EFCC Lamorde Explains Why Big Thieves Evade Conviction For Corruption

EFCC’s Lamorde explains why big thieves evade conviction. Nigeria’s biggest fraudsters- mostly ex-governors and politicians-well known for evading justice, do so using their huge loots to lengthen cases filed against them, often repeating trips to the Supreme Court, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde said.
Mr. Lamorde rendered a frustrating narrative of the nation’s anti-corruption war on Thursday to the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes as he defended the commission’s budget.
Hardly offering unfamiliar details, the remarks again put on the spotlight the paradox of the nation’s anti-corruption war, which often punishes the lowly- somehow for lacking the resources to stage a good fight- while the mighty go free with their plunder.
This year alone, Mr. Lamorde said, over 200 convictions have been recorded. But nearly all involved the relatively low-scale pilferers, the 419 scammers, the Yahoo Yahoo boys and dubious bank officials.
But when it comes to multi-billion naira fraudsters, the stolen resources have been deployed to delay justice, with minor injunctions frequenting the Supreme Court.
“The truth is no case has been concluded,” the EFCC chairman said. “I don’t think it is correct to say that whether the charges framed are not properly done or the prosecution is not putting the case properly.”
“We have example of a case we charge to court in 2006; for this very case, we have gone to the Supreme Court twice on just interlocutory applications. They will file this, the judge will overrule them, they will go to Court of Appeal and lose there but they will still go to the Supreme Court,” he added.
When such cases are lost, he continued, the Supreme Court orders it be returned to the trial judge for continuation, then a fresh application will suddenly emerge anew.
“They will come with another application and certainly for lawyers among us we know how long it takes for a trial to go to Court of Appeal and get listed, then go to the Supreme Court get it listed and decided upon. This is the fate of most of the cases we have in court,” he said.
In the commission’s nearly-a-decade history, only a handful of high profile convictions have been recorded.
Several cases involving top politicians, accused of stealing public funds, have lingered for years after an initial public fanfare. Many of such cases, filed as early as 2005, remain unresolved, with some of the indicted officials still roaming the country as kingmakers, lawmakers, and political gladiators.
The EFCC in the past has blamed the law courts for the delays, clamouring for special anti-corruption courts to speed the process.
To block the frustration, Mr. Lamorde said the commission’s priority now is to forfeit the assets of the accused, to freeze the resources that would have been deployed in prolonging cases.
“The first thing we do now is that we try to recover and confiscate the assets of individuals that we are investigating because it is only when you deprive them of their resources that you will be able to force them to stand trial,” he said.
“Once they have access to their resources and asset, they will use it to continue to delay and drag some of these trials.”
Poor funding
Mr. Lamorde also presented a budget proposal of over N21 billion to the lawmakers.
The breakdown of the proposed budget shows that Capital Expenditure is N11 billion; Personnel Cost,N6 billion; and Overhead Cost, N3 billion.
Mr. Lamorde pointed out that the commission’s proposal of N21 billion against the N9.3 billion approved by the Budget Office of the Federation leaves a gap of N11.3 billion which could impact adversely on the operation of the agency.

Saharareporters

Photos: Meet the World’s Tallest Woman: Where are the Men?

For men who think they can stand up to face any woman, meeting Yao Defen might have them giving this idea a second thought.
Standing at 7 ft 8 (2.33 m) tall, Chinese-born Defen is the tallest living woman, as recognized by Guinness World Records. Born on July 15, 1972 and weighing 200 kilograms (440 lb), the size of her feet is 26 (UK) / 78 (EU).
Her gigantism is said to be due to a tumor in her pituitary gland. She was six feet nine inches tall by the age of fifteen years. Due to her condition, Defen has undergone series of surgeries. Yao currently suffers from hypertension, heart disease, poor nutrition, and osteoporosis.
Acromegaly often results from a tumor within the pituitary gland that causes excess growth hormone secretion. As a result, the body’s features become enlarged. It can also delay the onset of puberty as is the case with Yao. She has no secondary sexual characteristics. Potential complication lacking surgery includes blindness and eventually premature death. She lives near her mother (who is only four feet, eight inches tall) in a small village in rural China.

InformationNigeria.org

Five Alleged Police Informers Killed Outside Maiduguri

Boko Haram suspects

Five residents of Jere, outside of Maiduguri, were slain today, allegedly by  members of Jama’ atu Alusunna lildawati Wal Jihad known as Boko Haram.
The five were suspected to be helping security agencies track Boko Haram’s movements in the area.
According to a villager, the incident occurred in Shokari village around 2:am when a large group of men lay siege to about 10 houses and serially slaughtered the five men before escaping without any interference from either the townspeople or security agencies.
Military personnel have been stationed in the village and in other surrounding areas, tracking the movements of Boko Haram sect members.
Saharareporters

Chief Justice Of Nigeria Swears In Justice Ifeoma Jombo-Ofor As A Judge Of The Appeal Court

The Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Mariam Aloma Muhktar, today backed down from her earlier position to exclude Justice Ifeoma Jombo-Ofor from the bench of the Nigerian Court of Appeal.
Justice Ifeoma Jombo-Ofor was sworn in Abuja alongside Justice Zainab Adamu Bulkachukwa, who now serve as the president of the court of Appeal for the next three months. The searing of Justice Bulkachukwa, further complicates the planned the recall of the former president of the court, Justice Ayo Salami.
The CJN reportedly met Justice Salami a few weeks ago to discuss his recall on the condition that he turns in his resignation letter post dated to January 2013, but the Justice Salami rejected the offer.
Today’s swearing in of Justice Bulkachukwa is another peculiarity in Nigeria’s troubled history of judicial perfidy. Justice Bulkachukwa was the judge who created the mess in the Sokoto gubernatorial election petition that Justice Ayo Salami tried to rectify when his ruling against the current governor, Aliyu Wammako was stopped by then Chief Justice of the Nigeria, Aloysius Katsina- Alu.

LibertyReport

Gowon slams Obasanjo over attack on Jonathan

By Precious Igbonwelundu 

The Nation (2012): President Goodluck Jonathan got a big backer yesterday in his row with former President Olusegun Obasanjo over the government’s approach to the Boko Haram insurgency.
To former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Obasanjo’s criticism of the Jonathan administration’s handling of Boko Haram is “highly irresponsible”.
The doyen of accounting, Mr. Akintola Williams, also lashed out at Obasanjo.
Both spoke in Lagos on the sideline at the launch of a book, “Stay at the top”, authored by a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr. Omoniyi Komolafe.
Other eminent Nigerians at the book launch included the Head of the Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, the former Chief Medical Director, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Samuel Olowe, the Vice Chancellor of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Prof. Sola Fajana and representatives of Lagos, Osun and Ogun governors.
Speaking to The Nation, Gen. Gowon said: “Obasanjo is highly irresponsible to have made such comments about the present government.
“Many people have condemned what he (Obasanjo) did in Odi and Zaki Biam.
So, it was irresponsible for him to defend it or accuse the present administration.”
Gen. Gowon urged Nigerians to support the government so that the current challenges can be tackled collectively.
He said: “I know people are concerned about the security situation in the country, but I can assure you that the government is doing everything possible to tackle the situation.
“I remember during my time as Head of State, when we also had grave challenges. Some people said it was impossible to unite Nigeria and that we could not achieve it. Some also said we could not move the state capital from Lagos to another city.
“But, eventually, we were able to subdue the security challenges. I can tell you, we would not have been able to do it, if we did not enjoy the support of Nigerians.
“I urge our people to love and defend the unity of this country at all times. The government should be given the needed support so that it will be able to function.
“I am not saying government should not be criticised when it is doing wrong, but we should not say or do things that will cause more tension and confusion in our land.”
In Williams’ view, Obasanjo should be more circumspect.
“I am sure if he considers his statements, he would not say such things.
“When I was in practice, I had confrontations with him, but we grew to respect each other.
“I would have expected him to observe complete silence, especially commenting on offices now held by somebody else other than himself.”
Obasanjo, speaking in Warri last Thursday at one of the events, marking the 40th anniversary of Rev. Ayo Oritsejafor, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said President Jonathan’s response to Boko Haram’s insurgency is tepid.
Obasanjo said when faced with such a situation, he nipped it in the bud, saying Dr. Jonathan should have tackled the insurgency at the outset.
“My fear is that when you have a sore and you don’t attend to it early enough, it festers and becomes very bad. Don’t leave a problem that can be bad unattended,” Obasanjo said.
But President Jonathan chose the occasion of his Media Chat on Sunday to respond to Obasanjo’s criticism, saying Obasanjo’s administration’s military attack on Odi in 1999 after some policemen were killed, was a disaster, which failed to achieve its objective.
Jonathan alleged that contrary to Obasanjo’s claim, no militant was killed in the invasion.
He said as the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor at the time, he and (then) Governor Dipreye Alamieyeseigha visited Odi. They saw “some dead people, mainly old men and women and also children. None of those militants was killed. So, the bombardment of Odi was to solve the problem but it never solved it.”
Obasanjo’s former Adviser, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, On Tuesday replied Jonathan on behalf of his principal.
He said: “The truth is that the killing of security agents and soldiers with impunity by Niger Delta militants virtually stopped after the operation in Odi.”
Gen. Gowon, in his address as chairman of the book launch, said he was fascinated by the title of the book, adding that trust and transparency are qualities a good leader must possess.
“As Head of State, I religiously ensured that I reached out to people across all strata through contacts and visits in order to determine how government was perceived or to see how government fared.
Shonekan, who was the guest of honour, said the book was devoted to value reorientation.
He said the author had also brought to the fore the fact that it is never easy for anybody to get to the top in any field of endeavour. It requires a lot of humility, sagacity, commitment to duty and diligence to realise such lofty dreams.
“From experience, I can say that staying at the top is more difficult because for a number of factors, those at the top often lose their staying power. Their successes often get into their heads, their values become warped and sometimes, they cannot move with the dynamics of the time and in the process, they are overtaken by other contenders for the top position.”
Prof. Fajana reviewed the book.
LibertyReport

Gang of armed robbers led by a woman arrested in Akwa Ibom

The long arms of the law has finally caught up with a gang of armed robbers led by a woman in Akwa-Ibom State.
It was learnt that the culprits who are now cooling their feet in custody of the police in Ukanafun Local Government Area of the state specialise in snatching of cars, motorcycles and other valuable items from their unsuspecting victims.
Confessing to be a part of the dare-devil gang, Ubong Dickson, a native of Okoyo community, said he served as a linkman to other members.
The timely arrest of the Armed-robbers was successful due to the great efforts of Ukanafun Police Division and Rivers State Police Command.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Etim Dickson, the gangs; a woman and two men, were apprehended by his men at a black spot in Okoyo along Ukanafun-Azumini Road after a tip-off.
The police boss maintained that the arrest of the bandits was in good timing, as they are presently doing their best to purge the state of all forms of crimes, especially as the Christmas and New Year periods were fast approaching.
While assuring the residents of the state of tight security, Dickson also sounded a warning to all criminally-minded persons that the long arms of the law would soon catch up with them and their evil activities.
However, he stated that the arrested robbers would be charged to court as soon as the police concludes with their investigations.
DailyPost

Judge "Apologizes" For Postponing Ruling On Babangida's Theft Of $12.4bn Gulf War Oil Windfall-PREMIUM TIMES

Ibrahim Babangida

Nigerians will have to wait another week to know if Civil society groups have the right to know how $12.4 billion gulf oil windfall was spent by the Federal Government under former Military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida, following the adjournment of a suit over the money.
Gabriel Kolawole, presiding judge of the Federal High Court, Friday morning, postponed the delivery of judgement on the matter to November 29.
The judge apologised for the adjournment, which is one of many previous adjournments in the suit.
A group, the Socio-Economic and Accountability Project (SERAP), and five others sued the Attorney- General of the Federation (AGF) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over the much publicised $12.4 billion oil windfall, which the country recorded between 1988 and 1992, while former military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida was in power.
The plaintiffs also asked the court to make an order compelling the CBN and the AGF to publish detailed accounts relating to the spending of the sum of money between 1988 and 1994. They also sought for an order of the court compelling the respondents to diligently and effectively bring to justice anyone suspected of corruption and mismanagement of the sum; as well as the release the official copy of a probe into the spendings by a committee set up by the government and headed by Pius Okigbo.
The Federal Government argued, among others, that it could not find an official copy of the probe report and that “only the AGF as a defender of public interest has the right to seek information on the spending of the $12.4 billion oil windfall.”