THE newly commissioned N50 billion Omoku gas turbine project in Rivers State has come under the searchlight of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which has invited some officials of the state government and Rockson Engineering, the firm that constructed the project, for questioning. The project was commissioned only on Tuesday by President Olusegun Obasanjo
Operatives of the commission also, on Wednesday, stormed the Akure private residence of the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Kayode Bamisile, and a hotel as well as shopping complex owned by his wife. They were also at the offices of Arik Air in Lagos.
Four Rivers State commissioners were invited by EFCC to its Lagos office for questioning. The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Magnus Abe, in a terse statement yesterday confirmed the invitation, saying: �Sometime last week, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) invited some officials of the Rivers State Government to their offices in Lagos in connection with an on-going inquiry. The officers duly reported this morning (yesterday) in keeping with the Rivers State Government�s policy of openness and maximum co-operation with law enforcement agencies.
�As at the time of this statement, some of them have made their statements, while others are still waiting for their turn. It is unclear at this time the purpose, extent and intent of the investigations. However, given the highly charged political atmosphere of this time, we appeal to members of the public to avoid undue sensationalism and rumour-mongering until the facts become available.
�On our part, we want to assure our people and the EFCC that, we will co-operate with the EFCC in whatever way we can to enable them arrive at the truth whatever may be their quest.�
The commissioner also said a lawyer had been arrested by security operatives for allegedly trying to blackmail the state government. The commissioner said the lawyer had approached the state government to prepare a corruption perception report on the activities of the state and the local governments for some money. And when the government was not coming forth with the money, he threatened to go to press with his alleged information on the dark side of the government. Mr. Magnus said the clarification was necessary because of the political nature of the time.
EFCC visits Ekiti CJ
Officials of the EFCC, Wednesday, stormed the Akure private residence of the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Kayode Bamisile, looking for him. However, it was only his wife, Remi, they met at home.
From his house they went to Top Quality Hotel and Top Quality Shopping complex allegedly owned by her.
Narrating her ordeal to newsmen in Akure, Mrs. Bamisile said �the officials of the commission numbering nine, including a mobile policeman, arrived the hotel premises at Alagbaka Quarters, Akure at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday. On their arrival in a white bus, inquired if I was the wife of the Ekiti State chief judge and I answered them in the affirmative.�
She, however, said attempt by her to make the operatives to identify themselves was rebuffed, as they ignored her request to do so. Mrs. Bamisile said after she identified herself, the EFCC officials, who came with a video recorder, recorded everything that was found in the hotel premises, adding that two of her staff were rough-handled by them, while the staff were trying to ascertain the mission of the people.
Mrs. Bamisile said the operatives also visited their house and attempted to forcefully gain entry into the building. They tried to destroy the gate of the building to gain entry but were prevailed upon by neighbours and passers-by, who trooped out and prevented them.
She said the people, however, took a video recording of the building from outside and also that of the shopping complex.. The Ekiti CJ�s wife said the men later asked her to follow them to their office in Lagos but she refused, claiming that she was not a public officer.
Mrs Bamisile, who said the EFCC officials, however, mentally tortured her threatened to sue the commission for public embarrassment and disturbance of peace.
According to her, �I was highly embarrassed because they did not tell me my offences and am not a public servant. I am a business woman. So, why did they have to invade my privacy without any decorum?
�They did not ask me any question. They only came here to harass us and my husband was not around. They later asked me to go to Lagos with them but I told them that I don�t have any business with them�.
…also Arik Air
It was also confirmed that EFCC officials last Tuesday visited the Arik Air Aviation Centre and met with top officials of the airline, Arik Air. The four officials of EFCC were interested in the ownership structure and the source of funding for the new airline.
Arki officials confirmed that: �At all times during their stay, they were civil, courteous, professional and efficient. Arik views the EFCC visit as normal and routine aimed at ensuring good corporate governance.
�For the avoidance of doubt, Arik Air is a privately-owned Nigerian company with a Board of Directors headed by Sir J. I Arumemi-Johnson. Sir Arumemi-Johnson is also the founder of Nigeria�s foremost power engineering firm, namely the Rockson Engineering Company Ltd. The shareholders of Arik Air are registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in compliance with the Company and Allied Matters Act. �Arik Air as an indigenous company is proud to be a beneficiary of the Federal Government�s economic reform programme, which has made it possible for genuine Nigerian investors such as Sir Arumemi-Johnson to access funds from international financial institutions. This in turn has facilitated the launch of a truly Nigerian airline with new aircraft and the highest standards of safety and reliability. This is evidenced by the fact that Arik has entered into service three new CRJ900 aircraft, two of which have been financed by an international export credit agency following rigorous due diligence. These aircraft are deployed on the Lagos-Abuja and the Lagos-Calabar routes.�
EFCC warns
Meanwhile, EFCC yesterday warned politicians seeking elective positions in 2007 general elections to desist from inducing the electorate with money, vowing to provide comprehensive information on the sources of wealth of politicians to INEC.
In a two-page statement, the commission�s spokesman, Mr. Osita Nwajah, said the EFCC observed that the just concluded party primaries were highly influenced with money by aspirants. The statement entitled, �EFCC Alert; Caution to Political Office Seekers,� reads: �The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), wishes to sound a strong note of warning to all political office seekers in the country to restrain from the brazen use of money to secure electoral advantage in the race for political office.
�The overbearing influence of money in our politics is, as it is well known, at the very base of many electoral difficulties that have impacted negatively on our political culture and development of our democracy.
�The EFCC observes from the just concluded party primaries, the growing process of the nomination of candidates, donations to political aspirants, fund raising activities and the whole party finance mechanism being put in place, that Nigerian politicians have learnt little and have remembered nothing of the complex problems that have stained party politics all through the years, and brought the nation to its sorry state.”