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Malabu oil probe: EFCC sacks prosecutor accused of taking bribes

Published

1 month ago

April 5, 2024

Malabu oil probe: EFCC sacks prosecutor accused of taking bribes

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has parted ways with one of its top prosecutors amid a sprawling probe into how a high-profile case was bungled last month.

The anti-corruption office received a severe reprimand from a federal judge last week during a verdict on the criminal bribery case involving former attorney-general Bello Adoke, the proprietors of Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd, and multinational giants Eni and Shell. Justice Abubakar Kutigi threw out the case, which the EFCC first filed in 2020 before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, saying the agency wasted four years yet was still unable to prove key elements of its indictment.

The case was the last serious attempt by the Nigerian government to impose accountability on organisations and individuals with suspected ties to the vast corruption that has for years plagued the possession of Nigeria’s deepwater OPL 245 oil block. The new Tinubu administration had already abandoned the civil liability strand of the controversial deal in favour of a lucrative business deal with the oil firms, Peoples Gazette previously reported.

Officials managing the situation told The Gazette the EFCC brass moved quickly to castigate Offem Uket as the wellspring of untold humiliation the agency suffered in court after he suddenly said there was no inculpatory evidence to send Mr Adoke and another suspect Abubakar Aliyu to jail or foist criminal liability on Eni and Shell.

Mr Uket, one of the agency’s prolific prosecutors who earlier handled cases involving Stella Oduah, Peter Nwaoboshi and Sambo Dasuki, was terminated because the agency’s chairman, Ola Olukoyede, was particularly incensed by the prosecutor’s alleged misconduct, according to multiple officials briefed on the matter.

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“He was sacked because extensive internal investigation revealed he compromised the case,” an official familiar told The Gazette. “But this may not be the end of the matter.”

The official said the EFCC planned to fight to resuscitate the case through an appeal process because there was enough evidence against the suspects and Mr Uket went rogue in his submission declaring otherwise before the court.

The agency initially tried to save the case in Mr Kutigi’s courtroom, but Mr Adoke and Wole Olanipekun — defence attorney for Mr Abubakar — filed opposing motions and the judge said it was already too late.

Prior to his controversial submission that led to the granting of the defendants’ motion to dismiss, Mr Uket had told some of his office that he was under pressure to accept bribes from Messrs Adoke and Olanipekun, officials said under anonymity to discuss an active investigation.

“He reported to the office that he was under pressure of financial inducement from Bello Adoke and Wole Olanipekun over the case,” another official said. “But we thought he was just following internal ethical compliance by informing the office, we didn’t know this would happen.”

The Gazette was not immediately able to ascertain the steepness of Mr Uket’s ties to the suspects. He did not return a request seeking comment, but some of his colleagues said his action came as a shock because he had displayed his mettle as some of the agency’s best hands.

One of the officials said Mr Uket’s contract was not renewed as part of the fallout from the botched trial, adding that he departed on a good note with the agency’s executives.

“His contract expired around the time he was accused of sabotaging the Malabu case,” one official said. “That’s why it was amicably decided that he should not be granted a renewal.”

Officials did not immediately convey whether or not the probe would remain limited to Mr Uket or be expanded to include those suspected of having offered bribes to the ousted prosecutor.

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The 1991 graduate of the University of Nigeria Nsukka joined the police shortly after completing school, from where he moved to the EFCC as a contractor in the aughts. His ouster may leave a vacuum in the agency’s pool of prosecutors and marked only the latest in charges bordering on prosecutorial sabotage. For several years, attorney Festus Keyamo was bruised from charges that he sabotaged cases while serving as a contractor prosecuting cases for the EFCC during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Mr Keyamo later teamed up with some of the politicians he was purportedly prosecuting in the All Progressives Congress and went on to clinch ministerial position twice, including now as aviation minister under President Bola Tinubu.

Mr Olanipekun declined comments over two days. But Mr Adoke, who stepped down a criminal case against Mr Tinubu in 2011, said he did not offer bribes to the official, accusing the EFCC of being out to further besmirch his reputation after beating the agency’s charges in several courts in and out of Nigeria.

“Not in this world would I offer Uket bribe or anyone for that matter,” the former attorney-general said in a statement to The Gazette. “It is unfortunate that anyone would come up with such a lame excuse. I have no reason to offer Uket or anyone bribe.”

“Don’t forget that they lost their cases in London and Milan, and the U.S. Department of Justice and SEC found nothing wrong with the transaction, and ditto the Dutch government. The claim is utterly ridiculous cynical, and irresponsible,” he said.

While the cases against Eni and Shell in Italy were resolved in favour of the multinational giants, they did not necessarily suggest Mr Adoke’s innocence of the bribery allegations because he was not a party in the lawsuits. Moreover, the Italian court said evidence submitted at trial indicated Mr Adoke received $2 million in suspicious payment as part of the 2011 deal.

The Nigerian politician, however, continued to maintain his innocence and has touted the recent judgement in Abuja as his most resounding vindication yet. The EFCC, however, vowed to make the suspects’ victory lap short-term because the case would be handled by a different prosecutor who would effectively itemise evidence on appeal.

Malabu oil probe: EFCC sacks prosecutor accused of taking bribes

News

NSCDC commandant convicted for employment scam as EFCC probes N7.5bn fraud allegations

Published

4 hours ago

May 9, 2024

Trends Admin

NSCDC commandant convicted for employment scam as EFCC probes N7.5bn fraud allegations

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has successfully prosecuted Mr. Christopher Oluchukwu, a commandant within the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), for his involvement in an employment scam, according to a statement by the anti-graft agency’s spokesperson, Demola Bakare, on Thursday.

Oluchukwu was convicted by the Katsina State High Court 3 after being accused of receiving significant sums from individuals under the pretence of securing jobs for their children within the NSCDC. Despite failing to fulfil his promises, he refused to refund the money to the victims.

The court found Oluchukwu guilty on all nine counts and sentenced him to five years imprisonment without the option of a fine. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently, and the judge directed that Oluchukwu’s sureties be arrested and detained for further investigation, as he had jumped bail.

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Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched a probe into allegations of a N7.5 billion fraud involving ten senior officers of the NSCDC, including Commandant General Ahmed Audi. The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, wrote to Audi, inviting the officers for questioning, with the investigation scheduled to commence from May 2, 2024.

The fraud, allegedly involving several contractors and money laundering through Bureau de Change operators, is under investigation by the EFCC.

This development underscores the ongoing efforts to combat corruption within government agencies and ensure accountability and transparency in Nigeria’s public service sector.

NSCDC commandant convicted for employment scam as EFCC probes N7.5bn fraud allegations

News

Tinubu gives new appointment to Minister of State for Petroleum

Published

4 hours ago

May 9, 2024

Trends Admin

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo

Tinubu gives new appointment to Minister of State for Petroleum

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, as the co-chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

This is contained in a terse statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Thursday.

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It reads: “In line with his avowed commitment to establish a more efficient, targeted, and consistent approval process for unique oil and gas projects in the country, President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), as the Co-Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

This is also to further ensure effective oversight of the gas aspect of the nation’s assets.

The President remains committed to unlocking Nigeria’s immense gas potential to stimulate industrial development, job creation, and sustainable economic growth.”

Tinubu gives new appointment to Minister of State for Petroleum

News

Senate okays death penalty for drug traffickers

Published

5 hours ago

May 9, 2024

Trends Admin

Senate okays death penalty for drug traffickers

The Senate on Thursday passed a bill that upgraded the maximum sentence of life imprisonment to the death penalty for drug traffickers in the country amidst controversy over the voice votes.

The death sentence as a penalty for drug traffickers passed through the third reading, the 2024 NDLEA Act (Amendment) Bill.

The proposal was adopted when the Senate dissolved into a committee of the whole for clause-by-clause consideration of a report of the Chairman of the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters and Drugs & Narcotics National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Senator Tahir Munguno.

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In a review of the penalty provisions of the amendment bill towards strengthening the operations of the agency, a proposed amendment to award a death sentence to drug traffickers rather than just a life sentence was raised by the Senate Chief Whip and Sen. Peter Nwebonyi Under clause 11.

When the matter was put to a voice vote, it appeared the nays had it. However, when the question was put on a second vote, the Deputy Senate President ruled in favor of the i’s. A slight uproar ensued as some lawmakers were displeased.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole expressed his displeasure over what he considered a hasty consideration and passage of the amended clause.

The Deputy Senate President rejected an objection by Senator Oshiomhole to reverse the ruling, insisting that it came late which is against the rules.