Nigeria Times

The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has commended the UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) for prosecuting five former Glencore officials accused of making corrupt payments to benefit their operations in West Africa.

ANEEJ has urged Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to similarly prosecute Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) staff, both retired and serving, who received bribes from Glencore. This call comes despite Glencore’s agreement to pay a $50 million penalty for illegal activities in Nigeria.

On August 1, 2024, the UK’s SFO charged Alex Beard, Andrew Gibson, Paul Hopkirk, Ramon Labiaga, and Martin Wakefield with conspiring to make corrupt payments to benefit Glencore’s oil operations in West Africa, implicating NNPCL officials.

Rev. David Ugolor, Executive Director of ANEEJ, reacted to the prosecution by urging the Nigerian government to reveal the identities of NNPCL officials involved in the bribery scandal. Ugolor emphasized the need for Nigeria to follow the UK’s lead and prosecute those involved to restore the country’s image internationally.

“We are pleased to see the SFO charge five former Glencore staff for conspiring to make corrupt payments. We call on the Nigerian government to press charges against those who received bribes in line with UNCAC principles and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s anti-corruption stance. The EFCC should investigate and prosecute those involved,” Ugolor stated.

He lamented that NNPCL officials’ corruption contributed to Nigeria’s economic downturn, which has led to current protests. Ugolor called for transparency in exposing Nigerian officials who accepted bribes, similar to the UK’s exposure of the bribe givers.

“Corruption involves two parties; we must see the faces of those who accepted bribes just as the UK has exposed the givers. Holding high office holders accountable is crucial to stopping grand corruption, which has caused massive poverty in Nigeria,” Ugolor added.

The five charged individuals are former Glencore employees implicated in awarding oil contracts across Cameroon, Nigeria, and the Ivory Coast from 2007 to 2014. Two of them also face charges related to falsifying invoices to Glencore’s London office marked as service fees to a Nigerian oil consultancy from 2007 to 2011. The prosecution will continue at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 10.

In May 2022, Glencore pleaded guilty to foreign bribery and price manipulation in settlements with US, UK, and Brazilian authorities. Glencore admitted to paying over $100 million in bribes to government officials, including in Nigeria, violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Consequently, Glencore was fined £276.4 million by a UK court for bribing Nigerian officials to secure favorable crude oil trading contracts.

A pro-democracy group, Defend Nigeria Movement (DNM) has passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu and his economic reform policies and warned citizens against destroying the nation with violent protest.The group made the remark during a peaceful protest tagged “no violent protest” held at the Alausa secretariat gate on Thursday.

The Convener of the group, Razaq Olokoba call on residents of Lagos and Nigerians living across the country to shun the ongoing nationwide hunger protest, to avoid anarchy and chaos, warning that “citizens must not allow the country to be thrown into a frenzy of bloodbaths and retrogressive, destructive violence as the nation witnessed during the #EndSars fiasco”.

Olokoba urged Lagosians to defend the state, maintain peaceful protest, and join hard-working Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to develop the state further; Adding that the promoters of ongoing protests are only interested in insurrection to overthrow the constitutional, democratic governance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The statement reads: We, as a rare breed of people proud of our heritage, conscious of historic duties, roles, and responsibilities, gathered here in this wee-hours of this day, Thursday, 1st. August 2024, to solemnly meditate and publicly declare our undiluted, patriotic fervor to rescue our great nation from the jaws of jackals, sharks, and hawks. With the last drop of blood in our veins, join hands with every force in the sky that is committed to the transformation of Nigeria to attain its lofty, great heights in the global comity of nations.

Any naive observer would be tempted to dismiss Nigeria that it can never overcome the presently inflicted, spectre of acute crisis, insecurities, socioeconomic hardships, and political hullaballoo. This is not true. It can never be our reality. Rather, all prophets of doom shall soon be on bended knees to seek our forgiveness. They do not know the sterner stuff Nigerian societies and its people are made of.

For those who may not be conversant with our history, present-day Nigeria’s geo-political space is peopled by the children of ancient climes like; the Great Oyo, Benin, Nupe, Kanuri, Urhobo, Ijaw, Igbo, Hausa – Fulani and Kanem – Borno empires. We assert again, we are proud of who we are. We are ingenious, hardworking, and resilient people. This time. This cross shall pass. Just as the slave era. Just as the colonial ers. Just as the era of absolute military dictatorship.

The purpose of our gatherings today, is to lay eloquent testimonials to these assertions. Nigerians are far richer in human, minerals, and natural resources than any other country in the world. This is outside our treasured land, vegetation, ocean, rivers, and climate. We can and shall get it right soon.

It is important to note that, what we are doing here is to uphold the inalienable rights of all law-abiding citizens to assemble and express themselves within the modicum of the law. A right that does not infringe on others’ right of freedom of movement as well as expression. We are teaching citizens how not to disrupt the process of production and the right to means of livelihood of others.

The naked truth is that we are on top of credible information that exposes the promoters of the ongoing call for protests from the 1st of August who are interested in insurrection to overthrow the constitutional, democratic governance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the alter of political exigencies. Some elements are looting cabals in the oil and gas sector, the Forex Business, and other entrenched power-mongering cabals.

We cannot afford the country to be thrown into a frenzy of bloodbaths and retrogressive, destructive violence as the nation witnessed during the #EndSaars fiasco.

Lagos is our heritage let’s join hands with the hard-working Governor of Lagos State Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu to continue his good work, let’s Defend our Lagos from the bad people and haters of development.

We hereby call on all our members to hold forth in their respective neighborhoods and communities. Our city must not fall, we must assert. If any of our precious public facilities are destroyed, we will be paying for it with our hard-earned taxpayer’s money, which will further derail development in our communities. This is why every stakeholder; traditional rulers, religious and community leaders, youths, and business owners must come together to protect our common patrimony.

As we seize this solemn moment to meditate and pray for a better and brighter Nigeria, we also assure Nigerians and the global community that our great country remains a stable and peaceful society to live in. We urge you to continue your usual business without fear or apprehension.

We cannot afford the country to be thrown into a frenzy of bloodbaths and retrogressive, destructive violence as the nation witnessed during the #EndSaars fiasco.

The naked truth is that we are on top of credible information that exposes the promoters of the ongoing call for protests from 1st. August is interested in an insurrection to overthrow the constitutional, democratic governance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Defend Nigeria Movement’s Clarion Call are as follows:

1. All leaders of thought, traditional, community, and business top decision-makers must speak out against violent protests.
2. Build a people network against those planning to cause havoc and wanton destruction of public properties.
3. All patriotic citizens must join hands to build an alliance against socioeconomic saboteurs.
4. We must never give the military any rationale to organize coups again in the country.
5. Peace is needed for development, growth, and security.
6. We equally call on the government to partner with civic forces to address hardships in the country.
7. We restate our unalloyed vote of confidence in the Presidency of Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Federal Government’s reform policies shall yield positive dividends. Patience, Understanding, and Unity of Purpose are necessary for the stability of Nigeria.

Dr. Sami Charles, Chairman of ANOG Group, a leading global oil and gas company, has expressed deep concern over recent allegations made by the Nigerian government against Aliko Dangote and the Dangote Group.

Charles labeled the accusations as unfounded and indicative of a troubling trend of harassment against committed investors in Nigeria’s development.

“Our nation is at a crossroads, battling economic challenges exacerbated by years of mismanagement and corruption. It is imperative that we foster an environment conducive to business growth, job creation, and national development. Aliko Dangote’s investment in the Dangote Refinery is a testament to his faith in Nigeria’s potential,” Charles stated.

He found it perplexing to accuse a private enterprise of monopolistic practices while the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) operates inefficiently and without accountability. “The NNPCL’s decades-long failure to refine petroleum products is a glaring indictment of the government’s mismanagement of the oil and gas sector,” he said.

Charles also highlighted the recent report by the House of Representatives on the downstream subsidy scam as a stark reminder of pervasive corruption. He expressed dismay that those responsible for this colossal fraud have escaped justice.

“I urge the government to prioritize addressing the core issues hindering our nation’s progress, such as oil theft, corruption, and the creation of a favorable business climate. By targeting successful entrepreneurs like Aliko Dangote, the government is sending a negative message to both domestic and foreign investors,” Charles concluded.

A rights group, Save Nigeria Proactive Coalition (SNPC) has accused some members of the House of Representatives led by Hon. Billy Osawaru of supporting corruption in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

The CSO which made this known in a press statement on Friday also accused Osawaru and others of receiving over $10 million as kickbacks to support the nation’s oil regulatory agencies.

This comes after the House of Representatives called for the investigation of the international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria for allegedly conspiring to frustrate the survival of Dangote Oil Refinery and Petrochemicals.

The House had also demanded the sack of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) boss Farouk Ahmed with Mele Kyari of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) Limited coming under serious pressure.

In a statement co-signed by its National President and Secretary General Arome James Otairu And Bilikus Adamu, the Save Nigeria Proactive Coalition described Osawaru and his colleagues as “dishonourable members of the National Assembly who are masquerading as agents of the people, but their actions betray their true allegiance to corruption and mismanagement.”

The group, therefore, dared Osawaru’s other “faceless” lawmakers to publish their full identities and constituencies within the next 24 hours and see if their constituents would not recall them.

Additionally, the Coalition said it would not hesitate to mobilise Nigerians against Osawaru and his cohorts in Abuja, Lagos, and Kaduna to force them to resign after Kyari and Ahmed had been shown the way out.

“We are outraged and disappointed by the actions of some so-called 50 lawmakers who rallied support for Mele Kyari and Farouk Ahmed, despite their glaring failures and incompetence in managing the oil industry,” the statement said.

“These dishonourable members of the National Assembly are masquerading as agents of people, but their actions betray their true allegiance to corruption and mismanagement.

“Their attempt to shield Kyari and Farouq from accountability is a clear indication of their complicity in the massive failure, corruption, and mismanagement that has characterised the oil industry under their watch.

“It is unacceptable that they would prioritize the interests of these failed appointees over the welfare of Nigerians who are suffering from the consequences of their incompetence.

“We warn these lawmakers that their actions will not go unchallenged. Their constituents will not forget their betrayal, and they will be held accountable for their actions.

“We call on Nigerians to begin the process of recalling these lawmakers who have clearly demonstrated that they are not representing the interests of their constituents.

“Their threat to the investigative committee to be impartial is a clear indication of their desperation to cover up the truth.

“We demand that the committee ignores their threats and continues to uncover the truth behind the failures in the oil industry. Nigerians deserve to know the truth, and those responsible must be held accountable.

“Furthermore, we challenge these lawmakers to disclose the source of the $10 million received to run their scheme, with only 12 lawmakers invited by Hon. Billy Osawaru, who is notorious for raising nebulous groups within the new members’ caucus to attract favour from the House leadership. This is a clear case of corruption and abuse of office.

“We demand that Kyari and Farouq resign and go home, or face the wrath of Nigerians who will not hesitate to call for their removal. Their continued presence in office is an insult to the intelligence and patience of Nigerians.

“We also call on President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action to address the crisis in the oil industry. The removal of Kyari and Farouq is a necessary step towards restoring sanity and accountability in the industry.

“Furthermore, we demand that these dishonourable lawmakers publish their full identities and constituencies within the next 24 hours. We dare them to make this information public and see if Nigerians will not recall them within 21 days.

“Their constituents have the right to know their true representatives and hold them accountable. We are confident that once their identities are revealed, Nigerians will take swift action to recall them.

“Finally, we warn these lawmakers that their actions will have consequences. They will be forced to face the wrath of Nigerians who will not tolerate their antics forever.

“We will organise mass protests and rallies to demand their resignation and ensure that they are held accountable for their actions. We will not rest until they are removed from office and replaced with true representatives of the people.”