UK, EFCC probing govs, ministers for fraud – Lamorde

 

The Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Larmorde, has said that the commission and the United Kingdom’s Metropolitan Police are investigating some serving and former governors, ministers, heads of service of the federation, and federal lawmakers.

 

Lamorde said that the operatives of the EFCC and the Met Police were investigating the serving and former public office holders for money laundering and looting of public treasury.

 

The EFCC Chairman made the comment while playing host to the Metropolitan Police Special Crime and Operations Unit led by Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Benton in Abuja, on Monday.

 

Lamorde refused to disclose the identities and the total number of the public office holders on the watch list of the commission and the Met Police on the premise that the investigation was jointly carried out by the EFCC and the UK Police.

 

He said the affected current and former public office holders would be arrested and their identities revealed after the commission must have concluded investigation into their cases.

 

He said, “You are also very much aware that the Metropolitan Police Proceeds of Corruption Unit is the unit that assisted us in the case of DSP Alamieyeseigha in the past, Joshua Dariye, and of course the big one that everybody is aware of, James Ibori, who is currently serving a jail term in the United Kingdom.

 

“In a few months’ time, there is also going to be a confiscation proceedings in respect of the assets of James Ibori in the United Kingdom which of course we have been working assiduously to make sure it will be successful.

 

“In respect of some of the new cases we have embarked upon, we are investigating some sitting state governors, some ministers that are serving, also ministers that have left office, some former heads of service of the federation and members of the National Assembly.

 

“We will never mention names, since it’s a joint investigation that we are doing, and you know unlike what we do here where some of our people here wants sensationalism, that’s not the way it works with them.

 

“The investigation has to be conducted properly first, it is when the matter is ready to go to court that publicities are given to individual cases; for the time being they are here, we are reviewing those investigations and when we are ready to go to court then names and these cases will be properly mentioned.”

 

Lamorde said that investigations into the cases against the public office holders would take some time to conclude just like the Ibori case which took up to six to seven years of investigation before he was arraigned in court.

 

Larmorde warned that any public office holder who got involved in the theft of public funds would not go free.

 

He said that the commission had put in place the machinery to track those stealing and taking such loot outside the country.

 

“…We cannot be in a hurry, the most important thing is that people should know that a lot is going on, and any person, either a man or woman, occupying public office, who decides to put her hand or his hand in government coffers to steal, would not have any hiding place.

 

“Whether you take the money outside this country or not, there is machinery in place to trace this money and also bring such individuals to justice,” Lamorde added

 

He commended the Met Police for complementing the efforts of the commission to discourage people from stealing public funds in the country.

 

Larmorde added that the UK had also ensured that assets bought with stolen money were returned to the Nigerian government.

 

He said some assets that had been confiscated by the UK would soon be returned to the country.

 

The leader of the Met Police Delegation, Benton, assured Nigerians of the readiness of the UK Police to support the EFCC as London remained one of the major destinations of people embarking on holidays and those who wanted to buy houses.

 

He said, “The International Financial Centre in London do play a part in the way money worked, the way money is flown and the way money is moved and where people like to buy houses and where they spent their holidays and some chose school.”

 

Lamorde also spoke on the state of the ongoing cases against some former governors in the country.

 

He complained about the criminal justice system that created room for lawyers to embark on deliberate measures to delay cases involving influential politicians.

 

The EFCC boss stated, “Abubakar Audu was charged to court in 2006; we started in Lokoja, we went to Supreme Court three times with him, for everything they will put an application that they don’t like the judge,. the judge is biased, but if you say no, then go to the Court of Appeal, then Supreme Court, we are now at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

 

“In the case of Saminu Turaki, we had to obtain a bench warrant. Currently he is a wanted person because he has refused to show up for trial. We started here in Abuja, they contested jurisdiction; the trial was taken to Dutse. In the case of Jolly Nyame, we are still at the High Court in Abuja with him, and he is still contesting.

 

“In the case of Joshua Dariye, we have been in court and he has been a senator. The man in Ekiti, we were in court with him and he is now elected governor of Ekiti State again.

 

“I think we have to look at the criminal justice system in this country, it is not a question of arrest of the individuals; we have arrested people, we have charged them to court, 2006 to date is how many years? And yet we are still at the preliminary level because these people can afford good lawyers that will continue to prolong the trial.

 

“Please, continue to monitor the trial in court, because if journalists are there, a judge will think twice before granting some applications, he will think that people are watching me, and my decisions will be reported.

 

“It is time for all of us as a country to look at the criminal justice system so we can address some of these shortcomings and deal with them.”

 

PUNCH

MEET HON. PEREZ P. OMOUN: ADC CANDIDATE BOMADI/PATANI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY

Hon. Perez P. Omoun ( JP )

“Hon. Perez P. Omoun (JP) is the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the forthcoming Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency elections into the House of Representatives.

He believes that the contribution of our elective representatives can be improved upon and properly explored to serve the growing needs and concerns of the people of Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency “BEYOND HANDOUTS”.”

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THE MAN PEREZ

Hon. Perez Omoun was born on the 16th February 1972, in Sapele, to late Mr and Mrs Pullen Omoun of Agoloma, in Patani Local Government Area of Delta State.

EDUCATION

He attended Olou Primary School Bomadi in Delta State, from 1978 to 1984 where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate. He then proceeded to Agoloma Secondary School, Agoloma in Delta State where his exceptional brilliance and performance exceeded the expectations of his parents, Teachers, classmates and others.

As a young lad with a burning passion for education and personal development, he strived add to complete his O’level education against all odds by writing external examination, having seen that his parent could not afford it. He later proceeded to the Rivers State College of Arts and Science between 1994 and 1995 where he once more emerged with an outstanding result.

Further propelled by his passion for advancement, Perez, as he is fondly called, went further to obtain a BSc in English and Literary Studies from the Delta State University, Abraka, where he exceptionally stood above his colleagues between 2004 and 2007.

WORKING CAREER

In recognition of his stellar qualities, Hon. Omoun has appointed into several positions which include:

Member Governing Council, Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara, Delta State.

Member Board of Directors, Delta State Council For Arts and Culture, Asaba, Delta State.

Organizing Secretary Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) Patani Delta State

Special Assistant to The Speaker Of Delta State House Of Assembly, Okpanam Road, Asaba, Delta State.

Co-coordinator to the State Assembly Liaison Officer Bayelsa State Government House, Creek Haven, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Besides the aforementioned political positions, Hon Perez Omoun is also an astute businessman and the GMD/CEO of one of the fastest growing private companies in Nigeria, PeeZed Oyins Conglomerate, a construction firm based in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

He is also currently saddled at the helm of affairs to manage several companies which include;

Petroses multinational Dimension Limited

Petroses Ventures Nigeria and several others.

Perez is a seasoned Administrator, an astute businessman, a pragmatic politician and unrepentant philanthropist.

He is also a fellow, Certified Institute of management.

Perez P. Omoun is the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the forthcoming Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency elections into the House of Representatives.

He believes that the contribution of our elective representatives can be improved upon and properly explored to serve the growing concerns of the people of Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency “BEYOND HANDOUTS”.

The political aspirations of Perez Omoun are stimulated by the desire for the economic emancipation of the people of his constituency and to foster rapid all-round development of Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency.

His Legislative Interest/Agenda is the creation of laws that will promote the economic independence and reasonable self reliance of the people of Bomadi / Patani Federal Constituency, Delta State and the Niger Delta region.

He is happily married and his union is blessed with Four Godly Children.

A vote for Hon. Perez Omoun is a sure vote for accelerated development through quality representation.

We don’t need PDP presidential campaign in Bayelsa – Dickson

Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, at the weekend, said there should be no People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign in the state ahead of the February 14 presidential election.
He said it was not necessary for PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan to canvass for votes in the state “because the whole of this state is only PDP”.

The governor said only few angry politicians in the state left the party to join forces with the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he described as “Angry People’s Congress (APC).”
He, therefore, advised PDP and the President not to dissipate energy, time and resources campaigning for presidential election in the state. Dickson was speaking while performing the formal inauguration of the Bayelsa State Presidential Campaign Committee for Jonathan’s re-election at the Peace Park, Opposite Government House, Yenagoa. He also presented the party’s flag to the National Assembly and House of Assembly candidates of the party for the elections.
The presidential campaign train of PDP is expected in the state on February 5.
The committee is made up of 126 members drawn from the 24 constituencies in the state with Dickson as the chairman and his deputy, John Jonah, the deputy chairman, while the state chairman of the party, Samuel Inokoba, a retired army colonel, is the second deputy chairman.
Other prominent members of the committee are the governor’s Special Adviser on Political Matters, Fyneman Wilson, campaign co-ordinator and Amalate Turner, former deputy governor, Peremobowei Ebebi and Timi Alaibe as senatorial campaign co-ordinators.
Dickson said the committee’s job was not to campaign but “to co-ordinate the victory”, stressing that all votes in the state would go to PDP and Jonathan.
“Your duty as members of the committee is just to co-ordinate the victory. Your are not to campaign because PDP does not need to campaign in this state.

“The President does not have any campaign to do in Bayelsa. Na lie? That is the truth.

So, as members of the committee, your duty is to coordinate the victory because we know that in this state every vote will be for our party and for the President”, he said.

Nigeria, Boko Haram Not America’s Priority, Says Retired US Army Chief

* Camerounian army frees 24 hostages

The Executive Dean, College of Criminal Justice and Security at the University of Phoenix, Major Gen. James ‘Spider’ Marks, has said that the growing insecurity and pogrom in the North-eastern part of Nigeria is not a priority to the United States of America.
Marks, who retired after 30 years of service in the US Army, said this in an interview on CNN, which has since gone viral.
Responding to questions on why over 40 world leaders including about four million people took to the streets in France when 17 people were killed by terrorists recently, whereas during the same period, over 2,000 people were allegedly massacred in Baga, Borno State without any global outcry, the ex-military general maintained that Nigeria and the entire black Africa was not a priority for the US.
He explained: “The stack difference is that while world leaders are in complete solidarity and outrage against what happened in France vis-à-vis Nigeria. Truly, that should be surprising because what is happening in Nigeria is real madness, but it is not a priority.
“The United States can do anything it needs to do to rid Nigeria of Boko Haram, it could be a long-term effort, but it can be done. The US has the capability, we have all the elements and power, but it is not a priority.”
Continuing, he said: “This is the problem, we are committed elsewhere in the world, but black or Western Africa is not the priority. That is the case right now and it may be hard to say. Boko Haram is a regional issue.
“But if it appears in some other regions of the world, like white Africa, which is North Africa, or in the Middle East or somewhere else, we would be alarmed. But it is a regional issue.”
About 2,000 people were said to have been killed in Baga. However, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) last week put the figure of those massacred at 150, while satellite images released by Amnesty International showed the large-scale destruction in the area.
Meanwhile, Boko Haram yesterday freed two dozen hostages after a mass abduction by its militants in Cameroun, as Chad prepares to engage in the international battle against the extremist group.
Twenty-four of the 80 people taken hostage by Boko Haram in the north of Cameroun Sunday were released as Cameroonian armed forces pursued the Islamist extremists, according to a government source.
The Boko Haram fighters then fled back into Nigeria, with the fate of the rest of the hostages taken in the raid, the worst of its kind to date, still unknown.
An army officer based in Cameroun’s far north said Boko Haram had attacked two villages and kidnapped what Camerounian state media said were 80 hostages.
As the militants retreated, the Chadian army said it was putting 400 military vehicles, attack helicopters, and still unspecified number of soldiers amassed in northern Cameroun into action against Boko Haram, as part of what has become a regional effort to defeat the notoriously violent group.
“We are going to advance Modnay towards the enemy,” Chadian army colonel Djerou Ibrahim, who is leading the offensive against Boko Haram, told AFP from the strategic crossroads town of Maltam in northern Cameroun.
“Our mission is to hunt down Boko Haram, and we have all the means to do that.”
But Camerounian Communications Minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, warned that the armies of the two nations still had considerable planning to complete before being able to launch offensives against Boko Haram.
“Military planners must evaluate the forces being coordinated and coalesced,” he said. “That takes time. Don’t expect to start seeing the results of that tomorrow.”

Thisday

I don’t have PVC, Sultan tells Jonathan

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Monday told President Goodluck Jonathan that he might not vote during the next month’s general elections because he had yet to collect his Permanent Voter Card.
Jonathan, who was in the Sokoto State in continuation of the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential campaign, visited the religious leader to seek his blessing.
The Sultan said it was imperative for the Federal Government to do everything within its powers to ensure that no eligible voter was disenfranchised.
He said, “Let us respect people’s wishes; let’s not try to disenfranchise anybody.
“We have had issues of the Permanent Voter Cards and I want to tell you that even myself, I don’t have a PVC, so it means I will not vote on February 14.
“So, we have to look for a way out, it is for your government to now look for what to do, how to ensure that all the cards get to the voters before the voting day or in the alternative, find a way out because for any problem there is a solution.
“We believe you will find a solution as regard this very serious hitch facing us because millions of Nigerians seem to be heading towards disenfranchisement and they won’t be able to vote. I have heard comments from the INEC Chairman, (Prof. Attahiru Jega), but we are still waiting for our cards to come.”
The religious leader expressed concerns that campaigns ahead of the general elections were taking religious colouration instead of being issue-based.
He urged all candidates to embrace peace and also caution their supporters against violence.
The religious leader urged the government to work hard to end insecurity in parts of the country.
He added, “As the leader of the Muslims in this country, I will not fail to intimate the President and his government with the problems Muslims face in this country, that is our own area of attention as Muslim leaders.
“We care about how we live as a people and we are very worried about how we are living now as a people and God Almighty who placed leadership of the country on your shoulders, we feel we must always alert you on how we have been living.
“I will say never a time in this country’s history that we face very serious challenges like what are facing now.
“The whole politicking had been turned into either religion or ethnic matters and this should not be so because we see what happens across the world.
“We are worried because religion had been brought into it, we made it very clear in 2011, there is no way religion should be part of the election campaigns or even the election itself.
“As you have seen here, I think there are more Muslims in this room than Christians and coming here now to come for prayers for success of your campaigns goes to show that as the leader of the Muslims, I have no choice than to pray for you.”
The Sultan advised the President on the need to tackle insecurity and unemployment.
“On insecurity issues facing us in all parts of country, we have heard campaign promises left, right and centre but we want to hear from our political leaders, how do you intend to resolve the security issues? How do you intend to tackle unemployment? How do you intend to tackle the rot in education?
“These are issues that should concern the various political leaders instead of mudslinging, calling each other names and whatever.
“We are very worried what we see in newspapers, watch on television and hear comments from our people, brothers and friends.
“Politics of this country have now been turned into a war, families are being divided, friends have become enemies just because of seeking for political office,” he lamented.
He wished the Jonathan’s campaign team well in its endeavours as he prayed for peaceful and fair elections.
Jonathan told the Sultan that his administration was committed to transforming the country.

Punch