ABUJA – President Muhammadu Buhari is set to swear in the newly appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Engr. Babachir David Lawal.

The event which would be held at the presidential villa, Abuja any time soon will also include other newly appointed presidential aides.

It will be recalled that the President last week Thursday, appointed into offices – Babachir David Lawal as Chief of Staff to the President; Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd.) as new Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service; Mr. Kure Martin Abeshi, Comptroller-General, Nigerian Immigration Service; Senator Ita S.J. Enang as SSA to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) and Hon. Suleiman A. Kawu as SSA to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives).

ABUJA—The Department of State Services, DSS, said yesterday that it had arrested notable commanders and front line members of the notorious Islamic sect, Boko Haram, from different parts of the country, especially, those responsible for the coordination and execution of the suicide attacks in Potiskum, Kano, Zaria and Jos.

DSS, in a statement by Tony Opuiyo, said a number of the terrorists were also arrested in Lagos, Kano, Plateau, Enugu and Gombe states, following re-strategized counter-terrorism measures deployed to combat the menace of insurgency in Nigeria.

DSS noted that the group’s new pattern of movement and spread is necessitated by the pressure being put on them in their core areas of strength in the North-East.

The services gave the names of masterminds of suicide attacks in Potiskum, Kano, Zaria and Jos, currently in its custody to include, Usman Shuaibu, alias Money; Ahmed Mohammed, alias Abubakar; Adamu Abdullahi, alias Babpa; Ibrahim Isa, alias Mohammed Sani, and Muttaqa Yusuf, alias Mudtaka.

Confessions

According to the statement, “during interrogation, Usman Shuaibu revealed that he coordinated the attacks under reference with N500,000, which was provided by his Amir, one Isa Ali.

It said: “He claimed that the said Isa Ali has links to the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, from where he collects funds for operations undertaken by their Markaz. Also, he revealed that he had participated in several Boko Haram attacks, including the attacks at Gwoza Divisional Police Station in 2014.

“Shuaibu admitted being the leader of the team of nine sect members that was dispatched from Sambisa Forest to carry out the attacks. He disclosed that four out of the nine members were used as suicide bombers.

“Another suspect, Ahmed Mohammed, who is an improvised explosives devices, IEDs, expert, confessed to the preparation of the IEDs used for the attacks. He also averred that he (Abubakar) was the one who strapped the suicide bombers, notably Sule and his wives, with IED vests, which they used in the attacks in Jos.

“Adamu Abdullahi has confessed that Usman Shuaibu motivated him to work closely with Mohammed in the preparation of the IEDs used in the attacks under reference.”

Ibrahim Isa, DSS said, confessed that he was the one who carried out reconnaissance on the targets in Jos ahead of the attacks.

Muttaqa Yusuf, in his confession, disclosed that one Aliyu, believed to be Aliyu Gombe, in Sambisa Forest, was the one that ordered the serial attacks which the syndicate carried out. He further confessed that he assisted Usman Shuaibu in planning and executing the said attacks.

Arrested in Lagos

Other terrorists suspects arrested by the service include Bakura Modu, arrested on July 20 at Kara, Isheri Berger, Ikeja LGA, Lagos State; Mustapha Alli Jamneri, arrested on July 24, at Gowon Estate, Egbeda, Alimosho LGA, Lagos State; and Abuyi Sherriff, arrested on August 7, at Ebute-Meta, Lagos Mainland LGA, Lagos State.

Others are Babagana Ali and Babagana Koloye, who were arrested on August 7, at Eric Moore, Bode Thomas Street, Surulere LGA, Lagos State; Abba Modu Sagma, arrested on August 9, at Ijora Badiya, Apapa LGA, Lagos State.

Grema Abubakar and Tijani Bagudu were arrested on August 10, at Amukoko, Ijora Badiya, Apapa LGA, Lagos State; and Baba Alhaji and Abass Ibrahim, arrested earlier on the same day, at Alaba International Market, Alaba, Ojo LGA, Lagos State.

Enugu, Kano

Also in the custody of DSS were Ibrahim Audu, who was arrested on August 19, at New Artisan Market, Enugu, Enugu State, and 30-year-old Ibrahim Haruna from Kanawa village, Sumaila LGA, Kano State, who was arrested on August 21, at Kwomi village, Kwami LGA, Gombe State.

Mal Ali Mohammodu, a 33-year-old suspect, was arrested on August 22, at Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Fagga LGA in Kano State, and Adam Wakil Abdul Jilbe, arrested on August 23, at Obanikoro Area, Mushin LGA, Lagos State. Mohammed Usman was arrested on August 25 at Atuashe Estate, Gbagada, Kosofe LGA, Lagos State.

DSS said: “Nigerians and indeed the general public have to note that the arrest of Usman Shuaibu, alias Money, and the core members of his cell, stemmed the spate of bombings by the extremist sect.

“Money and his group were arrested on their way to Bauchi State, to execute another bomb attack.

“Furthermore, the sudden influx of Boko Haram members into Lagos State points to the determination of the sect to extend its activities to  other parts of the country.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has commenced a full investigation into the activities of the immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

It was learnt on Sunday that the commission constituted a four-member committee of crack detectives to probe all the NNPC accounts which were supervised by the former minister.

It was learnt that the committee was led by a Superintendent of Police, who was seconded to the commission.

Investigations revealed that the other three members of the committee were pioneer civilian operatives of the commission with high capacity for investigation.

According to a document, which was obtained from the Presidency on Saturday, the deal, which is now a subject of investigation, was allegedly carried out by Jonathan; his Chief Security Officer, Mr. Gordon Obuah; and Alison-Madueke.

The fund was said to have been withdrawn from one of the numerous accounts of the NNPC.

The $6.9m (about N1.37bn) was said to have been withdrawn for the purpose of buying three pieces of 40-feet mobile stages for use by Jonathan during the campaign.

Besides the latest allegation, it will be recalled that a group, Crusader for Good Governance, had petitioned the EFCC accusing the former minister of squandering million of dollars of public funds to charter private jets.

The petitioners also accused her of spending $300,000 on an average international trip.

The group also alleged that the NNPC, a government agency she oversaw, maintained a Challenger 850 Visa jet which serves the former minister’s needs as well as those of her family. The cost of running the jet is $500,000 per month.

She was also accused of going to a meeting of the Oil Producing and Exporting Countries in Austria in a private jet.

It was gathered on Sunday that the committee set up by the EFCC had since commenced probing the NNPC accounts and activities of the former minister.

A top operative of the EFCC, who confided in The PUNCH, said, “I think the commission has commenced investigation into this Diezani issue. It is not just about inviting her, the commission has set up a four-man team of crack detectives to investigate her operations in the NNPC.

“The terms of reference of the committee include to look into all the NNPC accounts which were under the supervision of Mrs. Alison-Madueke.

“The committee has since commenced work; they are still working. I think a very senior police officer, a Police Superintendent, is leading the other operatives in the probe of Diezani and multiple accounts of the NNPC.” The source said.

When our correspondent contacted the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, on the activities of the EFCC Special Committee on the NNPC, the calls to his mobile telephone line did not connect.

But Uwujaren had earlier said that he was not aware if the commission had commenced a probe into the allegation that $6.9m was spent on campaign stages.

Uwujaren said that he had not been briefed on any such investigation.

“I am not aware of such a probe; I have not been briefed on such a probe,” he said.

Meanwhile, Obuah has denied the allegation of purchase of three mobile stages, costing $6.9m, for public appearance of the then President.

Obuah, who spoke through his lawyer, Mr. Andrew Tsekiri, in a telephone conversation with one of our correspondents on Sunday, said the allegation was false and challenged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to produce evidence instead of putting him on trial in the media.

Tsekiri said his client had been confronted with the allegation while in the detention of the Department of State Services, which he said investigated it and found it to be untrue.

The lawyer said, “Let me tell you, nothing like that exists. Obuah did not make demand for that money for any stage. Let them show to Nigerians evidence that he took the money. When Obuah was in their (DSS) detention, they investigated this particular matter and found out that it was false.

“He was confronted with the allegation. Mr. Obuah told them that he knew nothing about it, and they found that the allegation was false. They released him, why are they bringing it up again?”

He said since the release of the former President’s CSO from the DSS detention in July, he had not been contacted over the allegation by any government agency since then.

He said, “They have investigated the allegation and they found out it was false, since then no government agency had contacted or invited Mr. Obuah.

“They should show how Diezani authorised the payment of the money and how it left Citibank to Zenith Bank, to Access Bank to Sterling Bank and they should show how it ended in Obuah’s account.”

Tsekiri said the outcome of the allegation would soon show that the Buhari Administration was not interested in governance but to frame up allegations against people.

“They are just lying against Diezani and Mr. Jonathan. That is what they are doing. Let me tell you what they want to do. They will charge Obuah to court, make all the noise about the allegation that has been published, knowing full well that the matter will not be decided in about a year or two, and by then, the public would have forgotten about it but they would have spoilt your name.”

ABUJA- FOR asking President Muhammadu Buhari to  be sincere enough and publish the reports the former administration handed over to him, the Presidency has taken a swipe at the former Ministers under the immediate past President Goodluck  Jonathan, saying they should reflect on the kind of government they handed over to the present.

According to the Presidency, the former Ministers should allow the President the peace he required  to handle the reconstruction of the economy and the nation in a manner that most serve  Nigeria’s  best interests, adding that  President Buhari does not need these types of distraction presented by the so-called association of former ministers.

In a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam  Garba Shehu, the Presidency asked the country’s latest trade union formation, the Association of Ex-Jonathan Ministers to do a bit of self-reflection on the sort of government they handed to President Muhammadu Buhari back in May to determine for themselves if it would have been right for any incoming government, not just this one to ignore the issue of the brazen theft of public assets, perhaps the first of its kind we have ever seen in this country,

” In this  regard that there is no witch hunt or malice against anyone in the pursuit of the county’s stolen assets still stand . This war against corruption knows no friend nor foe.

“There is no intention to deny anyone of their good name where they are entitled to it and that President Buhari reserves the highest regards for the country’s former leaders including Dr Jonathan Goodluck who he continues to praise to the high heavens for the way and manner in which he accepted defeat in the last election.

“That singular action remains a feat that has earned the former president and Nigeria as country befitting commendations all over the world, the latest coming from Mr Ban Ki-Moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations who visited a week ago.

“For the purpose of emphasis, the issue of fighting corruption by President Buhari is non negotiable. It is sine qua non to the overall reconstruction of the economy and social systems  which suffered  destruction and severe denigration under the last administration. President Buhari will not be deterred or blackmailed into retreat and surrender.

“No one in the PDP can accuse President Buhari of undermining the economy when all they handed over to him is at best,was  a tottering economy hobbled by corruption and the absence of due process.

“Things have become worsened by the continuing fall of oil prices, which is expected to fall even further with the imminent full return of Iran to the market. All he has been doing while around is to put things together, organizing to defeat Boko Haram, paying outstanding salaries, cleaning up the mess left behind, improving security and restoring our relationships with neighbors and the world.

“So what are former ministers afraid of in these things? Have they become a new trade union?

“Let this collection of ex-VIPs allow the President the peace he needs to handle the reconstruction of the economy and the nation in a manner that most serves Nigeria’s  best interests. President Buhari does not need these types of distraction presented by the so-called association of former ministers.”

The stage appeared set for a comprehensive probe of the nation’s power sector as the Senate declared on Friday that officials of the Federal Ministry of Power, its departments and agencies and other key players within the sector would soon appear before it.

The Chairman, Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Power, Senator Abubakar Kyari, stated this when the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, inaugurated the 14-member fact-finding panel at the National Assembly Complex.

Kyari said stakeholders in the sector from 1999 till date would be asked to provide information in order to achieve the committee’s laudable objectives.

He added that the committee would beam its searchlight on the unbundling of the power sector facilitated by the Bureau of Public Enterprises.

According to Kyari, the committee will seek inputs from the establishment on the process of privatisation as it relates to funds committed to the exercise, funds generated and the settlement of laid off staff of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

Apart from this, Kyari stressed that the committee would verify the claims of the successful bidders, their companies’ financial profiles and why they were already asking for bail out/loan facilities from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

He noted that a close look at the entire power value chain (generation, transmission and distribution) called for review of Nigeria’s policies in order to obtain optimum performances across the board.

Kyari said, “The abysmal performance of the generation segment is no longer news in view of the current deteriorating power supply which hovers around 4,600MW for a population of over 170 million people, despite the huge resources committed into it.

“The committee will beam its searchlight in this direction to put things in proper perspectives, and having realised that the transmission segment is the major linkage between the generation and distribution fronts, increasing our capacity in this direction is also very necessary, since power produced must be utilised immediately.

Kyari added that the committee would seek explanations from the management of Transmission Company of Nigeria on the terms of its management contract with the Federal Government as it relates to assets inherited, funds injected into the company and the achievement recorded.

On the distribution segment, the senator said the committee was desirous of ascertaining the level of funds committed into it before privatisation since the segment was currently solely private sector driven.

He stressed the need for vigilance as successor companies were expected to bring in investments to improve the quality of services.

However, he added that signals emanating from their activities showed that excessive profiteering had been the major determinant of their decisions.

He also said that it was on record that some of the distribution companies reject power load allocations to reduce cost.

He said their metering system of the distribution companies calls for a fundamental review, since the emphasis had been on estimated billings and imposition of fixed charges for services not rendered.

Kyari said, “There have been a lot of unwholesome practices by some of these companies, the committee has to get down to the root of these problems especially where provisions have been made in the past through appropriation, prior to privatisation and funds were not properly utilised.

“We must find out what has brought us to this sorry state. The National Integrated Power Project was designed to fast-track the improvement of electricity supply nationwide, hence it was involved in project implementation across the gamut of the power chain.

“However, some of the power plants built have not been able to contribute meaningfully to the power generation through the National Grid.

“The resources committed to these projects are enormous and the committee, in keeping with its mandate, would be seeking answers in order to chart the way forward.”

However, Saraki asked the committee to work towards the resolution of all the challenges currently facing the sector, stressing that the country’s economic woes could only be addressed when the power sector was fully functional.

He said the immediate concern of the 8th Senate was to use every legislative instrument at its disposal to ensure that “light replaces the darkness” in the country.

Saraki said, “Our economy cannot be prosperous without addressing the problems of the power sector. The power sector is a key driver of the economy.”

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, on Friday assured Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari’s political appointments will balance out very soon.

Adesina spoke while featuring on a radio programme, Political Platform, on RayPower 100.5FM, monitored by our correspondent.

He was reacting to criticisms that have trailed the President’s appointments, which are believed to favour the Northern part of the country.

Adesina said the President was aware of federal character and expressed the believe that there would be balance by the time he made more appointments in September.

He assured all stakeholders that the President would keep to his promise of appointing the remaining aides and ministers ‎in September.

Adesina said, “Nobody can fault the fact that the persons appointed were appointed on merits.

“In terms of the spread, the President has prerogative to appoint  and he knows there is federal character. I am sure that there will be balance in the future. These are still early days. At the end of the day, we will have a balance.

“By the time more appointments are made, it will balance out. The President is trying to get the very best of Nigerians. The issue of key positions and no key positions should not be the issue.

“He gave a deadline of September for the appointment of ministers ‎and he will keep to it.”

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation on Thursday said it had reduced the number of crude oil off-takers for the proposed 2015/2016 term contract from 43 to 16.

It said the move was part of measures to optimise the marketing of the nation’s crude oil and secure new market potential.

The corporation, in a statement signed by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, said, “In a novel move to instill transparency and probity in the award of the annual crude oil term contract, the NNPC has mapped out measures to execute the 2015/2016 award of contract to companies for the evacuation of Nigeria’s crude oil equity from the various crude and condensate production arrangements.”

It said, “In the days ahead, we shall place advertisement for the 2015/2016 term contracts and the publication will run for one month in major national and international print media to ensure effective message penetration. Later, the guidelines for the selection of new off-takers would be published and subsequently a special bid evaluation committee would be constituted to conduct due diligence on successful applicants.”

The nation sells its oil through annual term contracts awarded by the NNPC to a list of companies, both local and international and the firms are then eligible to buy crude throughout the year.

The list of the 2014-2015 crude oil term contracts, which was released in April last year and expanded in June, showed 28 Nigerian firms among the 43 winners.

The Senate on Thursday commenced investigation into the alleged unauthorised spending of N567bn being the cost of tax collected by the Nigerian Customs Service and the Federal Inland Revenue Service from January 2005 to July 2015.

A non-governmental organisation, Legislative Watch, dragged the two Federal Government agencies to the Senate through a petition that was sent to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on 13 August, 2015.

The Senate, thereafter, referred the petition to its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

A document from the Federal Ministry of Finance, presented to the committee by the petitioner, indicated that the average monthly collection cost of the NCS was N2.5bn which put the total amount not remitted by NCS for 126 months (January 2005 to July 2015) at N315bn.

Defending the petition before the committee, the Executive Secretary of Legislative Watch, Ngozi Ihuoma, alleged that the amount represented the seven per cent cost of tax collection paid to the NCS and the four per cent also paid to the FIRS during the period.

The group alleged that the two agencies deducted the money from the amount collected on behalf of the Federal Government without appropriation by the National Assembly, contrary to the provisions of the constitution.

Specifically, Ihuoma claimed that the action of the agencies’ management was against sections 162 (3) and 165 of the Constitution.

He said the group explained that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in 2004, approved the payment of seven per cent to the NCS and four per cent to the FIRS as cost of collection in line with Section 165 of the 1999 Constitution.

He said, “We have observed that deduction of the cost of collection started in January 2005 and the two agencies have been receiving the said percentages without appropriation from the National Assembly.”

*Decision taken within 10 days in office
*DPR feigns ignorance

The companies were selected from about 285 applications that were screened for the purpose.

Modular refineries are mini-refineries with capacities ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 barrels per day, bpd, which can be assembled and separated easily for enhanced performance and efficiency.

The decision to award Licence to Establish, LTE, which was taken within 10 days of his assuming office in June, may not be unconnected with his desire to see the increase in domestic refining capacity to meet local demand, thereby reducing huge import bills for subsidy.

Although the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, the industry regulator, feigned ignorance of the development, one of the beneficiary companies confirmed to Vanguard that the measure is also meant to cushion the impact of crashing oil prices at the international market.

The shock is not only in the period the approvals were given, but also in the numbers granted considering the fact that 18 LTEs were granted in 2002, but only one of them had come on stream with just 1,000 barrels per day, bpd, capacity.

The refinery is operated by Niger Delta Petroleum Resources, NDPR, which produces only automotive gas oil, AGO, popularly called diesel.

How approvals were granted

Chief Executive officer of the beneficiary company, who spoke in confidence, said the number was not unilateral, but “the mop up of all applications for private refining since 2007.”

He admitted that the process took a period of six months, dating back to former President, Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, adding “the process was rigorous as they looked at many issues including, land, investment, technical competence, design and a host of many others.”

He added that licences were offered on a two-year tenure, after which it will elapse, and that “the beauty of these awards is that there was no lobbying, as the whole exercise followed due process.”

In his opinion, there is nothing wrong with the high number of awardees, arguing that “for a country like Nigeria, the more in-country capacity, the better for us, because in a falling oil price regime, the more you refine, the more value you add and the more revenue you earn from your crude.”

DPR guidelines
A top management staff of DPR, when contacted, simply told Vanguard on telephone: “I am not aware of any such huge approval.”

When prodded further, he added: “What I know is that DPR recently released guidelines for the establishment of refineries, and we had road shows in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja, to sensitise investors.”

Ordinarily, there are three levels of approval for setting up private greenfield (new) or modular refineries in the country.

They are Approval to Establish, LTE; Approval to Construct, ATC, and Licence to Operate, LTO.

An investor must overcome the requirements in each level of approval before proceeding to the next, as shown in the guidelines.
DPR had explained that the guidelines for the establishment of modular refineries in Nigeria was configured with the aim of shortening the approval time for licensing of refineries.

To woo investors to the project, DPR also reduced the licensing fee for new refineries from $1 million to $50,000. Government is desirous of refining at least 50 percent of its crude output in-country, not only to reduce import dependence, but also be an exporter of refined petroleum products.

Challenges
Also confirming the development, a petroleum expert from the Emerald Energy Institute, University of Port Harcourt, Profesor Chijioke Nwaozuzu, said he was more concerned with the challenges for establishing such refineries.

According to him, such challenges are tied to political, land, funding, crude feedstock and market availability.

He said: “These refineries are going to be located mainly in the Niger Delta, and the state governments may want to get involved because it is a high revenue earner, which grants only 28 days credit cycle.

“Also, refinery requires huge land, and there may be issues with acquisition from the land owners and to cap it all, refinery of any capacity requires huge capital. You need at least $30,000 per barrel, which is a huge sum even for a 1,000kbpd refinery.”

Feedstock… as in power sector

Furthermore, he noted that if Federal Government does not guarantee feedstock for those who complete the approval cycle, Nigeria may have a repeat of what happened with the initial 18 licences granted in the past.

Nwaozuzu, urged government to guarantee feedstock to the refineries, as it is doing with the existing 445,000 combined capacity four refineries, in addition to also guaranteeing the off-take of the products for the local market.

He noted that “if there is no guaranteed market, we will face a similar situation like what is happening in the power sector, where meter manufactures have manufactured millions of meters, but the distribution companies refused to take them.”

Also, in the area of funding, he noted that “some modular refining equipment manufacturers in the US can partner with the licencees by contributing their equipment as equity investment in the project, while some can work with the US Export-Import, EXIM, Bank to finance their equipment.

“However, the bank will need government collateral or guarantees.”

… on incentives

Against this backdrop, he urged government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to provide such collaterals for ease of take off for the refineries.

Besides these guarantees, he suggested other incentives to boost the modular refining operations to include guarantee of 100 percent crude oil feedstock for all refiners for at least 10 years; discounted price of crude oil for domestic consumption; a minimum of 60 days credit for each cargo of crude oil, at least for the first five years of operations; supply of crude feedstock should commence as soon as DPR can certify mechanical completion of each new plant.

Others are guarantee of 100 percent refined products off-take by government (NNPC); government guarantee of foreign loans for domestic companies wishing to set up refineries; plants should be granted tax exemption for at least three years from date of commencement of operations;plants should be exempt from import and export duties and value-added tax, VAT, for at least five years; plants should enjoy accelerated capital allowance of about 95 percent and the percentage of assessable profit for the purpose of capital allowance recovery should be 70 percent at most.

Experts’ views

Other industry experts also noted that “these mini-refineries will not only reduce or even eliminate Nigeria’s dependency on imported products, subsidy and traffic congestion, it will also revive the local economy, make roads to last longer and be safer, and return Nigeria to exporting refined petroleum products.”

They added that such refineries are already in operation in many countries of the world, including Africa.
One of them said: “While Senegal runs one with a 27,000bpd capacity, Cameroon has one with 42,600bpd; Congo, 21,000bpd; Niger Republic, 20,000bpd; Chad, 20,000bpd; Zambia, 34,000bpd, and Gabon, 25,000bpd.”

Besides, they pointed out that “a few African countries are refining to meet their needs through the regular and modular refinery models.

“Apart from oil-producing countries like Algeria and Libya, which refine 499,000bpd and 380,000bpd, respectively, South Africa and Egypt also do same with 626,500bpd and 1,102,550bpd, respectively.”

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Thursday said it had apprehended another employee of Arik Air, Ikechukwu Chibuzor Oliver, for his alleged involvement in the smuggling of 20kg cocaine to London on Monday.

According to the NDLEA, Oliver had confessed to the crime and had revealed that he charged N400,000 for each of the three bags containing the substance.

Oliver, Arik Air’s employee in the catering department, was said to have assisted Chika Egwu Udensi to get the cocaine on board the London-bound Flight W3101 on which Udensi arrived in the UK on Monday night.

Udensi, a senior flight attendant with the airline was arrested with the substance by the UK Border Force at the Heathrow Airport, London, shortly after the Airbus A330 landed.

The NDLEA, in a statement, said 35 years old Oliver, who is a catering loader at Arik, was found to have subverted airport security by concealing cocaine in catering supplies.

The statement by the anti-narcotics agency’s spokesman, Mitchell Ofoyeju, indicated that preliminary investigation had revealed that both Oliver and Udensi had been infiltrated by a suspected drug cartel.

Ofoyeju said Oliver had told narcotic investigators that he was brought into the illicit drug deal by Udensi.

The NDLEA’s statement quoted Oliver to have said, “It was Chika that introduced me into the drug deal. Whenever Chika gives me the drug, I will hide it in catering supplies. Chika knows where to collect the drug inside the flight. They pay me N400,000 per bag. I was expecting N1.2m for the three bags that I smuggled into the aircraft.”

The statement added,“The 20kg of cocaine found with Chika in London was concealed within the construction of laptop bags. The quantity and estimated street value of the cocaine is over N100m.

“The latest Range Rover (Land Rover) car belonging to the prime suspect parked on the airline’s premises had been moved to the NDLEA office as exhibit.

“As part of investigation, the rented apartment of Chika on Pastor Ojediran Street Ejigbo, Lagos was searched by operatives of the NDLEA. He lives there with the mother and siblings while his wife and children are based in Canada.”

Oliver hails from the Isialagwa North Local Government Area of Abia State. The graduate of Business Administration was employed by Arik Air in 2009.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Ahmadu Giade, has directed that, henceforth, all airport workers must be extensively screened.

Giade said, “The agency has taken drastic measures to avert infiltration of airport workers by criminal syndicates. Airline officials and airport workers shall be subjected to comprehensive search. The NDLEA will resist any act capable of undermining security at all entry and exit points.”

The NDLEA boss stressed that all catering trucks, luggage trucks, aviation fuel tankers, machines and personnel whose duty directly or indirectly related to the tarmac and flight operations would be subjected to full screening.

Following Udensi’s arrest, operatives of the agency had on Wednesday besieged and occupied his Lagos house. The NDLEA stormed the house after they had interrogated pilots and flight attendants in the flight that left the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye, a historian who served as Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States, has died in Washington, DC, SaharaReporters just learned.
Mr. Adefuye died at a yet to be disclosed hospital in the US, a source in the US told our correspondent.

Mr. Adefuye was recalled to Nigeria after President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in as President. He was still waiting to hand over to a new ambassador when he suddenly died today.

A former professor of history, Mr. Adefuye was in 2010 appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan as Nigeria’s ambassador in the US. An outspoken person and fierce defender of Nigeria, the deceased diplomat tackled critics of Nigeria in the US. He vociferously lobbied against Nigeria’s classification as “a country of interest” in America’s terrorism watch list.

Mr. Adefuye hailed from Ijebu-Igbo in 1947, and studied at the University of Ibadan where he earned his first degree in 1969 as well as a PhD in history in 1973. He also received a Fulbright Fellowship that enabled him to do research work at Columbia University, the University of North Florida, and the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Ambassador Adefuye, who wrote several history texts, taught at the University of Lagos, earning a professorship and heading the History Department 1985 to 1987.

Prior to his appointment to Nigeria’s Embassy in Washington, DC, Mr. Adefuye served as his country’s ambassador to Jamaica (where he was concurrently accredited to Haiti and Belize) from 1987 to 1991. In 1991, he was appointed Nigeria’s Deputy High Commissioner in the U.K., leaving to work for fourteen years as a Deputy Director at the Commonwealth. On leaving the Commonwealth, the former professor accepted a position as an advisor at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Thursday condoled with Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State over the passage of his foster father, Malam Yahaya Hamza. This was contained in a statement issued by Ambode’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib Aruna and made available to newsmen in Lagos.
Ambode, according to the statement, urged Gov. El-Rufai to take solace in the fact that the late Hamza lived a fulfilled life. He noted that Hamza rose to the pinnacle in the Kaduna State Civil Service, where he served as the Secretary to the State Government. Ambode said that he also served as Chairman of the Council of the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) from 1997 to 2000.
”I condole with you and the people of Kaduna State in this trying time. Take solace in the fact that Malam Hamza lived a fulfilled life and you’re a product of that fulfillment. ”On behalf of the good people of Lagos State, accept my heartfelt condolence on this irreparable loss. May his gentle soul rest in peace, ” he said.
The late Malam Hamza, 80, who was a renowned educationist and former Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education, died in the late hours of Tuesday during a brief illness. He was buried on Wednesday in accordance with Muslim rites.

The Managing Director of the Nigeria Sovereign  Investment Authority, NSIA,  Mr. Uche Orji, has expressed shock over the allegation by Edo State  governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, that N140 billion was spent on the consultancy for the Second Niger Bridge.

The MD disclosed in Abuja, yesterday, that only $2.21 million dollars (about N340 million, using the then exchange rate of N154/$1) was spent on the consultancy for that project.

this on-going controversy may put the construction of a Second Niger Bridge on hold until the integrity of the bridge is sorted out, the Federal Government said, yesterday.

Reasons ranging from the actual cost of the bridge, non- issuance of the Certificate of Compliance, non-compensation of the host community and non- adherence to due process in the award of the contract were also responsible for the stoppage.

The  Director-General of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, ICRC, Aminu Diko disclosed this after a private meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The DG, while briefing State House Correspondent, stated that the bridge was one of the issues discussed at the meeting.

Noting the importance of the road that linked the South East and South West, Diko, however, asked the people to be patient with the government.

He said: “The Second Niger Bridge is one of the projects that we discussed with the President. We did say it is in the commission for regulatory oversight. We have been discussing the transaction with the Ministry of Works. But before it can be finalized, the commissioner has to give a Certificate of Compliance, but we have not even done that because we have seen a lot of issues that we are uncomfortable with. We are talking with the Ministry of Works for them to correct them.

“The communities around that area are clamouring that their lands have been taken and that they have not been compensated adequately. As a matter of fact, we got a letter from Onitsha Traditional Council complaining that they have not been adequately represented in this transaction.

“We  are not saying that something has not been done properly, but we need to be convinced that these few problems are sorted properly.

“We will also talk about the actual cost of the bridge, eventually we have asked the ministry of works to review it and justify how much the project should cost. For the Second Niger Bridge, there will be a lot of studies that need to be done on the integrity of the bridge itself which will take time. It is not something we can see being completed in the next six months.

“I will like us to be patient about it. We know that it is a critical road. We also know how Nigerians suffer during festive holidays and we hear people sleep on that old bridge. The time has come for us to bring succour Nigerians.”

Present status of the bridge

Asked to comment on the president status of the bridge, the DG said he was not in the know. “I have no idea about the status of the project. What I need to tell Nigerians is that PPPs take a long time to mature. There is a difference between the project which you have money in your pocket  or in your account and you just bring it out and tell somebody to go and do it.

“But when it is PPP transaction, you first engage a number of people. You have bankers, lawyers, engineers. They all collaborate to form consultancy for that transaction,” he said.

Initial  cost of project -$700m

According to the NSIA Managing Director, Mr. Uche Orji, the cost of consultancy for the Second Niger Bridge was less than one per cent of the cost of the project which was way below global standards.

A document he made available to Vanguard, yesterday, indicated that “the project was initially estimated to cost N108billion excluding duties and VAT, (if duties and VAT are included, the project cost is N117.9billion). This was equivalent to $700million at the then prevailing exchange rate of N154/$. The final project cost would naturally be affected by exchange rate fluctuations and other variables.

“Total consultancy services cost so far is less than one per cent of the estimated project cost. Whilst there is no standardized benchmark for transaction costs, the European Investment Bank’s Economic and Financial Report No. 3 of 2005, indicates that, on the average, the level of transaction cost for the procurement phase of PPP projects is over 10 per cent of the capital value of the relevant project in Ireland, the Netherlands,Portugal, and the United Kingdom,” Mr. Orji said.

The MD said that NSIA’s technical consultants on the project were instrumental in value engineering of the project and reducing the initial cost to the current level.

He said that NSIA had put in place a multi-stage approval process for all disbursements, under which all payments involving construction are made only after approval by a third-party engineering firm, which matches work completed against amounts due.

Mr. Orji said that the Federal government made a commitment of N30 billion out of which it had released N18.3billion so far of which N10.4billion had been disbursed on early construction works.

According to him, “the NSIA assembled a team of Nigerian and international advisers with proven capabilities and global experience in PPP infrastructure projects to ensure the project got first-class advisory services. These consultants were engaged through a rigorous and competitive procurement process.”

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dan Abia, yesterday denied the allegation that N183.7 billion was missing from the commission’s account.

A special periodic check report of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation claimed that N183.7 billion was mismanaged by the commission.

The Auditor-General of the Federation, Samuel Ukura, insisted the report was correct and directed those not satisfied to be prepared to defend their position before the National Assembly.

But briefing State House correspondents after leading top officials of the commission to meet President Muhammadu Buhari, Abia denied the claim.

According to him, he was not the commission’s  managing director during the period the auditor general referred to.

He said his hands were clean and he would defend the allegation with available records from the commission

He said: “It is only proper that we should come and brief the President. I requested to meet Mr. President in my capacity as the managing director of NDDC; I was not summoned as reported in the media.

“We briefed the President on our mandate. As far as the audited account of the NDDC is concerned, how many of us know that the audited account under reference refers to 2008 to 2012. I was not the managing director then. Let’s get that fact clear.

“The second one on not having no assets I don’t know from when to when. On principle, I came to brief Mr President.

“Let me assure you that even by the admission of the auditor general, no N180 billion is missing. Because Advanced Payment Guarantee (APG) as you know is governed by advanced payment directives.

“The Office of the Auditor General is a government agency, whatever clarification, we shall engage the office and proper records will be strengthened. I told the President no N180b is missing.

“Let me also tell you that I cannot be a party to contract splitting. NDDC is a unique institution, we have a budgeting process. Those people that are now crying, where were they when NDDC was not having project up till the end of the year?”

President Muhamadu Buhari has approved a tendering process for the 2015/2016 Crude Oil Term Contract and the evacuation of Nigeria’s crude oil equity from the various crude and condensate production arrangements.

The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which announced the presidential approval, said it will begin with the advertisement of the Crude Oil Term contract in both National and International print media for one month.

The new arrangement has been “carefully structured to weed out briefcase companies and rent seekers,” a statement by the Corporation last night said.

The NNPC confirmed the cancellation of crude oil swap contracts as well as Offshore Processing Agreement Contracts (OPA), which the corporation entered with traders under the previous administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The corporation announced new measures aimed at cost reduction and strengthening of operational efficiency across its value chain.

It said after proper evaluation and in line with the terms of contract for the delivery of crude oil to the refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna, it cancelled the current contract due to exorbitant cost and inappropriate process of engagement.

The Corporation noted that as a stop-gap measure, NIDAS Marine Limited, a subsidiary of the NNPC has been engaged to provide crude delivery service on negotiated industry standard rate pending the establishment of substantive contract.

The statement signed by Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ohi Alegbe added: “We have also commenced a rigorous and transparent process of securing capable and competitive contractors for the delivery of crude oil by marine vessels to Port Harcourt and Warri/Kaduna Refineries pending the restoration of the Crude Pipeline infrastructure.”

The NNPC said it resorted to the delivery of crude oil to the refineries by marine vessels following incessant attacks on the Bonny-Port Harcourt refinery pipeline and the Escravos crude pipelines by vandals and oil thieves resulting in the complete unavailability of the pipelines in 2013.

The corporation also said the OPA contracts it entered in January 2015 with three companies, namely- Duke Oil Company Inc., Aiteo Energy Resources Limited and Sahara Energy Resources (Nig) Ltd, has been cancelled because it was “skewed in favour of the companies.”

Under the agreement NNPC allocates a total of 210, 000 barrels of crude oil per day for refining at offshore locations in exchange for petroleum products at pre-agreed yield pattern.

“However after detailed appraisal of the operation and its terms of agreement, the NNPC is convinced that the current OPA is skewed in favour of the company’s such that the value of product delivered is significantly lower than the equivalent crude oil allocated for the programme,’’ the Corporation said.

The NNPC also observed that the structure of the agreement does not guarantee unimpeded supply of petroleum products as delivery terms were not optimal.

To address these lapses, the NNPC said that it had commenced the process of establishing alternative OPA based on optimum yield pattern with tender processing fees.

“After due appraisal of performance trajectory, we have invited Messrs. Oando, Sahara Energy, Calson, MRS, Duke Oil, BP/Nigermed and Total Trading to bid for the new Offshore Processing Agreement while we have engaged AITEO, Sahara Energy and Duke Oil to exit the current OPA,’’ the NNPC stated.

On the status of the Crude for product exchange agreement (SWAP) reportedly entered into by the NNPC and some oil traders, the corporation informed that the last SWAP arrangement lapsed in December, 2014 and was never renewed.

…Okays seven firms for fresh bids 

THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has cancelled contracts for supply of oil to refineries among other steps aimed at boosting operational efficiency.

General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ohi Alegbe, in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday said the new measures would strengthen the corporation across its value chain.

He added that the steps were taken after proper evaluation in line with the terms of contract for delivery of crude oil to the nation’s refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna, after which the corporation cancelled the current contract due to exorbitant cost and inappropriate process of engagement.

It noted that, as a stop-gap measure, NIDAS Marine Limited, a subsidiary of the NNPC, has been engaged to provide crude delivery service on negotiated industry standard rate pending the establishment of substantive contract. “We have also commenced a rigorous and transparent process of securing capable and competitive contractors for the delivery of crude oil by marine vessels to Port Harcourt and Warri/Kaduna refineries, pending the restoration of the crude pipeline infrastructure,” the corporation stated.

The NNPC explained that it resorted to the delivery of crude oil to the refineries by marine vessels following incessant attacks on the Bonny-Port Harcourt refinery pipeline and the Escravos crude pipelines by vandals and oil thieves, which resulted in complete unavailability of the pipelines in 2013.

It also announced the termination of the Offshore Processing Agreements (OPA) entered into in January 2015 with three companies, namely- Duke Oil Company Inc., Aiteo Energy Resources Limited and Sahara Energy Resources (Nig) Ltd.

Under the agreement, NNPC allocates a total of 210, 000 barrels of crude oil per day for refining at offshore locations in exchange for petroleum products at pre-agreed yield pattern.

It added: “However, after detailed appraisal of the operation and its terms of agreement, the NNPC is convinced that the current OPA is skewed in favour of the companies such that the value of product delivered is significantly lower than the equivalent crude oil allocated for the programme.”

NNPC also observed that the structure of the agreement does not guarantee unimpeded supply of petroleum products, as delivery terms were not optimal.

To address these lapses, NNPC hinted that it has commenced the process of establishing alternative OPA based on optimum yield pattern with tender processing fees. “After due appraisal of performance trajectory, we have invited Messrs.

Oando, Sahara Energy, Calson, MRS, Duke Oil, BP/Nigermed and Total Trading to bid for the new Offshore Processing Agreement while we have engaged AITEO, Sahara Energy and Duke Oil to exit the current OPA,” it explained.

On the status of the crude for product exchange agreement (SWAP) reportedly entered into by the NNPC and some oil traders, the corporation informed that the last SWAP arrangement lapsed in December 2014 and was never renewed.

The NNPC also informed that it has obtained the permission of President Muhammadu Buhari to kick-start the tendering process for the 2015/2016 Crude Oil Term Contract for the evacuation of Nigeria’s crude oil equity from the various crude and condensate production arrangements.

The Corporation noted that the process, which would commence with the advertisement of the Crude Oil Term contract in both National and International print media for a period of one month, has been carefully structured to weed out ‘briefcase companies’ and rent seekers.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Wednesday stormed and occupied the Lagos house of Chika Egwu Udensi, a crew member of the Arik Air flight W3101, who was arrested with 20 kilogrammes of cocaine at the London Heathrow Airport.

The NDLEA moved to the house after they had interrogated pilots and flight attendants of the flight that left the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos for London on Monday night. The interrogation lasted for several hours at the NDLEA head office in Lagos.

It was gathered that soon after the interrogation, the NDLEA moved to the suspect’s house in the Ejigbo area of Lagos State.

A source, who did not say if there were occupants in the house, told one of our correspondents that the NDLEA men were “currently occupying the house, and we will not leave here until we get all the evidence that we want.”

The source said, ‘We are investigating if he has other property in Lagos or elsewhere. Some of them (suspected drug courier) live simple lives, but have other valuables stashed everywhere. We are searching for incriminating documents.”

On the interrogation, the NDLEA in a statement said the entire crew members including some support staff that worked on the flight before it departed Lagos appeared before narcotic investigators at the Ikoyi headquarters of the agency.

They include two pilots and members of the cabin crew comprising an Australian and a South African.

The statement by the NDLEA spokesperson, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, read in part, “The invitation which was made by the agency was swiftly complied with by the management of Arik Air.

“The crew members were conveyed to the NDLEA office in an official bus belonging to Arik Air. This is part of ongoing investigation to determine their level of involvement in the smuggling of 20 kg of cocaine found with Chika Egwu Udensi, a member of the cabin crew in London.

“The latest Range Rover car belonging to the prime suspect parked on the airline’s premises had also been moved to the NDLEA office as exhibit.”

Ofoyeju also confirmed to one of our correspondents that the operatives went to the attendant’s house, adding, “Wait till tomorrow (Thursday). We will make a comprehensive statement on it.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, NDLEA, Mr. Ahmadu Giade, was said to have promised to carry out an elaborate investigation into the ongoing case, stressing that all persons involved would be exposed and prosecuted.

“The agency has made remarkable progress in it counter-narcotic efforts and will resist any act capable of reversing the gains so far recorded,” he said.

However, findings by our correspondent revealed that the NDLEA and other aviation security officials were seriously grilling an Arik staff member working in the catering department who is believed to have assisted the suspect.

Security officials, it was learnt, believed that the suspect was assisted by some staff members of Arik catering department to move the 20 kilogrammes of cocaine into the aircraft.

One of the top security officials, who spoke to our correspondent under the condition of anonymity, said, “Security officials believe strongly that the 20kgs of cocaine might have been moved into the aircraft through the Arik’s catering department. There is a prime suspect in that department that is being interrogated specially.

“Normally, staff members of the catering department carrying foods from the airline office to the aircraft are not usually screened. Officials believe the bags containing the 20kgs of cocaine may have been taken through this route.”

“The reason for this is that there is a machine that searches the cabin crew members at the airline’s office before they go to the airport terminal to board the plane. So if the suspect carried it himself, he may have been caught. A major suspect in the catering department is going through series of interrogation.”

ABUJA — THE Senate, yesterday, was palpably in disarray over the bid to probe the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over failure to remit more than N2.05 trillion, being funds recovered from corrupt former leaders.

Senators under the Unity Forum of the ruling APC kicked against the ongoing probe of Lamorde, describing the process as illegal and a breach of the Senate’s Standing Orders.

Further, Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio unsettled both the anti-graft agency and the Senate when he wrote a letter to the National Assembly leadership, dissociating himself and other PDP senators from the moves to probe Lamorde, over allegation that he diverted N1 trillion from funds recovered from corrupt officials.

There was also a dramatic twist as the Senate committee was told that Lamorde failed to remit N2.051 trillion to the federation account apart from diverting more than one trillion naira recovered by the anti-graft agency.

Defending his petition against the EFCC and Lamorde, Chief Executive Officer, Panic Alert Security Systems, PASS, Dr. George Uboh, asked the Senate to get Lamorde arrested for failing to remit the money which the EFCC recovered between 2004 and 2013.

Uboh also asked the Senate to compel Access Bank to bring complete and unadulterated statements of EFCC from 2004 till date as well as force Aminu Ibrahim and Co, (Auditors) to shed light on the discrepancies.

Coming on a day Lamorde failed to appear before the Senate’s Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee as speculated and his emissaries sent away by the committee, there was also rumpus as members of All Progressives Congress (APC) Unity Forum in the Senate kicked against the Senate committee’s probe of the EFCC chairman.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus led by Senator Godswill Akpabio had on Monday distanced itself from the exercise. Akpabio said in a four-paragraph letter, which was jointly signed by the PDP Senate caucus leaders that it was inappropriate for the Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led committee to invite Lamorde to appear before it, since such steps in the past did not produce any result.

EFCC may postpone Akpabio’s invitation over alleged graft
At the EFCC, Vanguard gathered that Akpabio’s press statement distancing the PDP caucus from Lamorde’s probe is causing confusion and EFCC’s move to probe the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State may hit the rocks.

According to records at the EFCC, Akpabio is scheduled to appear before the commission’s investigators to answer questions arising from series of petitions against him by an Abuja-based Akwa Ibom State-born lawyer, Leo Ekpenyong and Associates, that he abused his position as governor and used the proceeds to build sprawling estates in many parts of the country.

But Akpabio caused a serious problem for the EFCC and the Senate when he wrote a letter to the National Assembly leadership dissociating himself and other PDP senators from the moves to probe Lamorde, over allegation that he diverted N1 trillion from the proceeds seized from corrupt officials.

Based on Akpabio’s letter, the Senate was split over the decision to invite Lamorde while the EFCC was equally in a quandary over dropping or shifting the invitation to Akpabio to appear and answer questions based on the petition by the law firm of Leo Ekpenyong and Associates.

Although the state had denied all the allegations levelled against the former governor, the EFCC summoned Akpabio to appear before its interrogators today to clear the air on the claims against him.

Four aides of the former governor had been interrogated between Monday and last night, apparently to elicit some information to use against him today.

A top EFCC source said they were slightly confused following the letter written by Akpabio, which gave tacit support to the commission’s chairman.

The source said: “We have seen what the former governor has done and we are aware that we have invited him to answer some questions relating to his tenure but we will see how the whole thing (probe of the former governor) will go.”

Asked if the commission had written the former governor changing the date of his appearance before the interrogators, the source said that it was not a condition that the letter of invitation should be withdrawn but did not say if the Senator had objected to the date or not.

Vanguard gathered that it was based on the strength of the former governor’s letter that many top-ranking senators opposed the probe of Lamorde and gave the impetus to the chairman to shun the panelists. He only sent emissaries, who were promptly turned away by the committee.

Why we’re against Lamorde’s probe—APC Unity Forum senators

In another dramatic twist, senators under the Unity Forum of the ruling APC kicked against the ongoing probe of Lamorde, describing the process as illegal and a breach of the Senate’s Standing Orders.

In a statement by Senators George Akume, Abu Ibrahim, Barnabas Gemade and Ahmad Lawan, they said in a standard parliamentary practice, a petition is routed through either a senator or a member of the House of Representatives and when received, the representatives would inform the presiding officer of the chamber and, thereafter, present the petition in the plenary.

The statement read: “Upon presentation in plenary, the presiding officer will invite the senator/House of Representatives to lay the petition on the table in the chamber, which automatically becomes public document. Thereafter, the presiding officer will refer the petition to appropriate committee for consideration upon which it would be returned to the Senate plenary.

“In this regard, nothing of the sort happened. Senate proceeded on recess on August 13 and it is not on record that the petition of Mr. George Uboh, accusing Lamorde of diverting over N1 trillion recovered from some corrupt Nigerians, including former governor of Bayelsa State, DSP Alamieyeseigha, the former Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun was presented to Senate in plenary.

“The Senate Unity Forum do support the position earlier adopted by some of our colleagues that the Lamorde probe should be halted as it did not follow due parliamentary process. For the avoidance of doubt, Rule 41(1-3 of the Senate Standing Orders specifically spell out how petitions are handled in the parliament.

“Rule 41(1-3) states:(1) A petition may only be presented to the Senate by a Senator, who shall affix his name at the beginning thereof.

“(2) A senator presenting a petition shall confine himself to a brief statement of the parties from whom it came, the number of signatures attached to it and material allegations contained in it and to reading the prayers of such petitions.

“(3) All petition shall be ordered, without question being put, to lie upon the Table. Such petition shall be referred to the Public Petitions Committee.

“It is after these steps have been taken that the presiding officer would refer the petition to the afore-mentioned Committee.

“It should be noted that, in this case, none of the laid-down procedures was followed before the Senate Unity Forum read in the newspapers that the Senator Samuel Anyanwu -led Ethics privileges and Public Petitions Committee would on Wednesday, August 26, commence probe of EFCC chairman. We stand against this probe. It is illegal and unconstitutional because it did not follow our rules.”

Panel sitting
However, in spite of misgivings by some senators, the committee sat yesterday.

Defending his petition against the EFCC, Dr. George Uboh asked the Senate to compel Access Bank to bring complete and unadulterated statements of EFCC from 2004 till date as well as force Aminu Ibrahim and Coy (Auditors) to shed light on discrepancies.

How Lamorde allegedly cornered recovered assets
Uboh outlined how Lamorde allegedly cornered seized assets, alleging that Lamorde’s younger brother, Usman Lamorde, was given choice assets in the country especially in Abuja.

He fingered Access Bank and defunct Intercontinental Bank as two banks that aided the anti-graft agency to hide recovered funds and profits from recovered assets.

Uboh, who said Bayelsa State Government was his client as he was hired to recover the unpaid money to the state by the EFCC, presented a mandate letter from the state government dated November 19, 2013. He said the chairman used his paraphernalia of office to intimidate the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, who later withdrew the letter and disassociated himself from him (Uboh) despite an earlier agreement between both parties, adding that the governor personally went to court to withdraw the case that he (Uboh) had against the EFCC without his consent.

Uboh told the committee that he should be arrested if his petition and presentation were fake, stressing that if genuine, Lamorde should be arrested.

C’ttee sends Lamorde’s representatives out
There was, however, a mild drama when the committee walked out the representatives of Ibrahim Lamorde.

While the petitioner, George Uboh, was being cross-examined, Chile Okoroma, Director of EFCC Legal Department, who led other EFCC team to the hearing interjected that he had a presentation to make as he expressed surprise at the documents that had been tendered by Uboh, adding that the EFCC did not get the copies containing those facts.

He, thereafter, asked to be briefed on the workings of the committee, explaining that it was wrong for the petition to be heard when the accused was not present.

Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West) explained that it was the committee’s prerogative to decide the direction of the hearing.

But Okoroma insisted on speaking even after explanations by the senators. Consequently, the committee’s chairman, Samuel Anyanwu, announced that the Director, Legal of the EFCC, Chike Okoroma; representative of Lamorde, Osuagwu Ugochukwu and other staff of the EFCC should leave the hall against the backdrop that having written to be given enough time, they ought not to have come.

Anyanwu had earlier read a letter where the EFCC boss pleaded for enough time to respond to the issues raised by the petition. The Committee chairman then directed that the hearing room be cleared of all EFCC representatives before the committee can continue, an order that was quickly complied with by the sergeant-at-arms.

Lamorde’s representatives speak
Speaking to journalists soon after he was walked out, Lamorde’s representative, Osuagwu Ugochukwu, who noted that the EFCC boss asked him to represent him at the hearing, expressed his fears, saying he was disappointed at the Senate committee.

He said: “They invited Lamorde to come here today and in the letter they wrote to Lamorde, they never stated that their coming here would be for the petitioner to be heard alone.

“There was no procedure attached to the invitation letter that this is how this panel will run its sitting. So, to our greatest surprise, in spite of the fact that we even wrote a letter that because of the tight schedule of the commission. This is because we needed some of the members of the legal team to come along with us to the hearing. We wrote them a letter and there was no response and if there was no response, it’s assumed that the letter is ignored. So, Lamorde insisted that I must be here for him. So, I came here to see a different procedure, where a petitioner is allowed to give evidence when the respondent is not in the venue of the sitting.

“One senator, I don’t know his name, said they might bring the petitioner if there’s any need to face the respondent. Of course, they will hear from us, but what we are saying is that it is wrong, in standard practice, rules of natural justice, even the constitution, that the respondent or accused should be confronted without the petitioner.”

On whether he was ready to defend himself following the letter written to the commission, he said: “Yes, we are ready, I am representing Lamorde.”

When asked if the Senate committee was aware of his presence, he said, “Yes, they know about my presence, I tried to raise an objection but they said no, I should not raise any objection. I sent an internal memo through the secretary, he said they were not going to listen to me. They said that though they got the letter but that they were looking at it. I now said you are looking at the letter and the petitioner is now giving evidence against Lamorde and the commission, is it not wrong?

“You have to prove it and they can see from what the so-called petitioner was rendering before the panel, he never mentioned Lamorde, he kept mentioning EFCC, EFCC. So, I wonder why the petition was not addressed to the EFCC. Why must it be addressed to Lamorde in person? Is it a personal vendetta? All he tendered there are pieces of rubbish, not directed to the respondent himself.’’

On whether he has confidence in the committee, Ugochukwu said: “I have confidence in Nigeria. You can see it yourself. Well, as far as I am concerned, we are disappointed but if the committee feels that they can do the right thing and correct the wrongs, fine for them. But as you can see now, I am highly disappointed.”

Also speaking to journalists shortly after the committee walked them out, Director, Legal, EFCC, Chike Okoroma said: “ As you must have read out, requesting for this and for us to come and make our presentation, we didn’t get a reply from the committee and the committee is going on in our absence despite our protest that we are not even given the opportunity. These are distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I wanted to be enlightened on the propriety of conducting proceedings in our absence when allegations were made in the absence of the other party. Constitution is our grundnorm and they are here talking about the constitution, that is the point we want to make.”

Uboh’s allegations
Speaking further, the petitioner, Uboh who swore to an oath holding a Bible, in his presentation and a document he later made available to Journalists, said that his petition has nothing to do with interrogation of Toyin Saraki, wife of Senate President Bukola Saraki as the case has been on since 2013. He said: “EFCC confirmed that several cheques and drafts valued at N1,577,815,942 and $1.3m seized and forfeited by DSP Alamieyeseigha were deposited in the Commission’s recovery account.

“An agent appointed to manage and dispose six real estate properties forfeited by Alamieyeseigha confirmed that N1.9bn was remitted to EFCC between 2008 and 2009 as proceeds from the sales and interests from the properties.

“The agent confirmed remitting N60bn vide Intercontinental Bank draft in 2008 as balance of rent while N3.7 was confirmed by the EFCC as the amount received from Alamieyeseigha seized assets.”

According to the petitioner, the EFCC traded with N3.7 from March 2009 to February 2010 with 12 per cent per annum, alleging that Lamorde failed to remit the interest of N1.1bn to government, the sum which contains the N467.7m interest gotten from the actual N3.7bn that was used to trade with, adding, “EFCC continued to trade with the balance of N1.1bn from January 2010 to October 2013 with the interest rate of 12 per cent per annum. This money yielded N474.2m which should have accrued to Bayelsa State government but EFCC is not only keeping it back but still trading with it.”

Uboh who also alleged that Lamorde failed to account for 95 per cent of offshore assets and funds, said, “EFCC declared a fraction of what was seized from DSP.”

According to him, the naira recovery was different from offshore recoveries, adding, “in a December 02, 2011 letter, EFCC sent to the Chairman, House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, EFCC stated that the aggregate recoveries from 2004 to 2011 was N1.3 trillion. EFCC did not mention where the N1.3 trillion recovered was remitted to.”

Uboh zeroed in on what the EFCC recovered explaining that former EFCC chair, Farida Waziri told the then President, Goodluck Jonathan that naira recovery was N1.9 trillion while offshore recoveries stood at $316.1m, €32.1m and £1.2m respectively, adding that Lamorde should have remitted N2.051 trillion to government.

Speaking on how EFCC melted away recovered funds, the petitioner who explained how that EFCC continues to doctor its accounts to hide its corrupt strategies of stealing recovered funds, said, “Two Access Bank recovery account statements showed balance of 0- as of 1, July 2004, but no transaction occurred until June/July 2008. These transactions are expunged. Where are the funds deposited between July 2004 and June/July 2008?”

“EFCC diverted and concealed N779 million of recoveries from Tafa Balogun in its record (aggregate should be N3.037bn and not N2.258bn). Instead of transferring N3.3bn from Spring Bank to its Access Bank recovery account, EFCC transferred only N2.2bn and concealed it by understating the summation of the balances in the various accounts hence the Access bank statement had N2.2bn after concealment.

“EFCC would be compelled to pay Bayelsa the remittable amount due now with interest and the Commission should be compelled to declare all offshore assets and funds seized from DSP and others.

“EFCC should be compelled to remit N2.051 trillion to the Federal Government while Access Bank should be forced to bring complete and unadulterated statements from 2004 till date.

“Aminu Ibrahim and co, auditors of the EFCC should be compelled to come and shed light on discrepancies.”

According to him, on Naira recoveries alone, ‘In a December 02, 2011 letter EFCC sent to the Chairman, House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, EFCC stated that the aggregate recoveries from 2004 to 2011 (8 financial years) was N1,326,754,554,482:80. EFCC did not mention where the N1.3 Trillion recovered was remitted to. EFCC’s claim that it did not recover up to a Trillion is complete false.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted final approval for the merger of Heritage Bank and Enterprise Bank.
Furthermore, the Federal High Court has sanctioned the scheme of merger and ordered the merger of both institutions.
“The Management of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved the grant of Final Merger Approval to Heritage Banking Company Limited and Enterprise Bank Limited and the licence of HERITAGE BANK LIMITED (the successor), the CBN said in a letter to Heritage Bank.
Managing Director/Chief Executive, Heritage Bank, Mr. Ifie Sekibo, “We’re pleased with the final approval of the merger of the two institutions. The stage is now set for us to achieve the vision of a bigger and better Bank that offers world class banking services designed to help customers to create, preserve and transfer wealth”.
Sekibo added that “With this acquisition, the new Heritage Bank is better positioned to offer unparalleled banking services which spread across over 200 branches, 177 ATMs, 57 Cash Centres and 2000 POS Terminals in 26 states. We shall harness the better of the two worlds combined in terms of our innovative products, bespoke technology and extended branch network manned by a team of tenacious people; as this automatically transforms our bank from a tier-2 player to a strong tier-1 player that is ONE! BIGGER! BETTER!,”.
“As we integrate into a larger bank, we assure our esteemed customers that this strategic stride is ultimately to serve them better. We affirm our commitment to all stakeholders that we will continue to deliver on our promise of creating and preserving wealth across generations through highly personalised service.”
Heritage Bank had, on October 15, 2014, made history with the successful completion of the acquisition of Enterprise Bank, after investing about N56 billion in the deal. A federal high court sitting in Lagos on July 27th 2015 ordered an Extra-ordinary General Meeting of all the parties to the deal. This was held on Wednesday, August 12th August, 2015, where the shareholders of the merging banks sealed the deal.
As a brand built on a legacy of innovation, Heritage Bank recently achieved a milestone with the ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification award in recognition of its commitment to effective and secured financial system. The bank has also set a record as the only bank in Nigeria to get this certification award in less than three years of operation. It has, by this certification, joined the league of big players already certified in the industry, including the CBN.
“The legacy of innovation was reinforced when the bank received the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, PCI DSS certification, in addition to the ISO/IEC 27001:2013 award. The PCI DSS is a proprietary information security standard for organizations that handle branded credit cards from the major card schemes including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB.
The certification was in recognition of the bank’s commitment to effective and secured financial system which has put the bank in the league of big players in the industry and confer internationally-recognised standard on its operations.