The Federal Government declared, yesterday, that it was more interested in recovering to the last kobo, the $2.1 Billion Arms Deals and all public funds stolen and stashed away by top politicians and their cronies under the guise of arms purchase.

It said it was not keen on frivolous plea bargain option being contemplated by some of the suspects now standing trial.

The government said such plea bargain allows looters to go away with stolen public assets.

Related News: $2.1 Billion Arms Deals: FG Opts To Forgive Dasuki, Others in Plea Bargaining

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, (SAN) disclosed this in an exclusive interview with Vanguard last night.

According to Malami, the era of allowing smart persons to loot public funds and pay back a pittance under the guise of plea bargain is over.

The minister made it clear that all those who are implicated by the arms probe and other scams that have cost the nation hundreds of billions of Naira, would be made to cough out the money and still pay the price for breaching public trust.

The reaction of the government came on the heels of the reported willingness of some top politicians to refund over N650 million which they claimed to have collected from the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, for campaign purposes.

According to a media report on yesterday, the top politicians, who had acknowledged collecting the money for the mobilization of their supporters in the six geo-political zones of the country, were making moves to quietly return the money to the government.

However, the Attorney General made it clear that while the option of plea bargain was being weighed, the government would first of all take necessary steps to recover the money.

Malami said: ”Let me just make it clear to all that under the present administration, it is no longer business-as-usual. As at today, a lot of measures are being put in place to recover the loot which a few privileged Nigerians stole and stashed away.

“It is an article of obligation under the law of the Federal Government of Nigeria to convict the looters and recover the amount traced to each of them to show the disdain that this government has for corruption and to serve as a warning signal that nobody is authorised to steal the commonwealth of Nigerians under any guise.”

Malami said that the laws of Nigeria were adequate to deal with those who carted away the nation’s resources and are now living larger than their income.

He said that the Fifth Schedule of the Nigerian Constitution has pushed the burden of proof from the government to those who looted the funds to prove their source of wealth and why they should not be jailed.

According to him, the law allows the government to convict the accused persons and also take steps to recover their assets.

Article 11 of the 5th Schedule of the Constitution says: “Subject to the provisions of the Constitution, every public officer shall within three months after coming into force of this Code of Conduct or immediately after taking office, and thereafter, (a) at the end of every four years and (b) at the end of his terms of office, submit to the Code of Conduct Bureau, a written declaration of all his properties, assets and liabilities and those of his unmarried children under the age of 18 years.

“Any statement in such declaration that is found to be false by any authority or person authorised in that behalf to verify it shall be deemed to be in breach of this Code.

“Any property or assets acquired by a public officer after any declaration required under this constitution and which is not fairly attributable to income, gift, or loan approved by this code, shall be deemed to have been acquired in breach of this code unless the contrary is proved”.

Meanwhile, there were indications that no fewer than 10 top PDP leaders who have been named as beneficiaries of the arms funds might be summoned within the week to explain their roles in the scam.

A top operative in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, told Vanguard that the individuals needed to be invited to clear the air on the probe before further steps were taken against them.

“As their names keep popping up in the course of our investigation, we need to give them the opportunity to speak up before we take the next step,” the source said last night.

The Presidency and the embattled former National Security Adviser (NSA) to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), have begun negotiations over a possible out-of-court settlement in the $2 billion arms procurement scandal.


New Telegraph learnt that the negotiation is at the instance of high level personalities, including retired Generals, with the assurance to get the beneficiaries return the security fund to government’s coffers.

A source in the know said the peace initiative was as a result of damning evidence that indicted prominent Nigerians and officials of the Muhammad Buhari administration who were beneficiaries of the security fund. “Discussions are going on between the parties. The revelation that has come out so far are just a tip of the iceberg.

If Dasuki is allowed to release documents about the beneficiaries of arms deal and security fund, the country will be in crisis,” the source said. Dasuki has threatened to open up on the arms deal. “This is why he demanded for an open trial,” the source said.

“With open trial, the whole world would know that so many people were involved in the arms deal.” A source close to Dasuki told New Telegraph that the former NSA has compiled the list of beneficiaries of the fund with documentary evidence including bank transactions, receipts, video and audio recordings of the transaction before the talks.

“The gravity of the evidence and those involved in the arms deal necessitated the peace moves. The discussion is to douse the tension because if Dasuki opens up, the Buhari presidency would be embarrassed by the revelations,” he said. It was learnt that those coordinating the negotiation met with President Buhari to see how the matter could be resolved without escalating the tension already generated with the arms procurement scandal. One of the terms of agreement, according to the source, is that Dasuki should be granted bail.

The ex-NSA was granted bail last week, though he is still in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).“The negotiation is what we expected former President Goodluck Jonathan to have done. We learnt that he is also reaching out to the president,” the source said.

A source in the Presidency said that Buhari had told Jonathan about his findings regarding the expenditure of the security fund before Dasuki’s arrest. Jonathan was said to have given Buhari a go ahead about the probe. The former president reportedly told his former aides to get their record right ahead of the probe.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, could not confirm the ongoing negotiation. “I don’t have the information now,” he told New Telegraph last night. New Telegraph has also learnt that some prominent Nigerians and retired military officers have made returns to government.

The returns, according to sources, are the amount they received from the office of the NSA. Some of the retired military officers have quietly returned proceeds from the arms deal. “I can confirm to you that some people have quietly returned money to the government or the institutions they once served,” he said.

Former Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, erstwhile Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa and others are facing trial along with Dasuki over the $2 billion arms procurement scandal. Yuguda has revealed that he gave N100 million to some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including Chief Bode George, Yerima Abdullahi, former Governors Peter Odili and Jim Nwobodo, for the 2015 elections. A source close to one of the beneficiaries of the arms fund said he had documentary evidence of how he shared the money given to him.

“This thing cuts across parties. I can tell you that what was given to my principal was meant for some influential Nigerians. From what our oga got, a former governor who contested in the March/April general elections on the platform of another party was a beneficiary of the fund. “Also, a former presidential candidate, who is not a member of the PDP, was also given part of the money for mobilisation.

Even, some prominent leaders across the North-South divide benefitted from the fund,” the source told New Telegraph. He said while money was transferred to the accounts of the beneficiaries, others who collected cash signed for what they got. Meanwhile, Dasuki will today know whether he will go back home or continually be remanded in the custody of the EFCC. Justice Peter Affen of an Abuja High Court will deliver ruling in the bail application brought by Dasuki and five others who were last week arraigned on a 22-count charge bothering on fraudulent diversion of public fund amounting to N19.4 billion. Arraigned alongside Dasuki in the new charge are Bafarawa and Yuguda.

The accused persons were arraigned on a 22-count charge bothering on criminal breach of trust and diversion of public fund under the pretext of purchasing security arms. Other accused persons are Sagir, Bafarawa’s son and their family company, Dalhatu Investment Ltd.

Justice Baba Hussein of the same Abuja High Court had, on Friday, admitted Dasuki to bail in another 19-count charge suit filed against him and erstwhile Director of Finance in the Office of the NSA, Mr. Shuaibu Salisu, former Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Commission (NNPC), Aminu Baba-Kusa, as well as his companies, Acacia Holding Limited and Reliance Referal Hospital Limited. The trial judge had granted them bail in the sum of N250 million each and on the condition that they provide one reasonable and responsible surety in like sum.

Such surety must show evidence of owning a property in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) worth the same amount. The court further directed that the surety must be a civil servant not below the rank of a director in the Federal Civil Service. Though, the accused persons are still in the EFCC custody, New Telegraph learnt that Dasuki’s legal team is waiting for the ruling this morning before going ahead to perfect the bail condition. According to a member of Dasuki’s legal team who prefers anonymity, “we are hoping that the court will take judicial notice of the Friday judgement and, as such, may likely adopt same, that will give a direction as to how to go about it.

It will not make sense to be looking for different people as surety. “We are rest assured that Dasuki will not sleep in EFCC custody tomorrow (today).” Dasuki had, in his statement of defence, said he handed over the N10 billion given to PDP nomination convention delegates to Jonathan’s Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa, and the Aide-de-Camp. Dasuki said:

“I wish to state as follows: That I have been publicly indicted and any statement may jeopardise my defence. Having been briefed by the EFCC investigators on why I was invited, I will answer the charges in court. As such, I do not wish to make any further statement on the matter.

“That I am aware in November (I cannot remember the exact date), my office requested the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to exchange N10 billion from the account of the Office of National Security Adviser domiciled in CBN. The money was exchanged at $47 million and some Euros, which I cannot remember.

The exact amount was delivered at my residence. “The money was for delegates that attended the nomination convention for the PDP presidential nomination. The money was paid and sent to Hon. (Waripamowei) Dudafa (SSAP Household) and ADC (C-IC) for distribution on the instruction of the president.

“Based on the statement of Director of Finance and Administration (Salisu), Ibrahim Wambai and Yazidu Ibrahim, all the cash (both foreign and local) are usually given to them for official use. “I also noted the statement of Sagir Bafarawa whose company is Dalhatu Investment, which he stated that he received N4,633,000,000 from the account of the Office of the NSA. I authorised the payment. The money was for vehicles, motorcycles for youth empowerment and women sent to Saudi Arabia. I got the proposal from the president. I do not have the proposal; it should be at the office in the Villa.

“I have seen the statement of the Zenith Bank account where N5 billion was paid. I authorised the following payments, among others: Jabbama Ada Global Nigeria Limited (N400m); R.R. Hospital (N750m); ACACIA Holdings LTD (N1.25bn); Barr. I.M. Bala (N150m); African Cable TV (N 350m); Nigerian Defence Academy (N159m); B.B. (N350m); Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (N125,503, 255.11); Coscharis Motors (N119m).

“The payments were meant for various partners as earlier listed. I know Basha Nigeria Limited to be owned by Hon. Bello Matawalle. I authorised the payment of N380 million for further disbursement to members of the House of Representatives as campaign contribution. I authorised the payment of N751 million to HEIRS BDC Limited for conversion to forex from the account of the NSA. Money was used for operation in the Office of the NSA. “I have seen the mandate from the CBN signed by me authorising payment of various sums of money to Dalhatu Investment for the reasons earlier stated.

“In respect of funds given to Ambassador Bashir Yuguda between December 2014 and 2015, I authorised the payment of N1.5 billion from the Office of the National Security Adviser for political campaign in the last elections. I remember paying DAAR Communications the sum of N2.120 billion from ONSA for media activities for the Presidential Campaign 2015.” Dasuki also confirmed payment of $146,639019.00 to E-Force Inter-Service Ltd. The ex-NSA added: “I do not have any company registered in my name, I have no account with HSBC. All payments made from NSA accounts within the period I was there were authorised by me.”
New Telegraph

President Buhari presented the 2016 N6.08 trillion Budget to the National Assembly today December 22nd. See more photos here

The answer is 42

Abacha’s funds have been returned for a while. So where are they returned to? This Infographic by the guys at budgit tells you everything in one picture.

I think WhatApp has finally decided to give free services for all. Is there anyone who is not seeing d lifetime stuff?

See The Incredible Age At Which these kids gave birth.

What you think of these pics reflects the type of mind that you have.

Ken Davidson is shattered and that is because his 25-year-old cousin, Doyin Sarah Fagbenro, who just finished two law degrees in the UK has been killed in Lagos by a danfo driver. See the moving tribute he wrote for her:
DSF: Tribute To A Shining Starlet. Oh death! Where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Another Casualty of a broken and failed State. Your story is particularly Gut Wrenching as it is equally heartbreaking.




You spent near enough all but two of your 25 years on earth in the Country of your Birth, the United Kingdom where your Parents and entire family reside. You were born, bred and educated in the United Kingdom. But two years ago, immediately after you graduated, you elected to visit Nigeria where your Grandparents reside – both of whom are in their Mid Eighties.


You signed up for the National Youth Service having freshly graduated with a sterling First Degree in Law and a Post Grad immediately afterwards. You were headhunted by an Energy Firm before you completed your NYSC and a presto you gallantly announced to your Nervous Parents – Dad a Diplomat with the United Nations based in Italy and Mum a Pharmacist based in the United Kingdom, your country of Birth – that you were going to permanently relocate and make Nigeria your permanent abode. Your Grandparents were ecstatic, you being their most favourite Grand Daughter.




You were a straight A student right from when you passed your GCSEs through to when you excelled in your A’levels…so much so that Prestigious Queen Mary’s London University snapped you to study Law. You missed a First by whisker’s. Nevertheless you made your mark all the way through. Then it all came crashing down.

What was supposed to be a routine journey to Church on a relatively sombre, otherwise uneventful Sunday morning on the Lekki/Ajah Expressway around the Lekki Phase 1 approach turned into a living and eternal nightmare for those of us left struggling to pick up the pieces. Our lives changed forever, never to be the same again.

A victim of the reckless and probably high on drinks/drugs ‘Danfo’ Driver. The most galling of the entire episode was the fact that the driver of that Danfo survived unscathed, RAN away from the scene leaving a trail of Death and Destruction in his wake. Four people died at the scene. Your New Toyota Corolla was a crumpled wreck. But the Fighter that you were, despite massive injuries, you fought and fought and fought.





Your Dad, via his status at the United Nations, got you into Lagoon Hospital where you were for a few days. When it became clear that the extent of your injuries was too severe for the local facilities here in Nigeria, An Air Ambulance was scrambled from the United Kingdom to get you much needed Specialist Care in the United Kingdom. Your tireless mum who flew in from the United Kingdom, barely 48 hours after the accident, accompanied you in the Air Ambulance. Still we Prayed and Prayed and Hoped for the Best.

Sadly We lost you a day after you arrived in the United Kingdom. The Surgeons tried desperately. You fought desperately to hang on. But in the end, it was not to be. The pain is palpably raw as it is numbling. We asked again and again, Why you? Why You? If only you had stayed on in the country of your Birth, If only…so many questions but very few answers. Your Parents, Your Grandparents, Oh! Your Grandma, with whom you celebrated her 80th Birthday over here in Nigeria a few years ago has refused to eat since she was informed of your passing nearly a week ago…All she repeatedly does is wail, wail to space “God Take Me instead, Give My Granddaughter back to Nigeria. Nigeria Needs Her, Her Parents Need her. God Take me. God Take Me.”.

These are indeed extremely perilous times. And so it was that having just spent barely a few weeks in Nigeria after a prolonged Winter holiday and Christmas in the United Kingdom with family and friends, I now find myself in the rather unenviable position of scrambling for the next flight out back to the United Kingdom just so that I can attend your Funeral this weekend. Someone retorted to me “Oh, you know, ‘our tradition’ forbids older relatives attending and being present at funerals where the deceased is much younger than us…” I snapped back, which tradition? And what has tradition ever done for us? What did Tradition ever give to HER?

I am here like a Zombie, mechanically and circuitously packing a few items for my flight out in the morning. The Family has decided that yours would be a Celebratory Sending Forth, so RED rather than the traditional Grey, Black would be the colour to be worn on the Day. DSF as you were very fondly called, you touched so many lives in the quarter century, (twenty five years only!) you ran your race on earth.

You were considerate to the end so much so that you waited until you got back home – nearer your parents and many siblings – before you finally bade the World Farewell. Doyin Sarah Fagbenro, My Learned Friend in the Profession, My lil Sister, My Cousin, Sleep Well till we meet again. O Death! Where is Thy Sting!

(Doyin Sarah Fagbenro, 1990 – 2016) - See more at http://www.lailasblog.com/2016/01/tragedy-as-25-year-old-girl-who-just.html#sthash.py1BHMrj.dpuf

A lawyer defending Sambo Dasuki in court appears to have indicted former president, Goodluck Jonathan, in the ongoing arms deal probe in Nigeria.
Ahmed Raji, one of the lawyers of Sambo Dasuki, the embattled former National Security Adviser to Jonathan, stated that the arms deal probe cannot be discussed without reference to Jonathan.
“The national security adviser will normally carry out the instructions of his president,” Ahmed Raji told AFP.

“You cannot talk about this matter without talking about President Jonathan,” he added.

Advertisement
It is unclear if President Muhammadu Buhari will go after his predecessor, with many political analysts claiming that Buhari will most likely not to do so.
It would be recalled that when Buhari was voted into power in 2015, he said in his acceptance speech last April that: “President Jonathan has nothing to fear from me,” adding that, “Let’s put the past behind us, especially the recent past.”

But with the prosecution of Dasuki, a powerful member of Jonathan’s administration, the former head of state could yet be dragged into the case.

– Nigeria is 136th least corrupt country
– The US, UK recorded highest ranking ever
– Somalia is the most corrupt country in the world

Nigeria has been ranked as 136 on the list of world’s least corrupt countries in the year 2015.


According to Transparency International’s corruption perceptions index, Nigeria’s rating is a far cry from the top ten in the world as is being speculated in some quarters.
Denmark, the rating revealed, tops the perceptions index for the second consecutive year but more countries are improving than worsening even as the United States and United Kingdom reached their highest rankings ever.
The list released on Wednesday, January, 2016, showed that Denmark scored 91 points out of a possible 100 while North Korea and Somalia remained at the bottom with unchanged scores of 8.

Nigeria’s rating is expected to be on the rise following the recent corruption bedeviling the $2.1 billion arms deal scandal for which Sambo Dasuki, former National Security Adviser (NSA); Olisa Metuh national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), among other top dogs in the country are presently being probed.
But the report shows that the country may have stepped up in its corruption tag as President Muhammadu Buhari insists on fishing out every corrupt public officer, whether serving or out of service.
The index is based on expert opinions of public sector corruption, with a focus on certain factors like whether governmental leaders are held to account for or go unpunished for corruption.
Other perimeters considered include the perceived prevalence of bribery and if public institutions respond to citizens’ needs.
Transparency said there was still a lot of room for improvement in Europe and Central Asia, which is seen as one region.
It said: “In low-scorers Hungary, Poland and Turkey, politicians and their cronies are increasingly hijacking state institutions to shore up power.
“It’s even grimmer further down the index. In Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and others, governments are restricting, if not totally stifling, civil society and free media.”
Check out the index of the least and most corrupt countries below: