Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Saturday 22nd August 2020
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 22/08/20
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Fire Guts Foam Factory In Lagos
Fire on Friday gutted a factory belonging to Teju Foam in the Ilupeju area of Lagos State.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency in a statement said the fire started around 7:30pm.
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General Manager of LASEMA, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the fire had been contained and prevented from spreading to adjoining buildings on the premises.
The agency said the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.
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Gunmen Attack Police Station In Oyo, Kill One Officer, Cart Away Ammunition
Some gunmen on Friday attacked Ikolaba Police Station in Ibadan, Oyo State, killing one of the policemen on duty.
SaharaReporters gathered that other officers escaped with bullet wounds.
The gunmen after killing the policeman ransacked the whole station and made away with some ammunition.
Gbenga Fadeyi, spokesperson for Oyo State Police Command, confirmed the attack but said he was yet to get the details.
He said, “I only got the brief information this evening that the station was attacked but I am yet to get the full details.”
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E2%80%99s-attorney-general-federation-malami-secretly-sponsors-bill-take-over EXPOSED: Nigeria’s Attorney-General Of Federation, Malami, Secretly Sponsors Bill To Take Over EFCC
Abubakar Malami
Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is secretly sponsoring a bill before the National Assembly as part of moves to take over the affairs of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, document seen by SaharaReporters has showed.
The bill tagged “An Act To Repeal The Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 (Act No. 1 Of 2004) And Enact Economic And Financial Crimes Agency Act” if passed into law will allow the office of the AGF to interfere with the anti-graft agency’s investigation.
Abubakar Malami
“The Attorney-General may after notifying the agency, intervene in the proceedings, at first instance or on appeal, where in the opinion of the Attorney-General, public interest, the interest of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process so demand.
“On receipt of the notice under subsection (2) of the section, the agency shall handover to the Attorney-General the prosecution file and all documents relating to the prosecution and provide him with such other information as he may require on the matter within the time specified by him.
“The agency shall furnish returns of all cases handled by it annually and in such manner and at such intervals as the Attorney-General shall direct. Where the agency fails to comply with the provisions of this section, the Attorney-General may, subject to prevailing circumstances m, revoke the power to prosecute from the agency.
“The staff of the Prosecution Department of the agency shall be seconded or transferred from the Federal Ministry of Justice or from such other agencies or private institutions as may be approved by the Attorney-General,” part of the bill reads.
DOCUMENTS: Nigeria’s Attorney-General of Federation, Malami, Secretly Sponsors Bill to Take Over EFCC by Sahara Reporters on Scribd
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EXCLUSIVE: Nigeria’s Attorney-General, Malami, Using Presidential Panel Investigating Magu To Sabotage High-profile Cases
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SaharaReporters had in a series of reports revealed how Malami had been controlling the Salami-led Presidential Panel investigating the EFCC to suspend Magu and staff of the commission reportedly loyal to him.
It was learnt that the AGF has avoided confronting Magu at the panel.
The newspaper also exposed how the AGF called a meeting of law enforcement agencies involving top officials of the EFCC, Nigerian Navy, Department of State Services, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission requesting for files of EFCC recoveries particularly those related to vessels.
According to an informed source, who spoke with SaharaReporters, the office of the AGF had previously attempted to usurp the powers of the EFCC and other law enforcement agencies with respect to the sale of forfeited assets with an illegal directive giving power of coordinating the sale and management of forfeited assets to his office.
It was, however, revealed that the navy refused to release the vessel, as due process was not followed in its selling by Malami and his associates.
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Malami Stalling High-profile Corruption Cases To ‘Protect Crooks’, Group Writes Buhari
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Properties Nigeria’s Attorney-General, Malami, Corruptly Acquired While In Office
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UNILAG Crisis: Nigerian Government Orders Babalakin, Ogundipe To Recuse Themselves From Official Duties
The Nigerian Government has directed the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos, Wale Babalakin, and Vice Chancellor, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, to recuse themselves from official duties pending the outcome of the Special Visitation Panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Federal Ministry of Education spokesperson, Ben Goong, made this known in a statement on Friday.
The statement said, “FG directs Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Governing Councilof the University of Lagos, Dr. B. O. Babalakin and the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin T. O. Ogundipe to recuse themselves from official duties, pending the outcome of the Special Visitation Panel set up by the President.”
Babalakin’s Governing Council had on August 12 sacked Ogundipe as Vice Chancellor over alleged financial misappropriation and misconduct.
Ogundipe, however, rejected the Council’s decision, saying the university’s due process had not been followed.
The university’s Senate, alumni, and labour unions also put out statements saying due process had not been followed.
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UPDATE: EFCC Receives Petition On Sacked UNILAG VC, Asks Activists To Report After 30 Days
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Boy Tortured, Subjected To Hunger Strike Rescued In Borno
A boy subjected to severe beating, torture and hunger strike in Maiduguri, Borno State, has been rescued by rights activists.
The boy was subjected to the inhumane and dehumanizing treatment by his step-mother.
One of the activists, who rescued the boy, spoke with SaharaReporters, saying the case had been taken over by the Borno office of the National Human Rights Commission.
“The boy’s ordeal started after his father divorced his mother.
“His step-mother regularly subjected him to serious beating and starvation.
“Officials of National Human Rights Commission have reportedly taken up the matter,” one of the activists said.
Three people have been rescued in the last two weeks after they were locked up in different locations in Kano by their families.
A 32-year-old man, Ahmad Aliyu, who had been locked inside a room by his father and stepmother for over seven years, was rescued by the police in Kano.
He was rescued on Thursday evening by police and some human rights groups at Farawa Babban Layi in Mariri quarters of Kumbotso Local Government Area in Kano metropolis.
The victim was chained and caged after he was accused of drug abuse by his parents.
Murtala Muhammad, a 55-year-old man, was rescued by the police in Kano after being locked up in a room by his father for 30 years.
Muhammad, a resident of Kofar Fada in Rogo Local Government Area of Kano State, was rescued by the police and Human Rights Network on Thursday.
An unidentified 32-year-old man was also rescued by the police after being locked up in a room by his father at Sheka neighbourhood in Kano for 15 years.
The victim was said to have been chained and caged for an undisclosed reason by his parents.
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Sacked UNILAG Vice Chancellor, Ogundipe, Withdraws Court Case Against Babalakin, Others
UNILAG VC, Prof Ogundipe.
Recently removed Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof Toyin Ogundipe, on Friday withdrew a lawsuit he filed at the National Industrial Court to challenge his sacking by the varsity’s Governing Council.
The suit, marked NICN/LA/278/2020, had as defendants: UNILAG; the varsity’s Council; its Senate; Pro-Chancellor, Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN); Registrar, Oladejo Azeez; and Prof Theophilus Soyombo, who was appointed Acting VC in the wake of Ogundipe’s controversial sacking.
Prof Toyin Ogundipe.
According to a member of his legal team, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), Ogundipe’s decision followed his deference to the authority of President Muhammadu Buhari as the varsity’s Visitor.
Adegboruwa said, “Contrary to the falsehood being peddled by mischief makers, the National Industrial Court has never sat or conduct any proceedings in respect of the court case filed by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof Oluwole Ogundipe. No court proceedings ever took place at all and so no decision or ruling has been rendered by the court.
“Indeed, upon detailed consultation with all stakeholders and his supporters in and outside the university, Prof Ogundipe directed his lawyer’s to file a notice of discontinuance of the suit and this has been done on August 21, 2020.
“This is to defer to the authority of the President as the Visitor of the university as Prof Ogundipe has enough time to challenge his purported removal. This falsehood is being spread to malign the court and blackmail the judiciary by enemies of the rule of law and due process.
“The general public is therefore advised to discountenance these mindless fabrications as the handiwork of those who are afraid of subjecting their illegal acts to the true test of probity and to be wary of fake news being peddled in place of truth, especially as they relate to deliberate manipulation of court proceedings. There was no time that the court sat to fix any date for the case.”
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UPDATE: EFCC Receives Petition On Sacked UNILAG VC, Asks Activists To Report After 30 Days
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Police Uncover Corpse Of Woman Locked Up By Husband In Kano
The Kano State Police Command on Thursday uncovered the corpse of a woman allegedly locked up in a room by her husband for three days.
SaharaReporters gathered that the incident occurred at Mariri Quarters in Kano Metropolis.
The corpse, which had since begun to decompose, was discovered by neighbours, who alerted police to the situation.
The development comes a day after the police in Kano rescued a 55-year-old man allegedly confined for 30 years in a solitary room by his relatives.
On August 13, Ahmad Aliyu, a 32-year-old man, was also rescued by the police after being locked up in a room by his father and stepmother for seven years.
Aliyu, a resident of Farawa Babban Layi in Mariri quarters of Kumbotso Local Government Area in Kano, was said to have been chained and caged after he was accused of drug abuse by his parents.
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Court Remands APC Lawmaker In Prison For Criminal Conspiracy, Robbery, Abduction
Benue State House of Assembly member representing Katsina-Ala East Constituency, Mr Jonathan Agbidye, of the All Progressives Congress has been remanded in prison by a Makurdi Chief Magistrate Court for alleged criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and abduction.
Agbidye was remanded with one Denen Zuamo of Katsina-Ala town for the alleged offence.
Earlier, the police prosecutor, Fidelis Ogbobe told the court that on May 22, 2018, a Toyota Hilux van with registration number SWA-215-FM and other valuables belonging to Apin Public Health Initiatives was snatched at gunpoint along Katsina-Ala -Tordonga road in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of the state to an unknown destination.
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He explained further that during police investigation, Agbidye and Zuamo were both arrested with the said vehicle which had been re-registered as MKD-992-AD in Makurdi, Benue State.
Ogbobe stated that further investigation by the police revealed that Agbidye, Zuamo and others now at large conspired and belong to a gang of armed robbers and terrorists headed by the notorious and wanted kingpin, Terwase Akwaza alias ‘Ghana’ who snatched, robbed and abducted the staff of Apin Public Health Initiatives.
He said the accused persons committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2) A and B and section 6(b) of the Robbery and Fire Arms (Special Provisions) Act, 2004, and hostage, kidnapping, secret cult and similar activities law of Benue State, 2017.
No plea was taken for want of jurisdiction.
The prosecuting counsel told the court that investigation into the matter was still on and asked the court for another date to enable the police to complete their investigation.
Counsel to the accused persons, Terhemen Oscar Aorabe, did not oppose the application for another date.
He, however, informed the court that he will formally file and apply for the bail of his client on another date.
The trial magistrate adjourned the case to October 12, 2020, for further mention.
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El-Rufai’s Withdrawal As Conference Speaker Has No Links To Religion, Ethnicity, Says NBA President, Usoro
Paul-Usoro, NBA President.
President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Paul Usoro, has said that the withdrawal of Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, from speaking at a conference of the association scheduled for later this month, had no religious or ethnic undertone.
The invitation was withdrawn from the governor following a petition by some lawyers under the aegis of Open Bar Initiative following rising killings in Southern Kaduna.
Paul Usoro, NBA President.
In letter dated August 21 and addressed to Asishana Okauru, Director-General of Nigerian Governors Forum, Usoro said, “I take full responsibility for the unintended embarrassment and tender my regrets and apologies.”
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BREAKING: Nigerian Bar Association Withdraws El-Rufai’s Invitation As Speaker At Conference Over Kaduna Killings
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He further explained that he was answerable to the association’s National Executive Committee, which approved the decision and he cannot overrule it even if he had a contrary view.
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OPL245: How Malami Authorised Signing Of New Deal To Give American Firm 35 Per Cent Of Recovered Money
Abubakar Malami
Johnson & Johnson, a Lagos law firm acting on the instructions of the Nigeria’s Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has signed a new deal with Poplar Falls LLC, a United States litigation firm to receive one-third of the recovered fund in the OPL245 case.
Poplar Falls LLC, a company based in Delaware, will superintend the recovering of the illicitly acquired funds from Malabu Oil and Gas Limited on behalf of Nigeria.
Abubakar Malami
The deal will see the company receive 35 Per cent of the recovered funds from the $1.1bn of the illicitly acquired funds, findings by SaharaReporters has revealed.
In 2016, J&J signed a contract with Drumcliffe Partners, a U.S. litigation fund, to finance various OPL 245 related asset recovery cases, for five per cent of funds recovered.
While this has been met with outrage, Malami further authorized J&J to enter a new deal with Poplar Falls LLC in 2018 to fund the recovery of OPL245 for 250 per cent of the funds contributed and 35 per cent of funds recovered.
SaharaReporters also gathered that to ensure the delivery of the funds, the recovered funds in a designated account by Nigeria, the money will go into an escrow account controlled by a lawyer nominated by Poplar Falls LLC where the sharing will be made before Nigeria gets its part.
It was agreed that the funder, Poplar Falls LLC, will make claims payment to J&J or on its behalf in an amount up to $2.75m.
The agreement also stipulates that the funders will receive their money before any disbursements are made to others.
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Malami Stalling High-profile Corruption Cases To ‘Protect Crooks’, Group Writes Buhari
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In determining the distribution of payments, Johnson and Johnson must first repay the funder all payments made by the funder for the claim, then a further sum amounting to 1.5 times that total.
The funder then receives 35 per cent of the remaining funds that have been recovered.
“Whereas J&J has received valid, binding instruction and mandate from the Attorney General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to recover illicitly acquired funds from Malabu Oil and Gas Limited relating to OPL245 on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria.“The funder agrees to provide financial assistance to the counterparties to facilitate the prosecution and recovery of various claims and chooses in action, subject to the terms provided herein.
“If, at any time, either counterparty or their affiliates or representatives receive any proceeds resulting from either civil or criminal proceedings, the counterparty shall give immediate notice of such receipt of counterparty proceeds to the funder and deposit the entire amount of the counterparty proceeds into the Escrow Account.
“The counterparties shall ensure that all counterparty proceeds received are immediately deposited into the Escrow Accounts and not into any other account,” the letter dated 5th of March 2018 and co-signed by Olabode Johnson for Johnson & Johnson and James C. Little, for the funder partly reads.
“100 per cent to the funder, until the cumulative amount distributed to the funder equals 100 per cent of the total amount if claims payment made by the funder.
“Third, 35 per cent to the funder (the recovery percentage) and 65 per cent to the counterpart or its designees,” the agreement further states.
If Nigeria or its law firm headed by Johnson and Johnson decides to terminate its agreement with Poplar Falls LLC, Nigeria “will pay a termination amount equal to 50 per cent of payments due to the funder in respect of assets already frozen or subject claims in course of recovery or the total amount of all claims payment made through the date of termination multiplied by two”.
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EXPOSED: How Nigeria’s Attorney-General, Malami Stopped Prosecution Of Dino Melaye
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Global anti-graft groups have asked Malami to make full disclosure on recovered assets linked to the OPL multi-billion dollar oil scam.
The Corner House, Global Witness, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) and Re-Common through a letter to the Malami launched a filament of global campaigns for transparency in the quantum of assets recovered from the scam which lid was been blown open.
In the petition, the groups raised 25 critical questions for Malami.
“Nigerians need to know assets recovered relating to the OPL 245 scam. This is one of the most significant corruption cases in Nigeria involving billions of dollars in stolen funds used by political figures to procure assets kept across the world. It is important that Nigerians and the international community know how many assets have been recovered,” the groups said.
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