Nicholas Ugbane
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Ugbane is a formerNigeria
n senator who became a member of the Nigerian Senate in 2003.
In May 2009 he was held in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
on account of alleged complicity in defrauding the Nigerian government of funds earmarked for rural electrification.
, Zaria
. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria
. He was a Senator Elect (UNCP) 25 April 1998. He was appointed Commissioner for Education, Agriculture, Commerce and Industry, Youths and Sports for Kogi State.
Nicholas Ugbane was elected to the National Senate for the Kogi East constituency in 2003 representing the All Nigeria People's Party
(ANPP). In 2004, he opposed a proposal by the Central Bank of Nigeria to overhaul the categorization of banks into mega, medium and small categories.
In May 2006, Senator Ugbane was among a minority of Senators who favored allowing President Olusegun Obasanjo to stand for a third term.
Following a plane crash in Abuja
in October 2006 that killed over 95 people, Ugbane was among Senators that called for the resignation of Aviation minister, Prof. Babalola Borishade.
During a debate over nomination of Senator David Mark
as Senate President, Nicholas Ugbane was considered as an alternative.
In May 2007, the Senate resolved to probe the use of funds earmarked for the Independent National Electoral Commission. Senator Nicholas Ugbane, as Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, supported the probe but defended himself against allegations that he had not exercised sufficient oversight.
In 2008, Senator Ugbane was vocal in the campaign against corruption and fraud in the power sector during the period when President Olusegun Obasanjo was in power (1999–2007).
In April 2008 Senator Ugbane was a panelist at a conference on developing and supporting critical energy infrastructure in Nigeria.
In October 2008, Ugbane was a speaker on developing Nigeria's power structure at the 9th Annual State of the Nigerian Nation Symposium held in Washington, DC, USA.
In December 2008, Senator Ugbane of Koge East, which is also the base of Koge State governor Ibrahim Idris
, became involved in a dispute with Senator Smart Adeyemi
of Koge West over nomination of ministers from the state.
He stated that nomination of Humphrey Enemakwu Abah for a ministerial position would violate Section 14 of the Nigerian Constitution, which deals with Federal Character.
That month Senator Ugbane donated a library to SS Peter and Paul Academy, Egume in Kogi state.
, chaired by Farida Mzamber Waziri
. As Chairman of the Senate committee on Power he was alleged to have interests in companies that won major contracts in the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), and to have been a beneficiary of the N6 billion rural electrification contract scam.
His bail request was refused.
Senate Spokesman Senator Ayogu Eze
said that the Senate expected justice to be done, but that they would not protect Ugbane if he were found guilty.
Also arrested was Ndudi Elumelu, chairman of the House of Representatives power committee.
The EFCC was said to be searching for the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Iyiola Omisore
, to give an explanation of the way in which the electrification projects became included in the 2009 budget.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n senator who became a member of the Nigerian Senate in 2003.
In May 2009 he was held in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is a Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes such as advance fee fraud and money laundering...
on account of alleged complicity in defrauding the Nigerian government of funds earmarked for rural electrification.
Background
Nicholas Ugbane was born on 23 December 1953 in Egume, in Kogi State. He gained a Master's Degree in Business Administration (Finance) from Ahmadu Bello UniversityAhmadu Bello University
Ahmadu Bello University is the largest university in Nigeria and second largest in Africa, second only to Cairo University, Egypt. It is situated in Zaria. It was founded on October 4, 1962 as the University of Northern Nigeria....
, Zaria
Zaria
Zaria may refer to:*Zaria, a city in Kaduna State, Nigeria*Zaria , or Zoria, the Slavic goddess of beauty*Countess Zaria of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg, a member of the Dutch royal family...
. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria
Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria
The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria is the umbrella professional body for bankers in Nigeria.The CIBN was incorporated in 1976 as the Nigerian Institute of Bankers.It was chartered in 1990, and is now covered by the CIBN Act 5 of 2007....
. He was a Senator Elect (UNCP) 25 April 1998. He was appointed Commissioner for Education, Agriculture, Commerce and Industry, Youths and Sports for Kogi State.
Obasanjo presidency
All Nigeria People's Party
The All Nigeria Peoples Party is a conservative political party in Nigeria. At the last legislative elections , the party won 27.0% of the popular vote and 92 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives and 27 out of 109 seats in the Senate...
(ANPP). In 2004, he opposed a proposal by the Central Bank of Nigeria to overhaul the categorization of banks into mega, medium and small categories.
In May 2006, Senator Ugbane was among a minority of Senators who favored allowing President Olusegun Obasanjo to stand for a third term.
Following a plane crash in Abuja
Abuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...
in October 2006 that killed over 95 people, Ugbane was among Senators that called for the resignation of Aviation minister, Prof. Babalola Borishade.
Yar'Adua presidency
Nicholas Ugbane was reelected in 2007 running for the PDP. He was appointed to committees for Public Accounts, Niger Delta, Independent National Electoral Commission and Aviation.During a debate over nomination of Senator David Mark
David Mark
David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark is the President of the Senate of Nigeria and Senator for the Benue South constituency of Benue State. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party ....
as Senate President, Nicholas Ugbane was considered as an alternative.
In May 2007, the Senate resolved to probe the use of funds earmarked for the Independent National Electoral Commission. Senator Nicholas Ugbane, as Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, supported the probe but defended himself against allegations that he had not exercised sufficient oversight.
In 2008, Senator Ugbane was vocal in the campaign against corruption and fraud in the power sector during the period when President Olusegun Obasanjo was in power (1999–2007).
In April 2008 Senator Ugbane was a panelist at a conference on developing and supporting critical energy infrastructure in Nigeria.
In October 2008, Ugbane was a speaker on developing Nigeria's power structure at the 9th Annual State of the Nigerian Nation Symposium held in Washington, DC, USA.
In December 2008, Senator Ugbane of Koge East, which is also the base of Koge State governor Ibrahim Idris
Ibrahim Idris
Ibrahim Idris Adejo is a Nigerian businessman who was elected Governor of Kogi State in Nigeria in April 2003 and reelected in April 2007. He is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party .-Background:...
, became involved in a dispute with Senator Smart Adeyemi
Smart Adeyemi
Smart Adeyemi was elected Senator for the Kogi West constituency of Kogi State, Nigeria, taking office on 29 May 2007. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party .-Early years:Smart Adeyemi was born on 18 August 1960....
of Koge West over nomination of ministers from the state.
He stated that nomination of Humphrey Enemakwu Abah for a ministerial position would violate Section 14 of the Nigerian Constitution, which deals with Federal Character.
That month Senator Ugbane donated a library to SS Peter and Paul Academy, Egume in Kogi state.
EFCC prosecution
In May 2009, Senator Ugbane gave himself up to the Economic and Financial Crimes CommissionEconomic and Financial Crimes Commission
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is a Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes such as advance fee fraud and money laundering...
, chaired by Farida Mzamber Waziri
Farida Mzamber Waziri
Chief Farida Mzamber Waziri was appointed Executive Chairperson of the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in May 2008. She succeeded Nuhu Ribadu in this post.-Background:...
. As Chairman of the Senate committee on Power he was alleged to have interests in companies that won major contracts in the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), and to have been a beneficiary of the N6 billion rural electrification contract scam.
His bail request was refused.
Senate Spokesman Senator Ayogu Eze
Ayogu Eze
Ayogu Eze was elected Senator for the Enugu North constituency of Enugu State, Nigeria, taking office on 29 May 2007. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party ....
said that the Senate expected justice to be done, but that they would not protect Ugbane if he were found guilty.
Also arrested was Ndudi Elumelu, chairman of the House of Representatives power committee.
The EFCC was said to be searching for the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Iyiola Omisore
Iyiola Omisore
Iyiola Omisore, alias Otunba, is a Nigerian politician who served as deputy governor of Osun State from 1999–2003, and represented the People's Democratic Party as a member of the Nigerian Senate for Osun East from 2003–2009, when his election was annulled by an electoral appeal...
, to give an explanation of the way in which the electrification projects became included in the 2009 budget.