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ICPC seals NFF vice president, Shehu Dikko’s residence over corruption allegation

Nneoma BENSON
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ICPC seals NFF vice president, Shehu Dikko’s residence over corruption allegation

THE Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences (ICPC) on Friday sealed the residence of the second vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Shehu Dikko in Abuja.

Dikko’s house on No. 1 River Benue, Maitama was sealed by operatives of the Commission after securing a forfeiture order from a Federal High Court, Abuja.

Spokesperson of ICPC, Rasheedat Okoduwa who confirmed that the NFF’s chief house was sealed, said the action was in line with an ongoing investigation on a fresh corruption allegation in the Federation.

According to Okoduwa, the ongoing investigation is  targeted at revealing alleged financial irregularities in the football association, with Dikko and other executives inclusive. 

“Yes it was sealed by the ICPC,” she told The ICIR.

“It’s because we have an investigation that is ongoing regarding some fresh allegation against him and some other persons. That’s why the house was sealed”

When asked to name other officials of NFF being investigated, Okoduwa replied, “I wouldn’t tell you that because the investigation is still ongoing, and those other persons are still be run-down, so I can’t say too much regarding them, you guys would be informed in due course of time”

She would also not disclose the amount of money involved arguing that disclosing such would jeopardise the investigation.

“I can’t give you such information. If I give you clue into the allegation, that would keep-off those other persons that I say are involved, and they would go into hiding,” Okoduwa said.

“I’m not going to tell you now, but as I said, as its unfolds, you will get to know. We would issue a statement about the development.”

The NFF has long been under the surveillance of the various Anti-graft agencies, such as the ICPC, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Special Presidential Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property (SPIP).

Nigerians cannot bear the burden of your VAT increase, PDP tells Buhari

Olugbenga ADANIKIN
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Nigerians cannot bear the burden of your VAT increase, PDP tells Buhari

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday told President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government to rescind its decision on the approved Value Added Tax (VAT) increase which it said would kill the already worsened nation’s economy.

Describing the decision as oppressive, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP National Publicity Secretary in a statement said his party frowned at the new tax policy, even as he appealed to the National Assembly (NASS) to intervene in the development.

Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning had on Wednesday, after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held in Abuja, announced the increase of VAT increase from 5 to 7.2 per cent.

But the opposition party noted that “indeed, only an administration that does not have the mandate of the people can seek to adopt such oppressive stance against its citizens.

“President Buhari ought to be aware that an increase in VAT will worsen our decrepit economy and put more pressure on families and business as it will result in increase in costs of goods and services that have a direct bearing on the welfare of the people,” Ologbondiyan said.

“Our party charges the Buhari Presidency not to further punish Nigerians by imposing harsh tax regime to make up for its crass incompetence and lack of capacity to effectively harness and manage our resources to create wealth for the benefit of the people.”

He said the party rejected the tax increase stressing that the current administration should rather harness all available resources, as Nigerians would find it difficult to bear the economic burden of the increase.

“It is more painful that the Buhari Presidency cannot give an account of the huge resources at its disposal, including the taxes it has been collecting in the last four years, most of which are frittered to service the wasteful lifestyle of the cabal at the Presidency and APC chieftains,” the PDP spokesperson said.

“Instead of foisting more tax burden on Nigerians, the PDP charges President Buhari to account for and recover the over N14 trillion oil money established to have been stolen under his watch in the last four years”.

Nigerians should be enjoying economic development blueprint designed by Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and presidential candidate in the 2019 election, the PDP said.

Meanwhile, a coalition of civil society organisations had earlier condemned the VAT increase, challenging the Federal Government to focus on illicit financial flows out of the country and how multinationals evade taxes.

 

Buhari to attend ECOWAS counter-terrorism summit in Burkina Faso

Jennifer UGWA
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Buhari to attend ECOWAS counter-terrorism summit in Burkina Faso

PRESIDENT Mohammadu Buhari will depart Abuja on Saturday to attend a one-day Extraordinary Summit on Counter-Terrorism, for Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Head of States in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the president made this known through a statement in Abuja on Friday.

The decision to hold the summit according to the aide was reached during the 55th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Authority Head of States and Government in June and would serve as an avenue to review previous initiatives explored already and update crucial intervention areas to counter terrorists attacks within the sub-regions.

“In Ouagadougou, ECOWAS leaders are expected to adopt a priority action plan on counter-terrorism and put in place a mechanism to monitor the implementation of the measures adopted towards ensuring lasting peace in the sub-region,’’ Adesina said.

Governors Abubakar Bello of Niger, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia states would accompany the president to Burkina Faso.

Some other members on the entourage would include the Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bashir Magashi, Minister of Defence, Babagana Monguno, the National Security Adviser, and Ahmed Abubakar, Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

Tax increase will worsen poverty, inequality, TJGP cautions FG on VAT

Olugbenga ADANIKIN
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Tax increase will worsen poverty, inequality, TJGP cautions FG on VAT

A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Friday warned that the increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT) by the Federal Government from five to 7.2 per cent would further increase inequality and exacerbate poverty in the country.

The six-member coalition under the aegis of Tax Justice and Governance Platform (TJGP) said that rather than increasing the VAT, deliberate pro-poor policies should be developed to protect the masses, which according to the group are more significant in the national population.

Members of the Non-Governmental Organisations include Christian Aid, Action Aid Nigeria, Centre for Democracy and Development, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, OXFAM Nigeria and Imo state Tax Justice and Governance Platform.

“As it has been demanded by many Nigerians and groups, we call on the federal government to pay serious attention to widening the tax net rather than increasing the rate which will only place more burden on the few that complies already and still exempt the majority that does not pay taxes,” it states in a statement.

“We want to state our position for advocacy and campaign which is that Government designs and implements policies and programmes that enhance the welfare of the poor and protects disadvantaged groups that constitute much of the Nigerian population and address issues of inequality.”

The Federal Government on Wednesday had announced at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) that it would increase tax as part of efforts to increase national revenue for developmental projects.

The Coalition further charged the Federal Government to consider some thematic issues such as; who bears the burden of the tax increment? What main drivers could justify the decision for a VAT increment? What are the real issues around VAT: Remittance (collection) or Rate? How well has the little been used and what are the assurances that an increase would alleviate economic conditions? What systematic measures have been taken to ensure tax compliance? Are there no other options available to the government to mobilize revenue?

Hence, it tasked the government to provide additional information and details on proposed measures for the purposes of public debate and multi‐stakeholder input.

It stated further the need for empirical projections and evidence-based expected outputs that could indicate that the tax yield from some of the measures would outweigh any disadvantage and potential negative impact and that the majority of Nigerians would be the ultimate beneficiaries of the proposed measures.

“These include reducing the tax incentives granted to multinationals which is not even much of a contributor to their existence in the Nigerian business environment. Consider full digitalization of the processes of tax administration to curb leakages in the system.

“Support the establishment of the beneficial ownership register in Nigeria as a measure to know people’s real worth and what they are liable to pay as tax.

“Fully implement the BVN policy as a measure of tracking peoples’ tax liabilities especially the high net worth individuals in the country who has been alleged of not paying taxes at all.”

The group, however, welcomed the VAIDS initiative as an opportunity to increase tax net, stressing that though, it is yet to yield the optimum result expected, “there are still myriads of companies and other taxable entities in Nigeria who are not in the tax net and still not convicted or punished in any way.”

It also advised the Federal Government to concentrate more on proper collection of appropriate tax from multinationals and large corporations accused of benefitting from ‘undeserved tax incentives and had for years engaged in tax avoidance practices”.

The TJGP Nigeria is a group of CSOs advocating for the promotion of a progressive, fair and transparent system in which domestic resources are effectively mobilized through an efficient tax system, utilized for people-oriented development and provision of essential services that benefit majority of citizens, including the poor and disadvantaged groups.

FACT CHECK: Has Seyi Makinde reduced LAUTECH tuition fee? No

Rebecca Akinremi
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FACT CHECK: Has Seyi Makinde reduced LAUTECH tuition fee? No

THE claim about the reduction in tuition fee of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) has been made by two popular social media users, both on Facebook and Twitter.

A Facebook group called PDP Social Media Observer Group posted on September 10 that Seyi Makinde, Governor of Oyo State governor, reduced the tuition fee of LAUTECH to 65,000.

The group wrote: “Gov Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has reduced the tuition fee of LAUTECH from N250,000 to N65,000.

It described that as what “a governor should be”.

The group which itself has 62, 379 followers, at the time of writing, made the post more prominent as not less than 1,500 people shared it, while it received more than 1,200 likes.

Most of the comments on the group show that quite a number of people have believed in the information as some people commended the governor for the job done.

Earlier on September 6, a similar claim was made on Twitter.

Oladele Dada who posted the information was funded by United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to study Media and Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue course at the Athabasca University, Canada which he completed in 2015.

He had a total follower of 6,369 people as at the time of writing this report.

https://twitter.com/realoladele/status/1169874972321316864?s=20

 

But checks by The ICIR revealed that the tuition fee of the University was not reduced to N65, 000. In fact, the institution fee has not been reviewed in 2019.

It is not from us — Media Aide to Governor Makinde

Chief Press Secretary to Makinde, Taiwo Adisa, told The ICIR that the Oyo State Government has no capacity to unilaterally reduce the tuition fee of the institution.

“The school belongs to two states. How can one of them now announce that it has cut the school fees when there are two owners,”  he said.

“It is not from us,” Adisa disassociated the state government from the post.

LAUTECH is jointly owned by Oyo  and Osun states.

Makinde had only recently said on September 5 that Oyo  State Government was ready to pay the Osun State’s share of the salary for the university staff.

“We’ve signed for workers’ payments but since it’s owned by both Osun and Oyo states, unfortunately, Osun State has not paid. This can not continue.

“Oyo State will have to pay the salary of LAUTECH (Osun’s share) because I don’t want the students to suffer,” Makinde had said.

No directive to review the tuition fees- LAUTECH spokesperson

Fadeyi Lekan, spokesperson of the institution, said the school has not received any directive to the effect of reviewing of the tuition fees in 2019. He added that the last time it was reviewed was 2018.

“We have not received such a directive,” said Lekan.

According to Agboola Sodeeq, a 200 level student in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering in LAUTECH, the tuition fee of the school ranges from N90,000 to N170,000.

He said the school has not made any statement regarding any reduction of the tuition fees. Sodeeq said the last time the fee was reviewed was in 2018.

He noted that the tuition fee for the indigenes of both Osun and Oyo states is different from the one non-indigenes pay.

“The indigenes pay N140,000, N120,000 and N90,000 in their 100, 200 and 300-500 levels respectively.

“Non-indigenes pay N170,000, N150,000 and N100,000 in their 100, 200, and 300-500 levels in that order,” he said.

Verdict

Thus, the claim that the governor of Oyo State has reduced the tuition fee of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) is false.

Justice for FUOYE: SERAP, Eleka, others condemn killing of students by Nigeria police, demand justice

Editorial
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Justice for FUOYE: SERAP, Eleka, others condemn killing of students by Nigeria police, demand justice

By DANIEL Whyte

NIGERIANS have taken to Twitter to condemn the arbitrary shooting and extrajudicial killing of students of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State, by security operatives attached to the wife of Ekiti state governor, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi.

The ICIR earlier reported how two students of the university died from gunshot wounds sustained after policemen opened fire at them on Tuesday evening.

One of the victims, Oluwaseyi Kehinde, a first-year student of Crop Science and Horticulture, was buried amid tears and wailings on Thursday.

Using the hashtag #JusticeForFUOYE, many have since condemned the incident and called for the investigation and prosecution of the culprits.

SERAP, a non-profit legal and advocacy organisation, condemned the excessive use of force by the police against the student protesters.

“We condemn the reported unlawful killing of at least 2 students of #FUOYE by @PoliceNG,” it tweeted on Thursday. 

“The police reportedly used live ammunition and other forms of excessive force against protesting students and injured & arbitrarily detained some of them.”

SERAP noted that Nigerian students have the right to protest without losing their lives or getting arrested.

The NGO urged that “the Nigerian authorities MUST promptly and thoroughly investigate the unlawful killings and hold to account all those responsible.”

On the whereabouts of some other students believed to have been arrested by the police in connection with the Tuesday, protest, SERAP demanded for their immediate release.

“The authorities should reveal the students’ whereabouts and release them immediately and unconditionally. The familiar tactic of violence and abuses by @PoliceNG to silence dissent will not solve any of Nigeria’s problems,” it further said.

“The @UNHumanRights, the African Union, and others should also press the Nigerian authorities for an independent investigation into the killings, all abuses during the protests in Oye-Ekiti. Federal University of Oye-Ekiti students deserve justice, reparation, adequate compensation.”

SERAP conclusively noted that its “legal team is closely monitoring the situation in Oye and will take legal action as appropriate” while emphasising that “Nigerian authorities must unambiguously call a halt to the violence, ensure justice for the victims, and allow students and other Nigerians to exercise their right to protest.”

Among others who have strongly condemned the killings is Segun Awosanya, convener of the EndSARS movement.

“The victims of the murderous convoy have parents, who are currently grieving and the unelected & presumed mother who claimed to be on an empowerment program is justifying the murders by the slimy attempt to save her face by playing victim?!” he tweeted on Wednesday.

“The @PoliceNG officers must be named and the vicarious liability pursued to the letter. Anyone with details of the family of the deceased should reach out to us. Has Gov @kfayemi made a statement yet? Does citizens life matter to him?

“So four unarmed promising students were gunned down needlessly and these folks believe it can be swept under the carpet by brown envelope media spin?! You have another think coming. This will not go unpunished. You have no power to murder humans and get away with it. #EndImpunity.”

On Friday, he also stated: “The injustice meted out to students of #FUOYE is not just an assault to students in that university but to all the youth in Nigeria. This is beyond the deceased/victimized by the diabolical thirsty for blood. It’ll visit your campus soon if we don’t fight it now.”

Kolapo Eleka, former deputy governor of Ekiti State and 2019 governorship candidate, has also decried the fatal incident.

He offered condolences to the victims on Thursday and urged that value be placed on human lives.

“We must live in a society where human lives mean something to us, rather than being comfortable celebrating barbarism and lavishing public funds on fruitless purposes,” he said, adding that his prayers “are with the students and families of the victims, including the people of our entire State at this moment.”

Here are other reactions on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/jegede__/status/1172411512008278016

https://twitter.com/Timmy_ally1/status/1172248824452124678

FUOYE students lament harassment, extortion by policemen while traveling home

Editorial
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FUOYE students lament harassment, extortion by policemen while traveling home

By Vincent UFUOMA

STUDENTS of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, who were traveling along the Ado-Ikere road on Thursday have accused operatives of the Nigeria Police in Ekiti State of harassment and extortion.

The students were returning home following the immediate closure of the institution by the management after Tuesday’s unrest, in which altercations between students and policemen led to the death of two students who were teargassed and sustained gunshot wounds.

One of the victims, Adesuyan Oluwaseyi Isaac, a student of the Department of English and Literary Studies told this reporter that he and others were delayed, tortured, and extorted by policemen in Ikere on their way from Oye to Akure. There were three male and three female passengers in the car, mostly students of FUOYE.

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He said the police held him in detention for five hours, between 11 am and 4 pm, for “taking their pictures” and then demanded N100,000 as a condition for his release.

He narrated: “I was travelling from Oye to Ondo when the vehicle that conveyed us was stopped. The police ordered six of us in the vehicle to come down for a search.

I was told to bring out my phone, which I did. The policeman collected it and asked me to unlock it. I obeyed. I turned to look at other passengers that were being searched for about two minutes and the next thing I heard was a slap on my face.

“The policeman that was searching me accused me of taking pictures of them while they were searching my colleagues. Immediately, they handcuffed me and one other guy who was accused of being a Yahoo boy, forced us into their vehicle, and took us to Ikere Area Command Police Station.

“We were tortured; I was beaten severally for taking their pictures. They said it’s unlawful. I called home and explained things to them.

“They said we were to pay N100,000 each for our bail. I called my sibling who negotiated with them on the phone and we eventually paid N20,000. The other guy, accused to be a cyber-fraudster also paid N20,000 before we were allowed to leave around 4 pm.”

“This is unfair,” Isaac said twice in an exasperated tone.

Another student who was in the cab spoke to this reporter but asked not to be named. She recounted that the policemen tagged them criminals after they revealed they are students at FUOYE.

“We were stopped at a checkpoint by the police along Ado Ikere road. The police ordered us to come from the vehicle. They asked us if we are students from FUOYE, we said yes and we were immediately tagged criminals,” she said.

“The way they were acting was absurd. It even got to a point where a girl denied knowing her friend. It was awkward. Those men were ready to do anything. They were checking old pictures and harassing them. They were actually stopping every car.”

She said the policemen were armed and wielded their guns as though ready to shoot at any time.

“Later, I started hearing some slaps. I tried looking out the window to see what was going on. I wanted to record a video but the other lady advised me not to try it because it appeared they accused one of the male passengers being slapped of taking their pictures.”

She said the two male passengers were handcuffed and thrown into the patrol van despite pleas from the cab driver. Other cars passing the route were also stopped and the policemen kept checking young people’s phones and pockets, and “asking stupid questions like if they were Yahoo boys”.

When the spokesperson of the Ekiti State Police Command, ACP Caleeb Ikechukwu, was contacted for comments on the incident, he directed the reporter to send him his identification card and reports he had published to him on WhatsApp before he would be comfortable to speak.

“I am not sure you are a journalist. Several people have called to ask me almost the same questions today claiming they are journalists from somewhere,” he said.

“If you are truly a journalist, snap your ID card and the evidence of the stories you have published. Send them to me on WhatsApp before I can answer you.”

EFCC arrests 13 alleged internet fraudsters in Abuja, Kwara

Olugbenga ADANIKIN
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EFCC arrests 13 alleged internet fraudsters in Abuja, Kwara

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) on Thursday says 13 suspected internet fraudsters were arrested in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Kwara State respectively in separate operations.

According to the anti-graft body, eight of the suspects were arrested after a raid at their apartment located at No. 16 Isaaya Shukari Crescent, Gwarinpa and C15 & A27 City of David Estate, Life Camp.

They included: Chiyiri Izuchi. Nurala Eze Kamchi, Amuka Shadrack, Nwegbediegwu Chekwubechukwu J, Chigbo Eze, Franklin Okafor, Ezeagwu Olisaemeka and Nnamani Chukwudera.

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Those arrested by the commission’s Zonal Office in Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital were Stephen Odanye, Abolarin Kayode, Babatunde Muhammad, Adepoju Tomiwa and Akinbamidele Femi.

In a statement issued by the commission, they were arrested based on intelligence report indicating their involvement in internet fraud.

“Some of the items recovered from the Abuja suspects, include several mobile phones, laptop computers, several International Passports, a Toyota Corolla, a Toyota Avalon, Lexus 15 250, Mercedes 4matic C350, Mercedes C280, Mercedes GLA 280 and an Acura.

“It was discovered that the suspects use their phones and laptop computers to communicate with their victims who are majorly foreigners in order to defraud them of their monies.”

The statement reads further that, “the suspects received monies, in several foreign currencies, deposited into their accounts by their victims.

“Items recovered from them include, phones, cars and documents containing false information”.

Even if they head to world court, we’ll defeat them—Oshiomhole teases PDP

'Kunle ADEBAJO
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Even if they head to world court, we’ll defeat them—Oshiomhole teases PDP

ADAMS Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says he’s confident his party will maintain its victory at the 2019 presidential election even if the opposition party takes its case to the “world court” or Supreme Court.

Oshiomhole passed the remark on Thursday while addressing State House correspondents. He was in the company of women leaders of the ruling party who had paid a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari to congratulate him over the ruling of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

The petition against Buhari’s victory filed by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, was dismissed on Wednesday by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja.

“We as a party we are confident that if it is within the Nigerian law for PDP to go even to the world court, we will meet them there. The Supreme Court of Nigeria is not that of PDP or the APC, the Supreme Court is governed by law and is to interpret the evidence before the court of Appeal,” Oshiomohole said.

‘They are not at liberty to introduce new issues neither can they bring in new witnesses. So, if it is what I heard yesterday which I believe you also heard, thanks to the media, most Nigerians were detained for eight hours listening to arguments of the judges one after the other.

“Even though we thought it was getting longer and longer but we realised that they tried to deal with the issues raised, even the ones you and I as a layman will consider inconsequential, they dealt with each of them, trashed them and arrived at a conclusion.

“So, I don’t want to sound arrogant. Yesterday (Wednesday), I said that I hope this whole contestation is about Nigeria who actually won the election and both parties are committed to building Nigeria and is not about who should be given the key.”

He said, now that the tribunal has reached a decision, “it is time to queue behind the winner and move on”.

“Our winner is the best example that losing an election is not tantamount to the end of your political life. He lost three and today he is the president,” the APC chairman added.

“But, when I see the arrogance with which they pronounce and they bring what I call television lawyers, who pronounced with some managerial finality as if they are judges even without any evidence before them, let me now say authoritatively, we are now ready to meet them.

“President Buhari is now ready to meet defeated Atiku Abubakar at the Supreme Court and the APC is ready to meet the PDP at the Supreme Court and Adams Oshiomhole is ready to meet my brother Secondus at the Supreme Court and he will take second and I will take first, in shaa Allah.”

Alleged N6.2bn fraud:Witness narrates how aide conveyed cash to former governor Jang 

YEKEEN Akinwale
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Alleged N6.2bn fraud:Witness narrates how aide conveyed cash to former governor Jang 

A prosecution witness, Musa Sunday, who is testifying against a former governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, in an alleged N6.2billion fraud, on Thursday narrated to a State High Court, sitting in Jos, Plateau State, how his aide conveyed cash to him at the Government House.

Jang and the aide, Yusuf Pam, a cashier at the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), are accused of colluding to divert state funds for personal use and are standing trial before Justice Daniel Longji.

A statement issued by Wilson Uwujaren, Head Media and Publicity at EFCC, said Sunday, who is testifying as the 11th prosecution witness, while being cross-examined by Mike Ozekhome, SAN, counsel for Jang, gave a vivid description of how Pam, during investigations into the alleged fraud, took him through the hidden back passage through which he usually used to take cash to Jang.

He said: “The new Government House is located at the outskirt of town amidst a lot of buildings.

“Among the buildings was the office of the SSG of the state where Pam and the EFCC detectives reported their arrival to the SSG.

“From the SSG’s office we were led to the Government Office, the Governor’s office, a storey-building with two doors one at the main entrance and at the back exit.

“There, Pam showed us how he delivered cash in ‘Ghana must go’ bags to the former Governor.

“He had clearly said and even showed me the back entrances where the cash was stacked and given to the governor.”

While identifying Exhibit P62, a response from the Plateau State House of Assembly dated July 19, 2018 and September 2014, alongside the letter from the EFCC requesting for information, Musa told the court that investigations revealed that memos were written by the Commissioner of Finance, who was involved in seeking approval for the disbursement of the funds involved in the alleged fraud.

“However, the monies were further transferred from Plateau State One account to OSSG account where the second defendant withdrew cash and delivered to the first defendant,” he said.

While trying to infer that the prosecution of Jang was political, Ozekhome questioned the witness, as to why it took four years before the former governor, who contested under the Peoples Political Party (PDP), was arraigned in court.

“Four years later, Jang was charged on April 4, 2018, and don’t you think this has a political undertone?” Ozekhome queried.

“So between 2014 and 2018 when the petition was received and when he was first charged to court, it took four years, don’t you think this has a political undertone?.

Replying, Sunday said: There are laid down procedures following investigation, the legal team take up the cases and charge them to court. All these processes take time.”

Under cross-examination, the witness further confirmed that about $100,000 was deposited in a single day into the Standard Chartered Bank.

He said: “On the May 6, 2014 $50,000 cash deposit in tranches of $10,000 five times and on May 7, 2014.

“Yakubu Jang, son of the first defendant was among the persons who deposited monies into the account.”

The case has been adjourned to September 13, 2019.

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