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Anti Corruption Group Hails Removal Of SGF, NIA Boss

Follow @NigeriaPI An anti-corruption group has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari over the removal of Babachir Lawal as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Ayo Oke as Head, National Intelligence Agency (NIA). The Chairman of the group, Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), Mr Debo Adeniran gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos. According to him, the development will further boost the anti-corruption fight. NAN reports that the President had in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina on Monday announced the sack of the officials. It would be recalled that Lawal had been suspended in April over alleged violation of due process in the award of contracts while Oke was suspended over the discovery of huge sum of foreign and local currencies in a Lagos apartment allegedly owned by the NIA. Adesina said the sacking of the two officials was based on the recommendations of an investigative panel set up by the Federal Government, headed by Vice -President Yemi Osinbajo with Mr Boss Mustapha named new SGF. Adeniran said the removal of the officials would give the right signal that the present administration was serious about its anti-graft fight. He added that the development would also serve as deterrent to people who think they were too powerful to be caught by the anti-corruption web. “We are extremely delighted at the sacking of these two officials as it would send the right signal about the seriousness of the anti-graft fight. “It will no doubt serve as deterrent to impunity...

$43.4m: EFCC resumes probe of Osborne Towers’ cash

Follow @NigeriaPI The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has resumed probe into the $43.4million cash recovered at Osborne Towers in Ikoyi, Lagos linked to ex-Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayo Oke, for which NIA laid claim. President Muhammadu Buhari, had stated that the nation’s security and anti-corruption agencies were free to probe sacked Secretary to the Government of the Federation, BabachirLawal, and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayo Oke. EFCC had reportedly received the report of the Presidential Investigative Committee headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on interrogation of some suspects. It was learnt that more suspects from the NIA are to be invited for interrogation by the anti-graft agency in respect to that. According to the Nation, a top source in the anti-graft agency, who spoke under anonymity said: “On Tuesday, we resumed the ongoing probe of the $43.4million, 27,000 pounds and N23.2million recovered on April 12, 2017 from the seventh floor of a four-bedroom apartment at Osborne Towers located on 16, Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. “We have shortlisted more suspects for interrogation and we are likely to pick them up any moment from now. Some of the suspects are NIA men including those in the Finance Unit. “Don’t forget that the then Acting President approved the redeployment of NIA’s Director of Finance and some officials in the Finance Unit as part of the ongoing review of the finances of the agency.”‎ “The detectives are being led by the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, who has reconvened the team handling the investigation. “Some of the detectives might still visit...

Steer clear from Ogun politics, GNI tells ‘moneybags’

Follow @NigeriaPI As political actors are warming up ahead of the 2019 general election, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun in 2015, Gboyega Isiaka, has warned political money bags to steer clear from the next gubernatorial race. This is just as he declared that the 2019 governorship contest in Ogun State would not be for the highest bidder or expansion of personal political fiefdoms. Rather, the gubernatorial race, he sad, would be based on ideas and ideals capable of transforming the lives of the electorate. Isiaka spoke in Abeokuta, on Tuesday, at a public dialogue and empowerment programme of The Believe Movement (TBM), held at the pavilion of Ake Palace. He, however, admonished the electorate to reject inducements while exercising their voting rights in the next general elections. GNI, as he is otherwise known, disclosed he will take another shot at the governorship seat in 2019, expressed confidence to take over the mantle of leadership of the state from the incumbent governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. “Let me state without equivocation that I am in the 2019 governorship race and more determined this time around to contest and win convincingly,” Isiaka failed to clinch the number one seat in 2011 and 2015, boasted. He, therefore, called on people to be wary of rumour mongers as the 2019 politicking intensifies, insisting that he would continue to build strategic relationships and networks for the ultimate realisation to make life more abundant for the people. GNI, further, noted that the failure to make proper choice in the nation’s electoral process had led to a situation where the political...

DSS produces Dasuki in court for Metuh’s trial

Follow @NigeriaPI The Department of State Service, DSS, has finally produced detained former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, retd, before the Federal High Court in Abuja to testify in the ongoing trial of erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh. Former national security adviser of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Sambo Dasuki Trial Justice Okon Abang had on October 23, issued subpoena compelling the ex-NSA to appear and give evidence in trial of the former PDP spokesman who is answering to a seven-count corruption charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him and his company, Destra Investment Ltd. Justice Abang equally summoned Former President Goodluck Jonathan who was also discribed as a vital and crucial witness in the matter. Meanwhile, since the subpoena was issued, neither Jonathan nor Dasuki has appeared before the matter. Whereas the court bailiff had yet to serve the subpoena on Jonathan, failure by the DSS to produce Dasuki yesterday led to the defence lawyers urging Justice Abang to issue a warrant of arrest against its Director General, Mr. Lawal Daura. Meanwhile, Dasuki has gone before the Court of Appeal in Abuja to quash the summon for him to testify in the trial. Justice Abang will this morning rule on whether or not he should hands-off the case pending the decision of the appellate court. More details...

Driver kidnaps boss’ brother, girlfriend over loan request

Follow @NigeriaPI The Lagos State Police Command has arrested the driver of a hotel operator on Victoria Island, William Olowoloju, for allegedly kidnapping his boss’ younger brother and the victim’s girlfriend. Olowoloju and three others –Ayo Akinola, Segun Teluwo and one Akindamola – reportedly kidnapped the victims, Dumebi Azuka and Rebecca Omokoro, on Elegba Festival Drive, Oniru Private Estate, Victoria Island, at about 11.30pm on Saturday, October 21. The lovers were driving out of the estate in a Ford Jeep when the abductors reportedly waylaid them at gunpoint and tied them up. They were said to have driven the victims to their hideout in Agodo Alara village, Ogijo, Ogun State, and demanded N20m ransom from the hotelier, Edwin Azuka. It was learnt that after the case was reported to the police, operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad trailed the suspects to the den. The Acting Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Edgal Imohimi, who paraded the suspects on Tuesday, said the victims were rescued unhurt. He said, “Apart from the Jeep with number plate, LND 995 ES, one locally-made gun, a battle knife and four Automated Teller Machine cards, among others, were recovered from them. “The suspects will soon be charged to court on completion of investigation.” Also paraded were 50 suspected cult members, armed robbers, and drug peddlers arrested in the Ikorodu, Oshodi and Lagos Island areas of the state. “The command once again appeals to the people of Lagos to be vigilant to make the state safe and secure. Whenever you see something, say something,” Imohimi added. Speaking with our correspondent, Olowoloju, who hails from Ekiti State, said...

How SEC Director-General Illegally Paid Self Severance Benefit, Awarded Contracts To His Companies

Follow @NigeriaPI Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Mounir Haliru Gwarzo, It can exclusively reveal, has perpetrated a variety of fraudulent activities since his appointment by former President Goodluck Jonathan for a first term of five years on May 22, 2015. Prior to being appointed successor to Ms. Aruma Otteh as SEC Director-General (DG), Mr. Gwarzo was an Executive Commissioner of the commission. Signs of Mr. Gwarzo’s crooked ways manifested almost immediately he resumed as DG. Documents exclusively obtained showed that on May 26 2015, four days after receiving his letter of appointment, Mr. Gwarzo requested that he be paid the sum of N104.8 million as severance package in respect of the end of his appointment as Executive Commissioner, a position he occupied for two years and four months. The request, made via a memo dated May 26, 2015, was referred to Mr. Chukwuogor Frana, acting Head of the commission’s Legal Department, for consideration and advice. Responding in a memo dated May 27 2015, Mr. Frana advised against honoring the request made by Mr. Gwarzo, arguing that the fact that he remains in the employ of SEC disentitles him to a severance package. Citing an extract of the SEC Board meeting held on July 11 2002, Mr. Gwarzo had argued that he was entitled to a severance package. While offering advice matter, Mr. Frana wrote: “The extract, however, does not contain the term ‘severance benefits.’ Therefore, to give an opinion on this matter, it is impossible to determine the purpose and scope/application of this extract.” Mr. Frana also drew attention to the fact that opening line...

Ex-EFCC Chair, Ex-IGP, 2 Heads Of Service Implicated

Follow @NigeriaPI The document showed a breakdown of how pension funds were shared to finance pension verification teams to ‘South Africa, ‘Ghana’, and the 36 states’ of the federation, ‘zonal levels’ and others to siphon different sums of public funds into their bank accounts in the name of biometric verification. Out of the N18.4million released to Maina for a trip to South Africa, the Director -General of Budget was allocated N3,056,000 . The per diem for the trip to Ghana cost N9.1 million out of which a former Director of Defence Intelligence received N1,388,000 through his First Bank account. Two female staff of EFCC got N1,275,000 each as part of the national cake. While those who went round the 36 states, allegedly collected N160,471,200 from Maina, a few others were paid N15,477,900 for going around the six geopolitical zones of the country The report gave the details of how Maina allegedly collaborated with former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye, and two others in N2billion pension funds allegedly mismanaged for biometric contracts. The N2billion was part of the looted N17billion cash. The others are Osarenkhoe Afe and Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited suspected as fronts The report added: “Mr. Oronsaye and Maina engaged the services of the following individuals to assist them in looting pension funds. Osarenkhoe Afe: (charged to court together with Mr. Maina & Oronsaye): He is an IT consultant who introduced Innovative Solutions to the OHCSF for biometric enrolment project. He stated that Mr. Steven Oronsaye [former Head of Service) asked him to join the Pension Reform Committee headed by Mr....

EFCC opposes Diezani’s application in N450 million alleged fraud case

Follow @NigeriaPI The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday opposed an application filed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, seeking to be joined as a defendant in a N450 million fraud charge before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos. Mrs. Alison-Madueke, who is currently in London where she is being investigated for money laundering, is seeking an opportunity to defend the allegations in a charge filed against her, Mohammed Belgore, and a former Minister of National Planning, Abubakar Sulaiman. Mr. Belgore, a governorship candidate during the 2011 Kwara State gubernatorial election, is standing trial alongside Mr. Sulaiman, for allegedly receiving N450 million on March 27, 2015 out of the $115,010,000 paid into a new generation bank by Mrs. Alison-Madueke. Moving the application on Monday, her lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, pleaded with the court to allow her to defend herself in four of the counts in the interest of justice and fair hearing. Mr. Ikpeazu further submitted that the prosecution should remove his client’s name from the charge, if it would not give her an opportunity to defend herself. “It is the fundamental right of the applicant that a criminal proceeding of this nature should not go on in her absence. “We have no objection if her name is extracted from the charge and the case goes on,” he added. In his further submission, Mr. Ikpeazu cited a case involving the Federal Government and Olajide Omokore, a businessman, before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court Abuja in which Mrs. Alison-Madueke was mentioned in the charge, though she was...

Man, 29, rapes 85-year-old woman to coma in Osun

Follow @NigeriaPI A 29-year-old man, Kehinde Ariyo, has been arrested by the Osun Police Command for allegedly raping an 85-year-old woman to coma at Ilesa town in the state. The police commissioner in the state, Mr Fimihan Adeoye, disclosed this to newsmen on Monday in Osogbo. Adeoye said the incident happened at Ogudu area in Ilesa, where the suspect forcefully had carnal knowledge of the old woman after gaining access to her residence around 11 pm on Oct. 27. He added that the woman sustained various degrees of injuries on her body, including her private organ, and eventually passed out in the process before she was resuscitated at a private hospital. According to Adeoye, the suspect lives in the same area where the victim resides and had gone on errands for the old woman several times in the past. “The woman passed out during the rape, but came back to life after some hours, the suspect was arrested the next day. “This is the height of wickedness in our society. The boy injured the woman in the process, but she has been treated “, Adeoye said. The suspect admitted having committed the act, claiming to have been drunk at the time of committing the heinous act. “Mama asked me to sleep on a couch in the passage. I was already drunk and did not know what happened afterwards,” he...

Diezani planning to escape trial in UK – EFCC

Follow @NigeriaPI The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has prayed the Federal High Court in Lagos not to order the return of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, from the United Kingdom to Nigeria. The EFCC described Diezani’s pleas to be brought back to Nigeria as a ploy to escape justice in the UK, where, according to the EFCC, she is being investigated for several financial crimes by the Metropolitan Police. According to the commission, investigation by the Metropolitan Police in Diezani’s case had reached an advanced stage and her prosecution in the UK was imminent. The EFCC made this disclosure in a counter-affidavit it filed in opposition to Diezani’s application before Justice Rilwan Aikawa, wherein she is seeking an order compelling the Attorney General of the Federation to facilitate her return to Nigeria. In the said application, which she filed through her lawyer, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, Diezani said she wished to appear before the Federal High Court in Lagos to defend a criminal charge bordering on alleged laundering of N450m, where her name was mentioned. The main defendants in the charge are a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Dele Belgore; and a former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman. But kicking against the application, the EFCC, in a counter-affidavit deposed to by one of its operatives, Usman Zakari, explained that when it began investigation into the case involving Belgore and Suleiman sometime in 2015, Diezani spurned its invitations to explain her role and rather absconded the UK. Zakari said, “That the applicant, seeing that the investigation by the Metropolitan Police had reached advanced stage and...

Wife of Boko Haram Leader, Shekau, Killed In Military Strike

Follow @NigeriaPI After a recent bombing raid that killed one of the wives of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, the Nigerian military on Wednesday said it is investigating the incident. According to reports, on October 19, fighter jets attacked what was called ” a large gathering of Boko Haram” at the Durwawa settlement, near Urga in the Konduga area of Borno State. In an emailed statement, Airforce Spokesman Air Commodore, Olatokunbo Adesanya, said the bombing killed jihadists on the ground and triggered a fire. “Efforts are ongoing to confirm the reported killing of Shekau’s wife, alongside other BHTs (Boko Haram terrorists),” he said. Shekau’s wife was identified only as Mallama Fitdasi. Mallama means “madam” in Hausa and shows a sign of honor. According to Adesanya, Fitdasi was “reported to have been representing her husband in a coordinating meeting with other terrorists at the location of the airstrikes”. Shekau is known to have four wives, including one of Muhammad Yusuf’s widows. Yusuf was the founder of Boko Haram, but after his death, Shekau took over as the leader of the group back in 2009. However, the group suffered a major split last year when some people of the Islamic State group recognized Yusuf’s son, Abu Mus’ab al-Barnawi, as the leader. Despite clashes within the group, Boko Haram’s eight-year insurgency has left at least 20,000 civilians dead in northeast Nigeria. Shekau is now considered a global terrorist and the United States has offered an up to $7 million reward for information that will bring him to justice. SOURCE: SAHARA...

Murder Charge: Evans Knows Fate On Nov. 10

Follow @NigeriaPI A Lagos High Court in Igbosere has adjourned until November 10 for ruling on an application of suspected billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike (alias Evans), seeking to quash fresh charges against him. He has asked the court dismiss proposed twin charges of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and attempted kidnapping, among others filed against him by the Lagos State Government. Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo fixed the date following arguments from Evans and the state council. The judge also ordered that three of Evans’ alleged accomplices be moved to Kirikiri Maximum Security Prisons, Ikoyi. Justice Taiwo made the order following an application that one of the suspects requires medical attention which are better available in prison. The suspects, who are on trial on seven counts have been in police custody since their arrest, unlike Evans who was transferred from the police to prison custody following his arraignment before Justice H. Oshodi of a Lagos High Court in Ikeja. SOURCE: SAHARA...

Easy access to hard drugs at clubs, lounges, beaches ‘worrisome’ – Lagos Police boss

Follow @NigeriaPI The Lagos State Police Command has frowned at the increased use of hard drugs at clubs, lounges, and beaches across the state and ordered operators to put internal security measures to check the scourge. Imohimi Edgal, the Police Commissioner, who spoke during a meeting with owners of businesses in the hospitality sector, at the weekend, said drug abuse, drug peddling and other criminal activities in the industry must be discouraged in the overall best interest of businesses and security of the state. Mr. Edgal said intelligence report showed there was increase in drug abuse among youth and minors, and that such was dangerous to efforts of the state government to promote the right economy of the state. He said despite the successes recorded in recent time, through the cooperation of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, there were grey areas which must be jointly tackled by both police and hospitality industry operators in line with his principle of community policing and security partnership. “One of such areas is the issue of drug peddling, drug use and abuse,” Mr. Edgal said. “Intelligence report at my disposal reveals that there is increased drug peddling, drug abuse in most of our night clubs, lounges, beaches and so on across the state. “Young men and women freely use narcotic substances at times in the seating areas, at times more hidden in the toilet areas of our clubs, lounges, hotels to the knowledge of the operators but they are doing nothing about it. This is wrong.” The police boss said the scourge of drugs and its attendant effect on the young population, particularly the correlation...

Corruption in the era of change

Follow @NigeriaPI Nigerians went to the polls in 2015 hoping to elect a President who would change the cause of governance and rescue the nation from the doldrums. Prior to the election, the Jonathan government was described as “clueless” and not knowing what to do in the face of social unrest and declining economic fortunes. The present ruling party which was in opposition then promised heaven on earth and to change things in ways and means that would be pleasant to all right-thinking and patriotic Nigerians. The election held and the opposition became the ruling party and thus formed the government whilst the party in government became the opposition. Two years down the line, can we in all honesty say that the promises have been delivered or the government is on its way to deliver the promises? First, it is imperative to state that successful and impactful governance is about a shared vision and mission between the government and the people and a dedication to the same goals and objectives especially by the key actors and drivers of the process. It took the President Muhammadu Buhari six months to constitute his cabinet and when they were eventually in place, it was not the expected stellar team of extraordinarily gifted men and women many expected him to select or he made Nigerians to believe. Instead, it was just a recycling of politicians who had held one position or the other in previous governments that did not particularly advance the cause of good governance. The new faces were neither identified with any particular trajectory of solutions to the myriad of challenges...

Police finally nab Yahooze, notorious kidnap kingpi

Follow @NigeriaPI The Police in Benue have arrested a kidnap and robbery kingpin on wanted list, Monday Iorgougo aka Yahooze. He is alleged to have masterminded several kidnap and robbery incidents in the state, including the abduction of a female journalist. Iorgougo, who was arrested with three members of his gang and an alleged female accomplice, was paraded yesterday alongside 25 other robbery and kidnap suspects by Commissioner of Police, Bashir Makama, in Makurdi, the state capital. Makama said, “Monday Iorgougo, alias Yahooze, was arrested at Mbalin Taraku, Gwer East local government area of the state. He alongside his gang have been terrorizing residents and motorists along the busy Aliade-Otukpo and Naka roads. “Further investigation in their matter led to the arrest of one Mvendega Abu alias Wasco, Terver Tse alias Tor Tiv and Mrs. Katherine Ukolo wife of another kingpin, one Isaac Nenge alias Kasco of Bukan Koto in Nasarawa State. “The suspects confessed to have carried out series of robberies, assassinations and kidnapping in Benue State, and also the kidnap of Mrs. Yuadoo Tor-Agbide of Radio Benue. Efforts are on to arrest fleeing members of the gang and their weapons”. SOURCE: DAILY...