1.8K
A human rights activist and Anti-Corruption crusader based in Benin City
Bishop (Dr) Osadolor Ochei JP, today dragged the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) to a Federal high court sitting in Abuja.
The case has the EFCC and Adams Oshiomhole as first and second
respondents. The law suit Is at the instance of EFCC’s refusal to attend
to a well detailed Petition of the Applicant (Bishop Osadolor) to the 1st
Respondent dated 28th October, 2016 and published in the Daily Sun
Newspaper of 7th November, 2016, together with other national newspapers,
bothering on economic and financial crimes against the immediate past
governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
In a Motion Ex-Parte, the applicant Bishop Ochei is praying the court to
as a matter of urgency compel the EFCC to commence the investigation and
prosecution of the former governor in pursuant to Sections 6(b) & (h) and
13(2) of the EFCC Act, 2004.
The Applicant in his suit said he has complained to the 1st Respondent
(EFCC) about allegations of corrupt practices as well as economic and
financial crimes against the 2nd Respondent (Oshiomhole), on a number of
occasions, without eliciting any response or interest from the 1st
Respondent in this regard. The 1st Respondent failed to examine and
investigate the said allegations upon such reports to it.
Bishop Ochei, said that the 1st Respondent owes Nigeria and Edo State a
duty to unearth the truth by meticulously investigating these allegations
to ascertain the extent of complicity and culpability of the 2nd
Respondent with respect to these allegations levelled against him.
The motion exparte filed by the applicant’s counsel West Idahosa & Co.
stated the Respondent’s legitimate means of income as Governor. The 1st
Respondent did nothing about the said petition. The Petition and its
annexures are attached as Exhibit “A”, while the satellite images of the
compound, fence, and existing building are attached as Exhibits “A1, A2,
A3, A4, A5 and A6”.
That on 4th November, 2016, the Applicant sent a petition to the 1st
Respondent against the 2nd Respondent’s corrupt practices while he served
as Governor of Edo State. Amongst the allegations made against the 2nd
Respondent by the Applicant are the following:-
That the Applicant repeated the allegation that the 2nd Respondent built a
sprawling mansion worth more than N10 billion naira in his home town known
as Iyanho, Edo State. The said building was constructed by Verissimo, a
South African Architectural outfit. The said house of the 2nd Respondent
has swimming pools, water fountains, multiple theatres for cinema and live
performances, huge event halls, bridges, manmade lake, lodges of different
sizes amongst others. The said cost of building the mansion is well
outside the 2nd Respondent’s legitimate income. The 2nd Respondent’s
lifestyle and extent of the said property were not justified by his
sources of income. The Applicant’s Petition is attached as Exhibit “B”,
while the reminder from the Applicant is attached as Exhibit “B1”.
That the 2nd Respondent bought a property along Okoro-Otun Avenue, G.R.A.,
Benin City owned by Edo State Government while serving as Governor of Edo
State in an insider deal without due process and in abuse of his oath of
office. The Okoro-otun property acquired by the 2nd Respondent was
originally given to University of Benin as a gift by Edo State Government.
The 2nd Respondent, while a dispute was pending in Court between
University of Benin and Edo State Government, forcibly acquired the
property for his personal use. The 2nd Respondent has since erected a
structure with an underground apartment, roof-top swimming pool, another
giant structure worth more than N500,000,000 (five hundred million naira)
which is far beyond his legitimate income. At the time of the sale, the
open market price of that magnitude of property and in that such high-brow
location was about N100 million naira. This transaction took place while
the 2nd Respondent was Governor of Edo State and he bought the said
property for just N23 million naira vide an Access Bank cheque.
That the 2nd Respondent authorized and awarded the highly inflated
contract and payment within a relatively short time for the construction
of 168 hostels rooms in Edo State University, Iyamho for the sum of N1.88
billion naira. The average cost per room translates to N10 million naira
for each hostel room. This contract was awarded to the firm of A & K
Construction Limited without compliance to due process. Similarly, the 2nd
Respondent authorized and awarded the highly inflated contract of building
the Teaching Hospital of the said University for the sum of N12.2 billion
naira without compliance to due process. The Memorandum of Approval by the
2nd Respondent is attached as Exhibit “C”.
That the 2nd Respondent authorized and approved the diversion of N1.2
billion naira approved for the construction of a new accident and
emergency ward complex and renovation of existing structures in the
Central Hospital, Benin City for the payment of additional 10% advance
payment to A & K Construction Limited for the construction of the Teaching
Hospital of the University of Science and Technology, Uzairue (also known
as Edo State University, Iyamho, without compliance with due process and
against public interest. The Memorandum of Approval of the said diversion
is attached as Exhibit “D”.
That the 2nd Respondent borrowed N25 billion naira from the Capital Market
through the issuance of bonds. He purportedly paid the first N6 billion
naira to Hitech Construction on March 2, 2011 and listed several roads as
part of Phase One of the Storm Water Project to include Adolor College
road, Textile Mill road, and a host of others. These roads are largely
abandoned with little or no work done by Hitech Construction Company. The
gullies created as a result of initial work have become major sources of
flooding in Benin – City. More than six persons have been killed by this
artificial flood.
That the 2nd Respondent authorized and awarded the construction of the 7.2
kilometer Ogba/Airport Road, Benin – City to Servetek Construction Company
Limited for construction of drainage structures and dualization from Ring
Road to Ogba River Bridge for industry record setting sum of N4.4 billion
which translate to N611 million naira per kilometer without compliance
with due process.
Following disputes with the Company on how the money was to be shared
amongst stakeholders, the Company refused to work further and the contract
was terminated. It was re-awarded to Setraco Nigeria Limited for over N12
billion naira, on the pretext that 17 Acres roads were to be constructed
along the main Airport Road. It was later discovered that these access
roads were re-awarded as stand-alone contracts with new cost tag. The
contracts were awarded without compliance with due process.
That the 2nd Respondent authorized and awarded the construction of the
Emergency / Accident Unit of the Central Hospital, Benin – City, to
Company for the sum of N2.7 billion naira and later reviewed same upwards
to over N3 billion naira. The constructed building subsequently collapsed
killing the owner of the Company, Dr. Stefano De La Roca and confident of
the 2nd Respondent. The contract was thereafter re-awarded to another
company, SCL without penalizing the previous Company for the poor work
done and thereby causing serious financial loss to Edo State. The said SCL
is also one of the Companies that constructed the Lord of the Manor
Proto-type mansion and adjoining premises of the 2nd Respondents at Iyamho
in Edo State.
That in 2012, the 2nd Respondent initiated and authorized the approach to
the World Bank to secure a loan of $225 million dollars under the First
Edo State Growth and Employment Support Credit project with identification
number “P123353”. The World Bank paid Edo State Government $75 million
U.S. dollars as initial payment and another $75million U.S. dollars as
second installment, despite massive protest by Edo people.
The said second installment which was domiciled in Access Bank was largely
transferred to private off shore accounts and round tripped to the
detriment of Edo State.
That the 2nd Respondent authorized and approved the counterpart fund
scheme between Edo State Government and Bank of Industry with each party
providing N250 million naira each. This agreement was reached in December,
2009. From the enquiries made by Applicant only N41.6 million naira was
disbursed. The balance sum was diverted for personal gain and to the
detriment of Edo State residents.
That the 2nd Respondent received over N500,000,000.00 (five hundred
million naira) as security votes. These funds were diverted to proxy
accounts according to available records. For instance, One Chief M.A.
Kadiri collected sums of money approved by the 2nd Respondent and totaling
about N42 billion. In December 2014, 2nd Respondent approved N700 million
naira which was collected by the same Chief M.A. Kadiri on grounds of
urgent security challenges when there was no security threat to justify
the purported use of such an astronomically huge amount of money. The said
funds were collected by Chief M.A. Kadiri for the benefit of the 2nd
Respondent and to the detriment of the residents of Edo State. Copies of
memoranda showing some of the receipts by Chief M.A. Kadiri, as approved
by the 2nd Respondent are attached as Exhibits “E1-E4”, copies of some of
the approvals are attached as Exhibits “E5-E11” and copies of payment
vouchers are attached as Exhibits “E12-E22”.
That the 2nd Respondent approved the purchase of vehicles at ridiculous
prices from Sata Motors Limited, a Company owned by one Hon. Gani Audu who
was also a Personal Assistant to the 2nd Respondent without compliance
with due process and in abuse of the office of Governor of Edo State
occupied by the 2nd Respondent. The vouchers are attached as Exhibits “F1,
F2 & F3”.
That the 2nd Respondent purportedly acquired properties in United States
of America, South Africa and Dubai worth billions of U.S. dollars and far
in excess of his legitimate income while serving as Governor of Edo State.
That on December 31st 2014, the N.N.PC. paid $54.9 million dollars to Edo
State Government and her Local Government Councils as contributions to
Power Sector “Special Sector Intervention Fund”. That the money did not
reflect in the income of the State till date was never captured by an
Appropriation Act for the State. There is no place in Edo State where any
project was built with funds from the so-called special Sector
Intervention Funds. The said funds were merely diverted for the private
use of the 2nd Respondent. Copies of the NNPC statement of transactions
showing withdrawals from the Excess Crude Account and disbursement to Edo
State are attached as Exhibit “G”.
That the Petition of the Applicant to the 1st Respondent contained weighty
allegations bothering on corrupt practices that ought to have been
investigated given the effect of corruption on the stunted socio-political
and economic growth of Nigeria to the detriment of all persons resident
therein.
That the 1st Respondent owes Nigeria and Edo State a duty to unearth the
truth by meticulously investigating these allegations to ascertain the
extent of complicity and culpability of the 2nd Respondent with respect to
these allegations.
That by the Applicant’s letter dated 28th October, 2016 and received by
the 1st Respondent on 04/11/16, the attention of the 1st Respondent was
drawn to the allegations made against the 2nd Respondent by the Applicant.
The 1st Respondent failed or neglected to invite the 2nd Respondent for
investigations into the said allegations.
That failing the said invitation of the 2nd Respondent by the 1st
Respondent for investigations, the 2nd Respondent began to boast openly to
his kindred that he was untouchable and that no anti-corruption Agency of
Government would dare investigate him.
That in the Applicant said Petition to the 1st Respondent, the Applicant
laid out the allegations against 2nd Respondent and requested the 1st
Respondent to investigate the said allegations. The Petition was published
in the Daily Sun edition of Monday, November 7, 2016. The copy of the
Newspaper publication is attached as Exhibit “H”. Copies of other
newspapers are attached as Exhibits “H1, H2, H3 & H4”.
That following the said failure of the 1st Respondent to investigate the
allegations against the 2nd Respondent, the Applicant wrote a reminder to
the 1st Respondent and same was received by 1st Respondent on 13th
December, 2016. Thereafter, one Barr. Eze of EFCC call the Applicant on
telephone on 5th January, 2017, requesting for evidence to support the
petition. On 9th January, 2017, the Applicant sent the documentary
evidence and analysis of evidence done by him to the 1st Respondent by DHL
with tracking number 6888917195. The said document was delivered to 1st
Respondent on 12th January, 2017 at 09.01am and was received by one Daniel
Tsamiya. A copy of the reminder is attached as Exhibit “I”.
That despite the said petition and the reminder sent by the Applicant to
the 1st Respondent, demanding that it performs its duty by investigating
the allegations against the 2nd Respondent, the 1st Respondent did not
investigate the 2nd Respondent or even reply the Applicant’ letters.
That consequent upon the refusal of the 1st Respondent to investigate and
prosecute the 2nd Respondent, the Applicant have no option than to
approach the Court of Law for an Order mandating the 1st Respondent to
perform its statutory duties as required by law.
That the Applicant is an indigene of Edo State who are entitled to enjoy
the benefits of good erosion / flood control, good roads, adequate
security coverage and other rights flowing from their residency in Edo
State and citizenship of Nigeria; which they have been denied as a result
of the corrupt activities of the 2nd Respondent.
17. That the Applicant is a fulltime Clergy man, being a Bishop of the
Divine Heavenly Vision International Ministry Inc., Benin City. He lives
on offerings from the Church and has no earnings upon which he can be
taxed. His Church does not engage in any form of business whatsoever.
18. That the Applicant is a dutiful citizen of Nigeria who is committed to
the performance of his duties to the nation in order to make positive
contributions to the advancement, progress and well-being of the country.
19. That the Applicant, pursuant to his constitutional duties to render
assistance to appropriate and lawful agencies in the maintenance of law
and order sent several petitions to the 1st Respondent complaining about
the economic and financial criminal activities of the 2nd Respondent in
his capacity as Governor of Edo State from 2008 to 2016. The Applicant did
not receive any positive response from the 1st Respondent despite
petition, reminder, documentary evidence and numerous visits to the
Headquarters of the 1st Respondent with respect to the said petitions.
20. That the said petitions are in public interest and are supported by
ample documentary evidence. The petitions did not seek any particular
method in which the 1st Respondent was to do its job other than to invite
the 1st Respondent to investigate the allegations made against the 2nd
Respondent.
21. That the Applicant is specially aggrieved by the failure of the 1st
Respondent to act on the said petition for the following reasons:
As a result of the miss-use and abuse of public funds by the 2nd
Respondent, the road leading to the Applicant’s house and other roads in
the locality remained untarred despite several requests from the Applicant
to Edo State Government to do so and the said Government continually
claimed that they had no sufficient funds while 2nd Respondent was busy
expending public funds on his expensive lifestyle, including acquiring
mansions all over the world at costs outside his legitimate income.
Several letters from the Applicant’s community to the 2nd Respondent
requesting the development of the said community are attached as Exhibits
“J1, J2, J3 & J4”.
The failure to tar Applicant’s road and other roads in the locality has
led to frequent repairs on Applicant’s car and loss of valuable time due
to frequent visits to mechanic workshops. The same is applicable to others
who reside in the area. The receipts of repairs of Applicant’s car are
attached as Exhibits “K1, K2 & K3”.
The Applicant and many other ordinary citizens had a hard time gaining
access to medicare as the Central Hospital in Benin City which 2nd
Respondent claimed to have spent billions of naira of public funds on was
not equipped and remained non-functional. Applicant and others had to
practically beg for contributions to receive medicare from private
hospitals.
These reasons prompted Applicant to carry out an enquiry into how 2nd
Respondent’s spent public funds belonging to Edo State and Applicant found
out that 2nd Respondent was not prudent in the use of such funds and
frequently diverted funds meant for the development and security of the
State to private use.
The Applicant found out that the 2nd Respondent wasted hundreds of
millions of naira on chartered flights, when public facilities in the
State were abandoned and the public denied the benefit of these
facilities. Copies of the approved vouchers for some of such chartered
flight expenditure are attached as Exhibits “L1 – L13”.
The 2nd Respondent spent millions of naira for choice drinks when major
public facilities like roads, hospitals and schools were in dilapidated
conditions. Copies of the approved vouchers for the purchase of
soft-drinks are attached as Exhibits “M1-M22”.
That the failure of the 1st Respondent to act on the Applicant’s petitions
gave the impression that public officers are entitled to use public funds
arbitrarily and outside public good.
That the failure of the 1st Respondent to act on the Applicant’s petitions
was contrary to Section 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which
enjoins the State to abolish corrupt practices.
That the failure of the 1st Respondent to act on the Applicant’s petitions
has enabled the 2nd Respondent’s successor in office, Godwin Obaseki, to
largely continue with the 2nd Respondent’s arbitrary and corrupt use of
public funds.
That the Applicant would continue to suffer lack of access to good roads,
medicare and other government subsidized essential facilities due to the
failure to investigate the Applicant’s petitions against the 2nd
Respondent and prosecute him accordingly by the 1st Respondent in other to
serve as deterrent to other public office holders in Edo State.
That the Applicant as a dutiful citizen is desirous of ensuring that the
war against corruption which is founded on the 1999 Constitution is fought
without regard to a suspect’s political affiliation or class. The 2nd
Respondent is an APC Stalwart and is taking advantage of his membership of
the ruling party to influence the 1st Respondent from doing its job.
That the 1st Respondent has investigated similar petitions against public
officers of opposition parties and prosecuted them for lesser offences.
That since then the Applicant who is resident in Benin City has repeatedly
visited the office of the 1st Respondent in Abuja to no avail. Even in
April, 2018, the Applicant visited the 1st Respondent’s said office for a
feedback and was snubbed as usual.
That the Applicant being a Citizen of Nigeria interested in the Rule of
Law, the Supremacy of the Constitution and the enforcement of existing
laws has instituted this action to ensure that the 1st Respondent appears
before this Honourable Court to explain why the very strongly worded
petition, backed with facts and a prima facie case were not treated by the
1st Respondent despite the duty imposed on it by the law to do same.APC
NATIONAL CHAIRMAN LEADING CANDIDATE IN A MASSIVE CORRUPTION SCANDAL.
Anti-corruption Crusader Asks Court To Compel EFCC To Investigate And
Prosecute Adams Oshiomhole
A human rights activist and Anti-Corruption crusader based in Benin City
Bishop (Dr) Osadolor Ochei JP, today dragged the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) to a Federal high court sitting in Abuja.
The case has the EFCC and Adams Oshiomhole as first and second
respondents. The law suit Is at the instance of EFCC’s refusal to attend
to a well detailed Petition of the Applicant (Bishop Osadolor) to the 1st
Respondent dated 28th October, 2016 and published in the Daily Sun
Newspaper of 7th November, 2016, together with other national newspapers,
bothering on economic and financial crimes against the immediate past
governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
In a Motion Ex-Parte, the applicant Bishop Ochei is praying the court to
as a matter of urgency compel the EFCC to commence the investigation and
prosecution of the former governor in pursuant to Sections 6(b) & (h) and
13(2) of the EFCC Act, 2004.
The Applicant in his suit said he has complained to the 1st Respondent
(EFCC) about allegations of corrupt practices as well as economic and
financial crimes against the 2nd Respondent (Oshiomhole), on a number of
occasions, without eliciting any response or interest from the 1st
Respondent in this regard. The 1st Respondent failed to examine and
investigate the said allegations upon such reports to it.
Bishop Ochei, said that the 1st Respondent owes Nigeria and Edo State a
duty to unearth the truth by meticulously investigating these allegations
to ascertain the extent of complicity and culpability of the 2nd
Respondent with respect to these allegations levelled against him.
The motion exparte filed by the applicant’s counsel West Idahosa & Co.
stated the Respondent’s legitimate means of income as Governor. The 1st
Respondent did nothing about the said petition. The Petition and its
annexures are attached as Exhibit “A”, while the satellite images of the
compound, fence, and existing building are attached as Exhibits “A1, A2,
A3, A4, A5 and A6”.
That on 4th November, 2016, the Applicant sent a petition to the 1st
Respondent against the 2nd Respondent’s corrupt practices while he served
as Governor of Edo State. Amongst the allegations made against the 2nd
Respondent by the Applicant are the following:-
That the Applicant repeated the allegation that the 2nd Respondent built a
sprawling mansion worth more than N10 billion naira in his home town known
as Iyanho, Edo State. The said building was constructed by Verissimo, a
South African Architectural outfit. The said house of the 2nd Respondent
has swimming pools, water fountains, multiple theatres for cinema and live
performances, huge event halls, bridges, manmade lake, lodges of different
sizes amongst others. The said cost of building the mansion is well
outside the 2nd Respondent’s legitimate income. The 2nd Respondent’s
lifestyle and extent of the said property were not justified by his
sources of income. The Applicant’s Petition is attached as Exhibit “B”,
while the reminder from the Applicant is attached as Exhibit “B1”.
That the 2nd Respondent bought a property along Okoro-Otun Avenue, G.R.A.,
Benin City owned by Edo State Government while serving as Governor of Edo
State in an insider deal without due process and in abuse of his oath of
office. The Okoro-otun property acquired by the 2nd Respondent was
originally given to University of Benin as a gift by Edo State Government.
The 2nd Respondent, while a dispute was pending in Court between
University of Benin and Edo State Government, forcibly acquired the
property for his personal use. The 2nd Respondent has since erected a
structure with an underground apartment, roof-top swimming pool, another
giant structure worth more than N500,000,000 (five hundred million naira)
which is far beyond his legitimate income. At the time of the sale, the
open market price of that magnitude of property and in that such high-brow
location was about N100 million naira. This transaction took place while
the 2nd Respondent was Governor of Edo State and he bought the said
property for just N23 million naira vide an Access Bank cheque.
That the 2nd Respondent authorized and awarded the highly inflated
contract and payment within a relatively short time for the construction
of 168 hostels rooms in Edo State University, Iyamho for the sum of N1.88
billion naira. The average cost per room translates to N10 million naira
for each hostel room. This contract was awarded to the firm of A & K
Construction Limited without compliance to due process. Similarly, the 2nd
Respondent authorized and awarded the highly inflated contract of building
the Teaching Hospital of the said University for the sum of N12.2 billion
naira without compliance to due process. The Memorandum of Approval by the
2nd Respondent is attached as Exhibit “C”.
That the 2nd Respondent authorized and approved the diversion of N1.2
billion naira approved for the construction of a new accident and
emergency ward complex and renovation of existing structures in the
Central Hospital, Benin City for the payment of additional 10% advance
payment to A & K Construction Limited for the construction of the Teaching
Hospital of the University of Science and Technology, Uzairue (also known
as Edo State University, Iyamho, without compliance with due process and
against public interest. The Memorandum of Approval of the said diversion
is attached as Exhibit “D”.
That the 2nd Respondent borrowed N25 billion naira from the Capital Market
through the issuance of bonds. He purportedly paid the first N6 billion
naira to Hitech Construction on March 2, 2011 and listed several roads as
part of Phase One of the Storm Water Project to include Adolor College
road, Textile Mill road, and a host of others. These roads are largely
abandoned with little or no work done by Hitech Construction Company. The
gullies created as a result of initial work have become major sources of
flooding in Benin – City. More than six persons have been killed by this
artificial flood.
That the 2nd Respondent authorized and awarded the construction of the 7.2
kilometer Ogba/Airport Road, Benin – City to Servetek Construction Company
Limited for construction of drainage structures and dualization from Ring
Road to Ogba River Bridge for industry record setting sum of N4.4 billion
which translate to N611 million naira per kilometer without compliance
with due process.
Following disputes with the Company on how the money was to be shared
amongst stakeholders, the Company refused to work further and the contract
was terminated. It was re-awarded to Setraco Nigeria Limited for over N12
billion naira, on the pretext that 17 Acres roads were to be constructed
along the main Airport Road. It was later discovered that these access
roads were re-awarded as stand-alone contracts with new cost tag. The
contracts were awarded without compliance with due process.
That the 2nd Respondent authorized and awarded the construction of the
Emergency / Accident Unit of the Central Hospital, Benin – City, to
Company for the sum of N2.7 billion naira and later reviewed same upwards
to over N3 billion naira. The constructed building subsequently collapsed
killing the owner of the Company, Dr. Stefano De La Roca and confident of
the 2nd Respondent. The contract was thereafter re-awarded to another
company, SCL without penalizing the previous Company for the poor work
done and thereby causing serious financial loss to Edo State. The said SCL
is also one of the Companies that constructed the Lord of the Manor
Proto-type mansion and adjoining premises of the 2nd Respondents at Iyamho
in Edo State.
That in 2012, the 2nd Respondent initiated and authorized the approach to
the World Bank to secure a loan of $225 million dollars under the First
Edo State Growth and Employment Support Credit project with identification
number “P123353”. The World Bank paid Edo State Government $75 million
U.S. dollars as initial payment and another $75million U.S. dollars as
second installment, despite massive protest by Edo people.
The said second installment which was domiciled in Access Bank was largely
transferred to private off shore accounts and round tripped to the
detriment of Edo State.
That the 2nd Respondent authorized and approved the counterpart fund
scheme between Edo State Government and Bank of Industry with each party
providing N250 million naira each. This agreement was reached in December,
2009. From the enquiries made by Applicant only N41.6 million naira was
disbursed. The balance sum was diverted for personal gain and to the
detriment of Edo State residents.
That the 2nd Respondent received over N500,000,000.00 (five hundred
million naira) as security votes. These funds were diverted to proxy
accounts according to available records. For instance, One Chief M.A.
Kadiri collected sums of money approved by the 2nd Respondent and totaling
about N42 billion. In December 2014, 2nd Respondent approved N700 million
naira which was collected by the same Chief M.A. Kadiri on grounds of
urgent security challenges when there was no security threat to justify
the purported use of such an astronomically huge amount of money. The said
funds were collected by Chief M.A. Kadiri for the benefit of the 2nd
Respondent and to the detriment of the residents of Edo State. Copies of
memoranda showing some of the receipts by Chief M.A. Kadiri, as approved
by the 2nd Respondent are attached as Exhibits “E1-E4”, copies of some of
the approvals are attached as Exhibits “E5-E11” and copies of payment
vouchers are attached as Exhibits “E12-E22”.
That the 2nd Respondent approved the purchase of vehicles at ridiculous
prices from Sata Motors Limited, a Company owned by one Hon. Gani Audu who
was also a Personal Assistant to the 2nd Respondent without compliance
with due process and in abuse of the office of Governor of Edo State
occupied by the 2nd Respondent. The vouchers are attached as Exhibits “F1,
F2 & F3”.
That the 2nd Respondent purportedly acquired properties in United States
of America, South Africa and Dubai worth billions of U.S. dollars and far
in excess of his legitimate income while serving as Governor of Edo State.
That on December 31st 2014, the N.N.PC. paid $54.9 million dollars to Edo
State Government and her Local Government Councils as contributions to
Power Sector “Special Sector Intervention Fund”. That the money did not
reflect in the income of the State till date was never captured by an
Appropriation Act for the State. There is no place in Edo State where any
project was built with funds from the so-called special Sector
Intervention Funds. The said funds were merely diverted for the private
use of the 2nd Respondent. Copies of the NNPC statement of transactions
showing withdrawals from the Excess Crude Account and disbursement to Edo
State are attached as Exhibit “G”.
That the Petition of the Applicant to the 1st Respondent contained weighty
allegations bothering on corrupt practices that ought to have been
investigated given the effect of corruption on the stunted socio-political
and economic growth of Nigeria to the detriment of all persons resident
therein.
That the 1st Respondent owes Nigeria and Edo State a duty to unearth the
truth by meticulously investigating these allegations to ascertain the
extent of complicity and culpability of the 2nd Respondent with respect to
these allegations.
That by the Applicant’s letter dated 28th October, 2016 and received by
the 1st Respondent on 04/11/16, the attention of the 1st Respondent was
drawn to the allegations made against the 2nd Respondent by the Applicant.
The 1st Respondent failed or neglected to invite the 2nd Respondent for
investigations into the said allegations.
That failing the said invitation of the 2nd Respondent by the 1st
Respondent for investigations, the 2nd Respondent began to boast openly to
his kindred that he was untouchable and that no anti-corruption Agency of
Government would dare investigate him.
That in the Applicant said Petition to the 1st Respondent, the Applicant
laid out the allegations against 2nd Respondent and requested the 1st
Respondent to investigate the said allegations. The Petition was published
in the Daily Sun edition of Monday, November 7, 2016. The copy of the
Newspaper publication is attached as Exhibit “H”. Copies of other
newspapers are attached as Exhibits “H1, H2, H3 & H4”.
That following the said failure of the 1st Respondent to investigate the
allegations against the 2nd Respondent, the Applicant wrote a reminder to
the 1st Respondent and same was received by 1st Respondent on 13th
December, 2016. Thereafter, one Barr. Eze of EFCC call the Applicant on
telephone on 5th January, 2017, requesting for evidence to support the
petition. On 9th January, 2017, the Applicant sent the documentary
evidence and analysis of evidence done by him to the 1st Respondent by DHL
with tracking number 6888917195. The said document was delivered to 1st
Respondent on 12th January, 2017 at 09.01am and was received by one Daniel
Tsamiya. A copy of the reminder is attached as Exhibit “I”.
That despite the said petition and the reminder sent by the Applicant to
the 1st Respondent, demanding that it performs its duty by investigating
the allegations against the 2nd Respondent, the 1st Respondent did not
investigate the 2nd Respondent or even reply the Applicant’ letters.
That consequent upon the refusal of the 1st Respondent to investigate and
prosecute the 2nd Respondent, the Applicant have no option than to
approach the Court of Law for an Order mandating the 1st Respondent to
perform its statutory duties as required by law.
That the Applicant is an indigene of Edo State who are entitled to enjoy
the benefits of good erosion / flood control, good roads, adequate
security coverage and other rights flowing from their residency in Edo
State and citizenship of Nigeria; which they have been denied as a result
of the corrupt activities of the 2nd Respondent.
17. That the Applicant is a fulltime Clergy man, being a Bishop of the
Divine Heavenly Vision International Ministry Inc., Benin City. He lives
on offerings from the Church and has no earnings upon which he can be
taxed. His Church does not engage in any form of business whatsoever.
18. That the Applicant is a dutiful citizen of Nigeria who is committed to
the performance of his duties to the nation in order to make positive
contributions to the advancement, progress and well-being of the country.
19. That the Applicant, pursuant to his constitutional duties to render
assistance to appropriate and lawful agencies in the maintenance of law
and order sent several petitions to the 1st Respondent complaining about
the economic and financial criminal activities of the 2nd Respondent in
his capacity as Governor of Edo State from 2008 to 2016. The Applicant did
not receive any positive response from the 1st Respondent despite
petition, reminder, documentary evidence and numerous visits to the
Headquarters of the 1st Respondent with respect to the said petitions.
20. That the said petitions are in public interest and are supported by
ample documentary evidence. The petitions did not seek any particular
method in which the 1st Respondent was to do its job other than to invite
the 1st Respondent to investigate the allegations made against the 2nd
Respondent.
21. That the Applicant is specially aggrieved by the failure of the 1st
Respondent to act on the said petition for the following reasons:
As a result of the miss-use and abuse of public funds by the 2nd
Respondent, the road leading to the Applicant’s house and other roads in
the locality remained untarred despite several requests from the Applicant
to Edo State Government to do so and the said Government continually
claimed that they had no sufficient funds while 2nd Respondent was busy
expending public funds on his expensive lifestyle, including acquiring
mansions all over the world at costs outside his legitimate income.
Several letters from the Applicant’s community to the 2nd Respondent
requesting the development of the said community are attached as Exhibits
“J1, J2, J3 & J4”.
The failure to tar Applicant’s road and other roads in the locality has
led to frequent repairs on Applicant’s car and loss of valuable time due
to frequent visits to mechanic workshops. The same is applicable to others
who reside in the area. The receipts of repairs of Applicant’s car are
attached as Exhibits “K1, K2 & K3”.
The Applicant and many other ordinary citizens had a hard time gaining
access to medicare as the Central Hospital in Benin City which 2nd
Respondent claimed to have spent billions of naira of public funds on was
not equipped and remained non-functional. Applicant and others had to
practically beg for contributions to receive medicare from private
hospitals.
These reasons prompted Applicant to carry out an enquiry into how 2nd
Respondent’s spent public funds belonging to Edo State and Applicant found
out that 2nd Respondent was not prudent in the use of such funds and
frequently diverted funds meant for the development and security of the
State to private use.
The Applicant found out that the 2nd Respondent wasted hundreds of
millions of naira on chartered flights, when public facilities in the
State were abandoned and the public denied the benefit of these
facilities. Copies of the approved vouchers for some of such chartered
flight expenditure are attached as Exhibits “L1 – L13”.
The 2nd Respondent spent millions of naira for choice drinks when major
public facilities like roads, hospitals and schools were in dilapidated
conditions. Copies of the approved vouchers for the purchase of
soft-drinks are attached as Exhibits “M1-M22”.
That the failure of the 1st Respondent to act on the Applicant’s petitions
gave the impression that public officers are entitled to use public funds
arbitrarily and outside public good.
That the failure of the 1st Respondent to act on the Applicant’s petitions
was contrary to Section 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which
enjoins the State to abolish corrupt practices.
That the failure of the 1st Respondent to act on the Applicant’s petitions
has enabled the 2nd Respondent’s successor in office, Godwin Obaseki, to
largely continue with the 2nd Respondent’s arbitrary and corrupt use of
public funds.
That the Applicant would continue to suffer lack of access to good roads,
medicare and other government subsidized essential facilities due to the
failure to investigate the Applicant’s petitions against the 2nd
Respondent and prosecute him accordingly by the 1st Respondent in other to
serve as deterrent to other public office holders in Edo State.
That the Applicant as a dutiful citizen is desirous of ensuring that the
war against corruption which is founded on the 1999 Constitution is fought
without regard to a suspect’s political affiliation or class. The 2nd
Respondent is an APC Stalwart and is taking advantage of his membership of
the ruling party to influence the 1st Respondent from doing its job.
That the 1st Respondent has investigated similar petitions against public
officers of opposition parties and prosecuted them for lesser offences.
That since then the Applicant who is resident in Benin City has repeatedly
visited the office of the 1st Respondent in Abuja to no avail. Even in
April, 2018, the Applicant visited the 1st Respondent’s said office for a
feedback and was snubbed as usual.
That the Applicant being a Citizen of Nigeria interested in the Rule of
Law, the Supremacy of the Constitution and the enforcement of existing
laws has instituted this action to ensure that the 1st Respondent appears
before this Honourable Court to explain why the very strongly worded
petition, backed with facts and a prima facie case were not treated by the
1st Respondent despite the duty imposed on it by the law to do same.