ABISIEC POSTPONES LG POLLS IN ABIA STATE

UMUAHIA THE Local Government election scheduled by the Abia State Electoral Commission, ABISIEC, to hold on Saturday, Decemebr 17, 2016 may be shifted after all.

The speculation to shift the polls followed appeals by most of the political parties billed to participate in the election.

The chairman of the commission, Justice Igbozuruike Akomas, retd, said his commission may consider the appeals by most of the parties which had through their different representatives asked for a shift in date to enable them prepare well for the election.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after a meeting between the Commission, political parties and stakeholders, Akomas said that the commission would go back and take a critical look at the appeals by the parties and come out with the next line of action.

The commission however announced that the fee for the chairmanship candidates would be N500,000, while that of the councilors will be the sum of N200,000, which he said would include the sum of N15,000 as an administrative fee.

“The administrative fee is to enable the commission provide the necessary logistics for the election. Our fees though moderate are in consonance with what obtains in  other states of the federation,” he said.

“The council election is in line with the provision of the Abia state Local Government Law of 2002, Subsection 154 [f] and [g] which empowers the Commission to prescribe fees to be deposited by the Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates.

“Be informed that no cash payment will be accepted by the Commission. Bank tellers must be presented from the approved banks as soon as payments are made to enable the Commission confirm such payments before final clearance is given and such candidates presented for screening”, the ABSIEC boss explained.

During the meeting some of the political parties like PPA, UPP, APGA, APC and others called for the shifted of the polls.

Source: Vanguardnews

UMUAHIA—THE Local Government election scheduled by the Abia State Electoral Commission, ABISIEC, to hold on Saturday, Decemebr 17, 2016 may be shifted after all. The speculation to shift the polls followed appeals by most of the political parties billed to participate in the election. The chairman of the commission, Justice Igbozuruike Akomas, retd, said his commission may consider the appeals by most of the parties which had through their different representatives asked for a shift in date to enable them prepare well for the election. Speaking with newsmen shortly after a meeting between the Commission, political parties and stakeholders, Akomas said that the commission would go back and take a critical look at the appeals by the parties and come out with the next line of action. The commission however announced that the fee for the chairmanship candidates would be N500,000, while that of the councilors will be the sum of N200,000, which he said would include the sum of N15,000 as an administrative fee. “The administrative fee is to enable the commission provide the necessary logistics for the election. Our fees though moderate are in consonance with what obtains in other states of the federation,” he said. “The council election is in line with the provision of the Abia state Local Government Law of 2002, Subsection 154 [f] and [g] which empowers the Commission to prescribe fees to be deposited by the Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates. “Be informed that no cash payment will be accepted by the Commission. Bank tellers must be presented from the approved banks as soon as payments are made to enable the Commission confirm such payments before final clearance is given and such candidates presented for screening”, the ABSIEC boss explained. During the meeting some of the political parties like PPA, UPP, APGA, APC and others called for the shifted of the polls

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/abisiec-postpones-lg-polls/

RELEASE MY MONEY NOW OR YOU FACE THE CONSEQUENCES, PATIENCE DARES EFCC

Former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Ibifaka Jonathan, has threatened to drag the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the African  Commission on Human and Peoples Rights in The Gambia if her bank accounts are not de-freezed and a public apology tendered to boot.

She will also demand N5 billion as “damages.”

In a September 18 letter from her lawyers, First Law Solicitors and addressed to the EFCC. Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Mangu, Mrs. Patience Jonathan insisted the anti-graft agency must publicly apologise to her and lift any restrictions on her dollar accounts at Skye Bank Plc.

The letter from First Law Solicitors was signed by Senior Partner, Timipa Jenkins Okponipere, on behalf of the company.

“Consequently, we urge the EFCC to de-freeze our client’s accounts within 14 days from September 18, 2016 and tender a public apology to her. If the EFCC fails, refuses and/or neglects to comply accordingly, we shall file an action at the African  Commission on Human and Peoples Rights at The Gambia demanding N5 billion in exemplary and punitive damages.

In the 26-paragraph letter, the firm said Mrs. Jonathan’s rights were breached in what it described as “the commission’s illegal and unlawful investigation of our client for alleged money laundering. These investigations have reportedly led to the freezing of our client’s accounts and led to untold consequences to our client’s health and wellbeing…”

The law firm insisted that since the former First Lady was not charged with any economic or financial crimes, and since she had not been invited to make any statement on the seized funds, the commission had no right to freeze her accounts.

“It is our client’s brief that there was no formal criminal complaint of economic and financial crime as defined by the EFCC Act 2004 written by any person or institution against her which warranted the EFCC to freeze her accounts.

“It is also our client’s brief that the EFCC failed to obtain a court order as required by Section 34 of the EFCC Act before her accounts were frozen. It is our client’s further brief that, up until the writing of this open letter, she has not received any formal invitation to appear before the commission for questioning; whereas her accounts domiciled with Skye Bank have since been frozen by the commission without recourse to her.

“The argument put forward by the commission in the public domain that, “investigations are ongoing. Mrs. Jonathan shall be invited in due course,” are not only vexatious and provocative. They constitute an outright violation and rape of the fundamental right to fair hearing and ownership of property as guaranteed to our client by the 1999 Constitution (As amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, 2004.

“Indeed, Section 36(6)(a) & (b) of the 1999 Constitution (As amended), contains or laid down a sequence or pattern of commencement of investigation which must be followed strictly, to wit: (a) Persons charged with a criminal offence must be informed in the language they understand and in detail of the nature of the offence; (b) Such persons must be given adequate time and facilities for the preparation of their defence; etc

“Instead of strict compliance with the above pattern, as laid down by Section 36(6)(a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution (As amended), the EFCC went after our client’s money by ordering a freeze of her accounts. With all due respect, the EFCC is a big thief!

“We hereby categorically and emphatically state Patience Jonathan should be left alone!

“Furthermore, there is no established legal or political precedent for what the EFCC is currently doing to our client.

“How many former first ladies in Nigeria have received the Patience Goodluck Jonathan Treatment (PGJT) to have warranted the EFCC to engage in the effrontery to freeze our client’s accounts and subject her to public opprobrium, ridicule and disgrace?”

Mrs. Jonathan has been the subject of an EFCC investigation with regards to the source of $15 million found in four accounts with Skye Bank.

The former First Lady had maintained the money belongs to her and that she has drawn from the accounts until July this year when the accounts were frozen by the EFCC.

As she maintained funds in the accounts were legal,  four individuals representing the four companies linked with the accounts pleaded guilty to money laundering when they were arraigned last week.

The companies – Seagate Property Development & Investment Co. Limited; Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited and Development Company Limited – pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder $15 million.

Directors of the companies are domestic workers of Waripamowei Dudafa, Jonathan’s special adviser on Domestic Affairs.

The former First Lady who was also a defendant in the case had previously clarified that the $15million was for her foreign medical bills and other private expenses.

When contacted, a senior EFCC official, who declined to be named, said, “what do you want us to say again? The case is already in court. So, we won’t comment.”

Source: Abia Facts

Budget Scandal: Reps plot to remove Dogara as House Speaker

Members of the House of Representatives opposed to continued leadership of the House by Yakubu Dogara are considering moving a vote of no confidence against the Speaker and the entire leadership.

The House, as well as the Senate, will reconvene tomorrow, Tuesday, after a lengthy recess that started on July 21.
Supporters of the Speaker are, however, also preparing to block any move against Mr. Dogara, who is accused of budget fraud.
Mr. Dogara’s backers are expected to give him a standing ovation at the end of his speech opening the new session.

Allegations of budget fraud and abuse of office, which became known as budget padding scandal, were leveled against Mr. Dogara and some other lawmakers by Abdulmumin Jibrin, who was removed as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee shortly before the House went on the recess.
Mr. Dogara denied the allegations.

In the wake of the allegations, some members formed the Transparency Group and called for the prosecution of the Speaker and other accused persons.
A key member of the group, who asked not to be named, told PREMIUM TIMES ahead of Tuesday’s resumption that efforts were on to mobilise lawmakers against Mr. Dogara.

“But we have not concluded (on moves to remove the Speaker),” the source said, revealing that the vote of no confidence agenda was being considered.
He said they would decide later tonight whether to go ahead with the agenda.

“IT WON’T HAPPEN”
However, a source in the leadership of the House said the agenda would not materialise.
“While they are planning (the vote of no confidence), others are planning to pass vote of confidence in the leadership of the House,” the source said.
“I want you to know that after the prayer, first thing tomorrow is the Speaker’s speech. In the speech, he will welcome everybody and address all the issues and the allegations. Then, his supporters will rise to give him standing ovation, which will be followed by a vote of confidence.
“So, I doubt if those planning vote of no confidence will still go ahead.”
Source: Premium Times

Graduate impersonates Bishop Kukah, defrauds Oyedepo, Dantata, others

A graduate of Political Science, Jehu Kwasu, has narrated how he impersonated the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah and defrauded prominent Nigerians of millions of naira.

Kwasu said his victims included Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church Worldwide, who he claimed gave him N500,000; the Chairman, Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, N1m; Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, N500,000; businessman, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, N2m.

He allegedly collected the sums for Internally Displaced Persons.

He said, “I collected N500,000 from Otudeko, CEO, Honeywell: From Admiral Kanu, I got N500,000. I also got N500,000 from Bishop Oyedepo and N2m from Dantata. I also got money from Gen. Wushishi and others.

“I opened a Guaranty Trust Bank account in Bishop Kukah’s name. I registered a SIM card in my name, but used Bishop Kukah’s picture on my True Caller account, so that when I call, his picture would appear (on the recipient’s phone.)”

Kwasu, who is serving a two-month sentence in the Keffi Prison, admitted on Friday in Abuja that he realised over N5.7m.

Police sources said only N1.7m was found in his bank account, adding that the suspect spent most of the money he made on girls and hard drugs.

It was gathered that Kwasu, the son of late Anglican Bishop, James Kwasu, also exploited his father’s name, to extort money from the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, when the latter was the Speaker, House of Representatives.

The 25-year old explained that he defrauded his victims by soliciting money on phone to cater to IDPs in the country.

The cleric’s son stated that he obtained a passport with the name, Mathew Hassah Kukah Jehu, and also opened an account with the GTB in the same name.

He said, “I called people on the telephone and told them I was Bishop Kukah. I used his picture on my True Caller account, so that when I called people, they would think he was the one talking with them.

“I also obtained a passport in Bishop Kukah’s name which I used to open an account with GTB. The money I realised was paid into the account and I used an Automated Teller Machine card to withdraw it.”

It was gathered that Kukah was alerted to the scam by some people close to him.

The cleric was said to have petitioned the police, which asked the bank to place a “no debit order” on the account.

Following his inability to withdraw from the account, Kwasu was said to have visited the bank to complain, where he was arrested.

Findings indicate that Kwasu had earlier been arrested and remanded in prison for impersonating Bishop Steven Akobe of the Anglican Diocese of Kabba, Kogi State, but was granted bail.

The police said Kwasu had also attempted to extort money from Senator David Mark, claiming to be Akobe.

“Mark said I should come for some money, so I sent my girlfriend. But she was arrested and I was taken to court and sentenced to two months imprisonment or N9,000 fine,” Kwasu stated.

It was gathered that the suspect, who had two female siblings, sold his deceased parents’ house in Kaduna for N10m and lavished the money on girls and a profligate lifestyle.

The Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Mustafa, stated that Kwasu was arrested by the men of his command, after Kukah complained about his activities.

The CP said, “We received a petition from Bishop Kukah alleging that the boy had been impersonating him and extorting money from prominent people. So, my men went to work and were able to track the suspect and arrest him.  He is a habitual criminal and I would like to advise the public against responding to emails or phone calls from unknown persons requesting financial support for one cause or the other.”

Mustafa also called on the public to report every suspicious phone call and email to the police for investigation.

Source: Punch

Inside Patience Jonathan’s N10bn hotel •Royal suite costs N367, 000 per night

SIMON UTEBOR, who was at the Aridolf Resort Wellness and Spa, said to be owned by former first lady, Patience Jonathan, writes about the luxury in the edifice

From afar, the sheer magnificence of the Aridolf Resort Wellness and Spa, strategically positioned in the heart of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, draws a first-time visitor into a lavish embrace.

Arguably the most prestigious hotel in the oil-rich state, the edifice is located in Okaka Estate, along Isaac Adaka Boro Expressway, which is close to a popular night club, Bolex.

The five star hotel sprawls over a large expanse of land complementing the surroundings of the residential estate which boasts of the choicest edifices and castles in the whole of Bayelsa.

The security in the hotel has thinned out compared to what it used to be when Goodluck Jonathan held sway as the country’s President. Reportedly worth about N10bn, the Aridolf is said to be owned by the former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.

The hotel

Before May 2015, beyond the opulence oozing from the impressive building, Aridolf was also like a presidential fortress, with the presence of soldiers and members of other security agencies, apparently on sentry duty, manning the gates and other strategic areas.

But it all changed when Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party lost the 2015 presidential election, which saw the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as President and the All Progressives Congress as the ruling party.

While the imposing Aridolf still retains its grandeur, the air of presidential security and protected serenity has since disappeared, as only private guards and plainclothes security personnel are seen around the area.

A first time visitor or guest would still marvel at the sprawling architectural masterpiece spread across four buildings with a fountain strategically positioned for aesthetic effect. The fountain is encased with bulbs of different colours shining from beneath it, producing a colourful shade of glamour and extravagance.

One of the least expensive rooms in the hotel

Inside the compound, tarred with interlocking tiles all round, is a spacious car park that can conveniently accommodate hundreds of vehicles. Other facilities offered at the property include a nightclub, meeting facilities and a shared lounge.

Established to mainly cater for Nigeria’s elite, the Aridolf offers indoor pools, a spa and wellness centre as well as free WiFi access for visitors and guests. Its opulence is further showcased in the hotel’s reception area, with expensive artworks, gold-plated furniture and imposing landscapes on display. There is also a chandelier providing artificial lights from the Plaster of Paris ceiling and walls.

The hotel’s lobby has a strong, sweet-smelling fragrance which gives the impression that it has a style, taste and class exclusively preserved for the rich and famous.

The Aridolf boasts of about 200 rooms including suites. The price of the rooms ranges from N15, 700 to N367, 500.

According to the hotel’s room rates, a standard room costs N15, 700; deluxe room costs N31, 500; a junior suite is N56, 700 and the executive room is N75, 600. The Presidential suite goes for N315, 000 while the price of the Royal suite is N367, 500. All the costs are inclusive of value-added tax charges.

Most of the categories of rooms are fully furnished with air conditioners, fridges, TV sets with satellite channels, good toilet systems, cold and hot water facilities, WIFI, among others. The only significant difference between the classes of rooms is essentially the bed and space. They all have similar features.

Dame Patience Jonathan

The hotel serves local and intercontinental dishes with prices from N2, 000 upwards.

At one of their bars, christened Paradise Bar, different variety of drinks such as beer, wine, whiskey, gin, fruit juice, among others, are served. Our correspondent learnt that the management had to reduce prices of the drinks because of the economic recession in the country. The price of beer now goes for between N500 and N600 against their initial N800 and N1, 000 price tags.

A guest can enjoy a view of the city’s skyline from almost all the rooms. In addition, the hotel has a beverage centre, business centre with full Internet access, fitness centre, kitchenette, restaurants, wheelchair access and airport transportation.

One of the workers in the hotel, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the former first lady was involved in the running of Aridolf, despite the fact that the hotel has a general manager, as well as managers and supervisors.

The source noted Mrs. Jonathan was always available in the hotel to provide effective supervision.

“When she came here last week, she ensured that she put everything in place before she left,” the source said, adding that while the former first lady also owns another hotel in Otuoke, her husband’s country home, she frequents Aridolf more.

A bed in the room

The source said, “Aridolf is a hotel after the former first lady’s heart. She is the super supervisor. At times, she holds meetings with the employees. At such meetings, she usually teaches us about business relations, how to woo and retain customers, among other things.”

Our correspondent also gathered that despite the price of the rooms, the hotel enjoys high patronage from guests, who are mostly politicians, oil and gas workers, businessmen, foreigners and some middle income earners.

A royal suite which cost almost N400, 000 per night is often occupied, said another employee, who noted with pride that “Aridolf has everything one can think of. It is a place for recreation, wellness and all what one desires in a hotel.”

Despite its opulence, some parts of the hotel seem to have suffered some deterioration due to the topography of Bayelsa State.

At the balcony in the Paradise Bar, our correspondent noticed a leaky roof after a downpour during the week. The rain also flooded some area of the bar, soaking some portions of the synthetic rugs decorating the place.

A guest blamed the development on poor architectural and structural designs of the building.

The guest, who did not give his name, said the building was suffering from an assemblage of expensive fittings but lacked proper finishing.

He said, “The chairs and other furniture at the lobby are very expensive. They were imported. But those who supplied some of the materials cheated the owner. Some of the materials are only shinning but they are not durable. That is why you see that some parts of the hotel are deteriorating.

“The saving grace for the building is the tiles used to design the hotel structure. The tiles are the ones covering the defects in the building. Remove the tiles and the building will have serious problems. It is suffering from architectural and structural defects.”

Source: Punch