The code of conduct tribunal today in Abuja officially announced that 15 state governors including governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos will face it in the next few weeks over allegations of corrupt enrichment based upon investigations conducted by officials of the Code of Conduct Bureau against assets earlier declared by the governors.
Sources told Saharareporters that the code of conduct tribunal is president Obasanjo’s latest ‘joker’ against state governors adjudged to be corrupt, but mostly those who have strong sympathy for Vice president Atiku who alleges persecution by the president. Embattled Vice president Atiku has also been dragged before the Code of conduct Tribunal to face charges of corruption.
The code of conduct tribunal can ask a public office holder to forfeit illegally acquired wealth to the government as well as recommend the removal of a governor.
Lagos State governor Bola Tinubu is allegedly found erring in the operation of a joint account owned by both him and his wife, which he did not disclose to the tribunal when he declared his assets. Apart from that, he is being investigated over allegations that he recently bought ailing COMET newspaper, a Lagos daily.
See below full report:
BRIEF ON THE ACTIVITIES OF' THE JOINT TASK FORCE
The President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria - Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in June 2006 set up a Joint Task Force on fighting corruption comprising the following organizations namely; the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), The Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigerian Police.
On the whole each of the Establishments named above contributed five members of staff on the team. The activities of this Joint Task Force came under the control and supervision of the EFCC hence its Chairman - Mr. Nuhu Ribadu is the Head of the Task Force.
The Task Force commenced its activities in a temporary office located at Asokoro. During its inaugural meeting, the team noted that its main functions were to complement the activities of their primary establishments.
ASSETS VERIFICATION EXERCISE
The team commenced its activities by embarking on the verification of Assets of Public Officers. This is to give it background knowledge to identify corrupt public officers for further investigation.
In doing this, the team decided to collate copies of the Assets Declaration of all State Governors as a starting point. The forms were scrutinized and the verification exercise commenced.
So far thirty-two State Governors have had their Assets verified. The remaining State Governors have been asked to schedule appropriate dates that they would make themselves available for the exercise. The Task Force has also notified the Deputy Governors, Speakers of State Assemblies and Secretaries, to the various State Governments to prepare for the verification exercise.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Arising from this exercise, three issues have been identified.
(i) Some public officers had declared Assets far above what they owned as their declaration could not be substantiated. A case of anticipatory declaration.
(ii) Some public officers did not declare some of the properties they acquired while in office.
(Hi) The issue of ownership of foreign account and late declaration was treated with levity.
The consequences of the above is that so far 15 State Governors have been found to have individually contravened some of the Provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Part I to the 5th Schedule, especially on the issue of false declaration of Assets and or acquisition of properties outside legitimate means.
The State Governors and the various chargeable offences identified against them have been reproduced below:-
(1) JAMES IBORI - GOVERNOR DELTA STATE
Substance of Charges
(I) False declaration of Assets
(i) In respect of No.1 Ibori Close
Off New Road Lekki - Lagos Buildings located in a whole close most of them newly acquired
(ii) 3 Ibori Drive - A new mansion acquired but not declared.
(2) LUCKY IGBINEDION - GOVERNOR EDO STATE
Substance of Charges
(I) False Declaration of Assets in respect of:
(i) 42 Oduduwa Way, Ikeja (ii) Concealment of information in respect of Plot No. 12192 and 2449 located at Asokoro district, Abuja.
(3) AYO FAYOSE - GOVERNOR EKITI STATE
Substance of Charges
(I) False Declaration of Assets.
(II) Acquisition of properties outside legitimate means i.e.
Declared two building at Lagos only one was there Declared two buildings at Iqangaku Ibadan while only one building exists there which was newly constructed.
10 No. Plots at Off Iwokoro Road Afao-Ekiti were recently acquired as the dates show but were declared on assumption of office.
(4) BONI HARUNA - GOVERNOR ADAMAWA STATE
Substance of Charges
(I) False Declaration of Assets
(II) Acquisition of properties beyond legitimate means:
(i) A mansion worth over N400 m
(ii) Office complex at Atiku Abubakar Way, Yola
(iii) AP Filling Station at Yola-Jimeta Road, Yola
(iv) Boni Haruna Shopping Complex at Mubi
(v) Madugu Filling Station along Yola - Federal University of Technology road.
(5) OLUGBENGA JUSTUS DANIEL - GOVERNOR OGUN STATE
Substance of Charges
(1) Maintaining of foreign Bank Account in contravention of the CCB Act 1990 to wit:
Barclays Balllr PLC K1bC 68 Knightbridge London CIA No. 80561096
(6) OLAGUNSOYE OYINLOLA - GOVERNOR OSUN STATE
Substance of Charges
(1) Maintaining of foreign Account in contravention of the CCB Act 1990 to wit:
Barclays Bank, Bomater House Knightbridge London S/W
(2) Running of Business Enterprise while still in public service
Simiade - Lagun Nig. Ltd
Funbuk Nig. Ltd
Honey Lagon Nig. Ltd
Comfortola Nig. Ltd
(7) ADAMU ALIERO - GOVERNOR OF KEBBI STATE
Substance of Charges
False Declaration 4 Houses declared could not be traced.
(8) ATAHIRU BAFARAWA - GOVERNOR SOKOTO STATE
Substance of Charges
(1) False Declaration of Assets
"Two Duplexes acquired during 1st Term 1999 - 2003 were not declared.
Acquired a property in London @ the cost of N200 million two years on assumption of office. Could not explain the source of funds.
(9) IBRAHIM SAMINU TURAKI - GOVERNOR JIGAWA STATE 1" Substance of Charges Operation of Foreign Account in contravention of the CCB Act 1990 Union Bancaire Privee, London
(10) ALH. AHMAD MAKARFI - GOVERNOR OF KADUNA STATE
Substance of Charges
(1) False Declaration of Assets
(2) Acquisition of properties outside legitimate income through proxies Le.
(i) Northern Oil Marketing Co. Ltd
(ii) AI-Mudeco Petroleum Ltd Hanwa Area along Sokoto Road - Kaduna
(iii) Likoro Petroleum Hanwa Area Sokoto Raod - Kaduna
(iv) Fasada Petroleum Nig Ltd Dogara Junction - Zaria
(vi) Likoro Petroleum Station - Kaduna
(vii) Tashir Yari - Kaduna
(viii) Makarfi Petroleum Ltd - Kaduna
(ix) Makarfi Service Station Makarfi Kaduna State
(x) Makarfi Sugar Industry Yari Road, Makarfi - Kaduna State These properties are managed by one Alh. Abbas Likoro for the Governor. Subject did not declare any of the properties some of which were acquired while in office. House No. 10 Jabi Close GRA Kaduna was built between 2002 and 2004 while a sitting Governor but was declared in anticipation.
(3) Maintenance of foreign Account in contravention of the Provisions of the 5th Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria @ Habib Bank Ltd. London.
(11) DR. GOODLUCK JONATHAN - GOVERNOR BAYELSA STATE
Substance of Charges (1) False Declaration of Assets
(i) Lexus Jeep worth N1B million claimed to have been acquired through savings in 2004. Verification reveals that the Jeep was a gift collected in contravention of the CCB Act of 1990.
Same for BMW 7351 Series bought in 2005 wortl1 N5.5 million
(ii) Acquisition of properties outside legitimate income.
Seven Bedroom Duplex acquired in 2001 wortl1 N1B million at Otuke Ogbia LGA Four Bedroom Duplex acquired in 2003 worth N15 million at Goodluck Jonathan Street Yenegoa
Five Bedroom Duplex - acquired in 2003 worth N25 million at Citec Villas, Gwarimpa II - Abuja.
(12) DR. CHIMAROKE NNAMANI - GOVERNOR ENUGU STATE
Substance of Charges
(I) False Declaration of Assets
(i) Farmland at Agbani - No such farm exists Plots CR 11 Golf Course El1ugu Plot Q 1 Independence Layout Enugu No documents to support claim
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