Category: News

The trial judge, Inyang Ekwo, adjourned the case, which was on number three on the case list, due to the absence of the defendants.

Although counsel for the prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Offem Uket, was in court, the defendants, including Ms Oduah, were not in court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Mr Ekwo had, on 21 July, ordered the EFCC to produce persons behind breaching his privacy through text messages on his phone and another group who petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria regarding the ongoing case.

The judge, who had adjourned the matter until today, directed that the anti-corruption agency must produce those persons in court.

“I will give a date for trial and make a consequential order because you have allowed this matter to degenerate this way.

“Do you think you can shield any of these persons who have interfered in these proceedings?” he asked rhetorically.

NAN reports that Ms Oduah, a former senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District at the 9th National Assembly, and others were arraigned on 21 July on 25 counts of money laundering involving his activities as Nigeria’s aviation minister in

She was arraigned alongside CCECC Nigeria Ltd, the Nigerian subsidiary of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) established by the Chinese government to execute international contracts and economic cooperation.

Also joined in the charge are Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi and Chukwuma Irene Chinyere.

Others include Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd and Sobora International Ltd.

They all pleaded not guilty to the counts and were admitted to bail in terms of the administrative bail earlier granted them by the anti-graft agency.

Delays

The case has suffered protracted delays since it was filed in 2020.

Arraignment of defendants was postponed up to 15 times for various reasons before it finally took place in July.

Part of the reasons for adjournments included difficulties in serving some of the defendants and, at another time, the prying of the Attorney-General of the Federation’s office into the case.

Long adjournments in between hearing dates and an anonymous petition written against the trial judge, Mr Ekwo, had also contributed to the delays the case has suffered.

Charges

The EFCC, on 17 December 2020, filed 25 counts accusing the defendants of laundering various sums of money totalling about N5,052,415,984 between February and June 2014.

The EFCC accused the defendants of conspiracy to commit money laundering, transferring, taking control and taking possession of proceeds of fraud, aiding and abetting money laundering and opening anonymous bank accounts.

Specifically, the prosecution alleged in two of the 25 counts that Ms Oduah and Ms Odita opened anonymous “Private Banking Nominee” dollar and naira accounts with First Bank, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 11(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 11(4) (a) of the same Act.

Review of the charges showed that CCECC Nigeria Limited allegedly transferred over N2.5 billion into the naira account of a Private Banking Nominee between March 31 and June 6, 2014.

In seven of the counts where CCECC is indicted singly and along with Ms Oduah and Ms Oditah, the company was accused of “conspiring with the women to commit money laundering, and directly transferring to Private Banking Nominee account various sums of money totalling N2,583,385,246 which it reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity to wit: fraud…”

The prosecution alleged, for instance, in Count 17, that CCECC Nigeria, “on various dates between March 5, 2014, and May 30, 2014” in Abuja, “directly transferred the sum of N868409,349.00 from your account with Zenith Bank Place to Private Banking Nominee Account 2024414450 domiciled with First Bank Plc, which money you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: fraud…”

Premium Times

Zulum gave the directive during a visit to ‘Bayan Quarters’, a settlement around Railway Staff Quarters, which harbours the brothels and criminals in Maiduguri.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday, “the area harbours gangsters, criminal activities and minors for commercial sex activities.”

The governor expressed concern over the rise in criminal activities associated with the illegal brothels and criminal dens in the area, including prostitution, drug peddling, and other illicit activities.

He noted that the activities not only posed a threat to the security of the state but also perpetuate social vices that undermine the well-being of communities and the dignity of the individuals involved.

Zulum explained that while the settlement, which harbours the criminals and underaged girls for commercial sex activities will be demolished in 72 hours, the illegal brothels, however, have 12 hours to vacate the place.

“The government has been duly informed of the activities that are going on here, this settlement is completely illegal. People are killed here, this place serves as a breeding space for insurgents. Therefore, I have directed that everybody should vacate the place,” Zulum said.

Zulum also announced the revocation of the land title where such criminal activities were perpetrated, which he said was initially approved for use by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

“I understand that this land was approved by Borno State Government to be used by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), but unfortunately, it’s been rented out illegally with all forms of criminal activities taking place. For this reason, the government has revoked the earlier approval and henceforth, the land belongs to Borno State Government,” Zulum stated.

Leadership

In a statement released by the Nigerian Army via its X account on Tuesday, the troops said, October 9 to 16, it also witnessed the neutralisation of armed robbers, the arrest of numerous suspects, and the conviction of several criminals in the two states.

The “HAKORIN DAMISA IV” operation highlighted that throughout the operation, the troops thwarted attacks, rescued kidnapped individuals, and apprehended suspects involved in various criminal activities.

On the neutralization of suspected bandits, the “troops neutralised a suspected bandit named Saidu AKA Director, who attempted to escape after being arrested in possession of 39 rounds of 7.62mm special, mobile phone, headset and some money.” the statement said.

Also, the “troops also engaged bandits in a gun duel around Jimlari village, rescuing two kidnapped civilians, Musa Alhaji Bello and Dauda,” the report said.

On the arrest of notorious kidnappers, the statement added that “acting on credible information, troops arrested a notorious kidnapper, Madu Abubakar,” linked to the recent kidnapping of a Union Bank Accountant.

Furthermore, the statement added that the “OPSH tactical team arrested 2 suspected kidnappers, Mamu Dauda and Mohammed Zakari, who have been on the wanted list of OPSH.”

However, in the prevention of attacks and recovery of stolen goods, the “troops foiled an attempted attack by suspected militias on Bisichi village.

“Troops arrested a suspected gunrunner, Mohammed Kabiru, and recovered one pistol and 3 cartridges,” the statement reported.

On the rescue of kidnapped victims, the “troops, in conjunction with personnel of the Nigeria Police and hunters, rescued 11 female farmers kidnapped while working on their farmlands at Riruwa village in Toro LGA.”

Nonetheless, in the crackdown on criminals, “Operation SAFE HAVEN secured the conviction of 5 suspects named Hamisu Gyang, Pam Ibrahim, Mafeng Gwott, Ibrahim Mohammed, and Abdullahi Abubakar, who were charged with criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, theft, and culpable homicide.”

Nevertheless, on the arrest of drug peddlers and railway vandals, “two suspected drug peddlers, Joseph Isaac and Henry Pam, were arrested with substances suspected to be cannabis sativa and other illicit drugs,” the statement said.

Also, “troops intercepted a truck loaded with railway materials suspected to have been vandalised and arrested 2 suspects who were occupants of the truck,” the statement added.

On the protection of communities, “seven attacks on vulnerable communities were deterred, and 15 distress calls were promptly responded to by OPSH troops,” the statement confirmed.

The Commander of OPSH, Major General AE Abubakar, expressed appreciation for the timely sharing of information by the local communities, which has been instrumental in the operation’s success.

He emphasised the commitment of OPSH to maintain its efforts in tackling security threats in the region.

Abubakar highlighted that the operation will continue to target criminal elements and bring them to justice as investigations proceed.

Vanguard

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

Idris called on Nigerians to always “promote the truth and nothing but the truth”.

“We must be in the fore front of advocating for truthful information all the time. Everything that is fake should not be promoted.

“This is because, it can lead to anarchy and destruction of lives and properties. And by the way, nobody will want his home, country, state or nation to be in taters because somebody is encouraging fake news.

“Fake news should be condemned in all its ramifications. I have said that it is important for all of us to be careful in the way we navigate these waters. We know that we don’t want fake news,” he said.

The Minister further explained that there are people who are using many platforms to provide credible information, adding that such is desirable and should be emulated.

“So, we must collectively come together and see ways and means by which these fake news can be tackled without necessarily trampling on the rights of the people, free press and freedom of information,” he said

The minister said that Nigeria will key into the strategies and best practices to be adopted by the international community in the curtailment of fake news vendors. (NAN)

A statement by the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, on Saturday, said the incident happened at Gbagada, by the Charlie Boy bus stop.

“Following a distress call received at 22:01hrs through the agency’s toll-free lines, LASEMA activated the Lagos State Emergency Response Plans with an arrival time of 22:17hrs.

“Upon arrival of the agency’s LRT at the scene, it was observed that a white commercial bus lost control and crashed into a moving truck.

“The 18-passenger commercial bus, with registration number JJJ-844YA and loaded to capacity, was heading to Ajah from Oshodi.

“It lost control while in motion, rammed into a moving truck from behind and three people died instantly.

“Two males and one female, all adults immediately lost their lives to the incident, while others sustained various degrees and categories of injuries,” he said.

He added that out of the seven people injured, three were promptly administered pre-hospital care and ferried to Gbagada General Hospital for further treatment by the agency’s paramedics.

“The three commodities have been bagged awaiting arrival of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit, (SEHMU), to convey them to the morgue.

“Light Tow Truck has been deployed to recover the affected vehicle from the busy road to forestall secondary incidents.

“The LASEMA Response Team, LASEMA Pre-Hospital Care Team, Nigeria Police and Lagos Fire and Rescue Services were all present at the incident,” he said.

Premium Times

Presidential spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, confirmed this to journalists on Sunday night.

President Tinubu had on August 21, sworn in and inaugurated 45 ministers who attended the maiden cabinet meeting at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on August 28.

The three ministers recently confirmed by the Senate – Balarabe Abbas Lawal (Kaduna), Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Kwara) and Ayodele Olawande (Ondo) – are expected to join the meeting today, taking number of ministers to 48.

Daily Trust learnt that the meeting to be convened around 12pm would among issues discuss those approvals the president already granted some ministries.

Also expected at the FEC meeting are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF); the National Security Adviser; the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; the Chief of Staff to the President, all the ministers; and some other executive principal officers.

Vice President Kashim Shettima will, however, not be sitting in today’s meeting, having left Abuja for China yesterday to represent the president at the 3rd Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Daily Trust gathered that the government had settled for Monday for FEC meetings, a clear departure from what was obtained under the previous administrations.

Regular FEC meetings during the former President Muhammadu Buhari were held weekly on Wednesdays.

It was further learnt that FEC might not be weekly to enable the ministers time to deliver on the assignments before them.

When contacted last week, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Print Media, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, said President Tinubu had a different idea of the functions of the Federal Executive Council.

The presidential aide, who said the ministers had been working and consulting with the president, explained that the meeting would be held but it would not follow the usual traditional way of coming every week to announce contract awards.

Daily Trust