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4 THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015 NEWS •A member of the Indian Air Force carries a Nepalese child in Saturday’s earthquake to a waiting ambulance in Kathmandu…yesterday. Mimiko gets new deputy as Ondo House sacks Olanusi Continued from page 1 was floored by Gen. Buhari. Olanusi later explained that he had been having a raw deal with his boss who defected from the Labour Party (LP) where they both were to the PDP without informing him. Last week, the House of Assembly directed the Chief Judge to raise a panel to probe the allegations against Olanusi, who insisted that he was never served the impeachment notice. The panel sat for a few hours and sent a report, which the House accepted yesterday, impeaching Olanusi and approving Mimiko’s recommendation of Alhaji Lassisi Oluboyo, the Commissioner for Agriculture, as deputy governor. The lawmakers impeached Olanusi following a recommendation of a report submitted by the seven-man panel, headed by retired Magistrate Olatunji Adeniyan, which was constituted by Chief Judge Olasehinde Kumuyi to investigate the seven allegations levelled against Olanusi. The report submitted by the Continued from page 1 ficials – said the oil giant should have refunded $4.29billion. Besides, the report opened a can of worms, returning a damning verdict on NNPC’s operations. The Nigeria Petroleum Development Corporation (NPDC), according to the auditors, was hostile. It made its job difficult. Petroleum Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke said last week that $1.48billion was unremitted, adding that the NPDC was already returning cash. The NNPC, said the report, was making deductions in its revenue before remitting funds to the treasury. PwC stated: “Clarity is required on whether such deductions should be made by NNPC as a first line charge, before remitting the net proceeds of domestic crude to the federation accounts. If these are deemed not to be valid deductions, then the amount due from NNPC would be estimated at $2.07 billion (without considering expected known remittances from NPDC) or $4.29 billion (if expected known remittances from NPDC are considered).” PwC came to this conclusion because between 12 January and 29 January 2015, the audit firm confirmed that “NNPC panel to Speaker Jumoke Akindele reads: “Placing reliance on the meaning of gross misconduct as defined in Section 188 (11) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, we hereby The multi-billion dollar NNPC fraud, by auditors Impeachment can’t stand, says APC THE All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday rejected the impeachment of Ondo State Deputy Governor Ali Olanusi. It said the process leading to his removal violated provisions of the impeachment clause in the 1999 Constitution. The party said the House of Assembly’s action was in disobedience of a court order which asked all parties to maintain the status quo in a suit the deputy governor filed challenging the plot to impeach him. The party’s National Vice Chairman in charge of SouthWest, Chief Pius Akinyelure, faulted Olanusi’s impeachment, noting that the decision of the Assembly, which he said acted as Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s rubber stamp, would not stand. Akinyelure described the impeachment as a mockery of constitutional order, which he said Mimiko and members of the Assembly swore to uphold. find that the allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the Ondo State Deputy Governor are established.” Majority Leader Olugbenga Akinsoyinu moved the motion for Olanusi’s impeachment. It provided transaction documents representing additional costs of $2.81 billion related to the review period, citing the NNPC Act LFN No 33 of 1977 that allows such deductions”. PwC said it did not have access to NPDC’s full accounts and records “and we have not ascertained the amount of costs and expenses which should be applied to the $5.11billion crude oil revenue (net of royalties and PPT paid) per the NPDC submission to the Senate Committee which should be considered as dividend payment by NPDC to NNPC for ultimate remittance to the Federation Account.” There were suggestions that the NNPC cooked the books. The oil giant, the audit firm said, “provided information on the difference leading to a potential excess remittance of $0.74 billion (without considering expected remittances from NPDC). Other indirect costs of $2.81billion, which were not part of the submission to the Senate Committee hearing have been defrayed to arrive at this position.” In its comments section, PwC noted that it did not obtain any information directly from NPDC, “but in accordance with NPDC former Managing Director’s (Mr Briggs Victor’s) submission to the Senate Committee hearing on the subject matter, for the period, NPDC generated $5.11billion (net of royalties and petroleum profits tax paid).” As a result, PwC said it relied on the legal opinion provided to the Senate Committee by the Attorney General (AG), Mr Bello Adoke “on the subject of the transfers of various NNPC (55%) portion of Oil leases (OMLs) involved in the Shell (SPDC) Divestments which impact crude oil flows in the period. The AG’s opinion indicated that these transfers were within the authority of the minister to make.” If this is true, PwC believes “these assets were validly transferred to NPDC. The same AG’s Legal Opinion also indicated that NPDC was to make payments for Net Revenue (dividend) to NNPC, which should ultimately be remitted to the Federation Account.” Some of the limitations encountered by the auditing firm, which affected its findings, were: •inavailability of NPDC personnel to provide information on its processes; •non-response of NPDC to request for detailed breakdown of the crude oil assets transferred to NPDC; •volume of allocations to Strategic Alliance Partners per partner and list of receiving banks; Wale Ajetunmobi and Leke Akeredolu, Akure He said despite the decision of a High Court sitting in Akure, that all parties should maintain the status quo until the substantive suit is determined, the House went ahead to impeach the deputy governor. He said the House of Assembly committed three infractions to the 1999 Constitution in the process of removing the deputy governor, who had travelled out of the country for medical check-up before the impeachment procedures started. He cited the violation of Section 188(2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution, stipulating that the Speaker of the House of Assembly “shall, within seven days of the receipt of the notice of impeachment, cause a copy of the notice to be served on the holder of the office and on each member of the House of Assembly and Continued on page 60 was seconded by Deputy Majority Leader Oyebo Aladetan. Speaker Akindele thereafter put the motion to the House and all the 22 lawmakers at the plenary voted in favour of impeach- Continued on page 60 ‘I’m ready for probe after tenure’ Continued from page 1 Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President said he is not afraid of any investigation after leaving office. He noted that investigations will not be out of place since Jonathan’s Administration also reviewed the actions of previous governments on assumption of office. He said: “As Alhaji Mohammed threatened in his statement, the incoming administration will be perfectly within its rights to review all actions of the present government as it may deem fit. “We see nothing wrong with that. After all, the present Administration reviewed the actions of previous governments on assumption of office with resultant benefits for policy and project implementation.” Abati added that President Jonathan ordered the immediate release of the report of PriceWaterCooper’s investigations into the alleged unremitted $20 billion to the Federation account by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). He said: “President Jonathan is also deeply concerned by the continuing suggestions that his administration still has anything to hide about the unproven allegation that about $20billion is unaccounted for by the NNPC during his tenure. “To lay the matter to rest, President Jonathan in line with Section 7(2) of the NNPC Act, has directed that the full report of the PWC Forensic Audit of the NNPC accounts be released immediately to the public so that all Nigerians will be properly informed on the matter.” Denying the allegations by Mohammed, Abati said: “We have noted with concern the allegation by the spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, that officials of the Federal Government are engaged in “last minute looting of the nation’s resources, rushed privatisation of key institutions and hurried recruitment into the public service”. “We also consider as most unfortunate and uncharitable, the suggestion by Alhaji Mohammed that the Jonathan Administration is trying to ‘tie the hands’ of the incoming government merely by continuing to discharge its constitutional responsibilities until the end of its tenure.” “The Jonathan Administration which continues to do its best to ensure a smooth and peaceful handover of power to the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, deeply regrets the unfairness and combative frame of mind reflected in Alhaji Mohammed’s statement.” According to him, President Jonathan has done his best in the past five years to discharge his constitutional responsibilities for good governance and effective leadership of the nation. Abati said: “Without any prejudice whatsoever to the freedom of the incoming administration to do as it pleases, within the confines of extant laws when it assumes office, the Jonathan Administration will continue to discharge its responsibility to govern until May 29, 2015. “In continuing to fulfil the obligations of his office however, President Jonathan has not, and will never condone any form of unscrupulous conduct on the part of state officials.” He maintained that President Jonathan will never authorise any attempt to create any problems for the incoming administration, stressing that the outcome of the March 28 presidential elections does not imply a cessation of governance. •account numbers and bank statements for NPDC crude proceeds. “We encountered some limitations in the course of executing some aspects of our scope of work. The key limitations were: Unavailability of relevant NPDC personnel to provide information on the NPDC’s processes particularly around its operations, business objectives and internal accounting/financial reporting, etc; change of management at NPDC during the course of the engagement, which further contributed to our inability to successfully obtain responses to our request for information; non-response of NPDC to our request letter, which meant that we weren’t provided with the following requests: •Detailed breakdown of the crude oil assets transferred to NPDC. •Terms of divestment and contract documents involving the assets taken over. •Strategic Alliance agreements between NPDC and counterparties. •Monthly volume allocations to Strategic Alliance Partners per partner. •Monthly balance of NPDC crude over-lifts by Strategic Alliance partners. •List of receiving banks, account numbers and bank statements for NPDC crude proceeds.” The report added: “We did not have access to NPDC’s full accounts and records and we have not ascertained the amount of costs and expenses which should be applied to the $5.11billion Crude Oil revenue (net of royalties and PPT paid) per the NPDC submission to the Senate Committee which should be considered as dividend payment by NPDC to NNPC for ultimate remittance to the Federation Account.” The firm said working with the documents made available to it, it established that the gross revenues generated from Federal Government’s crude oil liftings was $69.34bn and not $67 billion as stated by the Reconciliation Committee for the period from January 2012 to July 2013. It also found out that the cash remitted into the Federation Accounts in relation to crude oil liftings was $50.81bn and not $47b as stated by the Reconciliation Committee. It said this amount was arrived at because “ (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) NNPC has provided information on the difference leading to a potential excess remittance of $0.74 billion (without considering expected remittances from NPDC). Other indirect costs of $2.81billion, which were not part of the submission to the Senate Committee hearing, have been defrayed to arrive at this position.” The report observed that the “resulting potential excess remittance indicates that the Corporation operates an unsustainable model”. The report states that “the Corporation is unable to sustain monthly remittances to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), and also meet its operational costs entirely from the proceeds of domestic crude oil revenues, and have had to incur third party liabilities to bridge the funding gap. Furthermore, the review period recorded international crude oil prices averaging $122.5 per barrel (Average Platts prices for 2012). As at the time of concluding this report, international crude oil prices average about $46.07 per barrel, which is about sixty two percent (62%) reduction when compared to the crude oil prices for the review period. If the NNPC overhead costs and subsidies are maintained (assuming crude oil production volumes are maintained), the corporation may have to exhaust all the proceeds of domestic crude oil sales, and Continued on page 60 ADVERT HOTLINES 08023006969, 08052592524
THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015 5 NEWS $370m Abacha money traced to Luxembourg Presidency denies recalling envoys From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja HE Presidency has denied recalling Nigeria’s Charge De Af- Tfairs to South Africa over the xenophobic attacks in the country. The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, in a statement, said there was a mix up and misinformation on the matter. He said the Charge d’Affaires was only invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for routine consultation. He said: “It is not true that Nigeria has recalled its envoy in South Africa on account of recent xenophobic attacks in that country. “There is a mix up and misinformation on the matter. The truth is that Nigeria has not recalled his envoy from South Africa. “What has been done is to invite the Charge D’Affaires in that country for routine consultation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Recall of envoy is a serious and sensitive matter that has not happened.” HE Federal Government, through the Federal Capital Territory T(FCT) Administration, has honoured eminent Nigerians and other accomplished Africans by naming major streets in Abuja as well as expressways and roads after them. FCT Minister Senator Bala Mohammed said this yesterday during the FCT Executive Committee meeting held at his Life Camp, Gwarinpa official residence. Mohammed named those who were honoured with street naming as including • Swiss govt closes door to looters From Tony Akowe, Abuja troversy. Now, it is not possible to deposit money in Switzerland because of legal origin. “Before now, the bank had to prove that the money was legal. But now, before you deposit money in any Swiss bank, you have to prove that you have earned that money legally. “If you are a wealthy businessman, you have money in billions legally, but if, for example as a journalist, you come to Switzerland with two million dollars and say you earned it because you did a very good job, nobody will believe you.” The ambassador said the Nigerian government and the Abacha family had sought legal assistance from the Swiss government to enable them retrieve the money, pointing out that the Swiss government offered legal assistance. Swiss government is directly involved since the money is not in a Swiss bank, he said. Saying he was not aware of HE Swiss government has closed its doors to Nigerians with ill-got- Tten wealth as they will now have to prove that the money they want to lodge in the country’s banks were legally earned. The Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Hans Rudolf Hodel, who broke the news after a meeting with President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, also said about $370 million of Abacha money had been traced by the Swiss government to an account in Luxembourg. Rudolf Hodel said in the past, the banks only needed to prove that the money deposited with them are legitimate, adding that depositors now need to prove that they acquired their money legally before they can be allowed to deposit money in any bank. He described the collaboration between Nigeria and the Swiss government in fighting corruption as a long standing issue, saying: “Our laws are there to help all countries which are fighting corruption. We will help this government. “If you remember, many years ago, we gave back the Abacha money to Nigeria. The situation in Switzerland has changed. The policy is no longer the same. In the past, people came to deposit money in Switzerland without too much conhave provided them with this information. It is not a classical case and we would have preferred a classical case where we can give the money back and make sure that it’s used in the interest of the people. Now it is up to the Nigerian government.” On what he discussed with Gen. Buhari, he said: ”Even if the relations are perfect, there is always room for improvement. Investors are looking towards Nigeria and it is a good example Nigeria gave to the world by its peaceful election. “I congratulate the presidentelect for this fantastic election, and indeed the whole Nigerian people, which has shown the world what they are capable of doing and with this election Nigeria has become an example not only to Africa but to the whole world on how elections can be conducted. I think Nigeria can be proud on the image of the country in the last few days and weeks. I, as ambassador, am proud to serve in this era.” The Cuban government has promised to collaborate with the incoming administration on health care delivery. Cubans are ready to share their experience in comprehensive health care delivery with Nigeria. The Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Carlos E. Trejo Sosa, said after a meeting with General Buhari that Nigeria is very dear to the people of Cuba, adding that: “Nigerians are in the root of Cuban nation. “More than 80% of people who came to Cuba in 19th century from Africa came from Nigeria, which means the blood running in the vein of Cuban nation is partially Nigerian blood. So, our coming here means we have come to the home of our forefather.” He said Cuba had achieved a lot in medicine, sports and others which are available for Nigerians in the last 15 years, pointing out that Cuba’s health care became one of the best in the world. Sosa said: “First of all, Cuba’s collaboration with African countries is not new and not difficult. If you remember a large number of Cuba people, who are doctors came to West Africa to fight Ebola, the first contingent of doctors. “We have doctors in almost all African countries, about six thousand Cuban doctors working in Africa. We also have about 50,000 doctors working in Latin America and in some other places, so it means that if necessary, as request by Nigerian government, we can come and share our experiences about the comprehensive system of health care. Cuba is not known to kill people but to prevent people from being sick.” The President-elect had earlier told Sosa, that his generation would continue to cherish the spectacular performance of Cuba’s revolutionary leaders - Che Geuevera and Fidel Castro - who he described as nationalist per excellence. He said he admired the unique social structure and system of the state, especially given the rapid development that has been achieved by the island nation, and expressed happiness at the restoration of normal ties between Cuba and the United States. Constitution amendment: Jonathan urges Supreme Court RESIDENT Goodluck From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja Jonathan has intensi- to stop Senate, Reps fied his effort to pre- Pvent the National Assembly from overriding his veto of the amendment effected on the Constitution by the National Assembly. The President, through the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), has applied to the Supreme Court for an injunction restraining the lawmakers from acting on the amendment - the Fourth Alteration Act 2015 - pending the determination of an earlier suit he filed urging the court any Abacha money left in his country, the ambassador said: “Recently, there was another request by Nigeria to the Swiss authority to look for Abacha money and some amount has been found in an account, but in Luxembourg. That is now between the Abacha family and the government. They have tried to find a deal so that this money can also come back.” Asked how much was involved and when the money will be returned to Nigeria, Hodel said: “The recent one is $370 million. The Swiss government is not involved. The Nigerian government has asked for legal assistance. When the government makes a request to my government, we work together on it. But this case is different. “That is the Abacha family directly with the Nigerian government finding a deal. So, the Swiss government is not involved and the money is in Luxembourg. They have asked for legal assistance and we •The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund's pensioners protesting over non-payment of their arrears in Abuja...yesterday. PHOTO: NAN to declare the amendment unconstitutional. The President, in the substantive suit also filed by the AGF, argued that the purported Fourth Alteration Act 2015 was not passed with the mandatory requirement of fourfifth majority of members of the National Assembly and the mandatory due processes provided for under the relevant sections of the Constitution. It is part of the President’s prayers in the main suit that the Supreme Court nullifies and sets aside sections 3, 4, 12, 14, 21, 23, 36, 39, 40, 43 and 44 of the Fourth Alteration Act, 2015, purportedly passed by the National Assembly. In the fresh application for interlocutory injunction, the President prayed the Supreme Court to restrain the lawmakers from carrying through their threat to override his veto, even with the pendency of the substantive suit. Fed Govt names Abuja streets after Jonathan, Sambo, Atiku, others From Gbenga Omokhunu and Grace Obike, Abuja President Goodluck Jonathan; Vice President Namadi Sambo; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; the late former Senate President Dr. Chuba Okadigbo; former Speaker of House of Representatives and Katsina State governor-elect Aminu Bello Masari; former Chief Justice of the Federation Justice Dahiru Musdapha; business moguls Femi Otedola, Aliko Dangote; and several others. The soon-to-be commissioned Inner Southern Expressway, which dissects Abuja city centre, was named after Jonathan. The longest Wuye district boulevard express road measuring 1,730 metres was named after Atiku. Another major road in the same district was named after Sambo. According to a statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Nosike Ogbuenyi, other prominent personalities also honoured by naming streets after them in Asokoro extension district include former Secretary General of the United Nations Mr. Kofi Anan; the late South African anti-Apartheid activist, late Walter Sisulu; former President of Sudan Gaafar al- Nimeiry; the late former Minister of State for FCT, Prof. Miriam Ikejiani-Clark; former Chief Justice of the Federation Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi and 16 others. Those having roads and streets named after them in Guzape district include former FCT Minister and Kaduna State Governor-elect Malam Nasir El-Rufai; the late former Inspector-General of Among the grounds on which he hinged the application was that the National Assembly was determined to proceed with passing the constitution by overriding the veto of same despite the fundamental nature of the issues raised against it. He stated that it was more in the interest of the country that the issues in the substantive suit be resolved one way or the other before the National Assembly can proceed further on the proposed alterations to the constitution. The applicant stated in a supporting affidavit that Minority Whip of the House of Representative, Samson Osagie, reportedly vowed at a news conference that the Legislature will override the President’s veto despite the suit. The applicant said the balance of convenience was in favour of the resolution of the suit before any further step could be taken on the Bill. No date is scheduled yet for hearing in the case. Police, Sunday Adewusi; former Science and Technology Minister Major-Gen. Sam Momah; the late former Special Duties Minister, Alhaji Wada Nas; the late former Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Clement Akpamgbo; the incumbent FCT Minister and 60 others. The statement reads in part: “Some Nigerians who had distinguished themselves in various sporting activities were also among those honoured with Abuja streets named after them. “They include first Nigerian single Olympic gold medalist, Chioma Ajunwa; first Nigerian footballer to have scored in FIFA senior world cup competition, the late Rashidi Yekini; former world wrestling champion, late Power Mike Okpala; first Nigerian to win World Boxing title, Dick Tiger Ihetu; and the youngest Nigerian to play at the African Cup of Nations, Mr. Daniel Amokachi. They all had streets named after them in Wupa district.” Others personalities were also honoured in other parts of FCT.
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