Nigerian leader indicted for graft

ABUJA – Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and his deputy, Atiku Abubakar, acted ‘illegally’ in the management of a petroleum fund and recommended them for prosecution, a Senate committee ruled on Wednesday.

It is the first time a Nigerian Senate committee has directly accused Obasanjo of ‘illegality’ in the management of a government agency. A senate committee report which reviewed the findings of another senate panel that investigated the management of the PTDF (Petroleum Technology Development Fund), found Obasanjo and Abubakar guilty of ‘illegal’ acts and recommended their trial before the Code of Conduct Bureau.The government-backed bureau, set up to ensure high moral standards among public office holders, investigates allegations of wrongdoings by public servants, after which its tribunal can try them for the alleged offences.The tribunal, set up under the Code of Conduct Act, has the power to impose punishment, which includes removal from office of any elected or nominated official and disqualification of a convict from holding any public office for a period not exceeding 10 years.The Code of Conduct Act came into force in January 1999.The senate committee accused Obasanjo of giving approval to some projects commenced by the PTDF last year.The senate panel slammed his approval as “illegal” and therefore ‘refers President Olusegun Obasanjo to the Code of Conduct Bureau for further action’.The panel also found Obasanjo and head of the state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Funsho Kupolokun, “culpable” over their “illegal approval” of maintenance of four different accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria in the name of the PTDF.Abubakar, 60, who is fighting a fierce battle in court to get his name listed for the April 21 presidential poll, was accused of approving 20 million dollars in 2003 from the PTDF, which he managed, “without the authority of the President.””The (senate) committee views the approval as illegal, and therefore recommends that that Abubakar be referred to the Code of Conduct Bureau for further action.”The committe, however, cleared him over his approval of placement of 125 million dollars in two private banks.The senate committee had on Tuesday resigned following alleged pressure from the leadership of the upper house of parliament aimed at blocking the report presentation before the April poll.Meanwhile, the senate began its recess on Wednesday and said it would resume to consider the committee’s report in May after the elections.Nampa-AFPA senate committee report which reviewed the findings of another senate panel that investigated the management of the PTDF (Petroleum Technology Development Fund), found Obasanjo and Abubakar guilty of ‘illegal’ acts and recommended their trial before the Code of Conduct Bureau.The government-backed bureau, set up to ensure high moral standards among public office holders, investigates allegations of wrongdoings by public servants, after which its tribunal can try them for the alleged offences.The tribunal, set up under the Code of Conduct Act, has the power to impose punishment, which includes removal from office of any elected or nominated official and disqualification of a convict from holding any public office for a period not exceeding 10 years.The Code of Conduct Act came into force in January 1999.The senate committee accused Obasanjo of giving approval to some projects commenced by the PTDF last year.The senate panel slammed his approval as “illegal” and therefore ‘refers President Olusegun Obasanjo to the Code of Conduct Bureau for further action’.The panel also found Obasanjo and head of the state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Funsho Kupolokun, “culpable” over their “illegal approval” of maintenance of four different accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria in the name of the PTDF.Abubakar, 60, who is fighting a fierce battle in court to get his name listed for the April 21 presidential poll, was accused of approving 20 million dollars in 2003 from the PTDF, which he managed, “without the authority of the President.””The (senate) committee views the approval as illegal, and therefore recommends that that Abubakar be referred to the Code of Conduct Bureau for further action.”The committe, however, cleared him over his approval of placement of 125 million dollars in two private banks.The senate committee had on Tuesday resigned following alleged pressure from the leadership of the upper house of parliament aimed at blocking the report presentation before the April poll.Meanwhile, the senate began its recess on Wednesday and said it would resume to consider the committee’s report in May after the elections.Nampa-AFP