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N107billion: Lying against Ikpeazu destructive – APGA chieftain warns Otti
“Let me give you an example, why this is very important. If you’re doing a good job, and suddenly you start mixing the good job you’re doing with some lies, when these lies come out, you’ll lose focus. You’ll lose the sympathy of the people. You’ll lose the love people have for you and that’s why I’m concerned about this Government. They’re doing marvellously very well in the area of infrastructure and the people love them.
These were the exact words of Chikwe Udensi, a security consultant with the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), and chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, as he weighed in on Wednesday on the current faceoff between Alex Otti, Governor of Abia State and Okezie Ikpeazu, his immediate predecessor over allegations of the latter’s massive pillaging of the state resources
Against the backdrop of the governor’s revelation that Ikpeazu the APGA chieftain, said he was disturbed at the way his (Otti’s) government was treating with kid gloves, the alleged embezzlement of N107 billion Abia money, which was already making the allegation to appear false despite the claim of coming from forensic auditing.
Otti, in the United States, recently, had told indigenes of the state in the country, how Ikpeazu practically feasted on the state resources during his eight-year tenure, saying: “N79.3 billion naira was paid to seven Contractors for contracts that were not executed at all.
“Another 15.9 billion almost 16 billion was paid to 63 contractors with no supporting documents anywhere. Another 13 billion naira was paid to two contractors for contracts that do not exist out of these figures, and 10 billion naira was on September 25, 2020, paid to some contractor for the construction of Abia State Airport.”
But, Udensi, who inferred that he was scandalised by the revelation, during a monitored Radio Phone-in Programme, said that he was not taking the government very seriously in such allegations because there were clear evidence that it made similar allegations in the past which it did not prove to be true.
His words: “Some of the organisers of the Governor’s Trip to America are very close to me and known to me. What I asked for is the full record of the whole proceeding not just what the Governor said. However, I’m a bit disturbed that a matter like this is being treated with trivial attitudes. I’m concerned that N107 billion is alleged to have been embezzled and we’re talking about some contractors and using native knowledge to go and locate the airport. We must get serious.
“107 billion? By now we should have commenced a full investigation and all those who are responsible for such heinous arrangements should be in detention if the proper process are taken. What do I mean by proper process? The crime is said to have been committed in Abia State, the alleged suspects are all in Abia State, the investigation was done in Abia State, then the announcement of the results of the investigation was done in the United States of America.
“You recall that when the governor came in, he indicated that he’s going to investigate the regimes that were before him. We were expecting an investigation from 1999 to 2023, but he chose only the Ikpeazu administration to investigate.
“You’ll recall that on open parliament, I criticised it because I was not comfortable with it. When you seem to specify your level of interest, people may become suspicious of what actually your interest is. Again given the fact that everybody must remain innocent until proven guilty, you cannot insist by any imagination that anybody is a criminal. Look at what’s happening in social media right now, the trial is going on social media.
“In Investigation, when you see any of the security agencies start media trial on a case, then they have no case. Go and check it, go and check records. Once they leave the court where you ought to take your matter to and go to the media, you’re playing to the gallery and people like us cannot take you seriously because nothing can be more evil than an accusation that denies the accused the right of defence.
“Let’s look at the things that have happened in Abia State. There are things that make me not take all those records I see seriously because I personally have reasons to question some of the things that are being done in my state. That doesn’t mean that my Governor is not doing well in the area of infrastructure. I’ve commended him because he’s doing very well in the area of infrastructure, but there are things that ought to be done and done properly.
“You remember that about 5,000 ghost workers were found. The Governor himself announced it and we said for 5,000 ghost workers to be collecting salaries in Abia State without working is a heinous crime. Billions were being paid to them according to Abia State government and we said, these ghost workers in Abia State are being paid through a bank account, let’s have the bank account.
“It should be published so that first of all, we can make a mockery of those whose names are there. Nobody can open an account with the necessary requirements like BVN etc. So, these 5,000 ghost workers, how were they being paid? Were they being paid cash? Let’s find out that we have an honest disposition of a government that will give proper information.
“That’s why some of us are very skeptical about the 107 billion that has gone to the press for prosecution. We were told that we’ve cleared nine years of arrears of pension, only for us to realise that only 40 per cent were being paid to them for the past nine months. What they’re doing right now is the balance of 60 per cent which is what they owed throughout the nine months that they’ve been in government.
“I was very impressed when the Commissioner for Finance came to the radio station. I still have the record of what he said and I’ve interacted with some of his officers. What the state government paid was the balance of the nine months they owed and not the arrears of nine years that they announced. It was very disturbing when I heard about this level of inconsistency from the government.
“The truth should be told. The truth is that the government paid the balance of what it owed and that NUP has arranged with you to forgive the balance. Don’t tell us that you’ve paid the arrears. The truth is what we need. It gives a wrong impression, it gives a wrong note and it gives a confusing arrangement. It deceived the people if I may use proper language.
“You also remember the N1.5 billion that was put in the budget for two Hilux Pickups? This N1.5 billion passed through all the levels of budgeting. From proposition to going to the house to the committee and coming back to the Governor for assent. Today, we’re being told that it’s a typographical error. How can a typographical error pass through the process of proposition to the stage of signing into law? At what point did it start?
“You don’t just make one audit and then announce it as Forensic, no. If you’re accusing somebody, the record of the accuser must be in consonant with your own records before it becomes Forensic. I’m a fellow of that Institute, Chartered Institute of Forensic Investigation and I know how it works. You must give us records the way they are so that we can hold the Government to account.
“Abians today love the job the government of Alex Otti is doing. We should not add falsehood to the beautiful job we’re doing. Look at Lokpanta. I did a personal investigation in Lokpanta. 50 beheaded bodies, 20 decaying bodies and so many bones, I sent people into Lokpanta to find out, we were told that there was gunrunning in the place and that the place was to be closed down. What happened later?
“Look at the case of Local Government funds. The Governor told us in very clear terms that his government will not touch any local government fund. If he does any, on the contrary, people like us who have discerning spirits, we expect it to be so. If I don’t see the facts, I cannot hold anybody culpable, especially now that the government you’ve accused has come out to tell you, show us the records. The past government has denied making N10 billion payment for any airport.
“I want the governor to leave the United States of America and return to Abia so everybody can see the records and know the company that was paid those amount of money being mentioned, see the bank it was paid into, see who received the money and then take the right steps. N107 billion wasted when salaries and pensions could not be paid, infrastructure was dying and we had N107 billion somewhere?
“It’s a serious matter for Abians and for us to take it seriously, we must have facts and if those facts are not verifiable, I’ll treat it as fraudulent as I’ve treated the other ones. We must do what’s right. What we’re doing today by accusing people without going to court and without showing what they’ve done is wrong and unacceptable for people like me. It may be acceptable to some other persons because we all have our various opinions and procedures. We must do things rightly.
“It was initially said that Abia State didn’t out any investment in Geometric and we’ve found out that it’s not true. Government should give us facts, Government should be factual. Before you come to talk to the people, you must have gotten your facts right. You’re doing a good job in infrastructure, continue the good job you’re doing, but tell us the truth. We cannot accept any lies from anybody.”
Members of the House of Representatives are going through the award of the controversial Lagos-Calabar coastal highway contract, on the suspicion that it did not pass the integrity test in terms of the process, one of the grounds on which the main opposition figures in the country, including Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi, his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, have attacked it.
The members of the lower legislative chambe during plenary on Thursday, adopted the motion sponsored by Austin Achado, a lawmaker representing Gwer east/Gwer west federal constituency of Benue, which also included the summoning of David Umahi, Minister of Works, Wale Edun, his Finance counterpart and Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), to furnish them with “all guarantees and credit enhancement instruments,” for the project.
The federal government recently commenced the construction of the 700km Lagos-Calabar coastal road — which is expected to run through the shoreline of beach resorts in Lagos, while traversing eight other states, a project which has run into murky waters of criticisms from many quarters.
The naysayers had questioned not only the transparency of the contract award process, but the viability, as well as the priority of the project at a time major highways in Nigeria are not only in states of eyesore, but have become death-traps, while providing leeway for criminals to operate.
Achado, who said the “award strategy” of the road contract violated the Public Procurement Act 2007, told his colleagues: “This laudable project with the prospect of providing easy access for movement of goods and services across the nation, has a financing structure, as announced by the honourable minister of works, which requires the federal government to provide 15 percent to 30 percent co-financing, while the private sector counterpart will provide the balance.
“And to toll the road when completed for a minimum period of 15 years to ensure full recovery of all debts and equity applied for the delivery of the project. There are concerns that the Procurement Strategy may have violated the Public Procurement Act 2007, section 40(2) which requires that where a procuring authority adopts to use restrictive tendering approach, it should be on the basis that the said goods and services are available only from a limited number of suppliers and contractors and as such, tenders shall be invited from all such contractors who can provide such goods and services.
“The procurement strategy adopted by the federal ministry of works for the award of the contract violates the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission Act 2005. Section 4 of the Act outlines that all approved infrastructure projects and contracts for financing, construction and maintenance must be advertised for open competitive public bid, in at least three national dailies, and section 5 of the Act further clarifies that any direct negotiations with only one contractor could be allowed, only after exhausting the provisions of section 4.”
Unyime Idem, Chairman, Committee on Public Procurement, said parliament who said that the members had received several petitions demanding the investigation of the procurement process of the project, hence the need to heed to the cries of Nigerians to scrutinise the process.
After the motion was adopted when it was put to a voice vote by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, the lawmakers mandated the committees on public procurement and works to investigate the matter, and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria will earn a total wage of N64.68million every year, broken into N5.3million monthly if the proposal currently at the final stage of passage at the Senate eventually sails through, is eventually signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, since the House of Representatives has already passed it.
It is contained in the bill seeking to increase the salaries of judicial officers in Nigeria, which will also see Supreme Court judges earning N50.52million yearly or N4.21million every month, President of the Court of Appeal earning N4.8million monthly or N57.60million yearly, while justices of the second tier court would go home with N44.76million yearly or N3.73million monthly.
Entitled: “A bill for an act to prescribe the salaries, allowances and fringe benefits of judicial office holders in Nigeria and for related matters (2024),” the proposal is sponsored by Deputy Majority Leader Ashiru Yisa (APC-Kwara South).
The House of Representatives had on March 20 passed the bill originating as an executive bill from Tinubu, who had pledged to up the pay package of judicial officers across the country, under which arrangement the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, President of the National Industrial Court, Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Grand Khadi, FCT Sharia Court of Appeal, President of Customary Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of State High Court and Grand Khadi of State Sharia Court of Appeal and President of State Customary Court of Appeal are to earn a monthly package of N3.53 million.
Other allowances not embedded in the total monthly package include leave allowances, estacode per night of $2000 when applicable, duty tour allowances when applicable, severance gratuity of N80.78 million after successful completion of tenure as well as an option of motor vehicle loan to be repaid before the expiration of tenure.
It would be recalled that President Bola Tinubu had in a letter read by Senate president, Godswill Akpabio, during plenary on March 20 proposed a salary increase for judicial officers in the country.
The President in the letter argued that the bill would promote the independence and capacity of the Nigerian judiciary system.
Senator Yisa in his lead debate said remuneration was needed to reflect the contemporary socio-economic realities of the times.
He argued that the proposed legal framework would bring about significant improvement in the welfare, capacity, and independence of the judiciary, which have remained contentious issues of public discourse over the years.
In his contribution, the deputy president of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, thanked President Tinubu for proposing a Bill to increase the salaries and allowance for Judicial Officers in the country.
Barau said: “I joined the President of the Senate to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for bringing forward this Bill. This is very important and he has done well, not only for the judiciary but for the entire nation.
“Mr. President, by the nature of the judicial officers, they don’t agitate. They cry in silence, and they don’t speak out. Other workers agitate, and they stage protests. But the judiciary doesn’t talk; they cry in silence.
“Now, the president of the country has spoken for them. What he did is something laudable and we are applauding him here. Because a country that didn’t take its judiciary in a very important passion is doomed.
“And when you want to take the judiciary seriously, you have to take the remuneration of the judiciary staff seriously. That is very important, and that is what he has done. They have stagnated for several years.
“What the president has done should be supported and we will give him more support to continue to work on this kind of trajectory for the development of the nation. So, Mr. President, I joined you and other colleagues to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC – Borno North) Monguno, said improving the welfare of judges will insulate them from corruption and ensure they deliver just and fair judgments.
On his part, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC-Abia North), said: “No right-thinking Nigerian will not think that it is right to keep the judiciary comfortable. I want to thank the executive for deeming it fit to increase the salaries of judges at all levels.”
Senators later approved that the bill be read for a second time when it was put to voice vote by Akpabio.
Akpabio thereafter referred the Bill to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters for further legislative input and to report back in four weeks.
The Nigerian Senate on Thursday, May 9, passed a law replacing the penalty for those convicted of drug offences from the initial life sentence as originally contained in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act to death, raising the bar to what it used to be when the military was in power.
Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno North), Chairman, had presented a report of the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters and Drugs and Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which did not contain the provision, before the lawmakers upgraded it.
The bill, which passed its third reading, and aimed at updating the list of dangerous drugs, strengthen the operations of the NDLEA, review penalties, and empower the establishment of laboratories, had the killer provision in section 11, after the lawmakers sat on the matter.
The relevant section, which initially reads: “Any person who, without lawful authority; imports, manufactures, produces, processes, plants or grows the drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD, heroin or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for life” was amended to reflect a “stiffer penalty of death.”
The Senators were persuaded to upgrade the sentence from life imprisonment to death after listening to the submissions of Ali Ndume, Borno South, who moved that the life sentence should be upgraded, to the death penalty.
During a clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, put the amendment on the death penalty to a voice vote and ruled that the “ayes” had it.
But Adams Oshiomhole, Edo North, who objected to the ruling, saying that the “nays” had it, argued that matters of life and death should not be treated hurriedly, but Barau said it was too late, as he failed to call for division immediately after his ruling, and thereafter, the bill was subsequently read for the third time and passed by the Senate.
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