NGO Drags Okonjo-Iweala To Court Over Alleged Missing N30 Trillion

March 3, 2015

A civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to court over “failure to provide information about spending of the alleged missing N30 trillion, which represents some accruable income to the Federal Government in the past four years.”
The suit, filed at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, followed a Freedom of Information request by SERAP to Mrs Okonjo-Iweala dated February 2. The originating summon, with suit number FHC/L/CS/196/2015, was filed on behalf of the organization by Senior Staff Attorney, Olukayode Majekodunmi.
SERAP’s suit followed disclosure by the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor Chukwuma Soludo that over N30 trillion had been missing, or stolen, or unaccounted for, or simply mismanaged under the minister’s watch.
In the suit, SERAP argued that “a necessary implication of the rule of law is that a public functionary and institution can only act in accordance with the law, as to do otherwise may enthrone arbitrariness. Obedience to the rule of law by all citizens but more particularly those who publicly took oath of office to protect and preserve the constitution is a desideratum to good governance. In a democratic society, this is meant to be a norm; it is an apostasy for public official like the Minister of Finance to ignore the provisions of the law.”
SERAP also argued that Mrs Okonjo-Iweala “As trustee of public funds has a legal duty to render account on the missing N30tn to the beneficiaries (Nigerians) of the trust, if and when called upon to do so.”
The organisation also argued that Okonjo-Iweala “has so far failed, refused and/or neglected to provide the Plaintiff with the details of the information requested. By virtue of Section 1(1) of the FOI Act 2011, the Plaintiff is entitled as of right to request for or gain access to information which is in the custody or possession of any public official, agency or institution. By the provisions of Section 2(7) and 31 of the FOI Act 2011, the Defendant is a public official.
“By virtue of Section 4 (a) of the FOI Act when a person makes a request for information from a public official, institution or agency, the public official, institution or urgency to whom the application is directed is under a binding legal obligation to provide the applicant with the information requested for, except as otherwise provided by the Act, within 7 days after the application is received. By Sections 2(3)(d)(V) & (4) of the FOI Act, there is a binding legal duty to ensure that documents containing information relating to spending of the alleged missing N30tn is widely disseminated and made readily available to members of the public through various means,” the organization also said.
According to the organization: “The information requested for, apart from not being exempted from disclosure under the FOI Act, bothers on an issue of national interest, public peace and security, public concern, social justice, good governance, transparency and accountability. The Defendant will not suffer any injury or prejudice if the information is released to the Plaintiff.”
The organization also argued that, “Unless the reliefs sought herein are granted, the Defendant will continue to be in breach of the Freedom of Information Act, and other statutory responsibilities. It is in the interest of justice to grant this application as the Defendant have nothing to lose if the application is granted.”
“As a key agency of government, the Ministry of Finance has a sacred duty to ensure that the country’s resources and wealth is used solely to fulfil the basic economic and social rights of all Nigerians and achieve the country’s overall socio-economic development. This implies providing strong leadership in the efforts to curb public sector corruption, and to refer to appropriate anticorruption agencies any allegations of corruption in which any agencies of government may be involved or officials of your Ministry may be complicit,” the organization also argued.
“Therefore, it is necessary to provide clarity as to what exactly happened to the missing N30tn if the Ministry of Finance is to continue to play a leadership role in the transparent and accountable management of the country’s resources and wealth, and to enjoy the public trust and confidence essential for the Ministry’s effectiveness and impact,” the organization further stated.
The organization is also seeking “a declaration that by virtue of the provisions of Section 4 (a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, the Defendant is under a binding legal obligation to provide the Plaintiff with up to date information relating to the spending of the alleged missing N30tn, which represents some accruable income to the Federal Government in the past four years including: a) any receipt, however described, arising from the operation of any law; b) any return, however described, arising from or in respect of any property held by the Government of the Federation; c) any return by way of interest on loans and dividends in respect of shares or interest held by the Government of the Federation in any company or statutory body.” [myad]

Jonathan Insists Petty Stealing Is Not Corruption, Says Corruption Is Blown Out Of Proportion

Greenbarge Reporters

March 3, 2015

President Goodluck Jonathan has insisted that most of what are perceived to be corruption in Nigeria are mere cases of petty stealing by government officials.
The President who had in one of his media chats said that stealing “was not the same thing as corruption” said that there has been no evidence to show that the government funds that have been declared missing were actually stolen, saying that it was just that such funds were not properly balanced.
President Goodluck Jonathan who spoke in an interview with Aljazera last night said that the perception that Nigeria’s corruption has worsened under his leadership is an overblown assessment with political undertones.
According to him, despite the country’s position in the global corruption perception index, the perception that corruption has worsened under his administration is inaccurate.
President Jonathan insisted that even with Nigeria’s dismal anti-corruption record, both globally and in Africa, its perception both within and outside the country was blown out of proportion for political gains.
“Yes, people talk about corruption now, because it has become a political issue. And when you promote something to the level of politics, normally it is blown out of proportion.
“Yes, we have corruption cases, no doubt about that. Yes, we have cases of people stealing, no doubt about that. I always said call a thief a thief. I am not saying that in Nigeria we do not have these elements of corruption, or stealing.”
President Jonathan referred to the controversy triggered by the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Lamido Sanusi’s claim that $49.8 billion oil money was unremitted by state-owned national oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, between 2011 and 2012.
He said that after various reconciliations by both the National Assembly, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the NNPC, the amount that remained unaccounted for was reduced to $20billion, even as a forensic audit by PriceWater HouseCoopers ordered by government turned in a report in 2014 that government has refused to make public.
The President said he was yet to come to terms with what the real figures involved in the allegation were, adding: “if you start from my former CBN governor, who said initially that $49.8billion was missing. $49.8billion is a lot of money.
“What is the budget of this country for God’s sake? Our federal budget has been three point something trillion, that’s roughly on the average $18 to $20 billion a year.
“And you are saying we lost $49.8 billion. If we lose $49.8 billion, the federal and state governments will not pay salaries. I don’t know how he came by that figure.
“The next moment, he changed from $49.8billion to $12billion. The next day it was $20 billion. Up to this time, I don’t know which is the correct accusation,” he claimed.”
According to the President, the Senate employed the services of financial consultants to probe the allegation, and it turned out that only about $2 billion was found not to have been properly balanced.”
In 2014, Transparency International ranked Nigeria was ranked 136th out of 175 countries and territories, with a score of 27.
According to TI, a country or territory’s score indicate the perceived level of public sector corruption on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
The latest ranking, though better than its ranking of 144thout of 177 countries and territories, with a score of 25, recorded the previous year, still categorised Nigeria among some of the world’s most corrupt countries, including Cameroun, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon and Russia.
South Africa, ranked the second largest economy in Africa, fared far better, with a ranking of 67 and a score of 44.
Also, the Thabo Mbeki High Level Panel report on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa noted during the recent summit of the African Union Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa that Nigeria accounted for about 68.1 per cent of the cumulative revenue Africa lost between 2001 and 2010 through corruption and illegal transfers. [myad]

House Of Reps Alleges That President Jonathan Aided Budget Fraud, Says Government Offices Spend N16 Trillion Yearly

Greenbarge Reporters

March 3, 2015

The House of Representatives said that it has uncovered what may turn out Nigeria’s biggest fraud yet, accusing the Jonathan administration of spending N16 trillion on its super offices yearly, while the entire country is given a meagre budget of about N4 trillion.
This was contained in the House Public Accounts Committee which noted that while the Nigerian government complains of revenue for key projects, the same government has allowed dozens of powerful offices, graded as “statutory and extra-ministerial departments” to spend a minimum of N16 trillion yearly.
The amount spent by the offices are not regulated, audited or appropriated by the National Assembly. The report said that much of the figure are generated by the respective offices and are deployed at the whims of their chief executives.
“Such statutory offices include the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Central Bank of Nigeria, National Communications Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Services, and Nigerian Ports Authority.
“The revelation came as part of an ongoing examination of finances of government and its 601 agencies.”
The committee, which spoke through its chairman, Adeola Solomon-Olamilekan, said when combined with Nigeria’s official annual expenditure, the country spends over N20 trillion yearly.
Solomon-Olamilekan said the N4.3 trillion budget for 2015, amid an oil crisis, is a “far cry” which does not include the finances of “statutory and extra ministerial departments” which have been running “about N16 trillion” without public auditing.
“The N4.9tn, N4.6tn or N4.3tn, as the case may be, is the budget that the whole Nigerians are listening to but in the true sense of it, the budget of other statutory and extra-ministerial departments put together is about N16tn.
“So, the total overall budget year in year out is over N20tn, which the executive arm operates, but nobody is asking questions as to the implementation of all these budgets.
“Nobody is bringing information on the implementation of all these budgets; and this is one area Nigerians need to start asking questions in order to move this country forward.”‎
The House committee said the federal government has encouraged the fraud to continue by deliberately refusing to fund the office of the Auditor General of the Federation, to weaken its capacity to check the violation.
The committee said by reducing the budget of office of Auditor General from N1.9‎ billion to N100 million in 2015, the government deliberately ensured the office no longer had the capacity to audit 601 departments and 144 foreign missions.
The big cut was carried out by the Ministry of Finance, citing falling oil revenues.
“How can we imagine that the capital budget of the office of AGF for the year 2015 was reduced from N1.9bn to N100?
“Can you also imagine an office of the AGF that has 144 foreign missions to audit and as we speak, between 1999 to date, that office has not audited up to 30 of these foreign missions while three quarter of these foreign missions are also revenue generating agencies?
“So, there is nobody to audit the revenue generated and the expenditure they incur.
“The office of the AGF has been short-changed and the budget has been reduced to nothing. As such, the government of the day is having a field day to carry out whatever its wants to do because they know they have an office that is not functioning,”‎ Solomon-Olamilekan said. [myad]

Buhari, Atiku Condole With Nduka Obaigbena Over Death Of His Brother

Greenbarge Reporters

March 3, 2015

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari and the Former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar have commiserated with the publisher of the THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena over the death of Rotimi Azubuike Obaigbena, his brother in the United States of America on Sunday.
In a separate statements signed by the Director of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Organization, Garba Shehu, the two leaders noted that the late Obaigbena died at the time the country is looking up to the services of Nigerians in Diaspora to develop the country.
Buhari said: “The demise of Rotimi Azubuike Obaigbena is an unpleasant development at this point when our country is looking up to the services of young Nigerians who have made remarkable landmarks in their fields of endeavour.
“In the past few days I have met with a good number of Nigerians outside the country and I most sincerely commend their high sense of patriotism and zeal to contribute to the overall development of the country.
“I know that the demise of this gentleman is a huge loss to the community of Nigerians outside the country, but it is bigger lose to Nigeria and the Obaigbena family and will be greatly missed.”
Atiku, on his own, described the deceased as “a very hardworking Nigerian who has made an indelible mark in his chosen profession.”
He also prayed for the family and friends of the deceased to have the fortitude to bear the loss. [myad]

Governor Uduaghan Commissions 64 Roads In Asaba

Greenbarge Reporters

March 3, 2015

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta state has commissioned sixty four road projects in Asaba assuring the people of the state that more projects would be commissioned before the end of his tenure.
Speaking during the commissioning today, Governor Uduaghan expressed satisfaction that his administration has executed such projects in Asaba, describing that Asaba as the symbol of unity of Delta State.
According to him, the projects would encourage investors to do business in the state, saying: “when I came into government, I told myself and the people of Delta State, that Asaba has come to stay as a state capital and so we must make it a befitting state capital.
“We have to live in unity as a state. We must take it as a responsibility to develop the state capital. We have a befitting Government House, the gains you get from a befitting Government House you cannot imagine it; visitors who see the Government House will be ready to do business with us and invest in other parts of the state.
“These are not glamorous projects. They are needed for the development of a befitting state capital. The location of Asaba is very strategic in the Delta Beyond Oil initiative. We will take advantage of its closeness to Onitsha market and make Asaba another economic hub.”
Dr. Uduaghan assured Deltans that the Asaba Specialist Hospital which has been remodelled and restructured when completed would be one of the best equipped hospitals in the country, adding that the fly-over projects in Asaba and Warri would be commissioned in the next few weeks.
Commissioner for Works, Mr. Funkekeme Solomon in an address, said: “over N487 billion has been committed to civil engineering infrastructural development across the state in various spheres.
“733 roads, 25 bridges, two flyovers and two airport development in Asaba and Warri have been embarked upon and to date, over N270 billion has been expended.”
The Asagba of Asaba, Professor Chike Edozien who spoke through the Iyase of Asaba, Chief Patrick Onyeobi thanked Dr. Uduaghan for his efforts even as the Chairman of Oshmili South local government council, Pastor Chuks Obusom said: “these projects will make life better for the people of Oshimili South local government and the people of Delta State.” [myad]

Governor Uduaghan Begs Christian Pilgrims To Pray For Peaceful Elections

Greenbarge Reporters

March 3, 2015

‎
Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has asked Nigerian Christian pilgrims to Israel to, while performing the pilgrimage, pray for Nigeria to have peaceful general elections coming up on March 28 and April 11 respectively.

Governor Uduaghan who made the appeal when he flagged-off the Delta State pilgrims to Israel in Asaba, also asked the pilgrims to pray for sustained victory of the military over Boko Haram.
“Pray for peaceful co-existence, pray for peaceful elections, pray with your voters cards at one of the sites and God will give us peaceful elections.”
The Governor made it clear that Nigeria country needs all the prayers in the face of the challenges surrounding the general elections even as he stressed the need for prayer for the military men and women who are at the battle fronts against Boko Haram for God to sustain and grant them permanent victory.
He spoke of the spiritual essence of the pilgrimage to Israel, saying: “pilgrimage is usually very fulfilling as it afford them the opportunity to be closer to their creator.”
The Governor said that the blessings that come to the state through pilgrimage can not be quantified and asked the pilgrims to pray for his administration to finish strong and finish well. He noted that the few months remaining for his administration could be challenging.
Dr. Uduaghan who advised the pilgrims to be of good conduct, scored the state high in terms of its indigenes not absconding during pilgrimages which he attributed to a rigorous exercise by the Pilgrims Board.
He reiterated that the pilgrimage to Israel was not for tourism but for spiritual exercise and requested that the pilgrims should be conscious of the purpose of visiting Israel
“This year we have 1,170 pilgrims that are going on pilgrimage.”
Earlier, the Commissioner, Bureau for Special Duties, Barrister Powell Ojogho expressed gratitude to Governor Uduaghan for encouraging Deltans to go for the annual pilgrimage, adding that the pilgrims are aware of their mission to Israel.
Pastor Chika Akwebue who spoke on behalf of the one hundred and ninety pilgrims who made up the first batch of the pilgrims, also, thanked Governor Uduaghan’s administration for his interest in encouraging pilgrims to the holy land. [myad]

APC Accuses Presidency, PDP Of Shifting Blame On Fuel Scarcity

Greenbarge Reporters

March 2, 2015

All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Organisation accused the President Goodluck Jonathan led PDP government as a badly scripted jaded comedy of blame-game which engages in what it called ludicrous holding others but themselves accountable for every mess of their administration a comic pastime.

In a statement by the director of media and publicity for the APC Presidential campaign organization, Garba Shehu said that it is laughable for the PDP and its government to point accusing fingers at the APC for the current fuel scarcity when they were full aware that it was only a matter of time before the politically-motivated stop-gap policies they had put in place would come haunting them.

Garba Shehu said that the latest tirade from the PDP offers the clearest indication of the incompetence of the Jonathan government for which Nigerians are ready to vote them out on March 28.

“To say the least we at the APCPCO see this latest antic of the PDP and its government as a comic relief for which discerning Nigerians are not amused at all. It has become the signature tune of the PDP and its government to blame the APC and its presidential candidate and party stalwarts for every mess they have made of the lives of Nigerians in virtually every facet.

“With the latest cry-baby antic Nigerians can now see the PDP and its government for what they truly are: incompetent and clueless. What else are they going to accuse the APC and its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari of?

“Will they accuse Buhari and APC of being behind the erratic power supply for which manufacturers are threatening to shut down their plants and for which jobs have already been lost? May be the PDP and President Jonathan will also accuse the APC and Buhari of causing the pervasive poverty and unemployment in the country? Or they will accuse them of having caused the mismanagement of security by this government; of being responsible for the free fall of the price of crude of oil and the exchange rate? Don’t be surprised if tomorrow the PDP and the Jonathan government hold the APC, General Buhari and the stalwarts of the opposition party responsible for the inability of the chickens in Aso Rock Villa to lay eggs!

Garba Shehu advised the PDP and Jonathan government to own up to their incompetence, apologise to Nigerians over their failed leadership and pave the way for Nigerians to get the change they desire by conducting a credible, free and fair elections on March 28 and April 11. [myad]

There Is Nothing Christ-Like In President Jonathan’s Administration, By Ikechukwu Orji

Greenbarge Reporters

March 2, 2015

It was Mahatma Gandhi who said he admired Christ not Christians. I guess he said this to remind people that most Christians are definitely not Christ-like. One cannot claim to be a Christian when his attitude is opposite of the principle that we are called to live by. There is no middle ground in this race. It is either you are living like Christ or you are a pretender. People like pretending to be what they are not. It is for this reason that one writer defined hypocrisy as a tribute that vice pays to virtue.
There is absolutely nothing Christ-like in President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. His policies are harsh towards the common man. He has done absolutely nothing for the poor of the land. Rather, he has done a lot to favour the rich and eminent personalities. Any true Christian knows that God loves the poor and is earnestly seeking to do them good. He is seriously looking for those to use to render service to the poor. It can only take a wicked man to increase the prices of petroleum products on a New Year day thereby causing immense hardship to numerous poverty stricken citizens. Any government that is anti poor is anti God.
Jonathan has refused to go after those who are squandering our patrimony. Corruption is rampant and he is pretending that all is well. You cannot be a follower of Christ and allow evil to run rampant around you. How long can we continue this dance of death? How long are we going to allow these men from the forest of thousand demons to continue to desecrate our land? It is about time we chased them away. We need discipline and decorum in governance. And that is what Muhammadu Buhari is about.
Buhari is everything that Jonathan is not. He is disciplined, painstaking and has a visceral dislike for corruption. He has promised to confront corruption and he is just about the only politician that has the credential to do that. He has done it before and he will do it again. The man cares passionately for the poor of the land and wants to do his bit to help them. Buhari is not a drunk and he is not in the business of running around with other people’s wives. As a Head of State, 11 out of 19 Ministers appointed by him were Christians.
Buhari showed leadership when a dangerous Islamic sect known as Maitatsine threatened our peace. He refused to register Nigeria as a member of the Organization of Islamic Countries and banned government sponsorship of pilgrimages to Mecca. It is a well- known fact that his personal aides and domestic workers are mostly Christians and under him no one was victimized on the basis of religion. It is on record that Jonathan is the first President to lead Nigerian delegation to the Organization of Islamic Countries in February 2013. He has spent an average of $14 billion on 26, 000 Haji pilgrims annually from 2010. From all ramifications, Buhari has more Christian qualities than Jonathan.
Buhari’s government will focus on building a society that would begin to move the powers of a smothering federal government back to states and local government. Government will be closer to the people and better aware of their real needs and wants. APC as party is open and beckoning to a majority of Nigerians not because we are handing out goodies to people but because we have a better proposal for them and their families.
As a transformational leader, Buhari is sure of what he wants happen and is extraordinarily strong-willed about it. He has one thing in mind instead of a variety of passing impulses. He wants a society full of opportunities. In short, the key to a successful transformational leader is to keep your eyes focused on your goals. And the people’s general has a knack for ignoring unproductive criticism and feels neither threatened nor moved by it. He is not one of such politicians that display so much pettiness and hostility that is simply not productive. Surely, Nigeria will be better under him.

Ikechukwu Orji
ikechukwuorji@yahoo.com [myad]

Fani-Kayode Accuses APC Of Being Behind Fuel Scarcity In The Country

Greenbarge Reporters

March 2, 2015

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation has blamed All Progressives Congress (APC) for the sudden fuel scarcity in many parts of the country, saying it is a case of sabotage.
In a statement today by the director of media and publicity of the PDP presidential campaign organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode said the APC has infiltrated the ranks of the fuel marketers.
He said that the fuel marketers have taken a sub-contract from the opposition to frustrate supplies of petrol to fuel stations as part of a grand plan to create tension in the polity.
“We know who the fuel marketers are. We know the relationship that exists between one of the biggest fuel marketers and a national leader of the APC. These unconscionable opposition elements infiltrated the ranks of the fuel marketers, whom they have contracted, in a calculated attempt to frustrate the good efforts of government.
“Why have they taken this time when all hands are on deck for the March 28 elections to cause this artificial fuel scarcity? The situation is so bad that they are not importing the product. They are even threatening tank farmers not to release any fuel in their depot in order to sustain the shortage. We are aware that the tank farmers have reported the threat to the Police and other security agencies.
“This shows how desperate and wicked the opposition APC can be in their quest for presidential power. Must they make Nigerians suffer simply because they want to rule? They must desist from this act of sabotage.
“The opposition should not take delight in celebrating over the pains and sufferings of Nigerians as they have continued to do with the Boko Haram attacks on our people and nation.
“The APC’s penchant to diminish the gallantry of our Armed Forces in the battle to defeat insurgency in the northeast zone whilst mocking the government whenever the insurgents bomb and take over villages in the zone, must be condemned by well-meaning Nigerians.
“This predilection exposes and portrays the APC and its leaders as forces of retrogression with a devilish mindset to unleash the worst form of anarchy on the nation before, during and after the March 28 presidential election because they know their party and presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari will be dealt a crushing blow by President Goodluck Jonathan at the polls.
“The PDPPCO also wishes to use this medium to alert the nation on the lingering plot by the opposition elements who have been sponsoring their agents of destruction in the power sector to vandalise critical infrastructure in order to reduce the megawatts of electricity that is being generated and reverse the gains that government is making in the sector.” [myad]

APC Threatens To Take PDP To Court Over Fani-Kayode’s Allegation On Osinbajo’s Oath-Taking

Greenbarge Reporters

March 2, 2015

The All Progressive Congress (APC) has asked the Peoples Democratic Party and its Presidential Campaign’s Director of Media and Publicity Femi Fani-Kayode to produce evidence on their purported claims of oath-taking and resignation of Professor Yemi Osinbajo for national leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the event that General Muhammadu Buhari wins the March 28 presidential election.
The party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation in a statement in Abuja today warned the PDP and Fani-Kayode to either show evidence of the oath-taking or retract the libelous claims within 72 hours or be ready to be charged to a court of law.
“For the PDP through Fani-Kayode to state publicly that an erudite Professor of law, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a reputable Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God swore an oath to vacate his seat as the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, should the party win the forthcoming election is an attack on the hard-won integrity and the reputations of these great Nigerians and APC stalwarts ,” said Mallam Garba Shehu, Director, Media and Publicity of the Campaign.
“We view this as both slanderous and libelous and therefore will not leave the matter to chance. To this effect, we hereby give Femi Fani-Kayode and the PDP 72 hours to produce evidence or in the alternative issue public apology to Pastor Yemi Osinbajo, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and our party the APC or be prepared to be charged to the court of law.” [myad]

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