Probe of Fashola: True Face of Lagos accuses Assembly of bias

Written by Adewale Ajayi

The True Face of Lagos, a group which  levelled allegations of financial impropiety against  Lagos State governor,  Mr Babatunde Fashola, has accused the probe panel constituted by the state House of Assembly of being biased in its investigation.

This was contained in a letter signed by the chairman of the group, Mr  Adebayo Adeshina, addressed to the  chairman of the panel, Honourable Ajibayo Adeyeye,  on Tuesday .

According to the letter, the group  stated that a statement credited to one of the members of the committee, Honourable Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, that  the inability of the group to produce proofs on the allegations  made her have some reservations on the allegations,  showed that  the committee would be biased in its finding .

The letter reads: “We draw your attention to media comment made by a member of your committee, Honourable Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, immediately after your sitting of Tuesday, April 27, 2010 in which we had the privilege to be present in respect of your invitation.

“Honourable Tejousho was widely quoted in both electronic and print media to have said she had reservation about our ability to provide proofs on allegations when we had appeared before the panel only once.”

Source: www.tribune.com.ng

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lists el-Rufai’s allottees in Abuja land grab scandal

Mallam Nasir el-Rufai

Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are set to interrogate former Minister of Federal Capital Territory Nasir el-Rufai over sales of government houses and allocation of 51,133 plots of land.

Some of the plots were allegedly allocated to his wives and relatives.

But el-Rufai’s lawyer, Mr. A.U. Mustapha, said the ex-Minister is ready to clear his name.

After several attempts, the EFCC yesterday succeeded in serving el-Rufai a notice of his invitation through one of his friends, Othman.

According to the invitation letter, signed by the EFCC’s Director of Operations, Steve Otitoju, el-Rufai is expected today at 10am.

A highly-placed source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: "Initially, we had it rough serving el-Rufai a letter of invitation on Monday. Each time we went there, the police in his house and the domestic staff said they were told not to receive any letter.

"We eventually got a friend of the ex-Minister to receive the letter and he promised to deliver it to him.

"The EFCC chairman has already raised a team that will interrogate el-Rufai on the allegations against him.

"We are hopeful that the ex-Minister will honour the invitation of this commission as he has always pledged."

The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Femi Babafemi, confirmed that the invitation was delivered to el-Rufai on Monday.

He said: "We are expecting the former Minister on Tuesday."

Another source in the commission said the ex-Minister may be questioned on sales of government houses and allocation of 51,133 plots of land in the FCT during his tenure.

The allegations border on alleged reallocation of a parcel of land, No 1201, in Asokoro District and Plot 3352(Maitama District) by el-Rufai to his wife, associates and a company in which he had vested interest.

Some of the parcels of land were originally designated in the FCT Master Plan for power transmitting sub-station by the Power Holding Company (PHCN) and the Nigeria Postal Service.

A document obtained by The Nation revealed the identities of el-Rufai’s relatives who allegedly got choice plots in Asokoro, Wuse II, Maitama, Jabi, Kubwa, and Utako districts.

On the list are: Hadiza Isma el-Rufai (Plot 3379 Asokoro); Bashir el-Rufai(Plot 1381 Wuse II); Aisha Ahmad el-Rufai(Plot 3376 Asokoro); Ibrahim el-Rufai(Plot 3677 Maitama); Binta Ahmed el-Rufai( Plot 871 Jabi); Hadiza Isma el-Rufai (Plot 1417 Kubwa); Tijani Ahmed el-Rufai(Plot 4062 Bwari); Rufai Hanga (Plot 1132 Utako); Ali Rufai (Plot 3861 Asokoro); and Sani Ahmed Gwadu (Plot 363 Utako).

The ex-minister had appeared before the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, which investigated the sale of all Federal Government houses in Abuja, demolition of structures, revocation of titles and concession of properties between 1999 and 2007.

The Committee, led by Senator Abubakar Danso Sodangi, indicted the el-Rufai.

But el-Rufai went to court to challenge the panel’s report.

The EFCC arraigned el-Rufai before a Federal High Court, Abuja on an eight-count charge bordering on abuse of office.

Speaking with The Nation last night, el-Rufai’s counsel, Mr A.U. Mustapha, said: "The ex-Minister does not have anything to hide. As a matter of fact, it was el-Rufai that wrote the EFCC on his readiness to appear before the commission whenever it is convenient for them.

"If as a counsel my client can ask me to write, what does he have to hide? He is not hiding anything; he is ready to answer any allegation. We are ready for the EFCC; we will be with the commission on Tuesday.

"Also, el-Rufai will be in court on Thursday in respect of the charges against him."

el-Rufai accused the EFCC of shifting the allegation against him from N32billion missing funds to N1.6billion.

He explained why he would honor the EFCC’s invitation, in a statement by his media consultant, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, in Abuja.

The statement accused the EFCC of mounting a campaign of falsehood and innuendo against el-Rufai.

The statement said el-Rufai would be in court on Thursday, which is the next adjourned date for the case the Federal Government has filed against him (FRN v. El Rufai; ABJ/CR/60/2009), pending before Justice Bello. "There is no need for precipitate haste on the part of the EFCC to arrest him on this matter," it said.

It said el-Rufai would like the "vexed issue of N32 billion" addressed. Hence, he went to court to seek its declaration that no such funds went missing under his watch. "The EFCC has been misleading public opinion on this matter by persistently insinuating that it has evidence that N32 billion is missing from the proceeds of the sale of public houses.

"After two years of lying, it is now saying that only N1.6 billion is missing. There is no doubt that the perverse fiction that contrived the tale of N32 billion, then shrank it to N1.6 billion, will ultimately collapse and be displaced by the fact that no such funds disappeared. Malice can only go so far!" the statement said.

It went on: "This N32 billion saga was supposed to be the trump card in the failed attempt to destroy el-Rufai. It first reared its head during the Senate committee hearings on the FCT in 2008.

"But because there was no substance to it, the allegation did not even feature in either the committee’s final report or in the decision of the entire Senate on the committee’s report.

"The government had in late 2008 also announced that it had recovered the said monies from the banks in which el-Rufai’s successor as FCT minister had placed them.

"The next adjourned date for this matter, el-Rufai v. EFCC & 12 ORS (FHC/ABJ/CS/69/08) is 14 June 2010, and Mallam el-Rufai would be there on that day as well."

Source: www.thenationonlineng.net

Bode George has no reputation – Court

Chief Bode George

There seems to be no end to disappointments for the convicted former Chairman of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) Board, Chief Bode George, as he lost a N2.5billion libel case he filed against some media houses.

George had instituted a libel suit against Independent Network Communications, Publishers The News magazine and PM News along with Corporate Ventures Nigeria Limited, owners of Daily Independent newspaper.

Justice Akeem Oshodi of the Lagos High Court, sitting in Badagry, while delivering his judgment, on Wednesday, dismissed the suit on the ground that a man cannot claim damages for a reputation he does not possess.

According to Oshodi, since Bode George had earlier been convicted by a Lagos High Court judge on the same facts on which he claimed that his reputation was damaged, it would be inappropriate to grant him damages on those facts.
“The court notes through the submission of the defendant that claimant had been convicted and sentence to two years without an option of fine on the same facts which he alleged libel. A man cannot lay claim to a reputation that he never had. And as such this case fails in its entirety,” the court held.

The court noted that all the witnesses called by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain could not adequately prove to the court that he was libeled by the media reports brought before the court as evidence.
The court concurred to the prayer of the defence counsel, Femi Falana, had argued that the newspapers were justified in their reported since the same report was further confirmed by a Lagos High Court that convicted the claimant on the report complained of in the libel suit.
Falana had contended that the claimant had no reputation whatsoever to protect in the court. Consequently, the trial judge dismissed the suit as prayed by the defendants without awarding any cost.

In his final submission, George’s lawyer, Bambo Adesanya (SAN) argued that the judgment which convicted him was not relevant to the libel suit as it did not exist as at the time the case was instituted. Justice Oshodi, however, disregarded his argument.
The court held that George was only trying to deceive the court by claiming that he was not under any probe by the EFCC or any panel of inquiry.

Bode George had gone to court after  The News magazine, in its April 18, 2005 edition, published a cover story, entitled “Anti Corruption War: N85 billion Scam at The Ports. Bode George’s Board Indicted.”

Consequent upon the report, ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, according to The NEWS story, set up a contract review panel headed by Engineer Mustapha Bukar from the office of the Head of Service of the Federation. The members included: Greg Ogbeifun of Starz Investment Company; A.A. Lawal of Tata Industries Kano; Chief John Damshakai of the office of the Plateau State Governor; Nella Ewa, a Calabar-based lawyer; B.F. Oyelowo of the Auditor-General of the Federation’s office, Abuja and; G.O. Ezezika of the Ministry of Transport, Abuja .

Obasanjo mandated the committee to review all contracts awarded at NPA between 2001 and 2003 and determine “exactly how much was expended, with dates, exactly how much was paid out on each contract, the outstanding amounts and works not executed but for which monies were paid.” Bukar and his men were also asked to find out whether the board followed correct procedures in the award of the projects.

When the committee submitted its report, it discovered that George’s board awarded 29,586 contracts, valued at N85 billion. The committee also reported contract-splitting and inflation of costs.


Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

Bode George Loses Libel Case Against TheNEWS

Convicted PDP chieftain and former Board Chairman of Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, Chief Bode George, today lost the libel case he instituted against TheNEWSmagazine, P.M.NEWS and the Daily Independent newspaper.

The matter came up today at the Badagry High Court, Lagos.

Delivering judgement in the case, the presiding judge, Justice Akeem Oshodi, held that a man cannot claim damages for a reputation that he does not possess.

Going through the facts of the matter, the judge noted that all the witnesses called by Bode George did not prove sufficiently to the court that he was libelled by the media reports which were tendered in court.

Chief Bode George

Justice Oshodi noted that since Bode George had earlier been convicted by a Lagos High Court judge on same facts which he claimed he had been libelled with, it would be inappropriate to grant him damages on those facts.

According to the judge, “the court notes through the submission of the defendant that claimant had been convicted to two years without an option of fine on the same facts which he alleged libel. A man cannot lay claim to a reputation that he never had. And as such this case fails in its entirety.”

Consequently, the judge struck out the case.

Although counsel to Bode George, Bambo Adesanya, SAN, had argued in his final submission that the judgement in question convicting his client was of no relevance to the libel but, since it was not in existence as at the time the case was instituted, Justice Oshodi disregarded his argument.

He stated that Bode George was only trying to deceive the court by claiming that he was not under any probe by the EFCC or any panel of inquiry.

Bode George had claimed an aggregate sum of N2 billion in the libel suit he instituted against TheNEWS magazine, P.M.NEWS and Daily Independent newspaper.

Source: http://thepmnews.com

Probe of Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) : True face of Lagos presents documents to probe panel

Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) 

By Oziegbe Okoeki

A group, True face of Lagos, yesterday asked the Lagos State House of Assembly to hasten its probe of Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) based on its catalogue of allegations.

Led by its President Mr. Adeshina Adebayo, members of the group told the Ad-hoc committee of the House set up to investigate the allegations promised to tender all the documentary evidence to backup their claims.

Adeshina presented to the committee two documents detailing the contracts awarded by the ministries of Works and Health, maintaining that an account should be properly rendered.

He said it was wrong for one company, Deux to get 11 out of 19 contracts which it failed to execute to specification despite the fact that it had collected 50 – 70 per cent down payment.

Some of the allegations, like the N250million to NBA, N420m for private security, huge amount spent on beautification and the importation of palm trees from Niger Republic, Adeshina said are moral burden on the government, because the funds could have been expended on more pressing needs of the people.

He said the group could not come with more documents for security reasons as they were at different locations due to series of attack on his premises.

Although, he said documents for all the allegations cannot be presented, he however promised that he would come with more documents when next he appears before the panel.

Quizzed on how he came about the documents, Adeshina said he got them from some patriotic individuals within the state civil service, "which triggered off our action when we were convinced that many of the allegations could stand the test of time". But he refused to disclose who the individuals are.

According to him, majority of the issues, has to do with following due process and the House not giving approval for some of the expenditures.

Members of the committee were however, not too happy with the presentation as they expected the group to be more forthcoming with facts.

According to Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, we want you to prove to Lagosians and Nigerians that these allegations are not baseless because this has actually heated up the polity.

The Chairman of the committee who is also the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Ajibayo Adeyeye, advised the group leader to see committee members privately if he has some information he cannot disclose publicly, "as much as possible we want evidences to back up most of these allegations", Adeyeye said.

N170m fraud: Chief Vincent Ogbulafor goes into hiding

Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor

The embattled Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, stayed away from the party’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday as an Abuja High Court ordered him to appear before it on May 3.

A source in the party who defended Ogbulafor’s absence from office, said he chose the option for fear that he might be arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

The commission had dragged the PDP chairman to the Abuja High Court for allegedly defrauding the Federal Government of N170m in 2001.

Our correspondents report that the PDP chairman may also have gone into hiding to frustrate the attempt of the ICPC to serve him the writ of summons personally.

The anti-graft agency, in a ex-parte application sought the leave of the court to prefer charges against Ogbulafor and for him to be served with a writ of summons personally.

Our source in the PDP said that it was unusual for Ogbulafor to stay away from his office especially at a time he was expected to be busy preparing for the party’s National Executive Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday (today).

He said, “We were surprised that we did not see the chairman in office. It was very unusual of him to stay off in a day like today (Monday) when all members of the NWC were here to put finishing touches to tomorrow’s NEC meeting.

“The reason might be because he feared that he could be arrested or could be harassed because of his corruption trial by the IC P .”

Our correspondents learnt that some governors’ sympathetic to Ogbulafor, advised him to ensure that he was not detained ahead of the NEC meeting.

The plan, it was further gathered, was for Ogbulafor to come to the NEC meeting when almost all the PDP governors had arrived or even come with one of them.

Efforts made by one of our correspondents to reach Ogbulafor were unsuccessful as calls made to his mobile telephone indicated it was switched off.

However, his spokesperson, Mr. Chijoke Adindu, said he was not hiding.

Adindu said Ogbulafor was in his house and that there was no basis for him to go underground since he was yet to be served with court processes by the ICPC.

He said, “How can he hide? He is at home. Remember that nobody has even charged him to court? He has not been served any paper. So, there is no basis for him to hide.”

When asked why his principal was not part of the officials of the party to co-ordinate preparations for the NEC meeting, he declined to respond.

An Abuja High Court had early on Monday ordered Ogbulafor to appear before it on May 3 to take his plea for allegedly defrauding the Federal Government of N170m while in office as the Minister of Special Duties in 2001.

Justice Isaq Bello gave the order while ruling on an ex-parte application brought by the ICPC through its counsel, Mr. Paul Bassey.

In his ruling, the judge ordered that Ogbulafor and others charged along with him should appear before him for their arraignment. He directed that the charges be served on them personally.

The co-accused are Mr. Emeka Ebilah, Secretary/Member of the National Economic Intelligence Committee; and Mr. Emmanuel Bosah, Director, Budget Implementation, Federal Ministry of Finance .

Bello said, “The accused persons are hereby ordered to appear before the court on May 3. The prosecution is at liberty to apply for an order of arrest and detention where they are in doubt that the accused persons will not be available for trial.”

The ICPC had last week filed a criminal charge at the court against Ogbulafor.

However, the judge turned down a request by counsel to Ogbulafor, Mr. Joe Kyari-Gadzama (SAN), to get the court to stay proceedings on the matter.

Bello overruled him on the grounds that the matter before the court was for the ex-parte application brought by the anti-graft agency for leave to prefer charges against the accused persons.

A copy of the charge obtained by our correspondent showed that Ogbulafor and his co-accused committed the offences sometimes in March 2001.

Count one of the charges indicated ”That Ogbulafor , Ebilah and Bosah in the month of March 2001, fraudulently received through a proxy, Henry Ikoh, the sum of N82,631,03.41 from the Federal Government of Nigeria in the name of a company Henchriko Nigeria Limited as payment for a fictitious contract purportedly executed for the Federal Government.”

The action, according to the ICPC is contrary to Section 19 of the ICPC Act 2000.

Ogbulafor, Ebilah and Bosah were also accused of conspiracy to use NEIC contract verification panel to verify a fictitious contract purportedly executed on behalf of the Federal Government by Henchriko from which they received N82m.

The PDP chairman was also accused of using his position as Minister of Special Duties to confer corrupt advantage upon himself by fraudulently receiving from the Federal Government N11.5m as payment for a fictitious contract.

The said money was allegedly received through a proxy, Chris Abuajah, in the name of a company DHL Consultants.

In count five, the three accused persons were charged with using their positions to confer corrupt advantage on themselves by fraudulently receiving from the Federal Government through a proxy, Sunday Nmesirianye, the sum of N13. 7m in the name of Emeprol Co. Limited.

Similarly, Ogbulafor and the two accused persons were charged with receiving fraudulently the sum of N6.2m from the Federal Government through a proxy, Chekwas Obinna, using the name of a company Chekwas Industries Limited as payment for fictitious contract executed on behalf of the Federal Government.

Out of the 16 count- charges filed against the suspects, Ogbulafor would answer to 12.

Governor Babatunde Fashola's Probe: EFCC arrests Olatunji Olowolafe, a Lagos state Contractor.

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola

By Victor Ebimomi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), may have commenced full action into the probe of Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, as one of the major contractors for the state government, Olatunji Olowolafe of Deux Project Limited, was arrested on Friday evening by operatives of the commission.

According to EFCC spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the contractor had executed a total of 30 contracts for the state government out of which 27 were for the Ministry of Health and three for Ministry of Education and was said to have collected over N10 billion so far.

The commission said investigations into his deals with the state government was in progress.

The commission’s action may not be unconnected with petitions by a group known as True Face of Lagos, which alleged that the state governor was involved in underhand deals in the affairs of the state.

Apart from the EFCC, the group had also petitioned the state House of Assembly, calling for the probe the governor. The House set up a probe committee to look into the allegations, while series of court cases also sprung up to stop the probe.

Few days ago, the members of the group protested to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, claiming that the commission was delaying in investigating its petition but they were told by the commission’s Chairman that investigation had already started and the commission would make arrests when necessary.

James Ibori is a coward - Chief Edwin Clark

Embattled former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori

By Olusola Fabiyi and Kazeem Ibrahym

A former Minister of Information and prominent leader in South-South, Chief Edwin Clark, has described the former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, as a coward.

The action of the former governor, who had been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Niger Delta leader said, had shown that he was not a courageous person.

Clark, who spoke exclusively with our correspondent in Abuja on Friday, said that since Ibori had claimed to be innocent of allegations levelled against him by the anti-graft agency, he had thought that he would come out of his hiding and clear his name.

He wondered why it was difficult for the EFCC to arrest Ibori when he was being guarded by riot policemen, who he said, were all answerable to the Federal Government.

The former minister said, "He is a coward. If he is not, let him come and defend himself of all the allegations, after all, he has been saying he is not guilty.

"There is no harm in levelling allegations against anyone, but if you know you have nothing to hide, then come out and offer explanations.

"If the government really wants him arrested, they should ask the policemen attached to him. How can the EFCC be looking for him yet the man is surrounded by riot policemen? If you go to Oghara now, it is like a semi-headquarters of riot policemen."

The former governor, who was declared wanted by the EFCC 12 days ago, has since gone into hiding.

Ibori was declared wanted following a fresh N44bn fraud allegation levelled against him by Delta State Elders, Leaders and Stakeholders Forum led by Clark.

The elders had sent their petition dated March 8, 2010 to the EFCC's Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri.

The elders who signed the petition were Clark, Chief Patrick Ideh, Dr. Richard Tosanwumi, Col. G.A.Eboma (rtd), Chief Hope Erute, Chief Williams Ekpebitere, Sir Eddy Akangbou, Dr. B.K Adasen, Prince A. Abugbo and Benson Lelekumo.

Copies of the petition were sent to the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN) and the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Lamido Sanusi.

They demanded the commission to find out whether it was right to use the state government's shares to obtain N44bn private loan from a bank.

They further alleged that there was evidence that shares worth N528.010m in Oceanic Bank belonging to Delta State Government was used to guarantee over N44bn granted Ascot Offshore Nigeria Limited by Intercontinental Bank Plc.

Meanwhile, as the police intensify manhunt for Ibori, an ex-militant leader in the Niger Delta, Mr. Nico Sintei, has urged the former governor to surrender himself to the police.

Sintei, who spoke with our correspondent on Friday, said the only option left for Ibori was to come out from his hideout and make self available to security operatives.

The ex-fighter argued that it was not possible for the former governor to escape from justice, stating that it was necessary for him to face the law.

According to him, Ibori should see his current travail and the need to present himself to the police as an opportunity to clear his name of any wrongdoing.

"He (Ibori) should surrender himself to the police. That is the best thing he should do for now. He cannot run away from the government and that is the fact.

"Anybody that is involved in militancy and is parading himself as a Niger Delta militant is a criminal and should be treated as such.

"Nobody is too big for the law and it is normal that the law should take its course," Sintei, who was the leader of a militant group known as Niger Delta Freedom Fighter noted.

He denied claims that those purportedly shielding the former governor from arrest were Niger Delta militants.

Branding those protecting Ibori from arrest as common criminals, Sintei stressed that former militants had surrendered their weapons and embraced the Federal Government amnesty programme.

Meanwhile, Clark also denied having reached any pact with the Acting President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, to shop for someone to be made the governor of Delta State in 2011.

He said while the allegation was not true, he also did not need the directive of Jonathan to make anyone governor because "I am a grass root man."

He called on the governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to accord his (Clark's) faction of the party recognition by appointing them into his cabinet.

Source: www.punchng.com

Fugitive James Ibori ’ll soon be Apprehended – Nigeria Police

Chief James Ibori

• Ex-gov’s aide chides him as protesters storm EFCC 
From LAMBERT TYEM, FRANCIS AWOWOLE-BROWNE and AIDOGHIE PAULINUS, Abuja

As security forces comb Oghara town, in Delta State, in search of Chief James Ibori, police authorities have said that the former governor would be arrested no matter how long it takes. Also, the police said they do not think the former governor has fled the country.

The police, however, said that in looking for Ibori they do not want to be seen as victimising innocent citizens. They appealed for patience over the delay in effecting Ibori’s arrest, adding that the warrant of arrest issued on him has no limited time.

This is coming at a time hundreds of youths stormed the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in Abuja to protest what they called political undertone in the Ibori case. It is also coming as a former aide of the ex-governor urged him to come out of hiding if he does not have a case to answer.

Speaking in Abuja yesterday, Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, said that the search for Ibori continues as long as the Lagos Federal High Court order lasts.

According to him, “manhunt for Ibori still continues until he is arrested or his arrest vacated by a competent court of law. We do not suspect that he has escaped out of the country and even if he may have escaped, we are not in a hurry. He will still be arrested, no matter how long it takes, even four, five or 10 years from now. We are following his arrest within the confines of law.”

He appealed to Nigerians for patience and understanding, saying: “We are not at war with anybody. We are trying to maintain law and order in our society. We have no problem with anybody in Delta and Oghara town in particular. The thugs employed to guard him have no problem with the police and not that they overpowered the police and other security agencies. Police don’t want to engage in any fracas that might cause loss of lives of other innocent citizens, since the offence of the former governor is a bailable one.”
Ojukwu further assured Nigerians that Ibori would soon be arrested, adding that the DIG, AIG and CP were still in-charge of the case until Ibori is picked.

Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters yesterday stormed the headquarters of the EFCC demanding that the commission should do away with politics in handling Ibori’s case.
The demonstrators alleged that the commission was selective in prosecution of financial crime cases, wondering what happened to the Independent Power Project (IPP) probe, which fingered some influential Nigerians.

Addressing the management of the EFCC, led by the Secretary, Emmanuel Akomaye, leader of the protesters, Yinka Gbadebo, said they were not out to defend Ibori but that the EFCC should respect the law of the land.

According to him, it smacked of political persecution for the EFCC to declare Ibori wanted when the date of his invitation was far ahead. He stated: “What we are saying is that due process must be followed in everything the EFCC is doing; its anti-corruption agency is meant for the nation; it should not allow itself to be teleguided by the government of the day.”

In his response, Secretary of the EFCC, Mr. Akomaye, explained that the commission appreciated the position of the protesters. He promised that their views would be tabled before the chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri.

He explained that the EFCC is a law enforcement agency and would not be involved in anything that would break the law.
The EFCC scribe argued that Ibori’s case should not be seen as a political witch-hunt but normal exercise of the commission’s responsibility to tackle corruption within the Nigerian society.

He stated that if the commission failed to deal with corruption in the society, youths would have no future in the country. He assured them that Ibori would be accorded all possible legal benefits.
Traffic in and around the Wuse area, where the EFCC office is located, was paralysed, as the protesters took over the road with placards, which read: “No to selective prosecution” and “EFCC must subject itself to rule of law” etc.

In a related development, Ibori’s spokesman, Tony Eluemunor, has said that the former governor was being hunted for political reasons.
In a statement, he said that his boss’ case was a witch-hunt, adding: “The arm-twisting that defaced the final years of the last administration has been allowed back into Nigeria as the country enters an election year.”

Also commenting on the matter, a former aide of Ibori, Hon Mark Wariota Ikpuri, has asked him to come out of hiding and face the EFCC.
But speaking with Saturday Sun in Abuja, Ikpuri, the former Special Adviser to Ibori on Students Affairs said that the allegation of witch-hunt is being mischievously peddled by Ibori’s loyalists.
He said: “I don’t believe in those mischievous statements of people. I don’t believe them. Has Ibori come out to say that he has a problem with the acting President? Or has the acting president come out to say that he has a problem with Ibori? There are some things that you would do that your guilt would begin to judge you.”

Urging Ibori to come out, he said: “The more he keeps hiding, the more people conclude the story is true. The more he is staying in hiding; definitely, the impression is that he committed it. He should examine his conscience and ask himself: did I really commit these things or not? Then, if he did, there is nothing bad in saying; I am returning the things he took. What I am saying is that if you are hiding, you give the wrong impression to the populace but coming out proves your innocence. He should come out of hiding.”

Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

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‘Why we want James Ibori' by The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

Mr. James Ibori

By Elizabeth Archibong

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared James Ibori, the former governor of Delta State, wanted after he failed to respond to earlier communications over a new investigation into his activities while in office, the anti-graft agency said yesterday in Abuja.

EFCC officials said the rumour that Mr. Ibori was wanted for political reasons was therefore untenable and possibly arose because Mr. Ibori was declared wanted on the same day he claimed to have received his letter of invitation from the commission.

The commission had on Tuesday declared Mr. Ibori wanted over allegations in connection with a fresh ₦44 billion fraud. The invitation letter that was delivered to his Lagos office yesterday however, demanded that he appeared at the EFCC office by April 17.

This explanation is coming after Mr. Ibori's kinsmen at Oghara had warned the federal government against what they called the political persecution of their brethren.

EFCC's defence

"Chief James Ibori knows quite well that the EFCC has been looking for him for interrogation for over four weeks," a statement signed by the commission's spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, stated.

"When it was becoming increasingly difficult to locate him, the commission decided to get in touch with officials of [the] Delta State government to extend our invitation to the former governor through them.

Precisely, on March 22, 2010, our operatives investigating the case involving James Ibori, visited Delta and met with state officials in Government House, Asaba, to help the commission get in touch with Mr. Ibori to honour our invitation.

Through the same state officials, Mr. Ibori got back to our operatives on March 25, 2010, to ask that our operatives should return to Delta to interview him in the Government House, instead of him coming to the EFCC office, Abuja.

The leadership of the commission rejected the trap and insisted Mr. Ibori should honour our invitation by coming to our office in Abuja."

After explaining the different efforts made to reach Mr. Ibori, the EFCC's said, "our decision to declare him wanted was based on our previous contacts with him and not on the letters being referred to in the advertorial." The commission also stated that it was presumptuous for people to complain about the re-investigation, or say the matter had earlier been discharged by a court in Asaba.

"Our invitations to Mr. Ibori have nothing to do with the case decided by the Asaba court, as the commission has already appealed that ruling. We need him to answer questions based on fresh allegations bordering on official corruption and money laundering."

A gentleman's promise

The commission extended its assurance to Mr. Ibori that it respects the rule of law and individual rights and would treat him with decorum, as demanded by the law.

"While assuring him that our action is not in any way dictated by any political consideration, we implore him that what is important to us, and cardinal to the course of justice at this moment, is that he should come out of hiding and honour our invitation."

Source: http://www.234next.com/

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• James Ibori Protected by Armed hoodlums. Hoodlums ambushed Nigeria’s Police Force.

James Ibori is Protected by Armed hoodlums. Hoodlums ambushed Nigeria’s Police Force.

Mr. James Ibori

The Inspector General of Police, Ogbona Onovo, on Tuesday, ordered his men to arrest former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, after he had withdrawn security aides attached to the man recently declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

The police team who went to Oghara, the hometown of Mr. Ibori to make the arrest, were, however, ambushed by a group of armed hoodlums who severely manhandled the police officers and beat some of them into coma, the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, confirmed on Tuesday.

According to reports gathered by NEXT, the police convoy, which included Assistant Inspector General of Police, M.D Abubakar, and the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Yakub Alkali, were attacked on the outskirts of the town by armed men who exchanged gun shots with the police. The police team had to beat a hasty retreat from the town to provide medical care for their wounded.

Mr. Ojukwu said the police was acting on a warrant of arrest issued by an Abuja High Court Monday that it brings in Mr. Ibori for questioning.

An earlier attempt by journalits at the presidential villa to get answers from Mr. Onovo on an alleged directive by the Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan, that he arrests Mr. Ibori, were rebuffed.

Mr. Onovo had visited the State House to attend the National Economic Council (NEC), which was presided over by the Acting President yesterday.

“I am here to attend a meeting and not to take questions,” he had said.

But residents of Oghara confirmed that heavily armed hoodlums who have moved into the town were members of militant groups in the area.

Mr. Ojukwu, however, said police had not identified those behind the attack.

“I don’t know which group, but I can confirm to you that the group that was sent there was attacked by hoodlums. I don’t know whether they are militants or what by now, but we are still working on it,” he said.

He said Mr. Onovo has also directed Mr. Abubarkar to work with Mr. Alkali to ensure the arrest of the former governor.

“The IG has ordered the AIG in charge of Zone 5, that is M.D. Abubakar and the commissioner of police, Delta State, to effect the arrest of James Ibori and there is a DIG on ground to ensure that the court order is enforced today,” Mr. Ojukwu said.

“We cannot give you the details of what we now want to do, but we will do everything within the law to effect the arrest; and there is a warrant of arrest issued by a court and we are acting within the jurisdiction.”

Denying some media report that Mr. Onovo had refused to obey a presidential order asking him to arrest Mr. Ibori, the police spokesperson said the order of arrest it relies on was served on the Nigeria Police on Monday.

However, when asked why the police has been charged to effect the arrest and not the EFCC, which is the agency looking for Mr. Ibori, Mr. Ojukwu responded that, “you may ask them that question. What we know is that there is court order from the court and the court can direct any law enforcement agency to effect the arrest and get the work done.”

In a telephone interview, the EFCC spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, who also confirmed the attack, said the commission’s operatives were part of the team that went to the village.

The men were attacked by “armed militants at the entrance of the village and have still not been able to effect the arrest,” he said.

Legal tussle
Mr. Ibori, who faces several corruption charges, has refused to obey EFCC’s invitation to come and answer questions on allegations levelled against him by a group of Delta elders, led by Edwin Clark.

Mr. Ibori had, through his counsel, filed a motion exparte on April 12, at an Asaba High Court praying that he should be granted an interim injunction restraining the EFCC from arresting or harassing him. Joined in the suit are the Attorney-General of the Federation; the Inspector-General of Police; and the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS).

The presiding judge, I.N. Buba, at its last sitting on April 14, adjourned proceedings in the case to April 28 to allow Mr. Ibori serve fresh hearing notices on the respondents in his application.

Source: http://www.234next.com/

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• ‘Why we want Ibori' by The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Nigeria: The Inspector General of Police,Ogbonna Onovo orders DIG, AIG, Delta states CP to Arrest James Ibori within 48 hours.

Fugitive James Ibori

From LAMBERT TYEM, Abuja

The Inspector General of Police, Ogbonna Onovo has ordered the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ekpo U. Udom, Assistant Inspector General of Police in-charge of Zone 5 Command, Mr. Mohammed D. Abubakar and the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, Mr. Samaila Alkali to produce the former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori within 48 hours.

In a statement, the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu on Tuesday in Abuja said the IGP gave the directive following a High Court order to the police to produce the embattled former Delta State chief executive.

According to the Police Spokesman; “The IGP has directed DIG Ekpo U. Udom currently on special duty to Delta State to coordinate the arrest alongside the AIG Zone 5 and the CP Delta State. The exercise is ongoing”, the statement read in part.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had last week declared Ibori wanted over financial scam during his tenure as governor of the state.

Meanwhile, reports from the State indicate that Ibori might have escaped from the country since last weekend through the help of some militants who are loyal to him.

Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

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Jeffrey Tesler, a retired sales executive to be extradited to United States for Nigerian bribery trial

Jeffrey Tesler  Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Jeffrey Tesler, a former employee of Haliburton firm, is second Briton threatened with conspiracy charges over $6bn gas contract in Nigeria.

Jeffrey Tesler is accused of being involved in a huge international bribery scheme would be sent to the US to stand trial, a judge ruled today.

 District judge Caroline Tubbs decided at Westminster magistrates court that the 72-year-old retired sales executive, Wojciech Chodan, should be extradited to Texas to be tried.

 US prosecutors accuse him and a 61-year-old London lawyer, Jeffrey Tesler, of conspiring with others to pay bribes of $132m (£86m) to Nigerian officials to secure a $6bn contract to construct liquefied natural gas plants at Bonny Island, on the coast of Nigeria.

 The duo, who face up to 55 years in jail if convicted, have the right to appeal to the higher courts if the Home Secretary also decides that they should be extradited.

 There has been disquiet that the British government has been too willing to allow its citizens to be flown to the US to be prosecuted for a range of crimes.

 Tubbs rejected Chodan's attempt to stop the extradition proceedings. It follows her ruling last month that Tesler should be extradited.

 Chodan worked for a firm owned by the US oil services group Halliburton, which led the consortium seeking the Nigerian contract.

 The US alleges that Chodan, who lives in the Somerset village of Nunney, was on a committee that devised plans to bribe the Nigerians. He had "numerous discussions" with Tesler and others to ensure that the bribes were paid over a 10-year period, the court heard.

 The cash is alleged to have been laundered through Switzerland and Monaco.

Tubbs ruled that Chodan's alleged conduct had "sufficiently substantial connection" with the US to justify the extradition.

She decided that KBR, the US firm he worked for, "received considerable financial benefit from the corrupt scheme" and that executives of the firm "committed acts in furtherance of the corrupt bribery scheme in Houston, Texas".

Tesler and Chodan are alleged to have conspired with Jack Stanley, the Texan chief executive of KBR, who has already pleaded guilty to his involvement in the bribery scheme, as a result of the investigation by the US prosecutors.

Chodan declined to comment.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/

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British lawyer, Jeffrey Tesler, faces extradition to United States over corruption charges

Jeffrey Tesler

By Michael Herman, Alex Spence

A British solicitor accused of paying $132 million in bribes to Nigerian government officials to secure gas contracts on behalf of multinational energy firms should be extradited to the United States, a judge said yesterday.

Jeffrey Tesler, 61, is wanted by authorities in Houston, Texas, where he faces prosecution on corruption and conspiracy charges that carry a maximum 55-year jail term. He denies all charges.

District Judge Caroline Tubbs, sitting at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court, told Mr Tesler yesterday she was satisfied that the allegations were serious enough to justify extradition.

The order, which must be approved by the Home Secretary, comes in the same week as Ian Norris, a retired British businessman, flew to the US to answer charges of destroying evidence.

Alan Johnson, the Home Secretary, has three months to consider Mr Tesler's case although lawyers said that his approval was a formality. Mr Tesler can appeal against an extradition order by the Home Secretary.

Mr. Tesler, who works for a small legal practice in Tottenham, North London, is accused of acting as the middleman for an international conspiracy to funnel bribes to Nigerian officials. He is alleged to have been hired by a consortium bidding for a series of contracts worth $6 billion to build and maintain a gas plant at Bonny Island, off the Nigerian coast.

The consortium included Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR), a Texas-based group that was formerly part of Halliburton, which was controlled by Dick Cheney until he became US Vice-President in 2000. Last February, KBR and Halliburton paid $579 million to settle US criminal and regulatory charges relating to the Nigeria project.

The US claim that Mr. Tesler worked as an agent for the consortium between 1995 and 2004. Prosecutors are also seeking the extradition of another British resident, Wojciech Chodan, 71, a former consultant to KBR who is wanted on corruption charges.

Mr Tesler has contested the extradition. His lawyers claimed that it would breach his right to a family life and that access to a fair trial was compromised by the passage of time because the alleged crimes date back 15 years.

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

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• U.S. v. Jeffrey Tesler and Wojciech J. Chodan
• Retired sales executive to be extradited to US for Nigerian bribery trial

Halliburton's Bribery Scandal In Nigeria Lawsuit: U.S. v. Jeffrey Tesler and Wojciech J. Chodan

________________________________________________________________________

 Defendant:                       Halliburton and KBR, Inc. - Chodan, Wojciech J.

________________________________________________________________________

 Matter Type:                     DOJ Criminal

_________________________________________________________________________

 Date Filed:                         February 17, 2009

_______________________________________________________________________________

 Full Case Name:                 U.S. v. Jeffrey Tesler and Wojciech J. Chodan

_________________________________________________________________________________

 Citation:                             U.S. v. Tesler and Chodan, No. 09-098 (S.D. Tex. 2009)

________________________________________________________________________________
Related Parties:                  Halliburton Company; KBR, Inc.; Kellogg, Brown & Root, LLC; Stanley, Albert Jackson; Tesler; Jeffrey
_________________________________________________________________________________

Noteworthy:                           If arrested, the U.S. will seek to extradite Mr. Chodan to the U.S. to stand trial. If      extradition is sought, this will be one of the few known cases in which the U.S. has requested extradition of a foreign national who acted as an agent for a U.S. company. In addition, jurisdiction is based in part on correspondent accounts.

__________________________________________________________________________________
 Industry:                                  Energy (Non-Utility)-Oil & Gas-Exploration/Production
__________________________________________________________________________________
Country:                                  Nigeria
____________________________________________________________________________
Date of Conduct:                    1994; 1995; 1996; 1997; 1998; 1999; 2000; 2001; 2002; 2003; 2004
____________________________________________________________________________
Officials:                                  Officials of Nigeria's executive branch; Officials of the government-owned company responsible for developing and regulating Nigeria's oil and gas industry (Nigerian National Petroleum Company); Officials of government-controlled company formed to develop the Bonny Island Project (Nigeria LNG Limited)
_____________________________________________________________________________________

 Facts:                                       The M.W. Kellogg Company and its successor company, Kellogg, Brown & Root Inc. (jointly "KBR"), were part of a four-company joint venture seeking to obtain contracts to build liquefied natural gas facilities on Bonny Island, Nigeria. From 1988 until 1998, Mr. Chodan, a U.K. citizen, was a sales vice president for M.W. Kellogg Ltd., which was 55% owned by KBR. From 1998 until June 16, 2004, he was engaged as a consultant by M.W. Kellogg Ltd. Mr. Chodan reported to Albert Stanley, the former CEO of KBR, Inc., and assisted KBR in winning four Bonny Island contracts. Beginning in 1999, Mr. Chodan allegedly served on the board of managers of a Portugal-based company owned by the joint venture partners ("Madeira Company 3") that allegedly entered into contracts with consultants for the purpose of bribing Nigerian government officials.

Mr. Chodan and his co-conspirators (including Mr. Stanley) allegedly held "cultural meetings" to discuss the use of particular agents to pay bribes to Nigeria government officials. One agent discussed was Mr. Jeffrey Tesler, a U.K. solicitor with a shell company (Tri-Star) located in Gibraltar and bank accounts in Switzerland and Monaco, hired by the joint venture to bribe Nigerian government officials to obtain contracts from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. The consulting contract between Madeira Company 3 and Tri-Star allegedly indicated that Tri-Star would be paid for marketing and advisory services when in fact the primary purpose was to facilitate bribes. Between 1995 and 2004, the joint venture allegedly paid Mr. Tesler over $130 million for use in bribing Nigerian government officials. Mr. Tesler allegedly met with senior officials to discuss the amount of payments necessary to secure the officials' support for the joint venture bid. At the request of an official of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, Mr. Tesler allegedly worked with a subcontractor to funnel payments to a political party in Nigeria. Mr. Chodan allegedly worked with Mr. Tesler to determine how to structure the corrupt payments and to decide which officials should be included in the arrangement. Mr. Chodan and Mr. Tesler allegedly discussed avoiding U.S.-owned banks and placing only non-U.S. citizens on the board of a company owned by the joint venture partners.

Through Madeira Company 3, the joint venture also allegedly hired a consulting company headquartered in Japan to assist it in obtaining business, including by offering and paying bribes to government officials. Between 1996 and 2004, the joint venture allegedly paid the company $50 million.

 In 2003, Mr. Chodan allegedly caused a draft memorandum to be emailed to two KBR executives in Houston. The memorandum, which was to be released to French authorities investigating potential crimes in connection with the Bonny Island Project, included allegedly false statements about Mr. Tesler's assistance to the joint venture.

The DOJ filed an eleven-count indictment under seal against Mr. Chodan and another defendant, Mr. Tesler, on February 17, 2009. The court ordered the indictment unsealed on March 5, 2009. The indictment charged Mr. Chodan with one count of conspiring to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA, one count of violating the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA based on an email communication (Mr. Tesler was also charged with one count of violating the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA based on an email communication), and eight counts of violating the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA based on payments transferred through U.S. correspondent accounts. The indictment also contained forfeiture allegations seeking $132 million from Mr. Chodan and Mr. Tesler if convicted of one or more of the counts. As of April 8, 2009, there is an outstanding U.S. warrant for Mr. Chodan's arrest. If arrested in a foreign jurisdiction, the DOJ has stated that it will seek Mr. Chodan's extradition.

FCPA Statutory Provision:                Anti-bribery (Domestic Concern), Conspiracy - Anti-Bribery
________________________________________________________________________________
Disposition:                                       Fugitive
_________________________________________________________________________________
Total Sanction ($):                            Not stated.
__________________________________________________________________________________
 Term of Imprisonment (months):        0
___________________________________________________________________________________
Defendant Jurisdiction Basis:              Agent of Domestic Concern
____________________________________________________________________________________
Role / Responsibility:                            Senior Sales
____________________________________________________________________________
 Defendant (U.S. or Foreign):               Foreign
_____________________________________________________________________________
 Type of Business to be Obtained:        Contract Procurement/Retention
_____________________________________________________________________________
 Value of Business to be Obtained ($):  Not stated.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Manner:                                               Cash, Wire/check
_____________________________________________________________________________
Intermediaries:                                     Sales Agent/Consultant
_____________________________________________________________________________

 Amount of Payments ($):                     Not stated.

_____________________________________________________________________________

 Payment Country:                                Nigeria, Monaco, Switzerland, Japan ______________________________________________________________________________

Bank Account Country:                        Japan, Monaco, Netherlands, Switzerland, United States

_____________________________________________________________________________

Element Explanation:                            "Mails or means or instrumentality of interstate commerce": The indictment cites an email that Mr. Chodan caused to be transmitted to or through Houston as the basis for an anti-bribery charge. In addition, eight of the charges are based solely on correspondent account jurisdiction allegations.

______________________________________________________________________________
M&A Case:                                 no ______________________________________________________________________________
Related Foreign Investigations:           Nigeria, United Kingdom, Switzerland, France
______________________________________________________________________________

Documents

Source: http://www.fcpa.shearman.com/

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• Retired sales executive to be extradited to US for Nigerian bribery trial

  

Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, Olabode George’s Trial Judge In Trouble

Chief Olabode George and his wife

By Henry Ojelu

Powerful political interests have blocked the appointment into the Federal Appeal Court  of Justice OlubunmiOyewole, the judge who found Chief Olabode George guilty of contract fraud and sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment.

The political maneuvering against the Lagos judge  has coincided with the  movement of  the judge from the Criminal Division to the Family Court by the Lagos Chief Judge, Justice Inumidun Akande.

P.M.NEWS authoritatively gathered that Oyewole’s promotion to the Court of Appeal, seen by most observers as reward for his sterling performance as a high court judge in Lagos State, was blocked by the Osun State government who rejected him as a nominee of the state.

Even though Justice Oyewole is from Osun State, the Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola-led government of Osun State was said to have rejected his nomination to fill the state’s slot at the Court of Appeal and instead nominated another candidate.

The Osun government, it was learnt, argued that Oyewole was a Lagos judge and cannot be chosen to fill Osun State slot in the Court of Appeal.

The Oyinlola-led government, P.M.NEWS gathered, further berated the Lagos State government for putting forward Oyewole’s name to fill the slot meant for Osun State after nominating another judge to fill its own slot.

Oyewole’s name, investigations revealed, was on the list of 14 judges recently promoted to the Court of Appeal, but the list was later suspended due to allegations of bribery leveled against some members of the panel which nominated the judges for promotion.

There are also suspicions about the motive around Oyewole’s redeployment to the Family Court by the Lagos judicial authorities, although, sources close to the Lagos judiciary discounted such suspicions, since the redeployment was a general one, affecting all the judges.

A circular signed by Justice Inumidun Akande directed all judges in the state judiciary to resume at their new postings and commence work.

Among changes introduced by Justice Akande include the abolition of administrative judges for Ikeja and Lagos divisions and the introduction of the Head Judge.

In the redeployment circular, all judges at the Ikeja division, except Justice Oyewole, who is now to handle the Family Court, were moved to the Lagos division while judges in the Lagos division were moved to the Ikeja division.

Lawyers who spoke with P.M.NEWS this morning on the redeployment of Oyewole to the Family Court dismissed insinuations that it was a demotion. They explained that the Family Court is also very important just like the criminal division.

Some of the high profile cases handled by Justice Oyewole, apart from the imprisonment of Bode George, include the sentence to death of Reverend Chukwuemeka Ezeugo a.k.a. Dr. King, who killed one of his devotees by pouring hot water on her and the recent jailing of the former Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government, Lukmon Ajose, for fraud.

Meanwhile, apart from the movement of the Judges from their courts, Justice Akande also moved them from their areas of specialization.

Moments after the information about the transfer spread and the judges were preparing for the hand over and eventual movement to their new locations, lawyers, litigants and the supporting staff expressed mixed feelings.

Apparently not comfortable with the new posting some of the Judges saw the movement from one division to the other as “something that is uncalled for, especially, when there were some judges who were moved a few years back.”

Some of the judges affected by the exercise, apart from Justice Oyewole, include Mufutau Olokooba and Morenike Obadina.

Justice Oyewole was the famous judge that convicted Chief Olabode George and Amaka Anajemba over massive fraud against a Brazilian bank, while Olokooba is one of the Judges handling criminal cases involving Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former CSO to late Gen. Sani Abacha.

Justice Mufutau Olokooba was moved from the criminal division, Ikeja to the commercial division in Tafawa Balewa Square Lagos, while Justice Mojisola Dada who presides over the trial of former CSO to the late Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha on Kudirat Abiola’s murder was moved to the lands division on Lagos Island.

Reacting to the new posting, a senior member of staff of the Lagos judiciary said “the redeployment is good for the judiciary. After all, it will enable the affected Judges to have a taste of new area of adjudication. To me it will widen their scope and experience. Apart from this, none of them will be aggrieved for staying permanently in an area without being moved.”

However, another observer who was opposed to the posting said:

“The CJ has embarked on this posting for sometime now, instead of her to sit down to work. She has done this to the Magistrates and the Judges now. She is just doing this against those she does not like their faces. She moved those who are her friends nearer to herself, while redeploying those who are perceived as not being in her good books, especially those who work directly with Akande’s predecessor, Justice Ade Alabi.”

Source: www.thepmnews.com

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