Saturday 30 January 2016

Obanikoro Claps Back at EFCC: 'Don't Scandalize my Sons, Professionals in Whom am Pleased'

Dasukigate: Obanikoro responds to EFCC probe of sons over alleged N4.8billion fraudulent payment

January 30, 2016Premium Times

Musiliu Obanikoro

The immediate past Minister of State, Foreign Affairs Musiliu Obanikoro has challenged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to sincerely publish the names of the directors and signatories to the Sylvan McNamara Limited account that allegedly received N4.8billion from the office of the National Security Adviser.
In a statement circulated on his behalf by his media aide, Jonathan Eze, Mr. Obanikoro said the EFCC should provide details of the real signatories to the account “as at when the said money was paid instead of demonising and deceiving Nigerians with vague, contrived and distorted information”.
“Obanikoro is appalled by the public political persecution embarked upon by these agencies noting that there is nowhere in the world where investigations are being conducted using the pages of the newspapers,” the statement said.
The former minister also “queried the wisdom and logic of bandying figures and associating same with his sons who are thorough bred professionals in their own rights reminding them that the court of law is and remains the judicial institution for trying cases and not whipping sentiments in order to give the dog a bad name and hang it.”
Saying he served the nation in various capacities with enviable and untainted records of public service, Mr. Obanikoro urged the EFCC to be straight and above board in its investigations and avoid speculations and conjectures that are infringing on the fundamental human rights of his sons.
The statement reads in parts, “Associating my sons to the Sylvan McNamara account that allegedly received funds from the office of the embattled National security Adviser is highly preposterous and unthinkable.
“I am particularly amazed by the fact that trials and investigations are being done using the media unconventionally just to satisfy the cravings of political entities who are desperate to rub my hard earned reputation in the mud.

“I am using this medium to challenge … the EFCC to publish in good conscience the signatories and the names of the directors of the said company and to restate that I shall conclusively pursue this injustice and infringements to a logical end.”
The former minister also attacked news website, SaharaReporters, for publishing the report indicating that an account linked to his sons received funds from the NSA office, although other news platform, including PREMIUM TIMES, also published the reports.
Reports Saturday had indicated that two sons of the former minister Babajide and Gbolahan Obanikoro, were on the radar of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after about N4.75billion was traced to a company, Sylvan McNamara Limited, in which the two men have interest.
Operatives believe the investigation might lead to the invitation of former Minister Obanikoro himself.
The politician is currently in the United States where he is said to be schooling.
The money was allegedly paid in several tranches into the company’s account number 0026223714 with Diamond bank from the Office of the National Security Adviser account with the CBN.
According to the source, all the transfers were effected between June and December 2014, a period that coincided with the preparation for and the conduct of the Ekiti state gubernatorial election which ushered in the current administration of Governor Ayodele Fayose.
For instance N200m was transferred into Sylvan Mc Namara’s account on June 5, 2015, while N2billion was also wired into the account from the CBN/ Imprest Main account on June 16, 2015.
Another transfer of N700million hit the account on July 7, 2014, while N1billion was credited to the account on July 30, 2014.

Other transfers included N160m on August 8, 2014; N225m on August 22, 2014; N200m on November 14, 2014 and N200m on December 5, 2014.
Both Gbolahan and Babajide Obanikoro, sources disclosed, as directors of the company, were also signatories to its account until 2014 when one Olalekan Ogunseye was made sole signatory to the account.

EFCC sources disclosed that the payments to the company from the office of the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, were made without any contract.
Mr. Dasuki is being prosecuted for allegedly mismanaging $2.1billion meant for arms procurement to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-west region of Nigeria.

ICC PROSECUTOR vs- PRESIDENT BUHARI ON THE RECENT KILLING OF BIAFRANS

Biafrans Successfully Charge Buhari with War Crimes at ICC

Category: News

Published: Saturday, 30 January 2016 10:38

Written by elombah.com

Pro-Biafra groups have successfully lodged war crimes complaint against President Muhammadu Buhari in The Hague.

This was a follow-up to the heinous massacre of pro-Biafra protesters across the South-east and South-South in the wake of the arrest of the Indigenous People of Biafra [IPOB] leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

Goran Sluiter, a lawyer at Dutch human rights legal firm Prakken d’Oliveira, filed the complaint with the International Criminal Court in The Hague on Friday.

According to Sluiter, there has been “an intensification of violence and crimes committed against Biafrans since Mr Buhari became the Nigerian president.”

“Nigeria is already a long time on the agenda of the [ICC] prosecutor and Nigerian courts are not dealing at all with these crimes. The time really has come for the ICC to act,” says Sluiter.

The complaint was filed on behalf of 17 unnamed victims and alleges to set out evidence of crimes against humanity – including torture and murder – committed by Nigerian security forces against pro-Biafran protesters.

More than 50 unarmed, non-violent protesters were gruesomely massacred across the region by security operatives including both army and police with about 200 people detained across the country.

Kanu, who also runs an anti-Nigeria radio station in the United Kingdom, was arrested by Nigerian security forces in October, 2015, on charges of ethnic incitement and sedition.

He remains in detention and was refused bail by a federal high court in the capital Abuja as at 29th January when Justice John Tsoho declined his bail application.

Justice Tsoho said: “(Nnamdi) Kanu is a threat to national security, and as a result will not be granted bail”… “if released, Kanu may commit the same offence again, and that “there is a probability that he may jump bail because he possesses dual citizenship”, a clear case of prejudice.

During the demonstrations, the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase had threatened protesters in December to stop their activities or face “the full weight of the law.”

Ndubuisi Osuala, the coordinator of IPOB’s branch in the Netherlands – which he says numbers around 200 official members – says the group wishes to see Kanu released and Buhari prosecuted for overseeing crimes against Biafrans.

“What every IPOB member, every Biafran citizen wants is the release of our great leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is a freedom fighter,” says Osuala.

“Secondly, we need the International Criminal Court to bring justice and equity to our case…[President Buhari] has to be prosecuted and face the justice for what he did.”

Osuala also says that his group wants independence for Biafra but is seeking it by peaceful means. “We need to get freedom by peace and that is why we are protesting,” he says. “We are not terrorists, we are not killing people.”

Buhari has previously refused calls for Kanu to be released, describing the activist – who is based in the U.K. and runs the underground media outlet Radio Biafra – as a flight risk.

The ICC was not immediately available to confirm that the complaint had been filed. Once a complaint is filed at the ICC, the prosecutor can decide to open an investigation if there is a reasonable basis for believing that crimes against humanity have been committed.

THE OBANIKOROS AND BUHARIS' INCLINATION TO A MINDSET!

Mr President Buhari, now trending is the news of former Minister Obanikoro – two young children said to have N4.8Billion slush funds from the office of the National Security Adviser. http://theeagleonline.com.ng/2-1b-arms-deal-how-obanikoros-sons-collected-n4-8b/

Very annoying that senior advocates of Nigeria SAN after some decades in practice get paid N5Million for a brief let’s say an election matter and someone close to government takes it as one lunch bill or what? A Minister’s young Son or 2 Sons signatories to their company’s account have nearly N5Billion. That was what former CBN Governor Sanusi paid to el-rufai’s company, quantity surveyor’s fees for a pending job monies paid upfront all of it as CBN Gov before Sanusi became the Wealthiest Emir a man who never owned his own business who always worked for Institutions. What has become of the multi-billion fathom contracts SLS awarded to his cronies?. We once thought he was Saint Sanusi hailed his gender policy of 40% unknown to us he was not. So was aptly ‘un-heroed’.

Back to Obanikoro’s Sons, Mr President, I think your Daughters are in competition with Obanikoro’s children. When children collect millions of dollars from Governors for no defined contracts – money meant for infrastructure. One of the Governors, Yari of Zamfara State wrote since on 18^th Jan 2016 threatening newspaper publishers with libel within 7 days. Where is the libel suit it Day 12! That was how your brother-in-law Aisha Buhari’s younger Brother online publishers reported the scam of N300Million bribe for oil license and were threatened with libel suit and no lawsuit. http://www.infomantnews.com/buharis-inlaw-takes-advantage-of-the-president-fraudulently-takes-n300-million/

Mr. President this country has bled enough from four decades plus of pilfering and it is so shocking that whilst you claim you are fighting corruption, the monster thrives under your watch and supervision.

Your Hypocrisy, Pretense and Insincerity!

Enough of Vindictiveness!. Lead by example and govern well.

Respectfully submitted,

Concerned Citizen Carol Ajie

Governors Who Pay Millions in USD to Members of President Buhari’s Family

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/602710/

On January 20, 20168:42 pmIn News, Trending Comments

Governor Abdulazeez Yari of Zamafara State, has denied reports that he is romantically involved with Zarah, one of the daughters of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Gov. Yari

He also faulted media reports that he gave the president’s daughter $200 million as gift and that he divorced one of his wives, Hadiza Umaru Shinkafi, to accommodate Zarah.

The governor said the reports published in two weekly publications were false.

Yari’s position was contained in his letters to the publishers of the publications, accusing them of casting him in bad light and requesting them to retract the publications.

The letters, dated 18 and 19 January, were written for the governor by his lawyer, Mahmud Magaji (SAN), wherein Yari threatened to sue the publications for defamation, in which he would demand N100 billion (in the case of the first publication) and N10 billion (against the second publication) should they fail to retract the publication and tender apology within seven days.

Part of the letters read: “The above publication, no doubt, is false and defamatory, and it is intended to bring the reputation of our client to ridicule and cause odium or malignity to our client.

“Since the above publication, our client has received countless phone calls and text messages from family, friends, colleagues and associates, who incessantly call to enquire about the said publication.

“Consequent upon the above, it is our client’s instruction that we demand from you published retraction of the said defamatory piece in three national newspapers inclusive of your own,” Yari said.

Friday 29 January 2016

Nnamdi Kanu Named Prisoner-of-Conscience - Human Rights Groups

SBCHROs Names Nnamdi Kanu-A Prisoner-Of-Conscience On Account Of His Continued Persecution By Buhari & Bail Denial By Justice John Tsoho

(Onitsha Nigeria, 30^th January 2016)-The Southeast Based Coalition of Human Rights Organizations (SBCHROs), coordinated by Intersociety, and comprising the following ten rights organizations: International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety), Anambra State Branch of the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Center for Human Rights & Peace Advocacy (CHRPA), Human Rights Club (a project of LRRDC)(HRC), Forum for Justice, Equity & Defense of Human Rights (FJEDHR), Society Advocacy Watch Project (SPAW), Anambra Human Rights Forum (AHRF), Southeast Good Governance Forum (SGGF), International Solidarity for Peace & Human Rights Initiative (ITERSOLIDARITY) and Igbo Ekunie Initiative (pan Igbo rights advocacy group), have firmly resolved to name Citizen Nnamdi Kanu as a prisoner-of-conscience (POC).

For the fact that Citizen Nnamdi Kanu has never killed anybody (use violence) or authorized anybody or group to kill (advocated for violence); for the fact that he was arrested and detained for 98 days without trial contrary to Sections 35 (4) (a) (right to personal liberty), 33 (right to life), 34 (right to dignity of human person), 36 (right to fair hearing) and 41 (right freedom of movement) of the 1999 Constitution and Articles V,VI,VII and XII of the African Charter on Human & Peoples Rights (ratified and domesticated by Nigeria in 1983); for the fact that the Nigerian authorities led by President Muhammadu Buhari have flouted with impunity and reckless abandon several court decisions bordering on protection and enforcement of these constitutional rights of the detained Prisoner-of-Conscience; for the fact that Citizen Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest and detention was politically motivated and ill-conceived; for the fact that he was arrested and detained and is being persecuted for his non violent political and social thoughts; and for the fact that the mind of the trial Judge; Hon Justice John Tsoho was possibly abused, biased and corrupted presidentially, leading to the Judge convicting Citizen Nnamdi Kanu before trial (his choice of words); upon which Citizen Kanu was denied his long awaited and deserved bail; Citizen Nnamdi Kanu eminently deserves the local and international status of a prisoner-of-conscience.

For the purpose of refreshing the minds of all and sundry particularly the Nigerian democratic forces, Prisoner of Conscience (POC) is a term coined by Peter Benenson; founder of Amnesty International, UK in a 28 May 1961 article (“the Forgotten Prisoners") published in the London Observer Newspaper. The term refers to anyone imprisoned because of their race, sexual orientation, religion, or political views; expressed or conducted non-violently or in peaceful manners. It also refers to those who have been imprisoned and/or persecuted for non-violent expression of their conscientiously held beliefs. Amnesty International, UK regards prisoners of conscience as political and activist prisoners (non white collar or street criminal suspects) or jailed international or national citizens who have been jailed or imprisoned by repressive and suppressive political authorities because of their political, religious or other conscientiously-held beliefs, ethnic origin, sex, color, language, national or social origin, economic status, birth, sexual orientation or other status, provided that they are non violent and peaceful and have never sanctioned the opposite.

The Myanmar’s leading pro democracy activist and Nobel Laureate, Ms Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is one of the world’s recognized prisoners-of-conscience and was an Amnesty International’s prisoner of conscience (POC) from 1989-1995; 2000 to 2002; and 2003 to 2010. Though she is banned by her country’s repressive military rulers from standing for Myanmar’s presidency since 1988 when her National League for Democracy (NLD) was heading for a landslide victory before the country’s military junta struck and annulled same; but her campaigns for restoration of democracy, civil liberties and rule of law in Myanmar recently paid off leading to full return of democracy and inauguration of its first post military’s democratically elected parliament this 1^st February 2016. Though banned from holding presidency seat for now; but Ms Suu Kyi; 70, is expected to be President of her country by proxy with her NLD having won 80% of the parliamentary seats.

Beyond naming Citizen Nnamdi Kanu a prisoner-of-conscience; plans by SBCHROs are also on the way to formally write and appeal to the likes of Amnesty International, UK, the Human Rights Watch, USA and the Society for the Threatened People, Germany, etc to also adopt Citizen Nnamdi Kanu as a prisoner-of-conscience or be given or accorded with equivalent (s) status. As SBCHROs’ prisoner-of-conscience, Citizen Nnamdi Kanu will remain under our local, national and global campaign searchlight until he is freed, discharged and acquitted of the ongoing phantom charge of treasonable felony.

Further condemned in strongest term is possible voice of Jacob and hand of Esau in the disagreement that erupted in the legal defense team of Citizen Nnamdi Kanu to the extent that it also contributed in part to denial of bail of the detained prisoner-of-conscience by Hon Justice Tsoho; occasioned by poor bail application and watery argument by one of the defense counsel. The recent open-letter to the EU Parliament written from prison by the detained Prisoner-of-Conscience; in which he disclosed how he was tortured and maltreated by DSS while in its captivity clearly contradicted the recent account of one of his defense counsel, who said Citizen Kanu was never tortured or maltreated by DSS and that he was even cracking jokes with his captors. Comparing the former with the latter, it is mostly safe to suspect another voice of Jacob and hand of Esau. Though Citizen Nnamdi Kanu’s bail bid was lost, but the most striking part of the last court proceedings was judicial resolution of the authenticity of Citizen Kanu’s defense legal team in his physical presence and under his written authorization. In all these, the Federal Government’s age-long divide-and-rule tactics may most likely be at work.

We are also saddened and shocked by Hon Justice John Tsoho’s reported resort to use of convictable and uncouth choice of words; upon which he based his bail refusal ruling. In over seven reports of journalists particularly judicial reporters perused in the course of our fact finding on the proceedings under reference, the same convictable and uncouth choice of words was reported to be used by the trial Judge. Hon Justice John Tsoho was specifically reported by several media sources as having said the following judgmental words “(Nnamdi) Kanu is a threat to national security, and as a result will not be granted bail”. He reportedly held further that “if released, Kanu may commit the same offence again, and that “there is a probability that he may jump bail because he possesses dual citizenship”. The judge conclusively ruled that Kanu be remanded in prison custody, and ordered an accelerated hearing of the case.

If it is true that the trial judge used such biased and judgmental words on post arraignment bail application ruling; then the Judge has already convicted and found Citizen Nnamdi guilty before trial. It is also against the CJN’s recent assurances given to Intersociety that Kanu’s case will be resolved justly and judiciously. This explains why we held that the mind of the Judge was presidentially abused, biased and corrupted. The Judge was also caught up by the presidentially bullets of hearsay and concocted facts; to the effect that Citizen Nnamdi Kanu sneaked into or entered his mother country improperly.

Our questions are: when has it become an international or national crime for a citizen to bear dual citizenship? If Hon Justice John Tsoho can be so afraid and possibly stampeded presidentially not to grant bail to a political and activist prisoner or detainee bearing mere dual citizenship; is he not aware of the revolution going on in the global judicial systems of States to the extent that many have adopted universal jurisdictions and armed with international arrest and detention warrant licenses? As recently as few years, domestic courts in Belgium, South Africa and Senegal have assumed regional and international jurisdictions and issued and executed international arrest warrants against national, regional and international citizens or nationals accused of crimes against humanity in their respective countries. Today, former Chadian military dictator and butcher; Hissene Habre is in detention in Senegal standing trial for mass murder he committed while in power in the 80s. Is the like of Hon Justice Tsoho not leading Nigerian judiciary or its segment back to the cave?

In all, we urge the new defense legal team of Citizen Nnamdi Kanu not to waste further time in appealing against the referenced judicial bail refusal decision of Hon Justice John Tsoho of the Abuja Federal High Court Three.

Signed:

For: Southeast Based Coalition of Human Rights Organizations (SBCHROs)

Emeka Umeagbalasi

Board Chairman, International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law & Coordinating Head, SBCHROs

Mobile Line: +2348174090052

Email: emekaumeagbalasi@yahoo.co.uk

Aloysius Attah

Chairman, Anambra State Branch of the Civil Liberties Organization & Media Coordinator, SBCHROs

Mobile Line: +2348035090548

Email: attahcomrade@yahoo.com

Sum Due for Repatriation Mr President Buhari, Is it $750M? Country of Repatriation is.....?

Friday 29^th Jan., 2016

Mr President Buhari,

Transparency is a virtue a regime who professes to fight corruption should honour.

Months after you assumed office I got hints from a consortium of lawyers in Nigeria working with counterparts in USA to retrieve $1.5Billion (One Billion Five Hundred Thousand Naira) of Abacha’s loot from the United States of America to Nigeria. The lawyer said a Federal Court in US already completed the assets forfeiture proceedings. They asked me if I was Mr. Malami’s classmate in the University or at the law school and I said No. They asked me if I had Mr Malami’s phone number and if I could call him. I said I am so sorry I am not going to call Minister Malami I have his number for the simple fact that I don’t call serving public officers not known to me in NBA, as a policy. Ministers of Justice his predecessors were known to me in the Nigerian Bar Association. I said however, IRS Isiaku Rabiu is owing my client $2million and before he became AGF Malami, was his lawyer & responded on behalf of the debtor, IRS.

Weeks after another lawyer was discussing Law our common ground and when this matter was raised ie the repatriation of USD1.5Billion, and a meeting had been requested by the consortium, a member of the said consortium of lawyers said the US contact had actually gone ahead to see the presidency referring to your presidency in respect of the matter of repatriation/recovery of the said funds ($1,5Billion).

Next I was to read this report that $750million was about being repatriated. http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2016/01/well-soon-recover-750m-abacha-loot-iboris-6-9m-says-malami/

Mr President nowhere was it stated source or country of repatriation in any of the circulated report and why is it that your regime announced the sum of $750million without disclosing to the public the country the repatriated sum is being expected?

Please what exactly is going on right now? Are there hawks or what? And why are we fighting past regime’s corruption when we are hiding the full details of important transactions? President Jonathan’s regime disclosed country of repatriation and sums.

Why is President Buhari in the habit of hiding things. PMB refused to disclosed to the public despite several inquiries from journalists and also at your maiden media chat 30^th Dec what you have recovered thus far from the anti-graft exercise and you rested it on judicial proceedings until the court cases finish. The court cases are not going to finish Sir in the next decade and what becomes of the enormous cash in your hands?

Please your Excellency lead by example fight this graft war with sincerity and honesty as stated in Guardian Law page 44 on Tuesday 26^th Jan., 2016

Click. http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2016/01/how-lawyers-score-prosecution-of-anti-graft-war/

Respectfully submitted,

Attorney Carol Ajie

Copy to Justice Minister Malami SAN

IPOB: Nnamdi Kanu's Legal Representation

Dear ALL,

Anyone please get this message to Nnamdi Kanu it seems there are issues of legal representation the latest being Udechukwu being asked to step down for Chuks Muoma SAN. http://elombah.com/index.php/reports/4612-drama-in-court-as-nnamdi-kanu-rejects-own-lawyer

Muoma SAN is a great man I support him 100% to act as the lead Counsel He is a committed Attorney. Are the lawyers earning a fee or it’s pro bono. If pro bono then there could be no possible disagreement. If professional fees are attached, the lead counsel should guide our learned colleagues. All the lawyers work together under Muoma’s leadership as he is evidently the most senior so that we should stop humiliating any of the lawyers offering legal services through random media sack unless issues of broken trust arise otherwise the more the better for such high profile human rights cases. Do recall how Lawyers moved on MKO Abiola’s political cases and the Kalakuta Republic to mention but a few. Kanu, IPOB Leader is being deprived of the people’s rights to self-determination.

The World is interested in receiving refreshing developments at the earliest. Biafrans World over are protesting the latest being in Brussels last week.

Thank you

Human Rights Attorney Carol Ajie

PMB PROTECT THE UNBORN BABY ABANDONED BY MORALLY BANKRUPT EFCC OFFICER

EFCC operative batters, abandons lover over refusal to abort pregnancy

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/efcc-operative-batters-abandons-lover-over-refusal-to-abort-pregnancy/

On January 28, 20169:25 pmIn Crime Guard, NewsComments

*‘He gave me N18,000 for abortion’
LAGOS—A teenager, who alleged that she had been abandoned after being impregnated by an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has appealed to authorities of the commission to intervene.
The pregnant teenager, Blessing Nwokpa, also alleged that effort to reach her estranged lover (names withheld) earned her a beating at the commission’s office in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The 19-year-old claimed that the operative took advantage of her homelessness to put her in the family way, only to abandon her when it mattered most.
Trouble, as gathered, started after Nwokpa who worked as a canteen attendant at the Awolowo Road, Ikoyi office of EFCC, had accommodation problem. She was compelled to be sleeping in the canteen, when her lover reportedly offered to give her shelter.

Her story
According to the expectant mother, who is currently in the custody of the Legal Aids Council, “I was staying with my brother when I left Enugu for Lagos. He found the canteen job for me.
“At a point he had accommodation problem and I was sleeping in the canteen when the EFCC man said I could be sleeping in his house until my brother get another apartment.
“I accepted without thinking of the impossible. But at night he would lure me into having sex with him until I became pregnant without knowing.
“When I eventually discovered I was pregnant, I told him and his attitude towards me changed. He gave me N18,000 to abort the pregnancy but I refused. When he discovered I was still keeping the pregnancy, he started beating me and threw my things out of his apartment.
“He beat me to a pulp when I went to his office to request for money for ante-natal. Some of his senior colleagues rescued me,” adding that she was sacked at the canteen because of her pregnancy.
Legal Aids intervenes
She was reportedly directed to the Legal Aids Council where she lodged the complaint.
Vanguard was informed that attempt by the council to make peace between the duo failed as the EFCC officer did not show up when invited.
The teenager said all she needed was for the EFCC operative to take responsibility of the pregnancy and not necessarily to marry her.
Efforts by Vanguard to reach the concerned EFCC officer on his mobile phone failed as it was switched off. Sources at the commission told Vanguard that the matter was a private one.

WIKE ASKS AMAECHI TO ACCOUNT FOR N3TRILLION: YOU BET SOME WENT INTO BUHARI'S CAMPAIGN

Wike asks Amaechi to account for N3 trillion

By Victor Edozie, Port Harcourt | Publish Date: Jan 28 2016 10:12PM | Updated Date: Jan 29 2016 5:19AM

image: http://dailytrust.com.ng/Image/like.png
(0 Likes)

image: http://cms.dailytrust.com.ng/cms/gall_content/2016/1/2016_1$largeimg28_Jan_2016_221200594.jpg
Wike asks Amaechi to account for N3 trillion

Rivers State Gov. Nyesom Wike

Rivers State government yesterday called on the Minister for Transport, Mr Chibuike Amaechi to account for about N3 trillion received throughout his eight years tenure as the governor of the State.
The State Commissioner for Information, Dr Tam George told newsmen in Port Harcourt that the State was still reeling from “the catastrophic legacy of the former governor” despite receiving over three trillion naira in revenue in 8 years.

“Amaechi left the most abandoned projects in the history of Rivers State since 1997. Thousands of workers were without their salaries for four months and thousands of teachers were not paid for nearly 12 months. We have so many abandoned projects which huge sums have been paid but projects are yet to be completed. We have the Mono-rail project that gulped over N60bn and it was abandoned. We have the Woji road project awarded at N3bn. There was a variation of the project to the upward of N14bn but it was abandoned. We inherited the project and completed it. There are so many of the abandoned projects. We have the Karibi George 250 bed project where huge sums of money were paid but no single block was laid at the site” he said.
He said that the State would deploy every legitimate means to compel those that looted the State to face the full wrath of law.

Read more at http://dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/wike-asks-amaechi-to-account-for-n3-trillion/131267.html#HCzAS4qtvE5OwJsC.99

Thursday 28 January 2016

THOSE WHO ADVISED PDP/GEJ NOT TO CHALLEMGE 2015 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, WRONG!

Civil Society group condemns those who had advised PDP and President Jonathan not to challenge the result of the March 2015 presidential polls on PVCs that had no provisions for its use in the Electoral Act 2011.

It is not too late though because the issues of Buhari's WAEC cert has not been resolved. Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN was prosecuting one but withdrew the lawsuit. There were other lawsuits on Buhari's eligibility prior to the presidential election at the Federal High Court Abuja. Thank you.
Best
Attorney Carol Ajie

......................................................................................................................

Supreme Court Verdict On Rivers State Governorship Matter & Related Issues: Struggle Continues!

(Intersociety Nigeria, 28^th January 2016)-The heart of the leadership of International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety) is filled with joy and encouragement concerning the latest grounded judgment of the Supreme Court with respect to Rivers State Governorship Election Petition. We also congratulate Governors David Umahi of Ebonyi State and Akinkumni Ambode of Lagos State and people of the two States as well as others over their recent electoral victories at the Supreme Court; fundamentally anchored on the fact that “use of card-readers cannot validly be used to invalidate the results of an election as it is conspicuously not provided in the 2010 Electoral Act or the 1999 Constitution”.

By Section 287 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, the decisions of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (i.e. Rivers, Lagos and Ebonyi Governorship Matters) are binding on all authorities and persons and all courts subordinate to the Supreme Court, and shall be enforced in any part of Nigeria. By this epochal decision, all gutter and grossly erroneous card-reader based technical judgments of the lower tribunal and appellate courts are hereby set aside. It is commendable and happily to observe that most, if not all governorship related verdicts of the Supreme Court following 2015 elections are well founded and grounded in the letters and spirit of Nigeria’s existing electoral laws.

It is also shocking and alarming that the same 2015 elections adjudged by conformist CSOs of Southwest domination as the best election since 1999 had recorded 81 nullifications and 15 upturning by various electoral courts; thereby making it the worst nullified polls in the history of Nigeria. The number of elections nullified following 2015 general polls in the country singly outnumbered those of 2007 and 2011 put together (source: INEC January 2016). Yet some conformist CSOs had already commenced international image laundering campaigns for Prof Attahiru Jega to be bestowed with the likes of Mo Ibrahim or Nobel Peace Prize awards; as the best INEC chairman Nigeria ever had. We are again vindicated to the effect that the 2015 polls particularly the presidential segment was scientifically rigged and delivered using demographic and electronic voting manipulations.

The upgrading of the governorship election petition matters to the Supreme Court in accordance with Section 233 (1) (i) (iv) of the 1999 Constitution is also legislatively striking and well thought out. The refusal of the opponents of the presidential candidate of APC (now President Muhammadu Buhari) particularly former President Goodluck Jonathan and his PDP to challenge the former’s declaration as winner before any electoral court in Nigeria is still condemned. It is also a major setback to the growth of Nigeria’s jurisprudence.

It is our informed recommendation that the entire 1,695 elective offices in Nigeria; other than the country’s Local Governments’ chairmanship, deputy chairmanship and councillorship election matters, should be upgraded to terminate at the Supreme Court as well. There is extremely important need for the National Judicial Council (NJC) to beam its searchlight at all times towards membership and quality of the election petitions’ panel of judges. There are strong pieces of evidence suggesting that politicians including some incumbent governors and their political parties grossly influenced the appointment of electoral judges at the tribunals and appellate courts as well as the verdict outcomes of election petitions following the conduct of 2015 general elections in Nigeria.

The leadership of Intersociety is today one of the leading rights advocacy voices in Nigeria campaigning ceaselessly for the protection of the sanctity and independence of the country’s judiciary and citizens’ liberties. This followed a destructive and devastating attack launched at the country’s judiciary by the executive Presidency of Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari. Gen Muhammadu Buhari once headed Nigeria’s military tyrannical regime between January 1984 and August 1985. Since the assumption of office on 29^th May 2015, by the Buhari administration, Nigeria’s human rights records, independence of judiciary and rule of law in general have been at their lowest ebb.

We had on 10^th November 2015 written the National Judicial Council (NJC) via a well grounded letter, titled: Saving Nigerian Judiciary And Democracy From The Hands Of Dictatorial Executive Arm: A Case Against Executive Recklessness & Excesses In Rivers & Akwa Ibom Governorship Judicial Reviews & Extra-Judicial Detention Of Citizen Nnamdi Kanu Of IPOB (2). Another important letter of ours was addressed to the same NJC via its chairman, Hon Justice Mahmud Mohammed; who is also the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). The letter was dated 13^th of December and titled: Unconstitutional Laws & Court Orders On Rampage In Nigeria: A Case Against Hon Justice Adeniyi Ademola Of The Federal High Court (Abuja Division) & Section 27 (1) Of The Terrorism Prevention Act Of 2011 (As Amended).

Gladly, in the CJN’s reply to the leadership of International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety), which was dated 12^th of January 2016 and referenced: CJN/GEN/MISC/A.37/Vol.XIX/273, he commended our leadership and urged us “to continue to have confidence in the judiciary”. The CJN also assured us of “the ability of the judiciary to resolve the Nnamdi Kanu’s case justly and judiciously”. With respect to our grouse against Hon Justice Ademola Adeniyi of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court who issued the constitutionally abominable 90 days court remand order for investigative detention of Citizen Nnamdi Kanu; warranting his being dragged to the NJC, it has been overtaken by events and we bear no further grudges against his office or person.

We commend the CJN for his fatherly response and assure his esteemed office of our total resolve to ceaselessly join forces with the Nigerian Judiciary and other non conformist stakeholders to fight and dwarf all forces of darkness bent on tainting the sanctity of the judiciary and castrate its independence; all in their dark bid to strip our hallowed judiciary of its immortal feat as the bastion of democracy and last hope of common man. Assuredly, any attempt or effort by them to turn the country’s judiciary into an unholy proponent of darkness, rule of jungle and un-constitutionalism in Nigeria will be resisted and crushed.

Further, following the transmission of two new “anti corruption law bills” to the leadership of the National Assembly by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation seeking their passage into law, which was read yesterday, Wednesday, 27^th January 2016 before the floor of the Senate by Senate President, Bukola Saraki we caused a strong worded letter to be addressed to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Reps urging the Red and the Green Chambers to reject and tear to shreds all forms of proposed unconstitutional enactments that may be brought to their legislative attention by the executive Presidency of Gen Muhammadu Buhari. We also urged them to retrieve and amend or constitutionally restructure any unconstitutional and anti citizens’ liberties’ enactment or legislation in use in Nigeria. The letter under reference is dated 28^th of January 2016 and titled: Buhari’s Proposed Anti-Corruption Laws: A Call For Rejection Of All Forms Of Unconstitutional Enactments In Nigeria. It was also referenced: Intersociety.Org/NG/001/01/016/NA/ABJ.

We had in the letter observed that there are a number of unconstitutional federal legislations passed recently and made operational in Nigeria. Chief among them is the Terrorism Prevention Act of 2011, as amended in 2013 particularly its Section 27 (1), which unconstitutionally empowered a security officer to obtain a court remand order from a high court for purpose of detaining under investigation or pretrial of a citizen merely accused of committing offense of terrorism in Nigeria for a period of 90 days.

The 90 days investigative or pretrial detention is made subject to continuous renewal for more 90 days until the investigating security officer or agency is satisfied or saturated with his or its investigation. The unconstitutionality of this section is expressly contained in Section 35 (4) (a) (b) of the 1999 Constitution under right to personal liberty. The important Section under reference prohibits pretrial detention of any citizen involved in allegation of committing a capital offense (i.e. terrorism) beyond 60 days without being released on bail or unconditionally. It also provides that no citizen who is arrested and detained but granted pretrial bail should continue to be so accused beyond 90 days without being charged and tried judicially.

Following these, we demanded that the two new anti corruption bills: Money Laundering Prevention & Prohibition Bill 2016 and the Criminal Matters Bill 2016 must not be debated or passed behind the scene or off public knowledge or inputs of Nigerians. That is to say they must be debated publicly so that Nigerians will know their contents and make inputs and ensure they are made coherent and consistent with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution particularly the Chapter Four or Fundamental Human Rights. The letter under reference was copied to the Attorney General of the Federation & Minister for Justice. A copy of the letter is attached below for further details and authentication.

Signed:

Emeka Umeagbalasi, Board Chairman

Mobile Line: +2348174090052

Email: info@intersociety-ng.org, emekaumeagbalasi@yahoo.co.uk

Chinwe Umeche, Esq., Head, Democracy & Good Governance Program

Obianuju Joy Igboeli, Esq., Head, Civil Liberties & Rule of Law Program