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Tag: alleged

  • Three ex-convicts held for alleged traffic robbery

    Three ex-convicts held for alleged traffic robbery

    Three ex-convicts yesterday again ran into trouble following their arrest for alleged traffic robbery at oshodi, Lagos.

    Mustapha Adekunle, 21, Olumide Popoola, 20 and Femi Amusa, 20, were arrested by Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives following a tip-off by their victim, Olasunkanmi Oyelakin.

    The victim said his blackberry phone was stolen by the suspects during early morning traffic rush around Bolade, Oshodi.

    He said: “I was on my way to Ajah at 6:30am, I saw Adekunle passed by the bus I boarded. Unknown to me, he was monitoring me. A few minutes later, I noticed a missed call on my phone, and as I brought out the phone, he took the phone from me through the  window and ran away. Because there was traffic, I made no attempt to struggle with him, but got down from the nearest bus-stop and I began to monitor him. I noticed that he had regrouped with his friends and one of them was telling him to hand over the phone he stole from me.

    “I knew I couldn’t handle the three of them all alone, so I informed the RRS operatives who followed me to the place where he was arrested.”

    Adekunle said he was driven by frustration to steal the handset.

    “I am a bus conductor in Oshodi. I am from Ibadan and a secondary school dropout. I sleep in Ojuwoye, Mushin. I am an ex–convict. I don’t want to go to prison again. Government should please have mercy on me. I was frustrated into traffic robbery. I won’t do it again,” he pleaded.

    Popoola and Amusa denied being in-traffic robbers.

    “We were in Lagos to make money to buy working tools having completed our apprenticeship,” Popoola said.

    The RRS has also recovered a locally-made gun with a cartridge in Surulere, Lagos Mainland.

    The gun was recovered around 2am during the RRS patrol of Iganmu Bridge by the Nigerian Breweries Complex.

    The patrol team had spotted three on the bridge.  On sighting the police, the men fled.

    During a search of where they were standing, a locally-made short gun was found with an unspent cartridge.

    Police spokesman Joe Offor, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said the suspects had been charged to court.

     

  • Drama as 80-yr-old women protest alleged marginalization in Ekwueme’s community

    Drama as 80-yr-old women protest alleged marginalization in Ekwueme’s community

    Commercial activities were disrupted yesterday in Oko, North Local Government Area of Anambra State, the host community of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, when women, most of them in their 80s, took to the streets to protest alleged marginalization against indigenes of the town by the institution.

    The protesters also alleged intimidation, harassment and sacking of their people by the institution.

    The women, numbering about 200, stormed the streets as early as 7am for the protest.

    They held prayer session for God’s intervention to change the minds of their alleged oppressors and intervention of the Federal Government.

    The prayer session was held at Oko Civic Centre to round off the protest.

    The protesting women, however, refused to carry placards, saying they are responsible parent and did not want to behave like students.

    The protesters marched from the Oko Civic Center to the institution’s gate, chanting solidarity songs against the management of the institution.

    They later moved to the palace of the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Prof. Laz Ekwueme, where they also offered prayers.

    Spokesperson of the protesters, Beatrice Nwankwo , said: “Oko Polytechnics is the only Federal Government presence we have, but we do not know what is happening there. Our eyes are full of tears. We are crying because we are supposed to benefit from the institution, but the leadership is giving the impression that we do not have a stake there.

    “The school is becoming a source of sadness instead of blessing, just because somebody who has decided to sit tight, and humiliate our people, while the standard of education is dwindling.

    “The students who are living with us are complaining bitterly about what they are going through. The management is only interested in how to make money,” she said.

    The women called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the traditional ruler of the community to step into the matter and address their grievances in order to avoid matters getting worse.

    The President-General of the community, Hon. Cyprian Nwanmuo, who later addressed the women, said the community had in the past called for the removal of the management of the institution, who he said has failed to carry the people along.

    “Oko has knowledgeable people, and if you do not carry us along, there must be problem. The rector that came here six years ago has made us miserable all these years. Many people from Oko have been relieved of their duties. So many widows have been sacked from their jobs in the institution.

    “At a time, the palace of the traditional ruler was desecrated by people suspected to have been influenced and encouraged by the management of the institution. We do not have that cordial relationship that should exist between us and the institution.”

    Efforts to speak with the rector, Prof Godwin Onu and the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Obini Onuchukwu, were futile, as neither of them was available.

    However, the PRO, who later spoke on phone, said he was outside the state, adding that the institution would give an official position on the crisis.

    In a related development, residents of Urum Community in Awka North Local Government Area of the state also staged a protest against alleged illegal sales of land by the traditional ruler, Igwe Benedict Nweke.

    The protesters numbering over 1,000 carried placards with different inscriptions against Igwe Benedict Nweke, who they alleged sold their land without consultation.

    However, while speaking with The Nation, Igwe Benedict Nweke, denied the allegation, saying the government had set aside the land in question for development.

  • Two arraigned for alleged N5.3m theft

    Two men, Isaac Ojo and Oni Olumidegba have been arraigned at an Ogba Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing N5.38million.

    The defendants, who are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing were arrested on September 5 at Obi Village, Domestic Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

    The prosecutor, W. Thomas, an Inspector, alleged that the accused stole the sum of N5.38million from Saidu Maikankan.

    The offence, the police said, contravened Sections 409 and 285(1) of the Criminal law of Lagos State 2015.

    The charge reads in part: ‘’That you, Isaac Omotayo Ojo, Oni Olumide and others, now at large, on September 5, 2105, at Obi Village, Domestic Airport, Ikeja, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit; stealing.

    ‘’That you and others at large on the same date and place, in the aforementioned magisterial district, did steal a sum of N5, 380, 000 ­ property of one Saidu Maikankan.’’

    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.

    They were granted bail in the sum of N1million with two sureties in like sum.

    The sureties must posses a three-year  tax clearance, must reside in Ikeja and must have their addresses verified.

    The magistrate ordered that they be remanded in the prison custody till they meet the bail conditions.

    The case has been adjourned till November 11.

     

     

  • Woman, daughter arrested for alleged child trafficking

    The intelligence department of Abia State Police Command has arrested a mother and her 19-year-old daughter for suspected child trafficking.

    The police said both women allegedly sold a baby newly delivered by the younger one.

    A statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Ezekiel Onyeke said, “The arrest of the duo was as a result of intelligence report received by operatives of the department.”

    Onyeke said that the mother whose child was sold was given N10,000 to take care of her immediate needs while part of the money was used to pay for her apprenticeship where she was learning a trade.

    The police said that one Martha Ajuzieogu who operates an illegal maternity home in her residence conspired with a certain welfare officer named Ngozi and one Amarachi, both at large, and others shortly after the delivery to sell the baby.

    Also, the police have foiled a possible clash between rival cult groups Vikings and Ayez at Abia State Polytechnic, Aba.

    Four suspected cultists were arrested while a locally-made pistol from one of the suspects.

    Onyeke said, “Upon information received by the intelligence unit of the police in Aba, Abia State that Vikings and Ayez secret cults were warming up for a clash on 30th September 2015, our men moved in…with the school security outfit.”

    The four suspects were said to have made useful statements to the police.

     

  • Alleged bribery: UK tells Buhari of Diezani’s arrest

    Alleged bribery: UK tells Buhari of Diezani’s arrest

    EFCC team likely for London

    Jonathan, ex-ministers meet in Abuja

    President Muhammadu Buhari  has been told of former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke’s arrest in Britain, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    The Presidency also confirmed last night that the Department of State Service (DSS) was collaborating with the National Crime Agency (NCA) in Britain to get to the root of the bribery and money laundering allegations against the former Minister and four others, who are yet to be named.

    The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in an exclusive chat with our correspondent last night, said:  “Nigeria is aware of the arrest of the ex- Minister; the government has been informed.

    “The arms of government  dealing with investigation, particularly the Department of State Service (DSS), are actively collaborating with the relevant agencies in the UK.”

    Asked to expatiate on the matter, Shehu said: “Nobody wants to say anything as a Mark of respect for the agencies carrying out the investigation. We also want to show that we are serious about this anti-corruption war.”

    When pressed to explain if Nigeria will ask for the ex-minister’s extradition, Shehu said: “I won’t give details other than telling you that the DSS is collaborating with the relevant agencies on this case.

    “We want to do things differently from the past.”

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) plans to send a team to London to be part of the former minister’s trial.

    Mrs Alison-Madueke, who is on bail, is expected to be charged to court in London for alleged money laundering and other related offences by  the NCA.

    Most cabinet colleagues of the ex-minister have been indifferent to her travails because they “saw it coming”.

    Although some of the former ministers met with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja at the weekend to review the situation, they had “little concern” for her.

    Jonathan was said to be trying to get in touch with the ex-minister  to “get first hand information” on her arrest.

    The International Corruption Unit (ICU) of NCA on Friday arrested Alison-Madueke and four others.

    The EFCC collaborated with the NCA in investigating Mrs Alison-Madueke in the last two years.

    It was gathered that the EFCC made vital documents, including details of bank transactions of some of her business associates, available to the NCA.

    The search on her residence on Friday was said to be the part of the concluding  stage of the initial investigation.

    A top source in EFCC said: “The arrest and the impending arraignment of Mrs Alison-Madueke have been a joint collaboration between the EFCC and the NCA.

    “There is no way we will not be part of the trial. Definitely, we are sending a team to the UK but I cannot give you the details.

    “If you recall, some of our investigators were in the UK during the trial of ex-Governor James Ibori. This practice will not be an exception in the trial of the ex-minister.

    “We have documents to give to NCA; we have a lot to clarify in confidence. We are also ready to testify.”

    Overwhelmed by the arrest of the former oil minister, some former ministers visited President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday and Saturday for a “review of the situation and other allegations against the immediate past administration.”

    But the details of what transpired were unknown as at press time.

    Two former  ministers however said they were indifferent to Alison-Madueke’s plight.

    One of them said: “I think many of us won’t be surprised because even at FEC we saw it coming.

    “Some of our colleagues, virtually hero-worshipped her even though we were supposed to be equal in the cabinet.”

    As at last night, the NCA was not forthcoming on its website whether Alison-Madueke and four others will be arraigned in court today.

    The agency only said the suspects were released on bail “pending further investigation”.

    It said: “On Friday 2nd October, the National Crime Agency’s recently formed International Corruption Unit arrested five people across London as part of an investigation into suspected bribery and money laundering offences.

    “All five people arrested were released on conditional police bail later that evening, pending further investigation both in the UK and overseas.”

    The investigation began in 2013 under the Proceeds of Corruption Unit, and transferred to the NCA earlier this year.”

    The ICU was established to “ trace and recover the proceeds of international corruption”.

    NCA said: “The International Corruption Unit (ICU) investigates: Bribery of foreign public officials by individuals or companies from the UK; and Money laundering by corrupt foreign officials and their associates.

    “The ICU will also:

    • Trace and recover the proceeds of international corruption;
    • Support foreign law enforcement agencies with international anti-corruption investigations;
    • Engage with government and business to reduce the UK’s exposure to the proceeds of corruption; and
    • Work with business to support increased compliance with the Bribery Act 2010
    • The ICU draws on the specialist support available to it within the NCA, and works closely with other UK law enforcement agencies and overseas partners.
  • Alleged N1.7b fraud: EFCC arrests Lagos businessman

    Alleged N1.7b fraud: EFCC arrests Lagos businessman

    Firm loses fortune in phoney deal

    Outdoor giant Afromedia is battling to handle its most difficult brief ever — how to retrieve a fortune invested in a phoney deal.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is helping.

    The anti-graft agency has arrested a Lagos businessman, Alhaji Mohammed Gobir, for allegedly defrauding the foremost outdoor advertising company of cash estimated to be N1.7 billion in various currencies.

    Gobir was picked up at his Ikoyi home and put in detention.

    A source in the commission said: “The mega heist allegedly fetched Gobir $3,500,000,   N514,457,151.87,   $2,102,740,  and 51,000 pounds sterling at various times.

    “Gobir, a 55–year-old father of two, was picked up by EFCC operatives  early Saturday at his Ikoyi residence and is still being interrogated at the Lagos office of the anti-graft agency.

    “The suspect allegedly defrauded the advertising company through a phoney investment deal.

    “The suspect was allegedly introduced to Afromedia sometime in 2008 by their private placement consultants, Synergy Capital Advisory Limited, as a high networth investor who was willing to inject N1,000,000,000 into the company, through the acquisition of shares.

    “Based on his touted pedigree as potential investor, Gobir cozy up to the management and in no time became chairman of the Business Development Committee of the board of directors of the company, a position which he later used to defraud the company.

    “Having earned the trust of the company owners, Gobir started demanding large amounts of money, which he termed as business expenses to international consultants, Royal Exchange Burue in the United Kingdom in order to facilitate and secure investments from his bank in the UK, Natwest Bank London.

    [ad id=”403656″]“The company gave Gobir  $1,000,000 in cash and paid for his travel expenses on a first class return ticket to UK where he would meet with the purported investors, which investigation later showed never existed nor were the meetings ever held.”

    The commission said the fraud was uncovered when the group managing director of Afromedia followed Gobir to London on a business trip.

    The source added: “On one good day after the suspect had collected several amounts of money and made several trips to the UK to meet with the purported investors, the group managing director of Afromedia accompanied him to the UK for another round of meeting ostensibly to close the deal.

    “But as soon as they landed in the UK, Gobir made a telephone call in which his travel companion overheard him scream aloud, saying his assets were seized by UK anti-money laundering authorities.

    “He even showed the GMD an email sent to him for the alleged seizure.

    “The suspect confessed to  the MD of Afromedia that his money( $250,000,000) was seized by the British authorities five years earlier for alleged money laundering and that he was currently financially handicapped and he needed a bailout of $3,817,000 to get the European Union Money Laundering Waiver Certificate.

    “The suspect later presented a “waiver certificate”, to the company and promised to pay them the monies he had collected.”

    The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren who confirmed the arrest, said investigation into the scam continued.

  • Alleged N15m bribe: Tribunal ends trial without Gaidam’s ADC’s testimony

    •Fixes Sept 22 for adoption of final written addresses

    The Yobe State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has concluded its trial in the petition challenging the declaration of Ibrahim Gaidam as winner in the April 11 election.

    The tribunal ended the trial on Friday without the testimony of the governor’s Aide-de-Camp Zakari Deba, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), accused of paying N15 million into the bank accounts of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Abu Zarma.

    As was the case with Zarma on Thursday, Deba, whose lawyer, Titus Ashaolu (SAN), told the tribunal that his client was ready to present his case and testify, failed to attend the proceedings.

    Deba and Zarma are named as the fourth and fifth respondents in the petition filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last governorship election, Adamu Waziri and his party. Other respondents are: Gaidam, his party – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Waziri and the PDP alleged, among others, that Gaidam, in a bid to compromise the REC, made Deba to pay N15 milling into Zarma’s two accounts with two prominent banks.

    Ashaolu, on Thursday, told the tribunal that his client was on his way to Abuja, praying that proceedings be shifted till Friday.

    But, on Friday, many of those hoping to hear details of how and why the alleged payment was made, were disappointed when Ashaolu announced that his client was no longer willing to testify.

    He said: “We met with our client yesterday (Thursday) and, having perused the evidence on record, led by the petitioners and the 1st and 2nd respondents (Governor Gaidam and PDP), we discovered that there is no cause of action against the fifth respondent (Deba) to warrant him being put in the witness box.

    “Earlier, we had raised a preliminary objection, which we will further amplify in our written address, to the extent that this tribunal has no jurisdiction to try the fifth respondent and that all actions alleged against the fifth respondent do not affect the conduct of the election. We are closing our case.”

    Zarma’s lawyer, Abeny Mohammed (SAN), on Thursay, gave a similar excuse for his client’s absence.

    Mohammed said: “The short adjournment afforded me the opportunity to review and evaluate evidence adduced to by the petitioners. Our conclusion is that we are not calling any witness but to rest our case on the case of the petitioner. I, therefore, close the case of the third and fourth respondents (Zarma and INEC) in this petition.”

    In the course of the trial, the petitioners called officials of the banks and an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who testified on the transaction and confirmed the payment.

    “We recommended that Deba and Kukawa be prosecuted for attempting to bribe Zarma,” Odofin said.

    On Friday, after Asaholu closed his client’s case, the tribunal Chairman, Justice Mojisola Dada announced the end of trial in the petition. She gave the respondents seven days, within which to file and serve their final written addresses; the petitioners, seven days to file their reply addresses, and extra three days for the respondents to reply on point of law.

    She adjourned till September 22 for the parties to adopt their final written addresses, following which a date will be chosen for the judgment.

  • Re: Alleged diversion of N1tn

    SIR: Permit me the opportunity to express my thoughts on the recent allegation by the Senate that Ibrahim Lamorde, Chairman of the EFCC, diverted N1tn from seized assets of Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former governor of Bayelsa State and Tafa Balogun, a former Inspector General of Police.

    It is no surprise that this probe is coming at a time when the EFCC is said to have questioned the wife of the Senate President, Toyin Saraki, and has also sought the help of the London Metropolitan Police to widen its investigations on the properties purchased by Bukola Saraki, the Senate President, in the UK.

    Is it not absurd to accuse one man to have stolen ONE TRILLION NAIRA? Please, I beg to question, what assets and monies is George Uboh talking about?

    I remember that in 2009, at Chelsea Hotel, Nigerians applauded Mrs. Farida Waziri, former Chairman of EFCC, when she handed over monies and assets recovered from Alamieyeseigha, to Timipre Sylva, his successor.

    I believe the CEO of any organisation is the Accounting Officer. Therefore, Nuhu Ribadu, being the Chairman at the time assets and monies were recovered from Alamieyeseigha and Tafa Balogun, should be called upon to answer questions. It is unfair to smear the name of Lamorde and the EFCC.

    As some of us have not forgotten, in 2007 Saraki faced investigations by the then Nuhu Ribadu-led EFCC alongside other governors but connived with James Ibori of Delta state to unseat Ribadu, in which they prevailed.

    I am concerned that this may be a scam by Saraki who found an ally in Uboh who purportedly holds a grudge against the Chairman of the EFCC for terminating his contract with the Commission in the Alamieyeseigha loot.

    History will not repeat itself and I urge Lamorde not to succumb to the attempt by Saraki to intimidate him.

    The fight against corruption must continue in earnest.

     

    • Keyu Eni

    Abacha Road, Mararaba

  • Man arraigned for alleged impersonation

    The police yesterday arraigned one Blessing Edmond before an Isolo Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos for alleged impersonation as a lawyer.

    Prosecuting Officer Oluwasayo Ajayi said the accused last October at a fast food joint in Ijeshatedo, Surulere, Lagos obtained the sum of N513,000 from one Onyinye  Eze pretending to be a legal practitioner with license to practice in Nigeria and other African countries.

    According to Ajayi, Edmond promised to help Eze bail her brother from Ghana Police custody.

    The prosecutor said the accused fraudulently obtained another N120,000 cash and also the sum of N513,000 worth of property with false pretence of been a lawyer, from the same victim.

    He is standing trial on a five-count charge.

    Ajayi said the offence contravened Sections 378, 312, 278 of the criminal law of Lagos State 2011.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate A.O Adebayo granted him N500,000 bail with two sureties.

    The case was adjourned to September 3.

  • NAFDAC crisis: Orhii denies alleged graft

    NAFDAC crisis: Orhii denies alleged graft

    •Union gives agency ultimatum on arrears
    •Activists caution Buhari on ‘petitions’

    Director-General of National Agency for Food Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Dr. Paul Orhii yesterday denied allegations made against him by the agency’s former Finance Director, Mr. Ademola Mogbojuri.

    Orhii, who spoke to reporters in Abuja on issues affecting NAFDAC, said the allegations credited to the former director of Finance were false.

    He claimed that the ex-director of Finance was removed because of incompetence and some sharp practices.

    He insisted that he would “rather leave this agency than to allow such impunity to continue”.

    Mogbojuri had accused Orhii of financial recklessness, saying he had evidence of inappropriate financial transactions involving the director-general.

    He also alleged that Orhii had been spending money generated by the organisation to the tune of N9 billion yearly on phoney contracts to some of his cronies and business associates at the expense of the welfare of workers.

    “Before he joined the agency in 2009, the annual total revenue of NAFDAC was about N2.5 billion and he met around N600 million in the account. Now, the total internally generated revenue is about N9 billion and the agency owes about N5 billion in debts,” he alleged.

    But Orhii did not deny the fact that despite being a revenue generating agency, NAFDAC was indebted to the tune of N5 billion.

    He noted that the law establishing the agency allowed it to generate funds and spend them.

    Orhii said the law had been assisting the agency in carrying out its programmes and projects.

    He said the removal of the ex-director of Finance was not to cover up, but to ensure that the agency functions properly unhindered.

    On why he transferred the director, Orhii said as the chief executive, he could not just watch workers and contractors complaining about the attitude of the man without doing anything.

    He said:  “As chief executive, workers run to you that they are being owed and you find out that those who were paid had to bribe to get their pay. If you are the chief executive, would you just sit down and watch?

    “Also, some contractors were not paid, do you want me to sit down here without doing anything.”

    On the issue of the agency’s indebtedness to the tune of N5 billion, Orhii said: “For me, I would rather collect a loan from the banks to execute my projects. If I know that equipment in the laboratory has broken down, when I know that is where my money is coming from. So, when you refuse to collect a loan when the equipment is broken down, how do you generate revenue to run the agency?”

    He maintained that it was through prudence that the agency owed N5 billion.

    He said: “When compared with its United States (U.S.) counterpart, it is by prudent management that we are owing N5 billion. If you compare our budget with that of U.S. agency, we should be spending close to N400 billion a year. And as I said, the law allows us to generate and spend ‘user fees’.”

    The money spent, he said, “is not money we should pay into the Federation Accounts”.

    On the allegation that the agency had not been remitting money in the past one and half years, Orhii said it was the responsibility of the former director of Finance to pay workers and contractors.

    But he said Mogbojuri was not doing that.

    Members of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN, NAFDAC chapter, have given a week ultimatum to the management to pay outstanding allowances owned the workers, otherwise the union would embark on another strike.

    The union, led by its chairman, Ibrahim Attah yesterday at a news briefing shortly after its congress at the agency’s Isolo Operational office, lamented that the outstanding arrears that led to the last year strike were not settled by the management despite available resources.

    Attah argued that with the latest revelation that the organisation was generating about N9 billion annually, it had no cause to owe workers.

    He said  it was unfortunate that all along the management had been economical with the truth that the agency was broke.

    A coalition of 14 civil societies has urged Buhari to be cautious of fake petitions.

    The civil societies under the aegis of African Arise for Change Network said they decided to warn the President because some “fifth columnists are already positioning to truncate the gains of change”.

    Speaking on behalf of the coalition yesterday in Abuja, its Secretary General Mr. Samson Bello revealed that the target of the protest was the director general of NAFDAC.

    The coalition called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), NAFDAC and the citizens to disregard the distractions constituted by the protesting groups as well as their sponsored petitions.