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Judges’ Raid, DSS, Amaechi …What To Do, If I Were Buhari

Published

9 years ago

October 24, 2016

One of the pillars on which the Buhari Presidency rests is the War Against Corruption, a subject which many Nigerians believe was well-thought out. Their position is strengthened by the high credentials and pedigree of the driver of the crusade.
President Muhammadu Buhari, before the 2015 general elections, was acclaimed as a simple, modest and disciplined leader, not given to the known habits of ostentatious living, corruption and abuse of office. It was indeed these qualities that made his averment to fight corruption believable.
It was also on the crest of those values that Muhammadu Buhari became President. He matched public expectations with his public declaration of assets with as little as N3 million cash in earnings, a few cows and a plot of land in Port Harcourt, which location he was yet to be told.
That meant one of few things. That it was a mere promise by the then Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. That Buhari, at the time of declaring his assets, did not have valid documents, including C of O, to lay claim to such asset. Or that it was a post-declaration, pending when he would get such land.
Whatever interpretations Nigerians may draw from that land claim, it showed transparency on the part of the President, even if, were such a gift given to former President Goodluck Jonathan by say, the Kaduna State Government, it would be revoked. That is a talk for another day.
But truth is, Buhari carries with him the reputation of one capable of fighting corruption of any kind to its logical conclusion. A key hindrance, however, might well be the measure of goodwill he enjoyed, by way of campaign and election sponsorship by defecting Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, alleged to have diverted huge funds belonging to their states into his Presidential Project.
How would Buhari fight persons who contributed to his campaign project, since it was clear that he did not have the required resources to finance his presidential project? Or is it that such funds diversion did not rise to the level of corruption since they were channeled to a ‘noble cause’, the cause of helping to elect a pious man?
But by far the major criticism of the war against corruption, even among foreign commentators is that it is selective. That it targets mainly opposition politicians whose actions threatened his electoral fortunes, in the three instances, he took shots at the presidency
This is why many believe that the recent raid and subsequent arrest of judges by men of the Directorate of State Services, DSS, in a Gestapo style sting operation, followed same selective pattern. Most Nigerians agree that there is corruption in the Judiciary but believe that no judge, friendly to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC- led) Federal Government would have suffered such embarrassment in the hands of the executive arm.
That is why it did not come as a surprise to many when two of the affected judges cried out that they were being hounded for not doing the bidding of agents of the government concerning election cases involving the ruling APC.
Last Friday, many Nigerian national daily newspapers were awash with damning headlines on the cries of one of the judges, a second within days.
The Punch of Friday October 21, 2016 has as its banner lead headline: ‘Another Judge Says Amaechi Asked Him To Influence Judgments’.
The Guardian led with, ‘Another Judge Blames Chibuike For Arrest By DSS’, while, The Sun screamed, ‘Amaechi Offered Me Bribe To Sack Fayose; – Allegation Mere Fiction, Says Transport Minister.
Even the pro – APC Nation Newspaper had the headline, Judge: Amaechi Asked Me to Help Nullify Fayose’s Election; – Justice Ngwuta’s Allegatioin Is Fiction – Minister.
The publications stemmed from a petition by one of the affected judicial officers, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, and the National Judicial Council (NJC).
Dated October 18, 2016, the petition chronicled events that led to the raid of his home and eventual arrest. In brief, Justice Ngwuta alleged that he was a victim of executive attack for refusing to compromise his ‘sacred oath’ to uphold truth and justice.
Justice Ngwuta pointedly accused former Rivers State Governor and Transportation Minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and his Science and Technology counterpart, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu of asking him to help influence the Supreme Court’s decision in some election cases.
According to the Justice, his ordeal was connected to his refusal to accede to the requests made by the minister.
Justice Ngwuta’s letter which came 48 hours after that by Justice John Okoro, who was also arrested by the DSS operatives, had accused Amaechi of asking him (Okoro) to influence the apex court’s decision on poll judgments in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Abia States.
Following in Justice Okoro’s footsteps, Ngwuta in his petition to the National Judicial Council (NJC), traced his ordeal to between 2013 and 2014, when, he alleged that Amaechi approached him at a function at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja, to help set aside judgment on Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose’s election in order to make way for Fayose’s predecessor, and now Minister of Solid Minerals, Kayode Fayemi.
His words: “My present plight started sometime between 2013 and 2014. I represented the then CJN in an event organised at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.
‘Honourable Rotimi Amaechi came in late and sat next to me at the high table. He introduced himself to me and we exchanged contacts. A few weeks later, Fayose’s case was determined in the Court of Appeal.
‘Amaechi called me by 6.45 am and said he had come to see me, but was told I had left for the office, when he said he could return in the evening. I demanded to know what he wanted, but he would not tell me.
‘He didn’t come that evening, but came the following morning when I was already prepared to go to work.
‘He begged me to ensure Fayose’s election was set aside and another election ordered for his friend Fayemi, to contest. I told him I would not help him and that even if I was on the panel, I would have only my one vote.
‘After the Rivers Governorship election was determined by the Court of Appeal, he called to tell me his ‘ears were full’ and he would like to tell me what he heard. I told him I was out of Abuja at the time. On my return, he came in the evening and even before he sat down, he barked, ‘you have seen Wike’.
After the Supreme Court affirmed the election of Nyesom Wike, Amaechi also called him on phone and said ‘Oga is not happy’.
Transportation Minister Amaechi denied these allegations, describing them as fiction and part of a larger plan to pull him down at all cost.
Pulling someone innocent down is a grave moral, even criminal offence that should not be swept under the carpet, just as the allegations raised by Justices Okoro and Ngwuta.
To inject the needed credibility into the anti-corruption campaign, if I were Buhari, I would instruct that the claims of the Judges and Amaechi be spot-checked.
For instance, which event did both Amaechi and Ngwuta attend and when? That is very easy to find out. Next, after ascertaining that day, were there telephone calls? Affected communication service providers can easily ascertain and even produce transcripts. Did Amaechi and the Judge meet again in the Judge’s home after decision on the Rivers’ governorship elections? That too can be verified.
If I were Buhari, to prove that I am high above such vendetta as alleged by the Judges, I would institute a probe or a judicial inquest with a view to ascertaining truth of the matter.
My Agony is that there are earlier allegations, even valid judicial reports, yet to be attended to and so there may not be any urgency on the current one. Case closed.

Soye Wilson Jamabo

Featured

INEC To Unveil New Party Registration Portal As Applications Hit 129

Published

24 hours ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it has now received a total of 129 applications from associations seeking registration as political parties.

The update was provided during the commission’s regular weekly meeting held in Abuja, yesterday.

According to a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, seven new applications were submitted within the past week, adding to the previous number.

“At its regular weekly meeting held today, Thursday 10th July 2025, the commission received a further update on additional requests from associations seeking registration as political parties.

“Since last week, seven more applications have been received, bringing the total number so far to 129. All the requests are being processed,” the commission stated.

The commission revealed the introduction of a new digital platform for political party registration. The platform is part of the Party Financial Reporting and Auditing System and aims to streamline the registration process.

Olumekun disclosed that final testing of the portal would be completed within the next week.

“INEC also plans to release comprehensive guidelines to help associations file their applications using the new system.

“Unlike the manual method used in previous registration, the Commission is introducing a political party registration portal, which is a module in our Party Financial Reporting and Auditing System.

“This will make the process faster and seamless. In the next week, the commission will conclude the final testing of the portal before deployment.

“Thereafter, the next step for associations that meet the requirements to proceed to the application stage will be announced. The commission will also issue guidelines to facilitate the filing of applications using the PFRAS,” the statement added.

In the meantime, the list of new associations that have submitted applications has been made available to the public on INEC’s website and other official platforms.

Featured

Tinubu Signs Four Tax Reform Bills Into Law …Says Nigeria Open For Business

Published

2 weeks ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

President Bola Tinubu yesterday signed into law four tax reform bills aimed at transforming Nigeria’s fiscal and revenue framework.

The four bills include: the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.

They were passed by the National Assembly after months of consultations with various interest groups and stakeholders.

The ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa, yesterday.

The ceremony was witnessed by the leadership of the National Assembly and some legislators, governors, ministers, and aides of the President.

The presidency had earlier stated that the laws would transform tax administration in the country, increase revenue generation, improve the business environment, and give a boost to domestic and foreign investments.

“When the new tax laws become operational, they are expected to significantly transform tax administration in the country, leading to increased revenue generation, improved business environment, and a boost in domestic and foreign investments,” Special Adviser to the President on Media, Bayo Onanuga said on Wednesday.

Before the signing of the four bills, President Tinubu had earlier yesterday, said the tax reform bills will reset Nigeria’s economic trajectory and simplify its complex fiscal landscape.

Announcing the development via his official X handle, yesterday, the President declared, “In a few hours, I will sign four landmark tax reform bills into law, ushering in a bold new era of economic governance in our country.”

Tinubu made a call to investors and citizens alike, saying, “Let the world know that Nigeria is open for business, and this time, everyone has a fair shot.”

He described the bills as not just technical adjustments but a direct intervention to ease burdens on struggling Nigerians.

“These reforms go beyond streamlining tax codes. They deliver the first major, pro-people tax cuts in a generation, targeted relief for low-income earners, small businesses, and families working hard to make ends meet,” Tinubu wrote.

According to the President, “They will unify our fragmented tax system, eliminate wasteful duplications, cut red tape, restore investor confidence, and entrench transparency and coordination at every level.”

He added that the long-standing burden of Nigeria’s tax structure had unfairly weighed down the vulnerable while enabling inefficiency.

The tax reforms, first introduced in October 2024, were part of Tinubu’s post-subsidy-removal recovery plan, aimed at expanding revenue without stifling productivity.

However, the bills faced turbulence at the National Assembly and amongst some state governors who rejected its passing in 2024.

At the NASS, the bills sparked heated debate, particularly around the revenue-sharing structure, which governors from the North opposed.

They warned that a shift toward derivation-based allocations, especially with VAT, could tilt fiscal balance in favour of southern states with stronger consumption bases.

After prolonged dialogue, the VAT rate remained at 7.5 per cent, and a new exemption was introduced to shield minimum wage earners from personal income tax.

By May 2025, the National Assembly passed the harmonised versions with broad support, driven in part by pressure from economic stakeholders and international observers who welcomed the clarity and efficiency the reforms promised.

In his tweet, Tinubu stressed that this is just the beginning of Nigeria’s tax evolution.

“We are laying the foundation for a tax regime that is fair, transparent, and fit for a modern, ambitious Nigeria.

“A tax regime that rewards enterprise, protects the vulnerable, and mobilises revenue without punishing productivity,” he stated.

He further acknowledged the contributions of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, the National Assembly, and Nigeria’s subnational governments.

The President added, “We are not just signing tax bills but rewriting the social contract.

“We are not there yet, but we are firmly on the road.”

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Senate Issues 10-Day Ultimatum As NNPCL Dodges ?210trn Audit Hearing

Published

2 weeks ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

The Senate has issued a 10-day ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over its failure to appear before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts probing alleged financial discrepancies amounting to over ?210 trillion in its audited reports from 2017 to 2023.

Despite being summoned, no officials or external auditors from NNPCL showed up yesterday.

However, representatives from the representatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and Department of State Services were present.

Angered by the NNPCL’s absence, the committee, yesterday, issued a 10-day ultimatum, demanding the company’s top executives to appear before the panel by July 10 or face constitutional sanctions.

A letter from NNPCL’s Chief Financial Officer, Dapo Segun, dated June 25, was read at the session.

It cited an ongoing management retreat and requested a two-month extension to prepare necessary documents and responses.

The letter partly read, “Having carefully reviewed your request, we hereby request your kind consideration to reschedule the engagement for a period of two months from now to enable us to collate the requested information and documentation.

“Furthermore, members of the Board and the senior management team of NNPC Limited are currently out of the office for a retreat, which makes it difficult to attend the rescheduled session on Thursday, 26th June, 2025.

“While appreciating the opportunity provided and the importance of this engagement, we reassure you of our commitment to the success of this exercise. Please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”

But lawmakers rejected the request.

The Committee Chairman, Senator Aliyu Wadada, said NNPCL was not expected to submit documents, but rather provide verbal responses to 11 key questions previously sent.

“For an institution like NNPCL to ask for two months to respond to questions from its own audited records is unacceptable,” Wadada stated.

“If they fail to show up by July 10, we will invoke our constitutional powers. The Nigerian people deserve answers,” he warned.

Other lawmakers echoed similar frustrations.

Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) insisted that NNPCL’s Group CEO, Bayo Ojulari, must personally lead the delegation at the next hearing.

The Tide reports that Ojulari took over from Mele Kyari on April 2, 2025.

Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi (Ebonyi North) said the two-month request suggested the company had no answers, but the committee would still grant a fair hearing by reconvening on July 10.

Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) warned the NNPCL against undermining the Senate, saying, “If they fail to appear again, Nigerians will know the Senate is not a toothless bulldog.”

Last week, the Senate panel grilled Segun and other top executives over what they described as “mind-boggling” irregularities in NNPCL’s financial statements.

The Senate flagged ?103 trillion in accrued expenses, including ?600 billion in retention fees, legal, and auditing costs—without supporting documentation.

Also questioned was another ?103 trillion listed under receivables. Just before the hearing, NNPCL submitted a revised report contradicting the previously published figures, raising more concerns.

The committee has demanded detailed answers to 11 specific queries and warned that failure to comply could trigger legislative consequences.