November 2020 – Page 18

Post Date : November 25, 2020

Money Laundering: Court Adjourns Ikuforiji’s Trial Till 9 December

The re- trial of the former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and his aide, Oyebode Atoyebi, charged with 54 counts of N338.8 million money laundering continued today, 25 November, at the Federal high court in Lagos south west Nigeria. The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) prosecutor, Mr Ekene Ihenacho, appeared for the prosecution while Mr Dele Adesina SAN, leading four other lawyers, appeared for the defendants. In today’s proceedings, lhenacho continued with his first witness, Mr Adebayo Adeniyi, an investigator with the EFCC. Adeniyi (while being led in evidence by Ihenacho) told the court that some cash account registers of some banks which had been admitted in exhibit were recovered from the Lagos State House of Assembly. They showed that the second defendant, Oyebode Atoyebi, collected money several times above financial threshold without going through any financial institution However, under cross examination, by the defence counsel Adesina, the witness told the court that the former speaker did not collect cash directly from the Treasury Department of the house, but admitted that all the money collected by Oyebode was by his approval. By oral application, Adesina asked for an adjournment till a later date for him to continue his cross examination. Thereafter the presiding Judge, Mohammed Liman, adjourned till 9 December. The former Speaker and his aide were first arraigned on 1 March, 2012 before Justice Okechukwu Okeke on a 20-count of misappropriation of funds and money laundering. The charges have been increased from 20 to 54

Post Date : November 25, 2020

Again, el-Rufai kicks against zoning of leadership positions

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, has again kicked against zoning of political leaders, saying no country progresses with such an arrangement. Speaking at the Nigerian Economic Summit (#NES26) in Abuja, the governor said every qualified person should be given equal opportunity to contest for political positions. In Nigeria, political offices — especially the presidency — are rotated on the basis of geographical zones, from the time of Olusegun Obasanjo up till the administration of President Muhamadu Buhari who is from Katsina state. With the 2023 election roughly two years away, some Nigerians have started clamouring that the presidency should return to the south. But speaking at a plenary session at the summit on Tuesday, el-Rufai said Nigeria has failed to make serious progress over the years because of the culture of rotating leaders. The governor, who said leaders should not be selected by zones or political parties as this “will lead to inefficiency”, added that what can be done is “to give every society a framework of equal opportunity to take advantage of and prosper”. “I do not believe that we should be driven in our politics and economics by distribution whether or not there is a logic behind it,” he said. “In my honest view, Nigeria went wrong when we focused on distribution rather than production. We like to distribute and it has gone as far as saying that in a state, governorship should rotate; that is absurd. “There is no country in the world that has made progress in the last 50 years that rotates its leaders. I think if we move away from this fixation about distribution to selecting or picking the best person to get the job done… when the job is done, everybody benefits. “Right now, we are distributing this and we are not making any progress because the focus is on distribution.” El-Rufai also said there is the need to have more youth in political offices, faulting a system where the majority young population is governed by “old people like me”. “We can’t have a country with 90 percent of our population below the age of 40 all ruled by old people like me,” he said. “We must have young people in government being trained to take over from us.”

Post Date : November 25, 2020

Diego Maradona Dies Of Heart Attack At 60

Diego Maradona has died at the age of 60 after suffering a cardiac arrest. The football legend had a heart attack at his home just two weeks after leaving hospital where he underwent surgery on a blot clot in his brain. Maradona, regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, helped Argentina win the World Cup in 1986, the pinnacle of an illustrious career. He played club football for Boca Juniors, Napoli and Barcelona among others and was adored by millions all over the world for his brilliant skills. Maradona was responsible for the infamous ‘Hand of God’ that eliminated England from the 1986 tournament. His career was also tinged with controversy because of drug and alcohol addiction. The Argentine news outlet Clarin broke the news on Wednesday afternoon UK time, describing the news of Maradona’s passing as having a ‘worldwide impact’. The sad news was confirmed by Maradona’s lawyer. Soon, tributes were pouring in from all over the world of football. Maradona left hospital on November 11 just eight days after being admitted for emergency brain surgery. The iconic former Argentinian footballer was driven away from the private Olivos Clinic just before 6pm on November 11 as hundreds of fans of photographers tried to get a glimpse of him. Maradona was hospitalised the previous week and had to have an emergency operation to remove a blood clot from his brain. Argentinian TV reporters travelling on motorbikes filmed the ambulance carrying him leaving before following the vehicle to transmit every inch of his journey. His lawyer, Matias Morlahas said that the 60-year-old would continue to receive treatment for alcohol dependency. Maradona, who was the coach of Gimnasia y Esgrima in his home country, had been admitted to hospital on several occasions since his retirement. He almost died of cocaine-induced heart failure in 2000 and underwent years of rehabilitation. Maradona, who was well known for having a wild lifestyle during and after his playing days, had a gastric bypass operation to lose weight in 2005 and was once more hospitalised two years later for alcohol-induced hepatitis. He also fell ill at the last World Cup in Russia, where he was filmed passing out in an executive box when Argentina took on and beat Nigeria in Group D.

Post Date : November 25, 2020

12- year old girl goes missing in Osun

The Osun state police command have informed the general public that, the female person whose name, Sikuru Barakat F ‘left home since 16th November, 2020 to unknown destination and till now she has not return home nor seen. The command described the girl as Sikiru Barakat ‘F’ lives at No. 16, Elegbeleye Street, Obalende area, Oke-Baale, Osogbo, Osun State, Age: 12 years, Dark in complexion, About 3 feet tall and Has tribal mark. Osun state police public relations officer (PPRO), SP Opalola Yemisi Olawonyin enjoins all person(s) with useful information about her whereabouts to contact the nearest Police Station.

Post Date : November 25, 2020

Court to begin Nnamdi Kanu’s ‘treason’ trial in absentia

A federal high court in Abuja is set to commence the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in his absence. A hearing notice from the court scheduled the case for November 26 during which five prosecution witnesses will testify against Kanu. The notice was served on the federal government’s prosecution team and Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the defendant’s counsel. Kanu is facing charges bordering on treasonable felony instituted against him in response to years of campaign for the independent Republic of Biafra through IPOB. He was granted bail in April 2017 for health reasons, but skipped his bail after reportedly flouting all the conditions given to him by the court. Owing to his absence in court, Binta Nyako, the judge who granted him bail, revoked it and ordered that he should be arrested. But Kanu’s lawyer argued that he left the country because of the invasion of his family’s residence in Abia state by soldiers during a military exercise. He prayed the court to restore the bail to enable the defendant to return to Nigeria for trial, but the judge did not accede to the request. Despite the court’s insistence on his appearance, the IPOB leader has remained abroad, and once said he jumped bail to pursue the cause of Biafra. “Their problem is Nnamdi Kanu and the solution to their problem is referendum. They gave me conditional bail to cage me and IPOB but I refused,” he had said during a broadcast. He also said the arrest warrant against him means nothing and vowed to remain abroad to continue his campaign for a Biafran republic in the south-east. “The bench warrant against me is merely academic. It will surely be ignored by an international legal and diplomatic order that has voiced its disapproval of what is happening to IPOB in Nigeria,” he had said. “Self determination is not a crime but a right guaranteed under chapter A9, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004. So, what is Justice Binta Nyako seeking my arrest and trial for unless she has no intention of obeying the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which gives me the right to openly agitate for Biafra?“

Post Date : November 25, 2020

Insecurity: Senate summons communications minister Pantami

The Senate on Wednesday , mandated its committees on Legislative Compliance and Communications to summon the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami. The panel was asked to impress on the Minister , the need to implement the resolutions of the Senate regarding security issues related to the mandate of his ministry . The red chamber took the decision following a resolution after the consideration of a motion on the spate of growing insecurity in Nigeria . The Senator representing Taraba South , Emmanuel Bwacha , moved the motion , rising under Order 42 and 52 of the Senate Rules . He noted that the rate of insecurity in Nigeria had not only increased astronomically but had reached a melting point. Bwacha said the unfortunate development had led to kidnapping, banditry , armed robbery, assassination and other criminal activity in the country. He said , “ The assassination of the Nasarawa State APC Chairman and other high profile cases are still fresh in our memories . “ A Chinese national was recently abducted in my community, his whereabouts is still unknown. “ There is growing suspicion of complicity of officials of state saddled with the responsibility of protecting the lives and properties of the citizens but compromised in the process . “ This is heightened by the arrest of several security operatives involved in armed robbery and kidnapping activities across the country. “ It is only in Nigeria that communication facilities can be used without a biometric process , no valid identification of passport details ( in the case of foreigners ) in place to check abuse , ” the senator added . He added that bandits and terrorists now negotiate for ransom using telephones and get away with it. He said , “ How can we be so negligent and insensitive to the safety and security of citizens? “ Senate is concerned that the confidence between the protected and the protector is being increasingly eroded resulting in the breakdown of law and order as demonstrated in the #EndSARS protest which was subsequently hijacked by miscreants. “ The Senate further notes that political permutations across the landscape are attracting politicians to recruit criminals for the purpose of destabilising the corporate existence of Nigeria . “ These evil intents can be easily achieved given the poor control over communication facilities viz inability of our security apparatus and service providers to effectively manage this all – important sector, ” Bwacha said .

Post Date : November 25, 2020

Man allegedly beats wife to death for attending family function

The family of Nike Opeifa has accused her husband , Abayomi, a former worker in a hotel , of allegedly beating his wife to death in the Sango area of Ogun State . It was gathered that trouble started on Sunday when Abayomi initially prevented Nike from attending her elder brother’ s child christening in the Ibafo area of the state, ThePunch reports. PUNCH Metro learnt that Abayomi, who eventually allowed his wife to attend the ceremony , refused her entry into the house when she returned on Monday morning. The deceased ’ s nephew , Pamilerin Adegoke , who spoke to our correspondent, alleged that Nike was beaten by Abayomi overnight , which led to her death . He added that Abayomi deposited Nike ’ s corpse in the mortuary before informing the family of her death. Pamilerin stated , “ The couple had been married for over 11 years and they were in good terms with each other until Abayomi brought his family members to stay with them after two years of their wedding, and since then , it had been one problem or another . Abayomi’ s mum controls whatever happens in the house. “ Three days ago , my aunt informed her husband that she was going for her elder brother’ s child christening in Ibafo and Abayomi’ s mum told him not to allow her to go , which led to an argument and he later allowed her to go for the ceremony . “ She got to Ibafo around 6pm and could not go back home so , she called her husband to inform him but when she got back home the following morning, she was not allowed into the house; she called her family members to inform them and she was advised to take things easy with him and his family. “ My aunt’ s mum called Abayomi to ask him why he didn ’ t allow her inside the house and that was when he let her in, only for him to call the family to inform us that Nike died overnight and when we asked him what happened to her, he said she took poison . “ We were surprised to hear that because she had never thought of taking poison over the years that they had been having problems, so why would she take poison because of a night ’ s argument. Abayomi had deposited her corpse in the mortuary before he called the family, and he went to report at the police station that his wife committed suicide , which is never possible . My aunt’ s death has affected the family and it’ s been messy for everyone. ” Our correspondent learnt that the matter was reported at the Onipanu police division. When contacted , the state Police Public Relations Officer , Abimbola Oyeyemi, said , “ A case of suicide was reported by the husband , who said his wife drank an insecticide taken from her provision store that is in front of their house and died . The police went to the scene to take photographs and took the corpse to the mortuary for autopsy , but after that , the woman’ s family came and alleged that it was the husband , who killed the wife because they quarrelled on why she would sleepover at her brother’ s place . “ The man is in custody and investigation is ongoing and the case will be transferred to the state CID for proper investigation and to ascertain if the man had a hand in the death of the woman . ”

Post Date : November 25, 2020

Maina: Court hears Ndume’s bail application Thursday

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Thursday for the hearing of the bail application filed by Borno South Senator , Ali Ndume , who has been detained in prison since Monday over his suretyship for Abdulrasheed Maina adjudged to have jumped bail. Maina , a former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reformed Task Team , is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on charges of money laundering involving N 2bn. On November 18, 2020, the judge, Justice Okon Abang , revoked the bail granted him , ordered his arrest, and directed that his trial would proceed in absentia . The judge also on Monday remanded Ndume in prison until he produced Maina or paid the sum of N 500m bail bond to the Federation Account. Ndume, through his lawyer , Marcel Oru , had on Tuesday filed an appeal against the remand order at the Court of Appeal, along with an application for the bail of the defendant filed before Justice Abang. The judge , in the course of the trial in the absence of Maina , on Wednesday , acknowledged the bail application filed by Ndume’ s lawyer . He said the bail application was brought to his attention at about 8. 58am on Wednesday , disclosing that he had immediately directed that the matter be fixed for hearing on Thursday. He also said he had directed that hearing notice for the Thursday’ s proceedings be issued and served on the parties . Although Ndume ’ s lawyer was not present in court , EFCC ’ s counsel , Mohammed Abubakar , confirmed that he had been served with the hearing notice

Post Date : November 25, 2020

Gunmen abduct wife, son of Atiku’s security detail

…Brother of Adamawa State lawmaker also abducted Suspected gunmen have abducted the wife and son of a security detail of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The kidnappers were believed to have gone for the said aid to Atiku, whose name is not given but confirmed to be a police personnel, but took his wife and son when they did not meet the man. Sources said Wednesday that the incident took place in the night of Monday in Yolde-Pate, Yola, when the target was believed to be still around after reportedly having come to town with Atiku for the weekend. “The kidnappers believed that the police personnel, being so close to Atiku, would have money, so they went for him but took his wife and son when they did not find him,” a source said. Our correspondent also learnt Wednesday morning that a brother of one of the state lawmakers was abducted about the same time elsewhere in Adamawa State. Local sources said an elder brother of the state Majority Leader Hammantukur Yetisuri was abducted from his home in Jada Mbulo by gunmen who demanded N50 million as ransom. The sources said the gunmen got to the community around 2am shooting into the area and breaking into the house of the lawmaker’s brother. “They got away with the man, shouting that they would not return the man unless the family paid N50 million,” a source said. The Public Relations Officer of the Adamawa State Police Command, DSP Suleiman Nguroje, confirmed the two abductions, including the aid to Atiku being a police officer, but he did not give names. He gave assurance that the police would do everything to free the abducted people and bring the gunmen to book.

Post Date : November 25, 2020

Lawyer Dumps Abdulrasheed Maina, Applies To Quit Case

A lawyer, Mr Adeola Adedipe, engaged by the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abulrasheed Maina in his ongoing trial for money laundering, has applied to quit the case. Adedipe, who is representing Maina’s company, Common Input Property and Investment Limited informed the Court at the resumption of proceedings in the case, that he has filed a notice, indicating his intention to withdraw from further representing his client who is the second defendant. The lawyer, who says his brief has not been perfected as he is yet to be paid by his client, apologised to the court for being absent from proceedings during some of the recent adjournments. The trial Judge, Justice Okon Abang, who at the last sitting, held that, by being absent in court, Adedipe has abandoned proceedings, noted that the notice the lawyer claimed to have filed was not in the court’s file. The case was adjourned till December 4 for the continuation of the trial.