NaijaWire

Archive for the ‘419’ Category

Abuja - The Nigerian Federal Government has terminated the proposed “one laptop per child” scheme initiated by the Obasanjo administration, claiming that it was a conduit to siphon public fund.

The rugged, energy efficient laptops have been designed to be used in remote and environmentally challenging areas. The scheme was aimed at providing affordable laptop computers to school children to promote the development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Dr Aja Nwachukwu, the Education Minister, told newsmen  in Abuja that the scheme was discovered to be a “white elephant” project.

London - The British government has recovered £40 million (N9.3bn) suspected to have been stolen by some corrupt Nigerian government officials, and has commence judicial procedure to transfer the recovered loot to Nigeria.

The money was recovered through the UK judicial system in the fight against money laundering, according to the Lord Major of London, David Lewis.

Mr Lewis told journalists in Abuja after visiting some ministries that the £40 million was different from the £150,000 confiscated from former governor of Plateau State, Chief Joshua Dariye, and just handed over to the Federal Government.

Munich - A former Siemens AG executive Reinhard Siekaczek, has confessed to being in-charge of a departmental unit within the engineering firm with the sole purpose of providing bribes to government officials in several countries including Nigeria, to secure lucrative contracts.

Mr. Siekaczek made the confession at a Munich court hearing the corruption charge brought against the company by the government. The court had last October, fined Siemens €1 million, the maximum fine for bribes paid by the communications unit in 77 cases between 2001 and 2004 to government officials in Nigeria, Libya and Russia.

Abuja - 48 hours after she was sent to Maitama Police station, Abuja for detention, Justice Salisu Garba of the Abuja High Court yesterday admitted Senator Iyabo to bail in the sum of N10 million, the same amount the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC ) is prosecuting her for her involvement in the Health Ministry scam.

The senator who beamed with smile after the court pronounced her temporary freedom, went on to attend the senate session and used the opportunity to than her colleagues, promising to be of good behavior henceforth. According to her, “I want to assure you that I have not done anything to bring down the honor and dignity of this hallowed chamber and I will not do anything that will bring down the image of this Senate. I will always live up to your expectations.”

Abuja - Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, the daughter of immediate past president of Nigeria, has been ordered remanded in police custody after her surprised appearance at the court where she is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for the N300 million fraud she was involved with as the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health.

Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello battled with tears, after an Abuja High Court ordered her detention in police custody till May 21, this year. Following the judge’s ruling, she was taken away by a combined team of men of the EFCC and the Nigeria Police to Maitama Police station in a white 18-seater Toyota Hiace with Abuja number plate AU 329 YAB.