Corruption - capitaltimesnews.com

CapitalTimesNews / 2 months

2 min read

Former Brazilian President Fernando Collor de Mello has been taken into custody following a ruling by the country’s top court that confirmed his prison sentence for corruption and money laundering. The decision marks another chapter in Brazil’s ongoing struggle with political corruption at the highest levels of government. Collor, 75, was sentenced to nearly nine years in prison for accepting illicit payments to facilitate contracts between a construction firm and BR Distribuidora, a former subsidiary of the state-run oil giant Petrobras. Prosecutors alleged that Collor used his political influence to secure deals in exchange for financial kickbacks. The Supreme Federal Court rejected Collor’s final attempt to overturn the arrest order, clearing the way for law enforcement to detain him. Collor was arrested in Brazil’s northeastern region, according to a police source. This is not Collor’s first brush with controversy. He was forced to resign as president in 1992 amid a massive corruption scandal that led Congress to initiate impeachment proceedings. Collor’s conviction adds him to a growing list of Brazilian presidents who have faced legal trouble in recent decades. Four out of seven presidents who have governed Brazil since the end of the military dictatorship in 1985 have now been impeached, convicted, or jailed. Another former president, Jair Bolsonaro, is facing trial over allegations of orchestrating a coup attempt following his loss in the 2022 presidential election.

CORRUPTION CRACKDOWN: DELTA STATE DEMOTES TWO ENGINEERS FOR CERTIFYING UNCOMPLETED PROJECTS

CapitalTimesNews / 4 months

2 min read

The Delta State Government has demoted two serving engineers, Engr. Gabriel Evuarhere and Engr. Samuel Nwokolobia, for issuing certificates of job completion on road projects that were yet to be completed. The demotion was a result of a disciplinary committee’s findings, which deemed the engineers culpable of corruption, dishonesty, and failure to adhere to laid-down procedures. Engr. Evuarhere was demoted from Deputy Director to Assistant Director, while Engr. Nwokolobia was downgraded from Assistant Director to Chief Engineer. The demotion took effect on January 1, 2024, and their next promotions will be delayed until January 1, 2028, and January 1, 2027, respectively. According to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, “there would be no sacred cows in the quest to ensure quality projects delivery and value for money for Deltans”. He appealed to the disciplinary committee to temper justice with mercy, commuting the sentence from outright dismissal to reduction in rank. However, he warned that subsequent offenders would face the full wrath of the law. The governor’s stance on corruption and dishonesty is clear, as he emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in the state’s projects. This move is seen as a step towards ensuring that officials are held accountable for their actions and that the state’s resources are utilized efficiently.

DIEZANI ALISON-MADUEKE’S LAWYERS DENY ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION AND LOOTING

Nicolas Adekeye / 5 months
0
3 min read

The lawyers of Diezani Alison-Madueke, former Minister of Petroleum Resources, have come out to deny allegations of corruption and looting leveled against their client. In a statement, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, described the allegations as “a cocktail of lies” and “outrightly false” narratives. According to Ozekhome, the recent attempt to link Diezani to a yacht, Galactica, which was forfeited to the US government and sold for $52.8m, is a clear example of the “mischievous and cruel sport of tarnishing the image of the lady.” He stated that Diezani was never involved in the purchase, use, or sale of the yacht, and that it was purchased by Mr. Kola Aluko. Ozekhome also debunked the claim that Diezani was involved in the corrupt award of Strategic Alliance Agreements (SAAs) between the NNPC and Atlantic Energy companies. He stated that the contracts were validly entered into between the companies and the NNPC, and that Diezani was not involved in the contract process or negotiations. Furthermore, Ozekhome emphasized that Diezani never sold off oil blocks contained in the SAAs, and that she never gave such a directive or approval. He also highlighted the various false allegations that have been leveled against Diezani in the past, including the claim that she owned a diamond-studded bikini underwear valued at $12,000,000, which was denied by the EFCC. Diezani’s lawyers also noted that she was named in a criminal charge without any linkage whatsoever, and that she was forced to apply to be joined as a defendant to clear her name. However, the application was opposed by the EFCC, leading to the striking out of her name from the charge sheet. Ozekhome stated that Diezani has always been upright in the discharge of her duties, and that she remains the only Petroleum Minister to have left behind a staggering sum of over $4Billion in the NLNG Account representing Gas Sector Investment Funds. Diezani’s lawyers also highlighted her achievements, including being the first female Executive Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria, the first female Petroleum Minister in Nigeria’s history, and the first female President of OPEC. The lawyers pleaded with the public to accord Diezani a fair hearing and allow the UK court proceedings to take their natural course without interference. They also urged those who have been spreading false allegations against Diezani to desist from doing so and allow the law to take its course. It’s worth noting that Diezani has been under investigation for nearly 10 years, and was recently charged to court in the UK on October 2, 2023. She has been depending on the goodwill of friends and family members for her survival, as she has not been permitted to work or leave the UK since 2015.

WOMEN JOURNALISTS CALL FOR...

OHCSF DENIES PLOT TO...

EDO GOVERNOR PLEDGES 2.5...

NIGERIAN PORTS AUTHORITY SETS...

GUNMEN HIJACK BENUE LINKS...

AFRICAN FUTURE DEPENDS ON...

WOMEN JOURNALISTS CALL FOR...

OHCSF DENIES PLOT TO...

EDO GOVERNOR PLEDGES 2.5...

NIGERIAN PORTS AUTHORITY SETS...

GUNMEN HIJACK BENUE LINKS...

AFRICAN FUTURE DEPENDS ON...

FORMER BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT FERNANDO COLLOR DE MELLO SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR CORRUPTION

CORRUPTION CRACKDOWN: DELTA STATE DEMOTES TWO ENGINEERS FOR CERTIFYING UNCOMPLETED PROJECTS

DIEZANI ALISON-MADUEKE’S LAWYERS DENY ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION AND LOOTING

NIGERIAN PORTS AUTHORITY SETS AMBITIOUS REVENUE.

GUNMEN HIJACK BENUE LINKS BUS, KIDNAP.

AFRICAN FUTURE DEPENDS ON INTEGRATING INFORMAL.

WOMEN JOURNALISTS CALL FOR PASSAGE OF.

Pages

Categories

Recent Posts

GIRL CHILD EDUCATION AND SANITARY PAD SENSITIZATION CRUCIAL FOR FUTURE – PRINCESS JOY IDAM

Friday Lines (37) With: Dr Abubakar Alkali. An Open Letter to Ms Kemi Badenoch