Nigerian FA official banned for taking bribe

A senior Nigerian football official and a club administrator have been banned for 10 years following their involvement in corruption, the country's football authority has announced.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) banned the chairman of its own disciplinary committee, Olaleye Adepoju, for 10 years for taking a bribe from a club.
The NFF emergency committee also handed Dapo Lam-Adesina same sanction for his role in the scandal, excluding both men from all football-related activities following an investigation.

The football authority also referred to police an allegation that the chairman of Enugu State Football Association, Chidi Ofo Okenwa, was an imposter.

Okenwa was told to step down from his role pending the outcome of the police probe.
"The sanctions handed down by the committee are entirely fair and should act as a deterrent to any club or individual who might consider breaching the rules," NFF board member Chris Green told BBC Sport.
"We've handed out a severe sanction to one of our own, another clear pointer to the fact that no-one is above the law.
"Our football must be clean, fair, rid of dirty dealings and professionally run.
"Every corruption or bribery scandal is damaging to the credibility of the sport, but the NFF will continue to work hard to prevent this ugly spectre of scandal from destroying our beautiful game."
Adepoju was a member of the NFF executive committee and also the chairman of the football association in Oyo state, south-west Nigeria.
He was alleged to have received a cash payment of 1.5 million naira ($9,400) before a disciplinary hearing against Shooting Stars, from the Oyo state capital Ibadan, after they abandoned a league match against Sunshine Stars earlier this year.
He was said to have received money to find in favour of Shooting Stars after their players refused to take the field in the second half when the score was 0-0, claiming that one of their officials had been attacked.
However, the NFF rejected Shooting Stars' account and suspended Adepoju from his role in charge of its disciplinary committee.
Adepoju, a lawyer, claimed he took the money for giving legal advice.
Shooting Stars were fighting relegation at the time. A subsequent hearing awarded Sunshine Stars the three points from the match.
"We are prepared to put up with the pain of deep investigations if it keeps the game cleaner," Green said.
Match-fixing and corruption is a problem in Nigerian football and has led to sanctions against a number of clubs, referees and officials.
The NFF's former secretary general Taiwo Ogunjobi was also banned for 10 years last month.

BBC

1 in 5 Africans forced to pay bribes for police, health care, education

Sale of refineries may not be transparent – Experts

There are fears in the Nigerian oil industry that the planned sale of the four government refineries, with a combined capacity of 445,000 barrels per day, may not be transparent.
Sources in the industry, who spoke with our correspondent in confidence on Sunday, said the three-month window within which the assets were expected to be sold was too short to allow for global best practices and transparency.
There are, therefore, strong indications that the assets might be sold in a hurry to friends of the government.
Some of the intended beneficiaries, it was learnt, might be some indicted persons in the fuel subsidy scam, who had yet to be cleared.
The Federal Government had set the first quarter of 2014 as the deadline for the sale of the four refineries.
The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, last week confirmed in London that the refineries would be handed to the private sector.

She stated, “Government does not want to be in the business of running major infrastructure entities and we haven’t done a very good job at it over all these years.”
By the timetable of the Federal Government, it is expected that within the set period, the evaluation of the assets, expression of interests of would-be investors, the technical and commercial bidding processes, as well the short-listing of successful bidders and final handover of the assets, will be concluded.
Alison-Madueke said a Presidential audit of the facilities had last year recommended the sale of the refineries due to inadequate government funding and their unimpressive performance.
Although Nigeria is one of Africa’s top crude exporters, it still imports fuel to meet more than 70 per cent of its local needs.
The refineries operate at a fraction of their capacity because of poor maintenance and aging equipment.


[Punch]

Jonathan Under Fire for Nominating "Corrupt" Ex-Gov. Muazu As PENCOM Boss

The Transition Monitoring Group has kicked against President Goodluck Jonathan's nomination of Adamu Mu'azu, former Bauchi State Governor, as the Chairman of the Nigerian Pension Commission, PENCOM.
The group accused the president of appointing a candidate who was still under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for corruption.
Last week Wednesday, President Jonathan forwarded Mr. Mu'azu's name - alongside Mfon Akpan as Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service - to the Senate for confirmation.
"The Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, is astonished and peeved by this move of the President, especially in the light of the fact that the former Governor is yet to be cleared by the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, of the corruption charges he is facing for allegedly defrauding the coffers of Bauchi State to the tune of N19.8billion when he was Governor of the State," the group said in a statement on Monday.
"This and other similar acts of Mr. President, particularly his penchant for surrounding himself with famed corrupt individuals, makes his government's so-called anti-corruption efforts a laughing stock, for it is patently obvious from his antecedents that President Jonathan endorses corruption.
"The EFCC is investigating Mr. Mu'azu for allegedly stealing billions of naira belonging to Bauchi State during his term as governor between 1999 and 2007.Other names forwarded to the Senate for confirmation as Commissioners of PENCOM include Chinelo Anohu-Amazu (South East), Reuben Omotowa (North Central), Mohammed Ka'oje (North West), and Adesojo Olaoba-Efuntayo (South West).But the group said that appointing Mr. Mu'azu to head the commission is in line with his practice of shielding corrupt individuals.
"TMG recalls that in the heat of the corruption charges against the same Mu'azu Adamu, President Jonathan appointed him in 2011 as Chairman of the Board of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)," said the statement signed by Ibrahim Zikirullahi and Eddy Ezurike, the group's Chairman and Publicity Secretary respectively.
"It was with the President's nod that Business Mogul, Mike Adenuga and his wife, Titi Adenuga in late 2010 walked free from the EFCC charges they were facing for reportedly collecting bribes from Siemens officials; and it was this same attitude of Presidential Romance with alleged corrupt individuals that enabled controversial Lawyer, Dele Oye to walk scot free from EFCC charges of allegedly acting as front for the defunct Oceanic Bank CEO, Cecilia Ibru; and aiding her to loot tens of billions of Naira in Bank assets.
"The Nigerian people of course will not forget in a hurry how this same President granted presidential pardon to a notorious convicted corrupt former Governor and his kinsman, DSP Alamieyeseigha, and other criminals, including a paedophile.
"Those who recently looted the Police Pensions Board, including its former Director are yet to be brought to book. The list is endless; yet Jonathan's regime talks about fight against corruption. The attitude of Mr. President in recycling corrupt individuals in public places is worrisome and does not inspire confidence at all.
"In fact, on issue after issue, he has shown that he will never combat corruption but will rather aid, abet and shield corrupt officials.
"The group called on President Jonathan to withdraw, immediately, Mr. Mu'azu's nomination and take "creative steps" to rebuild confidence and imbue confidence in the anti-corruption war.
"This is the only pathway to redemption, prosperity and development in this country," the statement added.

SOURCE

Obi bribes candidates to oppose cancellation of Guber elections

Yesterday afternoon, Anambra State Government unrepentant about how much damage they have caused to the reputation of the State last Saturday’s elections invited some candidates to the government house and made jumbo offers to them to sign a prepared text by APGA and the government. In fact the statement was prepared by a Deputy Director General in the APGA
campaign who is a serving member of the state cabinet.
While five of the candidate fell for the hook, we are proud of the greater number –over seven of them towed the path of Sxza\honour by rejecting the offer and calling for a total cancellation of the results in line with the dictates of their conscience.
We commend these seven candidates namely : Chief Basil Onuora Onyeachonam (Social Democratic Party ,SDP), chief Dennis Oguguo (KOWA Party),Chief Anayo Arinze (African Democratic Congress ,ADC),Hon. Basil Iwuoba (Peoples Party of Nigeria PPN), Chief Chuka Nwankwo ,Accord), chief Patrick Ibeziako (African Peoples Alliance ,APA), Professor Ben Akanegbu (United Peoples Party ,UPP).
History is repeating itself in Anambra State, and we are proud that there are still persons who can say no to impunity irrespective of whether they are frontliners in the race. We commend them and cannot but note that these seven have written their names in the Anambra State Hall of Fame, which for the time being resides in our minds. When the political history of Anambra State is written, these candidates will take their place.
Their call for total cancellation brings to 18, out of 23, the number of candidates that have voted for the total cancellation of the elections. Some other candidates however have taken the money offered by the Peter Obi led State Government whose succeeding mission is to do personal business with Anambra State apparatus, no matter what odium the state faces as a result of these mercantile actions, which includes procurement of November 16, 2013 elections.
The candidates who did not receive the blessing of their party and supporters but fell for the offer include Godson Okoye (United Democratic Party, UDP), Engr. Tony Anene (Action Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN) , Dr. Webster Okonkwo (National Conscience Party, NCP), Leonard Uchendu (New Nigeria People Party, NNPP) and Pastor Simon Okafor (MMMP.
These minorities will have their say, but we now know where they are coming from. However it is not so much the number as much as the fact that what INEC conducted in Anambra State is a an unlawful elections that brazenly contravened many sections of the Electoral Act and disfranchised so many, witnessed intimidation of voter, violence, intimidation and outright denial of voting materials.
We restate our stand, now shared with seventeen other campaigns that only fresh elections would be acceptable to the generality of Anambra State, and see the current divide as an opportunity for Ndi Anambra to identify their enemies, who wish that they should not vote so that their governors will be appointed from the ranks of the corrupt and inept.
For: NGIGE 2014
Chris Ngige campaign Organisation
OKELO MADUKAIFE
Short URL: http://www.osundefender.org/?p=132956

Corruption kills 80% of SMEs in Nigeria, Africa - ACCA

A new report by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), may have corroborated experts’ view that bribery and corruption is a major contributor to the demise of 80 per cent of  Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs),within the first five years of their establishment in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.
77 per cent  of accountants in sub-Saharan Africa, surveyed for a global study, believe that bribery is a major concern for businesses in the SMEs sector, and 64 per cent  said it had a  negative impact on the business environment as a whole.
Commenting on the report, Toyin Ademola from ACCA Nigeria, said: “While sub-Saharan Africa is a huge place, it is clear that there is a consensus among respondents that bribery and corruption damages a business’s reputation and makes it harder to attract investment. The big question for accountants here in Nigeria is: How do we tackle bribery and corruption?  The research respondents said the most effective methods would be whistle blowing laws and more high profile prosecutions.”
The newly published research from ACCA further stated that more than 60 per cent of respondents did not support the idea that the law should treat bribery and corruption more leniently in the SMEs sector than in the large company or public sectors; but should be tackled across board.
The report, “Combating Bribery in the SMEs sector” was conducted by ACCA among 1000 of its global members.
Toyin Ademola reiterated: “This report has a clear message for accountants, SMEs and the government here in Nigeria. The full restoration of trust and confidence in the business sector can only be achieved when people believe that business is being conducted fairly and transparently.
“By adopting a value-based approach, businesses can help themselves and, indirectly, help to achieve the wider goal of enhancing confidence in the business sector as a whole. Accountants, who have twin responsibilities to give best advice to their employers or clients and an obligation to act in the public interest, have a major part to play in this process.”
The findings reveal a concern that many SMEs are not taking the right steps to mitigate the risks of exposure to bribery and corruption. It also suggests that many businesses have been willing to mis-state financial statements to cover up for bribery and corruption and that recourse to such practices has been exacerbated by the global financial crisis.

Source

Extortion: Fashola Reads Riot Act To LASTMA Officials

Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola,yesterday warned personnel of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, (LASTMA) to desist from extorting money from motorists, saying any erring official found culpable of extortion will be prosecuted.

Fashola who spoke at the induction of the new Special Traffic Mayors and meeting with LASTMA personnel held at the LTV8 Blue Roof, Agidingbi, Ikeja, urged the officials to focus on the free flow of traffic in the state metropolis rather than arrest of erring motorists.

The governor emphatically urged LASTMA officers to allow traffic offenders to go scot free if their apprehending an offender will further cause traffic congestion.

While harping on the circulating video clip in the social media showing a junior LASTMA personnel caught by cameras demanding N8,000 bribe from a motorist for violating traffic law, Fashola assured that the erring official now at large will be prosecuted.

He said, ” If making arrest will create more traffic, let the offender go. If somebody is impeding the traffic, it is your job to let him go so that you can do your primary job. The longer motorists stay on traffic the more fuel they burn. Traffic offenders must not defeat the purpose for which you are on the road.”

Fashola urged the traffic management personnel to always report all the pot holes on the roads in the areas they are assigned to enable government rehabilitate them , saying the state Public
Works Corporation was established for this purpose.

He said, “Let us commend the citizen for exposing the fellow in the LASTMA who was demanding bribe. We will get him as soon as possible. I am sure he will have days in court. He is a bad egg that does not represent the good ones among us.”

He noted that the Lagos Traffic Law 2012 had been able to reduce accident rates in the state from 646 cases recorded to 111 monthly.

“The law has worked. Death from motorcycles was 15 monthly before but it has now dropped to 1 monthly. I am happy to inform you that from August 2013 to October 2013, no death was recorded. My first duty as a governor is to protect your lives and properties”.

Fashola revealed that plans are in the offing by his administration to convert LASTMA personnel who are contract staff to full public service staff so that they can enjoy other benefits that a permanent civil servant in the state enjoys.

Source