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Forgery: HEDA Refutes Media Reports
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre has refuted a media report claiming that the group’s Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, was indicted by a police report following petitions by those accused of fraud in the OPL 245 scam.
A statement delivered by HEDA Secretary, Suleiman Arigbabu, revealed that an online media had earlier reported that police have indicted the HEDA’s chairman on emails alleged by some of the accused to have been forged.
According to HEDA, one of the main suspects is former Petroleum Minister, Dan Etiebet, who hired a lawyer and former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, to petition HEDA based on the group’s widespread campaign and litigation aimed at bringing crime suspects to book at courts in Milan, Italy.
The HEDA Executive Secretary, Suleiman Arigbabu, urged journalists to uphold the ethics of the profession and avoid being used by vested interests to the detriment of public good.
HEDA maintained that the report by online medium, claiming police have indicted Mr Suraju based on a ‘report’ by the IGP Monitoring Unit of the Nigeria Police Force was false.
“The intention of the sponsors of the fake report is to distract public attention from the subject matter of an investigation that is already receiving professional attention of the IGP Monitoring Unit, the Interpol and Cybercrimes Unit of the Police Force.
“Two journalists, one from the Cable News and another from The Nation, called Mr Suraju to get his reaction to the purported police report and claiming to have received a certified true copy of same. But Mr. Suraju declined to give any comment since he was unaware of any such report”, HEDA stated.
The group stressed that an immediate reach out to the IGP Monitoring Unit dismissed the existence of any such report, noting, “To an average discerning mind and professional reporter, it is basic reasoning to detect this report as fallacious, unprofessional, distractive and poorly concocted by its producers,” Arigbabu said, urging journalists to realise that the fight against corruption is one of its core responsibilities.
Giving details, the anti-corruption group said the Police IGP Monitoring Unit had invited Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, in his capacity as chairman of HEDA Resource Centre, on March 27, based on a petition by a lawyer, Kanu Agabi, on behalf of Mr Bello Adoke, SAN, entitled “Forgery of Document for Unlawful Purposes of Interference with the Course of Justice”.
It said though, the name of HEDA Resource Centre or Mr Suraju were not mentioned in the petition, the invitation was received by the organisation in good faith and as an opportunity to assist the police in its investigation.
“It is important, as a reminder to the public, that the subject of the petition was forgery of an email in which Nigeria as a sovereign state was shortchanged to the tune of $1.1billion and HEDA and its international partners have been involved in the advocacy for recovery of this money and prosecution of principal actors behind the heist,” the group said.
It added that to the delight of HEDA and its partners, Nigeria has recovered $75million of this money and the processes for the recovery of the balance are subjects of judicial processes in both United Kingdom and Italy.
“Every other fabrication of ‘cyber stalking, giving false information to ‘misled’ public officer, injurious falsehood and criminal defamation with intent to incite’ can only exist in the imagination of the purveyor of the fake report and their collaborators in and out of government.”
HEDA said confirming its legal status through the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) is as simple as visiting the website of the commission, even for journalists and media houses, just like the IGP Monitoring Unit did in the presence of Mr. Suraju during one of his visits.
The group said though, the legal status and background of the organisation was not the subject of investigation as contained in the petition.
It argued that since its registration on February 24, 2004, HEDA in its legal capacity as an incorporated body of trustees has instituted several legal actions at local and international levels, reserved for only organisations with a legal status conferred.
“HEDA do reckon, as an organisation, that some despicable characters who obviously are feeling the heat of the investigations and afraid of the potential outcomes have suddenly become jittery, especially with the overwhelming evidence and materials supplied by HEDA to the police system in the course of this investigation.
“We shall continue to pursue every legitimate and legal process to see this matter to a logical conclusion and ensure Nigeria recovers its criminally diverted fund from all those beneficiaries of proceeds of criminal activities”, the group stressed.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
