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Breaking: FG Queries Magu, Keyamo
The Federal Government has issued a query to the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Festus Keyamo, over the corruption charges filed against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Yakubu Umar, in the name of government.
The PRNigeria has obtained the copies of the two separate letters to Magu and Keyamo.
In the query dated February 16, 2018 and with Reference No DPP/ADV:368/15, Magu was ordered to make his response to the query available to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on or before February 20, 2018.
In the query, signed by Dayo Apata, the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Magu is to explain what informed the filing of corruption charges against the tribunal chairman having been cleared of corruption allegation two times by the same EFCC.
Titled: “FR VS Danladi Umar (CR/109/18) request for Briefing,” the query reads in part: “The attention of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation was drawn to news report that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed charges of corruption against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Hon. Justice Danladi Umar, before the FCT High Court.
“I am directed by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation to seek clarification from you as to whether the charges were filed on your instruction or directive and if in the affirmative, what is the compelling basis for doing so. This clarification becomes imperative in view of the following background facts.
“The Commission’s investigation report dated 5th March 2015 addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation stated as follows: “The facts as they are now against Justice Umar raised a mere suspicion and will therefore not be sufficient to successfully prosecute for the defence.
“The Commission’s position in paragraph 2(a) above was also maintained and sustained by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation while appearing before the House of Representatives’ Investigative Committee sometimes in 2015 to the effect that report of investigations showed that the allegations against Hon. Justice Danladi Umar were based on mere suspicions.
“In view of the foregoing, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation requests for your prompt briefing as to the existence of new facts which are contrary to the position in your attached investigation report, sufficient evidence or other developments upon which the prosecution of Hon. Justice Danladi can be successfully based.
“Kindly accord this letter top priority while your prompt response within 48 hours from the receipt of same is required in the circumstances.”
In the same vein, a separate letter to Keyamo, who was purportedly engaged as a private lawyer by Magu to prosecute the CCT boss, requested him to confirm who authorised him to file the corruption charge against Umar to Malami.
Like Magu, the senior lawyer was given till February 20, 2018 to furnish the Office of the AGF in writing the details of who engaged or issued him the authority to file the corruption charges.
The letter to Keyamo, with reference No DPP/ADV:369/15, dated February 16, 2018, which was also signed by the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Sectary reads in part: “The attention of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation was drawn to news report that you have filed charges of corruption against the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Hon. Justice Danladi Umar, before the FCT High Court.
“The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation hereby requests that you kindly furnish this office with the details of the instruction or authorization upon which you instituted the case under reference. Kindly accord this letter top priority while your prompt response on or before Tuesday, February 20, 2018 is solicited in this regard.”
The EFCC in two separate letters to the Federal Government through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation had in 2015 and 2016 had cleared Umar of any wrongdoing in the alleged N10 million bribery allegation made against him by a defendant, Rasheed Taiwo Owolabi, standing trial before him on false asset declaration.
Upon receipt of the petition from Owolabi, the EFCC had investigated the petition and sent its report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, with Reference No EFCC/EC/SGF/03/56, dated March 5, 2015, personally signed by the then Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, exonerating the CCT boss from the bribery saga.
The EFCC report, received by the office of SGF on March 6, 2015, was categorical that: “The facts as they are against Justice Umar raised a mere suspicion and will therefore not be sufficient to successfully prosecute for the offence.”
Other EFCC documents showed that in 2016, a fresh investigation was conducted into the same N10 million bribery allegation and the same anti-graft agency in its second report absolved Umar of any wrongdoing and that the bribery allegation against him remained a mere suspicion.
The EFCC’s second report, with reference EFCC/P/HRU/688/V30/99, dated April 20, 2016 and submitted to the SGF and signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Emmanuel Adegboyega Aremo, reads in part: “Kindly recall our correspondence of March 5 2015 with Reference EFCC/EC/SGF/03/56 with above subject caption. We will like to reiterate the Commission’s position in regard to this matter as earlier communicated to you and state that the allegation levelled against Justice Umar were merely suspicions and consequently insufficient to prosecute the offence.”
Finding by PRNigeria revealed that the action of Magu in instituting criminal charges against Umar has caused serious confusion and embarrassment to the Federal Government because the EFCC reports had made it clear that the CCT boss had no case to answer.
The AGF was said to have been thoroughly embarrassed with the corruption charges because he had already informed the National Assembly that Umar had no corruption case to answer based on the two reports of EFCC to the Federal Government.
PRNigeria gathered that the Federal Government was infuriated by the action of Magu in engaging Keyamo as a private counsel to prosecute the CCT boss in a purported corruption charge because the same Keyamo is the counsel to Owolabi, who is standing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and who made the allegation in the course of his trial on the criminal offence.
However, there are indications that the corruption charge against the CCT boss may be dropped so as not to cause further embarrassment to government in its fight against corruption.
A source said the Federal Government has to be consistent in its fight against corruption and that having cleared Umar on two occasions on the same issue, saw no reason for the somersault, hence the need to withdraw the corruption charges.
The EFCC had on February 2, brought a two-count charge against Umar bordering on alleged receipt of N10 million bribe from one Taiwo in the charge signed by Keyamo as a private prosecuting counsel and one Offem Uket, an official of EFCC.
Umar was accused of receiving N1.8 million through his Personal Assistant, Gambo Abdullahi, for a favour to be afterwards shown to the petitioner who was standing trial for a criminal offence before the tribunal.
No date has been fixed for arraignment of the CCT boss at the High Court of FCT, Abuja.
…Says MOD has the infrastructure to make both systems work effectively
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, has inaugurated the Project Steering Committee and Project Implementation Technical Team for the Performance Management System (PMS) and the Enterprise Content Management of the Ministry of Defence with a charge on the members of both Committees to make the Ministry shine.
Inaugurating the committee at the Ship house, Abuja, the Permanent Secretary said that the Ministry of Defence has the infrastructure and human resources that are experts to drive the process to success. “We have experts in the Ministry that can drive the process. We have Directors and Deputy- Directors from different departments who are experts and can help in cascading the processes down to other staff of the Ministry,” he said.
He therefore called on the Ministry’s Performance Management System (PMS) Champions to demonstrate unwavering commitment and excellence in driving service delivery and achieving set targets in line with the ministry’s mandate towards fulfilling the renewed hope agenda.
While he acknowledged that there might be initial hiccups, he charged the PMS Champions to be resilient in overcoming the initial challenges that may arise with the programme’s rollout and re-emphasized the need for a continuous training. “In MOD, training is not going to be an issue. We can afford to be organizing training on PMS and ECM every week.
Furthermore, Dr. Kana said that the PMS and ECM Champions are expected to lead the charge towards ensuring efficiency, productivity, and accountability across the Ministry, with the ultimate goal of achieving total compliance with government performance standards.
… in line with Renewed Hope Agenda
The Honourable Minister of Defence, H. E. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has urged the graduating students of Army War College Course 8/2024 to uphold national security in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
The Minister made the call during the graduation ceremony for the participants of Army War College Nigeria Course 8/2024 at Army War College, Abuja.
The ceremony is a celebration of the achievements of the graduates who completed 35 weeks of rigorous training in national security, military strategy, and operational art.
In his keynote address, the Minister who was the Special Guest of Honour commended the graduates for their dedication and perseverance throughout the course, emphasizing the significance of their newly acquired skills in leadership and strategic thinking.
He said: “It is a great honour to stand before you today at the graduation ceremony for the participants of Army War College Course 8/2024, I am privileged to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our graduates. Your journey to this moment involved 35 weeks of rigorous training, intellectual stimulation and growth, as well as personal sacrifice. Today is a testament to your resilience and commitment to excellence.”
Addressing the graduates on their future responsibilities, the Minister highlighted the importance of their roles as operational and strategic leaders in Nigeria’s Armed Forces. “Today’s graduation marks your gradual transformation from tactical into operational and strategic level leaders. Leadership is the cornerstone of military service, extending beyond mere orders to inspiring and guiding others towards a common goal. As graduates of the Army War College Nigeria, you are now equipped with the tools that will enable you to lead and navigate the geostrategic landscape,” he opined.
The Minister encouraged the graduates to lead with integrity, courage, and compassion, reminding them of their pivotal role in addressing complex and ambiguous challenges:
“Gentlemen, the world is constantly evolving and the challenges we face are increasingly complex and ambiguous. As officers skilled in operational-level planning, you will encounter uncertain and often perilous situations. I thus encourage you to embrace these challenges with confidence, aptitude, and determination.”
Furthermore, Badaru extended his gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR for his support to the Nigerian Military and also acknowledged the sacrifices of the Chief of Army Staff, the College Governing Board, the Commandant, Faculty members, and families of the graduates.
He congratulated the graduates of the Army War College Course 8/2024, saying “Your future is bright, and I have no doubt that you will all serve our nation with distinction.”
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APRA Decries Terror Attack in Burkina Faso
… Spread of mpox in DRC and the frightening flooding in Sudan
The African Public Relations Association (APRA) has condemned the recent terror attack in the Burkinabe town of Barsalogho in the Sanmatenga Province of the Republic, which has killed so many people and injured scores of persons.
In a statement on Friday, signed by Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan, secretary-general, APRA, the body said it is greatly concerned about the increasing terror attacks in Burkina Faso and in other parts of Africa.
“The umbrella body of practitioners and professionals of public relations in Africa hereby calls for the cessation of all forms of attacks, especially on unarmed people. We call for dialogue as a more civil approach to resolving conflicts instead of violent attacks leading to destruction and catastrophic outcomes that leave the continent more devastated.
“We are gravely disturbed by this recent attack in Burkina Faso, coming on the heels of the death of over 500 persons due to mpox scourge caused by the monkeypox virus ravaging the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, the hotbed of the health crisis; and the distressing floods caused by the collapse of the Arba’ at Dam in the east of the Republic of Sudan, destroying or impacting about 70 communities and affecting telecommunication infrastructure and other utilities. These and many emergent humanitarian crises in Africa have been overwhelming enough for a great but challenged continent. Therefore, entrenched terror attacks can only worsen efforts at restoring the glory of the continent.
“As a body of communication managers, APRA iterates its call for increased, sincere and responsible conversation and concrete actions among state actors and other stakeholders in Africa to address these and future challenges, many of which are heralded by warning signs. Therefore, APRA calls on the World Health Organisation (WHO) to resume strengthening collaboration with the government and people of DRC because mpox is yet to be defeated as an existential global health issue.
APRA stands in solidarity with the Governments and people of Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Sudan. We commiserate with those who have lost family members and friends. We also wish those injured and displaced speedy recovery.
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