Fighting Corruption: The Unanswered Questions

Abdu Isa Kofarmata

For over six years now, president Obasanjo has been junketing the globe informing the whole world that he is fighting corruption. Similarly, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of the presidential puppet commission, EFCC, has graciously joined his paymaster in this lucrative business of globetrotting. He often swears at any slightest opportunity that they are indeed at war with corruption.

Many foreign and local observers of Nigeria’s event have said or written that president Obasanjo is the most incompetent, selfish, treacherous and sadistic leader Nigeria has ever had in 45 years of its independence. President Obasanjo and his entire cabinet (family inclusive) are strikingly corrupt so much so that the charges of corruption can be only lodged against those outside the confines of Aso rock and of course the third term campaigners.

It was again estimated that OBJ has traveled more than 730 days (two years) 1999-2003. Co-incidentally, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu was reported to have nearly broken that record, as set by his master OBJ. Our fear now is that Ribadu seems to be following the footsteps of his Oga. It is a well-known fact that OBJ has excelled every Nigerian leader in memory when it comes to double talk. OBJ feels no shame to lie at all and has always done so with enthusiasm and vigor.

In the same vain, Mallam Ribadu has now openly preached to the whole world that he has restored dignity and respect to the Nigerian nation just the same way his master has blatantly kept telling the world (the same lie). Unknown to these fake corruption crusaders the solution to our problems are here with us. It is difficult to find the solution in the street of Washington, London, Paris or even South Africa.

Many Nigerians have already understood the corruption czar of the puppet commission EFCC. His commission is more or less a vengeance commission. EFCC under Mallam Ribadu has already been identified as the arrowhead of OBJ’s vengeful tactics.

When Mr. Sam Ndah Isaiah, the publisher of Leadership weekly newspaper asserted that corruption is running in the blood of Obasanjo’s family, I was unable to grab exactly what the gentleman really mean, until I started composing this piece of writing, and putting one case after the other. For instance, Obasanjo and presidential library, Stella and Ikoyi houses robbery, Gbenga and $20 million laundering, Olumuyiwa and new acquired property in New York, Makunjola and N500 million defense money, Abebes and ……etc

The reality of the situation as many of our people fail to understand is the fact that there is nothing killing Nigeria right now than the actions of the federal cabinet (ministers) and many of the federal government heads of parastatals. The executive arm of the government controls about 94% of the federal budget thus the presidency and its agencies spend more money than the 36 states of Nigeria. This gives them ample opportunity to indulge in corrupt practices beyond redemption. I hope Mallam Ribadu will not ask me for a proof, because it is his usual way of dodging issues especially when it involves the president and his men.

These cabinet members are very wicked and horrible in their quest to amass as much wealth as they can without regard for the nation. One funny aspect of this so called fight against corruption is that all the cabinet ministers and the president’s immediate family are not covered by any immunity clause of our constitution, thus Mallam Ribadu and his vengeance commission deliberately turns his face away from these facts thereby refusing to investigate arrest and /or prosecute these gang of thieves. EFCC rather is more interested in harassing some pick pockets like state commissioners and local government chairmen who live at the mercy of their state governors.

At this point I wish to pose some questions to the EFCC scribe, which has remained unanswered for quiet sometime now. It is expected that the executive chairman of the EFCC would provide cogent answers. Alternatively, he should politely pack his load back to where he comes from – Nigerian Police Force. Definitely, his failure to provide concrete answers to these questions would indicate his partiality, selectiveness and incompetence. Therefore, his continued victimization and holding other perceived political enemies of OBJ to ransom are morally and legally wrong, which would not be tolerated by the citizens of this country any longer.

In order to arrest a commissioner in Adamawa, Yobe or Kebbi state, EFCC has adequate staff and vehicle to move at once; however, to stroll down Abuja Township to Life camp and arrest Nasir el’Rufai, the commission has inadequate staff, vehicle and possibly fuel.

The EFCC chairman has no moral and legal right whatsoever to continue with this selective approach with a view to eliminating political enemies of his master. Mr. Chairman, may you kindly find concrete and genuine answers to the following questions:

A. What did your commission do with the National Assembly report on the Nitel management contract with Pentescope, which clearly indicted Nasir el rufai? Or are you protecting friendships as against the constitution, which you have sworn to up hold and preserve.

B. What is your commission doing in investigating and prosecuting Nasir el Rufai over the illegal payment of over N3 million to his corp. member girl friend as salary? You cannot pretend ignorance as senate investigated it and he has been found guilty of it.

C. Why is your commission so reluctant to arrest and prosecute Olabode George and Aminu Dabo that were indicted in the NPA investigation report?

D. What is your commission doing in unraveling the source of billions of naira used by the president’s in-laws in the purchase of Ikoyi houses? In order to avoid your frequent tricks of dodging issues like this, it is important if names and property allocation is clearly stated, thus;

v Mr. Henry Abebe – House No. 23, Milverton Road, Ikoyi @ N158, 400,000.00

v Dr. Yemisi Abebe – House No. 12 Ikoya Avenue, Ikoyi @ N80, 400,000.00

v Dr. John Abebe - House No. 1B Iru close @ N64, 800,000.00 (PA to the first lady)

v Mrs. Franca Abebe – House No. 7B moroko close @ N57, 600,000.00

It should be noted here that Mrs. Stella Obasanjo made all the above payments and she collected the certificates on their behalf. Mallam Ribadu should also note that the president confirmed this action through his letter to the then minister of housing, Mrs. Mobolaji Osomo, where he states “I also feel personally embarrassed that almost all members of my wife’s family are on that list.” With all these proofs, Mallam Ribadu, none of the Abebes is under your detention to date, what a pitiful situation?

E. How far did your commission go with the probe into the presidential library project?

F. The three Nigeria’s (dubious) businessmen, Dr. Mike Adenuga, Alh. Aliko Dangote and Mr. Femi Otedola donated N600 million to the presidential library project. Our questions here are: how much did these crooks pay as personal income tax between 1999 to date? How much did their companies pay as tax? More importantly, EFCC should avail Nigerians with adequate information as to how much they have benefited from oil concessions, import waivers, exemptions and other privileges granted directly by the president?

G. Where is the report on the N54 million bribery allegations against Senator Mantu and his colleagues by Nasir el Rufai?

H. Where is the report on the scandalous Turn around Maintenance contract of our refineries?

I. Can your commission avail Nigerians with adequate information about the COJA, CHOGOM?

J. If Bayelsa state governor’s case has no political undertone, why is your commission finding it difficult to arrest and prosecute Gbenga Obasanjo whom the US intelligence outfit accused or rather indicted for money laundering to the tune of $20 million?

K. Why is your commission so reluctant in investigating and possibly confiscating the property recently purchased by Stella’s eldest son with OBJ, Olumuyiwa? The trainee thief, Olumuyiwa, acquired the property on cash and carry basis as against the usual lies of his uncle, who claimed to have used loan to finance the deal. For your information and that of the esteem readers, the property located at 705 Carrol Street, unit no. 4L Brooklyn, New York was sold to Olumuyiwa Obasanjo on the 1^st March, 2005, by the Jordan Beth Levine and Jonathan Ross Erlich on full payment. At the close of the deal was Olumuyiwa’s lawyer Joseph Slater who has his law chamber at 534 Broad Holloway, Road, and suit 301, Melville, New York. Obasanjo’s other son; Gbenga has confirmed the purchase of this property by his half brother. Therefore, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu should not claim ignorance, or ask me for a proof.

L. What is your commission waiting for, that to date nobody is arrested or prosecuted for offering the first Ghana –must- go of N4 million to the federal house of representatives in order to change its leadership during the time of Ghali Na’Abba? The money was displayed in the house to the delight of other Nigerians, therefore, you cannot clam ignorance here also.

M. What is your commission doing over the N300 billion Tony Aneneih claimed to have spent on road construction 1999-2003 without any road to show even in Adamawa and Edo states?

N. If you are at war with corruption, then, EFCC owes Nigerians a duty to reveal the details concerning the original owners and how AP PLC, NOLCHEM (CONOIL) PLC, UNIPETROL (OANDO) PLC were purchased.

O. Why is your commission reluctant to prosecute Mr. Wale Tininbu over the V- mobile N300 million 419, which you confirmed to have been refunded back to the company?

P. Are there any sufficient reasons why the present minister of defense and his accomplices are yet to be arrested and prosecuted over the N1 billion ecological funds they have stolen from the Kano state government treasury? Remember it was against the court injunction that you went ahead with the case of Governor Dariye of Plateau state.

Q. Why is Peter Okebukola yet to be removed, arrested and prosecuted over his involvement in the N55 million bribery scandals, despite the fact that his name and that of his commission were clearly mentioned in the presidential broadcast?

R. Can your commission, with all honesty, help the Kaduna state people to know where and how their governor came about his present residence and multi million naira-shopping complex in Kaduna? All residents of Kaduna know that he was not close to that property prior to his election in 1999.

S. Why is your commission yet to confiscate all property belonging to the president’s cousin, Mr. Makunjola, former defense permanent secretary?

T. When will your commission compare the books of account of Obasanjo’s holding of 1998/99 with the current ones and make them available for public scrutiny? We all know that the company is not listed in the stock exchange but made a single donation of N100 million at the presidential library appeal fund, how? I learnt you were there at the lunching.

U. Why should the EFCC that always request for proof, ignore the FM transmitters contract over- invoicing by Professor Jerry Gana and Mr. Eddie Iroha of the FRCN as alleged and sworn by Ambassador Yusuf Mamman at the Kaduna High court?

V. As a trained lawyer, is immunity clause as contained in our constitution extended to the wife, sons and daughters of the president?

To conclude, when Obasanjo was caught red handed in the “act,” or his cabinet ministers, family and his surrogate governors, Mallam Ribadu’s usual statements are “we will come to that,” “where are the proofs?” “The work is too much”, “we are short of personnel”, etc. However, if Abachas or any political opponent/enemies of OBJ are rumored to have committed an offence, one will hear from Ribadu; “we got them”, “we have arrested them”, “wallahi, there will be no hidden place for the thieves”, Allah, we will deal with them”, “our boys are at it”, “the London and Swiss police are cooperating with us”, “wallahi, we will expose them”. Nonsense!

We are wiser than you thought, big cop. Posterity will surely judge you, just take a leaf of what is happening to Abachas and their boys. Next, might be your turn, unless you change your approach and manner of your fight against corruption. In fact, you are not at war with corruption that is the popular opinion among Nigerians.

EFCC can win our confidence only when some or all the above cases are treated openly and fairly with the culprits being punished and their ill-gotten properties confiscated.