Real reason Nigeria dropped N100 billion stolen funds charge against Abacha — Okonjo-Iweala

World Bank to assist in monitoring utilisation on targeted projects, programmes

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday constituted an inter-ministerial committee to manage the €167 million (about N36 billion) expected to be returned to Nigeria from the government of the Principality of Liechtenstein as part of the looted funds recovered from the Abacha family.

The Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, confirmed on Thursday in Abuja that Nigeria would receive the recovered funds, latest by June 25.

She also explained that the federal government withdrew the N100 billion stolen funds charges against Mohammed Abacha, son of Sani Abacha, to ease the return of the N36 billion.

Sani Abacha was Nigeria’s military dictator from 1993 to 1998 and is believed to have looted billions of dollars of Nigeria’s funds while in power.

To ensure that the recovered money was put into the best use to the benefit of all Nigerians, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said the President had directed the committee to immediately identify the best projects and programmes to spend the funds on.

She said the World Bank would also be involved in the process towards effective utilisation of the recovered money.

“We can confirm that Nigeria will on June 25, 2014 receive the sum of Euro 167 million ($227 million), about N36.32 billion from the Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein, part of looted funds recovered from the Abacha family,” the Minister said through her Special Adviser on Media, Paul Nwabuikwu.

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said the President has also directed that part of the funds be saved for the future generation In line with the agreement reached with the Principality of Liechtenstein. She also said the World Bank will assist in monitoring the utilization of the funds on specific projects.
The Minister celebrated the return of the funds as a major achievement of the government from its over 16-year effort.

She said the President, working with her, the Attorney General of the Federation, Muhammad Adokie; and the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, made the recovery of the loot possible.
The return of the funds, she said, was however delayed by the suit instituted at the European Court of Human Rights, ECHR, by companies owned by the Abachas, alleging an infringement of their rights to a fair trial and to the peaceful enjoyment of their possessions.

To demonstrate government’s commitment to retrieving the funds, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said Mr. Adoke had, on behalf of the government, filed a suit against Mohammed Abacha before the Abuja High Court.

She said as part of the negotiations to expedite the recovery of the funds, the Abachas had agreed to discontinue their suit before the ECHR, while the Federal Government equally decided to withdraw the case against him.

Under the deal, the government’s lawyer, Daniel Enwelum, told the court that Mr. Adoke had asked him to withdraw the nine-count charge against Mohammed over alleged receipt of stolen property worth N100.38 billion.

The money to be recovered from Liechtenstein is different from the $458 million stolen Abacha loot that the U.S. froze and the federal government wants returned.

However, a cross section of the human rights community has described the decision to trade away about N100 billion for about N36.32 billion as another demonstration of government’s insensitivity and lack of commitment to fighting corruption in Nigeria.

The Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice, Eze Onyekpere, described the deal as the most absurd style of plea bargaining, which would encourage impunity, corruption and stealing of public funds by the country’s leaders.

“It does not make sense at all. How can one steal about N446 billion and government is accepting only N36.32 billion to discontinue the case against the culprit? What government is getting is not even up to one-tenth of what was stolen and a case is withdrawn against him.

“It is the easiest way to steal money from the system. It shows how unseriously government takes the fight against corruption.”

For a Lagos based lawyer, Kayode Adaramoye, although the Attorney General had the powers to discontinue with any case at any point, the government’s action on the Abacha loot is undesirable for Nigeria’s development.

“The action of the Federal Government is like patting corruption on the back and a proof that the administration is not sincere about the fight against corruption. It is rather sad that all these are happening in a country that has all the potentials to make its people amongst the best catered for in terms of socio-economic wellbeing,” he said.

The National President, National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Wale Ajani, described the Nigerian government’s action as very unfortunate and one that would show the international community that the present administration was not serious about the fight against corruption.

Mr. Ajani said that there was no justification for any government to allow anybody that had stolen from the nation’s wealth to go scot free, particularly when such despicable acts have continued to aggravate the socio-economic plights of ordinary Nigerians.

Italy to repatriate 700 Nigerian prisoners – Envoy

 


Over 15,000 Nigerians are currently in prisons abroad.

Nigeria and Italy would soon conclude negotiations on a Prisoners Transfer Agreement, PTA, to facilitate the return of over 700 Nigerian prisoners serving sentences in various prisons across Italy.

The Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Fulvius Rusticu, said this on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr. Rusticu said Nigerian and Italian officials would meet in the first week of July in Rome to finalise the agreement and possibly work out modalities for the immediate return of the prisoners.

The ambassador explained that under the agreement, Nigerian prisoners who qualify for the transfer must return home to complete their prison terms.

He said that his government was not obligated to help improve the condition of prisons in Nigeria as a pre-condition for signing the agreement.

“Each country is responsible for its prisons. The logic in signing a PTA is that we think that it is better for Nigerians and even Italians to serve their terms at home. Already to be in prisons is not a nice

experience, being abroad is even worse, so giving the prisoner the chance to return home is in their own interest. It is very rare for a prisoner to want to stay in a foreign country. We have cases of
Italians serving in prisons abroad and they look forward to, and are
happy to return home,” he said.

According to official figures from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, no fewer than 15,316 Nigerians are in various prisons abroad with the largest number, 752, in the UK.
In January, Nigeria and the U.K. signed a PTA to repatriate 521 Nigerians currently serving their terms in that country.

Prior to the signing, a major challenge on deportation was the condition of prisons in Nigeria but the U.K. had pledged £1 million (N277 million) to Nigeria to help improve its prisons.
(NAN)

Nigeria to benefit from €700 million Dutch Growth Fund facility

The fund facility will help Nigerian entrepreneurs, SMEs,‎ form Joint ventures with Dutch companies.

Nigeria is to benefit from a €700 million Growth Fund facility from‎ the Netherlands, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Co-operation, Lilianne Ploumen, has said.

Mr. Ploumen said the fund, which would be launched in July 2014, will benefit Nigeria among other countries. He said the decision comes on the heels of the discussion between Nigeria’s Minister of Industry,‎ Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, and his Dutch counterpart, last‎ year.

Mr. Aganga confirmed this during the Nigeria-Netherlands Business‎ Forum in Lagos, on Wednesday.
The Netherlands minister is currently in Nigeria with a delegation of‎ over 20 Dutch businessmen to tie a win-win trade and investment‎ relationships.

The Dutch Growth Fund, Mr. Aganga said, would enable Nigerian‎ entrepreneurs and small and medium-scale enterprises, SMEs, to form joint ventures with their Dutch counterparts.

The fund would also help the entrepreneurs, expand their businesses‎ and invest in critical and thriving sectors.

“Netherlands is one of Nigeria’s largest trading partners,” Mr. Aganga‎ said, “Within the last five years, the value of trade between Nigeria and Netherlands has grown from about $2.5 billion to about $10 billion.

“In addition to the fact that there are so many Dutch companies‎ operating and doing well in Nigeria, there is also the €700 million Dutch Growth Fund, which the Government of Netherlands is planning to‎ establish.

“It will be accessed by Nigerians in partnership with Dutch‎ entrepreneurs who can bring in their know-how and innovation. This‎ will make Joint Ventures easier between the two countries,” said Mr.‎ Aganga.

The Minister commended the Dutch Government for the fund, recalling that Nigeria was included among the possible beneficiaries following‎ an appeal he made to his Netherlands counterpart when he visited the‎ country about two years ago when the fund was about to be created.

” I appealed that Nigeria should be included as one of the countries‎ that will benefit from the fund. She promised that she would visit Nigeria and give us an update on the fund. I am delighted that she has‎ fulfilled her promise of visiting Nigeria.

Ms. Ploumen said during the event that the decision to include Nigeria‎ as one of the benefitting countries was based on Nigeria’s huge‎ economic potentials as the biggest economy in Africa.

The fund, she said, would also help to fast-track inclusive economic growth, especially in critical sectors of the Nigerian economy.

The Dutch Fund, she added, would promote the Joint Venture and‎ investment of Dutch companies with their Nigerian counterparts.

“Nigeria has been included as one of the countries that would benefit from the Fund because we see great investment and growth opportunities in Nigeria,” Ms. Ploumen said.

“Within the next three to four years, we will be investing €700‎ million into the fund, which is open for all sectors of the Nigerian economy.” She said.

The objective, she explained, was to enhance inclusive economic growth in Nigeria,Africa’s largest economy.

She said the Netherlands government is looking forward to seeing more Nigerian businesses partnering with their Dutch counterparts and‎ leveraging on the friendship and good economic relations existing between Nigeria and Netherlands.

The Dutch Growth Fund, which is open to all Nigerian entrepreneurs,‎ she said, would help to expand the business, trade and economic relationships between the two countries.

National Conference rejects constitutional recognition of First Lady

The Confab also set strict conditions for public officers seeking medical treatment abroad.

The National Conference on Wednesday unanimously threw out an amendment seeking the recognition of the Office of the First Lady by the 1999 Constitution.

It also rejected a proposal calling for the reduction of the minimum ages for Nigerians seeking election to the office of the president, governors and membership of the National Assembly by five years.

The Confab also set strict procedures that would be observed by public officers seeking medical treatment abroad.

These are some of the decisions taken while voting on the recommendations of the Committee on Social Sector and the amendments proposed to them.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Josephine Anenih, a former Women Affairs Minister and her deputy, Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, a former Minister of Education, earlier presented the report before amendments were proposed and considered.

During debate on the report, a delegate had proposed an amendment to the Constitution to ensure the incorporation of the Office of the First Lady.

However, when the Deputy Chairman, Bolaji Akinyemi, who moderated the voting session put it to vote, almost all the delegates voted against it.

Another amendment proposed by a Federal Government delegate, Mike Ozekhome calling for the reduction of the minimum age for presidential aspirants from 40 to 35, senatorial aspirants from 35 to 30 and House of Representatives from 30 to 25 to ensure that youth participate in political leadership, was roundly defeated.

However, in a bid to reduce the current negative impact of medical tourism on the image and integrity of Nigeria and her healthcare system, the delegates resolved that there should be restriction of government sponsorship of public officers for foreign medical care.

The confab agreed that unless for exceptional cases that require referral abroad, all public officers should mandatorily utilize local health facilities. These exceptional cases, it said, must be screened by a medical board made up of appropriate medical and healthcare professionals.

The Conference noted that seeking medical treatment abroad resulted in immense capital flight and drain on Nigeria’s economy resulting from medical tourism.

It cited abuse of existing processes for screening of referrals for foreign medical treatment as one of the reasons.

The delegates expressed desire for improvement in the quality of healthcare services in Nigeria; a deliberate effort to refocus the attitude of healthcare workers to patients in Nigeria; and improved
political commitment to health by political office holders.

Other resolutions reached by the conference are that:

-Free-healthcare be established for children aged 0-5 years; senior citizens from the age of 65 years; persons living with disability or the physically challenged persons; free maternal services and free school health programmes;

-Government and owners of mission/private schools should dialogue to facilitate the handover of all mission and private schools to their original owners.

 However, owners of such schools should ensure that they are affordable and able to serve wider variety of the public as it were in the original concept of the mission schools;

-There should be regulation of fees charged by the schools; the schools should provide assistance to the local community through scholarships and other services; and that children from other
denominations should not be marginalized in the admission process;

-Government should convert all Almajiri schools to normal schools and integrate Quranic education curriculum to absorb the millions of out of school children;

-Government should provide free basic education with free uniforms, books and midday meals for all children from primary one to junior secondary three;

-Government should build additional Almajiri Schools to bring them up to 400 as originally planned while a 10 year plan of sustained implementation should be put in place with a view to providing acces to all children;

-The 2004 Pension Act should be amended so that payment of pension to beneficiaries would continue throughout their lifetime instead of the current practice where payment is only made to people between 15 and 18 years post-retirement. The Conferees agreed on the urgent need to
amend the 2004 Pension Act to include a provision to hold the pension commission responsible and also prescribe penalties;

-Salary reviews should be reflected in calculating benefits across the board, particularly in reference to long-time retirees; salary increases should automatically affect retirees in both the old and new
pension systems;

-Pension fund administrators and the national pension commission should be obliged to begin a comprehensive programme of registering the informal sector workers under the 2004 Pensions Act;
-Social security policy be put in practice to cater for the well being of the elderly in addition to the pension policy;

-Federal Government should put into effective use, the National Policy on Women adopted in 2004 which was replaced with the National Gender Policy in 2006;

-Government should draft for passage and implementation, a Bill on the Abolition of all Forms of Discrimination against Women in Nigeria to address the issue of discrimination and violence against women and maltreatment of widows; and

-Government should legislate to prohibit installation of telecommunication mast in residential neighbourhoods and to prohibit other practices that negatively impact on health including female
genital mutilation.

Meanwhile, the proceedings at the Conference were held down for over 10 minutes as all the female delegates protested an amendment seeking to reduce the affirmative action on the appointment of women into political offices from 35 per cent to 30 per cent.

When delegates voted in support of the amendment, most of the female delegates left their seat demanding a reversal of the decision or else they would walk out.

However, some male delegates including a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’Abba spoke in favour of the women causing the leadership of the Conference to drop further action on the matter and accept the 35 per cent

Also, shortly after 6 p.m., a delegate from Kebbi State, Haliru Mohammed, protested the continuation of the session, saying since most delegates had left and the decisions of the Conference would be a
nullity.

Despite the protest, Mr. Akinyemi continued with the proceedings apparently determined to conclude work on the report of the Social Sector Committee.

A few minutes later, Mr. Mohammed rose again to resume his protest, but was rebuked by the Chairman of the Conference who repeatedly shouted “You can’t intimidate us.”

The Conference subsequently adjourned at about 7.30 p.m. the first time since March 17 when it commenced sitting.

UPDATE: Governor Amaechi released, but plane remains impounded in Ondo

The Rivers state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, who was barred from travelling to Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, for a political rally and then detained for over an hour by a detachment of soldiers, has been released.

“They have finally released him and he is currently on his way to Akure airport,” an aide of the governor said in response to PREMIUM TIMES enquiry. “But as he travelled, the soldiers are following him behind.”

After the governor arrived the airport in Akure, he found that his plane had been impounded. “He is currently stranded in Akure and it is not clear whether he and his entourage will be able to secure space in a commercial plane.”

The Rivers State Government had issued a statement saying Mr. Amaechi, was arrested and held hostage by security operatives in Odudu, Ondo state.

The governor, the statement said, was arrested as he made his way to Ado-Ekiti for a political rally by his Ekiti State counterpart, Kayode Fayemi.

Read full statement below.

The Rivers State Government is concerned about the safety of Governor Amaechi who is right now being held hostage commando style by soldiers and federal government security agents in Odudu, Ondo state.

Governor Amaechi as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ forum and as an APC governor and chieftain had left Port Harcourt this morning for Ekiti state where he was to join his brother governor in his last mega rally before the elections.

Governor Amaechi was ambushed and refused entry into Ekiti by military personnel acting on orders from above.

He made to turn back and return to Akure where his chattered aircraft was parked but was chased and rounded by armed soldiers and security personnel in Odudu, Ondo state. According to the captain who led the operation, he had orders not to allow the governor entry or exit.

In the meantime, the chattered aircraft that conveyed he governor has been grounded while the minsters of Defence, police Affairs and Minister of state for Defence have landed at the Akure airport.

The Rivers State government is especially worried that Federal government and President Jonathan have singled out Governor Amaechi for harassment and attack.

While we hold the person and office of the President in utmost regards, we believe that it is unacceptable that the presidency would disrespect the person and office of an elected governor of a federating unit and consistently hound him.

The Rivers state government is all more worried as Ondo saga is coming on the heels of a plot by six PDP lawmakers this morning to carry out a kangaroo impeachment of the duly elected governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, con first at Krisdara hotels and later Bauchi street, Port Harcourt.

Ordinarily such banality should be ignored as it is neither legal nor constitutional. However in the light of the recent attempts to hoist a Chief Judge on Rivers people through the back door and the attendant rumours that the reason for that desperate act was to make it easier for the PDP to actualize its sinister daydream of ousting Governor Amaechi before May 29, 2015, we believe that it has become necessary to draw the attention of Rivers people, Nigerians and the international community to the situation in Rivers State.

Only yesterday, in preparation for this tragicomedy, the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused Governor Amaechi of importing terrorists into the state and the region. They continued their diatribe by demanding that the governor of Rivers State be put under surveillance.

The State Government wouldn’t have dignified the PDP’s display of ignorance with a response but for the fact that these accusations coupled with today’s actions are omniuos signs of how far the PDP is willing to go in its quest to cling onto power by all means.

The antecedents of impunity on the part of the leadership of the PDP are instructive and the party’s desperation to harm and stop anyone they perceive as major threat to their crumpling electoral fortunes next year is no longer news.

The detention attempt and incident at the Kano International Airport last week are still fresh in the minds of Nigerians. Also, the call to put Gov Amaechi under surveillance (or is it house arrest?) on the same day that PDP started effort to unseat the Governor of Adamawa State, His Excellency, Murtala Nyako, is enough indication of the script already written by a jittery PDP

It is sad that the insane minds of the authors of the PDP accusation are jeopardizing police investigations of the 486 travellers who were intercepted in Aba, Abia State, and who are still being screened. One only wishes that the PDP would address the issues of the insecurity in the country with as much fervor and vigour as it deploys towards witch hunting its political opponents

The River Government wishes to state that the world knows those who feather the nest of cultists and militants and for whom they are canon fodder. Governor Amaechi’s position on cultisim, violence and insecurity are clear as is his commitment to fighting poverty and improving the lives of our present and future generations.

The Rivers State Government will not be deterred in its efforts to deliver good governance and ddemocratic dividends to our people.

We appeal to all Rivers people appeals to all members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and citizens in the state to remain calm in the face of these provocations.
We call on the Security Agencies to exhibit professionalism in their conduct of affairs. We appeal to all well meaning people in Nigeria and around the world to please call the PDP to order before they truncate our democracy.

It appears to us that the PDP clearly have no interest in the peace and stability either Rivers state.

We are mindful of these mischievous elements but continue to call for tolerance and eternal vigilance. We are certain that the God who reigns in the affairs of Rivers people will again deliver us from this evil and terror that stalks us at noon day
Signed
Ibim Semenitari
Commissioner of Information and Communications

Don’t behave like rebel group, PDP tells APC

“The APC must realize that in a democracy, being an opposition party demands a great responsibility…”


The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has counseled the All Progressives Congress, APC, to jettison all undemocratic and anti-people tendencies and imbibe the proper comportment as an opposition party in a democratic setting.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement on Thursday said with its new leadership, Nigerians expect a new behavior from the APC adding that the opposition party “must understand that it is not a rebel group and as such must throw over-board all actions and tendencies that portray it in that light.”

“Nigerians of all walks of life have continued to express worry over the character of the APC as an opposition party. The APC must realize that in a democracy, being an opposition party demands a great responsibility marked by constructive engagement and propagation of alternatives in the general interest.

“The APC must be advised to undertake a survey of how other opposition parties conduct themselves. Being an opposition party does not in any way confer a culture of irresponsibility; being an opposition party does not in any way confer a license for promotion of violence; and being an opposition party does not confer use of blackmail and falsehood as means of achieving political control.

“Nigerians are no longer comfortable with an opposition driven by frustration and bitterness; characterized by a compulsive penchant for lies and deceit. They do not want an opposition that has no regard for the national interest but behave as if it has no stake in the Nigerian project. Nigerians want an opposition that will purposefully engage on issues with integrity and honesty and not with falsehood and deceit”, the party said.

The PDP noted that despite its change of leadership, the APC has continued with its culture of lies, adding that “there is nothing in the last one week that shows that they are willing to jettison this despicable and unpatriotic stance.”

Insisting that the APC does not have the interest of the nation at heart, the PDP likened the actions of the APC to that of the Biblical woman who, out of frustration, pressed King Solomon to kill and divide the baby of an innocent mother for no just cause.

“We however wish to inform the APC that Nigerians will not succumb to their antics. Nigeria will never break up. We shall remain one strong indivisible nation under God where all thrive together in love, while on the other hand, the ever chameleonic APC will continue to merge, de-merge and lose its identity and composition,” the PDP said.
Signed:
Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary

Russia restarts amassing troops on Ukraine border, NATO says

“We now see a new Russian military build-up at least a few thousand more Russian troops deployed to the Ukrainian border.”


Russia has increased the number of troops it had stationed on the border with Ukraine, in spite of calls from the international community for a draw down, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation NATO, has said.

The Secretary-General of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, stated this on Thursday during an event at Chatham House in London.

“We now see a new Russian military build-up at least a few thousand more Russian troops deployed to the Ukrainian border.

“We see troop manoeuvres in the neighbourhood of Ukraine,’’ he said.

He said it would be “positive” if the troops were being deployed to prevent a flow of weapons and fighters into Ukraine.

“But that’s not what we’re seeing,” he added. “I consider this a very regrettable step backwards and it seems that Russia keeps the option to intervene further.”