The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Segun Agbolade

  • NAMA fraud: Witness affirms bank’s evidences as accurate

    A prosecution witness, Ade Babatunde, on Wednesday affirmed at a Federal High Court, Lagos, that the evidences he had given in the ongoing trial of a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Ibrahim Abdusalam, for a N2.8 billion fraud, were accurate.

    Babatunde, a staff of Stanbic IBTC Bank, told the court that all the evidences he had given so far in relation to the case “were accurate to the best of his knowledge.”

    Abdulsalam is arraigned alongside other NAMA staff including a former General Manager (Procurement), Olumuyiwa Adegorite, and a former General Manager (Finance), Segun Agbolade.

    Also standing trial are – former acting General Manager in charge of ICT, Bolaniran Akinribido, Sesebor Abiodun, and Joy Adegorite.

    Two companies — Randville Investment Limited, and Multeng Travels and Tours Limited – are also charged with them.

    They are arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly conspiring to induce NAMA to deliver the sum of N2.8 billion to Delosa Limited, Air Sea Delivery Limited and Sea Schedules Systems Limited.

    Babatunde, who was cross-examined by the defence counsel, told the court that all the evidences he had given so far before the court on behalf of Stanbic IBTC were accurate.

    The witness said it would not be correct to say he knew everything concerning the transactions carried out by the accused on their various accounts domiciled with the bank.

    Babatunde also stated that there was no limit to the amount that could be withdrawn by a customer from a corporate account.

    NAN

     

  • N6.8bn fraud: How ex-NAMA officials made withdrawals – Bank official

    An official of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr Ade Babatunde, on Monday told a Federal High Court, Lagos, how Segun Agbolade, a former General Manager (Finance), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), defrauded the agency.

    Babatunde, while being led in evidence by the EFCC prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, made the revelations at the resumed hearing of the case before Justice Babs Kuewumi.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oyedepo had led the witness as the first prosecution witness (PW 1) in the N6.8 billion fraud case against some former employees of NAMA.

    NAN reports that EFCC had arraigned the accused including NAMA’s former Managing Director, Ibrahim Abdulsalam; former General Manager of Procurement, Olumuyiwa Adegorite and Agbolade on a 21-count charge of N6.8 billion fraud.

    Others are former acting General Manager of ICT, Bolaniran Akinribido; Sesebor Abiodun, Joy Adegorite and two companies- Randville Investment Ltd. and Multeng Travels and Tours Ltd.

    When the case was called for continuation of hearing, Babatunde told the court how the funds belonging to NAMA were allegedly converted for personal use by the accused when Abdulsalam was at the helm of affairs.

    He said that on July 13, 2015, a cash withdrawal of N3 million was made by Agbolade, (General Manager of Finance) from the account of Randville Investment Ltd.

    The witness also said that on July 15, 2015, there was another withdrawal of N2.5 million from the account of Randville Investment Ltd. and same was transferred to the account of Agbolade.

    “On Sept. 16, 2015, there was a credit transfer of N22 million into the account of Randville Investment Ltd.

    “On Sept. 28, 2015, N100 million was deposited in a fixed deposit account, and on maturity, same was paid into the account of Randville Investment Ltd.

    “On the same date, N28 million was transferred out of the account, but I cannot confirm the beneficiary, because it was not stated in the statement of account.

    “Also, on Sept. 28, 2015, N100 million was placed in another fixed deposit account.

    “On Oct. 28, 2015, the N100 million earlier placed in a fixed deposit account was paid into the account of Randville Investment Ltd.

    “On Nov. 2, 2015, N50 million was transferred twice from the Randville Investment Ltd. and I cannot also confirm the beneficiary, because it was not stated in the statement.

    “Then, on Nov. 10, 2015, there was a withdrawal of N3 million from the account of Randville Investment Ltd. by Segun Agbolade.” the first prosecution witness told the court.

    After the witness’ testimony, the defence counsel led by Mr Wale Akanni (SAN), sought for an adjournment to enable to them to cross examine the witness.

    The judge, however, granted the request, and the case was adjourned till April 5 for continuation of trial.

    NAN reports that EFCC had on Aug. 19, 2013, brought the accused before the court, accusing them of conspiring to induce NAMA to deliver N2.8 billion to Delosa Ltd., Air Sea Delivery Ltd. and Sea Schedules Systems Ltd.

    The anti-graft agency of alleged that the delivery was under the pretence that the money represented the cost of clearing NAMA’s consignments.

    EFCC further alleged that between Jan. 2 and Dec. 17, 2013, the accused allegedly converted N191 million belonging to NAMA for their private use.

    It also accused the NAMA officials of converting N728 million between 2013 and 2015 and other sums for their personal use.

    The prosecution said that the offences contravened Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3).

     

  • NUJ Lagos Council organises tribute night for three late journalists

    NUJ Lagos Council organises tribute night for three late journalists

    The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos Council on Friday organised a Candle Light Procession and Tribute Night for three late journalists: Dr Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo, Mr Kayode Atofolaki and Mr Segun Agbolade.

    The Chairman of the Council, Mr Deji Elumoye, said it was regrettable that the council lost three colleagues.

    He expressed the need for members to key into the comprehensive insurance scheme.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that prayers were offered for the repose of the souls of the deceased.

    “It’s a great loss to the practice of journalism and the country as a whole would miss their contributions especially on the floor of the house and during programme and activities of the state council,’’ Elumoye said.

    He said that with less than N10,000, a journalist could pay the Insurance premium for a year.

    “As we speak, Lagos Council has insured 300 practising journalists. What we are doing for every chapel is to pick three or four people.

    “Individuals can also do on their own,’’ the chairman said.

    “We believe the good God will comfort the families they left behind.

    “We have cancelled the monthly meeting scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday) due to the incidents,’ he said.

    Elumoye said the union would continue to support the widows and the children of the deceased, especially their education.

    He said already the families of Atofolaki and Agbolade had received N100, 000 cheque each.

    A former Chairman of the state council, Alhaji Wahab Oba, urged members to buy into the idea of the insurance scheme because of the nature of the job.

    Oba donated a sum of money for the families of the deceased and the insurance scheme of the NUJ.

    A former Chairman of the council, Mr Dele Odebiyi, described Adinoyi-Ojo as a humble fellow and a brilliant journalist, he worked with in Daily Times.

    Odebiyi said Atofolaki once came up with an idea to write a book on him.

    He described the deceased as a brilliant journalist.

    A former Chairman of the council, Mr Lanre Arogundade, described the deceased as seasoned journalists who performed excellently well during their life time.

    A former President of the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN), Mr Adeleye Ajayi, described Adinoyi-Ojo as a prolific writer.

    Ajayi, also a former National Financial Secretary of the NUJ, said Atofolaki was a comrade, a unionist and an “encyclopedia of journalism’’.

    He said Agbolade was a humour merchant, who combined journalism with music and entertainment.

    NAN reports that Adinoyi-Ojo was a former Managing Director of Daily Times, while Atofolaki and Agbolade were Maritime journalists.

     

  • Court orders temporary forfeiture of N3.5b in ex-NAMA MD, others’ accounts

    The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the temporary forfeiture of N3.5 billion and $67,586.27 in the accounts of former Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Managing Director, Ibrahim Abdulsalam and other officers.

    The other affected officers are – former NAMA General Manager, Procurement, Olumuyiwa Adegorite, former General Manager, Finance, Segun Agbolade and former acting General Manager, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Bolaniran Akinribido.

    The rest are – Director of Finance, Clara Aliche, Adegorite’s wife and co-director of Multeng Travels and Tours Limited, Joy, Abiodun Sessebor, Randville Investment Limited, Multeng Travels and Tours, Delosa Limited, Airsea Delivery Limited and Sea Schedule Systems Limited.

    Also temporarily forfeited are residential building at 5, Sobo Arobiodu Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, a petrol station at Egbeda-Idimu Road, by Faith Bus Stop, a filling station at Idi-Oro, Mushin, and a petrol station at Alakuko, the ownership of which EFCC said was yet to be determined.

    Abdulsalam, Adegorite, Agbolade, Aliche, Akinribido, Randville Investment and Multeng Travels and Tours are on trial before Justice Babs Kuewumi of the same court.

    They pleaded not guilty to 21- count charge of N2.8billion fraud.

    Justice Oluremi Oguntoyibo made the interim forfeiture order based on an ex-parte originating summons filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The commission sought an order that the bank accounts of the 12 persons and companies “currently being prosecuted for offences of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence be temporarily attached and taken over by EFCC” until trial is concluded.

    EFCC prayed for an order that all dealings and transactions on the bank accounts be suspended pending the conclusion of prosecution of the alleged offences against them.

    The prosecution also asked that the properties, buildings, parcels of land and premises belonging to the accused persons be temporarily vested in the EFCC.

    Among sums forfeited are N30,08million in Adegorite’s Stanbic IBTC account with no. 9302194973; N8.7million and N120million in Randville Investment’s Stabic IBTC account (0001427188) and Unity Bank account (0025152223), and $42,386.27 in Adegorite’s First City Monument Bank (FCMB) account (numbered 1546629019).

    Others are N2.8million in Delosa’s GTBank account, N1.2billion in Avesta Venture’s Electronics Nigeria Limited’s Zenith Bank account; N985.6million, N281million, N681million and N47million in different Zenith Bank accounts of Merry Aviation Communication Electrical, among others.

    In a supporting affidavit, an EFCC investigating officer, Nuradeen Bello, said the commission received a petition last January 13 alleging that some management staff of NAMA stole government funds running into billions of naira through fictitious procurement contracts, fake container clearing contracts and fraudulent cash advances to some members of staff.

     

  • Truck kills maritime reporter in Lagos

    Truck kills maritime reporter in Lagos

    A truck Wednesday, afternoon knocked down and killed a maritime reporter, Segun Agbolade, in the Trinity area, Apapa, Lagos.

    Agbolade, popularly known as Effisy, was said to be riding on a motorcycle, popularly called ‘okada’ on his way out of the Apapa gridlock when the sad accident that claimed his life occurred.

    Before his death, Agbolade worked with Sky Times newspaper.

    He was an alumnus of Lagos State Polytechnic.

    He is the second maritime journalist to die in one week.

    Last Saturday, another maritime reporter, Kayode Atofolaki of the New Nigerian Newspaper died prematurely in Kwara State after a brief illness.

    The duo are married with children and left behind aged parent.