Castle Gunman To Be Deported

Chief of Staff Alex Segbefia Information reaching DAILY GUIDE suggests that the notorious car dealer who was elevated to the position of deputy boss of the Confiscated Vehicles Committee, Nana Ekuban Olivier, also called Frenchman, is being deported to his native Cote d’Ivoire. His deportation follows a brief investigation on him after he caused a scare on Christmas eve by drawing a fully-loaded gun at the confiscated car depot at Tema. DAILY GUIDE reported at the weekend that Nana Ekuban Olivier had been arrested by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and according to additional information, was being held over the past three days. Olivier’s arrest, DAILY GUIDE learnt, was in connection with some stolen cars at the Tema Port. The arrest of Frenchman was confirmed by Alex Segbefia on Joy Fm’s Newsfile programme on Saturday. His action was said to have caused government grave embarrassment against the backdrop of an already negative press on the activities of the committee. Sources said some car dealers had also petitioned security agencies about monies allegedly paid to some persons involved in the allocation of confiscated cars. Olivier was stopped from breaching procedures in the disposal of stolen vehicles in a container at the depot when he stormed the place in the company of some National Security operatives. Not happy about the action, he reached for his gun but was unable to pull the trigger as he was disarmed by a CEPS officer on the spot. It is now established that the man is a national of neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire and was engaged by Carl Wilson to serve as his deputy while they both reported to deputy Chief of Staff Alex Segbefia. The Confiscated Vehicles Committee earned negative headlines recently, after revelations about an assortment of improprieties in its management under the chairmanship of Carl Wilson. News about alleged improprieties against the committee attracted the attention of President John Evans Atta Mills who ordered an investigation. Rumours are rife that Segbefia has allegedly threatened to resign if Carl Wilson is taken off his schedule. The earlier exit order to Carl Wilson appears to have been successfully fought by Alex Segbefia until the end of the ongoing investigation into his activities and allegations of corruption in the allocation of vehicles. DAILY GUIDE has learnt that Alex Segbefia threatened to walk out of the government should his boy be dismissed. He seems to have had his way as Carl Wilson hovers around the committee, though with an impaired ego. Alex had demanded proof of Carl Wilson’s dismissal when news about the action was made public by DAILY GUIDE. Meanwhile, a pro-NDC newspaper, Daily Post has also reported that President Mills ordered for the dismissal of Carl Wilson on the eve of Xmas last year. By A.R. Gomda/ Daily Guide

Castle rubbishes reports of car dash out to NDC faithful

Alex Segbefia, Deputy Chief of Staff Government is asking for factual evidence to prove that the committee handling confiscated vehicles has been selling them for pittance to supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC). Deputy Chief of Staff, Alex Segbefia, has admitted some of the vehicles have been allocated but he insists government paid prices approved by the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS). He would not establish when the vehicles were transferred but said the least amount paid so far was GH¢1000 for a Nissan March saloon car. He told Joy News many of the vehicles mentioned in the Thursday edition of the Daily Guide newspaper, were allocated to state institutions for free. The paper alleged that “over four hundred (400) vehicles have been virtually taken away from the Tema Port for free as National Democratic Congress (NDC) operatives abuse a loose chit system at the facility, using the name of the Presidency or the National Security Council to ferry confiscated cars away.” “The various car parks at the harbour such as the Golden Jubilee Terminal, Safebond and Transit Terminal, where these cars are parked are inundated with NDC activists who storm the places with chits for allocation of cars at very ridiculous prices,” the paper added. But Deputy Chief of Staff describes the GH¢50 quoted in the publication as a nominal figure to facilitate the release of the vehicles to state institutions. Mr Segbefia also dispelled rumours that the vehicles had been transferred to party faithful and defended one Carl Wilson mentioned by the paper, saying he was “chairman of the committee responsible for the disposal of forfeited vehicles has been cited in a number of misdemeanours of late.” The Deputy Chief of Staff said Mr Wilson chairs the Confiscated Cars Committee and has done nothing wrong. “We’re just still waiting for anyone to come with any cogent evidence of any malfeasance by Carl Wilson,” he said.