Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Thursday 23rd September 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 23/09/21
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Nollywood Actress, Tonto Dikeh’s Ex-Lover Drags Film Star, Secret Police To Court, Seeks N10billion Compensation
Prince Joseph Kpokpogri, estranged lover of controversial Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, has dragged the actress and the Department of State Services (DSS) before a Federal High Court in Abuja to seek the enforcement of his fundamental rights.
In the case dated September 20, 2021, filed on Wednesday with Suit Number FHC/ABJ/CS/1092/2021, the Plaintiff prayed the court for a restraining order stopping the DSS from further inviting him.
Also, Kpokpogri, through his Lead Counsel, Ovie Justice Ojefia, is asking the court for an order directing the Respondents jointly and severally to pay him the sum of N10,000,000,000 (Ten Billion Naira) as compensation for the mental trauma, emotional stress and severe damage caused him due to the invitation extended to him.
Kpokpogri in the suit sought the following reliefs:
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“A declaration that the invitation extended to the Applicant through telephone call and a text message on Thursday, 16th September, 2021 by FCT Command of the Department of State Services (DSS) with office at No. 7, Gamal Abdel-Nasser Street, off Julius Nyerere Crescent, near Kapital Klub and Apartments, Asokoro, FCT-Abuja being under the supervision and control of the 1st Respondent in connection with an estranged romantic relationship between the Applicant and 2nd Respondent which the 1st Respondent knows is civil in nature contravenes Sections 34, 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Articles 4, 5, 6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 which guarantee the Applicant’s fundamental rights to dignity of human person, personal liberty and freedom of movement and same is unwarranted, illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.
“An order perpetually restraining the 1st Respondent (Director-General of DSS) acting either by himself or through his agents, officers and representatives from further inviting, pestering, harassing and intimidating the Applicant by way of telephone calls, text messages or letters asking the Applicant to report at FCT Command of the Department of State Services (DSS) with office at No. 7, Gamal Abdel-Nasser Street, off Julius Nyerere Crescent, near Kapital Klub and Apartments, Asokoro, FCT-Abuja or any other location whether within or outside the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in connection with an estranged romantic relationship between the Applicant and 2nd Respondent which the 1st Respondent knows is civil in nature.
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“An order directing the Respondents jointly and severally to pay the Applicant the sum of N10,000,000,000 (Ten Billion Naira) as compensation for the mental trauma, emotional stress and severe damage caused the Applicant due to the invitation extended to him through telephone call and a text message on Thursday, 16th September, 2021 by FCT Command of the Department of State Services (DSS) with office at No. 7, Gamal Abdel-Nasser Street, off Julius Nyerere Crescent, near Kapital Klub and Apartments, Asokoro, FCT-Abuja being under the supervision and control of the 1st Respondent in connection with an estranged romantic relationship between the Applicant and 2nd Respondent which the 1st Respondent knows is civil in nature.”
However, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the case
In the affidavit in support of the Originating Motion on Notice, the Plaintiff deposed that he decided to go to court to have his fundamental rights protected because they are being threatened.
He said in the affidavit: “That I had a romantic relationship with Miss Tonto Dikeh being the 2nd Respondent herein for about three months beginning from 3rd June, 2021 and the relationship ended on or about 19th August, 2021.
”That the 2nd Respondent has continuously issued oral threats against me that she is going to use all her connections and contacts to bring me down to nothing simply because I separated from her.
”That I am aware that the 2nd Respondent engaged certain strange heavily built men with dark shades who started tailing my movement around town shortly after 19th August, 2021 when I ended the romantic relationship with the 2nd Respondent.
”That I thereafter became worried that the 2nd Respondent could execute her threats, considering her wide popularity and connection in the Nigerian film industry.
”That at all times material to our romantic relationship, the 2nd Respondent always requested and I allowed her to use my Black Colour Lexus SUV LX570 with Registration Number – ABJ 04 JN and Chasis Number – JTJHY7AZ7H4237876. Copies of vehicle documents are attached as EXHIBIT D.
”That upon my return from a trip to Asaba, Delta State around 20th August, 2021, I discovered that the 2nd Respondent had forcefully taken my said Black Colour Lexus SUV LX570 with Registration Number – ABJ 04 JN and Chasis Number – JTJHY7AZ7H4237876 to her residence being House 3A, No. 2, Ismaila Mamman Close, Katampe Extension, FCT-Abuja. Picture of the vehicle is attached as EXHIBIT E.
”That all my efforts to recover the said vehicle from the 2nd Respondent proved abortive as she gave a standing instruction to the security men at her residence not to allow me or my driver access to her residence to recover the vehicle.
”That during my birthday celebration which took place on 27th June, 2021, the 2nd Respondent voluntarily gifted me a Toyota Hilux in the presence of other persons without any papers whatsoever to support transfer of ownership from her to me.
”That because the 2nd Respondent failed, refused and/or neglected to hand over necessary documents of the Toyota Hilux vehicle to me, I requested her to come and take it back before our relationship turned sour but she turned a deaf ear.
”That I eventually handed over the Toyota Hilux vehicle to Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID), Nigeria Police Force with office at Area 10, Garki, FCT-Abuja for onward delivery to the 2nd Respondent. Copy of picture showing the Toyota Hilux vehicle parked at the FCIID is attached as EXHIBIT F.
”That I was however surprised that one Edwin Esq. of FCT Command of the Department of State Services (DSS) with office at No. 7, Gamal Abdel-Nasser Street, off Julius Nyerere Crescent, near Kapital Klub and Apartments, Asokoro, FCT-Abuja being under the supervision and control of the 1st Respondent called me and sent a text message vide telephone number 09052460445 on Thursday, 16th September, 2021 inviting me in connection with my estranged relationship with the 2nd Respondent. Screenshot of the text message is attached as EXHIBIT G.
”That the 2nd Respondent caused Kanyi Daily to publicise untrue, fictitious and unsubstantiated story on the same Thursday, 16th September, 2021 vide Kanyi Daily against the person of the Applicant with the caption: ‘Tonto Dikeh’s Ex-lover, Prince Kpokpogri Arrested By DSS Over Blackmail And Extortion’. Copy of the online newspaper publication is attached as EXHIBIT H.
”That I verily believe that the said invitation by the 1st Respondent is likely targeted at violating my fundamental rights to dignity of human person, personal liberty and freedom of movement, hence my filing of this suit.
”That I am aware that men and officers of the 1st Respondent have been on my trail by tracking my telephone lines and would not give me a breathing space to enjoy my fundamental rights guaranteed under the laws as a free citizen of Nigeria.
”That the 2nd Respondent is hell bent on using men and officers of the 1st Respondent to invite, pester, harass and intimidate me because she is a popular film actress and social media influencer with lots of connections, contacts and followership within and outside Nigeria.
”That it is based on this that I have come before this Honourable Court to seek reprieve, refuge and enforcement of my fundamental rights.
”That this Honourable Court is the last hope of the common man, hence the need for it to compel the 2nd Respondent to tender an unreserved apology to me whilst awarding compensation in the sum of N10,000,000,000 (Ten Billion Naira) in my favour for the mental trauma, emotional stress and severe damage I have suffered as a result of the issues giving rise to this suit.
”That I verily believe that the Respondents herein will not stop conniving to put me in harm’s way through unwarranted, illegal and unconstitutional arrest and detention unless they are restrained by this Honourable Court.”
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Group Writes Nigerian Anti-graft Agency, Seeks Investigation Of Police Inspector Over N50million Illegal Deals
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A group, Known Your Rights For Justice, has accused the Zonal Heads of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos and Rivers states of failing to arrest Inspector Caroline Kalu, who is allegedly corrupt.
Kalu allegedly used the bank account of one Miss Dorcas Mobaghan for illegal transactions of fifty million naira (N50,000,000).
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The group, in a letter to the EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa claimed the female police officer criminally transferred the amount to Mobaghan on March 29, 2021.
The letter, signed by the group’s Chairman, Comrade Olusegun Adeeko added that the money was subsequently shared among the members of Kalu’s syndicate.
Adeeko said the police officer failed to honour the invitation by EFCC operatives in Lagos and Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, when Mobaghan was arrested by the anti-graft operatives.
The letter read, “Know Your Rights for Justice is constrained as an NGO and whistle-blower to intimate the Nigeria Police Force on how Inspector Caroline Kalu Orieke, an officer at Nigeria Police Divisional Headquarters, Festac Town, Amuwo Lagos, criminally transferred a sum of fifty million naira (N50,000,000) into Miss Dorcas Mobaghan’s account and shared it among her conspirator syndicates and failed to honour EFCC operatives in Lagos and Port Harcourt, Rivers State when Miss Mobaghan was arrested by operatives.
“Miss Dorcas Mobaghan is a businesswoman who deals with Online Financial Transactions (PAGA). She said that Inspector Caroline Kalu Orieke is her well-known customer and they had done bank transactions together before which involved huge sums and were successful.
“She averred that on the 29th of March 2021, Inspector Kalu came to her that she wanted to transfer a sum of Fifty Million Naira (N50,000,000.00) to her Access Bank Account No. 0812528608 and same was transferred the same day.
“Miss Dorcas further said that immediately the transaction was done, Inspector Kalu told her to transfer a sum of Two Million Naira (N2,000,000.00) and Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N350,000.00) to her First Bank Account No. 3102181248 and further instructed her to transfer a sum of Two Million Naira (N2,000,000.00) to Mr Kingsley Chibuke Okpara and Alhaji Ali Musa Bureau De Change with Access Bank Account No. 0069744520, a sum of Forty-Five Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N45,600,000.00).
“Miss Dorcas Mobaghan averred that on the 4th of May 2021, EFCC operatives came to her shop and she was arrested and taken to their office at Ikoyi and was released due to the intervention of Know Your Right For Justice on bail and asked to report to EFCC’s Port Harcourt Office.
“On the 17th of May 2021, she reported to Port Harcourt in Rivers State and after much interrogation by the operatives, she was released on self-recognition and asked to produce Inspector Caroline Kalu Orieke.
“Miss Dorcas averred that Inspector Caroline Kalu has failed to see her since she was arrested by EFCC operatives till date. She often sees Inspector Caroline doing merriment with other police officers at the Festac Police Station and always says with impunity that she is highly connected with the police hierarchy, and that nothing will happen.
“Sir, in view of the above and also due to the information at our disposal; Inspector Caroline Kalu is planning on leaving the country as soon as possible.”
DOCUMENTS: Group Writes Nigerian Anti-graft Agency, Seeks Investigation of Police Inspector Over N50million… by Sahara Reporters on Scribd
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Despite Being Prosecuted For Multi-billion Naira Fraud, Former Zamfara Governor To Contest Ruling APC Party Chairmanship
Although the All Progressives Congress (APC) is yet to fix a date for its national convention, Abdulaziz Yari, a two-term former governor of Zamfara State has indicated interest to succeed Governor Mai Mala Buni who is the caretaker chairman.
Yari is a former chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF).
He was in April detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged illegal financial dealings and misappropriation of funds.
In February 2021, Yari was arrested and grilled by EFCC operatives in Lagos, while the Federal High Court in Abuja had, on January 26, 2021, ordered the final forfeiture of funds belonging to Yari, domiciled in Zenith and Polaris Banks.
The judgment followed investigations that Yari had suspicious monies stuffed in his bank accounts including the sum of $56,056.75 reportedly lodged in his account with Polaris Bank; N12.9 million, N11.2 million, $303 million, N217,388.04, and $311.8 million said to be kept in different Zenith Bank accounts in the name of the ex-governor and his companies.
A source had told SaharaReporters that there are at least two solid cases of financial misappropriations for which the former governor and NGF chairman is being investigated.
The first was the investigation which opened in February 2021 centering around over N300 billion he allegedly attempted to move from a corporate account linked to him in a commercial bank.
The invitation letter dated April 6, given to Yari to report at the Sokoto EFCC office, was signed by the EFCC’s Director of Operations, Abdulkarim Chukkol.
It stated that Yari’s interrogation would be based on “conspiracy, diversion of public funds and money laundering.”
SaharaReporters gathered that Yari is also being investigated for his alleged role in the judgment debts around the Paris Club refunds as claimed by some private firms.
His handling of the proceeds of Paris Club refunds from 2017, when he was the NGF chairman, to May 2019 when his two-term as governor ended, is being investigated.
A court document was filed by the EFCC in 2017 which reveals the suspicious nature of payments by the Yari-led NGF to consultants and firms who were said to have helped the forum to recover funds with the London and Paris clubs loan between 1995 and 2002.
In the document, the EFCC had stated that it received intelligence in January 2017 alleging “conspiracy, criminal misappropriation of public funds involving the sum of N19,439,225,871.11 out of the Paris Club refunds made by the Federal Government in favour of the 36 states of the federation.”
The commission had in the court filing, sought an order of forfeiture of N500 million and $500,000 allegedly recovered from Yari.
In a post promoting Yari for the ruling party’s chairmanship position, which was seen by SaharaReporters, the former governor was described as a “loyal and committed member of the party, not driven by hunger or lust for money but can even sacrifice his personal resources to lift the party”.
“One who is not proud and arrogant but accessible to all members of the party,” it also said.
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E2%80%99s-minister-threatens-saharareporters-lawsuit-exposing-multi-billion-naira-fraud Buhari’s Minister Threatens SaharaReporters With Lawsuit For Exposing Multi-billion Naira Fraud Involving Him, Ex-Governor Tinubu, Others
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has threatened to sue SaharaReporters over a publication exposing how he awarded Value-Added Service contracts to himself, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader and former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, among others.
Dare made the threat in a letter signed by his counsel, Banjo Ayenakin, to the editor of the newspaper.
SaharaReporters had reported Dare awarded the multi-billion naira VAS contracts when he was the Executive Commissioner (Stakeholder Management) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to himself and Tinubu.
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EXCLUSIVE: How Buhari’s Minister Awarded Multi-billion Naira Contracts To Self, Ex-Governor Tinubu, Others As Nigerian Communications Commission Executive
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Others who benefited from the dubious contracts include the late Isa Funtua, a long-time political associate of President Muhammadu Buhari, Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC; Naomi Adenuga and Senator Ifeanyi Ararume.
EXCLUSIVE: How Buhariâ??s Minister Awarded Multi-billion Naira Contracts To Self, Ex-Governor Tinubu, Others As Nigerian Communications Commission Executive | Sahara Reporters pic.twitter.com/h8uMiNcUtk— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) September 20, 2021
Dare, a former spokesman for Tinubu, was appointed by Buhari as the South-West executive commissioner of the NCC in 2016.
He was however replaced with Adeleke Moronfolu Adewolu in 2019 as the President named him Minister of Sports and Youth Development.
Value-Added Service (VAS) is a term used in telecommunications to describe non-core features, which traditionally are non-voice functions such as video, data and so on.
“The current Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare single-handedly gave some corrupt Nigerians the NCC licenses when he was the Executive Commissioner,” a top source had told SaharaReporters.
“He gave himself a slot and also gave Naomi Adenuga for Globacom. He gave Bola Tinubu a slot and also Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC a slot. He also gave Senator Ifeanyi Ararume.”
“Others are Isa Funtua (who died in July 2020), Abdurahman Ado Musa and his brother, Abdulsalami Abubakar.
“They were all awarded the Value-Added Service contracts for the NCC. This includes the use of USSD code; they generate at least N25 billion per month from that. The use of USSD code brings a lot of money,” the source added.
USSD means Unstructured Supplementary Service Data which allows people without smartphones or data or internet connection to use mobile banking through the use of codes, but at a charge.
But in his reaction, Dare demanded from SaharaReporters a retraction with an apology carried with the same prominence on its platform within 24 hours.
He added that the publication by the newspaper had caused him trauma and damaged his reputation before right-thinking persons across the world.
“We are solicitors to HON. SUNDAY DARE of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Federal Secretariat, Abuja who is herein referred to as ‘our client’ and on whose behalf this letter is written to you,” the letter read.
“Our client is the Honorable Minister in charge of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Abuja, Nigeria and as an occupant of this position, our client has demonstrated glaring and sterling qualities of honesty, probity, fidelity and forthrightness in his current as well as erstwhile position; to the admiration of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Nigerians at large.
“In your publication of September 20th, 2021; you alleged and stated that our client while serving as the Executive Commissioner of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) participated in shady and corrupt deals by awarding contract to himself and a number of other persons as contained in your false publication.
“You spuriously alleged that our client single-handedly awarded contracts to himself and several other persons while serving as Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) thereby insinuating that our client is corrupt and that he corruptly enriched himself and the other persons you mentioned.
“The story you published titled ‘Exclusive: How Buhari’s Minister Awarded Multi Billion Naira Contracts to Self, Ex-Governor Tinubu, others as Nigerian Communications Commission Executive’ is riddled with factual inaccuracies, malevolent intent, and outright malice all aimed at damaging the credibility of our client.
“The publication has caused a lot of damage to our client’s hard-earned reputation which he has painstakingly and carefully built over a long period as different people have inundated him with sporadic calls over your false and unfounded allegations which is libelous and has irreparably dented our client’s image and reputation.
“Moreover, your publication has portrayed our client as a corrupt, unreliable and undisciplined public officer who corruptly enriched himself and flagrantly flouted government regulations and this has exposed our client to public odium and ignominy.
“You are hereby advised to pull down the publication within twenty-four hours of the receipt of this letter with a retraction duly published as a follow up.
“TAKE NOTICE that if you fail, refuse or neglect to so do, we have the instruction of our client to institute a civil action against your organization and its principal officers for defamation, and we shall be asking for aggravated damages against your establishment and its principal officers to the tune of Five Billion Naira only.”
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E2%80%94justice-minister-malami Why Buhari Government Will Not Name Sponsors Of Boko Haram Now—Justice Minister, Malami
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami on Wednesday gave the reason why President Muhammadu Buhari’s government has not published the names of Boko Haram sponsors.
He said the Buhari government took the decision so as not to endanger investigations.
The AGF said this while addressing journalists in New York, United States, according to a statement by his Spokesman, Umar Gwandu, on Wednesday.
Malami was reacting to the public criticism that has trailed the failure of the government to name the sponsors of terrorism in the country.
The United Arab Emirates recently listed the names of 38 sponsors of terrorism, including six Nigerians.
The statement read, “Time is not ripe for holistic disclosures so as not to pre-empt the investigation process.
“The prime object remains the attainment of peace and security of our dear nation.
“As far as terrorism funding and financing is concerned, we have succeeded in identifying those that are allegedly responsible for funding same and we are blocking the leakages associated with funding while embarking on aggressive investigation that is indeed impacting positively in terms of the fight against terrorism.
“The truth of the matter is that investigation is ongoing and advancing. For the purpose of investigation, I would not like to be pre-emptive in terms of making disclosures that will have the effect of undermining the successes we are recording.”
He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent strike embarked upon by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) affected the prosecution of the alleged sponsors of terrorism.
Earlier, presidential aide, Femi Adesina, said the Buhari-led administration was after prosecuting the suspected suspects of Boko Haram and not naming and shaming them.
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Nigeria’s Ruling Party, All Progressives Congress Reschedules State Congresses For New Date
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The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has rescheduled its nationwide state congresses to Saturday, October 16, 2021.
This was disclosed in a statement released by the National Secretary, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, Punch reports.
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He added that an updated timetable/schedule of activities and guidelines for the conduct of the state congresses will be released to the public in due course.
SaharaReporters recalls that last month the APC released the schedule of activities and guidelines for the conduct of its local government area congresses.
The National Secretary of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Akpanudoedehe, in a statement said the purchase of forms for wards, local governments/area councils and state congresses will take place from August 18 to August 28, 2021.
He said screening of aspirants for the party’s local government area positions would hold from August 31 to September 2, 2021, while LGA congresses (including 3-man delegates to the national convention) would hold on September 4, 2021.
Appeals arising from LGA congresses will hold from September 6 to 11, 2021.
“Pursuant to the provisions of Article 11: A sub-section (i-xiii) and Article 17 (i) of our party’s constitution, the caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CCEPC) of our great party has approved the guidelines and the conduct of congresses across LGAs stipulated in Sections 156 of the Electoral Act and in Parts I & II of the first schedule of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended),” he said.
Akpanudoedehe stated that the forms will cost N25,000, N15,000 and N10,000 for local government chairman; local government vice chairman, secretary and treasurer; and other offices respectively.
“Female aspirants and physically challenged aspirants are to pay 50 per cent of the prescribed fees for each position. Forms will be picked at the banks, local government, state or national secretariat after confirmation of payments,” he added.
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EXCLUSIVE: Ten Killed In Katsina Community By Bandits Residents Vow Were Dropped By Army Green Helicopter
No fewer than 10 people have reportedly been killed by bandits who were allegedly dropped by a helicopter in Gurbi village in Katsina state.
This was disclosed by residents of the village in a video exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters.
The incident occurred on Tuesday.
Gurbi village is in the Kurfi local government area of the state.
Surviving villagers said a chopper landed at ‘Kuka Mai Zuma’ area in Gurbi village, around 5 pm; shortly after which bandits began to ransack houses and shooting people at will.
Mujaheed Imrana, a resident of Gurbi, further disclosed that the bandits also destroyed and burnt about 10 vehicles, including a Toyota Sienna bus and two Volkswagen saloon cars.
He said about ten persons were shot and many scampered into the nearby bushes for safety.
Imrana disclosed that an army green coloured helicopter dropped the bandits who wreaked havoc on the village.
He said in Hausa, “Around 5pm, a helicopter landed around the ‘Kuka Mai Zuma’. And five minutes after, bandits invaded Gurbi and started shooting indiscriminately in the village.
“The attackers operated for about two hours unchallenged.
“They killed at least 10 persons whose remains are here in this hospital; with several persons yet to be accounted for.
“They arrived around 5 pm, aboard an army green-coloured helicopter and moved from house to house, shooting whoever they find; in an operation which lasted over two hours unchallenged.
“A green helicopter dropped the attackers and in less than five minutes after their arrival, they went on a house-to-house rampage.
“They either killed or carted away all the cattle in Gurbi village and set about ten cars ablaze.
“They also attacked other villages like Yar-Kuka, Dan-Malam, Gidan-Ibran, Makera, etc., to stop the villagers from coming to our rescue.
“Two persons from Makera who risked everything to help us were shot.
“One was shot in the stomach and his intestines were out. The other has a fracture on his shoulder and will be taken to Katsina Medical Centre.
“They may have attacked more, we don’t know the number of villages attacked now as telecoms services have been shut down.”
When asked if he had a message for the government, he said God would judge between the villagers and the government.
He said, “I am confused as to what to say. But surely God will judge between us. We are being killed day in, day out, and sacked from our homes.
“For us here in this community, we’ll continue to curse the present government. We also know that God will judge between us the regime.”
He said the helicopter landed behind Kuka Mai Zuma on the fringes of the village.
He stated, “We confronted them from the north, but the attackers diverted to Hanyar Gidan Sale.”
He noted that the injured persons were receiving treatment at a general hospital, but many people could not be accounted for.
Another resident of the area, Annas Abdullahi said he was on the village football pitch when the helicopter conveying the attackers landed.
According to him, the helicopter was the same type supplying arms to bandits.
He said, “We were playing football when the helicopter arrived. Upon seeing the helicopter, I told all the players that we should leave. Before we got home, we heard gunshots. I went in and brought my Dane gun, but the attackers were too numerous to be challenged.
“I alerted our people that this is the helicopter that brings supplies for Fulani bandits.”
He added that he fired one shot and ran for safety.
“They surrounded everywhere. Women may have been abducted. Government has failed us.”
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Court Admits More Evidence Against Nigerian Oil Mogul, Ali Peters In Alleged N761.6million Subsidy Scam
Justice S. S. Ogunsanya of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, on Wednesday admitted more documents as evidence in the ongoing trial of Abubakar Ali Peters and his company, Nadabo Energy, for fraud.
The EFCC is prosecuting Peters and his company on 21 counts bordering on obtaining money under false pretences, diversion of Nigerian government funds, and forgery.
“Nadabo Energy Limited and Abubakar Ali Peters, on or about 26th day of September 2011 in Lagos, within the Ikeja judicial division, fraudulently obtained the sum of N761,628,993.84 from the Federal Government by falsely representing that the sum represented the subsidy accrued to Nadabo Energy Limited under the Petroleum Support Fund for the importation of 16,808,064 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), which Nadabo Energy Limited purported to have purchased from Delano Petroleum Corporation Akara Tortola British Virgin Island, and transported the 16,808,064 litres through MT Gotland Carolina (mother vessel) and MT Sonia (daughter vessel) to Nigeria, whereas Nadabo Energy Limiter only imported 7,953,962 litres of PMS from Delany Petroleum Corporation Akara Tortola British Virgin Island and transported 7,953,962 litres of PMS through MT Gotland Carolina (mother vessel) and MT Songa (daughter vessel) to Nigeria,” one of the counts reads.
The offence, which involves obtaining by false pretences, is contrary to Section 1 (3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No 14 of 2006.
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when he was first arraigned on October 7, 2015, thereby prompting the commencement of his trial.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, continued his examination-in-chief as the second prosecution witness.
Led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, S.K. Atteh, the prosecution, through the witness, tendered in evidence several documents, as Bawa further testified to the findings of the investigation he led into the alleged fraud.
Bawa said, “In 2015, we received a complaint from the then Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, alleging fraud in the importation of PMS by Nadabo, and equally received a petition from Falana & Falana Chambers dated 17th of January, 2012.”
The petitions, which also included a complaint from a civil society group, he said, formed the bedrock of the investigation into Nadabo Energy Limited.
However, when the prosecution sought to tender the documents in evidence, the defence counsel, E. O. Isiramen, raised objections to their admissibility.
Citing the sections of the Evidence Act and other authorities, he argued that the documents, referencing the letter of complaint emanating from the civil group, did not meet the criteria stated in the Act, particularly that “there is no proof of payment for certification in line with established judicial authority that certification requires payment.”
Opposing the objection, Atteh cited the case of Sule Lamido vs FRN, arguing that, “the Commission is an agency of the Federal Government and has no prescribed fee to be paid for certifying documents emanating from it.”
After listening to the arguments, the trial judge dismissed the objection and admitted the documents as exhibits P2 to P5.
Thereafter, Bawa told the court that a Special Team was constituted by the EFCC to probe the subsidy regime.
He said, “The first port of call was the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA.”
He also noted that after meeting with PPPRA, the defendant was among many involved in importing petroleum.
“Based on intelligence from PPPRA, we set out to get more intelligence.
“All the banks involved were written to, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, the Debt Management Office, DMO, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, NIMASA, the Nigerian Navy, and many other companies involved in dealing with Nadabo Energy Limited.
“We invited all marketers to come forward with the documents they submitted to PPPRA.
“In this particular case, we wrote to him and his company, inviting them to bring forward all documents submitted.
“On 28th January, 2012, he came to our office and I personally interviewed him,” he said.
He added that the PPPRA was, thereafter, contacted to furnish the EFCC with the certified true copies of all documents submitted to it by the defendant.
“They responded in writing attaching the documents submitted by the defendant.
“When we received it, we compared it with the ones he submitted to us and found out that he claimed that he imported 6,000 MT each with two Letters of credit financed by then Spring Bank Plc, which was not the case,” he further said.
Bawa, in his further elaborate testimony, told the court that in the course of the investigation, which began in 2012, the EFCC had several correspondences with the DMO, PPPRA, Enterprise Bank, Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, Staco Insurance Company, Delaney Petroleum Corporation, Skye Bank and Q & Q Services Nigeria Limited.
He said based on the findings of the investigation team, the PPPRA was asked to recompute the money to be paid to the defendant and it was found that he was overpaid N761,628,993.84 as subsidy funds for PMS he claimed to have imported.
According to Bawa, the defendant allegedly used forged documents to claim subsidy funds for 12,000MT of PMS, whereas only about 6,000 MT was imported by the defendant.
Atteh sought to tender the series of correspondences between the EFCC and the various companies and organisations contacted in the course of the investigation.
According to Atteh, the companies and organisations supplied the EFCC with documents indicating that fraudulent documents were used by the defendant to obtain subsidy funds from the government.
Isiramen, however, raised objections to their admissibility, raising earlier arguments.
Ruling on the objections, Justice Ogunsanya only upheld Isiramen’s argument to the admissibility of the letter of the EFCC to the Registrar of the CAC, being a photocopy with no certification, but admitted all the other documents marking them as Exhibits P8 to P25.
Thereafter, Bawa told the court that Abubakar was invited to the EFCC and he gave statements on January 28, 2012, and February 8, 2012.
As Atteh sought to tender the statements, Isiramen again raised objections, arguing that “he was detained in EFCC custody and subjected to inhuman conditions and he was not given water, no food.”
Atteh, however, told the court that the defendant was never given inhuman treatment and that the statements were, in fact, not confessional statements.
Thereafter, the trial judge dismissed the objection and admitted the statement in evidence marked as Exhibits P26 and P27.
The case has been adjourned till November 1 and 2, 2021 for “cross-examination of the witness.”
The defendant is also standing trial before Justice C. A. Balogun of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja for an alleged N1.4 billion subsidy fraud due for the continuation of trial on October 5, 2021.
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Man Nabbed With Multi-billion Naira Worth Of Cocaine At Nigerian Airport
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a Nigerian man, Mr Okey Eze at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja with 350 wraps of cocaine with a street value of N2.3 billion.
The 38-year-old Eze who professed to be a tiler was nabbed on Wednesday.
A statement by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy said, “The 38-year-old Eze, from Orji River, in Oji-River Local Government Area of Enugu State was arrested on Wednesday, 22nd September 2021 during an inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian airline flight number 911 en route Bamako-Addis Ababa- Abuja.
“The illicit drug weighing 7.70 kilogrammes was concealed in eight packs tucked in different parts of his luggage.
“In his confession, Eze, a resident of Bamako, Mali, said he had travelled to Mali through Seme border in Badagry, Lagos state since 2019.
“He further claimed that he came into Nigeria with the drug because he needed to raise money to take care of his late elder brother’s four children.
“The suspect also claimed he asked his friend who is resident in Brazil to assist him with some money but (the friend) declined and instead told him to pick up a bag with the drugs from a friend of his in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for a fee of N500, 000 on successful delivery to someone whose contact would be sent to him on arrival in Nigeria.
“He also said the bag containing the drugs was given to him on Wednesday morning at Addis Ababa airport.”
Chairman/ Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended officers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport command for their vigilance.
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EXPOSED: How Ex-Nigerian High Commissioner To Namibia, Onoh Was Indicted For Corruption, Asked To Refund N50million
SaharaReporters has obtained the report of a seven-man committee that indicted former Nigerian High Commissioner to Namibia Lilian Onoh over her alleged financial misappropriation while serving in the Southern African country.Onoh was accused of illegal diversion of funds meant for the day-to-day operation of the mission and was asked to refund the sum of $45,539.11 (about N19 million), $70,448 (about N30 million), and N614,000. This was part of the recommendation of the seven-man committee headed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Gabriel Aduda.
The committee also had a member of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs as a member.
The committee which was set up by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama following allegations of corruption by former High Commissioner Onoh against some officials of the Nigerian Mission in Namibia, travelled to Windhoek, Namibia on April 12, 2021, where they were received by the Charge d’ Affaires, Mr. Ali Gombe.Following the discovery of the infractions, Onoh was asked to refund the sum of $42,500 as an education supplement in respect of her adopted daughters and refund $2, 614 as Excess on AIE (Excess payment). She was also asked to refund N66,168 spent on airfare of two domestic helps, $425 spent on stopover for “two domestic helps and N34,000 for an extra night in Abuja hotel. Others are: “Hotel accommodation – 11-17 December, 2017, N312, 000; Guest hotel accommodation – 26-31 December, 2018, N268, 200.”SaharaReporters gathered that Onoh made several attempts to twist and conceal the report of the committee to stop the process to carry out disciplinary actions against her. SaharaReporters learnt she engaged the services of intermediaries, asking the Minister to interfere with the work of the committee so that she could get a soft landing and a clean bill. It was learnt that when the Minister refused to intervene, she became desperate and resorted to blackmail.It was learnt that as part of her desperation to change the narrative and stop the administrative process, Onoh came up with a defamatory petition against the Minister and copied President Muhammadu Buhari.When she learnt that the Minister was completely exonerated by the presidency and that in fact that there was a recommendation against her for unfairly bringing the Ministry and Civil Service into disrepute, she then resorted to media blackmail by leaking her petition to the press.SaharaReporters also gathered that Onoh had been rejected by some countries she was posted to for being confrontational, combative, and disrespectful to the authorities.Sources allege that Onoh was at a point fired but her dismissal was reversed owing to her influence as a daughter of a former Governor of Old Anambra State, Chief C.C. Onoh. And because of the power she wielded while in office, it was learnt that people working with her lacked the courage to challenge her financial malfeasance.Due to her recent indictment, Onoh has not been offered another appointment as a diplomat despite staying 40 years in active service in the Ministry.Efforts made by SaharaReporters to get Onoh to react to the report were not successful as calls to her mobile lines did not connect. She also did not reply to a text message sent to her.
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