In the last few months, Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been in the spotlight. The commission which many believe has lost its bite suddenly regained consciousness with the arrest of the political heavyweights hitherto considered untouchable. Interestingly, the commission is now on the hot seat as several allegations are being leveled against the anti-graft agency.
Punch reports that the Senate committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions began the probe of the EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, on Wednesday August 26, 2015.
George Uboh, the petitioner told senate committee that the EFCC boss allegedly diverted N1tn recovered funds by the federal government and allegedly gave choice seized assets to some of his siblings, especially Usman.
Uboh further revealed his findings and interaction with ex-Bayelsa state governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, showed that the amount recovered from the former governor was far more than what the EFCC declared in its reports.
“How can recovery for eight financial years be more than recovery for 11 financial years by over N800bn when the eight financial years are subsumed in the 11 financial years? Why do recoveries for the same years differ on different reports?
“Based on the records, because EFCC has not been able to account for over N800bn, EFCC manipulated the above records and grossly understated recovery in order to conceal the fraud.”
We are ready to produce necessary evidence at the appropriate time,” Uboh told the senate committee.
Uboh urged the committee to compel Access Bank Plc to produce the commission’s complete and unadulterated statements from 2004 till date.
Vanguard reports that the move to probe Lamorde however, generated a hot debate as senators under the Unity Forum of the ruling APC kicked against the ongoing probe. To them, the process is illegal and is a breach of the Senate’s Standing Orders.
The probe suffered a serious setback when the senate minority leader, Godswill Akpabio wrote a letter to the National Assembly leadership, dissociating him and other PDP senators from the moves to probe Lamorde.
Meanwhile, former Lagos state governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has faulted the attack against Babatunde Fashola.
The Nation reports that Tinubu affirmed that he remains proud of Fashola and will never be part of any process to bring him down.
The Nation reports that Tinubu affirmed that he remains proud of Fashola and will never be part of any process to bring him down.
In a statement released by his media office yesterday, Tinubu said the immediate past governor contributed immensely to the development of Lagos. He therefore sees the attack on Fashola as a ploy by his political enemies to discredit his success
”Since the commanding victory of the APC in Lagos and all over Nigeria, the enemies of progressive governance have cleverly been at work, trying to regain through intrigue and subterfuge what they so openly and fairly lost in the elections.
“Our political opponents now try to steal victory when their only entitlement is resounding defeat.Having fared woefully with the electorate, their game plan is to sow discord within the ranks of the party people had chosen to lead them. The PDP hopes to strike division in the APC, in that way weakening us and our ability to govern.” the statement reads.
Four suspects who were expected to face trial at Evbuoriaria Magistrate Court, Benin City, Edo state, for traffic offenses were reportedly released by some soldiers yesterday, August 26, 2015, Daily Sun reports.
According to the report, the suspects: Edna Oriakogba, Paulinus Ekwugwu, Eddy Inogie and Okwolise Lucky were taken to War Against Indiscipline (WAI), office located in the premises of Minisitry of Arts, Culture and Tourism for allegedly committing traffic-related offences at the Airport road in Benin.
The seven soldiers reportedly stormed the WAI office and proceeded to the court premises to release the suspects while WAI officers were waiting for the case to be assigned.
The Chief Magistrate described the action as shameful and ordered a petition written against the soldiers.
The main focus for Guardian today is the cancellation of contracts for crude oil delivery to refineries in the country.
The paper reports that the general manger, group public affairs division, Ohi Alegbe attributed this action, among other steps, as measures to boost operational efficiency.
He said the decision was taken after proper evaluation in line with the terms for delivering crude oil to the refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna.
Alegbe explained further that the bid to abolish exorbitant cost and inappropriate process of engagement necessitated the move and the firm hopes it would strengthen the corporation across its value.
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