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Corruption allegations: Like Magu, Bawa must quit now, face probe panel – Over 150 CSOs tell FG

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. Say EFCC not conceived as agency for settling political scores

 

Following Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State’s bombshell, on Wednesday, that he and some other prominent Nigerians have evidence of corrupt practices against the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, notable Anti-Corruption crusaders in Nigeria, numbering over 150, have said he can no longer continue to stay in office.

The leaders of the organisations who said they had refused to be cowed into shelving their agitation for a genuine fight against corruption in Nigeria, said inasmuch as elected officials must account for their actions in office, they shared Matawalle’s view that the investigations must not be selective but all-embracing.

According to the activists, the EFCC is an important agency in Nigeria, established to rid the society of corruption with impunity, it was not conceived as an agency meant for settling scores for political godfathers.

Led by the Chairman of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, Debo Adeniran, the activists said, at a press conference in Lagos, that it was the standard practice all over the world for officials who have been accused of gross misconduct to step aside while investigations are conducted to ascertain the veracity of the allegations.

They, therefore, called for a full probe into the activities of the EFCC under Bawa, saying, “His predecessor, Ibrahim Magu, was not only told to step aside when Bawa’s godfather wanted him out at all costs, he was humiliated out of office and up till tomorrow, no one knows the exact outcome of the probe against him.”

According to them, from the interraction of Journalists and CSOs with ordinary Nigerians who had been invited for one reason or the other at the Commission, “there have been several allegations to the effect that about 80 per cent of cases under EFCC investigation are not taken to court. EFCC offices now literally serve as court rooms.”

“There are damning allegations that some of the Commission’s officials simply negotiate with suspects, get assets and cash retrieved and do plea bargains.  This opens limitless opportunities for corrupt bargaining and self-enrichment by the operatives of EFCC under Mr. Bawa’s watch,” the anti-corruption activists alleged.

“This needs to be thoroughly investigated by a technical Commission of Inquiry to dig into the modus operandi of EFCC investigations in the last three years by thoroughly analysing records of arrests, investigations, outcomes and final closure of each incident and individual suspects and how the matters were eventually dispensed with,” they demanded.

In a speech delivered on behalf of the CSOs, their spokesperson, Olufemi Lawson, stated, “Allegations of sharp practices with confiscated assets by the Commission have refused to go away. To this end,  all seized assets need to be forensically audited with a view to recovering all assets re-looted or auctioned in suspicious circumstances.

“The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has been convicted for contempt over his failure to comply with an earlier order of the court. As we speak, the Inspector-General of Police has not complied with a court order to commit Bawa to Kuje prison while Bawa has not deemed it fit to purge himself of contempt.”

The activists said claims by Bawa that the EFCC had secured 98.93 per cent convictions in 2022, losing only 1.07 per cent, were spurious, noting that a large chunk of the convictions were online fraudsters, while favoured political office holders were left untouched.

Lawson said, “We are also aware that in December 2022, the Bawa-led EFCC had announced its plan to sell forfeited properties. It also announced later in January that about 12 bids were made for those properties and, later, that six of those bids were successful. No details of this were made public, either to know successful bids or rejected ones. This was a ploy, in our opinion, to make the processes less transparent and, therefore, facilitate corrupt mismanagement of the proceeds or ensure that only their corrupt allies got the opportunity to purchase the assets at giveaway prices. The processes were rendered opaque and that’s very suspicious.

“The EFCC has done a selective invitation to outgoing Governors in Nigeria, reportedly exempting other government officials who have loads of petitions against them, even by Governors.”

“If a government agency expected to fight crime is found going about its business in a manner that mimics witch-hunt and selective justice while also being unable to deal with corruption going on within its own workforce, the Coalition of Anti-Corruption Organizations, COACOs, is afraid that the Nation may slide into some real crisis of confidence in our systems, which is bound to provoke a defunding of the EFCC by local and international donor organizations,” the activists stressed.

 

 

Full text

 

BAWA CANNOT REMAIN IN OFFICE WITH DIRECT CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM. HE MUST STEP ASIDE TO BE INVESTIGATED

 

Civil Society leaders here present, fellow Nigerians, ladies and gentlemen of the Press.

As it has been already established months ago, the Coalition of Anti-Corruption Organizations is an amalgam of organizations that are focused on ensuring that public office holders are accountable, law-abiding and verifiably trustworthy, especially those charged with the responsibility of keeping watch over our collective commonwealth to ensure its protection from the roving fingers of corrupt elements in public service.

In the struggle to clean up the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and render its leadership accountable, we do not need any introductions because Nigerians are living witnesses to our patriotic advocacy for a non-corrupt, effective, impartial and transparent EFCC leadership, which we make bold to say Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa has largely messed up.

The recent direct allegations of corrupt practices in the EFCC, mismanagement of seized assets and acts of impunity without regard to the laws of the land, leveled directly against Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa by a sitting governor is a futher confirmation of all that we have been saying about the ignoble conduct of the EFCC under Bawa.

Governor Matawalle of Zamfara State was unequivocal in his direct allegations against Mr Bawa, demanding a probe into his leadership and asking him to step aside immediately. For a sitting Governor to make such far-reaching allegations publicly and saying he and others have evidence to back those allegations is not something to be overlooked by Nigerians and the Presidency especially, which has the power to appoint and fire the EFCC chairman.

Anyone given the responsibility of fighting corruption cannot be consistently floating in the waters of corruption allegations every now and then.

To this end, we in COACOs are consistently monitoring all government processes and engagements as represented by the conduct of government institutions and those put in charge of running them.

It is on the basis of our core values as a group that we have consistently advocated for ensuring that whoever would lead the EFCC must not be trustworthy but also, like Caesar’s wife, be without blemish or reproach upon which we have been demanding the removal of Mr. Bawa because he does not fit the bill of EFCC leadership. In fact, the thought of even retaining or reappointing him is natural repugnant to the sensibilities of enlightened and patriotic Nigerians.

We are aware of several anomalies that have transpired since Mr. Bawa became Chairman of the Commission and to that fact we do not think such an individual should have been made the head of a Commission that is saddled with the responsibility of keeping public and private office holders accountable.

We also wish to remind Nigerians that the Coalition of Anti-Corruption Organizations had on the 15th March, 2023 petitioned Mr President on this same issue and we wonder why no step has been taken in this regard nor an investigation carried out on the issues raised to the best of our knowledge till date.

The raison d’être of our current advocacy is informed by the following ;

1. There have been several allegations to the effect  that about 80% of cases under EFCC investigation are not taken to court. EFCC offices now literally serve as court rooms. There are damning allegations that some of the Commission’s officials simply negotiate with suspects, get assets and cash retrieved and do plea bargains.  This opens limitless opportunities for corrupt bargaining and self-enrichment by the operatives of EFCC under Mr. Bawa’s watch.
This needs to be thoroughly investigated by a technical Commission of Inquiry to dig into the modus operandi of EFCC investigations in the last three years by thoroughly analyzing records of arrests, investigations, outcomes and final closure of each incident and individual suspects and how the matters were eventually dispensed with.

2. Allegations of sharp practices with confiscated assets by the Commission have refused to go away. To this end,  all seized assets need to be forensically audited with a view to recovering all assets re-looted or auctioned in suspicious circumstances.

3. The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has been convicted for contempt over his failure to comply with an earlier order of the court. As we speak, the Inspector-General of Police has not complied with a court order to commit Bawa to Kuje prison while Bawa has not deemed it fit to purge himself of contempt.

4. In the character of the EFCC Chairman, Bawa led the commission to ignore orders of courts of competent jurisdiction.

5. We are aware that upon his nomination for the position of the Commission’s chairman, in the year 2021, several groups of Nigerians had opposed the appointment of Bawa based on what was described as his not-so-good antecedents.

6. For instance, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership,CACOL, in a letter dated 18th February 2021, asked the National Assembly to reject the nomination of Mr Bawa as the EFCC, based on several controversies that characterized his tenure in previous positions in the EFCC, given the grave implications of such on the exalted position of the EFCC Chairman.

6A. We are aware of how the EFCC, under Mr. Bawa, is also quickly becoming a cesspool of internal corruption with several reports of corrupt practices going on within the commission as alluded to by Governor Matawalle yesterday.

6B. There are allegations of age falsification to remain in office beyond the statutory limit of civil service regulations, involving very senior officers of the Commission who are said to be cronies of Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa and enjoy his protection.

7. The Bawa-led EFCC claimed that it secured 98.93% convictions in 2022, losing only 1.07%, a claim that is so spurious, considering the fact that a large chunk of the convictions are online fraudsters, leaving out favoured political office holders as if it is not a part of its core duties to investigate politically exposed persons except those its officials are hands-in-gloves with.

8.  We are also aware that in December 2022, the Bawa-led EFCC had announced its plan to sell forfeited properties. It also announced later in January that about 12 bids were made for those properties and later that 6 of those bids were successful. No details of this were made public, either to know successful bids or rejected ones. This was a ploy, in our opinion, to make the processes less transparent and, therefore, facilitate corrupt mismanagement of the proceeds or ensure that only their corrupt allies got the opportunity to purchase the assets at giveaway prices. The processes were rendered opaque and that’s very suspicious.

9. The EFCC has done a selective invitation to outgoing Governors in Nigeria, reportedly exempting other government officials who have loads of petitions against them, even by Governors.

If a government agency expected to fight crime is found going about its business in a manner that mimics witch-hunt and selective justice while also being unable to deal with corruption going on within its own workforce, the Coalition of Anti-Corruption Organizations, COACOs, is afraid that the Nation may slide into some real crisis of confidence in our systems which is bound to provoke a defunding of the EFCC by local and international donor organizations.

We agree with the position taken by Governor Matawalle that
“Bawa should explain, for instance, how he has assumed the role of the plaintiff, prosecutor and jury and how he has executed his brand of plea bargaining with suspected criminals and saboteurs of the Nigerian economy and agenda who instead of being put on trial, are walking freely all over Nigeria”.

OUR DEMANDS

1. The Presidency to commission an Enquiry into the activities of the EFCC, its present engagements and happenings within the Commission throughout Mr Bawa’s stay in office.

2. Order an immediate overhaul of the Commission and, where necessary, lobby the National Assembly to amend the EFCC Act to make the structure less prone to highhandedness and make the Chairmen answerable to the laws of the land.

3. Since there are already direct allegations against him, Bawa must step aside for investigation. This is the standard practice all over the world. His predecessor, Ibrahim Magu, was not only told to step aside when Bawa’s godfather wanted him out at all costs, he was humiliated out of office and up till tomorrow, no one knows the exact outcome of the probe against him.

 

Sgd :

Comrade Debo Adeniran

Comrade Olufemi Lawson

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Abbey Mortgage Bank Host Sustainability Workshop with Non-Profit Stakeholders in Abuja

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Geared towards boosting impactful investment opportunities for Non-profit organizations, a leading primary mortgage Bank in Nigeria, Abbey Mortgage Bank has organized a sustainable workshop for stakeholders of non-profit organizations to enhance financial sustainability and drive positive change within the civil society sector.

 

The event which was Tagged “Financial Management: A Sustainability Tool for Non-Profit Organizations” held on Wednesday 29th November 2023 in Abuja, is aimed at creating impactful investment opportunities to aid sustainability efforts in line with SDG 17 which supports the implementation and revitalization of Global Partnership for sustainable development in the civil society.

 

The workshop was attended by prominent guests including Jubril Shittu, CEO of PPDC; Dr. Ayodotun Olutola, CEO of CCCRN; Hamza Lawal, CEO of CODE; and Gideon Olanrewaju, CEO of AREAi among other guests.

 

Speaking at the event, The Group Head, Non-Profit Organizations at Abbey Mortgage Bank, Bukola Ewedairo, noted that, “Abbey Mortgage Bank is rightfully positioned to partner with institutions in the civil society by creating opportunities for long-term sustainable investment.

 

“We believe that Non-profit organizations need to be strengthened to achieve their mission and this workshop was our way of collaborating to ensure that they can thrive especially with the volatilities in our local economy.” She stated.

 

Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director of Abbey Mortgage Bank and a key speaker at the event, Mobolaji Adewumi, noted that, ” At Abbey, we are creating an ecosystem where non-profits can flourish, contribute meaningfully to society and drive sustainable change.

 

Adewumi further noted that “We are committed to helping individuals build wealth and attain financial empowerment and we are proud to collaborate with these distinguished leaders to make a lasting impact by supporting financial growth and empowerment” He stated.

 

The workshop had informative and interactive discussions, providing a forum for participants to share insights and explore collaborative opportunities. Attendees engaged in dynamic conversations, delving into strategies to enhance financial sustainability and drive positive change within the civil society sector.

 

Abbey Mortgage Bank reaffirms its commitment to fostering continued partnerships with NGOs, furthering its impact on the non-profit sector. The bank looks forward to ongoing collaboration, contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals in Nigeria.

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Fashola, Kayode Adegbulugbe, Gbenga Komolafe, others bag Honorary Doctorate Degree at 48th Uniben Convocation

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The Chief Operating Officer, Green Energy International Limited (GEIL), Engr. Kayode Adegbulugbe have been conferred with the award of Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science (D.SC) Honoris Causa, by the University of Benin at the just concluded 48th Convocation Ceremony.

 

In a colourful ceremony staged at the University of Benin on Saturday, November 25, Dr. Kayode Adegbulugbe and other award recipients including a former Governor of Lagos and immediate past Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, first lady and wife of Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Engr. Gbenga Olu Komolafe, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, among others were honored by the university.

L-R : Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, Commission Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission(NUPRC) with Engr. Kayode Adegbulugbe, The Chief Operating Officer, Green Energy International (GEIL), during the award of Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science(DSC) at the just concluded 48th Convocation Ceremony of the University of Benin.

Commenting on the award, Dr. Kayode Adegbulugbe noted that he felt “honored and humbled” to have been recognized for his ingenious contribution to the development of the Nigerian oil and gas sector by the Senate of the University.

 

According to him, “it’s an honor to be considered among the other great recipients of this award like Engr Komolafe and Babatunde Fashola. Their reputation precedes them and I feel very humbled to be recognized by this great University.”

 

Born into a distinguished family of academics and entrepreneurs in Ibadan on August 8th, 1978, he is a high-flyer in the world of Petroleum Engineering, and an entrepreneur dedicated to delivering serial number 1 exploits, a committed philanthropist known for his significant contributions to countless community developments and humanitarian efforts in Nigeria.

 

Dr. Kayode Adegbulugbe graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife, after which he earned a Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.  He went ahead to broaden his horizon by obtaining a Master of Laws (LLM) in Oil and Gas Law with Distinction from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.

 

He has achieved remarkable feats in the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry in his role as COO at GEIL, the Operator of the Otakikpo oil field. Under his leadership, GEIL has become the highest-producing marginal field operator in the country, currently producing 11,500 barrels of oil per day as of October 2023.

 

One of his numerous standout achievements is leading the construction, installation and commissioning of a 12 million standard cubic feet modular LPG extraction plant at the Otakikpo field. This scale of modular LPG plant is the first to be installed in the country; an achievement that demonstrates that he is undaunted by hitherto serial number 1 exploits.

 

This achievement will significantly contribute to ameliorating the perennial associated gas flares that has bedeviled the several stranded pockets of oil fields in the Niger Delta thus supporting the Nigerian government’s aspiration of combating the issue of gas flaring in the country. Dr. Kayode Adegbulugbe hails from Ondo town in Ondo state.

 

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Association Of Licensed Private Security Practitioners Of Nigeria (ALPSPN) Holds 3rd Annual Private Security Conference in Lagos Nigeria

Sanwo-Olu, Dr Solomon Arase, Dr Audi, Dr Tunji-Ojo, Others To Grace Summit

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The Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN) – the umbrella body of all licensed private security companies in Nigeria – is hosting its 3rd Annual Private Security Conference (PSI) in Lagos Nigeria.

The summit is a convergence of over 1,450 licensed private security companies in Nigeria including government security agencies, regulating ministries, security consultants, business leaders, decision makers and other stakeholders interested in security development.

The theme of the summit, “Redefining Security – The Role of Private Security in a Changing World,” underpins the need for collaboration amongst all stakeholders to have a safe and secure home, businesses and country.

Dr. Chris Adigwu

The National President

Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), in his statement revealed five major reasons stakeholders should attend the Private Security Industry Summit:

 

1. To understand the anatomy of the private security industry.

You’ll understand the different stakeholders in the private security industry and their roles. You’ll equally understand your role in protecting your assets, your immediate environment, and Nigeria as a whole.

You’ll have a mindset shift in how you see private security companies and the industry in the 21st century. This’ll help you know how to source for and collaborate with reliable companies, improve your security, and better prevent avoidable losses.

2. You’ll understand the different ways private security can help improve your bottom line and promotion of productivity.

3. You’ll explore business opportunities with the over 2,000 stakeholders attending the conference.

4. You’ll be updated on the current security conversations, global trends, and strategies in the industry. This way, you’ll be better informed to make the right decisions in your investments in security.

5. You’ll understand how to collaborate and get the best out of your security service provider.

Interestingly, the executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu is the Chief Guest of honour, while the host is Dr. Chris Adigwu

National President ALPSPN, Dr. Ahmed A. Audi, Commandant General: Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as Co-host, and the Chief Host is Hon. Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 

 

 

The Keynote Speakers is, Dr. Solomon E. Arase IGP (Rtd.), Chairman,  Police Service Commission (PSC).

 

The host state chairman is Mr. Babatunde Mumuni, Chairman ALPSPN Lagos State Nigeria

Mark Otabor, anchor of the Nigeria popular TV debate show on TVC: “The Big Issue is the MC and the date is 28th November, 2023 from 9am to 4pm at the Civic Center, Victoria Island Lagos.

 

Access fees is N100,000 for Non- ALPSPN members While Members pay N70,000

 

Don’t miss this event.

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