President Goodluck Jonathan is pitching his candidacy on a “breath of fresh air” but revelations from a 2006 Joint Task Force on fighting corruption has shown that the man whose bid for the 2011 presidency has polarized his party has a filthy past.
President Goodluck Jonathan is pitching his candidacy on a “breath of fresh air” but revelations from a 2006 Joint Task Force on fighting corruption has shown that the man whose bid for the 2011 presidency has polarized his party has a filthy past.
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Also, former State Governors were found to have breached the code of conduct for public officials and were recommended for prosecution in line with the Code of Conduct Bureau Act.
The Joint Task Force empanelled by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on fighting corruption comprised 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. Former Chairman of the EFCC and presidential aspirant under the platform of the Alliance Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Nuhu Ribadu, was theChairman of the Task Force.
The part of the report (EXCERPT Number 11) concerning President Jonathan (who was then Governor of Bayelsa State) listed the following as grounds for his prosecution:
Substance of Charges (1) False Declaration of Assets
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(i) Lexus Jeep worth N18 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 worth N5.5 million;
(ii) Acquisition of properties outside legitimate income; Seven Bedroom Duplex acquired in 2001 worth N18 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.
Overall, that Task Force identified three issues to wit:
(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.
(iii) 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.
According to the report, which from all indications was not acted upon or was partially acted upon by Obasanjo, State Governors and the various chargeable offences identified against them have been reproduced below:-
Code of conduct Tribunal Findings on State Governors
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.
(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 Bank PLC K1bC 68 Knightsbridge 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 Knightsbridge 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 sittingGovernor 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 millionat 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
Claimed to own a property at Heathrow Orland Florida USA
No documents to support the claims. Did not declare it in 2003 during his 2nd tenure.
(13) ACHIKE UDENWA - GOVERNOR IMO STATE
Substance of Charges
(I) Operation of foreign Account in contravention of the CCB Act of 1990
(i) Dresdner Bank AG Account No. 8965822100 No. 01
Jung Fernsteig 22, Hamburg Germany.
(ii) Barclays Bank PLC Account No. 00643068 Haringey Branch Green Lanes London N4
{2} False Declaration of Assets as reflected in an undeclared property at his home town Le.
(i) Duplex - Ihiala Orlu road Amicheke - Amaifeke Oriu Imo State Valued at N15 million
(14) SAM EGWU - GOVERNOR EBONYI STATE
Substance of Charges
(1) False Declaration of Assets.
(i) Governor Built a 5 Star Hotel named Grace Court Hotel while still a public officer and this was not declared.
(ii) A duplex at his home town which was acquired between 1999 - 2003 during his 1st tenure. This was not declared in 2003:
(Hi) Jointly built an International school with his spouse Mrs. Egwu with State funds.
(15) BOLA TINUBU - GOVERNOR LAGOS STATE
Substance of Charges (1) Operating and maintaining foreign accounts in his named and or his Company, compass Finance and Investment Ltd. with followingparticulars:
(i) NAME OF BANK: FIRST HERITAGE BANK COUNTRY CLUB HILLS , ILLINOIS
ACCONT NAME: ACCOUNT NO: BOLA TINUBU 263226700
(ii) NAME OF BANK: CITIBANK N.A., NEW YORK ACCOUNT NAME: BOLA TINUBU & COMPASS FINANCE AND INVESTMENT COMPANY LTD ACCOUNT NOS: 39483134 39483396 4650279566 00400220 39936404 39936383
(viii) NAME OF BANK: HSBC 177 Great Portland Street London WIW 6QJ ACCOUNT NAME:TINUBU ZAINAB ABISOLA (MISS) ACCOUNT NOS 1720447101
(ix) NAME OF BANK: HSBC 177 Great Portland Street London WIW 6QJ ACCOUNT NAME:
TINUBU OLUREMI SHADE (MRS) ACCOUNT NOS 1916667988 (x) NAME OF BANK: HSBC 177 Great Portland Street London WIW 6QJ. ACCOUNT NAME: OLUREMI SHADE TINUBU ACCOUNT NOS 41421522 SORT CODE 40-03-15.
These State Governors have to be arraigned before the Code of Conduct Bureau on various charges as stipulated in the extant Caps in the CCB Act.
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