General
SERAP Begs Buhari to Probe N17b Bribe Payment for 2015 Budget
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A passionate appeal has been made to President Muhammadu Buhari to use his good office to investigate and prosecute beneficiaries of the N17 billion allegedly paid by the last administration to the National Assembly to enable them pass the 2015 Appropriation Bill.
In an open letter to the President, a group known as Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) want the matter to be looked into.
In the letter, SERAP wants Mr Buhari to “direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN, and/or appropriate anti-corruption agencies to without delay investigate the alleged payment of N17 billion to the National Assembly as ‘election expenses’ of its members to pass the 2015 budget, and if there is relevant and sufficient admissible evidence, prosecute anyone suspected to be involved.”
In her book, former Minister of Finance, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had said the last government bribed the parliament to pass the budget in 2015.
“N17 billion was forced into the budget for election expenses of members of the National Assembly with the agreement of its leadership. The funds became the price to pay to have the 2015 budget passed,” she had disclosed on page 80 of her book titled ‘Fighting Corruption is Dangerous.’
As a result of this disclosure, SERAP, in its letter, urged the president to “instruct the Attorney General and/or appropriate anti-corruption agencies to publish the report of any such investigation including the names of anyone that may have benefited from the public funds, and to ensure the recovery of proceeds of corruption.”
The group warned that it would “institute legal proceedings to compel your government to act in the public interest if these steps are not taken within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter.”
According to the letter dated June 1, 2018 and signed by SERAP deputy director, Mr Timothy Adewale, the organization said, “The allegation of budgeting N17 billion as election expenses of lawmakers suggests a fundamental breach of article 15 of the UN Convention against Corruption, which Nigeria has ratified. Using public funds as election expenses of lawmakers is contrary to the convention, which prohibits bribery and requires the authorities to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds.”
SERAP noted that, “The illicit or improper nature of the election expenses is buttressed by the fact that the election of any lawmaker is a ‘benefit’ to him/her and not a matter of public interest or legitimate public spending, and implicitly amount to an abuse of legislative powers for private gain.”
“Allowing lawmakers to enjoy illicit benefits is an arbitrary or unjust exercise of executive functions. Facilitating N17 billion as election expenses has undercut access of millions of Nigerians to public services, as the funds could have been legitimately spent on services such as health, education, electricity supply or public transportation that those with few resources are dependent upon,” it added.
The statement read in part: “The required elements of the offence of bribery are those of promising, offering or giving something to a public official, such as the alleged N17 billion for election expenses of lawmakers. The allegation that the members of the executive allowed the National Assembly to have their way on the N17 billion also suggests giving the lawmakers an undue advantage to get the 2015 budget passed. The undue advantage or bribe also seemed linked to the official duties of lawmakers to induce the passing of the budget.”
“SERAP notes that the alleged N17 billion bribe has increased attention to the growing lack of transparency and accountability of the National Assembly, and the corresponding loss of trust and faith by Nigerians in the budgeting process and disillusionment in their lawmakers.”
“Investigating the allegation, identifying those suspected to be involved and ensuring that they are promptly brought to justice as well as ensuring recovery of any proceeds of corruption would help address the crisis of integrity in the National Assembly and contribute to improving public trust as well as promote access of Nigerians to an honest public service.”
“The ultimate object of any government is to promote good governance and the greatest happiness of the greatest number. This means stopping arbitrariness in the budgeting process, and in the use of public funds as well as replacing privilege with transparency and accountability that characterize a democratic society.”
“SERAP is concerned that the allegation of budgeting N17 billion for election expenses of lawmakers if proven would amount to gross violations of law, abuse of power, and bribery, and indeed, undermining the law-making and budgeting process. We urge your government to use this case as an opportunity to demonstrate its willingness to comprehensively address the endemic flaws and corruption in the budgeting process.”
“We note that the Attorney General is a defender of public interest and has the powers under Section 174(1) of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against anyone suspected to be responsible for acts of corruption.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria has signed a joint venture with defence technology company, Terra Industries Limited, as part of efforts to boost the country’s defence industrial capacity and advance indigenous high-technology development.
The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and Terra signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of the Joint Venture Company (JVC), both parties announced on Monday.
The partnership provides a robust framework for the local production, assembly, research and development (R&D), and training in high-technology systems, including drones, cybersecurity solutions, robotics, and other ancillary software and hardware platforms.
The MoU, executed pursuant to the DICON Act 2023, underscores DICON’s statutory mandate to collaborate with indigenous and foreign defence-related industries through Public-Private Partnerships. Under the agreement, the Joint Venture Company will operate as a subsidiary of DICON, jointly promoted and owned by DICON and Terra Industries, and duly incorporated in Nigeria.
This marks the latest move by Terra, which recently became a $100 million company, following recent raises from investors including Flutterwave CEO, Mr Gbenga Agboola, American actor Jared Leto as well as 8VC founded by the co-founder of Palantir Technologies Inc., Mr Joe Lonsdale. Other investors included Valor Equity Partners, Lux Capital, SV Angel, Leblon Capital GmbH, Silent Ventures LLC, Nova Global.
Terrahaptix, founded by Mr Nathan Nwachukwu and Mr Maxwell Maduka, are using the new funding to expand Terra’s manufacturing capacity as it expands into cross-border security and counter-terrorism.
The latest agreement with DICON is designed to establish advanced production and assembly lines for high-tech equipment within Nigeria, while promoting meaningful technology transfer, skills development, and specialised training for Nigerian personnel.
It also aims to strengthen local sourcing of raw materials, reduce dependence on imports, and enhance domestic industrial capacity and strategic autonomy. Additionally, the partnership will support the supply of security equipment to the wider Nigerian security agencies, other security agencies, positioning Nigeria as a competitive player in the global defence manufacturing sector.
Under the agreement, Terra Industries will provide technical expertise, professional services, and training, and will attract both local and foreign investment to strengthen the defence industrial ecosystem.
The company will also facilitate the procurement of production equipment, coordinate local and international training programmes, and provide access to manufacturing know-how, tooling, spare parts, and established defence sector supply chains.
Speaking on this, Mr Nathaniel Nwachukwu, CEO of Terra Industries, noted that the partnership “Demonstrates confidence in indigenous Nigerian engineering capability and creates a platform for sustainable defence technology development, innovation, and export competitiveness.”
On his part, Major General BI Alaya, the Director General of DICON, described the agreement as “A transformational step toward strengthening Nigeria’s defence manufacturing base, reducing import dependence, and positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for advanced innovation.”
The need for security has risen in recent years, as groups such as Islamic State and al-Qaeda are gaining ground in Africa, converging along a swathe of territory that stretches from Mali to Nigeria.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr Dayo Mobereola, is seeking enhanced cooperation between the agency and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) with the aim of strengthening tactical air support within the Deep Blue project.
During a courtesy visit last week, Mr Mobereola told the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall S. K. Aneke at the NAF Headquarters in Abuja, that the Air Force was a strategic partner in enhancing maritime security in Nigeria and sustaining the momentum of the Deep Blue Project’s success.
According to the DG, “We are here to seek the Air Force’s support, given the importance of tactical air surveillance to the Deep Blue Project. Nigeria is the only African country with a record of zero piracy within the last 4 years. The Deep Blue Project platforms have been used to achieve zero piracy and sea robberies in the Gulf of Guinea, and we need your collaboration to sustain this momentum”.
He further emphasised that international trade depends on security, which is why vessels prefer to go to or transit through countries where they are secured. “With the traffic we have now, we need to show more security might through collaboration to strengthen our trade viability because of the risks attached to our route. We need these collaborations to sustain what we have achieved so far with the Deep Blue Project”.
The NIMASA DG expressed hope that the collaboration with the Nigeria Air Force will reduce response time.
On his part, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall S.K. Aneke, noted that the Air Force desires to be “a very supportive and collaborative partner with NIMASA and is ready to match the Agency step by step and side by side to achieve the desired results.”
He noted that “collaboration between NIMASA and the Nigerian Air Force under the Deep Blue Project can be strengthened through a joint strategic framework, integrated command structures, and a standing steering committee to ensure shared objectives and accountability.
“Establishing a joint maritime domain awareness fusion cell will enable real-time intelligence sharing, synchronised surveillance, and faster response to maritime threats and ensure sustained operational effectiveness across Nigeria’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone,” he said, according to a statement.
The Air Force Chief added that the Air Force can also support NIMASA outside the Deep Blue Project operations by providing its own ISR platforms, tactical air support, and rapid airborne deployment for interdictions and search and rescue missions.
While thanking the NIMASA DG for the basic trainings the Agency has provided the aircraft pilots under the Deep Blue Project, Air Marshall Aneke also highlighted areas of operational challenges needing NIMASA’s attention to include bridging the communication gap between NAF operators and NIMASA, higher level and in-depth maintenance trainings, readily available fueling of aircrafts to avoid delays on missions, and provision of flying kits among others.
He therefore pledged the Air Force’s collaboration and assured that the request by NIMASA has been noted and that things will begin to move at thrice its speed going forward.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Former Vice President, Mr Atiku Abubakar, has lambasted the administration of President Bola Tinubu for the turnout at the FCT Area Council elections held last Saturday.
In a statement signed by his Media Office, the Adamawa-born politician claimed that the health of Nigeria’s democracy under the current administration was under threat.
According to him, “When citizens lose faith that their votes matter, democracy begins to die. What we are witnessing is not mere voter apathy. It is a direct consequence of an administration that governs with a chokehold on pluralism. Democracy in Nigeria is being suffocated slowly, steadily, and dangerously.”
He warned that the steady erosion of participatory governance, if left unchecked, could inflict irreversible damage on the democratic fabric painstakingly built over decades.
“A democracy without vibrant opposition, without free political competition, and without public confidence is democracy in name only. If this chokehold is not released, history will record this era as the period when our hard-won freedoms were traded for fear and conformity,” he stressed.
Mr Atiku said the turnout for the poll was below 20 per cent, with the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) recording 7.8 per cent.
He noted that such civic participation in the nation’s capital, the symbolic heartbeat of the federation, is not accidental, as it is the predictable outcome of a political environment poisoned by intolerance, intimidation, and the systematic weakening of opposition voices.
The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections stated that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) under Mr Tinubu has pursued a deliberate policy of shrinking democratic space, harassing dissenters, coercing defectors, and fostering a climate where alternative political viewpoints are treated as threats rather than contributions to national development.
He called on opposition parties and democratic forces across the country to urgently close ranks and forge a united front, declaring, “This is no longer about party lines; it is about preserving the Republic. The time to stand together to rescue and rebuild Nigeria is now.”
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