BEVERLY HILLS, September 21, (THEWILL) – Concerned members of the Nigerian Bar Association, under the auspices of Lawyers for Justice have written a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) calling for the investigation of the Immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN).
The petition, jointly signed by, Seth O. Amaefule, former Secretary and 2nd Vice Chairman, NBA Lagos; and Dotun Hassan, Assistant Secretary, NBA Epe Branch allege that Alegeh corruptly enriched himself while in office between August 2014 to August 2016.
“We the undersigned petitioners are some of the concerned members of the Nigerian Bar Association, who reasonably suspect that the Immediate Past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Augustine Alegeh SAN, corruptly enriched himself while in office,” the petition read.
“Prior to Mr. Augustine Alegeh SAN becoming the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, he lived in Ikeja which served as residence, Law office, and also Tratrix Engineering Limited address, a company in which Mr. Augustine Alegeh has majority shares, as the Chairman/CEO
“Mr Alegeh moved his home from N0. 11, Ladipo Bateye Street Off Adekunle Fajuyi Street, Ikeja Lagos State whilst holding office as NBA President, to N0. 24A Ilabere Avenue Ikoyi, Lagos, and also acquired exotic cars. As NBA is not-for-profit organization, NBA officers are not allowed personal benefits, or salaries, bribe and any form of corrupt practices and corrupt enrichment.
“Furthermore, during his NBA presidency, Mr Alegeh had moved his Abuja rented office building from N0. 48 Lobito Crescent Wuse II, Abuja to a more expansive premises believed to be owned by him, N0. 22, Ziguinchor Street, Wuse Zone 4 Abuja.
“It is a matter of general knowledge amongst lawyers that Mr. Augustine Alegeh SAN spent a humongous sum of money prosecuting his campaign for the office of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association 2014. He appears to have stupendously, illegally recouped his pocket, as President who abused the office of NBA President.
“To the extent that Mr. Augustine Alegeh’s personal estate at N0 24A Ilabere Avenue, Off Macpherson Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, was displayed with impunity to his friends and associates at his reception on completion of his tenure on Sunday 28th August 2016 after a church service at his parish in the Catholic Church of Presentation, Oba Akinjobi Street, GRA Ikeja.
“In addition to another large country-home which Mr. Augustine Alegeh SAN recently built whilst sitting in office as NBA President, though yet to be finished in G.R.A. Benin-City wherein he personally hosted some lawyers who attended the National Executive Committee Meeting of the Nigerian Bar Association in Benin-City, in June, 2016.
“Before Alegeh assumed office, NBA had awarded a building contract in the sum of N2.5 Billion to Schaums Nigeria Limited with an office at Suite F124, Haramani Plaza, Utako Abuja for the construction of NBA House at Plot 1101, Cadastral Zone A00, Central Business District, Abuja.
“When Alegeh was sworn-in August 2014, he took over the building project using “direct labour” approving and paying money to himself via proxies. Against ethical and lawful conduct, retained his position as Chairman/CEO of Tratrix Engineering Limited during his NBA Presidency from August 2014 – August 2016.
“Mr Alegeh sought and received colossal sums as donations for the building project. It remains to be investigated suspicious activities of diversion of funds by Mr Augustine Alegeh SAN for personal use.
“Furthermore, during his tenure as President of NBA, Mr. Augustine Alegeh SAN organized six National Executive Committee Meetings and two Annual General Conferences of the Bar. Monumental sums donated by individuals, corporate organizations, Governors and other political office holders and individuals were made towards the hosting of these meetings and conferences.
“Mr. Augustine Alegeh SAN had entered an arrangement with Access Bank Plc to warehouse all NBA accounts in return for the Bank sponsoring NBA-NEC Meetings and Conferences with approx. N250,000,000.00 annually. Also lawyers had to register at exorbitant fees to attend the Annual General Conferences 2015-‘16.
“When it is on record that the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom E. Wike gave the sum of N250,000,000.00 (the equivalent in US Dollars) to Mr. Augustine Alegeh SAN as appreciation for bringing the 2016 Bar Conference to Port Harcourt, River State; the money meant for the Nigerian Bar Association seemingly diverted, converted and shared by a few national officers notably the immediate past President and immediate past General Secretary, Mr Afam Osigwe.
“On Thursday 25th August, Mr. Augustine Alegeh informed the AGM that he left N200M (Two Hundred Million Naira) in NBA account but the new officers found N20M (Twenty Million Naira) only; not being prepared to render satisfactory account of the Association’s funds and donations, investigations into those activities bordering on illegality and criminality ought to be uncovered by our law enforcement agents with a view to bringing culprits to book.
“We shall be grateful if you would take all necessary steps to examine the actions of Mr. Augustine Alegeh SAN and his cohorts during the period August, 2014 to August 2016 with reference to his handling and disbursements of the finances of the Nigerian Bar Association.”
Story by David Oputah
