TRIAL OF HOUSE OF REPS SPEAKER, HONOURABLE PATRICIA OLUBUNMI ETTEH

The House of Representatives recently, after an intense deliberation, resolved to constitute a nine-man ad-hoc committee to probe the N628 million contract award for the renovation of the official residences of the Hon Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House.

The Committee had the following as members: Honourable David Onobi Idoko, PDP Chairman; Honourable Rabe Nasir, PDP member; Honourable Nasiru Muhammad, ANPP member; Honourable Sani Saleh Minjibir, ANPP member; Honourable Chinedu Godswill Eluemunoh, PDP member; Honourable Depo Oyedokun S., PDP member; Honourable Yakubu Dogara, PDP member; Hon. H. A. B. Fasinro, AC Member and Hon. Peter Linus Umoh PDP Member.

Yesterday, their report was submitted by the Chairman of the committee, Honourable David Onobi Idoko and below is the report of the submitted report:

Terms of reference

As contained in the Votes & Proceedings of Wednesday, September 5, 2007, the terms of reference of the ad-hoc committee are as follows:

• examine the award of contracts for the upgrading of the official residences of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker; arid

• examine the contracts for the purchase of official and utility vehicles for the Leadership of the House, and to report to the House within two weeks.

Methodology

In view of the need to adequately address its terms of reference, the Committee employed several methods in gathering information and facts in the course of its assignment. Among these are:

• regular meetings of members on a daily basis;

• request and analysis of several documents in respect of the contracts under reference;

• collection of relevant statutes on government contract awards, (bidding, public procurements, guidelines and circulars.)

• visit to the official residences of the Hon. Speaker and Deputy Speaker for physical assessment of the state of the properties.

• oral and documentary evidence were obtained through open hearing from the followings:

a. Leadership of the House:

• Minority Whip

• Deputy Minority Leader

• Minority Leader

• Deputy Chief Whip

• Chief Whip

• House Leader

• Deputy Speaker

• Speaker

b. National Assembly Management:

• Director of Works and Estate

• Director, Legislative Budget and Planning

• Director, Finance and Supply

• Secretary Tenders Board

• Acting Clerk - House of Representatives

• Clerk, National Assembly

Others are: -

c. Corporate Affairs Commission

d. Federal Capital Territory Administration

e. Vietogenuel Nigeria Ltd

f. Lee Development Nig. Ltd

g. Stateco Nig. Ltd (The Committee in its considered opinion ruled that Stateco cannot be represented by counsel)

Summary of facts

On the basis of the documents submitted to the Committee and oral testimonies obtained from witnesses, the facts of the investigated contracts are itemised as follows:

• The contracts for the renovation and furnishing of the official residences of the Hon. Speaker and Deputy Speaker were approved by the body of Principal Officers at a meeting held on the July 12, 2007.

• The contracts for the supply of vehicles to Principal Officers of the House were also approved by the body of Principal Officers at that same meeting.

• The meeting of the body of Principal Officers was summoned through a Notice of Meeting dated July 11, 2007 and was addressed to nine principal officers, Chairman Ad Hoc Committee on Welfare and 7 Senior Management staff of the National Assembly. (see Annexure I & Ill)

• The meeting was scheduled for July 12, 2007 at 1.30 p.m. but it commenced earlier at 12 noon on the same date on the instruction of the Hon. Speaker, Chairman of the body of Principal Officers.

• The meeting was attended by only four Principal Officers (Hon. Speaker, Hon. Deputy Speaker, Chief Whip, and Deputy Majority Leader), Chairman of Welfare Ad-Hoc Committee, and eight Management Staff of the National Assembly)'. (see Annexure III)

• Six Principal Officers were not at the meeting; some of them stated that they did not receive the notice of meeting. The principal officers not at the meeting were the Leader of the House, Deputy Chief Whip, Minority Leader, Minority Whip, Deputy Minority Leader, and Deputy Minority Whip.

The meeting approved award of contracts as follows: -

• Renovation of the Speaker's residence to State Co. Nig. Ltd at the cost of N238,852,279.00 (two hundred and thirty eight million, eight hundred and fifty two thousand, two hundred and seventy nine naira only).

• Renovation of Deputy Speaker's residence to MIS Lee Development Nig. Ltd at the cost of N90,296,225.25 (ninety million, two hundred and ninety six thousand, two hundred and twenty five naira and twenty five kobo only)

• Supply of 10 Toyota Land Cruiser to M/S Kymco Motors Co. Ltd at the cost of N123,000,000 (one hundred and twenty three million naira only), and M/S Bras Ventures Ltd at the total cost of N49,600,000 (forty nine million, six hundred thousand naira only).

• Furnishing of the official residence of the Hon. Speaker to M/S Victogenuel Nig. Ltd at the cost of N 71,895,000 (seventy-one million, eight hundred and ninety-five thousand naira only).

• Furnishing of the official residence of the Hon. Deputy Speaker to M/S Lee Development Nig. Ltd at the cost of N55,200,000 (fifty-five million, two hundred thousand naira only).

• An advance payment in the sum of N53,741,743 (fifty three million seven hundred and forty one thousand, seven hundred and forty three naira only) representing 25 per cent of the total contract sum was paid to Messrs Stateco. Nig. Ltd. in respect of the renovation and furnishing contract for the Hon. Speaker's residence, which was covered by a Fidelity Plc bank guarantee for a value of N181,982,623.20 (one hundred and eighty-one million, nine hundred and eighty two, six hundred and twenty-three naira twenty kobo only).

The committee visited the official residences of Hon. Speaker and Hon. Deputy Speaker where members were conducted round by the Deputy Director Works of the National Assembly and his staff, which included:

• Chief Electrical Engineer,

• Chief Mechanical Engineer.

• Chief Architect,

• Snr Quantity Surveyor; and

• Asst. Chief Building Officer

• The Deputy Director Estate and Works Department confirmed the receipt of the Committee's letter concerning the suspension of work in the two official residences and Members reiterated the Committee's decision that work on the residences should be suspended, pending the outcome of the Committee investigation. It was further directed that the stop order be pasted on the walls of the affected Residences if contractors could not be reached.

• The execution of all the contracts in question remain suspended pending the outcome of this investigation. Findings (Evaluation & Analysis) Review of Relevant Statutes Governing Award and Execution of Contracts

The contracts in question involve the procurement of goods, works and services by the National Assembly, which fall within the ambit of Public Procurement Act, 2007 specifically under Section 15(I)(a), which covers all procurement of goods, works and services carried out by the Federal Government of Nigeria and all procurement entries which include:

• Section I 6(1)(a)-(g) lays down the fundamental principles for procurement. (Annexure 33 attached)

• Section 40(1)-(4) on Restricted Tendering (Annexure 33 attached).

• Code of Conduct for Public Procurement Section 57(2-4)(7-9) (I2 a,b,d) (Annexure 33 attached)

• Offence Relating to Public Procurement, Section S8(1(-S)(9-10(12- (Annexure 33 attached).

Review of all documents relating to the award of the contracts to ascertain Compliance with the Guidelines

The Ad-hoc Committee mandated to investigate the contracts began with two letters dated June 6, 2006 referred to as Annex 19A and 198 signed by one Idris M. Mahdi for Clerk to the National Assembly addressed to the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration, Abuja. The letter requested for the "furnishing of official residence of the Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives at Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja" and "Taking over of Deputy Senate President and Deputy Speaker's Residences at Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja." (See Annexure 19a & 19b).

In response to the said letters referred to above, the Executive Secretary and Chairman FCT Transition Committee Engr M S Alhassan, FNSE, by a letter dated June 15, 2007 addressed to the Senate Leader, National Assembly, Abuja and copied to the Clerk to the National Assembly informing National Assembly Management that the general provisions in the FCT 2007 budget are inadequate and therefore cannot accommodate the cost of furnishing the houses of the officers under consideration. The Executive Secretary further suggested that National Assembly should consider other ways of funding the project. (see Annexure 19c attached).

The Committee having gone through Annexure 16 observed a typographical error on the second page of the document under a sub-heading scope of work "S(i)" Mercedes Benz 5320, which is supposed to mean Mercedes Benz S320. While scrutinising the documents, the Committee also observed as follows:

• That the invitation for tender did not meet the requirement of the relevant provisions of the FGN Financial Regulations. It also noted that a fundamental aspect under "vital information" that stipulates tendering process is based on Federal Government of Nigeria Contracting guidelines (See Annexure 16).

• That Notice of Meeting was properly raised by the Secretary Tenders Board but was not served due to some constraints.

• That the minutes of meeting of the body of principal officers of the House of Representatives held on July 12, 2007 at the office of the Honourable Speaker, National Assembly Complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja had underlisted persons in attendance:

Present were:

• Hon. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh

• Hon. Babagida Saidu Ngoroje

• Hon. Bethel Amadi

• Hon. Baba Shehu Agaie

• Hon. Wale Adegoke

• Alhaji Nasiru I. Arab

• Mr O. Ogunyomi

• Mr Niyi Ajiboye

• Idris M Mahdi

• Alhaji M. A. Sani-Omolori

• Mr O. Adelami

• Mr C. J. Osman

That the minutes reflected neither "Apology" nor "Absent." Also no explanation was given as to why some members were absent without apology. It was also observed that the meeting commenced one and a half hours earlier than the scheduled time.

The decision reached at the meeting shows that contracts were approved for award as follows:

• Renovation of the official residence of the Honourable Speaker's to M/S Stateco. Nig. Ltd in the total sum of N238,852,192.95;

• Renovation of Honourable Deputy Speaker's Official Residence to M/S

Lee Development Nig. Ltd in the total sum of N90,296,225.25;

• Supply of motor vehicles: (i) 10 Nos. of Toyota land Cruiser by Kymco Motors co. Ltd in the sum of N123,000,000; (ii) 2 No. Mercedes Benz car S.320 (Black) by M/S Bras Ventures Ltd in the total sum ofN49,600,000;

• Furnishing of the Hon. Speaker's Residence to M/S Victogenuel Nig. Ltd in the sum of N71,895,000,00 and

• Furnishing of the official residence of the Hon. Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives to M/S Lee Development Nig Ltd in the sum of N55,200,000

• That four out of six members endorsed the Minutes of the meeting and the remaining two did not sign against their names. (see Annexure 8)

• That Annexure 5 8, were memoranda presented at the meeting as follows:

5.2.2 Memo No.1 - Memorandum for the Renovation of the Official Residence of the Hon. Speaker, Apo Quarters, Abuja (Annex V)

Item No. 6a: Claims that the residence of the Hon. Speaker was last renovated in 1999 is in direct conflict with the submission of the Executive Secretary of the FCDA, who claimed it was last renovated in 2005 as indicated in Annex 37 (N16.7million was spent on roofing works and replacement of wooden doors).

Item No. 6b: Claim that advertisement was placed on the notice board of the National Assembly is in direct contradiction with the oral testimony of the Secretary Tenders Board who said there was no advertisement at all.

Item No. 6c: Claim that analysis and vetting exercises were carried out by professionals in the Estate and Works Department. This is incorrect as only an appraisal was carried out on the various contract sums and based on that a decision was reached. This is an appraisal and not an analysis.

5.2.3 The basis for arriving at the figure of N238,852,192 being the total contract sum for the renovation of the Speaker's house has not been established.

5.2.4 There is no budgetary provision for this expenditure.

5.2.5 Stateco Nig. Ltd Bill of Quantities (BOQ) was vetted by the Estate and Works Department without them having any in-house BOQ or the necessary drawings that will give them a clear picture of the situation.

5.2.6 The BOQ of Stateco. Nig. Ltd is full of lump sum (prime cost and provisional sums) reinforcing the belief that most of the bills were based on assumptions.

5.2.7 The BOQ of Stateco. Nig. Ltd just addressed works concerning the main house, fence and external works.

5.2.8 The format of the BOQs of the renovation of the Speaker's residence is different from each other, proving that they cannot be from the same source. (see BOQ attached to Memo V and Annexure XIII)

5.2.9 Date signed by the Clerk of House of Representatives on the memorandum was dated July 9, 2007.

5.2.10 Memo No.2 - Memorandum for Renovation of Deputy Speaker's Official Residence at Apo Quarters, Ahuja (Annex VI)

Item No.2 The assertion that the house has been occupied since 1999 is inaccurate as the residence was only commissioned March 2006 and nobody has ever lived in the residence (see Annexure XIXb)

Item No.3: Claim that advertisement was placed on the notice board of the National Assembly is in direct contradiction with the oral evidence given by Secretary Tenders Board who said that no adverts were placed.

Item No.4: Claim that analysis and vetting exercises were carried out by professionals by the Estate and Works Department is incorrect as only an appraisal of the contract sum was made not tender analysis at arriving at a decision to award the contract sum of N90,296,225.25 to M/s Lee Development Nig. Ltd. '

5.2.11 The Committee finds that the three companies that bided for the renovation contract of the Deputy Speaker's residence i.e. Lee Development Nig. Ltd., De Crew Limited and CNO Development have common telephone numbers and Lee Development Nig. Ltd and CNO Development share the same office. Also, the Managing Director of CNO Mr Chuks Okonkwo, signed as Secretary of Lee Development in the Contract Agreement. (see Annexure XXXV a - pg. 597)

5.2.12 The Committee noted that only Lee Development Nig. Ltd has a BOQ but they all had Hon. Speaker's minutes to the Clerk to process on their covering letter.

5.2.13 The Committee also noted that the time of completion on the Agreement (Annex XXXV a) is 3 weeks. This is at variance with approved 8 weeks completion period by the Body of Principal officers (Annex III) and the award letter (Annex IV)

5.2.14 The memorandum of the meeting was dated July 9, 2007. All the quotations of the companies were detailed in the memorandum and a recommendation made for the award of the contract for the renovation of the Deputy Speaker's residence to Messrs Lee Development Nig. Ltd for the sum of N90,296,225.25, even though none of the companies' bids were in process until the 11th of July. All the three bids were minuted on July 11, 2007 by Madam Speaker with instructions to the CNA to Process.

5.2.15 Memo No. 3A - Memorandum for the Supply of 10 No. Toyota Land Cruiser VXR 470 EFI Engine, Full Option, Leather Seat, Air Condition, Air Bag, and Refrigerator to the House of Representatives (Annex VII)

Three companies bidded for the contract to supply 10 No. Toyota Land cruiser VXR. They are:-

• Kymco Motors Co. Ltd

• AUSU Nig. Ltd

• NIA Nigeria Ltd

5.2.16. The Committee observed that the memorandum for the meeting was prepared on July 3.

5.2.17. Item 4 in Annex VII states, "after a careful study of the quotations received, it was evident that the one from M/s Kymco Motors Co. Ltd appears most competitive in the unit price of NI2,500,000 only and accordingly recommended for the contract." The quotation from Kymco Motors was dated July 9 2007. The quotation from Ausu Nig. Ltd was dated July 11, 2007. The quotation from NIA Nig. Ltd was dated July 12, 2007. So, how was the bid figures reflected on Annex VII in respect of the purchase of 10 No. Toyota Land Cruisers obtained by July 3, 2007? Evidently there was a prior knowledge of the figures of the bid document before the submission.

5.2.18 Memo No. 3b: Purchase of Official Vehicles for the Presiding Officers of the House of Representatives (Annex VII)

The initial request was for 2 No. Mercedes Benz S320, 2 No. Peugeot 406, 1 No. Toyota Hilux Van, 2 No. Outriders motorcycles and 1 No. Toyota Hiace bus. This is in excess of the four No. cars approved by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission due the Deputy Speaker.

The Committee observed that the body of Principal Officers approved S320 model however there was a change to Mercedes S550 at the same cost. There is no explanation as to how this change came about. (see Annexure XXIII)

5.2.19Memo No.4 - Memorandum for the Furnishing of the Residence of the Deputy Speaker (Annex VIII) 3 companies bided for the furnishing contract of the official residence of the Hon. Speaker, namely:

• M/s Bulktrade &. Investment Co. Ltd and Homelink Holdings presented a detailed breakdown of items and costs of items they are bidding to supply. All the items are for the main house and security post and boys quarters. The letter from Victogenuel Ltd also made reference to such a breakdown of items but the Committee were not provided with it.

The Committee observed that the Speaker was the first person to minute on the letter addressed to the Clerk to the National Assembly) in respect of the' furnishing of the residence of the Hon. Speaker. The letters are from:

• Homelink Holdings Ltd dated June 30, 2007 minuted on by the Hon. Speaker on July 11, 2007;

• Victogenuel Nigeria Ltd dated July 3, 2007 minuted on by the Hon. Speaker on July 11, 2007;

• M/s Bulktrade & Investment Co. Ltd dated July 10, 2007 minuted on by the Hon. Speaker on July 11, 2007.

We also observe that Madam Speaker minuted to the Clerk on the letters of Homelink Holdings Ltd, Victogenuel Ltd and Mis Buldtrade & Investment Co. Ltd on July 11, 2007, but the Memorandum (Annex VIII) was prepared on July 10, thereby raising a question as to how the details of the bids were accessed even before the initiation of the processing of the bids.

5.2.20 Memo No.5 (page 9 in Annex Ill )

The claims in the Memorandum that the last furnishing of the mansion was done at the inception of the last legislature is clearly inaccurate as the house was never furnished or occupied since it was commissioned in March 2006.

We also observe that according to information from Corporate Affairs Commission, D-Crew Limited could not be located in the database of the Commission. This suggests that the company has not been registered.

We also observe that bid documents were directed to some officers if respect of the furnishing of the Deputy Speaker's mansion. The bid documents are from (l) De-Crew Ltd, minuted by the Speaker to the Director of Works on July 13, 2007. (2) CNO Development Ltd, minuted by the Speaker to the Director of Works on July 13, 2007. (3) MP Associates Ltd, minuted by the Speaker to the Clerk to House of Representatives with the following instructions: "Pls process as approved by the body of principal officers and the management of the house," dated July 17, 2007.

Conclusion

Based on the Committee's evaluation, the Committee concluded that due process was not completely followed in the awards of the contracts based on the following:

• The tender was not advertised;

• No in-house Bill of Quantities and drawings (architectural, structural, electrical and mechanical) as such, there was no basis for arriving at the approved contract sums;

• No specific budgetary provision for renovation and furnishing of the official residence of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker in the 2007 Budget;

• No specific budgetary provision for the purchase of vehicles for principal officers in the 2007 Budget;

• The procedure for the award by the Body of Principal Officers on the July 12, 2007 shows major act of omission and disregard for laid down procedure;

• The memoranda for the award of contracts presented at the Meeting of the Body of Principal Officers of July 12, 2007 were raised before some of the quotations for the jobs were processed;

• Some of the companies that sent quotations were not registered with Corporate Affairs Commission. They therefore lacked capacity to compete for the contracts in question since the law does not recognise them as persons;

• It appears that some principal officers were excluded from the meeting of July 12, 2007 by not serving them notice for the meeting particularly the Minority Leadership;

• The contract sum of N238,852,l52 in respect of the renovation and furnishing of the residence of Speaker was for the main house and not inclusive of cluster of structures in the compound; and

• All quotations relating to the renovation and furnishing contracts directed to the office of the Speaker and those directed to the office of the Clerk to the National Assembly were first acted upon by the Hon. Speaker for the attention of the Clerk to the National Assembly directing him to process.

Servant-Leadership

Why Servant-Leadership Is Needed In Nigeria Now

President Umaru Yar’Adua’s deliberate choice to exemplify the servant-leader is one that could change Nigeria’s political class’ attitude to politics. Although it is yet to be made very clear how this is to be done, the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Communications, quoted the President as saying this during an address to participants in the “Nigeria Meets The World” forum on Monday night in New York, United States.

President Yar’Adua was also quoted to have said that a total change must take place in the disposition of Nigerian politicians and political parties for the electoral reforms, initiated by his administration to succeed.

A release from the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Communications adds, “Politics should be about seeking opportunities for service to the nation, not about opportunities for self-aggrandisement.

“That is what the concept of the servant leader is all about. We have a lot of work to do to change our concept of leadership.

“Political office and leadership are not necessarily synonymous because election to a political office should only provide an opportunity for someone to become a leader through worthy service to his people.

“We are reforming our electoral process to lay a solid foundation for political stability but there must be a complete change in the conduct of our politicians and political parties because their attitude will determine the success of the reforms.”

The Battle Against Corruption

Report on Ribadu’s lecture at ThisDay Global Conference at Astoria Hotel, New York on Monday 24 September 2007

If there is anyone that has had his name mentioned once and again in the battle against corruption in Nigeria, it is the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who said recently in a lecture that he was ready to die to rid the nation of corruption, adding, he was ready to confront corrupt Nigerians, irrespective of their status. If a Nigeria is so committed to ridding the country of corruption, why should anyone have the gut to label every Nigeria as corrupt?

In the lecture, Ribadu also insisted that neither the EFFC nor the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission was a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Justice.

More on the report as broken by the Punch Newspaper:

He said, “Niger Delta leaders are buying aeroplanes and estates in Miami, and somebody is saying I shouldn‘t be tough on them. Where else does that happen?

“Corruption is responsible for our country‘s current state, including our terrible image. We don‘t have power and security simply because of corruption.

“When you fight corruption, it fights back. Eight EFCC staff have been murdered, we just don‘t want to be talking about it. I have been maligned and condemned, but it is our country and I think it is worth dying for.”

Responding to a question from a member of the audience on why the EFCC had refused to arrest former President Olusegun Obasanjo and a former Minister of Works, Chief Tony Anenih, Ribadu said Obasanjo ought to be given credit for initiating the anti-coruption war.

He said contrary to the figure quoted as the budget of the ministry under Anenih, the EFCC found out that it got less than N50bn instead of N300bn vote.

He challenged anyone with proof that Obasanjo and Anenih had case to answer to come to the EFCC office.

He added, “There are worse criminals than Obasanjo and Anenih.

“People should be asking that such criminals should be brought to justice rather than Obasanjo.”

To those who insist that the anti-corruption war is selective, the EFCC chairman simply said, ”If Nuhu is not doing it – going after them – another person can.”

Ribadu said it was not possible for development to thrive with corruption, adding that there had to be a clean-up.

But he agreed that such an effort would have to be within the rule of law.

Ribadu‘s speech was mostly passionate as he was hitting the table and knocking it a few times.

Responding to a question from our correspondent, he clarified that he was not giving Obasanjo and Anenih a clean bill of health because the EFCC was not in the business of issuing clearance to anybody.

In his contribution, the ICPC Chairman asked the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency for the anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria.

Ayoola said there was a need to suspend the rights of those who indulged in corruption to quicken the pace of justice and cleanse the country.

He said, “If we agree to suspend these rights in five years, I am sure the fight against corruption will be successful.

“Corrupt people go to court, getting orders and stopping investigations. If you do not investigate, how do you know if someone is corrupt?

“Nigeria‘s criminal justice system has gone into a shambles.”

He cited 40 ongoing suits of the ICPC, none of which had gone to trial because of procedural delay.

He said the delay had been ‘bringing comfort to the corrupt.’

Ayoola said only those who were angry could be part of the anti-corruption war in the country.

“I tell ICPC staff that if they are not angry with corruption they have no business in ICPC,” he said.

When asked to give details on the idea of suspending rights, Ayoola said rights abrogation would only affect corrupt people.

He said he would support the creation of a special tribunal to tackle corruption cases.

He added that cases in ordinary courts were dragging for too long. He said some corruption cases had been on since 2001.

But he conceded that ”a state of emergency is not a perfect state, but it is required to meet an emergency situation.”

The former Supreme Court Justice wondered why the victims of corruption were fighting for the corrupt.

“There is a shield surrounding the corrupt. Corrupt citizens have their own strategies, but we are up to the battle,” he said.

He expressed disdain for the negative impact of corruption on the country.

Ayoola, who jokingly recalled how someone had referred to him as a ‘living museum’ said, ”People like me grew up in Nigeria with little wealth and much integrity.

“In 1952, I sat for the Higher School Certificate. I invigilated myself, and the time given was three hours. When it was three hours, I stopped.”

Ayoola recalled the story to underscore the view that Nigerians are people of integrity.

“Lack of integrity is not part of us. I will be 74 in October, and I knew when our country was glorious, not as rich as today. But we were not corrupt then, people had integrity,” he added.

On funding of anti-corruption agencies, Ayoola said, “You do not fight a battle without committing resources to the battle.”

In her contribution, the Vice-President of the World Bank, Oby Ezekwesili, said the battle against corruption in Nigeria should not be personalised, but be institutionalised.

She said it ought not to be about Ribadu or the ICPC chairman, but about the entire society.

She said the civil society would have to work together to break the back of corruption.

Senator Victor Udo Udoma said that the National Assembly recognised the need to institutionalise the fight against corruption with every Nigerian as a stakeholder.

Lessons from personal experience

Rev. Matthew Kukah is a prominent Catholic priest in Nigeria. His recently recounted experience in the hands of people who consider every Nigerian a prospective fraud until proved otherwise is a must read. Rev. Kukah's name rings a bell not only in Nigeria but also in the international community for his forthrightness on issues that border on rights of the downtrodden. But the way he was humiliated by foreign Immigration Service is well documented in his article, “No Nigerians Welcome”. His personal experience, here recounted unedited, is a strong reason for the existence of NigeriaTrueFriend. True friends of Nigeria know the true worth of Nigeria and Nigerians. They know.

No Nigerians welcome

Rev. Matthew Kukah

Recently, my good friend, Chief Udeh, the head of Nigeria’s immigration Service has been sounding upbeat about the changing the face of immigration services. I am so far impressed by his talk and thoughts. I have decided to narrate a story I had for two years decided to live down. It is the story of my own humiliation in the hands of Kenyan and Tanzanian immigration officials. It seems I am also not alone as some of our journalists have suffered similar fates. As the story went, a group of Nigerian journalists had been denied entry in Tanzania on the same grounds that they had the misfortune of being from Nigeria. I suffered a similar fate but perhaps the difference lay in the fact that my own story had the bizarre and rather hilarious ending as the reader will see.

My first experience was in 2003 at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi, I was on a Kenya Airways flight bound for Cape Town, South Africa. We had a stop over and the airline had kindly booked a hotel for me for the night. At the airport, I went to get a transit visa, which I was told was a mere formality. I queued up with a few passengers, mostly white. A bunch of smiling Kenyan Immigration officials enthusiastically stamped visas into their passport. I got to the desk, handed in my passport, but the official took one look at me and handed over my passport back to me, saying he could issue me a transit visa. I was told that I was being denied a visa on the grounds that I had Nigerian passport. I was shocked, but I did not wish to create a scene, so I simply stepped aside. I simply returned to the Business Class lounge where I spent the remaining part of the night. Later, when one of the white who had been behind me on the queue met me at the lounge, as he poured himself a scotch, he asked if I had got my transit visa, I nodded because I felt so ashamed to admit that I had been refused a transit visa and that I had to cry on a white man’s shoulder for a cup of humiliation been served to me as a Nigerian. As I settled down, I said to myself: Nigeria has just turned the corner and ended military rule, the Kenyans had just sworn in Mwai Kibaki as the new President. Both he and Obasanjo were supposed to be a sign of the new dawn in Africa. Was this sign of the Africa to come? Though I had travelled to South Africa on two different occasions, I was wondering what would await me for being a Nigerian at the other end. Thank God, the South Africans were gracious.

My second and more traumatic humiliation took place in 2004 as I was completing a research trip which I had undertaken to Rwanda. As an African, the Rwandan genocide had hit me rather badly. As Catholic priest, I had felt even worse than a Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat then, I was pained by the feeling of total helplessness that engulfed me. The genocide had come and gone, but I was sad that I still had not managed to get a proper idea as to what had happened to the body of Christ in Rwanda. When the opportunity to visit Rwanda presented itself, I took it with both hands. My trip to Rwanda was a spin off from a Lecture I delivered on civil society in Africa in Dublin in 2003. But that is another story.

My trip to Kigali was fantastic. The people were wonderful and I found that so many doors opened to me as a Nigerian. The people here pronounced President Obasanjo’s name with greater affection than in many parts of Nigeria. In fact, at a Sunday mass in the Cathedral in Kigali, I met some five Nigerians who were members out of the Technical Aid Corps in Rwanda who told me they had found wonderful reception in Rwanda. But my real nightmare, the subject of this piece was outside Rwanda.

In the course of my stay in Rwanda, I had spent time listening to stories, interviewing senior Church men and women, government officials, priests, sisters, lay men and women and so on. I was satisfied with my trip. Due to my experience with Oputa Panel, my interest naturally had gravitated towards the efforts at the restoration of justice in Rwanda. I had first heard this initiative from the Rwandese Attorney General who had shared a platform with me at the University of Edinburgh in 2002. He had helped greatly in fixing up appointments for me. After my field work, I felt that I needed to do a comparative analysis of the effectiveness or otherwise of the Gacaca system of African justice system. I had also known about the United Nations International Tribunal on Rwanda based in Arusha, Tanzania. To ensure my smooth and the Tanzanian High Commission. That exercise was smooth and the Tanzanian officials were courteous.

When I finished with the field work in Rwanda, I had the option of flying by UN helicopter from Kigali to Arusha which was just across the border, but I opted to travel back through Nairobi with Kenyan Airways. I was so anxious to see some parts o rural Kenya and Tanzania that I opted to both fly back to Nairobi and continue my trip by road. My flight was to take me through Kilimanjaro which I would have loved to see, but from Nairobi, I opted to go by road.

On arriving Nairobi, I had checked into the Nairobi Hilton which I was told was nearest to the motor Park where I could get the Taxi/Bus from Nairobi to Arusha. The next morning, I arrived at the Park, bought my ticket and boarded a bus. There were about eight of us in the bus and I recall that apart from the driver, I was only the black face. We stopped for refreshments and finally got to Kenya-Tanzanian border. The bus driver pointed at the border post and told us to go and have our passports stamped.

For some strange reasons, I took the lead, feeling that this being Africa soil; I should be the one to lead the four white men and the three women to the post. I got there first and feeling like a tour guide, I smiled at the officers and then depleted the only Swahili I knew; We are all travelling together, I said. The mzungus handed in their passports and I made sure that mine was the last almost as a courtesy. The officer had no hesitation in stamping the passport of the seven mzungus. When he handed them back to us, mine was missing. Hey, I said, where is my passport? He sized me up and said: My friend, you are from Nigeria. You will have to wait a while. What for? I demanded. Because you have a Nigerian passport, he said. The mzungus looked back and then moved on to the bus. They waited for me in the bus and then the driver came over to find what the problem was. He is a Nigerian, the immigration official said, as if those were the imprints of the badge of my criminality. The driver tried to plead that I was his passenger, to no avail.

After over 30 minutes, the driver went back to the vehicle, took down my bags, brought them to me and drove on. I wondered to myself, what those mzungus would have thought: that the Nigerian had been detained because he was a criminal, carrying drugs, or whatever. But I was calm.

I took out my lap top and settled down to work. Since it was a Sunday, I asked the immigration officer if he was sure that his boss was really going to come to work. My plan to be at Sunday mass in Arusha had crumbled. Since I had a ticket, I wondered if I should simply return to Nairobi, abandon my wild life search and take the flight to Arusha. But the officer said: The Mass should finish at 12.00noon so my boss will be here after 12p.m., unless they have a meeting in the Church. I felt relieved by the thoughts that first, the boss was a Catholic and secondly, if he was also a leader in the Church, my problems were over and who knows, I might even get lunch before I continue my journey. At about 12.30p.m, one gentleman walked in and from the reaction of the officer I knew this must be the boss and I thanked God that there had been no Church Council meeting. After he settled in the office, the officer nodded and asked me to go in. what of my passport, I asked? Just go in and explain yourself, he will call for me later, the officer said, as if he and I were acting out some conspiratorial plot. I went into the office, relieved my Habari, the only Swahili I knew and put it again to use. He looked up and then smiled.

Even before I introduced myself he stood up when he saw my collar. Good afternoon Father, he said as he stretched out his hand. What can I do for you? Goodness me, was I pleased to see this gentle man? I was already preparing a plea bargain for his officer because I was sure that the officer was going to be seriously reprimanded by this good Catholic for keeping a Catholic priest waiting, especially having just come from Mass. I was wrong. As soon as I finished my own side of the story, he called the officer. Yes Father he said, you are from Nigeria. Unfortunately, the law does not allow us to let Nigerians in. You fall within a category of countries that we have problems with. So I am sorry, I cannot do anything for you. But, I stammered, you have a High Commission in Nigeria, I have a valid visa from your High Commission, I paid for it. Do you suspect that the visa is fake; I asked him, feeling a bit clerically agitated with an erring parishioner. No it is not about the visa. In fact, Father, it is not your fault. You see, there is something that is supposed to be in this visa but which our officers in Abuja keep forgetting to put. What is it, I asked? The visa has a signature and stamp, so what else do you need? We are the only ones who know, Father I am really sorry about this and for the inconvenience. I thought for one moment. Should I ask him to take me back to his parish priest so I can lay my complaint? I thought no, I would sweat it out and see.

But, he said, what is taking you to Arusha? I was a bit angry but I wondered if I should answer such a stupid question. If I did not have anything to do in Arusha, why would I buy a ticket, apply and get a visa and come all the way here, I thought. But somehow, I thought it will be nice to remain calm and end it peacefully even though it was clear I was going no where. I am going to the International War Crimes Tribunal, I said to him calmly. Whom are you going to see there, he said? Do you work for the United Nations, he asked. No I am just interested in what is going on there. As you can see from my passport, I am just coming from Rwanda. So, I am merely completing the second leg of my research. Not satisfied, he continued: Are you a Researcher for the United Nations? No, I am merely undertaking this research out of interest as a priest and as an African. He gave me a curious look and then asked: So where are you based, Father, in a Parish or a University? At this point, I was pressed on. I am in both actually. But, he said, you cannot be in a University and a Parish at the same time. I shot back: That is what I just told you, I am in both. The dialogue continued: How and where? Do you have any identity? Well, I am a student at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University in the United States and I live in a Parish in Boston. As if stung by an insect in his pants, he jumped up. You are from Harvard? A Nigerian, an African at Harvard? My goodness. Let me shake your hands, again Father as he surged towards me. I am proud of you as a Catholic and an African. Harvard, he repeated with the reverence of a babalawo in a shrine.

Sorry about all this Father. Felix, he called out to the officer, stamp Father’s passport immediately. Please get him a soft drink. Tell my driver to please hurry up and check in the Park if there are taxis going to Arusha now. All of a sudden, the heavens opened up. I sipped my coke as I waited for the driver’s return, shocked by this sudden turn of fortunes. There was a taxi, he said, but it was still waiting for two passengers for the front seat, the driver said. Tell the taxi to bring his car here, my new friend thundered. In less than 10 minutes, the taxi pulled up in front of the office. Please take the Rev Father to Arusha immediately. Do you have enough money, Father? I nodded as I pulled out my rosary.

I did not wish to tempt fate by any form of conversation. I could find no words to thank the officer. I felt more shame than gratitude. But, as we sped fast the border post, a sad smile danced across my face. The smile retreated as I tried to wipe a surging tear… I sank into deep thoughts and asked myself. Is this my beloved continent, Africa? Is this the Tanzania of my greatest hero, Julius Nyerere? Is this the Tanzania that our Nigerian soldiers put their lives on the line to save in the 60s? Is this the Africa that the likes of Thabo Mbeki have tried to re-enkindle the fires of the African renaissance? Is this Africa after apartheid? How could Harvard mean more to my brother than our common brotherhood both in faith and skin?

So, when next these African Presidents and Ministers sit in their fitting suits and clink their glasses in Abuja, will President Obasanjo remember to ask why this humiliation of Nigerians and Nigeria persists? The President has been quick to tell Nigerian immigration officials to issue visa in 36 hours. Does he care to know what Nigerians are going through? What exactly is responsible for this nonsense? By the way the big man at the border offered to show me the list in which Nigeria appeared. It includes citizens from Afghanistan, Bosnia, Iran and some strange nations that we have nothing in coming with. This nonsense has to end now. Kola Omotosho has argued for more than 20 years that African should have no reasons to seek visas within Africa. Sadly, our leaders are too comfortable in their little diplomatic privileges to bother about the rest of us. This is the greatest shame of the leadership of Africa.

Facing Reality

Did I hear that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, ‘Honourable’ Olubunmi Etteh, wants to open up on all those who are involved in the corruption scandal rocking the ‘honourable’ House and its members? Good. Everyone involved should be named. Let her spill the beans like she threatened. Mere threat will not be sufficient. That has always been the best thing to do. Let Nigerians and the whole world identify the corrupt ones among us and not brand us all as corrupt people. I still maintain that we are not all corrupt.

Many people must be involved in the scandal. It takes two to tangle. Considering the huge sum of money involved, it is clear that she is not alone in the ripping off. If the allegation is proved to be true, all those involved must be brought to justice. And by extension, all those who are corrupt and were corruptly (s)elected must be shown the doorway, not just to their constituencies, but also to Kuje Prison. But more than anything else, the contract must be called off and mobilisation fee refunded.

True Picture of Nigeria

Nigerians are decent, honest, straightforward, energetic, hard-working people. They are also truthful. Friendly. Trustworthy. They hate fraud or corruption. Most of them are ready to fight corruption or fraud with the last drop of their blood. But it is unfortunate that out of the over 140 million Nigerians, the very few people who are corrupt have, with their criminal records, attempted to smear the good-natured peoples of Nigeria. By the grace of God, the long arms of the law will soon catch up with them.

Lest we forget, corruption or fraud is not a native of Nigeria. True, there are a few corrupt Nigerians just as in other parts of the world, but to say that all Nigerians are corrupt is to stretch the argument too far.