10072020 - Day 4: Panel grills ‘Magu's 7 Untouchables’

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34—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2020 vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES 018773962, 08052867058 DEVELOPING LOCAL TESTING KIT FOR COVID-19—From left: Representative of the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mr Abdulhadi Abdullahi; Director-General, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Prof. Alex Akpan; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammed Sabo-Nanono; Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; and representative of the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mr Awal Muhammed, during a news conference on validation of RNA Swift Extracting Kit for a ground breaking development in science and technology in the country, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN. Day 4: Panel grills ‘Magu's 7 Untouchables’ Continues from Page 5 the Presidential panel that is investigating him. It is the Presidential panel that can say if Magu should be granted bail.” Leadership vacuum The issue of leadership vacuum festered at the commission’s head office yesterday, as no one is acting for the embattled acting chairman, as there had been no official communication from the Presidency on who should act. It was learned yesterday that jostling for the leadership of the commission continued yesterday as powerful forces are said to be rooting for FCT Police Commissioner, Bala Ciroma. Recall that the panel confronted Magu with fresh allegations at Wednesday’s sitting, as he was asked to account for 380 seized houses, seven vessels loaded with crude oil and disposal of assets worth N37 billion. Allegations against Magu Some of the allegations made against Magu by the AGF include: •Alleged discrepancies in the reconciliation records of the EFCC and the Federal Ministry of Finance on recovered funds. •Declaration of N539 billion as recovered funds, instead of N504 billion earlier claimed •Insubordination to the Office of the AGF •Alleged late action on the investigation of P&ID, leading to legal dispute •Not respecting court order to unfreeze a N7billion judgement in favour of of a former executive director of a bank •Not providing enough evidence for the extradition of Diezani Alison-Madueke •Alleged delay in acting on two vessels seized by Naira depreciates to N464/$ in parallel market By Elizabeth Adegbesan The Naira, yesterday, depreciated to N464 per dollar in the parallel market. According to naijabdcs.com, the live exchange rate platform of the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), the parallel market exchange rate rose to N464 per dollar from N460 per dollar on Wenesday, indicating four naira depreciation of the naira. Meanwhile, the naira yesterday appreciated by 25 kobo in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window. Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange rate for the window dropped to N386.50 per dollar yesterday from N386.75 per dollar on Wednesday, translating to 25 kobo appreciation of the naira. However, the volume of dollars (turnover) traded in the window rose by 111 percent to $25.19 million from $11.96 million on Wednesday. the Navy •Alleged favouring of some investigators called Magu Boys •Reporting some judges to their presiding officers without deferring to the AGF •Alleged sale of seized assets to cronies, associates and friends •Alleged issuance of investigative activities to some media prejudicial to some cases. Magu’s response to allegations Responding to the allegations made against him by the Department of State Service, DSS, under Lawal Daura, in a letter addressed to the AGF, dated December 21, 2016, the EFCC chief, Ibrahim Magu, had said: “I most respectfully refer to your letter referenced HAGF/EFCC/2016/Vol.1/ 23 dated 19th December, 2016, asking me to respond within 48 hours to the allegations contained in a report written by the Department of State Service, DSS, and which provided the basis for the non-consideration of my confirmation on December 15, 2016, by the Senate. “Having carefully considered all the issues, I hereby present a pointby-point response as follows: Missing EFCC files “It is true that my residence was searched on the orders of Mrs. Farida Waziri, shortly after she succeeded Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as Chairman of the EFCC and some documents relating to cases under investigation were found in my house. At the time of the raid, I was yet to formally hand over to my successor, Umar Sanda, as head of the Economic Governance Unit. “My schedule at the time warranted that I work round the clock and it was impossible to conclude all assignments without working at home. The documents found in my house were actually found in my office bag where I kept documents relating to investigations. “I was in the process of handing over and it would be wrong to suggest that I willfully kept the Commission’s files at home. Nevertheless, the incident was thoroughly investigated by the Police as I was placed on suspension without pay for 20 months. But in the end, I was reprimanded, recalled and promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police. “It is important sir, to draw your attention to the fact that some of us that worked closely with Ribadu were victimized after his exit. And my ordeal was orchestrated as punishment for being the chief investigative officer for most of the high-profile cases involving politically exposed persons, some of whom became very influential in government at the time. Return to EFCC under Lamorde “I was Assistant Commissioner of Police in Charge of Operations at the Anambra State Police Command when I was recalled to the EFCC in 2012. “I did not lobby to return to the EFCC. It is preposterous for anyone to suggest that I was recalled to do a hatchet job for Lamorde as alleged in the DSS Report. My job schedule as Deputy Director, Department of Internal Affairs, under Lamorde, was simply handling issues of professional responsibility in the Commission. I had no inputs in core operations duties of the Commission. Tenancy of official residence “I live in the official residence of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This accommodation, contrary to the report of the DSS, is not my private home, neither was it rented and furnished for me by Commodore Umar Mohammed (rtd). It was rented and furnished by the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory through the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, under the Safe House Scheme. “It is also false that the house was rented for N20million per annum and furnished for N43million. The entire cost for both two-year rent and the furnishing of the house is N39.628million. Details of the transaction are contained in the contract award letter and payment schedule which are attached to this letter. Expensive air travels “Honourable Minister, the claim that I have a penchant for expensive air travels in a private jet belonging to Commodore Mohammed is baseless “The two times I can High profile/ dual lifestyle “The allegation that I live a flamboyant lifestyle is also surprising to me. While it is true that I did travel first class on Emirates Airline to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, this action to the best of my knowledge, did not contravene the directive of Mr. President on First Class travels as suggested by the DSS Report. “My trip to Saudi Arabia was a private journey to perform my religious obligation and it was not financed with public funds. More importantly, my decision to fly first class was not borne out of quest for luxury but compelled by necessity. “The trip was made during the last ten days of Ramadan and other classes of ticket were not available. I had no other choice. That I flew first class in one instance is not enough evidence to suggest an extravagant lifestyle as alleged by the DSS Report. It is also not enough to suggest a dual personality. “Any one that has associated closely with me will attest to the fact that I am not known for ostentatious living. And my new office as acting chairman of the EFCC has not changed this. Relationship with Commodore Mohammed Umar, retd “Sir, it is important to situate my relationship recall travelling in with Commodore Commodore Umar’s Mohammed Umar (rtd), aircraft, were on a trip in proper perspective. from Kano to Abuja, and Our paths crossed when Abuja to Maiduguri. In we became members of the first instance, I had the Presidential gone to Kano on an Committee on the official assignment with investigation on arms two of my directors, and procurement. Mohammed who was on “He was instrumental in his way back to Abuja getting some of the offered us a ride in his jet. information that helped “The second occasion the committee make was when I was going to significant breakthroughs see my sick mother in in its assignment. Maiduguri. These, for Beyond that, the me, were harmless relationship between gestures as we were both Umar and myself is one members of the of professional presidential investigative acquaintance, devoid of committee on arms issues of conflict of procurement. interest. “At the time I had no “So, it comes to me with knowledge that he was shock, the imputation by under investigation for the DSS that we have a any alleged crimes. “mutually beneficial Claims that I flew in relationship”. This Mohammed’s jet to appears suggestive that Maiduguri in company of Mohammed and I were the Managing Director of involved in activities that Fidelity Bank, Nnamdi could be said to be Okonkwo is false. I have untoward. I certainly have never flown in a private no knowledge of such aircraft with any activities. managing director of any “The claim that EFCC bank, let alone one that documents, including was under investigation EFCC letters addressed by my agency. I have no to the Vice President and personal relationship being investigation whatsoever with him. Continues on Page 35
vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews MULTI-BANKS' ROBBERY SUSPECTS—Seven suspected robbers of Ekiti and Ondo banks' robberies being paraded by the Police at the SARS Head Office in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. Day 4: Panel grills ‘Magu's 7 Untouchables’ Continues from Page 34 reports on the activities of Emmanuel Kachikwu and his brother Dumebi Kachikwu, were found in his home during a search by the DSS came to me as a surprise. “If that is correct, he should be made to disclose how he came by such documents. I never discussed my official duties with him let alone give him documents pertaining to investigations being conducted by the commission. “Interestingly, Mohammed was detained for several months by the DSS. In all those months, did he claim that I mandated him to commit any crime or that I was an accomplice to any crime? If there is any such claim, I will wholeheartedly like to be confronted with the allegation. “It is interesting to note that when Mohammed was eventually charged to court, the charges against him were money laundering and illegal possession of firearms, and nothing related to my purported “shady” relationship with him. Perceived reluctance to arraign Vice- Marshall Adesola Amosun “The DSS Report that the reason EFCC delayed the arraignment of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Adesola Amosun, was because Mohammed never wanted Amosun to be prosecuted is astonishing. Anyone familiar with the EFCC under my watch knows that I perform my duties with the highest sense of responsibility. “The reason Amosun was not arraigned when the likes of Alex Badeh and Umar were arraigned was because he cooperated with the Commission in terms of assisting the process of recovering the proceeds of crime. “Indeed, among the suspects arrested over the arms procurement scandal, he was most cooperative. The Commission recovered N2.835billion cash from him, aside from property worth One Billion Five Hundred and Eighty One Million Naira (N1,581,000,000), Two Million One Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars ($2,150,000) and One Million Pounds Sterling (£1,000,000). “Since a key focus of the investigation was to recover as much proceeds of crime as possible, the Commission took its time to ensure it had recovered what was possible before arraigning the suspect in court. This had nothing to do with the wish of any individual. Moreover, the suspect has since been arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction. Alleged vendetta against Stanley Lawson “The suggestion by the DSS Report that Stanley Lawson, a former Group Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was placed on a watch list, to settle scores with him is strange. “It may interest you to know that I do not know Stanley Lawson personally and could not be settling personal scores by framing somebody that I do not know. Lawson’s encounter with the EFCC is in relation to the investigation into the mismanagement of $118 million public funds for electioneering campaign involving former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison- Madueke. “It was discovered that he made payment of $25million into Fidelity Bank and also facilitated the purchase of Ogeyi Place Le Meridien Hotel in Port Harcourt for Mrs. Alison Madueke, for which he collected Ninety Four Million Five Hundred and Sixteen Thousand Naira (N94,516,000) as commission. Lawson was arrested and he made a refund of the N94.5million traced to him. He was never placed on any watch list. Work through Police cronies in EFCC “I do not understand what the report meant by working with cronies. If what was implied is that I have preferred officers that I work with and who go about their work in unethical manner, my response is that nothing of such exists in the EFCC. “Officers who work with me know that the easiest way to lose your job is to be found to be involved in unethical or corrupt activities. Indeed, when I assumed office as acting chairman, my first action was to return police officers with integrity issues back to the Nigeria Police Force. “If the DSS finds that there are police officers in the EFCC who are working closely with me and have properties that their incomes cannot support, the Service is at liberty to expose them. Conclusion “Honourable Minister, Sir, I invite you to take notice of the fact that the DSS authored two separate vetting reports on me, one referenced SV.114/3 addressed to the Clerk of the National Assembly and the other referenced SV.114/3 addressed to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National General. While one of the reports advised the Senate against my confirmation, the other asked it to favourably consider my confirmation. The two reports emanating from the same agency raise questions of sincerity and motive. “You will want to find out why they came up with two conflicting reports on the same subject on the same day. It is important to note that in all this, I was not given the opportunity of fair hearing. “Above all sir, I am persuaded by my conviction in my innocence that in all the issues supposedly raised against me, no one has accused me of receiving gratification to act against my conscience or the interest of the country. “I have attached to this letter all supporting documents and materials that would enable you arrive at fair position on all the issues raised.” Osinbajo writes IGP, wants ‘false’ allegations linking him to Magu funds investigated Assembly Matters (Senate). “Both letters were dated 3rd October, 2016, and signed by the same Officer, Folashade Bello, on behalf of the Director- Meanwhile, Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, over allegations linking him to funds allegedly stolen by anticorruption chief, Ibrahim Magu. An online platform had published that Mr Magu embezzled over N39 billion and gave Mr Osinbajo N4 billion to secure soft-landing. The report claimed that unnamed sources within the panel investigating the suspended EFCC boss “exposed the vice president’s involvement in the scandal.” “Specifically, Magu was said to have mentioned a N4 billion that he released to the VP based on directives the very day the president left the country for the United Kingdom on medical treatment,” part of the report read. Osinbajo in a letter to the IGP through his lawyers, Taiwo Osipitan, on Wednesday said the report was untrue and defamatory. He also copied the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, in the letter. The lawyer asked the IGP to investigate the allegations and if the purveyor was found guilty, the police should initiate criminal proceedings against Mr Ude and his platform to restrain them from future ‘false publications’. Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2020 — 35 LAGOS — Hajj operators in the country and other stakeholders in the tourism industry as well as intending pilgrims lamented the collateral loss suffered as a result of the Saudi ban on international hajj this year. The ban came as measures to contain the spread of the ravaging plague, (Covid-19) world over. This year, precisely, July 28 to August 4, only 10,000 pilgrims including expatriates in Saudi Arabia will perform hajj. The annual event usually attracts over 2.5million Muslims across the globe. Active tour operators, hajj entrepreneurs and pilgrims who spoke to Vanguard said the development has brought immeasurable loss in their businesses, halting their investments for a whole year. Lamenting the fate of their investments, they said, they have paid and made hotel reservations for their clients which runs into millions of naira, booked tickets with airlines and paid bills to other service providers in Saudi Arabia in advance, ran media advertisements, paid workers and other overhead cost in anticipation of a profit out of the hajj operations which never came. They also said that the services already paid for in Saudi Arabia will not be refunded because they are also affected by the plague but will be brought forward to next year’s hajj operation. Similarly, some intending pilgrims also shared their pains describing it as huge spiritual loss, while hajj workers who lost their jobs bemoaned the devastating effects in their lives as the hajj businesses grind to a halt for a whole year. It’s immeasurable loss —Alhaji Abdullateef Ekundayo Alhaji Abdullateef Ekundayo of Al-Firdaus Hajj & Umurah service said private tour operators in the country have lost billions of naira. According to him, money have been spent on advert placement in the media, License fee, Office space, salaries and other over head cost are running into several millions of naira. “We accept what happened as the will of God. In fact we have lost a lot of money. During the preparation, we have paid NEWS HOTLINES 018773962, 08052867058 COVID-19: Billions lost in Nigeria, S-Arabia over Hajj ban By Ishola Balogun some deposits in Saudi Arabia; we have also made tangible commitment to the airlines. Yet, most of the airlines are not ready to return cash; rather they are promising to give us vouchers to use any time after the pandemic. The same with the hoteliers in Saudi Arabia where we have paid for accommodation. They are not willing to return cash. We have also spent so much on logistic which we cannot get back. We have done adverts on radio and on social media but we have talked to our clients and majority of them have decided to register for the 2021 hajj. That is what we are doing now. We are also talking to NAHCON to help us talk to the Federal government to assist us in ameliorating the huge loss. “In south west alone, the losses are running into billions of naira. A lot of us had earlier paid fully for Ramadan Umurah and we could not go. We also know that businesses in Saudi Arabia especially the hoteliers are grossly affected too, so returning cash becomes difficult. The only thing is that your money is not lost, it is with them and you can use it for the services you paid for next year. The last time some of were estimating the loss of private tour operators in the state alone is running to N250million. We’ve refunded all our clients—El-Mustaqeem Travels Alhaji Moshood Kamorudeen of El- Mustaqeem Travels, & Tours, Shaki, Oyo State said: “Our service is a religious act and that is why we are different from the conventional tour operators. So, we believe the pandemic is from Allah and it will return to Allah. The cancellation affected us greatly though because we have never heard that during our time, but we accept it. So the effect is that we don’t have business to do this year, not only that what we have expended on the business this year in terms of license fee, advert on the media, office space payment and its overhead cost are not quantifiable. It is a great loss. We have refunded all the money we collected from people long before now, because I had earlier envisaged it will end up this way. Even all what we collected for Umurah, I have refunded all to my clients.
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10072020 - Day 4: Panel grills ‘Magu's 7 Untouchables’

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