Being the first ITTF World Tour for this year, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri
lived up to his world rating at the Hungarian Open as the 2014 ITTF
Star Player shone like a star to finish among the top eight in the men’s
singles event of the championship.
Quadri, who was seeded ninth in the men’s singles made his presence
felt in the competition when he started his campaign from the main draw
with a superb 4-2 win over Germany’s Steffen Mengel.
However, he faced his biggest test in the round of 16 against Czech
Republic’s Tomas Konecny. Without any doubt, Quadri was forced to use
all his hidden skills by the Czech. From the start of the encounter, the
European knew that beating the Africa’s highest ranked player meant a
lot to his career and he was determined to break the heart of the
African fans at the venue. But like a typical Nigerian, Quadri dug deep
despite the dominance of his opponent in the first three games. It was
as if the Czech was going to carry the day, but Quadri thrice restored
parity to put the match at 3-3. But Quadri’s powerful forehand did the
magic when it mattered as he overcame the Czech in the seventh game to
win at 4-3 (8-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-13, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8).
For making the last eight, Quadri joined the league of elite players
like Belarus’ Samsonov Vladimir, France’s Simon Gauzy and Brazil’s Hugo
Calderano.
In the quarterfinal against another German – Ruwen Filus and without
any coach, Quadri excited the fans with his unique style of play against
the defensive German.
From 3-1 down, Quadri recovered to put the match at 3-3 and even when
the coach was clear for the Nigerian to claim the victory with 9-6, his
forehand failed him as he was made the kiss the canvass at 12-10 to
hand the victory to the European star.
Describing the manner Quadri missed the chance to claim the victory,
ITTF Publication Editor, Ian Marshall said: “It appeared Aruna Quadri
may succeed; after trailing by three games to one, he leveled at
three-all. In the seventh he led 9-6, he lost the next point but at 9-7,
he had the service; the odds were in his favour but he was not able to
convert the advantage. Ruwen Filus (11-9, 14-12, 2-11, 11-9, 6-11, 4-11,
12-10).”
A disappointed Quadri said after match, “I was fighting as hard as I
could; recovering from three-one down. I changed things around going to
9-6 in the last game. I did not seize my chances today .It was not meant
to be.”
For being among the top eight players in the men’s singles event of
the first ITTF World Tour in 2017, Quadri has garnered some points for
his qualification to the end-of-the-year World Tour Grand Finals.
Meanwhile, Quadri’s partnership with Egypt’s Omar Assar in the men’s
doubles may have picked some points from the Hungarian Open after
playing from the qualifying round to make it to the main draw where they
eventual lost to the Chinese finalists.
•Anti graft agency ‘taking advantage of my silence to try me by media’ •Denies withdrawal of $153m from NNPC accounts •Yenagoa estate is family compound built in 2011
Embattled former Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, is
not taking allegations of massive corruption leveled against her by the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lightly.
She rose in her own stout defence yesterday, denying the allegations.
She accused the EFCC of taking advantage of her silence all this while
to put her on media trial and declared in a lengthy statement from her
London home.
She said given the “level of deliberate inaccuracies”, she had now been forced to break her silence and respond to some issues.
She specifically denied ever withdrawing $153million from the accounts
of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) while in office
and said the Yenagoa estate, which the EFCC ascribed to her is her
family’s compound built in 2011.
The EFCC, according to her, is only out to convict her in the court if public opinion based on “false reports.”
She said: “I have up till now chosen to maintain my silence and not to respond to inaccurate press reporting.
“However, given the level of deliberate inaccuracies, I am now forced to
respond because it is clear that the EFCC is taking advantage of my
silence to try me by media and to convict me in the eyes of the public
on false reports.
“I am deeply disturbed and bewildered by recent media reports (Premium
Times Thursday 12 January, 2017 and other dailies about the same time)
claiming that by virtue of an order of the Federal High Court, I have
forfeited to the Federal Government, the sum of $153.3m which I
purportedly stole from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,
NNPC.
“First and foremost, whilst the reasons for my being out of the country
are public knowledge, the principle of fair hearing demands that I
should have been notified of formal charges if truly there was a prima
facie evidence or indictment against my person linking me with the said
issue, so as to ensure that I had adequate legal representation. This
was never done.
“I wish to state that I cannot forfeit what was never mine. I do not
know the basis on which the EFCC have chosen to say that I am the owner
of these funds as no evidence was provided to me before the order was
obtained and they have not in fact served me with the order or, any
evidence since they obtained it.”
She went on: “As at the time of my writing this rebuttal (Thursday 19th
January, 2017) the EFCC have still not furnished me or my Lawyers, with a
copy of the order.
“I am also informed by my lawyers that the legislation under which the
EFCC obtained this order is for situations where the funds are believed
to be the proceeds of crime and the owner is not known.
“I do not therefore understand how the EFCC can in the same breath say that the monies in question are mine.
“If they had evidence that the monies were mine then they would not
/should not have used the procedure which applies only to funds of
unknown ownership.
“If indeed they used this particular legal procedure because they did
not know who owned the monies, then how can they now be falsely
attributing the ownership to me.
“Let me re-state categorically as I have always maintained for the
record, I have not and will never steal money from or defraud the
Federal Government of Nigeria.
“I am willing to respond to any charges brought against me that follow duly laid down procedures.
“However, in their typical manner and style, the EFCC have gone to the
media to attempt to prosecute their case as trial by TV and other media,
rather than go through the onerous but tried and tested means of the
Judicial Court process.
“In the face of the obvious falsification of facts and misinformation,
it is only right and proper that the EFCC should publish the details of
the $153.3M lodgements, the bank account numbers and the account
beneficiaries, showing proof of my link to them.
“Having also alleged that the said $153.3M was ‘wired’ from NNPC, the
EFCC should also publish details of the NNPC accounts from where the
said $153.3 million was taken from with proof that I authorized such a
transaction/transactions acting either in my private capacity or, as The
Honourable Minister of Petroleum.
“Let me state for the record that as Minister of Petroleum, the
operation and management of NNPC finances were outside my purview as
outlined in both the Petroleum Act and the NNPC Act.
“The only involvement I had in NNPC Finances was in terms of statutory
matters where the Petroleum Act prescribed that as Minister, there were
certain duties or actions which I had to perform or take in relation to
NNPC.
On alleged $700million found in her house and some mansions traced to her, Diezani accused EFCC of witch-hunt.
She added: “On the 13th of June 2016, the EFCC once again took their
well-trodden path to the media. This time claiming that they had
‘discovered’ a mansion in Asokoro, Abuja, worth $18million (approx.
N9billion) which they purported to belong to me.
“The EFCC went to the extent of bringing in Aljazeera, an International
TV Station, to air a damaging documentary against me in this regard,
showing a particular residential building in Asokoro, Abuja, which they
told Aljazeera belonged to me
“The EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu, personally took the Aljazeera reporter to the building, alleging that it belonged to me.
“It has since become apparent that the house belongs to a company owned by Mr Kola Aluko.
“If this is not a witch-hunt or a personal vendetta against me, how is
it that one of our Country’s premier investigative agencies were unable
to avail themselves of facts that are freely available in the public
domain?
“Since the EFCC claims that the alleged $18million Asokoro property
belongs to me, then they should kindly produce the ‘Authentic’
Certificate of Occupancy and Land Registry information and any other
relevant information, as proof of my ownership of the property.
“On the 9th November 2016, the EFCC visited our family home in Yenagoa
(Bayelsa State) as pre-agreed and they were escorted around the
premises.
“I was therefore completely shocked to once again see my name
sensationally splashed across the Front Pages of Newspapers and widely
circulated on the internet, with blaring Headlines such as “EFCC
UNCOVERS DIEZANI’S MULTI-BILLION NAIRA ESTATE” – Nation Newspaper,
January 8, 2017 (Annex- 4A). There was absolutely nothing ‘Hidden’ or
‘Concealed’ about the home.
“I had declared it openly as required by Law, in my Asset declaration
forms (Annex-4B). Yet the EFCC have announced that they ‘Just
Discovered’ my ‘Hidden Estate’! And labelled it a ‘Multi-Billion Naira
Estate’! Even though they had been given the Bill of Quantities, showing
actual amount spent.
“It is accepted tradition across the length and breadth of Nigeria, for
people to own Country/Village homes. Given the size of the land and the
location of the compound, the buildings thereon cannot by any stretch of
the imagination be a “Multi-Billion Naira” palatial estate, as the news
mongers would want to portray.
“The EFCC were taken on a tour of the compound which consisted of a Main
house, and two outhouses – An Obi (meeting bungalow) and a staff
quarters(BQ) building – above which we built 3 guest rooms and a
parlour.
“The only other two structures are the gate and generator houses. Construction began in late 2011 and was handled in phases.
“During the visit the EFCC was given the bill of quantities, which up
until the time construction stopped in early 2015, due to my illness,
was at approximately N394million which was declared in the code of
conduct documentation, attached (the costs were partially funded by a
loan – see code of conduct – Annex4B, the work is still uncompleted and
the contractor is still being owed).
“Building costs escalated as a result of delays in construction and
external factors such as the extreme flooding of late 2012 that covered
most of our areas in the Niger Delta.
“It is the accepted norm when building in the Niger Delta, that due to
the topography of the land and the heavily waterlogged and marshy
terrain, construction is infinitely more expensive than in other parts
of the country, as by its nature it requires the building of extensive
piling/raft foundations before any structural work can commence.
“The flooding of 2012 compounded the problem and further increased the cost of construction.
“Stories were circulated by unscrupulous agents of calumny that the EFCC
found a mind boggling $700million in cash in my home in Abuja.
“Would the videos of this $700 million cash discovery not have made good
viewing? Or should those who recovered this money not tell the public
where exactly the money has been kept?
“Perhaps the Central Bank should corroborate that it is in custody of these monies allegedly found in my house
“But then, it is now patently apparent that Nigerians are no longer easily led to believe fables and sensational untruths.”
The ex-Minister said despite the criticism of her tenure, she left
$5.6billion LNG dividends for the administration of President Muhammadu
Buhari.
She said: “I would like to state for the record that I performed my duty
as Minister of Petroleum Resources with the utmost sincerity and sense
of responsibility, ensuring that all Nigerians irrespective of creed,
gender or tribe enjoyed their rightful benefits from the Oil and Gas
Sector.
“It is pertinent to note that at the end of my tenure, I left behind in
the LNG dividend fund, for the incoming Administration, the sum of
$5.6billion (five billion six hundred million US Dollars)(Annex-6A).
“I did this to ensure continuity in the crucial gas sector development
which underpins the entire Power and Energy Sector and which was and
still is, absolutely imperative for the Country’s current and future
economic development.”
Regarding Malabu oil block (OPL 245) , the ex-Minister said her was a
“purely statutory one as required by Law in the Petroleum Act.”
She said she did not benefit in any way from the transactions or negotiations on the oil block.
She said: “With regards to the various news reports published in both
the online and print media, insidiously inferring that I was indicted by
Italian prosecutors for, as they put it, ‘ sharing in the Loot’ of the
$1.3bn OPL 245 oil block deal that involved Malabu and the Joint Venture
Multinational partners, ENI(AGIP) and Royal Dutch Shell.
“Let me once again state for the record that this is another figment of
the author’s imagination, which given the persistent bid to ensure my
destruction and stick all of the sins of the Corruption plagued Oil and
Gas Sector of over the last 30years upon my head, probably emanated from
the EFCC itself!
“Let me clarify the position are the history of OPL 245, otherwise known
as Malabu. You will find a full chronology in the attached report that I
made to the House of Representatives in late 2011 (Annex 2A/Annex-2B).
“In 2010, shortly after I was appointed as Minister of Petroleum Resources, the issue of OPL 245 was brought to my attention.
“I looked into the case and immediately became aware of the inherent and long standing sensitivities around this issue.
“It became clear from the onset that this case was not within the direct
purview of the Minister of Petroleum Resources but in the main was
centered around issues of Law.
“By this time there was already an ICSID (International Centre for
Settlement of Investment Disputes) investigation and claims against the
FGN running into billions of dollars.
“Therefore, we took directives from the Chief Legal Officer of the
nation; the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. In all of these
matters due process was followed to the letter at all times.
“I wish to categorically state that I have never held any discussions on
this matter with any individuals or entities outside of official
channels.
“As Minister of Petroleum Resources, I did not participate in any
activity relating to financial payments on the Malabu matter, other than
those statutorily mandated to the Minister of Petroleum Resources by
the Petroleum Act.
“My role in this matter was a purely statutory one as required by Law in the Petroleum Act.”
In an emotional tone, Diezani expressed confidence that she will be
vindicated at the end of the ongoing investigations at home and in the
UK.
She added: “It is saddening that after eight years of serving my
country, my experience as a public servant has been fraught with
continuous malicious castigation and character assassination, all in the
name of ‘personal vendettas’ or political horse trading.
“It has become apparent to many that these untruths told were at best well-crafted fables.
“The most dramatic and damning accusation was the infamous missing $49.8
Billion Dollars, that went from to $12billion and then up to $20
billion and which was alleged missing from NNPC.
“Today, we all know that the PWC report that was published cleared me of
any wrong doing and no one up till now has been able to controvert the
PWC report nor has anyone found the “missing” 20 billion, or who took
it.
“In addition, the Makarfi-led committee in the Senate of The Federal
Republic of Nigeria, in a series of publicly-held hearings, also
vindicated me on the matter of the purportedly missing funds.
She said: “I would like to state for the record that I performed my
duty as Minister of Petroleum Resources with the utmost sincerity and
sense of responsibility, ensuring that all Nigerians irrespective of
creed, gender or tribe enjoyed their rightful benefits from the Oil and
Gas Sector.
“It is pertinent to note that at the end of my tenure, I left behind in
the LNG dividend fund, for the incoming Administration, the sum of
$5.6billion (five billion six hundred million US Dollars)(Annex-6A).
“I did this to ensure continuity in the crucial gas sector development
which underpins the entire Power and Energy Sector and which was and
still is, absolutely imperative for the Country’s current and future
economic development.”
Regarding Malabu oil block (OPL 245) , the ex-Minister said her was a
“purely statutory one as required by Law in the Petroleum Act.”
She said she did not benefit in any way from the transactions or negotiations on the oil block.
She said: “With regards to the various news reports published in both
the online and print media, insidiously inferring that I was indicted by
Italian prosecutors for, as they put it, ‘ sharing in the Loot’ of the
$1.3bn OPL 245 oil block deal that involved Malabu and the Joint Venture
Multinational partners, ENI(AGIP) and Royal Dutch Shell.
“Let me once again state for the record that this is another figment of
the author’s imagination, which given the persistent bid to ensure my
destruction and stick all of the sins of the Corruption plagued Oil and
Gas Sector of over the last 30years upon my head, probably emanated from
the EFCC itself!
“Let me clarify the position are the history of OPL 245, otherwise known
as Malabu. You will find a full chronology in the attached report that I
made to the House of Representatives in late 2011 (Annex 2A/Annex-2B).
“In 2010, shortly after I was appointed as Minister of Petroleum Resources, the issue of OPL 245 was brought to my attention.
“I looked into the case and immediately became aware of the inherent and long standing sensitivities around this issue.
“It became clear from the onset that this case was not within the direct
purview of the Minister of Petroleum Resources but in the main was
centered around issues of Law.
“By this time there was already an ICSID (International Centre for
Settlement of Investment Disputes) investigation and claims against the
FGN running into billions of dollars.
“Therefore, we took directives from the Chief Legal Officer of the
nation; the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. In all of these
matters due process was followed to the letter at all times.
“I wish to categorically state that I have never held any discussions on
this matter with any individuals or entities outside of official
channels.
“As Minister of Petroleum Resources, I did not participate in any
activity relating to financial payments on the Malabu matter, other than
those statutorily mandated to the Minister of Petroleum Resources by
the Petroleum Act.
“My role in this matter was a purely statutory one as required by Law in the Petroleum Act.”
In an emotional tone, Diezani expressed confidence that she will be
vindicated at the end of the ongoing investigations at home and in the
UK.
She added: “It is saddening that after eight years of serving my
country, my experience as a public servant has been fraught with
continuous malicious castigation and character assassination, all in the
name of ‘personal vendettas’ or political horse trading.
“It has become apparent to many that these untruths told were at best well-crafted fables.
“The most dramatic and damning accusation was the infamous missing $49.8
Billion Dollars, that went from to $12billion and then up to $20
billion and which was alleged missing from NNPC.
“Today, we all know that the PWC report that was published cleared me of
any wrong doing and no one up till now has been able to controvert the
PWC report nor has anyone found the “missing” 20 billion, or who took
it.
“In addition, the Makarfi-led committee in the Senate of The Federal
Republic of Nigeria, in a series of publicly-held hearings, also
vindicated me on the matter of the purportedly missing funds.
“Yet, we are all silent as if these events never occurred! The
allegations that I have addressed above are no different, the character
assassination continues, this time with a new set of hirelings.
“One of the basic tenets of the human trait is that we all have
shortcomings and we all make our fair share of mistakes, whether we are
in positions of leadership, or not.
“However, one error that cannot be ascribed to me is stealing from Nigeria and defrauding my country!
“It is therefore sad and distressing that in spite of all that I tried
to do in the best interest of our nation, I continue to be faced with
constant demonisation, unproven accusations and deeply personal insults.
“In response I have chosen not to insult, accuse or demonise anyone, any
person or persons. In spite of all the allegations that have been made
against me, not one has been factually proven.
“I remain very proud of the fact that all the policies, tenets and plans
that I initiated in the Oil & Gas sector are still underpinning the
entire structure.
“This is because they were put in place with the good of the entire
nation and its people in mind. They were not factional, or tribal,
neither were they based on religious bias.
“I can therefore, no longer sit back and allow the fabricated
accusations against my person designed by unscrupulous persons with a
vengeful agenda go unchallenged.
“As a Christian, it is my sincerely held belief that in the coming
months, history will be the judge of exactly who lied and who told the
truth. By the Grace of God, I shall be here to see the day when truth
prevails.
“The fight against corruption in Nigeria will be far better served if
the EFCC focuses on incontrovertible facts, as opposed to media
sensationalism and completely distorted stories, in their bid to
demonize and destroy a few specially chosen Nigerians.”
Just like the team has done in the last two years, the same scenario
repeated itself at the just concluded ITF/CAF West and Central African
Junior Championships Qualifiers in Lome, Togo, as the Coach Mohammed
Ubale-tutored Nigeria side retained the overall title at the two-week
tournament.
In the overall team ranking released by ITF, Nigeria garnered 950
points to beat Cote d’Ivoire to the top spot while the team also
produced the highest number of qualifiers for the main AJC holding in
Pretoria, South Africa come March.
Apart from having four boys led by Michael Oshewa and two girls-
Oyinlomo Quadri and Marylove Edwards securing their spots at the South
Africa tourney, the boys and girls teams qualified to the main African
qualifiers of the 2017 Junior Davis Cup, World Team Championship and
Junior Fed Cup holding in Egypt later this year.
According to Coach Ubale, this is the first time, Nigeria would be
qualifying for the continental qualifiers of all the junior tournaments.
“I am so excited that we came here with 13 players and with the
performance of the team, I can say that we will all feature in the
African qualifiers holding in Egypt later this year. We just need
support to ensure that we have all our players competing at the
championship,” he said.
“The players gave a good account of themselves and I must commend
them for their outing in Togo. I think the preparation in Ekiti also
paid off for the team and we hope we can sustain its kind of build up
for a major championship,” he added.
Despite the injury suffered by the duo of Marylove Edwards and
Aderemi Omolade in the girls’ U-14 team event, the team still secured
the top spot in the event to emerge as champion.
The team arrived Nigeria late yesterday and they are expected to
regroup next month in readiness for the main AJC in South Africa.
The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media
and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, has mocked immediate former
president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, for visiting Olusegun Obasanjo and not attending Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 45th US president.
Jonathan was rumored to have been invited for Trump’s inauguration
as president, but was instead spotted at Obasanjo’s hometown on a visit.
Shehu was responding to rumors making the rounds on social media, that his principal, who is away on a 10-day vacation, has died in a UK hospital.
But he could not resist a shot at Jonathan.
He tweeted: “Best wishes to all who wish PMB well. As for those who carry evil rumors, may they receive grace to repent.
“He is alive and well! President Buhari is not magical. He cannot be
holidaying in the UK & be in Germany, dead or alive at the same
time.
“He is unlike a past President who was at Ota, w/ Chief Obj &
attending the Trump inauguration in D.C, being in two places at the same
time!”
Buhari is expected to resume work on February 6, 2017.