The Turkish ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Hakan Cakil on December 14, 2015 paid a courtesy visit to the Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase in his office at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The highlight of the visit was the need for an improved relationship between Turkey and the Nigerian government through exchange of counter-terrorism courses for the Nigeria Police Force.
He also said the Turkish government is ready to assist the Nigeria Police Force in investigative tactics and forensic analysis training.
Responding, IGP Arase while appreciating the visit, reminded the Envoy of an existing collaboration between the Nigeria police and Turkey on training at one time of our history, but particularly said, what the Nigeria police need for now is train the trainer program, and specifically requested the presence of Turkish instructors for sustainability.

•N10b PDP ‘cash given to former President’s ADC, aide’ 

•‘I’ve no foreign accounts, company’

•‘N10b came from oil block accounts’

Former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki has said he handed over the N10billion given to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination convention delegates to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa and the Aide-de-Camp.

He said the money was given out by the two aides, on the directive of Dr. Jonathan.

The former NSA said aside collecting the  cash, he had nothing to do with it.

As at press time, no slush funds had been traced to Dasuki’s personal accounts, it was learnt.

Dasuki, who protested that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had subjected him to “media trial”, said such a treatment might jeopardise his defence.

Also yesterday, it was gathered that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) confirmed that the N10 billion was sourced from the Signature Bonus Account (oil block Account).

But the ex-NSA expressed regrets that he was being vilified by the EFCC when he acted on the instructions and approval of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

He said he had no foreign account and his local accounts are in Skye bank Plc, GTB and Standard Chartered Bank.

Dasuki’s Statement of Witness/Accused Person has been filed in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of his arraignment today or tomorrow.

He said: “I wish to state as follows: That I have been publicly indicted and any statement may jeopardise my defence. Having been briefed by the EFCC investigators on why I was invited, I will answer the charges in court. As such, I do not wish to make any further statement on the matter.

“That I am aware in November (I cannot remember the exact date), my office requested the CBN to exchange N10billion from the account of the Office of National Security Adviser domiciled in CBN. The money was exchanged at $47m and some Euros which I cannot remember. The exact amount was delivered at my residence.

“The money was for delegates that  attended the nomination convention for the PDP. Presidential nomination. The money was paid and sent to Hon. (Waripamowei) Dudafa (SSAP Household) and ADC(C-IC) for distribution on the instruction of the President.

Based on the statement of Director of Finance and administration (Salisu), Ibrahim Wambai, and Yazidu Ibrahim, all the cash (both foreign and local) are usually given to them for official use.

I also noted the statement of Sagir Bafarawa whose company is Dalhatu Investment which he stated that he received the sum of N4,633,000,000 from the account of the Office of the NSA. I authorised the payment . The money was for vehicles, motorcycles for youth empowerment and women sent to Saudi Arabia. I got the proposal from the President. I do not have the proposal; it should be at the office in the Villa

“I have seen the statement of the Zenith Bank account where N5billion was paid. I authorised the following payments, among others: Jabbama Ada Global Nigeria Limited (N400m); R.R. Hospital (N750m); ACACIA Holdings LTD (N1.25b); Barr. I.M. Bala (N150m); African Cable TV (N 350m); Nigerian Defence Academy (N159m); B.B. (N350m); Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (N125,503, 255.11); Coscharis Motors (N119m).

“The payments were  meant for various partners as earlier listed. I know Basha Nigeria Limited to be owned by Hon. Bello Matawalle. I authorided the payment of N380million for further disbursement to members of the House of Representatives as campaign contribution. I authorised the payment of N751million to HEIRS BDC Limited for conversion to forex from the account of the NSA. Money was used for  operation in the Office of the NSA.

“I have seen the mandate from the CBN  signed by me authorising payment of various sums of money to Dalhatu Investment for the reasons earlier stated.

“In respect of funds given to Amb. Bashir Yuguda between December 2014 and 2015, I authorised the payment of N1.5billion from the Office of the National Security Adviser for political campaign in the last elections. I remember paying DAAR Communications the sum of N2.120billion from ONSA for media activities for the Presidential Campaign 2015.”

Dasuki confirmed also payment of $146,639019.00 to E-Force Inter-Service Ltd

The ex-NSA added:  “I do not have any company registered in my name, I have no account with HSBC. All payments  made from NSA accounts within the period I was there were authorised by me.”

The CBN confirmed that the N10billion was sourced from the CBN/ OAGF Signature Bonus Account.

The CBN made the clarification in an October 29, 2015 letter to the EFCC’s Director of Operations.

The apex bank said: “Your letter ref: EFCC/EC/ CBN/ 12/163 dated  21st September 2915 to the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria and the directive by the management that we provide some explanations, we wish to state as follows:

“The N10billion constitutes two tranches of N5.08billion each debited to the CBN/OAGF SIGNATURE BONUS ACCOUNT NO 400225220 vide OAGF memo Ref: FD/LP2015/1/28 DF to the  Office of the National Security Adviser A/C Number 20172241019 with the CBN Abuja  and the second was for credit into the account of National Security Adviser Account Number 1014199287 with Zenith Bank Plc Wuse II Abuja.

“The transactions were consummated  on November 10, 2014. The mandate that authorized the withdrawal of USD47.0m was from the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA) with REF: NSA/366/S dated November 26, 2014. The mandate was processed for dollar cash payment to Mr. S. A. Salisu on November 27,  2014.

“The USD5.0M was via a memo from the ONSA memo REF: ACCT/86/VOL. 2/ 218 dated November 13, 2014. The National Security Adviser Account Number 20172241019 was debited  and dollar cash payment made to Mr. Wambai Ibrahim on November 14, 2014 in line with the mandate.

“The Euro 4.0m and Euro 1.6m transactions were via mandate from ONSA memo REF: NASS/ 366/S dated November 26, 2014.  The NSA’s Account Number 20172241019 was debited and Euro cash payment effected as follows: Euro 4.0m on December 3, 2014 and Euro 1.6m was on December 24, 2014. These sums were released to Mr. S. A. Salisu as stipulated in the mandate. Attached are copies of all the relevant documents please.”

The CBN Governor was responding to a letter ( EFCC/EC/CBN/12/163) of 21st September, 2015 by former EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Lamorde.

The three-paragraph letter said: “ This commission is investigating a case of Abuse of Office and money laundering of funds for special services by the Office of the National Security Adviser which were withdrawn  in November 2014.

“We seek your kind assistance to provide available information on the disbursement of the funds with copies of relevant documents, including transfers to foreign and local banks and cash withdrawals.

“Thank you in anticipation of your usual cooperation.”

A Staff Officer Account 1 in the Office of the NSA, Yazidu Ibrahim said in his statement as follows: ” I can testify that in the last five years, for all the companies that were paid, VAT and Withholding Tax were never paid for any contract.

“Also, to the best of my knowledge, there is no tenders board and procurement unit at the NSA. The awarding authority for all contracts, remains the NSA. All payments for contracts are (sic) based on directive from the  DFA. Sometimes, there were accompanying documents  most times, there was nothing except account details of contractors.

“In the last five years, the SAS imprest account has been passed and ONSA is getting direct funding from the government.

“I want to state as follows: many of the contracts were fake because the payment were round figures. (2), many of the payments were related to the 2015 presidential elections and not for national security. Many of the cash payments were just looted. Many people in the ruling PDP got huge sums of money”.

” The SAS imprest account is an account maintained by the NSA and the Permanent Secretary, Special Service Office. This is where money for the intelligence community is first paid before sharing between the ONSA, NSA and DSS.”

President Muhammadu Buhari says the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will soon publish the names of officials of the last administration who stole public funds and the amount surrendered to the coffers of the Federal Government.

The President told guests at the 15th session of the Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation Lecture in Abuja on Friday that the CBN had not published the list to avoid jeopardising investigations and further recoveries.

Addressing the gathering on the administration’s fight against corruption, President Buhari gave more revelations on the nation’s stolen funds which had garnered various speculations in the last few months.

According to the President, the war against corruption is gathering momentum.

“As I stated recently, a good number of people who abused their positions are voluntarily returning the illicit funds. I have heard it said that we should disclose the names of the people, and the amount returned.

“Yes, in due course, the Central Bank of Nigeria will make information available to the public on the surrendered funds, but I must remark that it is yet early days, and any disclosure now may jeopardize the possibility of bigger recoveries.

“But we owe Nigerians adequate information, and it shall come in due course. It is part of the collective effort to change our land from the bastion of corruption it currently is, to a place of probity and transparency,” President Buhari explained.

“No Friend, No Foe

He also told the gathering that Nigeria’s rating on the global corruption index had risen rather than dropped.

“Quite frankly, the anti-corruption war is not strictly about me as a person, it is about building a country where our children, and the forthcoming generations, can live in peace and prosperity. When you see dilapidated infrastructure round the country, it is often the consequence of corruption.

“Poor healthcare, collapsed education, lack of public utilities, decayed social services, are all products of corruption, as those entrusted with public resources put them in their private pockets. That must stop, if we want a new Nigeria. And that was why I said at another forum that people need not fear me, but they must fear the consequences of their actions.

“Corrupt acts will always be punished, and there will be no friend, no foe. We will strive to do what is fair and just at all times, but people who refuse to embrace probity should have every cause to fear,” the President said, reiterating his commitment to ‘killing corruption’, a promise he made during campaigns.

Another speaker, the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Reverend Father Mathew Kukah, also reverberate the President’s views.

Indications emerged last night that the Federal Government would extend its dragnet towards apprehending and prosecuting more individuals and groups which allegedly helped themselves with huge funds meant for the acquisition of arms for the armed forces, leaving the soldiers to fight with bare hands.

Meanwhile, the war of words between Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and  former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala continued, yesterday, as the  governor alleged that the former minister facilitated looting of funds by officials of the past admiistration.

Already, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission probing how funds meant for arms were diverted and stolen by top politicians, have stumbled on fresh evidence that senior officials of the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria were actively involved in the transfer of funds to the suspects.

The operatives are upset that rather than help to protect the fortunes of the country, the said officials aided and abetted politicians to bolt away with the nation’s scarce resources.

The agency also discovered that most of the records which the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, used in collecting the huge sums of public funds from the relevant government agencies and paying the sludge funds to the politicians, were not kept in the office of the embattled NSA.

It was learnt  last night that EFCC operatives were set to summon the former Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okojo-Iweala and some top officials of the CBN to shed more light on what they know about the arms budget said to have been diverted by bigwigs of one of the political parties.

Also to be invited based on evidence of disbursement from the apex bank, are some serving and retired top officials of the CBN who helped in the disbursement of the arms cash to the beneficiaries.

The decision to summon the former minister and the apex bank officials followed the discovery that the bank played an active part in wiring various sums of money to persons and institutions at home and abroad without paying attention to due process.

It was the gamut of transaction documents from the CBN that has assisted them to trace and arrest the high profile politicians and their cronies, who benefitted from the public funds meant for arms.

A source said: “It is clear from our discovery that some money taken from the Abacha loot was used to secure some arms and fight insurgency but it is also clear that a larger part of the money was diverted and nobody raised an eyebrow.

“We want these people to come and give us further clarifications on why they released the money and who got what and why.”

It was gathered that documents at the CBN have established that the $15 million cash which the office of the NSA ferried for the purchase of arms and was seized by the South African Government was part of the Abacha loot. The country is yet to refund the cash to Nigeria.

It was also learnt that part of the Abacha loot was used to secure the services of mercenaries and guerrillas from some countries to assist in re-taking 22 Nigerian territories in the North-East from Boko Haram.

The government at the time had engaged some of the foreign fighters to train troops in anti-terrorism warfare, intelligence gathering and counter terrorism which enabled them recover the lost territories from the insurgents. In spite of that, it never admitted using any of them for any of its operations.

Already, eight of the suspects have been charged with stealing, money laundering and breach of the Public Procurement Act, while none of them is yet to be released even on bail.

Okonjo-Iweala helped Jonathan loot stolen funds, Oshiomhole insists 

However, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State yesterday continued his verbal assault on former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as the governor alleged that the ex-minister only helped the past administration  to loot funds.

Oshiomhole who was the guest speaker at a dialogue session that was co-organised by the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, and the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in Abuja yesterday to commemorate the International Human Rights Day, urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to spare the former Minister  who he branded “Ali Baba”.

The Edo State governor spoke on a topic entitled “Towards Advancing the Right to Social Security Protection in Nigeria”.

Speaking to journalists at the end of his presentation, Oshiomhole, maintained that Okonjo-Iweala has serious questions to answer with regards to what happened to looted funds that were recovered from former military dictator, General Sani Abacha.

He said it was not enough for the former minister to “sit there in Washington”, and say that she “transferred part of the money recovered from Abacha to Dasuki for security purpose”.

“All I am just saying is that we are in a constitutional democracy. We are not under an informal arrangement. When you listen to all the narratives, all the disclosures and defence, you will realise that the Federal Government needs to prosecute everybody, not to exempt anyone.

“For example I have read in the newspapers and online, the former Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy saying that she transferred part of the money recovered from Abacha to Dasuki for security purposes.

“Now, the first question the media should ask is, even under conditions of war, money must be appropriated. The National Assembly, I recall very well, when Aminu Tambuwal was Speaker of the House of Representatives, they reconvened on Sunday in order to attend to an urgent matter submitted by the President. So, the Constitution is very clear.

“Money was looted and foreign countries helped us recover that money and a minister assisted in ensuring that that money is re-looted again. And she is there in Washington and you are here languishing. I am saying that she also must be brought to justice”, the Edo governor said.

Okonjo-Iweala should apologise to Nigerians—SERAP

Meanwhile, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked former Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo Iweala to “apologise to Nigerians for claiming recently that recovered Abacha loot was transparently spent while she knew that  $322m (about N63billion) recovered Abacha funds were inappropriately released to finance the fight against Boko Haram.”

SERAP’s statement yesterday followed Mrs Okonjo-Iweala’s statement that she released about $322m to the former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki for military operations.

In a statement by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni the organisation said: “The truth about the spending of Abacha loot is now coming out, and it is clear that Mrs Okonjo-Iweala was wrong to accuse SERAP of bias while she knew that we are simply seeking truth, justice and accountability on the spending of recovered Abacha loot.”

“Mrs Okonjo-Iweala’s approach of ‘no answers, no apology’ on how Abacha loot was spent is doing her reputation more harm than good. We hope that she will take cue from the World Bank (her former employer) when it defined ‘accountability and probity’ as knowing what task has been set, accepting to do it, and going about it with a sense of probity. Probity implying the willingness to self-disclose such information to which a specific stakeholder group has a right as well as tolerance of the scrutiny of such a stakeholder group on information to which they have a right,” the organisation said.

It will be recalled that the former Minister of Finance, had on Wednesday, disclosed that she transferred $322m (N64.148bn) from the looted funds recovered from Abacha  to the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, to aid military operations in the North-East.

I secured ex-President’s approval — Okonjo-Iweala
The ex-Minister explained that based on recommendation of the committee, she personally requested that part of the recovered funds be used for security operations while the rest be channelled to developmental purposes.In a statement by her Media Adviser, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, insisted that she secured the approval  of ex-President Jonathan before the fund was transferred. She stressed that the approval followed the recommendation of a committee set-up by former President Jonathan to advise the administration on the way forward.

She said her decision to release the funds to the ONSA, was sequel to accusations that she was starving the military of funds to prosecute war on terrorism.

Okonjo-Iweala specifically accused Oshiomhole “and other powerful and corrupt interests”, of sponsoring a campaign of falsehood against her.

“To achieve their evil propaganda objective of tarnishing her name, these evil elements have distorted the contents of a memo, dated January 20, 2015, in which the former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, responded to a request by the former National Security Adviser, Col. Ibrahim Dasuki (retired), for funds to prosecute the terror war against Boko Haram.

“The central responsibility of the Minister of Finance is to find sources of funding for the financing of approved national priorities such as security, job creation and infrastructure.”

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked former Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo Iweala to “apologise to Nigerians for claiming recently that recovered Abacha loot was transparently spent while she knew that $322m (about N63billion) recovered Abacha funds were inappropriately released to finance the fight against Boko Haram.”

SERAP’s statement today followed Mrs Okonjo-Iweala’s confession that she released about $322m to the former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki for military operations.

In a statement today by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni the organisation said that, “The truth about the spending of Abacha loot is now coming out, and it is clear that Mrs Okonjo-Iweala was wrong to accuse SERAP of bias while she knew that we are simply seeking truth, justice and accountability on the spending of recovered Abacha loot.”

“Mrs Okonjo-Iweala’s approach of ‘no answers, no apology’ on how Abacha loot was spent is doing her reputation more harm than good. We hope that she will take cue from the World Bank (her former employer) when it defined ‘accountability and probity’ as knowing what task has been set, accepting to do it, and going about it with a sense of probity. Probity implying the willingness to self-disclose such information to which a specific stakeholder group has a right as well as tolerance of the scrutiny of such a stakeholder group on information to which they have a right,” the organisation said.

“We therefore urge her to now come out for the sake of millions of Nigerians living in extreme poverty but also of generations as yet unborn and tell Nigerians the whole story about what exactly happened to recovered Abacha loot, as well as publicly apologise for claiming that Abacha loot was transparently spent. She should be willing to be held to account,” the organisation added.

The letter, dated January 20, 2015, which was addressed to former President Goodluck Jonathan, revealed that $322m of Abacha loot was transferred following a January 12, 2015 request by the office of the former National Security Advise Sambo Dasuki for funds for the procurement of arms and ammunition as well as intelligence equipment. The letter reads: “Please find a request by the National Security Adviser (NSA) for the transfer of $300 million and £5.5 million of the recovered Abacha funds to an ONSA [Office of the National Security Adviser] operations account. The NSA has explained that this is to enable the purchase of ammunition, security, and other intelligence equipment for the security agencies in order to enable them fully confront the ongoing Boko Haram threat. His request is sequel to the meeting you chaired with the committee on the use of recovered funds where the decision was made that recovered Abacha funds would be split 50-50 between urgent security needs to confront Boko Haram and development need (including a portion for the Future Generations window of the Sovereign Wealth Fund)”.

It would be recalled that SERAP had raised some questions for Mrs Okonjo-Iweala to answer regarding how Abacha loot was spent.

The questions read in part: “First, the World Bank confirmed that of the 51 projects reviewed, 23 were described as “completed”, 26 were at various stages of completion, and 2 were described as “abandoned”. Nigerians would like Mrs Okonjo-Iweala to show us evidence of the 23 projects allegedly completed, and whether the 26 projects where actually completed; and what became of the 2 abandoned projects.”

“Second, the World Bank confirmed that 6 out of 8 health centers reviewed pertained to physical infrastructure but were not completed. Nigerians would like Mrs Okonjo-Iweala to explain why these projects were not completed on time, and whether in fact they were completed at all; as well as location of completed projects.”

“Nigerians would also like Mrs Okonjo-Iweala to explain the letter she wrote to the Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria January 9, 2005 that of the 174 health centers built with Abacha funds, 138 were fully functional and that remaining 36 were expected to be commissioned in January 2005. Nigerians would appreciate it if Mrs Okonjo-Iweala could identify and name all the health centers mentioned her letter.”

“Third, as regards power projects, the World Bank confirmed that payments by government to contractors could not be verified “because in most cases contact information for contractors was not available,” and that 10 of the 18 power projects pertained to physical electrical installations.

Nigerians would like Mrs Okonjo-Iweala to identify and name the 10 installations, and to provide contact details of the contractors that executed the projects.”

“Fourth, the World Bank confirmed that most of the recovered funds were used to repay domestic borrowing. Nigerians would like Mrs Okonjo-Iweala to explain how much exactly was involved as a part of 2004 annual budget execution in anticipation of the repatriation of the looted funds in 2004, as well as repayment terms of the funds and from which banks.”

“Fifth, the World Bank confirmed that the government opened a special US dollar account for recovered funds with the Bank for International Settlements in Basel, to which various transfers of Abacha loot were made.

The World Bank also confirmed that some $50 mn was received before 2005 which was kept in the special account. Nigerians would like Mrs Okonjo-Iweala to explain how much was left in the account by the time she left office in May.”

“Sixth, the World Bank confirmed that the data on inflows of recovered funds are broadly identical but that there was one material discrepancy, which was unexplained. The Bank also said the information it received from the government ‘does not contain a reference to the transfer of $5.2 mn in August of 2006.’

Nigerians would like Mrs Okonjo-Iweala to explain the material discrepancy, and why the transfer of $5.2 mn was not disclosed to the Bank.”

“Seventh, the World Bank confirmed that Abacha returned loot was used as source of 2005 budget deficit financing, and that the funds were directed to co-financing of capital expenditure and balancing the 2005 budget. Nigerians would like Mrs Okonjo-Iweala to explain exactly the capital expenditure involved.”

“Eighth, the World Bank confirmed that the Abacha funds were used to provide additional financing for the Universal Basic Education (UBE) program in the amount of NGN24.25 bn to support basic education throughout the country.

This amount was fully disbursed and fully utilized. Nigerians would like Mrs Okonjo-Iweala to identify the number and location of schools which benefited from these funds at the time.”

“Ninth, the World Bank confirmed that there were problems with collecting project-related information because of under-developed reporting and accounting standards, and absence of properly set-up databases for sectoral project portfolios; and weak administrative capacity in the ministry of finance.

Nigerians would like Mrs Okonjo-Iweala to explain why this was the case under her watch.”
“Tenth, the World Bank confirmed that 13 road projects were completed including 3 of the largest road and bridge projects in each geo-political zone.

Also, the Bank regretted that it was not possible to interview many contractors in order to obtain independent confirmation of amounts spent on individual projects, and record their comments on project status.

Nigerians would like Mrs Okonjo-Iweala to explain exactly happened, and to identify unconfirmed individual projects, including the largest roads and bridges completed.”

“Eleventh, the World Bank confirmed that no special arrangements were made for project selection and monitoring.

According to the Bank, ‘Given the weakness of general budget reporting systems at the moment, this decision greatly undermined the opportunity for tracking the returned Abacha funds and analysis of their utilization.’ Nigerians would like Mrs Okonjo-Iweala to explain why this was the case under her watch.”

The Inspector-General of Police’s visit to Jigawa State and Security Stack-Holders meeting in the state to promote his administration’s community and intelligence lead policing policy.

A former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Wednesday said she transferred $322m from the looted funds recovered from the former Head of State, the late Gen. Sani Abacha, to the Office of the National Security Adviser for military operations in the North-East.

The ex-minister, in a statement by her Media Adviser, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, said the transfer of the fund was approved after a committee, set up by former President Goodluck Jonathan, gave approval for the use of the fund.

She explained that based on the decision of the committee, she personally requested that part of the recovered fund be used for security operations while the rest be channelled to developmental purposes.

The minister stated that she decided to release the amount to the ONSA following various accusations from some quarters that she was starving the military of funds to prosecute the war on terrorism.

There was a report on Wednesday that the former minister diverted N61.4bn from the Abacha loot to the office of the former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

Okonjo-Iweala was reported to have written a letter to Jonathan requesting the transfer of the fund to the NSA office.

The former finance minister had, last week, said she had nothing to do with the $2.1bn arms probe.

Responding to a statement by the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, the ex-finance minister had said she had “absolutely nothing” to do with the arms purchase scam.

But the statement by Nwabuikwo explained that as captured in the memo, Okonjo-Iweala insisted that the fund be deployed after satisfying three conditions.

The statement reads in part, “As part of the campaign of falsehood against the former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala by Edo Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, and other powerful and corrupt interests, another baseless story has been published by some online media.

“To achieve their evil propaganda objective of tarnishing her name, these evil elements have distorted the contents of a memo, dated January 20, 2015, in which the former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, responded to a request by the former National Security Adviser, Col. Ibrahim Dasuki (retired), for funds to prosecute the terror war against Boko Haram.

“The central responsibility of the Minister of Finance is to find sources of funding for the financing of approved national priorities such as security, job creation and infrastructure.

“It will be recalled that throughout 2014, there were public complaints by the military hierarchy to President Goodluck Jonathan about the inadequacy of funds to fight the anti-terror war in the North-East, resulting in Boko Haram making gains and even taking territories.

“A lot of the criticism was directed at the Federal Ministry of Finance under Dr Okonjo-Iweala, which was accused of not doing enough to find funds for the operations.”

She added, “It was about this time that some new Abacha funds of about $322m were returned with another $700m still expected to be returned.

“Former President Jonathan set up a committee, comprising the former Minister of Justice, former NSA and the former Minister of Finance to determine how best to use both the returned and expected funds for development.

“The NSA made a case for using the returned funds for urgent security operations, since, she noted, there could not be any development without peace and security.

“Based on this, a decision was taken to deploy about $322m for the military operations, while the expected $700m would be applied to development programmes as originally conceived.

“Following the discussions and based on the urgency of the NSA’s memo, Dr Okonjo-Iweala requested the President to approve the transfer of the requested amount to the NSA’s Office for the specified purposes.”

The statement said the attempt to link the ex-minister’s name to any misuse of these funds for any purpose other than security “is totally false and cannot stand.”

Okonjo-Iweala must be arrested, insists Oshiomhole

Meanwhile, Oshiomhole has said the Federal Government must make sure that the ongoing investigation into arms deals under the past administration is total by ensuring that all those involved in what he called “the chain of conspiracy” are dealt with decisively.

Specifically, the governor called for the arrest and prosecution of Okonjo-Iweala, arguing that there was no way money could have been taken from the nation’s treasury without her knowledge.

Oshiomhole spoke with State House correspondents on Wednesday shortly after he met behind closed-doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said the government could not afford to be selective in the probe because in criminal law, all those involved must be charged with conspiracy.

He said Okonjo-Iweala, who was also the Coordinating Minister of the Economy under former President Goodluck Jonathan, could not be coordinating “a corruption-ridden economy” and be pretending to be an angel.

Oshiomhole argued that if a Minister of Finance endorsed documents to ensure the release of funds, it was the responsibility of the government official to also ensure that the money was spent on the purpose for which it was released.

The governor said, “I am not shocked at the revelations from the arms probe. I have just told some people that the government has to go the whole hog because I know as a governor that no money gets out of the treasury even after I have approved as the governor without the commissioner of finance. That is the procedure.

“So, the probe should go into whether or not this money was properly appropriated, all of it. How did the money get out of the treasury, through who? The Minister of Finance, under the rules, must endorse before money gets out of the treasury, before the Central Bank of Nigeria will release the money.

“All those ministers of finance, including Okonjo-Iweala, should be probed. I don’t care what people say. You cannot be coordinating a corruption-ridden economy and be pretending to be an angel.”

Oshiomhole added, “We cannot selectively deal with the issue. We must deal with all those involved in this chain of conspiracy.

“In criminal law, when two or three people are involved in an act of criminality, all of them are charged with conspiracy because you cannot get money out of the treasury without them knowing.

“For a government that was talking about transparency, due process, no objection and all those things they put in place, I am unable to accept that money can come out without the Minister of Finance endorsing documents.

“When you endorse documents, you must follow through to ensure that funds are used for the purpose that they were released.”

Oshiomhole noted that the then National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), was supposed to be an advisory officer and not a procurement agent for government.

While saying he was happy about the revelations so far, the governor said the figures currently in public domain were just a tip of the iceberg.

He stated, “Dasuki is only one bleeding point. There were several bleeding points in the system.

“If you look at the total expenditure on subsidy, which the World Bank has just released its figure, lay your hands on the various appropriation bills passed by the National Assembly in the recent past and see how much was appropriated for oil subsidy for those period and you will find out that they are not up to half of what government actually spent.

“This means money not appropriated was spent. That is criminal. People, who were involved in those acts, must be brought to justice.”

On the position of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum on the ongoing minimum wage debate, Oshiomhole said his colleagues missed the point.

He argued that if there were crises in the system, it was natural that those who had excess fat should shed weight.

The governor said by considering reducing minimum wage or workforce, governors were only looking for an escape route.

He said, “With all due respect to my brother-governors, they missed the point. It is offensive to talk about minimum. How can the food of the steward be the reason why elders have nothing to eat?

“If there are crises in the system, it is those who have excess fat that should shed weight, not the skeleton.

“The idea of using minimum wage is very offensive to my own morality. Governors of course must shed weight but it goes beyond token system. We are dealing with structural challenges.

“When there are issues, we just look for the escape route option. Those are not at the heart of the challenge. We must revisit issues.”

Oshiomhole added that it was wrong to profer the same solution to the various problems facing each of the states of the federation, saying each state should evaluate its problem and come up with solutions.

He wondered why he, as governor of Edo State, would earn the same salary as the governor of Lagos State and other states richer than his state.

He added, “I also believe that it is simplistic to believe that one drug will cure all the ailments in the various states. Every state has to take its own independent evaluation of its own problems and design appropriate policy instrument to deal with those problems as they relate to each state.

“We cannot have governors’ wives’ solution. The problem in Y State is not the same with the ones in Edo State. Everybody has to deal with his own.

“I also think that if anybody ever wants to talk about federalism, let us not talk about it when it affects the wage of the lowest paid.

“I have asked this question: why should Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, receive the same salary as Ambode, the governor of Lagos State, when the population of Lagos State is more than double the population of Edo State and their GDP is much higher than that of Edo State?

“Why should I receive the same pay as the governor of Zamfara State? Why should I receive the same pay as the governor of Akwa Ibom State? These states are richer, not necessarily courtesy of anybody’s industry, but by the accident of location.

“If we want to preach this principle of federal system, everybody should pay according to his cost of living. The cost of governing Edo State is not the same as the cost of governing Lagos State.

“Why should the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission fix my pay and fix the pay of Lagos State?

“If we want to run a true federal system, start from the top; that is leading by example. We cannot protect those privileged ones at the top and attack those at the bottom.

“This has nothing to do with the fact that I was once a labour leader. Even if I wasn’t, the truth is that wages are not a burden to this economy. People also need to understand that assuming, without suggesting that we abolish wages, no more salary, what happens?

“When people do not earn and therefore they cannot spend, they are excluded from the economy. That fact of exclusion will have devastating impact on consumption levels in the economy.

“Where will manufacturers of goods and services sell? You take a look at the average living pattern of salary workers, you will find out that their average consumption pattern is more inward looking. They will likely be the guys who eat a lot of garri, pounded yam, fried yam and pepper soup made in Nigeria.

“Compare it to the consumption pattern of the elite. They are the ones that will buy first-class ticket on British Airways. They are the ones that are likely to buy vehicles that are imported; they are likely to live in homes half of which are built with imported materials.”

The governor said he was currently fighting battles in his state by forcing the rich to pay taxes, especially land use charge.

Oshiomhole stated, “I am fighting battles in Edo State. I am saying to the rich guys that they have to pay tax.

“They are saying ‘who am I’ and I am saying ‘I am government’. You pay your land use charge on your house abroad.

“I squeeze you; if you do not pay, we will take you to court and secure conviction and take you to prison.’’

While justifying the Federal Government’s proposed N6tn 2016 Budget, Oshiomhole said it was clear that over the past four years under the past government, budgets had been used to service recurrent expenditure.

He observed that the nation did not have more than 10 per cent allocated to capital project in the 2015 budget.

This, he argued, meant that the country would be watching helplessly while its infrastructure decayed daily.

He said the situation was responsible for the infrastructure crisis across the country.

The governor explained, “If you are going to reverse that, you need to increase the size of the budget.

“If you want to cut the personnel cost in order to reduce recurrent expenditure, then two things will happen: you either reduce wages or you reduce the number of workers. Because this government is committed to job creation, that option is clearly not on the card.

“How then will you find fund to deal with capital projects that will improve the quality of lives of the people, infrastructure that will create an enabling environment for businesses to compete? You need to spend more money.

“We cannot bail Nigerians out of the dejection we face without injecting more money into the economy.

“Under the past government, under the cover of arranged stealing, what was recorded as oil production was as low as 1.7 million barrels per day, the rest are stolen. Government has taken steps to get the Armed Forces to protect the nation’s crude oil.”

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, says he does not regret supporting President Muhammadu Buhari during the electioneering, adding that Nigeria would not have survived four more years of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s rule.

Soyinka added that the revelation of stolen loot such as the arms purchase fraud justified his position that Nigeria was being run aground by the last administration.

The Nobel laureate said this during a programme titled, ‘Channels Book Club’ on Channels Television on Tuesday.

The playwright confessed that he used to have a bad impression of Buhari who he once described as a “devil for whom in my calculation, no spoon existed long enough to justify the risk even of an impromptu snack.”

However, Soyinka said many of his trusted companions were able to convince him during the electioneering that Buhari had changed and that the highhandedness that characterised his military rule in the 1980s could not be repeated during a democratic rule.

He said, “We were left with two credible contestants in terms of catchment area for the nation. We had reached, in my view, the bottom. I became convinced that if this country underwent four more years under President Jonathan, the country would run aground completely. I looked at the record and said this cannot go on, this has to stop.

“Then I looked at this man who had contested elections three times before and said he would not contest anymore and then decided to throw his hat in the ring. I talked to people and I said do you know what you’re doing?

“And after weighing all the options, I said let’s try a new one. And since in electoral terms, he was the one, I guardedly, with reservations, announced that no, not a continuation under Jonathan.

“And so very reluctantly, I want this on record, because I made it quite clear, I weighed the two of them and I said this nation stands a better chance under Buhari. And what has been coming out now? Look at all that has been coming out? Look at the figures (loot) which virtually hammer one into the ground just the sheer enormity of the robbery of this nation that is getting exposed progressively. It shows that we did not make a bad choice.”

When asked if he was completely satisfied with Buhari’s six months in office, Soyinka said, “Not totally but Buhari has proven that there is such a thing as a born again democrat.”

Asked his opinion of the recent pro-Biafran agitations, Soyinka said there was a need for the government to meet with pro-Biafran groups to understand the real problem.

The playwright said the government should convoke a fresh National Conference which would address the feelings of pro-Biafran elements.

The octogenarian said the government could not wish away with idea of Biafra because ideas could not be killed.

He said the government should treat the matter dispassionately as there was nothing evil about secession. He noted that Nigeria even ceded the Bakassi peninsula to Cameroun.

Soyinka said, “So, let us sit down, let us talk once again about restructuring the nation in a way that no one will want to leave. The agitations, for me, are not surprising. It was expected that it would happen sooner or later.

“So, I am referring to a genuine and authentic National Conference. Not like the one that former President Olusegun Obasanjo called which was meant to try to perpetuate himself in office.

“The one under Jonathan was extensive; it covered lots and lots of ground. It proposed some far-reaching changes, not far-reaching for me, but far-reaching. It is about time we went back to efforts like that; genuine ones like that.”

The Judicial Council in Ghana has dismissed 20 of 21 Circuit Court judges and magistrates in the judicial bribery scandal. They were investigated for misconduct after investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, filed a petition for their removal.

Following a two-year investigation, Anas petitioned the Chief Justice for the removal of 23 lower court judges on grounds of misbehaviour, pursuant to Article 151 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

Two were, however, exempted as they had been elevated to the High Court as of April 2015 and could not be removed by Article 151.

Anas’s petition was accompanied by audio-visual evidence of bribery in which the accused judges and magistrates were secretly recorded collecting bribes to pass favourable verdicts.

Following the petition, the judges came under the investigation of a disciplinary committee chaired by Supreme Court justice, Sophia Adinyira and including two past presidents of the Ghana Bar Association, Frank Beecham and Nene Amegatcher; Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, Brigadier General Edward Fiawoo and Justice Elizabeth Ankumah of the High Court.

At a press conference on Monday, December 7, the Judicial Council announced some of the judges and magistrates were removed with end of service benefits and some others dismissed without any benefit.

It explained that those removed with benefits were remorseful when they appeared before the committee and apologized profusely to the people of Ghana for bringing the judiciary’s name into disrepute by their conduct.

No To Social Media Bill … Protesters are currently marching from Unity Fountain to the National Assembly Complex, Abuja to voice out their anger on the social media bill being sponsored by the senate

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday assured Nigerians that he would not assent to any legislation that is inconsistent with the nation’s constitution.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President said this in his reaction to the public outcry currently trailing the Social Media Bill being debated in the Senate.

Shehu quoted the President as restating his administration’s commitment to the protection of free speech in keeping with democratic tradition.

He said since Buhari had sworn to defend the constitution of Nigeria, he would not lend his hand to anything that was inconsistent with the constitution.

He said the President was fully aware of the public reservations about the proposed legislation, but assured Nigerians that ‘’there is no cause for alarm, because the Senate is a democratic Senate. The President won’t assent to any legislation that may be inconsistent with the constitution of Nigeria.”

The presidential spokesman however added that Buhari was not against lawful regulation that was done in consonance with the law.

“But he (the President) is not averse to lawful regulation, so long as that is done within the ambit of the constitution which he swore to uphold,” he added.

Shehu further quoted Buhari as saying that free speech was central to democratic societies anywhere in the world and that without free speech, elected representatives would not be able to gauge public feelings and moods about governance issues.

“As a key component of democratic principles, the President acknowledged that people in democratic societies are so emotionally attached to free speech that they would defend it with all their might,” he added.

A nigerian Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu has quashed the election of Uche Ekwunife of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in response to an appeal filed by Victor Umeh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).Uche Ekwunife

A lead judgement read by Justice Datijo Yahaya stated that the election of Mrs Ekwunife on April 11, 2015, did not meet the prescription of the electoral act.

The judge then ordered that fresh election is held in the Anambra Central Senatorial District within 90 days.

The new Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, officially commenced his reign on the throne on Monday following his receipt of staff of office from Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State at exactly 1:50 pm.

This makes him the 51st paramount ruler of Ile Ife, succeeding Oba Sijuwade who died in a London hospital on July 28, 2015

A brief statement issued from the Governor’s office on Monday noted that the kingmakers of Ife had completed all required processes and had communicated the choice of Prince Ogunwusi to the Governor for approval.

While presenting the staff of office to the newly-installed monarch, Aregbesola urged him to collaborate with the other chiefs and mobilise the people for the development of the ancient kingdom during his reign.

Oba Ogunwusi emergence as king came after a prolonged contest enmeshed in controversy. Before now, he was a prince from the Giesi Ruling House of the town.