JUSTICE Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has adjourned for hearing, the bail application filed by the former Chairman of defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Mainauntil November 6.
Justice Abang had fixed Wednesday, October 30 for trial after listening to the submission of both the prosecution and defence counsels.
The defence counsel Ahmed Raji had prayed during the hearing on October 25 that the court allowed Maina extra time to prepare for his defence, while the prosecution counsel M.S Abubakar in opposition said that the court, deny the consideration of the application filed by the defence.
Upon the arguments from both counsels, Justice Abang ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison asking that he should be granted access to his lawyers.
Maina was arraigned by the Economic Crimes and Financial Commission (EFCC) on a 12-count charge, bothering on money laundering, operating fictitious bank accounts and fraud but he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
His son, Faisal, a final year Telecommunications Engineering student at a Dubai University was also arraigned on October 25 by the EFCC with fresh charges yet to be read, but some reports said Faisal was charged for allegedly shooting at security operatives in a bid to evade arrest.
The ICIR had reported about how Faisal attempted to escape at an Abuja hotel when operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) came to arrest his father.
Meanwhile, Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered the temporary forfeiture of 23 properties linked to Maina.
The order was based on an exparte application by the EFCC, which argued in sworn affidavits, that the properties are believed to be proceeds of the illicit activities of the defendant.
PROBE of the former Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has been halted by the Lagos High Court Ikeja on Wednesday till the determination of the court following a suit filed by Ambode.
Ambode filed a suit against the Speaker of the Lagos State Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, Clerk of the House and members of the probe committee over illegitimate procurement of 820 buses worth over N7 billion without budgetary approval.
The matter was adjourned pending the time the defendants of the suit will respond to the application filed by the former governor.
Lead counsels to the defendants, Adenike Oshinowo seek the court to give them time to respond to the application owing to the lateness in receiving it.
“We were served the notice very late yesterday and we shall be opposing the application and we are asking for a date,” she said.
The sitting judge on the case Y.A. Adesanya adjourned till 20th of November, 2019 for the respondents in the matter to respond to the plaintiff’s application.
Ambode alleged that the Lagos State House of Assembly of deliberately misrepresenting facts on the procurement of the 820 buses, saying was captured and approved by the Assembly in the 2018 Appropriation Law.
“In section 1 of the Bill, the 1st Defendant (House of Assembly) authorized the total Budget for the year 2018 to be One Trillion, Forty Six Billion, One Hundred and Twenty One Million, One Hundred and Eighty-One Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty Naira (N1,046,121,181,680.00) comprising the sum of Three Hundred and Forty Seven Billion, Thirty-Eighty Million, Nine Hundred and Thirty-Eight Thousand, Eight-Hundred and Seventy-Two Naira (N347,038,938,872.00) only and Six Hundred and Ninety-Nine Billion, Eighty-Two Million, Two Hundred and Forty-Two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty Naira (N699,082,242,808.00) only as the Recurrent and Capital Expenditures respectively.
“Part of the items authorized by the Bill under Capital Expenditure was: “LAGBUS Public Transport Infrastructure (MEPB); Part financing of 820 buses” which was item 8 under schedule 1- Part C of the Bill,” the suit stated.
Adesanya however after suspended of the probe, ordered that status quo remain till the determination of the court.
Ambode is scheduled to appaear before the Lagos state Assembly ad-hoc committee on 820 buses probe after the speaker of the assembly had threatened to issue a warrant of arrest on the Ambode if he continues to ignore invites by the assembly.
SEVEN men panel led by the Chief Justice of the Nation (CJN), Tanko Mohammed has dismissed the appeal of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential Candidate in the 2019 Elections, Atiku Abubakar at the Supreme Court.
Atiku filed an appeal on 66 grounds to the Supreme Court against the judgment of Mohammed Garba-led Presidential Electoral Petition Panel which upheld All Progressive Congress candidate, Muhammadu Buhari as winner of the February 23 Presidential Election.
Tanko Mohammed with Bode Rhodes-Vivour, Olukayode Ariwoola, John Okoro, Aminu Sanusi, Ejembi Eko and Uwani Abba-ji who are members of the Supreme Court panel dismissed the appeal on lack of merit.
Mohammed said the reasons for the decision of the panel would be made known on a later date.
He said the panel had read all the documents and exhibits filed in the case for two weeks and found the appeal to be lacking in merit.
The five-member panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court on September 11 held that Atiku and PDP failed to prove, beyond reasonable doubt, allegations of corruption and non-compliance with the Electoral Act against Buhari and the APC.
Atiku and PDP alleged that security agencies and agents of the APC committed acts of violence, vote-buying, manipulation of ballot papers, stuffing of ballot boxes, massive thumb-print of ballot papers, deflation and inflation of votes, among others in states such as Borno, Yobe, Niger, Katsina, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Gombe and Kebbi.
FORMER Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has approached the court to stop the probe by the House of Assembly concerning the 820 buses purchased before his exit as the governor.
Lagos State House of Assembly said it issued summons to Ambode concerning the alleged purchase of 850 buses worth over N7 billion without budgetary approval of the House.
Ambode is scheduled to appear before the House Committee on the probe on Wednesday after the Assembly reported that he has failed to honour their invite on two occasions.
The Assembly is reported to have threatened to issue a warrant of arrest on Ambode if he fails to appear before the committee on Wednesday.
In a counter move to stop the probe, Ambode on Tuesday approached the court to stop the probe scheduled to hold today.
His legal counsel, Tayo Oyetibo, filed an ex parte application to the Lagos High Court, asking the court to compel the assembly to stop the probe.
Ambode in his suit claimed that the Assembly is deliberately misrepresenting, noting that the 820 buses were included in the 2018 Appropriation bill that was approved by the House.
The suit listed the Speaker of the Lagos Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, Clerk of the House, A.A. Sanni as well as the members of the ad hoc committee set up for the purchase as defendants in the suit.
The sitting judge, Adesanya ordered the originating processes and all the accompanying processes filed by the claimant (Ambode) to be served on the defendants and subsequently fixed Wednesday, October 30, 2019, for a hearing of the motion for interlocutory injunction.
Adesanya ordered the defendants to appear before the court on Wednesday by 9 am after hearing the ex-parte moved by Ambode’s counsel.
WITNESS of the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has testified against the former minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, ex-minister of finance, Nenadi Usman and two others as the trial resumed on Tuesday.
Shehu Shuaibu told the court that the ministry of external affairs paid N800 million to a company, Joint Dimensions Limited with the absence of evidence of the contract.
Femi Fani-Kayode, Nenadi Usman, Danjuma Yusuf and Joint Trust Dimensions Limited appeared before the court as 1st, 2nd,3rd and 4th defendants respectively on 17 counts.
While the defendants pleaded not guilty, Shuaibu led by the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo presented Exhibit E8 which is the statement of account that belongs to Joint Trust Dimensions Limited.
Shuaibu said he found, from the statement of account, an inflow of N800m from the Ministry of External Affairs on January 16, 2015, which one Darbisu and one Benjamin were signatories to the firm’s account.
He said the two signatories are ex-officials of the Ministry of External Affairs, adding that they currently work with the National Intelligence Agency.
Under cross-examination, Shuaibu agreed with the first defence counsel, Chief Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), that “neither of the defendants had any input in making entries in Exhibit E8.”
The Judge, however, adjourned till October 31, 2019, for the continuation of trial.
Fani-Kayode and the others are being prosecuted in connection with campaign funding for the failed re-election bid of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
Fani-Kayode was the Director of Publicity of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential campaign organisation for the 2015 election and was accused of conspiring with the others to, directly and indirectly, retain various sums which according to the EFCC, were proceeds of crime.
One of the counts read that Fani-Kayode, Nenadi Usman and others are being prosecuted for conspiring among themselves to indirectly retain the sum of N1,500,000,000.00 which sum they reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: stealing.
According to the EFCC, the four allegedly retained N300m, N400m and N800m respectively, which are all proceeds of corruption.
LAST Thursday 24th October, a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of Concerned Nigerians approached the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to submit a petition against Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The petition bothers on how two bullion vans, driven into Tinubu’s Ikoyi residence on the eve of the 2019 Presidential election reportedly transported cash for the purpose of vote-buying.
Yet, the anti-graft agency, since the February 23rd poll has remained silent on the incident until the interest group led by Deji Adeyanju filed the petition.
Tinubu, who spoke shortly after casting his vote on the election day admitted in video footage that the vans were conveying money. He thereafter described those complaining about the bullion vans driving into his house as mischief-makers.
What is your headache? He asked journalists who queried him. “Are those ballot papers?” he said referring to the van. “So, even if I have money to spend in my premises, what is your headache?” he added.
The Bullion Vans entering Tinubu’s House File Copy
“Excuse me, if I don’t represent any agency of government and if I have money to spend…., if I like, I give it to the people free of charge, as long as is not to buy votes…..who are those watching my house looking for bullion vans, they must be mischief-makers.”
Tinubu is a strong loyalist of President Muhammadu Buhari, and also a major political kingpin in the ruling APC. In 2012, he conceived the merger of about four political parties to realise the APC, which eventually became the ruling party since 2015 general election.
However, the EFCC on Monday told The ICIR it already acknowledged receipt of the petition. But indication has shown that the petition may not get the desired attention anytime soon due to scores of petitions the commission has received both at its physical offices and through its website.
“Once you submit a petition, there is a waiting time. We receive hundreds of petitions throughout the country everyday,” says Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity. “…Investigation takes time. We are not police station where complaints come and we make an arrest. No, EFCC does not work like that. As people submit petitions in our offices the same way they drop petitions online.”
The spokesperson said once a petition is received, it would undergo a review process; the evidences are checked before the actual investigation commences if the claim has merit.
But, considering the status of the personality involved, The ICIR asked if there was a timeline to the investigation, Uwujaren only responded on the anticipated result of the petition. He could not provide an answer as to when exactly the accusation against the former Lagos State Governor would commence.
“I don’t know about that,” he stated. “Let’s look at the issue we have on ground first. I don’t want to get into a matter that is not before me at the moment. They have dropped petition, let’s wait for the outcome of the petition.”
“Our procedure is this, once we receive a petition we look at it. If it has merit, we will invite the petitioner to come and justify the petition, so there are times it takes some time because there are hundreds of petitions submitted daily.”
Meanwhile, prior to the petition, Segun Awosanya, Convener of the #EndSARS campaign had accused the EFCC of being docile over the vans allegation, despite picture evidence and popularity of the tweet, revealing the alleged crime.
Awosanya responded to the EFCC’s tweet which boasted of its constitutional mandate, citing Section 7 (1) of the EFCC Act 2004. It says it has the mandate to probe any persons if it appears such a person’s lifestyle and properties are not commensurate to his earnings.
But in his reaction, the activist said, “I’m sure this section only gives you an erection when it concerns Yahoo Boys and opposition politicians. While the miraculous self-aggrandisers in bed with those the head of the EFCC worships are immune to investigation.”
“Daylight bullion van exhibition of Bourdillon is justified right?” Awosanya had stated.
The commission in a tweet has tasked concerned citizens to file petitions on suspected corrupt practices, and some CSOs have already responded.
EFCC responds to a complainant via social media on how to reach out to the commission
EFCC is our partner but we lack prosecution power
Rotimi Lawrence, Spokesperson for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) while reacting to the petition excluded INEC’s involvement in the entire process but said except the anti-graft commission is able to investigate and establish the indictment; it may be difficult to comment on the matter.
Though the commission admitted vote-buying as an offense, which its partner the EFCC made several arrests during the same poll, it is more interested in corrupt incidents that occurred at the 176, 000 polling units nationwide.
His words: “Of course, we work with the EFCC to help us track any suspicious activity which could be linked to vote-buying. And because the EFCC is so experienced in tracking those involved, they are the ones to tell us.
“These are the things that cannot be answered except EFCC confirms that they received a petition, they investigated and this is linked to vote-buying. That is when INEC will be involved. We can only have case files to help prosecute whoever is involved. As it is now, we don’t have any say in the matter. Let the appropriate organisation investigate and make a determination.”
According to him, the essence of partnership with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Police and EFCC was to reduce incidences of vote-buying during elections.
What does the money laundry Act say
The Anti-Money Laundry Act put a cap of N5 million on cash that could be handled by private individuals. This implies that any cash transaction beyond N5 million should be done via bank. Though it’s uncertain what the content of the bullion van was, many assumed it was cash meant to influence the electorate. It is also assumed that it would be a tough decision for the anti-graft agency to probe the party chieftain. For instance, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) believed the accused would not be prosecuted due to his political affiliation.
Barrister Kayode Oguntuase, a practising lawyer at Ace Solicitors while reacting to the incidents said it is assumed that such a large sum, to be expended is more than the acceptable cash in possession of the party chieftain.
While emphasising that bullion vans are not to convey a little sum of money, he said every reasonable person would assume he was transporting large sum to his compound.
“Of course, you don’t need bullion van to transport N2 or N3 million and we have the anti-money laundry act, amended in 2016. It fixed a limitation on the amount of cash individual or corporate body can spend at a given time, N5 million for individuals and N10 million for corporate bodies.”
However, Oguntuase noted that the EFCC has the responsibility to intervene in the matter once prima facie is established. “Adeyanju has written a petition already, requesting the EFCC to query the matter. Tinubu is also a politically exposed person and he insisted it was his money, so I will be surprised if he is not probed by the EFCC.”
Another lawyer, Barrister Chukwunonso Akah, Head of Chambers, Ace Solicitors added that though EFCC may not respond to all petitions but once there is prima facie against the accused, there is no basis for the commission not to act on the matter.
Deji Adeyanju’s tweet days prior to the submission of the petition to the EFCC. Source: Twitter
Barrister Ifedayo Oluseye, Head of More Solicitors, in his reaction, also argued that considering the timing at which the bullion vans were driven to the accused person’s apartment – it calls for a question. He described the incident as abnormal, saying it is a criminal offense to have such vans in Tinubu’s apartment. According to him, it amounts to flouting the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
“It is abnormal to see a bullion van entering into someone’s apartment. Of course, we all know what the bullion van conveys. It is money…when you put 2 and 2 together; of course we know it contains money.”
But he emphasised on proving the case with reasonable evidence that the vans contained money. This, he noted how Tinubu granted an interview on the day of election affirming it was his money which he could spend at will. Aside, he recollected how the politician boasted he did not get any contract from the federal government but worked for his money.
“So, that is an admission that the content of the bullion van is money and it is a crime which calls for an investigation.”
He specifically mentioned the anti-money laundry and electoral acts as laws the former governor violated.
On INEC’s response that the incident did not occur at the polling units, Oluseye disagreed but emphasised on the timing the vans were driven to the politician’s apartment.
“At that point, it could be established that you have lots of would-be voters in his house because it was televised and this thing happened a day to the election.”
But Abiodun Salami, APC spokesperson in Lagos State disregarded the petition stressing that it lacks evidence.
“Let them come up with the proof. The man is a private citizen and he has been out of government for the past 12 years,” salami stated.
“If he has decided to spend his money on his party, how is that a problem? Let them come up with proof that somebody’s money is missing.”
A COUNCILLOR representing Kakuri Hausa, Ward, Kaduna South Local Government of the state, Theophilus Madami, has been arrested for offences bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N11,080,000.
The EFCC in a statement signed by its Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujarem on Tuesday said Madami was arrested by the Kaduna Zonal office of the commission.
The statement read in part: “The suspect, allegedly approached one, Ibrahim Ringim Haruna, Chief Executive Officer of Pyramid Supplied Services Limited, a distributor of pasta products, with claims that his council needed pasta products for distribution to its citizens”.
The anti-graft agency said the company consequently supplied products to Madami worth N16.8 million, who paid a deposit of N5 million, leaving a balance of N11.8 million balance.
The statement noted that after delivery of the goods, the suspect diverted the proceeds to his personal use and refused to pay up his debt as agreed.
The EFCC said Madami would be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.
THE Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has decried the alarming rate of fake news in the country, saying it is an imminent danger to the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.
Mohammed at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday said the present administration has no intention of muzzling the media or stifling free speech, but was focused on the fight against fake news and hate speech in the country.
In solving the menace of fake news, the minister said a campaign was launched to rid the nation’s airways of fake news and hate speech. He noted that a committee was also formed to ensure its implementation.
Mohammed said the committee was formed at the recommendation of President Muhammadu Buhari “to inject sanity into the country’s broadcast industry, flooded with unprofessional and unethical conduct of some broadcast stations, especially before and during the last general elections”.
The committee, according to him, is also saddle with ending all forms of monopoly detrimental to the actualization of the immense potential of the broadcast industry. He said the implementation would take effect once the committee submits its report.
“Gentlemen, since I launched the committee on the implementation of the approved measures, there have been reactions. Many have hailed our efforts at seeking to bring sanity to the airwaves, while some have attacked us and accused us of trying to stifle press freedom or gag journalists,” he said.
He said no amount of attacks, sponsored or otherwise, will stop the implementation of the approved recommendations, stating that only non-patriots and anarchists would kick against measures aimed at putting an end to fake news and hate speech, especially in our broadcast industry.
“However, if you engage in disseminating fake news or hate speech, you need to be worried, because we will not spare you.
“We cannot allow fake news and hate speech to become free speech, because these Siamese Twins of Evil are capable of inflicting untold damage on our democracy and threatening our national unity.
“Gentlemen, since we launched our reform of the broadcast industry, many Nigerians have reached out to us, demanding that we also look into how to sanitize the social media space.
“No responsible government will sit by and allow fake news and hate speech to dominate its media space, because of the capacity of this menace to exploit our national fault lines to set us against each others and trigger a national conflagration.
THE National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI) have commenced training of 18 third-party agents for cassava seeds inspection in Benue state.
The inspectors are expected to assist the seeds council on certification of quality cassava seeds to smallholder cassava farmers.
Phillip Ojo, the NASC Director-General while declaring the training open Monday in Makurdi, Benue State Capital, said the project is to develop a sustainable cassava seed system and well-trained third-party agents for the stakeholders in the sector.
According to him, in the last three years, the project developed technologies such as the Semis Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) for speeding up the propagation of clean cassava planting materials and the cassava seed tracker.
“The Council embarked on nationwide training of seed certification officers for cassava certification. In 2017 and 2018, the Council-certified 650 hectares and 1000 hectares of cassava seed fields respectively,” says Ojo.
However, he disclosed plans to increase the production of improved cassava materials, hence an increase in hectares of cassava seed production.
“You may wish to note that the number of seed companies has witnessed a dramatic increase from 156 in 2017 to 314 as of today with over 250 applications from prospective entrepreneurs.”
The DG thereafter warned that any agent found guilty of compromising seed quality would be sanctioned.
Hemant Nitturhen, the project director for the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) noted that since cassava is a major staple crop in the country, the training would boost better production and increase quality cassava seeds certification for smallholder farmers.
Though Nigeria is considered the world’s largest producer of cassava with 47.4 million tons as of 2014, in terms of value addition and international market penetration, it’s not doing so much.
As of March 2006, it annually produced 38 million metric tons but currently produces one-fifth of world cassava production put at 253.4 million tons with over N20 trillion potential in revenue generation.
HEAD of newsroom, senior investigative and data reporter of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Chikezie Omeje and Zimbabwean reporter Munyaradzi Makoni have bagged cash prize award of $3,000 each in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia for their reports in science journalism.
The award was presented during the Grand Challenges Annual meeting in Addis- Ababa, a meeting that brings scientists and policy makers together, creating solutions to global health problems.
The recognition was sponsored by the African Academy of Science, a non-governmental organisation based in Nairobi, Kenya with support from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Omeje is currently at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York majoring in Data Journalism.
His report on the mental injury inflicted on children by the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeastern part of Nigeria won him the award.
Capturing the experience of Blessing and Aisha who are Boko Haram victims, Omeje wrote about how the two teenagers witnessed the murder of their parents in cold blood and how the experience haunt them till date .
“Without psycho-social help, the girls have been forced to develop their own ways to cope with the anguish. They cuddle and pray. ‘I ask Allah to help us,’ Aisha says, drawing a retreating veil that reveals her cornrow braid to her forehead. ‘I pray to Jesus to deliver us’ adds Blessing, appearing a little taller than Aisha in her white gown,” Omeje wrote.
The second winner of the award, a Zimbabwean freelance journalist Makoni who is based in Cape Town, South Africa won with his report on solar-tracking bracelet for nomadic pregnant women in Kenya.
His story detailed the use of the solar powered GPS embedded in a bracelet given to nomadic pregnant women in semi-arid area of Marsabit County in Kenya in order to prevent maternal mortality.
Baby are delivered at home in this region, and mothers die from bleeding during childbirth and babies too, due to malnutrition.
Makoni showed how the disappearance of the funding in September may end the project targeted at saving lives of pregnant women.
He quoted Denis Kalikdane the handler of technology for the programme who emphasised that solar was the best option to power the GPS because only a few would have been able to afford it if it was on battery.
The bracelets are charged via a tiny fitted solar panel that absorbs light while on the wristwatch, Makoni wrote.
