Nigeria: EFCC and ICPC charge the Youths to be Active Participants in the anti-Corruption War

As the EFCC and ICPC prepare to merge in accordance with the Oronsaye-led panel on the restructuring of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, the two bodies have beckoned on the youths to champion the anti-corruption campaign. The youths are the trustees of posterity according to Benjamin Disraeli but the current situation and trend in Nigeria nay Africa does not portray such a reality. The youths are docile while the elders are pathetically brutal; preventing the youths from rising.

CAJ News reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) are hopeful their newly-announced partnership will curb corruption in the country. EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, re-affirmed the commitment of the agency to continue combating the menace.

He said the EFCC would not relent in its efforts to rid Nigeria of economic and financial crimes. Larmode said his organisation would collaborate with other stakeholders in the initiatives aimed at tackling corruption. “Corruption has become a cancer worm that is eating up the nation. As such, all hands must be on deck to check the menace," Larmode said during a five-nation Youth Integrity Camp government organisations and youth bodies organised.

The event was held under the auspices of the Anglophone West Africa Youth Integrity Camp. It drew participants from Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Gambia and Sierra Leone. The programme aims to engage youths as stakeholders in the fight against graft. According to the ICPC, the initiative is geared towards increasing awareness on anti-corruption issues.

"It is also aimed at establishing a network of youth leaders who are empowered and motivated to use their dynamism and innovative minds to fight corruption, demand transparency and accountability and promote integrity," ICPC stated. The ICPC had once initiated such a move geared towards initiating the youths, most especially students in higher institutions, in the anti-corruption war but just as it is usually with the general Nigerian policy syndrome; it only survived more on paper than in practicality.

REVEALED: Senators' Salaries And Allowances In Nigeria

By Lanre Ogundipe

According to reports, below is an alleged breakdown of senators' salary and allowances in Nigeria.

Basic Salary (BS) = N2,484,245.50

Hardship Allowance: 50% of Basic Salary = N1,242,122.75.

Constituency allowance: 200% of BS = N4,968,509.00.

Furniture Allowance: 300% of BS = N7,452,736.50.

Newspaper allowance: 50% = N1,242,122.70.

Wardrobe allowance: 25% = N621,061.37.

Recess Allowance: 10% = N248,424.55.

Accommodation: 200% = N4,968,509.00.

Utilities: 30% = N828,081.83.

Domestic Staff: 35% = N863,184.12.

Entertainment: 30% = N828,081.83.

Personal Assistance: 25% = N621,061.37.

Vehicle Maintenance Allowance: 75% = N1,863,184.12.

Leave Allowance : 10% = N248,424.55

One off payments (Severance gratuity): 300% = N7,452,736.50. Motor Vehicle Allowance: 400% of BS = N9,936,982.00.

Total per month = N29,479, 749.00. [$190,192]

Macky Sall, Senegalese President says 'It's easy to condemn Africa'

Senegal has long been revered as one of Africa’s model democracies, one of the very few West African states with a tradition of civilian rule.

'It's easy when you are far away to condemn Africa. Africa is a continent that suffered injustices for ages. We can go back to slavery, colonisation.... All this led to a situation of neo-colonialism ... This is a complex phenomenon and we, heads of states, are aware of it. Today this is our responsibility. Believe me when I say we will sort out this situation'. ~Macky Sall, the President of Senegal

The country gained independence from France in 1960, and has suffered no serious upheavals since. It has an established multi-party system and boasts one of the region’s most stable economies despite high unemployment and poverty. The relative stability in Senegal is now threatened by the conflict in  neighbouring Mali.

The presence of Senegalese soldiers together with the West African and French troops in the fight against Islamists in the north has raised fears of reprisal attacks.

This stability record is also threatened by is its long running separatist war in the southern Casamance region [since the 1980s] that has claimed hundreds of lives.

The government’s refusal to extradite former Chadian dictator Hissene Habre, accused of crimes against humanity, has also led to widespread criticism. However, Senegal’s president strongly defends his country’s actions.

Elected in April 2012, over one year ago, Macky Sall, who describes himself as the “best-elected president in Africa”, has placed significant emphasis on the fight against corruption and bolstering Senegal’s position in Africa and the global stage.

After coming to power, Sall stated his intention of making peace with rebels in Casamance, as did his predecessor Abdoulaye Wade when he came to power in 2000.

Will he deliver on his promises or is it all just a political facade?

Courtesy: Aljazeera

James Ibori says his Lekki House is no Secret

Tony Eluemunor, spokesman for James Ibori speaking on behalf of his boss says James Ibori's Lekki house was never a secret as it was listed down in Asset declaration forms he filled in 1999, 2003 and 2007. The EFCC had one January 24 made it public that the jailed former Delta State Governor has a discovered mansion at Lekki. The property was discovered at 5, Alpha Beach Road, Lekki in Lagos.

The statement reads:  
"Despite EFCC’s insinuations to the contrary, the Alpha Beach Road house was built as far back as 1994, and so could not have, by any leap of the imagination, been built with proceeds, corrupt or not corrupt, from my office as State Governor because I began to live in that house five good years before I was voted into office”.

"Also, if the stories published about the house were actually based on EFCC’s statement, it means that the EFCC has accepted that Ibori was actually enormously rich at least half a decade before he became Governor of Delta State- after all, EFCC and the media called the house a “mansion”. 

"So, perhaps trying to hide this fact that Ibori was a man of means before he became governor, the EFCC and their agents are using all infernal tricks to cast doubts about when Ibori actually built that house.

"For the records, Chief Ibori reiterates that the house was not only built in 1994 before he became governor, it has featured in his asset declarations.

"Also, Chief Ibori has been cooperating fully with the Crown Prosecution since the preliminary stages of the confiscation process began, in line with the United Kingdom Criminal Justice Act (CJA) of 1988, so he does not see why the house has become an issue – especially as Nigeria has surrendered her jurisdictional sovereignty to Britain," the statement said. 

Nigerians continue to destroy their countries with greed. Funds meant to be used for public use as well as uplift millions out of poverty are used for personal purposes yet these leaders will still have the guts to deny and insult the intelligence of people. A nation of stealing comedians called leaders.

Nigeria: A Known Ocean of Corruption

African Cup of Nations began without the citizens of Nigeria having the opportunity to locally watch any of the actions. This is a shame too long to bear and condone. The Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) is responsible for the negotiation of broadcasting rights in such an events and it went ahead to do that in the Cup of African Nations but was shocked with the level at which LC2 was about to milk Nigeria.

Ghana and South Africa as well as many African nations paid $2 million dollars for their broadcasting rights but when it came to Nigeria, the parade was changed. Rather than the usual flat rate of $2 million dollars, $8 million dollars was demanded. The greatest shock is the disparity in the amount. From 2 to 8, a whooping difference of $6 million dollars. An amount that could lift thousands out of poverty.

High Chief Raymond has done justice on the matter. If not watching the Nations Cup will send a signal to many that Nigeria cannot continue to be a land where every Tom, Dick and Harry come to demand, get whatever they want and siphon funds at will, then so be it. The next action of the government should be to investigate the matter and know those behind the inflation.

Some Nigerians definitely will be behind the cost inflation beyond standard. Those elements who wish to benefit from scandals always. If no crack exist in the wall, the lizard will not have a stadium inside the fence. Nigeria is expected to pay such a huge amount which automatically amounts to a loss in a commercialised deal that gain is meant to be accrued from. It is not the fault of those who inflated the cost, they already know they have accomplices and confederates in the ocean of corruption.