TRANSATLANTIC TIMES: World News Report
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Washington, DC, USA
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A. Nigerians Abroad "The Indiana Strategy"
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THIS WEEK: TTimes TV/Radio Broadcast - now on AIT TV Intl
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Contractor handling Calabar power project was paid N224m above the contract cost
Marubeni, the contractor handling the 561 megawatts Calabar power project in Cross River State, failed to complete the power plant, a National Integrated Power Project, was paid N224m above the contract cost by the administration of former President Obasanjo. The total contract cost was N19.5bn, but Marubeni was paid N19.8bn.
Officials of the firm told members of the House of Representatives Committee on Power and Steel at the site that the agreement for the project was signed in February 2006.
This means the Federal Government paid 100 per cent of the contract value without the completion of the work, and overpaid by about N224m.
The firm has only two Japanese nationals on its board and reportedly has no Nigerian manager. The Managing Director told the committee members that he was expected to deliver the project in November 2007 but the firm was still doing soil excavation on Tuesday.
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FG to prosecute indicted persons over power probe
The Federal Government is to prosecute anyone indicted by the House of Representatives Committee which is currently investigating the power sector during the eight years of the Obasanjo administration.
Following the revelations at the public hearing into the release of funds to the sector the Federal Government has concluded plans to charge indicted persons.
The government has directed the relevant law enforcement agents to collate as much evidence as they can.
The public hearings are to continue and former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and former vice-president, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, and other top officials of the last administration are scheduled to testify before the committee.
Sources disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Justice had stationed some of its officials at the public hearing sessions, adding that they recorded every proceeding and gathered necessary documents to use as evidence during prosecution of the indicted persons.
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Health committee did not receive any 'Christmas bonus' or 'Christmas gift' - Obasanjo-Bello
The Senate Committee on Health admitted that N10 million was given to it by the Ministry of Health for the capacity-building retreat in Ghana. The chairman of the Committee, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, who has travelled out of the country on another trip by the Senate Committee on Education to Cuba, had met with eight other members of the Health Committee where it was agreed that a formal reaction on the issue be made.
The Committee justified the Ghana trip, saying that it afforded members the opportunity to be involved in brainstorming sessions on the National Health Policy Bill.
A statement said The amount was received in December (2007) and the Committee had the retreat in Accra, Ghana from March 16 to March 20, 2008. This was the period most convenient for the generality of Committee members vis--vis programmed activities of the Senate.
There have been media reports in the last few days unfairly linking the Senate Committee on Health with the alleged misappropriation of funds in the Federal Ministry of Health. The allegation under reference has led to some resignations in the Ministry."
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Gbenga Obasanjo's wife wants proceedings of the divorce suit to be heard in private
Moji Obasanjo, Dr. Gbenga Obasanjo's wife has asked the court to bar journalists from further coverage of the suit. Moji’s counsel brought pursuant to Section 103(2) and Section 108(2) of the Matrimonial Causes Act.
Moji Obasanjo is seeking the leave of the court that all the other proceedings of the matter be heard inside the chambers and that all those who are not parties to the matter should be excluded from further proceedings.
Moji’s counsel referred the court to Order 1 Rule 9 of the Matrimonial Cause Act which empowers the court to hear any matter inside chambers if it deems fit.
On the issue of preventing further press coverage of the matter, she referred the court to Section 108(2) of the same Act.
She was of the opinion that the press before now had gone ahead to make sensational news of the matter, saying this was prejudicial.
In his response to the application, counsel for Dr. Obasanjo said the direction of the court in granting the requests of the respondent should be based on facts and not on speculations.
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| 2007 TV/Radio Archive |
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B. Sultan of Sokoto and President of Christians Associations Leads Religious Freedom Event in USA
C. Why Nigerian Health Care Remains a Game of Lottery
D. Yar'Adua Probes 2005 Oil Licensing Round
Nigerians Abroad "The Indiana Strategy"
TTimes Africa Report
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All Nigerian American Congress, ANAC the conglomerate organization
of all Nigerians abroad in a recent Board of Trustees meeting voted
to adopt their official tag line "ANAC
representing Nigerians in the International Community", and deliberated
extensively on the "The Indiana Strategy".
This as the first leadership meeting chaired by the newly elected executives
Chaired by Hon. Akeem Bello representing North Carolina, USA current Chairman
of ANAC, assisted by Hon. Martin Okafor representing Georgia, USA current Vice
Chairman and Hon. Colin Atobajeun representing Texas, current Secretary General.
The "Indiana Strategy" calls for
a full representation of the independent voice of Nigerians in the
International Community, in these days of improved Economic climate in
Nigeria.
The strategy also call for adequate fund raising to represent
the interest of Nigerians in the International Community, with full
inclusiveness of all Nigerian groups abroad without government
manipulation, so that Nigerians abroad can be the non corrupt,
independent, productive and respected partners with Nigerian government
in many areas of development in the progressive climate of economic
development in Nigeria today.
The vital part of the strategy is the
inclusive participation of the multiple Nigerian ethnic and professional
groups in the International Community in the leadership and rank and
file of ANAC as seen in the recent publicized partiipation in
Association of Nigerian Physicians (ANPA), leading the prayer session of
all different Nigerian groups.
The Strategy also includes the stride to
unite all Nigerians in the International Community under one independent
umbrella that can assist support the technological and socio-economic
development needs of Nigeria, with the exposure these Nigerians have
attained in the International Community which is vital and very useful
to the development needs of Nigeria.
ANAC will send a highpower delegation to the Zumunta Convention in Los
Angeles, California and begin arrangement to show a high level presence
in World Igbo Congress in August, Omo Egbe Yoruba Convention and South
South Niger Delta Congress Convention letter in the year.
The board also voted to recess their deliberaton on other vital
issues including the issue of extending paid membership to the different
Nigerian organizations in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa, while
absorbing as non paid members the entire membership of all such groups.
Also receesed were the issues of Travel expense payment of ANAC Executives
on official travel duties, Committee development issues, scheduled
meeting with ANAC State chair persons, house of delegates, stakeholders and
ANAC monthly new letters, all of which were to be continued on the ANAC
Board exclusive electronic deliberation medium, until their next month
scheduled meeting.
Sultan of Sokoto and President of Christians Associations Leads Religious Freedom Event in USA
By Femi Ajayi
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ZUMUNTA IS USING NIGERIA'S DIVERSITY TO STRENGTHEN ITS UNITY
AT ITS JULY 2008 ANNUAL ''CONVENTION OF THE CENTURY'', LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
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Nigeria is a nation of many countries lumped together by the Colonial Master without much consideration of its multiplicity. The only consideration then was to meet up for Great Britain deficiencies in Europe, to colonize Nigeria.
After Nigeria independence (1960) the country is still struggling to understand the dynamics of using its differences as sources of strength. Where will Nigeria be in the year 2010 when it clocks 50?
Due to the thoughtlessness of most past Nigerian leaders, mostly of Military orientation; Zumunta Association USA, Inc., is branding a new direction for Nigerian leaders, creating an enabling environment for Nigerians to claim citizenship of any State of their choice. Unfortunately, most of the past leaders have used ethnicity and religion for their own selfish ends at the expense of very poor majority Nigerians. Zumunta believes that an average Nigerian must be able to be anything he or she wants to be in any parts of Nigeria, without hiding his/her identity or faith to make a living in Nigeria.
On July 25 through 27, 2008, at the Los Angeles International Airport Marriot Hotel, Zumunta will be playing host to a powerful gathering of Nigerians from all walks of life at its 15th Annual International Convention of ZUMUNTA to create a road map in reducing the ethnic and religious tensions in the country. According to its Public Relations Officer, Mesi Ada Usiade, the theme of this year's ZUMUNTA convention is; 'Prevention of Communal and Religious conflicts in Nigeria', while revisiting its previous and the most recent theme, 'Preventing HIV/AIDS and Malaria in Northern Nigeria'.
Realizing the slippery terrain of religion and ethnic divide in Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto and the leader of Muslims in Nigeria, His Eminence Alhaji Mohammad Sa'adu Abubakar III, CFR Mni, has decided to join Zumunta Association at its 2008 convention on ways to foster the unity among Nigerians. In addition, Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, and President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the umbrella association of all Christians in Nigeria, would be joining Zumunta in Los Angeles, California on the issue of Conflict Management and Resolution in Nigeria. The Sultan and Arch Bishop would be on the same forum, in a Town hall meeting style, to pave ways for finding some lasting solutions to religious and ethnic divide in Nigeria.
In addition, Zumunta is assembling a truly outstanding team of speakers and presenters for 'the Convention of the Century', according to Halilu Haruna, one of the organizers, and the National Zumunta Treasurer. It is not going to be a loud-mouthed venture for a formidable group like Zumunta to start the engine of unifying Nigeria in spite its diversity, especially religion, which has been a source of disunity among Nigerians.
Going down the history lane of Nigeria, religion has been used by most Nigerian past leaders to partition the country along ethnic and religious blocks. Because of the prominence of religion as a political instrument, successive governments in Nigeria involved themselves neck-deep in religious matters. However, religion has become an inalienable factor in the new Nigerian politics, being used to stamp the ruler's authority and acceptability. In effect, the ruling elite have used religious sentiments to polarize the people and created unnecessary and unhealthy tension.
My knowledge of religion tells me that it is the hardest subject in the world to approach objectively. By its nature, it dwells and thrives on emotion. Moreover, where emotion holds sway, reason is held captive. Thus religion argument is like the man in the anecdote. It goes round and round in circles, endless, inconclusive, and frustrating. It is about time Nigerians nail the coffin of religious riots especially in the North, and regionalization policies and see Nigerians as Nigerians wherever State they make their living in Nigeria.
As mentioned earlier, religion is a slippery terrain, more slippery than a banana peel. However, the path of wisdom is to avoid the terrain. The pages of history books testify to the unending rivalry or problems created by religion in this century all over the world. Whenever a community is governed by the absolute tenets of religion, at the expense of other faithful within the community, progress could be adversely affected. Some pocket-sized States in Nigeria still hide under religion as a barometer for public service.
As pointed out, if Nigeria is to grow socially, politically, and economically, the politicization of religion must cease. Government should desist from actions and policies, which directly or indirectly violate the Constitutional secularity of Nigeria. Each has the right to exist and it is my desire that believers of all faiths should live together in harmony.
We certainly cannot add religious divisions to the ethnic differences, which threaten Nigerian unity. There is nothing more humidifying than watching devotees' batter themselves into submission in the name of the only true God. I allude to the fact that the ethics of each religion demand love, peace, justice, and tolerance of other people and religions.
The erstwhile traditional Nigerian philosophy of life was characteristically tolerant and accommodating. Felicitations and celebrations during religious holidays, such as Christmas and the Id-el-Kabir, cut across religious lines. People of different religions have lived and worked together for years in offices, as tenants in houses, and have even intermarried. However, this trend has changed as people feel insecure in places other than their homeland, which might be due to religious intolerance, ethnicity, and politicking. Zumunta Association is urging Nigerians to return to their religious and ethnic tolerance level of the past.
Among the delegates to the Zumunta 15th Annual convention are about 23 members of the Arewa Consultative Forum, under the Chairmanship of Maj. Gen. I.B.M. Haruna. Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jengir, the leader of Jama'atu Izalatil Bid'ah Wa Ikamatis Sunnah, is leading a powerful 7-member delegation to attend Religious Conflicts and HIV/Aids and Malaria prevention. He had been leading the most formidable Islamic organization in Nigeria with massive followers that have now extended to most parts of West Africa, Sudan and some parts of Egypt.
Also expected at the Zumunta 2008 convention are a host of Governors, Ministers, State Health Commissioners and the First Lady of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Mrs. Turai Yar'Adua. Eminent Nigerian and international scholars will also be on hand to proffer solutions to the AIDS and Malaria epidemic in Nigeria.
Some highlights of the convention include:
A conference on 'Preventing HIV/AIDS and Malaria in Northern Nigeria' on Saturday July 26th by 10:00 a.m. to be addressed by eminent Nigerian and International scholars specializing in the field of HIV/AIDS and Malaria research.
A town Hall meeting on 'Prevention of Communal and religious conflicts in Nigeria' on Saturday July 26th by 3:00 p.m. to be jointly Chaired by the Sultan of Sokoto, who is also the leader of Muslims in Nigeria and the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja who is also the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria. An Executive Dinner Banquet and Gala Night by 9:00 p.m. on Saturday July 26th at the Grand ball Room of the LAX Marriott featuring an exquisite dinner, cultural displays from different parts of Nigeria and a fund raiser for ZUMUNTA projects in Nigeria
Issuance and Renewal of Nigerian passports to all Nigerian Citizens from Wednesday July 23rd to Sunday July 27th by Staff of the Nigerian Embassy from Washington DC
Various caucus meetings between the Sultan and the Archbishop with Leaders of thought from various Nigerian groups residing abroad Sunday morning on July 27th.
Exclusive Business Dinner/Investment Networking Forum for American and Nigerian business men and women with the attending Ministers and Governors from Nigeria. This business dinner will hold on the Night of Sunday July 27th
This year's convention will also include an outstanding career fair. According to Zumunta President, Salisu Abdullahi, among the expected convention sponsors are the Western Union, UBA, Diamond, Fidelity, and GT, Platumun Habib Banks. Others are First Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Stock Exchange, City Space International Residential Company, and Legacy Realties.
Zumunta Association USA Inc., came into life in 1991 in New York, as a tax exempt 501 (C), progressive, fast growing, non profit, and non political organization in the United States of America. Zumunta mission is to 'develop Northern Nigeria technologically, socially and economically; to cater for our members; preserve the rich and diverse culture of Nigeria and to improve the image of the country in the global arena.'
ZUMUNTA is a Hausa word for Fellowship, and it is the umbrella association of nineteen States in Northern Nigeria in America just like the World Igbo Congress and Egbe Omo Yoruba, apex organizations representing Igbos and Yorubas abroad respectfully.
One of its programs is a Scholarship award for Northern Nigerian Students in the Nigerian Universities for their entire Degree program in the areas of Technology, and Science. Zumunta pays each student tuition fees for the duration of their degree programs which began in 1997. Zumunta has contributed, in one way or the other, to some social challenges in Nigeria as a whole. Among such was the donation of 160 pieces of Computers, several printers, books and other gadgets to Northern Nigerian Universities in September 1996.
Zumunta association has been led by prominent Nigerians and they continue the legacy of the Association. Such leaders are Dr. Mohammed Ladan, its immediate past President, Dr. Ezekiel Macham, who would work round the clock for the success of the Association, without looking back. Others are Dr. Ibrahim Khaleel, who I worked with for two terms as Zumunta National Secretary; Engineer Abdullahi Sule, a Director at the Dangote Group of Companies, and my very own, Alhaji Aliyu Mustapha of VOA. Zumunta is most grateful to the founder of the Association, of late memory, Dr. Musa Kallam
Its current cabinet includes Mallam Salisu Abdullahi, President, Dr. Femi Ajayi, VP, Dr. Ogbu Agburu, Secretary General, Halilu Haruna, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Maryam Egberi. Mesi Ada Usiade its PRO, Deborah Bwayili and Mimi Smith as Legal Advisors I and II respectively. Musa Salihu is the Social/Cultural Officer, Eng. Mathias Luka Agbu and Hassan Salami as Auditor I and II respectively, Rakiya Khaleel, the National Youth Coordinator; Dr. Mohammed Ladan is the Ex Officio member, while Salisu A. Abdullahi is the Webmaster. Abdulmumin Bello Mohammed serves as the Zumunta Nigerian Coordinator.
Zumunta President urges 'every Nigerian residing abroad most especially, should mark these dates and come out en masse to support ZUMUNTA in its quest to institute a New Dawn of ethnic and religious harmony in Nigeria and also to ask the Sultan and the Archbishop topical questions on this all important issue during the town hall meeting to be held at the LAX Marriot hotel on Saturday July 26, 2008'.
For more information on the 'Convention of the Century', log on to www.zumunta.org.
The Hotel Information is:
LAX AIRPORT MARRIOTT
5855 West Century Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90045 USA
Phone: 1-310-641-5700 Toll-free: 1-800-228-9290
The only choice for Zumunta members now is to come together to advance their causes, the causes of their people in the United States and back home in Nigeria. They need to come together to knit a cultural net and develop cultural activities to teach their children an appreciation and empathy for their heritage.
Through its annual convention, Zumunta Association USA is launching a huge challenge for all Nigerians, wherever they may reside, to set aside their ethnic or religious differences and come together for a better tomorrow. Once the country is united, the issue of economic empowerment will be a child play and resolving some natural challenges in terms of malaria and HIV/AIDS would be minimized and all hands must be on deck to checkmate all conflict-ridden programs in Nigeria.
See you in Los Angeles July 25 through 27, 2008.
Why Nigerian Health Care Remains a Game of Lottery
By David Eboh and Prince Dickson
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The Politics of Healthcare in Nigeria: A Game of Lottery? (I)
It remains unclear how best to define and describe Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system. The National Healthcare Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has been established as a way out of the limbo for people that would have difficulties in accessing, paying and receiving appropriate healthcare services anywhere in the country. However, many of those championing NHIS and Health Management Organisations (HMO) are divided on several opposing lines and boundaries of personal interest in the industry. This is one of the significant challenges for the realistic implementation of NHIS project and the full development of a viable and sustainable healthcare services and delivery system in Nigeria. There is evidence to assert that the commercial interest that would maximise the gains of a few out weighs the argument in favour of public interest that would benefit the entire population.
There are several options for realising the potential of healthcare economy in the country, but the preferred choice is usually one that is hardly subjected to any serious experts’ analysis and public scrutiny. The decision on the option is made without due reference to specific research or based on established evidence of success in similar countries or societies, which would allow informed response by members of the public, especially the academics. There is undue reliance on narrow angle view of medical professionals without consideration of the holistic concept of health services business in the view of strategic management experts.
The politics of healthcare in Nigeria disempowers the majority of the citizens by denying them the fundamental basic knowledge of what, how, where and when the issues of healthcare are being planned and implemented. And once a professional group approves a political agenda, it becomes the right policy for the country irrespective of the faults and deficiencies.
Healthcare policy is neither aimed to achieve a national delivery system with standardized approach for equality of access, quality concepts, strategic management, funding and marketing, individual and organisational accountabilities, workforce recruitment, training and development; nor does it aim for respective states to channel their own courses without any connection to the centre. The disjointed co-ordination of the leadership structure and absence of management discipline have impacted negatively on effectiveness and efficiency in system development of a clearly definable healthcare in the country.
At the moment healthcare delivery is like a game of lottery where only the lucky ones can have access to healthcare services at the mercy of a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Governor, President, Vice President or their respective wives, (our first ladies).
One of the legacies of military dictatorship is a policy of undue discretionary use and abuse of power where funding for specific healthcare needs of selected individuals either for treatment at home or abroad without concerns for the rest of the population. With democracy, it is important to point out the implication for non-universal approach for assessing and paying for specific healthcare needs of the citizens. There is a need to highlight that while charities can chose and pay for healthcare needs of individuals because it is their own money, people trusted with public responsibilities could not spend public fund for specific people with specific healthcare needs discretionally without subjectivity to processes that ensures equity and fairness. Public fund belongs to every member of the public and must not be used or seen to be used in manners that undermine a leader’s commitment to addressing the healthcare needs of the general public.
When the wives of our President and Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Hajia Turai. Yar’adua and Mrs Fashola, addressed the issue of health and the free treatment of 500 people with visual problems which was initiated by Her Excellency, the First Lady of Nigeria, the question that called to mind was about the source of fund that paid for the treatment. Was it private fund, charity fund or public fund? Similar number of patients are hoped to benefit across all the states in the country. While this critical question does not underscore the kind gesture of the first ladies and the magnitude of the benefit derived by those targeted, it however does raise the issue of clarity in systems, needs assessment and responsibilities for planning, costing, delivering and evaluating healthcare services on the basis of priorities, the expected cost/efficiency value for both the individuals and the general society..
In view of the above, it would not be inappropriate to ask about the significance of national health insurance scheme (NHIS), considering the fact that access to healthcare services may be a mountain to climb by those whose needs are not championed by someone with a particular political interest. There was a case of two people with renal (kidney) problems who required transplantation as reported on NTA news where their doctor was appealing for donations to fund their treatment. The boy was 9 years old and the female was about 42 years. There was no evidence of much response from the charity organisations (NGOs), the government of their state of origin or residence, the politicians or the federal government and others. It is uncertain what the outcome of their fate is. There are several members of the population sharing that fate and if not for the foresight of their doctor, no one would hear of their suffering simply because a country as blessed as Nigeria is yet to develop and improve upon its healthcare industry, efficient management and effective delivery systems.
So far, the song of healthcare reform in Nigeria does not seem to be in tune with the beat of the music in the systems of delivery. It continues to sound more like rhetoric with so much promises but little guarantees for realisation.
For realistic achievement in the national agenda for effective healthcare delivery in Nigeria, we must first identify who the experts are in strategic management of healthcare and consult widely across their range in order to have a balance debate that is anchored on clear principles of research evidence and international benchmarking. Also, the business activities of healthcare must be distinguished from the clinical activities and productivity and should be positioned as a fundamental public service directed at every member of the population.
The subject of healthcare should start to attract more public questioning and expert analysis. The media should play the moderator’s role by pushing the debate and accommodating the different opposing arguments. Publishing one side of a story diminishes the opportunity for learning and knowledge development. Healthcare management issues are sparsely reported and yet many organisations across the public and private sectors lost millions of naira per day due to sickness absence. Performance of staff due to poor health affects productivity, quality and profitability, yet the media is more concerned about other economic news that has direct visible financial values.
Prince Charles Dickson
Yar'Adua Probes 2005 Oil Licensing Round
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has directed the Director of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr. Tony Chukwueke, to proceed on compulsory leave to avoid interference with the ongoing investigation into the award of oil blocks by the regulatory body.
The Federal Government has already directed the investigation committee to review the 2005 bid round, with a view to ascertaining whether due process was followed or not.
Following Chukwueke's suspension, Mr. Sabonberi Aliyu, Head of Administration, has been appointed as the acting Director.
The Federal Government had in June last year set up an investigation panel to the review the 2007 bid round, following the wide-spread criticism that greeted the exercise which was conducted in the twilight of former President Olusegun Obasanjo's regime.
Some industry operators and stakeholders had alleged that the DPR did not follow due process in the manner it conducted the bid round.
The grouse of some of them was what they described as "the indiscriminate award of special privilege of the Right of First Refusal (RoFR) to some companies."
They had complained that some beneficiaries of the RoFR were companies whose "antecedents and credentials are highly questionable" while some of the foreign companies granted the preemptive rights were said to be financially distressed, and might not actualise any development project in Nigeria.
Besides, the stakeholders were aggrieved that some companies that did not comply with the revised guidelines for the 2007 licensing round were allowed to participate in the bid round and were even awarded some blocks.
The guidelines stipulated that participants must pay registration fee, processing and prying fees.
However, some companies were said to have paid only the registration fee.
The team constituted last June was said to have submitted its report to the presidency in August last year and noted that there were irregularities in the manner the exercise was conducted.
For instance, the review team was said to have discovered $330,000 discripancy, which had arisen from the payment of the participation fees.
Sequel to this, the probe team was said to have indicted the DPR in its report and recommended that the authorities be sanctioned for the alleged irregulaties.
President Yar'Adua, who received the report in August last year, was said to have passed it on to the Minister of State for Petroleum, Odein Ajumogobia (SAN), to study and then make comments.
However, almost a year after the report was submitted, and more than one year after the blocks were awarded, winners of the blocks were said to have petitioned the President complaining about the delay in the signing of the Production Sharing Contract (PSC).
They had complained that the loans taken from banks were yielding high interests, whereas the PSC had not been signed.
The Presidency was said to have directed that the signing of the PSC be put on hold pending the completion of the probe.
But dissatisfied with the findings by the initial panel, and coupled with more petitions from stakeholders, the Federal Government constituted another team to revisit the exercise.
THISDAY reliably learnt that the latest probe would also cover the 2005 and 2006 bid rounds.
Determined to establish the fact about the matter, the Presidency on Friday directed Chukwueke, the DPR helmsman, to proceed on compulsory leave in order to avoid interference with the investigation.
An industry official said yesterday that the initial probe team did not dispute the fact that about $502 million was realised from the 2007 bid round.
They were also said to have established that the country raked in over $2 billion in the 2006 and 2007 bid rounds.Commenting further, he said the government believed that Chukwueke is highly influential in the industry and that his continued stay in the office, while the investigation is ongoing, could hamper the team's work.
He stated that what is going on is simply a financial audit of the 2007 bid-round, adding that the DPR could not have compelled companies that had registered for the bid round to pay processing and prying fees.
Some aggrieved stakeholders had a few days before the 2007 bid round called on the government to suspend the exercise, alleging that due process might not have been followed.
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