Dr. david Akanji

“Physical Disability is not a Barrier to a Willing Soul.”

 David Akanji an educator with recent doctorate degree in Special Education from Gallaudet University is a man who does not believe that his sight impairment is an excuse for him not to reach the heights.  In fact he is a better cook than some sighted men.  In this interview with Seyi  Oduyela, he shared his life experience. His journey that started from Bode in Iwo, Nigeria, through Little Rock in Arkansas and now Hyattsville in Maryland. He also spoke about his new book and his pet project; excerpts:

Q: Who is Dr. David Akanji?

A:  I am a native of Iwo in Osun State of Nigeria. It is very important for me, at this particular time, to begin the story of my life in earnest. An article writer says, “Life is a place full of struggles, it is also like a pendulum which swings from side to side, no one knows when and how it will fall.” As a blind person, I started my struggle in life at a very early age. My philosophy of life is “physical disability is not a barrier to a willing soul.”

Q: What year were you born and where is your place of birth?

A: I was born in 1955. Historically I was born at Bode, a village near Iwo; a town in Osun State of Nigeria.

Q: Were you born blind?

A: I became blind when I was an infant.

Q: Tell us about your elementary education?

A:  I did not start my primary education until I was 10 years old. I started my education at Ogbomosho Blind Training Center in 1961.

Q:  Where is Ogbomosho?

A: Ogbomosho is in Oyo State of Nigeria.  I was there from 1961 to 1963. During the same year, 1963, I was sent to my parents at Bode in order to continue my primary school education. I was at Bode District Council School from 1963 to 1966; when I successfully completed my primary school education. I did not even stop there. In 1967, I had the opportunity to attend Oshodi Vocational Training Center, where I learned Advanced Braille and Telephone operation.

Q: Where is Oshodi?

A:  Oshodi is in Lagos, former capital city of Nigeria. I was at the Center from 1967 to 1968. In 1969 I attended Iwo Catholic Secondary Modern School, where I learned typing. I was there till the end of 1970.

Q: What is Modern School?

A: Modern School is like Middle School. In 1971, I started my High Education at Ibadan Christ Apostolic Grammar School, Aperin- Oniyere, Ibadan, where I successfully completed my School Certificate papers with flying colours.  I was there from 1971 to 1975. In 1981, the then Oyo State Government, sent me to the United States of America for further studies. I was admitted by the then Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind. I was there so that I could be taught to use some different types of machines to enable me compete successfully with my sighted colleagues academically.

Q: How long were you there?

A: I was there for two semesters. In 1982, I was admitted by Philander Smith College, Little Rock, Arkansas for my Degree program in Special Education. I was at Philander from 1982 to 1985. I successfully completed my degree in three years instead of four. I graduated with Magna Cum Laudi. My thanks will always go to God and Dr. Joseph Amprey, the Vice President for the Academic Advancement at Kutz Town University in Pennsylvania; he was the one who got me a scholarship with which I did my graduate program at Howard University in Washington DC.

Q: When did you start your graduate program at Howard and for what course?

A: I started my graduate program in 1986. I was at Howard from 1986 to 1987. I completed the program in 3 semesters instead of two years. My course of study was M.Ed in Special education with specializing in Learning Disabilities.

Q: Did you participate in any extracurricular activities on campus?

A: When I was at Philander, I was a member of “Who is Who” among American Universities and Colleges. I was also a member of Alpha Kappa Mu.

Q: What did you do after you left Howard University?

A:  After the completion of my MA at Howard, I had the opportunity to teach Blind people like myself at Logan School for the Blind in North East, DC, I taught sighted students too. I taught braille to blind people and English Literature to the sighted people for many years. I taught with the District of Columbia Public School. Most of my students attended and still attending the University of the District of Columbia.

Q: You have a PhD, when and where did you do it?

A: Realistically, I started my PhD in 1998 at Gallaudet University, Washington, DC.  Frankly speaking, the journey at Gallaudet as far as PhD is concerned was not a smooth one; but as the Lord would have it, I survived the Doctoral ordeal. By the grace of God I took my qualifying exams and passed.

Q: What did you write your PhD Thesis on, how did you choose the topic and why?

A: The topic of my dissertation had been in my mind since the time I was at Philander after I had seriously looked into the problems of blind people like me in Nigeria. As I was thinking about this problem, I started to have the feeling that one day I will go into the Nitti gritty of these problems. As I was examining the problems facing blind people in Nigeria, I was able to put realize that the contributing factor to the problems of blind and visually impaired in Nigeria must be poor management on the part of administrators.

Q: What are the challenges you are facing?

A: The journey has not been easy. One thing about disability that I do not like so much is that you have to prove yourself to people every time. As far as people are concerned, once a person is disabled, there is nothing, absolutely nothing can come out of you. I t is left to the physically challenged person to prove that physical disability is not a barrier to a willing soul, and also there is no mountain a man or woman cannot climb provided he or she set mind on it.

Q: How did you become blind, since you stated earlier that you were not born blind?

A: When I was a small child, my parents said it was small pox. You know in our country, a very little thing could be blown out of proportion; that is, through the, those evil doers.

Q: when you look back at the beginning and now how do you feel?

A: As far as my accomplishments, I strongly believe that I have changed most people’s attitude towards people who are physically challenged. If I can do this, then there is no excuse for anybody not to want to strive.

Q: Tell us more about your family. What is your position and how many children?

A:   I am the third child. My mother gave birth to five children. My father is a polygamist. He married two wives.

Q:  From what I know and understand about Iwo people, they are predominantly Muslims. Were you a Muslim before you became a Christian?

A:  I was born Muslim, my Muslim name is Sabitu.

Q: Why and how did you become a Christian?

A: When I was at Ogbomosho Blind Training Center, the Baptist Missionaries preached to me and I found Jesus through them. Most importantly, through me, all the people in my family are Christians now.

Q: What led to the book you wrote on Blind Education in Nigeria?

A: As I have already said, being a blind person and when I got here, , especially when I was in Nigeria, I started to go to school, I encountered a lot of problems. There is nothing more stressful, especially when you are physically challenged and you are struggling to survive and people are putting barriers upon barriers on your way. If you don’t have God’s backing and you are not fully determined, there is every possibility for that particular person to give up. As a result that I did not give up and I was able to compete my Secondary education in Nigeria, I made up my mind that well, whatever is going to happen, I am not going to sit down and fold my arms and see other blind people encounter the same problems I encountered when I was young like them. As I have told you, my PhD Dissertation topic came when I was doing my second statistics at Philander. When I went to Nigeria for data collection, , and blind  people started to narrate to me, what, those of them who are attending school, what they are going through; I was weeping inside me. I don’t why they should be neglected like that. As a matter of fact, the government is not even ready to care for them.  Some of them were sent to vocational schools but after graduation, they have nothing to do. No jobs and the government is not doing anything to set them up, so they eventually went back to begging for survival. So I felt someone has to stand up to do something to help this people and that is exactly why I decided to write the book.

Q: What do you think your book will do?

A: To serve as an eye opener. It is a wakeup call to Nigeria government at all levels.

Q: What message do you have for physically challenged people?

A: They should be fully determined. They should not allow anybody to intimidate them or tell them that cannot do anything about their condition, because disability is not inability.

Q: What do you think the Nigerian government should do about education?

A:  I think the system of education in Nigeria should be reviewed because we have been giving ourselves what I can call mental torture. For instance now, you tell me that someone who passed literature and science but failed English language, then cannot go to the University, did he write his science, literature, economics and other subjects he passed in another language? For the physically challenged, government should provide adequate educational materials that will help the disabled get the right education they deserve. And those sent to Vocational Training centers should be taken care of. They need to be gainfully employed.

Q: what is the difference between living in Nigeria and America as a physically challenged person?

A: oh my goodness! The gap is too wide. First, America takes proper care of physically challenged people. Let me give you an example, on metro buses and train, disabled people enjoy priority seating. The sidewalks here too enable blind man like to go anywhere with my cane. Nothing like that exists in Nigeria, not because we cannot afford it back home it is because of lack of priority of the government in Nigeria. Those who are not even physically challenged find it hard to live comfortably.

Q: What do you for fun?

A: I don’t go to parties. Any party you see me, that person must be very important to me. I do go to parties on very rare occasion.

Q; You live by yourself. How do you all the things you do by yourself?

A: That is training. That is why America is great. I learned a lot of self-reliant skills at the Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind. They taught me how to cook. I did not know that I could do what I am doing now; I realized my potentials at Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind. I can do almost everything by myself. I can cook, bake cake and more; before I will request for any help from sighted person, I should have tried so hard.

Q: Do you consider going back home?

A: Yes. I am working on a project now. I have a foundation. The project is setting up School system from elementary to University and Vocational Training Center to help physically challenged people. I am hoping to start next year. We are looking for funding now.

Dr. David Akanji on his graduation day at Gallaudet University, Washington DC

Aliyu Mohammed Gusau

 

Aliyu Mohammed Gusau: Between the Myth and the Facts

By Oluwaseyi Oduyela

I will like to start this piece by using Jide Ajani’s description of Aliyu Mohammed Gusau:
“For observers of the concept of governance, the state is a completely different entity from the government of the day.

When operators in the corridors of power make reference to the state, they are neither talking of the government of the day neither are they referring to the man on the throne. There are certain institutions of state that remain sacrosanct on which other structures are based.

It is for that reason that some people are seen as operators of the state, beneficiaries of the state and protectors of the state.

It is the last category that defines men of power, steel, connection and for whom the dictum, information is power means everything. That is the category where Gusau falls.”

It is based on the above that I will like to start this piece. Though the story of the day is whether President Jonathan should or must run or not run in 2011. Though it has been reported that President Jonathan will run in 2011 and we shall all wait and see this coming into fruition. As usual the President himself as not said anything about running but his political jobbers have been speaking for him.

Where and how does Gusau fit into this political framework?

Is Gusau truly a protector of the State? Which state is he protecting or has he protected? That his appointment by Jonathan Goodluck as the National Security Adviser (NSA) was seen as a political masterstroke is nothing but ludicrous. To those who know the true story Gusau was not appointed by Jonathan, but by General Ibrahim Babangida. The return of Gusau to Aso Rock was a triumph too Babangida and a loss to Obasanjo in the political power play.

Let us start by reviewing Lt General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau’s military record. According to the Nigerian Army records, Gusau like Lt Gen Oladipo Diya, Lt Gen Joshua Dongoyaro  was a member of the Course 1 of the Nigerian Defence Academy. His Military career began in 1967 as Commanding Officer, 126 Infantry battalion, January 1967 to December 1967and Commander, 1 Platoon, B Company, 5th Battalion, Nigerian Army, March 1967 to December 1967.

*Commander, 9 Infantry brigade, Abeokuta – April 1976 to July 1978
*General Staff Officer, Grade 2, Army Headquarters.

*Adjutant General, 2 Mechanised Division – July 1978 to September 1979

*Director of Personnel Services, Army Headquarters – October 1979 to November 1979

*Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), Nigeria Army – November 1979 to December 1983

*Coordinator on National Security, State House Annex, Lagos – August 1986 to December 1989

*Acting Director-General, National Security Organization (NSO) -September 1985 to August 1986
*Director, Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) – September 1985 to August 1986
*General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2, Mechanized Division, Ibadan – Dec.1989 to August 1990

*Chief of Administration, Defence Headquarters, Lagos – August 1990 to February 1992

*Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna – February 1992 to January 1993

*National Security Adviser, The Presidency – January 1993 to August 1993

Chief of Army Staff, Nigerian Army – August 1993 to November 1993

What is interesting in his plethora of military appointments is how he moved from Director of Personnel of the Army to the Director of Military Intelligence. The answer is not farfetched. Gusau according to sources was to be retired after the Civil War but with General Ibrahim Babangida’s help he was moved from the Infantry to lesser combatant positions in the military.

As the Director of Military Intelligence, Gusau, the protector of the State conspired to topple a democratically elected government which according to the Constitution was treasonable felony punishable by death. He betrayed his loyalty to his Commander-in-Chief. In fact General Wushishi, the then Chief of Army Staff did not know that his Director of Military Intelligence (DMI) was part of a coup plot until the night he went to arrest him (Wushishi). Gusau’s appointment as Director of Military Intelligence was not because of his extra-ordinary performance but part of a grand design by Babangida to ensure a military take over. Babangida, according to sources had been nursing the ambition of ruling Nigeria since he was an Army Colonel. Babangida, knowing this had placed certain people in strategic positions to aid his ambition. It is also interesting that no one bothers to talk about Gusau’s compulsory retirement by the Buhari/Idiagbon regime in 1984. He was reinstated by Babangida after the duo of Buhari and Idiagbon were ousted by the Babangida in 1985. By this, Gusau remains the only Military officer in the history of Nigeria military to be retired and reinstated. It never happened before him and no one has ever been reinstated after him.

One wonders how and why the security apparatus set up for Babangida by Gusau failed to detect and prevent the 1990 coup? The only accomplishment we can point to during his tenure as DMI was the successful execution of military coup to truncate the democratically elected government, which also contributed to sending Nigeria backward. It is absurd to see Gusau receiving honours outside when is record at was not but absolute failure. One wonders if the NSA Extra-ordinary may not have been working for outside intelligence at the detriment of his country’s security.

As Obasanjo’s NSA, Nigeria faced more civil unrests than any military government. We had the Odi invasion, the TIV and Taraba crisis, the Kaduna riot of 2000. In actual fact, while people were dying, while the northern muslims were busy butchering southern Christians in Kaduna, Aliyu Mohammed Gusau was hoping on the plane to go to Switzerland in pursuit of Abacha stolen money. His appointment as Obasanjo’s NSA was not the Otta farmer’s choice but that of his king makers. It is true that Gusau visited Obasanjo and pressured him to contest for the Presidency, but that does not mean that he did it on his own. Aliyu Gusau apparently was working for his boss. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau does not have the machinery to make anybody anything in Nigeria, rather, he is part of a machinery used by Ibrahim Babangida to make things work. If Gusau was that powerful, why did he fail to get rid of Sani Abacha in 1993? The truth is that Aliyu Mohammed Gusau is a beneficiary of the state.

While as the NSA between 1999 and 2006, particularly on the Kaduna riot case, Gusau tampered with evidence. Unknown to the NSA, President Obasanjo got an advance report that implicated Alhaji Zango Daura, then Minister of Agriculture and one of Gusau’s cronies serving in Obasanjo’s government as the mastermind of the Kaduna crisis. There was a video tape that showed Zango Daura distributing machetes to hooligans. But when the final report got the Gusau, he ordered that it should be re-written without the mention of Zango Daura. Obasanjo was surprised and this was why Daura was redeployed as Agriculture Minister, though based on the excuse that he got contract from the Agriculture Ministry under previous regime and did not execute it. He was eventually dropped from Obasanjo’s government but no charges was filed against him.

How do we explain the condition of service of the State Security Service (SSS) while Gusau was NSA with the SSS operatives going for as long as three months without pay? While the SSS were busy preparing for President Clinton’s visit in 2002, they were working without being paid 3 months’ salary. According to sources, those who asked questions were thrown out.

In 2000, Igboku-Otu, an environmentalist and journalist stumbled on a National Security information that dissidents from Iraq and Islamic fundamentalists with links to Hamas in Palestine were planning to build terrorist training camp in Nigeria. Colonel Kayode Are, The DG of SSS was contacted but he didn’t take it serious. Igboku-Otu pursued this issue, he attempted to contact President Obasanjo directly, he tried but was blocked. He was denied access to the Villa, a day after his aborted visit to the Villa, unknown men went to his house at Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, slaughtered him and that was all. Some days after, the men of the SSS were in his house looking for the document on the said terrorists. The News Magazine published the story in 2001. Nobody took it serious, same year they struck in the United States.

How would Gusau and Are explain the emergence of Taliban in Yobe, Nigeria in 2005? As a protector of the, someone with high experience in national security, how did he and his boy Kayode Are miss that?

To be continued……

Umar Yar'Adua

 By Oluwaseyi Oduyela

In December 2006, Olusegun Obasanjo fulfilled his promise of returning power back to the north, when he arm-twisted some southern candidates from his party (People’s Democratic Party) to step down for his candidate Umar Yar’Adua. It is obvious that Yar’Adua was not the northern choice but Obasanjo made sure he handed over to a northern candidate of his choosing. It is reported that he feared the likes of El Rufai who as president would be too independent minded and intelligent to be remote-controlled from Otta. Indeed the out-going president’s phobia was a successor who might eclipse his performance in office as the workaholic Rufai would have.

Peter Odili, and many other southern governors who had wanted to be President were forced to fall in line for Yar’Adua. Days before the PDP presidential primaries, EFCC swooped on Hilton hotel Abuja cancelling rooms for delegates loyal to presidential hopeful Peter Odili.

Babangida, the man who made Obasanjo President in 1998 was forced by Obasanjo to withdraw and he did. IBB had asked a favor of Obasanjo that there be no screening of candidates for the presidency so he would face no hurdles to the presidency. IBB even dispatched Mariam Babangida and a retired US ambassador acting as his consultant to launder his image in the US pursuant to a presidential run. But the bigger hurdle was when Obasanjo declined an automatic ticket for the man who came to Otta to hand pick him for the presidency shortly his release from jail.

As soon as Yar’Adua got to office it became clear that though he had been a chief executive of a state for 8 years, he had no experience governing. While Alhaji Bola Tinubu remained a stalwart of Action Congress (AC), he put all his resources behind Yar’Adua. He did this in collaboration with James Ibori through Ooando Oil laundering money from British Virgin Island to support Yar’Adua’s election against Abubakar Atiku, AC’s presidential Candidate. The reason for Tinubu’s action is for another time.

From day one in office, Yar’Adua’s health was not actually the reason why he has not been able to perform; the reason had been his lack of leadership quality. According to a credible source within Yar’Adua’s cabinet, the famous faceless Kaduna Mafia imposed political appointees on him.  “Out of many candidate presented to Yar’Adua, Baba Gana Kingibe was the only face close to what he can pick for the Secretary to the Federal Government position,” my source said. The source said that Baba Gana Kingibe would not have made Yar’Adua’s cabinet if he (Yar’Adua) had had the free choice to pick his Secretary to the Federal Government. While Yar’Adua was battling with the Mafia, Obasanjo , his predecessor expected him to retain half of his Ministers- Femi Fani Kayode, Borisade, El Rufai and others were supposed to remain in their positions but Yar’Adua turned that down.  However, he invited Ojo Maduekwe to be his Foreign Affairs Minister per Obasanjo’s request even though all the senators from Abia opposed him initially. Segun Adeniyi, his Media Adviser is said to have recommended Maduekwe but chipped in that though Maduekwe is not corrupt, “he can do anything for anything.”

Yar’Adua relied so much on his aides that he got so confused on who to believe and rely upon. When the Attorney General approached him on the need to transfer the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to the Ministry of Justice, Yar’Adua believed his Justice Minister and had already asked Segun Adeniyi to issue a Press Release to that effect. While this was waiting to be out on Monday, Major-Gen Mohammed Abdullah (Chief of Staff) and the State House Counsel presented another memo to Yar’Adua that countered the AGF’s memo. Yar’Adua was angry when he read that the EFCC had been moved to Justice Ministry, as reported by Punch Newspaper. The report made Yar’Adua to ask Adeniyi to issue a press release and announce the transfer of EFCC to Justice Ministry; but the brief from the Aso Rock Counsel stopped the Press Release.

Though Goodluck Jonathan has had luck running his way since he was Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, but it did not work for him as Vice President. Initially, Yar’Adua appointed him as the head of the Niger-Delta Reconciliation Commission, but an e-mail from Ledum Mitee changed that destiny. Ledum Mitee had sent an e-mail to Segun Adeniyi complaining that with Jonathan at the head of the Reconciliation Commission, Ogoni people cannot get fairness because Jonathan himself is a party to it being an Ijaw. Segun took the e-mail to his boss and Yar’Adua said, “oh I didn’t realize that;” he then removed Jonathan as Chairman.

This was the first of many blunders the president was to make. When he was hospitalized in Saudi Arabia the first time, his first action on return was to fire SGF Babagana Kingibe – a notoriously ambitious man who had run for president before but who had had the temerity to discuss a succession plan for the government in case Yar’adua did not make it back alive.

To be continued…..

In the next series:

Ojo Maduekwe’s Area Boy Diplomacy

The absence of Ambassador to US and many more.

Seyi Oduyela/Washington, DC

Akinyemi Bamisaiye, a/k/a Yemi Olufemi Bamisaiye, age 41, of Clarksville, Maryland and Sajjad Nazar Mahar, age 49, of Kearneysville, West Virginia, each to 52 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, in connection with a scheme to steal funds from their former employer, a country club in Silver Spring, Maryland, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Bamisaiye and Mahar pleaded guilty to mail fraud and money laundering; Mahar also pleaded guilty to wire fraud. The defendants were taken into custody today to begin serving their sentence.

Bamisaiye and his partner-in-crime were sentenced in October 20,  2009

Judge Titus also issued an order of forfeiture of $1,346,883.98 against the defendants, the amount stolen from the country club, and in partial satisfaction of the money judgment, ordered the forfeiture of Bamisaiye’s vehicle.

According to Bamisaiye’s plea agreement and court documents, Bamisaiye was the controller, and Mahar was the general manager, of the country club. Bamisaiye’s duties included serving as the country club’s accountant and financial manager. Beginning in 2001, Bamisaiye and Mahar created fictitious employees, kept former employees on the payroll and placed individuals on the payroll that provided personal services to them (the “ghost employees”). Bamisaiye and Mahar caused electronic payments to be made from the country club to the ghost employees. Bamisaiye and Mahar then deposited many of the payroll checks into their personal accounts. In addition, the defendants took money from an operating and a capital account controlled by the country club.

Bamisaiye used the stolen money for his own benefit, including toward the purchase of a home, and the purchase of a vehicle. Mahar also wrote checks drawn on the country club accounts to pay his personal expenses, and to lease and purchase vehicles for his personal use. Mahar also wrote checks made payable directly to Mahar Farms, a business which he owned.

Mr. Bamisaiye is presently serving his jail term at the Federal Correctional Institution in McCrae, Georgia.

Sheik Abubarkar Gumi

By  Samuel ‘Seyi Oduyela

One will never understand the whys and how the so-called Taliban came into existence without knowing the history of the Izala movement in Nigeria.

The Izala Movement

 Since the advent of the Islamic jihad by Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio in the West African sub-region about one hundred years back, there was no major attempt to revive or purifies the Islamic religion in the sub region.

Thus sheik Usman Dan Fodio not only waged his jihad to purify the Islamic religion but to also do away with the corrupt feudal system of the Hausa rulers of the time that suppress and exploit their helpless subjects.

It was with this in mind that Dan Fodio and his disciples gallantly fought to victory and into the history books.

The Izala movement was formed by some Islamic scholars led by the late Sheikh Abubakar Gumi in the late 1970s with these revival and purification of Dan Fodio in mind.

Thus it was given the name in Arabic. “JAMA ATU IZALATUL BID AH WA IQAMATUS SUNNAH;” meaning ‘AN ORGANISATION FOR THE ERADICATING OF INNOVATIONS AND UPHOLDING THE WAYS OF THE PROPHET’.

This group engaged in preaching and propagating the pure Islamic religion in every nook and corner of the country for years. Their preaching activities attracted hundreds of thousands of people, both young and old, the educated and uneducated, the low and high of the society etc.

With the advent of the economic collapse in Nigeria, with its multiple consequences of unemployment and low and poor standard of living, the youths turned to radical Islam, especially in the north. Thus the Izala movement was the natural choice. The youths especially in the north massively joined the Izala movement, and there was massive preaching congregation every weekend throughout the country. The scholars preached to faithful to purify Islam and follow the path of the prophet in honesty and everything they do.

The preaching sessions were touching and emotional. In spite of their preaching, the youths and the intellectuals could not see any change in the way things are going. As regards the elites and the high government’s officials it business as usual for Muslims and non Muslims alike.

Thus some youths decided to withdraw themselves completely from the society and into the bush in Yobe state. Their reason was that the society is so corrupt and rotten that they want to be part of it.

That it is better for them to stay and farm in the bush and survived than to be part of the society.

The youths rebuked the Izala scholars as being part of government agents and so being oppressors themselves. They accused the scholars of helping to suppress the masses by their calls to respect the constituted authority. They despised the constitution and those who worked with it.

Thus the youths started migrating en-mass to a bush at kanamma village in Yobe state.

Kanamma village is about one hour to a village in Niger Republic. Their main activities in the bush of kanamma were fishing, collection of woods for sales and preaching at their free time to the surrounding villages.

All the villagers testify to the honesty and politeness of the boys. The youths were peacefully coexisting with their villager hosts for sometimes until suddenly the village head of kanamma [local chief] ask the boys to leave his domain immediately. The boys pleaded with him to rescind his decision, but the head refused. On the insistence of the local chief, the boys decided to search for another place to relocate, but they decided to put their belongings in the custody of the same local chief, pending their settlement in their new location. After settling down in their new location, they return to the chief for their belongings, only to be informed by the chief that he has handed it over to the police, and that they should go and claim it from the police. The boys were bitter about it but finally decided to go to the police with a delegation of four or five of their leaders. But on reaching the police station all of their leaders were detained by the police for no reason.

The arrested and detention started the conflict of the youths [taliban] and the government of Nigeria in the northeast. On getting information of the detention of their leaders by the police, the rest of the boys quickly mobilized them and attacked the police station to set their leaders free. The boys over-ran the police station in less than an hour.

They not only free their leaders but took as a booty all the arms and ammunition in the police station. The following morning they heard information that the police have mobilized and were advancing towards them. They decided to pre-empt the police attack. To the surprise of everybody, according to an eye witness these few untrained undergraduates ‘captured’ five local governments in a single day, not only that , they were able to  overrun the police headquarters at Damaturu  the Yobe state capital, a distance of about three hundred Kilometres in one day.

All that the security forces in Yobe did was to run for their life, while the so-called taliban looted their armory.

So the main source of supply of arms and ammunition to the taliban were the police armory.

From that day on, there are periodic clash of the taliban with the police and the result most of the time was for the army to intervene on the side of the police to tamed the boys.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Terrorism in Nigeria, Former President Obasanjo Ignored Earlier Warning

By Samuel ‘Seyi Oduyela

If there is any military officer lucky in Nigeria, it is General Matthew Aremu Okikiola Olusegun Obasanjo. He is lucky because he never participated in any coup, but had been a beneficiary of coups. He enjoys taking other people’s credit when the job is completed. He claimed the credit of being a Civil war Hero because the leader of the Biafra Army surrendered to his Command. After the ouster of General Yakubu Gowon, Obasanjo became the second-in-command to Murtala Mohammed and after the assassination of Murtala on February 13, 1976, Obasanjo, “an unwilling candidate,” was forced to take over as the Head of State. The position he held for 3 years.

 While he was arrested and jailed for his alleged involvement in a coup plot against late General Sani Abacha, he was lucky again to leave the prison alive but his second-in-command during his tenure as a military Head of State was not lucky, Major-General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua died mysteriously in Abakaliki Prison. Obasanjo came out of prison to become the first Nigerian former military ruler to come back as a civilian president. So far, he holds the record of being the only civilian president spending second term in office. And he still on the road to making another news as the first person who rules “democratically” for 12 years.

Omar Bakri Mohammad

 No one could have considered himself luckier than Obasanjo, who won where his fellow Yorubas  failed. Late M.K.O. Abiola won the freest and fairest election in the history of Nigeria, but he was denied of his victory by Obasanjo’s first constituency- the military. Chief Obafemi Awolowo attempted to become President but lost; but Obasanjo was never interested but persuaded to rule.  These and many more have made this man to become the most powerful leader of the most populous black nation in the world and by extension, wanting to become the most powerful man in Africa. Obasanjo played major roles in preventing these two people accomplish their political ambition. He confirmed in his book, ‘Not My Will’ that he voted against Chief Awolowo in the 1979 elections. He also supported the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election and was instrumental to the appointment of Chief Ernest Shonekan as Interim government Head of State rather than fighting for the release of the June 12 elections.

To international community, he is a lover of democracy, because he voluntarily handed over power to a democratically elected government in 1979. But what is not known to them is that it was not Obasanjo’s calling to hand over or not to hand over in 1979, he was simply acting the script of those who put him there as a Head of State. The same people, who released him from jail, kill Chief M.K.O Abiola and imposed him on People’s Democratic Party as presidential candidate.

Umar Farouk Mutallab

In 1999 Napoleon Igboku-Otu, journalist and environmental activist stumbled on a piece of information that borders on national security. Perhaps if something had been done may be we may not have had the serious case of terrorism facing the world now. According to the information, extremist Palestinian Islamic group, Hamas, were to train some Islamic fundamentalists in Nigeria for an all-out Islamic Jihad against non-muslims, they had recruited Iraqi dissident military officers. The Islamic Jihadists, the report says had already established training camps in Northern Nigeria and were recruiting Sudanese Muslims and smuggling them through Niger Republic into Maiduguri, Kano, Katsina and Kaduna in readiness for the planned bloody campaign. The report named a certain Sheikh Omar Baleri, head of Hez Bothriah, an Islamic group with a bridgehead in Northern Nigeria as the brain behind the set up in Nigeria. Another Omar Bakri Mohammed was mentioned with email address: obm@mail.com, checks on this email in 2002 show that it has been deactivated.

Syrian born radical Islamist Sheikh Omar bin Bakri Muhammad is the founder of the London branch of Hizb Al-Tahrir (the Islamic Liberation Party ), and of the organization “Jama’at Al-Muhajirun” (”The Emigrants,” in reference to those who accompanied the Prophet Muhammad on his Hijra from Mecca to Medina).

Igboku-Otu-Out contacted the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS) Colonel Kayode Are (rtd) who did not see anything serious and alarming in the information. Are’s only response was to lodge the activist in a hotel in Abuja while he pussyfooted. His attempt to see President Obasanjo directly was rebuffed.  According to Aso Rock sources, Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, the National Security Adviser, prevented Igboku from seeing Obasanjo. Sadly,  a day after his aborted visit to the Villa, unknown men went to his house at Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, slaughtered him and that was all. Some days after, the men of the SSS were in his house looking for the document on the said terrorists. The News Magazine published the story in 2001. Nobody took it serious, same year they struck in the United States. The file has been thrown into the dustbin of the police just like the ones before him. The Police could not have done anything since the President himself told the press that Igboku was attacked by armed robbers, even before the Police launched its investigation.  From 2000 to date Nigeria have had many religious-motivated demonstrations where many lives were lost. In February 2000, riots erupted in Kaduna, over 2000 people were killed and nobody was brought to book, in spite of the fact that someone was caught in the security report to have supplied machetes to Muslims to attack Christians. More than 3000 died in Kano in 2001 while 200 were killed in 2002. For all these deaths no one has been arrested or charged.

A serving Minister of his government was indicted by security report. The security report, indicted Sango Daura, who was then the Minister of Agriculture. What Obasanjo did was to remove Daura from his cabinet for some phony reasons without addressing the serious report that showed Daura in a video distributing machete to Islamic militants to fight and kill southern Christians. The report according to sources was doctored by Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, who was Obasanjo’s National Security Adviser.

To be continued…….

Peter Odili, Former Governor of River State,Nigeria.

   

How Zenith and Union Banks Aided Odili to Loot River State

• Prof. Babalola Borisade, Dr. Ahmadu Alli, Mr. Barnabas Gemade, and  Ike Nwachukwu mentioned as beneficiaries

 Reports from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission reveal how Dr. Peter Odili, former Governor of River state looted several billion of the state and disbursed same to cronies. Seyi Oduyela writes.

 Besides currently prosecuting about eight of the former governors, which include James Ibori (Delta), Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu), Lucky Igbinedion (Edo), Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), Saminu Turaki (Jigawa), Joshua Dariye (Plateau), Boni Haruna (Adamawa), and Jolly Nyame (Taraba) on charges of corruption and abuse of office,  African Interest reliably gathered that  the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has also concluded plans to commence the trial of the former governor of River State, Dr. Peter Odili.

Indeed, Top EFCC sources disclosed to African Interest in confidence that sooner than imagined, the former governor of the oil rich state will be facing trial for a flurry of allegations and charges of brazen corruption and direct stealing from the state treasury. The hard questions compiled by the EFCC for Odili’s response, it was learnt will be contained in the about 147 count charges that will be preferred against him (Odili). “With the facts on ground and the merit of the charges against him, it is only a matter of time that he will find himself behind bar. I can bet you that there is no way he can escape these charges.” The source bragged.

An insight into the loot of Odili as contained in the EFCC investigative report shows that a total of about N89billion was fleeced from the state treasury. Of the amount, about N73billion is in local currency while a whooping N16billion in (current forex rate) equivalent was conveniently carted away in US Dollars, Euros and Pound Sterling. The breakdown further revealed that about 129million is in Dollars, one million in Euro and the balance 2Million in Pounds.

Analyses drawn from the EFCC report shows that, one Emmanuel Nkatah a personal staff of the Governor working at the Rivers state liaison office Abuja was a loyal and willing tool in hands of Odili. In the looting spree, series of questionable withdrawals were made from Government House Zenith Bank account No. 6010916587 placed at the disposal of the former governor. All withdrawals were in cash and without any official transaction and documentation. The account ran like a GSM number dedicated to a live Radio program. Between 15 December 2004 and 11 September 2006, a total of 86 curious withdrawals of various sums were made by Nkatah on behalf of Odili. By September when EFCC spread its dragnet over the state, a total of N4.012billion has been withdrawn from the account. All withdrawals were made in Abuja leaving officials of the commission to wonder whether the government was being run from outside the state. Surprisingly, the withdrawals were hardly reported to the relevant security agencies including the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, an arm of the EFCC charged with the responsibility of monitoring transactions made within and among Banks. In the conclusion of the EFCC, the act is a clear violation of relevant laws and an offence punishable under sections 390(8) (b) of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. (See Box for breakdown of all withdrawal).

In the enormous pursuit for Odili, the former governor may however not be the only one to stand prosecution. Some of the accused that will be charged alongside Dr. Peter Odili according to the source include Mr. Johnson Arumemi-Ikhide, Rockson Engineering Co. Ltd, Ojemai Farms Ltd, Ojemai Investments Ltd, Prof. Babalola Borisade, Dr. Ahmadu Alli, Mr. Barnabas Gemade, Paul T, Mrs. Olufemi A, Ike Nwachukwu, Godsonic Oil Coy Ltd and Prof. Ukandi Damanchi. Others are Courage Communications Ltd, Attn Ltd, Ragolis Water Ltd, M/S Wetland Health Services Ltd, Transky Ltd, Foby Eng. Ltd, First Medical/Sterile Company Ltd, Habila Resources Ltd and four Media Houses.

See below the withdrawals:

      TABLE OF SOME OF THE QUESTIONABLE WITHDRAWALS

 Date                       Amouth                           Bank            A/C No.                Venue          Beneficiary

15/12/2004 N30Million                                      Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

17/12/2004              N15Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

23/12/2004              N30Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

04/01/2005              N15Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

11/01/2005              N20Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

17/01/2005              N20Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

09/02/2005              N10Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

11/02/2005              N10Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

14/02/2005              N15Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

17/02/2005              N10Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

28/02/2005              N25Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

14/03/2005              N20Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

21/03/2005              N65Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

07/04/2005              N10Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

25/04/2005              N15Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

27/04/2005              N30Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah                

31/05/2005              N10Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

02/06/2005              N10Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

06/06/2005              N20Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

09/06/2005              N20Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

13/06/2005              N25Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah    

16/06/2005              N15Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah    

20/06/2005              N25Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah    

27/06/2005              N16.3Million                          Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah    

30/06/2005              N10Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah    

06/07/2005              N10Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah    

12/07/2005              N15Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah    

14/07/2005              N10Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah                

18/07/2005              N20Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah    

27/07/2005              N10Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah    

29/07/2005              N15Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah    

25/08/2005              N20Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah    

29/08/2005              N20Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah    

01/09/2005              N10Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah    

08/09/2005              N40Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah    

12/09/2005              N30Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

22/09/2005              N10Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

29/09/2005              N15Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

14/10/2005              N100Million                           Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah    

07/10/2005              N20Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah    

12/10/2005              N20Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah    

14/10/2005              N10Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah    

18/10/2005              N10Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah    

20/10/2005              N12Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah    

24/10/2005              N20Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah    

26/10/2005              N25Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah    

01/11/2005              N10Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

09/11/2005              N30Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

10/11/2005              N22Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

28/11/2005              N50Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

29/11/2005              N100Million                           Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

05/12/2005              N100Million                           Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

06/12/2005              N70Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

08/12/2005              N100Million                           Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

17/01/2006              N20Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

25/01/2006              N15Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

07/02/2006              N20Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

16/02/2006              N50Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

17/02/2006              N50Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

08/03/2006              N10Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

10/03/2006              N4Million                               Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

13/03/2006              N40Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

16/03/2006              N20Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

28/03/2006              N20Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

11/04/2006              N65Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

13/04/2006              N100Million                           Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

18/04/2006              N100Million                           Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

04/05/2006              N50Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

25/05/2006              N500Million                           Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

30/05/2006              N100Million                           Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

05/06/2006              N200Million                           Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

19/06/2006              N100Million                           Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

21/06/2006              N100Million                           Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

03/07/2006              N50Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

12/07/2006              N50Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

14/07/2006              N100Million                           Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

19/07/2006              N100Million                           Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

31/07/2006              N20Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

02/08/2006              N50Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

08/08/2006              N100Million                           Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

15/08/2006              N50Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

22/08/2006              N100Million                           Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

28/08/2006              N100Million                           Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

06/09/2006              N100Million                           Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

07/09/2006              N50Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

11/09/2006              N50Million                             Zenith 6010916587  Abuja              Emmanuel Nkatah

2004-2006                                 N30, 031,446,589.70           Zenith 6010914407  Abuja              Rockson Eng. Co Ltd.

To be continued…….. 

Also watch out for: AKINRUNTAN (OBAT OIL) DYNASTY IN TATTERS: FAMILY IN CHAOS

Mr. Ojo Maduekwe

Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Ojo Maduekwe was conspicuously absent at this year’s Independent Celebration hosted by the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, DC.

A source at the Nigeria Embassy disclosed to African Interest, that Mr. Maduekwe was in Washington, DC and chose to celebrate the Independent Day at his Four Seasons hotel room on Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. According to our source, The Minister, who was formerly National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party stopped lodging at Ritz Carlton hotel after African Interest reported that he lodged there after the Obama Inauguration.

No reason was giving for his non-appearance at the Nigerian Embassy to join Nigerians in Diaspora and a host of guest from other foreign Diplomats who graced the occasion. Sources at the Foreign Affairs, told African Interest, that the Minister l had left Nigeria since September to represent President Umar Yar’Adua at the United Nations General Assembly held in New York between September 23 to September 30.

This year Independent celebration, according to sources, was one of the best organized events ever held at the Nigerian embassy because of the belief that the Foreign Affairs Minister would be in attendance. Many Nigerians who attended were disappointed that the Minister, despite his presence in Washington DC, could shun them by not attending and celebrating the Independent day with them. Some had prepared to ask him questions about why Nigeria has not being able to appoint an Ambassador to the US.

It will be recalled that in his first year in 2007 as Minister, Ojo Maduekwe was also in the Washington, DC for the Independent day but arrived late delaying the evening festivities. During President Yar’adua’s first and only visit to the US in 2007, Maduekwe was also late to the book launch of Professor Ibrahim Gambari, UN Under Secretary-General on Political Affairs. Mr. Maduekwe walked into the venue during President Yar’Adua’s address, which was a breach of protocol.

PORT OF CORRUPTION: This Port Stinks

The Nigeria Ports Authority reeks of Corruption and unwholesome practices. Seyi Oduyela and Osawemwenguan Airhuoyo report.

In the eyes of the Nigerian public the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, is perceived as a den of corrupt practices. And perhaps this much was well captured in the report of the Economic and financial Crimes Commissions, EFCC led Special Committee that investigated the activities of the Commission. According to the report, “the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA is regarded as one of the parastatals where irregularities and malpractices have become deeply entrenched in the management of its affairs. The NPA is widely perceived to be deeply plagued with massive corruption and inefficiency, especially in the award of contracts, which had been characterized by their indiscriminate and unscrupulous nature with little or no regard to financial regulations or due process.” 

And like the EFCC report indicated, the Authority is again enmeshed in massive corruption. Investigation by Africa Interest reveals gross violations of financial regulations, particularly in the area of contract splitting, over inflation of contract costs. As the checks show, out of about 219 contracts that were allegedly awarded between April 2004 and June this year for the purchase of various forms of equipments valued at a total sum of N1, 716, 276, 814, about N1, 329, 731, 814 was frittered away through over invoicing. An independent market survey and price analysis however, placed the total contract cost at N344, 482, 000.

Information available to this magazine shows that a contractor, within the period, MOG Holdings Ltd cornered five contracts valued at N32, 188, 000. Close to MOG are Temilola Temilade Investment Limited and Beenat Enterprises Company Limited which cornered three contracts each valued at N26, 750, 000 and N25, 809, 030 respectively.

Yet, the Authority engaged in indiscriminate splitting of the contracts. Africa Interest observed that the contract for the supply of Stromber collapsible standing mobile barrier was split among five companies. Checks showed that on Friday August 5, 2005, a contract was awarded to Donny Ventures via award letter with reference number HQ/ED(MXO) CON/MD677 for the supply of 37 units of Stromber collapsible standing mobile barrier at N8, 177, 000. Seventeen days after the award, precisely on Monday August 22, 2005 another contract for the supply of the same quantity of the item was awarded to another company for the same amount. This time, it was awarded to New Decade Holdings Ltd with reference number HQ/ED (MXO)CON/MD732. As investigations further revealed, the Authority, twenty-nine days after the second award, on September 21, 2005 Lotus Communications Ltd via an award letter with reference number HQ/ED(MXO)CON/MD/797 bagged a similar contract to supply 36 units of the item for N7, 956, 000. Yet contract for the supply of another 37 units each were awarded to Takie-Way Communications Ltd and U.A Griffith & Company on September 23, 2005 at N8, 177, 000 each. The awards were conveyed via award letters with reference numbers HQ/ED(MXO)CON/MD799 and HQ/ED(MXO)CON/MD698 respectively.

 Another area where the Authority engaged in arbitrary splitting of contracts, ostensibly to beat the obstacle of approval limit posed by the financial regulation is in the award of contracts for the supply of High Pressure Oscillating Ground Monitor. This magazine observed that unlike the case of Stromber collapsible standing mobile barrier, Contracts for the supply of High Pressure Oscillating Ground Monitor was split into ten parts and all awarded the same day, May 7 2004 to nine benefiting companies. The companies are Danjuma Kibo & Company Nigeria Ltd, MOG Holdings Nigeria Ltd, Toksben International Investment Ltd and Hope Trust Enterprises.

 Others are Kiliz Blessing Enterprises, Anuoluwapo & Company, Faith & Company, Teegee Nigeria Ltd and Martinok International Investment Nigeria Ltd. The nine companies supplied a unit each of the item except MOG Holdings Nigeria Limited which landed two awards. Each contract was awarded at the cost of N2, 405, 000 bringing the total contract cost to N24, 050, 000. Contrary to the contract cost of N2, 405, 000 by NPA, independent survey however indicated that a unit price of the item is in the range of N400, 000. This showed that over N2million was frittered away by the Authority on each of the contracts. (See table).

 Similarly, the management of the Authority also robbed the country blind in the award of contracts for the supply of twenty 23.65mm Fixed Spray/Jet Stainless Steel Water/Foam Monitor capable of 30 metres Jetthrow valued at a total of N45, 500, 000. The contract, it was observed split the contract into five parts of four units each and awarded to five different companies. The companies are Adiya Investment Ltd, Rapen Nigeria Ltd, Ajiya Central Services, Multiplus Investment Limited and Kungu Enterprise Limited. The awards letters has its reference numbers as HQ/ED/(E&T.S)/OP/F.1/163, HQ/ED/(E&T.S)/OP/F.1/635,HQ/ED/(E&T.S)/OP/F.1/633,HQ/ED/(E&T.S)/OP/F.1/113, HQ/ED/(E&T.S)/OP/F.1/116 respectively. Further checks conducted also revealed that contrary to N9, 100, 000 contract cost for four units of the item, market price for a unit of the product as at the time the contract was awarded was not more than N350, 000 and four unit would cost N1, 400, 000.

 Investigations by Africa Interest further revealed that some of the companies that benefited from the contract award operated without proper registration while some of the contractors cornered different contracts using different business names. The owners of AF and F Security Limited are also joint owners of Takie-Way Communications Limited, Fodacis and Co Nigeria Limited as well as Rovans Construction Company Limited. The Owners are Francis Aiyegbeni, F.O Aiyegbeni, Pastove Robles, Faith Aiyegbeni and Roy C Aiyegbeni. Others are Francis Oria and Griffitta Ayoola. These companies, according to our investigation, have been traced to one source, Mr. Francis Aiyegbeni, the Proprietor of De Rovans Hotel. Mr. Aiyegbeni, who is also known for his interest in boxing, became an NPA contractor when he met late General Gumel, the then Minister of Transport under late General Abacha. Aiyegbeni planted one of his nephews at the Port Authority. Our source at the NPA disclosed that one Nestor Aramabo was brought from Germany to work at the Nigerian Port Authority and since the late 90s he has been an inside man for Mr. Aiyegbeni.

 Yet, these are only the latest in the Authority act of profligacy. By 15 October 2003, the problem of massive corruption had become so worrisome that the President, Olusegun Obasanjo approved the constitution of a committee headed by Engineer Mustapha Bukar from the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation to review and verify all contracts awarded by the Authority between January 1, 2001 and October 14, 2003.

 The corrupt activities at the NPA had prompted a high turnover in the sack of Executive Officers.  Bello Gwandu was removed in October 2001. The Federal Government failed to confirm the acting appointment of his successor, Engineer Joseph Akagwu until he was replaced by Aminu Dabo in May 2002.  But Dabo himself did not escape the boot as he was removed in October 2003.

 Apparently unsatisfied with the report submitted by the committee, the President mandated the Nuhu Ribadu led committee to carry out in-dept investigation into contracts awarded by the NPA during the period. The committee consist of the EFCC chairman, U. J. Shuwa of the Federal Ministry of Transport; M. A. Bello from the office of the Secretary of the Federal Government; J. O. Omotosho, representing the Ministry of Finance; Buba Gamawa, who works with the Head of the Federal Civil Service and Y. A. Olaleye of the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit; Mrs. G. O. Ezekika of the Federal Ministry of Transport served as the committee’s secretary.

 The committee in a term of reference, derived from a letter CM/211/455 of April 1, 2005 was mandated to “examine all outstanding bills from its creditors; ascertain whether or not such contracts were awarded in accordance with extant government rules and regulations governing the award of contracts; and identify the culprits and apportion blames as applicable.”

 The special committee in its findings established that the Authority awarded contracts without recourse to lay down rules.  The Board alone awarded contracts with a total value of N9.3 billion, $213.6 million, 9.6 million pounds sterling, 204, 395 euros and 56, 220.00 deutschmark.

 Gwandu, as Managing Director of the NPA between January 2001 and October 2001, awarded contracts worth N3.095 billion, $2.4 million, 701, 702 pounds sterling and 382, 226 deutschmark.  Engineer Akagwu, acting Managing Director of the NPA between November 2001 and April 2002, awarded contracts totalling N1.6 billion, $1.9 million, 349,532 pounds sterling, 110,556 euros and 545,607 deutschmark. Architect Aminu Dabo, Managing Director of the Authority between May 2002 and October 2003, awarded contracts worth contracts worth N17 billion, $13.77 million, 4.84 million pounds and 569,411 Euros.

 To this end, the special committee also declared that “the Board and management of the NPA and the entire contract approving authorities of the Authority, as well as appraisal officers, during the period under review should be appropriately sanctioned for contract splitting and inflation of contract price in utter disregard to laid down government rules and regulations’.

 However, when the report was submitted to the Federal Executive Council, the President requested the EFCC should carry out a forensic investigation. Many however, believe that the rejection of the Ribadu report was an attempt to cover up for Chief Bode George, who was the Chairman of the NPA Board during the period that was investigated. With this slap in the wrist approach to the corrupt activities in NPA, there are indications that the act may well continue unhindered.

MARKET SURVEY PRICE FOR ALL THE CONTRACTS   N365, 512, 000   ===     NPA TOTAL CONTRACT PRICE       N1, 424,194,363.

                                                                                    TABLE TWO

MARKET SURVEY PRICE FOR ALL THE CONTRACTS   N21, 030,000   ===     NPA TOTAL CONTRACT PRICE       N292, 079, 451.

TOTAL MARKET SURVEY PRICE FOR ALL THE CONTRACTS            = N21, 030,000 + N365, 512, 000       = N344, 482, 000

TOTAL  NPA CONTRACT PRICE                                                               = N292, 079, 451 + N1, 424,194,363 = N1,716, 273, 814