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Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Okonjo Iweala: Reps Threaten To Arrest Okonjo-Iweala Over N4.5trn Contract
0 comments Posted by st at 3:24 AM
The probe panel set up by the House of Representatives probing the bogus contract of N4.5trn awarded to Single Window Systems and Technology (SWST) has summoned finance minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to appear before it today or face arrest. The panel also yesterday vetoed President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to suspend the multi-billion naira concession agreement between the Ministry of Finance and a revenue facilitation company, Single Window Systems and Technology (SWST), which would have led to Nigeria loosing N4.5trn.www.mannastores.com
Following the motion adopted by the House on the matter and the probe initiated, the President had ordered the minister, Dr. Okonjo- Iweala, to immediately suspend the agreement, look into the processes that led to the award and address the important questions raised by the House. The minister, in a letter titled Re: Single window concession,” dated September 12, 2011, told the committee that “by the leave of Mr. President, I have suspended the single window project in deference to the concern of the National Assembly. “Mr. President had asked me to look into the processes that led to the award with the view to review the important issues raised by your committee. I will refer to you in due course with the outcome of this inquiry.”
The Chairman of the committee, Mr. Leo Ogor, who expressed displeasure over the moves by officials of ministry to stall the probe, however, directed Okonjo-Iweala, to appear before the committee today or face arrest. Ogor said the probe must continue and that all relevant information must be presented to it not minding the internal action taken by the ministry. He said: “The National Assembly is a separate arm of government with its clear responsibility and resolution of the House.
“The Minister of Finance has refused to appear before this committee as far as we are concerned. An investigation by the ministry of finance will in no way deter this House from carrying out its own constitutional responsibility. “I am, therefore, resting on the Nigerian constitution sub-section 88 and 89, to summon the honourable minister that she must appear before this committee to clear decision on the audacity and process that led to this particular award of this contract.
“We lay emphasis on due process, whatever investigation they carry out in the ministry is their own internal business. It is important that she must appear before this committee tomorrow (Tuesday) 12 noon unfailingly. “In the course of this public hearing, the report will be sent to this ministry so that they can appreciate the cost implication that we bear as a committee. The procedure is continuous; we will take all the people that are coming into this hearing today. ``An investigation by the minister of finance will no way deter the House from carrying out its constitutional responsibility.
“I am, therefore, directing by the clear provisions of sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 constitution summoning the minister that she must appear before this committee to give clear position in respect of the modalities and process that led to this particular award.” The Comptroller of the Customs Service in charge of ASYCUDA, Mr. Azarema Abdulkadir, said that the service was not involved in the concession agreement. He said that the service only received a letter dated May 24, 2010 asking it to cooperate with the company. “The service was informed by the ministry of finance that a concession agreement had been entered into between the Federal Government and Single Window Systems Technology Ltd.’
He said that the service trained more than 8,000 officers to take over the implementation of the project at the expiration of the agreement in 2012. The spurious contract was unilaterally awarded by Federal Ministry of Finance on behalf of Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) to the company registered in June 2010 with N1m share capital. The controversy surrounding the award is that the ministry had in mid- June 2009 given a letter of intent to a non-existing company as consultant and later re- awarded the multibillion naira contract for the implementation of the ASYCUDA project.
The company was registered by Mohammed Kaoje, 35 years old who owns 60 percent share; Ahmed Bello, the son of the former Comptroller- General of NCS and director of the company owns 25 percent share capital and an Ethiopian/British citizen.
former Head of State has been linked with the Boko Haram terrorist organization. The former Nigerian leader who is a notable politician was manipulated by the combined team of Nigerian and Foreign Security Agencies investigating the bombing of the United Nation's house in Abuja as one of the major sponsors of the dastardly incident.
National Daily competent sources disclosed that lead covering the alleged involvement of the top shot in terrorism activities was blown during interrogation of some of the several suspects earlier arrested by the State Security Service (SSS).www.mannastores.com
“This latest discovery has baffled the Security Agencies who are testing the information for verification. However, if this information is proved to be right, the claim by the Federal Government that big time violence activities in the country are being sponsored by some eminent Nigerians would have been corroborated.”
It will be recalled that soon after the car bomb explosion during the nation's 50th Independence celebration at the Eagles Square, Abuja, the President Goodluck Jonathan stated that the Federal Government will unveil the disgruntled politicians behind the attempt to destabilise the country by causing incessant violence.
Again for the umpteenth time last week, President Jonathan angered by the recent UN House bombing which claimed about 23 lives, said that the government knows the sponsors of the spate of bomb blast in the country. He disclosed that government has uncovered what he described as “strong leads” to the terrorist and those behind them.
Show down
President Jonathan said he has been compelled to direct security agencies to begin a manhunt for the alleged sponsors, saying there would be no “sacred cows” in the “war against terror.”
The President gave the assurance his administration is fully determined and has the capacity to deal with all threats and Agents of instability who continue to test the patience of the nation and its democratic institution and leadership.
“As President and Chief Security Officer of the nation, I will employ every means and instruments at my disposal to secure this nation against forces of evil which seek to divide and sabotage our country,” Jonathan said, adding:
“There shall be no sacred cows in our efforts to exposes, contain and defeat this network of terror. I have directed the review of our national security architecture to lay greater emphasis on intelligence and citizens' participation in security surveillance.”
Modus operandi
National Daily learned that one of the aides of the ex-Head of State was detected to be the link between chieftains of Boko Haram and his principal. He was alleged to have been named by one of the arrested suspects who went ahead to disclose even more vital information about the Islamic fundamentalist sects secret dealings with the former number one citizen who is from the Northern parts of the country.
“The statements of the suspect during interrogation have been so far very revealing. He talked about how they were always meeting with one of the aides of a former Head of State to discuss the strategy for another bombing operation. Apart from providing them with privileged state intelligence, he said the big man use to give his Aide some money to give to important members of the Boko Haram group as his own contribution to “fight the cause of Allah,” our source said.
The State Security Service, United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) investigations have so far discovered that the Boko Haram Islamic sect members did not act alone in their godless undertaking to destroy lives and properties in the country. They were said to have acted with the tacit support and connivance of several notable personalities from the North, especially those with political antecedent.
Agents of terror uncovered
“The Federal Government will deal with these violent Nigerians if their culpability is finally established. It has now been revealed that the Boko Haram group is not being sponsored by the former Head of State alone. There are many others who also attend to their financial and logistic needs. They are agents of instability masquerading as political and religious leaders hiding under Boko Haram to foment trouble,” our source said, adding:
“It is an irony that these disgruntled elements will parade themselves as patriots in the day time only to transform into their real colours in the darkness. This country will not move forward unless the unjust elements is made to pay a commiserate prize for their evil deeds.”
National Daily sources disclosed that the security agencies have forwarded primary reports on its finding to the presidency for further instruction. The investigator stating the arrest of two prime suspects, Babagana Ismail (a.k.a Abu Summaya) and Babagana Mali (a.k.a Bulama) however outlined what they have done so far to track down the wanted ring leader of the Boko Haram Mamman Nur. They gave the Federal government some vital details on the involvement of the former Head of State and notable Nigerians from the North in acts of terrorism and proceeded to suggest the next line of action.
“The security agencies are waiting for the Federal Government to give approval to some of its request to enable them mop up their investigations. At the top of this request is for an explicit permition of the president to enable them interrogates notable individuals including a former Head of State on their role in the recent UN House bombing. However, the federal government seem to be studying request and the security implication to the country before acting on it,” our source said.
Notable Nigerian politicians have also allegedly penetrates the security agencies and act as source of Intelligence gathering to the Boko Haram sect. They get useful information from their minions in the security system and pass to the Boko Haram for operational safety.
Meanwhile, a cable released last week confirmed National Daily's earlier report that some of the country's security operatives may be sabotaging the efforts of the federal government to tame the menace of Boko Haram violent Islamic sect.
Top strategy
The report indicates that the State Security Service and Northern Traditional System had a mutual agreement for secretive release and nontribal of terrorism suspects from the region.
The alleged agreement provided that terrorism suspects from the region would be released to a carefully selected group of traditional rulers and Imams shortly after arrest.
The cable with reference ID: 08ABUJA538 was sent to the US Department by a former US Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Robin Rene Sanders on March 20, 2008.
According to Ambassador Sander's report: “In late January, the Sultan of Sokoto (Nigeria's pre-eminent traditional ruler and communal leader of Nigeria's 70 million Muslims) told Political Officer (Pol Off) that the Sultanate in concert with the 13 Emirates of the North is “quietly” working to leverage influence on the region's Islamic leadership to combat rising extremism and radicalization of Muslim Youths. A member of the Sultan's Inner Circle told Pol Off the SSS Director (General) allegedly gave the Sultan his assurance that the SSS would not legally pursue the suspects agreed to take them and “reform their ways.”
The cable alleged that in some cases suspects were allegedly released despite being caught with explosives, arms and ammunition, or linked to the al-Qaeda. Furthermore, the cable said that 12 suspects arrested and detained by the SSS in October 2007 for allegedly plotting terrorist attacks were released at different times in January and February 2008. Another United States cable alleged that some of the suspects were later implicated in bombings and attacks claimed by Boko Haram.
“The Pol Off spoke January 21 and again March 16, with Kaduna and Kano based Imams who had been contacted by the SSS and entreated to serve as sureties for the 12 individuals noted above.”
Following the anxiety over their alleged collaboration with indications has emerged that global intelligence agencies especially in United States and Britain have placed some top Nigerian politicians and opinion leaders on a watch-list of terrorist sponsors based on the August 26 bomb blast at the United Nations House in Abuja which reportedly claimed no fewer than 23 lives.
Anticipated shake-up
Meanwhile, the security hiccup in the country may lead to a major shake-up in the command structure. The imminent change of guards is necessary to flush out suspected Boko Haram agents in the service, improve on the nation's porous security situation and a positive image for the country.
Those who may be sent packing include the Director-General of SSS, Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, Chief of Defence Staff, Chief Marshall Oluseyi Petirin and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ola Sa'ad Ibrahim though he has only a year to retire from service.
Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika may also be fired though he has about two years left in the service just as Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Umar may leave his three years duration in service expired.
