Corrupt Murderer Marwa roams a free man in South Africa

Raj Bhojwani is trapped in Jersey and fighting to save his name and freedom whilst the primary accused in the same deal sits in Johannesburg free from any problem or persecution. In fact he was nominated by the President of Nigeria in 2008 as Nigeria's ambassador to the Republic of South Africa ! He is Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.) It is ironic that in an interview to the Sunday Trust newspaper - H.E. Amb. Marwa said.... "that there is a perception that Nigerians are generally unlawful, dishonest people, scammers and all the negative attributes. .and that he wanted to demonstrate that Nigerians are essentially solid people, good, trusting, law abiding, hard working and decent people" Yet his own track record in public office during the regime of Gen. Abacha has now come to light during the ongoing trial of Mr. Bhojwani in Jersey, Channel Islands, where in the court it was alleged by the prosecution that: Mr. Bhojwani entered into 2 contracts for the supply of TATA vehicles with the Nigerian Govt. for a total sum of approx. US$178m from which almost US$100m was paid in 'bribes' to Gen. Abacha and Gen. Marwa, who had both been in on the plan from the start. Sahara Reporters, a well known anti-corruption website established through available documents that apart from the proceeds from the above TATA contracts, Gen. Marwa also helped the Abacha's to transfer the sum of US$17m from the account of the Nigerian Permanent Mission to the U.N. to the Trans-national bank, Nairobi, Kenya in 1996. Gen. Marwa confessed to his misdeeds of helping Abacha and himself to stealing after he was arrested, detained and interrogated by the EFCC in a letter he wrote to President Obasanjo dated 18th May, 2006 - captioned ''LETTER OF PROFOUND APOLOGY AND REMORSE'' In the letter Gen. Marwa apologized to President Obasanjo pledging his allegiance to the former president and insisting that he was commanded by the former Head of State as a military officer to carry out the acts of stealing, under duress, pleading that he could not have disobeyed the late dictator because he never thought the transfers to be illegitimate as they were ordered by the Head of State ! Reports said that he must have known too well that the money went to Abacha's cronies and their private accounts for their personal benefits. It became more obvious and incriminating when it was discovered that Gen. Marwa himself benefited substantially from the movement of all these funds.

US: Atiku Abubakar in $40million money-laundering accusation with wife, Jennifer

A United States Senate report has accused Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former Vice-President, of laundering over $40 million in suspicious funds into the United States between 2000 and 2008. And his partner in the lucrative effort was Jennifer Douglas, his fourth wife. Ms. Douglas is sometimes known as Lady Jamilah Jennifer, or Douglas E, or Jennifer Iwenjora, the name by which she was known in the 1980s when she was a reporter with the Nigeria Television Authority in Lagos. According to the report, which was written by the Senate Subcommittee on Investigations, most of the funds were through wire transfers sent by offshore corporations to U.S. bank accounts. Of the $40 million identified in the US investigation, $25 million was reportedly wire-transferred by offshore corporations into more than 30 U.S. bank accounts opened by Ms. Douglas, primarily by Guernsey Trust Company Nigeria Ltd., LetsGo Ltd. Inc., and Sima Holding Ltd. “In a 2008 civil complaint, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission alleged that Ms. Douglas received over $2 million in bribe payments in 2001 and 2002, from Siemens AG, a major German corporation,” the report says. “While Ms. Douglas denies wrongdoing, Siemens has already pled (pleaded) guilty to U.S. criminal charges and settled civil charges related to bribery and told the Subcommittee that it sent the payments to one of her U.S. accounts.

No payout for EU 'fraud' reporter

A European Union court has rejected a claim for damages from a journalist who says he has been persecuted by the EU anti-fraud office, Olaf.

Hans-Martin Tillack was arrested by Belgian police and his files were seized after he exposed wrongdoing at the EU statistics agency, Eurostat.

He claimed damages from the European Commission, arguing that Olaf had triggered the Belgian police action.

But the court said there was no "causal link" between Olaf and his arrest.

Bribery allegation

Mr Tillack wrote two articles for Stern magazine in 2002 on alleged fraud at Eurostat, where large amounts of money were siphoned off into secret bank accounts.

Olaf then publicly accused "a journalist" of bribing one of its officials to obtain an internal memo.

It passed information to the authorities in Belgium and Germany, which led to Mr Tillack's arrest.

However, the EU's Court of First Instance ruled there was "not a sufficiently direct causal link between the forwarding of the information by Olaf to the Belgian judicial authorities and the damage claimed".

Mr Tillack denied paying for the Olaf memo, and accused Olaf of making the bribery allegation on the basis of rumour.

He took the case to the European Ombudsman, Nikiforos Diamandouros, who agreed that Olaf had made the allegation without a factual basis, and said this constituted a case of maladministration.

Ibori: This Judgement Can’t Stand – EFCC

The decision of Justice Marcel Awokulehin of the Federal High Court, Asaba to quash all the 170 count charge against former governor of Delta state, Mr James Onanefe Ibori today has not come as a surprise to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

In view of our determination to prosecute this case to a logical conclusion, and our strong belief that this hazy judgement cannot stand based on available evidence we have to prosecute the case, we have instructed our lawyers to immediately file an appeal against Justice Awokulehin’s judgement at a higher court.

We are convinced that this judgement cannot stand especially at this critical time in our nation’s history when the judiciary is being hailed for rising to the challenge of delivering fearless judgements against the corrupt in our society.

This kind of judgement if not challenged is capable of deepening the menace of corruption in our country rather than contributing in any way to the cause of justice which is the basis of sustaining our democratic governance.

This explains why the leadership of the Commission will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the case is taken to a logical conclusion given the enormity of evidence available to prosecution. Femi Babafemi Head, Media & Publicity

CACOL files fresh petition against Ibori's "Kangaroo judge" and the former chief judge of the federal high court

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has called on the National Judicial Council, (NJC), through the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Idris Kutigi, to kick Justice Marcel Awokulehin off the James Ibori kangaroo trial in Asaba.
In a follow-up petition dated 11 December, CACOL drew the attention of the NJC to the abominable misconduct of Justice Abdullahi Mustapha, the former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, and Awokulehin.
It said that removing Awokulehin from the case is the right thing to do as whatever decision the judge takes would be wanting in credibility and embarrass the judiciary.
Recalling the embarrassing history of the Ibori trial, the Coalition called upon Justice Kutigi, “in the name of all that is good, not to allow Mr. Justice Awokulehin deliver a ruling that would cast aspersions on the neutrality of the bench in this case, and thereby erode people’s confidence in the judiciary as an arm of government that is expected to be the last sanctuary of hope for the oppressed. In the petition, which was copied to The President; the President of the Senate; the Honourable Speaker, House of Representatives; the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation; and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, CACOL called on the NJC to intervene before the matter becomes a national embarrassment. Justice Awokulehin is scheduled to deliver a judgement quashing Ibori's money laundering charges on December 16 2009. Ibori paid the judge $5 million for the "ruling" seeking to quash 170-count charges filed against him by the EFCC.

Andy Uba in fresh bid to snatch Anambra governorship; he and Iwu fine-tune strategy

Saharareporters has just learned of the political maneuvers by Emmanuel Nnamdi (Andy) Uba to position himself to once again snatch Government House, Awka. Uba, who was enthroned as “governor” after a notoriously fraudulent election in April 2007, was quickly removed from office by an order of the Supreme Court. His numerous efforts to regain his illegally acquired post by bribing judges failed to bear fruit as both the Court of Appeal as well as the Supreme Court denied his petitions. Uba has now entered the field as the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, one of the parties he sponsored during the registration of political parties. Apart from using the Labour Party, Uba’s latest political plot involves the purchase of several parties’ governorship tickets, according to highly knowledgeable sources in his camp as well as within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In assuming the ticket of the Labour Party, Uba met INEC’s deadline for political parties to substitute the names of their candidates for the February 6, 2010 gubernatorial election in Anambra. That deadline is tomorrow, Tuesday, December 8 – a day Uba will be unveiled as the candidate of the Labour Party. Our sources disclosed that Andy Uba has not only acquired the ticket of the Labour Party, but that he has doled out huge cash payments to mop up the tickets of several other parties, including that of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP). A source within Uba’s inner circle said that the former senior aide on domestic matters to President Olusegun Obasanjo had been quietly buying up numerous marginal political parties as part of a political strategy he fine-tuned with help from INEC chairman Maurice Iwu.Shortly after Uba emerges tomorrow, he will move fast in the coming weeks to stage political campaigns in which crowds will be rented. During these rallies, Uba will give the platform to the candidates of the parties he has purchased to announce their withdrawal from the governorship race and to pledge support for Uba’s ticket. “Professor Iwu has promised Andy that INEC will announce him as the next governor if Chief Uba can create the impression that he’s a popular candidate,” disclosed an INEC source familiar with the details.

Feds seek 30 year sentence for Jefferson; Atiku Abubakar’s friend

Federal prosecutors are seeking the harshest prison sentence ever handed out to a member of Congress for former Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.), convicted of conspiring to bribe former vice-president Atiku Abubakar; arguing that his “stunning betrayal of public trust” warrants what could be a life sentence for the long-time lawmaker.
The Justice Department is asking a federal judge in Alexandria, Va, to lock up Jefferson, 62, for up to 33 years, according to documents filed by prosecutors on Friday. That is far longer than the eight-year sentence given to former Rep. Duke Cunningham (R-Calif.) when he was sentenced in March 2006 for taking more than $2.4 million in bribes, as well as tax evasion and fraud.
The difference between the United States of America and Nigeria is stark; while Jefferson is heading to prison, his friend and co-conspirator, Atiku Abubakar is warming up to be elected the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Another crook, the former chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Chief Bode George and five other former members of the board of the authority who were convicted on October 26 by Justice Joseph Oyewole were sentenced to a mere two and a half years in prison .

Ibori: Asaba Judge adjourns to 23 November

The federal high court in Asaba in the matter of FRN vs. Cheif James Onanefe Ibori and others sat early today amidst tight security in the 170-count charge criminal case of corruption and abuse of office involving James Ibori, the former governor of Delta State has adjourned ruling to 23 November, 2009.
Justice Mercel Awokulehin could not deliver his judgement today in the controversial sitting.The trial has been enmeshed in controversy following series of petitions against the Honourable Justice M. Awokulehin of the federal High Court in Asaba, presiding over the trial of Chief James Onanefe Ibori and others, including the recent publication in the Vanguard Newspaper published the 2nd of November 2009, credited to Chief Edwin Clark

Andy Uba's "Governor-in-waiting" panel deadlocked, adjourns till November 13 2009

A five-justice panel of the Court of Appeal, Enugu, today failed to agree on a verdict in a case filed by Emmanuel Nnamdi (Andy) Uba pleading to be declared Anambra State’s governor-in-waiting. Instead, the court, led by Justice J. S. Ngwuta, has set a new date of November 13 for its ruling.A source close to one of the justices told Saharareporters that the court’s inability to hand down a ruling today was largely dictated by our detailed expose on the intrigues and scandals involved in the gubernatorial elections petition appeal case brought by Mr. Uba. Our reports had disclosed that Mr. Uba, who amassed a huge wealth during the eight years he worked as former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s aide on domestic matters, had arranged to furnish some of the justices with millions of dollars in cash in exchange for a ruling that he must assume the governorship next March.

PHOTONEWS-Coronation of Corruption: Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Utuama, at Umaru Abdullahi's coronation

2003 an Abuja Upper Bwari area court judge, Anwwal Yusuf, described how James Ibori tried to compromise him. His tool: the current deputy governor of Delta State, Professor Amos Utuama.
“I had a meeting with Governor James Ibori in the presence of one Bala Ngilari and Professor Amos Utuama, Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice at the Delta State Government House located on Asokoro district Abuja on the 23rd of January 2003 where Governor Ibori promised to pay me cash of 10 million in any currency,” Judge Yusuf said.

Corruption indicators

By its nature corruption can be difficult to detect as it usually involves two or more people entering into a secret agreement (You don’t give a receipt for bribes!). The agreement can be to pay a financial inducement to a public official for securing favour of some description in return. This list is not exhaustive and the ingenuity of those involved in corruption knows no bounds! You may be aware of:

Economic and social effects of corruption
Bribery and corruption impacts upon the poor and vulnerable people in developing countries, it undermines public services and has an economic impact, increasing the costs of doing business whether the corruption is overseas or domestic.
One very real example that helps us to understand why the proactive attack on corruption must be stepped up is a story told to our head of Anti Corruption, Keith McCarthy, while overseas.
It involved a young mother in a developing country who died in childbirth along with her new born baby. The new road that she and her husband chose to travel to the Hospital had not been completed. In fact part of it did not even exist due to the corruption of a public official by a UK person
Corruption Indicators

Aondoakaa panics over Bi-Courtney deal

Deal between Attorney-General and Minister for Justice on one hand and Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, a company headed by respected lawyer, Wale Babalakin
Aondoakaa panics over Bi-Courtney deal
By DICKSON OMONODE
The hue and cry usually associated with the process of privatization in Nigeria is currently at play again, and at the centre of it all is Michael Kasse Aondoakaa, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice on one hand and Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, a company headed by respected lawyer, Wale Babalakin. Of course, several questions are being asked, and the high-point, according to the National Daily would be the 'massive mobilization to frustrate the efforts of the concessionaire by opposing stakeholders,' unless an enduring compromise is reached, as the National Assembly plans to fully wade into the matter this week. The deal, which started in 2004 during Olusegun Obasanjo's era as President, had seen the company signing a concession deal which industry analysts believe is legally binding 'but morally impaired'. National Daily gathered that in spite of the fact that the concession was supposed to last for 12 years, based on the agreement the past administration had with Bi-Courtney, the government of Yar'Adua, through facilitation by the AGF, Michael Aondoakaa has extended it to 36 years. The change, insiders say is attributable to Aaodoakaa's closeness to Wale Babalakin, who is not only a friend and professional colleague of the Minster's, but also a honourary special adviser to President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua on legal matters. A top source said that at the moment, Chief Aondoakaa is under tension, more so as a group called Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders intends to begin a nationwide mobilization to insist on the sack of the minister, who in recent times has been enmeshed in series of allegations bothering on corruption and abuse of office. After being fingered in attempts to frustrate the money-laundering case currently going on in London against Chief James Ibori and others, it seems the most unlikely time for the AGF to be involved in yet another scandal.

How Aondoakaa sold Murtala Mohammed Airport to Wale Babalakin’s Bi-Courtney

Fresh court documents obtained by Saharareporters has found out how Nigeria's most corrupt Attorney General, Michael Aondoakaa participated in the controversial handover of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos.Aondoakaa, our impeccable source revealed, took huge bribe money from Mr. Wale Babalakin, the chairman of Bi -Courtney, the company now reputed for building sub-standard structures. Aondoakaa had worked with Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited to grant the company a 36-year concession to run the domestic wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport after Bi-Courtney presented a carefully manipulated lease agreement that extended its tenure from 12 to 36 years.

During the Obasanjo's administration, Babalakin got Femi Fani Kayode to recommend that his lease on the airport be extended from 12 years to 36 years, but that proposal was rejected, but our sources revealed that Femi Fani Kayode did not reverse the lease agreements, leaving Bi-Courtney to use Aondoakaa to legitimize it.Aondoakaa, after receiving N400 million from Babalakin, got Bi-Courtney to sue his office for breach of contract after claiming that it had the right to manage both the MMA2 and the GAT for 36 years starting from April 2004.

Prof Soludo implicated in the Securency bribery scandal

The former CBN governor was named as one of the officials that received bribes allegedly paid to Nigerian officials in order to secure contracts for the printing of polymer naira notes.
Prof Soludo implicated in the Securency bribery scandal
These are not happy times for the former Governor of the Nigerian apex bank, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo. As his gubernatorial ambitions falters amidst the high-wire intrigues of Anambra politics, the former CBN Governor has every reason to be a worried man.
A knowledgeable source has revealed to Elombah.com that the former CBN governor was named as one of the officials that received bribes allegedly paid to Nigerian officials in order to secure contracts for the printing of polymer naira notes.
Elombah.com last Friday carried a report by Sydney Morning Herald that A Reserve Bank of Australia company is under federal police investigation for allegedly bribing Nigerian officials to win a banknote deal in the most serious development yet in the cash-for-contracts scandal.
The probe centres on a series of multimillion-dollar payments by the RBA firm Securency to offshore accounts of two British-based businessmen, BenoyBerry and Mike Harding, who boast high-level political contacts in Britain and Africa.