The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Jonathan’s cousins

  • 40m scam: Court to determine Jonathan’s cousin’s, wife’s fate March 29

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled March 29 for ruling on the no-case submission made by former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin, Robert Azibaola, and his wife, Stella, in their trial.

    The couple is being tried with their company – One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited – on a nine-count money laundering charge in which they were, among others, accused of receiving $40million contract from former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki.

    Yesterday, defendants’ lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the charge against his clients.

    He argued that the prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had failed to establish a prima-facie case capable of warranting the court to call the defendants to enter defence.

    Uche argued that the prosecution was unable to lead credibile evidence to establish a nexus between them and the alleged $40m contract scam.

    He contended that the prosecution’s oral and documentary evidence was manifestly unreliable to the extent that no reasonable court or tribunal could rely on them to make a conviction.

    In a counter argument, prosecution lawyer, F. A. Jibo, insisted that the defendants have a case to answer.

    Jibo said the prosecution had successfully made out a case that would warrant the defendants to be called upon to open their defence to the charge against them.

    According to Jibo, the proof of evidence before the court was sufficient to warrant an explanation from the defendants regarding individual roles they played in the alleged $40m contract scam.

    Trial judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, after listening to arguments from lawyers to both sides, adjourned to March 29 for ruling.

  • Alleged $40m scam: Jonathan’s cousin’s trial stalled

    The trial of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin Robert Azibaola and his wife Stella, was stalled yesterday because of the failure of the prosecution to present its witness.
    The couple is being tried before the Federal High Court, Abuja on a seven-count charge of money laundering brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
    They are charged with a firm, Oneplus Holding Limited.
    When the case was called yesterday, prosecution lawyer Sylvanus Tahir, told the court that his witnesses were absent.
    He regretted his inability to produce his witnesses, noting that they were key witnesses who were unavoidably absent in court.
    Tahir, who said he informed the defence lawyer about his predicament, sought a fresh date to enable him present his witnesses.
    Defence lawyer Chris Uche (SAN) did not object to Tahir’s request for adjournment. He confirmed being informed about the prosecution’s predicament.
    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba adjourned to March 13 and 14 for continuation of trial.

  • Alleged $40m fraud: Jonathan’s cousin’s, wife’s trial begins

    Alleged $40m fraud: Jonathan’s cousin’s, wife’s trial begins

    Barring last-minute changes, the trial of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin,  Roberts Azibaola will begin today in Abuja.

    Azibaola, his wife Stella and their firm will be arraigned for alleged payment of $40million into their company, One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited, by the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA).

    Mrs. Stella Azibaola was taken into custody last night to join her husband in preparation for their arraignment before a Federal High Court in Abuja

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed seven charges against the couple.

    The charges were filed by Sylvanus Tahir and Jirbo Francis from the Legal and Prosecution Department  of the EFCC.

    The EFCC  has  traced the source of the  $40million to a bank in London.

    The cash was wired through Citibank N. A. Canada Square Canary in Wharf London E 145 LB into the account of One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited.

    The $40million came from the account of the Special Services Office of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

    The Special Services Office has a joint account with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and some security agencies, which was managed by ONSA.

    The charges are as follows:

    • That you Azibaola Robert being the Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer and a signatory to the Zenith Bank account of One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Stella Azibaola Robert, being a director and a signatory to the account of One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited and Amobi Ogum( now at large) on or about 8th September, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to commit an illegal act to wit: money laundering of the sum of $40million transferred to the domiciliary account of One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited with Zenith Bank, Account No. 5070365750 from the account of ONSA with the Central Bank of Nigeria upon a mandate  Ref. No. 128/S.5LX/139 purporting to be for the supply of Tactical Communication Kits for Special Services and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Money Laundering( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
    • That you, Azibaola Robert, Mrs. Stella Azibaola Robert directly took control of $39.999,958 only out of the total sum of $40million transferred to the domiciliary account of One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited with Zenith Bank, Account No. 5070365750 from the account of ONSA with the Central Bank of Nigeria upon a mandate  Ref. No. 128/S.5LX/139 when you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki(rtd), the then National Security Adviser( To wit: criminal breach of trust and corruption) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
    • That you Azibaola Robert and Mrs. Stella Azibaola Robert on or about 8th September 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this court directly converted $39.999,958 only out of the total sum of $40million transferred to the domiciliary account of One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited when you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki(rtd), the then National Security Adviser( To wit: criminal breach of trust and corruption) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (b) of the Money Laundering( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
    • That you Azibaola Robert and Mrs. Stella Azibaola Robert did directly transfer $6,600,000 only  being part of the $39.999,958 only out of the total sum of $40million to the bank account of Karahyna Nigeria Limited, a Bureau De Change company for Naira exchange, which you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki(rtd), the then National Security Adviser( To wit: criminal breach of trust and corruption) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (b) of the Money Laundering( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) and (4) of the same Act.
    • That you Azibaola Robert and Mrs. Stella Azibaola Robert did directly transfer the aggregate sum of $1million only being part of the $39.999,958 only out of the total sum of $40million to the bank account of Reya Telecommunications Nigeria Limited, a sister company to One Plud Holdings Nigeria Limited, which you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki(rtd), the then National Security Adviser( To wit: criminal breach of trust and corruption) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (b) of the Money Laundering( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) and (4) of the same Act.
    • That you Azibaola Robert and Mrs. Stella Azibaola Robert did directly transfer the aggregate sum of $1,493,000 only being part of the sum of $39.999,958 only out of the total sum of $40million to the bank account of Kakatar EL Limited, a sister to One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited which you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki(rtd), the then National Security Adviser ( To wit: criminal breach of trust and corruption) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (b) of the Money Laundering( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) and (4) of the same Act.
    • That you Azibaola Robert , being the Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer of One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited on or about 27th May, 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this court having reason to know that the sum of N650million only directly represented the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki(rtd), the then National Security Adviser( To wit: criminal breach of trust and corruption) in respect of the said amount used the said fund for the purchase of Plot 2245, situate at Maitama Cadastral Zone No. A06 Measuring about 2,482, 28sqm with File No. KN 10182, Abuja from one Nu’uman Barau Danbatta represented by Tunji Adeniyi and Co.( Estate Surveyors and Valuers) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) and (4) of the same Act.”
  • Gunmen abduct Jonathan’s cousins in Bayelsa

    Gunmen abduct Jonathan’s cousins in Bayelsa

    Patience Egbeni and Kate Eni, two cousins of President Goodluck Jonathan, have been abducted by gunmen at Akimpelai, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

    It was learnt that six gunmen stormed the riverbank in the community at 8.30am on Tuesday and abducted the women.

    The victims were said to have been snatched from their provision stores on the riverbank.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said the hoodlums forced the women into a waiting speedboat and took them to an unknown place.

    The incident, which occurred a few days to a grand reception being organised for Dr Jonathan on May 29, was said to have devastated the President’s kinsmen.

    The source said: “The victims are two maternal cousins of the President. We know that they have been preparing to welcome the President after the May 29 handover. Unless they are rescued before then, their dream of spokesman Butswat Asinim, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said the gunmen were dressed in military camouflage.

    Egbeni is 35 years old.

    He said: “The gunmen were dressed in military camouflage. They went to the provision stores of the victims at the riverside and abducted them into a waiting speedboat.”

    Asinim said the Marine and Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the police, including the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, had been contacted.

    Following the incident, the Ogbia clan of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide urged the kidnappers to release the women immediately.

    The clan’s Chairman Osaanya Osaanya said no ransom should be paid for the women’s freedom.

    He said: “We are calling on the kidnappers to, as a matter of urgency, return those innocent women. We will go after them, if they refuse to heed our call. We will assist security agencies to make sure that those poor women are released with immediate effect.”

  • Gunmen abduct Jonathan’s cousins in Bayelsa

    Patience Egbeni and Kate Eni, two cousins of President Goodluck Jonathan, have been abducted by gunmen at Akimpelai, Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State.

    The Nation gathered that the unidentified gunmen, numbering six, stormed the community riverbank at about 8.30am on Tuesday and seized the women.

    The women were reportedly abducted from their provision stores located along the riverbank.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said the hoodlums forced their victims into a waiting speedboat and took them to an unknown place.

    The incident, which occurred few days to a grand reception being organized for President Jonathan on May 29, was said to have devastated the President’s kinsmen.

    The source said: “The victims are two maternal cousins of the President. We know that they have been preparing to welcome the President after the May 29 handover. Unless they are rescued before then, their dream of welcoming their brother will be a mirage.”

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Butswat Asinim, said the gunmen were dressed in military camouflage.

    Asinim, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said one of the victims, Egbeni, is 35 years old.

    “The gunmen were dressed in military camouflage. They went to the provision stores of the victims at the riverside and abducted them into a waiting speedboat,” he said.

    He said the marine and anti-kidnapping squad of the police, including the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, had been contacted.