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$620,000 Bribe Probe …Of Privilege Or Ethics, Piety?
If the House of Representatives’ ad-hoc Committee originally charged with the responsibility of probing the near-collapse of the country’s capital market, under its erstwhile chairman, Hon. Herman Hembe had conducted its affairs in camera, perhaps, the now suspended Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Arunma Oteh would have kept her plum job to date. And Hembe would not have been off his powerful chair. Only perhaps.
But because every business of the Committee, including the near-damaging verbal jabs at those being probed were transmitted live on national television, none of the key players was willing to compromise defence of ego and integrity. Also, all the claims and counter-claims of bribes would not have come to the public domain as fast as they did, hence too complex to sweep under the carpet.
Sad as it may seem, from the perspective of casualties of the openness of the Seventh National Assembly, the practice has boosted public confidence in both Chambers of Nigeria’s bicameral legislature. That confidence was expressed in good measure during the work of the ad-hoc Committee of the House, appointed to probe the oil subsidy regime with Hon. Farouk Lawan, as Chairman.
For its transparency, openness and indeed avowed incorrigibility, a huge half of the Nigerian progressive Community moved for the immediate implementation of its report, even before hearing and confirmation by the Committee of the Whole. Infact, various groups, including organised labour threatened to embark on a nation-wide strike if the Lawan-report was swept under the carpet by the Executive arm.
That public confidence remained so even when, during plenary, on Tuesday, April 24, 2012, Hon. Lawan caused to be removed from the list of indicted marketers, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited. That amendment happened on the floor of the House, while the Committee of the Whole was already considering the report of the ad-hoc committee which Lawan himself superintended.
Again, all that was viewed live on national television in line with the Seventh National Assembly’s preference for openness and transparency Were it not so, not many would question the rational for listing and delisting Zenon and tie same to times and places that money changed hands. Were that so, Lawan would still be ad-hoc Committee Chairman on Oil Subsidy probe
Since then, from the graphic details of how Lawan demanded from Chairman of Zenon, Mr Femi Otedola Three Million US-dollars, to delete his company’s name from the blacklist; to how the House ad-hoc committee chairman personally received $500,000 and the Committee Secretary, Mr. Boniface Emenalo receiving another $120,000 making $620,000; how Otedola pre-informed the Security Agencies about the demand and receipt of the bribe and the eventual deleting of Zenon from the blacklist, are all public knowledge.
Also public is the defence by Lawan that the $500,000 he received was to serve as exhibit against Otedola’s Zenon and for which he forwarded the money along with a covering report to the House Committee Chairman on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Hon. Adams Jagaba. Finally, how the same Jagaba denied ever receiving such funds from Lawan and has since failed to honour repeated calls by the Police to help in the investigation, is also public knowledge.
Such is the openness the saga has enjoyed, thanks to the National Assembly, especially, the highly reputable, fearless, incorrigible and patriotic House of Representatives, which leadership has repeatedly assured the Nigerian public that it would not shield any of its own, if found to be culpable in the bribery scandal.
It was in apparent pursuit of the same, that the House suspended Hon. Lawan as ad-hoc Committee chairman and referred the matter to the highly respected Ethics and Privileges Committee, chaired by Hon. Gambo Dan-Musa. And in line with the transparency initiative thus-far demonstrated, the ever House-friendly Nigerian public looked forward to an even more transparent process, if for nothing else, to prove that the honourable House was above corruption and would fight same, ‘… honestly, to the best of my ability, faithfully and in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the law’…as contained in the House members’ Oath of office.
This is why it came to Nigerians as a huge shock that the Ethics and Privileges Committee could attempt to destroy the same plank of trust which has endeared the House to the public, – its openness, in preference for secret hearing which Lawan as probe chairman denied others. The question is, Why So? Why Now?
Clearly, that recourse to secrecy can undermine, if it hasn’t already, public confidence in the Ethics Committee to guarantee justice, as its move amounts to shifting the goal post in the middle of a game. And if the reason for referring the bribery allegation to the House’s Ethics Committee was to accomplish the facts and insulate itself from the scandal, the Dan-Musa’s Committee’s approach has cast more doubts on its ability to achieve that objective.
The issues for determination may be varied and many but vague, is not one of them. What Nigerians eagerly await the committee to determine include: At what time did Lawan realise that Zenon should not have been blacklisted? How did Lawan get to that conclusion that prompted the deleting of the company’s name from the crop of indicted marketers? If the $500,000 Lawan accepted receiving from Otedola was to be used in evidence, why did he not report the matter to the House leadership and indeed the Police? If the money was exhibit of attempted bribery or indeed bribery, why did Lawan remove Zenon’s name from the blacklist? What other portion of the Ad-hoc committee’s report, after Lawan’s correction expressly indicted Zenon? And most importantly, where is the evidence now, since Hon. Jagaba has denied ever receiving $500,000 from Lawan either as exhibit or for safe-keeping?
The others for determination should perhaps include: If Lawan’s $500,000 receipt indeed went to Hon. Jagaba, which that Honourable member has since openly and repeatedly denied, where is the $120,000 allegedly received from Otedola by the Committee Secretary? If indeed Otedola was desperate to bribe the Oil Subsidy Committee to be spared possible indictment as Lawan imputed, should Otedola involve the security at the same time?
Perhaps, another important issue for determination is, why did Lawan not push for the exposition of Otedola for offering him bribe from April 21, 2012, when, the first installment was paid, through Tuesday, April 24, 2012 when, the final installment was received by Lawan uptill June 11, 2012 when Otedola made the issue public, after alleged repeated insistence by Lawan that the balance of the Three Million Dollars be paid, or be implicated?
These are serious issues, which handling could make or mar public trust on the House. First,as soon as the scandal broke the House caused to be re-included Zenon Petroleum in the list of indicted marketers, as Lawan had allegedly threatened, from Otedola’s accounts and for which the balance left of Three Million dollars was desperately demanded.
Secondly, the House referred the matter to the House’s Ethics and Privileges Committee, which recently jettisoned the open-hearing module that endeared it to the Nigerian public. And for refusing to testify in secret, Otedola has been roundly vilified by the Chairman of the Committee as disobedient and stupid, while describing Lawan’s testimony as splendid.
These are why Otedola may have reasoned that justice might not be served and insisted instead on taking his case to the court of public opinion. But wait, what does the House stand to lose, if Otedola’s request for public hearing is honoured? Methinks none. It instead would have boosted its toga of impartiality .
That is why, I agree with the House member representing Kaduna on the platform of the PDP, Hon. Simon Yakubu Arabo that the Ethics and Privileges Committee’s handling of the bribery probe has done more harm than good to the image of the House. “The modus operandi that the Ethics Committee has adopted in its assignment is bringing this House to disrepute”, Arabo told the House last Thursday, in Abuja.
Beyond that, all the dramatics thus-far played out seem to point to a laboured attempt by unseen hands to save their own. This is what the House leadership had repeatedly preached against and which if not checked could inadvertently shift public sympathy away from both Lawan and the House, in favour of Otedola.
My Agony is that Lawan, of all people, accepted to testify in camera rather than insist on public hearing to openly prove his innocence, not to mention that he has not made public any extra efforts he has made to contradict Jagaba’s claim that the disputed $500,000 Lawan said he gave to Jagaba, is indeed intact.
That’s where Police must focus on. And avoid all privileges.
Soye Wilson Jamabo
Otedola And Lawan
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DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.