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Tag: Goodluck Jonathan

  • Jonathan to Buhari: Don’t rig Ekiti poll for APC

    Says Hersdmen menace has brought global ridicule to Nigeria

     

    Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari against rigging the July 14 Ekiti State governorship election for his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Jonathan said based on the experience he had during his time in the Presidency, there would be pressures from certain quarters for an incumbent President to rig election for his party.

    To the Bayelsa State-born statesman, if a free and fair election is conducted in Ekiti State, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) joint ticket of Prof. Kolapo Olusola and Mr. Ayodeji Ogunsakin, would coast home to victory.

    He said their victory would be made possible by the performance of Governor Ayo Fayose whom he described as an “exemplary leader and a loyal party man.”

    The ex-President spoke Friday night shortly he inaugurated the 1.3 kilometer Ado-Ekiti Flyover where an all-night party was held with fireworks lighting up the skyline. He had earlier in the day witnessed the inauguration of the new Governor’s Office.

    Jonathan also lamented that the Fulani herdsmen crisis and the depreciating value of the Naira have turned Nigeria to a butt of joke and ridicule in the international community.

    He urged Buhari to protect his good name by allowing the conduct of free, fair and transparent governorship poll in Ekiti and resist the temptation to use the state machinery to rig in favour of the APC.

    Read Also: Jonathan to leaders: Make sacrifices for Nigeria’s democracy

    Jonathan said: “I don’t believe anybody can defeat the PDP in Ekiti if election is going to be held. I want to advise President Buhari not to deploy power to truncate Ekiti election.

    “I use this opportunity to call on Mr. President because I was there before. When you are there, there is so much pressure on you to use your power to subjugate democracy.

    “Don’t do that because when you are going; the only thing you leave behind is your good name. If you use it wrongly, posterity will haunt you. I call on Mr. President to use his power to strengthen democracy.

    “Though as a president, you have the power but don’t do that because of posterity. History will record whatever you do and the power of a leader is determined after leaving office and not when he is in the office.

    “The will of the people must be allowed to stand at all times, because power belongs to them and we must respect their verdict through the ballots.”

    On the alleged negative image of Nigeria, Jonathan said he was ashamed that Nigeria is now being used as a negative example in the international community.

    He cited recent instances when the Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo, mocked the poor state of security in Nigeria and the naira’s weakening status.

    Jonathan added: “He (Akufo-Addo) said Ghana is not like Nigeria where cattle roam the streets. At another occasion in the United Kingdom, he made scathing remarks about Nigeria’s currency.

    “I feel ashamed as a former President that the president of a neighbouring country used Nigeria as negative examples.

    “If a neighbouring African president will use Nigeria to make negative examples, then we as leaders must know certain things are wrong in the country. That means we as leaders must change the way we do things.”

    The former President, therefore, urged Nigerian leaders to show serious concern, noting that many things had gone wrong in the country.

    Jonathan also defended Nigerian youths, saying they were one of the best in the world and should not be branded lazy as recently remarked by Buhari.

    “We must encourage young people to work hard. I don’t think Nigerian youths are lazy, I have worked with some of them in my cabinet as governor and president. Nigerian youths are great people with intelligence,” he said.

    Fayose said the 77-member election committee raised by the APC for the Ekiti governorship election showed the desperation of the party to win at all costs.

    “I will defeat them by the grace of God,” he said.

    Fayose declared that he would land in Abuja Presidential Villa at the end of his tenure while Olusola will continue with his legacies in Ekiti as governor.

  • Jonathan to leaders: Make sacrifices for Nigeria’s democracy

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has advised Nigerian leaders to make personal sacrifices towards strengthening the nation’s democracy and make the country great.

    He spoke on Friday night at the inauguration of a flyover built by the administration of Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose in Ado Ekiti.

    Leaders, he said, should always strive to resist the pressure from unpatriotic elements  who wish to subjugate democracy to attain selfish ends.

    According to a statement by his spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan spoke against the backdrop of the coming Ekiti Governorship election in the state.

    He said: “Since I came in I have been going round the state with the Governor. I have seen the support the Governor still has; I have seen the support the Peoples Democratic Party enjoys in the State. I have also seen the enthusiasm of our people. I don’t believe anybody can defeat the PDP in Ekiti, if real election is going to be conducted.”

    On the need for free and fair elections in the country, Jonathan said: “I use this opportunity to call on Mr. President because I was there before, and I know that when you are there, there is so much pressure on you to use all the powers at your disposal to subjugate democracy.

    “Don’t do that because what you go with, at the end of the day, is the good name you leave behind. If you use your powers negatively, posterity will haunt you. I call on Mr. President to use his power to strengthen democracy because all the great democracies we see in the world today were built by people. People make sacrifices to make their country great.”

    Making a case for good leadership, the former President stated further that he always felt sad each time people said negative things about Nigeria, noting that it has got to a stage where the nation’s neighbours cite the country as a bad example.

    He said: “A President of a neighbouring country, Ghana, recently made two negative remarks about Nigeria. First, the current Ghanaian President was addressing Ghanaians about the movement of cattle within their shores and he said openly that Ghana is not like Nigeria where cattle roam freely. That was quite uncomplimentary.  He added that recently the same President was speaking in the United Kingdom when he made disparaging remarks about Nigeria’s currency.

    Read Also: Jonathan, PDP leaders demand credible election

    “If it has got to a level when the Presidents of neighbouring countries will cite Nigeria as a negative example, then we must know as leaders of this country that certain things are not going well, and we must change the way we do things.”

    He described Governor Fayose as a man who has the courage to lead his people, noting that he never compromised anything that had to do with the interest of the people of Ekiti State.

    “He (Fayose) has done well and has defended and protected the interest of the people of Ekiti State. We are here for infrastructural development. While here, I have inspected the High Court complex that was commissioned yesterday (Thursday). I have inspected the market being constructed. I was a part of commissioning of the new Governor’s Office and I have inspected the office. This night I am commissioning the Flyover. Everybody is talking about this flyover which is not just the first in Ekiti State but the first flyover of its kind in Nigeria.

    “The resources of Ekiti State are small compared to many other states. It is a feat to have this kind of projects done here. We have to thank the vision of such a dynamic man Ayodele Fayose who is the Governor of the State.

    Jonathan also commended Fayose in the area of education, stressing that any leader who wanted to develop and liberate his people would first treat education as a priority.

    “Anybody who does not encourage education wants to imprison the minds of the people so that he will continue to subjugate them and exploit them”, said.

    He described Ekiti people as a population that places high value on education. “Not too long ago we were surprised when Ekiti records in national examinations dropped so low. I was quite pleased when the records improved through the efforts of Governor Ayodele Fayose, of course supported by the Deputy Governor, a university professor that supervised the educational sector. So, anybody who can enhance education and improve the infrastructure of the state within the limits of the limited resources available to the state has a good vision for the state.”

  • Jonathan, PDP leaders demand credible election

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan and other PDP leaders have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to allow the conduct of a free, fair and transparent election in the country in 2019.

    This was said on Friday during the inauguration of the 1.3 kilometer Ado-Ekiti Flyover.

    The leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) also demanded a credible governorship election on July 14.

    Sounding the battle cry ahead of the next set of elections were Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Uche Secondus.

    Also at the inauguration were Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel and Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu where they canvassed support for the PDP candidate for Ekiti governorship poll, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    The setting was the inauguration of a new Governor’s Office constructed by the Governor Ayo Fayose administration.

    Jonathan arrived the scene at exactly 2.22 pm when Wike was making his speech and was welcomed by other guests who were seated before his arrival.

    Although the former president did not make any speech, he is expected to speak during the inauguration of the flyover which commences at 7.00 pm.

    Read Also: Ekiti Deputy Speaker, Chief Whip removed over alleged disloyalty to Fayose

    Secondus who noted that Ekiti has been witnessing positive development under Fayose urged the people of the state to vote at the next governorship election and the 2019 general elections.

    The PDP boss warned the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government against any attempt to rig the Ekiti poll and general election stressing that “rigging the election would have dire consequences.”

    Secondus said: “The PDP has demonstrated that it can conduct free and  fair primary; all we are asking for is that the coming elections should be free and fair.

    “We are asking the Federal Government to allow the coming elections to be free and fair for the world to see that Nigeria is moving forward.

    “Any attempt to rig is a recipe for crisis, I hope it will not start from Ekiti. The 1983 crisis started from Ekiti and the (77-man APC) Committee should show us what they have done.

    “They should not come and rig election here. We are asking them that it should be one man, one vote. President Buhari should allow one man, one vote.”

    Wike said: “This loyal and humble deputy governor (Olusola) will continue with the good work of Fayose. Ekiti people will vote for him because of what he can offer.

    “The only thing they (APC) have is to rig election, they have told us the election will be free and fair. When election comes, don’t give them any chance, go and protect your votes.

    “They said they have set up a Committee of 77, what is our business with that? If you say they will not intimidate you, it is a lie but I want to charge our security men to allow for a free and fair election.”

    Dankwambo said: “If politics is about development, we need not to campaign in Ekiti State. Politics is about development and that is what we stand for.

    “I believe the person that has emerged as our candidate here will do more and more than Fayose. He is experienced and he has learnt a lot and he will deliver.”

    Fayose boasted that the APC candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, would be defeated at the Ekiti governorship election despite the instruments of coercion to be deployed in his favour.

    He said: “Whether they like it or not, you (Olusola) are the next governor. If they like, let them their Army and Police, they are wasting their time.

    “It is your time to shine, battles are not won by the strength of the Army, you are a divine candidate on a divine assignment. I am proud to say I believe in you.”

  • Court refuses order to unfreeze N1.9b linked to Patience Jonathan

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Thursday refused to discharge an interim order freezing N1.9 billion which was allegedly obtained fraudulently by a businesswoman, Hajiya Bola Shagaya.

    Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) validly obtained the order.

    Shagaya had urged the court to grant her access to her account, which had been frozen since December 29, 2016.

    Through her lawyer, Mr. Napoleon Emeaso-Nwachukwu, she claimed she was not given fair hearing before Justice Muslim Hassan of the same court made the freezing order.

    She urged Justice Oguntoyinbo to declare the freezing order unconstitutional, null and void “as same violates the applicant’s right to own movable property as guaranteed by Section 44(1)(k) of the I999 Constitution of Nigeria.”

    Read Also: EFCC gets fresh order to seize Patience Jonathan’s N7.3b, $8.4m

    But, EFCC argued that Justice Oguntoyinbo lacked the power to sit as an appellate court over Justice Hassan’s decision, describing Shagaya’s originating summons as an abuse of court processes.

    It accused Shagaya of filing the suit “so as to impede the proper dispensation of justice and thus avoiding criminal investigation and possible prosecution.”

    The anti-graft agency claimed that the N1.9billion was the balance of N3, 305,150,000, which Shagaya allegedly received as “founder fees” on behalf of an organisation “Women for Change” being spearheaded by former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan.

    The EFCC claimed that the N3.3billion was realised through Shagaya’s “fraudulent activities in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),” where she allegedly “influenced the fraudulent allocation of Dual Purpose kerosene to Index Petrolube Africa Ltd., with the aid of the former First Lady, Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan.”

    According to the EFCC, the N3.3billion was paid by Index Petrolube Africa Ltd and its sister company, Autodex Nigeria Ltd.

    The two companies, it said, belong to one Honourable Ezeani ThankGod, adding that the reason for the N3.3billion payment was to “fraudulently facilitate Dual Purpose Kerosene to ThankGod’s company, Index Petrolube Africa Ltd.”

    The anti-graft agency claimed that out of the N3.3billion, Shagaya had “paid a cumulative sum of N1,212,000,000 to the former First Lady, Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan, through her account, ‘Women for Change Initiative’ account domiciled in Diamond Bank, to which the former First Lady is the sole signatory.”

    It said after paying N1.2billion to Mrs Jonathan, Shagaya kept the balance of N1.9billion for herself by “warehousing” it in her Unity Bank account.

    The EFCC said it secured an order by Justice Hassan on December 29, 2016 to freeze the account pending the conclusion of its investigation.

    The anti-graft agency said the applicant would “use this honourable court as a shield against criminal investigation and prosecution” if the application was granted.

    In her verdict Thursday, Justice Oguntoyinbo faulted Shagaya’s claims she was not given the opportunity to defend herself.

    “The interim order was made based on an ex-parte application filed by the EFCC. An ex-parte application has no respondent and the court is not expected to hear from the other party.

    “Even when the other party is around, it can only be seen and not heard. Therefore, the failure of Justice Hassan to hear the applicant cannot invalidate the order.

    “The granting of the interim order of attachment is not unconstitutional and does not constitute an infringement on the applicant’s rights to own property”, the judge held.

    Justice Oguntoyinbo said the applicant failed to controvert EFCC’s claim that she refused to honour invitation.

    The judge said Shagaya’s claim that the order was made in perpetuity did not hold water because there was no evidence that the EFCC had concluded its investigation.

    “It is erroneous to claim that the interim order has metamorphosed into a permanent one or in perpetuity because it was to last until the conclusion of investigation by the respondent.

    “There was no evidence to show that the respondent has stopped investigating the property or has concluded investigation,” Justice Oguntoyibo said.

    The judge, therefore, held that Shagaya’s application lacked merit and dismissed it.

  • Don’t discriminate against workers living with HIV/AIDS – NACA

    The National Agency for the Control of AIDS ( NACA ) has cautioned employers of labour in the country not to discriminate against their employees with HIV.

    Dr Sani Aliyu, the Director-General, gave the advice in a statement issued by the Head, Public Relations and Protocol of the agency, Mrs Toyin Aderibigbe, in Abuja on Monday.

    The DG said that cases of employment-related stigma and discrimination remained a major challenge to ending AIDS epidemic by 2030.

    The statement quoted Aliyu as saying: “The pandemic of HIV/AIDS has become one of the most critical workplace issues in our time.

    “The unequal treatment of workers based on their HIV status in the workplace is a clear breach of their right to gainful employment.

    “People living with HIV/AIDS have a fundamental right to work just like everybody else, stigma and discrimination are potent threats to this right, and undermine opportunities for people to obtain decent employment.”

    Aliyu said that the agency would continue to collaborate with relevant agencies and organisations to achieve the goal of eliminating stigma and discrimination in workplaces.

    “The continuous engagement of relevant stakeholders has led to strengthen capacity for compliance and effective implementation of HIV workplace policies.

    “It has also built capacities on available options for addressing discrimination including redress, and made available legal services for survivors of human rights violations,” he said.

    The DG added that the agencies and organisations involved in the advocacy included the International Labour Organisation, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment among others.

    He noted that the collaboration would ensure that employers comply with the provisions of the National Workplace Policy on HIV/AIDS, and the National HIV/AIDS Anti-Discrimination Act.

    We recall that the HIV and AIDS (Anti-Discrimination) Bill was signed into law in 2014 by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The Act makes it illegal to discriminate against people because of their HIV status.

    It also prohibits any employer, individual or organisation from requiring a person to take HIV test as a precondition for employment.

    NAN

  • EFCC gets court’s nod to appeal ruling quashing charges against Jonathan’s cousin, wife

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday granted permission to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to appeal the March 29 ruling of the court, partially upholding the no-case submission of Robert Azibaola, a cousin to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba had in the ruling, fully upheld the no-case submission made by Azibaola’s wife, Stella and quashed the charge against her, but partially upheld the no-case submission by the husband and their firm, One Plus Holding Nigeria Limited.

    The judge, in partially upholding the no-case submissions by Azibaola and One Plus, voided counts counts 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, leaving only two – counts 2 and 3 of the 9-count charge on which the three were arraigned in a charge filed in 2016.

    The EFCC arraigned Azibaola, Stella and One Plus on a 9-count charge of conspiracy to covert money and money laundering.

    They were accused of diverting the $40million they allegedly received from the Office of the National Security Adviser, which was meant for the purchase of tactical communication kits for special forces.

    The three were said to have laundered the money by trading with the funds through bureau de change companies instead of deploying the money for the purpose it was intended.

    At trial, the prosecution called a number of witnesses and closed its case, following which the defendants made a no-case submission.

    In a ruling on March 29 this year, Justice Dimgba quashed the 8 counts relating to Stella, on the grounds that the prosecution could not lead evidence to support the counts.

    On the part of Azibaola and One Plus, the judge partially upheld their no-case submission by quashing some counts, leaving counts 2 and 3 on which the two defendants were expected to enter defence.

    Yesterday, prosecution lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir moved a motion for leave to appeal an aspect of the ruling on grounds other than law alone.

    The prosecution attached its proposed notice of appeal to the motion.

    Kanayo Okafor, who represented the defendants did not object to the prosecution’s motion, which the judge granted.

    By yesterday’s development, the prosecution can proceed with its appeal.

    The proposed notice of appeal sighted on Wednesday contained four grounds on which the prosecution faulted the March 29 ruling.

    In ground one, the prosecution argued that the trial judge erred in law and occasioned a miscarriage of justice when he upheld Azibaola and Stella’s no case submission on the charge of conspiracy to launder money without allowing the two defendants to lead evidence proving that they were couple of a Christian marriage.

    It argued: “the trial court, without any shred of evidence placed before it, jumped into the conclusion that the 1st and 2nd respondents are husband and wife legally disabled from committing conspiracy with each other.

    “The trial court made a case for the 1st and 2nd respondents without hearing evidence from them on their marital status.

    “The trial court jettisoned the time honoured principle that, at the stage of no-case submission, the evidence of the prosecution witnesses should only raise a prima facie case, not that the court should evaluate the evidence as in the case of proof beyond reasonable doubt which comes later.”

    The prosecution also faulted the trial judge for discharging Stella on the offence of “directly taking possession or control of the sum of $39.9m (contained in count 2) and directly converting the said sum, along with the 1st and 3rd respondents. (in count 3).

    It argued that while the trial judge rightly held that Stella was a director of One Plus and a signatory to its account, went ahead to exonerate her “by speculating that she was probably charged because she is the spouse of the 1st defendant.”

    The prosecution accused the trial judge of misdirecting himself in law and occasioned a miscarriage of justice when he discharged the 1st and 3rd defendants on the charge of laundering the sum of, 650m (in count 7), the prosecution having  led credible evidence to show that the money was “used to buy a property – Plot 2245 Maitama Cadastra Zone No. A06 – in the name of the 3rd respondent.”

    It argued that the decision of the trial judge “was unreasonable and unwarranted in the circumstances of this case.”

    Follwoing the agreement by parties yesterday that the trail should continue on the remaining two counts despite the leave granted the prosecution to appeal, Justice Dimgba has adjourned to June 4 for  continuation of trial.

     

  • Jonathan should be docked, says Oshiomhole

    Former Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has said that President Goodluck Jonathan should be docked if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) insists that prosecution of suspected looters is selective.

    According to Oshiomhole, Jonathan should be docked for approving money beyond his powers and spending same in a way that was not accounted for.

    Oshiomhole spoke to newsmen in Benin City at the weekend shortly after attending the wedding  of the daughter of the member representing Ikpoba Okha/Egor federal Constituency, at the national assembly, Hon Ehiozuwa Agbonayima.

    The former Edo Governor also faulted the calls by the PDP that the National Assembly should approve the $1bn the federal government wants to spend on security.

    He said the PDP spent well above that sum without going to the national assembly.

    On the condemnation that trailed the release of looters’ list, Comrade Oshiomhole said names of looters should be made public as it was the right of Nigerians to know the level of rot that transpired.

    Oshiomhole urged President Muhammadu Buhari to be ruthless in going against those alleged to have looted the nation’s resources.

    He alleged that hired writers were made to challenge him when he first raised alarm over the money that was looted from the treasury.

    “I hear them say prosecution is selective. Maybe they are right because if they are not, maybe President Jonathan should be on the dock. He approved money beyond his powers and spent it in a way that is not accounted for.

    “I think that if other Nigerians don’t understand the power of transparency, the right to know, the media should uphold that right and defend it. What was stolen was not from private purse; the house that was destroyed was not a private residence.  We are talking of resources which if it is distributed on basis of equality divide by 180 million people you will be a lot richer.

    “I think my only complain is that the federal government should go more ruthless because they are a lot of people who should be in court who are not there because when I was still in the office and I said the kind of money they stole was huge in dollars, they paid hired writers to say how do I know.

    “I know that we cannot be lamenting today without understanding that the treasury was burgled yesterday. It is like someone sneaked into your kitchen and took everything out and you woke up he tells you am sorry I stole the pot of soup, in fact, I broke the pot. Should we continue like that?

    “I think the promise of democracy is that good or bad the people have the right to know and that is the starting point and particularly important when that armed robber of yesterday is trying to do face surgery so that he looks different.  Some are jumping the boat to wear new face, to change identity, and to change their finger print so that they can come back. I think the people have the right to know and If any of them think that what has being said is not true, they can go to Court”

    “All of them who are involved and those who they are looking for they should put everything in public domain and that is the promise of democracy and it is about you. Just by virtue of being in a winning party, they helped themselves so much. One of the acting chairmen of PDP, Makarfi, I used to respect him so much, I heard him saying that the reason they did not indict Diezani was that the money missing and everything that was done Goodluck approved.

    “If President approved that money, should it be stolen and not go into the federation account. Is that the reason the PDP led senate and a sub –committee led by Markarfi cannot say it is not the minister but President Jonathan?.

    “Jonathan may have immunity against prosecution, but he doesn’t have power to appropriate what  the national assembly have done. Right now, they are now saying the national assembly should approve the $1 Billion the federal government is going to spend on security, but this is a party that spent well above that without going to the national assembly at all,” Oshiomhole

  • Yobe to unveil 8,500-year-old canoe at exhibition

    The Yobe government on Wednesday said it would soon unveil the 8,500-year-old Dufana canoe, Africa’s oldest and world’s third oldest water craft, for public exhibition.

    Alhaji Mohammed Abare, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Information and Culture, made the disclosure in an interview with the News men in Damaturu.

    “The canoe, which was discovered in Dufana village, was jointly evacuated by the Department of Trans-Sahara Studies, University of Maiduguri, National Commission for Museum and Monuments and Goethe University, Germany.

    “Carbonated research on the canoe revealed that it was Africa’s oldest water craft and third oldest in the world,” he said.

    The permanent secretary said the canoe had undergone various stages of conservation, and now in the final stage of treatment before unveiling it for public exhibition.

    Read Also: Cholera outbreak in Yobe kill six, 62 hospitalized

    He said that the canoe had rich potentialities for international tourism and academic research, with huge economic benefits to the state and country.

    The canoe, made from black African Mahogany, was measured eight metres in length, 0.5 metres in width and 5.5 metres in thickness.

    According to Abare, “One Malam Yau, a Fulani herdsman, while digging a well in 1987, discovered the canoe in Dufana village in Fune Local Government Area of Yobe.

    “Former president, Goodluck Jonathan, had designated the canoe a national monument in 2014,” Abare said.

    NAN

  • Arms scam: Jonathan’s cousin has case to answer – Court

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin, Robert Azibaola to defend himself in a fraud allegation of 40 million dollars leveled against him and his company, One Plus Holding Ltd by the Federal Government.

    The court on Thursday ordered Azibaola to defend himself on two out of the nine-count charge preferred against him by the government.

    He was to defend himself on the two counts bordering on being in possession of and converting the sum of 40 million dollars received from the office of the former National Security Adviser, (NSA), and Retired Col.Sambo Dasuki to personal use.

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba made the order while ruling on the no-case-submission filed by Azibaola and his wife, Stella.

    The court, however, discharged and acquitted Stella of all the nine-count charge leveled against her.

    Dimgba in discharging Stella held that being wife to Azibaola was not enough to charge her with the offence since criminal liability was personal and not vicarious.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), the prosecuting agency in the matter had in 2016, preferred a 7-count charge against Azibaola, his wife, Stella and their company, that they received 40 million dollars’ worth of contract from Dasuki.

    They were subsequently arraigned on June 7, 2016 and were admitted to bail in the sum of N500 million each.

    They were, re-arraigned on April 27, 2017 this time on a 9-count amended charge.

    In the cause of the trial, the prosecution called 10 witnesses and tendered 27 documented evidences against the three parties and closed its case,

    Read Also: Alleged fraud: Court asks Jonathan’s cousin to enter defence

    Mr Chris Uche, (SAN) counsel to Azibaola and his wife however filed a no-case-submission.

    Uche insisted that the government had failed to establish a prima-facie case that would warrant his clients to enter a defence and prayed the court to discharge and acquit his clients.

    Delivering the court’s ruling on the no-case-submission, the judge held that two of the defendants had some explanations to do with regards to counts two and three.

    “It was claimed that the 40 million dollars released from the office of the former NSA to Azibaola and One Plus Holding Ltd was meant for the procurement of tactical communication kits.

    “Counts two and three are basically the same, the difference is that count two borders on possession of the sum of 40 million dollars while count three was hinged on conversion of the said amount.

    “Having reviewed the oral and documentary evidence tendered by the prosecution through its witnesses, this court holds the view that there is good reason for Azibaola and the company to proceed with their defence,” the court ruled

    The court noted that there was no evidence to show that the said tactical communication kits were supplied.

    “In the absence of any evidence to show supply of the tactical communication kits, the 1st (Azibaola) and 3rd (One Plus Holding) defendants are in a position to explain what the fund was used for.

    “On the whole, there is sufficient prima-facie case made out by the prosecution against the 1st and 3rd defendants.

    “The no-case-submission in respect of these two counts is refused,” the court held.

    The court absolved Azibaola and his company of any wrongdoing in counts one, four, five, six, seven, eight and nine.

    The judge adjourned the matter until June 4 for Azibaola to open his defence.

    NAN