Jefferson Scandal, $145 PTF Fund… 3 Reasons Nigerians Worry About Atiku’s Possible Emergence as President – Newstrends
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Jefferson Scandal, $145 PTF Fund… 3 Reasons Nigerians Worry About Atiku’s Possible Emergence as President

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Atiku Abubakar

On May 28, Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s vice president between 1999 and 2007, emerged as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant for the upcoming 2023 general election.

Atiku’s latest emergence made it the fifth time he would attempt to be Nigeria’s president. He had made unsuccessful attempts under the All Progressives Congress (APC) and also with his current party, the PDP.

While the Adamawa State-born stands a chance in the 2023 election, being the candidate of a major party, several Nigerians are worried about his possible emergence. Here are some of the reasons.

THE WILLIAM JEFFERSON SCANDAL AND VISA DENIAL BY THE USA

In 2004, Atiku, then the vice president of Nigeria, was mentioned in a bribery and corruption scandal involving William Jefferson, a US congressman from New Orleans.

Jefferson was accused of demanding a $500,000 bribe from two telecommunication firms in America to help facilitate the award of contracts in Nigeria.

During an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the congressman was videotaped while receiving $100,000 bribe from an investor with a claim that it was meant for Atiku.

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A subsequent raid of Jefferson’s home in Washington also revealed that he had cash stuffed in frozen food boxes.

The congressman ended up spending five years in jail, and Atiku denied being in any deal with him.

“I have consistently maintained that I had no improper relationship with former Congressman Jefferson. My relationship with him was purely official and it was in an effort to attract foreign investors to Nigeria,” the vice president said.

Despite being later vindicated by a Jury’s decision to acquit Jefferson of trying to compromise Atiku, the vice president was denied visa entry into the United States after his tenure ended as vice president in 2007.

TRANSFER OF $40M BY ‘JENNIFER DOUGLAS’ INTO US BANK ACCOUNTS

In 2010, The US Senate alleged in one of its special reports that Jennifer Douglas, Atiku’s fourth wife, helped him move over $40 million to the United States.

A Senate committee claimed the money was ‘suspect funds’ sent from banks outside the US into over 30 bank accounts opened by Atiku’s wife between 2000 and 2008.

The committee also claimed that the US Security and Exchange Commission alleged that Atiku’s wife received over $2 million from Siemens AG, a major German company, during the same period.

The report stated that Siemens AG not only pleaded guilty to the charges but also confirmed that it made the payments into Douglas’ account. Atiku’s wife would however maintain that she was innocent.

Despite the weighty allegations, Atiku said he was not corrupt and that anyone who had anything against him should come forward with it.

In all, the former vice president has not been a regular visitor to the United States, and many think that’s because he could be arrested.

OBASANJO’S CLAIM THAT ATIKU STOLE $145M PTDF FUNDS

In 2014, Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria, published a three-volume memoir titled My Watch.

In Chapter 36 of the book, Obasanjo linked Atiku to the embezzlement of $20 million, which his administration was supposed to deploy for Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).

The former president also claimed another $125 million to fund PTDF during the 2003 fiscal year was mismanaged by Atiku.

However, while testifying before the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the PTDF funds, Atiku said Obasanjo should be held accountable for the mismanagement of funds at the agency, and not him.

Atiku also alleged that the money ‘got missing’ during the debate on the proposed third term for Obasanjo.

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It’s illegal to declare suspects wanted, Falana tackles DHQ

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It’s illegal to declare suspects wanted, Falana tackles DHQ

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has faulted the declaration of eight persons wanted by the Defence Headquarters over the killing of 17 soldiers in Okuama community of Delta State.

He said it was illegal to do so without obtaining a court order.

He stated this in a statement released on Thursday and warned the military against bungling the case of the slain soldiers.

Falana said, “The authorities of the armed forces should be made to realise that the military cannot arrest, detain, investigate and charge civilian suspects with any offence whatsoever.”

“We have also read the eight people alleged to be involved in the cruel murder of the soldiers have been declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters. It is trite law that the police and security agencies lack the power to declare any suspect wanted without a court order,” he stated.

He cited the rulings of judges in a number of cases including Benedit Peters v Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to buttress his point.

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Third Mainland Bridge will be reopened in seven days – Minister

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Third Mainland Bridge will be reopened in seven days – Minister

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi,
says the Third Mainland Bridge will be reopened in seven days time.
He announced this on Thursday during an inspection of the bridge along with members of the Senate Committee on Works.
“In seven days Nigerians will be able to ply this road,” he said.
Umahi also said the Federal Government planned to install Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) on the bridge and under it to reduce illegal sand mining around the area.
Currently, he said the lane marking was being done, adding, “When the lane marking is over, we will open the bridge but formally it will be commissioned by Mr. President when he is going to flag off the coastal road.”

The Federal Government on January 9, this year closed the 11.8km bridge in Lagos for a three-month comprehensive rehabilitation.

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Fresh grid collapse plunges Nigeria into nationwide blackout

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Fresh grid collapse plunges Nigeria into nationwide blackout

The electricity grid collapsed on Thursday, plunging the country into blackout, the second time in three months in 2024.

Data from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) showed the grid collapsed at about 4pm on Thursday, dropping from 2,984 megawatts (MW) to zero within an hour.

All the 21 plants connected to the grid stopped operations by 5pm.

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), in a statement on Thursday, said the current power outage was due to a system failure from the national grid.

“The system collapsed at about 16:28 hours today 28 March 2024, causing the outage currently being experienced across our franchise area,” AEDC said.

“We appeal for your understanding as all stakeholders are working hard to restore normal supply.”

In a notice to its customers, the management of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) said the system collapse resulted in a loss of power supply across its network.

“We are currently working with our partners as we hope for speedy restoration of the grid. We will keep you updated as soon as the power supply is restored. Kindly bear with us,” EKEDC said.

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