FG arraigns Supreme Court judge over alleged false assets declaration

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A suspended Supreme Court judge, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta was on Thursday arraigned at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Abuja, on an amended 8-count charge of false assets declaration.

Ngwuta, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges instituted by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), counsel to the defendant, made an oral application seeking the bail of his client on self-recognisance.

Mr Umar Muhammed, Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, did not oppose the application, as according to him, bail granting was at the discretion of the court.


The tribunal headed by its Chairman, Danladi Umar, granted the bail application and fixed July 12 for the commencement of trial.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), had averred that Ngwuta contravened Section 15 of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. According to Malami, false declaration of assets was punishable under Section 23 (2) of the Act.

NAN reports that Ngwuta is one of the federal judges from whose residences, the Department of State Service (DSS) claimed it uncovered huge sums of money in various denominations. The DSS raided the judges’ residences in October 2016.

Ngwuta is currently standing trial on that account before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on an amended 16-count charge bordering on money laundering.

The Federal Government that preferred that charges, said Ngwuta contravened Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2012 (as amended). It added that the offences are punishable under Section 15 (3) of the Act.




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Drama in Aso Rock as Buhari suspends, probes SGF, NIA DG

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• APC, NASS, Ozekhome laud govt’s action
• Exercise, an afterthought, says Fayose
• Wike welcomes probe of $43m in Lagos home

There was a mild drama at the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday following the announcement by President Muhammadu Buhari suspending the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), David Babachir Lawal and the Director General (DG) of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayo Oke.

A statement by the presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, said both officials remained suspended until they were fully investigated. Lawal is being probed over allegations of an award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE). Oke, on the other hand, is facing scrutiny for his agency’s role in the $43 million and other local currencies found in an Ikoyi, Lagos apartment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

By the suspension of these officials, the government seems to have affirmed its commitment to its anti-corruption agenda. But how the matter is finally resolved will determine the strength of the resolve of the government to beam the anti-corruption searchlight on its officials.

Shortly after the announcement, State House correspondents sighted the axed officials being driven into the Villa. However, it could not be established whether Lawal had prior knowledge of the presidential directive as at the time of his suspension, but he was seen by newsmen after a closed-door meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

When reporters sought his reaction after the meeting, the suspended SGF queried the source of the report. The following conversation ensued:
Newsmen: Your suspension has just been announced. How will you react to the development?
Babachir: Who announced it?
Newsmen: The Presidency
Babachir: Then ask them. Why are you asking me? Who is the Presidency?
Newsmen: Have you been informed of the suspension?
Babachir: By who? About what. What about you? Have you been informed?
Newsmen: Yes sir.
Babachir: By who?
Newsmen: By the Presidency sir.
Babachir: I have not seen it. I should have been given... I have not seen the press release so I cannot comment on it.
Newsmen: It is currently trending online. Are you doubting the authenticity of the statement?
Babachir: I have not seen it.
Newsmen: Tell us the outcome of your meeting with the Vice President sir.
Babachir: I am always here. I always meet the Vice President. I used to come here even before I was made SGF.

Apparently looking bemused, ‎he thereafter walked away and was chauffeur-driven out of the Presidential Villa. In the same vein, Oke, who arrived at the seat of power shortly after Babachir left to seek audience with the Vice President, could not gain access as he was barred by the security agents at the entrance to the Vice President’s ‎wing of the Presidential Villa.

Oke, who later made another attempt at the security gate accessing the forecourt linking the entrance to President Buhari’s office, was again denied access, as the remote controlled gate remained firmly shut.

Hitherto, the NIA boss enjoyed the privilege of gaining access to the President through the gate along with the service chiefs, National Security Adviser (NSA), Inspector General of Police (IGP), DG State Security Service (SSS), Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Head of Civil Service of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister. The suspended NIA boss was forced after being denied access to drive out of the presidential villa looking dejected. He was, however, sighted about 45 minutes later being led to Prof. Osinbajo’s office by the Vice President’s Chief Security Officer.

Consequently, a three-man committee, headed by the Vice President with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice as well as the National Security Adviser as members, has been raised to investigate the allegations. It has two weeks to submit its report.

By the new development, the most senior permanent secretary and officer in the SGF and NIA offices are to act as heads while the investigation lasts. Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has backed the President over the decision.

Its spokesman, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi in an interview with The Guardian, said there was nothing abnormal with the measure. His words: “The action by the president is part of the normal procedural thing to do. If someone is being investigated, it is normal that that individual is required to step aside to allow the investigation to be concluded. It also demonstrates the resolve by the president to entrench transparency and accountability. This is my interpretation of what happened.”

Besides, the National Assembly and famous constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, lauded the exercise. The Senate communicated its satisfaction in a statement yesterday by the chairman of its ad hoc committee on the humanitarian crisis in the North East, Shehu Sani.

“It is commendable that the president has taken the Senate committee report and recommendations seriously. The sword of truth is not just cast and sharpened for the neck of foes but also for those of friends,” he added.

In their commendation messages, Representatives Aliyu Magaji Dau (APC Jigawa) and Johnson Agnayinman (APC Edo) noted that the action sent a signal that nobody was above the law.

They, however, called for restraint so that fair hearing for the affected officials would not be compromised. Describing the axing as “good riddance to bad rubbish”, Ozekhome held that the measure was indicative that President Buhari was beginning to listen to the voice of reason on the need to entrench good governance in the polity.

“The suspension of the N250 million grass-cutting SGF and the N15 billion Osborne Road warehousing NIA DG, NIA is good riddance to bad rubbish. I am sure the government is beginning to listen to my critical but patriotic voice. We cannot continue to be a laughing stock in the international arena,” he stated.

But Governor Ayodele Fayose considered the exercise as an afterthought. In a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor queried: “Would the president have set up a probe panel if these scams were linked to anyone in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or those members of his party that are not in his good books?”

He added: “Most importantly, what business does a presidential committee have with an investigation into crime? Are they telling Nigerians that they have lost confidence in all the intelligence and investigative agencies of the government, including the EFCC and DSS?”

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Obasanjo lacks moral right to accuse anyone of corruption – Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has told former President Olusegun Obasanjo to desist from accusing people of corruption in Nigeria.

He declared that “Obasanjo that I know does not have morals rights to accuse anyone of corruption because he eats and sleeps with corruption.”

Governor Fayose, who described the former President’s claim that some church leaders in the country were not only encouraging corruption but also celebrating people with questionable sources of wealth as hypocritical, said; “If anyone must accuse the church in Nigeria of
promoting corruption, that person cannot be Obasanjo because he presided over the most corrupt government in the history of Nigeria.”

The former President Obasanjo made the accusation in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Saturday at the 2017 Convention Lecture of Victory Life Bible Church International while speaking on the theme, ‘The role of the church in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.’

In a statement issued on Sunday, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose asked: “Where did Obasanjo get the stupendous wealth he is parading since he was a pauper before he became president? Where did he get the trillions of naira that he deployed to his failed third term bid “How can Obasanjo, under whose tenure Nigeria witnessed Halliburton scandal be sermonising about corruption?”

He said it was during Obasanjo’s reign as president that governors were made to donate N10 million each to the building of his library, adding; “Isn’t compelling State Governors to make donations to the personal project of a serving president part of corruption?”

Maintaining that Obasanjo was the father of corruption in the present day Nigeria, Governor Fayose asked: “Who introduced politics of Ghana-must-go bags to the National Assembly?

“Who was the president when sacks of money were displayed on the floor of the House of Representatives, as bribe money given to some Reps members to impeach the then Speaker, Ghali N’abba? “Under whose administration was the out-of-court settlement in the controversial $1.09 billion Malabu Oil Block initiated in 2006?”

How churches are encouraging corruption in Nigeria – Obasanjo

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has said that church leaders are part of the people encouraging corruption in Nigeria.

Obasanjo stated this on Saturday, while speaking at the convention of Victory Life Bible Church International in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

He was represented at the event by Femi Olajide, who is the chapel of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library’s Christ the Glorious King Church.

“There is no doubt that all our institutions have been tarnished by the brush of corruption.

“If the Church, as an institution, does not take bribe or get involved in other corrupt practice, the behaviour of some of our men of God leaves much to be desired.

“They not only celebrate but venerate those whose sources of wealth are questionable. They accept gifts (offering) from just anybody without asking questions. This gives the impression that anything is acceptable in the house of God.

“But if Jesus can chase out those buying and selling from the temple with the declaration that, ‘My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves,’ then it is time to stand up against corruption,” Obasanjo said.

He also urged churches to preach prosperity messages with caution and moderation.

“Our present day ‘money changers’ and ‘merchants’ must be chased out of the Church and put to shame in the larger society.

“While miracles, signs and wonders are the expectations of true believers, such must be based on righteousness. To preach that one can acquire wealth without labour is not only deceitful; it is a call to corruption. It is false preaching and it is sinful.

“We must be careful in believing and celebrating every testimony of miraculous blessing, hence we end up being hoodwinked into celebrating corruption,” Obasanjo added.