Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Wednesday 29th September 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 29/09/21
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E2%80%94amnesty-international Buhari Regime Killed No Fewer Than 8 Shiites During Peaceful Procession—Amnesty International
A global rights group, Amnesty International has expressed concern over the killing of members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) by Nigerian security forces on Tuesday.
Some members of IMN, who are Shiites, were killed by soldiers and police during an annual procession embarked upon by the religious faithful.
BREAKING: Six Feared Dead As Soldiers, Policemen Open Fire on Shiites In Abuja | Sahara Reporters pic.twitter.com/22yr4a7Qwi— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) September 28, 2021
Reacting to the killing in Twitter posts, using #IMN8KilledInAbuja on Tuesday, Amnesty International said it “is gravely concerned over the killing of at least 8 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) during the Arba’een – an annual religious symbolic trek along Gwarinpa Expressway, Abuja. #IMN8KilledInAbuja
“They were perfectly within their rights to hold a religious procession and protest and there was no evidence they posed an imminent threat to life. #IMN8KilledInAbuja
They were perfectly within their rights to hold a religious procession and protest and there was no evidence they posed an imminent threat to life. #IMN8KilledInAbuja— Amnesty International Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) September 28, 2021
“Nigerian authorities must put an end to the deadly crackdown on members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria that has been ongoing since 2015. Resorting to lethal force against peaceful protesters is a clear violation of Nigerian and international human rights law.#IMN8KilledInAbuja
“Horrific accounts from eyewitness and confirmed that; security officials fired live ammunitions, flogged, stabbed and teargassed the peaceful protesters. #IMN8KilledInAbuja
Horrific accounts account from eyewitness and confirmed that; security officials fired live ammunitions, flogged, stabbed and teargassed the peaceful protesters. #IMN8KilledInAbuja— Amnesty International Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) September 28, 2021
“Verified videos show security forces deliberately attacking unarmed protesters, and another video shows a security officer stab an elderly man several times as his colleague kicked him on the head in front of a bank in Gwarinpa, Abuja. #IMN8KilledInAbuja.”
WATCH: Nigerian Soldiers Stab, Beat Defenceless Shiite Protesters pic.twitter.com/j9CfvmT0sb— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) September 28, 2021
In what has become known as Zaria Massacre, the Nigerian Army on December 12, 2015, in Zaria, Kaduna State, killed over 300 Shiites and secretly buried their bodies in a mass grave.
The Army claimed that it had responded to an attempt to assassinate a former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, by the Shiites.
The Shiites have since denied the allegation.
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Age Falsification: Lawyer Threatens To Sue Buhari Government Over Reappointment Of Indicted Medical Director
Monday Ubani
The former 2nd Vice-President of Nigerian Bar Association, Monday Ubani has threatened to sue the Nigerian government for renewing the appointment of the Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State despite an indictment against him.
The Medical Director of the centre is Prof Adewale Musa-Olomu.
Monday Ubani
Ubani, who addressed a press conference in Lagos on Monday, stated that Musa-Olomu’s appointment should not have been renewed since he has been indicted for age falsification, gross misconduct, and abuse of office by the board of the medical centre two months ago.
He noted that it was unfortunate that Musa-Olomu, who is currently being investigated by the Nigeria Police and currently on administrative bail, was not asked to step aside by the Federal Ministry of Health.
Ubani said rather, Musa-Olomu was rewarded with a renewal of his appointment.
The legal practitioner vowed to file a suit against the Nigerian government if the appointment is not reversed, stating that such an action negates the principle which the President Muhammadu Buhari administration claims to stand for.
He said: “President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was widely voted into power for first and second terms because the president assured Nigerians that he will fight corruption in any form in the country to a standstill.
“I want to use this opportunity to remind the All Progressives Congress-led administration that what just happened in FMC, Abeokuta where a man who ought to have retired from service but clearly altered his age to get another term in office, is another form of corruption which if not reviewed, will certainly dent the image of this administration.
“I want to presume that the president personally may not be aware of what has happened in FMC Abeokuta with the connivance and collusion of the Federal Ministry of Health, but I believe it is not too late to revisit the matter.
“The old practice where public servants flagrantly violate the Public Service Regulations and Government Circular without punishment must be discouraged.
“Institutions like FMC, similar Ministries, Departments and Agencies under the Federal Republic of Nigeria are governed by rules known as Public Service Rule; this is where guidelines, both on appointment and retirement of a public servant are stipulated.
“Alteration or change in the date of birth presented while joining Public Service is a serious crime that should not be taken lightly. The Public Service Rule is clear about any Public Servant being investigated and proven to have altered or changed the date of birth which could lead to summary dismissal from the civil service.
“I hereby call on the Federal Government to review the process through which Prof Musa-Olomu’s tenure was renewed and if found to have been fraught with corruption, should be reversed. Our health system is too important and critical to be handled by persons of questionable character.
“Federal government should also investigate the circumstances under which the Ministry of Health suppressed the letter of the Board to the Ministry/office of the SGF withdrawing its earlier recommendation of Prof Musa-Olomu for a second term which was written before the petitions that came in were investigated.
“I also demand that Federal Government should investigate the circumstances under which Prof Musa, who is being actively investigated by the Nigerian Police FCID and is currently on administrative bail was not asked to step aside by the Ministry of Health but was instead recommended for a second term with the letter presented publicly to him by the Minister of Health despite the Ministry being in receipt of a court process seeking to forbid the step of renewal.
“Let me conclude by saying that if the Federal Government of Nigeria fails, refuses, and/or neglect to address these weighty issues as raised in this press text, I shall without any further notice to them take legal measures and actions as a concerned citizen for the intervention of the judiciary into this crisis solely created by the Federal Ministry of Health.”
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E2%80%94middle-belt-forum-lambasts-northern-governors You’re Anti-people, Middle Belt Not With You—Middle Belt Forum Lambasts Northern Governors
The National President Of Middle Belt Forum has warned that Northern Governors are seeking the break-up of Nigeria by their resolve at their Kaduna meeting that power would not shift to the South in 2023.
According to Vanguard, MBF President, Dr. Bitrus Pogu described the position of the governors as a threat to the unity of the country and a dangerous signal that could threaten the foundation of the country.
He also reminded them that they were not speaking for the people of the Middle Belt who should not be classified as northerners as there was nothing like a monolithic North anymore.
“The Governors of the North should first and foremost realise that there is nothing like a monolithic North again. Secondly they should know that the Middle Belt can never be part of such a position that is anti-people. So they should all hide their faces in shame for saying power will not go to the south in 2023.
“They should remember that because of what happened to (MKO) Abiola, in 1999 we zoned the presidency to the South-West not just South. The country has maintained that rotation so that peace can reign in the country and no part of the country will feel alienated.
“Therefore, in this situation, for them to insist that presidency should be retained in the North after that zone has completed its eight years tenure in 2023, is a shame.
“It means they want Nigeria to break up. That is what they are after. They are not lovers of Nigeria. They are the people who hate Nigeria and it is obvious by the position they took yesterday.
“But they must realise that the Middle Belt is not with them because there is no more monolithic North. Even the traditional rulers of Middle Belt who were invited to that meeting in Kaduna were not with them. They were in attendance and watched what transpired but I can assure you that their hearts were not there.
“On the issue of VAT, we know that Governor Wike and his Lagos counterpart felt it was not proper for them to generate VAT and get so little.
“The matter is currently at the Apex court and it is not for anyone to say anything or take a position at this moment. It is the Supreme Court that will determine the position of the constitution and the matter will be rested for good,” he said.
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EXPOSED: Lawyer Involved In Alleged N421million Scam Shortlisted For ‘Elite’ Rank Of Senior Advocate Of Nigeria
A Nigerian lawyer, Dr Christian Chizindu Wigwe allegedly involved in N421 million scam is one of the 130 legal practitioners shortlisted for the award of the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank for 2021.
Wigwe is one of the 35 lawyers shortlisted in the academic category for the award of the ‘prestigious’ rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) for 2021.
According to the Acting Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Secretary of the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC), Hajo Bello, the shortlisted candidates emerged from both the advocate filtration stages and academic pre-qualification exercise, “preparatory to the award of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria for the year 2021”.
Meanwhile, a 2006 report alleged that Wigwe’s law firm, Wigwe & Wigwe was involved in N421 million scam.
The scam also allegedly involved an erstwhile permanent secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Julius Makanjuola, who was dismissed by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2004.
A part of the report reads, “The police also discovered that all six applications for payment for compensation covering five communities in Anambra State were handled by one law firm – Wigwe and Wigwe, based in Lagos.
“The investigators wondered why only one lawyer was engaged by the entire six communities.”
A source told SaharaReporters, “Wigwe & Wigwe is owned by one Chris Wigwe then practicing in Lagos. His company was involved in a scandal. Today he’s now Prof Christian Chizindu Wigwe of Faculty of Law Rivers State University of Science & Technology. He’s applying to be conferred with the rank of SAN as an academic. That’s Nigeria for you. He believes that everyone has a short memory! May God help us.”
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LIST: 130 Lawyers, Academics Shortlisted For ‘Elite’ Rank Of Senior Advocate Of Nigeria
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From the report, it was gathered that Dr. Julius Makanjuola and four other directors in the ministry were arrested at the time and taken to the forceheadquarters, Abuja in respect of payments made to certain individuals ascompensation on land allegedly acquired by the ministry.
Other directors involved in the scandal, according to police interim report, included Patrick Ajumobi, (Director Joint Services), who admitted processing two of the payments amounting to N65 million, deputy director joint services, R. Udaku, who dealt directly with the permanent secretary during the course of processing the payments and the deputy director, finance and supply, Eroma.
The fraud at the ministry was uncovered when the erstwhile Minister of Defence, Theophilus Danjuma took it upon himself to scrutinise policy files on the day-to-day activities of the ministry, and in the process, he stumbled on some files (six of them) relating to payments of a total of N421 million as compensation in respect of various lands purportedly acquired by the army.
Danjuma also observed that payments were made without any reference to him, and that the beneficiaries did not append their signatures on the vouchers before payment was effected, with all payment vouchers stamped.
Following the discovery, the minister requested the then Inspector General of Police, Musiliu Smith to set up an investigating team to look into the matter, to recover the amount involved, and bring the culprits to justice. He also handed over photocopies of six policy files to the investigating team to facilitate their work.
It was in the course of police investigation that the permanent secretary and four directors whose roles were questionable in the payment were arrested for interrogation.
The police also observed that while the Okoro community in Isokpo, Ekwere local government area of Rivers State applied for N40.7 million compensation, surprisingly, the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing evaluation team recommended for them, the sum of N107.1 million.
He added that out of this figure, N25 million had already been paid out. The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing officials who indulged themselves in this questionable act for personal reasons, because government interest was not protected at all, were to be invited to justify their action.
The police also discovered that all six applications for payment for compensation covering five communities in Anambra State were handled by one law firm – Wigwe and Wigwe, based in Lagos.
The investigators wondered why only one lawyer was engaged by the entire six communities.
Also, two companies based in Lagos and Port Harcourt respectively assisted in effecting the payments. The investigating police team had visited Anambra and Rivers states to ascertain whether these communities actually received the money and whether they also demanded claims.
The police team was also to, among others identify the lands and persons who received payment on behalf of the community, to ascertain if actually, the community received payment and if they did, the amount paid; to locate local government chairmen and traditional rulers of the various communities to confirm their alleged roles and to recover documents in respect of the payments.
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Nigeria’s Anti-graft Agency, EFCC Seeks Forfeiture Of N20billion Salary Loan Allegedly Diverted By Kogi Government
Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
Officials of Kogi State government have been accused of diverting the N20 billion bailout secured by the state government to pay workers.
It was learnt that the money was diverted into an interest-yielding account.
Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
The money was put in Sterling Bank, with the account name: Kogi State salary bail-out account.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is seeking a court order to ensure the money is forfeited and returned to the coffers of the Nigerian government. The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos presided over by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on Tuesday adjourned till 15 October 2021 hearing of all applications in respect of the money. At the hearing of the matter, counsel for the Kogi State government, Prof. Sam Erogbo, SAN, told Justice Aneke that his client had filed processes against the interim order granted by Justice Ringim, and that the EFCC had equally filed a reply to the same.
He told the court that he needed time to respond to the EFCC’s counter-claim and also asked for a short date to hear his applications. Counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, in his response, admitted being served with the processes and added that he had equally filed a counter-claim.
Consequently, Justice Aneke adjourned the matter till October 15, 2021, for hearing of all the applications.
Justice Tijani Garba Ringim had on 31 August 2021 ordered the freezing of the account, following an ex-parte application filed by the EFCC.
The EFCC, in a 13-paragraph affidavit in support of the ex-parte application, said the money was reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities in an account No. 0073572696 domiciled in Sterling Bank, Plc with the name Kogi State Salary Bailout Account.
A. O. Mohammed, counsel for the EFCC, had urged the court to grant the Order to prevent further dissipation of the funds in the account, in moving the application for the interim forfeiture of the funds on August 31, 2021.
The N20 billion loan meant to augment the salary payment and running cost of the government was kept in an interest-yielding account with the bank, Mohammed had also told Justice Ringim.
“Instead of using the money for the purpose it was meant for, Sterling Bank Plc, acting on the instruction of the Kogi State Government, transferred the money from the loan account and placed it in a fixed deposit account.”
He also told the court that the bank had yet to present any credible evidence to show that the facility was well secured.
Justice Ringim ordered the freezing of the account number 0073572696, and also directed the publication of the order in a national newspaper by the EFCC, after listening to the applicant’s counsel.
The Commission was also ordered to make a quarterly report to the court on the progress of its investigation.
The Kogi State government has denied the allegations.
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Buhari Orders Prosecution Of Ex-Research Institute Director Who Received Salaries For 18 Years With Fake Certificate
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to commence prosecution of former Acting Director, Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO), Oshodi, Lagos State, Mr. Chima Igwe, for manipulating his educational status to exploit the system for personal gains.
The President in a letter to the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu said Igwe is not qualified for the position of Director General and should not be considered as the substantive head of the agency.
The letter, signed by Ibrahim Dikko Adamu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Operation, also urged Onu to stop interfering in the running of FIIRO and allow the board to do its job.
Igwe was caught in a web of dirty scams after submitting a Doctor of Philosophy certificate that was later discovered to be fake.
The doctorate which he claimed he completed at the Universite D’Abomey Calavi, Benin Republic, in 2001, is non-existent.
An investigation by ICPC indicted him and he was demoted to the position he held more than 18 years ago but he refused to resume at the post.
The minister, who was said to have had several face-offs with the Board Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Gwarzo in Abuja, also ordered that he (Igwe) should be reinstated as the acting DG.
The minister was alleged to have later accused the governing board of financial misappropriation, but panels set up by the Nigerian government to investigate the matter found no evidence for such.
The Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, on December 4, 2020, while responding to correspondence from Onu for Igwe to be confirmed as DG, ordered the Head of Service (HoS) to look into his certificate issue.
A committee was set up and several people were interviewed, including Igwe.In February, the HoS submitted her report.
The document stated, “The Governing Board of FIIRO should immediately commence the process of the appointment of a substantive Director-General in accordance with Section 2.1.3.3 (a) and (d) of the Conditions of Service for Federal Research and Development Agencies, Institutes and Colleges (Revised 2019) and in line with Mr President’s directive.
“The Governing Board should commence disciplinary procedures against Dr Chima Cartney Igwe, in line with the provisions of PSR 030302 to 030307, for: absence from duty without leave or permission; refusal to carry out lawful instructions from superior authority to revert to Chief Research Officer.
“The Governing Board should be commended for the transparent, fair, and mature manner it has handled the issue of the Ph.D of Dr Igwe.
“The honourable minister (FMST) should be advised to allow the Governing Board of FIIRO to operate freely within the ambit of the provisions of extant regulations guiding the relationship between the ministry and parastatals, and handle the staff matters in line with the provisions of the conditions of service in FIIRO.”
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E2%80%94tiv-traditional-rulers-benue-raise-alarm Fulani Herdsmen Are Planning To Kill Us All—Tiv Traditional Rulers In Benue Raise The Alarm
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Traditional rulers from 14 local government areas in Benue State have alleged that there are plans by Fulani herdsmen to eliminate people across three states.
The traditional rulers, who represent the Tiv people in the state, alleged that the plan is to kill all their people in Benue, Taraba, and Nasarawa states.
File Photo
They made the allegation on Tuesday when they paid a visit to the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.
According to the spokesperson for the group, Chief Daniel Abomtse, Tiv people are constantly being driven away from their homes and farmlands by Fulani herdsmen.
He, however, alleged that the murderous actions are carried out with the support of the “authorities in those states”.
They, therefore, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the safe return of displaced Tiv people and the land that had been taken from them.
Ortom described the treatment of “some parts of the country” by the Buhari-led government as “uncalled for”.
According to the governor, over 1.5 million persons are at the internally displaced persons’ camps, leading to a food crisis in the state.
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#EndSARS: Live, Military-grade Ammunition Was Fired At Protesters At Lekki Toll Gate Last October—UK Consultant
The forensic and ballistic company hired by the Lagos State government to investigate the shooting incident that occurred during the #EndSARS protest at the Lekki Toll Gate has submitted a report that yet-to-be-identified persons fired live bullets at protesters on the night of October 20, 2020.
The UK-based company, Oxygene Consulting UK Ltd, represented by Mr Dieye Willie-Harry, its executive director and senior consultant, revealed this in the report of the team via Zoom on Tuesday, Premium Times reports.
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“We have not viewed any footage, which definitively shows a muzzle aimed towards any individual and at the same time being fired with the effect thereof, with what we can freely assess to be firing live ammunition (no flailing or falling injured victims),” Willie-Harry said.
“However, given the injuries sustained from 21:00 hrs and further, we believe, that live, military-grade ammunition, was fired at some point, by persons as yet to be identified.”
According to Willie-Harry, the team was engaged by the government 10 days after the shooting incident to conduct medical, ballistic, and forensic injury analysis of the incident.
He said by the time the team of experts arrived in Lagos last December, “the medical treatment of victims had reached an advanced stage, injuries had healed and victims had been discharged from healthcare centers.
“The ability of the victims to give reliable accounts of how, when and where, their respective injuries were sustained, may have deteriorated, or been contaminated by exterior influences and the passage of time,” he said.
Willie-Harry, a UK-based Nigerian, is a military operation analyst, forensic investigator, kidnap and ransom negotiator, trained paramedic, and surveillance officer.
Giving the forensic and ballistic report of the team, he said his team probed medical reports and x-rays of the victims who were treated at public and private hospitals in Lagos.
The forensic investigator further said the medical data studied included the timeline of arrival at medical facilities and the nature of the injuries sustained by the victims brought to the facilities.
He said their investigation revealed there was “no military-grade live ammunition (high-velocity) fired at the protesters, at Lekki Toll Gate, on 20 October, last year within the timeframe of 6:30 p.m to 8:34 p.m.”
He added that the military-grade ammunition was used later, after 9 p.m.
The surveillance officer also disclosed that four victims of gunshots, who reported at hospitals between 7:05 p.m. and 7:45 p.m on the day of the shooting, were examined by the team.
Willie-Harry said the wounds sustained by the victims “can be safely identified as being discharged by either low-velocity calibre and/or artisanal/12 gauge firearms.
“The team is unable to ascertain, how, by whom, where and when exactly these GSW gunshot wounds injuries were sustained, due to the apparent breakdown of law and order, prevalent during the day, afternoon and evening of 20/10/2020, in Lagos at the time of the alleged Lekki incident.”
The Nigerian Army earlier told the panel that although soldiers were deployed to the Lekki Toll Gate axis, the soldiers fired only blank ammunition into the air to disperse the protesters.
Amidst several reports of deaths and injuries, allegedly resulting from gunshots supposedly fired by soldiers of the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Army later said it went to Lekki Toll Gate with both live and blank ammunition.
Willie-Harry said the team reviewed 19 ballistic-related injuries, non-law enforcement grade ammunition-related injuries, and 23 medical injuries classified as non-ballistic, non-fire arm-related injuries.
He said a total of eight injuries were “commensurate with 7.62 x 39mm (law enforcement grade ammunition), and only two were recorded on the night of October 20, last year. The remaining six were recorded between October 21 and 22, last year, according to medical reports.
Willie-Harry said 11 injuries were, however, firearm injuries not commensurate with 7.62 x 39mm, non-law enforcement grade ammunition. He said the injuries are from artisanal weapons, locally-made weapons that are classified as small arms, and light weapons (SALW).
“What is, however, certain, is that had the military personnel, deliberately fired military-grade live ammunition, directly at the protesters; there would have been significantly more fatalities and catastrophic injuries recorded. This was clearly not the case,” he said.
The forensic investigator said military-grade ammunition, if fired into a mass of human tissue at close range by military personnel who are trained by default to aim for the central body mass, would have undoubtedly resulted in a large number of victims, with fatal, catastrophic thoracic and head injuries.
“Apart from the sworn statement by the military spokesperson at the Lagos State Tribunal, the team observed, on examined video material, that the military was firing blank ammunition. This is due to the repeated arming of their weapons to reload, before firing into the air,” he said.
He, however, said examination carried out by the forensic team into the open-source imagery and news reporting, including the social media, showed that “the military fired live ammunition at some point.”
“Along with the individual injuries and medical reports, we are of the opinion that ‘live’ military-grade ammunition, may have been discharged at some point at the Lekki Toll Gate on 20th October 2020, after 21:00 hrs and possibly aimed, at the road surface in front of protesters.”
The expert said the live ammunition hit the “majority of the victims in the lower limbs at much reduced kinetic energy but with enough energy to fracture the long bones without exiting the victims’ bodies.”
He said injuries of this category were recorded around 9:30 p.m according to the time stamp on medical records.
“The team has identified the firearms carried by the military officers, during the alleged incident, as Kalashnikov AK type variants including Chinese Type 56, some with (foldable bayonet) extended. These weapons discharge the 7.62mmx39 Type 56 / PS.
Following his testimony, the expert was cross-examined by lawyers to the police, #EndSARS protesters, and the Nigerian Bar Association.
Doris Okuwobi, a retired judge heading the panel, said the expert’s testimony would be the last the panel would take before giving its ruling on the shooting incident at the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20 last year.
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How Ambassador Wando Was Saved By Buhari’s Late Aide After Committing 189billion Fraud—Petitioners To Anti-graft Agency
Two retired staff members of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), M. A. Kakangi and M. Usman have appealed to the new leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to revisit the case of Ambassador Haruna Mohammed Wando, the then Director of Communications at the ONSA.
According to the duo, Wando used his office as Director of Communications to embezzle funds meant to put in place an ICT-driven surveillance and security platform which was to check illegal activities within the territorial waters of Nigeria.
They claimed the EFCC under Ibrahim Magu uncovered the fraud perpetrated by Wando to the tune of over $459,369,500.40 (N189 billion) and following a court order, the money has been forfeited to the OAGF FGN (Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation) Assets Recovery Account.
They, however, said the forfeiture of the money was simply a ‘slap on the wrist’ for Wando as the other allegation levelled against him was overlooked.
Kakangi and Usman stated that Wando, exhausted N200 million on the renovation and refurbishing of the Directorate of Communications Office, of ONSA, after he (Wando) claimed was through direct labour.
According to them, former chief of staff, Abba Kyari also got Wando another appointment courtesy of the relationship between them.
Following his new appointment as Chief Policy Adviser, Major Contractor of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Wando was said to have also committed illegalities in the agency.
They said he was responsible for issues such as the forceful and premature retirement of Directors and Senior officers; incessant sending of Directors for wasteful courses all over the world, in a bid to silence opposition.
The recruitment of NIA staff was also said to have been outsourced to Wando’s consultancy firm.
The appeal reads: “When we blew the whistle on the theft of almost Five Hundred Million Naira by Amb. Haruna Mohammed Wando, the then Director of Communications, in the Office of the National Security Adviser, we were called all sorts of names, and singled out for all sorts of witch-hunt, for whistle-blowing, instead of the praises, we expected.
“The whole information was suppressed by the powers that be at that time, a development that deprived the Nigerian Public and Taxpayers, the opportunity to know the whole truth.
“We made two allegations against the Ambassador, but only one was addressed, even that one addressed was half-heartedly, as far as we are concerned.
“That is why we intend to give the whole story now, for everybody to know the truth, As we write this report, we are also preparing a fresh and more comprehensive petition to the new Leadership of the EFCC, to reopen the matter.
“Amb. HW Wando was a Director at the National Intelligence Agency. Before he retired, he tried everything possible to replace Amb. O. O. Oladeji as the Director-General of the NIA.
“After exhausting all his connections, and failing to achieve his life ambition, he finally got a ‘Consolation Appointment’, as the Director of Communications, at the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA), by Gen. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau.
“Thanks to the unrelenting efforts and Military connections of his Brother, Col. Musa Mohammed (rtd), a former Military Administrator and Gubernatorial candidate, in Gombe State.
“Amb. Wando, as the Director of Communications at ONSA, saw the decision of the Federal Government, through his recommendations, to put in place an ICT driven surveillance and security platform to check illegal activities within the Nigerian Territorial Waters, to enhance the security of Nigeria’s Exclusive Zone (EEZ), as a perfect Gold Mine and an opportunity to reap where he did not sow.
“This project was meant to cover Nigeria’s Coastline stretching 420 Nautical Miles from East to West, including the territorial sea and the EEZ of the Country.
“In order to actualise this dream, a Committee was set up to carry out an assessment of the Country’s Maritime Security Architecture and Assets vis-a-vis desirability and Viability of the proposed project.
“The Committee whose mandate includes sourcing for relevant and reputable companies for the Project was headed, by no other person than the Director of Communications, of ONSA himself, (Amb. HM Wando).
“Around April to June 2012, the Committee invited several reputable Companies to forward technical and financial proposals; Companies which submitted proposals to that effect were however not eventually awarded the said Contract, at the end of the day.
“A new and hitherto unknown Company called RTCOM Limited, which was neither invited nor submitted any proposal, surreptitiously ended up getting the $459,369,500.40 Contract, Code Named FALCON Eye (FE).
“Stamford International Limited (SIL), which was competitively considered and picked as preferred bidder and was awarded the contract on the 11th April 2013, applied for a $5m mobilisation fee, which was denied.
“On 10th June 2013, RTCOM mysteriously appeared out of the blues and signed the same Contract with ONSA, for the implementation of the FE Project, at the Contract sum of $459,369,500.40.
“A mobilisation fee of $183,758,585, was paid to RTCOM on the 29th of May, 2014 on the recommendations of Amb. Wando. Investigations carried out by the EFCC revealed that the sum of One Million Dollars ($1m) was paid into the ECOBANK account no. 0129640544, belonging to Amb. HM, Wando, in structured periodic cash payments, shortly after the signing of the contract as a kickback.
“The EFCC, through their investigations, found the sum of N291,367,914.00 in ECOBANK account no. 0129640537 belonging to Amb. Wando and another USD 287,500.00, in Acc. No.0129640544, also belonging to Amb. Wando.
“All these monies have been forfeited to the OAGF FGN ASSETS RECOVERY ACCOUNT, as ordered by Justice Folashade Giwa- Ogunbanjo, vide order no. FHC/ABJ/CS/694/2019
“Our investigations later revealed that the reason why Amb. Wando got only a ‘slap on the wrist’ for this heinous and humongous crime against the Nation and apparent sabotage to National Security, was due to the intervention of his childhood friend and secondary school classmate in Maiduguri, who happened to be the Chief of Staff to the President (COS), at the time the scandal blew open.
“When the petition reached the EFCC, then under Ibrahim Magu, Amb. Wando quickly ran to the late Abba Kyari (of Blessed Memory), to save him from EFCC and the impending embarrassment and possible jail sentence, for the now unearthed scandal. At that time, EFCC had already invited him for questioning.
“The late COS immediately sprang into action by inviting Magu to his office and tried to suppress the case, there and then. He tried all he could to prevail on Magu to ‘sweep the case under the carpet’, but Magu pointed out to him that the issue was already in the public domain at that time, and it was impossible to suppress a case like that.
“After a long standoff, negotiations, and bargain, it was agreed that Magu should accept a kind of PLEA BARGAIN, as the Ambassador had agreed to forfeit all the monies he got from the fraudulent deal to the government and that all charges should be quietly dropped, in return.
“That was how the meeting and the matter ended, and EFCC, in turn, informed the Judge, that was already on the case, of the plea bargain deal, which led to the Judge issuing the orders for the permanent forfeiture of all the monies in Amb. Wando’s account vide order no. FHC/ABJ/CS/694/2019 and the case was closed.
“The EFCC at that point did not even bother to look into the second allegation against Amb. Wando, which was the highly inflated, complete renovation and refurbishing of the Directorate of the Communications Office, of ONSA, at Wuse Zone 4, single-handedly, for almost two hundred million Naira (N200m) in what he (Wando) claimed was through direct labour.
“We are hereby appealing to EFCC to look into that massive looting of Government resources by this serial criminal, now that his late benefactor is not in a position to protect him anymore.
“Our thorough investigations confirmed to us that the late COS assured him not to bother with the money he lost, as he will help him to recover everything through other means, as compensation for the stolen money that he lost.
“The opportunity for that ‘other means’ came when Ahmed Rufai Abubakar was appointed the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). The late Abba Kyari, our sources revealed, called the DG of the NIA, and instructed him personally to register Amb. Wando as a Contractor in the Agency, and also appoint him quietly as his Chief Adviser on Policy and Operations.
“Kyari had told Abubakar that Wando as a former staff member, Director of Operations and other relevant Departments at NIA, will be a great asset to him considering Abubakar’s obvious deficiencies, and challenges in the highly Technical Agency, which he left unceremoniously and ignominiously as a relatively Junior Officer in 2012, after failing his promotion examinations serially (three times consecutively), before he miraculously bounced back as its head in 2018.
“Based on this accord between the trio (COS, DG NIA, and Amb. Wando), Wando now returned fully in charge at the NIA, as the Chief Policy Adviser, Major Contractor and the main front of the DG, in all deals.
“The only problem here is that, as a highly selfish and self-centred person, most of the advice he is giving the DG are the ones which favoured him and his family only. To cut the story short, we will give only two examples of such issues that Amb. Wando advised the DG:
“To send his Son, Faisal Mohammed Wando, who is a GL 8 Officer, to take up the office of a GL. 16/17 Officer in Paris as a Liason Officer. A situation unheard of in the history of Intelligence services all over the World. Amb. Wando himself was appointed a Liason Officer in Germany when he was a GL. 16 Officer.
“The second useless, regrettable and selfish advice he gave the DG was the setting up of a Disciplinary Committee, made up of himself and three other close friends; (Ambs. Kayode Shinkaiye, Phillip Dauda, and Okeke) all Retired Directors, to try and recommend a Disciplinary measure on a very Senior Officer, knowing fully well that it was clearly against the relevant Disciplinary Provisions of the NIA establishment Act.
“To just enable them to earn and collect the expected fallout in form of honorarium earmarked for the assignment.
“This impunity and dictatorial decision, led to the unfortunate defeat of the NIA in the Court, in this Monumental and Exemplary ‘must be won case’ (We earnestly hope they win at the Appeal Court).
“Other issues like forceful and premature retirement of Directors and Senior Officers, and needless sending of Directors to useless and wasteful courses, in places like South Africa and other places, all over the World, just to silence opposition, and how the NIA now outsourced recruitment of staff to Amb. Wando’s consultancy firm will be addressed in due course.”
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E2%80%94activist-sowore-condemns-attack Murderous Buhari Regime Wastes Lives Of Nigerians Daily—Activist, Sowore Condemns Attack On Shiites In Abuja
Omoyele Sowore
Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has described the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as a “murderous regime.”
He condemned the attack by soldiers on peaceful Shiites during their procession on Tuesday.
Omoyele Sowore
SaharaReporters Media/Dotun Olawoye
Soldiers and policemen had opened fire on defenceless members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also called Shiites as they engaged in an annual symbolic religious procession in Abuja.
Sowore noted that the Nigeria Police Force and the Army reportedly killed six Shiites in cold blood.
The activist, who shared a video showing the Shiites running from the brutal soldiers and policemen, noted that the Buhari regime wastes the lives of Nigerians daily at the slightest opportunity.
“The murderous Muhammadu Buhari regime today opened fire on peace loving Shiites as they engaged in an annual symbolic religious trek in Abuja, security agents from the Nigeria Police Force and HQ Nigerian Army reportedly killed six of them in cold blood.
“These murderous agencies waste lives of Nigerians daily at the slightest opportunity and this can no longer continue. Buhari must be stopped at all cost! #RevolutionNow #BuhariMustGo #October1stProtest,” he said.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that no fewer than 42 members of IMN were arrested by the police over a procession the IMN members, otherwise known as Shiites, embarked on in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Tuesday.
The FCT Police Command spokesperson, DSP Josephine Adeh, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that some of the members came from Niger, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, and Kaduna states to “cause mayhem in the FCT.”
She claimed the suspects, carrying charms, stones, and some minor explosives were nabbed at the Kubwa-Gwarimpa axis of Abuja.
She also claimed that they stormed the area in large numbers, obstructing traffic and throwing stones and explosives at police operatives.
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