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| Photo Credit: AU |
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| Photo Credit: AU |
Monday, 8 April 2013
Photonews: Handover Ceremony Of AU 50th Anniversary Torches To Member States
Interview: “I Am A Victim Of Injustice, Wickedness”------Impeached Imo State Deputy Governor
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| Agbaso; Impeached Imo State Deputy Governor |
By Emperor
Iwuala
For some time now, Imo State has
been in the news over the 458 million bribery scam involving the former Imo
State Deputy Governor Sir Jude Agbaso and one of the contractors handling a
road project in the state called JPROS International Company Nigeria Limited.
The saga finally led to impeachment of Sir Agbaso by the Imo State House of
Assembly. The former number two citizen of Imo State have described his recent
impeachment as not only man’s show of wickedness against man but an open rape
to injustice, fairness and rule of law. In an interview recently,
Sir Agbaso among other things is of the view that his impeachment was planned
and executed by his former boss Governor Rochas Okorocha. Below is the excerpt.
On the
allegation of collecting 458 million bribe from the Lebanese road contractor,
Mr. Joseph Dina of JPROS International Nigeria Company Limited:
Joseph Dina was specially sponsored
to falsely confess that he gave me bribe. If not, how could a Lebanese who had
had series of graft cases with EFCC since 2009 boldly come out in the
open to confess that he used up to 46% of fully paid contract sum from Imo
people’s money to give me bribe. It is unbelievable. On the other hand, how
could I collect such an amount from a man I never did any favour for and was
not in a position to do any favour for? The Governor brought the contractor. He
paid him an initial 200 million naira from his office, the Permanent Secretary
of my former ministry the Ministry of Works only sent a request to the governor
for formal approval of the road construction contract, the governor instead of
sending the approval to the ministry, directed and full payment was made
directly to the company for a job not yet done up to 20% without the knowledge
of the Ministry of Works’. That was why the contractor was over paid because
the Governor did not take my ministry into confidence in the payment. I only
got to know about the payment 4 months later and when I called the contractor,
he continued avoiding me.
Mr. Dina’s
allegation that he gave the said bribery in consideration for Sir Agbaso’s
promise to give his company 15 kilometer road construction in the local
government:
I did not have the powers to award
contracts in Okorocha’s Government. Moreover, I was not in charge of local
government roads. Moreover, under Okorocha’s administration, about 52 million
naira was what is being paid for a kilometer of the local government road
construction and contractors complain that they hardly do good work with the
price not to talk of making profit at the end of the day. Be that as it may,
simple arithmetic has it that at the cost of 52 million naira per kilometer,
the total sum one can get for 15 kilometers is about 780 million naira. How
then can a contractor give me 458 million naira bribe for a job of 780 million
naira?
On the
allegation that the former Deputy Governor sent account details of two
companies from his MTN phone line to the contractor’s GSM line wherein the
contractor claimed he paid in the bribery sum:
I applied and got my call logs from
the time the contractor claimed we had the alleged illicit communication. It
was February 2012 to July 2012. As I speak to you there is no such in the call
log. Incidentally, the call logs are part of the exhibits I am prosecuting the
case against my indictment and impeachment in court and I have also made some
copies available to the press. Joseph Dina promised before the Simeon
Iwunze-Led State House Committee to get his own call log but never did. Till
today, nobody apart from me is interested to verify that because the only
agenda was to levy false allegation against me and get rid of me, that’s all.
On the
bank account of the two companies the contractor said he paid the 458 million
naira into.....:
I went to Corporate Affairs
Commission and got a certified copy of the list of the directors of the two
companies. The names of the directors suggest that they are from the northern
part of Nigeria. The three directors of Three Bothers Concepts Nig Ltd are
Lawal Abdullahi, Umar Abubakar and Yakubu Abdullahi. That of IHSAN Bureau De
Change Limited are Abdullahi Tasiu Maikano, Inuwa Sabo, Haruna Said and
Musa Sule’. I am not in any way related to the companies. I am not among the
directors and shareholders of the company and I am not in any way linked to
them. None of my friends, relations, associates etc. is linked to the companies
or to those related to the banks.
Acceptance
of a Blue Label drink from the contractor:
I never requested for any drink from
the contractor. The contractor came to me and told me that he returned from
abroad trip and gave me a Blue Label whisky as a gift. I accepted the drink
because it is common in African culture to accept such. There were no strings
attached to it.
Non-appearance
at the 7-Man Investigation Panel set up by the state Chief Judge:
I intentionally decided to shun the
panel because I am still challenging the impeachment process including the
constitution, appointment and inauguration of the panel in a law court and I
personally wrote a letter to the chairman of the panel on this but the panel
discountenanced the letter. If I had gone to that panel, it would have
jeopardized by my suit which is against the constitution of the panel. Even if
I had gone there on merit, the panel would have still not taken my defence
because it was specially detailed to sack me. The panel sat only once. Before
the panel sitting, the members of the state legislature who were already on
Easter vacation were summoned the same day the panel sat and they were
anxiously waiting for the panel to submit its report. Heavy security men were
detailed to both the place the panel sat and the state legislative complex. The
same day the panel sat was the same day it submitted its report to the
legislature, it was the same day I was impeached and it was the same day the
new Deputy Governor was confirmed by the same legislature. It was like that
because everything was a script well written, rehearsed and dramatized.
On the investigation by the 7 Man
Panel set by the state Chief Judge conduct:
This is the first case in Nigeria
where a public officer is begging to be investigated over corruption and the
investigators bluntly refused. The constitution stipulates that the panel has 3
months to investigate this matter but it chose to do it in one day. The panel
did great disservice to Imo people. It only pre-occupied itself with my
impeachment. Its chairman and members did not use their onerous call to serve
in the panel to let the people know the whole truth of what happened to Imo
people’s money. The Panel was only set to play a particular script and achieve
the selfish, political and malicious desires of an individual or set of
individuals. If the Panel was really an investigative panel that wanted to be
unbiased, I think that the time they invited me was pre-mature. I did not need
to appear because the panel already had materials of allegations against me to
investigate. As an investigative panel, it was the duty of the panel to verify
the allegations against me. The contractor and the state legislature gave
enough particulars of allegations against me that needed verification. My
accusers alleged before the panel that I sent details of bank accounts of Three
Brothers Concept Ltd. and IHSAN BDC Ltd. through GSM text message to him to pay
in the said bribe sum. As a supposed unbiased and thorough panel, it needed to
confirm from MTN through my call log and that of Joseph Dina. It was also
alleged that I directed JPROS to pay a total sum of =N=458 Million bribe into
two companies’ accounts with GTB and UBA respectively for me. JPROS also gave
details of the companies’ bank accounts. It was necessary to get at the
directors of the companies and details of the companies to see if I am in any
way linked to the said companies. Also with the help of security agencies and
the banks, transactions in the said accounts should have been properly
investigated and possibly get at the signatories of the said accounts to see if
the said sums were paid in accordingly. If the money was paid in and withdrawn,
who withdrew it? It is a trite law in Nigeria that ‘he who alleges should
prove’. The criminal justice of our country presumes an accused innocent until
the innocence is proved otherwise. But in my own case, my accusers were not
ready to prove me guilty but only wanted satisfy the selfish will of the
governor. The Governor in his usual way hoodwinked some simpleton minded
people, the state legislature, the Chief Judge and the panel to impeach him
unlawfully.
Why the
former Deputy Governor did not resign over the allegation:
I could not have resigned over a
frame up by few selfish individuals. I know that I am innocent. If I had
resigned, it would have looked like I am guilty of taking the bribe. However, I
would have resigned if I had conducted myself in a manner unbecoming of a
Deputy Governor. I would have resigned if it was the opinion of the people I
held their mandate. But here is a situation where a group of persons who want
to enshrine a dynasty in Douglas House wanted to sacrifice me for no just
cause. I think it is better that they unlawfully impeached me the way they did
so that I will have more grounds to reclaim my position from the courts in
future.
Progress
to unravel the truth:
When
we discovered that the Imo State House of Assembly and the 7-Man Investigation Panel
were not ready to investigate this matter, we took it upon ourselves to do so.
My family engaged professional, forensic, and foreign investigators and
security agencies and the revelations are terrible. The Alleged bribe money has
been traced to Dubai and Lebanon.
An aide of
Governor Rochas Okorocha Prince MacDonald-Akano who is the Governor’s Special
Adviser and Chairman of the Committee on Monitoring and Implementation of Road
Projects in Imo State was made a shareholder in JPROS International
Nigeria Ltd. on June 20, 2012 and allotted two (2) million shares of the
company’s 10 million shares. Akano also wrote and consented to be a director of
the company two days later, on June 22, 2012. The alleged 458 bribery sum was
actually sent by Mr. Dina to his company accounts overseas. Mr.
Dina first paid N325, 000,000 into the Three Brother’s Concept Ltd GTB account. The
money was used to raise the sum of $1,930,000, which was subsequently
transferred through Dubai, on February 21, 2012, to Mr. Dina’s account No.
LB5001400002302300179018010 with the Kaslik Branch of BLOM Bank SAL in Lebanon. The
purpose of the transfer, as stated in the transfer document, was “to import
construction equipment”. Mr. Dina similarly paid the second tranche of
N133,000,000 into the IHSAN BDC LTD’s account No. 1015334698 with the UBA. Again,
the money was used to raise $800,000 and transferred to Mr. Dina’s Account, No.
AE360200000036374395130 with HSBC Middle East Ltd at Dubai Internet City, Sheik
Zayed Rd, Dubai. So, while Mr. Dina was accusing me of demanding and
receiving a bribe of N458 million, the said money had been converted by the
same man and his associates in Lebanon. Directors of who are also the only
shareholders of JPROS Nigeria Ltd, are: Joseph Dina, Aline Dina, Jean Samir
Aoun and Prince MacDonald-Akano.
Isn’t it fascinating
to discover that a Director and a major Shareholder; indeed, the second highest
shareholder in the company involved in this ugly defamation of character and
wicked attempt to destroy the my good name and image of family is a member of
Governor Okorocha’s inner circle?
Akano
stood quietly and loyally beside Mr. Dina, as Dina blackmailed and slandered me
his Deputy Governor in my own state where I am a Deputy Governor, knowing well
that his company, JPROS, was the guilty party in the matter. It was also found out that Prince Akano suddenly applied and became a director and
a major shareholder in JPROS. Is not
clear that the plan was
to impeach me with 2015 in mind, using Mr. Dina of JPROS and Prince Akano as
the hatchet men?
Posers:
1.During my impeachment, how come the Imo State House of Assembly, the Governor, the
Panel etc did not insist on establishing the ownership of the accounts supplied
by JPROS, the companies involved their directors and shareholders? What were
they trying to cover?
2.Why did Governor Okorocha pay in the contract sum to JPROS account the same
period Prince Akano became a director in the company?
3.Isn’t it
fascinating to discover that a director and a major Shareholder; indeed, the
second highest shareholder in the company involved in this ugly scandal Prince Akano,
stood quietly and loyally beside Mr. Dina, as Dina deceived the whole world
accused me falsely and made away with Imo people’s money?
4.Is it not an evil for Akano aide to Gov. Okorocha to abate a Lebanese to
blackmail and slander me knowing full well that his company, JPROS, was the
guilty party in the matter?
5.Is it not possible that Governor Okorocha who illegally approved this payment
and even overpaid the contract sum straight to JPROS, connived with Akano to
have the N458 Million Naira laundered abroad?
6.Is it not an evil that since these revelations were made, Prince Akano has not
denied them and has been avoiding government functions?
7.Since these revelations came to lime light, what has the Imo House of Assembly
done and why is Governor Okorocha who claims to be fighting corruption remained
mute and is still retaining Akano in his cabinet?
8.At the inception of his administration, Governor Okorocha told the whole world
that he had ceded the state legislative quarters to Concorde Hotel Owerri and
named it Concorde Extension. Later, he renamed the place Luxury Apartment and
leased it to the same Prince Akano for 25 years. Why is it that Akano and
Rochas are always in the middle of scams in relation to property and money that
belong to Imo people?
On the
rumour that the former Deputy Governor is hiding from anti-graft agencies after
impeachment:
I am not hiding. I have no intention
to move to anywhere. Most of my business outfits are in Owerri. We even invited
the EFCC because the Imo State Government doesn’t want any anti-graft agencies
to come into the matter. I think the reason is because involving anti-graft
agency will expose the governor’s shoddy deals in the whole saga the more.
However, I will be happy to appear before them because that will even help to
vindicate me the more and possibly bring the real culprits to book.
On the way
forward:
News Release: Afenifere Mourns Late Ekiti State Deputy Governor
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| Late Mrs. Funmi Olayinka. |
The Pan-Yoruba Socio-Political group, Afenifere is grieved by the death of Ekiti deputy governor, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka.
The vibrant lady
succumbed to the pangs of death on Saturday evening after a protracted battle
with cancer.
The death of Mrs.
Olayinka is a painful loss to her family, the people of Ekiti State and the
Yoruba nation at large.
Another high profile
loss to cancer should draw the attention of our government at all levels to the
need to improve our medical facilities so as to make available and accessible
diagnostic facilities for early detection of cancer and its avoidable
treatment.
Medical science has
developed to a point where cancer does not necessarily have to be a death
sentence for sufferers.
Our heartfelt
condolences go to the deceased, the government and good people of Ekiti Strate
and all those her life impacted while on this side of eternity.
It is our prayer
that God will grant all who have been bereaved by her exit the fortitude to
bear the irreparable loss.
May her soul rest in
perfect peace. (Amen)
‘Yinka Odumakin
National
Publicity Secretary,
Afenifere
Photonews: AU Commemorates 19th Anniversary Of Rwanda Genocide
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| Photo Credit: AU |
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| Photo Credit: AU |
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| Photo Credit: AU |
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