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23 Sep

BILL ON NGO REGULATION; EXTRANEOUS, REPRESSIVE AND UNWELCOMED! – CACOL

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, hereby unequivocally express its vehement rejection of the 2010 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) Regulation and Co-ordination Bill to forestall so-called illegal activities of some groups being proposed by the House of Representatives, HOR.
 
We hold that in terms of regulation, the NGOs/CSOs are already sufficiently regulated, if not over-regulated as things stand presently in Nigeria.
 
We object to the totalitarian attempt by those who have a lot of corrupt and criminal baggage to shroud in conscious secrecy in order to continue the perpetration of their rule of opaque mode of governance, ineptitude, greed and crass diabolic thirst to keep the vast majority of Nigerians in permanent socio-political and economic slavery.
 
We are convinced that the promoters in the HOR and within the government generally are desperate not to only perpetrate the subsisting status quos but perpetuate it even at the expense of stripping the masses of their commonwealth and basic rights, at times including the fundamental right to life.
 
Speaking specifically on the unintelligent justifications by the HOR for necessity of the bill to be passed to law, we say, all the points put forward hold no water!
 
To begin with, like we said, there are already adequate regulatory mechanisms to particularly monitor the activities of NGOs or Civil Society Organizations generally. The truth is that NGOs and CSOs are over-regulated already by: Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Special Control Unit on Money Laundering, SCUML, Financial Reporting Council (FRC) of Nigeria etc. HoR is only troubled by idleness, the huge pay for doing nothing, inanities and fundamentally ways to cover-up their tracks of corruption!
 
We aver that the position of the HoR that some NGOs are used to fund the activities of terrorists and insurgents is an extremist one taken for the purpose of ‘calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it’. It is absolute generalization and the proponents should be asked why those supposed NGOs in the North east are not isolated for interrogations, prosecution or judicial conviction as the case may be.
 
Also, the insinuation that “they (NGOs) are supposed to be partners in progress with the government” portends a tendency that is apparently insisting that partnering with government is a fundamental conditionality to its recognition. This is absolutely shallow as the position smacks of intolerance for dissenting opinions and therefore has no place in a democracy.
 
Those propounding the idea at HoR must be reminded that most of the vibrant organizations that were at the forefronts of dissension and struggles against the military rule which eventually culminated into today’s democracy were not even registered!
 
The gains of those struggles they have already appropriated to themselves; yet they want to muzzle and annihilate the voices of the tradition that battled to achieve the civil rule. And this is apparently because these social formations are still battling for the deepening of Nigeria’s fledgling democracy toward full democratization which makes the promoters of the bill uncomfortable as a result of their palpable innate abhorrence for openness in governance.
 
The proponents are elected officials who have been recalcitrant in making their assets and remunerations public with all effrontery even though relevant laws require them to, has no moral authority question the integrity of CSOs so generally considering that they are non-governmental abnitio. Clearly, it’s because of the in-justifiable humongous funds the lawmakers rip Nigeria of in the name of remuneration for ‘public service’, while the majority wallow in penury that is lurking behind somewhere in this ill-fated bill.
 
The HoR needs to be educated to understand that social formations like CSOs/NGOs are formed by people out of circumstances necessitated by their socio-political, economic and cultural existence. No legislation can mute the voices of dissension as long it’s legitimate and existential. Wherever there is oppression, repression, exploitation and subjugation; there will always be dissension and resistance.
 
We advise the present National Assembly and the shenanigans therein, that has so far been notorious for inanities and futile attempts at covering up their corrupt rumps to focus on fundamental issues of governance. The diabolic and superfluous bill stands rejected like the inordinate and clever moves to kill the social media. CACOL calls on Nigerians to join in vehemently resisting the retrogressive bill by every legitimate means possible, collectively we must stop the marauders in power!
 
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
cacolc@yahoo.com, cacol@thehumanitycentre.com
 
 
            
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22 Sep

ONLY SECURITY AGENCIES CAN DETERMINE WHETHER IPOB IS A TERRORIST ORGANISATION OR NOT -Debo Adeniran

ONLY SECURITY AGENCIES CAN DETERMINE WHETHER IPOB IS A TERRORIST ORGANISATION OR NOT – Debo Adeniran, Executive Chairman, Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL
The Executive Chairman, Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran has said defining the status of any organization as terrorist or not is the prerogative of security agencies.
Speaking against the background of the controversy that has tailed the proscription of the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and its qualification as a terrorist organization, Adeniran said that there must be certain parameters, upon which those who are supposed know, i.e the security agencies, because of their expertise and training based their decision on.
He said, “First and foremost, it is only the security agencies that can determine the veracity of that claim, whether the IPOB are a terrorist organisation or not. This is because there are conditions to be fulfilled by any organisation to be tagged a terror group.”
“However, what we could see is that the organisation, especially the leader, made a number of statements that pointed towards insurgency, not terror. When someone is seen on social media (whether in a fake or an authentic video) openly soliciting arms and ammunition to fight the battle for self-determination in the country, that is a step beyond the red line.”
“Yes, people have a right to associate, to hold an opinion and propagate that opinion within the ambits of existing laws. The United Nations also said people have a right to self determination; but a situation where you want to wage war against your own country has a different connotation. That is the area we are looking at. The IPOB has set up some outfits which are confrontational to the existing government. It is like belittling the capacity of the existing government and no government will accept that.”
“If the movement does not use arms against security agencies, that’s fine. If you ask the Department of State Services and the National Intelligence Agency, they are the ones to determine what the status of IPOB is. Government must also take the path of dialogue, which the IPOB should initiate by stating their grievances in writing to the Federal Government.” The CACOL leader concluded
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
 
 
            
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noimage 22 Sep

ORDER FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIAL COURTS FOR CORRUPTION CASES; CACOL COMMENDS CJN

Mr. Debo Adeniran, the Executive Chairman of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL has commended the order given by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen for the establishment of special courts for corruption cases in the country.
“The country really needs special anti-corruption courts to the speed-up judicial processes in corruption cases and other related offences. We have consistently advocated for reforms in the judicial system including the creation of Special courts for corruption cases to facilitate the enabling environment for the successful prosecution of the anti-corruption war. Several cogent reasons abound for the inevitable need for Special courts for corruption cases and some reforms in our laws.” He said

The anti-corruption crusader was reacting to the CJN’s directive on Monday to heads of courts in the country to create special courts for corruption cases at the special court session held at the Supreme Court in Abuja to mark the commencement of the new 2017/2018 legal year. Onnoghen averred that the creation of special court would speed up determination of cases.

“As a matter of fact, since the kitchen became hotter for corruption criminals based on the ongoing war against corruption, corrupt elements are fighting back using every means available including lapses in our laws to evade justice. The plethora of corruption cases that the ongoing anti-corruption drive has thrown up calls for reforms in the existing judicial system to ensure that the efforts to rid Nigeria of sharp practices bears fruits.” Mr. Adeniran said as he welcomed the order for the creation of special courts.

“As corruption fights backs viciously, the logical response is to; lawfully remove all the encumbrances on the path of the anti-corruption drive which corruption criminals cleverly use to wriggle through the labyrinths of the existing judicial system to escape justice.”

“We therefore welcome and commend the CJN and the judiciary for this bold initiative and the proactive steps being taken to achieve the establishment of Special Courts, just as we call on all the Arms of the Federal Government to work in unison to fight corruption, a scourge that have encroached our country for too long and threatening to obliterate it. The decision is akin to taking one step ahead of criminals who had always deployed different tactics to evade justice should it come to fruition.”

Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
wale@thehumanitycentre.org
cacolc@yahoo.com,cacol@thehumanitycentre.org

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15 Sep

CACOL, BRK ADD VOICE TO CALL FOR PARDON FOR BRIG. GEN. ENITAN RANSOME-KUTI AND OTHERS

The Beko Rights Klub, BRK and the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL have added their voices to the appeal for by some military officers convicted and under various categories of punishment by various courts-martial to the Presidential Investigation Panel to Review Compliance of the Armed Forces with Human Rights Obligations and Rules of Engagement to hear their complaints against the Nigerian Army.
 
Mr. Debo Adeniran who made the appeal on behalf of BRK and CACOL said “we have consistently for the past two years been appealing to the authorities of the army and Federal government to grant former Commander of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, Enitan Ransome-Kuti, who was demoted from the rank of Brigadier General to Colonel and others for their pardon.”
 
“We were especially pleased when he was released from confinement and with a sense of fulfillment because we had maintained that Enitan was innocent based on the fact that he acted more like a patriot and demonstrated a good sense of leadership with the decision he took which actually saved lives of many of our gallant soldiers that would have been lost in the Boko Haram ambush they retreated from.”
 
An exclusive report by The PUNCH yesterday revealed that some military officers convicted under various categories of punishment by various courts-martial have appealed to the Presidential Investigation Panel to Review Compliance of the Armed Forces with Human Rights Obligations and Rules of Engagement to hear their complaints against the Nigerian Army. Some were also dismissed by the Nigerian Army for alleged negligence of military duties; and 54 soldiers, who claimed to have been illegally tried and convicted by the court-martial for demanding weapons for counter-insurgency operations in the North-East geopolitical zone.
 
Mr. Adeniran said “we implore the Nigerian Army Council to reconsider its’ decision to demote Brigadier General Enitan to the rank of Colonel just as we add our voice the plea for pardon by the soldiers on basis of compassion and consideration for their patriotism. We believe they deserve pardon.”
 
“The revelations reeled out from the Arms procurement scandal and the DasukiGate confirm Brigadier General Enitan’s his innocence and patriotism when we recall the narratives that followed the Baga Massacre, in Borno state. In fact, we believe with those expositions, the actions of Brigadier-General Enitan and others are justiciable, reasonable and dialectical. What will a soldier do when his superiors have diverted funds meant to prepare him/her for an operation that involves risks of losing one’s live and troops, given that he/she also has been trained on the principle of self-preservation even in the fiercest battles? Saving the lives of troops that he led must have been imperative.”
 
“We therefore join our voices in urging the Presidential Investigation panel to recommend to President Muhammadu Buhari to grant the gallant soldiers pardon. Section 198 of the Armed Forces as well as Section 175 of the constitution which grants the President powers grant pardon to any convicted person in Nigeria without condition and regardless of whether or not the convicts had pending appeals could relied upon to achieve this.” He concluded.
 
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
 
 
            
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14 Sep
  • CACOL Blog CACOL in The News Press Releases
  • Comments Off on OPEN LETTER: AN URGENT CALL ON PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI TO MAKE CHANGES IN THE FEDERAL CABINET TO REVAMP GOVERNMENTAL PERFORMANCE FOR SOCIO-POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

OPEN LETTER: AN URGENT CALL ON PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI TO MAKE CHANGES IN THE FEDERAL CABINET TO REVAMP GOVERNMENTAL PERFORMANCE FOR SOCIO-POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Wednesday, September 13, 2017
 
 
His Excellency
President Muhammadu Buhari
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Aso Rock Villa,
Abuja.
 
 
Your Excellency,
 
AN URGENT CALL ON PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI TO MAKE CHANGES IN THE FEDERAL CABINET TO REVAMP GOVERNMENTAL PERFORMANCE FOR SOCIO-POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
 
Our organization, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL is up till December 28, 2016 known as Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders. CACOL is an aggregate of human rights, community based, and civil society organisations and individuals with anti-corruption and openness in governance agenda across Nigeria. It is a non-political, non-religious, non-sectarian, non-profit organisation.
 
Your Excellency, CACOL, heartily welcomes you back to active duty like all well-meaning Nigerians after your last trip for medical care in the United Kingdom; we also wish you full recuperation soonest. Indeed, the significance of your return at this auspicious time needs not to be over-emphasized given the state of the nation upon your return and arduous task ahead.
 
Your Excellency, we find it pertinent to call on you to urgently take steps to make some changes in the Federal Cabinet to reinvigorate the processes of governance on one hand  and delivery of service to the people on the other. Glaringly, after about two and a half years since the inauguration of this government, certain patterns have unfolded that has exposed mediocrity and incompetence within the ranks of the cabinet members with regard to their performances in lines of the duties assigned to them. This is reality is necessarily telling on the general performance of the government itself wholesomely.
 
Mr. President, in making our call for these expedient changes in the cabinet, we equally want to crave your indulgence to make our recommendations in terms of clearly nonperforming or ineffective Ministers. We recall that at the end of your first year in office, you sought for the opinion of the public on whether there was the need to make some changes in the cabinet which demonstrated your openness to accommodate views and make good use of them.
 
Predicated on the foregoing, our organization, CACOL is therefore recommending as follows:
1.   The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing: The Ministry superintended over by Mr. Raji Fashola, (SAN), have over the past years made more noise than any practical achievement on the ground to justify the funds that has been ploughed into the three sectors under it. All the actions and policies of the Ministry have compounded the sufferings of Nigerians in multi-folds; from lack of power supply to the illogical hike in electricity tariffs, from continually decaying infrastructure to death traps as roads with a Housing sector that is ‘non-existent’ or in absolute comatose. The Minister is constantly at loggerheads with institutions, contractors and even the citizenry he is supposed to serve. The Minister keeps standing logic on its heads by asking the already impoverished Nigerians to bear the brunt of his failure by asking them to pay for services not rendered even up to the effrontery of hiking the tariff of electricity against a background of a country in perpetual darkness. He made history by achieving the lowest, ZERO, mega watts for more than 18 hours in history of power generation in Nigeria last year; with nothing to offer than damage, we call on Mr. President to ask him to honourably resign or he should be sacked!
2.   We recommend the immediate replacement of Mr. Malami Abubakar as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of this country to save this government and the country from further embarrassment and criticisms within the comity of nations. The mantra of this government and one of the campaign cardinal points of its party is ‘fight against corruption’. For any government to succeed in its policies, programmes and agenda, the commitment, professionalism, soundness and integrity of the Chief Law Officer of that government must be impeccable and consistent. We are afraid, based on recent happenings, the current Attorney-General and Minister of Justice has fallen short of these critical requirements and incapable of delivering any fundamental departure from the corruption ridden past of governance in the country. We noted the AGF’s unnecessary interventions particularly in cases high profile publicly exposed persons and the needless ‘rivalry’ with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, an agency under his Ministry and which ordinarily reports to him officially. The Attorney-General was publicly accused of meeting, negotiating, agreeing terms and collecting N50 billion on behalf of the government without recourse to both the regulatory agency and supervisory ministry last year. Local and international criticisms greeted the unprofessional conduct of the Minister and secrecy associated with his negotiation with MTN. These reasons, amongst others necessitate our call for the removal of the AGF and Minister of Justice.
3.   The Minister in charge of the Federal Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun has been everything but impressive and constantly appears to be confused on policies and in-depth economic management. The economic terrain under her watch is riddled by contradictions, policy somersaults and uncertainties. It is our conviction that it is the concerted efforts of the Central Bank and other MDAs trying to diversify, particularly the Agriculture Ministry and with the increase in the price of oil that helped pulled Nigeria out of recession recently and not via the acumen of the Finance Minister. We recommended that she should be replaced with better competence and prowess.
4.   The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources under the superintending Minister of State, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has no concrete achievement to showcase 2 years after the inauguration of this government. All the lofty promises of performance including making the refineries functional within 6 months and building of new ones given by the Minister at the assumption of duty has fallen flat on their faces, just as Nigeria sadly still import refined petroleum products. At this rate, this situation will persist till this tenure lapses, which will be totally unfortunate and unacceptable, thus it is time to replace the Minister for someone with greater acumen, necessary will and skills.
5.   Quintessentially, we call on you, Your Excellency to relieve yourself of the position of the Minister of Petroleum Resources immediately. This is allow you to concentrate fully on the wholesome administration of the government which clearly can only be done conscientiously by your esteemed self and against the background of a National Assembly that apparently lacks diligence in its oversight functions preferring the mundane for the significant, it becomes expedient. We urge that you concentrate your energy on supervisory roles over all Ministries and the Presidential leadership of the country while a substantive Minister is appointed for the Petroleum Resources Ministry. 
 
Your Excellency, as a matter of fact we recommend changes in almost all other Ministries; they are either prostrate or in comatose, some are even approaching non-existence in status. Nigerians can hardly tell what the Ministries of Education, Health, Aviation, Commerce and Industry, Solid Minerals Development etc. are doing in these very challenging times for the country. They all appear to have gone to slumber following the lack of clue on what to do.
 
Finally, Mr. President, we call on your good office to look into the activities of the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA with a view to making changes in the current leadership as they have continually failed in preventing incessant flooding across the country that has accounted for some many losses of life and properties. The NIWA is responsible for surveying, removing, and receiving derelicts, wrecks and other obstructions from in land waterways across the country by the Act that created it; why should be experiencing floods at the same locations repeatedly over the years if the Authority had been up and doing in terms of its duties? The leadership has definitely failed in designing anticipatory and preventive plans which would have forestalled avoidable disasters.
 
Once again, we say welcome back, Your Excellency; we wish you more energy, courage and strength.
 
Long Live, Nigeria!
 
Yours in service to humanity,
Inline image
 
 
 
Debo Adeniran
Executive Chairman, Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL
0803-7194-969
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12 Sep

NIGERIA: STAYING OUT OF RECESSION CAN ONLY BE SUSTAINED BY DIVERSIFICATION OF THE ECONOMY – CACOL

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL appreciates and applauds the coming-out of economic recession recently achieved by Nigeria describing as an important achievement that must be built on for the overall development of the country.
 
The Federal Government had through the National Bureau of Statistics officially announced to the public in August, 2016 that the country was recession; a situation accompanied with high cost of living for Nigerians, majority of whom were already pauperized.
 
The Executive Chairman, CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran in welcoming the country’s new status of being ‘out of recession’, said “it is heartwarming that Nigeria is finally out of an economic recession that is arguably the worst that has ever hit the country, without any bit of doubt, the economy has made the conditions of living hard for majority of the citizens inadvertently.”
 
“The government must ensure that the gains of this achievement immediately begin to impact on lives of ordinary citizens in terms of giving succor for the pains they have had to bear all the while when the country was in recession. This is the only way it can be meaningful and impactful on the masses beyond statistics, figures, percentages, data and so on.”
 
A country’s economy enters into recession sequel to suffering contraction for two consecutive quarters. The NBS announced that in the second quarter of 2017, the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) grew by 0.55% (year-on-year) in real terms, indicating the emergence of the economy from recession after five consecutive quarters of contraction since Q1 2016.  
 
However, Adeniran averred that the Nigeria must ensure that the economy does not slide back into recession. “We know that it is fundamentally the rise in the international prizes of oil that has largely helped the country out which makes the economy to remain in a precarious situation based on the mono-economic practice of the past and present governments.”
 
“The only way we can keep recession at bay is to concretely and consciously diversify the economy beyond the ‘the scratch-on-the-surface’ approach we have been and still witnessing. Even though the government talks diversification, it certainly appears unserious about it wholesomely.”
 
“How we do diversify massively into agriculture, solid minerals, Mines and Steel Development etc with the huge infrastructural deficits bedeviling the system? None of these sectors can flourish to level of moving the country away from oil-driven economy without good roads, constant electricity, railways, silos, storage facilities, water etc. This is the enabling environment that government must create across board (rural and urban) in the country to make a success of diversification.”
 
“The government must halt its false pretenses at diversifying the economy and get real if it truly intends to match words with actions; funds must be ploughed into infrastructural development which will ultimately galvanize a very vibrant economy standing on multiple legs.” Mr. Adeniran concluded
 
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
 
 
            
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12 Sep

CACOL BACKS SAGAY, DEMANDS NASS TO DISPROVE CLAIMS

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL has backed Professor Itse Sagay, SAN, Chairman Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, PACAC’s criticism of the National Assembly, NASS.
The revered Prof. was reported have said “From the information I have gathered, a Nigerian Senator earns about N29 million a month and over N3 billion a year. Basic salary N2,484,245.50; hardship allowance, 1,242, 122.70; constituency allowance N4, 968, 509.00; furniture allowance N7, 452, 736.50; newspaper allowance N1, 242, 122.70.
In addition, Sagay reportedly said “Wardrobe allowance N621,061.37; recess allowance N248, 424.55; accommodation 4,968,509.00; utilities N828,081.83; domestic staff N1,863,184.12; entertainment N828,081.83; personal assistant N621,061.37; vehicle maintenance allowance N1,863,184.12; leave allowance N248,424.55; severance gratuity N7, 425,736.50; and motor vehicle allowance N9, 936,982.00.”
The Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr Debo Adeniran, in reacting to Sagay ‘exposure’, said “Between the present NASS and Prof., we will choose the latter in terms of the zeal and dedication to the cause of ridding our society of corruption. We know that the PACAC Chairman’s integrity is a million miles ahead when compared that of present NASS.”
The Senate in responding Sagay has requested President Muhammadu Buhari to call the PACAC boss to order accusing him of spreading falsehood and making hate speeches against the federal legislature. They alleged that Sagay was fond of using every opportunity he had to make public speeches to disparage the National Assembly by using “uncouth and unprintable words” to describe the legislators and the institution they represent. The lawmakers described him as a man who cannot stand for councillorship election and win. They also challenged him to state what his contributions are in the election of President Muhammadu Buhari and what new ideas he has contributed to making the fight against corruption more effective since his appointment.
Adeniran reacting to the lawmakers response to Sagay said “It is extremely ridiculous to hear the balderdash the lawmakers are trying use to divert attention for fundamental issues raised by the Professor. They have for long shrouded their remunerations in deep secrecy in spite of Nigerians demanding to know. Even reliance on the Freedom of Information Act will not make them bulge.”
“If truly they are women and men of honour, the logical response from the Senate should have been the task to ‘disprove’ the figures put forward the Sagay. We had said before that the present NASS is apparently the most inept in the history of Nigeria with considerable number of members having corruption cases.”
“We know it is because of the vibrant role Sagay is playing as the head PACAC that always make the NASS shiver any time he sneezes.” He concluded
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
 
 
            
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5 Sep

WADE INTO AGF/MAGU AND IGP/SENATOR MISAU ‘RIFTS’; CACOL TELLS PRESIDENT BUHARI

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately take decisive steps to resolve the apparent rifts between the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF and the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial crimes Commission, EFCC on one hand and the one between Inspector General of Police, IGP and Senator Misau on the other.
 
“The media is awash with the banters, accusations and counter-accusations  that are being exchanged in the ‘rifts’ and this definitely calls for Presidential intervention which will encompass thorough investigations, transparency, compliance with rule of law and of course discretion. As a matter of fact, it is long overdue.” The Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran said when putting forward the position of the Centre on the AGF/MAGU and IGP/Senator Isah Misau ‘rifts’.
 
“The ‘feud’ between the AGF, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and the acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu must immediately be waded into and with absolute circumspection by the President, he is their employer; the buck stops on his desk and the issues at stake are of National and public interests.”
 
“We state unequivocally, that a divided approach in the battle against corruption, especially, spells only doom for the process like we are already witnessing with ejection of Nigeria from the Egmont group, a body which the country needs for international cooperation in the war against graft. Whatever obstacle/s that has led to the ejection of the country must be identified, interrogated and excised by the Federal government.”
 
“The required approach must prioritize the essence of institutions above personalities; it must look thoroughly into the validity of the accusations and counter-accusations and where unethical and unlawful activity is established, necessary punitive must be applied. There is no place for ‘hiding behind a finger’ if any reasonable and amicable resolution is to be achieved.”
 
“Beyond the present manifestations, inter-agencies rivalries have always encumbered government performance at many levels must be confronted. This is the imperative of circumspection in whatever approaches the government is adopting beyond the present AGF and EFCC boss example. Yet, it is these unnecessary rivalries that must be eliminated before they germinate to more embarrassing picturesque.”
 
“The ‘rift’ between the Senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, Isah Misau, and the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris calls for immediate intervention too. The Senator alleged that Idris collected about N120bn annually as payment for special security services rendered by the police to corporate organisations and very important personalities.”
 
“The IGP also accused Misau of being a deserter who was out on some mission. The allegations are serious and deserve to be treated in the same manner with the AGF/MAGU feud. The veracity or otherwise of the accusations and counter-accusations must be established such that anyone found culpable is made to face the wrath of law.” Adeniran concluded
 
 
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
 
 
            
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noimage 29 Aug

CLEAR YOUR NAME ON THE MALABU $1.1bn OIL DEAL PROBES; CACOL CHARGES FORMER PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN

Reacting to the newspaper report on the former President Jonathan’s refusal to respond to the House of Representatives’ formal invitation to him over his alleged role in the controversial $1.1bn Malabu Oil deal, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL has called on him to go and clear himself of any form of complicity, either directly or indirectly as that is the only way he could be absolved.
The anti-corruption organization challenged the former president to avoid applying the old method of dodging as it will not be helpful to him. Speaking on the former President’s refusal to honour HOR’s invitation, Mr. Debo Adeniran, leader of CACOL who retorted said, “Now that his name has come up in the record of the probe, he cannot wish it away. He must be made to realize that it will continue to remain in the record and no matter how long it takes; it’s just going to be a matter of time for him to be made to answer for questions about a lot of atrocities committed under his watch. If he believes his hands are clean, then why the fear to appear?”
“And if on the other hand, his refusal is borne out sheer contempt for the House, he perhaps needs to be reminded that the constitutional immunity does not cover former presidents and so the instrumentality of the law is ever so alive and potent and could always be applied if and when it becomes necessary. The refusal itself is quite unstatemanly.”
The Malabu Oil corruption scandal which has for almost two decades ran through successive regimes, from Abacha’s to Obasanjo’s down to this day, been in the eye of a protracted stormy international investigation with names of some Nigeria’s government top shots including petroleum ministers, justice ministers, even heads of state and oil multinationals featuring prominently. Investigations and litigations in various European juries have frequently thrown up discoveries of high-scale official corruption and compromise which has so far made the Malabu deal a hydra-headed monster that has refused to die.
Adeniran said “It is so sad that even though some names of Nigeria’s top public officials’ had appeared atop many investigative submissions in many foreign lands over this scandalous deal and causing various ad hoc committees to be set up by both legislative chambers at different times, right from the days of Obasanjo’s reign down to this day, nothing concrete has been achieved so far.”
“There is no disputing the fact that GEJ presided over the most corrupt and reckless government ever in the political history of this country. Under his watch, massive looting and squandering of the country’s wealth at the most alarming scale took place.”
“It will be recalled that, directly under his watch, both indicted members of Jonathan’s cabinet in persons of Bello Adoke and Deziani Alison-Madueke, ministers of justice and petroleum respectively, blatantly shunned the House of Representatives probe panel’s invitation to them to appear for questioning over the matter. So, Jonathan has no moral justification to refuse to answer the call of the representatives of the citizens of Nigeria to provide answers to activities that took place during his rule.”
“We therefore strongly advice the former President to honour the invitation of the legislative house without further delay if he places any value on his name. Eventually, the truth will come out and it will prevail.”             
 
Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
 
 
            
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noimage 29 Aug
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CACOL HAILS SIGNING OF EXTRADITION TREATY WITH UAE AND OTHER AGREEMENTS, SAYS IT WILL ASSIST GREATLY IN THE ANTI-CORRUPTION WAR.

The Centre for Anti-corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL has described as hugely commendable, the signing of an extradition treaty with the United Arab Emirates, UAE and agreements with some other countries.”

The Centre’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Debo Adeniran said “the signing is auspicious and timely with the background of an expedient need to re-invigorate the anti-corruption drive; it will improve inter-border cooperation among the countries which will enhance their task of ensure the security of lives and property.”

He hailed the extradition treaty, saying it would assist the anti-corruption agencies, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to trace looted funds stashed in Dubai and extradite the looter to Nigeria to face prosecution.

Stating that a striking example which easily highlights the significance of the signing of the treaty on extradition with UAE is the case of a former governor of Delta State, Mr. James Ibori, he said “we must recall that the man decided to escape to Dubai when the EFCC with active collaboration of other law enforcement agencies were closing-in on him to face prosecution for corruption crimes in Nigeria because there was no extradition treaty between Nigeria and the UAE. However, unknown to Ibori, there was such treaty between the UAE and the UK, which as of then in search of the former governor. He was thereafter extradited to the UK where he was prosecuted and convicted on corruption charges.”

Adeniran said, “The signing of the treaty is so appropriate. Remember, that the former governor of Delta State escaped to his hometown in Oghara in Delta State when law enforcement agencies were looking for him. He went through the waterways and landed in Dubai. The reason why the authorities of the UAE could not extradite him directly to Nigeria was because there was no Mutual Legal Assistance between the country and Nigeria.

“So, he chose to go to the UAE because of the absence of any Mutual Legal Assistance between the UAE and Nigeria. But he forgot or didn’t think it wise to know that there was Mutual Legal Assistance between the UAE and the United Kingdom. That was why the UK was able to request his extradition from the UAE to the UK and the rest is history.”

“If you look around, that is why most of Nigerian looters have properties in Dubai. So it is fashionable for looters to keep their loot in Dubai and tie it down there with properties. The treaty will now assist the EFCC to trace looted funds and seek assistance from the UAE for the extradition of the concerned persons when necessary. It will help the fight against corruption.”

Several politically exposed persons are believed to be hiding in Dubai while a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke allegedly owns houses in a high-brow area of the city. Even the EFCC, Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB and others will be able to work within a better legal relations which for instance can make unveiling the circumstance surrounding the alleged mansions owned by the serving Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, less cumbersome. With commensurate political will, the treaty can open ‘doors’ and will indeed strengthen anti-graft war in loot recovery and extradition of fugitives”

“As we commend President Muhammadu Buhari for the bold and progressive step as it clearly shows his determination to combat corruption, we hasten to emphasize the quintessence of strengthening institutions, as they are the ones which will ensure the achievements so far endures and built upon as the country progresses.”

“The Federal government must also ensure it perseveres in its efforts to have similar treaties or agreements and other legitimate instruments with the UK, USA and other countries where loots from our country are being hidden. Diezani Alison-Madueke’s extradition as a matter of fact should be on the priority list of fugitives which the FG through its agencies should be pursuing vigorously at present given the plethora of corruption charges she has to answer for.” Adeniran concluded

Wale Salami
Media Coordinator, CACOL
08141121208
wale@thehumanitycentre.org
cacolc@yahoo.com,cacol@thehumanitycentre.org

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

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