Ese: IG queries AIG, Bayelsa, Kano CPs

The Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has queried the AIG, Zone 1, Kano, Shuaibu Gambo, and the Commissioners of Police in charge of Bayelsa and Kano states over the shoddy handling of Ese Oruru’s abduction and her forceful conversion to Islam.

Police Inspector General, Solomon Arase

A highly placed source told one of our correspondents on Wednesday that the officers were accused of not giving the case the attention it deserved and for allowing it to drag on for over six months before it came to Arase’s notice.

The IG, it was learnt, was embarrassed by the lack of professionalism exhibited by the three senior officers “who failed to carry out a thorough investigation into the incident within a short time.”

The source said, “The IG has directed that the AIG and the two CPs in Bayelsa and Kano should be queried for failing to handle Ese’s case with the professionalism expected of senior officers like them and for allowing the case to drag on for a long time without notifying the Force headquarters about the challenges they were facing.”

It was gathered that Arase was particularly annoyed by the conduct of the AIG and his lackadaisical approach to the case.

“Emir Lamido Sanusi’s explanation indicated that the AIG was to blame for the shoddy handling of the case; the IG was totally disappointed in Gambo and his role in the abduction saga,” another source stated.

It was gathered that the police had begun an investigation into the matter with a view to punishing the investigating officers responsible for the shoddy job.

“I can tell you that all those responsible for this embarrassment will not go scot-free. Definitely, heads will roll,” the source added.

Findings indicated that the police were awaiting the report of the medical examination carried out on Ese to determine other charges that would be preferred against her abductor.

Yunusa faces sex crime charges in Bayelsa

It was learnt that Ese’s abductor, Yunusa Dahiru, who faces kidnapping charges, among others, would be prosecuted in Bayelsa State, where the crime took place, while the Kano Sharia Council members would also be arrested for their roles in the teenager’s forceful conversion to Islam.

Arase had come under fire for the failure of the police to rescue Ese who was abducted from her home in Bayelsa, converted to Islam and married by Yunusa, who took her to Kano, where he along with the Kano Sharia Council members prevented Ese’s mother from having access to her.

The police may prefer sexual abuse and defilement charges against Ese Oruru’s abductor, it was learnt.

Our correspondents learnt that a prima facie case had been established against Yunusa.

A source said the report of a preliminary investigation submitted to the IG indicated that Yunusa had carnal knowledge of Ese.

“The legal department of the police has started compiling criminal charges against Yunusa, based on theprima facie case that had been established against him. If the charges are proven against him in court, I see him spending a long time behind bars,” the source stated.

It was learnt that the medical report on Ese would be tendered as evidence against the abductor.

The police spokesperson declined to comment on the charges that would be preferred against Yunusa, saying investigation had yet to be concluded.

Nigerians worked hard for my daughter’s release

Ese’s mother who was dressed in a red blouse over an Ankara wrapper met with the IG before she addressed a joint press briefing with the Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, on Wednesday.

She thanked the media, the police and Nigerians for assisting her to recover her daughter.

Mrs. Oruru who spoke in pidgin English for just 19 seconds, said she would be going home with her daughter, adding that she had taken custody of Ese.

She said, “All Nigerians worked hard so I can get my daughter back. Now that I have her, all that is left for me is to go home. I thank everyone, including the police, who made it possible; I have taken custody of my daughter and I would be going home with her.”

Kolawole said that aside from Yunusa, other actors in the abduction saga would be apprehended and prosecuted.

Police begin in-house inquiry

Kolawole also stated that the IG had ordered an in-house administrative inquiry to review the professional conduct of officers involved in the initial investigation of the case, noting that any officer indicted for professional dereliction would be firmly dealt with.

Kolawole said, “I can assure you that the abductor (Yunusa) and all other actors (Kano Sharia Council members) in this abduction saga will be brought to justice. This is the only way this nation can make a clear statement in unison that any individual that violates the sanctity of the rights of our children shall be dealt with in accordance with extant laws of our country.

“Aside from the prosecution of the actors directly involved in this case, the IG has also ordered an in-house administrative enquiry designed to review the professional conduct of officers responsible for the initial investigation of the case. Any officer indicted for professional dereliction will be firmly dealt with, accordingly.”

The police spokesperson said Ese was being given psychological and emotional support by the Gender and Child Protection unit of the police which handles cases of violence against children.

“In addition, a team from the medical department of the Force is also extending medical attention to the girl-child and upon certifying her medical status and emotional state, Ese will be re-united with her parents,” Kolawole explained.

She urged the media to respect the privacy and protective rights of Ese and her family, stressing that it is the minimum legal and international requirement in cases of that nature.

“As a civilised nation, this is a standard we should not compromise in the long term interest of the girl-child victim and her traumatised family,” the police spokesperson added.

Schoolmates send messages of support

Following the release of Ese, many Nigerians, including her friends, have expressed their relief and gratitude.

One of Ese’s friends, 14-year-old SS1 student, Miss Pere Success, said, “I am very happy she has been released. We last saw before we did our junior WAEC last year.

“I cannot imagine losing Ese because she is one of my best friends. I am very happy that she has been released.”

Another of Ese’s close friends, Miss Hattarrh Ozekime, who will be 15 later this year, said, “I was shocked when some people said Ese was not 14 years old, because that is her real age. Ese and I are very close. I don’t think she has had any problem in school. We first met each other in JSS1. We both have the dream of studying medicine and becoming medical doctors in the future.

“If Ese were here, I am sure she would have been in the science class, like me, and we would still be sitting together in class. I will be so happy to see her again.

“Her education is her first priority. She does not play with it. Her favourite subject is Integrated Science, but I believe she would also like biology and mathematics in SS1. I will hug her when I see her again.

“Ese, please come back to school; I want you to know that we love you so much and miss you. And when you come back, you will still be our best friend.”

Another of Ese’s classmates, 14-year-old Esther Ikaye, said, “I will like to see her again because we have been friends since JSS1. I will like us to be in the same class since she wanted to be a medical doctor, while I want to become a nurse.”

Fourteen-year-old Agamade Miebimo said, “Ese is kind. I dont think she would have deliberately followed that man because she is not the kind of person that follows men about. I am praying that she will come back home soon. I am missing her a lot.”

Michael Emena, 15, said he was very angry when he heard about her abduction because he had been friends with Ese since JSS2.

He said, “She would not have followed that man on her own accord because she only moves with people she is very familiar with.”

Another of her classmates, Adewale Joseph, said, “Ese, welcome back. I am so happy. Thank God you are alive.”

All of Ese’s friends our correspondent spoke to called for justice for her. They said Yunusa should be prosecuted because he might have “done bad things” to her and might do the same thing to another young girl if not punished.”

The Orurus said that their daughter had been forced to convert to Islam and into a child marriage without their consent.

A teacher in the school, Mr. Sunny Julius, said, “I am so happy she has been released. ”

Ese tries to hide identity, protruded tummy

Ese Oruru and her mother, Rose Oruru, were sighted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Wednesday as they made their way to Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

It was learnt that the duo   would leave for Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, from Port Harcourt.

Our correspondent gathered that they boarded an Air Peace flight around 4.30pm.

At the airport on Wednesday, the rescued teenager did not put on the hijab which she wore when she arrived in Abuja from Kano State on Tuesday.

Rather, she wore a fez cap, possibly to conceal her identity from other passengers, NAIA workers and airport users.

Ese wore a large blue long sleeves shirt on a pair of jeans and carried a black bag when she was sighted with her mother at the Abuja airport.

The 14-year-old and her   mother were escorted to the airport by armed police officers, who shielded them from other passengers at the facility.

Our correspondent observed that Ese’s tummy was protruding as one who was pregnant.

Armed officers who escorted the minor ensured that no one came close as they hurriedly led the girl and her mother to   the flight and stopped attempts to get their photographs.

Jubilation as Ese arrives Bayelsa

Ese and her mother arrived   Bayelsa a few minutes to 9pm on Wednesday.

At her family house, relatives and neighbours who had been waiting burst into songs on sighting the mother.

It was learnt that Ese was with the CP of the state. She is expected to meet with Governor Seriake Dickson today (Thursday), before going home.

Ese: IG queries AIG, Bayelsa, Kano CPs

Jonathan’s officials stole N197bn monthly – Sanusi

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, says Nigeria lost about $1bn (N197bn) every month under former President Goodluck Jonathan

Sanusi Lamido

The monarch said, “In Nigeria, there is no accountability at all and that is why I think Nigeria’s corruption is worse than corruption in most parts of the world. It is the worst type of corruption. It’s stealing.

“Frankly, I think a billion dollars under Jonathan a month was about what we were losing.”

Sanusi alleged that during Alison-Madueke’s tenure as petroleum minister, people paid as low as $50m for access to crude oil blocs valued at over $2bn.

Explaining how some of the shady deals took place, Sanusi said, “Basically, all it does is allow a group of people, who themselves don’t have any kind of operating background, to pay $50m for access to the crude oil in blocs, valued at over $2bn and they just take the crude oil, ship it out and don’t return the money and there is no trace of where the money has gone.

“Someone gets a contract to lift crude from the terminals to the refineries and in between, that crude is stolen; it is stolen on the high sea.”

Sanusi, who was fired by Jonathan in February last year for alleging that $20bn was missing from the account of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, said if the former petroleum minister was found guilty by a UK court, it would serve as a deterrent to corrupt people.

“If she goes to court and is jailed for example, it sends a signal; I think that there is a day of reckoning,” he said.

The US television show quoted United States and UK authorities as saying that Alison-Madueke might have “personally overseen the stealing of $6bn. The most common method is awarding oil contracts to companies owned by friends.”

It alleged that the second most common method of stealing oil was to make oil ships disappear mysteriously.

The PBS NewsHour said it had in its possession a letter written by the embattled former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), and addressed to the CBN, requesting $47m.

The letter, which was written on the letterhead of the Office of the NSA, titled ‘Request of Funds for Special Services’ with reference number, NSA/366S, was dated November, 2014.

According to the US television show, which has over four million viewers weekly, the money was given to the ONSA in cash and was conveyed in armoured vehicles at midnight.

In a second document on the letterhead of the NNPC and addressed to the Director, Banking and Payments of the CBN, the CBN was asked to give the National Intelligence Agency, which was under the leadership of Dasuki, $289,202,382.

This was despite the fact that the NIA’s budget was only $160m for the year.

uck Jonathan.

Sanusi, who is a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, said this during a programme titled ‘How a cancer of corruption steals Nigerian oil, weapons and lives’, which aired on The PBS NewsHour, an American daily evening television show.

The former CBN governor said many shady deals took place under the immediate past Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is being investigated in the United Kingdom.

 

Jonathan’s officials stole N197bn monthly – Sanusi

‎Sanusi to emerge UNIBEN chancellor

The management of the University of Benin, Edo State, on Monday said that the university has concluded plans to install the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, as the 9th Chancellor ‎of the institution.

Sanusi Lamido

‎The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Faraday Orunmwense, who announced this at a press briefing in Benin, noted that the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor would be formally installed on November 25, 2015, during the university’s 41st Convocation and 45th Founders’ Day ceremony.

Orunmwense explained that out of a total of 11,020 graduands, 64 would be conferred with a First Class degree, while 7,034 persons would graduate with other classes of first degrees on November 26 and 27, with a convocation lecture to be delivered by a former Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji.

Also to be awarded are 382 and 2,212 doctorate and master’s degrees, while the institution will confer honorary degress on the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, and a constant gynaecologist, Professor Osato Giwa, on November 28.

‎The Vice-Chancellor, who attributed the achievements of the university to the support of the Federal Government and the dedication of the management, staff and students of the institution, said the five-day ceremony would begin with an interdenominational service on Monday.

‎Sanusi to emerge UNIBEN chancellor

Fed Govt won’t devalue naira, says Osinbajo

CHAMPIONS of devaluation may have lost the battle following the Federal Government’s resolve to retain the naira value against the dollar.

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo

The naira currently exchanges for N197 to the dollar at the official market.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said yesterday that devaluation is not the appropriate option under the prevailing economic realities.

Many experts, including former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor and Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II have been advocating devaluation of the currency.

According to Sanusi, the “current value of the naira is unsustainable”.

But Osinbajo, while receiving some envoys and officials of Citybank led by Mr. Jim Cowles, in Abuja, said: “Devaluation is no solution as far as the Buhari administration is concerned”.

Osinbajo, who also received Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Fulvio Rustico and the Canadian High Commisioner in Nigeria Mr. Perry John Calderwood, said: “It is not a solution, we are not exporting significantly. And the way things are, devaluation will not help the local economy.”

He added: “What we need to do is to start spending more on the economy and then things will ease up a bit.”

The issues around the economy, Osinbajo said, were no exact sciences, stressing that what is important is to be reasonably flexible in dealing with them.

He outlined the government’s plans to set-up a $25 billion Infrastructural Fund to be sourced from local and international sources including through Nigeria’s Sovereign Wealth Fund and the pension fund, among others.

The Vice President said other sovereign wealth funds have indicated interest in the fund which would be used to address the nation’s decaying road, rail and power infrastructure. “This is our approach to speeding up the country’s infrastructural development.”

Osinbajo described as temporary measure the current foreign exchange restriction, adding that it is to ensure that “we don’t deplete our foreign exchange substantially,” at a time when oil prices are falling in the international market.

The restriction is also to bring some stability to the foreign reserves without which Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), might be affected.

To him, FDI is more forward looking than portfolio investments, which are being affected by the decision to manage the foreign exchange resources of the country at this time.

“I am not sure devaluation is the issue, but how to ensure foreign direct investment which is more useful, “ the vice president said, adding that he expects a bit more stability and direction in the next few months.

He said the government would work with the CBN to ensure that legitimate businesses are not badly impacted by the current foreign exchange restrictions, especially those who have previous contracts and loan commitments.

Fed Govt won’t devalue naira, says Osinbajo

Emir Sanusi advises Buhari to block revenue leakage

The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammad Sanusi, on Thursday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to plug revenue leakages in the country if he must make headway in its anti-corruption crusade.

Sanusi Lamido

Sanusi, who maintained that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation had been a drain pipe to the Nigerian economy for a long time, spoke in Lagos at ‘the Federal Government Budget Symposium’ organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.

The emir was the royal father of the day at the event titled “Come Nigeria – The nation’s fiscal challenges and way forward for the new administration.’

He said, “No matter how good your budget is, if you cannot do simple things like track your oil revenue, you cannot meet the basic government’s obligations to the citizens”

“Before the government goes borrowing, they need to find out why revenue is so low, given that our GDP is supposed to be high”. he said.

He also faulted the NNPC’s swap of crude oil, saying that the country had always been on the losing side in the deal.

“Nobody does swaps unless country like Iran when it is under economic sanctions and can’t sell its oil at the international market or may be your crude is of very low quality,” he said.

The emir added that country was not actually subsidising the price of petroleum products, it was only hedging it, adding that the oil subsidy was structured in a way that could give a lot of room for manipulation.

“Anybody who knows economics knows what subsidy and hedging are. We don’t have subsidy, we have hedge,” he added.

According him, there was no way the country could win with this hedging.

He wondered how the country’s Gross Domestic Product was said to have gone up after the rebasing of the country when production did not in any way increase.

Earlier, the President, ICAN, Samuel Deru, had stated that the ratio of recurrent to capital expenditure at 70:30 was scandalously disproportional.

“As a professional body, we strongly believe that the nation’s economy needs surgical and drastic reforms beyond cosmetic privatization of government companies. And this should be begin with plugging of all revenue leakages, revisiting and redefining of our priorities as a nation, slashing of cost of governance (e.g. by reducing Ministries, Departments and Agencies), investing more in capital goods, enforcing fiscal discipline and above all, leveraging our huge natural and human resource endowments to reposition the nation on the path to sustained growth and development,” he said.

Emir Sanusi advises Buhari to block revenue leakage

Kano emir, Sanusi, weeps

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Lamido Sanusi, on Saturday in Kano wept at the Government House, while reflecting on life-after-death.

As beads of tears rolled down the cheeks of the Emir, he reminded his subjects of the need to exhibit good character, honesty, good compassion and transparency while dealing with their compatriots.

While paying homage to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as part of events to mark the Hauwan Nasarawa in the ancient city, the monarch urged Ganduje to explore his wealth of experience in the task of developing the state as well as promoting peaceful co-existence among residents in Kano.

Also, the monarch advised Ganduje against relenting in his efforts to provide adequate security to the residents of the state, pointing out that education, health, agriculture and water were critical areas for the governor to focus his attention on.

In his brief remarks, the Emir stated further, “we have a big burden on our shoulders in the service to humanity. We need to remain trustworthy, honest and transparent in our actions and relations with humanity, because on the last day, we shall account for all our dealings before the Almighty Allah.”

The Emir also implored leaders to use the period of Eid-el-Fitri to reflect on the teachings of Prophet Mohammed by resolving that some time, some day, “we shall stand before our creator and answer for all we have done in our life time.”

Furthermore, he called on the indigenes of Kano to always remain law-abiding, irrespective of religion or ethnic differences.

He urged the authorities to stand up and face the security challenges bedevilling the society.

Responding, Ganduje said that his administration was determined to transform the state through the introduction of new projects and the completion of other projects inherited from the past administration.

Ganduje, who expressed dismay over a new method of begging in the state, described begging under false pretence as unIslamic. He said his administration will resist all attempt to make Kano the headquarters of street begging.

Kano emir, Sanusi, weeps

$20bn was missing from federation account, Sanusi insists

….says Buhari is right on the level of corruption in Nigeria

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has said the All Progressives Congress Presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), is right on the level of corruption in the country.

Speaking Christine Amanpour on CNN on Wednesday, Sanusi, the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, believed the level of corruption in the country was massive and needed to be addressed sufficiently.

“Yes, General Buhari is right on the level of corruption in the country and we need to address this sufficiently. We have not helped the situation by living in denial (that the situation does not exist). I don’t want to dwell on this because of the time that we are and we are close to an election,” he added.

One of the pillars of Buhari’s campaign is to fight corruption, which he argued had not allowed the nation to grow appreciably.

The Kano emir insisted that about $20bn was missing from the account of the NNPC, which was not remitted to the federation account.

“This has not been addressed adequately and from the account of the corporation, about $20bn was not remitted to the federation account. We need to address this,” Sanusi said.

The monarch explained that other leaders must rise up to speak against the activities of the terror group, Boko Haram, saying he was not afraid to die as a result of his opposition to the sect.

“I have achieved everything that I could achieve; so, what is there to be afraid of?” he said.

Sanusi decried the level of unemployment, especially in the North, insecurity and the endemic corruption in the country.

Details later…

$20bn was missing from federation account, Sanusi insists

Jonathan absent at Sanusi’s coronation

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The Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Saturday presented the staff of office to the 14th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II.

Sanusi Lamido

The News Agency of Nigeria report that among dignitaries who attended the ceremony were the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III and the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar El-kanemi.

Others were Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

Also in attendance were the governors of Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, Yobe, Niger, Edo, Kwara and Borno, members of the diplomatic corps and members of the business community.

President Goodluck Jonathan was, however, absent.

Sanusi was appointed the 14th Emir of Kano on June 8, 2014 after the death of Alhaji Ado Bayero, on June 6, 2014.

At the ceremony held at the newly constructed Coronation Hall at the Government House, Kwankwaso described the Emir as a knowledgeable person who acquired both the Islamic and western education.”

He said the appointment of Sanusi was based on his personal track record of service and education, which are important prerequisites.

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Jonathan absent at Sanusi’s coronation

Jonathan seeks Sanusi’s support for re-election

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President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday visited the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, in his palace in a bid to get the traditional ruler’s blessing for his re-election bid.

Sanusi and Jonathan

He was in the city in continuation of the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential campaigns.

The relationship between the two became strained last year when the President suspended Sanusi as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Jonathan had suspended Sanusi as the apex bank’s boss over what was described as financial recklessness and thereafter directed the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria to further investigate him.

Shortly after his suspension, however, Sanusi became the Emir of Kano following the death of the former occupant of the stool, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

There were unconfirmed reports then that the Presidency moved to ensure that Sanusi did not emerge as the Emir.

During the Wednesday visit, Jonathan congratulated Sanusi on his installation and condoled with him and the people of the emirate on Bayero’s demise.

He told the traditional ruler that he was in his palace to formally introduce himself, Vice President Namadi Sambo and other PDP candidates in the election.

“I am here to seek your royal blessing and to reassure the people of Kano that the PDP is totally committed to developing the country,” he told the monarch.

In his response, Sanusi thanked Jonathan for the visit and expressed the hope that his campaign in the state would be hitch-free.

He stressed the need for all office seekers to go about their campaigns without violence.

“Democracy is all about giving people the chance to make their choice and so, there is no need for violence,” he said.

Sanusi urged the people to accept the verdict after the election and rally around whoever emerged as the winner.

He also advised the Federal Government to intensify efforts aimed at ensuring security in all parts of the country before, during and after the elections.

Sanusi prayed for the emergence of leaders that would move the country forward.

Speaking at the Polo Ground venue of the campaign rally in Kano, the President said that was why his administration was committed to producing young entrepreneurs.

He said, “We have said that in those days when they said Nigeria was at par with other countries, but those countries overtook us and left us behind. That will no longer be acceptable by this present leadership.”

The Vice President, Namadi Sambo, told the supporters to ignore the religious campaign against Jonathan and the PDP, saying that as the vice president to Jonathan, nobody could claim to be a bigger Muslim than himself who observed all injunctions of Islam.

The Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, who is the North-West zonal coordinator of the PDP presidential campaign, told the gathering that the All Progressives Congress government of Kano State was a government of deceit.

Recalling the achievements of a former Kano governor and Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, Lamido advised Kano people not give in to Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso’s false pretences but to vote for all PDP candidates.

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Jonathan seeks Sanusi’s support for re-election

Sanusi Floors Nigerian Govt; Court Awards Him N50Million Damages.

 

A Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services from arresting or harrassing the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido.

Sanusi and Jonathan

The court also ordered the DSS to release Mr. Sanusi’s passport to him immediately while also awarding the embattled CBN boss N50 million in exemplary damages.

Mr. Sanusi’s passport was seized on February 20, as he arrived the Lagos international airport, hours after he was suspended as CBN Governor by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He was briefly detained as well.

Mr. Sanusi, in separate suits, challenged his suspension, and asked for an enforcement of his fundamental rights as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.

The court had on February 21 granted an interim order, restraining the respondents from arresting, detaining, or harassing the applicant pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The interim order was sequel to an affidavit of urgency filed by the applicant on the same date.

On Monday, the court adjourned to April 4 ruling on the preliminary objection raised against the restraining order by the SSS and the police.

The court has now ruled, saying the government and its agencies have no basis to arrest or harass Mr. Sanusi. The court also frowned at the seizure of the CBN Governor’s travelling documents.

During the hearing of the rights’ suit, on Monday, the respondents – the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF; the Police; and the SSS – made different claims.

The agency SSS said it was investigating Mr. Sanusi for allegedly financing terrorism.

The SSS counsel, Moses Idakwo, said Mr. Sanusi’s interaction with SSS officials did not last for up to an hour and did not constitute a violation of his rights.

He said the provisions of Section 6 of the National Security Agencies’ Act empowered the Service to impound the international passport of suspects pending the conclusion of investigations.

It is not clear how this fresh allegation by the SSS is related to the dubious claims by Mr. Omokri.

PREMIUM TIMES and a few citizen journalists had exposed how Mr. Omokri, using a non-existent alias, Wendell Simlin, created a document linking Mr. Sanusi with financing the terrorist Boko Haram group.

The document was later shown to have been created by Mr. Omokri, with several Nigerians calling for his sack. The presidency has kept mum since the scandal was exposed.

On Monday, however, Mr. Sanusi’s counsel, Kola Awodehin, accused the SSS of falsehood in its new claim against the bank chief, saying the agency had no shred of evidence.

The counsel to the AGF, Fabian Ajogwu, had objected to the suit, urging the court to strike it out for want of jurisdiction.

Mr. Ajogwu argued that the provisions of Section 254 (c) 1 (d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) ousted the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

He noted that the case before the court borders on the applicant’s employment, saying that labour -related cases are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court, NIC.

“Section 254 (c) 1 (d) of the Constitution vests exclusive jurisdiction on the National Industrial Court, with respect to civil causes or matters touching on employment, labour or industrial relations.

“We respectfully urge the court to hold that it has no jurisdiction to entertain the reliefs sought by the applicant,” he said.

The counsel urged the court to strike out the suit.

Mr. Ajogwu also argued that the applicant should not, by the suit, seek to restrain the respondents from performing their constitutional duties.

He argued that Mr. Sanusi was being investigated based on the FRCN’s claims. He said the suspended bank chief was being investigated in accordance with the provisions of the law, which the respondents had a statutory duty to perform.

Citing the dictum of retired Justice Niki Tobi of the Supreme Court in the case of Adeniran vs Alao, Mr. Ajogwu submitted that a perpetual injunction would be everlasting and could not be granted by

a court of law.

“The applicant’s suit is basically an action to shield him from the machinery of administration of justice, which has been kick-started by the respondents,” Mr. Ajogwu submitted.

While the AGF said Mr. Sanusi was being investigated based on the FRCN investigations, the police said it was not investigating the CBN boss.

The counsel to the police, David Abuo, said nobody ever reported Mr. Sanusi to the police.

He, however aligned with Mr. Ajogwu, saying the case should be struck out as it seeks to bar government agencies from performing their duties.

However, responding to the respondents’ preliminary objection, counsel to Mr. Sanusi, Mr. Awodehin submitted that the court was vested with the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

He argued that the suit had nothing to do with the terms of employment of the applicant or industrial relations, since it was not a case of the applicant against the Central Bank of Nigeria.

He argued that the applicant never sought an order of perpetual injunction, adding that the reliefs he sought were qualified.

“It cannot be suggested that the applicant is restraining the respondents from performing their duties, but they must be restrained from doing so without due process of the law.

“The seizure of the applicant’s international passport by the third respondent is a derogation of his freedom of movement,” he said.

Mr. Awodehin also argued that the different submissions by the three respondents showed that laws were being violated in Mr. Sanusi’s treatment.

“The first to third respondents give conflicting reasons as to the complaint made against the applicant.

“This conflict goes to show that they acted without due process of the law,” he said.

The counsel also argued that the SSS’ claim of financing terrorism was bogus.

“The allegation against the applicant as to funding of terrorism is an afterthought by the respondents which is not backed by facts, as there is no reasonable suspicion that the applicant committed any crime,” he said.

He urged the court to dismiss the preliminary objection and uphold the case of the applicant.

Sanusi Floors Nigerian Govt; Court Awards Him N50Million Damages.

DSS accuses Sanusi of financing Boko Haram

LAGOS — THE Federal Government, yesterday, said it Was investigating suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, on suspicions of being a major financier of terrorism in the country.

This was revealed by the Department of State Services, DSS, in a counter-affidavit to the suit filed by Sanusi before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, in which he is seeking to restrain the Police and operatives of DSS from arresting, detaining or otherwise harassing him.

The DSS told the court that it impounded Sanusi’s international passport because of on-going investigations over alleged terrorism financing.

Further in the counter-affidavit, DSS argued that it was absurd for Sanusi to say that an interaction with DSS for less than an hour amounted to a violation of his rights.

It argued that the provisions of Section 6 of the National Security Agencies Act empowered the service to impound the international passports of suspects pending conclusion of investigations.

It would be recalled that upon Sanusi’s arrival at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on February 20, the DSS impounded his international passport.

No evidence of such against me —Sanusi

However, Sanusi has denied being a financier of terrorists, insisting that the Federal Government had failed to substantiate the allegation of terrorism financing levelled against him.

Sanusi, who spoke through his counsel, Mr Kola Awodein, SAN, at the resumed hearing in his fundamental human rights enforcement suit before the Federal High Court in Lagos, said that apart from the mere allusion to the allegation of terrorism financing, the Federal Government never produced any evidence before the court to back up such claim.

Sanusi and Jonathan

The court adjourned till April 3, 2014 to rule on the fundamental rights suit by Sanusi.

Respondents in the suit are the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, Inspector-General of Police, IG and DSS.

Adoption of  pending applications

Trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, adjourned for judgment after counsel representing parties argued their respective pending applications before the court.

Counsel to the AGF, Dr Fabian Ajogwu, SAN, who moved his preliminary objection to Sanusi’s suit, urged the court to strike it out for want of jurisdiction.

He argued that the provisions of Section 254 (c) 1 (d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), ousted the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

He submitted that the case before the court bordered on the employment of the applicant, adding that matters which were labour-related, were within the exclusive jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court, NIC.

“Section 254 (c) 1 (d) of the Constitution vests exclusive jurisdiction on the National Industrial Court, with respect to civil cases or matters touching on employment, labour or industrial relations.

“We respectfully urge the court to hold that it has no jurisdiction to entertain the reliefs sought by the applicant, and strike out the suit,” he said.

Adopting his counter affidavit, Ajogwu argued that the applicant cannot by his suit, seek to restrain the respondents from performing their constitutional and statutory duties.

He argued that investigations were being made in accordance with the provisions of the law, on the applicant, for which the second and third respondents had a statutory duty to perform.

“My lord, we respectfully submit that the applicant is not entitled to a grant of perpetual injunction, restraining the respondents from performing their constitutional duties,” he said.

Citing the judgment of retired Justice Niki Tobi of the Supreme Court in the case of Adeniran vs Alao, Ajogwu submitted that perpetual injunction is everlasting, incessant, interminable and so, cannot be granted by a court of law.

“A court cannot grant perpetual injunction on a mere prima facie case.  The applicant’s suit is basically an action to shield him from the machinery of administration of justice, which has been kick-started by the respondents.

“I therefore, urge your lordship, like the Biblical Pontius Pilate, to wash your hands off this case, as it is not the affairs of this honourable court,” Ajogwu submitted.

Counsel to the second and third respondents, Mr David Abuo and Mr Moses Idakwo, also associated themselves with the submissions of Ajogwu.

Court has jurisdiction to hear suit

Responding to the preliminary objection and counter-affidavit adopted by Ajogwu and counsel to other respondents,  Awodein contended that the court was clearly vested with jurisdiction to hear the suit.

He argued that the suit had nothing to do with the terms of employment of the applicant or industrial relation as submitted by first respondent, since it was not a case of the applicant against the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Awodein noted that in construing the provisions of Section 254 (c) 1 (d) of the constitution, the word “employment” must be read together with other words listed therein, to appreciate its scope.

He argued that the applicant in his originating summons, never sought for an order of perpetual injunction, adding that the reliefs sought were qualified.

“It cannot be suggested that the applicant is restraining the respondents from performing their duties, but they must be restrained from doing so, without due process of the law. The seizure of the applicant’s international passport by the third respondent is a derogation of his freedom of movement.

“The first to third respondents give conflicting reasons as to the complaint made against the applicant: This conflict goes to show that they acted without due process of the law.

“The allegations against the applicant as to funding of terrorism, is an after-thought by the respondent, which is not backed by facts, as there is no reasonable suspicion that the applicant committed any crime. The law clearly defines how such duties should be performed, and so, I invite your lordship to hold that the applicant has a cause of action against the respondent.”

He drew the court’s attention to the provisions of Section 251 of the Constitution which provides in its preamble that “Notwithstanding anything to the contrary— the Federal High Court shall have jurisdiction in civil cases.”

He further contended that the provision of Section 254 (c) 1 (d) of the constitution, must be read subject to the provisions of Section 251.

He urged the court to dismiss the preliminary objection of the respondents, and uphold the case of the applicant.

After listening to the submissions of all counsel, Justice Buba reserved ruling till April 3.

The court had on February 21 granted an interim order of injunction, restraining the respondents from arresting, detaining, or harassing the applicant, pending the determination of the motion on notice. (0)

DSS accuses Sanusi of financing Boko Haram

Defunct Intercontinental Bank drags Sanusi to court over N50bn fraud

ABUJA — Shareholders of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, yesterday, dragged the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi ,before a Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing him of complicity in an alleged N50billion fraud.

Sanusi lamido

In a suit they entered through their lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, the plaintiffs, including Abdullahi M. Sani, Adaeze Onwuegbusi and Chijioke Ezeikpe, alleged that Sanusi, as the CBN governor, acted contrary to the provisions of sections 12, 32, 35 and 39 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, Cap B4 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, by deliberately falsifying the actual financial state of affairs/solvency of Intercontinental Bank Plc and subsequently sold it to his cronies at a ridiculous sum of N50 billion.

Aside Sanusi, others joined as defendants in the suit were the CBN and the Security & Exchange Commission.

Specifically, they are praying the court to, among other things, determine whether Sanusi, “did not act fraudulently in waiving/writing off the sum of N16.2 billion owed by Mr. Aig-Aigboje Imokhuede and Mr. Herbert Wigwe, the Managing Director and Deputy Managing Director of Access Bank and the sum of N8.9 billion owed by Senator Bukola Saraki and other sums so owed, all totalling over N40bn, in a bid to enable the said Access Bank Plc to fraudulently purchase Intercontinental Bank Plc at a ridiculous sum of N50 billion only, even when the quarterly profit of the said bank was more than N50bn and which Bank at the material time was worth more than N1 trillion, to the detriment of the Plaintiffs as shareholders and investors.

”Whether the 1st defendant, acting as the Governor of the 2nd defendant, did not act fraudulently, in breach of his public office, against the public interest and contrary to the provisions of sections 12, 32, 35 and 39 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, Cap B4 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 in deliberately strangulating the banking operations and falsifying the actual financial state of affairs/solvency of Intercontinental Bank Plc as a ground for revoking the operating licence of and taking over the management of the said Intercontinental Bank Plc, of which the plaintiffs are shareholders, only to undervalue the said bank to the detriment of the plaintiffs as shareholders and investors and sell the said bank to his friends/associates/cronies in Access Bank Plc where Mr. Aig-Aigboje and Mr. Herbert Wigwe, the Managing Director and Deputy Managing Director respectively of the said Access Bank Plc, acting indebted to Intercontinental Bank Plc, to the tune of N16.2 billion, to the knowledge of the 1st defendant.

”Whether the 1st defendant, acting as the Governor of the 2nd defendant did not act fraudulently, in breach of his public office, against the public interest and contrary to the provision of sections 12, 32, 35 and 39 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, Cap B4 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, in taking over Intercontinental Bank Plc, of which the plaintiffs are shareholders, and selling same to Access Bank Plc, notwithstanding that the facilitator of the said sale/buy-over transaction, Senator Bukola Saraki, was also indebted to Intercontinental Bank Plc, to the tune of N8.9 billion, through his companies, Limkers, Dicetrade, Skyview Properties and Joy Petroleum, to the knowledge of the 1st defendant,” among other allegations.

 

Defunct Intercontinental Bank drags Sanusi to court over N50bn fraud

Immigration jobs deaths: APC seeks criminal probe

Alison-Madueke ‘must be removed’

After a seven-hour meeting in Abuja, the All Progressives Congress (APC) delivered yesterday a verdict on the state of the nation.

apc

The President Goodluck Jonathan administration has lost control of the ship of state, the party said.

It also blamed the ruling government for the death of 19 applicants during last Saturday’s Nigeria Immigration Service(NIS) recruitment test.

It accused the government of exploiting unemployed youths instead of creating jobs for them.

The party also demanded a criminal investigation of the incidents which 19 applicants, including expectant women, died.

Besides, the APC condemned what it described as the ferocious and unwarranted attacks against suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi for exposing alleged $20billion theft in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The party queried why Sanusi will be under suspension while Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, who superintends NNPC, is still in office.

On the orgy of killings nationwide, the APC urged the Federal Government to take steps to address it.

It also warned the government against its ongoing plans to impose a total emergency on Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states to remove democratically elected governments in those states.

The party, which gave its verdict on the state of the nation after a seven-hour session of its National Executive Committee (NEC), also fixed May 24 for its National Convention.

The convention will be preceded by Ward Congress (April 5); Local Government Congress (April 12) and State Congress (April 23).

Addressing reporters on the NEC communiqué, APC Interim National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed, said the party was of the opinion that the pervasive corruption and incompetence of the Jonathan administration led to the death of the 19 applicants.

It accused the Jonathan administration of fleecing 770,000 applicants of N770million, using a consultant as a conduit pipe.

The communique said: “Following its deliberations, the National Executive Committee of the APC commiserated with the families of the people who died on Saturday, March 15th, 2014 at several venues of the job test by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). We also extend our sympathy and prayers to those who were injured in the stampede, and wish them a speedy recovery.

“The needless deaths of our youth, which resulted from a combination of exploitation, corruption, greed and incompetence of the relevant authorities, represent a needless violation of their right to life and dignity.

“Out of sheer greed, N1,000 each was collected from the over 770,000 unemployed applicants shortlisted.

“The Jonathan-led PDP government, therefore, fleeced unemployed youths and their parents of Seven hundred and seventy six million naira (N770 million naira) using a consultant as conduit.

“ Even then, the available vacancies of about 4,500 have already been filled through the back door by over 3,000 candidates of PDP Apparatchik and government officials.

“The pervasive corruption and incompetence that have become the hallmarks of the Jonathan Administration paved the way for this unprecedented greed in which hapless job seekers were extorted by the same government that has failed to provide jobs for them.

“Yet, this government has no social security or any form of safety net for the vulnerable army of the unemployed. It should be made clear that this government encourages and baby sits corruption, stealing not only from the pension fund of Nigerian citizens, but also from the unemployed and from our collective patrimony, the NNPC.”

The APC demanded what it termed a criminal investigation of the job stampede deaths.

It added: “That is why we are calling for a criminal investigation to unravel the circumstances that led to the deaths of those innocent Nigerians, to find out who authorised the fleecing of job seekers by a government agency, what happened to the money realised from the heist and why the relevant officials did not ensure a better arrangement that could have saved precious lives.

“The job stampede deaths constitute the latest in a series of events that have turned Nigeria into a massive killing field in recent times.”

The party faulted the insensitivity of the Jonathan administration to the orgy of killings nationwide.

It queried why the PDP-led Federal Government had been pretending as if all is well in the country, climaxing in the President gallivanting from one rally to the other.

The party said: “The orgy of killings in the past few weeks have left hundreds dead and many more maimed in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Kaduna, Katsina and Plateau, just to mention a few.

“ Never in the peace time history of our dear country has there been such a high number of needless deaths.

“Amid all of this, the PDP-led Federal Government has been carrying on as if all is well. After presiding over a wasteful centenary celebration, President Goodluck Jonathan has been gallivanting around the country, addressing political rallies when he should be commiserating with families of the dead in the affected states, especially Yobe where innocent children were massacred by a cowardly band of terrorists, and Katsina, which he visited a few hours after hundreds of people were killed.”

The party, however, warned the Federal Government against what it described as a plot to impose a total state of emergency on Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

The communique said: “Also, it has come to our notice that, in pursuant of the Presidency’s stance to label anyone who offers it any advice on how to curtail the terrorists’ attack and boost the morale of our gallant troops, the imposition of a total state of emergency is being considered for Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, which is a smokescreen to remove the democratically-elected governors of these APC states.

“We condemn this move unequivocally and urge the President to jettison the idea, if indeed it is being remotely contemplated, because it will not advance the cause of peace in the affected states.

“Against the background of the daily orgy of killings, we are compelled to say that the Jonathan Administration has lost total control of events in the country, with the result that Nigerians are now being left to their own devices.

“It is clear that the situation in our country today, whether it is in the area of security, job creation, fight against corruption or even growing of the economy, is far beyond the capacity of those at the helm.

While faulting attacks on the suspended Governor of Central Bank, Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi for exposing the $20 billion scandal in NNPC, the party queried why the Petroleum minister, who supervises NNPC, is still in office.

It said:”We also note, as a party, the ferocious attacks and blackmail mounted against Lamido Sanusi, the Governor of Central Bank. How someone who publicly disclosed the brazen theft of $20 billion from NNPC became a candidate for character assassination and blackmail is questionable and condemnable. Sanusi’s suspension is an affront to law and a threat to Nigeria’s institutional stability.

“This is also a government of double standard.Why is the Minister of Petroleum Deziani still in office when the major agency she superintendents is under investigation over the missing $20 billion?

“Therefore, the only salvation for Nigeria is a purposeful and focused party like the APC.

“From the road-map, which we unveiled recently, it is clear that we recognise the enormity of the challenges facing our dear country, hence we made job creation our priority, followed by security and the fight against corruption, among others.

“We urge our compatriots not to despair or give up hope, because salvation is in the horizon.

“The APC today embodies the hopes and aspirations of our long-suffering people. We have no doubt that this country can and will work again, and we are up to the task of restoring hope to our beleaguered people.”

The party released the timetable for election into various offices from the ward to the national levels.

The National Convention will hold on May 24.

The communique added: “Finally, the party wishes to announce dates for its Congresses and National Convention.

“The Ward Congress will hold on 5th of April, Local Government Congress on the 12th of April. State Congress on the 23rd of April and National Convention on the 24th of May.”

Asked if the party has zoned its offices, Mohammed, said: “ No office is zoned to anybody or any part of the country.”

On the ongoing National Conference, he said: “ There is nothing to discuss on the conference. We have made our position so clear about why we are not attending and nothing has changed. APC as a political party is not attending.”

The meeting was attended by members of the party’s Interim National Executive Committee, led by Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti).

Some national leaders of the party at the meetinh are: Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, General Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senator Ali Modu Sheriif, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Senator Bukola Saraki, Senator Danjuma Goje, Senator George Akume and others. (0)

Immigration jobs deaths: APC seeks criminal probe

Missing oil money: Sanusi’s claims, cheap blackmail – FG

ABUJA — The Presi-dency, yesterday, asked suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to provide a clear response to allegations of financial recklessness levelled against him and stop misleading Nigerians and the international community that his suspension was because he alleged that monies were unremitted to national coffers by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

Sanusi and Jonathan

Addressing State House correspondents, yesterday, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, reiterated that Sanusi’s suspension had nothing to do with his disclosure of alleged shortfalls in remittances by NNPC.

Abati said as a demonstration of government’s transparency, it has ordered a forensic audit of the NNPC to unravel the truth about its remittances.

While condemning Sanusi’s “resort to playing politics with serious national issues,” Abati said Sanusi’s suggestion that the “phantom missing funds may have been diverted to fund campaigns for next year’s general elections is mischievous, irresponsible and designed to incite other political parties and members of the public against the Federal Government.”

However, the absence of Justice Gabriel Kolawole stalled further hearing in the suit filed by the embattled CBN governor against the Federal Government challenging his suspension from office by President Goodluck Jonathan.

At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, Justice Kolawole was not in court, while parties to the suit were asked to come back to court, March 19, as the judge was attending a seminar.

The statement:

Abati’s statement said: “We have noted with disappointment, the unrelenting attempt by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to falsely portray his recent suspension from office as an attempt by the Presidency to bury his allegation that huge sums of money due to the Federation Account are unaccounted for by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

“The Presidency wishes to reaffirm that Mallam Sanusi’s suspension has absolutely nothing to do with his unproven and inconsistent claims that $49.8 billion, $12 billion or $20 billion is missing from the national treasury.

“As was clearly stated in the letter suspending him from office and confirmed by President Goodluck Jonathan in his last Presidential Media Chat, Malam Sanusi’s suspension was wholly based on the need for him to step aside while the weighty charges of financial recklessness, gross misconduct and persistent disregard for laid-down rules and regulations in the management of the Central Bank made against him by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria and others are properly investigated.

“It is most unfortunate that instead of trying to provide some reasonable response to the clear and unambiguous query of his official conduct as Governor of the Central Bank, Mallam Sanusi  has cynically chosen to whip up public sympathy for himself and anger against the Federal Government by deliberately misleading unwary Nigerians and the international community into believing the falsehood that he is being punished for exposing corruption.

“In recent days, the suspended CBN Governor has, following in the footsteps of others who have an axe to grind with the government, taken to spreading his false claims and allegations through gullible foreign media correspondents, telling them, among other things, that his threat to force commercial banks to open up their books to unravel the whereabouts of the ‘missing’ funds whether $49.8 billion, $12 billion or $20 billion, ultimately led to his suspension.

“He also continues to make the mischievous claim that the government is somehow involved in a scam to divert huge sums of money from the Federation Account through the misappropriation of kerosene subsidy funds.

“Mallam Sanusi’s allegations are patently untrue. But Government is making no effort to bury them as he falsely claims. Relevant committees of the National Assembly are still investigating the claims and the suspended CBN Governor remains free to give evidence before them in support of his allegations.

FG orders forensic audit of NNPC accounts

“Furthermore, in keeping with its avowed commitment to full transparency, openness and accountability in governmental affairs, the Federal Government has authorised the engagement of reputable international firms for the recommended forensic audit of NNPC accounts.

“The Presidency condemns Mallam Sanusi’s resort to playing politics with serious national issues. His suggestion that the phantom missing funds may have been diverted to fund campaigns for next year’s general elections is mischievous, irresponsible and designed to incite other political parties and members of the public against the Federal Government.

Cheap blackmail

 “The claim which amounts to cheap blackmail against the government and was clearly made in furtherance of a selfish personal agenda is most unbecoming of someone who still holds the high office of Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“The Presidency would not ordinarily have wished to join issues with Mallam Sanusi who, as CBN Governor, remains an appointee of the President, but the very unacceptable manner in which Sanusi has been misinforming the public made it imperative that this statement be issued.”

Malam Sanusi only last Monday alleged that kerosine subsidy was a big scam being operated by a cabal in government and that the money was being used to finance election.

In an interview with the New York Times, Mallam Sanusi claimed that he was sacked because he threatened to conduct special examination on the banks to ascertain their involvement in the missing $20 billion fuel money. He explained that many of the bankers panicked at his threat to open their books and two of them reported to the government, saying that at that moment he knew his days at the CBN were numbered.

Absence of judge stalls hearing in Sanusi’s suit

The absence of Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday stalled hearing in the suit filed by suspended CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi.

Malam Sanusi had, through his counsel, Mr Kola Awodein (SAN), challenged his suspension by President Goodluck Jonathan and prayed for an order to re-instate him as CBN Governor.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, Justice Kolawole was not in court and an official informed the parties and counsel that the judge was attending a seminar.

All parties and counsel were asked to come back to court on March 19.

Justice Kolawole had earlier declined to grant an order reversing the president’s decision.

“I feel hesitant and constrained to grant the plaintiff’s application because it would be unfair to grant such an application without affording the respondents a hearing,’’ he said.

Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi had, February 24, approached the court with a motion ex-parte seeking to restrain the defendants from “obstructing, disturbing, stopping or preventing him in any manner whatsoever, from performing the functions as Governor of the Central Bank,’.

Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi had also sought to be allowed to fully enjoy the statutory powers and privileges attached to the office, arguing that any delay might cause him irreparable and serious damages.

N24bn Police pension money not missing, says  Okonjo‑Iweala

Meanwhile, Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo‑Iweala, has said the N24 billion allegedly unaccounted for from the Police Pension Fund was not missing.

She also said the issue of 45,000 names on the payroll of the government that were discovered to be ghost workers had been referred to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, for further investigation.

She clarified in Abuja, yesterday, that the alleged missing Police pension money was returned to the Federal Government treasury on her orders.

Director‑General of Pension Transitional Arrangement Department, PTAD, Mrs Nellie Mayshak, had shocked the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts at a hearing, Tuesday, that the money could not be traced.

According to her, there was no evidence to show how the N24 billion released from Service Wide Vote in 2010 for Police Pension Fund was expended.

“We have no evidence, we have no record. It just looks bad on our part,” the D‑G told the committee, claiming that she was new in office and that the internal auditor whom she asked to brief her had no documents to show how the money was spent.

Internal Auditor of the Pension office, Mr Adeyemo Julius Adebolu, who was around when the N24 billion was received by the Pension office, told the committee that it was true that N24 billion was received from the Service Wide Vote for payment of pensioners in 2010.

I was kept in the dark —Internal Auditor

Mr Adebolu told the committee that when the money was released, he advised the office to lodge the money in a FirstBank account, stressing that after the lodgement of the money in the account, he was kept in the dark on further disbursements of the money to pensioners.

He also told the committee that a consulting firm was contracted to disburse the pension fund, instead of the staff of the Police Pension Office, noting that he had to come in when some of the pensioners after receiving their money complained of being short‑changed by the consulting firm. Adebolu added that, he was not also involved in the auditing process of the account.

I ordered freezing of the account—Okonjo-Iweala

But in a statement issued by her Special Adviser, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, the Minister of Finance said the money in question was not missing and that she had already briefed the Joint Senate Committee about the matter in March 2012.

She added that when it was discovered that the N24 billion was an over estimate of Police pension arrears, she ordered that the account be frozen and the money returned to the treasury.

According to her, “contrary to media reports, the sum of N24 billion is not missing from the Police Pension Fund. As told the Senate Joint Committee on Pensions Administration at a public hearing in March 2012, she ordered the account frozen to prevent fraud based on reports of suspicious transactions.

“Of the amount in the account, N24 billion was discovered to be an over‑estimation of pensions arrears. The money was subsequently returned to government coffers as is the standard practice.”

Ghost workers issue referred to ICPC

Meanwhile, the minister has referred the issue of ghost workers to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other offences Commission , ICPC, for further investigation .

Okonjo‑Iweala said: “As a result of the implementation of Integrated Personal Payroll System, IPPIS, about 45,000 names of ghost workers have been taken off the payroll and about N118 billion saved.

“The Federal Ministry of Finance has taken the additional step of referring the issue to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, for further investigation so that any identified culprits can face the full wrath of the law.”

The minister added that in obedience to the recent court judgment, the ministry, through the Budget Office, “is collating the details of appropriations and statutory transfers to the National Assembly, the Independent National Electoral Commission, National Judicial Council, the Niger Delta Development Commission, Universal Basic Education and National Human Rights Commission for publication.

“These agencies are all on first‑line charge to the Federation Account and, therefore, the ministry must work with them to obtain the necessary information.”

  (0)

Missing oil money: Sanusi’s claims, cheap blackmail – FG