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  • Pastor beaten for flouting community’s order

    THE General Overseer of the City of God Rest Ministry, Pastor Destiny Eguavoen was on Sunday beaten up by youths of Urora community in Edo State for allegedly flouting the community’s order to stop church service before 8am.

    Chief Priest of the community, Chief Ugiagbe Aiwaguore, Ohen Ugbodeyaen of Urora, had ordered shop owners in the community and residents to stay indoors for the celebration of the annual Ikpoleki festival.

    All churches were asked to end their sunday service before 8am.

    Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop Oyenude Kure, kicked against the order, saying it violated the freedom of worship as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.

    Bishop Kure asked churches in Urora to go about their normal church service on Sunday.

    He said the restriction on movement was unacceptable to the church as the body of Christ.

    It was gathered that youths of the community moved from street to street to ensure compliance as shops were closed and some churches hurriedly ended their service while others refused to open for business.

    Many residents in the community were indoors.

    At the City of God Rest Ministry, the youths were peeved that the pastor was still preaching as at 9am and they disrupted the service.

    Members of the church scampered for safety as the youths hit  anybody in sight with chairs.

    Speaking to our reporter on the phone, Pastor Eguavoen said he was badly injured during the attack.

    Pastor Eguavoen, who said he was at the police headquarters, said the leadership of CAN has promised to take over the matter.

    Read Also: Boko Haram militants after my family – Pastor

    He said, “We were in the church and I saw a man standing in the front pointing at me. It was few minutes past nine. I told my members to concentrate for me to round up service but the youths stormed in and started beating us.

    “They said we did not comply with their directive. They told us to open church between 6am and 8am  but we pastors met and said Sunday is a day of our worship and there is no way they can stop us.”

    Spokesman for the community, Sunday Osagiede, said they gave churches time within which to open service on the day of the Ikpoleki festival.

    The chief priest said all the pastors agreed to hold service between 8am and 9am.

    Police spokesman, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, said the matter was being investigated.

  • Man arraigned for N4.2m ‘fraud’ in Osun

    A 38-year old man, Oluwatoyin Fagbemi, was on Monday arraigned before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Osogbo for alleged N4.2million fraud and theft.

    Fagbemi was arraigned on a two-count charge of obtaining under false pretences and theft.

    The prosecutor ASP Taiwo Adegoke told the court that between 2016 and 2019, the defendant collected goods worth N4,232,250 under the false pretence of selling them and refunding the said amount to the complainant, Ajani Abiola.

    The offences committed, according to the prosecutor, contravened Sections 309 (9) and 419 of the Criminal Code Cap Vol. 2 Laws of Osun, 2002.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge against him.

    Read Also: Man robs ex-employer

    The defence counsel, Shuiab Gominna, prayed that his client be granted bail in the most liberal terms.

    The Magistrate, Mrs R. A Olayemi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.

    Olayemi said that one of the sureties must be a blood relation while the other should be a civil servant on GL 5.

    She added that a photocopy of the surety’s letter of appointment and evidence of tax payment for  three years till date be deposited with the court.

    The magistrate, who also said the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction, must also have their addresses verified.

    She adjourned the case till November 25.

  • Ex-bank’s chief seeks more time for settlement over ‘fraud’

    A former Chairman of a defunct new generation bank, on Monday prayed a Federal High Court in Abuja to allow him more time to conclude settlement talks with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the alleged money laundering charge brought against him and another person.

    The EFCC, on March 7, 2019, arraigned the former bank chief with the bank’s ex-managing director, and two firms – Control Dredging Company and Royaltex Paramount Ventures Limited – at the Federal High Court in Abuja, for allegedly laundering N4.75 billion and $5 million.

    The duo were accused in the eight counts preferred against them of illegally delivering the cumulative sums of the bank’s N4.75 billion and $5 million between 2014 and 2015 in violation of various provisions of the money laundering law.

    Both men pleaded not guilty and were granted bail at N100 million each, with one surety each.

    Read Also: Alleged N3.1bn fraud: Suswam, ex-Finance commissioner lose bid to stop trial

    But before trial could begin, the defendants announced their intention to work out an out-of-court settlement with the prosecution.

    Proceedings were then adjourned to enable the parties report the settlement.

    When the parties returned to court yesterday, lawyer to the prosecution, Suraj Saeda (SAN), said the defence had not had any discussion with the EFCC since the last adjourned date in July.

    Saeda said the case was adjourned on the request of the defence, who sought time to enable them explore the out-of-court settlement.

    He added: “Today is supposed to be for a report of settlement. But there has not been any approach regarding settlement. Accordingly, my lord, we are ready to proceed to trial.”

    Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu said she could not order the trial to start because the prosecution did not give prior notice to the court that the settlement talks had broken down, as it ought to.

    She adjourned till November 21 for parties to report of settlement.

    Defence lawyer Dele Adesina (SAN), who led the ex-bank’s chief legal team, confirmed that the defence had not engaged the EFCC in any talks.

    But he averred that there was an ongoing discussion with the bank, at the end of which he said the EFCC would be involved.

    “The first defendant had a discussion with me on Friday and briefed me on how far he had gone with the bank, not with the EFCC. Yes, the first defendant has not approached the EFCC. So, my learned brother for the prosecution was only saying it as it is when he said we have not approached the EFCC.

    “Once there is a truce between the bank and the defence, we then go to the bank. In order to make this come to fruition, we plead that you give us another opportunity,” Adesina told the court.

    The lawyer said the allegations in the charge were on “transactional disagreements” which could be resolved out of court.

    He averred that foreign investors, who had indicated interest to invest in Ayeni’s companies, which are also joined as defendants in the matter, would be discouraged, if trial was allowed to begin without the settlement option exhausted.

    “I think the bank is more interest in recovering its money than having somebody jailed,” he added.

    Wale Akoni (SAN), who led Oguntayo’s legal team, agreed with Adesina.

    But Saeda insisted that the defendants’ acts, which formed the charges, were criminal infractions.

    “The defence has not approached the EFCC either for plea bargain or any form of settlement,” he said.

    The lawyer prayed the court to allow the trial to begin.

  • Arrested Maina likely for trial over N2b contract

    AFTER a four-year manhunt, fugitive former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Mr. AbdulRasheed Maina, has been arrested.

    He was picked up by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at a hotel in Abuja after he sneaked into the country from his Dubai, United Arab Emirates base, it was learnt last night.

    Sources hinted that the DSS might hand him over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for trial over a questionable N2billion biometrics contract.

    Explaining how he was arrested, they said the DSS acted on intelligence alert which led to Maina’s arrest.

    The source said: “Following inter-agency collaboration, intelligence report indicated that Maina had sneaked into the country from Dubai.

    “He was trailed to an Abuja hotel where he was arrested after operatives outwitted those who tried to ferry him away in a bullet-proof vehicle.

    “He is currently being quizzed. He is likely to be handed over to the EFCC for trial. He has a pending case since 2015.”

    Maina was on July 21, 2015 charged alongside Oronsaye, Osarenkhoe Afe and Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited before a Federal High Court on a 24-count charge bordering on procurement fraud and obtaining by false pretense.

    Although some godfathers tried to smuggle him into the country and attempted to reinstate him to office, the process backfired.

    The EFCC in 2017, declared Maina wanted, following his refusal to honour the commission’s invitations.

    Read Also: Maina: EFCC vows to appeal court judgement

    But in his bid to evade the long arm of the law, Maina, on September 5, 2018, in a suit no: FHC/ABJ/CS/957/2918, asked the court to decide whether the Commission can lawfully exercise powers of declaring him wanted, either on its official website or any other media platform, or “harass him.”

    Justice Folasade Giwa Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court restrained the anti- graft commission from declaring Maina wanted.

    She also gave an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the EFCC and its affiliates or related bodies from further declaring Maina wanted in relation to the issue of the pension scam.

    The EFCC said the judgment must not be allowed to stand and filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal.

    Spokesman for DSS, Dr. Peter Afunaya, did not respond to a message sent to him by our correspondent.

  • Ex-FCT Minister Akinjide’s, others’ trial to resume October 11

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday adjourned till October 11 the trial of former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, and others, facing money laundering charges for N650 million.

    The defendants were re-arraigned on June 27 before Justice Chukeujekwu Aneke alongside two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains, Ayo Adeseun and Olanrewaju Otiti, on an amended 24-count charge filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    They were first arraigned before Justice Sule Hassan on January 16, 2018, and had each pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail.

    Trial had begun before Justice Hassan with witnesses being led in evidence, but midway into trial, the case was transferred to Justice Aneke.

    They were consequently re-arraigned before Justice Aneke and granted bail.

    Read Also: FG charges Sowore with money laundering, treasonable felony

    The trial of the defendants could not proceed yesterday before Justice Aneke, following the absence of a prosecution witness. When the case was called, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo announced appearance for the prosecution.

    On the other hand, Messrs Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), Micheal Lana and Akinola Oladeji announced appearances for the first, second and defendants.

    Oyedepo informed the court that there were applications filed in the suit, to which prosecution had not responded.

    The lawyer averred that this also constrained the assemblage of his witness in court.

    He urged the court to grant an adjournment by which time he would be able to respond to the applications and proceed.

    The request for adjournment was not opposed by defence counsel, who had told the court that they were prepared for trial.

    Third defence counsel urged the court to note that the adjournment was at the instance of prosecution.

    Following agreement among the parties, Justice Aneke adjourned the matter till October 11 for trial.

    According to the charge, the defendants were alleged to have received some money from a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, in the build-up to the 2015 general elections.

    The money was said to be part of $115 million allegedly disbursed by Alison-Madueke to influence the outcome of the year’s presidential election.

  • Former director claims forfeited N9.08b ‘Diezani loot’

    A former bank director, Dauda Lawal, has asked the Court of Appeal in Lagos to order the Federal Government to return to him the N9.08 billion he forfeited to it on February 16, 2017.

    Lawal said the Federal High Court, Lagos, which ordered the forfeiture of the money had no jurisdiction to do so.

    According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the N9.08 billion was part of the forfeited N23.4 billion and $5 million (about N34 billion in total) linked to former Petroleum Minister, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    The anti-graft agency alleged that the ex-minister and several accomplices allegedly stole the money from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and stashed in three banks.

    Justice Muslim Hassan, on February 16, 2017, ordered the final forfeiture of the funds after no one showed up to make legitimate claims to the funds.

    Read Also: Court forfeits Diezani’s N14.4bn jewellery to Fed Govt

    The judge said he was satisfied with the EFCC’s argument that the money was from proceeds of illegal activity.

    Lawal is the sole applicant in the appeal, while the EFCC is the respondent.

    The applicant was represented by his counsel, P. I. N. Ikwueto (SAN), while Kufre Uduak represented the EFCC.

    When the matter came up for mention on September 29, the court adjourned further proceedings, after informing both parties that a date for hearing would be communicated to them.

    In his notice of appeal, Lawal contended that the judge erred in law.

    He is seeking four reliefs, including:

    “An order to set aside the judgment, dated February 16, 2017, for being without jurisdiction and thereby a nullity.

    “An order setting aside the forfeiture of N9,080,000,000, which the respondent (EFCC) obtained from the appellant while the appellant was under the detention of the respondent (EFCC).

    “An order returning N9,080,000,000 to the appellant.”

    In his March 29 affidavit in support of his application, Lawal averred that the forfeited N9.08 billion was not found in his possession, as required by Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.

    According to him, the money was borrowed on his behalf by family/friends whilst he was in EFCC custody and given to the government.

    He also averred that his failure to appeal within time was due to his “apprehension that if he challenged the judgment, dated February 16, 2017 whilst the investigation was ongoing, the appellant would be further detained by the EFCC.

    “The appellant has now been charged along with others following the conclusion of the investigation by the EFCC.”

  • South Africa grants Air Peace rights to operate daily flights

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday that the South African government had granted Air Peace’s request to commence commercial flights to Johannesburg, South Africa

    Mr Ferdinard Nwoye, spokesperson for the ministry made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

    “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that the South African Government has granted request for the Nigerian Designated Airline, Air Peace to commence commercial flights to Johannesburg, South Africa.

    “The confirmation was granted in the process of ascertaining the level of implementation of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and South Africa.

    “At the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) of the 9th Session of the Nigeria/South Africa Bi-National Commission Summit in Pretoria, South Africa on Friday, Sept. 27.

    Read Also: Air Peace boss, Onyema’s masterstroke

    “The proprietor of Air Peace Airlines, Chief Allen Onyema has also confirmed that the airline would commence operation as soon as possible to promote air travel between Nigeria and South Africa,” Nwonye said.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the bi-national meeting focused on consolidation of the subsisting signed Agreements/MoUs between both countries

    The Nigeria-South Africa Joint Commission was established in 1999 to promote relations between both countries and it was upgraded to Bi-National Commission (BNC) in 2001.

    To showcase the strategic nature of the relationship between the two very important countries, the commission is expected to be further upgraded to the Summit level on Oct. 3.

    NAN

     

  • Dangote eyes $30b revenue

    ALIKO Dangote, the richest man in Africa, is looking to Dangote, who is building one of the world’s biggest refineries in Lagos, in addition to investments in gas and petrochemical plants, said he expects total group revenue to grow to about $30 billion from $4 billion when the plants start operations in the next two years.

    Thereafter, he plans to include investing about 60per cent of profit outside Africa, including the U.S. and the U.K.

    “Sometimes in Africa you have issues of devaluation. We want to really preserve some of the family’s wealth,” he said.

    He plans to expand cement capacity on the continent by 29per cent to 62 million tons, entrenching his flagship company’s position as the continent’s biggest producer of the construction material.

    Read Also: Dangote extends promo by four weeks

    He plans to add six million tons in Nigeria next year, taking volume in Dangote Cement Plc’s home market to 35 million tons, he said in interview on Bloomberg Television.

    The rest of the expansion is planned mainly in West Africa, including Niger and Cote d’Ivoire. The 62-year-old told shareholders in June the company plans to open plants in Nigeria that will allow it export clinker to grinding plants in Cameroon and West Africa.

    Dangote Cement reported six per cent increase in profit for the six months through June to N119.5 billion ($331 million), even as revenue fell three per cent to N467.7 billion.

  • Why BUA terminal was decommissioned, by NPA

    FRESH facts emerged on Monday on why the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), decommissioned BUA Ports and Terminals Limited, operator of Terminal B, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    Speaking at the quarterly stakeholders meeting organised by NPA in Port Harcourt, its Managing Director, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman said the agency, as a responsible government organisation, took the step to save the lives and limbs of those working at the terminal.

    She said the decision was taken for health and safety reasons after receiving a letter from BUA on security challenges surrounding the quays wall at its terminal.

    She said the terminal operator wrongly served the NPA a contempt of court letter, arguing that the Agency has not violated any court order that restricted it from terminating the concession agreement it had with BUA by decommissioning the terminal.

    The MD wondered why BUA will want to continue operating from a terminal that it termed unsafe in a letter it sent to NPA.

    She said: “This morning, we have been served a contempt of court while arriving Port Harcout today. In November 2016, a notice of termination was issued to BUA Terminal for non-compliance with the port development plan. As part of the concession agreement, there are certain development that each terminal operator is supposed to do at their terminals. In line with the concession agreement, BUA was required to rehabilitate and reconstruct that particular terminal, but it did not do that for years.

    “When NPA did an inspection, their concession agreement was terminated for failure to adhere to that development plan.

    “However, BUA instituted a court injunction that prevented NPA from taking over the facility.  We got the injunction in January 2018. So between January 2018 to June 2019, BUA enjoyed using the terminal in totality with collapsed quay walls and berths. “We now received a letter from the same BUA, drawing our attention to the fact that the condition of the quay wall was deteriorating and not safe and it is at the point of collapse, and that they are very concerned.

    “As a responsible regulator we looked at the state of that quay, and wondered how BUA could have used it for one and half years in that terrible state. With safety issues uppermost, we had to decommission the BUA terminal based on health and safety reasons.

    “Now, the same BUA has gone to court to restrain NPA from implementing the decommissioning policy despite highlighting in their letter to us that the terminal is not safe. I am curious to what contempt of court this is all about. We are talking of an unsafe terminal.

    Read Also: NPA generates over $45.2M from Delta ports

    “They are drawing attention of the public and alleging unfair treatment, but we are questioning what unfair treatment is in issues that have to do with safety.  Do we ignore safety and allow BUA to continue to use a terminal that is about to collapse?

    “It is important to NPA that BUA notifies the stakeholders and the court that they wrote to NPA in that regards. They should stop attributing the decommissioning to termination issue because the rule in port operation business is safety first.

    “We should be responsible as private entities by adhering to what is required of us and go through due process. In addition, we have noted the fact that the quay walls along the Port Harcourt Port are weak and they are at the point of collapse.”

  • lPMAN warns of impending fuel scarcity

    THE Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) on Monday raised the alarm over imminent scarcity of petroleum products in the country.

    It warned that the fresh round of  scarcity could only be averted if private depot owners settle the backlog of Petroleum Equalisation Funds (PEF) to the independent marketers.

    IPMAN Northwest Zone Chairman, Bashir Dan-Malam, who spoke with reporters in Kano said the failure of the private depot owners to release  PEF has resulted in the inability of the IPMAN members to continue lifting fuel products.

    Read Also: How to end fuel scarcity, by Kachikwu

    This followed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), warning to the depot owners to settle the PEF to IPMAN or be denied further allocation of petroleum products.

    He said: “The problem of petroleum products scarcity in most cases, among other reasons, is as result of withholding of equalization fund to independent marketers. Thank God, the NNPC is aware and planning to take it seriously this time. That is why we commend the recent directive issued to the private owners.

    “This decision, if fully implemented, will go a long way in solving the problems bedevilling the downstream sector. I want to also urge the marketers to be honest and transparent in managing the fund. The payment will enable marketers build more filling stations and create more job opportunities for our teeming youths.