Blame Obasanjo For Corruption – NBA Chairman 

Written by Ahmed Tukur, Lafia

Just as the National Assembly and former President Olusegun Obasanjo traded words over corruption, the chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Nasarawa State chapter, Barrister Makama Tanze Benjamin, has attributed the high rate of corruption in the country to former President Obasanjo.

Speaking to newsmen in Lafia, Barrister Makama said that former president Obasanjo, lacks the moral integrity to accuse the National Assembly of corruption.

According to the NBA chairman, "Obasanjo, more than anyone else was responsible for the high level of corruption in the country."

Tanze added that, "It was during his tenure that millions of naira was expended on the power sector with no commensurate improvement in supply."

He cited the cases of some government officials whose case of corruption were dropped by the then Attorney-General, as 'null prosecui', with full consent of Obasanjo, despite overwhelming evidence to prosecute such case.

Barrister Makama said that  Obasanjo was responsible for  the scuttling of investigations involving Sen. Iyabo Obasanjo Bello, the purported third term bid bribery scandal in which members of the House of Representatives were alleged to have been given N 40 million, while Senators received N 50 million among others.

The lawyer   recommended the stripping of some incentives attached to elective offices to make it appealing to only those who are ready to serve sacrificially.
Source: Leadership, 15^th August 2010.

Senate mum on Obasanjo's corruption allegations

FROM ALIFA DANIEL, ASST. POLITICAL EDITOR, AZIMAZI MOMOH JIMOH, TERHEMBA DAKA, ABUJA

• House minority members react angrily
• Members share N61 billion in 2010

MUM was the word from the Senate yesterday over the allegations by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that it was a corrupt drain on the country's purse, even as it emerged yesterday that not less than N61 billion has been disbursed to the 469 federal lawmakers in the National Assembly this year alone for their operations.

Senate spokesman, Senator Ayogu Eze, said yesterday evening that the Upper House was not ready for now to engage the former leader in any argument over his comments, but some minority members in the House of Representatives took on the former President and accused him of singling out the National Assembly in a system where officers in the Executive arm spend more on themselves than lawmakers.

Obasanjo had said in Abuja last Wednesday that federal lawmakers are costing the Federal Government to maintain.

"We should look closely at the legislature so that they can be more open and transparent in the way they do their work. Nobody knows in detail how much it costs us to maintain a senator. I believe it is more than N250 million.

"Compare what it cost in 1999 and 2000. It cost about $1.7 million... They come up and say something is constituency project, what is this constituency project? They insert it in the budget, they would find the contractor and the contractor would work for them, that is constituency project? They then accuse some people of corruption, who are not corrupt, " Obasanjo had said.

But addressing a press conference to mark the 2009/2010 legislative session, the House of Representatives Minority Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume, said it was wrong for Obasanjo to blame the high level of corruption in the country on the National Assembly members alone.

"If Obasanjo had said that Nigerians or Nigerian politicians are corrupt, that would have been right but for him to just single out the National Assembly, I think he is not being fair because even if that is the case, the National Assembly has 80 per cent PDP members both in the Senate and in the House of Representatives and Obasanjo is the father and grand-father of PDP. If that is true, then it means if the children are corrupt, then the father and grand-father, you know what it means.

"We all know the level of corruption in this country.  It was during his eight years' rule that corruption moved from a low level to a higher level. It is during his eight years' administration that he shared N50 million to each of the members of the House in order to extend his tenure. It was during his tenure that NAFCON, TRANSCORP, NITEL and all others were sold to girlfriends, cronies and others. That was the foundation of corruption in this country, " Ndume said.

On the issue of budget padding and involvement of lawmakers in constituency projects, Ndume said: "Are we saying that the National Assembly is sterile when it comes to corruption? I won't say that, but if you look at the nation's budget which he is talking about, padding budgets and giving contracts out, yes, that is true! As a member representing my constituency, if the budget comes and there is nothing in my constituency for my people, I will definitely not support that budget without having something for my people, because what will I go back and tell my people?

"So, when he is saying that we are inserting constituency projects in the budget, it is true. But that is because of the total failure of government. If government is not going to build hospitals in your constituency and you need hospitals in your constituency, you make sure that in the budget of N4 billion, N30 million at least is made available to build a primary health care centre in your local government. And then, it is true that if you have your way, you will determine its location and the contractor too."
Source: The Guardian, 6^th August 2010.

Obasanjo Corrupted The National Assembly,
Says Roland Owie?

FROM ALEMMA-OZIORUVA ALIU,

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo was yesterday berated by the Ex-Senate Chief Whip, Roland Owie over the former's comment that the National Assembly was corrupt.

Owie alleged that Obasanjo actually corrupted the National Assembly when, in 1999, he compromised the lawmakers to appoint the late Evan Ewerem as the senate President against the popular choice which was the late Chuba Okadigbo.

  Owie, who spoke to journalists yesterday in Benin took a swipe on the chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) saying: "This is the problem with this nation. Ordinarily, nobody should respond to what a man like Obasanjo says because it is like a case of a mad man who goes to the farm, he clears the yam and the grasses together. We were in the senate and we know what happened. His comment is unfortunate and that it is being made at a time when one of those senators that respects him so much, in person of David Mark is steering the National Assembly, is sad.

  "David Mark, Ibrahim Babangida and Alhaji Shehu Shagari were the ones that saved Obasanjo from being impeached. Today, he would have been history because the impeachment was settled. So if he can make such statement when David Mark is at the helm of affairs, it shows that he has no conscience. How can the pot call the kettle black? He was the creator of corruption. Obasanjo introduced Ghana-Must-Go in 1999 into the National Assembly when he was calling senators into the villa to appeal to us to vote Enwerem instead of Okadigbo, it was the beginning of Ghana-Must-Go," Owie said.? 

 He also accused the former president of involving himself in ant-party activities. Back then, 56 out of the 65 PDP senators wanted Okadigbo. But because he wanted a yes-man, he compromised the then All Peoples Party (APP) and Alliance for Democracy (AD) senators in the House to have his way."
Source: The Guardian, 7^th August 2010.

Obasanjo, Grandfather Of Corruption – Reps 

Written by Philip Nyam, Abuja   

The House of Representatives yesterday hit back at former President Olusegun Obasanjo describing him as the father of corruption alleging that he institutionalized bribery and corruption in the country.

Obasanjo had last Wednesday accused the National Assembly of draining the nation's scarce resources accusing them of lack of transparency in their financial dealings including padding of budgets and jumbo salaries and allowances.

But minority leader of the House, Hon. Mohammed Ali Ndume while addressing the press yesterday said the former President had no moral justification to accuse the National Assembly of corruption because he was equally corrupt and had bribed members of the House with N50 million each in order to attain his tenure extension dream.

Ndume said although the National Assembly may be corrupt, Obasanjo should not be the one to open up on the issue. "If Obasanjo had said that Nigerians or Nigerian politicians are corrupt, that would have been right but for him to just single out the National Assembly I think he is not being fair. Because even if that is the case, the National Assembly has 80 percent PDP members both in the Senate and in the House of Representatives and Obasanjo is the father and grand-father of PDP. If that is true then it means if the children are corrupt then the father and grand-father, you know what it means.

According to Ndume, "We all know the level of corruption in this country. Was it not during Obasanjo that corruption started? It was during his eight years rule that corruption moved from a low level to a higher level. It was during his eight years' administration that he shared N50 million to each of the members of the House in order to extend his tenure. It was during his tenure that NAFCON, TRANSCORP, NITEL and all others were sold to girlfriends, cronies and others. That was the foundation of corruption in this country".

The minority leader who is also the leader of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) continued, "Are we saying that National Assembly is sterile when it comes to corruption? I won't say that, but if you look at the nation's budget which he is talking about, padding budgets and giving contracts out, yes, that is true! As a member representing my constituency if the budget comes and there is nothing in my constituency for my people, I will definitely not support that budget without having something for my people, because what will I go back and tell my people.

Ndume challenged the former president to avail Nigerians of the details of his bank account when he came out of prison and after his eight years as president. "But if you look at Obasanjo in 1999 when he came out from prison to be president of this country, go and look at his accounts, go and look at his assets and his disposition and then you will get the answer to who is corrupt, whether it's the National Assembly or the whole country.

"Am not saying there is no corruption, but if you want to address the issue of corruption in this country and you say you choose to start with the National Assembly, so be it. But look at the National budget, N4.6 trillion how much is coming to the National Assembly? How much is going to recurrent expenditure? Only 25 percent of the budget is going for capital that affects more than 150 million Nigerians. That 3 billion which is about 75 percent is targeting only 1 percent of Nigerians. The Presidency, the Judiciary and the various MDA's, and if you check what the National Assembly is taking out from the budget you won't say the National Assembly is corrupt.

Ndume who admitted that the National Assembly has not performed up to expectations however defended the allegations of padding budgets by legislators arguing that the failure of the executive arm of government to deliver quality service was responsible for the insertion of projects into the budget by the parliament. "The legislature has not done well in the last three years. We have not performed to the expectations of Nigerians. I don't want to give any excuse for failure or non- performance but the truth of it is that the legislature, just as the government has not lived or performed to the expectations of Nigerians.

"So when he (Obasanjo) is saying that we are inserting constituency projects in the budget it's true. But that is because of the total failure. If government if not going to build hospitals in your constituency and you need hospitals in your constituency you make sure that in the budget of N4 billion, N30 million at least is made available to build a primary health care centre in your local government. And then it is true that if you have your way you will determine where with the contractor."

Ndume who also took a swipe at President Goodluck Jonathan whom he submitted has performed 'abysmally low' advised him to without delay sign into law the 2010 amended Supplementary Bill as passed by the National Assembly. "We are worried that with only four months to the end of the year, President Goodluck Jonathan is yet to assent to the amended 2010 Supplementary Bill as passed by the National Assembly; not to talk of its implementation.
Source: Leadership, 6^th August 2010.

Obasanjo's govt promoted corruption — Reps

By Chiawo Nwankwo and Akin Oyedele

Members of the House of Representatives under the aegis of the Minority Caucus on Thursday accused the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo of promoting corruption.

They spoke against the backdrop of media reports on Thursday in which Obasanjo was credited as saying that the members of the House were corrupt.

Obasanjo, in the report, also said that members of the National Assembly padded budgets and in some cases, budgeted for ministries and agencies what they did not ask for.

He was also credited as saying that with the connivance of bureaucrats, such funds were usually withdrawn from budgets for projects that did not benefit the people.

But the leader of the Minority Caucus in the House, Alhaji Mohammed Ndume, described Obasanjo's comments as unfair and uncharitable.

Arguing that the lawmakers would not have bothered if the former president had said that Nigerian politicians were corrupt, they said he lacked the moral standing to accuse them.

 They accused Obasanjo's government of doling out N50m to each member of the National Assembly to support his failed bid for a third term in office.

They also claimed that it was the Obasanjo administration that sold national assets such as Transcorp Hilton Hotel and Nigeria Telecommunications Limited to his cronies.

Speaking on behalf of the caucus at a news conference in Abuja, he said, "If Obasanjo had said that Nigerians or Nigerian politicians are corrupt, that would have been right but for him to just single out the National Assembly I think he is not being fair.

"Even if that is the case, the National Assembly has 80 per cent Peoples Democratic Party members in the Senate and in House of Representatives and Obasanjo is the father and grandfather of PDP.

"If that is true, then it means, if the children are corrupt, then the father and grandfather; you know what it means."

"We all know the level of corruption in this country. It was during his eight-year rule that corruption moved from a low level to a higher level.

However, Ndume admitted that corruption was a criminal offence; but he gave reasons why politicians or some lawmakers could be found wanting.

On budget padding, he said, "Are we saying that the National Assembly is sterile when it comes to corruption? I won't say that. But if you look at the nation's budget which he is talking about, padding budgets and giving contracts out, yes, that is true.

"As a member representing my constituency, if the budget comes and there is nothing in my constituency for my people, I will definitely not support that budget without having something for my people; because what will I go back and tell my people?"

According to Ndume, the level of corruption in the National Assembly is less than the level in other arms of government.

Further, he explained, "If you look at Obasanjo in 1999 when he came out from prison to be president of this country, go and look at his accounts, go and look at his assets and his disposition, and then you will get the answer to who is corrupt; whether it's the National Assembly or the whole country.

"Am not saying there is no corruption, but if you want to address the issue of corruption in this country and you say you choose to start with the National Assembly, so be it."

On zoning, the caucus said it was surprised that an issue that was an internal affair of the PDP had become a national issue.

Ndume also scored the National Assembly low in performance.

He said, "The legislature has not done well in the last three years. We have not performed to the expectations of Nigerians.

"I don't want to give any excuse for failure or non- performance, but the truth of it is that the legislature, just like the government, has not lived up to the expectations of Nigerians."

Meanwhile, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other-Related Offences Commission has initiated action to investigate the allegations by Obasanjo against the lawmakers.

It added that it had started investigation into how members of the national and state assemblies utilised funds released to them for constituency projects.

The chairman of the commission, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola (retd.), made this known at the sixth edition of ICPC "Chairman's Guest Forum," in Abuja on Thursday.

A statement by the ICPC's Resident Consultant, Media and Events, Mr. Folu Olamiti, quoted the chairman as having said that the anti-graft agency would use Obasanjo's allegation to probe the allowances of the lawmakers.

Ayoola said, "We will commence investigation on the legal propriety of the size of the allowances. We want to know whether any criminal offence has been committed on the size of the allowances.

"If we do not find anything (unconstitutional), we will report and if we find something, we will tell the world what we have found."
Source: Punch, 6^th August 2010.

Obasanjo Blasts Senators

From: FRANCIS AWOWOLE-BROWNE and JAMES OJO, Abuja

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday accused the National Assembly of being a burden to the nation's lean purse.

According to him, the amount being spent in maintaining the federal lawmakers is draining the nation's resources and should be checked immediately.

Indeed, the former president said it was difficult to understand how much precisely a senator takes home yearly in the name of constituency projects. He warned that something must be done about this if the fledging democracy is to be sustained.

The chairman of Board of Trustees of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spoke during a one-day retreat organised for the Niger State senior civil servants by the state government.

At the retreat themed: Strategising to Re-invigorate Niger State for the Achievement of Vision 3:2020, Chief Obasanjo noted that Nigeria could not afford to have a National Assembly that is corrupt and consuming a disproportional part of the nation's resources.

"We should look closely at the legislature so that they can be more open and transparent in the way they do their work. Nobody knows in detail how much it costs us to maintain a senator. I believe it is more than N250 million. Compare what it cost in 1999 and 2000, it cost about $1.7 million compared to a quarter of a million in America... They came up and say something is constituency project, what is this constituency project? They insert it in the budget, they would find the contractor and the contractor would work for them, that is constituency project? They then accuse some people of corruption, who is not corrupt?

"Now let us talk truly and seriously to ourselves; we can't continue to have a National Assembly that is consuming a disproportional part of our resources and then expect that we would be able to make progress. They pass budget that can't be implemented, because it has to be beefed up to satisfy their whims and caprices. Even what the ministries did not ask for they put it," Obasanjo said.

Fielding questions from the participants who included the state executive council members, state assembly members and other top government officials on the difference between military and democratic governance, Obasanjo pointed out that democracy as practised in Nigeria was costly and cumbersome. He said for Nigeria to progress, leaders must discharge their duties with every sense of responsibility without tribal or religious sentiments.

The State governor, Muazu Babagida Aliyu, in his own comment commended the former president for his style of leadership during his eight years rule, saying he did his best to deliver the dividend of democracy and treated every Nigerian based on merit.
Source: Daily Sun, 5^th August 2010.

National Assembly is Corrupt - Obasanjo

Stanley Nkwocha

Abuja — Nigeria cannot afford to have a National Assembly that is corrupt and consuming a disproportional part of the nation's resources, former President Olusegun Obasanjo said yesterday in Abuja.

The former military Head of State and later civilian president was speaking at a one-day retreat for senior civil servants organised by the Niger State Government with the theme, 'Strategising to Re-invigorate Niger State for the Achievement of Vision 3:2020.'

Answering questions on the difference between military and democratic governance from participants at the retreat that included the state executive council, state assembly members and other top government officials among others, Obasanjo alluded to the fact that democracy in Nigeria is costly and cumbersome.

"We should look closely at the legislature so that they can be more open and transparent in the way they do their work. Nobody knows in detail how much it costs us to maintain a senator. I believe it is more than N250 Million. Compare what it cost in 1999 and 2000, it cost about $1.7 million. Compare to a quarter of a million in America. You must understand the power of each of us have, they came up and say something is constituency project, what is this constituency project?

"They insert it in the budget, they would find the contractor and the contractor would work for them, that is constituency project? They then accuse some people of corruption, who are not corrupt. Now let us talk truly to ourselves seriously. We can't continue to have a National Assembly that is consuming a disproportional part of our resources and then expect that we would be able to make progress. They pass budget that can't be implemented, because it has to be beefed up to satisfy their whims and caprices. Even what the ministries did not ask for they put it," Obasanjo said.

He said for Nigeria to progress, leaders must discharge their duties with every sense of responsibility without tribal or religious sentiments. In his remark, Governor Muazu Babagida Aliyu, commended Obasabjo for his style of leadership during his eight years of rule where he did his best to deliver the dividend of democracy and treated every Nigerian based on merit.
Source: Leadership, 5^th August 2010.

Obasanjo Slams N'Assembly Members over Allowances

From Chuks Okocha

Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday slammed members of the National Assembly, saying they constituted a heavy drain on the nation's  lean purse.

Obasanjo argued that the amount expended in maintaining the lawmakers is a serious burden on the nation's coffers and must be  looked into urgently.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, who spoke at a retreat organised  for the Niger State  senior civil servants by the state government, with the theme, 'Strategising to Re-invigorate Niger State for the Achievement of Vision 3:2020',  noted that it was difficult to fathom exactly how much a senator takes home annually in the name of constituency project.

He cautioned that something drastic must be done urgently about the situation so as to sustain the nation's democracy.

"We should look closely at the legislature so that they can be more open and transparent in the way they do their work. Nobody knows in detail how much it costs us to maintain a senator. I believe it is more than N250 Million. Compare what it cost in 1999 and 2000, it cost about $1.7 Million.

"Compare to a quarter of a million in America. You must understand the power of each of us have, they came up and say something is constituency project, what is this constituency project?

"They insert it in the budget, they would find the contractor and the contractor would work for them, that is constituency project? They then accuse some people of corruption, who are not corrupt.

"Now let us talk truly to ourselves seriously. We can't continue to have a National Assembly that is consuming a disproportional part of our resources and then expect that we would be able to make progress. They pass budget that can't be implemented, because it has to be beefed up to satisfy their whims and caprices. Even what the ministries did not ask for they put it," Obasanjo said.

The former president noted that democracy  as practised in Nigeria is not only costly but cumbersome, adding that for the country to progress, leaders must discharge their duties with every sense of responsibility without tribal or religious sentiments.

The State Governor, Muazu Babagida Aliyu, in his own remarks commended Obasanjo's style of leadership during his eight years rule, noting that gave his best shot to deliver the dividends of democracy and treated every Nigerian on merit.
Source: This Day, 5^th August 2010.

Halliburton: 60 lawyers want Obasanjo probed

From GODWIN TSA, Abuja

Sixty lawyers yesterday stormed a Federal High Court Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to seek an order of mandamus compelling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate former President Olusegun Obasanjo and others for their alleged involvement in the Halliburton bribery scandal.

The application is praying for "an order of the court to grant leave to the applicants to apply for an order of mandamus to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate former president Olusegun Obansanjo and others for their alleged involvement in the Halliburton bribery scandal."

Although the applicants did not name the other persons whom they want investigated by the anti-graft agency, they named EFCC as respondent in the action which they instituted pursuant to order 34 Rule 3 (2) of the Federal High Court (Civil procedure ) rules 2009, Section 5 and 6 of EFCC Act 2004 and the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

Specifically, in his affidavit in support of the motion, Mohammed Yahaya, on behalf of the plaintiffs said the late president Umaru Musa Yar'Adua constituted an administrative panel to look into the Halliburton bribery scandal, sometime in 2008. He stressed that the panel was headed by the then Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, and had the Chairman of the EFCC, with representatives of the National Security Adviser, Director-General State Security Service (SSS) and the Director- General, Nigeria Intelligence Agency as members.

Mohammed said: "The panel invited all those suspected to have had hands in the matter including Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

However, he said Obasanjo deliberately and doggedly refused to honour the invitation of the panel, which he said submitted an interim report to the late former president.

Also he said from the interim report submitted, some prominent Nigerian officials including Obasanjo were suspected to have been deeply involved in the bribery scandal.

"Despite the submission of the interim report to the late president and a follow-up report submitted to the serving President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the EFCC had not taken any step to ensure that Obasanjo is properly investigated and if found culpable, prosecuted".

EFCC had said it would not revisit the controversial $180m Halliburton scandal probe except if directed by the presidency. The anti-graft commission was investigating the scandal before the late President inaugurated a Presidential Committee in 2007 to carry out the assignment.

No reason was given by the Presidency for the takeover of the investigation in which some former Heads of State and prominent Nigerians were alleged to have benefited.

The EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission are statutorily vested with the powers to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of financial crimes.
Source: Sun, 16^th July 2010.

Inmate Dupes Banker N12 Million
From Kirikiri Prison

Bidon Mibzar

Abuja — A prisoner, who was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in 2008 over advance fee fraud-related offences has defrauded a banker to the tune of N12million from his cell at the Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Lagos.

An EFCC source revealed that the prisoner, Ikechukwu Ogbu, alias Prince Eze, created a 419 syndicate from inside the inner recesses of the Kirikiri Prison, with which he had been duping unsuspecting members of the public. His forte is what is known in an advanced fee fraud as love scam.

Ogbu was said to advertise himself as an eligible bachelor, who desperately needs a wife. Those who respond to his adverts end up adding to the long list of his victims. However, the riddle, which EFCC operatives are trying to resolve is how a supposed prison inmate managed to place an advertorial in the love links page of the Vanguard of March 7, 2009. In the advertorial, Ogbu wrote, 'I am Prince Eze, 46, from Anambra State, lives in Lagos, genotype AA, blood group 0 and needs a working class business lady between 39-45 to settle down, with phone numbers as on 07057928637 or 07085350598.'

Several women, it was learnt, called the numbers.

One of them, a lady who works at the National Assembly in Abuja, after making contact with her proposed spouse, took a flight to Lagos to beat others to it the game of winning the prospective husband. But she received the shock of her life when she landed at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport and no one was there to pick her.

This prompted her to call Ogbu, who then told her that he was actually being detained in Kirikiri Prison by the EFCC over money laundering matters, whereas he is serving a jail term. He told the woman to come over to the prison to meet with him. She did. On getting to the prison yard, she was accorded VIP treatment by the warders, giving her the impression that Ogbu was an influential man who is being detained over a minor issue.
Source: Leadership, 24^th June 2010.

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