Half A Trillion Naira Cases We Are Supposed To Forget While Buhari Borrows Us To Death

By Umar Sa’ad Hassan

No one right now is deceiving themself President Muhammadu
Buhari is an anti-corruption crusader and man of integrity. Even
his minions find other ways of defending him without it having to
come down to that. There is simply no way to justify the fact that
cronies who have stashed away trillions of our money that he has
had to sack perhaps because he had no other choice are walking
around free enjoying their loot.

In a half sane clime,the President would bend over backwards if
not for anything the optics of endlessly borrowing billions of
dollars overseas every few months, pretend to worry about those
accused of looting us dry by prosecuting them and recovering what
they have taken.In the ‘bad’ days before Buhari took over,an
increase in oil prices meant more money for government but things
are getting worse as things stand.Worse than they were when oil
sold for $40.Nothing around us suggests our lifeline; oil is now at
$76 and still rising.
The humongous looting of our resources under Mr Integrity provide
an easy answer to why either with borrowed or generated funds,this
administration has nothing tangible to show.
While Buhari is busy pursuing a fresh N2.3trn loan,below are just 5
corruption cases that hold 25% of that amount.All classical cases
of how the monies collected while borrowing our lives away end
up.

A NIGERIEN ARMS DEALER WAS HANDED N166.5BN OF OUR
MONEY

Back then the question was why would the Federal Government be
in business with Aboubacar Hima; a Nigerien arms dealer who had a
reputation for fraud even in his home country.That question was
answered for many when President Buhari more or less confirmed the
long standing rumour that he was originally from Niger Republic
when he said he had family there and also referred to his cousins
living there while justifying the Kano-Maradi rail line
project.Several reasons have been put forth as why this government
did business with him, notably that they needed a discreet source
of arming bandits/boko haram.Whether or not that is the case,Hima
has been declared wanted by the EFCC for absconding with
$394M,€9.9M and N369M meant for the supply of arms.All amounting to
a naira total of N166.5 bn.
There were doubts when that news broke too.The EFCC is an appendage
of any government in power and what Nigerians looked out for and
never saw was the Interpol declaring him wanted on our behalf as
well.While we are here watching, Aboubacar Hima has wriggled
through most of his legal troubles in Niger (bribed through some
would say) and at the start of May this year, was announced as the
boss of a newly registered company in the Nigerien capital of
Niamey; Prininvest.I hope no one out there thinks Buhari is serious
about apprehending the man.

BUHARI’S SON-IN-LAW ABSCONDED WITH $64M

Gimba Yau Kumo was the former Managing Director of the Federal
Mortgage Bank and it was not until the Presidency issued a
statement after a $64M theft was reported in the media that most
Nigerians got to know President Buhari’s daughter,Fatima had
separated from him.They were married in 2016 in a colorful ceremony
in Daura, the President’s home town in Katsina state.The Presidency
did not hand the story of Kumo’s theft to the press,it only
confirmed it when word had gotten out.If it had,that would have
being the only valid basis to counter any notion that the President
isn’t keen on punishing his (former) in-law.If they really want
Kumo arrested,the Presidency has all it takes to make that
happen.

HADIZA BALA USMAN’S UNREMITTED N165BN

Hadiza Bala Usman’s removal as Managing Director of the Nigerian
Ports Authority was quite intriguing.She in addition to being an
ally of President Buhari,has been referred to over the years as the
‘unofficial 4th wife’ of Gov.Nasir El-Rufai.In addition to
these,she is a northerner in government; from Buhari’s home state
to be precise.The word is there was a face off between her and the
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi but If she was kicked
out,then it means there was a huge scandal no one could save her
from without getting burnt themself.
Soon after she was fired,a memo leaked showing she was being
accused of not remitting N165 bn into government coffers…And that
was it.She is somewhere relaxing-No EFCC,No ICPC, nothing.Nigerians
are expected by the Buhari administration to take solace in the
fact that she was sacked.As for their money,he will always go and
borrow more.

MAGU’S EFCC MISDEEDS

After the Attorney General of the Federation,Abubakar Malami
wrote President Buhari recommending the removal of Ibrahim Magu as
EFCC Chairman,a memo by Malami asking all law enforcement agencies
not to investigate a case of fraud against the NIRSAL Managing
Director,Aliyu Abdulhameed was leaked online.Shortly after,the
public also got to know he facilitated the sale of vessels put up
for auction to a company standing trial for stealing 12,000 metric
tonnes of our crude oil loaded in a vessel.Magu was not one to take
everything lying low and it would have been interesting to see the
lengths he would go if he was charged to court.
Magu would have probably aired the dirty laundry of the big fish
himself; President Buhari.Like I repeatedly say,Buhari was very
well aware of who Magu was when he appointed him EFCC Chair and
insisted on him despite the disapproval of the Saraki-led
Senate.Magu had been indicted by the Police Service Commission in
2010 for tampering and removing EFCC files.And also by the DSS
which accused him of living in a N20M per annum residence in Abuja
paid for 2 years straight by dubious characters he had been seen
fraternizing with.Buhari knew who Magu was and if he still wanted
him as the head of EFCC then it meant Magu’s track record suited
his motives.
Magu was accused of embezzling the interests accruing from a total
N500bn recovered loot amongst other things after reportedly falling
out with Malami over the sale of recovered properties to
cronies.Malami’s closeness to Buhari meant Magu had to make way.In
a manner that appeared more a ploy to keep it all ‘behind the
curtains’,he was brought before a Presidential Panel chaired by
Justice Ayo Salami (Rtd) which recommended his prosecution.
Magu may have been corrupt but he would definitely have a lot to
say about what he helped Buhari and other members of his government
do.They wouldn’t want that so Magu has been left in peace with all
that they themselves agreed he stole.

N140BN NDDC FRAUD…THE MIC IS STILL OFF

The popular verdict on the NDDC probe embarked upon by National
Assembly is that those pointing fingers have 3 each pointing back
at them so it is in everyone’s best interest that the matter is
left to wither away.Godswill Akpabio was recruited in time to play
a key role for Buhari in the 2019 presidential elections; he was
there to provide a basis for Buhari’s outrageous triumph in an
entire 2 Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom state.
A lot of people say the President has left the NDDC matter for
Akpabio (who is being accused of erecting a fence for N300M) to
handle.He also happens to know how members of both houses from the
Niger Delta solicited and got contracts from NDDC they never
executed.Uniting their interests and burying the hatchet at the
expense of Nigerian taxpayers’ was the best way out for
them.Sen.Peter Nwaoboshi, the Chairman of the Senate committee on
NDDC who sensationally cast the first stone at Akpabio, decamped to
the APC just days ago.Speaker of the house,Femi Gbajabiamila said
shortly after the NDDC boss’ fainting theatrics that his presence
would no longer be required.
Nigerians were told probes would resume as soon as the NASS
returned from vacation,nothing has been done till date.

Sums totalling more than N140 bn have being left in the hands of
these people who haven’t been arrested talk more
prosecuted.Nigerians are supposed to just sit and watch Buhari
borrow more trillions in their name to be stashed away.God help
us.

Umar Sa’ad Hassan is based in Kano

Twitter-@Alaye_100
Email-uhassan077@gmail.com

By Umar Sa’ad Hassan

No one right now is deceiving themself President Muhammadu
Buhari is an anti-corruption crusader and man of integrity. Even
his minions find other ways of defending him without it having to
come down to that. There is simply no way to justify the fact that
cronies who have stashed away trillions of our money that he has
had to sack perhaps because he had no other choice are walking
around free enjoying their loot.

In a half sane clime,the President would bend over backwards if
not for anything the optics of endlessly borrowing billions of
dollars overseas every few months, pretend to worry about those
accused of looting us dry by prosecuting them and recovering what
they have taken.In the ‘bad’ days before Buhari took over,an
increase in oil prices meant more money for government but things
are getting worse as things stand.Worse than they were when oil
sold for $40.Nothing around us suggests our lifeline; oil is now at
$76 and still rising.
The humongous looting of our resources under Mr Integrity provide
an easy answer to why either with borrowed or generated funds,this
administration has nothing tangible to show.
While Buhari is busy pursuing a fresh N2.3trn loan,below are just 5
corruption cases that hold 25% of that amount.All classical cases
of how the monies collected while borrowing our lives away end
up.

A NIGERIEN ARMS DEALER WAS HANDED N166.5BN OF OUR
MONEY

Back then the question was why would the Federal Government be
in business with Aboubacar Hima; a Nigerien arms dealer who had a
reputation for fraud even in his home country.That question was
answered for many when President Buhari more or less confirmed the
long standing rumour that he was originally from Niger Republic
when he said he had family there and also referred to his cousins
living there while justifying the Kano-Maradi rail line
project.Several reasons have been put forth as why this government
did business with him, notably that they needed a discreet source
of arming bandits/boko haram.Whether or not that is the case,Hima
has been declared wanted by the EFCC for absconding with
$394M,€9.9M and N369M meant for the supply of arms.All amounting to
a naira total of N166.5 bn.
There were doubts when that news broke too.The EFCC is an appendage
of any government in power and what Nigerians looked out for and
never saw was the Interpol declaring him wanted on our behalf as
well.While we are here watching, Aboubacar Hima has wriggled
through most of his legal troubles in Niger (bribed through some
would say) and at the start of May this year, was announced as the
boss of a newly registered company in the Nigerien capital of
Niamey; Prininvest.I hope no one out there thinks Buhari is serious
about apprehending the man.

BUHARI’S SON-IN-LAW ABSCONDED WITH $64M

Gimba Yau Kumo was the former Managing Director of the Federal
Mortgage Bank and it was not until the Presidency issued a
statement after a $64M theft was reported in the media that most
Nigerians got to know President Buhari’s daughter,Fatima had
separated from him.They were married in 2016 in a colorful ceremony
in Daura, the President’s home town in Katsina state.The Presidency
did not hand the story of Kumo’s theft to the press,it only
confirmed it when word had gotten out.If it had,that would have
being the only valid basis to counter any notion that the President
isn’t keen on punishing his (former) in-law.If they really want
Kumo arrested,the Presidency has all it takes to make that
happen.

HADIZA BALA USMAN’S UNREMITTED N165BN

Hadiza Bala Usman’s removal as Managing Director of the Nigerian
Ports Authority was quite intriguing.She in addition to being an
ally of President Buhari,has been referred to over the years as the
‘unofficial 4th wife’ of Gov.Nasir El-Rufai.In addition to
these,she is a northerner in government; from Buhari’s home state
to be precise.The word is there was a face off between her and the
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi but If she was kicked
out,then it means there was a huge scandal no one could save her
from without getting burnt themself.
Soon after she was fired,a memo leaked showing she was being
accused of not remitting N165 bn into government coffers…And that
was it.She is somewhere relaxing-No EFCC,No ICPC, nothing.Nigerians
are expected by the Buhari administration to take solace in the
fact that she was sacked.As for their money,he will always go and
borrow more.

MAGU’S EFCC MISDEEDS

After the Attorney General of the Federation,Abubakar Malami
wrote President Buhari recommending the removal of Ibrahim Magu as
EFCC Chairman,a memo by Malami asking all law enforcement agencies
not to investigate a case of fraud against the NIRSAL Managing
Director,Aliyu Abdulhameed was leaked online.Shortly after,the
public also got to know he facilitated the sale of vessels put up
for auction to a company standing trial for stealing 12,000 metric
tonnes of our crude oil loaded in a vessel.Magu was not one to take
everything lying low and it would have been interesting to see the
lengths he would go if he was charged to court.
Magu would have probably aired the dirty laundry of the big fish
himself; President Buhari.Like I repeatedly say,Buhari was very
well aware of who Magu was when he appointed him EFCC Chair and
insisted on him despite the disapproval of the Saraki-led
Senate.Magu had been indicted by the Police Service Commission in
2010 for tampering and removing EFCC files.And also by the DSS
which accused him of living in a N20M per annum residence in Abuja
paid for 2 years straight by dubious characters he had been seen
fraternizing with.Buhari knew who Magu was and if he still wanted
him as the head of EFCC then it meant Magu’s track record suited
his motives.
Magu was accused of embezzling the interests accruing from a total
N500bn recovered loot amongst other things after reportedly falling
out with Malami over the sale of recovered properties to
cronies.Malami’s closeness to Buhari meant Magu had to make way.In
a manner that appeared more a ploy to keep it all ‘behind the
curtains’,he was brought before a Presidential Panel chaired by
Justice Ayo Salami (Rtd) which recommended his prosecution.
Magu may have been corrupt but he would definitely have a lot to
say about what he helped Buhari and other members of his government
do.They wouldn’t want that so Magu has been left in peace with all
that they themselves agreed he stole.

N140BN NDDC FRAUD…THE MIC IS STILL OFF

The popular verdict on the NDDC probe embarked upon by National
Assembly is that those pointing fingers have 3 each pointing back
at them so it is in everyone’s best interest that the matter is
left to wither away.Godswill Akpabio was recruited in time to play
a key role for Buhari in the 2019 presidential elections; he was
there to provide a basis for Buhari’s outrageous triumph in an
entire 2 Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom state.
A lot of people say the President has left the NDDC matter for
Akpabio (who is being accused of erecting a fence for N300M) to
handle.He also happens to know how members of both houses from the
Niger Delta solicited and got contracts from NDDC they never
executed.Uniting their interests and burying the hatchet at the
expense of Nigerian taxpayers’ was the best way out for
them.Sen.Peter Nwaoboshi, the Chairman of the Senate committee on
NDDC who sensationally cast the first stone at Akpabio, decamped to
the APC just days ago.Speaker of the house,Femi Gbajabiamila said
shortly after the NDDC boss’ fainting theatrics that his presence
would no longer be required.
Nigerians were told probes would resume as soon as the NASS
returned from vacation,nothing has been done till date.

Sums totalling more than N140 bn have being left in the hands of
these people who haven’t been arrested talk more
prosecuted.Nigerians are supposed to just sit and watch Buhari
borrow more trillions in their name to be stashed away.God help
us.

Umar Sa’ad Hassan is based in Kano

Twitter-@Alaye_100
Email-uhassan077@gmail.com