President
Goodluck Jonathan has relieved four Ministers of their duties, as was announced
at the Federal Executive Council meeting.
Who are the sacked ministers?
The
relieved Ministers are Stella Oduah (Aviation), Caleb Olubolade (Police
Affairs), Godsday Orubebe (Niger Delta Police Affairs), and Yerima Ngama
(State, Finance).
It will
be recalled that Stella Oduah's case is related to corruption-related offences.
Both the House of Representatives and a presidential committee indicted her for
approving purchase of two bullet-proof cars for N255m. Investigations have also
revealed that Oduah has forged her academic qualifications.
Minister
of State for FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide is to supervise the Ministry of Police
Affairs, while the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Sam Ortom, is to
supervise the Aviation Ministry. Minister of State for Niger Delta
Affairs, Gayius Isiaku, would supervise the ministry, while the Coordinating
Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala would have to combine her work
with that of Yerima Ngama.
Why were they sacked?
Speaking
at the FEC, Information Minister Labaran Maku disclosed that the President
directed the Ministers to vacate their positions to pursue political and
private business interests they had expressed.
"The
President announced further changes in the Federal Executive Council," Mr.
Maku said. "He said a number of ministers had been asked to step out from
the council to pursue their own interests, some in politics and others in their
own private focus. Mainly what the President did today was to allow the
Ministers that have indicated interest in pursuing further growth in the
economy to be allowed to go."
While
Ms. Oduah was sacked in absentia as she was not at the cabinet meeting, the
other affected ministers were in attendance at what turned out their last FEC
meeting.
The
ministers of police affairs and Niger Delta affairs however left before the end
of the meeting.
Minister
Orubebe's case
In 2012,
a group, Anti-Corruption Network, headed by a former member of the House of
Representatives, Dino Melaye, accused Mr. Orubebe of corruption and abuse of
office.
In a
petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
Commission, ICPC, the group accused the former minister of accepting
gratification of a palatial mansion in Abuja, contrary to Section 12 of the
Act.
The
former minister was also criticized by the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike
Amaechi, for poor performance, especially for failing to complete the East-West
Road, which is vital to the economy of the Niger Delta region.
Mr.
Ngama and his Malabu case
Mr.
Ngama, alongside the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of
Justice, Mohammed Adoke, allegedly ignored petitions, a court case, and
anti-corruption investigations, to hurriedly authorize the transfer of
N155billion into accounts controlled by Dan Etete, a former Petroleum Minister,
who claimed ownership of Malabu.
Before
his sack, Mr. Ngama, who is believed to be eyeing the governorship seat of Yobe
State, had had a running battle with members of the Federation Account
Allocation Committee, FAAC.
The
Commissioners of Finance and Accountants-General of the 36 states and the FCT,
who are members of the Committee had repeatedly protested to President Jonathan
over alleged poor management of the affairs of the Committee.
Mr. Ngama also authored the controversial letter from the
Ministry of Finance authorising the Nigerian Custom Service, NCS, to widen the
scope of beneficiaries of the Export Expansion Grant. That letter is believed
to have opened a floodgate of abuse of the customs duties waiver regime.
No comments:
Post a Comment