Wednesday 7 October 2015

HALLIBURTON: Prosecute those indicted, Nnamani urges Buhari

By Laide Akinboade-Oriere
ABUJA—Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, yesterday, tasked President Muhammadu Buhari not to limit his prosecution of corrupt public officials only to the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
He insisted that all those indicted in the $182 million Halliburton bribery scandal in Nigeria must be prosecuted like their accomplises in Britain and USA.
Ken Nnamani
Ken Nnamani
He spoke just as a former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mrs Farida Waziri, and former Supreme Justice, Hon. Justice G. A. Oguntade, called on Nigerians to support the anti-graft war declared by President Buhari.
They spoke at the public presentation of a book, “Nigeria: The way through corruption to the well-being of a people”, authored by Dr Abdullahi Shehu, an associate Professor of Criminology at the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, in Abuja.
Nnamani said every act of corruption must be punished in order to rid the country of the menace.
He argued that limiting prosecution to those who served under President Jonathan would be inappropriate in view of the enormity of the damage corruption has done to the country.
The former Senate President said many Nigerians trooped out to vote during the last Presidential election   to confer legitimacy on the government of President
Buhari, because of his campaign promise to rid the country of the evils of corruption.
According to him,   “To who much is given much is also expected. One of his electoral promises was that he was going rid the country of the cankerworm of corruption but when I read in papers that his searchlight would be beamed on those that participated in Government of President Goodluck Jonathan, which if it is correct, that will be inappropriate in my view.
“Key issues that brought us international disrespect such as Halliburton scandal cannot be swept under carpet. Some people have gone to Jail in Britain and United States of America on the same matter,” he said.
Nnamani, insisted that this international case that had given Nigeria bad image should not just be glossed over no matter those that are involved.
However, former EFCC Chairman, Farida Waziri, said for the anti-corruption to succeed, all Nigerians should support the efforts of the current administration of President Buhari who demonstrated political will to fight the battle.
She also called for general attitudinal change, saying corruption was not limited to looting of the public treasury.
The author of the book, Dr Abdullahi Shehu said he was inspired to write the book this time because of the urgent need to redeem the country.
He noted that corruption affects everybody even the dead and unborn and drains the resources of the nation.
Vice Chancellor of the National Open University, Prof. Vincent Ado-Tenebe said the book written by an experience author was an indication that there was hope for the future of Nigeria.
He noted that the book has drawn the attention of the nation to the need to go back to the drawing board in trying to rid the country of corruption.
He said the book has indicated clearly the need for dignity of labour, respect for culture and demonstrating integrity in whatever one does.
source- vanguardng

Ministerial list: I am disappointed, says Balarabe Musa

By Henry Umoru, Joseph Erunke & Agaju Madugba

A former Governor of Kaduna state, Malam Balarabe Musa, says he is disappointed at President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial list arguing that that there is nothing spectacular about the names.
According to him, “why did it take the President four months to come up with these names? I believe this is the question that many informed Nigerians should ask.
“These are the same old names, ordinary Nigerians who the President knows and he must have even met them several times. So, what is particular about them that he wasted so much time in appointing them ministers.
“But there are about two or three who I can say are distinguished among them like, Audu Ogbeh who I have known for a very long time.
We were together during the Second Republic. “He was a minister while I was governor then. Audu Ogbeh has an outstanding public record that everybody knows.”
The Senate President, Bukola Saraki announced to the Senators 21 ministerial nominees.
They were contained in the list forwarded to him last week Wednesday, September 30 by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The nominees are, Abubakar Malami (SAN): Abdurahman Bello Dambazzau; Aisha Jumai Al Hassan; Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Babatunde Raji Fashola; Adebayo Shittu; Solomon Dalong; Senator Chris Ngige; Rotimi Amaechi; and Chief Audu Ogbeh.
Others are, Mrs. Amina Ibrahim; Dr. Osagie Ehaneri; Emmanuel Kachukwu; Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Eng. Suleiman Adamu; Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; Hon. Ahmed Musa Bello; Ibrahim Usman Jubrin; Senator Hadi Serika; Senator Udo Udoma.
Senate President Saraki opened the sealed envelope at 10:45am.
According to him, the President sent the list to him through the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, adding that the list contained the first batch of nominees.
Senator #Saraki who disclosed that the Senate would commence screening, tuesday 13, said that President #Buhari had told him that subsequent names would come shortly.
source- vanguardng