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PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI’S HESITATION IN SIGNING THE 2016 BUDGET AS PASSED BY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IS CIRCUMSPECT – CACOL

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, views the hesitation by President Muhammadu Buhari in the signing of the 2016 Budget as circumspect, logical and commendable, this is considering the incidences that have trailed the processes of the budget since it was laid on the floor of the National Assembly in December 2016.

The Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran described Buhari’s hesitation as being indicative of the reality that the President indeed learnt from the incidences and all the brouhaha that trailed the processes since he presented the Budget to the National Assembly.

He said ‘’it is only logical for the President to thoroughly scrutinize the Budget this time around based on ‘paddings’ and other corrupt manipulations of the budget that were revealed earlier. We remember the revelations led to Nigerians challenging the integrity of thePresident and government as it was apparently a contradiction that a government that rode to power on the mantra of ‘change’ couldget caught in ‘the games’ of the hitherto existing system.’

“It should be noted that NASS reportedly slashed the Budget by17 billion naira, having reduced the total sum from 6.077 trillion to 6.060 trillion naira. It is only logical for the President to study the Budget closely especially areas where adjustments or changes has been made in order to understand how this will affect the thrust of the government on one hand and the expectations of on the other.’’ Mr. Adeniran stated. He continued, “it is also reported that even the National Assembly is still looking at the Budget after hurriedly passing it, this indeed vindicates President Buhari.’’ Said, the CACAL Leader.

CACOL however hasten to demand the prioritization of the signing of the Budget on the list of what the President has to do with utmost urgency. Nigerians are moaning in pains; it is the second quarter of the year already, the government need to harmonise the Budget without any unreasonable delay so as to be able to activate it and thereby alleviate the conditions of Nigerians who are the real victims of government abracadabra

 

Wale Salami

Media Coordinator, CACOL

080141121208

wale@thehumanitycentre.org

cacolc@yahoo.com,cacol@thehumanitycentre.org

March 31, 2016.

 

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Dr. TUNJI BRAITHWAITE: A DOGGED REVOLUTIONARY, A HUMANIST AND HERO OF THE PEOPLE!

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL mourns the passage of Dr. Tunji Braithwaite; a Nationalist, a consistent and persistent fighter against all forms of oppression and repression, a supporter and motivator of our Coalition in the war against corruption. His passage represents a colossal loss to the activist and revolutionary community.

Dr. Tunji’s monumental contributions to the struggle for an egalitarian society are immeasurable and invaluable. He lived and died for the struggle to liberate the poor and oppressed in spite of his ‘privileged’ background.

As far back as 1978, he formed the National Advance Party, NAP, a political party with the mission of prioritizing the welfare of people; he was of the ‘Awoist’ school of thought, an ardent and outspoken defender of the voiceless and the poor. He believed in Awo’s policies and Fela’s philosophy which led to him volunteering to be lawyer to the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, late Fela Anikulapo Kuti and several others in law courts against military dictatorship.

His passage is particularly painful for us in CACOL, for the roles he played in supporting actively the activities of our coalition including being the Chairman of our past 5 Annual General Meetings; intellectual support and guidance.

A strong advocate for the restructuring of Nigeria Federation, defender of women and human rights; Dr. Tunji dared and confronted the military with every ability he had, until the Khaki boys were kicked out of power and remained intolerable to civilian dictatorship afterwards, especially during the Olusegun Obasanjo regime; this informed his active participation in foiling the illegal and infamous third-term bid of the retired General.

A rare kind and in a class of his own; comparable to Fela Kuti, Beko RansomeKuti, Gani Fawehinmi, Alao Aka-Bashorun etc. who were his ideological soul-mates and like them, he cannot die, for revolutionaries don’t die!

 

Wale Salami

Media Coordinator, CACOL

080141121208

wale@thehumanitycentre.org

cacolc@yahoo.com,cacol@thehumanitycentre.org

March 29, 2016.

 

 

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ON THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION; WE CALL FOR DECISIVE ACTION – CACOL

The Coalition Against Corruption, CACOL finds it pertinent with the apparent biting economic situation, to demand of the government to wake up from its inability to recognize that governance is much more about pro-action than sloganeering and phraseologies; a situation whereby almost every aspect of the polity is in crisis owing to government failure is not acceptable.

‘’The truth is that the present economic situation is a manifestation of the non-profundity and the lack of preparedness inherent in the ‘change’ the APC-led Federal government rode upon to win the general elections in 2015 basically. It reflects the futility of ‘cosmeticism’ and redecoration as strategic approaches for revamping an economy already in woe, as a result of the hitherto existing economic direction i.e. the neo-liberal economic order’’ in our view in CACOL.

Explaining further, Mr. Debo Adeniran, Executive Chairman of CACOL said ‘’the regime has failed to clearly stamp its’ economic ideology, direction or principle which could be used to prove, that indeed, there is a ‘change’ economically and that it is moving toward alleviating the painful situation of the-people, particularly the poor who forms the majority. At best, the economic direction can be described as ‘foggy’ and this appear to be consciously made so; with the scenario riddled by contradictions, somersaults, illogicality, indecisions and uncertainties. This is what is at the background of the present economic hardships; where the people are battling with challenges for very basic needs; from food to housing, power to energy and from education to employment etc. and with government appearing hapless.’’

In CACOL’s view‘’any economic order predicated mainly on the neo-liberal dictates of the IMF/World etc. would always prioritize every issue from the perspective of profit; that has and still remain the bane of the economy, and this is linked with the political will to alter the cause of the subsisting existing economic order. The privatisation of the commanding heights of the Nigerian economy; a neo-liberal decision is what is really behind the crises in the Power, Oil, Education, Health sectors and some others.

CACOL’s Executive Chairman noted that ‘’prior to now and till now, no government since 1999 hasattempted to implementoreven bother about what Chapter 2 of Nigerian Constitution says, the ground norm upon which government is instituted;and that is why there is no social protection for the extremely poor. A political will to begin to make social economic rights as enshrined in chapter 2 of the constitution enforceable would be a departure from the past which will indicate clearly the direction of government socio-economically. As for everything economically in Nigeria presently, it is cob-webbed and indeed foggy.’’

‘’It’s no gainsaying to affirm that any economic direction that will not alleviate the sufferings of the vast majority of the people will be tantamount to elevating their pains and worsening their situation of existence, thus the least that the government can do is to adopt a social welfarist approach that will embrace the provisioning for; social security for the extremely poor, a situation to ensure equitable distribution of resources and avoiding the concentration of wealth in the hands of a privileged few; affordable housing, education system that will leave no child out of school, a health care system that will be accessible to all and infrastructures that will facilitate the enabling environment for business and enterprise’’, concluded Mr. Adeniran when he commented on the present economic situation in Nigeria

Wale Salami

Media Coordinator, CACOL

080141121208

wale@thehumanitycentre.org

cacolc@yahoo.com,cacol@thehumanitycentre.org

March 22, 2016.

 

For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at

www.corruptionwatchng.com, www.cwatch.thehumanitycentre.org

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CACOL CALLS FOR EXPOSURE OF CULPRITS BEHIND THE GHOST WORKERS’ PHENOMENON IN THE COUNTRY

The Federal Government has begun to put in place measures to expose another 11,000 ghost workers on its payroll in its second batch of staff audit. This is coming shortly after the government deleted 23,000 ghost workers from its payroll and saving the nation the sum of N2.29bn per month.
Media reports have it that the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun in a Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, headed by President Buhari, said the Ministry of Finance was using computer techniques to investigate the 11,000 affected cases, that as soon as the cases were resolved, Nigerians would be informed of the amount saved and the number of names removed from the payroll.
The Executive Chairman of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) Debo Adeniran, in response to the development, commended the efforts of the Federal government directed at uncovering additional ghost workers on its’payroll. He insisted that ‘’the ‘ghost worker’ phenomenon is not self-induced; that powerful forces are behind it, therefore the Federal government should through the relevant agencies;the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Ministry of Finance etc.investigate and expose those ‘behind thescene’ in this infamous‘ghost worker’story; prosecute them and ensure that those found wanting are punished.’’
“Previously, we had called on the ICPC to scrutinize the Civil Service; a call we are repeating, we know that the ‘ghost worker’ stories that we have listened to for so long did not happen without the involvement of the Civil Service and Civil Servants. The monumental lootings of our treasury could not have happened without the collaborating hands of civil servants, they participate actively in sleaze for their own pecuniary gains! Or how do we justify the civil servants whom their earnings do not corroborate the wealth which they display with rabid impunity across the country?’’ Mr Adeniran asked.
The anti-corruption Crusader, on behalf of CACOL stressed that the anti-corruption drive of the present administration should be a collective effort of both the citizens of the country and government, by naming, shaming and shunning corrupt practices, because this isthe surest way of stemming the corruption tide in the country.
 
 
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
080141121208
wale@thehumanitycentre.org
March 11, 2016.
 
 
 
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TAXING THE UNDER-EMPLOYED IS INSENSITIVE TO THEIR SOCIAL REALITY; CACOL TELLS LAGOS STATE GOVERNOR, MR. AKINWUNMI AMBODE

The Lagos state government has announced through the Executive Chairman of Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, LIRS, Mr. Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, its plan to extend tax payment obligation to domestic workers and artisans in the state. According to news report, the plan will affect market men and women, artisans and household domestic staff.

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, while commending the Ambode regime for some noticeable developmental projects being implemented across the state and encouraging the government not to relent, would not want the regime to snatch with left hand what it has offered the poor Lagosians with the right hand, frowns at the idea of taxing the poor, the under-employed and unemployed considering that the conditions of existence of these categories of citizens has hitherto been painful and characterized with penury and deprivations; a situation which remain unchanged and as a matter of fact deteriorating rapidly.

Mr. Debo Adeniran, Executive Chairman of CACOL questioned the logic behind the taxing of persons who are already impoverished consequent upon the failure of government in facilitating gainful employment opportunities on one hand and failure in service delivery by the government on the other. He said, ‘’one would expect a government that promised what was presumed to be positive ‘change’ during electioneering campaigns to alleviate the sufferings of the people to understand that the condition of living of these categories of persons cannot but get worsened with imposition of unwarranted taxes since their incomes (if they earn at all) have not improved.’’

‘’Most perplexing is that those categorized as ‘household domestic staff’ are included when we all know that most of these staff are only paid in kind. Majority of domestic staff are housed, fed clothed etc. by their employers, and where they are paid stipends, such stipends are usually sent to their chaperons or parents, so how would they be able to afford to pay tax? Mr. Adeniran asked. “The other categories can barely take care of their very basic needs with the paltry they earn via extra-ordinary hard work in their self-preservation and survivalist efforts especially since government offers no Social Security plans for the under-employed and unemployed.’’ He added

‘’And on tax collection and methods generally, reports also have it that Alpha Beta Company would serve as the tax collectors in the plan to tax the already impoverished people of Lagos state’’ continued Mr. Adeniran, ‘this we find this to be very disturbing on one hand because of its susceptibility to corrupt and sharp practices and on the other to be contrary to the laudable Treasury Single Account (TSA) which they All Progressive Congress APC-led government is utilizing at the Federal level to plug holes of corruption in the system. Is the Governor Ambode Lagos state APC-led government against the TSA idea, we ask? Why is it that the LIRS cannot handle revenue collections and why is Lagos state not taking steps to localize the TSA idea? Paying Alpha-Beta to do a job that the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service is set up to do is to make Lagos tax payers pay twice for single service rendered; CACOL demands that the ill-conceived arrangement should be stopped forthwith.’’

CACOL is of the opinion that Lagos state should employ the services of outfits akin to SystemSpecs that could utilize modern technology like Remita to ease all the bottlenecks in tax collection and thereby achieving the plugging of the conduits pipes of corruption just like the Federal Government have been able to save about 3 trillion naira in 6 months as result of the TSA. Software solutions have been proven to be much more effective in reducing the complexities of revenue collection and remittance.

‘’Above all, we strongly demand that the Lagos state government desist from going ahead with the plan to tax people that are under-employed as this will amount to adding to their sufferings and total insensitivity to their plights. People who are short of blood do not donate blood. We advise the government to provide services to these categories of people which can be taxed upon consumption similar to the Value Added Tax (VAT), such they will only be taxed for services they access that is provisioned by government. The reason government is instituted in the first place is to harness the resources of society for the social welfare of the people as enshrined in Chapter 2 of the Nigerian constitution, if government has failed in doing this, it will be unfair to compound the pains of the impoverished who are engaged in self-help for their survival and existential issues by imposing unwarranted taxes.’’ Executive Chairman of CACOL concluded.

Wale Salami

Media Coordinator, CACOL

080141121208

wale@thehumanitycentre.org

cacolc@yahoo.com,cacol@thehumanitycentre.org

March 10, 2016.

 

 

For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at

www.corruptionwatchng.com, www.cwatch.thehumanitycentre.org

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ALLEGED CASH RECOVERY FROM AIR MARSHAL ALEX BADEH; CACOL URGES OPTIMAL JUSTICE DELIVERY

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has reportedly recovered the sum of $1M from Alex Badeh, immediate past Chief of Defense Staff, after a search was carried out in one of his mansions located in Abuja by officials of the Commission. The property is said to be worth over N1.1bN, being one of his five properties that have been seized by the anti-graft agency.

Chairman of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Debo Adeniran, in responding to the development, lauded the gallant efforts of the EFCC in the cash recovery and its entire anti-corruption drive. He charged the anti-graft agency and the judicial authorities to see to the unbiased treatment of this case and ensure that, optimal and appropriate sanctions are administered to the accused In line with the law, if found guilty as charged.

Badeh, who is being charged with several allegations including the alleged purchase of a commercial plot of land at plot 1386, Oda Crescent, Cadastral zone AO7, Wuse 2, Abuja valued at N650m; the payment of N878m for the construction of a shopping mall at Cadastral Zone A07, Wuse 2, Abuja, and another sum of N304m to complete the construction etc. has been arraigned by the EFCC before a Federal High Court in Abuja on 10 counts of money laundering and consequently remanded at Kuje Prison, Abuja till 10 March 2016 for hearing on his bail application. ‘’Another welcomed development’’ said Mr. Adeniran when commenting on Badeh’s remand at the prison. ‘’It will show to those that are in public offices and considered to be high and lofty in the society they are not above the laws of the land and will serve as deterrent to other corrupt persons in the society’’, he added.

The anti-corruption Crusader stressed that; ‘’the era of sacred cows and treating corruption issues only in the media must be eclipsed, if we want corruption to be rooted out of our polity. The situation whereby corrupt public officials with outrageous evidences of corruption will be granted bail and made to enjoy limitless freedom all in the name of looking for evidence and witnesses, even in the face of evidence scattered everywhere must end, if we all want to successfully redeem the country’s national and international image.’’

CACOL therefore calls EFCC and the other agencies not relent in their efforts to bring those that looted the treasury of the nation to book. All the cases must be pursued to logical conclusions; diligent investigations and prosecutions must be carried out to achieve convictions, President Buhari must continue to demonstrate the political will to combat corruption no matter whose ox is gored.

Wale Salami

Media Coordinator, CACOL

080141121208

wale@thehumanitycentre.org

cacolc@yahoo.com,cacol@thehumanitycentre.org

March 9, 2016.

 

For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at

www.corruptionwatchng.com, www.cwatch.thehumanitycentre.org

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SANCTION CORRUPT, ERRING JUDGES; CACOL CHARGES THE NIGERIA JUDICIAL COUNCIL (NJC)

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL welcomes the recent disciplinary action taken by the National Judicial Council (NJC) against Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court over alleged gross professional misconduct that culminated in denial and perversion of justice and see it as a step in the right direction as the country battles the monster called corruption.
 
The NJC placed a ban that rules her out of any possible elevation to a higher court throughout her career on the bench, warned her against any act of misconduct and ruled her out of any possible consideration for any ad-hoc judicial appointment throughout her career on the bench after finding her guilty as alleged.
 
Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia was alleged to have sat on justice by deliberately making endless adjournments on a pre-election matter which she knew quite well had a limited life-span and refused to deliver judgement until the life-span elapsed, thus rendering the entire process a waste.
The NJC has also queried the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike over an allegation that he accepted N10 million donation from a litigant before his court.The CJ was alleged to have invited the litigant who was a plaintiff before him to the launching of a book he wrote, and accepted a donation of N10 million from the litigant.
Mr.DeboAdeniran, Executive Director of CACOL speaking on the developments, said,‘’we congratulate the NJC for taking the bold step and implore the Council to do more in addressing the issue of erring Judges as this will help in the quest to sanitise the Nigerian Judiciary and rid the country of corruption. The cases of Justice Mohammed Yinusa and Justice I. A. Umezulike should be looked into as the allegations against them are grievous and requires punitive if they are found wanting.’’
 
It could be recalled thatLagos Federal High Court Judge, Justice Mohammed Yunusawas alleged EFCC to havetaken a bribe to tune of N225, 000 from Mr Rickey Tarka (SAN).In highlighting the relationship between Mr Tarfa and Justice Mohammed, the EFCC revealed that Rickey Tarfa’s lawyer firm had habitually been asking the Chief Registrar of the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court to assign his cases to Justice Mohammed Yunusa.
Mr. Adeniran said‘’it’s shocking that barely a month after Rickey Tarfa’s episode, Justice Mohammed Yunusa has again been fingered in another bribery case in which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Joseph Nwobike, before a Lagos State High Court for allegedly bribing the Judge; this reveals that contrary to the claim that the Judiciary is impervious to corruption, there are corrupt and sharp practices going on in that arm of government. Perhaps this is what informed President Muhammadu Buhari’s position that the Judiciary is a ‘headache’ in the ongoing war against corruption.’’
 
The EFCC alleged that on March 19th, 2015, Nwobike, transferred the sum of N750,000 through his United Bank for Africa account number 1002664061 to Justice Yunusa in order that he refrains from acting in the exercise of his official duties; it also claimed that Nwobike had on September 28, 2015 intentionally and indirectly given the sum of N 300,000 to  Justice Yunusa through Awa Ajia NigLtd’s account No. 0000971931 domiciled in Access Bank Plc. belonging to Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya of the Federal High Court in order that Justice Mohammed Yunusa acts in the exercise of his official duties.
 
The Executive Chairman of CACOL therefore charged the NJC to approach the sanitizing of the Judiciary holistically by putting in a place a well-organized system of checks and balances to curtail the corrupt activities of some corrupt Judges. ‘’The Judiciary is very crucial to the success of the anti-corruption war; the Judiciary can purge itself of corrupt tendencies if the right measures are put in place and implemented and this applies to other arms of government’’ Mr.Adeniran averred.
 
CACOL believes that there are a good number of such bad eggs in the Judiciary and calls on the NJC and other relevant authorities not to relent in their efforts at cleansing this all-important arm of the government and ridding it of its disturbing rots and decay. Justice remains indispensable for our national growth and development. We urge the NJC to also look into the all the cases with a view of establishing the veracity of the allegations and applying the necessary punitive where necessary to serve as deterrent to others.
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
080141121208
March 8, 2016.