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8,863 GHOST WORKERS IN KWARA: CACOL REITERATES THE NEED TO EXPOSE AND PUNISH CULPRITS BEHIND THE ‘GHOST WORKERS’ FRAUD

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL has described the undying issue of ‘ghost workers’ in the country as an unfortunate trend that has bedeviled the Nigerian Public service sector for long, following the recent discovery of 8,863 cases in Kwara state while also asserting that the fraudulent act is also perpetrated in many other states in Nigeria.

 
It was revealed recently in media reports that, 8,863 suspected ghost workers on the payroll of both the state and local governments were discovered by the Secretary to the Kwara State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold, in an audit carried out in the state.
 
The Executive Chairman of CACOL Mr. Debo Adeniran, in reacting to the discovery, condemned the phenomenon called ‘ghost workers’ and called on the Kwara State Government to ensure that culprits behind the fraud are all brought to book immediately.
 
He lauded the Kwara State Government for fishing out 8,863 ghost workers. He said, “according to available information, the discovery will save the State about N437, 500, 513.56 monthly. But merely discovering ‘ghost workers’ is not enough if the ‘unseen’ faces behind the corrupt act are not uncovered. The criminals behind the scenes must be unmasked and made to face the wrath of the law to abate a syndrome that has apparently become ‘institutionalized’ in our country.”
 
Continuing Mr. Adeniran said, “this thoroughly corrupt act has been happening in the country for too long, we cannot afford to allow it to further endure. If 8,863 jobless graduates of Kwara State had been employed legitimately for the positions occupied ghost workers, unemployment would have been drastically reduced in the State, but the corruption criminals would not allow that to happen.”
 
He insisted that ‘’the ‘ghost worker’ phenomenon is not self-induced; that powerful forces are behind it, therefore the government at the Federal and state levels should through the relevant agencies; the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Federal and state Ministries of Finance etc. investigate and expose those ‘behind the scene’ 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! There is no other way to justify the civil servants whom their earnings do not corroborate the wealth which they display with rabid impunity across the country.’’ Mr Adeniran concluded
 
 
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
November 23, 2016
 
 
 
For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at
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PATIENCE JONATHAN SHOULD HAVE HER DAY IN COURT, BUT THE $15.5M ACCOUNTS MUST REMAIN FROZEN UNTIL THE END OF JUDICIAL PROCESS – CACOL

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL has described the ambience around the $15.5m money laundry scam involving the wife of the immediate past President, Patience Jonathan as that which exemplifies the scenario where the so-called high and mighty wield their ‘immunity’ with bare-faced impunity and effrontery even in the face glaring constitutional dictates that stipulates otherwise.
 
A Federal High Court recently rejected an application by the former First Lady urging the court to order the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC to withdraw the ‘No Debit Order’ it placed on the accounts holding the monies purported to be owned by Mrs. Jonathan.
 
The Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran when reacting to media reports on the issue stated that “the controversies surrounding Patience Jonathan, the EFCC and the sum allegedly laundered has been stretched for far too long without any meaningful twist toward a logical conclusion. What we are witnessing is a continuum of an embarrassing tug of war between the EFCC, a body constitutionally charged with combating financial and economic crimes and Patience Jonathan, a Nigerian bounded by the constitution like every other Nigerian.”
 
“At this point, it now behoves on the EFCC to fulfill its constitutional role of by establishing an ‘airtight’ case based on concrete evidences against Patience Jonathan if they exist. Apart from focusing at preventing access to the controversial funds, the EFCC must go ahead to carry out thorough investigations and diligently prosecute the cases against Madam Jonathan like it is constitutionally empowered to do. By now, Mrs. Patience Jonathan ought to been invited for questioning just like any other Nigerian who may be suspected of having committed an illegality.”
 
Also involved in the Patience Jonathan suit, are Warampo Dudafa, an ex-aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan and the four companies whose representatives already pleaded guilty and subsequently convicted for the money laundry scam. This latest suit instituted by Mrs. Jonathan was intended to make the court to order the EFCC to unfreeze the accounts and grant her access to the money in question.
 
Adeniran called on the EFCC to exercise every constitutional powers to freeze any bank accounts with suspicious transactions and amounts until they are cleared of suspicions. He said, “the agency should be tactful and decisive in carrying out its constitutional functions to achieve convictions, because that is what will serve as strong deterrent against corruption.”
 
The anti-corruption crusader also called for accelerated hearings of the cases involving the former First Lady and all other corruption cases that are pending in different courts. He concluded stating that, “at the end the anti-corruption drive would be futile if after all the show of activities, corruption criminals are do not get convicted under the Buhari administration in spite of the anti-corruption stance of the regime. The EFFC need not to be intimidated by falsely acquired “immunity” against probe, questioning, investigation or arrest. No one is above the law! We expect the anti-corruption agencies to exert their powers as provided for by the constitution to overcome any intimidation in performing their duties. No law says Patience Jonathan is “untouchable” or can’t be prosecuted.
 
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
November 23, 2016
 
 
 
For more press releases and statements, please visit our website at
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METUH IS TRYING TO SLOW DOWN THE WHEEL OF JUSTICE WITH HIS ‘NO-CASE SUBMISSION’ – CACOL

The National Publicity Secretary of the People Democratic Party (PDP) Olisa Metuh pleaded not guilty to a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday, 18 February to the seven-count charge of fraud and money laundering the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged him with. Metuh has been standing trial since January 2016 for fraudulently   receiving N400m from the Office of the National Security Adviser in November, 2014 and money laundering involving about $2m.

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) hold the belief that this latest move by Metuh with the no-case submission and the other pleas; are all legal technicalities or tactics to achieve the truncating the course of justice or to delay the final judgment on the case, despite all the glaring evidences gathered by the EFCC to corroborate the prosecution.

According media reports, Justice Okon Abang the presiding Judge, granted the permission to Metuh who is being prosecuted along with his company, Destra Investment Limited, to file a written address to the no-case submission and equally ruled that Metuh should continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted him in the same terms and conditions.

Mr Debo Adeniran, Executive Chairman of CACOL in responding to the development, called on Justice Okon Abang, “not to concede to any form of bias or compromise on his judgment irrespective of pressure from any quarters but do the right thing by ruling on the case and administering justice in line with the laws of our country without fear or favour’’.

‘’At this stage of the anti-corruption war; the nation need to guard and guide against elements that are bent on relying on the weaknesses of our laws to get away with their crimes. The corrupt amongst us have through primitive accumulation acquired huge resources to influence, alter or subvert justice when they are caught pants down! This situation must be corrected and the path to do that is via eternal vigilance’’ Mr Adeniran added.

Corruption is indeed fighting back and we must collectively as nation and people ensure that the on-going anti-corruption war is sustained to salvage our country.

 

Wale Salami

Media Coordinator, CACOL

080141121208

wale@thehumanitycentre.org

cacolc@yahoo.com,cacol@thehumanitycentre.org

February 22, 2016.