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  • Alleged fraud: EFCC opens case against bank, staff

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday opened its case against Ecobank Plc and one of its employees Anieka Udoh at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    It accused the bank and Udoh of “negligently” failing to exercise due diligence in relation to conduct of financial transactions with Major-General Umaru Mohammed.

    The prosecution called its first witness, Jones Oboh, in the alleged $50,000 and N9.2million fraud case.

    The commission said the defendants fraudulently converted the army chief’s Ecobank MasterCard account numbered 0015052989 from debit card to credit card.

    It said they debited the account of over USD 50,000 “without the knowledge and authority of Major-General Umaru Mohammed.”

    Oboh, a former Loan Recovery and Collection Officer with the bank, said the bank operated the account for five years without the customer’s knowledge.

    Led in evidence by prosecution counsel Bilikisu Buhari, the witness said it reflected on his system that Mohammed owed the bank N9.2million.

    “After checking the records of those owing the bank, I discovered that Mohammed was one of those granted loans by Ecobank Plc.

    “Sometime in March 2018, I called Mohammed on the phone to find out when he was going to pay back his loan.

    “But to my surprise, he said he did not owe the bank and that there was no time he applied for any form of loan from the bank. Thereafter, a meeting was set up between the bank and Mohammed through me.

    “It was in the meeting that Mohammed was told that his account was in the debit of N9.2million, showing that he utilised his Master Credit Card over a period of time.

    “Mohammed informed the bank that there was no time he applied for a Master Credit Card from Ecobank and that the only transaction he had with the bank was that he applied to open a domiciliary account in which a debit card was issued to him so as to use it whenever he travels out of the country,” Oboh said.

    The witness said found out that in April 2013, the sum of $38,725 was recorded against the complainant.

    Read Also: EFCC arraigns govt workers for ‘illegally dealing in gold’

    “In July 2014, a reversal of $32,887 was made on the account of Mohammed, leaving a debit of $6,125 in 2014.

    “Afterwards, the bank opened a naira account in Mohammed’s name without his knowledge and dollars were converted to N261 to a dollar from his domiciliary account, leaving a debit balance of N3.1million on the Naira account.”

    The witness said the bank never wrote or invited the complainant to bring to his notice all the “eventualities” on his accounts for five years until he took a step to do that.

    “The bank left the account to grow in debit from N3.1million to N9.2million without informing the account owner.

    “The second defendant, Anieka Udoh, was the account officer of the complainant,” the witness said.

    Justice Saliu Saidu adjourned until April 18 for continuation of trial.

  • Updated: How Togolese cook murdered Credit Switch boss

    An Igbosere High Court in Lagos on Wednesday remanded in prison custody a Togolese cook, Sunday Adefonou Anani, charged with the murder of the Chief Executive Officer of Credit Switch Limited, Chief Opeyemi Bademosi.

    Justice Mobolanle Okikiolu-Ighile made the order following Anani’s arraignment by the Lagos State Government on a two-count charge of murder and armed robbery.

    Before the charge was read, his counsel, the Director of the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) Adenrera Adeyemi, informed the court that Anani did not understand the English language.

    Adeyemi, who appeared in court with J.I. Osagiede I.O. Bashua and Eniola Disu, applied for the services of a French-English language interpreter.

    Justice Okikiolu-Ighile upheld her application and directed that one be provided.

    The charge, prepared by the prosecutor, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Titilayo Shitta-Bey, was then read and interpreted to Anani.

    It alleged that Anani, 22, committed the offences last October 31, at Bademosi’s Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos residence.

    He allegedly stabbed Bademosi, 67, to death with a knife and stole his valuables, including the deceased’s phone.

    According to Shitta-Bey, the offences contravened Sections 223 and 297 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Anani pleaded not guilty, following which the judge remanded him in prison custody.

    The DPP also informed the court that the prosecution had 17 witnesses in the case.

    Adeyemi then applied that the court should direct the prosecution to provide the defence with complete proof of evidence, to enable the defence prepare its case.

    The court upheld her application and adjourned till May 21, for trial.

    Last November 11, the Lagos State Police Command, published the result of its investigation of the case.

    Its spokesman, Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent, said: “On October 31, three days after assuming duty, the suspect, with the intention to rob the deceased, made his way to his boss’ bedroom through the kitchen to the lobby and then to the room, which was the scene of the crime, when he observed that the woman of the house, Mrs. Ebunola Bademosi, had left home for a transaction in a neighbourhood bank.

    Read Also: We’re working on clashing timetables, says WAEC, JAMB

    “According to the suspect, when he got to Bademosi’s room and met him on the bed, he said, ‘Chief, I am not here to kill you.’

    “Bademosi asked him, ‘What do you want?’ and he replied ‘money.’

    “Bademosi said he had no money in the house. At this point, the suspect said he tied him up with a cloth and put him on the floor.

    “He went further to say that Bademosi, while still on the floor, kicked him, causing the knife he tucked inside his pants to fall off.

    “He added that Bademosi crawled to pick the knife, but he (the suspect) was faster, and that, as he struggled with him, the knife accidentally pierced Bademosi.

    “He said that while exiting the room, Bademosi took the knife to stab him, so he kicked him and he fell down.

    “He then took the knife and stabbed him twice on the chest, which added to three knife stabs.

    “When he was done killing the man, he entered his bathroom and threw away his apron already stained with blood and the kitchen knife used as murder weapon.

    “He, thereafter, heard a knock on the kitchen door, and, sensing it must be the deceased’s wife, he ran out of the room and exited from the sitting room door.

    “He was confronted by the guard at the gate, one Nura Mamudu, who asked him where he was hurrying to and he replied that ‘madam sent me on an errand.’

    “Finding himself in the street, he came across men loading cement into a truck. He assisted them and they rewarded him with a lift to Ondo State and N500 given to him by the truck driver in appreciation.”

  • Hairdresser stabs friend with broken bottle over cassava flakes

    For allegedly stabbing her friend for not allowing her to taste cassava flakes, a 35-year-old hairdresser, Anita Samuel, on Wednesday appeared before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on a charge of assault.

    The defendant, a resident of No. 22 Osho St., Ikorodu, Lagos, was arraigned on a count charge but she pleaded not guilty.

    According to the prosecutor, ASP Akeem Raji, the defendant stabbed one Miss Ediomo Linus with a broken bottle on the forehead following a disagreement over Linus’s refusal to allow her to taste cassava flakes.

    Raji told the court that the defendant committed the offence on March 12 at noon at No.15 Ogunsefunmi St., Ikeja.

    He said that the defendant told the complainant to let her have a taste of cassava flakes she was eating but she refused.

    “The following day, the complainant greeted the defendant but she did not return the gesture.

    “This led to an argument which made the defendant to lock the door and hit her with a broken bottle on the head,” he said.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs O.A. Layinka, granted the defendant N200, 000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

    Layinka ruled that the sureties must be gainfully employed with an evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that assault contravenes Section 173 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised) and attracts three years’ imprisonment.

    The case has been adjourned until April 25 for substantive hearing.

  • Senate tackles AGF over untreated audit reports

    The Senate Tuesday tackled the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF) Anthony Ayine over his claim that no audit report submitted to the National Assembly had been comprehensively treated since 1999.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Mathew Urhoghide, who responded to AGF’s claim, said that Ayine has not submitted any audit report since he took over as AGF in 2017.

    Urhoghide said that by law, the AGF should have concluded work on 2018 audit report because the law states that report should be submitted six months into the new financial year.

    The Edo South Senator noted that the major problem of the office of the AGF is incompetent man power.

    According to him, some of those who work in the office of the AGF were those who have nothing to do with auditing.

    Insisting that the Public Accounts Committee was not created only to consider audit report, Urhoghide noted that in 2016, they discovered that N14billion was removed from one federal fund meant for intervention in states that were distressed and given to the Ministry of Defence.

    He noted that although the AGF queried the removal of the fund, he (Urhoghide) called the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence to his draw his attention to it, “because it is an extra-budgetary allocation made to them.”

    He said that the removal of the N14 billion was apart from the N2.7bn given to the Defence Ministry “behind the doors from the Service Wide Votes.”

    Urhoghide said that he asked what the ministry did with the funds.

    The committee chairman who said that “it is only Public Accounts Committee that can see all those things” noted that the Permanent Secretary expressed surprise and said, “we didn’t form a new division in the army.”

    Urhoghide said, “The much I know since I became the Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts, about a year and half ago, is what I can say.

    Read Also: Senate tackles AGF over untreated audit reports

    “When the Auditor General came for his budget defence, I told him that the fact that we have not conducted hearing on his queries does not mean that he should not bring audit reports.

    “We have not received audit report for 2016. The Auditor General resumed office in 2017. Since he came, he has not submitted any audit report to the National Assembly. He is even supposed to be concluding works on 2018 because the law said that it must be submitted, six months into the new financial year.

    “This is the fourth month. By the time we get to June end, he is expected to submit audit report for 2018. He doesn’t have the competent manpower to conduct audit.

    “Our committee is not set up to consider audit report alone. We have a lot of motions that we moved, we have submitted reports on status enquiries of those whose audited accounts have been submitted.

    “We investigated and submitted reports on the subsidy issue, the $1bn euro-bond issue, withdrawals made from the Service Wide Vote from 2012 till date.

    “If we have audit reports from 2015 till date, we would be

  • Come to prosper in Nigeria, Buhari woos Dubai investors

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met with six different groups of investors at the sidelines of the Annual Investment Meeting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

    Buhari, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, had a message for them all: Come to Nigeria and prosper. Come and have handsome returns on your investments, within the shortest possible time.

    Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum is a member of the Dubai ruling family. He is also a private investor and member of several boards of companies, both state owned and private. He is interested in establishing a power plant in Lagos, and studies have already been completed.

    Lulu Group operates a chain of supermarkets in the Middle East and Asia.

    Mr. Yusuff Alli, Chairman of the group, told President Buhari that the outfit, with headquarters in Abu Dhabi, has over 164 supermarkets and shopping malls. It employs over 50,000 people.

    The interest is to work with Nigerian farmers, using local produce to ensure food security. Quality, affordability and hygiene are the watchwords of the company.

     

    Also in bilateral meeting with President Buhari was Sheikh Hussain Al Nowais, Chairman of Amea Power. The company develops, owns, and operates thermal and renewable energy projects in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Its wide range of power solutions include conventional – gas, coal, oil, and renewable – solar, wind and hydro.

    Apart from power, the company, which owns Rotana Hotel chain, is also interested in the hospitality sector in Nigeria.

    Also on cue was Sheikh Ali Rashid Lootah, Chairman, Nakheel Properties and Limitless Group.

    One of the world’s leading developers and a major contributor to Dubai’s real estate transformation, the company’s current and future retail project portfolio covers nearly 17 million square feet of leasable space. They are keen to expand their investments in Nigeria.

    Sheikh Khalid Bin Kalban is the CEO of Dubai Investments. His meeting with the Nigerian president centred around real estate, processing industries, mergers and acquisitions, health care, education, and financial investments.

    Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has supported over 66 projects in 29 African countries. They include rural solar power and water projects, and that was the focus of the discussion, as Sheikh Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, the CEO, met with President Buhari.

    Read Also: Buhari calls for safe, inclusive digital world

    The statement said that the bilateral sessions were not concluded, till the Nigerian president had met with Mr. Jitender Sachdeva, CEO Skipperseil Group. An integrated energy company with operations in the manufacturing of substation equipment, discussions were on engineering processing, construction of transmission lines and substations for utilities, institutions and industries.

    The company’s CEO expressed delight at meeting with President Buhari, and looked forward to doing good business in Nigeria.

  • Breaking: Stampede as fire guts Imo Airport arrival terminal

    Passengers and Staff at the Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport were thrown into panic Monday afternoon as fire broke out on the arrival section of the Airport.

    The cause of the fire was not known as at the time of filling this report but a source at the Airport said that there was an going renovation at the arrival hall, which was totally razed.

    Our correspondent gathered that the inferno, which raged for about one hour, started around 2:10pm.

    It took efforts from men of the Fire service and airport workers to put off the fire.

    The source said: “It was a mysterious fire outbreak. It happened at the arrival department of the airport where the authority was carrying out renovation work.

    Read Also: Three killed, others wounded as cultists clash in Imo

    “It would have caused bigger havoc but for the arrival of men of the fire service.

    “It started around 2:10pm and raged for 50 minutes. It damaged equipment and infrastructure but the rescue work assisted in savaging the situation.”

    When contacted the Police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, said that he has not being officially briefed .

  • I’m committed to soldiers welfare, says Buratai

    The Chief of Army Staff, LT. Gen. Tukur Buratai on Monday restated his commitment to the wellbeing of the Armed forces saying their welfare remain his topmost priority.

    Buratai gave the assurance while inaugurating the newly constructed soldiers village accommodation of the 33 Artillery Brigade Shadawanka barracks in Bauchi.

    The soldiers’ village accommodation consists of 16 blocks with 10 modestly furnished flats situated in a conducive environment at the barracks.

    Each officers and soldiers were presented with a key to their apartment right there at the inauguration.

    Also, the Chief of Army Staff commissioned a newly constructed Warrant Officers and Sergeant Mess at the Shadawanka barracks.

    Buratai, who was received by the new Commander, 33 Artillery Brigade Bauchi, Brig.Gen. Michael Durowaiye arrived at the Shadawanka barracks as early as 8:00am with his convoy.

    He said the accommodation which is for both officers and soldiers and their families is another milestone. He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the funding initiative that made the project a reality.

    He added; “We always want officers and soldiers to have decent accommodation as we are not only after their regimentation but their well-being which remain the topmost priority .We want to make sure they have a comfortable environment and we shall continue to do our best to see that all barracks accommodation are put in better shape.

    Read Also: Buratai pledges Army’s readiness to tackle criminality, banditry

    “We also want to make sure there is a befitting Mess for our soldiers where they will not just go to eat and drink but to interact with one another. It will be a place for social interaction which will enhance the culture and tradition of the military where strict regimentation is practiced,” He added

    He also stressed on need for the military to collaborate with other sister agencies for the development of the country as he called on them to imbibe the ethics of the profession.

    In appreciation, Brig.Gen. Durowaiye presented the COAS with souvenirs.

    Speaking on behalf of the soldiers, he said the 33 Artillery Brigade remain committed in the discharge of their primary duties.

    He commended Buratai for striving to meet the welfare of the armed forces.

  • Buhari calls for safe, inclusive digital world

    President Muhammadu Buhari has called on world leaders to come up with proposals to create a digital world that is accessible, inclusive and safe to all.

    He made the call in his keynote speech at the 2019 Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) in Dubai on Monday.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said a certain level of regulation was needed to preserve the integrity of the digital economy.

    The theme of the summit is: ‘Mapping the Future of Foreign Direct Investment: Enriching World Economies through Digital Globalization.’’

    Acknowledging that digital globalisation is transforming the world almost every day with innovations and transformative ideas, the Nigerian leader cautioned that the cyber world would remain a constant threat if left unregulated.

    He decried the use of the cyberspace to manipulate elections, subvert the democratic rights of citizens as well as propagate violence.

    He also lamented the steady rise in fake news and cybercrimes, particularly when platforms are hijacked and manipulated by criminals.

    President Buhari, therefore, called for collective efforts led by both public and private sector leaders to address the emerging threats of digital globalisation.

    ‘‘Today, we have a cyber-world that is intangible but real. This borderless world is powerful, and it impacts the lives of billions of people, no matter how remote their physical locations are.

    ‘‘People work in it. People socialise in it. And people invest in it. This presents enormous opportunities. But it also remains a constant threat if left unregulated.

    ‘‘On the one hand, it has made the human race more productive and more efficient. Today, we have digital banking, virtual currencies and many social platforms that connect people and cultures.

    ‘‘On the other hand, we have seen platforms hijacked and manipulated as evidenced by the steady rise in fake news and cybercrimes.

    ‘‘More recently, we are also witnessing the use of the cyberspace to manipulate elections, subvert the democratic rights of citizens as well as propagate violence.

    ‘‘In effect, the digital world has become the new frontier for both good and evil. Therefore, the challenge for world leaders must be to ensure that this space is inclusive, accessible and safe,’’ the President told the ninth edition of AIM, attended by world leaders in both the public and private sectors.” he stated.

    Read Also: Youths: Buhari keen in ending corruption, poverty

    The President used the occasion to reflect on the digital revolution in Nigeria, buoyed by impressive statistics on mobile phone penetration, technology hubs and the advent of young entrepreneurs attracting investments of over 100 million dollars to the country.

    His words: ‘‘In Nigeria, our mobile phone penetration exceeds eighty per cent. This means the majority of Nigeria’s one hundred and ninety million citizens are fully connected to this new digital world; especially our youth.

    ‘‘Sixty-five per cent or one hundred and seventeen million Nigerians are under the age of 25 years. These bright minds are the drivers of this emerging digital sector.

    ‘‘Today, Nigeria has close to ninety technology hubs and every day, new ones are coming up and they are all developing solutions for Nigerian, and indeed global problems.

    ‘‘Already, these young entrepreneurs have attracted investments of

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  • Winners emerge in Home Lottery draws

    Winners have emerged in the “win-a-home-today,” an initiative of the Home Lottery Limited.

    In a well-attended event at De Santos Hotels in Lagos, the audience, comprising bettors and various regulatory bodies, six winners were selected via a live electronic raffle draw.

    None of the winners was in the audience. However, live calls were placed to them on speakers to announce their good fortune.

    In an April Fool season, it wasn’t a surprise that skepticism got the better of the winners, with the star prize winner, Joy (surname withheld) asking, “Are you sure this is not a prank?”

    Oladayo Oyelaja, the project lead of Dreamview Enterprises, a partner of Home Lottery Limited, however doused her fears, saying, “You are on phone with a live audience…, It is not a Fool’s Day prank. Congratulations.”

    However, Nkiru Onusili, a deputy director and coordinator of National Lottery Regulatory Commission, was full of conviction.

    “You know that anything lottery requires transparency, so the commission went for inspection to ensure everything was in place. And today we came to witness the event and so far, so good.” she said.

    She also pledged that the commission will “go further to ensure that the winners get their prizes.”

  • Slain LUTH doctor received first salary day he was killed

    Dr Stephen Urueye received his first salary as a House Officer with Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LUTH) the same day he was stabbed to death, his colleagues have disclosed.

    Urueye was among the 8,000 students that graduated at the 50th convocation ceremonies of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Wednesday.

    He died a day later.

    Two persons were on Friday arrested as his colleagues protested his killing by armed robbers.

    Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), who described those arrested as “hoodlums,” said they were arrested at the spot where the late Urueye was stabbed.

    According to his colleagues, he was the only child of his mother, who is a widow.

    The Nation learnt that he was stabbed near the teaching hospital’s gate, Idi-Araba, Mushin while returning to LUTH by armed robbers, who wanted to rob him of his valuables.

    With blood gushing out from his thigh, he ran into the LUTH compound where he was taken to the Accident and Emergency Centre (A&E).

    He was later transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

    There, his fellow House Officers and senior doctors battled all through the night to save him.

    Their efforts proved abortive when he gave up the ghost around 3am on Friday.

    The late Urueye’s remains, The Nation, learnt that have been deposited at the mortuary.

    Emotions ran high in LUTH, Idi-Araba on Friday as soon as news of his death broke with many medical students of LUTH embarking on a protest.

    The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions and calling for justice for the victim.

    According to them, Idi-Araba has been overtaken by armed thugs.

    They called on the government and security agencies to beef up security in the area.

    Read Also: LUTH doctor killed hours after graduation

    Some of his colleagues and other Nigerians took to Twitter to lament Urueye’s murder and also seek justice for him with the hashtag #JusticeForStephen.

    They lamented that they have complained severally to the management of the hospital as regards incessant attacks of fellow students in Idi-Araba by armed hoodlums.

    A 500-level Nursing student at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL), Harrison Udeh, said Urueye was stabbed around 9pm on Thursday.

    Udeh told The Nation that the late Urueye “was outside between 8 and 9pm along

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