Nigeria’s Former National Security Adviser In N1.75 Billion Cash-For-Arms Fraud

SaharaReporters has learned of a monumental $8,853,600 (N1,751,864,867) fraud in the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) during the just-termin

NSA approved "End User for approx. $9 million arms they were not supplied Sahara Reporters Media The fraud pertains to shipments of guns and ammunitions allegedly for the fight against Boko Haram terrorists, for which the amount was allegedly allocated for the purchase of arms and ammunition, none of which seem to have ever arrived in Nigeria.

This fraud appears to have been perpetrated at a time that Nigeria was in desperate need of military hardware to fight the insurgency in the northeast of the country, with Boko Haram murdering or abducting thousands of civilians. The then President, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan, and his officials, were also openly critical of international partners, including the United States, for not selling arms to Nigeria.

The news of this particular fraud breaks only two weeks after the former the home of Mr. Dasuki was raided by State Security agents for his connection to the South Africa cash-for-arms scandal last year.  In it, $15 million cash in Nigeria funds being brought into that country was impounded by the authorities.

The shocking documents obtained by SaharaReporters include an itemized End User Certificate (EUC) dated September 2014 and bearing the stamp of the Office of the National Security Adviser. The EUC includes the purchase of 1,200 Tavor X95 Rifles, 2 million 5.56mm bullets, and 2 million 9mm bullets totaling nearly 9 million dollars.

SaharaReporters also learned that the prices of the weapons and ammunition on the EUC were suspiciously inflated, as much as 50% in some cases. SaharaReporters’ investigation has revealed that Tavor X95 rifles retail at around $1,500 (298,530 Naira) each, and that 9mm and 5.56mm rounds range from .25 cents and .36 cents (50 and 70 Naira) per round. The EUC has a suspicious bulk purchase of Tavor X95 rifles at $4,860 (967,237 Naira) each, and the ammunition costs .65 cents (129 Naira) per bullet.

Other documents obtained by SaharaReporters reveal that on June 19, 2015 Brigadier General for National Security AS Mormoni-Bashir sent a panicky letter on behalf of Mr. Dasuki requesting Tar Ideal Concepts Ltd, which is located in Israel, to provide the contents of the EUC to Nigeria noting that “the shipment is long overdue with its implications on the use of the weapons.”

The letter further stated that the weapons and ammunitions were purchased by a middleman, Carrington White Investment Limited.

SaharaReporters contacted a representative of Tar Ideal Concepts who confirmed that they worked with “Carrington White” as a middleman between the company and the Nigerian government.  Asked about the relationship between Tar Ideal Concepts, Carrington White, and the Nigerian government, the representative said Tar Ideal Concepts was responsible for selling the weapons and ammunition to the Nigerians, and Carrington White was responsible for the distribution of the munitions and weapons.

The representative added that he “was not responsible for the shipment” and only deals with the end-user.  A second letter obtained by SaharaReporters, dated June 19th 2015, also written by Brigadier General Mormoni-Bashir to the Israeli government-owned Israeli Military Industries (IMI) confirmed that the Office of the NSA had received a notice from IMI that it required an “Import License on the procurement” of 4 million rounds. According to Mormoni-Bashir, “the shipment does not require import license as an End User Certificate has already been issued to Carrington White.”

It was also revealed during the phone call with Tar Ideal Concepts representative that up till now, the IMI is still physically in possession of the ammunition being requested by Nigeria, as it has not left Israel. The Tar Ideal Concepts representative said that the company was “responsible for obtaining sales permits from the Israeli government” but that Carrington White was responsible for obtaining all relevant documents from the Nigerian government.  He also stated that Tar Ideal Concepts obtained all required documents by December 31st, 2014.
SaharaReporters reached out by phone to representatives of IMI who declined to comment on our investigation.

During the course of SaharaReporters’ investigation, it was learned that Carrington White Investments Limited, who was issued the EUC by the Office for National Security, is headed by Mr. Bestman Uwadia. Confidential sources provided a photograph of Mr. Uwadia’s international passport to SaharaReporters which states that he was born in Jos, Plateau State, in 1969. This same source told SaharaReporters that Mr. Uwadia is personally close to former President Jonathan.

SaharaReporters contacted Mr. Uwadia on his mobile phone and he at first confirmed to our correspondent that he worked with Carrington White Limited and “the shipment arrived three weeks ago,” but that he could not remember a specific date.  This statement, however, is in direct contradiction with other evidence gathered by SaharaReporters.

Mr. Uwadia became hostile to our correspondent’s questions and began denying his prior statements. He instead directed all remaining questions to the Office of the NSA.

SaharaReporters correspondents reached out to the Office of the NSA for an explanation relating to the cost of the weapons and ammunition; the reason the Nigerian military has not received the goods listed on the EUC, and their relationship with Carrington White.

One high-ranking official previously associated with the Office for the NSA admitted to our correspondent “the cost of these items looks to be too high.” In a written statement to SaharaReporters an NSA representative declared, “Only NSA is authorized to issue End User Certificates (EUC).” The official also confirmed that the EUC SaharaReporters showed them had been “legally awarded.”

Significantly, this statement described Carrington White as “authorized and recognized suppliers to the producing companies/countries.”

The statement also said, “When the Contractor couldn’t supply the items [in the EUC] immediately, NSA instructed that a warning letter should be issued to the contractor for prompt supply” adding that “the use of middle man (Agent for arms supplies) is conventional in arm [sic] purchase.”

News of this latest scandal involving the Office of the NSA follows months of controversy surrounding how Nigerian soldiers have been under-equipped to fight Boko Haram terrorists. The lack of resources and equipment for Nigerian soldiers on the frontline of the fight against Boko Haram forced many soldiers to desert or resign from their posts.

Just last week, the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, who was sacked recently, declared that he had led a military, which lacked the relevant equipment and motivation to fight Boko Haram terrorists.

source; Sahara Reporters

EFCC Charges Banker With Stealing N7 Million

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned a banker on a 16-count charge including forgery and thievery after stealing N27 million from a customer’s bank account, according to an EFCC press release.

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Bawa Momodu is being charged by the EFCC with fraud and thievery of N7 million worldstagegroup.com

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned a banker on a 16-count charge including forgery and thievery after stealing N27 million from a customer’s bank account, according to an EFCC press release.
Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, heard the case of Sterling Bank PLC, which claimed that its former staffer Bawa Momodu had in December 2012 provided forged documents to transfer the money into the account of an accomplice, Emilia Ugwandu, who is now at large.
Justice Ekwo granted N7 million to Mr. Momodu, who pleaded not guilty.
The judge also remanded a man named Festus Agadi to prison until September 23rd. The EFCC is charging Mr. Agadi with obtaining funds by false pretense. His company, Petra Services Limited, alleges that he was given N1.7 million for the purpose of purchasing a used Caterpillar Excavator Engine, which he then failed to do.
Mr. Agadi also pleaded not guilty to the crime.

2016 Governor Election: Jonathan, PDP Leadership Overrule Dickson On Expulsion Of Bayelsa Party Members

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership led by Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed met yesterday in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, to overturn the decision by the Party’s State chapter to suspend and expel several PDP members.

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Seriake Dickson, Bayelsa State Governor abusidiqu.com

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership led by Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed met yesterday in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, to overturn the decision by the Party’s State chapter to suspend and expel several PDP members.
The meeting was held in the country home of President Goodluck Jonathan amidst tight security, and attendance was strictly limited to the Board of Trustees, barring other Party leaders such as Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, D.S.P. Alameiseigha, and others, according to the embattled PDP State Chairman Colonel Sam Inokoba, who was also unable to attend.
Governor Dickson had expelled or suspended Party members including Senators and former presidential aides due to their "unruly" posture. Those affected include Emmanuel Paulker, Nimi Barigha Amange, Ayakeme Whiskey, Marie Ebikake, Waripamowei Dudafa, Ebikitin Diongoli, and Remi Kuku.
With the decision to overturn Mr. Dickson’s actions, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, the chairman of the Party’s Board of Trustees, called on all feuding PDP members and stakeholders in the State to close ranks ahead of the forthcoming governorship polls.
The State Secretary of the PDP, Godspower Keku, confirmed the development and said the decision was taken in the best interest of the party, especially with a crucial election around the corner. He also said the decision to rescind the suspensions and expulsions was made on the request of Governor Dickson, but is still subject to ratification by the State working committee, which is expected to deliberate on it soon.
Mr. Keku commended those previously disciplined for not jumping ship from the PDP for the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC), despite the trend among many former PDP members to do so

Accusation That Jonathan Left N7 Trillion Deficit Does Not Add Up

According to Nigeria’s Debt Management Office, the country’s total debt – foreign and domestic debt owed by the Federal Government and all the 36 states – was N12.062 trillion ($63.7 billion) at the end of the first quarter of 2015. At the end of 2014, it had stood at N11.2 trillion.

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Goodluck Jonathan

Did the government of Nigeria’s former president, Goodluck Jonathan, leave the newly elected administration facing a 7 trillion naira (USD$35 billion) deficit in 2015?
Nigeria’s newspapers were awash with headlines such as “Jonathan left N7 trillion deficit, says Joda” a few weeks ago. This followed an interview by the Daily Trust with the chairman of Nigeria’s Transition Committee, Ahmed Joda. This committee was set up to ensure a smooth handover from one administration to the next.
Mr. Joda was quoted as saying: “We were told at the beginning of the exercise that the government was in deficit of at least N1.3 trillion and by the end people were talking about N7 trillion; everything is in a state of collapse.”
Is there evidence for this? Could Jonathan’s government have left Nigeria with a deficit this year worth nearly 150% of the country’s 2014 budget?
Deficit or debt?
Confusion about the terms “deficit” and “debt” is common. A 2012 study in the United Kingdom found that most Britons did not understand the difference between debt and deficit and, in 2014 US fact-checking website PolitiFact found similar levels of confusion in that country.
So what’s the difference? Essentially it’s a matter of timing. A deficit is annual, and occurs when a government’s expenditure exceeds its revenues in any given year. Debt is long-term buildups year on year when governments run multiple deficits, and is the total sum of monies owed.
How big is Nigeria’s debt?
According to Nigeria’s Debt Management Office, the country’s total debt – foreign and domestic debt owed by the Federal Government and all the 36 states – was N12.062 trillion ($63.7 billion) at the end of the first quarter of 2015. At the end of 2014, it had stood at N11.2 trillion.
At a press conference on May 23, a few days before her tenure as finance minister ended, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said Nigeria owed $63.7 billion in debt, but only $21.8 billion was incurred while Goodluck Jonathan was president between May 2010 and May 2015.
Nigeria has a National Debt Management Framework that sets a self-imposed limit that debt should not exceed 25% of GDP. Debt relief brought the ratio down from 28.6% in 2006 to 11.8% in 2007, rising to 19% by 2013 until the 2014 rebasing of Nigeria’s GDP brought it down to 11%.
What deficit did the last government say Nigeria would have in 2015?
The deficit anticipated for 2015, as set out in the budget passed by the National Assembly in May, is N1.075 trillion. This amounts to about a quarter of the total budget of N4.493 trillion, and 1.12% of Nigeria’s current GDP. This is below the 1.24% projection in the 2014 budget.
In her speech presenting the 2015 budget to the public in December 2014, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala noted that the “deficit is well under the 3% of GDP encapsulated in the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007, which is also the international norm”.
A development economist who teaches at the Lagos Business School, Bongo Adi, told Africa Check: “Running a balanced budget is not always a good thing; there is a permissible level of deficit that governments are allowed to run.”
Could the actual deficit be bigger than the last government admitted?
Africa Check was shown relevant sections of an as-yet-unpublished report by Joda’s Transition Committee, which has also been published in part in other newspapers.
In it the committee claimed that, apart from the approximately N1 trillion deficit officially anticipated for 2015, an additional N3 trillion may be required during the course of this year to offset obligations incurred since the beginning of 2015, but not budgeted for by the previous government.
These would include arrears of salaries for federal and state government workers, a fuel subsidy bill, monies owed contractors, the national oil company’s “Joint Venture” contribution to oil exploration expenses, and funding for a “Marshall Plan” for the insurgency-hit northeast. However the report also emphasised the sums that make up the N3 trillion claim are merely estimates, requiring verification.
In the sections shown to Africa Check the committee also said that it is unsure about the actual age of the contractor debts, which leaves open the possibility that part or all of it may already have been captured in the total public debt figure as captured by the Debt Management Office.
Conclusion: Claim that Jonathan left Nigeria with a N7 trillion deficit for 2015 does not add up.
The deficit anticipated for 2015 in the budget passed by parliament in May is N1.075 trillion, not N7 trillion.
Even if we were to assume that the entire additional N3 trillion deficit which the Joda committee anticipated occurs – and that is currently conjecture – it would leave the deficit for the year at N4 trillion, not N7 trillion.
In summary, which ever figure proves right, the claim of a N7 trillion deficit in 2015 does not add up.
This report was first published by Africa Check, a non-profit organisation that promotes accuracy in public debate and the media. We have their permission to republish.

President Buhari Officially Appoints New Chief Executives For Nigeria Petroleum Corporation And Nigerian Communication Commission

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu as the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).  

Prof. Umaru Danbatta and Emmanuel Kachikwu appointed by Pres. Buhari to head NCC and NNPC respectively

Dr. Kachikwu, who was the Executive Vice Chairman and General Counsel of Exxon-Mobil (Africa), is to take over from Dr. Joseph Thlama Dawha.
Dr. Kachikwu hails from Onicha-Ugbo in Delta State.
He is a first class graduate of Law from the University of Nigeria,  Nsukka and the Nigerian Law School.
The new NNPC Chief Executive also has Masters and Doctorate Degrees in Law from the  Harvard Law School.
He started his working career with the Nigerian/American Merchant Bank before moving on to Texaco Nigeria Limited where he remained for about eight years before joining ExxonMobil.
President Buhari has also approved the appointment of Professor Umaru Garba Danbatta as the new Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Prof. Danbatta, who holds a Doctorate Degree in Electronic Engineering, takes over from Dr. Eugene Juwah whose tenure expired on July 29, 2015.
The new NCC Chief Executive’s other academic qualifications include a Bachelors Degree in Electronic Engineering and Telecommunications as well as a Masters Degree in the same field.
He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and has had a meritorious career in which he rose to become Professor of Electrical Engineering and Electronics at Bayero University, Kano, specializing in Telecommunications Engineering and Information and Communications Technology.
Before his new appointment, Prof. Danbatta held top management and leadership positions at different times including Head of Department, Dean Of Faculty, Director, Centre for Information Technology, Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (Kano Branch), Deputy Vice Chancellor and Acting Vice Chancellor.
His appointment as Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC is for five years in the first instance.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 4, 2015

Governor Dickson Has Failed Woefully - Democracy Group

The Bayelsa Democracy and Development Initiative (BDDI) a social-economic political forum has described the Governor Seriake Dickson administration as a total monumental sham who has performed woefully in all deliverable of good governance.

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Seriake Dickson, Governor of Bayelsa State newtelegraphonline

The Bayelsa Democracy and Development Initiative (BDDI) a social-economic political forum has described the Governor Seriake Dickson administration as a total monumental sham who has performed woefully in all deliverable of good governance.
The group has been unequivocal about Governor Dickson being unelectable since he could not provide basic essential social amenities and services to the State, and has now thrown its weight behind architect Reuben Okoya, who they believed could do better if emerge as governor in the coming election.
In the statement, Ekiyor Konrad, the Executive Secretary of BDDI, said there is an absence of clear vision by the Dickson-led government.
"BDDI has reviewed that state of governance in Bayelsa state and concluded that beyond the lopsided and late payment of salaries and wages in the state and the periodic uncoordinated awarded of contracts in state, the government of Seriake Dickson has not fulfilled the mandate given to him in 2012 to govern Bayelsa state," the statement read.
"It is trite to state that the main purpose of government is to serve the people through the state is still a mirage, while Yenagoa, the state capital remains an urban slum, a situation caused by the lack of a comprehensive development blueprint. Disorderliness and lawlessness in the state have become the orders of the day while the absence of governance in very noticeable."
"Having looked at the major players and jostlers for the December 2015 elections in the state, the BDDI believes that only a tested and experienced technocrat/ Administrator with a track record of service, talent, skill, integrity and courage can rescue the people from the current dangerous drift, knowing full well the resolve by the people to reject typical politicians."

TOP 10 RICHEST PERSONALITIES IN NIGERIA 2015

10] MOHAMMED INDIMI



AGE: 66

OCCUPATION: Oil Business

NET WORTH: $670 Million (2014)


Mohammed Indimi is the founder and chairman of Oriental Energy Resources, Limited. This
company has interest in the oil sector, especially in the Nigerian Upstream Oil and Gas sector. Mohammed Indimi founded his company in 1990 and has expanded the company’s portfolio that it now has assets in Offshore Nigeria. These assets include the Ebok Field (OML 67), Okwok Field (OML 67, and OML 115).

In the year 2014, Forbes listed Mohammed Indimi as the Africa's number 37th richest man.


9] JIM OVIA



AGE: 61

OCCUPATION: Banking

NET WORTH: $850 Million (2014)


Jim Ovia is the founder of Zenith Bank Group, a bank he is the largest individual shareholder with about 9.3% stake. He is also an investor in real estate across Nigeria. His other assets include Visafone, a mobile telecommunication outfit.

In August 2014, Jim Ovia commenced the construction of $1.5 billion petrochemical complex in Akwa-Ibom State Nigeria.Forbes listed Jim Ovia as the 30th richest man in Africa in the year 2014.


8] ORJI UZOR KALU



AGE: 55

OCCUPATION: Diversified

NET WORTH: $1 Billion (2014)


Orji Uzor Kalu is the chairman of SLOK Holding and the Daily Sun and New Telegraph newspapers in Nigeria, who served as the governor of Abia State, Nigeria from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007. Prior to his election, he served as the chairman of the Borno Water Board and the chairman of the Cooperative and Commerce Bank Limited. Kalu was also a member of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) and the chairman of the PPA Board of Trustees. He was the party's candidate for president in the April 2007 general election.



7] TONY .O ELUMELU



AGE: 52

OCCUPATION: Bussines tycoon: Investments

NET WORTH: $1 Billion (2014)

Tony O. Elumelu is an economist by training, a visionary entrepreneur and a philanthropist. Tony is the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, the

United Bank for Africa, Transcorp and founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation. Elumelu holds the Nigerian national honours, the Commander of the Order of Nigeria (CON) andMember of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR). In 2011




6] ABDULSAMAD RABIU



AGE: 55

OCCUPATION: Business tycoon: cement, sugar, flour

NET WORTH: $1 Billion(2014)


AbdulSamad Isyaku Rabiu CON is a Nigerian businessman. His father, Khalifah Isyaku Rabiu was one of Nigeria's foremost industrialists in the 1970s and 1980s. Abdul Samad is the founder and chairman of BUA Group, a Nigerian conglomerate with interests in manufacturing, infrastructure and agriculture with a revenue in excess of $2.5 billion. He is also the chairman of Nigerian Bank of Industry.

In 2013, Forbes estimated Abdul Samad's wealth at $1.2 billion, bringing him to the global billionaire's club.


5] FEMI OTEDOLA



AGE: 52

OCCUPATION: Chairman of Forte Oil Plc

NET WORTH: $1.06 Billion (June 2015)

Femi Otedola is a Nigerian businessman. He is Chairman of Forte Oil Plc, and appeared as one of only two Nigerians (alongside Aliko Dangote) to appear on the 2009 Forbes list of 793 dollar-denominated billionaires in the world, with an estimated net worth of over US$1.2 billion. Femi Otedola is the Nigerian President and Chief Executive Officer of Zenon Petroleum and Gas limited.



4] THEOPHILUS DANJUMA



AGE: 72

OCCUPATION: Bussiness tycoon: oil

NET WORTH: $1.1 Billion (June 2015)


General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma GCON FSS psc is a Nigerian Jukun soldier, politician andmulti-millionaire businessman and philanthropist. He was Nigerian Army Chief of Army Staff from July 1975 to October 1979. He was also Minister of Defence under Olusegun Obasanjo. Danjuma is chairman of South Atlantic Petroleum (SAPETRO).


3] FOLORUNSHO ALAKIJA



AGE: 64

OCCUPATION: Business tycoon: oil and printing industries

NET WORTH: $2.2 billion(June 2015)

Folorunsho Alakija is a Nigerian businesswoman who has replaced Isabel dos Santos as the richest African woman, and also is the richest woman of African descent in the world. She is a business tycoon involved in the fashion, oil and printing industries. She is the group managing director of The Rose of Sharon Group which consists of The Rose of Sharon Prints & Promotions Limited and Digital Reality Prints Limited and the executive vice-chairman of Famfa Oil Limited. Alakija is ranked by Forbes as the richest woman in Nigeria with an estimated net worth of $2.6 billion As of 2015.




2] MIKE ADENUGA



AGE: 62

OCCUPATION: Founder of Globacom, Chairman of Conoil

NET WORTH: $4.1 billion (June 2015)

Mike is a Nigerian business tycoon, and one of the richest black people in the world. His company Globacom controls Nigeria's second-largest telecom operator, he also owns stakes in theEquitorial Trust Bank and oil exploration firm Conoil (formerly Consolidated Oil Company). Forbes has estimated his net worth at $4.6 billion as of March 2013 which makes him second wealthiest Nigerian behind Aliko Dangote.



1] ALIKO DANGOTE



AGE: 58

OCCUPATION: Chairman & CEO of Dangote Group

NET WORTH: US$17.7 billion (June 2015)

Dangote is a Nigerian billionaire businessman, who owns the Dangote Group, which has interests in commodities. The company operates in Nigeria and other African countries, including Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, South Africa, Togo and Zambia. As of January 2015, he had an estimated net worth of US$18.6 billion.

Dangote is ranked by Forbes magazine as the 67th richest person in the world and the richest in Africa.[ He surpassed Saudi-Ethiopian billionaire Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi in 2013 by over $2.6 billion to become the world's richest person of African descent.