory obligations” by immediately arresting and prosecuting the two ministers.

Court Orders Buhari To Sack 2 Of His Prominent Ministers Over Corruption Allegations
The group also sought an order of mandamus compelling President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sack both ministers “in the interest of the public and morality” based on allegations of attempts to influence court decisions as claimed by the two jurists.


A copy of the enrolled order made on December 1 specifically called for the disengagement of the ministers pending when they were cleared by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The plaintiff further asked for an order of mandamus under the reviewed Administrative Action/Inaction Procedure, to first seek and obtain the leave of court through an ex-parte application to properly commence the suit.


In the relief sought, the plaintiff raised the following questions: “Whether or not the allegation made by Justices Inyang Okoro and Sylvester N. Ngwuta in connection with the criminal-like invasion of their houses by the DSS on allegation of corruption, which the matter is already in the public domain, should be investigated and those arrested be prosecuted by the third and fourth defendants.

“Whether or not the allegation is a reasonable ground to warrant the 5th defendant, which is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and who claims that his administration is fighting corruption, to sack or compel Amaechi and Onu to resign from office as ministers pending when they are cleared of every allegation of corruption.”

Both justices had in two separate correspondences to former Chief Justice Mahmud Mohammed accused the ministers of attempting to influence court decisions in some election cases between 2015 and this year.

The matter has, however, been slated for mention on December 15.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division has granted an order of mandamus seeking the arrest and immediate sack of Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and his Science and Technology counterpart, Ogbonnaya Onu, over recent allegations levelled against them by two justices of the Supreme Court.

The applicant, Human Rights Foundation International, sought the order in its substantive suit where it prayed the court to compel the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to “perform their statutory obligations” by immediately arresting and prosecuting the two ministers.

Court Orders Buhari To Sack 2 Of His Prominent Ministers Over Corruption Allegations
The group also sought an order of mandamus compelling President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sack both ministers “in the interest of the public and morality” based on allegations of attempts to influence court decisions as claimed by the two jurists.


A copy of the enrolled order made on December 1 specifically called for the disengagement of the ministers pending when they were cleared by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The plaintiff further asked for an order of mandamus under the reviewed Administrative Action/Inaction Procedure, to first seek and obtain the leave of court through an ex-parte application to properly commence the suit.


In the relief sought, the plaintiff raised the following questions: “Whether or not the allegation made by Justices Inyang Okoro and Sylvester N. Ngwuta in connection with the criminal-like invasion of their houses by the DSS on allegation of corruption, which the matter is already in the public domain, should be investigated and those arrested be prosecuted by the third and fourth defendants.

“Whether or not the allegation is a reasonable ground to warrant the 5th defendant, which is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and who claims that his administration is fighting corruption, to sack or compel Amaechi and Onu to resign from office as ministers pending when they are cleared of every allegation of corruption.”

Both justices had in two separate correspondences to former Chief Justice Mahmud Mohammed accused the ministers of attempting to influence court decisions in some election cases between 2015 and this year.

The matter has, however, been slated for mention on December 15.

Judge Bribe Scandal: At Last, Under Pressure Buhari Issues Query To Amaechi. Onu

Judge Bribe Scandal: At Last, Under Pressure Buhari Issues Query To Amaechi. Onu

amaechi rotimi
President Muhammadu Buhari have reportedly queried two of his ministers – Rotimi Amaechi and Ogbonnaya Onu – over allegations that they tried to influence the outcome of Supreme Court rulings on the election appeals for Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Ebonyi and Ekiti States.

According to SytrendNews exclusive report, the president ordered the query following the spread of allegations that the duo approached Supreme Court justices to influence the court to deliver favourable judgments for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election appeals from Rivers, Abia, Ebonyi, Ekiti and Akwa Ibom States.


Presidency sources revealed that during the Chief Justice Of Nigeria (CJN’s) meeting with Buhari last month on the arrest of seven judges by the Department of State Security (DSS), Justice Mohammed reportedly orally informed the president of the attempt to induce the judges.

He told Buhari that his ministers, among others, alleged that they were acting on the instruction of the president.

Justices Inyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court were two of the seven justices who were arrested by the DSS.

However, after they were granted bail, the two Supreme Court judges, in separate letters to the CJN, blamed their arrests on their refusal to yield to demands by Amaechi, Onu and other APC chieftains to give favourable judgments to the governorship candidates of the ruling party in the five states.

Following the revelation, Buhari was reported to have informed Justice Mohammed that he had nothing to do with the allegations, but asked the CJN to put it in writing.

On receiving the CJN’s letter against his ministers, Buhari, a source confirmed, queried Amaechi and Onu to respond to the weighty allegations.

The president’s position was in line with a statement issued by the presidency on October 30, when it advised journalists and other Nigerians to stop linking Buhari to the legal travails of the arrested judges in the country.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, had said Buhari would be the last person to authorise anybody to induce a judge to pervert the course of justice.

However, the CJN’s decision to report the affected ministers to the president has not gone down well with them, as they are now hell bent on extracting their pound of flesh from the judiciary and the Supreme Court for daring to report them to their boss.

Thisday furtehr reports that the desire to exact revenge informed the filing of the charges against the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court Gambo Saleh by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.

Owing to the strained relationship between the executive and the judiciary, the AGF has in recent times boycotted events organised by the Supreme Court.

One of such events was the valedictory session held in honour of a retired Supreme Court justice, Sueliman Galadima. It has always been the tradition of the AGF to attend and deliver a speech on such occasions. But the AGF did not attend and neither did he send a representative.

Source: SkytrendNews

amaechi rotimi
President Muhammadu Buhari have reportedly queried two of his ministers – Rotimi Amaechi and Ogbonnaya Onu – over allegations that they tried to influence the outcome of Supreme Court rulings on the election appeals for Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Ebonyi and Ekiti States.

According to SytrendNews exclusive report, the president ordered the query following the spread of allegations that the duo approached Supreme Court justices to influence the court to deliver favourable judgments for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election appeals from Rivers, Abia, Ebonyi, Ekiti and Akwa Ibom States.


Presidency sources revealed that during the Chief Justice Of Nigeria (CJN’s) meeting with Buhari last month on the arrest of seven judges by the Department of State Security (DSS), Justice Mohammed reportedly orally informed the president of the attempt to induce the judges.

He told Buhari that his ministers, among others, alleged that they were acting on the instruction of the president.

Justices Inyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court were two of the seven justices who were arrested by the DSS.

However, after they were granted bail, the two Supreme Court judges, in separate letters to the CJN, blamed their arrests on their refusal to yield to demands by Amaechi, Onu and other APC chieftains to give favourable judgments to the governorship candidates of the ruling party in the five states.

Following the revelation, Buhari was reported to have informed Justice Mohammed that he had nothing to do with the allegations, but asked the CJN to put it in writing.

On receiving the CJN’s letter against his ministers, Buhari, a source confirmed, queried Amaechi and Onu to respond to the weighty allegations.

The president’s position was in line with a statement issued by the presidency on October 30, when it advised journalists and other Nigerians to stop linking Buhari to the legal travails of the arrested judges in the country.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, had said Buhari would be the last person to authorise anybody to induce a judge to pervert the course of justice.

However, the CJN’s decision to report the affected ministers to the president has not gone down well with them, as they are now hell bent on extracting their pound of flesh from the judiciary and the Supreme Court for daring to report them to their boss.

Thisday furtehr reports that the desire to exact revenge informed the filing of the charges against the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court Gambo Saleh by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.

Owing to the strained relationship between the executive and the judiciary, the AGF has in recent times boycotted events organised by the Supreme Court.

One of such events was the valedictory session held in honour of a retired Supreme Court justice, Sueliman Galadima. It has always been the tradition of the AGF to attend and deliver a speech on such occasions. But the AGF did not attend and neither did he send a representative.

Source: SkytrendNews

Why APC Members, Buhari's Ministers INDICTED Exonerated From Probe - Presidency

Why APC Members, Buhari's Ministers INDICTED Exonerated From Probe - Presidency

Why Buhari's Indicted Ministers Exonerated From Probe - PresidencyPresident Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has offered reasons why leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and those in the president’s cabinet are not being prosecuted for corruption.

The presidential spokesman, who made this known while featuring as a guest on a radio programme, Sweet F.M’s Podium in Abeokuta, also argued that the federal government’s anti-corruption fight was not selective.

According to him, APC chieftains and appointees are not being prosecuted because no evidence had been put forward indicting them of being involved in corrupt practices.


“The onus lies on he who alledges to also prove,” he said. “The fact that any PDP member crosses to APC does not provide automatic shield. Whoever is indicted will be prosecuted.”

On the arrest of judges, Mr. Adesina said the raid on judges was only a raid on corruption and not the judiciary.

“Mr. President has said it all. No one is out to intimidate the judiciary. DSS raid was a raid on corruption not Judiciary,” he said.

On the importation of rice, Mr. Adesina clarified that the Federal Government did not ban the importation of rice, but only took steps to curtail the activities of smugglers at the nation’s land borders.

Mr.Adesina lamented the widespread misinformation that the government had banned the importation of rice.
“Importation of rice via our sea borders remain legal,” Mr. Adesina said.

He said the Buhari-led Federal government was committed to the diversification of the economy.
“We have gotten to the point in which we have to diversify or die,” he said.

“The Federal government has disbursed money so as to heavily invest in Agriculture and Mining.
“Dr. Fayemi has told us that the results of the ongoing investment may not be clearly seen in less than 30 years. However, we will lay the foundation.”

Speaking on his appointment, Mr. Adesina said he, perhaps, would have done all he could to stop his appointment as the President’s media aide if he had a hint about the possibility of his appointment.

“I was not expecting it. Maybe if I knew, I would have done all in my powers to make sure it did not happen,” he said.

“I have known him since he started contesting and wrote good things about him but I did not know he will appoint me as his adviser.”

Why Buhari's Indicted Ministers Exonerated From Probe - PresidencyPresident Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has offered reasons why leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and those in the president’s cabinet are not being prosecuted for corruption.

The presidential spokesman, who made this known while featuring as a guest on a radio programme, Sweet F.M’s Podium in Abeokuta, also argued that the federal government’s anti-corruption fight was not selective.

According to him, APC chieftains and appointees are not being prosecuted because no evidence had been put forward indicting them of being involved in corrupt practices.


“The onus lies on he who alledges to also prove,” he said. “The fact that any PDP member crosses to APC does not provide automatic shield. Whoever is indicted will be prosecuted.”

On the arrest of judges, Mr. Adesina said the raid on judges was only a raid on corruption and not the judiciary.

“Mr. President has said it all. No one is out to intimidate the judiciary. DSS raid was a raid on corruption not Judiciary,” he said.

On the importation of rice, Mr. Adesina clarified that the Federal Government did not ban the importation of rice, but only took steps to curtail the activities of smugglers at the nation’s land borders.

Mr.Adesina lamented the widespread misinformation that the government had banned the importation of rice.
“Importation of rice via our sea borders remain legal,” Mr. Adesina said.

He said the Buhari-led Federal government was committed to the diversification of the economy.
“We have gotten to the point in which we have to diversify or die,” he said.

“The Federal government has disbursed money so as to heavily invest in Agriculture and Mining.
“Dr. Fayemi has told us that the results of the ongoing investment may not be clearly seen in less than 30 years. However, we will lay the foundation.”

Speaking on his appointment, Mr. Adesina said he, perhaps, would have done all he could to stop his appointment as the President’s media aide if he had a hint about the possibility of his appointment.

“I was not expecting it. Maybe if I knew, I would have done all in my powers to make sure it did not happen,” he said.

“I have known him since he started contesting and wrote good things about him but I did not know he will appoint me as his adviser.”

At Last, The Presidency Breaks Silence On Alleged 'Buhari's Authorized Amaechi Judge Bribe' Scandal; Issues Official Statement

At Last, The Presidency Breaks Silence On Alleged 'Buhari's Authorized Amaechi Judge Bribe' Scandal; Issues Official Statement

buhari and amaechi
The Presidency on Sunday broke its silence on the allegations of inducements raised by two of the judges arrested recently, saying President Muhammadu Buhari would never authorise anybody to induce a judge to pervert the course of justice.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja.

It was the Presidency’s first official reaction to two of the embattled judges who claimed that the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, approached them allegedly on the instruction of the President to influence decisions on election cases.


A Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, who was one of those arrested by the Department of State Services had in a letter dated October 18, and addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, claimed that Amaechi had impressed it upon him that the President was interested in the judgments of the Supreme Court on Ekiti and Rivers elections going in favour of the All Progressives Congress. 

Another Justice, Justice John Okoro, had also claimed that Amaechi told him that the President and the APC mandated him to inform him (Okoro) that they must win their election appeals in Rivers, Akwa Inom and Abia States at all costs.

But Shehu, in the statement, advised journalists and other Nigerians to stop linking Buhari to the travails of the judges. 

“President Muhammadu Buhari would be the last person to authorise anybody to induce a judge to pervert the course of justice,” he said. 

The presidential aide noted that despite his personal familiarity with some court judges, the President had never used that familiarity to seek favours from them from 2003, 2007 and 2011 when he was challenging the fairness of the presidential election results, from the lowest to the highest courts in the land.

He said as a politician, Buhari had never suggested to his lawyers to approach any judge for assistance to win his cases. 

He said the President lives by this principle and has never deviated from it.

On the fate of the judges facing corruption allegations, Shehu said the President does not tell courts how to do their jobs and that anybody accused of corruption is protected by law to defend their innocence.

He explained that the purpose of the law is to punish the guilty and acquit the innocent, noting that the law protects the rights everyone.

Shehu said the President did not have any powers to force any court to convict anybody who is innocent, arguing that in a democratic society, that cannot happen without resistance by the people


buhari and amaechi
The Presidency on Sunday broke its silence on the allegations of inducements raised by two of the judges arrested recently, saying President Muhammadu Buhari would never authorise anybody to induce a judge to pervert the course of justice.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja.

It was the Presidency’s first official reaction to two of the embattled judges who claimed that the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, approached them allegedly on the instruction of the President to influence decisions on election cases.


A Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, who was one of those arrested by the Department of State Services had in a letter dated October 18, and addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, claimed that Amaechi had impressed it upon him that the President was interested in the judgments of the Supreme Court on Ekiti and Rivers elections going in favour of the All Progressives Congress. 

Another Justice, Justice John Okoro, had also claimed that Amaechi told him that the President and the APC mandated him to inform him (Okoro) that they must win their election appeals in Rivers, Akwa Inom and Abia States at all costs.

But Shehu, in the statement, advised journalists and other Nigerians to stop linking Buhari to the travails of the judges. 

“President Muhammadu Buhari would be the last person to authorise anybody to induce a judge to pervert the course of justice,” he said. 

The presidential aide noted that despite his personal familiarity with some court judges, the President had never used that familiarity to seek favours from them from 2003, 2007 and 2011 when he was challenging the fairness of the presidential election results, from the lowest to the highest courts in the land.

He said as a politician, Buhari had never suggested to his lawyers to approach any judge for assistance to win his cases. 

He said the President lives by this principle and has never deviated from it.

On the fate of the judges facing corruption allegations, Shehu said the President does not tell courts how to do their jobs and that anybody accused of corruption is protected by law to defend their innocence.

He explained that the purpose of the law is to punish the guilty and acquit the innocent, noting that the law protects the rights everyone.

Shehu said the President did not have any powers to force any court to convict anybody who is innocent, arguing that in a democratic society, that cannot happen without resistance by the people


Bribery Allegation: In Defence of Amaechi, Morality and Common Sense, By Nkechi Odoma

Bribery Allegation: In Defence of Amaechi, Morality and Common Sense, By Nkechi Odoma

Rotimi Amaechi
Blackmail is another weapon Nigerians deploy to flaunt their innocence whenever they are at threshold of being nailed on any issue. Most times, the manner Nigerians resort to blackmail stands logic on its head, twist morality and offend laws of the land.

Although, several Justices in Nigeria are under investigation, but the case of the two embattled Supreme Court Justices John Iyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta’s whom the DSS raided, arrested and detained for alleged judicial corruption has assumed an asinine twist.

Conspiratorially, the duo rushed out in public domain to heap allegations of attempts to corrupt them by former Rivers State governor and Transport Minister, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.


They mindlessly lashed out at Amaechi whom they accused of providing the grounds for their persecution for refusal to tinker with some governorship elections petitions before the apex court. They funnily want Nigerians to believe the refusal to be negatively influenced by one person forecloses the chances of accepting same request from another person.

Justice John Iyang Okoro started it all. Precisely, on October 17, 2016, he claimed in a letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN) Justice Mahmud Mohammed that he rejected the offer of Amaechi to influence Justices to alter verdicts on the governorship tussle in favour of APC in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Abia states. The Justice expressed strong conviction that his present travails may not be unconnected with his snubbing of Amaechi’s request to tamper with the verdicts. And that he made a verbal report to the CJN on February 1, 2016, about Amaechi’s visit to his official residence.

“In that report, I told you my Lord that Mr. Amaechi said the President of Nigeria and the All Progressives Congress mandated him to inform me that they must win their election appeals in Rivers State, Akwa Ibom and Abia states at all costs,” he enthused.

Less than 48 hours after Justice Okoro’s publicized allegations on Amaechi, another embattled colleague also under the heat of DSS over judicial corruption mouthed the same allegation. What separated the two were the states involved- only Rivers and Ekiti states guber disputes.

Justice Ngwuta’s allegations were contained in a letter dated October 18, 2016, also addressed to the CJN. Lamenting his several unfriendly encounters with Amaechi, the Justice reeled out series of mindboggling issues, including alleged threats he received from Amaechi.

Interestingly, whatever problem the accused Justices have with the DSS is strictly their burden to resolve. But the hasty roping of Amaechi into their dilemma with the DSS based on such hazy recollections and projection of the abnormal belittles their status as Justices of the apex court.

By the submissions, it is quite discernible the judges have advertised issues intended to raise a podium to rubbish and blackmail Amaechi; except that they are poorly scripted in timing and factuality.

First, from the files of the DSS and the EFCC, at least 15 judges at various layers of the Judiciary are under investigation currently for alleged judicial corruption. The submission of Justices Okoro and Ngwuta in the letter to the CJN is forcing a baseless impression that the remaining 13 judges too could have possibly turned down Amaechi’s overtures to influence verdicts in their courts and thus, his invocation of “harassment” from security agents? It cannot be true.

And lets hypothetically agree that President Buhari is an interested party in any of the governorships disputes in the mentioned states, under litigation at the Supreme Court, but everyone knows it’s impossible for him to delegate Amaechi to influence any judge at his behest.

Ideally, he would rather parley with the CJN directly expressing his interest in the cases and it ends it all. But if he cannot condescend to the level of the CJN, the alternatives are clear and Amaechi is not in this reckoning by any stretch of imagination.

To further water the impression of the DSS’s arrest and detention of the Justices as vendetta for their refusal to compromise justice, the wailing Justices speak as if the Director-General of the DSS or the Chairman of EFCC take directives from Amaechi, so with his snap of the fingers to settle a personal grievance, the security agents rushed after the accused Judges.

But the Justices, especially those on the Bench of the Supreme Court are the final destination in the interpretation of Laws of Nigeria. Like the River State APC Chairman, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya averred in a public statement, the Justices should know better that the giver and taker of bribes commit criminal offences under the Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offence Act 2000.

These learned Justices had the opportunity to brighten Nigeria’s perception of Buhari’s anti-graft war by publicly clipping the wings of Amaechi who sought to adulterate their verdicts with bribes. But they reneged; waited for months to be accused of judicial corruption before they remembered their uprightness or vow not to desecrate their sacred oath of office. These are tales far from the truth.

Additionally, a very senior Judge like Justice Ngwuta as disclosed in his distorted epistle to the CJN was threatened by a politician like Amaechi who came to his house and said ‘we shall see’ several times,” and he kept mum?.

It is conceivable that a Supreme Court Judge would bury obvious threats to his life and would not even document it with the National Judicial Council (NJC), but merely inform the CJN verbally. Is he saying the NJC forbids members of the Bench from taking legal actions against violators of their rights or when their lives are threatened?

It brings the matter to the doorstep of another realm of reasoning. Almost all the raided, arrested and detained judges are alleging innocence and judicial persecution by the Presidency. They have also qualified the raids of their houses, arrest and detention as illegal and unconstitutional. It implies the DSS and its principals have infringed on their fundamental human rights as Nigerians.

But they are unprepared to explain to Nigerians what is restraining them from challenging DSS action in court, if they are convinced of their innocence. Or are they implying that laws governing the NJC also forbid Judges from seeking legal redress over personal injuries or infringements on them by individuals, government institutions or the government itself?

These Justices should go back to their factory of doubtful tales and bark out something more convincing to Nigerians. For now, their rehearsed fables with the glaring intent of blackmailing Amaechi nay the FGN to inspire public sympathy has failed to impress anyone and hit the rocks.

Odoma is a guest columnist and public affairs commentator.

Rotimi Amaechi
Blackmail is another weapon Nigerians deploy to flaunt their innocence whenever they are at threshold of being nailed on any issue. Most times, the manner Nigerians resort to blackmail stands logic on its head, twist morality and offend laws of the land.

Although, several Justices in Nigeria are under investigation, but the case of the two embattled Supreme Court Justices John Iyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta’s whom the DSS raided, arrested and detained for alleged judicial corruption has assumed an asinine twist.

Conspiratorially, the duo rushed out in public domain to heap allegations of attempts to corrupt them by former Rivers State governor and Transport Minister, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.


They mindlessly lashed out at Amaechi whom they accused of providing the grounds for their persecution for refusal to tinker with some governorship elections petitions before the apex court. They funnily want Nigerians to believe the refusal to be negatively influenced by one person forecloses the chances of accepting same request from another person.

Justice John Iyang Okoro started it all. Precisely, on October 17, 2016, he claimed in a letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN) Justice Mahmud Mohammed that he rejected the offer of Amaechi to influence Justices to alter verdicts on the governorship tussle in favour of APC in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Abia states. The Justice expressed strong conviction that his present travails may not be unconnected with his snubbing of Amaechi’s request to tamper with the verdicts. And that he made a verbal report to the CJN on February 1, 2016, about Amaechi’s visit to his official residence.

“In that report, I told you my Lord that Mr. Amaechi said the President of Nigeria and the All Progressives Congress mandated him to inform me that they must win their election appeals in Rivers State, Akwa Ibom and Abia states at all costs,” he enthused.

Less than 48 hours after Justice Okoro’s publicized allegations on Amaechi, another embattled colleague also under the heat of DSS over judicial corruption mouthed the same allegation. What separated the two were the states involved- only Rivers and Ekiti states guber disputes.

Justice Ngwuta’s allegations were contained in a letter dated October 18, 2016, also addressed to the CJN. Lamenting his several unfriendly encounters with Amaechi, the Justice reeled out series of mindboggling issues, including alleged threats he received from Amaechi.

Interestingly, whatever problem the accused Justices have with the DSS is strictly their burden to resolve. But the hasty roping of Amaechi into their dilemma with the DSS based on such hazy recollections and projection of the abnormal belittles their status as Justices of the apex court.

By the submissions, it is quite discernible the judges have advertised issues intended to raise a podium to rubbish and blackmail Amaechi; except that they are poorly scripted in timing and factuality.

First, from the files of the DSS and the EFCC, at least 15 judges at various layers of the Judiciary are under investigation currently for alleged judicial corruption. The submission of Justices Okoro and Ngwuta in the letter to the CJN is forcing a baseless impression that the remaining 13 judges too could have possibly turned down Amaechi’s overtures to influence verdicts in their courts and thus, his invocation of “harassment” from security agents? It cannot be true.

And lets hypothetically agree that President Buhari is an interested party in any of the governorships disputes in the mentioned states, under litigation at the Supreme Court, but everyone knows it’s impossible for him to delegate Amaechi to influence any judge at his behest.

Ideally, he would rather parley with the CJN directly expressing his interest in the cases and it ends it all. But if he cannot condescend to the level of the CJN, the alternatives are clear and Amaechi is not in this reckoning by any stretch of imagination.

To further water the impression of the DSS’s arrest and detention of the Justices as vendetta for their refusal to compromise justice, the wailing Justices speak as if the Director-General of the DSS or the Chairman of EFCC take directives from Amaechi, so with his snap of the fingers to settle a personal grievance, the security agents rushed after the accused Judges.

But the Justices, especially those on the Bench of the Supreme Court are the final destination in the interpretation of Laws of Nigeria. Like the River State APC Chairman, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya averred in a public statement, the Justices should know better that the giver and taker of bribes commit criminal offences under the Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offence Act 2000.

These learned Justices had the opportunity to brighten Nigeria’s perception of Buhari’s anti-graft war by publicly clipping the wings of Amaechi who sought to adulterate their verdicts with bribes. But they reneged; waited for months to be accused of judicial corruption before they remembered their uprightness or vow not to desecrate their sacred oath of office. These are tales far from the truth.

Additionally, a very senior Judge like Justice Ngwuta as disclosed in his distorted epistle to the CJN was threatened by a politician like Amaechi who came to his house and said ‘we shall see’ several times,” and he kept mum?.

It is conceivable that a Supreme Court Judge would bury obvious threats to his life and would not even document it with the National Judicial Council (NJC), but merely inform the CJN verbally. Is he saying the NJC forbids members of the Bench from taking legal actions against violators of their rights or when their lives are threatened?

It brings the matter to the doorstep of another realm of reasoning. Almost all the raided, arrested and detained judges are alleging innocence and judicial persecution by the Presidency. They have also qualified the raids of their houses, arrest and detention as illegal and unconstitutional. It implies the DSS and its principals have infringed on their fundamental human rights as Nigerians.

But they are unprepared to explain to Nigerians what is restraining them from challenging DSS action in court, if they are convinced of their innocence. Or are they implying that laws governing the NJC also forbid Judges from seeking legal redress over personal injuries or infringements on them by individuals, government institutions or the government itself?

These Justices should go back to their factory of doubtful tales and bark out something more convincing to Nigerians. For now, their rehearsed fables with the glaring intent of blackmailing Amaechi nay the FGN to inspire public sympathy has failed to impress anyone and hit the rocks.

Odoma is a guest columnist and public affairs commentator.

Buhari Orders Probe Of Amaechi Over Judicial Bribe Scandal, Bank Accounts Placed under Scrutiny

Buhari Orders Probe Of Amaechi Over Judicial Bribe Scandal, Bank Accounts Placed under Scrutiny

ROTIMI AMAECHI
President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly ordered a comprehensive investigation of the transport minister and former Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi over judiciary bribe saga ravaging the ruling All Progressives Congress, an unconfirmed report according to 247Ureport suggests.

According to 247Ureport, the house of the presidency appears struck on a path to self-implosion and as a result, the President had ordered for a comprehensive investigation into the allegations leveled on the Transport Minister by two Justices of the Federation. 


Following what appeared as serialized exposure by the Justices of the federation of the involvement of Rotimi Amaechi in the attempt to subvert the judicial process, the President of the federation, General Mohammadu Buhari fell under the immense pressure from the international community to investigate the validity in the claims leveled by the Justices. 

To this end, the President instructed for a probe be launched into the activities as alleged by the Judges. The Judges had alleged that Amaechi attempted to bribe them in more than one occasion.

Our source reliably confirmed a probe into the claims of the Judges were launched based on the instructions of Mr. President. 

All of the bank accounts known to belong to Amaechi, according to our source, have been placed under watch – and the historical activity on the account sequestered, 247Ureport says.


Amaechi has denied the allegation and threatened to sue the judge.

ROTIMI AMAECHI
President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly ordered a comprehensive investigation of the transport minister and former Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi over judiciary bribe saga ravaging the ruling All Progressives Congress, an unconfirmed report according to 247Ureport suggests.

According to 247Ureport, the house of the presidency appears struck on a path to self-implosion and as a result, the President had ordered for a comprehensive investigation into the allegations leveled on the Transport Minister by two Justices of the Federation. 


Following what appeared as serialized exposure by the Justices of the federation of the involvement of Rotimi Amaechi in the attempt to subvert the judicial process, the President of the federation, General Mohammadu Buhari fell under the immense pressure from the international community to investigate the validity in the claims leveled by the Justices. 

To this end, the President instructed for a probe be launched into the activities as alleged by the Judges. The Judges had alleged that Amaechi attempted to bribe them in more than one occasion.

Our source reliably confirmed a probe into the claims of the Judges were launched based on the instructions of Mr. President. 

All of the bank accounts known to belong to Amaechi, according to our source, have been placed under watch – and the historical activity on the account sequestered, 247Ureport says.


Amaechi has denied the allegation and threatened to sue the judge.

Judiciary Bribe Saga: Fears Grips Ministers As almighty Kyari's Suspension Rumour Filters Amidst Imminent Cabinet Shake-Up

Judiciary Bribe Saga: Fears Grips Ministers As almighty Kyari's Suspension Rumour Filters Amidst Imminent Cabinet Shake-Up

New Telegraph - Palpable fear has gripped some prominent members of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet, following rumours that the presidency might off-load them because of the weighty allegations leveled against some of them by two Supreme Court judges.

The apprehension came just as prominent Nigerians, including Constitutional lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa; factional leader of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, and a former Secretary to the Benue State Government, Prof. Saint Gbilekaa, called on President Buhari to remove the Minister of Transport, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, and his Science and Technology Counterpart, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu, to enable them defend the weighty allegations leveled against them.



The fear was reinforced when it was observed last week that the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, who was allegedly named in a N500million bribe over the fine imposed on the mobile telecommunication company, MTN, had been out of office for over two weeks. 

Presidency sources said a number of the ministers are jittery over the allegations and that one cannot rule out the possibility of a cabinet shakeup soon to remove some ministers who are said to have heavy baggage. 

A key government spokesman, who chose not to be named, said he could not confirm that, but that Kyari was on annual leave and would resume duties tomorrow.

Since the arrest of over seven judges by the Department of State Security (DSS), over allegations of corruption in the past three weeks, some of the judges have complained of victimization, witch-hunt and that evidence were planted in their apartment.

While Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court alleged that Hon. Rotimi Amaechi begged him to pervert justice by canceling the governorship election in Ekiti State and order fresh election to favour his friend, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Justice Inyang Okoro alleged that Amaechi also attempted to bribe him to influence the elections in Rivers, Abia and Akwa Ibom states. Similarly, Justice Ngwuta alleged that Dr. Onu invited him to his house and demanded that he influenced the outcome of the Governorship Election Appeal for Ebonyi State in favour of the Labour Party candidate in the state who had reportedly agreed to decamp to the All Progressives Congress

Whereas both Amaechi and Onu have denied the allegations, with the former describing it as “pure fiction, a dubious diversionary tale concocted to muddle the very serious issues of his (Ngwuta’s) arrest and investigations by the DSS,” President Buhari has been advised to, as a matter of urgency, drop those ministers and submit them from investigation. Constitutional lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa, in an interview with Sunday Telegraph, said the current development was a fallout of the belief that even while in the opposition, the APC manipulated the judiciary to secure victory in many states, especially in the South.

“Governors Rauf Aregbesola, Adams Oshiomhole and Kayode Fayemi were imposed on Osun, Edo and Ekiti states respectively by the courts, and not through the ballots,” he said.

He noted that the manipulation by the APC, which was a beautiful bride of the judiciary over the years, have now boomeranged because the party could no longer have its way, adding that it only shows the APC as “an agglomeration of propagandists and political opportunists who took Nigerians for granted and took advantage of PDP’s poor performance to hoodwink Nigerians to vote for them” “I believe that the judges could not have cooked up the allegations against Amaechi and Onu, especially since the former is gradually becoming the Mr. Fix it of this administration. My submission, therefore,  is that if the indicted judges are to step aside, the indicted ministers should also step aside,” he said.

He stated that the current development was akin to the manner the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, were intimidated and charged to court for alleged forgery until they stood their grounds and the Federal Government beat a retreat by withdrawing the charges against them.

While he said corrupt judges have no business in the temple of justice, Adegboruwa added that the constitutionally approved organ, “the NJC, should be allowed to remove them, not the APC, not the DSS and definitely not Amaechi.” Uwazuruike in an interview with Sunday Telegraph, said the allegations against the ministers are weighty and the said ministers “should step aside for thorough investigation,” in order not to make a mockery of the anti-corruption war and the ‘Change Begins with Me’ programme.

“If you look at the Justice Ngwuta’s allegation, he was very pointed, telling the Chief Justice of the Federation: ‘My Lord, may I recall one morning when I pleaded not to be on the Panel of Rivers Governorship Appeal? My Lord, you said I was already on the panel and asked me why I made that request to be excluded.

When I explained what transpired the previous night, Your Lordship said Amaechi had also attempted to influence other justices,’ that means that the CJN was aware of the issue right from the beginning.

“Amaechi and the Chief of Staff to the President, who has been named in one or two cases of corruption, should be asked to step aside and thorough investigations carried out on this matter,” Uwazuruike said. He added, “This battle is against the independence of the judiciary. Since 1999, there had been attempts to deal with the judiciary.

The then President Olusegun Obasanjo tried it and you remember that there was a time the Supreme Court was burgled. That is the point I am making.” Gbilekaa said the President needs to show greater seriousness with the war on corruption by ensuring that prominent members of the APC accused of corruption are probed.

“He should also probe other non-PDP members. People have mentioned Rotimi Amaechi, his Minister of Transportation; Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Works and Housing and several other names.

Of course, people who say the Buhari’s anti-corruption war is lopsided are quite right; we are not blind; we have eyes and we are seeing. So, as Nigerians, we know what is happening, it is one sided. Corruption should not be a party alphabet,” he said.

New Telegraph - Palpable fear has gripped some prominent members of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet, following rumours that the presidency might off-load them because of the weighty allegations leveled against some of them by two Supreme Court judges.

The apprehension came just as prominent Nigerians, including Constitutional lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa; factional leader of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, and a former Secretary to the Benue State Government, Prof. Saint Gbilekaa, called on President Buhari to remove the Minister of Transport, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, and his Science and Technology Counterpart, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu, to enable them defend the weighty allegations leveled against them.



The fear was reinforced when it was observed last week that the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, who was allegedly named in a N500million bribe over the fine imposed on the mobile telecommunication company, MTN, had been out of office for over two weeks. 

Presidency sources said a number of the ministers are jittery over the allegations and that one cannot rule out the possibility of a cabinet shakeup soon to remove some ministers who are said to have heavy baggage. 

A key government spokesman, who chose not to be named, said he could not confirm that, but that Kyari was on annual leave and would resume duties tomorrow.

Since the arrest of over seven judges by the Department of State Security (DSS), over allegations of corruption in the past three weeks, some of the judges have complained of victimization, witch-hunt and that evidence were planted in their apartment.

While Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court alleged that Hon. Rotimi Amaechi begged him to pervert justice by canceling the governorship election in Ekiti State and order fresh election to favour his friend, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Justice Inyang Okoro alleged that Amaechi also attempted to bribe him to influence the elections in Rivers, Abia and Akwa Ibom states. Similarly, Justice Ngwuta alleged that Dr. Onu invited him to his house and demanded that he influenced the outcome of the Governorship Election Appeal for Ebonyi State in favour of the Labour Party candidate in the state who had reportedly agreed to decamp to the All Progressives Congress

Whereas both Amaechi and Onu have denied the allegations, with the former describing it as “pure fiction, a dubious diversionary tale concocted to muddle the very serious issues of his (Ngwuta’s) arrest and investigations by the DSS,” President Buhari has been advised to, as a matter of urgency, drop those ministers and submit them from investigation. Constitutional lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa, in an interview with Sunday Telegraph, said the current development was a fallout of the belief that even while in the opposition, the APC manipulated the judiciary to secure victory in many states, especially in the South.

“Governors Rauf Aregbesola, Adams Oshiomhole and Kayode Fayemi were imposed on Osun, Edo and Ekiti states respectively by the courts, and not through the ballots,” he said.

He noted that the manipulation by the APC, which was a beautiful bride of the judiciary over the years, have now boomeranged because the party could no longer have its way, adding that it only shows the APC as “an agglomeration of propagandists and political opportunists who took Nigerians for granted and took advantage of PDP’s poor performance to hoodwink Nigerians to vote for them” “I believe that the judges could not have cooked up the allegations against Amaechi and Onu, especially since the former is gradually becoming the Mr. Fix it of this administration. My submission, therefore,  is that if the indicted judges are to step aside, the indicted ministers should also step aside,” he said.

He stated that the current development was akin to the manner the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, were intimidated and charged to court for alleged forgery until they stood their grounds and the Federal Government beat a retreat by withdrawing the charges against them.

While he said corrupt judges have no business in the temple of justice, Adegboruwa added that the constitutionally approved organ, “the NJC, should be allowed to remove them, not the APC, not the DSS and definitely not Amaechi.” Uwazuruike in an interview with Sunday Telegraph, said the allegations against the ministers are weighty and the said ministers “should step aside for thorough investigation,” in order not to make a mockery of the anti-corruption war and the ‘Change Begins with Me’ programme.

“If you look at the Justice Ngwuta’s allegation, he was very pointed, telling the Chief Justice of the Federation: ‘My Lord, may I recall one morning when I pleaded not to be on the Panel of Rivers Governorship Appeal? My Lord, you said I was already on the panel and asked me why I made that request to be excluded.

When I explained what transpired the previous night, Your Lordship said Amaechi had also attempted to influence other justices,’ that means that the CJN was aware of the issue right from the beginning.

“Amaechi and the Chief of Staff to the President, who has been named in one or two cases of corruption, should be asked to step aside and thorough investigations carried out on this matter,” Uwazuruike said. He added, “This battle is against the independence of the judiciary. Since 1999, there had been attempts to deal with the judiciary.

The then President Olusegun Obasanjo tried it and you remember that there was a time the Supreme Court was burgled. That is the point I am making.” Gbilekaa said the President needs to show greater seriousness with the war on corruption by ensuring that prominent members of the APC accused of corruption are probed.

“He should also probe other non-PDP members. People have mentioned Rotimi Amaechi, his Minister of Transportation; Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Works and Housing and several other names.

Of course, people who say the Buhari’s anti-corruption war is lopsided are quite right; we are not blind; we have eyes and we are seeing. So, as Nigerians, we know what is happening, it is one sided. Corruption should not be a party alphabet,” he said.

CORRUPTION: Why Amaechi Is 'UNTOUCHABLE' - Presidency

CORRUPTION: Why Amaechi Is 'UNTOUCHABLE' - Presidency

CORRUPTION: Why Amaechi Is 'UNTOUCHABLE' - Presidency
SpyNigeria - Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution, Okoi Obono-Obla, in an interview published by Premium Times defended Buhari’s ministers against allegations of corruption leveled against them.

“They have said there are some bad eggs in the executive. All what I see is a spate of speculative allegations. If you have anything against any member of the executive bring it out, concrete information on wrong doing or corruption. They always mention Rotimi Amaechi, Babatunde Fashola and the Minister of Interior, Dambazau.


According to him, they aren’t being probed because there’s no concrete evidence of corruption against them.

“Let’s take the case of Amaechi. Amaechi was governor of Rivers State for eight years. If the Rivers State government truly believe that Amaechi committed a crime or was corrupt why can’t the attorney general of the state that is vested with the power to prosecute anybody in the state who has committed an offence against the laws of the state not prosecute Amaechi? Why is he passing the buck to the federal government? Where is the evidence that Amaechi was corrupt apart from the politics of maliciousness and vindictiveness? They simply drag the federal government into these things simply because some of them do not want Amaechi to be appointed.

“If anybody has concrete allegation against Amaechi let him send it to the EFCC and pursue it and ensure that EFCC does the right thing. The president is not EFCC or ICPC. Send these reports to EFCC or ICPC to take action and if the president is blocking these allegations then you can go home and say the president is selective or he is protecting Amaechi.

“The allegation against the minister of interior is that he has property abroad; it is not that he stole from this government. He was in government when the president was an opposition leader. So if the evidence is there that he bought the property let them come out with petition and bring to the ministry of justice and let them tell us where the property are and then we start investigating him. I can tell you that nobody is protecting anybody. But it is not just to make any allegation against somebody because you want to rope in somebody or because you want to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it.

CORRUPTION: Why Amaechi Is 'UNTOUCHABLE' - Presidency
SpyNigeria - Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution, Okoi Obono-Obla, in an interview published by Premium Times defended Buhari’s ministers against allegations of corruption leveled against them.

“They have said there are some bad eggs in the executive. All what I see is a spate of speculative allegations. If you have anything against any member of the executive bring it out, concrete information on wrong doing or corruption. They always mention Rotimi Amaechi, Babatunde Fashola and the Minister of Interior, Dambazau.


According to him, they aren’t being probed because there’s no concrete evidence of corruption against them.

“Let’s take the case of Amaechi. Amaechi was governor of Rivers State for eight years. If the Rivers State government truly believe that Amaechi committed a crime or was corrupt why can’t the attorney general of the state that is vested with the power to prosecute anybody in the state who has committed an offence against the laws of the state not prosecute Amaechi? Why is he passing the buck to the federal government? Where is the evidence that Amaechi was corrupt apart from the politics of maliciousness and vindictiveness? They simply drag the federal government into these things simply because some of them do not want Amaechi to be appointed.

“If anybody has concrete allegation against Amaechi let him send it to the EFCC and pursue it and ensure that EFCC does the right thing. The president is not EFCC or ICPC. Send these reports to EFCC or ICPC to take action and if the president is blocking these allegations then you can go home and say the president is selective or he is protecting Amaechi.

“The allegation against the minister of interior is that he has property abroad; it is not that he stole from this government. He was in government when the president was an opposition leader. So if the evidence is there that he bought the property let them come out with petition and bring to the ministry of justice and let them tell us where the property are and then we start investigating him. I can tell you that nobody is protecting anybody. But it is not just to make any allegation against somebody because you want to rope in somebody or because you want to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it.

BREAKING: Another Judge Accuses Amaechi, Onu of Begging Him To Sack Fayose, Ebonyi Gov

BREAKING: Another Judge Accuses Amaechi, Onu of Begging Him To Sack Fayose, Ebonyi Gov

BREAKING: Another judge accuses Amaechi, Oni of begging him over Ebonyi, Ekiti, Rivers cases
Another Justice of the Supreme Court whose home was raided by operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, has alleged that he was being victimized for refusing entreaties, at various times, to help the All Progressives Congress, APC, win governorship election cases involving Ekiti, Rivers and Ebonyi states.


Justice Ngwuta in a letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, specifically mentioned Amaechi and Minister of Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, as two top APC leaders who approached him.


Justice Ngwuta, made the disclosure in a letter dated October 18 and addressed to CJN, Mahmud Mohammed and the National Judicial Council, NJC.

The letter is entitled: “Invasion Of My House In The Night, Planting Of Huge Sums Of Money In Different Currencies, Purported Recovery Of The Money, Carting Away Of My Documents And Other Valuable Items And My Subsequent Abduction By Masked Operatives Of The DSS Between Friday, October 7th And Saturday, October 8th, 2016”.

In it, Ngwuta said Ameachi begged him to facilitate the removal of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State.

He further stated that shortly after the Supreme Court affirmed the election of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Amaechi also called him on phone and said “Oga is not happy”.

BREAKING: Another judge accuses Amaechi, Oni of begging him over Ebonyi, Ekiti, Rivers cases
Another Justice of the Supreme Court whose home was raided by operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, has alleged that he was being victimized for refusing entreaties, at various times, to help the All Progressives Congress, APC, win governorship election cases involving Ekiti, Rivers and Ebonyi states.


Justice Ngwuta in a letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, specifically mentioned Amaechi and Minister of Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, as two top APC leaders who approached him.


Justice Ngwuta, made the disclosure in a letter dated October 18 and addressed to CJN, Mahmud Mohammed and the National Judicial Council, NJC.

The letter is entitled: “Invasion Of My House In The Night, Planting Of Huge Sums Of Money In Different Currencies, Purported Recovery Of The Money, Carting Away Of My Documents And Other Valuable Items And My Subsequent Abduction By Masked Operatives Of The DSS Between Friday, October 7th And Saturday, October 8th, 2016”.

In it, Ngwuta said Ameachi begged him to facilitate the removal of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State.

He further stated that shortly after the Supreme Court affirmed the election of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Amaechi also called him on phone and said “Oga is not happy”.

Withdraw Bribery Allegations Against Amaechi Or Rot In Jail – APC 'THREATENS' Justice Okoro

Withdraw Bribery Allegations Against Amaechi Or Rot In Jail – APC 'THREATENS' Justice Okoro

Justice Inyang Okoro  and amaechi
The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has given Justice Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court seven days to retract his bribery allegation against Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, or be ready to go to jail for flouting the Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Act 2000.

Justice Okoro, who is one of those under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC‎, for corruption, had alleged that Amaechi specifically visited him and asked that the governorship appeal case of Rivers State be delivered in APC’s favour.



But Amaechi denied the allegation,  saying the judge concocted the claim in order to politicise the issue of his arrest.

However, the state chapter of the party wondered why Amaechi or anybody attempt to bribe Justice Okoro for an election upturned by both the Tribunal and the Appeal Court?

The Chairman of the state Chapter of the party, Davis Ibiamu Ikanya, in a statement berated Justice Okoro over his allegation as contained in his letter to the National Judicial Council, NJC.

According to Ikanya, “One does not need a soothsayer to see that Justice Okoro is very confused and thinks that by mentioning the name of Amaechi in his letter, he would deceive Nigerians and play down the gravity of his sins and crimes against Rivers State people and Nigeria as a whole.

“If we may ask Justice Okoro, why should Amaechi or anybody attempt to bribe him for an election upturned by both the Tribunal and the Appeal Court? An election widely condemned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the international community and both local and foreign observers who monitored the shambolic exercise in the course of which over 200 of our members were slaughtered like chicken just to install Chief Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in power at all cost?”

The party further threatened to invoke the provisions of the Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Act 2000, which makes failure to report bribery or a bribery attempt a crime that attracts both a fine and a jail term.

“For failing to report the fictional bribery attempt by Amaechi, Justice Okoro has committed an offence that attracts up to two years imprisonment. We are hereby giving him one week to retract his worthless and satanic letter and apologise to Amaechi or we may be forced to set in motion a machinery to invoke the Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offence Act 2000,” the party said.

Justice Inyang Okoro  and amaechi
The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has given Justice Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court seven days to retract his bribery allegation against Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, or be ready to go to jail for flouting the Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Act 2000.

Justice Okoro, who is one of those under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC‎, for corruption, had alleged that Amaechi specifically visited him and asked that the governorship appeal case of Rivers State be delivered in APC’s favour.



But Amaechi denied the allegation,  saying the judge concocted the claim in order to politicise the issue of his arrest.

However, the state chapter of the party wondered why Amaechi or anybody attempt to bribe Justice Okoro for an election upturned by both the Tribunal and the Appeal Court?

The Chairman of the state Chapter of the party, Davis Ibiamu Ikanya, in a statement berated Justice Okoro over his allegation as contained in his letter to the National Judicial Council, NJC.

According to Ikanya, “One does not need a soothsayer to see that Justice Okoro is very confused and thinks that by mentioning the name of Amaechi in his letter, he would deceive Nigerians and play down the gravity of his sins and crimes against Rivers State people and Nigeria as a whole.

“If we may ask Justice Okoro, why should Amaechi or anybody attempt to bribe him for an election upturned by both the Tribunal and the Appeal Court? An election widely condemned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the international community and both local and foreign observers who monitored the shambolic exercise in the course of which over 200 of our members were slaughtered like chicken just to install Chief Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in power at all cost?”

The party further threatened to invoke the provisions of the Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Act 2000, which makes failure to report bribery or a bribery attempt a crime that attracts both a fine and a jail term.

“For failing to report the fictional bribery attempt by Amaechi, Justice Okoro has committed an offence that attracts up to two years imprisonment. We are hereby giving him one week to retract his worthless and satanic letter and apologise to Amaechi or we may be forced to set in motion a machinery to invoke the Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offence Act 2000,” the party said.

Judges Invasion: DSS After Me For Refusing Bribe From Amaechi, APC Over Akwa-Ibom Governorship - S'Court Justice Okoro

Judges Invasion: DSS After Me For Refusing Bribe From Amaechi, APC Over Akwa-Ibom Governorship - S'Court Justice Okoro

amaechi and justice okoro
John Inyang Okoro, justice of the supreme court, says the Department of State Services (DSS) is after him because he refused a bribe from Chibuike Amaechi, minister of transportation.

Amaechi has denied the allegation and threatened to sue the judge.

Okoro, whose house was raided by the DSS on October 8, alleged that Amaechi had approached him to compromise the governorship election appeals from Akwa Ibom, Abia and River states, but that he declined to fall in line.


In a letter to the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), the judge alleged that Amaechi was desperate in his demand.

“Mr Ameachi said All  Progressive Congress mandated him to inform me that they must win their election appeals in respect of Rivers State, Akwa Ibom State and Abia State at all costs,” Okoro alleged.

“For Akwa Ibom State, he alleged that he sponsored Mr Umana Umana, candidate of All Progressive Congress for the election, and if he lost Akwa Ibom appeal he would have lost a fortune.”

“Mr Ameachi also said that he had already visited you and that you had agreed to make me a member of the panel that would hear the appeals. He further told me that Mr Umana would be paying me millions of naira monthly if I cooperated with them.”

He reminded the CJN that he had reported the bribery attempt to him in February.

“I strongly believe that my travail is not undermined but with the verbal report I made to you on 7th February 2016, about the visit to my official residence by Honourable Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers state and now minister of transportation,” Okoro said.

However, Amaechi has denied the allegation, describing it as a figment of Okoro’s imagination.

He also threatened to sue the judge.

“‎This accusation from Justice Okoro against Amaechi is a figment of his imagination, concocted to obfuscate and politicize the real issues for his arrest and DSS investigation of allegations of corruption against him,” he said in a statement issued by his media office.

“The claims by Justice Okoro against Amaechi are blatant lies, bereft of any iota of truth or even logic. Amaechi did not, and has never approached Justice Okoro in respect of the cases Okoro mentioned or any other case.

“This is a cheap attempt, albeit,  political move to drag the name of Amaechi into something he knows nothing about. Justice Okoro should face his issues and leave Amaechi out of it.  He will be hearing from our lawyers.”

TheCable


amaechi and justice okoro
John Inyang Okoro, justice of the supreme court, says the Department of State Services (DSS) is after him because he refused a bribe from Chibuike Amaechi, minister of transportation.

Amaechi has denied the allegation and threatened to sue the judge.

Okoro, whose house was raided by the DSS on October 8, alleged that Amaechi had approached him to compromise the governorship election appeals from Akwa Ibom, Abia and River states, but that he declined to fall in line.


In a letter to the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), the judge alleged that Amaechi was desperate in his demand.

“Mr Ameachi said All  Progressive Congress mandated him to inform me that they must win their election appeals in respect of Rivers State, Akwa Ibom State and Abia State at all costs,” Okoro alleged.

“For Akwa Ibom State, he alleged that he sponsored Mr Umana Umana, candidate of All Progressive Congress for the election, and if he lost Akwa Ibom appeal he would have lost a fortune.”

“Mr Ameachi also said that he had already visited you and that you had agreed to make me a member of the panel that would hear the appeals. He further told me that Mr Umana would be paying me millions of naira monthly if I cooperated with them.”

He reminded the CJN that he had reported the bribery attempt to him in February.

“I strongly believe that my travail is not undermined but with the verbal report I made to you on 7th February 2016, about the visit to my official residence by Honourable Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers state and now minister of transportation,” Okoro said.

However, Amaechi has denied the allegation, describing it as a figment of Okoro’s imagination.

He also threatened to sue the judge.

“‎This accusation from Justice Okoro against Amaechi is a figment of his imagination, concocted to obfuscate and politicize the real issues for his arrest and DSS investigation of allegations of corruption against him,” he said in a statement issued by his media office.

“The claims by Justice Okoro against Amaechi are blatant lies, bereft of any iota of truth or even logic. Amaechi did not, and has never approached Justice Okoro in respect of the cases Okoro mentioned or any other case.

“This is a cheap attempt, albeit,  political move to drag the name of Amaechi into something he knows nothing about. Justice Okoro should face his issues and leave Amaechi out of it.  He will be hearing from our lawyers.”

TheCable


SHOCKER: EFCC 'Shortlists' Ex-Presidents, Tinubu, Others For Massive PROBE Over Corruption Allegations, See List

SHOCKER: EFCC 'Shortlists' Ex-Presidents, Tinubu, Others For Massive PROBE Over Corruption Allegations, See List

EFCC 'Shortlists' Ex-Presidents, Tinubu, Others For Massive PROBE Over Corruption Allegations, See List
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday said it would probe the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; wife of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience; ex- Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and others over corruption allegations.


The Deputy Director of Operations, EFCC, Mr. Iliyasu Kwarbai, said this on the telephone, minutes after he received a petition from Human Rights Defenders and Advocacy Centre group, which staged a protest to the EFCC’s Lagos office.

The petition urged the EFCC to probe Patience Jonathan, source of APC campaign funds used in the last elections, Tinubu, Rotimi Amaechi and some former presidents of Nigeria. Kwarbai said: “We’re investigating Patience Jonathan and if she’s found wanting, she wouldn’t go free.

If anyone is indicted, no matter how highly or lowly placed the person is, the person would be arrested. The person’s status is immaterial to the EFCC. The most important thing is evidence. If there’s evidence that the person stole public funds, the person wouldn’t go free.”

Source: New Telegraph

EFCC 'Shortlists' Ex-Presidents, Tinubu, Others For Massive PROBE Over Corruption Allegations, See List
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday said it would probe the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; wife of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience; ex- Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and others over corruption allegations.


The Deputy Director of Operations, EFCC, Mr. Iliyasu Kwarbai, said this on the telephone, minutes after he received a petition from Human Rights Defenders and Advocacy Centre group, which staged a protest to the EFCC’s Lagos office.

The petition urged the EFCC to probe Patience Jonathan, source of APC campaign funds used in the last elections, Tinubu, Rotimi Amaechi and some former presidents of Nigeria. Kwarbai said: “We’re investigating Patience Jonathan and if she’s found wanting, she wouldn’t go free.

If anyone is indicted, no matter how highly or lowly placed the person is, the person would be arrested. The person’s status is immaterial to the EFCC. The most important thing is evidence. If there’s evidence that the person stole public funds, the person wouldn’t go free.”

Source: New Telegraph

Why We 'FORCED' Jonathan Shared Oil Boom Excesses - Amaechi Confesses, Reveals The Untold

Why We 'FORCED' Jonathan Shared Oil Boom Excesses - Amaechi Confesses, Reveals The Untold

Amaechi and jonathan
TheCable - Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation and former governor of Rivers state, says governors demanded the sharing of money from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) under the last federal government because it was not properly managed.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, has consistently maintained that governors lacked the political will to save during the tenure of Goodluck Jonathan, former president.

But speaking on One on One, an interview programme on NTA, on Wednesday, Amaechi said Okonjo-Iweala was only “partially correct”.


“I heard Mrs Okonjo-Iweala say that in the past administration, governors were unwilling to save; she is 30 percent correct and 70 percent incorrect,” he said.

“In 2009, we had an economic crisis so President Yar’adua put $1billion in the economy so no one felt the crisis. I can’t remember what was left in that account, the excess crude account.

“During Goodluck Jonathan, every month when the governors went for the economic council meeting, the amount in the account kept dropping. If we asked about what happened to the money, the response we got was that the president approved for it to be spent.

“So we said can we please share this money because the rate at which it was going, the president would have continually approved $1billion to spend and we won’t know what we are spending for and they won’t give us an account.

“So we told the vice president and the minister for finance that there was a need for us to share part of this money and we began to agitate. They now agreed to share part of the money and they did. In the first six months of Goodluck Jonathan, oil subsidy increased. Governors started complaining and then we had a meeting in the office of the president’s wife.

“At the meeting, we asked for assurance that the presidency would no longer collect for oil subsidy and he promised. It is not right for Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to say governors were not willing to save; governors were willing to save but we insisted on sharing the money when we saw that the money was not properly managed.”

The former member of the Rivers state house of assembly said he agreed to serve as a minister because he believes in the administration’s capacity to serve.

“Refusing to serve when the president invited me to serve would mean that I did not have confidence in him. I am serving under the president because I believe that he is the man to help us at this particular time.”
Amaechi and jonathan
TheCable - Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation and former governor of Rivers state, says governors demanded the sharing of money from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) under the last federal government because it was not properly managed.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, has consistently maintained that governors lacked the political will to save during the tenure of Goodluck Jonathan, former president.

But speaking on One on One, an interview programme on NTA, on Wednesday, Amaechi said Okonjo-Iweala was only “partially correct”.


“I heard Mrs Okonjo-Iweala say that in the past administration, governors were unwilling to save; she is 30 percent correct and 70 percent incorrect,” he said.

“In 2009, we had an economic crisis so President Yar’adua put $1billion in the economy so no one felt the crisis. I can’t remember what was left in that account, the excess crude account.

“During Goodluck Jonathan, every month when the governors went for the economic council meeting, the amount in the account kept dropping. If we asked about what happened to the money, the response we got was that the president approved for it to be spent.

“So we said can we please share this money because the rate at which it was going, the president would have continually approved $1billion to spend and we won’t know what we are spending for and they won’t give us an account.

“So we told the vice president and the minister for finance that there was a need for us to share part of this money and we began to agitate. They now agreed to share part of the money and they did. In the first six months of Goodluck Jonathan, oil subsidy increased. Governors started complaining and then we had a meeting in the office of the president’s wife.

“At the meeting, we asked for assurance that the presidency would no longer collect for oil subsidy and he promised. It is not right for Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to say governors were not willing to save; governors were willing to save but we insisted on sharing the money when we saw that the money was not properly managed.”

The former member of the Rivers state house of assembly said he agreed to serve as a minister because he believes in the administration’s capacity to serve.

“Refusing to serve when the president invited me to serve would mean that I did not have confidence in him. I am serving under the president because I believe that he is the man to help us at this particular time.”

Shocker: Fashola, Amaechi, Adeosun, 27 Other Ministers In CCB Trouble Over Uncleared Assets, Face Probe; See List of Others

Shocker: Fashola, Amaechi, Adeosun, 27 Other Ministers In CCB Trouble Over Uncleared Assets, Face Probe; See List of Others

Buhari's minister
There are strong indications that the former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, his Rivers State counterpart Rotimi Amaechi and 30 other serving minister of President Muhammadu Buhari have incurred the wrath of the Code of Conduct Bureau over non-verification of the assets declared as a public officer to the bureau, News Punch understands.

A fresh report monitored via the Punch  Newspaper says 30 of the serving minister will face the bureau probe over non-compliance of assets declaration verification procedure.

The bureau reportedly has begun  massive verification of assets declared by top serving and former public officers at the federal, state and local government levels.


A statement by the Chairman of the CCB, Mr. Sam Saba, released by the Press and Protocol Unit of the bureau on Thursday, stated that the exercise involved physical appearance of the concerned public officers before the bureau for conference and field verifications of their declared assets.

Conference verification requires public officers to present documents relating to their declared assets to designated officials of the bureau.

On the other hand, field verification involves public officers taking CCB officials to locations of their declared landed, fixed and other assets that could not be conveniently moved to the bureau’s office.

He stated that by virtue of Paragraph 11 of Part 1 of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), “every public officer is required to submit to the Code of Conduct Bureau a written declaration of all properties, assets and liabilities and those of his/her spouse (if not a public officer) and his unmarried children under the age of 18 years.”

He added that any statement in the declaration, found to be false by any authorities or persons authorised to verify it, “shall be deemed to be a breach of the code”.

He stated, “To this end, the Bureau has commenced its 2016 4th Quarter Cycle of Conference and Field Verification of Assets of top public officers. Accordingly, letters of invitation have been dispatched to ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, service chiefs and other top public officers.

“All invited public officers are to note that failure to honour the invitation by the CCB in this regard is a breach of the provisions of the constitution and could lead to prosecution at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

“Public officers not yet invited are to await their letters of invitation.”

He listed 76 public officers that had been invited by the bureau with a threat of the possibility of prosecution if they fail to honour the invitation.

Among the 76 invitees are 30 ministers whom, according to the bureau, have yet to submit themselves to the exercise.

According to the bureau, ministers who have yet to submit themselves for the verification are Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation); Babatunde Fashola (Power, Works and Housing); Ibe Kachikwu (Petroleum Resources (State);  Abubakar Malami (Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice); Adebayo Shittu (Communications); Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Solid Minerals and Steel Development); Audu Ogbeh (Agriculture and Rural Development).

Others include Senator Aisha Alhassan (Women Affairs and Social Development); Solomon Dalung (Youths & Sports Development); Osagie Ehanire (Health (State)); Usani Usani (Niger Delta Affairs); Prof. Anthony Anwukah (Education (State)); Lai Mohammed (Information and Culture), and Gen. Ali Mansur (retd.) (Defence).

The list also includes Senator Udo Udoma (Budget and National Planning); Ibrahim Jibril (Environment (State)); Suleiman Adamu (Water Resources and Rural Development); Mustapha Shehuri (Power (State)); Prof. Claudius Daramola (Niger Delta Affairs (State)) and Kemi Adeosun (Finance) as those who have not submitted themselves to verification.

The rest are Prof. Isaac Adewole (Health); Okechukwu Enelamah (Trade, Investment and Industry); Geoffrey Onyema (Foreign Affairs ); Muhammadu Bello (Federal Capital Territory); Senator Hadi Sirika (Aviation (State)); Hajiya Khadija Bukar (Foreign Affairs(State)); Senator Chris Ngige (Labour and Employment); Heineken Lokpobiri (Agriculture and Rural Development (State));  Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu (Science and Technology); and Abubakar Bwari (Solid Minerals (State) ).

The rest of the public officers still expected to submit themselves to the bureau are the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele; Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Oyo-Ita Ekanem; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olanishakin; Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Sadique; and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibas Ibok.

Also on the list are the immediate past Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase; Chairman, Police Service Commission, Chief Mike Okiro; Controller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Babatunde Mohammed; Executive Secretary of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Waziri Adio; Director-General of National Pension Commission, Mrs. Chinelo Amazu; and Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Export Promotion Council, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo.

Also yet to turn up for the CCB verification are the Director-General, National Youth Service Corps, Brig.-Gen. Sule Kazaure; Executive Secretary, Nigeria Sao-Tome & Principle Joint Development Authority, Kashim Tumash; Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Maikanti Baru; Controller-General of Federal Fire Service, Anebi Garba; Director-General, Budget and National Planning, Mr. Ben Akabueze, and Managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Commission, Ibrahim Umaru.

Others include the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, Prof. Abubakar Adamu; Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Mrs. Hadiza Usman; Managing Director, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, Ahmed Kuru, and Controller-General of MSCDS, Muhammad Abdullahi.

The Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, who are on the list, are Ntom Chukwu, Folusho Adebanjo, Emmanuel Inyang, Maigari Dikko, Joshak Habila, Shuaibu Gambo, and Hyacinth Dagala.

An Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Abdul Bube, is also on the list.

Military officers, whose names appear on the list, are Real Admiral Joseph Osa (Commandant, Operation Delta Safe) and Major General M. A. Koleoso (GOC Tradoc).

The CCB also listed a number of Federal Commissioners of the Civil Service Commission and three Group Executive Directors of the NNPC, who are yet to submit themselves to the CCB’s verification.

In the statement, the CCB stated that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, and five other ministers, among 15 other former and serving public officers, had submitted themselves to the asset verification.

Buratai recently became the target of scathing public scrutiny when reports of his choice $1.5m properties, which he claimed were acquired in the name of his wife in Dubai, hit the public space.

Saba, confirmed to our correspondent on the telephone that all the 15 persons, whose assets had been verified, had been issued a certificate of Conference Verification/Field Verification.

“The Chief of Army Staff was the first to be issued his certificate. We started issuing to others last week,” he said.

Responding to further inquiry about whether the certificate issued by the CCB implied that the cleared public officers were free from liability of criminal prosecution, Saba stated, “Even though the tribunal (Code of Conduct Tribunal) is the institution with the power of adjudication in asset declaration breaches, the certificate means that from our own end, we are satisfied with the verification that we have done.”

The five cleared ministers are Abdulrahman Dambazau (Interior); Zainab Shamsuna (Budget & National Planning); Adamu Adamu  (Education); Aisha Abubakar (Minister of Trade, Investment & Industry (State)); and Amina Mohammed (Minister of Environment).

The rest of the former and serving public officers already cleared by the CCB are the immediate past Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim; Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood; a former Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, and a former Controller-General, Nigerian Prisons Service, Ezenwa Peter.

They also include the Acting MD/CEO, Niger Delta Development Commission, Semenitari Tamunoibim; Controller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Ibrahim Ali (retd.); Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Boboye Oyeyemi; and Federal Commissioner, Civil Service Commission, Hope Ikrirko.

The CCB boss commended those that had turned up for the exercise.

Buhari's minister
There are strong indications that the former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, his Rivers State counterpart Rotimi Amaechi and 30 other serving minister of President Muhammadu Buhari have incurred the wrath of the Code of Conduct Bureau over non-verification of the assets declared as a public officer to the bureau, News Punch understands.

A fresh report monitored via the Punch  Newspaper says 30 of the serving minister will face the bureau probe over non-compliance of assets declaration verification procedure.

The bureau reportedly has begun  massive verification of assets declared by top serving and former public officers at the federal, state and local government levels.


A statement by the Chairman of the CCB, Mr. Sam Saba, released by the Press and Protocol Unit of the bureau on Thursday, stated that the exercise involved physical appearance of the concerned public officers before the bureau for conference and field verifications of their declared assets.

Conference verification requires public officers to present documents relating to their declared assets to designated officials of the bureau.

On the other hand, field verification involves public officers taking CCB officials to locations of their declared landed, fixed and other assets that could not be conveniently moved to the bureau’s office.

He stated that by virtue of Paragraph 11 of Part 1 of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), “every public officer is required to submit to the Code of Conduct Bureau a written declaration of all properties, assets and liabilities and those of his/her spouse (if not a public officer) and his unmarried children under the age of 18 years.”

He added that any statement in the declaration, found to be false by any authorities or persons authorised to verify it, “shall be deemed to be a breach of the code”.

He stated, “To this end, the Bureau has commenced its 2016 4th Quarter Cycle of Conference and Field Verification of Assets of top public officers. Accordingly, letters of invitation have been dispatched to ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, service chiefs and other top public officers.

“All invited public officers are to note that failure to honour the invitation by the CCB in this regard is a breach of the provisions of the constitution and could lead to prosecution at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

“Public officers not yet invited are to await their letters of invitation.”

He listed 76 public officers that had been invited by the bureau with a threat of the possibility of prosecution if they fail to honour the invitation.

Among the 76 invitees are 30 ministers whom, according to the bureau, have yet to submit themselves to the exercise.

According to the bureau, ministers who have yet to submit themselves for the verification are Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation); Babatunde Fashola (Power, Works and Housing); Ibe Kachikwu (Petroleum Resources (State);  Abubakar Malami (Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice); Adebayo Shittu (Communications); Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Solid Minerals and Steel Development); Audu Ogbeh (Agriculture and Rural Development).

Others include Senator Aisha Alhassan (Women Affairs and Social Development); Solomon Dalung (Youths & Sports Development); Osagie Ehanire (Health (State)); Usani Usani (Niger Delta Affairs); Prof. Anthony Anwukah (Education (State)); Lai Mohammed (Information and Culture), and Gen. Ali Mansur (retd.) (Defence).

The list also includes Senator Udo Udoma (Budget and National Planning); Ibrahim Jibril (Environment (State)); Suleiman Adamu (Water Resources and Rural Development); Mustapha Shehuri (Power (State)); Prof. Claudius Daramola (Niger Delta Affairs (State)) and Kemi Adeosun (Finance) as those who have not submitted themselves to verification.

The rest are Prof. Isaac Adewole (Health); Okechukwu Enelamah (Trade, Investment and Industry); Geoffrey Onyema (Foreign Affairs ); Muhammadu Bello (Federal Capital Territory); Senator Hadi Sirika (Aviation (State)); Hajiya Khadija Bukar (Foreign Affairs(State)); Senator Chris Ngige (Labour and Employment); Heineken Lokpobiri (Agriculture and Rural Development (State));  Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu (Science and Technology); and Abubakar Bwari (Solid Minerals (State) ).

The rest of the public officers still expected to submit themselves to the bureau are the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele; Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Oyo-Ita Ekanem; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olanishakin; Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Sadique; and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibas Ibok.

Also on the list are the immediate past Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase; Chairman, Police Service Commission, Chief Mike Okiro; Controller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Babatunde Mohammed; Executive Secretary of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Waziri Adio; Director-General of National Pension Commission, Mrs. Chinelo Amazu; and Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Export Promotion Council, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo.

Also yet to turn up for the CCB verification are the Director-General, National Youth Service Corps, Brig.-Gen. Sule Kazaure; Executive Secretary, Nigeria Sao-Tome & Principle Joint Development Authority, Kashim Tumash; Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Maikanti Baru; Controller-General of Federal Fire Service, Anebi Garba; Director-General, Budget and National Planning, Mr. Ben Akabueze, and Managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Commission, Ibrahim Umaru.

Others include the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, Prof. Abubakar Adamu; Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Mrs. Hadiza Usman; Managing Director, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, Ahmed Kuru, and Controller-General of MSCDS, Muhammad Abdullahi.

The Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, who are on the list, are Ntom Chukwu, Folusho Adebanjo, Emmanuel Inyang, Maigari Dikko, Joshak Habila, Shuaibu Gambo, and Hyacinth Dagala.

An Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Abdul Bube, is also on the list.

Military officers, whose names appear on the list, are Real Admiral Joseph Osa (Commandant, Operation Delta Safe) and Major General M. A. Koleoso (GOC Tradoc).

The CCB also listed a number of Federal Commissioners of the Civil Service Commission and three Group Executive Directors of the NNPC, who are yet to submit themselves to the CCB’s verification.

In the statement, the CCB stated that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, and five other ministers, among 15 other former and serving public officers, had submitted themselves to the asset verification.

Buratai recently became the target of scathing public scrutiny when reports of his choice $1.5m properties, which he claimed were acquired in the name of his wife in Dubai, hit the public space.

Saba, confirmed to our correspondent on the telephone that all the 15 persons, whose assets had been verified, had been issued a certificate of Conference Verification/Field Verification.

“The Chief of Army Staff was the first to be issued his certificate. We started issuing to others last week,” he said.

Responding to further inquiry about whether the certificate issued by the CCB implied that the cleared public officers were free from liability of criminal prosecution, Saba stated, “Even though the tribunal (Code of Conduct Tribunal) is the institution with the power of adjudication in asset declaration breaches, the certificate means that from our own end, we are satisfied with the verification that we have done.”

The five cleared ministers are Abdulrahman Dambazau (Interior); Zainab Shamsuna (Budget & National Planning); Adamu Adamu  (Education); Aisha Abubakar (Minister of Trade, Investment & Industry (State)); and Amina Mohammed (Minister of Environment).

The rest of the former and serving public officers already cleared by the CCB are the immediate past Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim; Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood; a former Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, and a former Controller-General, Nigerian Prisons Service, Ezenwa Peter.

They also include the Acting MD/CEO, Niger Delta Development Commission, Semenitari Tamunoibim; Controller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Ibrahim Ali (retd.); Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Boboye Oyeyemi; and Federal Commissioner, Civil Service Commission, Hope Ikrirko.

The CCB boss commended those that had turned up for the exercise.


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