Senegalese Woman Is New FIFA Secretary-General

Fatma Samoura Becomes The First Female and The First African In Such Position.


For the first time in the history of world football governing body, FIFA, a woman and an African has been appointed as the Secretary- General.
Senegal’s Fatma Samoura has been appointed as FIFA’s Secretary-General, becoming the first female in that post and the first African in such position.
She succeeds former secretary-general Jerome Valcke, who was recently banned from football-related activity for 12 years.
The 54-year old Samoura, whose full names are Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura, spent 21 years working for the United Nations and will assume duties at the world football governing body in June.
“It is essential that FIFA incorporates fresh perspectives as we continue to restore and rebuild our organisation,’’ FIFA President Gianni Infantino said of the appointment.
“She has a proven ability to build and lead teams, and improve the way organisations perform.
“Importantly for FIFA, she also understands that transparency and accountability are at the heart of any well-run and responsible organisation.’’
Samoura’s appointment, announced at FIFA’s congress in Mexico City, completes a new-look to an organisation which has been dogged by corruption allegations under Valcke and previous president Sepp Blatter.
Former FIFA president, Blatter, stood down last year and was later suspended from football for six years for breaching ethics guidelines.
After his appointment in February, Infantino had said he would “work tirelessly to bring football back to FIFA and FIFA back to football.’’
Samoura, who will undergo an eligibility check before her role is ratified, currently works for the UN in Nigeria, and speaks four languages.
She started her UN career as a senior logistics officer with the World Food Programme in Rome in 1995.
Samoura has since served as country representative or director in six African countries, including Nigeria.
“Today is a wonderful day for me, and I am honoured to take on this role,” she said.
“This role is a perfect fit for my skills and experience — strategic, high-impact team building in international settings — which I will use to help grow the game of football all over the world.
“I also look forward to bringing my experience in governance and compliance to bear on the important reform work that is already underway at FIFA.
“FIFA is taking a fresh approach to its work — and I am eager to play a role in making that approach as effective and lasting as possible.’’


  The Elites

Global Coalition Against Corruption: Diezani, Ibori, Dariye, Igbinedion, Alamieyeseigha, 55 Other Nigerians May Lose UK Assets

Fresh facts emerged yesterday that more than 60 top Nigerians may lose assets and cash laundered in the United Kingdom.
According to report by The Nation, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) may soon submit a list of those convicted, under probe, the fleeing suspects and those watch-listed to the relevant agencies in the UK.
The UK was said to be in custody of over £40 million stolen funds recovered from some Nigerian government officials in 2008.
This is apart from about £22.5million recovered from the Island of Jersey.
Of the cash, about £6.8million loot had been traced to ex-Governor James Ibori.
Some of those likely to be affected include ex-governors like James Ibori, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, Joshua Dariye, the late Abubakar Audu, Chimaroke Nnamani, Lucky Igbinedion, the immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, and others.
Others are about 13 ex-governors on trial for financial crimes, some former ministers either on trial or under investigation, some indicted top bankers during the 2008 financial crisis.
Six of the ex-governors were alleged to have acquired assets worth £15million in the United Kingdom, while in office.
One of the governors allegedly paid £1.6million at a go in 2005 for a posh mansion in London.
According to findings, about 60 highly-placed Nigerians, especially politically exposed persons and their fronts, have assets and looted funds in the United Kingdom and Island of Jersey.
For instance, Ibori’s assets in the UK are said to worth more than $150 million. A former director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) owns a flat in St George Wharf worth about 4.5 million pounds more than 10 years ago, while another top civil servant owns 1.65 million pounds Fulham property.
It was learnt that the decision of the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, to collaborate with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has dimmed the hope of the affected treasury looters.
A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “With the pledge of the British Prime Minister, we will just go to our shelf and reel out the list of those with suspected loot and laundered funds in the United Kingdom.
“Already, we have the dossiers of all these suspects right from the days of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as the EFCC chairman.
“We can talk of about 60 on our radar, including about 13 governors, former ministers, oil subsidy suspects, indicted top bankers and some of those involved in the $15billion arms deals.
“We will recover all the stolen funds. In fact, very soon, we may start publishing the photographs of the identified assets of some of these suspects.
“In fact, the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, met with the Special Fraud Office in London on Thursday.
“We can seize these assets under the Interim Forfeiture Order in Sections 26 and 29 of the EFCC Act.
The section reads: “Any property subject to forfeiture under this Act may be seized by the commission in the following circumstances- (a) the seizure is incidental to an arrest or search; or (b) in the case of property liable to forfeiture upon process issued by the Court following an application made by the Commission in accordance with the prescribed rules.
“Whenever property is seized under any of the provisions of this Act, the Commission may-(a) place the property under seal; or (b) remove the property to a place designated by the Commission.
“Properties taken or detained under this section shall be deemed to be in custody of the Commission, subject only to an order of a Court.”
The EFCC and the Metropolitan Police have been collaborating in the past few years.
The British government had, in 2008, expressed its willingness to return about £40 million stolen funds recovered from some Nigerian government officials.
A former Acting British High Commissioner to Nigeria, James Tansley, on September 27, 2007 handed over two cheques for more than $250,000 (£126,000, 29.3m naira) to Nigeria.
The UK Metropolitan Police had said the amount was only a fraction of the fortunes that the former Governor of Plateau State, Chief Joshua Dariye, and other Nigerian officials had diverted to London.
A cheque for $2 million belonging to a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, was also returned to Nigeria by the British government.
President Muhammadu Buhari had during the week pleaded with the UK to return stolen funds to Nigeria.
“I am not going to demand any apology from anybody. What I am demanding is the return of assets,” Buhari said at a function in London.



  The Elites

Sexual Molestation: FG Panel Exonerates Queen’s College Teacher

---

THE Federal Government has exonerated the teacer, Mr. Olaseni Osifala, from allegation of sexual molestation of a junior secondary school II student of Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos.
Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwukah, briefed newsmen on Friday, in Abuja, on the outcome of the investigation panel into the allegation of sexual molestation and cover up by the management of the College.
He said the Investigation Committee did not establish any credible evidence against the accused teacher, considering the fact that Mrs. Chinenye Okoye remained unidentified, faceless and inaccessible despite the Committee’s best efforts and assurances to protect her identity and that of her daughter.
Consequently, the Investigation Committee finds it difficult to recommend disciplinary action against the accused teacher as the complainant failed to come forward to prove this weighty accusation.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government, on 22nd of March, 2016, set up a seven-Man Investigation Committee to look into the allegation of sexual molestation of a junior secondary school II student of Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos.
Anwukah, said this step became necessary following several reports from the conventional and social media networks, alleging that, a teacher of the College, Mr. Olaseni Osifala, had molested one Miss Okoye, a student of the College.
The allegation was supposedly made by the girl’s mother, one Mrs. Chinenye Okoye.
The Minister said when the panel was set up government deliberately kept the identity of the Committee members confidential, as a result of the sensitive nature of the assignment, as well as the need to avoid undue pressure and interference on the Committee members.
The committee which has the Director, Internal Audit, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Paul Boyo as chairman, has Mrs. Olusola-Dada O.T., (Deputy Director Human Resources), Mrs. Itodo Elizabeth, (Deputy Director, Basic & Secondary Education), Mr. Amudipe Gabriel Olu, (Assistant Director, Education, Support Services), Mrs. Gbola Awopetu Yewande, (Assistant Legal Adviser), Mr. Allred Olufunwa, (Department of State Services), and Mrs. Olayiwola Suliat, (Assistant Director Basic and Secondary Education) as Secretary.
The Committee had the following terms of reference including ascertaining the veracity of the allegation and existence of any unprofessional behaviour on the part of the teacher.
They were also to determine if there were any male staff member living within the proximity of the hostel who could pose a threat to the students and to examine the remote and immediate causes of the students’ protest action that followed.
The panel was also mandated to recommend steps towards preventing sexual molestation of students in all Federal Government Colleges as well as recommend sanctions against anyone found culpable.
The Minister disclosed that in the course of its assignment, the Committee called for memoranda from the principal, the Queens College Old Girls Association, the Parents Teachers Association, the concerned mother (Mrs. Chinenye Okoye), Mr. Osifala (the accused teacher), teachers and members of staff of the college, Students’ Representative Council, the School-Based-Management Committee and the general public.
He added that the Committee also took oral evidence from relevant stakeholders.
He said: ” When we received the report of the Committee on Monday 25th April 2016, again we set up a 5-man Committee to study the report and prepare a draft White Paper.
“Members of this committee are: Mr. Lawrence Ogundana -Chairman, (Director, Library Services); Mrs. Justina Ngozi Ibe, member; (Director, Education Support Services) Mrs. Gbemi Ajibade, member; (Director Legal Services), Prof. Godswill Obioma-member; (Special Assistant (Technical) to the Honourable Minister of State for Education)
Mr. Adebayo Odejinmi – Member/Secretary; and (Deputy Director, Office of the Permanent Secretary).
“We are pleased to address this Press Conference today (Fruday), in order to share with you, as well as students, teachers, parents, relevant stakeholders and indeed the general public, the recommendations of the Investigation Committee, and Government’s position on all issues relating to the allegation.
“Summary of Recommendations of the Investigation Committee. The Investigation Committee did not establish any credible evidence against the accused teacher, considering the fact that Mrs. Chinenye Okoye remained unidentified, faceless and inaccessible despite the Committee’s best efforts and assurances to protect her identity and that of her daughter.
“Consequently, the Investigation Committee finds it difficult to recommend disciplinary action against the accused teacher as the complainant failed to come forward to prove this weighty accusation.
“From the various interactions held with the past Principals of the College and the current Management of the College, the Committee observed that the College had zero tolerance for such vices as sexual molestations, as prompt actions were always taken in the past cases of alleged inappropriate behaviour or sexual molestation by Staff.
“Therefore, the Committee could not establish any cover up of Sexual Molestation by the Management of Queens College as alleged in Mr. Osifala’s case.
“Furthermore, anyone with information that can lead to identifying the alleged victim or her mother or with any credible and substantiated evidence that was not earlier made available to the Investigation Committee during their sittings on the allegation against the teacher can still approach the Ministry accordingly.
“Government position: the Federal Ministry of Education notes and accepts all the recommendations of the Committee and will take actions as appropriate,” he stated.

TheElites

Intense Lobbying of Possible Successors Begins

…Profiles of The Six Contenders
As the tenure of the incumbent Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase comes to an end in June this year, intense lobbying and profiling of possible successors has commenced, with six top Police officers jostling for the number one cop position in the country.
They are AIG Hassan Bala Abdulahi, AIG Johnson Ogunsakin, Olufemi Adebowale Adenaike, CP Austin Iwar, AIG Umar Abubakar Manko and Ibrahim Idris.
By next month, Arase, the number one police officer in the country would have attained the mandatory age of 60.
It will be recalled that the presidency deliberately allowed the IGP to complete his tenure by ignoring the option of sending him on terminal leave due to the impressive manner he was handling the high rate of insecurity in the country.
A dependable source revealed that Arase’s retirement date draws closer, some senior police officers and prominent persons have have started lobbying for themselves and on behalf of others.
But It was gathered reliably that the presidency is more disposed to picking Arese’s successor based on professionalism, competence and integrity, which is different from the old ways of mere favouritism, ethnicity and religious considerations.
Our source who preferred not be named in print said, “Although people have been lobbying for themselves and on behalf of others- one just left my office this afternoon- what I have told each of them is that the President is not somebody you go and talk to on such matters because he is a retired military Officer himself.
“He understands what is good and what destroys the service. I think the easiest thing this president can ever do is to choose the service chiefs. So, lobbying would not help anybody, in fact it will even destroy your case.
“I believe he will look at their antecedents, their records, qualification, competence and let me say this, nobody should lobby for anything because Buhari will not accept anybody he knows would not able to do the job. I cannot even speak to him , but if, he asks me, of course I would make an input, but ultimately it is going to be based on merit, competence, records of service, professionalism and integrity”, the source.
LEADERSHIP checks revealed that about four Assistant Inspectors General and two Commissioner of Police are in the line of succession as Solomon Arase bows out in June.
The contest for who succeeds the current Inspector General of Police is keen, as the lobbyists are said to be doing everything possible to ensure their candidates emerge the number one Police officer for the country.
It was also gathered that politicians, traditional rulers, business moguls as well as some past Inspectors General of Police have been enlisted in the various lobby camps.

AIG Hassan Bala Abdulahi: Born on August 25, 1959 in Nasarawa local government area in Kano State, AIG Abdulahi holds a degree in Chemistry from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1981), a Masters degree in Law from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology and M.Sc, Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan and is currently Phd candidate in Policing and Community Safety, Abdulahi. He is currently the AIG in charge of Zone 2. He has held several positions, including Commissioner of Police Edo, Rivers and Abia states. He is also one-time commissioner in charge of Mobile Police Force at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. Abdullah is expected to retire from service in December 2017.
AIG Johnson Ogunsakin: Born on August 1, 1957 from Ekiti, Ogunsakin is AIG in charge of zone 10. The former state was Commissioner of Police, Rivers State holds a degree in Political Science/History from the University of Ife (1980). He joined the force on December 8, 1982 and is also due for retirement on August 1, 2017. He has held various command positions, including Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit, and head of operations, Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions (EFCC).
Olufemi Adebowale Adenaike: Born on December 3, 1958, Adenaike who hails from Ogun state joined the Police force on December 8, 1982. He is currently the AIG in charge of the Department of Training and Development at the Force Headquarters. He has held various positions, including Commissioner of police Kaduna State command and Commissioner of Police, Federal Operations at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. Has a degree in Sociology from the University of Lagos, Masters Degree in Sociology from the same university. He is due for retirement from service in December, 2017.
CP Austin Iwar: He is the current commissioner of Police, Gombe State command and hails from Benue State. Before his elevation to his present position, he was principal staff officer to former IGP Sulaiman Abba, where he was responsible for the strategic management and handling of complex situations and multiple responsibilities simultaneously; assisting in the strategic planning and supervision of the implementation of NPF plans on behalf of the IGP; management of IGP’s schedules; secretary to IGP’s management meetings; management and leadership of IGP secretariat staff made up of senior officers with responsibilities for; Performance Management of the NPF; Police Reforms; Policy and Strategy; Intelligence Management; Investigation, Human Rights and Legal Issues; Strategic Communications; Intergovernmental Affairs; International Cooperation; This role also includes supervision of IGPs administrative staff; liaison with Senior Management Team. Iwar who is also a graduate of London Metropolitan University is presently a PhD candidate. What stands as an advantage for him despite being junior to the other contenders is that his state, Benue, has never produced IGP before. Besides, while the constitution says any senior officer can be made IGP, it does not specify a particular rank to be attained before qualifying for the police top job.
AIG Umar Abubakar Manko: Born on June 14, 1958, Manko who hails from Niger State was a one-time Commissioner of Police for Lagos State, and AIG in charge of zone 2, before he was moved to the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos. Manko who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from the University of Sokoto, enlisted into the police as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police on December 31, 1984. He has held several positions, including Commissioner of Police (administration), at the Police Academy, Kano; CP, Airport Command; CP, Kaduna and Sokoto states commands. Manko is due for retirement in June 2018.
CP Ibrahim Idris: Having obtained two academic degrees of law and agriculture at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and University of Maiduguri, respectively, Idris had also attended numerous courses and trainings in Nigeria and abroad and partook in several peace keeping missions in many countries of the world. CP Idris started his police career in 1984 when he joined the force as Cadet ASP after which he was posted as Gusau Police Divisional Crime Officer in 1986 and later Unit Commander 7PMF Sokoto between 1987 and 1989. Owing to his excelling competence, unique performance, commitment to duty and doggedness, CP Idris was elevated to the rank of Deputy Police Commissioner Operations and Second in Command at the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor Leste UNMIT between 2009 to April 2011 and again, Acting Police Commissioner UNMIT. In July of the same year he was appointed Kano State Commissioner of Police, a position he held until February 2013 when he was selected to attend Senior Police Officers Course at Nigeria Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies Kuru (NIPSS) where he bagged the prestigious mni membership.

Source: LEADERSHIP

INTERVIEW: Buhari speaks to TheCable on herdsmen, militants and ‘selective probe’

👤by TheCable

During the week in London, President Muhammadu Buhari spoke on burning national issues to journalists from four media houses, including TheCable.
Below are the excerpts.

On a permanent solution to the herdsmen crisis

The problem is virtually as old as Nigeria itself. Culturally, the herdsmen don’t stay in one place. They move with the season. Normally, harvest is completed much earlier in the north. Then they have to move southwards for green pasture. In the first republic, there was what they called cattle routes and grazing areas. They were marked. Infrastructure were put in terms of windmills, earth dams, even veterinary clinics. Now after first republic, people turned these places into farms. And if you have 500 cows, if they don’t eat for 24 hours, or need water, you can’t stop them [from moving around].
What they used to do then is that if anybody went outside the cattle route, or outside the grazing area, he would be arrested, taken before an alkali’s court, fined. If he can pay, okay. The money is taken and given to the farmer. If he can’t pay, the cattle is sold and the farmer is paid. People were behaving themselves. So when people came and took away the land for the cattle route, for the grazing areas, you find out that from Kaduna to Bayelsa, Nigerians are fighting cattle rearers now. But when I was in the Petroleum Trust Fund, we made a comprehensive study of cattle routes and grazing areas throughout Nigeria. I am referring the governors’ forum and the minister of agriculture and rural development to the report. Let them see what they can do and save the situation.
Meanwhile, there seems to be some credibility that there are other than Nigerian cattle rearers involved. Now this is because of what happened in Libya. Gaddafi, during his 43-year regime, trained some people from the Sahel… militarily, he trained them. And when his regime was overthrown, those people were again dispatched to their countries. They are gone, carrying their weapons and they found themselves even in Boko Haram. It is a major regional and virtually African problem. They work with al Qaeda, with Boko Haram, and so on. It is a government project now to trace them, and disarm them and if necessary try them and lock them up.

On Niger Delta militancy flaring up again

I was elected by the whole country and the least I can do is to keep the country together. I assure you, we will develop the capacity to do it. If you could recall, I appointed a retired brigadier-general, Paul Boroh, and when I give people assignment and give them the terms of reference, I allow them to do their work. I spoke to the chief of naval staff and other service chiefs to work with him and help him to make sure that those who are blowing the installations and subverting investments in Nigeria, we will deal with them eventually. The militants are saying the agreement entered for the amnesty, including payments and training and employment were not being met. To the best of my knowledge, these are their grievances. So we put this officer who is from there to revisit the agreement, and see which part the federal government needs to fulfill.

On the sustainability of the payments

We have to secure Nigeria before we can manage it efficiently. And I assure you we are going to do that. We will try and develop confidence in our ability to do it eventually.

On if he believes in privatisation

I believe in privatisation. It is efficient. But we have to talk to those who make a lot of noise about privatisation. Their own privatisation, how successful is it? We are trying to be in a state of “beyond the token”. [For instance], if you claim to be a good farmer, how much investment did you put into it? Then we help you with tractors, with advisers, to make sure you do produce. We give you seeds and fertilizers. But we don’t just believe whatever you say.

On Chibok girls negotiation

My problem is that you just don’t produce five [and say you want to negotiate]. Over 200 girls are missing. We need at least 50, to be sure they are safe, and we join them to their families, take them back to their schools, then we can negotiate. Whatever they did in the past is not the issue. All we want is to recover the girls.

On his assessment of the anti-corruption crusade

So far, what has come out, what has been recovered, in whatever currency, from which ministry, department and individuals, I intend on the 29th [of May] to speak on this because all that Nigerians are getting to know are from the newspapers, radio and television because of the number of people arrested by EFCC, DSS. We want to make a comprehensive report by May 29.

On Publishing the names of those indicted

Eventually, it has to be done because we want to successfully prosecute them. But you know you can’t go to the court unless you have the documents to do your prosecution – where some of these people sign for these monies, send it to their personal bank accounts. Their banks gave a statement that the money is there when it came how much of it available and so on.

On ‘Selective probe’ of PDP campaign funding

The accusation will be against the law enforcement agencies. But I can assure you we don’t interfere. Try and get the list of those who are now under arrest, either with EFCC or already taken to prison, you will find out that it is across the board.

On Implementing the budget despite late passage

It depends on the technocrats. We have six months to implement the budget. But you know why there was a delay. There is something called “padding”. I’ve been in government since 1975. I was governor of the north-east state, which is now six states: Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, and Taraba. Then I was in Obasanjo’s cabinet, in the petroleum ministry, for three and a quarter years. I was head of state for 20 months. I never heard the word “padding” until this year. I never heard about it. And what does it mean? It means that the technocrats just allow the government to make its noise, go and make presentation to the national assembly, so they will remove it and put their own. So, when we uncovered this, we just have to go back to the basics again.
Ministers again had to go and appear before the minister of budget and planning and make presentation again. And this was clearly brought out by the minister of health. I saw with my own eyes, nobody told me. I was watching NTA. He appeared before a committee. And they said, ‘Oya, minister, come and defend your budget.’ He looked at what they presented to him as his own budget and he said I have nothing to defend. They said what do you mean, and he said this is not what I presented. And subsequently we discovered that it was not only the ministry of health. So they allow you to talk rubbish as government and then they do what they like.

You’re guilty of epic hypocrisy, The Guardian of London tells UK PM

• For saying Nigeria is fantastically corrupt

THE Guardian of Lon­don has questioned the morality of the British Prime Minister David Cameron, to host a sum­mit on corruption when the International Mon­etary Fund (IMF) and others recognise London as a tax haven.
The Guardian, in its Editorial yesterday, was reacting to Cameron’s comment on Nigeria and Afghanistan as two fan­tastically corrupt coun­tries. Cameron made the statement during a visit to Queen Elizabeth II to mark her 90th birthday.
The newspaper said though Cameron may not be corrupt, he is “certainly guilty of epic hypocrisy. So, for that matter, are Britain and the West.”
Even then, the edito­rial was quick to remind readers that the summit was “being hosted by a politician who admit­ted last month that he has personally profited from offshore finance and whose party is bank­rolled by an industry that makes extravagant use of those same tax havens.
“Not only that, he has intervened to aid tax avoiders.”
The newspaper won­dered why Cameron failed to mention to the Queen a letter sent him a fortnight ago by anti-corruption campaigners in Nigeria. According to the Guardian, the campaigners said, “We are embarked on a nation­wide anti-corruption campaign.
“But these efforts are sadly undermined if countries such as your own are welcoming our corrupt to hide their ill-gotten gains in your lux­ury homes, department stores, car dealerships, private schools and any­where else that will ac­cept their cash with no questions asked.
“The role of London’s property market as ves­sels to conceal stolen wealth has been exposed in court documents, re­ports, documentaries and more.” The news­paper drew attention to Panama Papers and names of some Nigeri­ans linked to offshore as­sets, noting that though “none of these individu­als may have done any­thing wrong, but the charge from those cam­paigners is hard to duck.”
The editorial also que­ried Cameron, saying, the prime minister “should have told the Queen that President Muhammadu Buhari is coming to Lon­don to lobby it to sort out the tax havens in its own backyard.”
It lamented that Brit­ain and the West “have spent decades ordering poor countries and failed states (including Afghan­istan) to sort out their problems with doggy money, even while tak­ing much of that doggy money and ploughing it through their banks, their ritzy stores, their estate agents, and their offshore tax havens, with barely any ques­tions asked or eyebrows raised.”
Quoting Oxfam, the editorial said, “a third of all trillions hiding off­shore are sitting in tax havens linked to the UK,” explaining that these ha­vens rely on Britain for security and protection.
“The Jersey pound note features the Queen. On the Caymans, they sing as the national anthem God Save the Queen.
Yet Whitehall per­sists in pretending they are autonomous – even though London has over­ridden them before, on the abolition of capital punishment, say, or the decriminalizing of ho­mosexual acts. It will not do so on shady finance, however.”

EFCC Grills Ex-Governor Imoke, Others On $115m Bank Fraud

by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission May 11, 2016

 

Operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 quizzed a former governor of Cross Rivers State, Senator Liyel Imoke, for his alleged involvement in the N500million collected by the Cross Rivers State’s chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Mr. Ntufam John Okon.
The N500m was part of the $115m allegedly lodged in Fidelity Bank Plc, in controversial circumstances, during the 2015 electioneering campaign period by the immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison- Madueke.
Also, a former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Imasuen, and a former Secretary to the State Government of Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu, have been interrogated  by operatives of the EFCC for collecting the sum of N700million( Seven Hundred Million Naira) from the $115million fraud.
Gov Cross Rivers
The money was reportedly collected from Fidelity Bank Plc, Mission Road, Benin City branch,  on March, 2015.
Iyamu, a People's Democratic Party, PDP's presidential campaign coordinator in the 2015 presidential election, admitted to have  collected the money from the bank.
He told EFCC's interrogators that he went to the bank on that fateful day with Imasuen and a former House of Representatives member representing Edo Central, Tony Azeigbemi (who is yet to be arrested by the EFCC)  and the money was handed over to them by an official of the bank.
Both Imasuen and Iyamu signed for the collection of the money.
Investigations by the EFCC showed that the two politicians conveyed the money from the bank in a bullion van to the residence of a top politician in Edo State.
The Commission is on the trail of the politician for the recovery of the money.
Both Imasuen and Iyamu are still in the EFCC custody and will be charged to court soon.
Wilson Uwujaren,
Head, Media & Publicity,
May 11, 2016