APC hails the appointment of Peterside as new NIMASA DG

….Commends Buhari, Amaechi for a worthy appointment


The appointment of Dr. Dakuku Peterside the Rivers APC Flag-Bearer in the 2015 general elections as the new Director General of the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has been hailed by the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which described it as well deserve.

Hon. Dakuku Peterside

“Based on what we know about Dr. Peterside, we make bold to say that his appointment, on Thursday, as the new NIMASA DG is a case of putting a square peg in a square hole,” the party said in a statement issued Friday in Port Harcourt by the State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya.

It described Dr. Peterside as a tested and trusted reformist-minded Administrator who has all it takes to reform and transform NIMASA into the pride of Nigeria and Africa.

“Dr. Peterside comes well prepared for the task of breathing a new life into NIMASA. Apart from boasting a sound academic background that includes a degree in Business Administration (Management) and certificates in Leadership and Project Management, he holds a Doctorate degree in Organizational Management with research interest in Corporate Political Strategy.

Dr. Peterside is reputed as an authority in corporate strategy and business-government relations. He acquitted himself creditably in all his previous assignments, including as Commissioner for Works in Rivers State and a distinguished member of the Federal House of Representatives and Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) during the Seventh Assembly.

He is a well-known champion of reform and strengthening of institutions as key to unlocking development potentials. Dr. Dakuku Peterside, a Legislator par excellence  has served at all levels of Government in Nigeria; Local, State and National and is fast establishing himself as a National reference speaker on oil and gas policy and legislation matters.

Dr. Peterside has been a most sought after resource person in international conference; he was a major speaker at the 2013 Middle East Downstream Week held in Abu Dhabi in May, 2013 and the 2013 World Refining and Petrochemical Technology Summit in Doha, Qatar, amongst many other speaking engagements around the globe. We have no doubt in our mind that he will excel on his new assignment as the NIMASA Director General,” Rivers APC said.

The party congratulated Dr. Peterside and assured him of its prayers for his success in his new duty post. It commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister for Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, for the confidence reposed in Dr. Peterside as evidenced in his appointment as the helmsman of a strategic parastatal like NIMASA.

APC hails the appointment of Peterside as new NIMASA DG

Nigerian govt. orders forensic audit of NNPC, 80 other agencies

The National Economic Council (NEC) rose from its 65th meeting on Thursday in Abuja, with a resolution to engage two audit firms to conduct forensic audit on 81 government revenue generating agencies.

Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr. Emmanuel Kachikwu

The approval followed submission of an interim report by the ad hoc committee of NEC, chaired by Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, to review the management of the Excess Crude Account and remittances into the Federation Account.

The governors of Jigawa, Baderu Abubakar; Anambra, Willie Obiano; Lagos, Akinwumi Ambode; and the Minister for Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, said this in their joint briefing to journalists.

According to Mr. Ambode, 18 core revenue generating agencies, such as NNPC, will be audited by KPMG, an international audit firm, while an indigenous firm, SIAO, will audit other non-core revenue generating agencies.

The governor said that NEC would take further action on the agencies after the firms had completed the forensic auditing.

The Jigawa governor said that the Accountant-General of the Federation reported to council that as at Dec. 31, 2015 the Excess Crude Account stood at $2.26 billion.

The governor said that the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, informed the council of the standing of the bailout funds given to states.

He said that 23 states had benefitted from N10 billion each, Excess Crude Account-backed soft loan, while 28 states benefitted from the presidential bailout for the payment of salaries and gratuities.

Gov. Obiano gave a report concerning some MDAs collecting revenue in foreign currency and remitting in local currency into the Federation Account.

Mr. Obiano said the permanent secretary, Ministry of Finance, reported that besides NNPC, NIMASA and NPA, other agencies involved in such practice were FIRS, Shippers Council, Airport Authority and Nigeria Immigration Service.

Mr. Obiano said that the official reported that the introduction of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) had resolved the problem as all account was now under the CBN.

He also said that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who presided at the NEC, reiterated the Federal Government’s policy that NNPC and other agencies must present budget for approval before spending in line with the TSA.

Mr. Udoma hinted on the 2016 budget focus of the administration, saying that plans were on to foster macro-economic stability conducive to the grow of the GDP at 4.2 per cent.

He said the budget’s objective was to deliver inclusive growth to Nigerians, create sufficient jobs and build an economy less vulnerable to oil price shocks.

According to Mr. Udoma, while the government intends to ensure more revenue drive, it will not increase taxes, but strive to raise the collection of VAT from its 20 per cent level.(NAN)

Nigerian govt. orders forensic audit of NNPC, 80 other agencies

Judge handling Oduah, Kashamu, Ex-NIMASA"s boss case transferred

LITIGANTS with cases at the Federal High Court in Lagos have to wait as the Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta, has approved the transfer of some judges to other divisions.

oduah

Among those leaving the Lagos Division are Justice Okon Abang, Justice Mohammed Yunusa, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke and Justice Musa Kurya.

Justice Abang, who barred the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) from arresting Senator Buruji Kashamu for illicit drug dealing allegations, was transferred to Abuja.

His pending cases are: Former Presidential Adviser Kingsley Kuku Vs. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Honeywell Group Vs. Ecobank Plc.

Justice Yunusa, who granted the order restraining anti-graft agencies from arresting former Aviation Minister Princess Stella Oduah, was transfered to Enugu State.

Justice Aneke was transfered to Benue, while Justice Kurya to Plateau.

Justice Ibrahim Buba, expected to be moved to the North, will remain in Lagos.

Among cases before Justice Buba is: Former Director-General of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)  Patrick Akpobolokemi, on trial for fraud.

With the transfers, cases before the judges would begin afresh (de novo).

It was learnt that some litigants were unhappy that their cases would be further delayed.

A human rights group, Access to Justice (A2Justice) decried the transfers, saying such “arbitrary and routine” transfers of judges affect the speedy dispensation of justice.

A2J lamented that the transfer of judges, who have commenced but not completed trials, could have drastic and traumatising effects on litigants and escalate the cost of litigation.

“Such transfers of judges often times occur after the case has spent years on the docket of the court of the transferred judge,” it said.

According to A2J, to re-start cases that have spent years on a cause-list afresh is painful, agonising and hard on litigants.

“This would entail recalling witnesses and re-tendering evidence. Some of the cases affected  may also be fundamental rights cases, where issues of constitutional rights – including liberty or movement – may also be in question.

“These administrative transfers force litigants to outspend themselves to resolve disputes or find remedies, in view of additional expenses involved in re-litigating a matter.

“Transfers take their toll on, and burden witnesses too, some of whom may be unable, on health or other grounds, to return to court to give evidence again.

“When witnesses are unable to reappear to give evidence and a case is thereby prejudiced, this perpetuates, replicates and amplifies negative public impressions about our court system and its ability to uphold the rule of law and dispense justice freely and efficiently.

“No person affected by these transfers would have a positive impression of the court or how the courts take their responsibility to dispense justice,” A2J said.

The group urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to “adopt and issue a clear, enforceable policy that prevents any judge from being transferred or relocated from his or her court or division without an impact assessment of the effect of such transfers on cases.”

Judge handling Oduah, Kashamu, Ex-NIMASA"s boss case transferred

EFCC arraigns former NIMASA DG on fresh charge

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, re-arraigned former Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi and five others on a fresh 22-counts N2.6 billion theft charged before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

It will be recalled that the EFCC had on Thursday arraigned the accused persons before Justice Saliu Saidu of the same court in Lagos.

Meanwhile, in the fresh charge before Justice Ibrahim Buba, the former NIMASA DG alongside Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Juan and two companies; Blockz and Stonez limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited were alleged to have converted for private use the sum of N2.6 bn belonging to NIMASA.

The offences allegedly contravened Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition/Amendment) Act of 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3).

The prosecution alleged that on or about February 2014 in Lagos, the accused persons conspired among themselves to converted the sum of N437,726,666.60 belonging to NIMASA.

They were alleged to have on January 9, 2014 converted to their private use the sum of N66,800.000 property of NIMASA and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15 (3)of the Money Laundering Act, 2012.

The accused were further alleged to have between April and August, 2014 converted to their own use, the sum of N21,802,000 and additional N53,749,000.00 respectively.

When the charge was read to them, they all pleaded not guilty to the offences. In his application, counsel to Akpobolokemi,

Dr. Joseph Nwobike SAN, prayed the court not to impose stringent bail conditions.

Counsel to other accused persons while aligning with submissions of Nwobike also urged the court to exercise it’s discretion judicially and judiciously.

EFCC lawyer, said bail was at the discretion of the court, but stressed the need for the verification of all documents, addresses and names presented by the accused.

Justice Buba in a short ruling, said that it was in the interest of justice to grant the accused persons bail in order for them to defend themselves. The matter has been adjourned till December 7, for trial.

EFCC arraigns former NIMASA DG on fresh charge

Amaechi orders probe of Maritime Academy over N18b funds

Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi is set to probe the accounts of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State over the N18 billion  released to the institution.

Rotimi Amaechi

Amaechi, it was gathered,  has ordered the immediate audit of the accounts of the Academy  and the tenure of its Rector, Joshua Okpo.

The Rector, it was gathered,  incurred the Minister’s wrath last week when he accused the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) of starving the academy of funds. The Minister, it was learnt,  summoned the Acting Director-General of NIMASA, Haruna Jauro and demanded explanation as to why the agency was starving the academy of its statutory five per cent funds.

“The NIMASA DG was really shocked by Okpo’s allegation and he explained to the Honourable Minister that NIMASA had regularly released money due to the academy,” a source said.

Jauro, it was learnt, also informed the Minister that NIMASA had released more than N18 billion to MAN Oron between 2009 and 2014.

It was at this point that Okpo, who also attended the meeting, confirmed to the Minister that the academy had actually received up to N13 billion since 2011 when he assumed duties as the Rector of the institution, the source added.

“When asked by the Minister  to explain what he had done with the huge sums of money released to the academy against the backdrop of lack of physical infrastructural development of the institution, Okpo was short of a convincing explanation prompting the Minister to order an immediate audit of the academy’s account from 2009 to date,” the source said.

The Deputy Public Relations of NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka said the financial activities of the  institution might be probed by the government.

Amaechi orders probe of Maritime Academy over N18b funds

Breaking: Buhari fires NIMASA boss

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday terminated the appointment of Mr. Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi as the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, announced the sacking in a statement made available to journalists.

Adesina, however, did not give reason for the decision which he said took immediate effect.

He said Akpobolokemi would hand over the management of NIMASA and all government property in his possession to the most senior officer in the agency who will remain in charge until a new Director-General is appointed.

 

Breaking: Buhari fires NIMASA boss