Posted by Politics X on September 22, 2009 at 11:52pm
By Ehis OsajieTuesday, September 22, 2009Mega Party on Monday in Abuja announced the participation of international statesmen including revered former President Nelson Mandela of South Africa and JJ Rawlings of Ghana at its forth coming National Summit on Democracy initiated to give birth to a broad platform that will pursue unlimited political reform in the country.According to a statement by Alhaji Hamisu San Turaki, Director of Media and Publicity of the group, the event scheduled for 6th and 7th October will have in attendance not less than “95 eminent Nigerians, 45 political parties, 207 civil society/sectoral platforms and 12 associations of Nigerians in Diaspora have confirmed attendance at the summit, which promises to be the biggest independent political gathering since the 2006 PRONACO Confab.He added that “both Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar and General Mohammadu Buhari were among the first statesmen to confirm their presence at the summit.“The two day confab is also billed to also have either former President Nelson Mandella of South Africa or JJ Rawlings of Ghana as Chairman. But they are yet to confirm participation although they have been contacted by the MSM Secretariat to deliver keynote messages at the summit. Turaki saidAccording to him, “the confirmation of both Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and General Mohammadu Buhari last week is driven by a recent resolve by the two leaders that their best bet is to work within the proposed mega party, anchored by Mega Summit Movement so as to enrich the synergy with other prominent politicians from other geopolitical zones.”He also “debunked a false media report that the MSM secretariat is presently controlled by civil society component of the movement. He said “the claim is imaginary as the secretariat is currently being driven by seasoned politicians such as Engr Buba Galadima of The Buhari Organisation, Mallam Yinusa Tanko of National Conscience Party, Mr Sam Onimisi of Democratic Peoples’ Alliance, Mr Osita Okechukwu of ANPP, Sir Wale Okunniyi (HOS), National Reformation Party led by Chief Anthony Enahoro, Alhaji Hamisu San Turaki of Alliance for Democracy among others.
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Lanre Adewole, Abuja
Wednesday, April 23, 2009
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arrested billionaire-businessman, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, over his alleged involvement in the African Petroleum (AP) shares trading scandal.
A source in the commission confirmed that he was quizzed in Abuja by the operatives of the anti-graft agency.
AP Chairman, Femi Otedola, and the company’s shareholders had reportedly petitioned the commission over the alleged indictment of Dangote over the shares scandal, which had seen the Securities and Exchange Commission sanctioning Nova Securities, owned by a son of Chief Tony Anenih, former chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Nova Securities and Dangote’s company had been reportedly involved in the alleged illegal sale of AP shares causing a free fall in the stock’s value. Otedola who is ranked behind Dangote as the second richest in Nigeria had accused his erstwhile friend of plots to ruin his business empire, an allegation which had been denied by Dangote’s camp.
Dangote is the vice-chairman of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and had been reportedly planning to succeed the incumbent chairman, Mr. Obadele Otudeko.
Another source, however, said that Dangote surrendered himself to the commission in Abuja, following a summons sent to him by the commission over the alleged scam.
Another source, however, said that Dangote surrendered himself to the commission in Abuja, following a summons sent to him by the commission over the alleged scam.
As of press time, he was said to still be undergoing interrogation. However, there were indications that he was released on administrative bail last night.
Meanwhile, the trial of the chairman of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) chairman, Dr. Ransome Owan, and six other commissioners of the agency will commence before Justice Salisu Garba of the Abuja High Court today.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that a 121-count charge had been slammed on the accused over an alleged N1.5 billion scam. The accused were re-arrested by the commission yesterday preparatory to their arraignment today.
The affected commissioners are Alimi Abdulrazaq, the commissioner in charge of Legal Licensing and Enforcement; Mallam Abdulrahman Ado, Commissioner, Market Competition and Rates; M.B.G. Bunu, Commissioner, Finance and Management Services; Grace Eyoma, Commissioner, Government and Consumer Affairs.
Others are: O.C. Iloeje, Commissioner, Research and Development and Abimbola Odubiyi, Commissioner, Engineering Standard and Safety. A source said that the commission, in an attempt to avoid returning unspent fund to the treasury, bought 54 vehicles valued at N350 million between December 22 and 29, 2008 without due authorisation.
The commission was also alleged to have moved N500 million to a mortgage finance bank, also without authorisation. The money was meant for staff housing financing since April 2008.
The commission, which was funded 100 per cent by the government, collects from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) N70 million every month, amounting to N840 million for last year, which allegedly could not be accounted for.
Its budget for 2008 was N2 billion, but “as a matter of fact, government gave it N5 billion” for that fiscal year, the source revealed. The commission also allegedly awarded contracts to companies that were not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
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