Ajaokuta: EFCC charged to produce investigative reports against GIHL

Kunle Kalejaye

05 April 2017, Sweetcrude, Lagos — The Economic and Fi­nancial Crimes Com­mission, EFCC has been charged to pro­duce its investigative report on Global Infrastructure Holding Nigeria Limit­ed’s alleged asset-stripping of the Ajaokuta Steel Company Ltd and the sale of the Nation­al Iron Ore Mining Company of Nigeria, NIOMCO in Kogi State and Delta Steel Company in Delta State.

The demand was made by a human rights group, the Advo­cate for Peoples Rights and Jus­tice, APRJ, under the Freedom of Information Act.

In a letter to the EFCC dat­ed March 30, 2017, obtained by our correspondent, the group’s National Coordinator, Mr. Victor Giwa, asked the anti-graft agency to provide APRJ the copy of its interim report, which allegedly indicted Glob­al Infrastructure Holdings Ni­geria Limited (GIHL).

The request sequel the indictment of Global Infrastructure by the Fed­eral Government in 2008 by the late President Musa Yar’Adua administration who had or­dered the prosecution of the com­pany and its owners and manag­ers.

The Yar’Adua administration had ordered the EFCC to investi­gate the concession of Ajaokuta, NIOMCO and Delta Steel Com­pany due to the numerous allega­tions on assets-stripping, vandal­ism and human rights abuses by GIHL in Itakpe and Ogaminana communities of Kogi State.

But, nine years after, the Fed­eral Government has concluded the process to concession the steel plant to the indicted firm.

The reconcession process was made by the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kay­ode Fayemi, who struck a deal with Global Infrastructure in August 1, 2016 to take over the National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) while the Federal Government reclaimed Ajaokuta Steel Company.

APRJ, an international hu­man rights organisation in the letter to the anti-graft agency’s Acting Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, Giwa asked the EFCC to make public its findings in respect of the sale of these gov­ernment’s properties.

While commending the Magu’s anti-corruption fight, the group asked for the status of the criminal case against the promot­ers of GIHL.

“We are an international human rights organisation with the objectives of protection, defence and educa­tion of citizens about their rights under the statutes.

“Sir, our organisation has been in the forefront of the pro­motion of human rights within Nigerian, through right educa­tion campaign and citizens’ rights protection through court action, public protest, demonstration and media campaign.

“This letter is in pursuance of our objective of protecting cit­izens’ economic and social rights with respect to the activities of Global Infrastructure Hold­ings (Nigeria) Limited (GIHL) in Itakpe and Ogaminana com­munities.

“Sir, you will recall that the administration of the late Pres­ident Umaru Yar’Adua ordered the EFCC to investigate the con­cession/sale of Ajaokuta Steel Company Ltd, National Iron Ore Mining Company of Nigeria and Delta Steel Company due to the plethora of allegations on assets-stripping, vandalism and human rights abuses by GIHL.

“Sir, the said interim report of the commission was submit­ted to the government of the late Yar’Adua and after the review of the report, the late President or­dered the criminal prosecution of the promoters of GIHL.

“We are by this letter request­ing the following: The copy of the said interim report of the com­mission and the status of the criminal case against the pro­moters of GIHL.

“Sir, we shall expect this re­port within seven days from the date of the receipt of this letter,” the letter stated.