Again kidnappers of Igbonla Model College students reduce ransom, now want N100m

Once again, the kidnappers of six pupils of Igbonla Model College, Epe, have reached out to concerned parents informing them that the ransom for the release of their kids has been reduced from N600 million to N100m.

Reports say two of the parents were contacted by the kidnappers and were informed about the ransom reduction.The militants also advised them to inform other parents about the reduction and even advised them to put pressure on the Lagos State Government to help them raise the sum.

“I was contacted at about 7.30pm. I was told to tell others that the ransom has been reduced to N100 million. They asked if I had anything to say. But when I requested to hear from my son, he said that was not the important issue,” said one of the parents who spoke to the kidnappers on phone.

Continuing, the parent added that; “I told them we have been able to raise N380,000 and he asked if I was bargaining crayfish with him. He spoke in pidgin saying we should go and meet Ambode for assistance or else our children will remain with them until we are ready. He hung up before I could utter another sentence.“

However, the police have continued to assure concerned parents that their children will be released.

“We will get the children. We already know where they are. We are only being careful of their safety, that is why we are biding our time. We have done it in time past and this will not be different,” a police source said.

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

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

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 

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 

BOY 14 YEAR OLD DEFILE 7 YEAR GIRL

A 14-year-old secondary school pupil, who allegedly defiled his neighbour’s seven-year-old daughter, is facing trial at an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.

The accused, who resides with his parents on Odo Oba Street, Bariga, Lagos, is being tried for defilement, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
The accused, according to Police Prosecutor Raphael Donny, broke into the toilet where the underage girl was defecating and defiled her.
He said the accused committed the offence sometime in December 2016 at their tenement building.

“It was the cry of the girl that alerted the mother, who immediately rushed to the scene.
“When the mother saw bloodstains on the child’s clothes, she shouted, but efforts to apprehend the boy were unsuccessful as he ran away from the house.
“The case was reported at the Bariga Police Station, while the boy was later sighted at Agege and arrested…

NIIGERIA CUSTOMS INTERCEPTED CONTAINER WITH ARMS

The Nigerian Customs has again intercepted another container-load of arms and ammunition at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos,.

The container was found at the Ports and Cargo Terminal of the Tin Can Island Ports.


Recall that in January this year, Customs had intercepted a container of 49 boxes containing 661 Ak 47 rifles in Lagos.

This is also coming as stern warning against a military coup came, yesterday, from so many concerned Nigerians.

The leading All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, had however, yesterday, warned those contemplating the derailment of the country’s democracy to perish the thought.

Tinubu spoke in Lagos just as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Lasun, echoed the same sentiments, warning the populace that the worst civilian regime was far better than the best of military regimes.

Tinubu spoke at a Special Joint Parliamentary session organized by the Lagos State House of Assembly, to commemorate Lagos@50 and the second anniversary of the 8th Assembly.

The former governor of Lagos State said the nation had gone too far to allow a thing like a military coup to happen again, stressing that such move would be resisted at all costs. He said: “I will not fail to sound a caution to us all. The precious thing we have (democracy) that we are now trying to perfect is not guaranteed to us. We must sweat hard and think wisely if we are to keep it.

“There will always be some people who want to undermine democracy. These people gain more from the government in the dark. Just a few days ago, we had a warning that some people were trying to entice the military out of the barracks. I say don’t try it. I want to add my voice to that warning.

‘’Those who think they can break the democracy so many of us laboured for and for which too many people sacrificed their lives, are mistaken.

“Nigeria has come too far for such a thing to happen. Those people behind such idea will find no fertile ground to plant their seed in Lagos. We will not buy their sad product; whatever they want to sell is a bad product and we are going to reject it.

“We tell them, move away from here because Lagos State will resist it, Lagos State is saying move away from it, don’t think about it, we are all staying together to grow our democracy.”