Magu Urges The Youth To Be Standard Bearers of Corruption War

The acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, has urged Nigerian youths to be standard bearers of the ongoing war against corruption in the country.
Magu also stated that the Commission would not compromise on its resolve to secure the future of Nigerian youths as well as unborn generations by ridding the country of corruption.
Speaking yesterday at The African Youth Leadership Roundtable Initiative at the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, the EFCC Chair lamented the fact that Nigerian youths today were at the receiving end of the negative effects of corruption.
In his keynote address entitled “Youth Action For Change”, Magu expressed the hope that the youth would “self-mobilise” to join hands in the fight against corruption and economic crimes.
Magu, who spoke through Garuba Dugum, Head of Operations, EFCC, Lagos, said: “But sadly, that is not the case from where I stand, surveying the Nigerian corruption landscape.
“At the EFCC, we have done a rough analysis of the corruption complaints that we receive and found out that over 60 percent of them are against people in the 17 to 50 age bracket, which I understand, is the ‘youth bracket.’”
According to him, the alleged offences being committed by youths cut across all permutations of crimes from advance fee fraud through corruption to money laundering.
He also lamented what he described as the “breadth of criminal imagination” that the youth deploy in scamming, looting and hiding the proceeds of crimes.
He, therefore, stated that “If only half of the energy and ingenuity were deployed in legitimate enterprises, Nigeria would have long been lifted out of the doldrums typical of a failing society. So, I see the inherent power of the youth. The question is, do they see themselves as possessing and being able to harness that power to turn things around? Rather than see and admire and want to be the next big thief, the owners of shiny cars and outlandish houses and jewelry, do the youth see for themselves a future devoid of corruption, a future where patriotism, hard work and diligence are the only valuable currencies of citizenship?

What does Fayose want with Progressives? By Segun Dipe

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State is not a progressive and can never lay claims to being one. Progressivism is the support for, or advocacy of social reform. That will not make any sense to Fayose. But of late, I am beginning to suspect Fayose’s chicanery as he steals shows within the progressive fold, while he is fast becoming a pariah, even among the demons. I heard that, like the biblical Satan, he has been wandering to and fro, seeking for whom to devour. All these may not come as a surprise to those who know Fayose fairly well.

Fayose is a self-acclaimed political gadfly. He believes he can worm himself unquestionably into any comfortable hole, and is beginning to do so, by flirting with the progressives both in words and deeds. This wolf in wolf skin is trying, like a chameleon, to garb himself with the toga of a progressive. When he started with a visit to Governor Rauf Aregbesola in Osun, many, but some discerning ones, felt it was in the spirit of fostering a Southwest unity across party line. But he has taken steps further, hobnobbing with virtually everyone that he thinks would give him an inroad into the progressive fold. I find this laughable, yet unsettling. Fayose’s unsolicited support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, coupled with his preference to attend the Lagos @ 50 Gala where he was uninvited instead of Rivers, where he was to be a Guest of Honour-cum-Speaker, compounded my suspicion that Fayose is up to some antics again!

We all know why. Fayose is playing every trick possible to escape the wrath of the gods. His impending doom is near and as sure as death. The nearer Fayose gets to the 2018 terminus, the more fear envelopes him and the more desperate he becomes. He is trying to sneak into the progressive fold, not for good, but to leech on them. God forbid anyone trying to help him out of the impending doom into an undeserved glory, thus turning Ekiti into his spoilage once more. May such person(s) go down with Fayose, notwithstanding the dizzying heights they may have attained. "Alale Ekiti" have turned their backs against Fayose for daring to defoliate the people's destiny. Fayose has murdered sleep and cannot sleep any more. He has defecated on the royal seat and he must be made to lap the watery feaces up with his tongue. His snail has insulted the gods and he must brush the ground with his mouth.

Please tell Fayose that he is a persona non-grata in the APC fold. Advise him that he is a meat for the gods of the progressives. This is not the first time he would be attempting to fraternise with the progressives though, garbing himself in the cloak of a Messiah, latching on their reputation for a comeback. However, while history did not tell me that he was ever absorbed into the fold, this time, he will not only be totally fenced off from coming nearer, he will be totally disgraced. Fayose is a leper fleeing the leper colony and searching for a clean house to hide. He is a misfit in a normal society.

Fayose has even threatened to vie against the progressives for the third time, if not given a chance to identify with them. Please tell him to go ahead. We double-dare him. By the way, on which platform is he planning to contest again? Is it on that of the PDP, where he is fast becoming a pariah? Or that of Labour Party, where he once duped them? Oh, I heard someone said in solo tone that he might be considering AD! Well we can only wish him bad luck and watch him get flushed down the drain. And in which state? Definitely, not Ekiti that he is busy desecrating. Perhaps any of Osun, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo or even somewhere in the eastern part? I doubt much.
If for any reason Fayose resurfaces on any platform for a third attempt, he has my assurance that he would be an easy prey and would be beaten to a pulp by the progressives this time. He will not only lose fair and square, he will be disgraced before being handed over to the jailer.
No one should blame Fayose for bragging that he still has some relevance left in him though. He is only testing waters, perhaps to take another advantage of the environment he has found himself, where anything and everything is possible. When in 2014, we heard that the monster was coming out of its dungeon and trying to have a shot at the election, many of us waived it off as the craziest joke of the century. And we built our assurance on some assumptions.

First, we assumed that there were still some reasonable and credible human beings within the PDP, who would stop the miscreant from attaining such a noble height. Second, we assumed that the law of the land was well honed not to give such a condemnable criminal any opportunity to contest with normal human beings, and our third assumption was that Ekiti people were wiser and more honourable not to trade gold for sand. Little did we factor in the power of such political desperation displayed by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to want to retain power at the centre at the devil's cost. The lives of the citizens dying in the north eastern part of the country became the pyre to realize Fayose’s ambition, but his benefactor, ex-President Jonathan paid dearly for it.

The rest is now history, which should never repeat itself, Fayose does not deserve any soft-landing. He must be conquered at the next election and subsequently made to pay for all his atrocities. Against him, I hereby recommend an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.

Segun Dipe writes from Ado Ekiti

Ekiti Need Spiritual Intervention - Afenifere

Press statement by Ekiti state chapter of Afenifere : God, heal our Land. The Yoruba Social political and cultural organization, The Afenifere, Ekiti state chapter has called on all citizens of the state to, as a matter of obligation, embark on fervent prayers for God to deliver us from the present political, economic and social predicament Ekiti state has found itself in recent times. In a statement issued in Ado Ekiti, and jointly signed by its chairman, Elder Yemi Alade and publicity secretary, Chief Biodun Akin-Fasae, said its shameful as the state has become a butt of uncanny jokes and fast sliding to be a pariah among other states of Nigeria, despite its God given endowments. Currently, the economic activities of the state has run 'beserk' due to executive misapplication of strategic management of human and business relationship. Now, no one is sure of what happens next because of the misunderstanding between government and fuel marketers which has now degenerated to chaos. And this has been going on for two full weeks and unfortunately, government is feeling comfortable and justifying its strategy by pulling down several of the fuel stations for flimsy excuses which not a few have interpreted as mere political vendetta and mere braggadocio on the part of government. Our suggestion is that impunity to destroy economic livelihood of people should stop because we believe that no fuel marketer approved for itself the construction of any filling station. Government did. And if government would now change its mind, then a process of discussion and negotiations would be put in place, rather than just breaking of the extant laws. This is what is called executive recklessness and this is very unacceptable. The statement also wondered the whereabouts of governor Ayo Fayose during the celebration of Democracy Day, a national activity. He was conspicuously absent from Ekiti for days only to resurface to abuse President Mohammodu Buhari requesting him to resign because of ill heath. At the same time he degraded his office by his statement on the veracity of the Chiboc girls saying it was a ploy to rattle the former president. All these outbursts by our governor belittles our collective humanity as a state. Our governor is now a parrot who must talk at all times in and out of season. We believe that Mr Governor should devote more time to think on how to move Ekiti forward instead of focusing and dissipating his energy on irrelevant issues. One would wonder what he meant when he declared Ekiti a 'Biafra' extension when no governor in the South East has so declared. Lastly, our advice is that Mr Governor should concentrate more time on how he would complete his 'one way fly over bridge' which is fast becoming an albatross to the extent of his announcement that its a federal government project. Afenifere also wish to sympathise with Ekiti workers none of who has received any salary this year. Some since October 2016, and yet, the governor feels unconcerned so far he can dole out a thousand naira and a  cup of rice to the famished workers in the name of his stomach infrastructure program, which many have described as a fraud.

Akeredolu cancel Restriction of movement during Sanitation

The Ondo State governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has cancelled the restriction of movement during the monthly environmental sanitation billed for tomorrow Saturday, May 27, 2017, because of the annual Children Day’s celebration.

According to the governor, the cancellation is to enable the children to enjoy the celebration.

In a statement signed on Friday by his Chief Press secretary, Mr. Segun Ajiboye, the governor asked all the residents of the state to still clean their surroundings.

Akeredolu also wishes the children happy celebration and advised them to face their studies, as well as eschew violence to enable them to become leaders of tomorrow.



Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

Mr. Segun Ajiboye

Zuckerberg Finally graduated from Harvard

Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook finally graduated from Harvard University.
This was announced on his timeline yesterday where he was quoted "Mom, I always told you I'd come. Back and get my degree" on one of his pictures with his mum.
Now that Mark is a graduate I hope
you don't say he's a drop out any longer.

Armsgate: EFCC Tenders Evidence, Says Dokpesi Received N2.1bn from ONSA

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, May 25, 2017 tendered in evidence details of correspondences between DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited, Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA and Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, to the effect that Raymond Dokpesi received money to the tune of N2.1billion from ONSA.
The documents were tendered by the anti-graft agency through Azonabor, who testified as PW5 in the trial of Dokpesi and DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited, who are facing a six-count charge relating to the sum of N2.1billion allegedly received from the ONSA between October 2014 and March, 2015 for the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential media campaign.
Azonabor, an operative of EFCC, while being led in evidence by counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, informed the court of details of several letters originating from the EFCC in the course of investigating the alleged diversion of billions of naira meant for the purchase of arms by the ONSA under Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).
“Sometime in 2016, a team of operatives under the directive of the Acting Chairman of EFCC was created in order to investigate, execute search, record statements, and analyze documents relating to the diversion of funds by the ONSA.
“In the course of our investigation, it was realized that a huge sum of money was paid into the account of DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited by ONSA.
“A letter was written from EFCC to ONSA requesting for details of the said payment. Consequently, ONSA replied that series of payments were made to DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited to the tune of N2.1billion.
“Thereafter, another correspondence was received by ONSA with the mandates and further details of payment attached”, Azonabor stated.
The three letters were tendered and admitted as Exhibit D1, D2 and D3.
The PW5 went on to explain that the investigating team further requested for more information from BPP to ascertain whether DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited had executed any contract for ONSA.
“BPP responded in a letter dated December 8, 2016 that no record of contract was made under the name DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited for ONSA. Hence, the contract was non-existent and as such there was no need for any monetary value for a non-existent contract”, he said.
The acknowledgement letter from BPP alongside the letter of enquiry from EFCC was tendered and admitted as Exhibit E1 and E2.
At this point, Jacobs drew attention of the court to Exhibit D1, noting that within a period of three months (that is, between January and March 2015), the sum of N2billion was paid to DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited and a letter of invite was placed to DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited who replied via its solicitor, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, clearly denying any business transactions with the ONSA.
But, Dokpesi’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi, SAN, countered him saying, “The EFCC had no case because the allegations were on DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited and not Dokpesi himself”.
The PW5, who was asked by Agabi to tell the court whether the report on the investigation dated December 5, 2016 made any mention of the defendant answered no.
However, he explained that the investigation was carried out in line with the diversion of funds meant for procurement of arms by ONSA and that, DAAR Investment and Holdings Limited was spotted as being one of the recipients.
The report was tendered and admitted as Exhibit F.
Thereafter, Justice Tsoho adjourned to July 6 - 7, 2017 for the continuation of trial.

EFCC Confiscates Properties And Bank Accounts Of George Turnah

The Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has taken over some bank accounts and properties traced to a former Special Adviser to Dan Abia, erstwhile managing director of Niger Delta Commission, NDDC, Mr. George Turnah . 

The confiscation was done on Thursday sequel to an interim forfeiture order granted the Commission by a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. One of the properties covered by the forfeiture order and which had been attached by the EFCC is a massive complete building known as “KOLO VILLA” in Kolo Town, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Other properties will soon be attached.

It would be recalled that Justice Ibrahim Watilat granted the interim forfeiture order based on an application filed before the court by the EFCC's counsel, Adebola Olatunji. 

Turnah, together with seven companies, were arraigned on a 12-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretense, money laundering and abuse of office to the tune of N3, 094, 268, 235.69( Three Billion, Ninety Four Million, Two Hundred and Sixty Eight Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirty Five Naira, Sixty Nine kobo) . The seven companies arraigned with Turnah are: El Godmas Global Servises Limited; Turnoil and Gas Nigeria Limited; Kolo Creek Petroleum Development Limited ; Celtic Pride Consult and Events; Yenagoa Mall, Adaka Boro Marine Services Limited and Sugarland Intergrated farms Nigeria Limited.

Voter Registration: Ikole LG Chair's Wife Leads Thugs To Attack Man, Electoral Officials

The ongoing voter registration Ikole-Ekiti in Ikole Local Government of Ekiti State witnessed a bizarre spectacle today, as the wife of the Chairman of the council, Mrs Kemi Adeyanju, led thugs to the registration centre at the INEC office in Ikole-Ekiti to attack people perceived as not having sympathy for the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Trouble started when Mrs Adeyanju arrived the centre and saw one Ayodeji Ayebogan, a member of the opposition party, who was mid-way into his biometric registration by INEC in preparation for the 2018 governorship election.

Mrs Adeyanju did not feel comfortable with Ayodeji registering and, surprisingly, asked him to vacate his seat for her to register PDP members that the woman had mobilised to register in the exercise.

Ayodeji resisted, arguing that he was already half-way into his registration. Explanation by the registration officer asking the woman to allow Ayodeji complete his registration fell on deaf ears, as the woman slapped the young man. She was joined by thugs to beat the man and tore his cloth.

The other electoral officers, who intervened, were also attacked by the thugs and their cloths torn.

Pandemonium ensued until  policemen were called in to restore order.

As we speak, Mrs Adeyanju and some of her boys are in Ikole Police Station helping the police in their investigation.

It will be recalled that Governor Ayodele Fayose had given the local government chairmen a marching order to ensure that opposition members are shut out of the ongoing registration to give PDP an edge in the next election in the state.


By Tunde Adetunji

Fayemi set to Empower Ekiti Youth

The Hon. Minister of mines and steel development, former Governor of Ekiti State H. E Dr. John Kayode Fayemi through his Centre in Collaboration with Apc Ekiti state Secretariat has sent out notice to those who filled the MDG-FG form.

The notice read "This is to inform those who filled the MDG-FG empowerment form through the APC Secretariat in Ekiti State and JKF Centre to come for a training programme on Friday, May 26, 2017.
 Venue:  Pastoral Centre, along Ikere Road, Ado Ekiti.
Time: 8am prompt.
Come along with your credentials for verification, laptop, palmtop or phone to browse the internet."

Fleshitup.blogspot.com.ng gathered that arrangements are in place to make the empowerment a success and a life changing. This is coming when the state youth are massively unemployed, we be believe this will be a succor to the masses.

We implore Ekiti youth who have shown interest earlier to be punctual, then come with the requirements.

Benue pensioners spend night at Govt House gate over 70-month arrears

Aggrieved local government pensioners spent Tuesday night at the gate of Benue State Government House in Makurdi, protesting over 70 months backlog of unpaid entitlements.

Led by Mike Vambe, Chairman, Coalition of Local Government Pensioners, the pensioners, Tuesday evening, gathered at the main entrance of the Benue Government House, singing solidarity songs, insisting on seeing Governor Samuel Ortom.

Some of them displayed placards with inscriptions such as “Retirement is not a crime, pay all retirees,” “Our governor hear our prayers please,” “Our children have been chased out of school,” “We are sick due to poverty and age.”


Vambe told newsmen, yesterday: “We slept at the gate of Government House overnight to press home our demands. The Ministry of Finance stopped giving money to Local Govern-ment Pensions Board.

“Though this problem predates the present administration, because many of us are being owed between 70 to 24 months backlog of unpaid pensions, we want this government to sustain its initiative of steady payment because some persons are trying to frustrate that effort.

“We are facing real hard times. Not too long ago, one of us hung himself out of frustration after not being paid for several months and life was becoming unbearable for him.”

The protesters were later addressed by Governor Ortom.

After listening to their complaints, the governor said their welfare was of utmost importance to his government and promised to do everything possible to clear the arrears.

Ortom directed his Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Titus Zam, to include Vambe on the Local Government Joint Alloca-tion Committee to have the matter resolved without further delay.

Source: Vanguard

Court Remands George Turnah In Prison For N3bn Scam

Justice Ibrahim Watilat of the Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday dismissed an oral bail application made by a former Special Adviser to Dan Abia, erstwhile managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commissiom, NDDC, and ordered that he be remanded in prison custody
At the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday, defence counsel, Prof. Amuda Kanika, SAN, made an oral application for bail for Turnah. According to Kanika, bail could be argued orally. Besides, " Turnah holds a privileged tittle of Member of the Order of Niger, MON, and would not jump bail". Justice Watilat refused to oblige the defence counsel's prayers and directed him to formally apply for bail for his client. He also ordered Turnah to be remanded in prison custody.
Turnah, together with seven companies, were arraigned on a 12-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretense, money laundering and abuse of office to the tune of N3, 094, 268, 235.69( Three Billion, Ninety Four Million, Two Hundred and Sixty Eight Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirty Five Naira, Sixty Nine kobo) . The seven companies arraigned with Turnah are: El Godmas Global Servises Limited; Turnoil and Gas Nigeria Limited; Kolo Creek Petroleum Development Limited ; Celtic Pride Consult and Events; Yenagoa Mall, Adaka Boro Marine Services Limited and Sugarland Intergrated farms Nigeria Limited.
Justice Watilat adjourned the matter to 30 June, 2017 for hearing of bail application.

Court Adjourns Ex-Gov Nyame's N1.64bn Fraud Trial to May 25

The trial of a former governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame, continued before Justice Adebukola Banjoko, of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Gudu, with his defence team presenting its third witness, Aminu Ayuba, on May 24, 2017.
Nyame is standing trial on a 41-count charge bordering on misappropriation of state funds to the tune of N1.64 billion while in office. He had earlier lost his "no case" submission and had to defend himself in court.
Ayuba, whose testimony began on May 22, 2017 under cross-examination by Olalekan Ojo, counsel for Nyame is currently the acting accountant general of the state. He had earlier given evidence relating to payment vouchers and documents marked exhibit O1.
At today's proceedings, his cross-examination continued with him testifying as to whether the processing of the documents underwent post-auditing.
After identifying the exhibit, Ayuba, told the court that "post auditing" was carried out on the documents.
"Every voucher raised for payment was usually examined by the regional auditor before payments are made and post auditing comes up at the end of a period, either a month, six months or annually," he said.
According to him, such post auditing was "to ensure that the internal auditors confirm the attachments to the payment vouchers".
He added that "post auditing is done after the compilation and computation by the office of the accountant general before it is sent to the office of the auditor general of the state for confirmation and certification before the accounts are published".
He further noted that the memo by the executive governor was the first attachment, while others are those acknowledging the payment and the payment vouchers.
Under further cross-examination by Ojo, he averred that since there were no queries raised by the office of the auditor general in the process of post auditing, "then everything is ok".
Identifying three published reports dated 2007, 2008 and 2009 detailing financial transactions in the state, he said, "All the reports all had the certification of the state's auditor general and indication that the published accounts have no problem."
While noting that no audit queries were raised on the documents, he said, "I actually found out from the accountant why they were not published, he simply said there was no political will to publish the accounts, but that they have been compiled and ready for publication."
However, under cross-examination by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Ayuba was taken up on the accounts of the state for 2005 and 2006, which were not published, as well as his testimony of having been a civil servant for the past 20 years.
Under examination by the prosecution, he admitted to have been out of service between 2011 and 2014, contradicting his earlier statement that he had been in service for more than two decades without a break.
Ayuba admitted that he indeed contested for the House of Representatives under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2011. He claimed that he won the election, "but I was not announced as the winner".
"I contested in 2011 but I was brought back to service in December 2014, so it is true, because I was reinstated and pardoned in 2014 and number of years I lost were merged," he added.
He also admitted that while in service, he never had anything to do with payment of salaries to the governor, commissioners, and permanent secretaries.
Jacobs, therefore put it to him that based on his testimony so far, "you're a politician coming here to help your colleague [Nyame] and you do not have a civil service that was not polluted by political influence".
Justice Banjoko, thereafter adjourned to May 25, 2017 for further cross examination of Ayuba by the prosecution.

N84.6m Fraud: EFCC Arraigns Operator of KSLEY Mega Vision Ltd

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday, May 24, 2017, arraigned Kingsley Ubenyi and his company, Ksley Mega Vision Limited, wonder Banker, before Justice A. M Liman of Federal High Court, Enugu on a sixty-two count charge bothering on illegal operation of a financial institution and obtaining the sum N84.600,000 (Eighty Four Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira) from hundreds of victims.
The offence is contrary to section 44(1) of the Banks and other Financial Institutions Act, Cap B3, Laws of the Federation, 2004 and punishable under Section 44(2) of the same Act.
His arraignment came on the heels of hundreds of petitions from across the country alleging that he advertised and solicited for fund from the general public with the promise of 10% return on investment with his company which pretence he knew to be false.
Investigation carried out on his company by the Commission reveals that he was not registered nor given license to operate by the Central Bank of Nigeria, Security and Exchange Commission and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Company, NDIC to solicit and manage funds for the public.
It was also revealed that billions of naira were deposited into his various accounts with FCMB, UBA, Diamond, First Bank, Heritage Bank, Fidelity, Skye bank among others which were often withdrawn purportedly for personal use.
He pleaded not guilty to all the count charge preferred against him.
In view of the accused person’s plea, the prosecuting counsel led by Barr. M Bello applied for a trial date but the defense counsel Barr. Ike Ozor on the other hand informed the court of a motion for bail.
In opposing the application for bail, prosecution posited that the accused may jump bail since he is not married nor had any child, an argument upheld by the presiding Judge who ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody and thereafter adjourned the matter to 25th May, 2017 for hearing.
One of the counts read:
That you, Ubenyi Kingsley being the managing director of Ksley Mega Vision Limited and Juliana Ubenyi (now at large) on 16th May, 2016 at Enugu within the jurisdiction of the federal high court of Nigeria with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N15,000.000.00 (Fifteen Million Naira) from one Ugwu Uchanna John under the false pretence that you were going to invest it for him in the said company and to pay him a 10% monthly interest of the principal amount which you knew is false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) of the advance Fee Fraud and other Fruad Related Offences act, 2006 and Punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.

Ex-PDP Chair, Bello Received N300m from ONSA by Proxy – Witness

Aliyu Mohammed Mukddas, a Senior Manager with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, who is also a witness in the trial a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Haliru Bello on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 told Justice A. R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja how Bam Projects and Properties, a company owned by former PDP chair, was paid N300million by the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA.

Bello and his son are on trial alongside their Company, Bam Project and Properties Limited, on a 4-count charge of money laundering preferred against them by the EFCC.

They were alleged to have collected N300million from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, being part of the funds meant to fight insurgency in the North-East of the country.

Testifying as PW6, Mukddas, who was led in evidence by counsel to the EFCC, O. A. Atolagbe, told the court that the narration on the payment mandate showed that the payment was given as "Safe Houses” which the amount was for N300million. Although, when asked by the prosecuting counsel if it is the duty of CBN to know if the contract was executed, the witness replied in the negative.

The witness, who was manager, between 2010 and 2015, gave details on procedures for payment to Ministries, Department and Agencies.

According to him, agencies would bring their payment schedule showing the date, name of the organization, amount in words/figure and details of beneficiaries. He added that the schedule must be duly signed by signatories of that organisation after which it would be brought by the confirmation officer.

“The confirmation would be done before us with his name, signature, date and thumb print”, he said.

The PW6 further stated that, “when the payment schedule is received, the CBN passes it for verification of signatories and also check account balance before it is passed for payment”.

When asked if he knows of an ONSA account, he told the court that, “it is an account managed by CBN and it is funded by Office of Accountant General of the Federation”.

According to him, “the account has two source of funding, sometime from office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and mostly from the Accountant General of the Federation”.

Mukddas told the court that, “between 2012 and 2015, the main signatory to the account was Sambo Dasuki and also another signatory was the then Director Finance and Account S. A. Salisu, while the confirmation officer was Yazeed Ibrahim”.

The witness was shown Exhibit PL 5, which is one of the payment mandate paid and asked to explain the procedures followed in making payment to which he said, “the mandate in PL5 was brought from ONSA by Yazeed Ibrahim and he confirmed the mandate to us”.

He added that all due process was followed.
Asked by Atolagbe what he meant by all due process was followed; the witness replied that, “that means all signatories have signed, thumb printed, amount given in words and figures and that the confirmation officer have confirmed same”.

Justice Mohammed, thereafter, adjourned to July 5, 2017 for further hearing.

Court Grants Ex-NNPC Boss, Yakubu Leave to travel Abroad for Medicals

Justice A. R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja has granted permission to a former NNPC Boss, Andrew Yakubu to travel to the United Kingdom for medical check-up.
Ruling on the application brought by Yakubu’s counsel, Ahmed Raji, SAN, Justice Mohammed said, “since the prosecuting counsel is not opposing the defendant’s motion dated 23rd May, 2017 seeking leave to be granted to the defendant to travel to the United Kingdom to continue treatment, the application is granted.”
The judge also agreed with the prosecuting counsel, Prince Ben Ikani, that the international passport of the defendant be released to his counsel in the interim adding that, “the leave is granted is for a period of three weeks commencing from May 25, 2017”.
Other conditions attached to the release of the passport are: “The defendant shall return to the country on or before the expiration of the three weeks granted; One of the sureties of the defendant shall file a separate affidavit to be liable in this case should the defendant refuse to return and take his trial; The same affidavit shall be filed before the international passport is released to the defendant’s solicitor; Upon his return from his medical trip, the learned counsel to the defendant shall immediately return the international passport to the chief registrar of the court”.
The case has been adjourned to July 6, 2017 for continuation of trial.
Yakubu’s troubles started on February 3, 2017, when operatives of the EFCC stormed a building belonging to the former NNPC boss and recovered a staggering sum of $9,772,000 (Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand United States Dollars) and £74,000 (Seventy Four Thousand Pound Sterling) stashed in a huge fire proof safe.
Following the raid, Yakubu on February 8, 2017 reported to the Commission’s Kano Zonal Office where he admitted being the owner of both the house and the money recovered.
The offence breaches Section 7(4)(b)(ii) of the Advance Fee Fraud & Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 7 (5) of the same Act.
He is currently facing a six-count charge of money laundering, non-disclosure of assets and fraud.

Absence Of Defence Counsel Stalls Agbele’s Trial

The absence of defense counsel in court on Wednesday May 24, 2017 stalled the corruption trial of Abiodun Agbele, an aide to Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on an 11 count charge of money laundering to the tune of N1.2 billion before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja.
The money was said to be part of N4.7 billion allegedly transferred from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, to the bank account of Sylvan McNamara (a company allegedly owned by the sons of Obanikoro) ahead of Ekiti State 2014 governorship election.
At the resumed trial today, the prosecuting counsel, Wahab Shitu, told Justice Dimgba that the matter was slated for further cross-examination of the PW1, Alade Sunday.
However, counsel to the 3rd defendant, Olalekan Ojo, drew the attention of the court to marked absence of the second defendant’s counsel, adding that as a matter of fundamental right, counsel to the second defendant ought to cross-examine the witness him.
“There is a second defendant on record which has the right to cross examine PW1 before the third defence counsel can be properly called upon to cross examine. I most respectfully refer your Lordship to Section 216 of the Evidence Act, 2011, which says if more than one defendant are charged at the same time, each defence counsel would be allowed to cross-examine witness by the prosecution.
“The second defence counsel has notice of today’s sitting, but he’s not in court. It would be recalled that, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, withdrew his appearance in this case orally before this court. Since then, there is no legal representation for the second defendant before your Lordship”, Ojo said.
Citing Section 349 of the ACJA, 2015, Ojo argued that where a counsel for a party is given leave to withdraw, notice should be giving to all parties, but in this circumstance, Ozekhome did not write to inform the court or any of the parties.
Responding, Wahab Shitu, counsel to the EFCC, urged the court to take notice of proceeding from inception saying, “there is a proper arraignment with pleas of all the defendants and all the defendants were represented by counsels”.
Citing Section 349 (8) of the ACJA, Shittu argued that, “there is no proper withdrawal of the second defence counsel in this matter”.
According to him, “a counsel is supposed to inform the court of his withdrawal three days before hearing, but no such notice was given before the court or prosecution”.
He said that Ozekhome failed to notify the second defendant for disengaging in the case and thus breach professional conduct.
Shitu told the court the action is a calculated attempt to delay trial and urged the court not to allow it.
After listening to the arguments, Justice Dimgba adjourned to July 3 - 4, 2017 for continuation of trial.

Lamido Corruption Trial: Court Adjourns to July 7 for Ruling on Motion

Justice Babatunde O. Quadri of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja has adjourned to July 7, 2017 for ruling on a motion by the embattled former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido praying the court to return his case file to former trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola.
Lamido, who is currently facing an amended 48-count charge of money laundering alongside his sons, Aminu Sule Lamido, Mustapha Sule Lamido; Aminu Wada Abubakar, Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds International Limited, allegedly abused his position as governor between 2007 and 2015 by awarding contracts to companies where he had interest, using his two sons as fronts
In the course of his trial, Lamido had through his counsel, Offiong Offiong, SAN told the court that the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, in transferring the criminal matter from Justice Adeniyi Ademola to Justice Quadri, had exceeded his powers.
According to Offiong, “The main challenge is not whether the CJ has powers to transfer cases. Rather, it is whether or not the CJ kept within the statutory boundary set out in Section 98 of the Administration of Criminal Justice, ACJA, 2015, before he exercised that power. There are conditions that are to be met before the CJ can transfer a criminal matter from one court to another.”
According to him, “the CJ did not keep within the bounds of that power; rather, he exceeded his powers and as such acted ultra varis.
He added that, “the law prohibits the CJ from exercising the power of transfer where witnesses have been called.”
Regarding the counter affidavit served by the prosecution, Offiong, opined that the prosecution did not follow proper procedure in complaining against the former trial judge, stating that, “If the prosecution is alleging bias against the former trial judge, the appropriate remedy would be to send a petition to the CJ, who in turn will constitute an independent body of not more than three reputable practitioners to look into it and give a report. In this case, the CJ’s power to transfer is subject to the outcome of that report.”
He urged the court to uphold his motion, stressing that the defendants have rights of freedom of representation, as well as a right to speedy trial, and that there should be no conflict between both rights.
Responding, prosecuting counsel, Chile Okoroma, insisted that the defence sought to “make the matter lie in limbo without progress while hiding behind the smokescreen of appearing to want a speedy trial”.
According to him, the defence was seeking a return of the case file to the former trial judge, Justice Ademola, as well as an order for accelerated hearing.
“My Lord, this court does not have the power and cannot grant the defendants the relief they seek. Only the CJ can do that”, Okoroma said.
Citing relevant authorities to establish precedence, Okoroma went on: “The defence relied heavily on Section 98 of the ACJA, 2015. However, provisions therein can only come into play in a proceeding where judge is sitting without intervening factors, and there are no issues as to likelihood of bias and the judge is not on suspension.
“In paragraphs 10 and 13 of our counter affidavit, facts presented are not controversial. It is important that the court takes judicious note of the fact that the former trial judge is still on suspension and his court under lock and key. As it stands now, the National Judicial Council, NJC, has not lifted his suspension, and the Honourable Justice is not sitting. Furthermore, there is no date available as to when he will resume.
“The independence and impartiality of the trial judge which is also emphasized in the constitution was also stressed by the defence counsel. The former trial judge and the defence’s lead counsel were tried together for corruption related cases. Though discharged and acquitted, issues have been raised of real likelihood of bias based on relationship between the judge and the counsel.
“Section 98 of the ACJA, 2015 is not sacrosanct in this regard. If the trial judge had resigned voluntarily or even died and witnesses had been called, the CJ cannot be barred from exercising his powers to reassign the matter”.

“The CJ exercised his powers during a period of suspension of the former trial judge and did not act ultra varis.”
“We oppose the defendant’s motion and urge your lordship to discountenance the defence’s application”, Okoroma submitted.
Justice Quadri, thereafter, adjourned for ruling on the motion.

Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
May 24, 2017

Judicial Panel: Fayose’s Probe of Fayemi Done in Bad Faith , Says APC Chieftain

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC) and a governorship aspirant, Hon Bamidele Faparusi, has described the newly constituted judicial panel set up by Governor Fayose to try his predecessor was not only a predetermined and well orchestrated attempt to ridicule President Muhammadu Buhari, but targeted at smearing the personality of Dr Kayode Fayemi.


Faparusi, who harped on the need for Governor Fayose to be cautious of the security implications of the exercise, warned that any attempt to expose Fayemi to public opprobrium will be resisted by APC members in Ekiti and beyond.


Sequel to allegation of financial impropriety allegedly committed under Fayemi’s administration, Fayose had on Monday constituted a judicial panel, led by former Acting Chief Judge of the State, Justice Silas Oyewole to probe the immediate past government.


In a statement in Ado Ekiti, on Tuesday, Faparusi said the timing of this probe, suggesting that coming at a time the parties were already scrambling for the governorship poll slated for 2018 signaled that it was a mere political contrivance being used to distract our party.


Faparusi hinted that  it stands common sense on its head for a Governor , who supposed to be preoccupied with how to solve the litany of hydra-headed problems pummeling the state, like non-payment of salaries and the daunting youth unemployment to get entangled with such a political misadventure.


He said: “The timing of setting up the panel has shown that it is in bad faith with a dual motive to smear Fayemi’s reputation and deride his achievements to cover-up Fayose’s shameful performance. Ekiti people are much wiser now to be able to discern his highly endemic deceptive antics.


“What has Fayose and his bunch of illiterate assembly be doing for the past three years before waking from their deep slumber to know that Fayemi must be probed? Fayose is gradually turning Ekiti into a huge laboratory where all sorts of political experiments, shoddy ones for that matter were being practicalised.


“The only positive side to his action is that he has succeeded to set a template and precedence through which his numerous criminal and financial crimes will be immediately beamed to the world after his exit. The APC will not tarry in setting up its own mock 21 –man judicial panel of enquiry to receive and begin compilation of his fraudulent actions with the hope of sending him to jail in no time after leaving office”.


On the governor’s intention to seek redress in court over possible extension of his tenure beyond 2018 on account of his impeachment in 2006, Faparusi said such could only exist in the wildest imagination of a theatric like Fayose, who sees governance as a comic relief, rather than a serious business.


Faparusi clarified that the Supreme Court in case of Muritala Nyako Vs FG ruled that a governor whose tenure was abruptly terminated via illegal impeachment can only be entitled to the  perks of office throughout the time there was a vacancy and not tenure elongation.


“The governor should have known that he cannot be entitled to third term in office, neither can the oath of office be administered on him three times. What former Governor Nyako wanted to achieve was to finish the remaining nine months of his second term tenure before he was ousted and supreme court was so unequivocal that since that dispensation had lapsed, he could only be entitled to the benefits and that has become a functus officio as far as this case is concerned.


“Governor Fayose should refrain from wasting the precious time of the court by wanting to engage  in mere academic exercise that has no legal fecundity, having been earlier determined by the apex court”, Faparusi concluded.

By: Victor Ogunje

Falana condemn Fayose third-term ambition

"Fayose’s bid to seek re-election is anomalous"– Falana


Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has described as anomalous the likely bid by Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State to seek re-election in 2018.
‎Fayose had said on Monday that he would contest the 2018 governorship election ‎so that he could serve his first term which was truncated in 2006.
Fayose was impeached in 2006, but the Supreme Court in 2014 nullified the impeachment that ousted him from the office about seven months to the end of his first term.
Speaking on a live broadcast on Ekiti State Television in Ado-Ekiti on Monday evening, Fayose said that since the apex court had said that his impeachment in 2006 was illegal, he would then have to approach the same court to interpret what that ruling meant and also consider seeking a re-election in 2018.
‎But Falana said on Tuesday that Fayose’s bid to seek re-election would amount to tenure elongated which no court could grant.
He said, “Tenure extension by a governor under any disguise is anomalous. No court can prolong the tenure of a sitting governor buying the two terms prescribed by the Constitution.
“In the case of Gov Rasheed Ladoja v INEC the appellant wanted an extension of his term of office to allow him to spend extra 11 months while he was fighting his impeachment from outside.
“Although the Supreme Court had set aside his impeachment it was held that the relief was illegal and unconstitutional.
“Similarly, the governors who were re-elected after their initial election was annulled, the Supreme Court made it abundantly clear that tenure extension was unknown to the Constitution. In view of the settled position of the law on the matter, Governor Ayo Fayose cannot be granted by any court in Nigeria.”

By by Ade Adesomoju

Fayose threatened oil marketers in Ekiti State

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has ordered Ekiti State oil marketers to open within 24hours or risk their Certificate of Occupancies (CofO). This was seen in a short message service sent around by his S.A New media, Lere Olayinka at 2:15pm which got to our correspondent.

The message read "Governor Fayose has given owners of petrol stations in Ekiti State 24 Hours ultimatum to begin to sell fuel to the people or have the Certificate of Occupancies (CofO) of their Petrol Stations revoked."

Fayose and Ekiti oil Marketer has been in a serious brawl which has crippled business activities of the state. Yesterday Fayose banned commercial activities in petrol stations in the state.

LAUTECH Students Stage Peaceful Protest In Osogbo Over Indefinite Strike

The Acting Secretary General , Alliance of Nigerian Students against Neo – Liberal Attacks , Juwon Sanyaolu , has said that students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso , will on Wednesday stage a mass protest against the indefinite closure of the school .

He said the protest, which would be held in Oshogbo, Osun states , was necessary to end the workers ’ strike which had lasted for 6 months and warn the governments of Oyo and Osun states against non payment of workers.

Amiloaded correspondent gathered that the protest is Presently going on at Olaiya junction osogbo 

See photos below 

Nigeria Vs Corsica friendlies

Nigeria Vs Corsica

International Friendly


date: May 26 2017


time: 8:00pm

venue: Stade François Coty located in Ajaccio

Masquerader and followers killed in Kogi

A masquerader and three of his followers have been killed in Okene , Kogi State, by yet-to-be identified people.

Our correspondent gathered that the killings occurred on Tuesday at Idare district, in the Okene Local Government Area of the state.

followers were gunned down, other people at the scene took to their heels.

Meanwhile, the state government said it had banned the festival to avoid further tragedy.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, warned that any masquerader, caught on the streets would be arrested, along with its followers and those managing the masquerader.

However, effort to confirm the attack from the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. William Aya, proved abortive.

But sources close to the  Kogi State Police Command confirmed the incident, saying the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu, was on top of the situation.

Source: Punch Newspaper 

Lagos digitalises maternal, perinatal death surveillance response

IN its characteristic style of pioneering innovative health initiatives, the Lagos State government has launched a fully digitalsed auditing scheme of the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response, MPDSR. 

The launch concludes the transition from paper-based Maternal Death Review (MDR) to Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) and digitisation of the scheme, which started a year ago. Already, the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, and 23 secondary health facilities, that have commenced electronic auditing of maternal and perinatal deaths to improve survival vulnerable groups. The initiative was flagged off with  distribution of electronic tablets to  Heads of the 23 facilities. The tablets, which were procured by MamaYe-Evidence for Action (E4A), a maternal and neonatal health support programme funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, were configured and supplied by InstratGobal Health Solutions of the United States. Director of Family Health and Nutrition, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Folasade Oludara,who represented the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, at the flag off, remarked that the use of tablets for data capture and submission will  provide real time information on MPDSR in Lagos State, improve decision making processes, and ultimately increase the survival of pregnant women and newborn children. Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health Service Commission, Dr JemiladeLonge,  stated: “This great initiative of digitizing our MPDSR process is an opportunity we are going to maximize to improve the survival of pregnant women and our babies in Lagos State. We greatly appreciate MamaYe-E4A for supporting it.” Lagos State Coordinator of MamaYe-E4A, Adenike Badiora, representing the Country Director, Dr Tunde Segun,  said, “The process continues; there will be documentation; and lessons will be learnt to improve on the process.” Adoption of the MPDSR in the State follows  adoption of the scheme by the  Federal Government of Nigeria in March 2016. The process commenced in April 2016 with a joint training programme by MamaYe-E4A and Lagos State Ministry of Health, for relevant health personnel. A team of four consultants led by a renowned obstetrician/gynaecologist, Prof. Oladapo Shittu of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria. A statement by MamaYe noted that MPDSR adds perinatal death audits and provides additional public health benefits of quality of care improvements and real-time data capture on the characteristics of both categories of deaths. Heads of the beneficiary institutions were optimistic the Scheme would improve record keeping because it eliminates the cumbersome paper-based system, which is a disincentive to record keeping. Facilities implementing MPDSR that received one electronic tablet each areAlimosho General Hospital, Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Badagry General Hospital, Randle Gbaja General Hospital, Harvey Road Health Centre, Shomolu General Hospital, Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital, Ajeromi General Hospital, and OrileAgege General Hospital. Others are Agbowa General Hospital, Apapa General Hospital, Ijede General Hospital, Ketu-Ejirin General Hospital, Ikorodu General Hospital, Isolo General Hospital, Gbagada General Hospital, Amuwo-Odofin General Hospital, Epe General Hospital, Ibeju-Lekki General Hospital, Massey Street Children’s Hospital, Mushin General Hospital, Onikan Health Centre, and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.


Source: Vanguard Newspaper 

Miyetti Allah Fumes against Nasarawa Grazing Bill

The Nasarawa State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has kicked against the Bill before Nasarawa State House of Assembly for a law to ban grazing in cities and schools, describing the move as a calculated attempt to dislodged Fulani from the state.

Chairman of the association in the state, Muhammed Husseni, told newsmen in Lafia, that Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has done a lot to ensure peace among herders and farmers in the state and would not assent to a Bill that will dust up crisis, adding that there was no public hearing to take their inputs into consideration by the members of the assembly.

According to him, “the sponsor of the Bill, Hon Daniel Ogazi, did not mean well for the people of the state. He is not interested in peace in Nasarawa State. What did he do when all the grazing routes were blocked. You cannot stop Fulani from grazing without providing alternatives. Already the seven grazing reserves in the state have been occupied by farmers. Governor Almakura cannot sign such a wicked Bill into law”

Hussaini continued, “When or where and who do the house of assembly inform or invite for public hearing for their inputs, suggestions and recommendations, we are the stakeholders that their laws affects directly and they needed to call us and consider our input, Benue have just signed anti-grazing bill into law and if Nasarawa follow suits, we have nowhere to go and that will have adverse effect on farmers, what we want in Nasarawa State is peace and not crisis and the bill will cause crisis”

Hussaini said that a total seven gazetted grazing reserves were encroached upon by farmers and over 65 percent of cattle routes were closed by farmers in the state and in many occasions this action has been the cause of crisis, “What did the state house of assembly do to resolve this lingering conflict.”

He continued, “We consider this move by the assembly as a sinister under guise of grazing law to entrench tribal and sentimental motives to dislodged Fulani herders from the state because the sponsor of bill, Daniel Ogazi, who represents Kokona east state constituency has never for once intervene or engaged in mediation between herders, farmers conflict in his Kokona LGA.”

“The sponsor of the bill had never for once considered to invite Fulani leaders in any capacity in his constituency to resolve conflict or promotes peace and unity between herders and famers,” he added.

The Assembly had last week passed into second reading a law to make provision for the control, prohibits and to restrict grazing of animals in urban cities, schools and other designated areas to curtail crisis between herders and farmers.

Looted funds: FG seeks extradition of 311 powerful Nigerians

In its bid to stem the tide of criminally-minded Nigerians from hibernating in foreign lands after committing heinous crimes in the country, the Federal Government has sought the repatriation of no fewer than 311 of such suspects from their hideouts across the world.

The government has not, however, revealed the identities of the suspects, the amount looted by them and where they are taking refuge at the moment. But while that remains, the government has also received 636 extradition requests from foreign governments to assist them in dealing with such elements, who fled their lands after committing serious offences. The suspects are wanted in their home countries to answer to alleged crimes perpetuated by them before they fled such countries to seek safe haven in Nigeria. Of the number received, the federal government has forwarded a total of 503 requests to competent authorities for execution. The information was contained in a document made available to Vanguard from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice on the achievements of the Buhari administration in the Justice sector since coming to power two years ago. The development is covered under the Mutual Legal Assistance, MLA, signed between Nigeria and six nations, with a view to repatriating looted funds and prosecuting the masterminds of such crime by the countries involved so as to reduce the incidence of graft. The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, confirmed to Vanguard that the ministry of Justice received a total of 5658 criminal cases in the last two years of the administration out of which 100 cases were successfully concluded. Malami disclosed that included in the 100 decided matters were terrorism cases, while 2000 other criminal cases received from the Nigeria Police for prosecution in the Magistrate Court were pending due to logistics challenges. The minister revealed that within the period under review, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other related offences, NAPTIP, has successfully arrested and prosecuted no fewer than 41 human traffickers and rescued a total of 1484 victims of human trafficking. In a similar vein, the minister disclosed that the Nigerian Copyright Commission recorded a monumental achievement within the past two years with a market value seizure of pirated works of N2.1 billion. The commission also made 201 arrests, convicted three persons and seized a total of eight containers of pirated books and two containers of pirated Compact Discs and Digital Video Discs. “As a result of the commission’s robust enforcement and prosecutorial activities and Nigeria’s active participation in World Intellectual Property Organisation, WIPO, the country secured the establishment of an external office of WIPO in Nigeria,” the minister said. “Nigeria remains delisted from the United States 301 list of countries that are not seriously addressing copyright piracy and other Intellectual Property crimes,” he said.  

Source: Vanguard Newspaper 

Court To Decide Business Mogul's fate Tomorrow

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Jabi will rule Thursday on the application by businessman, Ifeanyi Ubah seeking the vacation of its earlier order granting the Department of State Services (DSS) permission to detain him.

Justice Haliru Yusuf gave the date while adjourning proceedings in the case earlier today after listening to lawyers representing parties argued for and against the application.

Ubah, who was arrested by the DSS, is being detained by the agency upon an order for detention for 14 days (in the first instance) granted it on May 10 this year, by the court.

The businessman is being detained over allegation of his involvement in acts amounting to economic sabotage by purportedly diverting petroleum motor spirit (PMS) stored in his tank farm by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), estimated at over N11billion.

Details later…

Source: The Nation Newspaper 

Channels Tv's State House Correspondent (Chukwu) is dead.

Channels Television’s State House Correspondent, Chukwuma Onuekusi died in the early hours of Tuesday.
He joined Channels TV in 1998 and has covered several beats before he was seconded to the Presidential Villa.
A graduate of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Onuekwusi also worked at Imo Broadcasting Corporation, Owerri.
According to his close associates, he has been ill for sometime now.

BDC operator Hailed CBN

A Lagos-based Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, Alhaji Nasiru Ibrahim Gulma has hailed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) interventions in the foreign exchange market, saying it has helped in stabilizing the market.

He said one dollar would have been exchanged for N1000 if the CBN had not intervened by supplying dollars to the operators.

Gulma, an indigene of Kebbi state and licensed BDC operator, in a chat with Daily Trust said the CBN policy would further rub off on those who genuinely need dollars to import their goods and concomitantly bring about reduction in prices of goods.

He blamed the instability in the forex market on speculators in the market. He urged the CBN to be courageous enough to deal with unscrupulous speculators.

While he pledged the commitment of BDC operators to support government efforts in bringing about stability in the forex market, the businessman who is the Managing Director of Asarara BDC Limited asked the CBN to sanction any operator that is not ready to play by the rules.

He said CBN had been supplying over 3000 registered BDC operators with $20,000 a week, which is a huge intervention and this has gone a long way in easing pressure off commercial banks.

According to him, if the interventions continue, the dollar would crash further.

He said, "I believe if everybody can follow the normal procedure, I think the market would come down more than what we are witnessing.

"I believe the policy is good and we hope it (dollar) would soon come down to N340. I think it is a great achievement to the nation and people of the country. It will help in reducing the cost of goods and services. It will really favour the people doing business."

Source : Daily Trust

Traders lament Lagos market fire losses

Shops belonging to clothe sellers at Broad street, Lagos Island, were on Tuesday razed by fire.

Witnesses told this newspaper that the fire, which started at around 2 a.m. in the night, erupted from a nearby electricity transformer.

Most of the affected traders are clothe sellers, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

“The fire started around 2:00am but I was called at around 3:am,” said a trader who identified herself simply as Folasade.

“We tried to put it off, with the help of people around here but many of the goods had been destroyed,” she added.

PREMIUM TIMES’ attempts to speak with some of the affected shop owners were rebuffed, as they wept uncontrollably outside their shops.

Others who were busy evacuating the remains of their goods from their respective shops, said they were too sad to speak.

A trader who did not want her name in print disclosed that when the fire broke out, some of her fellow traders could not be reached on phone in the middle of the night, adding that most of their goods were consumed by fire.

“When I heard about the fire around 2:30 a.m., I tried to call the trader beside me but her phone wasn’t reachable,” she said.

“Now almost all her goods have been consumed by the fire. That’s why we often tell people to always put their phones on,” she said.

Many traders, including a secondhand clothe seller, Ugochukwu, told PREMIUM TIMES that the fire started from a nearby electricity transformer, then spread to other shops around the area.

But another witness, who declined to have his name in print, said the fire started from one of the shops in the market before spreading to other shops.

“They only want to use the ‘transformer story’ as a cover up; the fire started from one of the shops opposite here before it spread to other shops,” he said.

PREMIUM TIMES could not independently confirm his account as other traders around the market declined to speak.

Source : Premium Times