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Metcalf Institute offers workshop on environmental reporting

Blessing OTOIBHI
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Metcalf Institute offers workshop on environmental reporting

THE Metcalf Institute is accepting applications for the Annual Science Immersion Workshop for Journalists.

The workshop is designed to help Fellows gain new insights, sources and resources to aid their reporting, expand peer networks with journalists from around the globe, and produce accurate and contextualised reporting on globally relevant environmental issues.

The in-person workshop will be held at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, Rhode Island, from June 11, 2023 to June 16, 2023.

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The virtual workshop will take place June 21, 23, 28 and 30, 2023.

Journalists from all media who want to improve their skills in environmental reporting can apply for a virtual and in-person workshop.

Participants will receive a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of research practice, climate science and adaptation measures from researchers and policymakers to break local climate change stories.

Journalists of colour are strongly encouraged to apply.

The deadline for the submission of the application is February 6, 2023. Interested applicants can apply here.

NRC warns residents, motorists against illegal railway crossings

Ijeoma OPARA
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NRC warns residents, motorists against illegal railway crossings

THE Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has warned residents and road users in the Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) against using illegal level railway crossings.

The NRC gave the warning in a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Public Relations, Yakubu Mahmood.

Mahmood urged residents to use constructed overpasses available in the area, noting that they are safer alternatives for crossing railways.

“The Board and Management of NRC wish to notify the public that there are two constructed over passes at different locations within the Kubwa, Abuja environs. This is for ease and safety of crossing railway lines of Abuja l—Kaduna Train Service.

“However, motorists have, for reasons best known to them, resorted to using illegally constructed level crossings, which have been in recent times fatal because of collision by the moving trains,” the statement said.

Speaking on the risks and dangers involved, he noted that the over passes constructed were in line with the Nigerian government’s railway modernisation policy to ensure safety of motorists and trains in the city.

“NRC hereby enjoins motorists and other road users to always use the over passes for their safety instead of the illegal level crossings that portrays great risks and danger to their lives and property,’’ Mahmood said.

The warning is coming after a Kaduna-bound train, on December 15, crushed a female driver to death at the Chikakore axis of Kubwa in Abuja.

The woman was later identified as Selimota Idowu Suleiman, a staff of the National Television Authority (NTA), Channel Five.

Fayose allies reject PDP presidential campaign committee appointments in Ekiti

Vincent Ufuoma
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Fayose allies reject PDP presidential campaign committee appointments in Ekiti

SOME allies of a former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, have rejected their appointment as members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Committee (PCC) and Campaign Management Committee (CMC) in Ekiti State.

The Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation and governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, had on Sunday announced the list of the campaign committee for the state.

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According to the list released by Tambuwal, the PDP presidential campaign committee in Ekiti is to be led by the party’s candidate in the June 18 governorship election, Bisi Kolawole.

However, Kolawole, in a letter addressed to Tambuwal on Monday, December 19, rejected the composition of the campaign committee, noting that he won’t work with people who he said worked against him during the governorship election.

He claimed that most of the people in the campaign committee were in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and worked against the PDP and his ambition during the governorship poll.

Kolawole described the decision of the party to reject the list he compiled after consultation with stakeholders as unacceptable, but stated that he would continue in his personal capacity to be committed and loyal to the party.

According to him, it amounts to condoning disloyalty and indiscipline for the party to reward other party members, a development which he said would send a wrong message to the public.

“However, in spite that I regard this appointment as an honour, I wish to state that I will not be able to function in the midst of people who openly and gladly worked against my election,” he said.

“As it was done in other states, I was given a template and instructed to come up with list of members of the Presidential Campaign Council and Campaign Management Committee.

“In arriving at the list, I followed the template and consulted relevant stakeholders, most importantly National Assembly candidates whose elections are on the same date as that of the President.

“Also, in the meeting with the Vice Presidential Candidate of our party, His Excellency, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, it was agreed that the list was okay and that it should only be moderated by including about three or five names.

“By ignoring that list and including people who are still in the Social Democratic Party (SDP), it is a clear indication that the Presidential Campaign Organization does not respect its own decisions. Also, the SDP members included in the Campaign Management Committee are people who left PDP before the governorship election, and have not returned to the party.

“With their inclusion in the Campaign Committee, how will they function when their party, the SDP, is also fielding candidates for National Assembly and the National Assembly elections will hold same day as that of the President?

“Will they be campaigning for the presidential candidate of our party and at the same time be campaigning for the Senatorial and House of Representatives candidates of the SDP?”

Other PDP members, including Omotoso Okaya, who was appointed to serve on the committee as Assistant Secretary, the Directorate of Research and Strategy, also rejected their nomination to serve on the committee in the state.

In the same vein, some PDP National Assembly candidates in the state for the 2023 general elections also rejected the composition of the Campaign Management Committee for the state, saying it comprised people who would work against their ambitions.

The party’s National Assembly candidates, including, Lateef Ajijola, Funso Ayeni, Oluyinka Akerele, Lere Olayinka, Adenike Emiola, Joju Fayose and Babatunde Ajayi also rejected their appointments in a joint letter addressed to Tambuwal.

The letter was titled, ‘Rejection of Ekiti State PCC and Campaign Management Committee’.

They said some of the persons appointed as directors of campaign for the Ekiti Central and North Senatorial districts are members of the SDP, a party they said is fielding senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates in the 2023 general elections.

The implication, they said is that SDP members would work against their campaigns for the election.

Peter Obi tops list of Nigeria’s presidential candidates with claims checked to be TRUE in 2022

Raji Olatunji
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Peter Obi tops list of Nigeria’s presidential candidates with claims checked to be TRUE in 2022

SINCE political parties’ primaries ended around mid-year, presidential candidates have kicked off their nationwide campaign activities, making several claims ahead of Nigeria’s 2023 general elections.

This was after the nation’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), lifted the ban on political campaigns for the 2023 general elections in September 2022.

This pre-election year is a critical moment in Nigeria’s current electoral cycle.

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In the run-up to the election year, The FactCheckHub has since been on the lookout for potential claims from all the candidates, including presidential, governorship, federal and state lawmakers etc that may influence the outcome of the electioneering process.

That has led to fact-checking several claims made by some of the presidential candidates on different occasions.

The presidential candidates that have been fact-checked in the build-up to the 2023 polls include Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Others are Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), Kola Abiola of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Peter Umeadi of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

Aside from granting press interviews, the presidential candidates have taken part in presidential town hall series being aired by news media channels in partnership with civil society groups and the Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition.

A review of the fact-checks carried out on claims made by the leading presidential candidates so far and published on The FactCheckHub showed that Peter Obi has the highest number of claims found to be true.

Ten of the claims Peter Obi made in the year under review were checked to be correct. This is the highest compared to other presidential candidates that have been fact-checked by this medium.

Atiku Abubakar and Omoyele Sowore recorded two correct claims each while Kola Abiola and Adewole Adebayo had one each.

PETER OBI – LP

Obi claimed that Northern states made up the top 10 poorest states in Nigeria. It was mostly true as findings revealed that Ebonyi, a Southeastern state, was among the top 10 poorest states.

During ‘The Candidates’ presidential town hall series hosted by Daria media, Obi made four claims found to be true.

He claimed that over 130 million Nigerians live in poverty. He also claimed that Nigeria’s export was N18.9 trillion in 2021.

He added that River Nile is over 1,000 kilometres longer than River Niger and River Benue combined.

He further claimed that oil contributes less than 10 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP.

At the Arise News presidential town hall series held on December 4, 2022, Obi made five claims found to be true.

The LP flagbearer claimed that the average life expectancy in Nigeria is 55 while the global average is 72.9 years.

He claimed that the education budget in Nigeria is less than 10 per cent in six years.

Obi also stated that Nigeria is rated 163 out of 191 countries in the global Human Development Index (HDI).

He said that education is among the three indices used in measuring human development index.

Obi also claimed that Nigeria’s total health budget in the last six years is N2 trillion, 250 billion.

ATIKU ABUBAKAR – PDP

Atiku Abubakar made two claims at Arise News presidential town hall, which were found to be true.

He said Nigeria’s poverty rate when PDP was in government was not as high as it is under the present administration.

The PDP flagbearer also claimed that agriculture is the highest employer of labour in Nigeria.

OMOYELE SOWORE – AAC

Omoyele Sowore made two claims found to be true during ‘The Candidates’ presidential town hall series.

He said that Korea and Senegal do not have Senate.

The AAC flag bearer also claimed that the Nigerian government still funds electricity despite privatizing it.

ADEWOLE ADEBAYO – SDP

One of Adewole Adebayo’s claims at The candidates presidential town hall series was found to be true.

The SDP flagbearer claimed that the counterpart health funding is not being paid in Nigeria.

KOLA ABIOLA – PRP

Also, one of Kola Abiola’s claims at ‘The Candidates’ presidential town hall series was found to be true.

The PRP flagbearer claimed that his party is the oldest political party in Nigeria.

Obi has been the subject of multiple fact-checks, which some pundits attribute to be due to his media visibility and appearances, which seems to be more than most of the other presidential candidates.

This report was written by FactChecHub, and republished by The ICIR as part of the Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition initiative. See the original piece here.

States to access $20 million covid stimulus fund based on performance – FG

Harrison EDEH
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States to access $20 million covid stimulus fund based on performance – FG

STATE governments should be able to access $20 million COVID-19 support fund from the Federal government if they meet the performance target set by World Bank independent accessors.

The money is a $750 million loan support from the World Bank to the Federal for on-lending to the states.

The Federal Capital Territory is also expected to access $15 million from the fund, the Federal government said.

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Nigeria’s Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, gave the information on Monday in Abuja during an interaction with newsmen.

Agba, emphasising that the fund would be performance-tied, said, “What has been disbursed so far is N950 million per state.The states are expected to put these funds to what they have signed up to, as specified by worked-out templates on livelihood (conditional cash transfers) or Micro Small and Medium Enterprises category.”

He explained that independent accessors would visit each of the states to see what they had applied, while also evaluating their capacity to access and manage the funds.

“The states can get a maximum of $20 million tied to their performance. The independent accessors would give the nod before states can make such access,” he said.

Commenting on the reports on Nigeria’s multidimensionally poor report released recently by the National Bureau of Statistics, the Minister said proper spread and mapping of developmental projects would lessen rising poverty.

He noted that the Budget and National Planning ministry was willing to work with states on proper spread of projects, to lesson rising incidences of rural poverty.

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“The multi-dimensional poverty report which revealed 133 million Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor was produced in partnership with the states and federal government.

“We are  still lagging behind on rural poverty. It will take the media to get the conversation going till we get it right by keeping these issues at the front burner at both states and local government level,” he added.

N240m money laundering conviction: Okupe released after paying N13m fine

Bankole ABE
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N240m money laundering conviction: Okupe released after paying N13m fine

THE Director General of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council Doyin Okupe, who was convicted for money laundering on Monday, December 19, has been released after paying a fine of N13 million.

As a result, he will no longer serve the two-year jail sentence handed to him by the court.

Okupe was found guilty of receiving over N200 million cash from a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.

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An Abuja Federal High Court presided by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu convicted Okupe for receiving cash over the threshold permitted by the Money Laundering Act from former NSA.

He was charged with breaching sections 16(1) and (2) of the Money Laundering Act while serving as Senior Special Assistant on Media to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Okupe in 2019 on a 59-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and diversion of funds to the tune of N702 million.

He was arraigned alongside two companies – Value Trust Investment Ltd and Abrahams Telecoms Ltd.

Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Ojukwu held that Okupe violated provisions of the Act, which stated that no individual or organization should receive any sum above N5 million and N10 million, respectively, without passing through a financial institution.

The court held that receiving such amounts in cash violated the Money Laundering Act, adding: “There is no evidence that the money passed through a financial institution.”

She noted that the Office of the NSA is not a financial institution and that even if the President had authorized the funds, he did not say the money must be paid in cash, in violation of the Money Laundering Act.

“I find the first defendant, Dr Doyin Okupe, guilty in counts 34, 35, 36…59,” the court declared.

However, the court gave an option of N13 million fine, which should be paid before 4.30 pm, on Monday, December 19.

It was gathered that Okupe succeeded in paying his fine before the deadline and was allowed to go.

Shortly after his release, Okupe tweeted, “God is not man. The enemies have tried in so many ways but kept on failing. Victory is of God.”

We have power to probe state finances, EFCC replies Agbakoba

Faith ABEKA
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We have power to probe state finances, EFCC replies Agbakoba

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has faulted claims by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), that it has no power to probe a state’s finances.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, the anti graft agency described the senior lawyer’s comments as “indecorous and utterly irresponsible”.

Agbakoba, while speaking with journalists in Lagos on Sunday, said only the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and state assemblies have the responsibility to probe state expenditure.

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“Like the current trending case where the EFCC arrested some people in Kogi State on allegations of money laundering, I believe that case should not be the business of the EFCC at all,” Agbakoba said.

“Is it their business how Kogi spends their money? Even if it is their business, is it their lawful business to make that enquiry?”

The EFCC vowed that no amount of intimidation and sponsored attacks will deter it from investigating cases of corruption at any level of government.

The ICIR reported that Aliyu Bello, a relative of Governor Yahaya Bello, alongside one Dauda Sulaiman, were arraigned before an Abuja Federal High Court over alleged N10 billion money laundering.

The development followed charges filed by the EFCC.

Faulting Agbakoba, the EFCC accused the lawyer of wrongly casting aspersions on its commitment to the rule of law.

The anti-graft agency also refuted Agbakoba’s claim of that it was engaging in media trial.

The Commission said Agbakoba was ‘playing the ostrich’ by continually harping on Section 46 of the EFCC Act while ignoring Section 7 of the same Act and various provisions of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act, the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offenses Act, among others, which gave the agency power to investigate all fraud cases.

“In all his tirades no evidence was presented to support his claim that the EFCC has been lawless nor did he mention any law which the Commission’s investigation of the finances of the Kogi State Government violated.

“Instead his refrain was to a non-existent decision of the Supreme Court which he also failed to elaborate upon.”

At last, Messi immortalises his football fairytale

Joel Ayomide ADEJOLA
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At last, Messi immortalises his football fairytale

ON Sunday, December 18, under the glittering lights of the Lusail Stadium, the world watched one of this century’s best footballers, Lionel Messi, win his maiden World Cup title with Argentina.

To date, the esteemed crown was the only one that eluded the Argentine maestro.

In his debut tournament in 2006, he was ushered in with a standing ovation in acknowledgement of his brimming talents. Messi played a bit-part role, starting only one game in the group stage before Argentina was knocked out.

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He kicked off the 2010 tournament against Nigeria — in a matchup that would become a trademark fixture for the transatlantic countries. It was the first time he donned the No. 10 jersey, once won by legend Diego Maradona. Nonetheless, Argentina still fell to Germany in the quarter-finals.

The same European side again stopped Messi four years later. He bagged a brace (two goals) against Nigeria, was on the mark in all the group-stage matches and was crowned the best player at the tournament. However, Germany grabbed the honours in the extra time of the final.

In 2018, Kylian Mbappe’s France stopped the Argentine’s progress in the round of 16, creating an even grander backdrop and narrative for the game on Sunday. Messi, the ageing giant of 20th-century football, would have a second shot at fate against Mbappe and France, who obstructed his ascent to glory four years ago.

Kylian Mbappe of France and Lionel Messi of Argentina during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 (from Getty Images)

As expected, this clash of fate stirred up one of the most heart-wrenching matches in modern football history.

What happened?

Argentina was first to the sword. They started the game majestically and prevented France from mustering a shot in the first hour.

Messi gave Argentina the lead from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute after Ousmane Dembele brought down Angel di Maria in the penalty box. He dispatched it and became the first player in World Cup history to score in the group stage, last 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final of a single tournament.

A few moments later, the Argentine laid off the ball for Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister, who set up Di Maria for the game’s second goal.

France’s head coach Didier Deschamps resorted to a double substitution on the cusp of half-time to salvage the situation. Meanwhile, Argentina headed into the second half with a seemingly comfortable lead; the supporters envisioned the trophy lift, and the highly anticipated final seemed like a one-sided affair.

Or so we thought.

Substitute Randal Kolo Muani found himself at the end of an Otamendi challenge and won a penalty for Les Bleus. Mbappé strode to the spot and slotted the ball just past the outstretched reach of Emiliano Martinez. The crowd went wild, and fans from every corner of the globe held their breath. The game was on.

France used the momentum to keep the pressure on. Within minutes of scoring the first, Mbappé, again, played a quick combination at the edge of the penalty area, then contorted his frame to strike a freakish first-time volley into the net. France seemed to have unleashed the demons of the past. In 2018, Mbappé’s quick-fire second-half brace helped France seal the victory against Argentina.

Kylian Mbappe of France scores a goal to make it 2-2 during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match (from Getty Images)

The game went into extra time.

Messi led Argentina’s charge and almost caught out Hugo Lloris with a belter from outside the box. The French goalkeeper was up to the task. However, at the second time of asking, he could not prevent Messi from tapping the ball past the goal line.

With ten minutes left on the clock, the Argentina players anxiously celebrated what seemed to be a winner while France paused and looked at the screen in agony. Was it too late?

Mbappe conjured another penalty after his shot struck Gonzalo Montiel’s arm. The man from Paris kept his cool and smashed his third goal of the game, becoming the first player to do so since Geoff Hurst in 1966.

The reality matched expectations; the two stars of the day put all their tools on display, but the game would be decided in a penalty shootout. The Paris Saint-Germain teammates stepped up first and dispatched their sides’ respective penalties. They had done their part.

However, history sided with the 36-year-old Messi, his compatriots, at both ends of the penalty spot, delivered to bring the cup home.

Lionel Messi was a World Cup champion.

What does this mean?

Amongst other things, the win embellished the 36-year-old’s greatness. Over the past two decades, his extraordinary feats won the hearts of many supporters worldwide, yet this title inscribed his legacy onto their memories. The world will never forget, and generations will echo his allure.

At last, the man from Rosario, Argentina, brought football’s grandest trophy home, ending a 36-year wait.

Bandits kill over 28 residents in Southern Kaduna communities

Bankole ABE
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0
Bandits kill over 28 residents in Southern Kaduna communities

BANDITS reportedly killed over 28 residents in Southern Kaduna communities on Sunday night.

It was gathered that bandits launched attacks on Malagum 1 and Sokwong communities of Kagoro town, in the Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, while confirming the development, said the military and other security agencies reported that the bandits also razed houses during the attack.

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“Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed deep sadness at the report of the incident and prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed while offering condolences to their families.

“The Governor condemned the attacks as inhuman, considering the efforts of government, security forces, the traditional institution and other critical stakeholders within the last week.

“The Governor has also directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to urgently provide relief materials to the communities,” Aruwan said.

He said security intervention is being coordinated by the Defence Headquarters Operation Safe Haven at the location and promised that the state government would make public further details on the incident.

Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kaduna State Chapter said it was mourning the death of over 28 innocent, defenceless people of the Mallagum community in the Kagoro area who were brutally slaughtered on Sunday night.

“This massacre has further proven that the killers of the Southern Kaduna people have not yet been neutralized as claimed.

“The Federal Government and the security agencies must not let the killers escape. Those who committed this evil must be fished out, arrested, and brought to face justice.

“These renewed killings may be a strategy to scare the people from exercising their rights and to further increase fear and impoverish them. We are calling on the government and security agencies to rise to the duty of protecting lives and property,” a statement issued by the Kaduna State CAN said.

Attempts to get the reaction of the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Jalige, were unsuccessful as he did not answer calls while messages sent to his phone were not replied.

Earlier in April, bandits also killed 25 persons in Southern Kaduna,

The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) described the killing as horrendous.

While addressing a press conference in Kaduna, SOKAPU National President Jonathan Asake said heavily armed suspected Fulani militia attacked some communities in Kamaru ward, Chawai Chiefdom of Kauru Local Government Area, killing no fewer than 25 persons, including a 102-year-old man.

Money Laundering: Court jails LP campaign chief, Doyin Okupe

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
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0
Money Laundering: Court jails LP campaign chief, Doyin Okupe

AN Abuja Federal High Court has sentenced the Director General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Doyin Okupe, to two years imprisonment for breaching the Money Laundering Act.

However, the court gave an option of N500,000 fine which should be paid before 4.30pm of Monday, December 19.

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The court presided by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu convicted Okupe for receiving cash over the threshold permitted by the Money Laundering Act from former National Security Adviser (NSA). Col. Sambo Dasuki.

Okupe was charged for breaching sections 16(1) and (2) of the Money Laundering Act while he was serving as Senior Special Assistant on Media to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Okupe in 2019 on a 59-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and diversion of funds to the tune of N702 million.

He was arraigned alongside two companies – Value Trust Investment Ltd and Abrahams Telecoms Ltd.

Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Ojukwu held that Okupe violated provisions of the Act which stated that no individual or organization shall receive any sum above N5 million and N10 million respectively without passing through a financial institution.

“There is no evidence that the money passed through a financial institution,” the judge said, adding that the Office of the National Security Adviser lacks the autonomy to pay the amount in cash.

In his defense, Okupe had told the court that the money was expended on office management, staff salary and wage and image laundering of the former president and his administration.

However, the court held that receiving such amounts in cash violated the Money Laundering Act.

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