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Independent lawyer and human rights crusader, Kainerugaba Erick Msemakweli, named people believed to be the forces behind Kagoda Agriculture Company Limited, at a news conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
Msemakweli read out a list of people, including prominent businessmen Yusuph Manji and Rostam Aziz, who he alleged were owners of the dubious Kagoda Agriculture Limited, for long associated with the siphoning of billions of shillings from the Bank of Tanzanias External Payment Arrears Account.
He told a news conference in Dar es Salaam that he has sufficient evidence to prove in court that Manji and Rostam were the brains behind Kagodas networks that stole around 33bn/- from the EPA account in 2005.
He listed a chain of people behind the scam Tabu Omari, John Kato, Barati Goda, Rostam Abdurasul Aziz, Yusuph Mehboob Manji, Gulam Abdurasul Chakaar, and Bahram Abdurasul Chakaar.
These are operators and managers of Kagoda Agriculture Ltd, who masterminded the stealing of billions of shillings from BoTs EPA account. I possess print and electronic evidence to substantiate my claims before a court of law, if need be, said Msemakweli.
He explained that he conducted independent investigations into the EPA scam and found out that those he named were ring-leaders in Kagodas role in the high-profile corruption scandal.
I am mentioning them because I have enough evidence plus supportive documents in both print and electronic form, to argue my case
those who feel aggrieved by my actions should go to court, he noted.
Msemakweli said he had already submitted some of the evidence to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), adding that he expected to have an audience with DPP today for further consultations on the issue
I will also give him more evidence if he wants.
The DPP, according to Msemakweli, called on people with evidence on Kagodas involvement in the scandal to submit them to the relevant law enforcement agencies for prosecution and other legal actions against the culprits. The same statement was repeated by Attorney General Frederick Werema during the just-concluded parliamentary session, he said.
Statements by government officials are totally untrue
the names of Kagoda pioneers are here plus all the evidence showing how they were involved in drawing up the theft racket, including signing relevant documents to facilitate processes of stealing the money, he said.
Unveiling details on the Kagoda syndicate, he said Barati Goda and John Kato registered Kagoda at the Business Registration and Licensing Agency (BRELA) but they used forged namesFrancis William and John Kyomuhendo, respectively. He said that using his company, Quality Finance Corporation Ltd, Yusuph Manji acted as guarantor for Kagoda to enable it to open an account at CRDB Bank Holland House Branch.
In fact, the Kagoda EPA theft was planned by Manji and Rostam through their companies. The other people I have mentioned were just working under instructions from Rostam Aziz and Manji, he observed.
I am ready to fight with Manji and Aziz in court, because I have evidence that they were involved in the Kagoda theft. If the DPP does not take appropriate action after receiving the evidence I have given him, I will opt for other legal action, said Msemakweli.
He said the countrys legal enforcement machinery needed to take action against Manji, Aziz and all other people involved in the Kagoda theft, saying it was against the rule of law and good governance practices to take some few people, such as Maranda and Farijala, to court over the EPA scandal, leaving others untouched. The law should treat all culprits equally, regardless of their status, position or any reason.
Source:
Msemakweli : Manji and Rostam were the brains behind EPA scam - Tanzagiza manji-and-rostam-were-the-brains-behind-epa-scam/