Symbol Of Corruption !!! Ambulances were used to move cash during Obasanjo’s third term bid

Aso Rock, Nigeria’s seat of power, used ambulances to complement bullion vans when moving cash around during the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. 

The practice was said to have reached its peak in the heat of Obasanjo’s quest for a third term, according to a new book titled ‘Too Good to Die: Third Term and the Myth of the Indispensable Man in Africa’.

The book was written by Chidi Odinkalu, former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and Ayisha Osori, author of ‘Love Does Not Win Elections’.

It talks about events during the Obasanjo administration and the happenings surrounding his third term ambition.

Obasanjo was president between 1999 and 2007, after leading the country as military head of state between 1976 and 1979.

His bid for a third term in office through a constitutional amendment failed after it faced rejection from various quarters.

In the book, a copy of which was obtained by TheCable, the authors narrated how an armed guard within the presidential villa lost control of his rifle, inflicting serious injury on a female catering staff of the presidency.

“Around the premises, one ambulance within view of the injured victim was reportedly for the exclusive use of the president; another was for the vice-president. Neither was available to save this woman,” the book read.

“Two other ambulances within view had no gasoline. One of the ambulance drivers, who reluctantly agreed to help, wanted money to put gasoline in his car first before making the journey to the nearest clinic.

“All this while, the victim was losing blood. Another member of staff was forced to take the victim to the hospital in a private vehicle. One of the staff in the presidency was later to explain that they were not in the habit of using ambulances to evacuate human beings. According to this staff, it was the practice since the time of President Obasanjo to use ambulances to complement bullion vans in moving cash in different currencies to different locations.

“The practice reached its peak during the ultimately futile process of amending the constitution to extend the tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo a little over one decade earlier. Just as an ambulance is not designed to transport cash, the presidency is an unlikely parking lot for a bullion van. It is not a bank or financial service institution.”

The co-authors said the claim that ambulances in the presidency “were used to transport cash during the tenure elongation process was not surprising”.

“It underscores the nature and role of money in President Obasanjo’s effort to ascend to a god-presidency and holds the key to understanding why President Obasanjo’s tenure elongation project became so damaging to the long-term prospects of democracy and its institution in Nigeria,” they said.

The third term agenda was said to have gulped about $500 million, according to the authors.

Nasir el-Rufai, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT) under Obasanjo, was quoted in the book as saying the constitutional amendment bill to elongate the ex-president’s tenure “went before the national assembly with hundreds of millions of dollars raised to procure its passage”. - TheCable

Certificate scandal : Kemi Adeosun reportedly leaves Nigeria after resigning as Finance Minister

Kemi Adeosun has reportedly left Nigeria 24 hours after she resigned as the country’s Minister of Finance.

She is understood to have landed in London on Saturday evening, according to Daily Trust.

Adeosun headed the Finance Ministry since November 2015, but stepped down from office on Friday, after owning up to parading a forged youth service scheme certificate.

Buhari, who had since accepted her letter of resignation, thanked Adeosun for her services to the nation and wished her well in her future pursuits.

DAILY POST had reported that Adeosun, who graduated from London East Polytechnic at the age of 22 in 1989, failed to comply with NYSC Act, which made it compulsory for every Nigerian graduate at home or abroad to participate in one year of mandatory service to the nation.

Recall that the NYSC had said that from their records, Adeosun applied for an exemption certificate, but failed to state whether the request was granted or not. - Daily Post

UK targets Nigeria, others over ‘dirty money’

Britain is targeting Nigerians with dubious wealth living or investing in that country as it seeks to expand its use of the Unexplained Wealth Orders (UWOs).

Also being closely watched by the British government are investors from Russia, China and the Middle East, according to the Director of Prosperity at Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA), Donald Toon.

The UWOs empower the British government to seize the assets of corrupt “politically exposed persons” or those with links to serious crime.

“We have significantly scaled up the work that we are doing,” Toon said in London.

“We are absolutely looking at Russians … but we are not exclusively looking at Russians and Russian assets.”

Transparency campaigners in Britain often question the source of some of the wealth that keeps pouring into the country from abroad.

Such foreigners, including Nigeria, buy everything from luxury properties to entire companies.

Toon said Britain has become a very attractive destination for corrupt foreign money, particularly from Russia, Nigeria, Pakistan, former Soviet states and the Far East.

His agency estimates that about £100 billion of dirty money is moved through or into Britain annually.

Assets worth about £25 million have already been frozen under the UWOs, although Toon admitted that the process is difficult and time-consuming as each case has to be taken through the courts.

Toon added: “some people in that space absolutely have directly and immediately something to fear because they are subjects of cases we are working on.

“The fact you are not seeing big numbers at the moment does not mean we are not doing the work, because we are. You will see that come through in the courts; it will take time but you will see it. It takes time because the people who hold these assets are not stupid.” - The Nation

FG hits HSBC: You are known for money laundering, stop commenting on our elections

The federal government says HSBC Bank has no moral right to criticise President Muhammadu Buhari or make predictions about his potential second term.

In a statement released by Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, the federal government accused the bank of laundering more than $100 million for late Sani Abacha, former military head of state.

In a recent report, the bank had predicted that a second tenure of Buhari would stunt the economy and that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will win the 2019 election.

Reacting on Saturday, Shehu said in the statement: “The Presidency wishes to make clear to all Nigerians, and particularly the global banking giant HSBC which said the second term of President Muhammadu Buhari would stunt the economy, that what killed Nigeria’s economy in the past was the unbridled looting of state resources by leaders, the type which was actively supported by HSBC.

“A bank that soiled its hand with ‘millions of US dollars yet-to-be-recovered Abacha loot’, and continued until a few months ago to shield the stolen funds of one of the leaders of the Nigerian Senate has no moral right whatsoever to project that a “second term for Mr. Buhari raises the risk of limited economic progress and further fiscal deterioration.”

Shehu advised the bank to follow President Buhari’s advice that it should return Nigeria’s stolen assets.

“Our investigation agencies believe that HSBC had laundered more than USD 100,000,000 for the late General Sani Abacha in Jersey, Paris, London and Geneva,” the presidential aide said.

“Among these accounts on the records are: AC: S-104460 HSBC Fund Admin Ltd. Jersey ($12,000,000); AC 37060762 HSBC Life (Europe), U.K ($20,000,000) and AC: 38175076 HSBC Bank Plc. U.K ($1,600,000).

“The bank is also suspected in the laundering of proceeds of corruption involving more than 50 other Nigerians, including a serving Senator as earlier indicated.

“They may also just be out to discredit the President out of the fear of sanctions and fines following the national assets that are stolen.”

Shehu said Jack Bernstein told the story of how the bank was allegedly involved in money laundering in his book, ”Secrecy World: Inside the Panama Papers Investigation. - TheCable

Over 35m Nigerian children, faceless -UNICEF

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has revealed about 35,031,047 under five- year- old children are faceless and non-existent in the country.

The Fund attributed the development to the fact that their births were not registered by the Federal Government.

UNICEF said it gathered the figure from the Rapid SMS information tracking tool, a data collection website that collects information of birth registration through SMS or Text Messages, from mobile users.

This tracking tool allows real time tracking of local and regional birth registration activities in 774 Local Government Areas of the nation.

Speaking at a two- day media campaign for birth registration in Lagos, UNICEF Child Protection Specialist Sharon Oladiji stated RapidSMS allows data to be collected in real time to enable LGA, State, Federal and partners to collect, analyse and react to data more quickly.

According to RapidSMS dashboard, only 8 percent of under five-year-old children are registered in Nigeria.

It showed just 3,046,178 under 5 children have been registered, leaving out about 92 percent of unregistered births amounting to over 35,031,047.

Oladiji stated: “For a child without birth certificate, the record is not with the National Population Commission register and it will be difficult to plan for such.

“So when we depend on age affidavit, when there is a commission set up by the constitution to register children, we are doing a lot of disservice to that generation of children.”

UNICEF Communication specialist Geoffrey Njoku said since data shows Nigeria births seven million children every year, the country must ensure it registers seven million children and not less.

He said: “It is a right, according to the convention and rights of a child, a child must have a legal identity that makes him or her a Nigerian.

“You have to have an identity so that in the system you will not be an unknown quantity, a faceless human being?

“That is why we work on the rights of a child and the right to an identity is one of the rights.” - The Nation

Abattoir republic !! Gumen kill 51 in Adamawa attacks

Fifty-one people, including a pastor of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN), have been killed in an attack by suspected herdsmen.

Our correspondent gathered the incident occurred on Thursday night with villages of Gon, Nzumosu, Bolki, Nyanga, and Bukuto in Numan Local Government Area affected.

Residents said the invaders launched the attack from Abbare, a neighbouring community in Taraba State, burning down much of three of the affected villages.

In what amounted to double tragedy for the affected communities, a boat conveying some 40 women and children fleeing from the attacks reportedly capsized with unspecified occupants drowned.

Adamawa State acting Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Habibu, confirmed the attacks on five communities.

He however couldn’t confirm the casualty figure, saying police operatives deployed to the council were still being expected to report their findings. - The Nation

Ambode: Agbakoba’s party blasts Tinubu, APC, offers Lagos gov 2019 ticket

The People’s Trust, PT, a new mega party nationally led by Olisa Agbakoba, human rights advocate, and Abduljalil Tafawa Balewa, has backed the second term of Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.

The Governor is reportedly at loggerheads with some bigwigs within his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.

He has, however, bought and returned the nomination and expression of interest forms of the ruling party.

In a statement on Friday, by the Public Secretary of PT, Segun Obe, the party said Ambode should be encouraged to consolidate on the great development he has started in Lagos

“Ambode has proven to be a wizard of development in Lagos, therefore, should not be sacrificed on the altar of political intrigues and interests within Lagos APC,” PT said.

“So, we as the platform of the fresh breed credible third force stakeholders in Nigeria have mobilised 30 other political parties in our grand coalition to engage him for the purpose of fielding him in the 2019 if APC in Lagos rejects him.

“The People’s Trust, a product of the political long-suffering of the Nigerian Youths and masses with over 500 thousands permanent voters carders, PVC’s of its members in Lagos is set to adopt Ambode as its governorship candidate in Lagos if the Tinubu led camp of APC rejects him

“For us in the Lagos People’s Trust, Ambode is a fresh breed industrious and resourceful Governor, who has since changed the face of Lagos within the shortest possible time and should be encouraged to complete his second term in the interest of the welfare of the people of Lagos, which he has started’ to do.” - Daily Post

Legal procedure not followed when Bakassi was ceded to Cameroon – Ayade

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has said that there was no legal procedure followed when Bakassi was ceded to Cameroon by Federal Government of Nigeria.

Speaking while receiving a Presidential aspirant on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, Governor Ayade regretted that his people and government were suffering for what they did not do.

He said his administration has decided to embark on unbelievable industrial development of the state irrespective of the financial situation arising from poor Federal allocation, taking of the 76 oil wells to a neighbouring state, ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon without due legal and constitutional processes.

He lamented the removal or near absence of the state from the 13 percent derivation and the challenges of being an international border state with several illegal immigration borders, and faced with refugees inflow from the Cameroon crises.

“Taking of the 76 oil wells to a neighbouring state, ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon without due legal and constitutional processes, removal or near absence of the state from the 13 percent derivation and the challenges of being an international border state with several illegal immigration borders, and faced with refugees inflow from the Cameroon crises are enough to put the state on its knees, but I refused to be weigh down by these predicaments” Ayade stated.

The Governor, therefore, appealed to the aspirant that if by the grace of God, he (Dankwambo) wins PDP ticket and finally elected as president of Nigeria, he should pay a special attention to Cross River State and to sign a Sovereign Guarantee to allow for a direct foreign investment into Cross River State.

Earlier, Dankwambo called on Nigerians from all sections of the country and across religious divide to back PDP into power at the center in 2019, noting that PDP will carry out sweeping reforms within the short period of its reign.

According to Dankwambo, “I will offer solutions to the problems of Nigeria. What Nigeria needs is the right leadership. All hopes are not lost I have enjoyed Nigeria and will want to offer my best to Nigeria. - Daily Post

College lecturer arraigned for allegedly ‘massaging’ student’s penis

A lecturer, Aremu Olufemi, with the Federal College of Agriculture, Moore Plantation, Apata, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has been arraigned before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan, for allegedly sodomizing one of his students.

Olufemi, who was arraigned before Magistrate Jejelola Ogunbona, is also being tried for an attempt to receive a cell phone as gratification for the award of marks to his students.

Police prosecutor, Mr. Matthew Ojeah, told the court that the accused, Olufemi on August 6, 2018, at about 8:30 p.m., massaged the manhood of one Jamiu Lateef, an HND1 student, at SW9/717, Olugbode Street, Odo-Ona, Ibadan.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.

Magistrate Ogunbona then adjourned the case to October 19, 2018.- Daily Post

Deaf Nigerian with intellectual disabilities faces deportation after 35 years in U.S.

The 35 year stay of a physically challenged Nigerian  in the USA appears to be heading for an abrupt end.

Francis Anwana  who is deaf and has intellectual disabilities  is facing  deportation from his abode in  Michigan.

Anwana, 48, was 13 when he went  to the U.S. on a student visa.

He subsequently enrolled at the Lutheran Residential School for the Deaf in Detroit and later attended high school at Michigan School for the Deaf.

He currently lives in an adult foster care center in Detroit.

His visa expired years ago and was not  renewed because caretakers lost track of his case as he’s moved from various group homes, according to the USA Today .

Anwana was scheduled to be deported on Tuesday, but his deportation was stopped amid outcry from advocates and the support of U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee.

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesman said  ICE will allow Anwana to “make arrangements to depart the U.S. voluntarily.” Anwana will meet with ICE officials Sept. 21.

Kildee introduced legislation, known as a private bill for immigration relief, that would grant

Kildee said in a statement that Francis was  ”brought here as a child and America is the only country he knows.

“Despite being deaf, Francis continues to volunteer in the community and be an active member in his church.

“It would be wrong to deport Francis to Nigeria, where he has no family, means to communicate or ability to take care of himself. I will continue to fight on Francis’ behalf and I urge the Trump Administration to use its discretion on this case to allow him to remain in the United States.”

Only In shithole country !!! Adeosun: DSS cleared my NYSC exemption certificate — but I accept my fate

Kemi Adeosun says her NYSC exemption certificate was screened and cleared by the Department of State Services (DSS) before she was appointed minister by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

In her resignation letter dated September 14, 2018, she said she had no reason to believe her certificate was not genuine until it was reported by an “online medium” — a veiled reference to Premium Times which reported the infraction.

She wrote: “Your Excellency, kindly permit me to outline some of the background to this matter. I was born and raised in the United Kingdom, indeed my parental family home remains in London. My visits to Nigeria up until the age of thirty-four (34) were holidays, with visas obtained in my UK passport.  

“I obtained my first Nigerian passport at the age of thirty-four (34) and when I relocated there was debate as to whether NYSC Law applied to me.  Upon enquiry as to my status relating to NYSC, I was informed that due to my residency history and having exceeded the age of thirty (30), I was exempted from the requirement to serve. Until recent events, that remained my understanding. 

“On the basis of that advice and with the guidance and assistance of those, I thought were trusted associates, NYSC were approached for documentary proof of status. I then received the certificate in question. Having never worked in NYSC, visited the premises, been privy to nor familiar with their operations, I had no reason to suspect that the certificate was anything but genuine. 

“Indeed, I presented that certificate at the 2011 Ogun State House of Assembly and in 2015 for Directorate of State Services (DSS) Clearance as well as to the National Assembly for screening. Be that as it may, as someone totally committed to a culture of probity and accountability I have decided to resign with effect from Friday, 14th September, 2018.”

FULL TEXT OF ADEOSUN’S RESIGNATION LETTER 

Dear Excellency,

Let me commence by thanking you profusely for the honour and privilege of serving under your inspirational leadership. It has been a truly rewarding experience to learn from you and to observe at close quarters your integrity and sense of duty. 

I have, today, become privy to the findings of the investigation into the allegation made in an online medium that the Certificate of Exemption from National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) that I had presented was not genuine. This has come as a shock to me and I believe that in line with this administration’s focus on integrity, I must do the honourable thing and resign.

Your Excellency, kindly permit me to outline some of the background to this matter. I was born and raised in the United Kingdom, indeed my parental family home remains in London. My visits to Nigeria up until the age of thirty-four (34) were holidays, with visas obtained in my UK passport.  I obtained my first Nigerian passport at the age of thirty-four (34) and when I relocated there was debate as to whether NYSC Law applied to me.  Upon enquiry as to my status relating to NYSC, I was informed that due to my residency history and having exceeded the age of thirty (30), I was exempted from the requirement to serve. Until recent events, that remained my understanding. 

On the basis of that advice and with the guidance and assistance of those, I thought were trusted associates, NYSC were approached for documentary proof of status. I then received the certificate in question. Having never worked in NYSC, visited the premises, been privy to nor familiar with their operations, I had no reason to suspect that the certificate was anything but genuine. Indeed, I presented that certificate at the 2011 Ogun State House of Assembly and in 2015 for Directorate of State Services (DSS) Clearance as well as to the National Assembly for screening. Be that as it may, as someone totally committed to a culture of probity and accountability I have decided to resign with effect from Friday, 14th September, 2018.

Your Excellency, it has been an exceptional privilege to have served our nation under your leadership and to have played a role in steering our economy at a very challenging time. I am proud that Nigeria has brought discipline into its finances, has identified and is pursuing a path to long term sustainable growth that will unlock the potential in this great economy. Under your leadership, Nigeria was able to exit recession and has now started to lay the foundations for lasting growth and wealth creation. Repositioning this huge economy is not a short term task and there are no short cuts, indeed there are tough decisions still to be made but I have no doubt that your focus on infrastructural investment, revenue mobilisation and value for money in public expenditure will deliver growth, wealth and opportunity for all Nigerians. 

I thank His Excellency, the Vice President and my colleagues in the Federal Executive Council for the huge pleasure and honour of working with them. I also thank most specially, the team in the ‘Finance Family’ of  advisers and heads of agencies under the Ministry of Finance. Your Excellency, this group of committed Nigerians represent a range of backgrounds, ethnicities and ages. They have worked well above and beyond the call of duty to support me in the tasks assigned. The diversity in my team and their ability to work cohesively to deliver reforms, convinces me that Nigeria has the human capital required to succeed.

Your Excellency, let me conclude by commending your patience and support, during the long search for the truth in this matter. I thank you again for giving me the honour of serving under your leadership, it is a rare privilege, which I do not take for granted. As a Nigerian and committed progressive, I  appreciate you for your dogged commitment to improving this nation.

Please be assured, as always, of my highest regards and best wishes. 

Kemi Adeosun (Mrs)