Former CJN involved in $9.6billion debt controversy and 6 things we saw last week
By: Premium Times
Tags: Debt, Army, Buhari, Boko Haram

A military court-martial for the troubled Nigerian Army major-general, Hakeem Otiki; Cash deposits and withdrawals from individual bank accounts are to attract additional charges which was effective from Wednesday and much more…

1. P&ID: $9.6 billion debt controversy

The Nigerian government arraigned persons it said were representatives of the Process and Industrial Development Company (P&ID) before a Federal High Court in Abuja on allegations of fraud.

The government arraigned two suspects who pleaded guilty to 11 counts of fraudulent involvement in the contract.

The EFCC commenced an investigation of the contract following a British court ruling that Nigeria owed the Irish firm about $9 billion for violating terms of the contract.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the agreement was designed to fail as key elements necessary for its success was missing.

It was confirmed that a key legal argument the British firm, P&ID Limited, used in securing the humongous arbitral award of $9.6 billion (N3.2 trillion) against Nigeria was provided by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Alfa Belgore.

2. Theft of ‘billions’ by Soldiers

A military court-martial for the troubled Nigerian Army major-general, Hakeem Otiki, opened in Abuja on Tuesday, with the defence team labouring to cast the case as springing from a protracted resentment rather than merely another manifestation of endemic corruption in the military.

The defence argued that a bitter rivalry was at the root of the scandal and the man appointed to lead the court-martial, Lamidi Adeosun, a lieutenant-general, was not suited for purpose because of a conflict of interest.

Although the defence did not elaborate on the cause of the rivalry, a senior army officer close to the two officers involved said it was over who would take over from the current Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, a lieutenant-general.

Mr Otiki is the army chief at the heart of the large cash heist executed by Nigerian soldiers in July. He was the general officer commanding of the Nigerian Army 8 Division in Sokoto when he sent five soldiers in his detail to haul some cash from Sokoto to Abuja via Kaduna.

PREMIUM TIMES broke the story of the embarrassing development mid-July. Military sources said at the time that the money was in billions. Although the Nigerian Army has not publicly commented on the theft or disclosed the amount involved, some news reports have put it at N800 million, while some went with N600 million and others cited N400 million.

3. CBN’s additional charges to individual accounts

Cash deposits and withdrawals from individual bank accounts are to attract additional charges which was effective from Wednesday.

The CBN said the charges would be in addition to already existing charges on withdrawals and will be aimed at encouraging its cashless policy.

The House of Representatives asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to immediately suspend the implementation of the new aspect of the cashless policy on deposits which has taken effect.

The CBN governor gave reasons why it approved the new bank charges on bank withdrawals and deposits by individual and corporate customers announced on Tuesday.

4. Buhari sacks Oyo-Ita

President Muhammadu Buhari approved the appointment of Dr. Mrs. Folashade Yemi-Esan as the Acting Head of the Civil Service of the Federation with immediate effect.

Dr. Mrs. Yemi-Esan, who is the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources takes over from Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, who was directed to proceed on an indefinite leave to allow conclusion of the investigation being carried out by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

5. Nigerian Army accuses Action Against Hunger of aiding Boko Haram

The Nigerian Army blacklisted Action Against Hunger, an international humanitarian organisation operating in Northeast Nigeria for allegedly ‘aiding and abetting’ Boko Haram terrorists.

The army said it has ‘credible intelligence’ that the NGO supplies food and medication to the outlawed armed group.

Nigerian soldiers sealed the offices of Action Against Hunger in Borno and Yobe states after ejecting all staff working there.

6. Sacked Nigerian lawmakers flout Supreme Court order

Three former federal lawmakers risk being imprisoned following their refusal to honour Supreme Court judgements ordering them to return some monies to the National Assembly.

The court sacked Mr Sopuluchukwu and ordered the second respondent (INEC) to issue Mr Nwankwo the certificate of return.

According to the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) approved emolument for Rep members, Mr Sopuluchukwu was to return N794, 085 he received monthly for 22 months.

7. More on Boko Haram Insurgency

The Nigerian Army launched “Operation Positive Identification” against fleeing Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in the North-east.

Army spokesperson disclosed that the troops had been instructed to strictly check valid means of identification of persons before allowing them passage.

It was reported that 13 Nigerian soldiers were killed in what seems to be a resurgence of Boko Haram attacks on troops in the North East. The terrorist group also carted away a large quantity of military equipment.