African Court faults trial of convict, yet upholds 30-year jail term

By Lemmy Ughegbe, Abuja

PHOTO: arushacity.com

ALTHOUGH the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights (AFCHPR) found the trial and 30-year jail sentence of Mr. Alex Thomas by the United Republic of Tanzania for armed robbery unfair and in violation of his rights, the court declined his request to release him.

The African Court held that the United Republic of Tanzania was guilty of violating the right to fair hearing of Thomas during his trial, leading to his conviction in 1989 which has kept him in prison for 30 years now.

In an electronic copy of the judgment endorsed by its Registrar, Robert Eno made available to The Guardian yesterday, the African Court dismissed the preliminary objection filed by the United Republic of Tanzania, seeking to stop it from hearing Mr. Thomas’ application to upturn his conviction by the District Court of Rombo, Tanzania.

However, in a split decision of six to two judges on the panel, the court refused the request of the convict that he be released from Karanga Central prison in Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

The majority decision that Thomas remained in prison was reached by Judges Gerard Niyungeko, Duncan Tambala, Sylvian Ore, El Hadji Guisse, Ben Kioko, and Solomy B. Bossa, while the Vice President of the court, Judge Elsie N. Thompson and Judge Rafaa Ben Achour delivered dissenting decisions that Thomas be freed from prison custody.

In the dissenting judgment, Judges Thompson and Achour held that “since the court had found that the applicant has been in prison for 20 years out of a 30-year prison term following a trial which this court has declared to be an unfair trial, in violation of the charter, the proper thing would be to order his release.”

The Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU), which provided legal representation for Mr. Thomas, had approached the African Court (AFCHPR) with an application, claiming that he was wrongfully convicted.

Besides that claim of wrongful conviction, PALU also claimed that the trial court and appellate Court in Tanzania which convicted and affirmed Thomas’ conviction respectively lacked jurisdiction to try him because the alleged robbery he was accused of occurred in Kenya.

PALU further alleged that Thomas was not given an opportunity to defend himself during trial; that the prosecution did not prove the case against him beyond reasonable doubt; that he was not provided with legal aid during trial contrary to the Constitution of Tanzania and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and that there had been undue delay in the review of the decision of the Court of Appeal where he appealed in 2009.

In his reply to the applicant’s claims, the respondents – the Union of the Republic of Tanzania- prayed the court to dismiss the applicant’s application “for lack of admissibility requirements as stipulated under the Rules of the Court, the Charter and the Protocol.”

The United Republic of Tanzania legal team was led by Amb. Irene Kasyanju, Head of Legal Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs with Rule 38 of the Rules of the Court (dismissal of applications without merit).

It submitted that the application failed to evoke the jurisdiction of the court.

In a unanimous decision, the court held that “there has been no violation of Articles 3, 5, 6, 7(1)(b), and 9(1) of the Charter.”
But the court unanimously held that “there has been a violation of Articles 1(recognition by State parties of the rights, duties and freedom under the African Charter); Article 7(1)(a), (c) and (d) of the Charter [right to an appeal to competent national organs, right to defence and right to be tried within a reasonable time by an impartial court];and Article 14(3) (d) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) [right to be tried in one’s presence and right to defend oneself or through legal assistance of one’s choice and right to be informed and provided legal assistance where the interest of justice requires, without payment if not able to afford].”

In conclusion, by a vote of six to two, the applicant’s prayer for release from prison was denied.

The court also unanimously ordered the respondent to “take all necessary measures within a reasonable time to remedy all the violations found, specifically precluding the re-opening of the defence case and the retrial of the applicant and to inform the court within six months from the date of this judgment of the measures taken.”

In accordance with Rule 63 of the Rules of the Court, the court directed the applicant to file submission on the request for reparations within 30 days from the date of judgment and the respondent to respond within 30 days of receipt of the applicant’s submission.

Court of Appeal upholds Saraki’s election

By Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin

Saraki

The election of the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, to represent Kwara Central Senatorial District was yesterday upheld by the Court of Appeal in Ilorin.

The justices, led by Joseph Ikyegh, and supported by Oluwayemisi Williams and Ibrahim Bdliya, in a unanimous decision dismissed all the grounds brought before them by the appellant, Abdulrahaman Abdulrasak.
The court held that Saraki was duly elected during the March 28, 2015 National Assembly elections.

The Presiding Justice, in his judgment, struck out the appeal, citing non-compliance with the stipulated time for filing and incongruous with the case of David Mark as cited by the counsel to the appellant.

The appellant, who was the Peoples Democratic Party’s(PDP) candidate in the election, had challenged Saraki’s election at the lower election petition tribunal, citing irregularities during the polls but lost.

Dissatisfied with the ruling of the tribunal, AbdulRasaq took his case to the appellate court, alleging, among others, that results were collated in some centres and declared before the final announcement of the results.

Reports of experts were brought by the appellant to prove his case but such reports were declared irrelevant, as they were found to had been written almost a year to the election.

Court rules on Dokpesi’s bail request December 14

By Lemmy Ughegbe and Abosede Musari (Abuja)
 

• Being investigated over fresh charges of N8.4b fraud
THE detained founder of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, will have to wait till December 14, 2015 to know if the Federal High Court, Abuja Division will grant him bail.

After entertaining arguments by counsel for Dokpesi, Chief Mike Abu Ozekhome (SAN) in favour of his bail application and the arguments canvassed by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the trial Judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole reserved his decision for next Monday.

Dokpesi, charged alongside his business concern, DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited pleaded not guilty to all of the six counts charge bordering on money laundering and breach of Public Procurement Act.

While arguing the media chief’s bail application, Ozekhome prayed the court to consider the status of his client and release him on self-recognition or “on the most liberal term,” saying the offences against him are ordinarily bailable.

He said the accused remained a man of his standing with no reason to jump bail, submitting that he would appear on all days his trial was fixed if he was granted bail.

However, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) opposed the bail application on the ground that Dokpesi was also being investigated over alleged complicity in the diversion of other huge sums of money.

Jacobs submitted that admitting Dokpesi to bail could jeopardise on-going investigations in that regard and therefore prayed the court to refuse his bail application.

Also, Jacobs said the Federal Government was investigating a fresh allegations of N8.4billion, Dokpesi allegedly collected for airing the FIFA U17 championship which Nigeria hosted in Jan 27,2012.

Jacobs said the airing right was given to DAAR Communications by FIFA and the Federal Government was not a party to the said contract.

He urged the court to take a judicial look at the affidavit evidence of the Federal Government which indicated that no contract paper was exchanged by Dokpesi and any agent of government when the money was paid to him.

Trump plans to win ‘100 per cent’ of Black votes

Trump

DONALD Trump has seized – and maintained – the political spotlight, in part by making coarse remarks about minority groups and capitalizing on nativist fears among his core supporters. He’s called Mexican immigrants rapists and murderers, repeated stereotypes about Jews and money, and, this week, in the wake of the San Bernardino massacre, Trump ignited a national firestorm by calling for Muslims to be banned from entering the country. The more he’s alienated American ethnic groups and scandalized the political establishment, the more, it seems, the brash billionaire has pumped up his base.

But in a strange twist, Trump, the unabashedly politically incorrect Republican frontrunner, recently made an effort to be more sensitive about one of the country’s key minority constituencies.

This shift came after Trump met with a group that included prominent African-American pastors at his eponymous skyscraper headquarters in Manhattan on November 30. Three people who attended the meeting told Yahoo that Trump was told to change the way he speaks about African-Americans, a group he has regularly referred to as “the blacks.” Members of the group left Trump Tower with the impression he would choose his words more carefully going forward.

“To be honest, we informed him that he comes across as insensitive sometimes,” recounted Darrell Scott, an Ohio pastor who helped organize Trump’s meeting with the clergy. “He said, ‘ok.’ … He nodded his head. … We also told him that there are politically correct and politically incorrect terms that are being in use.”

Scott said Trump took the pastors’ words to heart. After the meeting, Trump flew down to Macon, Ga., for a rally where his speech reflected the new tone: “You know, we had a meeting today that was amazing,” Trump told his faithful. “We had the African-American pastors – so many came up to Trump Tower – it was like one of the most inspiring meetings.”

Power: Lagos adds 220MW, inaugurates advisory c’ttee

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo

Lagos—At least 220 megawatts of electricity would be added to the existing 1, 000 megawatts being supplied to Lagos as part of measures to boost power supply in the state.

Meantime, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State yesterday said the government will pay the Land Use Charge, LUC of any private organization or individuals who lights up any street especially the inner city roads in the state.

He disclosed this at the inauguration of the State Advisory Committee on power supply, at the State House, Alausa, Ikeja.

Ambode, addressing the gathering, explained that the committee which consists of representatives from the private and public organisations will assist the government to create an enabling environment to ensure 24-hour power supply in the state.

According to him, “The committee will guide in the development of roadmap for reliable power supply for the state. And foster collaboration and develop a platform for all major power stakeholders in the state.’’

Responding, Chairman of Ikeja Distribution Company, EKEDCO, Mr. Tope Sonubi said; “Tomorrow  we will be inaugurating additional 220 Mega Watts dedicated for Lagos. The power will be coming from Egbin power station.

“The problem affecting generation before was finance. But now, the investors are putting a lot of funds and the management is working effectively to ensure that power supply increase in the country,” the chairman said.

Bayelsa poll: Murray-Bruce vows to drag perpetrators of violence before ICC

By Abiodun Alade

The lawmaker representing Bayelsa East senatorial district, Ben Murray-Bruce, has vowed to drag perpetrators of violence during the Bayelsa State governorship election that led to the death of at least four people, to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, stressing that citizens have a right to vote for any candidate of their choice in any election without coercion or intimidation.

Ben Bruce

The senator elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, made this known in a statement following the violence, abduction and killings that characterised the election in Bayelsa, especially in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, which led to the declaration of the poll as inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

He said: “I wish to state categorically that any further killing in Bayelsa State as a result of the ongoing election wherein the law enforcement agents are watching, or the leaders of the political parties seem to have instigated such killing, I will personally ensure that they are charged for murder. If government fails to prosecute them, I will drag them before the International Criminal Court in The Hague for crimes against humanity.”

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatization, berated security operatives for failing to protect the electorate from attacks by political thugs and criminals.

“I have observed with dismay, the killings in Bayelsa State in the ongoing governorship election. The military and the Police have been seen to watch with indifference while thugs and criminals killed law abiding citizens who were out to perform their franchise. So far, about four people have been reported killed, many injured including Youth Corps members serving as adhoc staff to the INEC.

“Citizens have a right to vote for any candidate of their choice in any election without coercion or intimidation. And it is the responsibility of the government to protect these citizens as enshrined in our Constitution. But it is sad to note that these defenseless citizens were killed without being protected by the law enforcement agents even when they were watching,” he added.

He called on the people of the state to be vigilant and law abiding as they await a new date for the election.

“I therefore advice the good people of Bayelsa to be vigilant. Where there is any killing they must ensure that they can identify those responsible either by omission or commission. I also advise them to be law abiding.

“When a new date is set by INEC for elections to hold in Ijaw South, those affected should quietly go to their designated polling booths and cast their votes. No body should allow himself to be used to perpetrate violence in Bayelsa State. Enough is enough,” he added.

CLO to FG: Deploy energies to crush B/Haram, not armless IPOB protesters

*Seeks investigation into alleged killing of 10 protesters in Onitsha by security operatives

By Ikenna Asomba

The Civil Liberty Organization (CLO), has condemned the alleged killing of at least 11 protesters and others severely injured when pro-Biafra protesters clashed with armed security operatives at the wee hours of Wednesday, December 2, 2015, in Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State.

Onitsha-protest

The CLO, in a statement by its Executive Director, Comrade Ibuchukwu Ezike, said among those allegedly killed by the joint military operation was a 21 year-old Nkiruka Anthonia Ikeanyionwu, from Adazi Nnukwu Anambra state and schooling at Fedral College of Education Umunze, Anambra State, adding that those injured are currently receiving treatment in undisclosed hospitals in the state, even as 100 others are reportedly being detained in Abuja by the Directorate of State Security (DSS).

Recall that over the last three weeks members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), have been protesting the continued incarceration of their leader and the Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, who was arrested and detained by the Nigeria’s secret Police since October 17, 2015.

The group which expressed worry that Kanu was still was still detained despite a Court Order which granted him bail, said: “It has become the tradition of the Nigerian authorities to rudely disobey court orders. This, we fear, may seriously threaten our civil rule and viciously return our society to the yester years of impunity, terror and executive lawlessness.

“Only few weeks ago, the court Order granted to the National Security Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) to travel overseas for medical treatment, was disobeyed by the Nigerian government. His house has been under siege since the court order was granted without the repeal of the order by a court of higher jurisdiction.

“On Tuesday, the former Chairman of Daar Communications, Dr Raymond Dokpesi was allegedly detained on oral invitation to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, an act constitutional lawyers say amounted to the breach of the law. We are ashamed to learn that Dr. Dopkesi is allegedly remanded on the primitive Holding Charge (colonial) Law which is no longer in the legal code of our country.

“CLO, though in absolute support of the war against corruption by the current government, will not support impudent violation of the rights of the citizens by the authorities acting in contrary to the provisions of the law, no matter the excuse. Even where murder allegation is involved, nothing can justify the abuse of the rule of law, human rights and due process while the matter is being investigated. It looks odd to parade and hold suspects who are being investigated by security agents in guilt as if they have been found guilty by the courts,” it said.

Continuing Ezike said “The CLO views the shooting of armless civilians by soldiers and other security agents in Onitsha, especially at the odd hour of 1:30 am as a case of gross violation of human rights, use of excessive force and a crime against humanity. This barbaric act has no place in a modern society as it also gravely undermines all United Nations (UN) African Union (AU) and other international, regional and national human rights mechanisms. Nothing, whatsoever, can justify this flagrant infraction on the rights of the citizens. Absolutely nothing!

“On the war against corruption, while CLO maintains zero tolerance for corruption and other social vices and crimes, we shall strongly continue to disassociate ourselves from the violation of our laws and human rights on the altar of fighting graft and other crimes in Nigeria. CLO, in a very strong term, condemns this abuse of the Constitution by the Nigerian authorities and demand the return to the use of due process and respect for the rule law in addressing corruption issues.

“This kind of exercise was last experienced in Nigeria in 1999 and 2000 when the Obasanjo regime sacked Odi community in Bayelsa and Zaki-Biam in Benue states through executive terror and lawlessness.

“We urge the Nigerian government to deploy the energies and resources being wasted on armless citizens to confronting more serious issues of Boko Haram and other criminal elements whose activities terrorise and ravage our country, which have turned our young soldiers’ wives into widows in our barracks, children into orphans and our communities into Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps. The time and resources employed in executing a war against armless and hapless citizens cannot do us any good,” he said.

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Bayelsa poll: Call your aides to order, candidates tell Buhari

By Emem Idio

YENAGOA—AGAINST the backdrop of the cancelled governorship election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, 11 governorship candidates in the poll have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to check the undue interference of his aides in the exercise by calling them to order.

Addressing newsmen in Yenagoa, yesterday, the candidates, under the aegis of United Governorship Candidates for Credible Elections, alleged that some high ranking political office holders in the federal government were the unseen hands who manipulated the electoral process and did everything to skew the election in favour of their preferred candidate.

FILE: A Voter being Accredited by an INEC Official at unit 18 Ward 6 Amarata, Yenegoa during the Bayelsa State Governorship Election. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke

Political parties whose candidates were present at the briefing include, Social Democratic Party, SDP; African Peoples Alliance, APA; Mega Progressives Peoples Party, MPPP; Progressives Peoples Alliance, PPA; Peoples Democratic Congress, PDC; Citizens Popular Party, CPP; Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN; United Peoples Party, UPP; New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP; Democratic Peoples Party, DPP; and KOWA.

Governorship candidate of United Peoples Party, UPP, William Berezi, who read the signed statement on behalf of the group, also condemned the spate of violence in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, and called for the deployment of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG, Hashimu Argungun and immediate transfer of the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Nasiru Oki, over their alleged activities during the elections.

Berezi said: “ In the spirit of fairness, as a factor of the appalling situation we saw in Southern Ijaw in particular, we hereby call on the military high command in Abuja to withdraw all soldiers deployed to provide security in that local government area.

“It can only be a fair comment if Mr. President tells the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Army Staff that what they are doing in Bayelsa state is wrong and should be condemned.”

Senate, Reps battle over Frivolous Petitions Bill

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor & Joseph Erunke with agency reports

ABUJA — The Senate and the House of Representatives are set for an epic battle over perceptions that the Frivolous Petitions Bill introduced in the Senate could erode the change mantra that brought the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to power in the last elections.

The opposition of the House to the bill to gag mainstream media and the social media was articulated by House spokesman, Abdulrazak Namdas. He spoke just as the lead sponsor of the bill in the Senate, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, told Vanguard that there would be no going back on the bill which he claimed arose from the need to stop blackmailers and intimidators on social media.

Na’Allah, deputy majority leader of the Senate, said no amount of indignation from the public would compel the legislative body to abandon the bill midstream.

The bill, entitled, “A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and other Matters Connected therewith,” proposes a two-year jail term or a N2 million fine or both for anybody that posts or broadcasts false, abusive statements on social media.

We can’t close space for free speech

Flaying the bill following the late Tuesday meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the House of Representatives, Namdas said: “As Chairman, House Committee on Media, I must say that we cannot close space for free speech.

“We came on the platter of change and it was this social media that brought us to power and we are making effective changes on that. I think we should live with that,” Namdas was quoted by NAN as saying.

He said: “We would like to ensure that there is free speech. And the only thing we try to enjoin is that journalists, who are trained, who know the ethics of journalism, should also join the social media activity so that we can differentiate between the grains and the chaff.

“I think that is most essential, but we should not leave it for just those who think they can just post anything. Ideally, I think it is very important that we allow free speech. With time we will get to the level that we can regulate. For now I think Nigerians will rely on them.

No amount of indignation’ll stop us

However, reiterating the determination of the Senate to forge ahead with the bill, Na’Allah in an interview with Vanguard said: “I sponsored the bill to sanitize information flow on the social media. The social media is a very valuable platform for dissemination of information and it has helped this country greatly but of recent we have seen some few ‘bad eggs’ who have turned it into a business venture.

“They collect money from people and go into the social media to tarnish the image of their political opponents. It is against this backdrop that we felt people should behave responsibly on the platform.

“They ask you to bring money or they post things that will portray you in bad light or alternatively they collect money from other political opponents and post unfavourable things about you. This is not going to augur well for this country.”

Na’Allah said issues between the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki andSaharareporters.com did not influence the bill as he said he was until recently ignorant of any issue between the two.

“I didn’t even know the Senate President has an issue with the Sahara Reporters until after Senator Dino Melaye raised a point of order on it on the floor of the Senate last Thursday.

“We had in our legislative agenda, the idea of making sure that this country is ruled by law and we are of the view that the only way this country can move forward is if there are laws and they are enforced and that was why the ICT committee of the Senate was created.

“We felt the need that all these things must be regulated. All the areas where we have seen hitches in our democratic journey, we want to make sure that they are corrected.”

He said some people just want to misinform the public on the bill, adding: “Don’t forget that the bill is going to go through public hearing wherein; the public is going to say their mind on it.

He noted: “There, they will speak on whether the bill is desirable or not but as a Senate, we should be seen to do something and the public should have a say in it but the public cannot blackmail us into saying that we cannot sit down and make laws for the country.

“If you have freedom of expression, it is not absolute. The fact that you have freedom of expression does not give you the licence to continue to go and make allegations against people because those people too have their own right, which is called dignity of human person.”

BIAFRA: No Nnamdi Kanu, no dialogue with FG —MASSOB, IPOB

We won’t be part of negotiations to strengthen Nigeria’s unity – BIM
•Kanu must not die in detention like Yusuf – Rights groups

By Francis Igata,  Nwabueze Okonkwo & Chimaobi Nwaiwu

ENUGU—The ceasefire declared by the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to give room for a dialogue with the Federal Government appears headed for the rocks.

The groups are peeved by reports that former governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Senator Goodswill Akpabio led a delegation accompanied by some northern elites on behalf of MASSOB to Federal Government to broker a truce.

Consequently,  they said they the only way they would be part of the dialogue is if detained IPOB leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu is part of it.

This came as the Chief Ralph Uwazuruike-led Biafra Independent Movement, BIM, dissociated self from any negotiation to strength the unity of Nigeria and vowed to actualize the Republic of Biafra

Meanwhile, a coalition of human rights groups in the South-East zone cautioned the Federal Government against allowing  Nnamdi Kanu to be murdered in the captivity of the Department of State Service, DSS, the way deceased leader of Boko Haram sect,  Yusuf Mohammed was killed in Police custody.

Also, residents of Onitsha and its environs had appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Nigerian Armed Forces to dismantle the road blocks in Anambra State, which were mounted after the killing of nine people in the state over MASSOB and IPOB protests, citing increasing inhuman treatments meted out to innocent citizens by the military men.

Any dialogue without Nnamdi won’t yield fruits

Nnamdi-Kanu in court

Speaking on the proposed dialogue, in Enugu, yesteday, MASSOB Director of Information, Edson Samuel, said: “We are shocked that Akpabio, who disowned MASSOB at the inception of this demonstration, led some northern leaders to broker truce on our behalf. We do not know them, neither can we identify with them because any person moving to dialogue between us and Federal Government must first meet with us and know our demands.

“This demonstration is strictly anchored by MASSOB, IPOB and Akpabio, working with his cohort, Dozie Ikedife, have shown hatred for Nnamdi Kanu. We make haste to disown them.

“Ikedife has his own agenda and belief in the constitution of Nigeria, which we do not believe in. MASSOB and Biafra do not have faith in Nigerian constitution. The Nigerian constitution is a complete fraud, that is why we are protesting to opt out. The framers of the constitution never consulted Ndigbo when it was crafted.

On Biafra we stand —BIM

The BIM, a former faction of MASSOB, yesterday, gave reasons  it would not be part of any negotiation intended.....

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ALLEGED $2bn arms deal PROBE: EFCC to summon Okonjo-Iweala

Oshiomhole alleges ex-minister aided looting of stolen funds
I secured ex-President Jonathan’s approval — Okonjo-Iweala
Okonjo-Iweala should tender apology to Nigerians — SERAP

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North & Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA— Indications emerged last night that the Federal Government would extend its dragnet towards apprehending and prosecuting more individuals and groups which allegedly helped themselves with huge funds meant for the acquisition of arms for the armed forces, leaving the soldiers to fight with bare hands.

Meanwhile, the war of words between Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and  former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala continued, yesterday, as the  governor alleged that the former minister facilitated looting of funds by officials of the past admiistration.

Already, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission probing how funds meant for arms were diverted and stolen by top politicians, have stumbled on fresh evidence that senior officials of the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria were actively involved in the transfer of funds to the suspects.

The operatives are upset that rather than help to protect the fortunes of the country, the said officials aided and abetted politicians to bolt away with the nation’s scarce resources.

The agency also discovered that most of the records which the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, used in collecting the huge sums of public funds from the relevant government agencies and paying the sludge funds to the politicians, were not kept in the office of the embattled NSA.

It was learnt  last night that EFCC operatives were set to summon the former Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okojo-Iweala and some top officials of the CBN to shed more light on what they know about the arms budget said to have been diverted by bigwigs of one of the political parties.

Also to be invited based on evidence of disbursement from the apex bank, are some serving and retired top officials of the CBN who helped in the disbursement of the arms cash to the beneficiaries.

Vanguard  learnt that the decision to summon the former minister and the apex bank officials followed the discovery that the bank played an active part in wiring various sums of money to persons and institutions at home and abroad without paying attention to due process.

It was the gamut of transaction documents from the CBN that has assisted them to trace and arrest the high profile politicians and their cronies, who benefitted from the public funds meant for arms.

A source said: “It is clear from our discovery that some money taken from the Abacha loot was used to secure some arms and fight insurgency but it is also clear that a larger part of the money was diverted and nobody raised an eyebrow.

“We want these people to come and give us further clarifications on why they released the money and who got what and why.”

It was gathered that documents at the CBN have established that the $15 million cash which the office of the NSA ferried for the purchase of arms and was seized by the South African Government was part of the Abacha loot. The country is yet to refund the cash to Nigeria.

It was also learnt that part of the Abacha loot was used to secure the services of mercenaries and guerrillas from some countries to assist in re-taking 22 Nigerian territories in the North-East from Boko Haram.

The government at the time had engaged some of the foreign fighters to train troops in anti-terrorism warfare, intelligence gathering...... 

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