The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lugbe

  • Atiku wins all voting points at Unit 007 Pyakasa in FCT

    The presidential candidate for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has won in the eight voting points at Unit 007 Pyakas, Lugbe, FCT

    Mr Sadiqu Abdulrazak, the Presiding Officer for the unit, said Abubakar scored 1,205 votes while President Muhammadu Buhari, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) got 173 votes.

    Abdulrazak also announced that the Senatorial candidate for PDP got 913 votes while APC got 444 votes.

    For House of Representatives, the candidate for PDP won with 1,102 votes while APC candidate scored a total of 240 votes.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that sorting and counting of votes at polling unit 007 Pyakasa lasted till 4.30 a.m on Sunday.

    Reacting, the SDP agent, Mr Haruna Dauda, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the process, stating that every thing was transparent.

    Mr Joshua Shawula, the PDP agent, also noted that INEC staff were fair and the election at the unit was free and fair. (NAN)

  • Subsidy probe: ‎Farouk Lawan requested for $3m bribe, Otedola tells court

    …Says he paid $500,000

     

    Businessman Femi Otedola has told a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Lugbe, Abuja that former the House of Representatives member, Farouk Lawan allegedly demanded $3million bribe from him.

    Otedola, who said he did not pressurise the ex-lawmaker to exclude his company from the list of those probed for fuel subsidy fraud, admitted paying $500,000 to Lawan.

    Otedola, who is the Chairman of Zenon Oil, spoke on Wednesday while testifying as prosecution witness in the trial of Lawan for allegedly receiving gratification while serving as Chairman of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on investigation into fuel subsidy regime in 2012.

    Led in evidence by d by Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), Otedola said: “I could not have put pressure on him because Zenon Oil was not involved in the theft of the subsidy fund.

    “He did demand. And if he did not demand, why will he collect and expect a balance of $2.5m?

    “He mentioned to me that the $3m will be shared by himself and some other members of the House,” the witness said.

    Otedola stated that his company was not involved in the fuel subsidy fraud and that there was no basis for it to be indicted

    He claimed that Lawan merely demanded money from him in an attempt to extort him.

    Otedola, who said he reported the matter initially when he found out about the scam in the fuel subsidy regime, also told the court that Lawan “mentioned to me that several companies that were involved in the scam were paying. And I reported to the DSS.”

    Otedola said he watched on the television how Lawan moved the motion for the removal of Zenon Oil from the list of indicted firms after receiving the $500,000.

    He said his company was actually excluded from the list because of the documents it supplied to prove its innocence.

    At the conclusion of Otedola’s evidence-in-chief, defence lawyer, L. Azuka, who stood in for Mike Ozekhome (SAN), sought an adjournment to enable him time to prepare for cross-examination.

    Justice Angela Otaluka agreed to his request and adjourned to January 28 for cross-examination.

    The Federal Government is, through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), prosecuting Lawan on an amended four-count charge, in which he is accused among others, of corruptly collecting $500,000 out of the $3m bribe he allegedly demanded from Otedola.

    Lawan was equally accused of accepting $500,000 as bribe for the removal of Otedola’s company’s name, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, from the list of firms indicted by the Lawan-led House committee for allegedly abusing the fuel subsidy regime in 2012.

     

  • Offa robbery: IGP directs service of summons on Saraki

    *Court fixes Oct 3 for report of service

     

    The Inspector General of Police ( IGP ), Ibrahim Idris has directed that court summons and other processes issued by a court in Abuja in relation to a criminal complaint brought against the Senate President, Bukola Saraki be served on him.

    To this end, the IGP has detailed a unit within the Nigeria Police Force’s Legal Department, Force headquarters, Abuja to ensure the prompt delivery of the court processes on Saraki before the next date, October 3 this year.

    A lawyer, E. S. Marcus, disclosed this development on Monday at the resumed proceedings in a criminal complaint made against Saraki by an Abuja-based lawyer and rights activist, Oluwatosin Ojaomo, in relation to the ongoing investigation by the police into the April 5, 2018 bank robbery incident in Offa, Kwara State.

    In the complaint marked: CR/196/2018, filed under Section 89(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, Ojaomo argued that Saraki’s alleged refusal to honour an invitation allegedly sent to him by the police, in relation to the Offa robbery investigation, amounted to the offences of “obstructing a criminal investigation and disobeying a public officer carrying out a lawful responsibility.”

    The judge handling the case at the Grade 1 Area Court, Aco Estate, Lugbe, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Justice Abdullahi Garuba Ogbede had, on September 10 this year, ordered the issuance of summons on the IGP following Saraki’s absence in court when the case, in which he (Saraki) is listed as the sole defendant, was called.

    The judge had summoned the IGP to attend court on September 17 to show cause why Saraki was absent in court and what efforts he had made to ensure his appearance.

    On Monday, Marcus, who is Ojaomo’s lawyer, told the court that although the IGP and Saraki were absent in court, he was informed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the Legal Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, identified as Mahmoud that the IGP has directed a unit to ensure the delivery of all processes in relation to the case on Saraki.

    He said: “The defendant is not in court. At the last date, the court issued a witness summons on the IGP to come and show cause why the police failed to effect service of the criminal summons, warrant of arrest and other processes on the defendant.

    “The witness summons was served on the Nigeria Police Force by the court’s registry.

    “However, we received a call from DSP Mahmoud of the Legal Department of the Nigeria Police Force headquarters, that the matter has been assigned by the IGP to a particular unit of the NPF to effect the service of the summons on the defendant and arrest him.”

    Marcus urged the court to grant a short adjournment to enable the police effect service of the processes on the defendant.

    Justice Ogbede acceded to Marcus’ request and adjourned the case to October 3.

    The criminal complaint by Ojaomo reads: “Criminal complaint brought pursuant to Section 89(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015. Please, cause a summons for a direct criminal complaint on the defendant on the following terms:

    “That you, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on or about the 24th day of July 2018 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did refuse to honour the invitation of the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force to report at the police headquarters in FCT, Abuja to answer to an allegation involving the investigation of some criminal suspects involved in a case which the Nigeria Police Force is currently investigating, thereby obstructing a criminal investigation and disobeying a public officer carrying out a lawful responsibility .

    “You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 136 and 149 of the Penal Code Law. Whereas, the complainant is praying the court to charge the defendant accordingly.”

    Ordinarily, the service of the processes on Saraki ought to be effected by the complainant, but Marcus explained that when his client could not serve the defendant as ordered by the court, he applied, under Section 122 of the ACJA, to the IGP to help effect service on the defendant.

    He said the IGP was required, under the law, to either produce the defendant in court or attend court to explain why the defendant was absent, a position that informed the court’s September 10 order on the IGP.

  • Businessman in court over N86m fraud

    Businessman in court over N86m fraud

    Justice Angela Otaluka of the FCT High Court, Lugbe on Monday commenced trial in a case involving Idris Shuabu, a developer and Ikechukwu Sebastian for allegedly obtaining N86 million under false pretence.

    Prosecution counsel, Mr Richard Dauda, who led Shuaibu in evidence at the witness box, said his 26 hectares of land was revoked by the former Minister of FCT, Mr Bala Muhammed in 2014.

    Shuaibu said that he was then introduced to Sebastian by his uncle, one Gogobiri, who he said worked with Abuja Geographical Information Systems (AGIS) and was in the position to help get back the revoked land.

    He said that the defendant promised that his property would be reinstated if he agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with him.

    He said that when he gave a copy of the MoU to his lawyer, he was advised against it.

    He said that the defendant had requested the sum of N150 million to be paid as the amount for the yet-to-be reinstated landed property revoked by the former minister.

    “Sebastian kept calling me and since I thought he was a staff of AGIS and I am a business man, I boycotted my lawyer and went ahead to make payment.’’

    He said that he paid Sebastian both in dollars and naira without the consent of his lawyer.

    He said that he paid the total sum of N86 million before he discovered Sebastian was not a staff of AGIS.

    Shuaibu said that the attitude of the defendant in getting his land reinstated propelled him to approach the Deputy Director of Land in AGIS to confirm the identity of the defendant.

    He said that it was a shock when he heard that the defendant was not a member of staff of AGIS.

    He said that he requested that his lawyer petitioned the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to demand his money back, adding that he was invited by the commission for questioning.

    Shuaibu then asked the court to compel the defendant to produce his money, adding that the defendant had shown that he was dishonest and could not be trusted.

    However, Counsel to the Defendant, Mr Paul Samson prayed the court to adjourn the matter because he was not in possession of necessary documents that could help in the trial of the case.

    He said that the purpose of the document would help assist the defendant to get justice in the matter that was before the court.

    Otaluka however adjourned the case until July 4 for further hearing.

    The judge called on the parties to arm themselves with all the necessary documents, adding that she would no longer tolerate any adjournment in the matter.

     

  • Court adjourns Lawan, Otedola alleged bribery case till June 21

    Court adjourns Lawan, Otedola alleged bribery case till June 21

    An FCT High Court, Lugbe, on Wednesday adjourned until June 21 and June 22, an alleged bribery case involving Hon. Faroq Lawan and Femi Otedola.

    Justice Angela Otaluku of the FCT High Court granted the request of counsel to the defendant, Mr Mike Ozekhome in view of the application brought before it.

    “In view of this application, this case is further adjourned until June 21st and 22nd, 2017 for further hearing,” she said.

    Ozekhome said the request for adjournment was to enable him prepared and drill the witness in the next appearance, adding that there was need to diligently cross examine the witness in view of the case.

    Meanwhile, Ozekhome had earlier made an application to recall Prosecuting Witness Two (PW2) on the basis of his non-availability in the court the day he appeared in court because it was handled by a junior lawyer.

    “I was attending a case involving me and the EFCC, so I couldn’t make myself available.”

    However, the request was turned down because the witness could not be recalled to testify again.

    In a swift reaction, Ozekhome promised to take the case up to the Supreme Court to determine if a witness who had earlier testified in a case could be recalled.

    He said this was to strengthen the judicial system and allow justice to run its course.

    Mr Adegboyega Awomolo, the Prosecuting Counsel led Hon. Jagaban Jagaban, a member of the House of Representatives and a former Chairman, House Committee on Drug, Narcotics and Financial Crime in evidence against the defendant.

    He said that his relationship with Lawan was the same that exists among House of Representatives members, adding that he never had any other relationship with him.

    He said that his job as the committee Chairman on Drugs, Narcotic and Financial Crime was to supervise the activities of EFCC and NDLEA, adding that he also made budgets for them.

    “We are empowered by the constitution to investigate matters relating to our committee when reported and referred to the Federal Government for further investigation.

    He said that he did not collect any money from the defendant as claimed in his statement to the Police.

    Further cross examination in the case has been adjourned until June 21 and June 22.

     

  • FHA’s Lugbe Estate to benefit from Abuja expansion

    FHA’s Lugbe Estate to benefit from Abuja expansion

    The Assistant General Manager, Town Planning, Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Hajiya Aminat Salawu, has said the Authority would benefit from the plan of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to expand the Abuja City near the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport.

    The plan, the owners said, would integrate Lugbe and its surrounding communities into the Phase Five of the Federal Capital city, near the FHA Estate, Lugbe, thereby making it a major beneficiary.

    “When the plan is implemented, Lugbe Estate will be better structured. It will have better facilities. Lugbe Estate will go through urban renewal and upgrading. It will become more viable, and as the plan unfolds, it would further translate to improved lives for residents of the FHA’s  sprawling estate laid out on over 385-hectare in the area,” Salawu explained.

    The proposed district centre for Phase Five is in the estate as well as an oriented road and a major collector road.

    But the development would not be without pains as it would lead to major physical, social and economic dislocations for residents. Salawu said her unit was super-imposing the structural plan of the new phase on FHA Estate’s layout and its satellite image. This steps, she further reiterated, were aimed at helping the authority to determine the number of its houses and plots that would fall on the right of the way of the facilities.

    According to her, 500 of such housing units and plots of land had been identified, whose owners would have to be relocated.

    While the FHA would provide a social safety net for those to be affected by the new land, the FCTA will bear the cost of relocation.

    The FCTA is conducting a census of the development in the affected area to effect the required adjustment to the structural plan for the new Phase Five.

  • Polls: Counting ongoing with mobile lighting in Lugbe

    Counting of ballots and collation of results have commenced following the conclusion of voting in polling stations in the FCT and across the state, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    A correspondent of NAN monitoring the process at the Lugbe Market Polling Unit, reports that vote counting was in progress under the cover of darkness, with mobile phones as the only lighting source.

    However, the exercise was being conducted under the watchful eyes of security personnel, party agents and voters, as there was no other alternative.

    With accreditation of voters starting at 10.40 a.m., voting stretched up to 7.03 p.m. from 3 p.m. as against the INEC schedule of 5 p.m.

    A total of 449 voters were accredited at the unit as against the 1,666 expected, according to party agents.

    They blamed the situation on the fact that many eligible voters earlier scheduled to vote at the ACO/Sabon Lugbe units failed to show up, due to the cancellation of the units by INEC.

    NAN learnt that the voters were only informed of the merger of the ACO/Sabon Lugbe and Lugbe Market Polling units this morning, a development which angered them.

    They decided to disperse to their various homes due to the distance involved, as mobility constituted a challenge.