South African power utility chief resigns over bribe

President Zuma

The chief executive of South Africa’s state-owned power utility Eskom on Friday announced his resignation after a report by an anti-graft watchdog implicated him in influence-peddling.

Brian Molefe said he would step down on January 1, stressing “this act is not an admission of wrongdoing on my part.”

“It is rather what I feel to be the correct thing to do in the interests of the company and corporate governance,’’ Molefe said in a statement.

Molefe’s resignation followed a report by former anti-graft ombudsman Thuli Madonsela, who called for an investigation into the so-called “state capture” by the Gupta business family, known to be close to President Jacob Zuma.

The Guptas have been accused of influencing cabinet appointments and securing government tenders.

Madonsela’s report revealed close relations between Molefe and the Guptas, and suggested that Eskom may have broken the law to accommodate the Gupta-owned coal company Tegeta Resources.

Zuma on Thursday defeated a no-confidence vote that the opposition had tabled in parliament, partly because of Madonsela’s report.

Earlier this year, Zuma had to repay the government 7.8 million rand (545,604 dollars) in taxpayers’ money he used to upgrade his private home, after the Constitutional Court ruled that the president had violated the constitution.

Zuma has also been implicated in other corruption scandals, which are seen as having done enormous damage to the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

Comments

Court grants Fani-Kayode N50m bail

Fani-kayode sandwiched by EFCC officials Justice James Tsoho of the Federal High Court Abuja on Thursday granted a N50m bail to former spokesman of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode. Fani-Kayode was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N26m. Fani-Kayode is the sole defendant in the fresh charges numbered, FHC/ABJ/CR/140/2016. The EFCC accused the defendant of diverting 26 million Naira allegedly received from the ONSA while Sambo Dasuki was in office. The anti-graft agency also accused him of handling the said N26 million without going through financial institution as required under the Money Laundering Act. The embattled former minister is already facing 17-count charge of money laundering before the Lagos Division of the court, along with a former Finance Minister; Nenadi Usman, Danjuma Yusuf and a firm; Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited. They were charg

FG berates US congressman over comment

Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture Photo: Femi Ipaye/PM News The Federal Government has described as sadly out of tune with reality the published letter from US Congressman Tom Marino to Secretary of State John Kerry, asking the US to withhold security assistance to Nigeria on the strength of some imaginary infraction by the Buhari Administration. In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said Congressman Marino was poorly informed about the issues he commented on, wondering why he did not take the pains to get first hand information from the US Embassy in Nigeria or any other credible source before engaging in what is nothing but a ‘propaganda of his own imagination’. The Minister said by asking the US to refrain from selling warplanes and other military equipment to Nigeria based on a faulty premise, the Congressman has demonstrated a poor understanding of global security issues. ”Insecurity anywhere i

Aubameyang leads Gabon to Nations Cup

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leads the cast for Gabon as the hosts became the first team to name their final 2017 Africa Cup of Nations squad. The team captain and Borussia Dortmund star will lead the home players out for the opening game of the tournament against debutants Guinea-Bissau on 14 January in Libreville. Gabon have also named Sunderland midfielder Didier Ndong despite the player being left out of November’s World Cup qualifier in Mali. Ndong was in the capital city Libreville but failed to turn up for international duty ahead of the Mali game last month, forcing the Gabonese Football Federation [Fegafoot] to send him back to England. But a remorseful Ndong, who held clear-the-air talks with Fegafoot has been included in a 23-man Panthers squad. Other names to make the final party include Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina, Bruno Ecuélé Manga of Cardiff City and China-based striker Malick Evouna. Gabon coach José Antonio Camacho included three do

Global Naija Info

Search This Blog