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Why Police arrested Peace Corps leader, 49 others

The Police have explained why the leader of Peace Corp Nigeria, Dickson Akoh and 49 others were arrested.

Members of the Corps were arrested in Abuja on Tuesday at their head office by personnel of the Police, Military and Department of State Service (DSS).

The police alleged that those arrested are operating an illegal security outfit.

The Police also said the arrest was an attempt to halt and rid the country of illegal and unlawful security outfits constituting national security threat and threat to the protection of life and property of Nigerians across the country.

The police also disclosed that the flag of the Corp is in semblance with the flag of Gambia adding that its beret was for officers on United Nation’s mission.

Recorded from the operation were recruitment forms,

Briefing reporters in Abuja on Wednesday during a joint press briefing and parade of arrested PCN members, the Force Spokesperson, CSP Jimoh Moshood said intelligence report revealed that the Corp has started acquiring weapons and conducting convert military training in different locations across the country.

Explaining why the arrest was made, Moshood said: “the operation was done to halt and rid the country of illegal security outfits constituting national security threats to the protection of life and property of Nigerians across the country.

“It is evident that in 2013, Federal Republic of Nigeria official Gazette dissolved and prescribed illegal security outfits such as Nigerian Maritime Security Agency (NMSA), Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps and the Nigerian Merchant Navy Petroleum Security and Safety, Peace Corps of Nigeria and other quasi-illegal security outfits.

The police said it observed that some of the outfits are still operating outside their mandates and purposes which they were registered by the CAC.

According to Moshood: “The PCN under the leadership of Akoh was registered as an NGO but with brazen impunity, total disregard to the laws of Nigeria, opened illegal training camps in some States of the country, where thousands of youths and other persons without a proper background check and screening are receiving converts military training.

“It is consequent upon a veracity of intelligence reports from reliable sources, indicating that subversive groups and terrorists affiliates have infiltrated the Peace Corp secretly to ruin and destroy the existing peace currently being enjoyed in the country that the PCN secret training camps were closed down in Abuja, Kwara and Niger States.”

He also said that investigation revealed that personnel of the Corp are extorting money from unwary youths throughout the country.

“Under the guise of recruitment, amounts ranging from N50,000 to hundreds of thousands are being paid by innocent Nigerians to the Corp. Once you pay the money, you are automatically recruited.

The police have asked those who paid money under any pretence to the Corp to report their case at the nearest Police Station across the country.

He further said: “The Corp has unlawfully turned itself into a security outfit without authorization and establishment by the Federal Government of Nigeria, as such deviated from the purposes for which they were registered as NGO by the CAC.

“The Corp has no legal right to wear a uniform, parade itself as Security outfit, post their personnel on guard duties, and use ranking, insignia, badges of rank which are semblance of that of the Police, Military and other paramilitary organisations without the approval of Federal Government of Nigeria”, he added.

The police also revealed that halting of illegal Security outfits will be done across the country.

The Force, however, urged parents to prevail on their wards to return home from illegal military camps opened in some State.

On the flag of the Corp and the beret used, he said: “the flag is a semblance of the Gambian flag and the beret is a semblance of the United Nation’s mission across the world.

“Before using this, the federal government must approve it which is not the case here and that constitutes a National embarrassment to the nation. What is available to us that the Corp has not been registered as a security outfit.

On whether the police was not questioning the authority of the National Assembly, he said: “We are not in contrast with any authority. What we know is that security outfits are established and approved by the federal government of Nigeria and in this case, that has not being done.

On his part, the leader of the Corp, Akoh explained that the money collected was for the kits for members of the Corp.

According to him: “It is shameful that we have teething security challenges and you are showing our uniform as an exhibit. The constitution of the Corp approved by CAC properly vetted by the security before we were registered in 1998.

“There is national youth development policy that spells out youth organisation to operate and we have over 47 uniform youth organisation.

“We have been operating within our scope and we are out to reorientate the youth. No matter the character of youths, when they are taught national ethics and discipline, they change. The youths need a platform to change and that is what we do.

“The money paid is for their uniform, kits, accommodation because we pay for the venue. It is voluntary and not compulsory. We have ICPC’s clearance for that money. EFCC is investigating this matter and they discovered that we never forced anybody”.

He accused the police of instigating the youths against the Corp.

March 1, 2017
PDP crisis: Sheriff welcomes political solution
- As BoT chair warns against divisive tendencies
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff has welcomed the decision of key party stakeholders to find a political solution to the leadership crisis rocking the party.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and governors elected on the platform of the party had, after a meeting Tuesday night, resolved to adopt a political solution to the crisis.

Sheriff is locked in supremacy battle with the Ahmed Makarfi’s Caretaker Committee, which commands more followership than the Sheriff camp.

A statement on Wednesday by the Sheriff-backed National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, commended Jonathan and the governors for resolving to settle for a political solution.

Oladipo’s statement said, “The NWC notes with satisfaction the stand of the body of PDP Governors on the need to adopt a political solution in bringing lasting peace to the party.

“The NWC restates its readiness to fully participate in the peace process”.

The statement called on workers at the party secretariat who have stayed away from their duty posts in solidarity with the Makarfi camp, to resume duties immediately.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin has called on members and supporters of the party to shun divisive tendencies.

In an SMS message to newsmen on Wednesday, Jibrin urged members to stay away from party meetings with tribal, religious and sectional undertones.

“Such meetings are suspicious and full of sinister motives aimed at dividing or killing the party. Right from its formation, the PDP has never been portrayed as a northern or southern party.

“Therefore, nobody should unnecessarily bring in any disagreeable methodology in the handling of the party’s affairs.

“The PDP is a national party that embraces every Nigerian regardless of tribe or religion. Any attempt to drag members into such divisive meetings will be resisted, considering especially that party leaders are busy trying to find a way forward. Everyone should remain calm refrain from taking any rash decision”, the BoT chair stated.
March 1, 2017
Osinbajo wades into bloody border clashes between three states

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday intervened in the bloody clashes among border communities of Ebonyi, Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.

The meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, dealt with the issues at the root of the crises.

At the meeting were Governors Dave Umahi (Ebonyi); Ben Ayade (Cross River) and Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) and officials of the National Boundary Commission.

The not-so-cheerful men of the governors as they emerged from the meeting suggested that no amicable resolution of the disputes had been reached.

Also, presidency officials prevented journalists from speaking to the governors, who also appeared unprepared to speak on the outcome of the peace meeting.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Laolu Akande, said that Prof. Osinbajo met with the Governors of Cross Rivers, Senator Ben Ayade; Akwa Ibom, Mr Emmanuel Udom and Ebonyi States, Mr Dave Umahi, alongside top officials of the National Boundary Commission, led by the Director-General, Dr Muhammad Ahmad, to review updates on boundary and boundary demarcation issues.

Recent reports showed that about 20 people were killed in a clash between people of Oku Iboku in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom and those of Ikot Offiong in Odukpani LGA in Cross River State over boundary demarcation.

The people of Ikot-Offiong community had in the aftermath written a letter to the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant-Gen. Tukur Buratai and the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris to investigate the activities of the soldiers and policemen posted to the area to foster peace.

Also, Governor Umahi had appealed to the Federal Government to quickly intervene and provide a lasting solution in settling a similar boundary dispute between the people of Azuofia Idda in Ebonyi and Ohene in Cross River states, which had claimed many lives.

He made the appeal when the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Enugu, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Abubakar, briefed him on the outcome of the surveillance of the two communities at Government House, Abakaliki.

Umahi advocated a security meeting where the military commanders of both states and heads of other security agents would be in attendance.

He had said that “the problem between Cross River and Ebonyi states is quite known and unfortunately, the problem of the boundary in our country is quite funny. Nobody is really taking any definite action”.

February 28, 2017
Osinbajo inaugurates Private Sector Advisory Group for SDGs

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday inaugurated the Private Sector Advisory Group for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to him, the event marks the beginning of the unique partnership between the public and private sector.

He said that he believed that Nigerian elite, including political, business and religious, have a responsibility to ensure that things are done fundamental for the Nigerian society.

He said: “Everywhere in the world, it is that elite that have always make a difference in the societies. Those are the ones responsible for transformation.

“Many of the societies that have been truly transformed have done so when their elite decided that it was necessary to do so.

“Sometimes, when you look at our situation, you think that it is necessary to force the political and private sector elite together to do something. But the truth is that whether or not we recognize it formally, they are doing things together whether it is for good or ill. The important thing is to recognize that we have an important role to play.

“We have decided as an elite in this country that wealth is a measure of worth. It is a decision we made consciously or unconsciously.

“The political elite have decided that wealth is a measure of worth and that is why you find so much corruption among the political elite. Even the religious elite believe that it is a blessing of God.

“There are some societies that have decided that the value of human beings is in their contribution to the society. Those societies, of course, have done better than those who have decided that wealth, no matter how it was obtained, is a measure of worth.

“I think is important if our elite decide that dealing with poverty is worth the while and that it will measure whether or not we are serious about our society.” he said

He said that there is an enormous responsibility placed upon elite to do something about the millions of the extremely poor Nigerians.

“This is how we are going to be measured. At the end of our lives, the question that will be asked is what is the impact that we made on people’s lives. Nobody will be measured by how much money we made or the positions we held.

“A lot of our people in this country hand their hopes on us. They look up to us and believe we can do it and despite all the failures and the false starts, our people especially the poor and the vulnerable still believe that these elite will and can deliver.

“Let us therefore take this as a personal responsibility to our people to do something profound that will make a huge difference in the lives of our people.

“This is why I am so excited about this coming together of the public and private sector to ensure that the Sustainable Development Goals are realized in our time and that nobody is left behind.” he added

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, described the inauguration of the PSAG as a landmark event.

She noted that Nigeria was the first United Nations member state to do so.

According to her, it was a renewed partnership between business and government at the highest levels to build the consensus needed for the successful implementation of the SDGs.

The SDGs, she said, acknowledged the connection among prosperity of business, a flourishing society and the health of the environment.

She said that very few businesses can only thrive unless the countries in which they operate are thriving.

She said, “No country has significantly improved people’s lives without the driving force of a vibrant economy.

“In the face of a prevailing fiscal crunch, it has become urgent to leverage multi-stakeholder engagement to mobilize non-government resources for SDGs implementation.

“It is in this recognition that the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals-Fund established the global Private Sector Advisory Group as a powerful platform for business leaders from across the world to interact, leverage comparative advantages, exchange lessons learned, promote South-South, North South and Triangular Cooperation and in the process, accelerate the attainment of the SDGs,” she added.

She said that the duties of PSAG included engaging with and coordinating the Nigerian Private Sector to partner with the SDGs Office to implement an agreed roadmap; ensuring public-private alliances to provide large scale solutions towards achieving the SDGs; as well as working within a set of SDGs impact areas and focus on driving a specific targets that will be tracked, monitored, reported and reviewed periodically.

Other duties, she said, are to partner with the SDGs Office to hold periodic Public-Private Dialogues to expand engagement for sustainable development; to promote and coordinate broad-based actions to deliver results while mobilising the entire private sector around SDGs priority areas; to galvanise business to deploy the UN global compact for durable development; as well as contributing and helping to mobilize resources for the successful implementation of the SDGs in line with the guidelines contained in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.

February 28, 2017
Worst oil days over – Kachikwu

…says industry loses $1t loss to crisis
The Organization of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC) Secretary General, Mohammed Barkindo yesterday said the worst days of the oil crisis are already over but the challenge remains how to consolidate the gains.
He said that with the joint decision that the OPEC and non-OPEC members took, and the cooperation in December led to some member countries withdrawing about 1.2million barrel per day and the 11 non-OPEC withdrew 11 barrels, leading to over 90% compliance level, which is unprecedented in the history of the organisation.
The OPEC chief, who spoke in Abuja, during a visit to the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu said that: “So, we remain optimistic that the worst is over for the circle. The challenge now is how to solidify this platform of 24. I must report to you that the signals we are getting from the non-OPEC side is highly positive.”
He reported that Equitoria Guinnea of the Gulf of Guinea has applied formally to join the organisation since the country has seen the effort that has been made to pull the oil industry out of the worst circle.
According to him, the market would dictate the equilibrium price eventually and the restoration of the balance of the one valuable of stock will bring the market to balance and the equilibrium price that will be fair to producers and consumers that will bring back investment to the industry.
Asked whether Nigeria will continue to enjoy, he said ” going forward, this decision is for six months and therefore, this country continues to be exempted for this six months. And we will continue to pray and hope that they will recover their production and rehabilitate their production facilities and return to the market full because the market needs every barrel that Nigeria can produce or Libya or the Islamic Republic of Iran. The demand figures continue to show robust growth of over 1 million a day going forward. And therefore, while we are working hard to restore this stability, the focus is how we can sustain it going forward.”
Earlier, he dropped the hint that the global oil industry supply chain lost $1trillion to the crisis.

He noted that “the industry globally has lost nearly $1trillion in terms of deferred projects, in terms of adverse cancellation of projects across the supply chain.”

Barkindo who said that the decisions to cut supply has been beneficial to the industry added that “we are the course of pulling this industry out of the worst recession that we have entered to restore stability to the market on a sustainable basis that will allow investments to come back.”

According to him, the rate of turnover of the Chief Executive Officers of the Nigerian oil industry was part of its challenges.

Speaking, Kachikwu said that the oil bring will hit $60 per barrel.

He noted that the OPEC had lost its credibility, which it is now recovering from.

The minister said that with the restoration of confidence in the organisations’ investors are no longer considering reserve but a future rise in price.

His words: “It is a fact that he (Barkindo) have OPEC a new face. OPEC had lost credibility that nobody was listening to us whenever we came for meetings…

” But today, with the buid up in the US of reserves, nobody is looking at that in terms of pricing oil. They are simply looking at what OPEC is doing. As the momentum rose, we are actually going to be at $60 roof.”

February 27, 2017
Ex-finance minister being investigated over $1.2b fraud – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed on Monday that it was investigating former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Justice Minister, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) and a former Finance Minister in ration to $1.2billion fraud.

Although the EFCC was silent on the identify the ex-Finance Minister, it said the fresh investigation was informed by its discovery of the role Adoke allegedly played in the Malabo Oil deal, through which some prominent Nigerians allegedly defrauded the Federal Government.

The EFCC stated that Adoke is presently being investigated along with “the Finance Minister for fraudulently using Federal Government’s excrow account to receive the bribe money paid by the applicants to Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd.”

The commission made this disclosure in its counter-affidavit in reaction to applications by Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited (NAE) and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd (SNEPCO), seeking the vacation of orders made by a Federal High Court in Abuja on January 26, 2017 for the temporary forfeiture of Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245, subject of the controversial Malabu Oil deal.

The EFCC first referred to the alleged $1.2b fraud in its application for the temporary forfeiture orders.
It stated, in the application, how Shell, Agip, former Petroleum Minister, Dan Etete, Adoke and others allegedly short-changed the Nigerian government through the Malabu Oil deal.
“Shell and Agip went into a fraudulent agreement with Malabu Oil and Gas in which the companies will pay signature bonus of $210m to the Federal Government of Nigeria while the sum of $1.2b would be paid to the owners of Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd,” it said.

The EFCC added that, contrary to Shell’s claim that the $1.2b was for compensation, the investigation revealed that “the money was a bribe to Dan Etete and his cronies.
“Shell was aware, at the time of consummating this transaction, that Dan Etete, the owner of Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd, was already a convict and hence, was not willing to pay the said sum of $1.2b directly to Dan Etete and or Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd.
“One Mohammed Adoke, who was the Federal Government’s counsel in series of arbitration instituted by Shell in London on the said oil well and, who later became the AGF, conspired with Shell/Agip to route the payment of the said sum of $1.2b bribe money through FG’s excrow account with JP Morgan Chase Bank,” EFCC said.
In its counter-affidavit, which was argued yesterday, the EFCC said, although it has filed charges against Adoke and some others, its fresh investigation was informed by new revelations.
It said investigation so far conducted “revealed that the 1st applicant (Agip) conspired with others to defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria of the sum of $1.2b that should. Rightly have gone to the Federation Account,” it said.
The EFCC added that contrary to claim by Agip and Shell that the forfeiture orders were wrongly granted by the court, its investigation revealed that the applicants (Agip and Shell) and others conspired to fleece the Nigerian government of over $1b in bribery and revenue.
Arguing the counter affidavit yesterday, EFCC’s lawyer, Johnson Ojogbane, urged the court to dismiss the applications by Agip and Shell for lacking in merit.
Ojogbane contended that contrary to the claim by the applicants, OPL 245 was a tangible asset which was a subject of criminal investigation and prosecution.
Ojogbane said, “OPL 245 is an oil block. It is a tangible oil block. The order my lord gave was to prevent any step or action on the oil block,” he said.
Ojogbane contended that the argument by Konyinsola Ajayi (SAN) and Babatunde Fagbohunlu (SAN) for the applicants, on the constitutionality the temporary forfeiture order was completely misconceived.
He added that “Section 44(2)(k) Constitution allows the temporary taking of property for the purpose of any examination or inquiry.

“So it does not in any way offend the Constitution. The OPL 245 is a subject of criminal investigation and prosecution. It is not just investigation, there is a charge pending now before this court.
“The application is not just to preserve the res (the subject matter), the activities surrounding OPL 245, is criminal. It can be described as proceeds of crime.
“Other charges will be following. With th forfeiture, we are stopping criminality from progressing,” Ojogbane said.
Ajayi (for Shell) argued that the OPL 245 was not such property that could be seized by an order of court as contemplated under Sections 28 and 29 of the EFCC Act, on which the EFCC relied in applying for the forfeiture orders.
Ajayi said: “What we have is a chosen action, a mere licence, an intangible right that is incapable of destruction or being moved. It is a licence over thousands of miles on the ocean. The ocean cannot be destroyed.
“Nothing can be destroyed; nothing can be taken away, nothing can be put under the seal of the EFCC, nothing can be seized by the EFCC,” he said.
Ajayi maintained that by virtue of sections 28 and 29 of EFCC Act, the Chairman of EFCC, in whose name the ex parte application filed by the anti-graft agency was initiated, was not the proper person to institute the action.
Sections 28 and 29 of the EFCC Act, he argued, envisage that the ex parte application for interim forfeiture is filed in the name of the EFCC and not its chairman.
“Having been brought by an improper person, the jurisdiction and powers of the court have not been activated,” he said.
Ajayi further contended that the order of interim forfeiture was unnecessary as without it, neither Shell nor Agip could take any action on the OPL 245 except it was authorised by the Federal Government.
He contended that under Section 28 of the EFCC Act, certain conditions precedent, including arresting of suspects and tracing of the assets had not been complied with before the application for forfeiture was filed.
Fagbohunlu (for Agip) argued that an order of forfeiture could not be granted through an ex parte motion except through a motion on notice.
He said, “Is it possible for the EFCC to attach and subsequently forfeit asset of a subject in the proceedings which from start to the end is on an exparte basis?
“My response is that the answer that my lord should give is an emphatic no,” he said.
Fagbohunlu contended that it was against the spirit of the Constitution for an asset to be seized from someone without being heard.
He added: “Sections 28 and 29 of the EFCC Act do not even purport that the proceedings for forfeiture of an asset can be conducted on ex parte throughout.
“There is nothing in section 28 that says an interim order can be applied for through ex parte.That application has to be on notice.
What then follows is the forfeiture proceedings which can be done ex parte,” Fagbohunlu said.
Justice John Tsoho adjourned to March 13 for ruling.

February 27, 2017
DSS impounds vehicles with weapons in Abuja

The Department of State Services ( DSS) has seized vehicles containing weapons, Certificate of Occupancy and keys to exotic cars allegedly belonging to a former governor of Benue, Mr Gabriel Suswam, an official has said.

An operative of DSS, Mr Tony Opuiyo, said in a statement that the items were seized in Abuja on Friday.

He said the items were recovered at the property of Dunes Investment and Global Properties Ltd, located at No 44 Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Maitama, Abuja.

He listed the items as Glock pistol with two magazines and 29 rounds of ammunition, Mini-Uzi with two magazines containing 10 rounds and four rounds as well as 42 extra rounds of ammunition contained in a pack.

Others are one AK-47, 21 Certificates of Occupancy, one offer of Statutory Right of Occupancy, 23 luxury designer watches and 45 keys to various exotic cars.

He said that the items were stashed in the boots of cars parked at the property, particularly a Mercedes Benz S550 (BWR 135AH), and Masarati 4.7 (BWR 207 AJ), which had been confiscated.

Opuiyo said following the discovery and further investigation, the Service had invited Suswam, who was presently helping in the investigations.

He warned that the Service would no longer tolerate any acts of lawlessness by those who ought to be law abiding and responsible citizens.

“The Service has also observed with total dismay the inciting utterances of some political actors whose activities heat up the polity,” he said.

He said that the Service would not hesitate to go after anyone who engaged in acts capable of causing a breach of peace. NAN)

February 27, 2017
NAF destroys Boko Haram camp in Gwoza

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Friday struck a Boko Haram Terrorist location at Tagoshe/Mandara Mountain general area about 10km South-west of Gwoza in Northern Borno.
The intelligence report by Sister surface forces had it that the remnants of fleeing insurgents were gathered at the location.
The report was confirmed by NAF Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft before combat platforms were called in to strike the location.
The Director Of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, said follow-up battle damage assessment confirmed that the air attack was successful as shown by the declassified footage of the operation.

February 24, 2017
FG invites foreign airlines to inspect Kaduna airport

The Federal Government has invited Foreign airline operators to the Kaduna airport to see the level of its preparedness at relocating flight operations to Kaduna state.

The government had announced that Abuja airport runway will be shut by March 8 in order to repair the dilapidated runway.

The government maintained that the Nnamdi

Speaking in Abuja yesterday during a meeting with

“Also to invite you to visit Kaduna within the next two to three days as you may wish and to show you the level of preparedness we are to take you into Kaduna.”

The minister later went into a closed-door meeting with some of the operators.

Some of the International airlines that fly into Abuja are; Air France, Air Côte D’Ivoire,

February 23, 2017
‘Saraki wrong to earn double salaries as public officer’

An official of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Samuel Madojemu on Thursday insisted that Senate President, Bukola Saraki was wrong to have earned monthly payments from the Kwara State governor at the same time when he was already elected to the Senate.

Madojemu, who is the Head, Intelligence Unit of the CCB was emphatic when he said: “A public officer is not permitted to earn two salaries from public treasuries, using two government positions at the same time.”

The CCB official spoke while testifying as the third prosecution witness at the resumption of proceedings in Saraki’s trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on charges of false assets declaration.

Led in evidence by lead prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Madojemu also said Saraki failed to declare, among others, his mortgage and the property he acquired through mortgage in London. He added that Saraki failed to declare his liability of about $3.4m in an America Express Card.

“Your lordship, a public officer who has a mortgage abroad is expected to declare the mortgage. Having fully paid the mortgage, the public officer is expected to declare the property in his asset declaration form. But the defendant did not declare any mortgage in London.

“He (Saraki) gave instruction to his banker, the GTB, to transfer £1,516,000 in two days to a bank in Fortis Bank for a mortgage in London. There was no declaration for the property in London.”

Madojemu also said the Senate President made a single deposit of N77m cash on September 5, 2007, when his monthly salary, as governor of Kwara State, was N254,412.25.

The witness, who read from a statement of Saraki’s account with the Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, said the N77m was deposited in the defendant’s account in one day.

“Your lordship, the cash lodgment deposited is not consonant with the income of the defendant as a governor. It cannot be attributable to his legitimate income. Your lordship, the defendant was earning 254,412.25 for a month.

“Within that same period, in one single day, as shown in the statement of account made available by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), there was lodgment of N77m in his account in one day.

“From Exhibit 15, the salary of governors as of August 12, 2007, was N254,412.25.”

On his role in the investigation of Saraki’s case, the witness said: “My role with reference to the exhibits mentioned already, was to compare the exhibits with the asset declaration forms of the defendants to see if there was any infraction with regards to his declarations.Those exhibits were sourced by EFCC officials in my team.”

Under cross-examination by the defence lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN), Madojemu was shown the contradiction in the number of Saraki’s asset declaration forms that the prosecution had tendered in court and the number of the forms which the CCB official had linked to Saraki in an affidavit.

While seven of Saraki’s declaration forms had been tendered before the CCT, Madojemu had stated in the affidavit that Saraki had only declared four.

When asked by the defence lawyer if four and seven were the same, the witness said no.

Responding to further questions, the witness confirmed that he had earlier stated that it was unlawful for a public officer to trade in rice and sugar commodities.

The witness said a public officer was permitted to own shares in companies, and when asked further, he said nothing stopped such public officers from owning shares in companies trading in rice and sugar.

He confirmed that he never met Saraki in person and never asked him if he had shares in any company trading in rice and sugar.

Madojemu said: “Public officer is allowed to own shares in a company. Nothing to my knowledge stops a public officer from owning controlling shares in a limited liability company. A public officer can be allowed to own controlling shares in a company that trades in rice and sugar.

“I did not ask the defendant whether he had shares in the company that traded rice and sugar. I did not find out if any of the companies in which the defendant owns share trades in rice and sugar. I have never seen the audited account of the defendant’s companies,” the witness said.

Earlier, Saraki was re-arraigned on an amended 18-count charge filed by the prosecution, t which he pleaded not guilty.

Saraki is, in the amended charge, accused of failing to make a written declaration of his “properties and assets”, that is, N77m paid into his account with Guaranty Trust Bank, GRA, Ilorin branch on September 5, 2007.

It was also alleged that the sum of N77m was “not fairly attributable” to Saraki’s “income, gifts or loan approved by the Code of Conduct for Public Officers”.

Further hearing in the case is adjourned to March 2.

February 23, 2017