CACOL WELCOMES THE SENTENCING OF TWO EX-POLICE OFFICERS OVER APO 6 EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS; FROWNS AT DEATH PENALTY
STOP INCREASING PEOPLE’S SUFFERINGS; CURB NCS, FRSC AND OTHER AGENCIES’S EXTORTION OF INNOCENT NIGERIANS, CACOL TELLS FG
NGILARI’S SENTENCING OVER CORRUPTION; A GAIN OF THE ANTI-CORRUPTION DRIVE – CACOL
CACOL TO ADOKE: STOP BLACKMAILS AND DEFEND YOURSELF IN COURT!
AS OSINBAJO ADMITS CORRUPTION IN ARMS OF GOVERNMENT, CACOL CALLS FOR MATCHING WORDS WITH ACTIONS
CACOL COMMENDS EFCC ON EX-AGF ADOKE OVER N1.2B MALABU OIL SCAM; SEEKS DILIGENT PROSECUTION
The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL has said through its Executive Chairman, Mr. Debo Adeniran that it would not repose until justice prevails over all the corruption cases of the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), in relation to the infamous $1.2bn Malabu oil scam, Halliburton and Siemens scandal bordering on bribery and money laundering money.
Adeniran commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC under the leadership of Mr. Ibrahim Magus for not relenting in the Commission’s efforts at ensuring that justice is not circumvented in the judicial processes involving Mr. Adoke and others. “We are all witnesses to the ‘hide and seek’ and the slipperiness that has been
displayed by the ex-AGF since 1999 when the case of Halliburton and Siemens scandal began.” He said “It is evident that finally the EFCC is now actively and boldly prosecuting the fight against corruption with the vigour and momentum that is required, and the Commission, is to a very large extent doing this without caring whose ox is gored. It is gladdening that the agency is not sparing any corrupt leader whether formerly or presently serving elected or appointed public officials. It is a signal that gradually the era where corrupt leaders will perpetrate corrupt practices with reckless abandon is getting over.”
“As far as CACOL is concerned, what is presently unfolding has been long overdue. We therefore urge the EFCC that, in the fresh judicial processes, diligence and tact would be deployed to finally clear the air on the culpability or otherwise of the ex-AGF and his suspected accomplices’ their corruption cases.”
Adeniran said “Adoke has made his trial a very burdensome one over the years, he devised many means to avert and dodge justice. The former Minister coordinated bribery scandals where spurious ‘legal fees’ involving up to about $26 million USD were paid to prosecution counsels even though the accused were never prosecuted in any court, the same with the Halliburton and Siemens bribery scandals, the case ended without any punitive for his offence. This must not be allowed to happen this time.”
“As an organization, CACOL have played and will continue to play the role expected of an anti corruption formation That is why we were one of civil society organizations that embarked of exposing the Adoke’s dealings by blowing the whistle on him through protest marches backed with petitions to the EFCC and ICPC submitted on 26th July, 2011 at their Head Offices in Abuja.”
“We remain committed to the cause to ensure that justice prevails in the ex-AGF’s case all other corruption cases to put an end to reign of impunity.
In concluding, he said “Adoke feels he is smart enough to escape prosecution because he has always successfully done so due to lack of
diligence in prosecution and the influence of the ‘powers that be’.”
CACOL URGES DSS TO INTENSIFY INVESTIGATIONS OF EX-GOVERNOR SUSWAM OVER DISCOVERED CACHE OF ARMS
CBN’S PROPOSED CHARGES ON CASH DEPOSITS AND WITHDRAWALS IS BURDENSOME AND UNTIMELY – CACOL
The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL has condemned the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN to reintroduce charges on all cash deposits and withdrawals in bank transactions, describing it as exorbitant, exploitative and anti-poor.The CBN’s reintroduction of the policy will translate to charging 1.5% to 2% for deposits and withdrawals between 500, 000 and N1 million,beginning from April 1, 2017. It will also mean that for amounts above N5million, banks will charge individuals 3% for deposits while withdrawals will attract a 7.5% charge. The Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran, speaking on the development said there is nothing logical about people losing their hard-earnedmoney because they want to access bank
services. “It is also unethical toimpose charges on customers as frequently as being done in Nigeria’s bankingsector. At the end, these
are just private-interest institutions that does business with customers’ money and astronomical profits as regularly declared in
most of their books. Agreed that they also offer services that are commendable and very important, but this move is rather inconsiderate of the reality of majority of Nigerians’ socio-economic existence; a background that is no doubts very challenging.” He said“In essence, the CBN is saying that people will lose N 7,500 for depositing N 500,000 and N10, 000 while withdrawing the same amount in the face of the prevailing harsh economic environment added with the seemingly undying recession and austerity in the country.”“We call on the CBN and the Federal government to do a rethink/review of the proposed charges which will certainly exacerbate charges the sufferings of hapless Nigerians on the altar of further enriching some few private interests.
The government must be told that as a people, Nigerians arealready over-taxed, over-billed and over-exploited!” “The intention to
increase bank charges in face of the country’ssocial economic reality stands condemnable and unacceptable.” He concluded