#DasukiGate: Court Orders Banks To Freeze Accounts Of Suspects

Nigerian commercial banks have been directed to freeze the accounts of some suspects involved in the alleged N31billion Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) scandal.
The Nation reports that some companies, House of Representatives members as well as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chiefs are affected.

L-R: Some of the suspects: Bashir Yuguda, former minister of state for finance, Attahiru Bafarawa and Dasuki.

It was reported that the Former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki and others had perfected their bail conditions as at yesterday December 23.
Justice Peter Affen of a Federal High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) also banned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from re-arresting Dasuki, ex-Minister Bashir Yuguda, ex- ONSA  Director of Finance, Shuaibu Salisu, Sagir Attahiru and ex-Governor Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa.
It was reported that the banks accounts where the slush funds were paid into has been asked to Post No Bill (PNB).
All the banks, where the accounts of those affected are domiciled, have been asked to Post No Bill (PNB).
According to a reliable source in the EFCC the PNB is limited to accounts where the slush funds were deposited and other traceable accounts.
He said: “We decided to place restriction as part of our ongoing investigation into the scandal. We have informed all relevant banks that we are probing some transactions relating to such accounts.
“Those affected are the accused persons and all those named as having benefited from the disbursement of funds. The list is longer than you have been reading about. On the list are companies, individuals serving as fronts, accused persons, PDP stalwarts, and some serving or former members of the House of Representatives.
“We want to be at an advantage where we can recover looted funds as may be determined by the court,” the source added.
Responding to a question, the source added that the restriction is in line with Section 34(1) (2) of the EFCC Act.
The statement reads:
“Notwithstanding anything contained in any other enactment or law, the chairman of the commission or any officer authorized by him may, if satisfied that the money in the account of a person is made through the commission of an offence under this Act or any enactments specified under Section 6(2) (a)-(f) of this Act , apply to the Court for ex-parte power to issue or instruct a bank examiner or such other appropriate regulatory agency to issue an order as specified in Form B of the Schedule to this Act, addressed to the manager of the bank or any person in control of the financial institution where the account is or believed by him to be or the head office of the bank or other financial institution to freeze the account.
“The Chairman of the commission or any officer authorised by him may by an order issued under sub-section (1) of this section or by any subsequent order, direct the bank or other financial institution to supply any information and produce books and documents relating to the account and to stop all outward payments, operations or transactions (including any bill of exchange) in respect of the account of the arrested person.
“The manager or any other person in control of the financial institution shall take necessary steps to comply with the requirements of the order made pursuant to sub-section(2) of this section.”
However, some of the affected suspects confirmed the restriction placed on their accounts.
One of the defence counsel said: “Our clients have been informed about the restriction of access to their accounts. I think the EFCC did so because it is still investigating some transactions.

“The commission also does not want them to withdraw what is left in those accounts.”
Also, a House of Representatives member who pleaded anonymity said: A member of the House of Representatives said: “I don’t have access to my account in which my salaries and allowances are being paid into.
“I did not benefit from any campaign funds. The N50million allegedly traced to my account was no slush fund at all; it was payment for a consultancy job, which was awarded through due process after the consideration of the feasibility study.
“The money for the service was paid after the election. I did not benefit from any campaign fund.  I don’t engage in dirty deals. I have a good reputation.”

LG Boss Denies Alleged Beating Suffered In Hands Of Dickson

What can be regarded as an unfolding drama is currently being experienced in Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa state, as we count down to the state gubernatorial rerun on January 9.

Following media reports that Governor Seriake Dickson allegedly beat Chief Remember Ogbe, the chairman of the Southern Ijaw local government area, reactions from the council chief himself has been reported.
Dickson was accused by the All Progressives Congress (APC) of descending heavily on Ogbe for failing to ensure his victory at the December 5 and 6 governorship elections in the local government.
According to the reports, Dickson allegedly invited Ogbe to the government House in Yenagoa and reportedly descended on him.
But in a swift reaction after Governor Dickson had denied assaulting Ogbe, the council chief himself as described the report as wicked and malicious, The Nation reports.

Southern Ijaw LGA Boss, Chief Remember Ogbe Denies Alleged Beating Suffered In The Hands Of Dickson

Chief Ogbe said nobody ever attacked him, stating that the story of attack on him was a figment of the imagination of the opposition concocted by the party’s governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, to smear the democratic credentials of Governor Dickson with the target of tarnishing the governor’s hard-earned reputation as a non-violent politician.
He said: “The good news is that Bayelsans cannot be swayed by the APC propaganda because the public knows that Sylva and the promoters of APC in the state are merchants of violence while Governor Dickson and PDP have in the past three years restored peace and prosperity to our people.
“As the supplementary election in Southern Ijaw draws closer, the APC is getting more desperate in their sinister bid to capture Bayelsa by hook or crook.
“However, I’m confidence that PDP will win Southern Ijaw because the people of Bayelsa in general and Southern Ijaw in particular have rejected Sylva and APC.
“I wondered why the APC would claim that the governor was angry for losing election in his council when there was no election at all in the first place.
“Southern Ijaw was riddled with violence and turned to a theatre of war by the APC. Election materials did not get to the polling units, INEC officials were kidnapped and these were the reasons why INEC cancelled the process and fixed January 9, 2016 for the election. So, how could the governor be angry with me for not delivering? This is the height of APC desperation and the discerning public must be weary of them.”
However, Chief Egba, the director-feneral of the Sylva/Igiri Campaign Organisation, in his reaction to the denial by the council boss, stood by the earlier statement, adding that the organisation would produce about three eyewitnesses if the need arises.
Chief Egba said: “We have been told that the Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Council, Chief Remember Ogbe, has denied being beaten to pulp by the serially violent Gov. Seriake Dickson ‎following the PDP’s disastrous outing in the cancelled re-run election in Southern Ijaw Local Council.
“Our response is simple. If he is sure that he was not beaten byanybody, let him come out publicly to deny it on television so that cameras can show his face and other parts.
“We know of a fact that all these denials are being issued from the Bayelsa government House Press Office while Chief Remember Ogbe is on his sick bed.
“It is more than two weeks now that Chief Ogbe received the Governor’s beating. This is no lie at all and not political either, but to draw attention to the character of the man who is seeking the mandate of the people.
“Let us recall that Governor Dickson recently met with various stakeholders from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, including the traditional rulers, chiefs, political appointees and youth groups. Chief Ogbe could not attend any of the meetings because of the injuries inflicted on him by the desperate governor.
“For the records, the APC flag bearer, Chief Timipre Sylva, has nothing to do with the story; rather, it was the numerous eyewitnesses, including some close associates, who broke the news because of their unhappiness with the goings on in the government House.
“We have also promised to provide at least three eyewitnesses, who are willing to stake everything, to confirm this story.”

Following indications that the political arena was thickening with hate and indifference in Bayelsa state, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) moved swiftly to nullify the governorship election in the region.
According to INEC, the election was nullified due to violence, abduction of electoral officials and ballot box snatching in Southern Ijaw local government area.
However, results already announced have it that the PDP’s candidate Governor Seriake Dickson is clearly leading in the poll.
He has so far won six of the seven local government areas announced by INEC and has picked up 105,748 votes, while his biggest rival, Chief Timipre Sylva of the APC has secured a total vote of 72,594.

Missing Chibok Girls, $2.1B Arms Deal: Maku Under Fire

Reactions continue to trail the kidnap of over 200 female students from the government secondary school in the town of Chibok in Borno state.

After 623 days without any clues of the whereabouts of the missing girls, Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa state has called for the probe of the failure of Labaran Maku to rescue the girls as the supervising Minister of Defence in the last administration.
In a statement made available to newsmen, Al-Makura said the probe on Maku was necessary so as justice and fairness to the parents and guardians of the missing girls can be served, Vanguard reports.

Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa state (Right) has called for the probe of the failure of Ex-minister Labaran Maku (Right) to rescue the missing chibok girls

Al-makura said: “The on-going trial of the accused persons in the embezzlement of $2.1 billion meant for arms purchase should not exclude those who allegedly collected money in the name of securing the release of Chibok girls but never did.
“The investigation will go a long in revealing how Maku, as Information Minister deceived Nigerians on the purported release of the Chibok girls
“It was alleged that the former Minister also collected several millions of Naira under the guise that they were negotiating for the release of Chibok girls from Boko Haram.”
Al-makura added that Maku’s recent assurance that he will speak up on the $2.1bn arms deal is a ploy to draw public sympathy.
According to the governor, President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to defeat Boko Haram, and so Nigerians, especially the residents of the Northeast must support the government.

Labaran Maku had claimed he would soon speak up over the $2.1bn arms deal scandal that involves the former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
According to the former minister, “it is virtually too early for me as a former minister of information to begin to talk about what is going on at the moment.”
However, he added that he would make his views known when the right time comes.
We recalls that on the night of 14–15 April 2014, 276 female students were kidnapped from the government secondary school in the town of Chibok in Borno state.

15 countries to attend Calabar Carnival 2015

15 countries to attend Calabar Carnival 2015

The Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, on Sunday said 15 countries within and outside Africa have booked places in this year’s Calabar Carnival.
Mr. Ayade also assured the world that the state was ready for the festival and would offer a rare hospitality to all who would attend the annual street party.
The governor, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES through his Special Adviser on Security, Jude Ndaji, noted that proactive measures had been taken to ensure a hitch-free celebration.
The Calabar Festival, said to be the biggest street party on the continent, kicked off on November 30 with carnival dry runs, decoration of streets and opening of the festival village.
The festival was created as part of the vision of making Cross River State, the number one tourist destination for Nigerians and tourists all over the world.
The carnival, which will last till December 31, has boosted the cultural rich of Nigeria, while entertaining millions from within and outside the country.
“The state is ready for the carnival. We have adopted different approaches to ensure this year’s celebration is better than all the other carnivals we hosted.

“At this time last year, we were not facing the kind of security challenges we are having today. And so, we have adopted security measures to deal with the situation and we are sure of a hitch-free celebration.
“As we speak, all the security agencies in the state are on high alert and all the arrangements for the carnival have been concluded.
“Usually, a few embassies in the past indicated interest in the programme but this time around, 15 countries are coming and we are ready to host them and other visitors to our state,” he said.
Currently, he said, a new band has been created with Mr. Ayade as the head, bringing the number of bands to six.
He noted that the new band was made up of celebrities, stars and professionals who would add a new touch to the carnival.

Calabar Carnival Kicks Off In Style (PHOTOS)