The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibrahim Mustapha Magu has hinted that the ongoing anti-graft war may soon move to the Petroleum and other unspecified sectors of the nation’s economy.
Responding to a question by a lawmaker about whether EFCC will go after the former minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Allison-Madueke, oil magnate Kola Aluko, former finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and some oil companies, Magu said: “Very soon, we will go into the petroleum industry.”
Magu made these disclosures while defending the 2015 budget performance and 2016 proposals of the anti-graft agency before the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Financial Crimes in Abuja on Monday.
He also drew the attention of the committee members to a recommendation by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Planning to slash the agency’s overhead cost for 2016 from the proposed N2.999 billion to N1.389 billion which represents a shortfall of N1.609 billion or 116%, saying doing so will adversely affect the prosecution of the war against corruption.
He listed the areas to be affected by the budget slash to include investigative activities, manpower development and maintenance of logistics.
The EFCC boss, who added that the commission was not unaware of the dwindling oil revenue and the Federal Government’s commitment to reduce recurrent expenditure in the financial year, however, called on the National Assembly to consider the approval of an additional N500 million for the agency in order to aid its operational activities “as more sectors of the economy may likely come under investigative activities during the year.”
Hon. Razak Atunwa (APC, Kwara) asked Magu whether EFCC will go after the former minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Allison-Madueke, oil magnate Kola Aluko, former finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and some oil companies, he simply said: “Very soon, we will go into the petroleum industry,” suggesting an expanded oil sector probe.
Meanwhile in his presentation, Magu highlighted the challenges facing the EFCC like space constraints because of the agency’s inability to complete its permanent headquarters, high rent rate, dearth of adequate manpower and operational vehicles.
He said the commission achieved about 91% of its 2015 approved budget with only about 9% shortfall, calling on lawmakers to come to the rescue of the agency in the appropriation of adequate funds in the 2016 budget.
But in the 2016 proposed budget estimates of the agency, the acting chairman noted that the capital component of the commission is N11,422,991,540, which includes over N9 billion for its new headquarters while the Budget and Planning Ministry actually wants an estimated N3,168,744,217 only for the agency’s capital budget inclusive of N2,550,003,881 for the head office complex, leaving a balance of N6,476,123,409 representing 72%.
“This suggests that the amount proposed by the Ministry can only meet 28% of the outstanding liability. This invariably implies nil activity on the site for the 2016 financial year if this is not addressed by this honourable committee,” he said.
Magu also craved for the support of the National Assembly in the planned recruitment of additional 750 staff of different cadres for the agency in 2016 in order to create core staff for the EFCC as most some of its staff are on secondment.
“According, it is my honour and privilege to present to this honourable committee, EFCC budget proposal for the 2016 financial year in the sum of N11,422,991,540 as capital; N2,999,245,741 as overhead component of recurrent expenditure and the Ministry’s budget proposal of N6,664,040,791 for personnel; N1,389,429,463 for overhead and N3,168,744,217 for capital, for your kind consideration,” Magu said.
Earlier in his remarks, the chairman of the Standing Committee, Hon. Kayode Oladele (APC, Ogun) commended the dedication of the anti-graft agencies in the country particularly the EFCC in the ongoing anti-corruption fight, assuring of the legislature’s readiness to assist the agency in the areas of operations, improved staff welfare and completion of its headquarters.
“We shall also favourably consider other areas contained in your proposed 2016 budget estimates,” Oladele added.
$2.1 arms scandal: Court refuses to stop Dasuki’s trial
Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf of an Abuja High Court Monday declined to discharge the embattled former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki from the criminal charges brought against him by the Federal Government.
Dasuki’s counsel Joseph Daudu (SAN), in a motion urged Justice Baba-Yusuf to prohibit the Federal Government from further prosecuting Dasuki or further seeking any indulgence from the court until the bail granted the former NSA was allowed to be enjoyed.
Daudu had argued that Justice Yusuf, on December 18, last year, granted Dasuki bail but after perfecting the bail conditions on December 29, he was re-arrested on the order of the Federal Government and was taken into the custody of the Department of the State Security Service.
The defence counsel also asked Justice Baba-Yusuf to discharge Dasuki of all the offences contained in the charge against his client on the ground that the Federal Government cannot lawfully prosecute Dasuki having been in contempt of the court.
He said that since Dasuki was rearrested on December 29, when the bail conditions had been perfected, he had since been kept away from his lawyers and family members.
The counsel therefore urged the court to compel the Federal Government to obey the bail conditions granted Dasuki and allow him to enjoy his freedom in line with the law that presumed him innocent until the contrary was proved.
However, opposing the motion, counsel to the Federal Government, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) informed the Judge that the motion was an abuse of the court process because there was no evidence placed before the court that the accused was re-arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Rotimi, who is representing EFCC in the case, disclosed that it was the DSS, another arm of the security agencies of the Federal Government that re-arrested Dasuki on the ground that they were investigating him on other offences.
He advised Dasuki to evoke Section 46 of the Constitution and institute a civil action to challenge his arrest and enforce his fundamental right to his liberty.
But delivering his ruling on Dasuki’s request to be discharged of the charges, Justice Baba-Yusuf, held that the action of one government agency cannot be attributed to the other, saying that the agencies are a creation of the Constitution but with different laws guiding their operations and functions.
“The argument of counsel to the 1st defendant that the Federal Government should be held liable for the actions of its agencies does not interest me.
“The two agencies (EFCC and DSS) have separate identities and personalities vested in them.
“Having come to the conclusion that the complainant in this case (FG) is not in contempt of my order of December 18, 2015, it is my view that this application filed on behalf of the 1st defendant (Dasuki) does not have any merit and I hereby dismiss it,” the court declared.
Tompolo loses bid to stop trial, as court reaffirms arrest order
The coast is now clear for the arrest of former Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo, a.k.a Tompolo, accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of a N13 billion theft, as a Federal High Court in Lagos Monday dismissed his application challenging the legality of the service of the charge on him through substituted means.
The trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, ruling on Tompolo’s application held that the application is misconceived and lacking in merit.
The judge also reaffirmed his earlier order for the arrest of the ex-militant, holding that all authorities in Nigeria must ensure that the order of the court for the arrest of Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo is carried out to the letter.
The EFCC had filed a 40-counts charge of unlawful conversion against Tompolo and a former boss of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi.
They were alleged to have converted the sums of $108.7m and N2.1billion, being the property of NIMASA and knowing that the said sum were proceeds of stealing.
Joined as co-defendants in the suit are: Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, Odimiri Electricals Limited, Kime Enagozu, Boloboere Property and Estate Ltd, Rex Elem, Destre Consult Ltd, Gregory Mbonu and Captain Warredi Enisuoh. Their plea is yet to be taken.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, counsel to Tompolo, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) informed the court of an application filed on Jan. 27 on behalf of Tompolo, challenging service of the charge based on a defect in the address of service.
The prosecutor, Festus Keyamo, however, opposed the application on the grounds that by the provisions of section 96 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, such application cannot be adjourned for hearing.
Oyetibo submitted that his application does not attack the competence of the charge but rather, service of the charge.
The lawyer contended that the charge was effected on Agbanu St, instead of Agbamu St.
He also argued that the residence of the accused in Warri has a black gate but that service was effected on a residence with see-through gates.
Oyetibo therefore, urged the court to hold that service of the charge was not properly effected on the first accused.
In his ruling, Justice Buba held, “The entire gamut of this application is for the court to set aside the order granting substituted service of the charge.
“The first defendant missed the point completely; the law is that anybody like the EFCC has the power to arrest anyone if it has reasonable belief that such person has committed an offence.
“On Jan. 12 when the application for substituted service was moved, one of the averment was that the applicant was invited by the EFCC to answer some allegations, but up till today he has not deemed it fit to honour the invitation.
“It is very clear that the order for substituted service is more than justified against a man who has refused to honour lawful invitation by the EFCC.
“Not only is the accused aware of the charge, but has further briefed counsel representing him, who on his behalf, demanded for all processes filed.
“Therefore, all the authorities cited on this issue are with respect, misconceived: Whether served by substituted means or not, the accused is aware of the charge.
“The application challenging service is misconceived and is hereby dismissed.
“The order for arrest still subsists; all authorities in Nigeria are hereby further ordered to ensure that the order of this court for the arrest of Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo is carried out to the latter,” he held
In the charge, the accused were alleged to have conspired to convert and steal the said sum which is property of NIMASA.
The offences contravene the provisions of sections 15, 15 (3), 18, and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Amendment Act, 2012.
EFCC quizzes Badeh for over 9 hours
Former chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh was Monday quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for over nine hours for his involvement in the alleged $2.1bn arms purchase scandal.
According to a reliable source at the EFCC headquarters, Badeh arrived at the headquarters at about 10 am and was still being interrogated as at press time by a team of EFCC investigators.
It would be recalled that Badeh honoured the invitation of the commission over his involvement in the alleged $2.1bn arms deal on Wednesday last week and was asked to report back to the headquarters of the anti-graft agency.
The former CDS is being interrogated over his involvement in the purchase of 10 NAF with contracts totalling N930,500,690 awarded to Societe D’Equipments Internationaux (SEI) Nig Ltd. on his watch between January 2014 and February 2015.
The award letters, according to the arms probe panel, contained misleading delivery dates, suggesting fraudulent intent in the award process.
Also, EFCC is investigating the procurement of 36D6 Low Level Air Defence Radar for NAF which was awarded to GAT Techno Dynamics Ltd in April 2014 at the cost of $33 million on his watch.
The arms panel discovered that the radars were excessively overpriced as a complete set of such radars goes for $6 million.
Part of the EFCC’s questions for Badeh would be to shed light on the $3.3 million fraudulently included in the contract agreement as VAT and Withholding Tax and subsequently paid into the bank accounts of Spacewebs Interservices Ltd and Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd.
It was established that $2 million from the proceeds was transferred to Mono Marine Corporation Nig Ltd, which is jointly owned by some principal characters in the deals.
Operatives may also grill him over the procurement of two used Mi-24V Helicopters instead of the recommended Mi-35M series at the cost of $136,944,000. The helicopters were discovered to be excessively overpriced and not operationally airworthy at the time of delivery.
The arms probe panel established that a brand new unit of Mi-24V helicopter goes for about $30 million.
More worrisome is the discovery that the helicopters were delivered without rotor blades and upgrade accessories.
This is contrary to the written assertion of Amosu to the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, that all the four procured Alpha-Jets aircraft were delivered to NAF.
Attempts to get the spokesperson of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren to speak on this proved abortive as his phone was not going through.
Budget defence: Senate panel walks out SGF, FRSC’s teams
The Senate Committee on Federal Character Monday walked out officials who represented the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) from its scheduled budget defence session.
The committee members in a unanimous decision asked the representatives to tell their bosses to appear before them to defend their 2016 Budget proposals.
The Chairman of the committee, Senator Yahaya Kaura, alongside members of the panel, faulted the absence of the SGF, Engr Babachir David Lawal, and the FRSC boss, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi.
Kaura described their failure to appear before the committee as unacceptable, saying that the budget defence exercise was too important to be treated with levity.
He therefore threatened that his committee would not consider the budget proposals before it unless the SGF and FRSC boss appear personally.
-Leadership
