By Chukwudi Nweje
Acting Features Editor
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is at it again, lashing out at his successors in office and blaming them for the nation’s woes.
On June 15, 2011, at the 100th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland, Obasanjo had openly declared that his successors in office lacked the will to fight corruption. Continue reading “As Obasanjo passes the buck again”
A non-governmental organisation, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, has described the result of the June 21 Ekiti State governorship election as mysterious.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Governor Ayodele Fayose, had defeated the then incumbent Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress by a landslide, winning all the 16 local government areas in the state.
The Chairman, CACOL, Debo Adeniran, told SUNDAY PUNCH that Fayose’s election was a mystery.
He said, “If it was not mysterious, one would agree that an incumbent, who had not witnessed ‘governor-must-go protests’ and who the citizenry of the state had tolerated for that length of time couldn’t have performed that woefully.
“Conversely, Fayose was impeached for violating the rights of the Ekiti citizens. He has not been able to extricate himself from this and other allegations before he was allowed to contest elections. That is the first aspect of mystery.
“All the anti-graft agencies should have kicked against it, knowing that should he contest and win, he would attain the status of governor and immunity would be conferred on him.”
Adeniran also described the massive deployment of security operatives during the election as a show of strength by the Federal Government.
“It was the Federal Government’s way of showing that no matter what, it would be there for Fayose because he is in the ruling party. The same backing was extended to him when mayhem was witnessed in Ado-Ekiti.
“The closure of the high court wouldn’t have happened, if the Federal Government had not allowed the mayhem to fester without any control or anyone being punished for it. The courts ought not to have been closed because they are the last hope of the common man.
“People whose lives were at risk and had cases in those courts would not have had the opportunity of seeking the intervention of the judiciary and that could have led to the termination of lives,” Adeniran added.
Last Sunday, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Woke Soyinka, had similarly described Fayemi’s loss in the election as a mystery which he said the APC needed to unravel.
Soyinka said Fayose should continue the programmes and legacy projects started by the ex-governor.
But the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State criticised him, accusing him of imposing himself as the ex-governor’s image maker.
Copyright PUNCH.
Executive Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Debo Adeniran, in this interview with Senior Correspondent, EKENE OKORO, says the death sentence passed on 12 soldiers accused of mutiny is barbaric and would cause more harm than good in the quest by the Nigeria Defence system to win the war against the Boko Haram. Excerpts:
Twelve Nigerian soldiers were recently sentenced to death for mutiny and other offences by a military court martial. Do you see capital punishment as justice well served in this regard? Continue reading “Life imprisonment should replace death sentence –Adeniran”
http://nationaldailyng.com/index.php
Comrade Debo Adeniran, Executive Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), expresses concern that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and ICPC are the proper agencies to screen politicians on corruption for
clearance to contest elections. He says there is suspicion that the $9.3 million meant for arms but confiscated in South Africa had Presidential cover and may be for other purposes than Nigerians were being told. SUNDAY ODIBASHI met him in Lagos. Continue reading “Serving governors do not deserve national merit award —Debo Adeniran”
By Tunde Opeseitan – Snr Correspondent, Lagos
It is no longer news that Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has been cleared of money laundering charges to the tune of about N600 million, levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
It is also not news that the EFCC has appealed the verdict delivered on September 26 by Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos. The legal travails of the Speaker began in December 2011, when the EFCC instituted a criminal charge against him and his aide, Oyebode Atoyebi. Continue reading “X-raying Ikuforiji’s long walk to vindication”
Some eminent Nigerians on Friday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to swiftly hand over a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Buruji Kashamu, to the United States Government for prosecution over alleged drug case.
Kashamu is wanted in the United States for allegedly importing drug illegally into the country. Continue reading “Hand over Kashamu to U.S., Nigerians tells Jonathan”
By Chukwudi Nweje Acting Features Editor
Transparency and accountability in the nation’s oil sector was the central focus recently in Lagos when the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre supported by FOSTER (Oxford Policy Management) held an interactive session with journalists on ‘how to build cross-border campaign against oil theft, strengthen citizens awareness on corruption and enhance transparency and accountability in the Nigerian oil sector’.
The session focused on the need for civil society organisations and the media to make use of the opportunities inherent in the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act as a tool for bringing about transparency and accountability in Nigeria oil sector.
The need for the session is better appreciated considering Nigeria is reliant on oil exports for more than 95 percent of its foreign exchange revenues. Thus, whatever happens in the oil sector has a direct consequence on the Nigerian economy. Continue reading “How lack of transparency in oil sector under-develops Nigeria”
Lagos – Human Rights Lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), on Wednesday urged the Nigerian elite to ensure they participate actively in politics by voting during the 2015 general elections.
Falana made the appeal in Lagos while delivering a keynote address at the Annual Convention and Integrity Awards of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), an NGO.
Speaking on “Institutionalising Probity and Accountability in Governance,” Falana said that participation of the elite in voting during elections in the country was low.
“This is a trend that we must change. The time has come to insist on our rights and who is right for leadership in Nigeria,” he said.
He also said that Nigerians must stop celebrating corrupt people and find ways to stigmatise them.
Falana advised that any political party that does not take the welfare of the people seriously was not fit to be in power and must be voted out.
On corruption, Falana said that the government needed to institutionalise a social security scheme as part of efforts to tackle the problem.
“Corruption does not reign in countries where you have social security for citizens in place. We must build a country where people are entitled to unemployment benefits,“ he said..
Speaking on churches in Nigeria and the need for accountability, Falana urged Pastors to ensure that they account for church funds and spend them responsibly.
“We must begin to ask questions from pastors using church funds to build universities that their members cannot afford to send their children to,’’ he said.
Falana however commended CACOL for its consistency and doggedness in fighting corruption in Nigeria.
Also speaking, Mr Mohammed Fawehinmi, son of late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, called for the strengthening of institutions that were fighting corruption in the country.
He said that past leaders found to be corrupt in Nigeria should be prosecuted and those indicted of corrupt practises should be barred from running for public office.
“Any Nigerian seeking to be elected or appointed into public office must be cleared by the Code of Conduct Bureau,’’ he said.
Earlier in his opening speech, CACOL Executive Chairman, Mr Debo Adeniran, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to fighting corruption in Nigeria.
Adeniran said that the Integrity Awards of the organisation was to encourage those who stood out in the face of corruption in the country.
Those honored with the CACOL Integrity Awards 2014 include the former presidential candidates of the National Action Council (NAC) and National Action Party (NAP) Dr Olapade Agoro and Dr Tunji Braithwaite respectively.
Others honored were Dr Mrs Keziah Awosika, Dr Dipo Fashina and late activist, Baba Omojola. (NAN)
– See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/09/2015-falana-appeals-nigerian-elite-vote/#sthash.UIXYCcuh.dpuf
Continue reading “2015: Falana appeals to Nigerian elite to vote”
“If you set up a school and the poor people, who contributed those funds, cannot attend those institutions because you set up those schools for the children of the rich, you are bound to be made to account,” Falana said.
by Sahara Reporters Sep 17, 2014
Femi Falana (SAN) today called on all Christians to challenge pastors who have diverted contributions and funds from their congregations churches to build universities which the children of the same congregation cannot attend.
Describing the practice as “a sin, illegal and unjust,” Falana made this remark as part of his keynote address at the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders annual general convention held in Oregun today, with the theme “Institutionalizing Probity & Accountability in Governance: Perspectives and Methodologies”.
“If you set up a school and the poor people, who contributed those funds, cannot attend those institutions because you set up those schools for the children of the rich, you are bound to be made to account,” he said.
“Some Nigerian pastors are under investigation because they had registered as charities and a charitable organization cannot siphon funds to do business. This is why some respected pastors cannot travel to the UK today because they have been indicted,” he said.
He warned those who are using church funds to establish universities are soon going to have to render accounts.
In the same vein the Executive Chairman of CACOL, Debo Adeniran, has described Lagos State as being governed under false pretense. “It is no gainsaying that Lagos has been running a government of grandstanding imbued by propaganda and bare-faced deception,” he said.
He added that “nobody outside the hierarchy of the state government of the state government can give exact figure of the state’s IGR. The mechanism or arrangement of revenue collection is shrouded in secrecy.”
“There has been dismal governmental failure in the area of the execution of the capital side of the budget and Lagos has been governed by false pretenses otherwise known as 419 governance.”
For Lagosians and Nigerians to fully appreciate the extent of corruption, diligent analysis of budgetary implementation becomes imperative with a view to exposing the official deception that has become governmental policies at various levels of government.
In attendance at the forum was Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Chief Olapade Agoro, Barrister Muhammed Fawehinmi, Barrister Muiz Banire.
Continue reading “Christians Should Challenge Pastors To Maintain Transparent Accounts–Femi Falana”
A non-governmental association, the Advocacy for Societal Rights Advancement and Development Initiative (ASRADI) yesterday called for proper investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the $9.3 million allegedly smuggled by two Nigerians and an Israeli citizen into South-Africa in a private aircraft. Also yesterday, a former presidential candidate and National Chairman of National Action Council (NAC), Dr. Olapade Agoro, called on the Federal Government to lay bare the circumstances surrounding the seized aircraft, the money and the men involved in the saga.
Speaking with journalists at the 2014 Annual General Convention and CACOL Integrity Award organised in Lagos by the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), where he was honoured with ‘Icon of Integrity Award,’ Agoro said it was shameful to carry corruption beyond the shores of Nigeria to South-Africa. He said: “I see the issue as carrying corruption beyond Nigeria to South- Africa.
The circumstances surrounding the $9.3 million must be probed. Who owns that aircraft? Where did they buy the dollars and at what rate? Who authorised it? Was that aircraft meant for that? Why did they carry corruption beyond the shores of Nigeria to South Africa to humiliate us before a nation we salvaged from the horror of apartheid. “I thought the aircraft was a private jet, not for leasing, so we want to be told who leased it.
We want to see the papers that were signed. We want to know the source of the $9.3 million before flying it all the way from Nigeria to South-Africa. It is a shame on a nation.” ASRADI in a statement made available to New Telegraph by its Executive Director, Adeolu Oyinlola, also demanded a public inquiry on the incident, warning that anything short of a transparent public inquiry would not be acceptable to Nigerians.
“We in ASRADI demand a full scale public inquiry into how a government department or agency would carry loads of cash in a private jet overseas, ostensibly to transact official business. “While we do not intend to set an agenda for the proposed inquiry, ASRADI believes the following posers would assist in unraveling how the surreptitious trip to South Africa was hatched and embarked upon.
“How often does money get spirited out of Nigeria in this clandestine manner? How was the cash sourced? Was the money appropriated by the National Assembly? If, as we are assuming, the cash came from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), how regularly does this happen? Does government just ask CBN to throw its vault open at it’s (government’s) pleasure? “Oyinlola raised more questions, what is the total value of the contract in question? Was there any advance payment? If so, how was it made, in cash too? Were bids invited for this contract as prescribed by the Public Procurement Act? Is government aware of platforms like Telegraphic Transfer and Letter of Credit?
Continue reading “Seized aircraft: Group seeks details of transaction”
