Tag: Corruption

1999 Nigeria Constitution – Bin it to Rescue Nigeria
News, Nigeria

1999 Nigeria Constitution – Bin it to Rescue Nigeria

16th June 2020   In the matter of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution the Nigerian way of doing things is unlikely to favour anybody. That is the way of BYPASSING problems, rather than facing them and dealing with them, once and for all.   The Constitution is the foundation of the country and so must be obtained in a proper way if citizens are to have confidence to honour it and abide by it. Disturbingly, the 1999 Constitution lacks validity. There are several things in it that are completely untrue and some that are contrary to what had been agreed pre-Independence for any Union of ethnic nationalities to ever be possible. Much has already been written about the inconsistencies in the 1999 Constitution but a key one is in the preamble that starts with, “We the people of t...
Trial of Lamin Diack for Doping Allegation Billed for Monday
Africa, Corruption, Sports

Trial of Lamin Diack for Doping Allegation Billed for Monday

Former chief of IAAF Lamin Diack is set to be tried in Paris on Monday for alleged crime of corruption and money laundering related to a Russian doping scandal. Diack faces trial on account of alleged 3.5 million euros bribe from athletes. The athletes are thought to have bribed their way towards participation at athletics competitions, especially 2012 London Olympics in England. The 87 years old has quashed involvement in the accusations. His counsels haver insisted the accusations are unfounded. The Senegalese headed the athletics federation- IAFF, now known as World Athletics, between 1999-2005 and bossed the sporting world during his reign. He now endures a house arrest in Paris could face up to 10 years incarceration. Fresh documents presented to the court from his son and...
Africa’s Corruption – A Case Of Warped Europhilia
Africa, Corruption, Features, News

Africa’s Corruption – A Case Of Warped Europhilia

26th January 2020 We need an answer to give African children and young people when they ask us, “Why is there so much stealing going on?” and “Why do our civil servants and politicians keep on looting public resources?” They deserve to be answered not only because they are going to have to suffer the consequences of living with the savagery of such high levels of corruption, but their generation could also be the one that will put up a good fight against it. So our children and young people need to know exactly what they are going to have to deal with.   To know the reason for the stealing, just “follow the money”. This is an expression that means that to expose illicit wealth or unjust enrichment, trail the money. So again then, why is Africa’s public money not being used fo...
The Idiot Class of Nigeria
Africa, Corruption, Features, Nigeria

The Idiot Class of Nigeria

10th October 2019 We can look around us at the type of society that different nations have created for themselves and come up with a general evaluation of the thinking of either the majority of the citizens there, or at least of the "critical mass", those whose thinking style has captured the nation. For example in a nation where government is sincerely concerned about citizen welfare and poverty reduction, where the weak are considered and catered for, where development is visible, and where things work pretty much as they should - you can call that an intelligent society.  These are nations whose citizens value their citizenship, who take active interest in maintaining their way of life, and whose national passport is held in global esteem. Then you have those other countries where...
Poor Procurement Processes, Corruption Causes Educational Deficit in Lagos, Says Banwo
Corruption, Education, Lagos News, News, Nigeria

Poor Procurement Processes, Corruption Causes Educational Deficit in Lagos, Says Banwo

A consultant, Mr Kolawole Banwo has said facilities in Lagos schools remained dilapidated as a result of poor procurement processes and corrupt contracting of educational projects. He made this known during two days stakeholders’ forum on Progressive Taxation in Lagos State organised by Human Development Initiatives (HDI) in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria and the support of NORAD. Banwo in his presentation centred on Progressive Taxation, Tax Justice and Linking Tax to Education Budget in Lagos State. Saying that Internal Generated Revenue of Lagos State has grown by about 400% since 1999 from N600 million in 1999 to N34 billion in 2018 driven largely by TAX especially Pay as you earn (PAYE) tax. According to him, more of the revenue should be devoted to providing free, qual...
Lagos Assembly Moves Against Ambode, Begins Probe Of N45bn Buses
Corruption, Lagos News, Legislature, News, Nigeria

Lagos Assembly Moves Against Ambode, Begins Probe Of N45bn Buses

The Lagos State House Assembly on Tuesday has set-up a committee to investigate the purchase of 820 buses by the administration of former governor Akinwunmi Ambode of the state. The House stated this during a plenary that it was important to investigate the purchase of the 820 buses out of the 5,000 buses proposed by former governor Akinwunmi Ambode for mass transit in the state, but which was purchased despite objection by the House of Assembly. In a motion titled; Lagos State House of Assembly Motion Number 2, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti Osa 2), explained that the House noted that at the Executive/ Legislative parley held at Golden Tulip in FESTAC in September 2017, Ambode informed the lawmakers that 5,000 buses would be bought by the state government. He stated that the executiv...
Protest as EFCC Allegedly Raids Ambode’s House in Epe
Breaking News, Corruption, Lagos News, News, Nigeria

Protest as EFCC Allegedly Raids Ambode’s House in Epe

Epe Residents in Lagos State on Tuesday protested as EFCC operatives raided the house of the former Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode. Tony Orilade, EFCC spokesman, has confirmed the development to the media. As at the time of filing the story, his house is currently being searched including the house of one of top aide to Ambode who resides at Agric area in Papa, Epe. It would be recalled that the EFCC, had on August 7, 2019, said it had frozen three bank accounts linked to the immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, containing a total of N9.9 billion. The anti-graft body in a press statement by its spokesman, Tony Orilade, entitled, “EFCC Secures Freezing Order on Accounts Linked to Ex-Gov. Ambode over Alleged N9.9bn Fraud,” said Justice Chuka Obiozor o...
No Account of Mine Has 9.9BN, I Served with Integrity – Ambode
Corruption, Crime, Finance, Lagos News, News, Nigeria

No Account of Mine Has 9.9BN, I Served with Integrity – Ambode

The former governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Friday cleared the air over a statement attributed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleging that it had frozen certain accounts linked to him. Saying he deserved rest with his family and loved ones without the unwarranted attacks on his well-earned reputation. Ambode said no account of his contained N9.9bn let alone being frozen by the EFCC. He said in the spirit of Sallah and having served Lagos State well with utmost dedication and integrity, his record is very clear and his mind joyful for the opportunity to have served the State diligently. In a statement released on his behalf on Friday by his media aide, Habib Aruna, Ambode said while he did not intend to join issues with the anti-corruption age...
We’ll Partner with EFCC to Recover Looted Funds in Kwara: AbdulRazaq
Corruption, Crime, Economy, News, Nigeria

We’ll Partner with EFCC to Recover Looted Funds in Kwara: AbdulRazaq

.... Laments diversion of N2bn SME funds Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Tuesday said his administration would partner with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to combat graft, including recovering funds looted from the state treasury. AbdulRazaq said corruption had almost crippled Kwara when he took over on May 29, lamenting how the N2bn the state accessed to boost small scale businesses was diverted and shared by some persons. According to the Governor, this meant that the state government would now have N35m deducted from its account every month. “I got a letter (last week) from the Federal Ministry of Finance saying they will now deduct N35m every month from our account because the state government, a few years ago, took N2bn for small and mediu...
Nigeria: Ministership for Sale – Up to N2.5b Per Slot, by Farooq Kperogi
Corruption, News, Nigeria

Nigeria: Ministership for Sale – Up to N2.5b Per Slot, by Farooq Kperogi

except for a few ministerial nominations, every other post was literally auctioned off to the highest bidder. I declined to comment on the ministerial list Buhari sent to the Senate for two reasons: I was deeply distraught by what I heard about the process that produced it and I wanted to confirm the info from trustworthy people who should know.  Four different, dependable, and independent sources who don’t know each other but who’re close to the corridors of power were eerily united in telling me that except for a few ministerial nominations (notably those of Adamu Adamu, Ali Isa Pantami, Mohammed Musa Bello, Raji Fashola whom Buhari himself personally penciled— and those that were conceded to Tinubu) every other post was literally auctioned off to the highest bidder. One Jeddy...