CLARIFICATION ON THE LIBEL ALLEGATION AGAINST THE PREMIUM TIMES - ARMY

The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to erroneous impressions and insinuations on a libel case against the Premium Times to whip up sentiments .

Therefore, we wish to clarify that the issue at hand is purely allegation of libel in which Premium Times falsely and unjustifiably accused the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, of false declaration of assets, owning mansions and estates in Dubai and further stated that he was being investigated by Code of Conduct Bureau for false declaration of assets in their publication of 12th December 2015.

Consequently, concerted efforts were made to make Premium Times retract the story and apologize, to no avail. As a law-abiding citizen, he took appropriate legal steps of seeking redress through the courts.

THE FEAST ON GENERAL TUKUR BURATAI.... By Sharon Faliya Cham

Oops! Woops! I haven't missed the sardonic relish on the faces and voices of Failing Wailers aka Wailing Wailers as they feasted on the non-story of the so called story of the ownership of two houses in Dubai by our Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai. From some followers of the man in Zaria city who felt General Buratai should have allowed them to punch the chests and faces of military officers without repercussion to the bulk of the followers of the man who famously said stealing is not corruption, the feast over the General's ownership of those two houses in Dubai was huge, and till now, wherever and whenever you see them, the glint of mirth on their foreheads over the deliciousness of this "tasty meal" is as bright as the brightness of a policeman's torch!

But wait a minute! While it is understandable to pardon the followers of the Zaria man for being so naive to expect the country's army to allow them ride roughshod over their troops, which even Iran itself can never ever allow, it is utterly unpardonable for Failing Wailers to mock or deride or accuse General Buratai of any wrongdoing over his ownership of two landed properties in Dubai! Why so? All the news stories about the General's Dubai properties have stated that the man has duly declared them in his assets declaration forms at the Code of Conduct Bureau, and that they are available for the scrutiny of the media and the public, which then clearly gives him a clear moral edge over ALL his accusers. First impression is, if those two properties were proceeds of some shady deals then the General wouldn't have had the audacity to include them in his assets declaration forms; he would have considered the option of that famous Senator who is battling so many cases of fraud even up to Panama!

PanamaPapers: CSNAC Urges CCB To Investigate David Mark For False Asset Declaration, He was linked to eight active companies

The Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), has petitioned the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), demanding an investigation the prosecution of a former Senate President David Mark over constitutional violations and false declaration of assets during his tenure.

In a petition to the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, and ‎signed by the CSNAC Chairman Olanrewaju Suraju, the group said the alleged linkage of Mr. Mark, to at least eight offshore shell companies while holding public office in violation of the federal code of conduct laws. The discovery was made by the major international leak of financial documents from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.

According to the Premium Times, "as a former senate president, Mr. Mark stands out among other notable Nigerians named in the files." The paper further averred, "the 68-year old former military officer spent the last 40 years covered by the investigation largely as public office holder. But he is widely seen to be far richer than his legitimate incomes could have provided."

Senator Mark is Nigeria’s immediate past Senate President and current Senator representing Benue South senatorial district of Benue State and he has been in the senate since 1999.

Compliance by public officials to assets declaration Under Buhari Administration greatly increased– CCB

Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) said that more than ever before, the rate of compliance to assets declaration requirement by public officers has increased since the inception of the Buhari administration. CCB’s Head, Press and Protocol Unit, Mohammad Idris appealed to public official yet to comply to do so.

“Since the inception of the present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari, the rate of compliance by public officials in responding to assets declaration has greatly increased.

Dino Melaye’s kinsmen petition CCB, EFCC, ICPC, OTHERS

MEMBERS of the Kogi West People’s Assembly have urged the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to investigate an alleged breach of paragraph 3, Part I of the 5th Schedule to the 1999 Constitution as amended and Section 7 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act by Senator Dino Melaye. The lawmaker represents Kogi West in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

In a petition through their solicitors – Messrs A.Y. Mohammed & Co – to the CCB Chairman, Mr. Sam Saba, the group accused the senator of violating the laws of the land, which bar public office holders from maintaining and operating foreign bank accounts, alleging that the lawmaker has two accounts in the United States (U.S.).

OccupyNASS - No legislature, official funded us to move against National Assembly

The OccupyNASS campaign group has denied reports that it was being sponsored to work against the National Assembly leadership and the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, disclosing that instead, a robust support package from unnamed Nigerians, at an average of N400,000 daily, flowed in throughout its campaign.

After three days of sit-out at the National Assembly main gate, the group said on Thursday that it would bring down its tents and evacuate the premises on Friday morning.

At a press briefing on Thursday night, the movement highlighted its achievements, demands and plans for the future.

The convener of the group, Bunmi Awoyemi insisted that the protest was ending on a good note for all Nigerians.

Saraki's Trials and Wisdom of Ahitofel: Wetkas Crossexamination - Highlights

I am not a lawyer or CCT judge but I think Wetkas did well under crossexamination. Lawyers are trained to be adversarial in their questioning and they tend to go for the weakest links. 

Like others, I fear the EFCC may botch this case but the overwhelming evidence cannot be explained or wished away. We don't have a jury system, the judge can see through the charade. The sophistry of Saraki's lawyers will be similar to the wisdom of Ahitofel .

The important points to note:
1. Saraki is the first Senate President of Nigeria to be docked.
2. He has desecrated the position and brought the seat into disrepute.
3. He confuses himself with the State and continues to make laws as an indicted criminal.

Defence lawyer appearing for the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, in his ongoing trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), on Tuesday continued the cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, Mr. Michael Wetkas.

Agabi, who started cross-examining the witness on Monday, dwelt on the details of about four petitions tendered by the prosecution in the course of the trial accusing Saraki of looting Kwara State while serving as governor of the state between 2003 an 2011.

Osun Speaker Najeem Salam Faults Senate on CCB Act Amendment

The Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam, has expressed his objection to the amendment of Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) acts coupled with Administration of Criminal justice act being currently undertaken by the Senate, saying the timing was wrong and the perception was negative.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Goke Butika, Salaam stressed that the insensitivity displayed by the sponsor of the bills has further aggravated the misconception of the people about the disposition of the National Assembly towards the anti-corruption fight of the President Muhamnadu Buhari-led government.

Lawyers condemn Senate’s bid to amend CCT law

The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), and human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), have condemned the move by the Senate to amend the law setting up the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Code of Conduct Tribunal, with a view to whittling down the agencies’ powers.

The Senior Advocates of Nigeria said the commencement of the amendment of the Act, establishing the CCB and CCT by the Senate, had exposed the intention of the country’s legislators to encourage corrupt practices and shield corrupt leaders from prosecution.


The Senate, on Thursday, passed for second reading, a bill for to amend the CCB and Tribunal Act barely 48 hours after its presentation by the sponsor, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, (Peoples Democratic Party, Delta North), on the floor of the upper chamber.

CCT Dismisses Saraki's Application, Trial begins April 5th.

Code of Conduct Tribunal has againg dismissed an application by the senate president, Bukola Saraki, for false asset declaration charges against him to be dropped.

The lawyer to the Senate President, Barrister Kanu Agabi, had argued that the 13-count charge was invalid procedurally because the Code of Conduct Bureau which filed the charges, failed to allow Mr. Saraki explain discrepancies in his assets declaration forms as required by law.

However, the chairman of the tribunal, Danladi Umar, in his ruling Thursday said there was no breach of law as the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, 1989, still allows the senate president raise his clarifications at the level of the tribunal. Mr. Danladi said by law, the CCB could receive complaints of breach of the Act and refer such complaints to the Tribunal, provided that it will allow the person involved to give a statement affirming or denying the said misconduct.

Also, upholding the argument made by the prosecution, Mr. Umar said Section 3 (e) of the 3rd schedule of the 1999 Constitution gives the bureau the right to receive complaints of such nature and where necessary refer such matter to the tribunal.

According to Mr. Danladi, Section 174 of the Constitution also gives the Attorney General of the Federation the prerogative to file criminal proceedings and does not owe any explanations to any one on how to go about it.

He therefore ordered the continuation of the trial. 

Source

Stop My Trial At the Code Of Conduct Tribunal, Saraki Prays To The Supreme Court

Nigerian Senate president, Sen. Bukola Saraki, has appealed to the Supreme Court of Nigeria to halt his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

Saraki's  appeal to Supreme Court  was as a result of the Court of Appeal's dismissal of his objection to the trial by the Code Conduct Tribunal on the charges against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau over allegations of  false assets declaration and corruption

Last week, the  Appeal Court in Abuja dismissed Mr. Saraki’s objection to the trial, affirming the powers of the tribunal to hear a 13-count charge of alleged falsification of his assets declaration and corruption brought by the Code of Conduct Bureau against the senate president.

Nigerian Rep Says Assets Declaration Will Check Corruption

A House of Representatives member, Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas (Adamawa-APC), has insisted that assets declaration by public officers on assumption of office will help check corruption.

Namdas told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Monday that while the law had made it mandatory for all public office holders to declare their assets, it was not compulsory for the declared assets to be made public.

The lawmaker also urged public office holders to obey the law on assets declaration to strengthen good governance.

CISLAC PRESS RELEASE: "CISLAC CALLS FOR VIGILANCE AND CONCERTED EFFORTS TO FORESTALL DIVERSION OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR POLITICAL PARTY CAMPAIGN FINANCING"

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre notes with great concern, the alleged efforts by cronies propped up by the presidency to compel Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government to facilitate the release of funds from their statutory allocations for the oiling of the campaign machinery of President Goodluck Jonathan. The media reports to this effect carried in some Nigerian Newspapers are yet to be denied and the details provided in the publications lend substantial credence to the allegations.

CISLAC is astounded at the level of impunity and audacious diversion of resources meant to provide development for the furtherance of the political ambition of individuals. This is in spite of the deficit already characteristic of our annual budgets and the deficiency in allocations and expenditures for capital projects in successive budgets.

We remind those behind these efforts that their actions are illegal and a violation of all the laws and regulations governing public expenditure management in Nigeria. The absence of an appropriation Act 2014, the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and the various civil service financial regulations make such acts punishable. CISLAC therefore notes that the ascending levels of corruption and impunity, is again assuming unprecedented dimensions.